Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Iranians take to the streets for Jerusalem Day despite war
Thousands of Iranians participated in anti-Israel demonstrations across various cities to mark the annual al-Quds Day, also known as Jerusalem Day. The large-scale protests took place despite the ongo...
Van den Brink: time needed to solve asylum problems
Asylum Minister Bart van den Brink stated that the government needs more time to solve asylum issues and acknowledged the frustration of municipalities forced to keep reception centers open longer. He...
Tusk: Poland to join EU defense plan after all
Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that the Polish government will adopt a resolution to utilize the European Union's SAFE program for defense funding, despite a veto from President Karol Nawrocki. ...
Van Weel: Rotterdam synagogue fire ‘smells of antisemitism’
Dutch Justice and Security Minister David van Weel stated that an arson attack at a Rotterdam synagogue likely constitutes antisemitic violence. While an investigation is ongoing to identify the perpe...
Israel bombs bridge in Lebanon
The Israeli military has bombarded a bridge over the Litani River in Lebanon, marking the first time it has publicly acknowledged targeting civilian infrastructure during the current conflict. This ac...
Maximum penalty for COA over Ter Apel possibly reached today
The Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) is expected to reach a maximum penalty of five million euros today for exceeding capacity limits at the Ter Apel reception center. This fin...
Nearly 3,000 people in Israel hospitalized since war with Iran
Nearly 3,000 people in Israel have been hospitalized since the start of the conflict with Iran, according to the Israeli Ministry of Health. Patients were treated for injuries resulting from Iranian r...
Mayor Schouten appalled by synagogue arson
Rotterdam Mayor Carola Schouten expressed horror after arson was committed at a synagogue in the Kralingen district on Thursday night. No injuries were reported following the incident at the A.B.N. Da...
AI giant refuses to allow killer robots or online spying, angering Trump
AI company Anthropic is involved in a legal dispute with the Trump administration after refusing to allow its technology to be used for surveillance or the creation of lethal robots. The conflict move...
Rob Bakker pursues youth care complaint: ‘Before you know it, your child is gone’
Historian and writer Rob Bakker has released a sequel to his book 'Kinderen van de staat,' continuing his critique of the Dutch youth care system. While acknowledging the good intentions of workers, B...
Trump threatens Iran again and says he has all the time
On his Truth Social platform, Donald Trump issued new threats against the leaders of Iran, claiming the United States possesses unmatched military strength. He asserted that the U.S. has unrivaled fir...
Haarlem politicians and experts debate youth care waiting list of 400 children: ‘Does supply create demand?’
Politicians and experts in Haarlem gathered at the De Pletterij debate center to address the city's youth care waiting list of 400 children. The discussion explored causes for the increased demand, su...
Windfall for 'unlucky' students: 2,000 euro compensation in 2027
Students who studied under the Dutch loan system are set to receive an additional compensation of approximately 2,000 euros in 2027. This extra payment, which depends on the length of their studies, c...
100 more seats to fill in municipal elections
The upcoming Dutch municipal elections will feature 102 additional council seats compared to four years ago, bringing the total to 8,552 seats. This increase is based on recent population growth and a...
Saudi Arabia reports downing drone headed for diplomatic quarter
The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defense reported the interception of a drone targeting the diplomatic quarter in Riyadh. Additionally, two other drones were shot down in different parts of the country.
War slows growth in almost all Dutch sectors, says Rabobank
Rabobank reports that the conflict in the Middle East is slowing economic growth across nearly all sectors in the Netherlands. Businesses are currently facing higher energy costs, disrupted trade rout...
US allows sale of Russian oil, but only if already at sea
The United States is temporarily allowing the purchase of Russian oil that is already in transit by sea to help stabilize rising fuel costs. This exception is intended to alleviate global market press...
Police and prosecutors hunt pimps with decoy profiles: Online unmasking of sexual exploitation and sex slavery suspects
Dutch police and judicial authorities are increasingly using decoy profiles on social media to expose pimps involved in sexual exploitation and sex slavery. This initiative targets the growing number ...
Beverwijk wants stricter house splitting rules to tackle nuisance in city center and Wijk aan Zee
The municipality of Beverwijk has issued a preparatory decision to implement stricter regulations on splitting and sharing residential properties. These measures are designed to address nuisance issue...
Macron: French soldier killed 'during an attack' in Iraq
French President Emmanuel Macron announced that a French soldier was killed during an attack in the Erbil region of Iraqi Kurdistan. The announcement was made via social media platform X overnight bet...
Clarity at last for hundreds of Haarlem new homes facing nitrogen delays
The Haarlem municipality has released a list of housing projects, including hundreds of new homes, that are expected to face delays due to nitrogen regulations. Key affected sites include developments...
New climate lawsuit inevitable? Shell rejects Milieudefensie's 'unrealistic' demands
Shell has officially rejected new climate demands from the environmental organization Milieudefensie, labeling them as completely unrealistic. The energy giant's refusal to meet these latest requireme...
Forum under fire again, but no one in the party is losing sleep over it
The Dutch political party Forum voor Democratie (FvD) is facing criticism for including candidates with far-right backgrounds on its election lists. Despite the potential for boycotts following munici...
The future US president found the Amsterdam school board narrow-minded
Jennifer (35) and Anthony (14): 'I am proud my mother is running in the elections'
Iran's UN Ambassador: Iran does not want to close Strait of Hormuz
Iran's UN ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, stated that Iran does not intend to close the Strait of Hormuz, while asserting its right to ensure the waterway's security. He added that regional instabilit...
France: 6 soldiers wounded in drone attack in northern Iraq
Six French soldiers were wounded during a drone attack in northern Iraq, according to the French military. The injured personnel have been transported to a nearby medical facility for treatment.
Polish president vetoes EU defense plan access
Polish President Karol Nawrocki has announced his intention to veto legislation that would give Poland access to a European Union program designed to strengthen the continent's defense industry. The d...
Volt starts day with morning rave: People are being pushed out of the city
The political party Volt organized a morning rave in Amsterdam's Houthavens to campaign for the upcoming municipal elections and highlight the city's housing crisis. Lead candidate Juliet Broersen use...
Initiative to fill vacant office floors with tiny houses
Thomas van Leeuwen has proposed an initiative to build tiny houses on vacant office floors in Amsterdam to help address the housing shortage. The project aims to utilize 600,000 square meters of empty...