Politics News in English

Cabinet will not yet raise age limit for high-risk gambling

The Dutch cabinet has decided against raising the minimum age for high-risk gambling from 18 to 21. State Secretary Claudia van Bruggen argued that a higher age limit could drive young adults toward u...

Online gambling ad ban in the works due to rising addiction

The Dutch cabinet is moving toward a total ban on online gambling advertisements due to a significant rise in the number of players since legalization. This measure is being introduced to address the ...

Danger zone

Rutte defends informal COVID crisis talks: 'Where you could share big emotions'

Former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte testified under oath before a parliamentary inquiry committee regarding his government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rutte defended the use of informal co...

Schoof: Insufficient effort put into reaching COVID critics

Former top official Dick Schoof told a parliamentary inquiry committee that the Dutch government failed to adequately reach citizens who were critical of COVID-19 and vaccination policies. He stated t...

Enthusiasm for Geesterduin 2.0. Politicians embrace plan for 215 homes in Castricum, but raise concerns over loading and traffic

Politicians in Castricum have approved the outlines for the Geesterduin 2.0 project, which includes 215 new homes and a renovated shopping center. While the developer has committed to building social ...

Glitch in European data system on first day of migration pact

On the first day of the new European migration pact, the Eurodac database experienced a technical malfunction during a system update. The Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service confirmed that th...

Schoof: COVID measures remained strict due to poor compliance

Dick Schoof, former top official at the Ministry of Justice and Security, told a parliamentary inquiry committee that COVID-19 measures remained strict because public compliance with basic rules decli...

Van Essen: June 26 clarity on resolving nitrogen deadlock

Dutch Agriculture Minister Jaimi van Essen announced that the government will provide clarity on June 26 regarding plans to resolve the nitrogen lock. The initiative aims to create space for housing c...

Community service and driving ban for provincial councilor who drove into protester in Haarlem

A Dutch provincial council member has been sentenced to community service and a driving ban after driving his car into an Extinction Rebellion protester in Haarlem. The court also handed down a suspen...

Sterk: Everyone must have access to the World Cup

Dutch Sports Minister Mirjam Sterk has stated that access to the upcoming World Cup in the United States should be open to everyone, including teams and their support staff. She intends to use the eve...

Illegal border crossings into the EU down by 40 percent

According to preliminary data from the European border agency Frontex, illegal border crossings into the European Union dropped by 40 percent in the first five months of 2026. This figure represents a...

Scrap the requirement for aldermen to live in the municipality they govern

This weekly poll asks readers for their opinions on a proposal to abolish the legal requirement that aldermen must reside in the municipality they govern. The proposition addresses current regulations...

‘Do you hate capitalism?’ Housing Alderman Zita Pels was asked at Provada

BBC: Dozens of Iranian bases damaged by strikes

Since the start of the conflict, more than fifty Iranian military sites have been damaged by U.S. or Israeli attacks according to a BBC analysis of satellite imagery. The affected locations include ai...

Taghi's new lawyers want 18 months of preparation time

Ridouan Taghi's new lawyers have requested at least eighteen months of preparation time for the defense in the ongoing Marengo trial. This request, if granted, would start in September and could delay...

No alternative to initial corona approach, says Schoof

Dick Schoof, the former top official at the Ministry of Justice and Security, testified before a parliamentary inquiry committee regarding the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He stated...

Outrage after numbers found in grass of US park: ‘disturbed vandalism’

Authorities are investigating a large discoloration forming the numbers 86 and 47 found on the grass of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The markings are being treated as a potential threat again...

Watch the COVID hearing of Schoof, senior official at the time

Former top official Dick Schoof appeared before the parliamentary inquiry committee today to discuss decision-making during the COVID-19 pandemic. Former Prime Minister Mark Rutte is also scheduled to...

Van den Brink expects significantly fewer family reunifications due to migration pact

Asylum Minister Bart van den Brink expects a significant decrease in family reunification migrants coming to the Netherlands following the implementation of the new European migration pact. He emphasi...

No new riots reported in Belfast after ongoing unrest

Following days of civil unrest, no new large-scale riots were reported in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Thursday night. However, local authorities are investigating a suspected arson at a residence, a...

Mayor Halsema visits site of explosion in Nieuw-West

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema visited the site of a significant explosion in the Nieuw-West district on Friday morning. During her visit to the Remijden location, she met with firefighters and emergen...

Ecuador lowers beer prices during the World Cup: 'Extra support for the team'

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has temporarily removed taxes on beer and light alcoholic beverages during the World Cup, leading to a price drop of over 20 percent. This fiscal measure is intended ...

EU Commissioner rejects NGO criticism of inhumane migration pact

European Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner defended the new EU migration pact against criticism from NGOs as it took effect on Friday. Brunner rejected claims that the stricter asylum rules ar...

NATO scales back troop presence in Kosovo

NATO is scaling down its troop presence in Kosovo as the regional situation has stabilized. The alliance's top commander stated that local security forces are now better equipped to manage their own s...

Broad coalition collapses early: Zelfstandig Bloemendaal quits negotiations. 'Informateur's recommendations brushed aside'

The formation of a broad coalition in Bloemendaal has collapsed following the withdrawal of the Zelfstandig Bloemendaal party from negotiations. The party alleged that its potential partners, VVD, D66...

Cyprus: At least a year needed for optimally functioning EU migration pact

Cypriot Minister of Migration Nicholas Ioannides stated that the EU's new asylum and migration pact will require at least a year to function effectively. The pact, which introduces uniform rules for s...

Marijke Smit-van der Weide of D66 Heemstede: Achieving something in four years is naive, you need staying power

Marijke Smit-van der Weide of the D66 party is one of several new members joining the Heemstede municipal council. In an interview, she discusses the realities of local governance, emphasizing that ac...

Rutte appears for COVID inquiry, what awaits him? ‘He has one weak point: his memory’

Former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is scheduled to testify on Friday before a parliamentary inquiry commission regarding the Netherlands' handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The hearing focuses on ...

Amsterdam arranges hotel rooms for explosion victims

The municipality of Amsterdam is arranging hotel accommodations for approximately 100 residents displaced by a large explosion and fire at a building on Remijden. A total of 400 people were evacuated ...