Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
876 extra deaths in 2023: doubts over whether the country is now prepared for extreme heat
In June 2023, 876 excess deaths occurred in the Netherlands, likely due to heat and an unactivated National Heat Plan. As another potential super-heatwave approaches, there are concerns regarding whet...
FVD school receives government funding and reopens in August
The Forum voor Democratie (FVD) primary school in Almere is set to reopen this August after securing government funding from the Dutch state. The school, known as the Renaissanceschool, had previously...
Iran calls deal with US 'declaration of American defeat'
Iranian Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has described a preliminary agreement with the United States as a 'declaration of American defeat.' This statement directly contradicts President Donald Trump'...
Painful rearguard battle in murdered Lisa case: lawyers seek clarity on police database snooping
Six people arrested in Gorinchem voter fraud investigation
Police arrested six individuals between the ages of 20 and 65 on Tuesday in connection with an investigation into voter fraud during municipal elections in Gorinchem. The suspects face charges of forg...
Lawyer: Lisa's family suffering from debate over police systems
During a preliminary hearing in Amsterdam for suspect Chris Jude, lawyer Wendy van Egmond stated that the family of murder victim Lisa is suffering due to ongoing debates about police officers imprope...
Children's Ombudsman: children not a priority in COVID-19 approach
Children's Ombudsman Margrite Kalverboer testified before a parliamentary inquiry committee that children's interests were not prioritized during the COVID-19 pandemic. She stated that the needs and w...
Spanish PM defends himself in parliament after corruption scandals
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended his government in parliament against opposition accusations of systemic corruption. The defense follows recent legal developments including a prison sent...
FNV sees high willingness to take action across all public transport sectors
A public transport strike on Wednesday morning was successful, with the FNV Spoor union reporting high participation across the sector. Union official Henri Janssen noted a strong willingness among wo...
EU tightens rules for working with carcinogenic substances
The European Union is tightening regulations to protect workers from carcinogenic and other hazardous substances to prevent serious illnesses. These measures are expected to save approximately 1.16 bi...
Ter Apel asylum seekers in night shelter again, now in Zwolle
On Tuesday night, 36 asylum seekers were provided with emergency shelter in Zwolle because the registration center in Ter Apel had reached capacity. This marks the return of emergency night housing af...
Watch: COVID hearing with the Children's Ombudsman
The Dutch parliamentary inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic is currently examining the impact of school closures during lockdowns. Children's Ombudsman Margrite Kalverboer and former VO-raad chairman P...
Moerdijk residents call option to save village not credible
Local politicians in Moerdijk, including Mayor Aart-Jan Moerkerke and councilor Jolijn Koevoets, have expressed skepticism regarding a proposal to preserve the village while expanding the local power ...
Ministry: Schiphol temporarily returns to passport control only to avoid long queues
The Dutch Ministry of Justice will temporarily suspend biometric controls at Schiphol Airport this summer to prevent long queues and manage expected holiday crowds. This decision responds to warnings ...
GVB expects normal service from noon; RET late morning
Public transport operators in major Dutch cities are resuming services following a strike on Wednesday morning. Amsterdam's GVB expects to return to its regular schedule by noon, while Rotterdam's RET...
Israel in talks with Lebanon on returning South Lebanon territory
Israel and Lebanon have discussed a U.S.-led proposal in Washington for the Israeli military to withdraw from parts of southern Lebanon. Under the potential pilot program, the United States would trai...
Germany wants to raise retirement age to 70
The German government supports plans to gradually increase the retirement age to approximately 70 years. Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposed the measure to prevent the pension system from collapsing du...
Descendants of slave owner and enslaved people find each other and create a performance
Elena Beelaerts van Blokland and Destin den Hertog have created a performance titled "Slavenhouder in mijn familie" after discovering they are descendants of a 19th-century slave owner and the enslave...
Right-wing Fujimori wins Peru presidential election after long struggle
Right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori has emerged as the winner of the Peruvian presidential election after a lengthy vote count. She secured an insurmountable lead over the left-wing candidate Roberto ...
Haarlem Volt leader compares treatment of Muslims to gas chambers and anti-Semitism; Holocaust expert calls it ‘inappropriate and unnecessary’
Volt councillor Chris IJsbrandy has faced criticism from the director of the National Holocaust Museum after comparing the current treatment of Muslims to Nazi gas chambers during a Haarlem council de...
Sevastopol in Crimea without power after Ukrainian attacks
The power supply in Sevastopol, Crimea, was disrupted following Ukrainian drone attacks on Wednesday. Governor Mikhail Razvozhaev reported that local air defenses intercepted nine drones before the ci...
Strike begins: no or limited public transport until 8:00 AM
Public transport workers in the Netherlands went on strike early Wednesday morning until 8:00 AM to protest government cuts to social security. The strike disrupted train, bus, tram, and metro service...
Can Tata receive 2 billion euros in government support? Summary proceedings on Wednesday
Opinion: The tourism debate should not just be about who pays the bill, but how to truly make the city more livable
Ukraine submits revised application for OECD membership
Ukraine has submitted a revised application to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), as announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky. The organization currently consists...
Insurer Allianz estimates 1,150 ships stuck in the Gulf
German insurer Allianz estimates that 1,150 ships remain stuck in the Persian Gulf despite a preliminary agreement to end the conflict between the United States and Iran. The total value of the strand...
District committee shocks coalition, rejects nomination of Vincent de Kom and Rosamunde Dors as board members
Parliament questions why number of local broadcasters is already fixed in law
The Dutch House of Representatives is debating a legislative proposal to consolidate over 200 local broadcasters into 80 regional outlets to strengthen the sector. Members of Parliament have questione...
US Senate votes against Iran war without Congressional approval
The United States Senate has passed legislation requiring Congressional approval for any military action against Iran, following a similar vote by the House of Representatives. While the bill aims to ...
Significant nuisance from homeless in Gijsbrecht van Aemstelpark: feces, drugs and masturbation
The municipality of Amsterdam has received 69 reports of structural nuisance in Gijsbrecht van Aemstelpark, where homeless individuals are living in tents and engaging in public drug use and sexual ac...