The Haarlem Initiatievenschool is offering a series of free training sessions and workshops throughout 2026 to help residents develop social and sustainable projects for the city. These sessions cover topics like sustainable financing, community building, and navigating local politics to support community-driven initiatives.
Dozens of people in Loosdrecht gathered on Wednesday evening to protest the emergency asylum seeker shelter located in the local town hall. Due to an emergency ordinance and a designated safety risk zone, demonstrators were required to maintain a greater distance from the building than in previous protests.
The Dutch National Action Committee for Students (LAKS) reports that nearly a third of the 430 noise complaints received during exams are related to fatbikes. Many of these complaints specifically involve loud fatbike alarms sounding on school grounds, disrupting students during their tests.
The Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) has requested an emergency meeting with the Dutch cabinet to address riots and intimidation occurring during protests against asylum seeker housing. Describing these incidents as "forms of terror," the VNG seeks additional measures to prevent escalation and support local governments in their tasks.
The Dutch VVD party is calling for cabinet intervention against a far-right group accused of hijacking local protests against asylum seeker centers, specifically citing a recent incident in Loosdrecht. MP Ulysse Ellian argued that the group's organized violence across various municipalities distracts from the genuine concerns of local residents.
Film director Erik Fleming has been sentenced to two years in prison for distributing ketamine to actor Matthew Perry. Fleming is the fourth of five individuals to be convicted in connection with Perry's death, following previous sentences for two doctors and an individual known as the 'ketamine queen'.