Today's top stories

The new governing alliance of PRO Amsterdam and D66 plans to find savings by trimming the city’s civil service. In a nod to local pressure, the coalition has scrapped a planned erotic center and resisted a ban on cannabis for tourists. Read more →

Former speaker Khadija Arib appeared before a parliamentary committee to discuss the Netherlands’ response to the initial phase of the pandemic. The inquiry is specifically examining whether political indecision delayed the delivery of essential equipment to elderly care facilities. Read more →

The path is clear for Ukraine and Moldova to join the European Union after Hungary finally withdrew its long-standing veto. Cyprus, as the current chair, will now oversee the start of formal negotiations on the first policy chapters. Read more →

The son of journalist Yesim Candan was hospitalized in Amsterdam after being assaulted with a heavy lock. The attack is believed to be retaliation for a recent column in Het Parool criticizing a local multicultural football club. Read more →

To win over the GroenLinks-PvdA opposition in the Senate, the government agreed to boost the aid budget by 328 million euros. The deal highlights the cabinet’s precarious position as it seeks support for its fiscal agenda from across the aisle. Read more →

Starting June 12, the Netherlands will begin sending migrants back to Italy if they first entered the European Union through that country. This move marks an early implementation of the bloc’s new migration pact aimed at enforcing residency rules. Read more →