haarlemsdagbladMay 23, 2026, 05:00

Man who rampaged through emergency shelter on King’s Day won’t pay costs; Defend Loosdrecht to cover them. ‘Brian is one of us’

Brian A., an Ermelo resident sentenced for vandalizing the Loosdrecht town hall on King's Day, will not have to pay the court-ordered €5,000 in damages himself. The group Defend Loosdrecht has raised nearly the full amount through a fundraiser to cover the costs on his behalf.

Politics Netherlands

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Based on reporting by haarlemsdagblad. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

Prime Minister Jetten wants to give opposition final offer by Tuesday at the latest: 'Chances of reaching an agreement'

Prime Minister Rob Jetten aims to present a final offer for a tax plan deal to opposition parties by Tuesday to secure parliamentary majorities. While progress has been made with center parties like ChristenUnie and 50Plus, negotiations remain difficult with right-wing groups over demands related to asylum, nitrogen, and social issues.

Municipality allocates over half a million euros again to help sports clubs

The Amsterdam municipality has committed 525,000 euros to support local sports clubs facing challenges like volunteer shortages and rising costs. The funding enables organizations to hire professional staff and strengthen their operations, with new options available for multi-year support to ensure long-term sustainability.

Will Gidi Markuszower of all people save the cabinet?

The Dutch government is facing intense political pressure as it struggles to finalize a tax deal while managing complex conflicts with the agricultural sector. Reporters are exploring potential legislative solutions involving alternative party alliances, including figures like Gidi Markuszower, to help resolve the ongoing cabinet deadlock.

DigiD target of DDoS attack: some services briefly unavailable

The Dutch digital identity system DigiD faced a temporary outage following a DDoS attack that disrupted access for tens of thousands of users. Logius confirmed the system is back online and emphasized that no personal data was stolen during the incident.

When is a police officer allowed to use a taser?

Recent footage of a police officer using a Taser on a delivery driver in Amsterdam has drawn attention to the specific legal conditions under which Dutch law enforcement may deploy conducted energy weapons. These devices are permitted only in strictly defined circumstances, such as preventing violence, addressing immediate danger, or overcoming physical resistance during an arrest.