Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Mice, Amersfoort ballots and purple pencils. Strange situations at polling stations in the Haarlem region
During the municipal elections on March 18, several unusual incidents occurred at polling stations in the Haarlem region. In Haarlem, voters discovered ballots intended for Amersfoort and a purple pen...
Iran: US negotiating with itself
An Iranian military spokesman mocked United States statements regarding potential negotiations over the conflict in the Middle East, claiming Washington is "negotiating with itself." These remarks, re...
Municipal spending rises by nearly 6 percent
Dutch municipalities expect to increase their collective spending by nearly 6 percent in 2026, reaching a total of 84.6 billion euros. According to data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS), this represe...
Piet Buter (76) from Haarlem was Iran’s national coach: ‘Sanctions caused a shortage of aircraft spare parts’
Piet Buter, a 76-year-old from Haarlem, reflected on his two-year tenure as the head coach of Iran's national football team. He shared his experiences working in the country under international sancti...
Nieuw-Vennep residents go to court over 'too few' parking spaces at new development: 'Hundreds of new neighbors will soon want to park on our streets'
Six residents in Nieuw-Vennep are taking legal action against a 2,000-home development project at the Pionier-Bols site due to concerns over insufficient parking. The group argues that the current pla...
At least 100 Afghan guards go to court to force evacuation to the Netherlands
Approximately 100 Afghan guards who worked for the Dutch during the NATO mission are taking legal action against the Netherlands to demand evacuation. The guards fear for their safety under the Taliba...
48 trees cut down in Heemskerk: 'Most are dead'
A permit has been requested to cut down 48 trees at the Maerten van Heemskerckplein in Heemskerk, most of which are reportedly dead. The request has caused confusion among residents because the area i...
Opposition party Ons Beverwijk questions rental agreement between municipality and council candidate Klomp. ‘Conflict of interest?’
The opposition party Ons Beverwijk has raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest regarding a municipal lease for a Ukrainian refugee shelter. The city is paying 9,500 euros per month to e...
Attacks on Tehran, Israel and Gulf States
Israel launched new airstrikes on the Iranian capital of Tehran on Wednesday, reportedly striking a residential area. Local media and rescue workers are currently searching for victims at the site of ...
Nine killed in Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon
At least nine people were killed and many others injured during Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Wednesday. The attacks targeted several areas, including the city of Adloun, the town of Habbo...
Oil prices fall after news of possible US-Iran peace talks
Oil prices on international markets declined on Wednesday morning following reports of potential peace talks between the United States and Iran. The drop reflects market reactions to signs of easing g...
Will the unattractive Appeltjesmarkt near Marnixstraat become a ‘hub’ for transshipping goods from the water?
GroenLinks-PvdA Amsterdam also suggests coalition without D66, D66 calls its inclusion ‘logical’
Democrat wins election in district around Trump's Mar-a-Lago
Democrat Emily Gregory has won a seat in the Florida state legislature, representing the district surrounding Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. Gregory defeated the Trump-backed Republican candidate J...
Rubio testifies in trial against good friend
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified for nearly three hours in a corruption trial involving his friend and former congressman David Rivera. Rivera is accused of conducting secret lobbying act...
Cyprus seeks new agreements with UK after drone attack on base
Cyprus is seeking new security agreements with the United Kingdom following a drone attack on a British military base located on the island. President Nikos Christodoulides requested these guarantees ...
FNV wants higher travel allowance and fuel price caps
The Dutch labor union FNV is advocating for a higher tax-free travel allowance and the implementation of maximum prices for gasoline and diesel. These proposals are being put forward ahead of a parlia...
Greenpeace projects ‘Tax oil companies’ war profits’ onto Eye Filmmuseum
Trump reports mysterious Iranian ’gift’ near Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump has claimed to have received a "very big gift" from Iran involving the Strait of Hormuz. While he declined to provide specific details, he indicated the matter is related to ...
Jetten expects quick end to 90 billion blockade for Ukraine
Rob Jetten expects Hungary to lift its blockade on a €90 billion EU loan for Ukraine by mid-next month. The Hungarian government has been obstructing the aid due to a dispute with Ukraine regarding ...
Iran allows non-hostile ships to pass through Strait of Hormuz
Iran has informed members of the UN's International Maritime Organization that it will allow non-hostile ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. This announcement was reported by the Financial Tim...
Exit poll: Frederiksen’s party largest in Danish election
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's Social Democratic party has emerged as the largest in Denmark's parliamentary elections, according to exit polls. Despite this lead, the left-wing bloc currently lac...
Trump emphasizes US is in talks with Iran
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that the United States is currently engaged in positive discussions with Iran to reach a new agreement. He stated that the talks are going well and expressed ...
No train service at Station Zuid during multiple periods in April and May
Train traffic at Amsterdam Zuid station will be suspended during several periods in April and May due to construction work on a wider station passage and a new cycling tunnel. These works are part of ...
Bolsonaro to serve remainder of sentence under house arrest
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been granted permission to serve the remainder of his 27-year prison sentence under house arrest. Bolsonaro was convicted in September for plotting a coup...
War is like fire. Through the centuries, almost nothing changes
This article discusses the enduring nature of warfare by examining various literary works, from ancient Chinese strategy to modern accounts of conflict. It features perspectives from authors such as T...
Hardenberg shows: even with Dispersal Act, municipalities cannot be forced into asylum solidarity
The asylum seeker center in Hardenberg will remain open as other Dutch municipalities continue to avoid their responsibility for housing refugees. Despite the implementation of the dispersal law, the ...
Shell CEO: brace for gas and oil supply disruptions to Europe
Shell CEO Wael Sawan has warned that Europe may soon experience fuel supply disruptions similar to those currently affecting Asian markets. The instability is driven by the conflict in the Middle East...
Reports: US to send 3,000 additional troops to Middle East
The U.S. government is deploying an additional 3,000 elite troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East. According to reports from the Wall Street Journal and other media outlets, these s...
Ryan (9) hasn't been to school for three years: In this system, you have to push a triangle through a circle
Nine-year-old Ryan is one of nearly 1,200 children in Amsterdam who do not attend school, a record high that reflects systemic failures in providing tailored education. Many of these students drop out...