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.

Former Bijlmerbajes kitchen to become nightclub for 3000 visitors
rss

Former Bijlmerbajes kitchen to become nightclub for 3000 visitors

A former prison kitchen at the Bijlmerbajes in Amsterdam is being transformed into a large-scale nightclub called Bajes, capable of hosting 3,000 visitors. The new venue is set to open during the Amst...

Schaatsen voor 65 cent, appels plukken en springkussens: de leukste uitjes met kinderen in de herfstvakantie
parool

Schaatsen voor 65 cent, appels plukken en springkussens: de leukste uitjes met kinderen in de herfstvakantie

The autumn holiday in Amsterdam features a wide variety of activities for children, including film festivals, sports events, museum programs, and outdoor harvest celebrations. Families can participate...

Xplore students choose their own exam level, even if teachers have doubts: 'Our pass rate is lower, but we give every child a chance'
parool

Xplore students choose their own exam level, even if teachers have doubts: 'Our pass rate is lower, but we give every child a chance'

The Xplore secondary school in Amsterdam-Noord allows students to create their own curriculum and choose when to take their final exams, even if teachers have doubts. While the model offers significan...

Opinion: A man was masturbating on metro 53. Is Amsterdam doing enough to protect women in Zuidoost?
parool

Opinion: A man was masturbating on metro 53. Is Amsterdam doing enough to protect women in Zuidoost?

An incident of public indecency on Amsterdam's metro line 53 has sparked criticism regarding the safety of women traveling to the Zuidoost district at night. The upcoming cancellation of the direct ro...

The Bear has nothing on this: inside the kitchen of the award-winning Cradam
parool

The Bear has nothing on this: inside the kitchen of the award-winning Cradam

Café-Restaurant Amsterdam is celebrating its anniversary while managing a high-volume service that sees around six hundred reservations on weekend days. The kitchen staff maintains a fast-paced envir...

'The worst part? That the whole street watched as they followed me and called me names': this is what everyday violence against queer people in Amsterdam looks like
parool

'The worst part? That the whole street watched as they followed me and called me names': this is what everyday violence against queer people in Amsterdam looks like

Five queer residents of Amsterdam have shared personal testimonies describing a rising climate of hate, intimidation, and violence against the LGBTQ+ community. These individuals report that anti-quee...

The year of young internet pioneers, bagels and coffee to go: was 1996 the year Amsterdam became a metropolis?
parool

The year of young internet pioneers, bagels and coffee to go: was 1996 the year Amsterdam became a metropolis?

The year 1996 is highlighted as a transformative period for Amsterdam, marked by significant infrastructure projects like the Amsterdam Arena and the initial planning for the Noord/Zuidlijn. This era ...

A hidden suitcase in the attic revealed this Amsterdam woman's secret NSB past
parool

A hidden suitcase in the attic revealed this Amsterdam woman's secret NSB past

The 1995 discovery of a hidden suitcase in an Amsterdam attic revealed the secret NSB past of local resident Willy Breurken. Researcher Merel Ligtelijn discovered that Breurken, who grew up in poverty...

Future technology in Amsterdam, already in Rotterdam: a self-driving shuttle transports passengers to the airport
parool

Future technology in Amsterdam, already in Rotterdam: a self-driving shuttle transports passengers to the airport

GVB plans to begin testing self-driving buses in Amsterdam within the next three years. Similar autonomous transport technology is already being used in Rotterdam to shuttle passengers to the airport,...

I only remember bits and pieces of Amsterdam in 1996
parool

I only remember bits and pieces of Amsterdam in 1996

Many prominent Amsterdam institutions, including the Johan Cruijff Arena and the Amsterdam Dance Event, are celebrating their thirtieth anniversary in 2024. This wave of milestones highlights 1996 as ...

De Poldervogel is generous with sweets, skimps on salt, and is otherwise a fine neighborhood restaurant
parool

De Poldervogel is generous with sweets, skimps on salt, and is otherwise a fine neighborhood restaurant

De Poldervogel is a community-oriented restaurant in the Watergraafsmeer area of Amsterdam founded by local residents. While a recent review highlighted issues with dish preparation, such as an imbala...

Devanshu (34) from Mumbai left Amsterdam twice but kept coming back: 'I was welcomed here with open arms'
parool

Devanshu (34) from Mumbai left Amsterdam twice but kept coming back: 'I was welcomed here with open arms'

Devanshu Dalmia, a 34-year-old from Mumbai, has moved to Amsterdam twice for work and chose to return both times because he felt welcomed. He is now focused on raising awareness about the high levels ...

Amsterdam singer Caro (45) feels like a bit of an intruder in Zuid: 'In the Jordaan I learned as a child: leave your arrogance at home'
parool

Amsterdam singer Caro (45) feels like a bit of an intruder in Zuid: 'In the Jordaan I learned as a child: leave your arrogance at home'

Singer Caro discusses her upbringing in the Jordaan neighborhood and her current life in Amsterdam-Zuid in an interview with Robert Vuijsje. She reflects on how her views of the city have shifted over...

With Bissouma, Ajax's midfield gets crowded: is the flow of young talent stalling?
parool

With Bissouma, Ajax's midfield gets crowded: is the flow of young talent stalling?

