Dutch News in English
Latest headlines from the Netherlands in English. Covering Amsterdam, Haarlem, and national Dutch news.
Hema wins Gouden Loeki for Christmas commercial featuring Takkie and Siepie cheering up sick girl
Hema and advertising agency Hotel L’Amour have won the Gouden Loeki award for the best television commercial of the year for the third consecutive year. The winning Christmas advertisement, which fe...

Raven van Dorst found US visa application a painful process: 'I had to choose'
Dutch presenter Raven van Dorst described the U.S. work visa application process as "painful" because it required temporarily reverting to a binary gender choice instead of the gender-neutral 'X' in t...

Trump: no attacks on Iran energy supply until April 6
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that the suspension of attacks on Iranian energy facilities will be extended until April 6. Trump stated that the decision follows a request from Iran and not...

Oscars to leave famous Dolby Theatre in Hollywood
Starting in 2029, the Academy Awards will move from the Dolby Theatre to the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles. This transition ends the Oscars' 27-year history at the iconic Hollywood venue...
Addicted to social media? Ruling against Meta and Google could have major consequences
Meta and Google have been held liable for a 20-year-old woman's addiction to their social media platforms, which she claims led her to become suicidal. This legal ruling is expected to have significan...

Hook of Holland fishmonger prosecuted for refusing woman with face veil
A fishmonger in Hoek van Holland is being prosecuted for discrimination after refusing to serve a woman wearing a face veil. The Court of Appeal in The Hague ruled that the man must stand trial for th...

Public Prosecution Service prosecutes two for assault and discrimination on VU campus
The Dutch Public Prosecutor's Office is prosecuting two 25-year-old students for assault and discriminatory behavior occurring on the Vrije Universiteit campus in Amsterdam last November. The suspects...
Weekend tips: things to do in Haarlem (March 27-29)
Haarlem offers various activities for the weekend of March 27-29 to celebrate the beginning of spring. The article provides curated tips and suggestions for events taking place throughout the city dur...

John Oomkes (1952-2026): prominent music journalist with a big heart for his native Haarlem
John Oomkes, a prominent pop journalist and former city council member from Haarlem, has passed away at the age of 74. Recognized as a pioneer in serious music journalism since the mid-1970s, Oomkes w...

Lebanon veterans see civilians fleeing en masse again: 'What did we do it all for?'
Dutch veterans who served in Lebanon express deep sadness as they witness the country's destruction during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. They question the value of their past peac...

No local 'opposition party' in the council: 'Today's protest party is right-wing populist'
Amsterdam currently lacks a distinct local protest party in its city council, a significant shift from the influential activist movements of the 1960s and 70s. Historian Bas Kok suggests this is becau...
This artist regularly wears a fake belly: ‘It started with my feelings of loneliness’
Bas (38) ran a marathon around the monument on Dam Square: ‘Every now and then a tourist joined for a lap’

NATO assures weapons ordered in US will go to Ukraine
NATO has confirmed that weapons ordered from the United States by allies will be delivered to Ukraine as intended. The statement addresses concerns that the U.S. might prioritize sending scarce air de...

'It has yet to bloom, hence that green rose,' Haarlem's Erica doesn't see merger party Progressive Netherlands as a funeral for her beloved PvdA
Members of the GroenLinks and PvdA parties gathered in Halfweg for the unveiling of their new merged party name, Progressief Nederland (PRO). Haarlem resident Erica expressed optimism about the merger...
Snack vegetables contain pesticides: is it safe to give them to your child?
Baby milk, snack vegetables, and fruit snacks may contain pesticide residues, raising concerns about food safety for children. Experts reassure that these products are safe to consume if parents follo...

Tom and Ron close flower shop after 42 years: 'We were like a little village in the city'
Ron Bouma and Tom Brands are closing their flower shop in Haarlem after 42 years of operation in the Kleverpark neighborhood. The business, Tom en Ron Bloemen en planten, became a community staple by ...
Conflict over Noorder IJplas wind turbines: Province and municipality face off in court

Castricum contractor Twisk Bouw closes its doors for good: Not out of necessity, but because they can
Castricum-based construction company Twisk Bouw is closing permanently after 33 years of operation. Owner Wim Twisk decided to shut down the business voluntarily to spend more time with his family rat...

Why do we want to know everything about Jan Smit and Liza’s divorce? ‘You think: things aren't that bad for me’
Dutch singer Jan Smit and his wife Liza Plat have announced their divorce after fourteen years of marriage. The split has sparked significant public interest, with psychologists noting that people oft...