Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Local broadcaster Haarlem105 requests city funding again, seeks structural contribution
Local broadcaster Haarlem105 has requested additional structural funding from the Haarlem city council for the second time in six months. Editors-in-chief Wessel van Opstal and Ruth Oei argue the inve...
Berendsen: list of Gazans with visas already with Israel
Minister Tom Berendsen stated that the Netherlands has submitted requests to Israel to allow nearly 50 Palestinians with Dutch work or study permits to leave Gaza. The minister clarified that the dela...
Dutch cabinet wants police to find missing persons' phones quickly
The Dutch government has proposed a new law that would allow police to track a missing person's phone and view their recent contacts more easily. Published by the Ministry of Justice and Security for ...
Schiphol refueling company faces fine, safety insufficiently guaranteed
Aircraft Fuel Supply (AFS) has been ordered to improve safety at its Schiphol fuel farm after a storage tank imploded. The company faces fines of up to 1.2 million euros from the North Sea Canal Area ...
Give your opinion on the new housing rules from 2027
The city of Amsterdam is proposing updates to its housing regulations within the Housing Ordinance (HVV) starting in 2027. Residents and stakeholders are invited to share their opinions and provide fe...
Iran releases prominent human rights lawyer
Prominent Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh was released on bail on Wednesday, according to her daughter. Sotoudeh had been held in custody since her arrest on April 1.
Brussels to call on member states to ban conversion therapy
The European Commission will call on EU member states to ban conversion therapy in response to a petition signed by over one million people. However, the Commission does not intend to propose a unifie...
Another banana peel for the cabinet: the approaching end of mortgage interest deduction
The Dutch government is facing renewed political pressure as civil servants and coalition parties CDA and D66 push for the abolition of the mortgage interest deduction. Despite previous claims that th...
Investigation into Farage for failure to declare million-pound donation
A British parliamentary watchdog has launched an investigation into Reform UK leader Nigel Farage regarding an undeclared donation of 5 million pounds. The inquiry follows reports that the significant...
Seven minors arrested after Apeldoorn riots
Police in Apeldoorn arrested seven minors on Tuesday evening following a gathering in the De Maten district protesting asylum seeker reception plans. While six local youths were detained for disturbin...
Trump arrives in China for state visit
U.S. President Donald Trump has arrived in China for an official state visit. He is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week.
Report: Cabinet must take action on mortgage interest deduction
Officials from the Dutch Ministry of Finance report that the government must address issues regarding mortgage interest deductions, despite a coalition agreement to leave the policy unchanged. The rep...
Shots heard at Senate in the Philippines
Dozens of gunshots were reported at the Philippine Senate on Wednesday, though the exact cause of the incident remains unclear. The event may be linked to Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, who is currently wa...
Municipality withdraws Bloemendaalseweg redesign plan after criticism from residents and business owners: 'We have listened to you'
The municipality of Bloemendaal has withdrawn its plans for the redesign of the Bloemendaalseweg and the local shopping area following pushback from residents and business owners. Alderman Thessa van ...
No luxury Trump Tower for Australian coast: 'Toxic brand'
A deal to construct a Trump Tower on Australia's Gold Coast has been cancelled just three months after it was initially agreed upon. The project developer cited the Trump brand's growing unpopularity ...
King Charles: government seeks equality and EU cooperation
King Charles III delivered the King's Speech, outlining Prime Minister Keir Starmer's legislative agenda for the United Kingdom. The government plans to focus on increasing equality and seeking closer...
Dutch prosecutors find Wilders tweet featuring women's faces not a crime
The Dutch Public Prosecution Service (OM) has dismissed complaints against PVV leader Geert Wilders regarding an image he posted on X in August last year. The image compared a young blonde woman repre...
Dijksma calls Loosdrecht violence an attack on democracy
Sharon Dijksma, chair of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities, visited Loosdrecht to support Mayor Mark Verheijen following arson and vandalism at a new asylum seeker reception center. Both l...
Heemsteeds Burger Belang hopes for calm after period of turmoil: 'We have been through the worst of it'
The local political party Heemsteeds Burger Belang (HBB) is seeking internal stability after years of turmoil and personnel changes. Party chairman Jan Duinker expressed hope for a recovery, acknowled...
Is the fatbike ban in Vondelpark smart? What readers think: ‘They’ll just be back in a few months’
No prosecution for soldiers after Ede and Oirschot heath fires 2025
The Dutch Public Prosecution Service has decided not to prosecute five soldiers following wildfires that occurred during military exercises in Ede and Oirschot last year. The criminal cases related to...
Energy agency warns of decline in global oil stocks
The International Energy Agency warns that global oil stocks are decreasing at a record pace due to conflict in the Middle East. This instability has significantly disrupted oil exports from the regio...
COA shocked: Loosdrecht riots very impactful and frightening
The Dutch asylum seeker reception agency (COA) expressed shock following violent riots at an emergency shelter in Loosdrecht on Tuesday night. Rioters targeted the facility with fireworks and arson sh...
Lebanon reports deaths from Israeli strikes
Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon killed eight people, including two children, on Wednesday. The attacks targeted vehicles traveling on a highway between the capital, Beirut, and the southern part of the ...
First Eurovision semi-final without the Netherlands attracts few viewers
The first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest attracted only 541,000 viewers in the Netherlands, a significant decrease from previous years. This low viewership is attributed to a local boycott ...
Journalist Frans Heddema (1936-2026) was a monument: the aldermen came to him
Dutch Cabinet 'horrified' by Loosdrecht arson: 'Truly disgusting, truly reprehensible'
The Dutch cabinet expressed horror and condemnation following an arson attack at an emergency shelter for asylum seekers in Loosdrecht on Tuesday. Deputy Prime Minister Dilan Yesilgöz described the i...
Judge: court accreditation policy unlawful
The District Court of The Hague has ruled that the current accreditation policy for Dutch courts and appellate courts is unlawful and non-binding. The verdict follows a legal challenge initiated by th...
53 municipal notices on construction, demolition, tree removal, and hospitality in Haarlem last week
The municipality of Haarlem processed 53 permit applications last week concerning construction, demolition, tree removal, and hospitality activities. While 52 of the notifications involve projects wit...
Haarlem neighborhood platforms want more power for citizens: 'Not just input, but participation and decision-making'
Seven neighborhood platforms in Haarlem are calling for a cultural shift to give residents more influence and decision-making power over local construction and environmental projects. They argue that ...