Smart traps in Haarlem's sewers are killing between 20 and 60 rats daily, yet the municipality expects 2026 to be a record year for pest reports. To address the persistent issue, Alderman Berkhout is introducing a new protocol for extreme nuisance to manage the growing rat population.
Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema condemned the vandalism of the National Monument on Dam Square after it was defaced with red paint and the word "genocide" shortly before Remembrance Day. Halsema described the act as pure destructiveness rather than a legitimate form of protest.
Dutch cabinet members and parliamentarians expressed outrage after the National Monument on Dam Square in Amsterdam was defaced on Remembrance Day. State Secretary Eric van der Burg condemned the act as "disgusting" while the nation gathered to honor victims of World War II and other conflicts.
Mortgage applications in the Netherlands fell by 11 percent in April compared to the previous year, driven by rising interest rates making buyers, particularly starters, more hesitant. Despite the overall decline, competition remains strong for properties valued at over 750,000 euros, which are seeing higher bids.
A house fire broke out on Wilhelminaweg in Zandvoort early Monday morning around 3:26 AM. Emergency services, including the fire department, police, and an ambulance, responded to the scene to extinguish the flames.
Several vehicles were damaged in a fire on Luxemburglaan in Heemskerk during the early hours of Monday morning. The blaze broke out around 1:30 AM and resulted in damage to multiple cars.