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.

132 drownings in the Netherlands last year: urinating in canals can be fatal
haarlemsdagblad

132 drownings in the Netherlands last year: urinating in canals can be fatal

A total of 132 people drowned in the Netherlands last year, consisting of 100 residents and 32 foreign nationals. According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the majority of these drowning victims were...

Will De Roy van Zuydewijn get access to Máxima spin-off? Judge issues ruling
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Will De Roy van Zuydewijn get access to Máxima spin-off? Judge issues ruling

Edwin de Roy van Zuydewijn is awaiting a court ruling today on whether he can access the scripts for the upcoming Videoland series 'Mabel & Margarita'. He filed a lawsuit against RTL to determine if t...

Skyr is flying off the shelves, but is it actually better than regular quark?
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Skyr is flying off the shelves, but is it actually better than regular quark?

Supermarkets in the Netherlands are facing shortages of the dairy product skyr due to a surge in demand driven by social media trends on Instagram and TikTok. Suppliers are currently struggling to kee...

Opportunity or threat for Akersloot Omnipark? Castricum municipality sees sports grounds as solution for housing shortage
haarlemsdagblad

Opportunity or threat for Akersloot Omnipark? Castricum municipality sees sports grounds as solution for housing shortage

The municipality of Castricum is considering the sports grounds of a local handball and tennis club in Akersloot as potential sites for flexible housing to address housing shortages. These locations a...

Spaarne Gasthuis, Buurts and GGD demand more public transport, neighborhood teams and mold prevention: ‘That is what is needed’
haarlemsdagblad

Spaarne Gasthuis, Buurts and GGD demand more public transport, neighborhood teams and mold prevention: ‘That is what is needed’

The regional healthcare platform Sigra is calling on municipalities in the Haarlem area to invest in mold prevention for housing, expand neighborhood social teams, and upgrade public transport service...

Staal Foodfest unveils new setup and possible Telstar match on big screen
haarlemsdagblad

Staal Foodfest unveils new setup and possible Telstar match on big screen

The fourth edition of Staal Foodfest will take place on May 22nd and 23rd at Plein 1945 in IJmuiden. Visitors can enjoy live music, food, and drinks, with the possibility of a Telstar football match b...

Police used force in more cases last year
haarlemsdagblad

Police used force in more cases last year

The Dutch police used force in 25,163 incidents last year, representing a nearly 9 percent increase from the previous year. This rise is partly attributed to a general increase in the total number of ...

Study: Surgery for children with appendicitis not always necessary
haarlemsdagblad

Study: Surgery for children with appendicitis not always necessary

A study by Amsterdam UMC involving 300 children across 15 Dutch hospitals found that antibiotics can effectively treat simple appendicitis, potentially making surgery unnecessary. The research suggest...

Entrepreneurs achieve energy savings and reduce CO2 emissions
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Entrepreneurs achieve energy savings and reduce CO2 emissions

Dutch entrepreneurs significantly invested in energy-efficient technologies and installations last year, leading to substantial energy savings. These efforts resulted in a reduction in CO2 emissions a...

Ministers condemn riots at Loosdrecht reception center
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Ministers condemn riots at Loosdrecht reception center

Dutch Ministers Bart van den Brink and David van Weel have condemned the violence and vandalism occurring at an asylum seeker reception center in Loosdrecht. The ministers expressed their anger and in...

Fire at emergency shelter in Loosdrecht during asylum center protest
haarlemsdagblad

Fire at emergency shelter in Loosdrecht during asylum center protest

A fire broke out at an emergency shelter for asylum seekers in Loosdrecht during an anti-AZC demonstration. A spokesperson for the safety region confirmed the incident occurred while protesters were p...

Is sunbed lawsuit good news for frustrated Dutch vacationers?
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Is sunbed lawsuit good news for frustrated Dutch vacationers?

A German family won a lawsuit and received 900 euros in compensation from their tour operator for failing to intervene in the practice of guests reserving pool sunbeds with towels. This ruling could s...

UK to help in Strait of Hormuz with mine robots and fighter jets
haarlemsdagblad

UK to help in Strait of Hormuz with mine robots and fighter jets

The United Kingdom is deploying military assets, including mine-countermeasure drones and fighter jets, to restore shipping in the Strait of Hormuz following a blockade by Iran. Defense Minister John ...

Asylum center protest in Hillegom remains peaceful: ‘People are against it, but no longer dare to protest’
haarlemsdagblad

Asylum center protest in Hillegom remains peaceful: ‘People are against it, but no longer dare to protest’

Approximately 40 people gathered in Hillegom on Tuesday evening to protest the potential establishment of an asylum seekers' center. Although no concrete plans for a center currently exist, the demons...

Children and protests: Do they go together? 'What young children shout is an echo of their parents' voices'
haarlemsdagblad

Children and protests: Do they go together? 'What young children shout is an echo of their parents' voices'

A "Safe Outside March" is being organized in Loosdrecht for children to protest against the temporary housing of asylum seekers. Experts highlight a tension in involving children in such demonstration...

