haarlemsdagbladJun 18, 2026, 05:00

Put out-of-school children at the top of the education agenda

The parent association Balans is taking legal action to address the crisis of at least 70,000 children staying home and another 280,000 receiving insufficient education. The organization highlights how bureaucratic hurdles and funding shortages in schools and youth care are leaving families desperate and children without their right to education.

Politics Economy Netherlands

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

Brussels warns of uninsurable climate damage, EU law in the making

The European Commission is drafting new legislation to address the increasing economic and human costs of climate change, including clearer legal responsibilities and better insurance protocols. Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra highlighted the need for more climate-resilient construction and public risk-monitoring tools to combat damages that reached 113 billion euros during recent heatwaves.

Cabinet invests 450 million euros in rainforest protection fund

The Dutch government has pledged 450 million euros to the Tropical Forests Forever Facility, a global initiative led by Brazil to protect rainforests through investment-based returns. The contribution aims to help reach the 10 billion dollar threshold necessary to trigger further funding from Norway, though the Netherlands is still working to finalize the details of its commitment.

Many cabinets have tried, will cutting the number of civil servants finally succeed this time?

The Dutch government is attempting to reduce the number of civil servants after numerous failed attempts by previous cabinets. Success likely depends on the government's ability to clearly define which public services to maintain and which to eliminate.

Cabinet to cut civil service: 25,000 fewer full-time jobs by 2035

The Dutch cabinet plans to reduce the national civil service by 25,000 full-time positions by 2035. State Secretary Eric van der Burg also announced that funding for various advisory bodies will be significantly cut as part of this downsizing effort.

Dry summer already forgotten: hundreds of millions in funding for measures cut

The Dutch government has cut over 1 billion euros from the Delta Programme for Freshwater and other environmental initiatives to prioritize funding for roads and bridges. This decision comes despite a recent report from the Court of Audit warning of rising economic and ecological damages due to persistent drought.