Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
US 'Hormuz coalition' could welcome Lithuania
Lithuania is considering joining a United States-led maritime security coalition to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The Baltic nation is already a participant in a separate European-led miss...
Russia says it will not withdraw from Mali
Russia has confirmed it will maintain its military presence in Mali to support the ruling junta against separatist groups. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia remains committed to co...
Brussels: US troops in Europe also in US interest
A European Commission spokesperson stated that the presence of U.S. troops in Europe serves American interests, responding to President Donald Trump's threat to withdraw forces from Germany. The threa...
Merz reaffirms importance of transatlantic bond during troop visit
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reaffirmed the importance of the transatlantic partnership and Germany's commitment to NATO during a visit to troops in Lower Saxony. His remarks follow statements by ...
Former President Duterte appeals decision to prosecute him
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has appealed the International Criminal Court's decision to prosecute him for alleged crimes against humanity. Following his arrest in early 2025, Duterte i...
Still unclear if military exercise caused wildfire
The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee is investigating whether a military exercise at the 't Harde training ground caused a large wildfire on the Veluwe. While on-site research cannot begin until the fir...
Lebanese President accuses Israel of more ceasefire violations
Lebanese official Joseph Aoun has accused Israel of continuous ceasefire violations in southern Lebanon, citing ongoing destruction and loss of life. On Thursday afternoon, the Israeli military issued...
Inspectorate warns against benefit mediation agencies making mistakes
The Dutch inspection service is warning against benefit mediation agencies that frequently provide incorrect information, leading to errors in applications. These mistakes often result in young people...
Municipality of Haarlem offers subsidies to small cultural institutions
The municipality of Haarlem has introduced a 500,000 euro subsidy fund to support small cultural institutions with investments in their housing and facilities. Eligible organizations can apply for the...
Media: controversial Russian grain ship will not be unloaded in Israel
Israel has reportedly refused to unload a shipment of grain suspected to have been stolen from occupied Ukrainian territories by Russia. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andri Sybiha welcomed the decision, ...
Ban on extracting water from ditches in parts of Brabant due to drought
The Brabantse Delta water board has banned water extraction from streams and ditches in parts of Central and West Brabant due to ongoing drought. This ban, which took effect on Thursday morning across...
Lennert Böhmer wants to be the humanist idealist of CDA Haarlem. 'We must not be an inward-looking club'
Lennert Böhmer, the new group chairman of CDA Haarlem, aims to revitalize the party by making it more outward-looking and dynamic. He is currently involved in negotiations with PRO and D66 to form a ...
Ukrainian military leadership sets time limit on front-line deployment
Ukrainian General Oleksandr Syrsky has ordered a two-month limit on the consecutive deployment of front-line soldiers in the war against Russia. This measure is intended to address welfare concerns fo...
Government abandons wage freeze in new pay offer to civil servants
The Dutch government has issued a new collective labor agreement offer to civil servants, abandoning a controversial wage freeze that led to months of strikes. This updated proposal aims to address un...
Zelensky wants to hear from US what Russia wants with temporary ceasefire
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is seeking clarification from the United States regarding a Russian proposal for a temporary ceasefire. This follows a conversation between U.S. President Donald...
UK to invest extra £25 million in Jewish community security
The British government has announced an additional 25 million pounds in funding to enhance the security of the Jewish community. This decision follows a recent stabbing incident in London where two Je...
Summit to move away from oil and gas has one key outcome: the summit itself
The first international summit for countries aiming to phase out fossil fuels concluded with a positive atmosphere but without any concrete new plans. Organizers highlighted that the event's most sign...
Belgium wants to take over 7 nuclear reactors from energy company Engie
The Belgian government is negotiating with French company Engie to take full ownership of seven nuclear reactors located in Doel and Tihange. Prime Minister Bart De Wever announced the move, which aim...
Israel takes Gaza flotilla passengers to Israel
Israel has intercepted more than twenty ships from the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. Approximately 175 passengers are being transported to Israel, ac...
Karremans: Water will continue to flow for every household
Minister Vincent Karremans assured that drinking water will remain available for all households, even during potential freshwater shortages caused by drought. His statement follows a report from the C...
Mayor of Peel en Maas asks people to stay away from fire
Mayor Bob Vostermans of Peel en Maas has urged residents to stay away from the Heldense Bossen area due to a large ongoing wildfire between Kessel and Helden. He emphasized that the area is currently ...
Air France-KLM fears $2.4 billion in extra fuel costs: The biggest blow is yet to come
Air France-KLM expects to spend an additional $2.4 billion on fuel this year due to the conflict in the Middle East. While the aviation group reported improved results for the first quarter, it warns ...
Australia sees little change after social media ban for children
Australia has observed no significant changes in social media usage among children shortly after implementing a ban on the platforms. Internal government documents indicate that while users briefly ex...
Queen Beatrix and Amsterdam reconciled after riots and conflict
The relationship between Queen Beatrix and the city of Amsterdam was historically characterized by tension and riots. However, a symbolic moment involving a kiss in the Jordaan neighborhood eventually...
Papa Koenders’ fight against the legacy of colonialism: May 4 and 5 portraits
The exhibition 'Op zoek naar Papa Koenders' at the OBA in Amsterdam honors Julius Gustaaf Arnout Koenders, a key figure in the struggle for Surinamese cultural identity and language recognition. Koend...
Daily life slightly more expensive again: Middle East war hits our wallets
Inflation in the Netherlands rose slightly to 2.8 percent in April, up from 2.7 percent in March, according to preliminary data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The increase affects the cost of dail...
What next for the rediscovered Conrad Shipyard? City officials reluctant to preserve building despite historical value
The municipal executive of Haarlem is hesitant to preserve the historic 1897 Werf Conrad administrative building, despite recent discoveries showing it is better preserved and more valuable than previ...
Cameras effective after arson and attacks on first responders: "I can sleep again"
Residents in Amsterdam's Buikslotermeer neighborhood report a decrease in nightly disturbances following the installation of surveillance cameras at Breedveld. The measure was implemented after weeks ...
Number of young people in youth care falls for the first time in years
According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the number of young people receiving youth care fell by 2.8% last year to 477,000, marking the first decline since 2015 excluding the 2020 pandemic year. Whi...
CBS: 6,000 first-time asylum applications in the first quarter of 2026
In the first quarter of the year, nearly 6,000 people filed first-time asylum applications in the Netherlands, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). This figure marks a one-third increase compare...