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.

Amsterdam network GasTerug warns as energy prices rise again: The urgency is greater than ever
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Amsterdam network GasTerug warns as energy prices rise again: The urgency is greater than ever

The Amsterdam-based network GasTerug is calling on residents to reduce their energy consumption as gas prices rise again. They suggest that setting thermostats to 18 degrees is an essential and urgent...

Retrospective of revolutionary Matisse: "He kept reinventing himself"
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Retrospective of revolutionary Matisse: "He kept reinventing himself"

The H'ART Museum in Amsterdam is hosting a comprehensive retrospective of Henri Matisse, featuring 37 works from the Centre Pompidou. The exhibition explores the artist's constant stylistic reinventio...

It's Children's Book Week: how to get your child reading again
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It's Children's Book Week: how to get your child reading again

As the annual Children's Book Week takes place in the Netherlands, parents are facing challenges in encouraging children to read due to the prevalence of smartphones and social media. The article expl...

These North Holland farmers are seeking creative side incomes
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These North Holland farmers are seeking creative side incomes

Sixty percent of farmers in North Holland are diversifying their businesses with non-agricultural activities to ensure financial stability amidst industry uncertainty. These additional ventures, rangi...

Opticians divided over sale of 'spy glasses': 'We won't wait for a ban'
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Opticians divided over sale of 'spy glasses': 'We won't wait for a ban'

Dutch opticians are divided over selling AI-integrated smart glasses, with some retailers choosing to pull the products from shelves due to privacy concerns and others maintaining sales. The governmen...

Jubilant Jesse Klaver on social media: VVD members are struggling with it
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Jubilant Jesse Klaver on social media: VVD members are struggling with it

GroenLinks-PvdA leader Jesse Klaver has sparked internal friction within the VVD by claiming victory in the recent Prinsjesdag negotiations. His public remarks have caused local party officials to fac...

Public Prosecution Service demands 80 hours of community service for pro-Palestinian protester for trivializing the Holocaust
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Public Prosecution Service demands 80 hours of community service for pro-Palestinian protester for trivializing the Holocaust

Prosecutors have requested an 80-hour community service sentence for a man who made antisemitic comments during a pro-Palestinian protest in Amsterdam. The suspect is accused of trivializing the Holoc...

Huge 17th-century VOC ship Batavia sails through Amsterdam in 2026: "Wonderful"
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Huge 17th-century VOC ship Batavia sails through Amsterdam in 2026: "Wonderful"

A 17th-century VOC ship reconstruction named the Batavia passed through Amsterdam on a pontoon following a two-week renovation at the NDSM wharf. The massive 56-meter vessel is now en route to Lelysta...

Suzan & Freek announce new album: 'Created when life suddenly took a different turn'
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Suzan & Freek announce new album: 'Created when life suddenly took a different turn'

Musical duo Suzan & Freek have announced a new album arriving on November 13, reflecting on the profound personal changes in their lives following Freek's terminal lung cancer diagnosis. The record fe...

Paulien Cornelisse's funeral to be held privately, date unknown
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Paulien Cornelisse's funeral to be held privately, date unknown

The funeral for writer and comedian Paulien Cornelisse will be held privately with no date currently announced. Cornelisse, who became a juror for De slimste mens in 2025, passed away following a peri...

Four arrests in Louis Couperusstraat for German ATM bombing, home full of explosive material
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Four arrests in Louis Couperusstraat for German ATM bombing, home full of explosive material

Four individuals were arrested in Amsterdam after police discovered explosive materials and a large amount of cash inside a residence on Louis Couperusstraat. The investigation is linked to a criminal...

Bol pulls 'inappropriate' AI video glasses with manipulation stickers from sale, still available elsewhere
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Bol pulls 'inappropriate' AI video glasses with manipulation stickers from sale, still available elsewhere

Bol.com has removed stickers from its website that allowed users to hide the recording indicator lights on video glasses. The retailer decided to ban the products after concerns were raised regarding ...

Collision of two planes at Schiphol D-pier caused by inattention in the control tower
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Collision of two planes at Schiphol D-pier caused by inattention in the control tower

A collision between two KLM Boeing 737s at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol was attributed to communication errors in the traffic control tower. While no one was injured, both aircraft sustained significant...

How real estate 'cowboys' will face stricter supervision: 'First yellow, then red'
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How real estate 'cowboys' will face stricter supervision: 'First yellow, then red'

A new professional registry is being introduced in the Netherlands to combat misconduct and unethical practices among real estate agents. This initiative aims to increase oversight and accountability,...

'Tattookiller' Brian P. agrees to nearly 4-year sentence demand for arms and drug trafficking
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'Tattookiller' Brian P. agrees to nearly 4-year sentence demand for arms and drug trafficking

Brian P., known as 'Tattookiller,' has agreed to a proposed prison sentence of three years and eight months for charges related to drug trafficking and illegal firearms possession. The Amsterdam court...