The signing of Yves Bissouma at Ajax has increased competition in the midfield, raising concerns about the potential lack of first-team opportunities for young prospects. Club leadership must now bala...

City of Amsterdam permanently ends subsidies for Weekend Academy Foundation
parool

City of Amsterdam permanently ends subsidies for Weekend Academy Foundation

The City of Amsterdam has permanently cut ties and subsidies to the Weekend Academie following a fraud investigation into its founder, Oguz Dulkadir. The municipality took this action after the founda...

City Archives reveal Amsterdam blue with 6500 shards from an illegal excavation
parool

City Archives reveal Amsterdam blue with 6500 shards from an illegal excavation

Starting this weekend, the Amsterdam City Archives will display 6,500 ceramic shards that reveal the history of 'Amsterdams blauw,' a local variant of Delft blue. Produced for nearly a decade at a fac...

Reporter Daan Sutorius previews Ajax-NEC: A laundry list of injuries
parool

Reporter Daan Sutorius previews Ajax-NEC: A laundry list of injuries

Reporter Daan Sutorius provides an update on the current state of the Ajax squad ahead of their match against NEC. He highlights that the team is currently dealing with a significant list of player in...

1 in 5 fatbike riders fined during police check in city center
rss

1 in 5 fatbike riders fined during police check in city center

Police in Amsterdam recently conducted a traffic enforcement operation where they inspected 52 fatbikes and issued 41 citations for various violations. Notable offenses included 10 instances of illega...

Netherlands returns diamond from Rijksmuseum and other objects to Indonesia
nu

Netherlands returns diamond from Rijksmuseum and other objects to Indonesia

The Netherlands is returning various historical artifacts, including the diamond of Banjarmasin, to Indonesia following evidence that they were acquired through involuntary loss during the colonial er...

Amsterdam man (45) throws brick at woman's head after water dispute, prosecution seeks 9-year prison sentence for aggravated assault
parool

Amsterdam man (45) throws brick at woman's head after water dispute, prosecution seeks 9-year prison sentence for aggravated assault

Prosecutors are seeking a nine-year prison sentence for a 45-year-old man who allegedly threw a brick at a woman's head near the RAI in Amsterdam. The victim survived the life-threatening attack, whic...

Three new arrests in Belgium in investigation into violence in Overasselt
parool

Three new arrests in Belgium in investigation into violence in Overasselt

Belgian authorities have arrested three men linked to a violent drug-related conflict that occurred in Overasselt last September. The suspects, residing near Ghent, are expected to be extradited to th...

DNB president continues to push for abolition of mortgage interest deduction
nu

DNB president continues to push for abolition of mortgage interest deduction

De Nederlandsche Bank President Sleijpen has reiterated his call for the complete abolition of the mortgage interest deduction in the Netherlands, arguing it no longer serves an economic purpose. He c...

What we know about the Amsterdam suspects in the Overasselt shooting
parool

What we know about the Amsterdam suspects in the Overasselt shooting

Eight men from Amsterdam have been identified as suspects in an early morning attack on a residence in Overasselt that occurred on September 1. Authorities are currently investigating the backgrounds ...

New setback for housing in Amsterdam-Noord: Parliament supports preservation of Damen shipyard
parool

New setback for housing in Amsterdam-Noord: Parliament supports preservation of Damen shipyard

Plans for a major residential development in Amsterdam-Noord are currently stalled because the Dutch parliament voted to keep the site as a protected industrial zone for the Damen shipyard. While the ...

Ajax newcomers may debut against NEC, full-backs and veterans sidelined
ad

Ajax newcomers may debut against NEC, full-backs and veterans sidelined

Ajax newcomers Yves Bissouma and Simon Adingra may debut against NEC as the team deals with several injury setbacks. Key players including full-backs Anton Gaaei and Caio Henrique, as well as veterans...

Topsport Amsterdam office unusable after Olympic Stadium fire
parool

Topsport Amsterdam office unusable after Olympic Stadium fire

Topsport Amsterdam faces a five-month displacement after a fire in the Olympic Stadium's parking garage caused significant soot and smoke damage to its offices. Despite the facility closure, the organ...

Politics on the Amstel: Bridge across the IJ falters further and leave Amsterdam while you can
rss

Politics on the Amstel: Bridge across the IJ falters further and leave Amsterdam while you can

The Politiek aan de Amstel podcast reports on budget criticisms, potential mismanagement of parking funds, and further delays to the Oostbrug project. The episode also reviews local policies, includin...

Athletics coach Kees honored for founding Parkinson's running group for fellow patients
rss

Athletics coach Kees honored for founding Parkinson's running group for fellow patients

Kees van den Berg has received a Respect Award for founding a specialized running group for Parkinson's disease patients at the AV23 athletics club in Amsterdam. As he prepares to step down from his r...

Review: Pierre-Laurent Aimard pays tribute to the 88 keys of the grand piano
parool

Review: Pierre-Laurent Aimard pays tribute to the 88 keys of the grand piano

Pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard launched his residency at the Muziekgebouw in Amsterdam with a challenging program of contemporary music. The concert featured a special performance with composer George ...

ADE 2026: these are the best free parties
parool

ADE 2026: these are the best free parties

Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) 2026 features a wide array of free events across the city, including pop-up parties, art exhibitions, and industry mixers. The diverse program offers music and cultural exp...