Amsterdam News in English
Amsterdam news in English — daily headlines from Dutch local newspapers covering housing, transport, city politics, neighbourhoods, culture and events, for expats, international students and English-speaking residents.

Live blog reactions to coalition agreement: Good steps, but the handbrake stays on
PRO Amsterdam and D66 have presented a new four-year coalition agreement for Amsterdam that features civil service cuts, the cancellation of a planned erotic center, and a freeze on property tax incre...
Son of columnist Yesim Candan attacked with chain lock after football column in Het Parool
The son of columnist Yesim Candan was attacked and injured with a chain lock in Amsterdam on Tuesday evening. Candan believes the assault is linked to a critical column she recently wrote about the mu...

How Amsterdam elected a drunk homeless man as city councilor
Cornelis de Gelder, a homeless man known as Hadjememaar, was elected to the Amsterdam city council after receiving more than 13,000 votes. Despite his struggles with alcoholism and homelessness, his c...

'Zoet, Zout, Zuur' singer Robert van Hemert to perform at AFAS Live next year
Singer Robert van Hemert has announced a solo performance at AFAS Live in Amsterdam, scheduled for April 23, 2027. The 33-year-old artist expressed his commitment to making the show an unforgettable e...

These will be Amsterdam’s aldermen for the next four years: five new faces
The new governing coalition in Amsterdam, consisting of PRO Amsterdam and D66, has announced its nine proposed aldermen for the upcoming four-year term. The new executive board features five new faces...

Better support for Amsterdam prisoners returning to society
Amsterdam is providing guidance to inmates during their detention to increase the likelihood of a successful return to society. This initiative aims to support prisoners before their release to ensure...

New coalition plans for the next four years announced today: live on AT5 from 11:30
PRO Amsterdam and D66 have reached a new coalition agreement for the city, focusing on significant budget cuts by streamlining the municipal organization and prioritizing core tasks. The agreement add...
KLM and Transavia cancel flights to and from Portugal due to strike
KLM and Transavia have canceled several flights to and from Portugal on Wednesday due to a strike in that country. These cancellations affect flight schedules at Schiphol, Eindhoven, and Rotterdam air...

No machines, but a scythe: these volunteers help the municipality with green maintenance
Volunteers in Amsterdam have established the Zeiscollectief Amsterdam foundation to perform green maintenance using traditional scythes in areas inaccessible to heavy machinery. This eco-friendly meth...

Opinions divided on Míchel joining Ajax: "We just need to play better"
Ajax has reached a two-year agreement with Spanish coach Míchel to lead the team, sparking mixed reactions among fans. While some supporters express concern over his track record, others emphasize th...

Amsterdam cancels 82,900 parking fines: majority waived after appeal
The city of Amsterdam canceled over 82,900 parking fines last year after more than 65% of filed objections were declared well-founded. While approximately 19% of the waivers were due to municipal erro...

Prosecutors demand 15 years for suspects in attempted assassination in Zuidoost
The Dutch Public Prosecution Service has demanded 15-year prison sentences for two men accused of an attempted liquidation in Amsterdam last September. The victim was shot in the leg after the attacke...

New cultural and community center in East
Amsterdam is allocating 15.2 million euros to develop the Drenthhal in the East district into a new cultural and community center. The project aims to provide a dedicated space for cultural activities...

City pass also available for undocumented children next year
Starting next year, undocumented children in Amsterdam will be eligible for the Stadspas, which provides access to sports, cultural activities, and school supplies. A pilot program involving 100 child...

Six arrested for laundering 38 million euros, including accountant
Amsterdam police arrested six men, including an accountant, on suspicion of laundering at least 38 million euros linked to fraud and drug trafficking. The suspects allegedly used shell companies and f...

Beth Ditto and Billy Porter at opening of Pride Village on Museumplein
Artists Beth Ditto and Billy Porter will headline the opening of Pride Village at Amsterdam's Museumplein on August 4th as part of the World Pride celebrations. The location will serve as the event's ...
Esmah Lahlah, number two of GroenLinks-PvdA, leaves Parliament to become Amsterdam alderman
Esmah Lahlah, the second-ranked member of the GroenLinks-PvdA party in the Dutch Parliament, is resigning from national politics to become an alderwoman in Amsterdam. She accepted the role following a...
Ajax reaches agreement with new manager: Michel signs until summer 2028
Ajax has reached an agreement with 50-year-old Miguel Ángel Sánchez Muñoz, known as Michel, to become the club's new head coach. The deal follows Ajax's qualification for the Conference League prel...

Amsterdam helps residents keep their homes cool
The city of Amsterdam is allocating €50,000 to help residents implement energy-saving heat mitigation measures. The funds are intended for items such as shade cloths and fans to help keep homes cool...

How Pride grew from a small gay party to a mega-event: "It’s always been a struggle"
Journalists Michiel Klaassen and Menno Sedee have released a book exploring the 30-year history of Amsterdam Pride and its evolution from a promotional party into a major activist event. The authors h...

Keti Koti month begins with memorial march: "Have more love and understanding for each other"
Dozens of people participated in the 'Memre Waka' commemorative walk through Amsterdam's city center to mark the start of Keti Koti month. The procession visited historical sites linked to the slave t...

Keti Koti month kicks off with memorial march: 'Have more love and understanding for each other'
The Keti Koti month began with 'Memre Waka,' a commemorative walk through Amsterdam's city center past historical sites linked to the slave trade. Participants marched to the Mayor's residence to emph...

Amsterdam not (yet) caught up in World Cup fever
NH Sport visited the center of Amsterdam to gauge public excitement for the upcoming World Cup, finding that public enthusiasm and street decorations are currently low. Despite the quiet start, local ...

Superfan Sylvana visits twelve Harry Styles shows this year. Celina goes to the Arena three times. 'Every night is different'
Harry Styles is performing ten concerts at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam as part of his Together, Together Tour, drawing fans from around the world to the Netherlands. Local fans are attending ...

Court rules in favor of municipality in wind turbine dispute with province
A Dutch court has ruled in favor of the municipality of Amsterdam in a legal dispute with the province of Noord-Holland regarding the installation of three wind turbines at Noorder IJplas. The court f...

Court rules in favor of municipality in wind turbine dispute with province
The court has ruled in favor of the municipality of Amsterdam in its dispute with the province of Noord-Holland over the construction of three wind turbines at the Noorder IJplas. The judge determined...

Sabine hit on head by large foam block, broke her neck: "I knew this was completely wrong"
A woman named Sabine suffered a broken neck and a severe concussion after a 15-kilogram foam block fell on her from a third-story apartment on the Bloemgracht in Amsterdam. While police initially trea...

Former garage on De Wittenkade squatted
A former garage building on De Wittenkade in Amsterdam West has been occupied by squatters who claim to have moved in around May 23. The occupants announced the action recently to establish residentia...

Ronald Schram (1965-2026) seized every opportunity he got: ‘He clung to life and didn’t want to go. He had so many things left to do’
Ronald Schram (1965-2026) was a physical chemist and musician who completed his doctoral studies in Amsterdam and was known as a vibrant social figure. He began playing guitar in a band at age eleven ...

Motorist crashes into Houtmankade police station facade, driver arrested
A driver was arrested after crashing into a police station on Houtmankade in Amsterdam-West on Monday morning. No injuries occurred during the incident, but police are investigating the suspect for po...