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.

Tourist threatened with firearm and robbed of watch and designer bag in Slotervaart
A 22-year-old tourist from Latvia was robbed at gunpoint by three suspects in the Slotervaart neighborhood of Amsterdam this afternoon. The suspects stole the victim's phone, watch, and designer bag b...

Kwaku kicks off: "With this beautiful weather, it can't go wrong"
The Kwaku Summer Festival has officially begun in Amsterdam's Nelson Mandelapark, featuring food, dance, and music over the next four weekends. Organizers anticipate a successful event due to favorabl...

From house of prayer to meeting place: activities at Haarlem's Oosterkerk in Tuin van Oost
The Oosterkerk in Haarlem has been repurposed into a community hub as part of the 'Buurtbakens' project, hosting diverse weekly activities for local residents. While the building remains a church, the...

Daan lives in his own food forest in the summer, where everything is edible
Daan Goppel has transformed his allotment garden at Tuinpark de Molen in Amsterdam-Noord into a wild, edible food forest containing 250 plant species. While he resides in a bustling part of the city, ...

Neighbors sympathize with affected family after major fire: It is a lot in such a small village
A large fire in Weteringbrug destroyed two sheds containing vehicles and a furniture workshop early in the morning. While nearby homes were saved by firefighters, the local community has expressed sym...

Going on holiday by electric car is getting easier, but charging costs vary significantly
Electric vehicle travel has become increasingly accessible, allowing drivers to reach their destinations with fewer concerns about range. However, experts warn that significant variations in charging ...

Herman Brood would still love Amsterdam today, says his manager: "Still brothels and casinos"
Former manager Koos van Dijk and drummer Guzz Genser recall the time spent with Herman Brood at Café de Toog in Amsterdam West. They reflect on the late musician's life and suggest he would still app...

Stones replaced by greenery in Indische Buurt, Haarlem
Residents in the Indische Buurt neighborhood of Haarlem are working to replace paved areas with greenery to combat high temperatures and improve the living environment. Landscape architect Bieke van H...

Watching the Tour de France at the campsite? Your TV app might just stop working
Vacationers trying to watch live television abroad often face restrictions when using TV apps on large screens outside of their home network. There is ongoing debate regarding whether these limitation...
A kidney from your best friend: When I saw him lying there, I thought, wow, you really did this for me
Teun has donated one of his kidneys to his best friend, Joey, after learning of his critical health condition. Following the successful transplant, the two friends report feeling as close as family.

Baby boomer inheritance widens wealth gap: 'Inheritance tax comes too late'
The wealth gap in the Netherlands is widening due to increasingly large inheritances being passed down from the baby boomer generation. While a majority of the public supports higher taxes on large in...

Student expelled for distributing tests, but judge intervenes
A judge in Amsterdam has ruled that a high school acted too harshly by expelling a student for stealing and distributing photos of upcoming exams. While the court acknowledged the seriousness of the s...
Why women on the right are breaking through
Recent observations from a NATO summit highlight that the few female leaders currently representing EU nations are predominantly from right-wing political parties. Analysts suggest that women succeedi...
The rocket ice lolly from this budget favorite beats the big name brand: ‘Nice packaging, great ice cream, delicious fruit flavor’
Three ice cream experts tested seven brands of the classic 'raketje' water ice pop, which is the best-selling water ice product in the Netherlands. With 65 to 75 million consumed annually, the experts...

Meta pulls controversial AI feature after days of criticism
Meta has withdrawn a new AI feature on Instagram after only a few days following widespread criticism regarding potential privacy violations. The tool allowed users to generate images based on the pho...

Rock 'n Roll Junkie Herman Brood died 25 years ago: AT5 looks back
This article commemorates the 25th anniversary of the death of Dutch musician and artist Herman Brood, who passed away on July 11, 2001. It reflects on his significant influence on the Dutch cultural ...

More reports of stolen packages: Thieves just walk right into the hallway
Police reports indicate a 15% increase in package theft across Amsterdam over the first four months of the year, with a notable spike in the Oost district. Authorities and legal experts clarify that s...

Abundance of blue-green algae this summer: NH follows sample from lake to lab
High temperatures have led to an increase in blue-green algae in various open water locations across the Netherlands, prompting regular safety testing. Water samples from areas like the Westeinderplas...

Major fire in barn along A4 near Weteringbrug
A large fire broke out in a shed near the A4 and A44 highways at Weteringbrug, subsequently spreading to a neighboring furniture workshop. Emergency services are on-site to control the blaze, and resi...
Many Western companies have left, but new Spar stores are still opening in Moscow: ‘Difficult situation’
Despite EU sanctions against Russia, Spar supermarkets continue to operate and even open new locations within the country. The Dutch-based retail chain claims it is unable to terminate existing contra...

Flames erupt during house fire in Holendrecht
A large residential fire broke out at an apartment complex on Ophemerthof in Amsterdam-Zuidoost around 10:00 p.m. Firefighters are currently working to extinguish the blaze, and all residents have bee...

Boat fire in Badhoevedorp, one injured taken to hospital
A passenger boat sank in Badhoevedorp this evening after catching fire near the Akerdijk. One person was injured in the incident, and while a witness suggested a barbecue was the cause, authorities ha...
Cabinet goes on recess, but these ministers have homework this summer
The Dutch cabinet has entered its summer recess period. While some ministers can enjoy time off, others face significant challenges and ongoing work that must be addressed during the break.
Ajax cruise past Larnaca in friendly but miss chances for a bigger win
Ajax defeated AEK Larnaca 1-0 in a pre-season friendly match held at VV Hulshorst. Although the Amsterdam-based club secured the victory, they struggled to convert multiple scoring opportunities into ...

Water returns to the Museumplein pond after five years
The pond at the Museumplein in Amsterdam has reopened after five years of closure due to leakage problems and extensive reconstruction. Visitors and tourists are welcoming the return of the water, whi...
De Jonge still stands by firm remarks on the unvaccinated: 'A minister cannot be neutral'
Former health minister Hugo de Jonge defended his controversial statements regarding unvaccinated individuals during his first parliamentary hearing on the COVID-19 pandemic. Although he acknowledged ...
More Haarlem residents in addiction care than ten years ago
The number of Haarlem residents seeking medical treatment for addiction has increased compared to ten years ago. Despite this rise, current figures from the National Alcohol and Drugs Information Syst...
Supermarket chain Lidl hacked: customer phone numbers and email addresses stolen
Supermarket chain Lidl has confirmed that hackers gained access to customer data, including phone numbers and email addresses. The company has notified the Dutch Data Protection Authority, although th...
How Jetten managed to quickly get rid of Erdogan's revolver
As the Dutch parliament enters its recess, the ministerial cabinet is preparing for its summer break. This period serves as an opportunity to reflect on the events and political developments of the pa...

Housing shortage requires not just more homes but also better choices
While new housing construction in the Netherlands has reached its highest level since 2015, sales of these properties have declined by approximately 7 percent. Real estate experts argue that the natio...