Netherlands News in English
Latest netherlands headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Taxi driver Roos now only drives women: "Extra sense of safety"
Roos, a 44-year-old taxi driver, has transitioned to an exclusive service for women in Amsterdam to provide a greater sense of safety for female passengers, especially at night. This decision follows ...
Always entitled to a new device under warranty? Reader asks Ombudsman for clarification
A customer is seeking legal clarification after retailer Bol.com provided a refund instead of a replacement for a defective Philips hair removal device. The 269 euro device broke within two months of ...
Ban on US takeover of DigiD fits tougher stance against Big Tech
The Dutch government has blocked the American acquisition of the company behind DigiD to maintain national control over its crucial digital infrastructure. Experts support the decision as a move towar...
Deeper cuts at Spaarne Werkt: Snuffelmug, youth work and giant Cruquius building at risk
Participation company Spaarne Werkt is undergoing significant budget cuts affecting the Snuffelmug thrift store and youth programs to restore its financial stability. The municipalities of Haarlem, He...
Residents want blue zone on Rijksstraatweg. Council says no: 'parking pressure within limits'
Residents and businesses on the Rijksstraatweg in Heemskerk submitted a request for the implementation of a blue zone to address local parking issues. The municipal executive rejected the proposal, st...
'Traps' cleaning harbor water. Port of Amsterdam trials waste collection system: 'The power is in simplicity'
The Port of Amsterdam is testing a new debris capture system designed to remove floating waste like plastic and cans from the water. This pilot program aims to improve water quality in the Amsterdam h...
Four people taken to hospital after house fire in Hellevoetsluis
Four people were transported to the hospital for smoke inhalation after a house fire broke out in Hellevoetsluis on Wednesday evening. Emergency services from the Rotterdam-Rijnmond safety region resp...
Education Council: school tests should focus more on learning
The Dutch Education Council advises that tests in primary and secondary education should focus more on the learning process rather than being used for admissions, transitions, or diplomas. This recomm...
Groningen mayor wants asylum reception on state-owned sites
Mayor Roelien Kamminga of Groningen is urging the Dutch government to use its own properties for temporary asylum seeker housing. This measure is intended to prevent people from sleeping outdoors at t...
Asylum seekers from across the country dine with Amsterdammers at long tables: "Gives hope"
Around 1,500 people, including asylum seekers and local residents, gathered for a massive community dinner at the Oosterdok in Amsterdam. The event, featuring a 900-meter-long table, aimed to promote ...
77-year-old woman missing from nursing home
A 77-year-old woman with dementia, Mrs. Visser, has gone missing after leaving her nursing home on an electric bicycle. She was last seen on Thursday afternoon at the intersection of Ceintuurbaan and ...
Guus Meeuwis to perform at Rotterdam Ahoy next year
Dutch singer Guus Meeuwis has announced a concert scheduled for April 3 next year at Rotterdam Ahoy. The Brabant artist shared the news via social media regarding the upcoming spring performance.
LAKS calls for new exam system after wave of complaints: petition to abolish 5.5 rule goes to Parliament
The Dutch student interest group LAKS is calling for a reform of the national examination system following years of complaints about the current structure. The organization is submitting a petition to...
Weekend tips: things to do in Amsterdam from May 29 to May 31
This article provides recommendations for activities in Amsterdam during the sunny weekend of May 29 to May 31. It advises visitors to stay hydrated and use sunscreen while exploring various events an...
Martial arts pioneers honored 50 years after first kickboxing gala at Jaap Edenhal
Five martial arts pioneers were honored at Amsterdam's Jaap Edenhal to mark the 50th anniversary of the city's first kickboxing gala. The awards, presented by Alderman Alexander Scholtes, celebrate th...
Pieter Jan Molendijk (69) long denied having cancer, now he is chairman of IPSO Huis Kennemerland
Pieter Jan Molendijk, a former businessman from Overveen, has been appointed as the chairman of IPSO Huis Kennemerland, an organization providing mental support for cancer patients. The organization i...
Heemskerk harness racing fees to rise in 2027: ‘Everything is getting more expensive and we also have to pay for traffic controllers’
The Harddraverijvereniging Heemskerk will increase entrance fees and membership contributions starting in 2027 due to rising operational costs. While sponsors previously helped absorb these expenses, ...
DigiD platform not in American hands, what now? ‘State-owned company is a very good idea’
The Dutch government has blocked the acquisition of IT service provider Solvinity by an American company to protect the security and privacy of the DigiD platform. This decision aims to prevent potent...
No clarity yet in Music On debate, council and Halsema await evaluation
The Amsterdam city council debated the last-minute cancellation of the Music On festival, which was called off due to permit issues and communication failures regarding tent safety. Mayor Femke Halsem...
The play ‘Nightshade’ features relatable scenes from a woman’s life: ‘I wanted to make a piece about a woman who is vulnerable in life’
The play "Nachtschade" stars Mariana Aparicio as a young woman navigating a harsh and unpredictable world with humor and charm. The production focuses on relatable scenes from a woman's life, highligh...
The Best Pastry in the Netherlands comes from Castricum: 'We create what we like and see if it looks good'
Patisserie De Roset in Castricum has won the title of 'Best Pastry in the Netherlands' for its white chocolate and pistachio creation. The professional jury was unanimously impressed by the bakery's c...
For these Muslims, Eid al-Adha is more than food: "It's about sharing with each other"
Muslims in Amsterdam are celebrating Eid al-Adha, emphasizing family unity and the spirit of sharing over the traditional slaughter of animals. In the Nieuw-West district, a large group of families wi...
Why attacks on Forum are back again
Political party leaders in the Dutch House of Representatives have ended their period of ignoring the Forum for Democratie by actively attacking the party's ideology. This strategic shift includes cri...
Baby and two adults injured in accident in Haarlem
A baby and two adults were injured in a rear-end collision involving two vehicles on the N205 (Schipholweg) in Haarlem on Wednesday afternoon. Both vehicles sustained significant damage in the acciden...
Nan (85) has been the beating heart of the City Bar for forty years: ‘This is it’
Nan van Grootveld, the long-time heart of the City Bar in Elburg, has passed away at the age of 85 after forty years of service. She was well-known among her regulars for her caring nature and her stu...
Al Ikhlaas Islamic primary school in Meerwijk to expand significantly with four new classrooms
Islamic primary school Al Ikhlaas in Haarlem's Meerwijk neighborhood is set to expand with the addition of four new classrooms. The 2 million euro project, approved by the city government, aims to add...
'Serious negligence' at broken IJmuiden locks: Lock island was inaccessible for days
Residents and volunteers are criticizing Rijkswaterstaat for 'serious negligence' after broken locks in IJmuiden left the lock island inaccessible for several days. The issues come four years after th...
Will Timmerdorp Heemskerk go ahead this year? Organizers at their wits' end: ‘There is a shortage of wood’
The organizers of Timmerdorp Heemskerk are uncertain if the annual children's woodworking event will take place this summer due to a shortage of wood. Additionally, project leader Frank Smit noted tha...
Warffum to house Ter Apel asylum seekers for four nights from Thursday
The municipality of Het Hogeland will provide emergency shelter for asylum seekers from Ter Apel at the Op Roakeldaishal in Warffum for four nights starting Thursday. This temporary measure was initia...
Leiden extends emergency shelter for asylum seekers by several months
The municipality of Leiden has extended the emergency shelter for asylum seekers located in a former church by several months. This decision aims to alleviate the ongoing pressure on the Ter Apel regi...