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.
Advisory body SER wants better employment support for newcomers
The Social and Economic Council (SER) is urging for improved employment support for newcomers in the Netherlands to help them integrate and fill labor shortages. The council suggests that municipaliti...
CBS: Dutch people have slightly more to spend
Statistics Netherlands reports that household disposable income rose by 0.7 percent in the second quarter of the year, driven by wage growth and higher benefit payments. Conversely, total mortgage deb...
Dutch economy grows faster than expected as household spending increases
The Dutch economy grew faster in the first quarter than initially estimated, with growth reaching 0.4 percent for the quarter and 1.6 percent on an annual basis. This increase is mainly attributed to ...
Budget deficit in first half of year largest since 2021 pandemic year
The Netherlands recorded a 5 billion euro budget deficit in the first half of 2025, the largest since 2021, due to increased social spending and higher government costs. Despite this, the total govern...
French cuisine is delicious! 9 French restaurants in Haarlem
Haarlem features a wide selection of French restaurants, ranging from traditional bistros to modern establishments with Michelin-recognized quality. These dining spots, scattered across the city, offe...
Huge interest in 'crispy white' giant water lily flower at the Hortus
Hundreds of visitors flocked to the Hortus Botanicus in Amsterdam to witness the evening blooming of a rare giant water lily. Staff at the botanical garden manually pollinate the hybrid plant, which i...
From Kivik sofa to Kallax shelf: Ikea cuts prices on bestsellers and introduces new small stores
Ikea is investing 40 million euros in the Netherlands to lower prices on popular products and improve accessibility. The retailer is also launching smaller, supermarket-sized stores to better reach co...
Shortening unemployment benefits has little effect on employment growth
Recent research from the CPB indicates that shortening the duration or lowering the amount of unemployment benefits has only a minimal effect on structural employment growth. Although the Dutch govern...
CPB: Shortening unemployment benefit duration creates 8,000 extra jobs, effect is limited
The Dutch Centraal Planbureau (CPB) estimates that reducing unemployment benefit duration from 24 to 12 months will lead to 8,000 extra jobs, though it describes the effect as limited. The plan faces ...
SER wants better guidance for Ukrainians into jobs matching their qualifications: 'We are missing opportunities'
The Social and Economic Council (SER) suggests that municipalities should take formal responsibility for integrating Ukrainian refugees into the Dutch labor market by providing language training and c...
Canadian company abandons bid to acquire Arcadis and withdraws offer
Canadian firm WSP Global has terminated its attempt to acquire the Dutch engineering and consultancy company Arcadis after being rejected twice. The suitor withdrew its offer because it could not enga...
Amsterdam wants to pilot medication for crack users: "Government must grant permission"
Mayors of the four largest Dutch cities have requested government approval to use dexamphetamine as a medical treatment for crack cocaine addiction. Researchers aim to launch a pilot program in Amster...
In a cell with your neighbors: The resistance of Rapenburg
The Amsterdam-based program De Straten van Amsterdam recently profiled the Rapenburg neighborhood, highlighting its rich history and the lives of several long-term residents. Featured stories included...
National exercise challenge gets Haarlem residents moving: "The oldest is 96!"
Haarlem residents recently gathered at the Wilsonsplein playground to celebrate a nationwide exercise day, reflecting a regular community-led initiative held twice a week. The event drew sixty partici...
ASML is not currently selling any chip machines in Europe
ASML reports that it is not selling any chip-making machines in Europe due to a lack of local investment and new fabrication facilities. The company, which is vital to the global semiconductor supply ...
Sound barrier on A10 West catches fire again
A sound barrier on the A10 near Amsterdam-West caught fire this afternoon for the third time this year. Emergency services successfully extinguished the flames, and repairs are scheduled to begin afte...
Ben Saunders' family not present at funeral: 'Hardest decision'
The family of the late singer Ben Saunders has decided not to attend his funeral, describing it as the hardest decision they have ever had to make. Saunders, who won the first season of The Voice of H...
Chatting with a stranger: Margriet organizes Start the Conversation meetings at the Haarlem library
Magazine Margriet is hosting 'Start the Conversation' meetings in libraries across the Netherlands to help people overcome loneliness and social anxiety. A local session is scheduled for November 13, ...
Mensje van Keulen and Japke-d. Bouma to write for Book Week 2027
Authors Mensje van Keulen and Japke-d. Bouma have been selected to write the featured works for the 2027 Boekenweek in the Netherlands. The event, which follows the theme Kijk ons nou, is scheduled to...
Public Prosecution Service demands 12-year prison sentence for former civil servant Jim B. for selling data from municipal systems
The Public Prosecution Service has requested a 12-year prison sentence for former Amsterdam civil servant Jim B. for selling sensitive municipal data to criminals. Prosecutors linked the leaked inform...
Health Council advises against structural 13-week ultrasound
The Health Council of the Netherlands has advised against permanently implementing the 13-week prenatal ultrasound due to high rates of false positives and missed diagnoses. Although the screening wil...
Labor Inspectorate arrests two ex-convicts for benefit fraud
Two former convicts have been arrested by the Netherlands Labor Inspectorate for allegedly defrauding the UWV of 160,000 euros. The suspects reportedly used forged prison discharge documents to illici...
Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and TikTok are in the doghouse, and Hyves is cleverly capitalizing on it
The former social network Hyves is making a comeback to offer users a nostalgic alternative to major platforms like Facebook and TikTok. The company aims to attract users by emphasizing that their dat...
Eros Ramazzotti postpones Ziggo Dome concert to 2028 following vocal cord surgery
Eros Ramazzotti has postponed his Ziggo Dome concert in Amsterdam to April 5, 2028, to allow for recovery following vocal cord surgery. The artist is rescheduling his international tour dates to prior...
New ideas for Haarlem during the Initiative Café
Haarlem will host an Initiative Café on October 6, 2026, where residents can present community improvement projects to a jury and receive feedback from fellow citizens. The event serves as a platform...
Former Martinair cargo pilots are entitled to back pay from KLM
Former Martinair cargo pilots have won the right to back pay from KLM for the period spanning 2014 to 2022 following an improper company transfer. Although the court denied their request for retroacti...
Rare black rhinos released in Africa with Dutch connection: ‘Iconic animal’
Three Dutch friends living in Botswana have significantly boosted the country's black rhino population by introducing twenty of the endangered animals to their private reserve. The complex relocation ...
Insults, verbal abuse and threats reported around Pride
A total of 672 reports of abuse and intimidation were filed with the platform RITA during and after the Amsterdam Pride and WorldPride events. These incidents included widespread verbal harassment and...
Tradition ends after 20 years: Amsterdam police must stop organizing iftars
Amsterdam police are ending their twenty-year tradition of organizing iftar meals for the public to better maintain an image of institutional neutrality. While internal staff holiday celebrations will...
Studio without a kitchen for 1,900 euros: "After a year, you've had enough of microwave meals"
A 22-square-meter studio apartment in Amsterdam's Jordaan neighborhood is being advertised for 1,900 euros per month, despite lacking a kitchen and a washing machine. Housing experts suggest the rent ...