Charging station manufacturer Alfen sees revenue rise, charging system sales fall
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Charging station manufacturer Alfen sees revenue rise, charging system sales fall

Dutch charging station manufacturer Alfen reported a 25% revenue increase in the first quarter of 2026, driven by growth in energy storage systems and smart electricity grids. Despite this overall gro...

Castricum's prospective coalition sees little room for an asylum center. But how will the municipality comply with the Distribution Act?
haarlemsdagblad

Castricum's prospective coalition sees little room for an asylum center. But how will the municipality comply with the Distribution Act?

The prospective coalition parties in Castricum, including Lokaal Vitaal, VVD, and D66, are struggling to find a way to comply with the national Distribution Act for asylum seekers. While the municipal...

UvA and VU resume use of Canvas after deal with hackers
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UvA and VU resume use of Canvas after deal with hackers

The University of Amsterdam (UvA) and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) are restoring access to the Canvas learning platform after its parent company reached a deal with the hacking group Shinyhunters...

CU supports government asylum plans, previously opposed emergency law
haarlemsdagblad

CU supports government asylum plans, previously opposed emergency law

The ChristenUnie (CU) has announced its support for the Dutch cabinet's current asylum plans, marking a shift from its previous opposition to the asylum emergency measures law. The party confirmed thi...

Yeşilgöz: Netherlands wants to contribute more in Strait of Hormuz
haarlemsdagblad

Yeşilgöz: Netherlands wants to contribute more in Strait of Hormuz

Dutch Defense Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz announced in Brussels that the Netherlands is prepared to increase its contribution to the protection of the Strait of Hormuz. The specifics of this additional ...

The love lessons of Zaandijkstraat
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The love lessons of Zaandijkstraat

The AT5 series 'De Straten van Amsterdam' visits Zaandijkstraat to interview residents about their personal experiences with love and relationships. The episode features stories ranging from long-dist...

Class action group rejects Odido response: Nearly half a million seek compensation
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Class action group rejects Odido response: Nearly half a million seek compensation

The organization leading a mass claim against telecom provider Odido has rejected the company's refusal to compensate victims of a major data leak. Nearly 500,000 individuals have already joined the l...

Hours-long search for 'missing baby goats' at petting zoo
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Hours-long search for 'missing baby goats' at petting zoo

Two four-day-old dwarf goats sparked a search involving the police after going missing from the Dierenvreugd petting zoo in Nieuw-Vennep. The animals reappeared on their own after four hours to feed f...

Ukrainians busy furnishing new homes at Tolhek Oost in Heemskerk: 'But the Yellow Flat will always be in our hearts'
haarlemsdagblad

Ukrainians busy furnishing new homes at Tolhek Oost in Heemskerk: 'But the Yellow Flat will always be in our hearts'

Ukrainian refugees Larysa and Ksenia have moved into their new homes at Tolhek Oost in Heemskerk after weeks of relocating. While settling into the new residence, they expressed that their former hous...

No support for coalition plan for corporate ‘freedom contribution’
haarlemsdagblad

No support for coalition plan for corporate ‘freedom contribution’

A majority in the Dutch House of Representatives has rejected a coalition proposal to fund increased defense spending through higher disability insurance premiums for businesses. The opposition unanim...

Ship doctors' association: Wear masks sooner on board
haarlemsdagblad

Ship doctors' association: Wear masks sooner on board

Arend Jansen, chairman of the Dutch Medical Nautical Society, suggests that face masks should be worn sooner on ships when respiratory infections are suspected. This recommendation follows a hantaviru...

Male swan bids farewell to mate of 15 years found decapitated at playground: 'The sound was bone-chilling'
haarlemsdagblad

Male swan bids farewell to mate of 15 years found decapitated at playground: 'The sound was bone-chilling'

A female swan was found decapitated near a playground in Velserbroek, causing significant distress to the local community and her mate of fifteen years. While the bird hospital suspects human involvem...

Churches acknowledge suffering of birth mothers but offer no apology
haarlemsdagblad

Churches acknowledge suffering of birth mothers but offer no apology

The Interchurch Contact in Government Affairs (CIO), representing thirty Dutch church denominations, has acknowledged the profound pain and suffering of unmarried mothers who were forced to give up th...

End of zero-hours contracts nears after Dutch parliament vote
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End of zero-hours contracts nears after Dutch parliament vote

The Dutch House of Representatives has approved a law to phase out zero-hour contracts, aiming to provide greater protection for the country's 2.7 million flexible workers. This move marks a significa...

Unions ready for action, passengers will feel the impact
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Unions ready for action, passengers will feel the impact

Dutch labor unions are preparing for a series of strikes this summer to protest proposed government cuts to social security. These actions are expected to significantly disrupt travel and could paraly...