Former House Speaker Khadija Arib testified before a parliamentary inquiry committee that the Dutch House of Representatives was unprepared for a pandemic at the start of 2020. Her statements were made as part of an investigation into the country's handling of the COVID-19 crisis.
The City of Haarlem, in collaboration with art platform 37PK and Elan Wonen, is commissioning five new murals in the Delftwijk and Haarlem Oost neighborhoods this summer. Funded by a €100,000 budget, the project features site-specific themes and involves local residents through creative workshops. The completed artworks are expected to be unveiled between August and October.
The new governing coalition in Amsterdam, consisting of PRO Amsterdam and D66, has announced its nine proposed aldermen for the upcoming four-year term. The new executive board features five new faces and four returning members, with responsibilities distributed across key portfolios such as housing, finance, and education. While the appointments must still be officially approved by the city council, the coalition's majority makes the confirmation a formality.
The Dutch Council of State has ruled that the government is temporarily exempt from paying penalty payments to victims of the childcare benefit scandal who are facing delays in compensation decisions. This suspension of penalties will remain in effect until June 3 of next year.