Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
LIVE 2026 Municipal Elections | BBB elected in 19 councils, party ran in 29 municipalities
The BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB) party secured seats in 19 of the 29 municipalities where it contested in the local elections. According to preliminary results, the party gained three seats in several mun...
Euphoria at VVD and Forum for Democracy in Haarlemmermeer, FVD lead candidate: 'Showed the most growth'
The VVD and Forum for Democracy celebrated strong results in the Haarlemmermeer municipal elections, with the VVD maintaining its position as the largest party with eight seats. GroenLinks-PvdA and D6...
A political star is born in Waalwijk and other notable national election results
Recent municipal election results in the Netherlands show a trend of young male candidates finding success by campaigning on housing issues. Early analyses of the votes indicate that these specific po...
BVNL disappears from Haarlem: a look back at four years of Haarlem harassment politics. 'Freeloaders in your backyard'
The political party BVNL is exiting the Haarlem local government after four years of provocative politics aimed at green parties and Mayor Jos Wienen. The party failed to secure any seats in the recen...
More blank votes in Moerdijk municipality
The municipality of Moerdijk recorded an increase in blank votes during the recent elections, rising from 0.2 percent in 2022 to 0.5 percent this year. A total of 87 blank ballots were cast compared t...
Fundraising for US weapons for Ukraine behind schedule
European allies are falling behind schedule in raising funds for the PURL procurement program, which is designed to purchase essential American weapons for Ukraine. The initiative has currently failed...
Dutch Safety Board: Do more with recommendations from collapsed Nieuwegein car park
The Dutch Safety Board (OVV) reports that the Minister of Housing is not adequately implementing recommendations following the partial collapse of a parking garage in Nieuwegein in 2024. While the OVV...
Dutch gas supply not at risk, but winter reserves nearly empty: 'No problem yet'
According to gas network operator Gasunie, the gas supply for the Netherlands and surrounding countries remains stable despite recent attacks on installations in Qatar. While the Netherlands does not ...
Oil price rises by more than 10 percent due to Middle East war
The price of Brent crude oil rose by more than 10 percent on Thursday morning following conflict in the Middle East. This price hike is attributed to the ongoing war and recent Iranian attacks on ener...
GreenLeft largest party in Amsterdam after seat gains
GroenLinks has become the largest party in the Amsterdam municipal council after gaining two seats for a total of ten. D66 also gained a seat, securing its position as the second-largest party with ei...
National turnout for municipal elections 53.7 percent
On Wednesday, 53.7% of eligible voters participated in the Dutch municipal elections, according to data from the ANP Election Service. This turnout reflects an increase from the 2022 elections, where ...
Election blog: counting continues at NDSM, full count expected this morning
Vote counting for the municipal elections continues at the NDSM Loods in Amsterdam, with final results expected this morning. Currently, GroenLinks leads the count with 70% of the votes processed, fol...
Election blog: GL/PvdA hold first joint talks and appoint scout
Following the municipal elections in Amsterdam, GroenLinks and PvdA have appointed Hendrik-Jan Biemond as a scout to lead coalition negotiations. Local party leaders from JA21, FvD, and Denk reacted t...
De Wever qualifies stance on buying Russian energy at EU summit
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever clarified his position on importing Russian energy ahead of an EU summit, stating he does not seek an immediate normalization of relations with Moscow. He specifie...
LIVE 2026 Municipal Elections | ADO cult hero Tom Beugelsdijk almost certain of a seat in politics: ‘It’s a good week for The Hague’
The 2026 Dutch municipal elections saw a national voter turnout of 54.1 percent, an increase from 51 percent in 2022. In The Hague, former professional footballer Tom Beugelsdijk is virtually certain ...
40 years of voting rights for migrants: how politics became a reflection of the city
On March 19, 1986, migrants without Dutch nationality were granted the right to vote in local elections in the Netherlands for the first time. This historical milestone marks nearly 40 years of politi...
Haarlem votes for more of the same: GL-PvdA and D66 together larger than before
Voters in Haarlem have opted for political continuity in the recent elections, leaving the city's power dynamics largely unchanged. Despite various parties campaigning for change, the combined influen...
Behind the scenes of the elections: the election results
This article explores the behind-the-scenes process that occurs after polling stations close during an election. It highlights the essential work performed by report controllers and election officials...
European gas price jumps 35% after attack on massive Middle East gas fields
European gas prices surged by 35% on Thursday morning following attacks on gas installations in the Middle East. The price spike was recorded at the Amsterdam gas exchange, which serves as the benchma...
Election results hold four lessons for national parties: the prime minister bonus and the ‘Lidewij effect’
National political parties are closely analyzing the results of local elections to identify key trends and lessons. With nearly all votes counted, four major takeaways have emerged, including insights...
Oil prices continue to rise: petrol and diesel more expensive again in the Netherlands
Oil prices have increased following attacks on major energy facilities in the Middle East, including a key gas production site in Qatar. This has led to a subsequent rise in the recommended prices for...
Richard de Mos: for some a reincarnation of F. Jacobse, for others a beacon of hope in dark times
Landslide victory for FVD in Velsen, Velsen Lokaal no longer largest, Liberaal Blauw and ChristenUnie retain seats
Forum voor Democratie (FVD) achieved a major victory in the Velsen municipal elections, overtaking Velsen Lokaal as the largest party. While Liberaal Blauw and ChristenUnie maintained their seats, pol...
Philip Morris tobacco shops illegally promote heated tobacco as healthier alternative to cigarettes
An undercover investigation by the journalistic platform Pointer revealed that tobacco shops supported by Philip Morris are illegally promoting heated tobacco as a healthier alternative to traditional...
LIVE 2026 Municipal Elections | Only results for Amsterdam and Hoorn still missing, multiple parties become largest out of nowhere
The preliminary results for the 2026 Dutch local elections are still pending for Amsterdam and Hoorn, with official counts expected by Thursday afternoon. Several new political parties have emerged as...
A new city council, a new spring. Hold onto that feeling
Following recent elections, 8,554 council members have been chosen to lead Dutch municipalities with a renewed sense of purpose and optimism. This new group of elected officials, comprising both newco...
GroenLinks-PvdA alliance loses many voters, D66 fails to capitalize everywhere, FvD big winner: These are the results in the Haarlem region
The GroenLinks-PvdA alliance lost a significant number of voters across several municipalities in the Haarlem region during the recent municipal elections. While the VVD remained the largest party in ...
Iran shells Qatar gas facilities again
Iranian missiles struck Qatar's primary gas production hub, Ras Laffan Industrial City, during the night between Wednesday and Thursday. This marks the second consecutive day of attacks by Iran on the...
NSC fails to win any council seats in five municipalities
The political party NSC failed to win a council seat in any of the five Dutch municipalities where it participated in local elections. According to preliminary results, the party did not secure repres...
D66 narrowly largest in Heemstede after tense election night, Eric Geels' party secures seat
D66 emerged as the largest party in the Heemstede municipal elections, narrowly defeating the VVD by a margin of 86 votes. The newcomer party Samen Sterk Heemstede (SSH) also secured its first seat in...