Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Kremlin denies report it is providing technical assistance to Iran
The Kremlin has denied a report from the Wall Street Journal claiming that Russia provides high-level technical assistance to Iran. A spokesperson refuted allegations regarding the sharing of satellit...
Wienen calls not voting a ‘luxury problem’: ‘Incomprehensible. Then you can’t complain about what goes wrong in the city’
Haarlem Mayor Jos Wienen cast his vote on Wednesday at the Hart cultural center, where he was welcomed by hornist Misha Smock. Wienen criticized those who choose not to vote, calling it a luxury probl...
Sophie Poldermans delivers Layman's Sermon at Haarlem Remonstrants
Author Sophie Poldermans will deliver a "Layman's Sermon" at the Remonstrant community in Haarlem on April 12. Poldermans, an expert in international criminal law and human rights, is recognized for h...
How does Mayor Dales plan to get young people to the polls? ‘Sometimes I suggest ideas to my daughters, but they call me a boomer’
Mayor Frank Dales of Velsen cast his vote on Wednesday morning at the local town hall, an event documented by local media. He discussed the difficulties of engaging young people in the electoral proce...
Waiting patiently to vote at Haarlem station: 'I consider it a privilege'
Residents in Haarlem gathered early Wednesday morning at the local train station to cast their votes as polls opened for the municipal elections. Mayor Jos Wienen also cast his ballot at the Hart Haar...
What do entrepreneurs in Velsen hope for from a new city council? ‘Some wonder if they can even stay in Velsen’
Entrepreneurs in Velsen are reflecting on the local business climate and their expectations for the incoming municipal council following recent elections. A survey reveals significant concerns among b...
UN agency puts Kabul clinic death toll at over 140
A United Nations organization has announced that 143 people were killed in a recent bombing of an addiction treatment clinic in Kabul, Afghanistan. The report provides a confirmed death toll for the a...
LIVE 2026 Municipal Elections | Candidate makes striking plea: ‘Don’t vote for me, don’t do it’
Boukje Stoker-Langeraap, a candidate for the local party Heerenveen Lokaal in the 2026 municipal elections, has issued an unusual request on social media asking voters not to cast ballots for her. Thi...
Belgian government bans WhatsApp, introduces Beam
The Belgian government has banned civil servants and military personnel from using messaging apps like WhatsApp and Messenger for official purposes. In their place, approximately 750,000 government em...
More venues for theater, film, dance and other cultural activities in North
The city is investing 19 million euros in arts and culture in Amsterdam-Noord to support more venues for theater, film, and dance. This investment aims to meet the increasing demand for cultural facil...
Petrol is already expensive, but new climate rules threaten further price explosion
New European climate regulations are expected to cause a sharp increase in fuel and energy prices for consumers. Petrol prices could rise by 24% and diesel by 16%, impacting both motorists and househo...
LIVE 2026 Municipal Elections | Dushi dies unexpectedly, but you can still vote for her today
Marian Eisden, a candidate for GroenLinks-PvdA in Gouda known as Dushi, has passed away unexpectedly at age 59. Despite her death, she remains on the ballot for the 2026 municipal elections, and suppo...
Israel acknowledges shelling UNIFIL position in Lebanon
The Israeli military has acknowledged that one of its tanks shelled a UNIFIL position in Lebanon earlier this month. The incident resulted in injuries to peacekeepers from Ghana serving with the Unite...
Expats in the region are also heading to the polls. What determines their vote? ‘I pay close attention to tax policy and living comfort’
Expats in the Netherlands are preparing to vote in upcoming municipal elections, focusing on issues like tax policy and housing comfort. Many participants emphasize that voting is a civic responsibili...
US government warns of airport closures due to shutdown
U.S. authorities have warned that the ongoing shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security could lead to the closure of airports due to staffing shortages. TSA official Adam Stahl stated that small...
LIVE 2026 Municipal Elections | Prime Minister Jetten casts vote in school, Wilders votes in care home
Prime Minister Rob Jetten and PVV leader Geert Wilders have cast their votes in The Hague for the 2026 Dutch municipal elections. Jetten voted at a local primary school, while Wilders cast his ballot ...
Iranian Minister: Larijani's death not a fatal blow to the regime
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the death of influential figure Ali Larijani does not represent a fatal blow to the country's regime. He told Al Jazeera that Iran's political syste...
Police stop investigation into Italiëlaan bullet, mayor called to account
Haarlem police have decided not to pursue a case regarding a bullet found during a shooting on Frankrijklaan last spring. Meanwhile, Mayor Jos Wienen has been called to provide a written explanation t...
LIVE 2026 Municipal Elections | Over 14 million Dutch citizens can now vote at numerous locations
The 2026 municipal elections in the Netherlands have officially begun, with nearly 10,000 polling stations opening nationwide starting at 7:30 AM. Over 14 million eligible voters are expected to cast ...
This was the result in your municipality at the last local elections
The article reflects on the 2022 municipal elections in the Netherlands, where new councils were elected in 333 out of 354 municipalities. It explains that some regions did not participate during that...
Pregnant dairy cows often sent to slaughter, NVWA investigating
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) is investigating why dairy farmers continue to transport heavily pregnant cows to slaughterhouses despite a legal ban. Since January 2...
Almost all polling stations are open
Nearly all 9,964 polling stations across the Netherlands officially opened at 7:30 AM for the current elections. While most stations followed this schedule, some locations began accepting votes as ear...
LIVE North Holland Elections | Polls are open
The municipal elections have officially started in the province of North Holland, with polling stations now open to the public. This live coverage provides updates and information regarding the electi...
Voters can choose from almost as many parties as in 2022
Dutch voters in the upcoming municipal elections will have a choice of nearly nine parties on average, which is consistent with the figures from 2022. According to an ANP analysis of Kiesraad data, th...
Gloom over low turnout is understandable, but it can be different: four ways to turn the tide
Local elections in the Netherlands are facing low voter turnout, prompting discussions on how to reverse this trend. The article explores four potential solutions, such as hosting election events, off...
Arts Council calls for €47 million annual increase in culture budget
Forum in the city council: from Ratelband to crypto king
Forum voor Democratie is participating in the municipal elections in 104 Dutch municipalities this year, more than doubling its previous reach. The party had to quickly recruit hundreds of candidates ...
What you need to know about today's municipal elections
Residents of Amsterdam can vote today in the municipal elections at 460 polling stations across the city to choose from 35 political parties. Voters are required to bring their voting pass and identif...
What you need to know about today's municipal elections
Residents of Amsterdam are voting today in the municipal and district council elections at 460 polling stations across the city. Voters can choose from 622 candidates representing 35 parties, with ini...
Theater De Krocht cancels event for the first time over noise dispute
Theater De Krocht has cancelled a disco dance event scheduled for Sunday due to ongoing noise complaints from a neighbor. This marks the first time the theater has had to scrap a program item since th...