Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.

Pro-Iranian fighter arrested for kidnapping US journalist
A pro-Iranian fighter has been arrested following the kidnapping of American journalist Shelly Kittleson in Baghdad, Iraq. The U.S. State Department confirmed the arrest of the individual involved in ...

Foreign journalist kidnapped in Iraq
A foreign journalist has been kidnapped in Baghdad, Iraq, by unidentified individuals. The Iraqi Ministry of Interior reported that one suspect has been arrested in connection with the abduction. Auth...

UN: At least 70 killed in Haiti gang violence
At least 70 people were killed in gang violence in Haiti over the weekend, according to a United Nations official. The attacks took place in several locations within the Petite-Rivière-de-l’Artibon...

Opening Lelystad Airport depends on cabinet nitrogen approach
The opening of Lelystad Airport for civil aviation is contingent on the Dutch government's implementation of nitrogen reduction measures. According to officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fishe...

US judge temporarily halts White House ballroom construction
A US judge has temporarily halted a $400 million project to build a ballroom at the White House. The decision follows a lawsuit filed by a non-profit organization against the construction project cham...

UN human rights chief urges Israel to scrap death penalty law
UN human rights chief Volker Türk has urged Israel to repeal its new death penalty law, calling it a violation of international human rights standards. Türk warned that the application of such a law...

President: Iran has 'necessary will' to end war
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed a willingness to end conflicts with Israel and the United States during a conversation with EU Council President António Costa. He emphasized that Iran s...

Livelihood security takes another hit from government budget cuts
The Dutch government has scaled back a legislative proposal aimed at improving access to income support for low-income citizens by removing social assistance provisions from the bill. Local municipali...

Cabinet seeks more space for offshore wind farms
The Dutch cabinet is investigating additional offshore locations for wind energy production to meet its 40-gigawatt target. A document released on Tuesday suggests that currently designated areas may ...
Both ‘The Ajax DNA’ and ‘Femke Halsema’ shortlisted for best journalistic book of the year

VAT hike felt in Zandvoort, German tourists still visit for Easter: 'But we earn much less from them'
German tourists are still visiting Zandvoort during the Easter holidays, but the local economy is earning less from them due to rising costs. The impact of the VAT increase is becoming evident as the ...

26 councilors bid farewell: "Thank you; I'll be back!"
Twenty-six city council members in Amsterdam officially stepped down today, concluding terms that ranged from a few months to more than twenty years. During the farewell ceremony, several departing me...

26 council members bid farewell: Thank you; I'll be back!
Twenty-six members of the Amsterdam city council officially departed today, with some having served for over two decades. The outgoing council members shared messages of gratitude and advice during th...
Oil shortage in focus: nearly 9 million barrels per day short, prices to truly explode from mid-April
Brussels has warned that the Netherlands and Europe must significantly reduce oil and gas consumption due to a global shortage triggered by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Experts estimate a def...

Iran threatens attacks on major US tech companies
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard has threatened to attack major American technology companies like Apple, Google, and Meta if more Iranian leaders are killed. The military group alleges that these firm...
Squatters of Russian property in Amsterdam South to leave voluntarily in six months: 'Good deal'

Toos & Henk - March 31
Cartoonist Paul Kusters provides his unique perspective on current events from Monday to Saturday in the daily comic series Toos & Henk. The feature offers a satirical look at the news for readers thr...

Man (36) arrested after death of woman (59) at Nieuw-Vennep station
A 36-year-old man of no fixed address was arrested on Tuesday afternoon in connection with the death of a 59-year-old woman at the Nieuw-Vennep train station. The woman's body was discovered in the st...

Merz backtracks on remarks about Syrian refugees
Friedrich Merz has clarified his earlier comments regarding the return of Syrian refugees from Germany. After initially predicting that 80 percent of refugees would return to Syria within three years,...

Source: UN peacekeeper killed by Israeli fire
An Indonesian peacekeeper serving with the UNIFIL mission in southern Lebanon was killed by Israeli fire on Sunday evening. A UN security source confirmed the incident to AFP, stating the casualty occ...

Haarlem exploration over: GL-PvdA, D66 and CDA to start formal coalition negotiations led by Rosan Kocken
The political parties GL-PvdA, D66, and CDA have agreed to start formal coalition negotiations in Haarlem following a successful exploratory phase. The process will be led by Rosan Kocken, the mayor o...

Wall Street rises on hope for end to war, oil prices also up
Wall Street stock markets rose on Tuesday following reports of potential de-escalation in the Middle East conflict. US President Donald Trump reportedly expressed a willingness to end the confrontatio...

Berendsen: Ukraine on clear course to EU membership
Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen affirmed that Ukraine is on a clear path toward European Union membership following a collaborative conference in Breda. The event highlighted the partnership betw...
Working from home more due to the fuel crisis? Employers actually want staff back in the office
The European Commission has recommended increasing remote work to lower energy and fuel consumption amid the current fuel crisis. However, the Dutch employers' association AWVN states that many employ...
Heemskerk councillors question asylum center meetings: Do residents have a real say?
Council members in Heemskerk are questioning the effectiveness of resident participation regarding the planned arrival of a new asylum seeker center. Despite information meetings scheduled for April 2...

Amsterdam made history: 25 years of marriage for everyone
Amsterdam is celebrating the 25th anniversary of legal same-sex marriage, with Mayor Femke Halsema officiating weddings for three same-sex couples at midnight on April 1st. Former Mayor Job Cohen, who...

Eindhoven terrorism suspect to remain in custody longer
A 21-year-old man from Eindhoven will remain in custody for an additional 14 days following his arrest on terrorism-related charges. He is suspected of inciting a terrorist offense and participating i...

Sjoerdsma allocates extra 6 million for aid to the Middle East
The Dutch government is allocating an additional 6 million euros for humanitarian aid to victims of the conflict in the Middle East. Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma announced the funding on Tuesday, noting ...

Parliament backs plan for fireworks from age 18
The Dutch House of Representatives has supported a motion to set a minimum age of 18 for individuals lighting fireworks. The proposal, introduced by the CDA and the Party for the Animals, received a m...

Minor sentenced for planning terror attacks
A minor boy has been sentenced by a court in Leeuwarden for planning terrorist attacks against the Flemish Parliament in Brussels and a Dutch military airbase. The court imposed a three-month suspende...