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.
The betrayal of the Zilversmit family nominated for a Podcast Award
The podcast series Het verraad van de familie Zilversmit, in which journalist Judith Zilversmit explores her father's wartime betrayal, has been nominated for a 2026 Dutch Podcast Award. The series, w...
Alderman Pels unhappy with new asylum bill: "Camouflaged criminalization of illegality"
Asylum Minister Bart van den Brink has proposed a new law to penalize rejected asylum seekers who refuse to cooperate with their deportation. Amsterdam official Zita Pels has strongly condemned the me...
Alderman Pels unhappy with new asylum bill: "Covert criminalization of illegality"
Asylum Minister Bart van den Brink has proposed a new law to punish failed asylum seekers who refuse to cooperate with their deportation, potentially resulting in fines or prison time. Amsterdam Alder...
Public Prosecution Service: ‘Child soldiers’ (18 and 19) flown in from Sweden to carry out contract killings in Amsterdam and Haarlem
Two teenagers from Sweden were apprehended after being flown into the Netherlands to execute contract killings in Amsterdam and Haarlem this July. While an attempted hit in Amsterdam failed, authoriti...
Cheers! These 5 cocktail bars in Amsterdam South are worth a try
This article highlights five distinct cocktail bars located in Amsterdam-Zuid, ranging from film-themed venues and hidden underground spots to locations offering Indian-inspired drinks and scenic city...
GVB sees future for self-driving shuttles in Amsterdam: An excellent opportunity to address labor shortages
The Amsterdam transport operator GVB plans to test small, driverless shuttle buses within the next three years. This initiative aims to address severe labor shortages and eventually transition the cit...
Netherlands breaks even after banking crisis: ABN Amro rescue yields another 3.5 billion for treasury
The Dutch government is nearing a break-even point on its 2008 rescue of ABN Amro following the sale of a new 10.2 percent stake for an estimated 3.5 billion euros. This latest move leaves the state w...
Win two tickets for Niall Horan at the Ziggo Dome
Fans can win two tickets to see Niall Horan perform at the Ziggo Dome on Friday, October 16. To enter the giveaway, participants must register their details, agree to the terms, and subscribe to the n...
Large pile of waste on Dam Square after garbage truck fire
A fire in a garbage truck led to a large amount of waste being dumped onto Amsterdam's Dam Square yesterday evening. The incident, which mainly involved cardboard, drew significant attention from pass...
Ziyech shares fundraiser for burnt-down flower stall: 20,000 euros raised already
A crowdfunding effort has raised over 20,000 euros for a flower shop in Amsterdam destroyed by a fire caused by a short circuit. Former Ajax player Hakim Ziyech helped promote the campaign, which aims...
State to halve ABN Amro stake to 10.5 percent
The Dutch government plans to reduce its stake in ABN Amro from 20.7 percent to 10.5 percent through a new trading plan. This step continues the state's gradual exit from the bank, which was nationali...
Another explosion in Osdorp, this time at a care facility
A healthcare facility in the Osdorp neighborhood of Amsterdam sustained damage after an explosion occurred early in the morning. Police are investigating the incident and have called on witnesses to p...
High rents drive away candidates: private sector homes stay online longer
Rental interest in the Netherlands has dropped significantly as rising prices and decreasing housing supply make finding a home more difficult. Landlords are increasingly selling their properties due ...
Fewer essay assignments at UvA due to AI fraud risks, sparking student union discontent
The University of Amsterdam is reducing essay assignments to combat the risk of AI-assisted cheating, a move that has drawn criticism from the student union ASVA. While educators are seeking alternati...
More than 76,000 rental homes have already disappeared from the market – landlords complain about affordable rent legislation
Since the introduction of the Affordable Rent Act in 2024, over 76,000 rental homes have been sold off by landlords across the Netherlands, tightening housing supply. Rental prices are simultaneously ...
One in ten houses sold in Amsterdam is a former rental property, landlords complain: 'The damage is enormous'
Approximately 9.1 percent of homes sold in Amsterdam were formerly rental properties as landlords exit the market following the introduction of new rental legislation and higher taxes. Across the Neth...
Faryel (39) and Maarten (39) met at Hervormd Lyceum West: 'We were known as that sappy couple'
Faryel Bhailal and Maarten Stoltz are a couple who first met while attending the Hervormd Lyceum West in Amsterdam. The pair gained a reputation at school for being inseparable and recently shared mem...
After breast cancer treatment, Parool journalist Lorianne van Gelder (41) joins Olympic Stadium run: I curse and sigh, mope and complain
After completing a year of treatment for breast cancer, journalist Lorianne van Gelder participated in the LoveLife Run at the Olympic Stadium. The event proved to be a challenging experience for the ...
Emergency camera surveillance at Botteskerksingel after two explosions
Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema has implemented emergency camera surveillance on the Botteskerksingel following two separate explosions at the same residential entrance within a month. Police are curren...
Alderman: Amsterdam city center entrepreneurs too dependent on tourism
Amsterdam alderman Melanie van der Horst has stated that businesses in the city center are overly reliant on tourism, making the local economy vulnerable to shifts in visitor spending. To address this...
Who gets priority in a crisis situation? Amsterdam practices with emergency support centers
Amsterdam has held emergency response exercises at two local centers to improve preparedness for long-term power outages. The drills highlighted the practical challenges of distributing limited aid an...
No power and no signal, but you need to call emergency services: what then?
The Amsterdam municipality conducted an emergency drill on Tuesday simulating a large-scale, long-term power outage to test local response capabilities. Mayor Femke Halsema attended the exercise, whic...
VVD wants smoke- and vape-free zones around schools
The Amsterdam VVD has proposed a ban on smoking and vaping within 50 meters of schools to combat rising youth nicotine addiction. The plan also includes stricter enforcement against illegal flavored v...
Mayor introduces emergency CCTV surveillance on Botteskerksingel
Emergency camera surveillance has been installed on the Botteskerksingel in Amsterdam following two explosions at the same residential portico within a two-week period. Although no one was injured in ...
Street Alliance Director on client freeze: Something is wrong if we can no longer handle requests for help
The Straatalliantie homeless office in Amsterdam has suspended new admissions until at least November 2 due to severe staffing shortages and an overwhelming rise in demand for support. City officials ...
Cinekid has grown into the world's largest children's film festival in forty years: 'Try watching something other than a Sinterklaas movie for once'
Over the past forty years, Cinekid has transformed from a local Amsterdam event into the world's largest children's film festival. Director Joanne Oldenbeuving plans to further develop the festival by...
Around 7,000 households in Amsterdam Nieuw-West hit by power outage
Around 7,000 households in Amsterdam Nieuw-West are experiencing a power outage that has affected several neighborhoods including Osdorp and Slotervaart. Grid operator Liander is working on the issue ...
Amsterdam city center relies more heavily on tourists than other cities, Van der Horst warns of economic risk
Amsterdam's retail and hospitality sectors rely heavily on tourism, leading to concerns from Deputy Mayor Van der Horst about economic vulnerability. The official warns that this focus on visitors ris...
Flower kiosk belonging to sisters Mandy and Kim destroyed by fire: My heart is weeping
Mandy's Bloemenshop, a 47-year-old family business on the Amstelveenseweg in Amsterdam, was destroyed by a fire caused by a short circuit in the cooling system. Sisters Kim and Mandy are devastated by...
At Flow Community you don't have to rush home after yoga: 'There is time for tea and a chat'
Sisters Ngudju and Mwanini Makangira have opened Flow Community in Amsterdam's Oud-West to provide a more personal alternative to standard yoga studios. The center emphasizes social connection by enco...