haarlemsdagbladApr 1, 2026, 06:30

Royal honors for veterans Van der Heijden and Ates at farewell ceremony for Heemstede councilors

Former Heemstede council members Thera van der Heijden and Remco Ates were appointed Members of the Order of Orange-Nassau during a farewell ceremony on Tuesday evening. Mayor Falgun Binnendijk honored the pair for their twelve years of dedicated service to the municipal council. The event marked the final gathering of the outgoing council members.

Politics Netherlands

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

How do we protect the North Sea 24/7? Defense seeks answers from the Marineterrein

The Dutch Ministry of Defence is launching the National Institute for Defence Technology with a 350 million euro annual budget to stimulate domestic military innovation. The proposed headquarters for this new institute is the Marineterrein in Amsterdam, with an immediate focus on developing technology to protect North Sea infrastructure from potential foreign threats.

America has the internet and COVID vaccines to thank for it, now the Netherlands has such an institute too

The Netherlands has established the Netherlands Institute for Defense Technology (NIDT), an innovation agency modeled after the American DARPA to foster cutting-edge military advancements. Its first major initiative focuses on developing autonomous systems and sensors to protect critical infrastructure in the North Sea.

Back to the backrooms: divided coalition must now find a way out of tax maze

The Dutch coalition government remains deadlocked over its tax plans after a failed debate, struggling to reconcile internal differences regarding a proposed millionaire tax. With voting approaching, parties must now negotiate behind the scenes to secure the necessary parliamentary support while avoiding a coalition split.

More screen time, less outdoor play: Amsterdam takes action

Amsterdam has appointed a special councilor for outdoor play to combat the trend of children spending excessive time on digital devices. The initiative aims to address playground inequality and urban congestion while encouraging families to prioritize physical activity for better child development.

Gas prices plummet after US Democrat gains, but remain high for consumers

Gas prices on the TTF exchange have fallen by 16 percent since last Friday, fueled by market optimism following the Democratic party's gains in US midterm elections. While this could lead to significant annual savings for consumers, experts warn that retail prices may not drop immediately due to supplier delays and ongoing market volatility.