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.
Free weddings in Haarlem? Not until April 2027
Couples seeking a free wedding ceremony in Haarlem must wait until April 2027 for the next available slot. Recent data from the Haarlem municipality shows that waiting times for these ceremonies in th...
Plan for temporary housing on Huibert Pootstraat. Garages to make way for 63 units.
Stichting Care4Good and HDO Groep have proposed a plan to build 63 temporary housing units on Huibert Pootstraat for individuals with limited access to the housing market, such as young adults and the...
Infighting, splits and empty seats: FvD’s troubled entry into local councils
A week after the Dutch municipal elections, Forum voor Democratie is experiencing internal conflict, splits, and low attendance in several local councils. Despite winning nearly 300 seats, the party's...
Mayor of Gorinchem: it is up to the council to weigh the options
Mayor Reinie Melissant of Gorinchem has stated that the local city council must decide whether to hold a re-election for the council. She emphasized that the council faces a difficult choice which mus...
Dead woman found in Koninginneweg home, police investigate for hours
Amsterdam police are investigating a residence on Koninginneweg in the Oud-Zuid district after a woman's body was discovered on Tuesday afternoon. Forensic teams were deployed to the scene as authorit...
Hema wins Gouden Loeki for Christmas commercial featuring Takkie and Siepie cheering up sick girl
Hema and advertising agency Hotel L’Amour have won the Gouden Loeki award for the best television commercial of the year for the third consecutive year. The winning Christmas advertisement, which fe...
Raven van Dorst found US visa application a painful process: 'I had to choose'
Dutch presenter Raven van Dorst described the U.S. work visa application process as "painful" because it required temporarily reverting to a binary gender choice instead of the gender-neutral 'X' in t...
Hook of Holland fishmonger prosecuted for refusing woman with face veil
A fishmonger in Hoek van Holland is being prosecuted for discrimination after refusing to serve a woman wearing a face veil. The Court of Appeal in The Hague ruled that the man must stand trial for th...
Public Prosecution Service prosecutes two for assault and discrimination on VU campus
The Dutch Public Prosecutor's Office is prosecuting two 25-year-old students for assault and discriminatory behavior occurring on the Vrije Universiteit campus in Amsterdam last November. The suspects...
Weekend tips: things to do in Haarlem (March 27-29)
Haarlem offers various activities for the weekend of March 27-29 to celebrate the beginning of spring. The article provides curated tips and suggestions for events taking place throughout the city dur...
John Oomkes (1952-2026): prominent music journalist with a big heart for his native Haarlem
John Oomkes, a prominent pop journalist and former city council member from Haarlem, has passed away at the age of 74. Recognized as a pioneer in serious music journalism since the mid-1970s, Oomkes w...
Lebanon veterans see civilians fleeing en masse again: 'What did we do it all for?'
Dutch veterans who served in Lebanon express deep sadness as they witness the country's destruction during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. They question the value of their past peac...
No local 'opposition party' in the council: 'Today's protest party is right-wing populist'
Amsterdam currently lacks a distinct local protest party in its city council, a significant shift from the influential activist movements of the 1960s and 70s. Historian Bas Kok suggests this is becau...
'It has yet to bloom, hence that green rose,' Haarlem's Erica doesn't see merger party Progressive Netherlands as a funeral for her beloved PvdA
Members of the GroenLinks and PvdA parties gathered in Halfweg for the unveiling of their new merged party name, Progressief Nederland (PRO). Haarlem resident Erica expressed optimism about the merger...
Snack vegetables contain pesticides: is it safe to give them to your child?
Baby milk, snack vegetables, and fruit snacks may contain pesticide residues, raising concerns about food safety for children. Experts reassure that these products are safe to consume if parents follo...
Tom and Ron close flower shop after 42 years: 'We were like a little village in the city'
Ron Bouma and Tom Brands are closing their flower shop in Haarlem after 42 years of operation in the Kleverpark neighborhood. The business, Tom en Ron Bloemen en planten, became a community staple by ...
Castricum contractor Twisk Bouw closes its doors for good: Not out of necessity, but because they can
Castricum-based construction company Twisk Bouw is closing permanently after 33 years of operation. Owner Wim Twisk decided to shut down the business voluntarily to spend more time with his family rat...
Why do we want to know everything about Jan Smit and Liza’s divorce? ‘You think: things aren't that bad for me’
Dutch singer Jan Smit and his wife Liza Plat have announced their divorce after fourteen years of marriage. The split has sparked significant public interest, with psychologists noting that people oft...
One injured in stabbing at Abbenes home, one arrested
One person was injured following a stabbing incident at a home in Abbenes on Thursday evening. Law enforcement officials confirmed that one suspect has been arrested in connection with the incident.
Jetten: High oil prices prompt countries to tackle shadow fleet
Dutch Minister Rob Jetten stated that rising oil prices are increasing the pressure on nations to crack down on the shadow fleet used by Russia to bypass oil sanctions. Speaking after a meeting with N...
Municipalities understand minister's call for more asylum housing
The Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) has expressed support for Asylum Minister Bart van den Brink's call to urgently increase the number of reception spaces for asylum seekers. A spokes...
Heavy damage to homes after Slotermeer ATM bombing: "My son was too scared to go to school"
An ATM explosion at Slotermeerlaan in Amsterdam caused significant damage to residential buildings and injured a teenager early this morning. Local residents reported being in shock from the blast, wh...
Brad Pitt in Amsterdam? Even the most level-headed locals turn into hysterical fans
Brad Pitt was spotted walking along the canals in Amsterdam this week, appearing incognito with messy hair. His presence caused a rare wave of excitement among locals who typically remain indifferent ...
Haarlem band Eskalatie breathes new life into ska music
Eskalatie, a 12-member band from Haarlem, is reviving Dutch-language ska music by blending high-energy performances with social commentary. The group recently won the Rob Acda Award and has upcoming p...
GroenLinks-PvdA renamed PRO (Progressive Netherlands), red rose swapped for green
The political parties GroenLinks and PvdA have officially merged under the new name Progressief Nederland (PRO). Positioned as a broad people's party, the organization has updated its branding by repl...
Construction of Bolstoren in Nieuw-Vennep halted by enforcement, developer: 'We want to hurry for the buyers'
Construction on the Bolstoren in Nieuw-Vennep, which is being converted into nearly 100 apartments, has been halted by authorities because the environmental permit is not yet finalized. Developer De R...
Judge bans undressing feature in Grok chatbot
A court in Amsterdam has banned the "undressing function" of the Grok chatbot in the Netherlands following a summary judgment. The legal challenge was brought by victim support organizations and safet...
GL-PvdA and D66 to further explore new Haarlem coalition with CDA; other parties sidelined for now
GL-PvdA and D66 are set to explore a new local coalition in Haarlem with the CDA, excluding other parties for the time being. Following initial discussions led by Diana van Loenen, the three parties w...
Judge rules Grok may not undress people online with AI software
An Amsterdam court has ruled that the AI chatbot Grok is prohibited from generating and distributing AI-generated 'undressing' images and child pornographic material in the Netherlands. This decision ...
Lawyer also seeks acquittal for Ali B in Ten Damme rape case
Lawyer Bart Swier has requested an acquittal for Ali B regarding the alleged rape of singer Ellen ten Damme. The defense argued that a statement from Ten Damme's former partner should not be used as c...