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.
Municipality investigates ban on single-use packaging: "Cleaning up is not enough"
The Amsterdam municipality is exploring a potential ban on single-use takeaway packaging to combat rising levels of street litter. Following a positive legal review, officials are now investigating im...
Amsterdam explores ban on single-use packaging
Amsterdam is investigating a potential ban on single-use packaging as a measure to reduce street litter. This initiative aims to address waste management issues by exploring policies that encourage mo...
Global online vulnerability update is live: A race against the clock
A critical security vulnerability has been discovered in the PHP programming language, prompting a race to patch systems before hackers can exploit the flaw. Many organizations have temporarily taken ...
Would the film Erupcja have been released in the Netherlands if pop star Charli XCX hadn't starred in it?
The small-scale relationship drama Erupcja, directed by American independent filmmaker Pete Ohs, was produced in Poland. Its release in the Netherlands is heavily tied to the star power of lead actres...
AI-generated texts appear in parliamentary debates: 'Comes at the expense of credibility'
Recent research reveals that 68 members of the Dutch parliament have used artificial intelligence to draft or refine texts for parliamentary debates. While some argue these tools simply aid efficiency...
Daley Blind and Steven Berghuis nearing Ajax return but remain out against Atalanta
Ajax players Daley Blind and Steven Berghuis have resumed training following their respective back and calf injuries but remain unavailable for the upcoming Conference League match against Atalanta. C...
Candlelight evenings at two cemeteries in Haarlem
The municipality of Haarlem is hosting two candlelit memorial evenings at Akendam and Kleverlaan cemeteries on October 26 and 28. These events allow visitors to commemorate their loved ones through mu...
Remembering loved ones on the evening of lights
Haarlem is organizing two evening memorial events at Akendam and Kleverlaan cemeteries this October to honor deceased loved ones. Attendees can experience a peaceful atmosphere with music and light, a...
Play Het wakker liggen van Wanda addresses a topic that has been surfacing more often lately: the aging woman
Director Femke Arnouts makes her debut with the absurdist play Het wakker liggen van Wanda. The production focuses on the experiences and societal invisibility of aging women.
Regional transport strikes on Thursday called off, new collective agreement talks scheduled
Regional transport strikes planned for Thursday have been canceled as employers and unions agree to resume negotiations for a new collective labor agreement. The unions have suspended all strike actio...
First group of regular customers can order online again at Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn has resumed online ordering for some loyal customers after a cyberattack forced a temporary shutdown of its digital and supply chain systems. The supermarket chain reports that full deliv...
The backbone of the internet is broken: why the attack on PHP is crippling half the web
A critical vulnerability in the widely used programming language PHP has forced numerous websites, including government portals, to go offline. Security experts have issued urgent warnings for adminis...
Websites of multiple safety regions offline, Amsterdam-Amstelland site remains online
Various websites in the Netherlands, including several regional safety boards and media services, have been taken offline as a precaution due to a high-severity security vulnerability in the PHP progr...
Over two months of camera surveillance in and around Floradorp following unrest in the neighborhood
Amsterdam officials have installed surveillance cameras in the Floradorp neighborhood following recent violent confrontations between residents and police. The unrest, which involved street fires and ...
Heineken must pay over 111 million euros in damages to Greek competitor
Heineken has been ordered by an Amsterdam court to pay 111.2 million euros in damages to Greek competitor MTB. The ruling stems from the abuse of a dominant market position by Heineken's Greek subsidi...
European Commission launches investigation into Booking.com over failure to tackle fraud
The European Commission has opened an investigation into Booking.com over concerns that the travel platform is failing to adequately combat fraud and phishing scams. The inquiry aims to ensure the com...
Martin Garrix to release his first pop album in March featuring his own vocals
Martin Garrix will release his debut pop-infused album, Marty, in March, featuring fourteen tracks where he performs lead vocals himself. The project was developed over a decade with mentorship from U...
Martin Garrix releases first pop album: 'Feels like I'm just getting started'
Dutch DJ Martin Garrix has announced his debut pop album, MARTY, which features him singing for the first time with support from U2's Bono. The project reflects on his life in the spotlight and will b...
First health insurance premium for 2027 rises by record percentage: 'Get used to it'
Dutch insurer DSW has announced a record increase in health insurance premiums for 2027 due to rising healthcare costs and reduced government subsidies. Experts warn that premiums will likely continue...
Largest premium increase ever: DSW health insurance premium rises faster than cabinet expected
Health insurer DSW has announced a record-breaking monthly premium increase of 14.75 euros, citing rising costs and reduced government funding. The insurer is utilizing 25 million euros from its reser...
Appeals court reviews 2009 eviction of Amsterdam squatters' stronghold: ‘Police lashed out’
Fifteen years after the 2011 eviction of the Schijnheilig squat in Amsterdam, the Court of Appeal in The Hague is reviewing the cases of five protesters who were previously convicted for their roles i...
Dutch banks assessing impact of bank fraud ruling
The European Court of Justice has ruled that banks must immediately reimburse victims of phishing attacks, regardless of the customer's potential negligence. Banks are subsequently responsible for pro...
More gyms, more members and growth in Europe: Basic-Fit is far from reaching its limit
Basic-Fit has expanded from a local gym to Europe's largest fitness chain, currently serving 6.25 million members. Despite concerns over high debt levels, the company continues to report strong growth...
Municipal council information portal taken offline to prevent security breach
The Amsterdam municipal government has temporarily disabled its Notubiz information system as a precaution against global cyberattacks targeting PHP vulnerabilities. This outage affects public access ...
Freek de Jonge creates AI model based on his oeuvre: 'Advancing civilization'
Comedian Freek de Jonge is developing an AI model based on his entire creative output to preserve his legacy and facilitate future engagement with his ideas. Collaborating with university students, he...
Sacha Baron Cohen defends return of controversial Ali G: 'Holding up a mirror'
Comedian Sacha Baron Cohen is defending the return of his satirical character Ali G, claiming the persona is necessary to expose contemporary prejudices and the dangers of misinformation. Due to publi...
AkzoNobel raises prices and remains on track for merger with American firm Axalta
AkzoNobel reported steady quarterly revenue of 2.5 billion euros and profit of 388 million euros, helped by price hikes and currency effects. The company is proceeding with its merger with American fi...
Ronnie Flex to perform solo show at Ziggo Dome next year
Rapper Ronnie Flex will perform a solo concert at the Ziggo Dome next year featuring unique versions of his hit songs. The artist, known for tracks like Drank & Drugs, will also perform eight shows at...
Amsterdam churches want to house refugees, but finding space is a challenge: ‘It’s already packed’
The Council of Churches in the Netherlands has launched an initiative to host status holders in church-owned buildings for three-month periods. However, many Amsterdam congregations are struggling to ...
Butcher swindled out of 103,000 euros says he was led on
A butcher named Jan Smolders lost 103,000 euros after investing in worthless land plots sold by a scammer named John S. The fraud was exposed by Alberto Stegeman on his show Undercover in Nederland, w...