Politics News in English

GL-PvdA name change to PRO goes smoothly everywhere except in Vlaardingen: 'Very, very exceptional'

While the local branches of GroenLinks-PvdA across the Netherlands are transitioning to the name PRO without issue, the branch in Vlaardingen is refusing to comply. The national party leadership has d...

Trump wants ships in Strait of Hormuz to pay toll for protection

Former US President Donald Trump has proposed that all cargo ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz should pay tolls to the United States. He argues that this fee is necessary to compensate the U....

Ter Apel measures: asylum seekers housed in separate building, preventive stop-and-frisk on lawn in front of registration center

The Dutch government is implementing new measures at the Ter Apel asylum seeker reception center to address safety and overcrowding issues. Asylum seekers will now be housed in a separate building, an...

Amsterdam parties want to bar Spanish company from tram tender over activities in occupied Palestinian territory

Multi-million euro healthcare fraud: court convicts two Utrecht residents for 'highly reprehensible' abuse

The court has convicted two men from Utrecht for large-scale healthcare fraud involving the embezzlement of millions of euros intended for patient care. The judge described the misuse of these funds a...

Son of Norwegian crown princess may be released from prison with an ankle monitor

Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has had his pre-trial detention extended by four weeks by an Oslo court. However, he has been granted permission to serve this peri...

Plan to repeal dispersal law criticized, but JA21 pushes ahead: here is the reasoning behind it

The Dutch Council of State has heavily criticized plans to repeal the distribution law, which aimed to reverse forced asylum seeker reception. Despite this advice, the initiators, including the party ...

EU gives final approval to revised air passenger rights

European Union member states have granted final approval to revised air passenger rights, which are set to take effect by mid-2027. This decision follows previous support from the European Parliament.

Municipality must pay thousands of euros to canal cruise company following failed permit policy

A civil court has ruled that the municipality of Amsterdam must pay compensation to the shipping company Blue Boat due to a flawed licensing policy for tour boats. The policy, which forced many compan...

Joan Nunnely narrowly became a Rotterdam alderwoman, but local governments remain strikingly white

Joan Nunnely was recently appointed as a councilor in Rotterdam after a surprise vote against the originally proposed candidate, Eva Heijblom. This event has sparked a wider discussion regarding the o...

The Greenhouse | Striking silence in The Hague regarding the prosecution of Tata Steel

Climate reporter Jeroen Kraan observes that there is currently a notable lack of political discourse regarding the potential prosecution of Tata Steel. The article questions whether this legal situati...

Undercover operation against Jaouad W. went far – very far: how a confidant of Taghi is linked to five murders

Trump subpoenas journalists over reporting on new Air Force One

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has subpoenaed New York Times journalists following reports regarding security issues with the new presidential aircraft. The plane in question was re...

From MH17 to a homeless ministry: a prime minister's vacation is anything but quiet

Dutch ministers, including Rob Jetten, face challenges when trying to take a vacation due to their high-profile roles. They must remain reachable at all times, with intelligence services often requiri...

Haga Lyceum board considers next steps following critical report

Police find large quantity of drugs in storage unit in Amsterdam-Noord

Baby boomer inheritance widens wealth gap: 'Inheritance tax comes too late'

The wealth gap in the Netherlands is widening due to increasingly large inheritances being passed down from the baby boomer generation. While a majority of the public supports higher taxes on large in...

Why women on the right are breaking through

Recent observations from a NATO summit highlight that the few female leaders currently representing EU nations are predominantly from right-wing political parties. Analysts suggest that women succeedi...

Rumor about 'terrible stench' in Elandsgracht police station cells is true

Police in Amsterdam have confirmed that there is a persistent unpleasant odor in the cell complex at Elandsgracht. According to officers, the smell is primarily caused by detainees who have been livin...

Amsterdam has few vacation rentals per neighborhood, but rules are still being tightened: ‘I won’t risk a fine’

The alderman who prevented Amsterdam from becoming Americanized: no highways through the city, no Manhattan on the Amstel

Opinion: The problem with data centers is that Amsterdammers only get a say once the permits have already been granted

Many Western companies have left, but new Spar stores are still opening in Moscow: ‘Difficult situation’

Despite EU sanctions against Russia, Spar supermarkets continue to operate and even open new locations within the country. The Dutch-based retail chain claims it is unable to terminate existing contra...

Cabinet goes on recess, but these ministers have homework this summer

The Dutch cabinet has entered its summer recess period. While some ministers can enjoy time off, others face significant challenges and ongoing work that must be addressed during the break.

De Jonge still stands by firm remarks on the unvaccinated: 'A minister cannot be neutral'

Former health minister Hugo de Jonge defended his controversial statements regarding unvaccinated individuals during his first parliamentary hearing on the COVID-19 pandemic. Although he acknowledged ...

Protesters want super-volunteer Mustapha back: 'voice of many residents'

Around fifty residents gathered at the town hall in Hoofddorp to advocate for the return of a local volunteer known as Mustapha, who recently stopped his work following a conflict with a volunteer org...

How Jetten managed to quickly get rid of Erdogan's revolver

As the Dutch parliament enters its recess, the ministerial cabinet is preparing for its summer break. This period serves as an opportunity to reflect on the events and political developments of the pa...

Politics at the Amstel (the season finale): listener questions, scoops and predictions

The final episode of the 'Politiek aan de Amstel' podcast features journalists discussing the local political landscape in Amsterdam. They reflect on the new city coalition, answer listener questions,...

Man ordered to pay 28,000 euros in damages for attempted bombing at ING office in Southeast

Tensions in cabinet over taxes? Jetten says no, but irritation persists

There is speculation regarding potential disagreements within the Dutch cabinet over proposed tax increases on wealth. While Minister Rob Jetten denies any internal divide, conflicting statements from...