Butterflies are struggling, so Amsterdam is working on a butterfly highway: ‘We need to connect green spaces’
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Butterflies are struggling, so Amsterdam is working on a butterfly highway: ‘We need to connect green spaces’

To combat declining butterfly populations caused by climate change and pesticide use, organizers in Amsterdam are creating a butterfly highway. The project aims to establish a network of interconnecte...

Is the city doing enough about the waste crisis? Opposition already critical of new trash cans
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Is the city doing enough about the waste crisis? Opposition already critical of new trash cans

Amsterdam's city council is debating the effectiveness of new trash bins designed to address the city's ongoing waste crisis. While local officials argue these bins are part of a broader strategy, opp...

Two cleaning companies fined 700,000 euros after serious violations
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Two cleaning companies fined 700,000 euros after serious violations

Two cleaning companies were fined a combined 700,000 euros after inspectors discovered illegal cash payments, undocumented employees, and the use of staff without valid work permits. The Dutch Labor I...

Sun or rain? This is the weather forecast for October in Haarlem
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Sun or rain? This is the weather forecast for October in Haarlem

Haarlem is set for a mild start to October with temperatures reaching up to 22 degrees before transitioning to more typical, unsettled autumn weather later in the month. Increased rainfall and cooler ...

Mold and excessive rent: Amsterdam landlord must repay over 15,000 euros
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Mold and excessive rent: Amsterdam landlord must repay over 15,000 euros

An Amsterdam landlord has been ordered to refund over 15,000 euros to tenants after a court found they were significantly overcharged and provided a property with maintenance defects like mold. The co...

These 16 Amsterdam restaurants with play areas are ideal for small children
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These 16 Amsterdam restaurants with play areas are ideal for small children

A list of sixteen restaurants and cafes in Amsterdam has been highlighted for their family-friendly atmosphere and dedicated play areas. These venues are specifically recommended for parents who want ...

Eighteen kilos of cocaine found in crew member's carry-on after flight from Mexico to Schiphol
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Eighteen kilos of cocaine found in crew member's carry-on after flight from Mexico to Schiphol

Customs officers at Schiphol Airport intercepted eighteen kilograms of cocaine found in the carry-on luggage of a crew member arriving from Mexico. The narcotics have been destroyed, and a specialized...

Cornald Maas is new jury chair of Annie M.G. Schmidt Prize
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Cornald Maas is new jury chair of Annie M.G. Schmidt Prize

Cornald Maas has been named the new jury chairman for the Annie M.G. Schmidtprijs, an annual award honoring the best Dutch theater song. The announcement comes as the organization prepares for its upc...

Buffet van Odette on the Prinsengracht celebrates 25th anniversary: People often ask why we only have one restaurant
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Buffet van Odette on the Prinsengracht celebrates 25th anniversary: People often ask why we only have one restaurant

Buffet van Odette, a popular family-run restaurant located on the Prinsengracht, is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Founder Odette Rigterink credits the establishment's enduring success to its signa...

Austria makes cheap parcels more expensive again
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Austria makes cheap parcels more expensive again

Austria is introducing an additional 2 euro processing fee on small, non-EU packages starting November 1, following a broader EU customs charge implemented earlier this year. These stricter import rul...

Paulien Cornelisse's husband writes about her columns: 'A great gift'
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Paulien Cornelisse's husband writes about her columns: 'A great gift'

The husband of the late writer Paulien Cornelisse has shared personal tributes to her work and revealed that she left behind a letter with instructions for him before her death at age fifty. Corneliss...

Unions threaten regional transport strikes over lack of collective labor agreement
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Unions threaten regional transport strikes over lack of collective labor agreement

Regional public transport unions have threatened to strike starting October 12 if a new collective labor agreement is not reached. The FNV union demands a 6 percent pay raise and better working condit...

Cabinet wants to spare small savers and investors after all, plans adjusted again
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Cabinet wants to spare small savers and investors after all, plans adjusted again

Finance Minister Eelco Heinen is adjusting tax plans for savings and investments following backlash over the potential impact on 850,000 small-scale savers. The government aims to revise the proposal ...

Musical Christmas program Scrooge Live to be filmed in Drenthe this year
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Musical Christmas program Scrooge Live to be filmed in Drenthe this year

The musical television special Scrooge Live, which highlights the issue of child poverty in the Netherlands, will be filmed in Drenthe this year. The event is scheduled to air on NPO 1 on December 20 ...

No explosives, just clothing found in abandoned suitcases at Haarlem station
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No explosives, just clothing found in abandoned suitcases at Haarlem station

Haarlem station was evacuated Tuesday morning after two abandoned suitcases raised suspicions of explosives, leading to a temporary halt in train traffic. Authorities later discovered only clothing in...