Politics News in English

Fewer first-time buyers on the housing market, most are immigrants

New data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) shows that the number of starters on the housing market decreased from 560,000 in 2023 to 518,000 in 2024. The decline is notably driven by a 12 percent drop...

Not everyone in the Jordaan is looking forward to King's Day: My cafe is closing, my heart is breaking

Residents and business owners in Amsterdam's Jordaan neighborhood express mixed feelings about the upcoming King's Day celebrations, with some opting to close their doors due to overwhelming crowds. T...

OPZ, Jong and VVD to proceed as trio for Zandvoort coalition; Fred Teeven: ‘A fourth party would not add stability’

The political parties OPZ, Jong Zandvoort, and VVD will form a three-party coalition in Zandvoort without seeking a fourth partner. Informant Fred Teeven recommended this arrangement to ensure politic...

75 years ago former KNIL soldiers arrived at Javakade: ‘Need for recognition of the pain’

Video | King reflects on war during gala dinner in Amsterdam

Alderman wants deposit company to pay for new trash cans

Amsterdam Alderman Hester van Buren is requesting that deposit return organization Verpact pay ‐8 million for 8,000 new trash cans designed to reduce litter caused by people searching for deposit bo...

Beverwijk to seek new mayor as Martijn Smit unexpectedly steps down in September

Martijn Smit, the mayor of Beverwijk, unexpectedly announced his resignation during a city council meeting on Thursday evening. He will officially step down from his position in September, requiring t...

Images of mutilated soldiers as an indictment of war: Ernst Friedrich's War Against War feels unfortunately relevant again

National figures assist Gorinchem re-election campaign: ‘Not entirely fair’

National politicians and cabinet members are visiting Gorinchem to support local party branches ahead of the April 29 re-elections. Everdien Hamann of the local party Gorcum Actief has criticized this...

New rental opportunities in Beverwijk: At least 50 percent of homes to go to residents of Beverwijk or Heemskerk

Construction has begun on 82 social rental homes in Beverwijk as part of the "De Groene Tuinen" development project. The initiative aims to increase housing availability and neighborhood greenery, wit...

Asylum Minister promises law to punish return obstructors

Dutch Asylum Minister Bart van den Brink has promised to introduce legislation that criminalizes the obstruction of deportation by individuals whose asylum applications have been rejected. The announc...

Government aims to reduce US dependency, opts for German cloud platform

The Dutch government has partnered with the German cloud platform STACKIT to reduce its reliance on American technology companies. This initiative aims to make it easier for government organizations t...

Cabinet reverses income support cuts for the poor again

The Dutch government has reversed a planned €30 million cut to income support following a request from the House of Representatives. Political parties argued that municipalities must continue active...

From ignored to embraced: will the minority cabinet now also look to GroenLinks-PvdA for support?

The Dutch minority cabinet is beginning to engage more with the left-wing GroenLinks-PvdA opposition after previously favoring right-wing partners. This shift is highlighted by the cabinet's recent ad...

Grand dinner with King and foreign diplomats at Royal Palace Amsterdam tonight

King Willem-Alexander is hosting an annual dinner for the diplomatic corps tonight at the Royal Palace on Dam Square in Amsterdam. The event aims to strengthen international relations and features a t...

Hillegom board installed: young faces and fresh energy. ‘I’ve been able to turn my hobby into my job’

Hillegom has inaugurated a new municipal executive, featuring one of the youngest groups of aldermen in the Netherlands. The installation occurred on Wednesday evening during the presentation of the t...

US federal government eases marijuana policy

The U.S. Department of Justice has reclassified marijuana from a Class I to a Class III drug, easing federal restrictions on the substance. Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the change will ma...

Fewer cannabis plantations dismantled and far fewer drug waste dumping sites

Health Minister Hermans defends one hamburger a week: ‘People can choose for themselves whether to buy an apple or a banana’

Dutch Health Minister Sophie Hermans defended the updated 'Schijf van Vijf' nutritional guidelines against criticism from right-wing political parties who argue the advice prioritizes climate goals ov...

Amsterdam angry as Schiphol lowers fees due to fuel crisis: ‘A smaller airport only comes about through fair prices’

Zandvoort must take measures against noise nuisance at Theater De Krocht

The North Holland District Court has ordered the municipality of Zandvoort to implement measures within five months to address noise nuisance from Theater De Krocht. The ruling follows complaints abou...

Jetten welcomes Ukraine support package and new Russia sanctions

Premier Rob Jetten welcomed the adoption of a 90 billion euro European support package for Ukraine and new sanctions against Russia. He described the financial aid and measures as a very important ste...

Number of major rail disruptions on the rise

ProRail reported that 586 serious disruptions occurred on the Dutch rail network last year, marking an increase in major incidents. The rail manager also warned that performance targets for 2025, prev...

20th Russia sanctions package finalized after Hungary drops opposition

The European Union has approved its 20th package of sanctions against Russia after Hungary and Slovakia withdrew their opposition. This agreement mirrors previous instances where both countries initia...

UN: 30 million people fall back into extreme poverty due to war

The chief of the UN Development Programme, Alexander De Croo, warns that over 30 million people are falling back into extreme poverty due to the conflict involving Israel, the United States, and Iran....

Hungary and Slovakia receive Russian oil again

Hungary and Slovakia have resumed receiving Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline following the completion of months of repairs. Deliveries began flowing through the Ukrainian section of the pipeli...

Iran war leads to even more expensive condoms in China, residents want to hoard

The conflict in Iran has caused condom prices to rise in China due to raw material shortages, according to manufacturer Karex. This price hike follows previous increases aimed at boosting population g...

Right-wing bill: scrap housing priority for status holders

Right-wing political groups, including Mona Keijzer and JA21, have submitted a bill to stop Dutch municipalities from prioritizing status holders for social housing. This initiative aims to reinstate ...

Man throws liquid at former Iranian crown prince in Berlin

Former Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi was targeted in a liquid attack following a meeting with politicians in Berlin. Although his suit was stained with a red substance, Pahlavi remained unharmed a...

Hungary lifts veto: Ukraine to receive 90 billion EU loan

European Union member states have agreed on a 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine after Hungary lifted its blockade on the funding. The first installment of 45 billion euros will be disbursed for 2026 to...