Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
‘Totally unjustified’: delivery worker tasered in Runstraat to press charges against officer
A delivery driver who was tasered by police during an arrest in the Runstraat intends to file a formal complaint. His lawyer, Gerald Roethof, claims the use of the taser was unjustified and disproport...
Cabinet and opposition head for a showdown: tax chaos looms
The Dutch government and the opposition are currently deadlocked over new tax regulations, creating a significant risk of chaos within the tax authorities. Both sides are refusing to compromise, waiti...
Stricter rules for holiday rentals to tackle nuisance in residential areas
New Dutch regulations taking effect November 1 require all vacation rental hosts to use a unique registration number and mandate that booking platforms share data with the government. This system is d...
US court dismisses Trump's lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal over Epstein letter
A federal judge has dismissed Donald Trump's defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal concerning a controversial letter allegedly written by him to Jeffrey Epstein. The court ruled that the ...
Free public transport would cost hundreds of millions: "Furthermore, GVB cannot handle it"
Making public transport free in Amsterdam would cost an estimated 175 to 250 million euros annually, according to the city's executive board. The municipal government opposes the proposal from BIJ1 an...
Frustrated delivery driver files complaint: "Officer's actions are incomprehensible"
A parcel delivery driver is filing a complaint after being tased by a motorcycle officer during an encounter over parking in Amsterdam. His lawyer states that the driver acted only in self-defense and...
How abortion suddenly became a political flashpoint again: the American culture war is spreading to the Netherlands
The debate over abortion access has resurfaced as a significant political issue in the Netherlands due to a new pilot program in several hospitals. This controversy has intensified internal cabinet te...
Journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was imprisoned in Russia, gives the Derk Sauer Lecture: watch the livestream here
Journalist Evan Gershkovich will deliver the first Derk Sauer Lecture at the debate center De Balie in Amsterdam to discuss press freedom and his time imprisoned in Russia. The annual event honors the...
Agreement between cabinet and opposition on new tax plan seems far off
The Dutch cabinet is working to secure sufficient opposition support for its tax plan, which faces a critical deadline for parliamentary approval by late November. Significant disagreements persist wi...
Riot police intervene in The Hague unrest, calm in Amsterdam
Police intervened in The Hague to manage confrontations between youth groups and soccer hooligans, resulting in four arrests for face-covering offenses. Meanwhile, Amsterdam remained peaceful despite ...
Police rarely use stun guns, but they are permitted if someone resists arrest
A police officer used a taser while arresting a delivery driver in Amsterdam's Runstraat last Thursday, sparking a public debate over the proportionality of the force. While such weapons are rarely us...
Mayor introduces camera surveillance on Kinkerstraat following explosion
Mayor Femke Halsema has ordered immediate camera surveillance on Amsterdam's Kinkerstraat following an explosion at a residential building on October 29. Police will also increase their presence in th...
Tensions simmer behind closed doors between cabinet and opposition: That feels very tricky
The Dutch cabinet held tense negotiations with opposition parties on Friday to build support for new tax plans, but no deal was reached. Despite the lack of consensus, sources indicate that potential ...
The making of an ideal, submissive wife was not for her: how Kee Groot championed women's suffrage
Cornelia Groot, a pioneering Dutch feminist from Hoorn, played a vital role in the movement for women's suffrage through her activism and engaging public performances as the character Marijtje. Her ef...
Homeless office closed for weeks: ‘You wouldn’t close a hospital because there are too many patients’
The Daklozenkantoor in Amsterdam's Oud-West district has been closed for weeks, with the organization citing rising homelessness as the cause. Former staff members argue that this explanation is inade...
This elite unit of the Marechaussee guards Schiphol day and night: ‘We take everything seriously until we are sure it’s nothing’
The Armed Aviation Security unit of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee is marking its 30th anniversary of protecting Schiphol Airport. Initially created for high-risk flights, the unit now operates as...
‘I see the future of the US very pessimistically’: five Americans in Amsterdam on the midterms
As American citizens head to the polls for the upcoming midterm elections, several expatriates living in Amsterdam have expressed concern regarding the political polarization within their home country...
Halsema closes fast food restaurant on Tussen Meer after multiple explosions in ten days
Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema has ordered a fast-food restaurant in the Osdorp neighborhood to close for at least three months following three explosive attacks in ten days. Despite increased security...
New asylum forecasts: slightly fewer asylum seekers, but more housing still needed
While the Netherlands expects a slight decrease in asylum seekers, the demand for reception capacity has risen to 96,000 beds due to a lack of housing for status holders and continued high numbers of ...
At Amsterdam Central Station, the message of the Palestine sit-in is impossible to ignore: ‘I am here to show that I exist’
Protesters carrying Palestinian flags have occupied Amsterdam Centraal station to ensure their message is seen by a large audience of commuters. They argue that gathering in high-traffic areas is more...
Phasing out fossil fuels is a priority for the Netherlands at climate summit
The Dutch government has prioritized the phase-out of fossil fuels for the upcoming COP31 climate summit in Antalya. Minister Stientje van Veldhoven confirmed the nation will present its national road...
Sumter on her role as alderwoman amid rising discrimination: "Giving up is not an option"
Amsterdam Alderman Araya Sumter, who oversees Social Justice and Inclusion, is addressing rising discrimination and declining LHBTIQ+ tolerance in the city. She plans to combat these negative trends b...
Eindhoven to mandate owners to rent out vacant properties
To address the severe housing shortage, the city of Eindhoven has introduced a new measure requiring property owners to lease out their vacant residences. Owners who fail to comply with this mandate w...
Fear of wolves grips Drenthe: I fear for my children and for myself
Mayors in Drenthe have issued an urgent plea to the Dutch government to manage the growing wolf population, citing increased fear among residents and safety concerns in residential areas. The official...
Prime Minister Jetten wants to give opposition final offer by Tuesday at the latest: 'Chances of reaching an agreement'
Prime Minister Rob Jetten aims to present a final offer for a tax plan deal to opposition parties by Tuesday to secure parliamentary majorities. While progress has been made with center parties like C...
Amsterdam allocates over half a million euros again to support sports clubs
The Amsterdam city council is allocating 525,000 euros in subsidies to support local sports clubs facing challenges like volunteer shortages and rising costs. This funding, continuing a program starte...
Municipality allocates over half a million euros again to help sports clubs
The Amsterdam municipality has committed 525,000 euros to support local sports clubs facing challenges like volunteer shortages and rising costs. The funding enables organizations to hire professional...
Slotermeer home closed after explosives found during police raid
Amsterdam Mayor Halsema has ordered the closure of a home in the Slotermeer district for three months following the discovery of dangerous explosives and cash during a police raid. Four suspects invol...
Will Gidi Markuszower of all people save the cabinet?
The Dutch government is facing intense political pressure as it struggles to finalize a tax deal while managing complex conflicts with the agricultural sector. Reporters are exploring potential legisl...
DigiD target of DDoS attack: some services briefly unavailable
The Dutch digital identity system DigiD faced a temporary outage following a DDoS attack that disrupted access for tens of thousands of users. Logius confirmed the system is back online and emphasized...