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.
Have your say on Haarlem station square
From June 29 to July 3, residents and travelers are invited to provide input on the renovation of the Haarlem station area during the Week of the Station Area. The event includes activities like playi...
Shot fired during home invasion on Anna van den Vondelstraat
A man was injured during a home robbery at his holiday residence on Anna van den Vondelstraat in Amsterdam West overnight. During a struggle with two perpetrators, a gunshot was fired, but no one was ...
Hot bridges, wet feet
When temperatures exceed 25 degrees Celsius, bridges may fail to open due to heat expansion. To prevent this, authorities spray the bridges with canal water to keep them cool and functional.
Rijkswaterstaat heat protocol in effect in Brabant and Limburg
Rijkswaterstaat has activated its heat protocol for the provinces of Limburg and Noord-Brabant this Monday. The measure ensures that stranded motorists are quickly moved to safe locations with facilit...
OMT member surprised by specialists' advice for school closures
Pediatrician and OMT member Károly Illy expressed surprise that the Federation of Medical Specialists recommended closing schools in March 2020 without consulting its members. The recommendation was ...
Peter Jan Rens suffers stroke, presenter is on the mend
Dutch television presenter Peter Jan Rens is recovering after suffering a stroke. The news was confirmed by the management of his housemate Johan Vlemmix following initial reports from a celebrity new...
Roadworks in Haarlem: what to expect this week (June 22 - June 29)
Roadworks will cause partial closures and traffic delays in several parts of Haarlem, including the Gedempte Oude Gracht and Oostvest, from June 22 to June 29. Travelers should plan for potential disr...
Stricter interest-only mortgage rules hit older homeowners
Major Dutch banks have introduced stricter regulations for interest-only mortgages, which may prevent some older homeowners from moving or accessing their home equity. These changes are expected to im...
Thijs Römer speaks about time in prison: 'Going to enjoy your workout, scumbag?'
Thijs Römer discussed his time in prison as a convicted sex offender during his new performance titled 'Een vorm van Eenzaamheid.' The actor admitted to his guilt regarding inappropriate behavior and...
Spaarndammertunnel closed for 10 days
Both tunnel tubes of the Spaarndammertunnel will be closed from Wednesday, June 24, to Friday, July 3, due to scheduled maintenance work. The closure will last for ten days and affect traffic in both ...
'Welcome to Heemstede', walking for refugees
On World Refugee Day, approximately 100 residents marched through Heemstede to raise awareness for the reception and housing of refugees. The event aimed to show community support for asylum seekers.
Inside Karin and Fred's home: ‘In the Blue Band Village you learn to be creative with limited space’
Karin and Fred Wijnands share their experience living for over thirty years in Amsterdam-West's Bluebanddorp, a neighborhood known for its small houses and blue facades. The couple explains how the co...
External agency to clear Wmo backlog in Velsen; wait times reach twenty weeks
The municipality of Velsen is hiring an external agency to address a backlog of 600 Social Support Act (Wmo) applications. Current waiting times for these requests have increased to twenty weeks.
'Everyone' is looking forward to the Hillegom Music Festival after a year away; organizer Klaas Slootweg takes a small step back for the 24th edition.
The Hillegoms Muziekfeest is set to return to the Hoftuin on June 27 after a one-year hiatus caused by police resource constraints during a NATO summit. The event's 24th edition has seen high demand, ...
Robbery in Heemstede, witnesses sought
A victim was assaulted during a theft on Leidsevaartweg in Heemstede on Sunday evening around 9:30 PM. Police are currently seeking witnesses and camera footage to assist in their investigation.
Auditor calls out Beverwijk: millions in budget fail to follow rules. Aagtenpark remediation is mandatory
An auditor has flagged the municipality of Beverwijk for failing to properly account for millions of euros in remediation costs for Aagtenpark in its budget. The issue arose because the remediation pl...
Friends revive declared-dead filterless platform BeReal
Journalist Sam van Opbergen highlights the recent revival of the social media app BeReal among his circle of friends. Known for its focus on authenticity without filters, the platform is trending agai...
It’s the generation of the cold washcloth: no friction, no shine
Residents in the Netherlands are preparing for an upcoming heatwave as the KNMI issues warnings about high temperatures. The article reflects on the social anxiety and common discussions surrounding e...
ANWB: Busy weekend, more breakdowns expected in coming days
The ANWB reported a 10% increase in roadside assistance calls over a warm weekend and expects the trend to continue throughout the week due to high temperatures. In response, the organization has incr...
Zeelandic-Flemish concerns over nuclear power plants and other energy plans
The Biervliet Village Council in Terneuzen has expressed concerns over national government plans to potentially build two new nuclear power plants in the Paulinapolder area. Additionally, grid operato...
PRO Bloemendaal leader Harold Koster enters firm opposition after failing to join coalition: ‘That was weak of D66’
Harold Koster, leader of the PRO Bloemendaal party, announced his party will move into a strong opposition role after being excluded from the new local coalition. Despite retaining four seats in the r...
Retirees can withdraw part of pension as lump sum from 2029, but it is not without risk
Starting in 2029, retirees in the Netherlands will be allowed to withdraw a lump sum of up to 10 percent of their total pension pot upon retirement. While this provides immediate financial flexibility...
Explosion blows door out of building in Zeeheldenbuurt
An explosion occurred at garage boxes on Barentszstraat in Amsterdam's Zeeheldenbuurt neighborhood early this morning, causing significant damage and blowing out a door. One person was treated for smo...
Recycle shop Droppie wants to expand to dozens of shopping centers
Recycle shop Droppie has announced plans to expand its operations by adding 70 new locations to shopping centers throughout the Netherlands. The shop, which currently operates in the country's four la...
Even in cycling there are sticklers for the rules, Mart Smeets observes. 'What a sad decision'
Sports commentator Mart Smeets criticized the strict enforcement of rules in cycling following a dominant performance by Tadej Pogacar and the UAE team on Saturday. The team's display of strength serv...
Watch pediatrician’s COVID hearing: why did schools have to close?
A Dutch parliamentary inquiry is holding hearings this week to investigate the reasons behind school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. On Monday, pediatrician Károly Illy and former Education Mi...
Five parties conclude coalition negotiations in Rotterdam
Five political parties in Rotterdam have concluded their negotiations to form a new city government. The coalition agreement is expected to be officially presented this Friday after final details were...
Niek Roozen (28) hit a wall after father’s death: ‘The grief settled in my body’
Dutch actor Niek Roozen shares how suppressing his grief following his father's death led to physical and emotional struggles. By learning to embrace vulnerability instead of trying to remain strong, ...
Sugar tax pushes prices up: Beer soon more expensive due to soft drink tax
The Dutch government's proposed sugar tax for 2030 could lead to significant price increases for both soft drinks and beer. Alcohol excise duties may rise alongside the sugar tax, potentially adding u...
Dutch flock to car holidays due to war and higher prices: 'We won’t let it be taken away'
Due to the conflict in the Middle East and rising costs, Dutch travelers are increasingly choosing car vacations closer to home this year. According to the ANWB, people are prioritizing their holidays...