Politics News in English

Badhoevedorp to implement temporary measure to combat parking nuisance, but which one? 'I'm against wrecks in my street, but also against paid parking'

The municipality of Haarlemmermeer is proposing temporary parking measures for northern Badhoevedorp to address local nuisance while a broader policy is developed. Residents will vote on whether to im...

Higher flower and plant prices offset falling sales at FloraHolland: 'Continuing to resist proposed tulip tax'

Royal FloraHolland is actively opposing a proposed VAT increase on flowers and plants, warning that this "tulip tax" could lead to significant revenue losses and job cuts. While higher prices currentl...

Kremlin denies report that Putin asked businessmen for money

The Kremlin has denied reports that President Vladimir Putin requested financial support from wealthy businessmen during a meeting on Thursday. According to a spokesperson, one unnamed businessman vol...

Should another artwork be added to the Velsen council chamber? New council members now have their say

The Velsen municipal council is tasked with deciding whether to commission a new artwork for its council chamber following a renovation in the summer of 2024. After a tapestry was removed, the incomin...

IJburg home closed for three months after discovery of cannabis farm

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema has closed a residence in the IJburg neighborhood for three months following the discovery of a professional cannabis plantation containing 605 plants. Police found the i...

Heerschop to lead Heemskerk coalition formation again, parties want to talk with everyone

Karen Heerschop has been appointed as an independent explorer to lead the coalition formation process in Heemskerk. She previously served as an informateur and formateur for the city's last coalition ...

FVD: no policy to refuse candidates with preferential votes

Forum for Democracy (FVD) has denied having a policy that prevents candidates elected via preferential votes from taking their seats in local councils. The party issued this statement after candidates...

Israel announces intensification of attacks on Iran

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has announced that Israel will intensify its military strikes on Iran. This move follows reports that Iran has not stopped its rocket attacks against Israeli civil...

Free anti-scam doorbell stickers distributed in North Holland

Police and local municipalities in North Holland are offering free doorbell stickers to help residents prevent fraud. This initiative aims to reduce the number of scam victims by providing a visual re...

Cartoonist Jip van den Toorn to deliver 2026 Arondéus Lecture on freedom: 'What are we furious about today? And what are we doing about it?'

Cartoonist Jip van den Toorn will deliver the 2026 Willem Arondéus Lecture on May 7 at the Grote of St. Bavokerk in Haarlem. Organized by the Provincial Council of North Holland, the annual lecture w...

UNICEF: more than 120 children killed and 360,000 displaced in Lebanon

UNICEF reports that 121 children have been killed and nearly 400 injured following Israeli attacks in Lebanon. Additionally, more than 360,000 children are among the one million people currently displ...

Austria also introduces social media ban for young people

The Austrian government has announced plans to implement a mandatory minimum age of 14 for social media platform usage. Digitalization State Secretary Alexander Pröll confirmed the measure, which aim...

Netherlands does not support UN slavery resolution due to legal objections

The Netherlands abstained from voting on a UN resolution that classifies the slave trade as the most serious crime against humanity, citing legal concerns. Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen stated that t...

Yeşilgöz: Private jet trip truly necessary, easyJet doesn't land there

Dutch Defense Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz defended her use of a private jet to visit the frigate Zr. Ms. Evertsen on Cyprus, stating the trip was necessary for its mission in the Mediterranean. Speaking...

BBB members gather in Barneveld but outcome is certain: Mona will not return

Members of the BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB) party are meeting in Barneveld to vote on a motion aimed at reconciling Mona Keijzer with the party leadership. Despite the scheduled vote, a return is consider...

Minister calls ban on Grok undressing feature a good signal

Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel welcomed a ruling by an Amsterdam court to ban the 'undressing' function of the AI chatbot Grok. The minister described the decision as a positive signal for vict...

Coalition without D66 is suddenly a serious option in Amsterdam

Hardenberg asylum center still in use, new penalty for COA

The Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) must pay a third consecutive daily penalty of €55,000 for keeping an asylum center in Hardenberg open. The municipality is enforcing the ...

‘Protesting’ crosswalk on Roetersstraat meant to slow down cars: ‘Sometimes they drive 80 km/h here’

Moscow denies accusations of aiding Iran

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has denied allegations that Russia provides intelligence to Iran for attacks on U.S. targets in the Middle East. During an interview with French television, Lavr...

Public Prosecution Service employee and partner arrested in drug investigation

A 31-year-old employee of the Dutch Public Prosecution Service (OM) and her 34-year-old partner were arrested on Tuesday for alleged drug possession and trafficking. The arrests were confirmed by the ...

UN demands justice after deadly school attack in Iran

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has called for justice following a deadly attack on a school in Iran. He emphasized that international disputes must not be resolved through th...

Heemskerk and Beverwijk investigate construction of heat networks to reduce natural gas consumption

The municipalities of Heemskerk and Beverwijk are investigating the implementation of heating networks to reduce natural gas consumption. On Thursday, they signed an intent agreement with heat company...

From parking garage fire to overshooting plane at the Kaagbaan: dozens of new PFAS suspect sites at Schiphol

A systematic investigation into soil and water at Schiphol Airport has identified approximately 100 locations with confirmed or potential PFAS contamination. These suspect sites are linked to historic...

Dutch Safety Board: bridge operator must reduce risk, no investigation needed

The Dutch Safety Board (OVV) has concluded that bridge and lock managers must prioritize public safety by strictly adhering to existing risk-reduction guidelines. The board stated that additional inve...

US Senate backs end to shutdown after airport chaos

The United States Senate has passed a funding proposal for the Department of Homeland Security to end a partial government shutdown that left thousands of federal employees unpaid. The legislation aim...

Israel reports large-scale airstrikes on central Tehran

The Israeli military reported conducting large-scale airstrikes on the Iranian capital of Tehran on Friday morning. The attacks targeted the city center, marking a significant escalation in regional h...

German Foreign Minister expects talks between Iran and US soon

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul expects direct negotiations between Iran and the United States to commence soon. He stated that the two nations have already been in indirect contact and are no...

Israeli military asks Lebanese to evacuate, explosions in Beirut

The Israeli military has ordered residents of the village of Sajd in southern Lebanon to evacuate, citing planned operations against Hezbollah activities in the area. This directive comes amid reports...

Iran threatens hotels where US troops stay

Iran has issued new threats against hotels in the Gulf States where United States military personnel are stationed. Army spokesman Abolfazl Shekarchi stated that any building housing Americans becomes...