Netherlands News in English
Latest netherlands headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Chocolate company De Bonte Koe looks beyond the holidays: ‘Chocolate connects’
The Schiedam-based family business De Bonte Koe has been nominated for the National Entrepreneur Prize for its innovative approach to chocolate making. The company focuses on year-round customer engag...

Schagen Mayor Marjan van Kampen-Nouwen (63) is the new informateur in Beverwijk
Marjan van Kampen-Nouwen, the mayor of Schagen, has been appointed as the new informateur for the municipality of Beverwijk. She will meet with the nine local council factions to begin the process of ...

Amsterdam bans fatbikes in Vondelpark from May 11
Amsterdam will ban fatbikes in the Vondelpark starting May 11, marking the city's first such restricted area. After a two-week grace period to allow riders to adjust, the municipality will begin enfor...

Former BBB member Van Gasteren to continue independently in the Senate
Robert van Gasteren will retain his seat in the Dutch Senate as an independent member after leaving the BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB) party. BBB faction leader Ilona Lagas confirmed the move on Wednesday, ...
Yet another energy crisis, now we’re finally buying that heat pump
A second energy crisis in five years has triggered a significant surge in demand for heat pumps in the Netherlands. The high volume of interest has led some companies to scale back their advertising e...
No more cutting off, wheelies, and close passes: Amsterdam's Vondelpark to ban fatbikes
Amsterdam's Vondelpark will become the city's first area to implement a total ban on fatbikes starting May 11. The measure aims to address dangerous riding behaviors such as wheelies and close passing...

Zelensky discusses ceasefire plans with US and Rutte
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed plans for an Easter ceasefire with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, following Russia's rejection of the proposal. NATO Secretary General Ma...

Fatbikes banned in Vondelpark from May 11
Starting May 11, fatbikes with tires wider than seven centimeters will be prohibited from entering Amsterdam's Vondelpark to improve safety and reduce nuisance. Following an initial two-week warning p...

Residents of Kromme Mijdrechtstraat terrified after another shooting; suspected revenge for mild sentence in Eric Sekiza killing
Residents of the Kromme Mijdrechtstraat in Amsterdam are in fear following a shooting on Sunday, marking the third such incident at the same residence in four years. Some locals suggest the attack was...

OPZ, Jong Zandvoort and VVD to explore coalition possibilities in Zandvoort; possible room for fourth party
The political parties OPZ, Jong Zandvoort, and VVD have agreed to explore the possibility of forming a coalition in Zandvoort. The announcement was made by OPZ leader Patrick Berg during the first mee...

KRO-NCRV, Omroep MAX and WNL to collaborate in new broadcasting house
Broadcasters KRO-NCRV, Omroep MAX, and WNL have announced plans to collaborate and share a new broadcasting house. While discussions are ongoing and the facility's name is yet to be determined, the or...

KRO-NCRV, Omroep MAX and WNL want to form joint broadcasting house
Dutch broadcasters KRO-NCRV, Omroep MAX, and WNL have announced plans to establish a joint broadcasting house. The organizations shared their intention for this collaboration on Wednesday.
Michael (50) from Bergen lost everything, but now wins Zuiderkerk Prize: ‘This feels like recognition’
Architect Michael van Bergen has been awarded the Zuiderkerkprijs 2025 for designing the best residential building in Amsterdam. After moving to the city following significant personal setbacks, Van B...
How (un)healthy is chocolate really? ‘This variety is sometimes low in sugar’
As Easter approaches, dietician Sanne Mouha explores the health implications of various types of chocolate, noting that the average Dutch person consumes about five kilograms per year. She provides gu...

Nature photographer Ilse Koks receives honorable mention from De Groene Camera for painterly photo at Zuidpier: 'I wanted to show the roughness of the sea'
Nature photographer Ilse Koks received an honorable mention in the coastal category of the Groene Camera awards for her artistic photo taken at the Zuidpier in IJmuiden. Her work was recognized for it...
iDeal successor protects consumers, but businesses fear high costs
Wero, the successor to the iDeal payment system, aims to enhance consumer protection, but businesses and payment providers express concern over potential cost increases. In response to these developme...

Minister expands asylum policy for Eritrean conscripts
Dutch Minister of Asylum Bart van den Brink has expanded the asylum policy for Eritreans facing mandatory national service in the Netherlands. The new policy removes the requirement for those facing c...

Cabinet accommodates startups in new Box 3 system after fierce criticism
The Dutch cabinet is planning to introduce tax benefits for startups and scale-ups following criticism of the new box 3 tax system. The proposal includes redefining early-stage companies and easing ta...
Weekend tips: things to do in Amsterdam (April 3 to 5)
Amsterdam offers a variety of activities for the weekend of April 3rd through 5th, including local markets, DJ sets, and spring blossom viewing. The city provides options for both those seeking a rela...

Heemstede errs in granting monument status to former post office
The Dutch Council of State ruled that the municipality of Heemstede was careless in its 2022 decision to grant monument status to a former post office on Binnenweg. The municipality has been ordered t...

Foreign ministers of 'Hormuz coalition' meet for the first time
Foreign ministers from a 35-nation coalition are holding their first video meeting to discuss strategies for ending the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Dutch Minister Tom Berendsen and his i...

Enkhuizer Almanac begins new chapter with Arend van den Berg and Bert Wiggers after death of publisher Fransje Jongert: ‘Surprising within predictability’
Following the death of publisher Fransje Jongert, Arend van den Berg and Bert Wiggers have taken over the centuries-old Enkhuizer Almanak. The new successors intend to maintain the traditional content...
No NOC*NSF funding for Zandvoort figure skating pair Tsiba and Danilova, but support for Alkmaar bobsledder Wesselink
NOC NSF has announced the distribution of Olympic winter sport budgets for 2026-2030, with no financial support allocated to figure skaters Michel Tsiba and Daria Danilova. In contrast, Dave Wesselink...

Mega data centers near Haarlemmermeer villages to be operational in three years
Plans for four large data centers in Haarlemmermeer are moving forward, with the facilities in Rozenburg and Schiphol-Rijk expected to be operational within three years. The projects have sparked loca...

Record number of hospitality businesses forced to close immediately due to pests
A record number of catering establishments in the Netherlands were forced to close due to pest infestations during the first quarter of 2026. Inspectors expressed concern after a video of rats in an A...

Netherlands' largest pension fund exits tech firm doing business with ICE
The Netherlands' largest pension fund, ABP, has announced its decision to divest from the American technology firm Palantir. The move follows concerns regarding Palantir's contracts with the U.S. Immi...

Remko Trompetter (Actiepartij) wins Golden Pat on the Back for best council committee member in Haarlem. 'Know what you're talking about'
Remko Trompetter of the Actiepartij received the Gouden Schouderklop Award for the best-performing council committee member during the farewell of the Haarlem city council. The award recognizes Trompe...

Four men sentenced for threatening Venlo mayor and COA
Four men from Baarlo and Venlo have received fines and community service for threatening the mayor of Venlo and the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) on social media. The incide...

One victim of Castricum fatbike accident back home, other in intensive care
One of the two boys injured in a fatbike accident in Castricum last Friday has returned home, while the other remains in the hospital receiving intensive care. Both victims are students at the Vonk Ca...

New council debates: Big Left Energy sounds cute, but what about metro 53?
Following local elections, Amsterdam's city council debated the start of coalition negotiations between the PRO alliance and D66, while addressing a record-low voter turnout of 47.1 percent. Oppositio...