Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
More than 76,000 rental homes have already disappeared from the market – landlords complain about affordable rent legislation
Since the introduction of the Affordable Rent Act in 2024, over 76,000 rental homes have been sold off by landlords across the Netherlands, tightening housing supply. Rental prices are simultaneously ...
Emergency camera surveillance at Botteskerksingel after two explosions
Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema has implemented emergency camera surveillance on the Botteskerksingel following two separate explosions at the same residential entrance within a month. Police are curren...
Alderman: Amsterdam city center entrepreneurs too dependent on tourism
Amsterdam alderman Melanie van der Horst has stated that businesses in the city center are overly reliant on tourism, making the local economy vulnerable to shifts in visitor spending. To address this...
Who gets priority in a crisis situation? Amsterdam practices with emergency support centers
Amsterdam has held emergency response exercises at two local centers to improve preparedness for long-term power outages. The drills highlighted the practical challenges of distributing limited aid an...
VVD wants smoke- and vape-free zones around schools
The Amsterdam VVD has proposed a ban on smoking and vaping within 50 meters of schools to combat rising youth nicotine addiction. The plan also includes stricter enforcement against illegal flavored v...
Something is happening between PRO and VVD in the Senate that seems taboo in the House of Representatives
The Dutch government, led by D66, VVD, and CDA, faces challenging budget negotiations in the Senate. Despite the difficulties, there are signs of unexpected political cooperation emerging between the ...
Mayor introduces emergency CCTV surveillance on Botteskerksingel
Emergency camera surveillance has been installed on the Botteskerksingel in Amsterdam following two explosions at the same residential portico within a two-week period. Although no one was injured in ...
Street Alliance Director on client freeze: Something is wrong if we can no longer handle requests for help
The Straatalliantie homeless office in Amsterdam has suspended new admissions until at least November 2 due to severe staffing shortages and an overwhelming rise in demand for support. City officials ...
Cabinet's financial plans may fail if nothing changes in the Senate
The Dutch cabinet is struggling to pass its crucial tax plan in the Senate due to lack of support from key political parties. Both right-wing and left-wing factions are demanding policy concessions, i...
Parliament votes for more green gas despite concerns over manure and energy bills
The Dutch House of Representatives has approved a new law mandating the use of green gas to lower CO2 emissions. The legislation faces criticism over potential increases in household energy costs and ...
New box 3 system sparks a barrage of reader questions: read all the answers here
The Dutch government is revising its proposed box 3 tax system following parliamentary pushback regarding the impact on small savers and investors. With no final regulations in place, ongoing debates ...
Prince Andrew barred from using King Charles's money to pay legal fees
Former prince Andrew is prohibited from using King Charles's funds to cover legal costs related to his defense against accusations of leaking government documents to Jeffrey Epstein. He is currently c...
Diemen refuses ATM due to fear of explosive attacks
The municipality of Diemen has cancelled plans for a new ATM at the Van Markenplantsoen due to security concerns regarding potential explosions. Despite an initial permit being granted, officials dete...
Spaarne Gasthuis to build entirely new hospital in Haarlem
Spaarne Gasthuis plans to build a new hospital in Haarlem-Zuid by 2033 to consolidate clinical and emergency care services. Consequently, the Hoofddorp branch will be repurposed into a day hospital fo...
Neighborhood police officer wanted for Nieuw-West: "We are experiencing a high workload"
The Amsterdam police are recruiting a new neighborhood officer for the Nieuw-West district to address staffing shortages and manage high-pressure, diverse urban environments. Candidates with an MBO 4 ...
Former head of German intelligence arrested for espionage and treason
Former German intelligence chief August Hanning and his former aide Manfred D. have been arrested for espionage and treason after allegedly leaking thousands of classified BND documents. Prosecutors s...
Minister Van Weel: Statements by Angelo Delsen (SP) do not violate police code of conduct
Minister David van Weel has ruled that SP councilor and police officer Angelo Delsen did not breach the police code of conduct with his political statements against the far-right. The minister confirm...
One week of emergency gas reserves, lower storage levels: how do we stay warm this winter?
As winter approaches, concerns are rising in the Netherlands due to lower than normal gas storage levels and increasing energy costs. Climate Minister Stientje van Veldhoven is currently developing a ...
Live Q&A: ask all your questions about box 3 today
Financial experts and political reporters are hosting a live Q&A on Tuesday, October 6, to clarify changes to the Dutch box 3 wealth tax. The discussion focuses on the cabinet's transition toward taxi...
New Red Line demonstration announced, organizers call for mass turnout
Pro-Palestinian organizations have announced a major protest scheduled for November 8 in Amsterdam, where participants will gather at Museumplein dressed in red. The demonstrators are demanding that t...
Trump allows tax-free red diesel to counter rising fuel prices
Former President Trump has authorized the use of tax-free red diesel for road vehicles to help Americans cope with record-high fuel prices. Previously illegal to use on public roads, the cheaper fuel ...
PvdA and Denk demand explanation from GVB over metro service disruption
PvdA and Denk have requested that the Amsterdam mobility alderman demand explanations from GVB regarding a major metro outage that occurred on October 2. The council members are questioning whether th...
Net contributors and net recipients completely at odds over EU budget: ‘Out of touch and appalling’
European Union member states are divided over the next long-term budget, with net-recipients demanding increased spending and the removal of contribution rebates for wealthier nations. Conversely, net...
Court of Audit critical of budget: "Insufficient information provided"
The Amsterdam-Zaanstad Court of Audit has criticized the city's new budget for lacking transparency and failing to provide concrete plans for 344 million euros in planned savings. The body also expres...
Court of Audit critical of budget: "Insufficient information provided"
The Amsterdam-Zaanstad Court of Audit has criticized the city's new budget for lacking transparency and failing to provide concrete plans for 344 million euros in planned cuts. The report also highlig...
Municipality scraps neighborhood budget, to the dismay of initiators: "It really helped against nuisance"
The municipality of Amsterdam is ending its neighborhood budget program, which allowed residents to propose and vote on local community projects. Mayor Halsema cited high administrative costs and limi...
UMC: increasingly unhealthy food supply in cities, Amsterdam also scores poorly: 'Hurry up with Food Law'
A study by the UMC across ten Dutch cities shows that urban food environments have become increasingly unhealthy over the last decade. Local officials are now calling for a new national Food Act to gr...
Cabinet opens purse strings to tackle poor regional accessibility: 300 million for self-driving buses and more
The Dutch government plans to invest 300 million euros annually from 2030 to improve regional public transport accessibility and address staff shortages. Key measures include testing autonomous buses ...
British bestselling author and former politician Jeffrey Archer (86) has died
British author and former politician Jeffrey Archer has died at the age of 86. Known for successful series like The Clifton Chronicles, Archer also had a complex political career marked by a perjury c...
Squatters in Sarphatistraat: 'Homes for people, not for profit'
Squatters have occupied a vacant building on Sarphatistraat in Amsterdam, displaying banners against profit-driven housing. Because the group has been present for over a week, police cannot conduct an...