Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
No second parking referendum in Haarlem, judge rules: 'Vote is not well-founded'
A judge has ruled that a second parking referendum will not take place in Haarlem for now, rejecting a request from Edwin Vermaire of Haarlem Betaald Parkeren. The court in Amsterdam determined that t...
Want to attend the major AT5 final debate at Meervaart Theater? Sign up now!
AT5 will host a live final debate on March 17 at Theater Meervaart in Amsterdam featuring eleven political parties ahead of the municipal elections. Members of the public can apply for tickets to atte...
PVV and Markuszower Group disagree on one in five motions
The Markuszower Group has voted differently from the PVV on more than 20% of motions since its split from the party. Data from the Dutch House of Representatives reveals that the two groups disagreed ...
Allies scrape together more Patriot missiles for Ukraine
Allies, including the Netherlands, are providing 35 additional Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine to help defend against Russian bombings. These resources were sourced from national stockpiles to...
'And when will the asylum seekers' center open in Santpoort-Zuid?' Handful of residents view latest design
A small group of residents visited the town hall to review the final designs for a planned asylum seekers center in Santpoort-Zuid. During the viewing, attendees inquired about the facility's schedule...
Iran reports damage to historic palace after attacks
Iran has accused the United States and Israel of damaging the centuries-old Chehel Sotoun palace in Isfahan during recent attacks. A spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry urged the internation...
WHO warns of black rain in Iran after attacks
The World Health Organization has issued a warning regarding "black rain" in Iran following recent attacks on oil installations. This phenomenon occurs when smoke from the attacks carries oil particle...
Experts: Russian child deportations are crimes against humanity
An independent UN commission has concluded that Russia's deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children constitute crimes against humanity. The investigation into these practices was launched i...
PVV running for first time in Haarlemmermeer, lead candidate Daniël de Moel: 'We have our own PVV voice'
The PVV party is contesting municipal elections in Haarlemmermeer for the first time, with Daniël de Moel serving as the lead candidate. The local campaign emphasizes a distinct regional approach whi...
Merz concerned Iran and US have no plan for war in Iran
German politician Friedrich Merz expressed concern that the United States and Israel lack a joint plan to end the conflict in Iran. He noted that the situation is becoming increasingly unclear due to ...
Last of hundreds of new trees in Venneperhout planted by municipal executive
The executive board of Haarlemmermeer municipality, along with local company Kite, planted the final 20 trees of a 550-tree initiative in Venneperhout on Tuesday. This event concludes the extensive tr...
Waste piles in Buikslotermeerbuurt caused by high absenteeism
Garbage accumulation in Amsterdam's Buikslotermeerbuurt was driven by high staff sick leave and external contractors missing pickup locations. Alderman Hester van Buren acknowledged structural issues ...
Trash piles in Buikslotermeerbuurt caused by high sick leave
High levels of employee sickness and errors by external contractors led to a massive buildup of garbage in Amsterdam's Buikslotermeerbuurt district late last year. Alderman Hester van Buren acknowledg...
Household budgets hundreds of euros lighter due to energy crisis
Rising energy prices driven by geopolitical conflict are putting a significant financial strain on household budgets. A family of four with a car is estimated to pay over 600 euros more annually due t...
Embassy staff in Iran temporarily moved to Azerbaijan
Dutch embassy staff in Iran are being temporarily relocated to Baku, Azerbaijan, due to security risks. Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen announced the move on social media, citing the safety of personne...
US official: Most intensive attacks on Iran today
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the United States conducted its most intensive attacks against Iran to date on Tuesday. Hegseth stated that American military operations are escalati...
Trump may be open to talks with Iran
US President Donald Trump stated he is potentially open to negotiations with Iran, depending on specific conditions. This comes after nuclear program discussions were disrupted by recent US and Israel...
UN agency: nearly 700,000 people displaced in Lebanon
The UN refugee agency reports that approximately 667,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon due to Israeli attacks over the past week. This total includes 100,000 individuals who fled within the la...
Croatia and Hungary set gasoline price caps, other countries hesitate
Croatia and Hungary have implemented price ceilings on fuel in response to significant price increases driven by the conflict in the Middle East. These are the first European countries to intervene in...
Municipal elections are on March 18; this is what D66 wants
On Wednesday, March 18, residents of Haarlem will head to the polls to elect a new city council. This report outlines the candidates and platform for the political party D66 as part of a series on the...
Longer waiting lists for social care and youth services in Haarlemmermeer, risk of delays due to lack of expertise
The municipality of Haarlemmermeer is experiencing longer waiting lists for youth care and social support services due to a staff shortage caused by measures against false self-employment. These delay...
Renovation of Belgian Palace of Justice rises to 600 million euros
The renovation of the 140-year-old Palace of Justice in Brussels is projected to exceed 600 million euros. The historic building has been under scaffolding for more than 40 years as modernization effo...
Alderman pushes through Brasapark sports field plan despite local opposition
Amsterdam Alderman Sofyan Mbarki has confirmed the development of new sports fields in Brasapark to address a lack of athletic facilities in the Zuidoost district. Despite local opposition over potent...
March 18, 2026 elections: who can you vote for?
Voters can head to the polls on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, for the upcoming elections. Candidate lists are now available for review to help citizens decide on their choice.
New development Nieuw-Vennep West: 4,580 homes, schools, sports and green spaces on the way
The municipality of Haarlemmermeer, the Dutch government, and regional partners have finalized plans to build 4,580 homes in Nieuw-Vennep West. The development project, which includes schools and spor...
UN sees increasing serious violations in South Sudan
UN human rights chief Volker Türk has reported a significant increase in serious human rights violations during the conflict in South Sudan. More than 160 civilians have been killed by armed groups a...
More senior housing under construction, but not nearly enough to solve shortage
Amsterdam built 480 elderly homes last year, nearly reaching its annual target of 500, though local officials estimate that 1,239 homes are actually required annually to resolve the shortage. The init...
Health Council: COVID vaccine age limit can be raised from 60 to 70
The Health Council of the Netherlands recommends increasing the age limit for the annual COVID-19 booster vaccination from 60 to 70 years. People in their 60s will no longer be automatically eligible ...
Volkswagen faces high costs from US import tariffs
Volkswagen experienced a downturn in 2025, largely attributed to high costs arising from import tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. As a result, the German automaker announced plans to eli...
Azerbaijan sends aid to Iran after rising tensions
Azerbaijan has announced it is sending tons of food and medicine as aid to Iran following a period of heightened tensions between the two neighbors. The decision to provide assistance was made after a...