Netherlands News in English
Netherlands news in English — Dutch national headlines covering politics, housing, immigration, the economy, transport and daily life, translated and updated throughout the day for the international community.
Tax system sometimes increases economic inequality between households
New research from the CPB indicates that the Dutch tax system is exacerbating economic inequality between households rather than reducing it. The findings show that wealthy households are increasingly...
Police clear anti-asylum center protesters from Apeldoorn roundabout
Police in Apeldoorn cleared a roundabout on Tuesday evening after protesters demonstrating against an emergency asylum seeker shelter threw fireworks at officers. No violence was reported during the p...
Royal couple closes May 5 concert with lively Latin music
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima attended the annual May 5th concert in Amsterdam, where they were seen dancing to Latin music performed by singer Rolf Sanchez. The event concluded with a selec...
Spain to receive cruise ship Hondius in the Canary Islands
Spain has agreed to receive the Dutch cruise ship Hondius in the Canary Islands for humanitarian reasons and in accordance with international law. The decision was announced by the Spanish Ministry of...
In pictures | How the Liberation Festivals unfolded in the Netherlands
Several Liberation Festivals across the Netherlands experienced high attendance on Tuesday, with some sites reaching full capacity. Festivals in Utrecht and Rotterdam were forced to temporarily close ...
Not two, but four Olivia Rodrigo concerts at the Ziggo Dome
American singer Olivia Rodrigo has announced two additional concert dates at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam for next year. In addition to her shows on March 23 and 24, she will now also perform on March ...
War remains secondary at Bevrijdingspop: 'This festival is mostly about having fun, and that's how it should be'
Bevrijdingspop 2026 continues to prioritize music and celebration, despite organizers' previous promises to place a greater emphasis on themes of war and security. Attendees found that these serious t...
Everyone reflects at liberation celebration in Velsen-Noord. ‘Dancing in the Breestraat after liberation was unforgettable’
Residents in Velsen-Noord gathered to commemorate the end of World War II, sharing personal memories of the liberation. The article highlights the importance of local observances alongside larger fest...
Remembrance Day protester: 'I am not allowed on Dam Square, while my grandmother survived Auschwitz'
During the Remembrance Day ceremony on Dam Square in Amsterdam, police detained nine protesters carrying signs with the slogan "Never again is now." One activist, whose grandmother survived Auschwitz,...
Young Bevrijdingspop visitors stay level-headed despite world misery: ‘Freedom is just enjoying a beer’
Tens of thousands of visitors attended the Bevrijdingspop festival to celebrate freedom and enjoy a day of entertainment. Most attendees focused on the festive atmosphere, emphasizing the importance o...
Women’s resistance in the Vondelstraat: “You really feel it in the stones of the building”
The AT5 series De Straten van Amsterdam explores the history of women's resistance in the Vondelstraat during World War II. The episode highlights the stories of Jewish photographers Eva Besnyö and M...
Councilor Post-Van Zon splits from Heemsteeds Burger Belang
Council member Ems Post-van Zon and the Heemsteeds Burger Belang (HBB) faction have parted ways effective immediately. The decision comes after both parties concluded that their working methods and st...
Another VVD member moves to gambling industry: Former MP Rosemarijn Dral named director of lobby group VNLOK
Former VVD Member of Parliament Rosemarijn Dral has been appointed as the new director of VNLOK, the trade association for licensed online gambling providers. Her move highlights continuing close ties...
Bevrijdingspop sometimes unforgettable. Singing along with the Bankzitters or Hannah Mae
Haarlem hosted a sunny edition of the Bevrijdingspop festival, a long-standing tradition celebrating Liberation Day. The event featured performances by acts such as Bankzitters and Hannah Mae, providi...
Chance of cash prizes to entice people to return more deposit bottles
Starting next Monday, the packaging organization Verpact will launch a lottery to encourage consumers to return more deposit bottles and cans. Participants have the chance to win cash prizes of up to ...
MontMartre Hillegom Anniversary: art at the Oude Pomp and St. Martin's Church
Dozens of artists will showcase their work at the MontMartre Hillegom event on Saturday, May 9. The exhibition will be centered around the Oude Pomp and Maartenskerk as part of a special anniversary c...
Heemskerk man sentenced to prison for rape after previous acquittal
A 27-year-old man from Heemskerk has been sentenced to three years in prison for the 2021 rape of a woman following an appeal. This ruling overturns a previous acquittal from two years ago after the P...
British PM wants to help compatriots on the Hondius
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed his support for British citizens stranded on the Dutch cruise ship Hondius. He confirmed that the government is working with international partners to...
Professor: Silent protest during two minutes of silence no grounds for arrest
Legal experts are questioning the lawfulness of the 13 arrests made during the National Remembrance Day ceremony at Amsterdam's Dam Square, specifically targeting nine silent protesters. Professor Jon...
Liberation Day in IJmond buzzes with sun, beer and positive energy: ‘It feels like coming home’
The IJmond Liberation Day festival in the Netherlands attracted many local primary school children and families on May 5th. Due to the holiday falling on a weekday, organizers focused on youth activit...
First liberation festival in Santpoort-Noord. Suomi runners welcomed with applause after tough night
Thirteen runners from the Suomi athletic club successfully transported the Liberation fire from Wageningen to Santpoort-Noord despite cold and rainy overnight conditions. Their arrival marked the vill...
'You see him lighting something.' Company van and car go up in flames in Heemskerk; perpetrator caught on security camera.
On early Tuesday morning, a company van and a car were destroyed by arson in Heemskerk. Security cameras at the victim's home recorded the perpetrator starting the fire.
Pieter Geert (100) passes war vehicles in Heemskerk on his mobility scooter: 'If I tell what I’ve been through and seen, they won’t believe me'
On Liberation Day, 100-year-old Pieter Geert Folkersma visited a display of historical military vehicles in Heemskerk. Using his mobility scooter, he viewed various vehicles that he had personally ope...
Milieudefensie director to join Tata Steel
Donald Pols is stepping down as the director of Milieudefensie to join Tata Steel Nederland. As a result, he is leaving the environmental organization with immediate effect to transition into his new ...
Remarkable career switch: Milieudefensie director moves to Tata Steel
Donald Pols, the general director of Milieudefensie, is leaving the environmental organization to join Tata Steel in June. Milieudefensie has dismissed Pols immediately, stating that his new career mo...
Kelly Piquet on parenting with Max Verstappen: 'Learning to say no'
Kelly Piquet and Max Verstappen are working to balance their parenting duties with their busy professional schedules. In a new interview, Piquet emphasized the importance of being intentional with the...
WHO: Sickest patients to the Netherlands for treatment
The World Health Organization is coordinating the evacuation of two seriously ill patients from the Dutch cruise ship Hondius to the Netherlands for medical treatment. The patients, who were affected ...
Liberation fire, Freedom Soup and reflection on the village square in Castricum
Residents of Castricum gathered on the Dorpsplein to celebrate Liberation Day by lighting the liberation fire and sharing Freedom Soup. The event focused on the importance of passing the value of free...
Wageningen45: soldiers from 25 countries march in Freedom Parade
On Tuesday afternoon, a large crowd gathered in Wageningen for the annual Freedom Parade featuring WWII veterans and soldiers from 25 different countries. Organized by Wageningen45, the event saw spec...
Yes-R dreams big alongside music career: ‘My ultimate dream is to become a coach abroad’
Dutch artist Yes-R is expanding his career by becoming a football coach at the Alphense Boys youth academy starting next year. While maintaining his music schedule, his long-term goal is to transition...