haarlemsdagbladMar 1, 2026, 12:00

At IJmuiden election debate, parties weighed between lofty promises and results: ‘I looked at everything they promised in the previous local elections’

A local election debate was held in IJmuiden, organized by Welzijn Velsen and the Zee- en Duinwijk neighborhood platform. Participants discussed key issues such as housing, clean air, and neighborhood resilience as voters compared current promises to past performance.

Politics Netherlands

Read original ↗

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

Mayor Halsema will not grant firework exemptions in the future either

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema has announced that the city will not issue exemptions for firework displays by associations, citing enforcement difficulties and safety concerns. Instead, the municipality encourages citizens to attend official, organized shows rather than using fireworks themselves.

Documentary maker Mijke de Jong followed Femke Halsema for a year as mayor: I was not out to catch her out

Documentary filmmaker Mijke de Jong spent a year following Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema for her project titled De burgemeester. The documentary explores the daily responsibilities and public scrutiny faced by the mayor, addressing themes like accessibility and media criticism.

Red Line demonstration in Amsterdam: ‘Israel is not a normal country and does not do normal things’

Human rights organizations held their fourth demonstration in Amsterdam to urge the Netherlands to take a stronger stance against the violence in Gaza. Activists from groups like The Rights Forum criticized Israel's actions, calling for urgent government intervention in the conflict.

Halsema calls homeless shelters a magnet: does repealing the outdoor sleeping ban attract homeless people to Amsterdam?

The Amsterdam city council is set to decide on Wednesday whether to abolish the local ban on sleeping outdoors. The debate centers on a disagreement between parties advocating for more humane policies and those who fear the change will attract more homeless people to the city.

Child of married couple no longer automatically takes father’s surname: ‘Important victory for women’

The Dutch government has proposed a new law that prevents the automatic assignment of a father's surname when parents cannot agree on a name for their child. Instead, children will receive both parents' surnames in alphabetical order, a move intended to promote gender equality and address potential power imbalances in abusive relationships.