Politics News in English

End to solar panel subsidies: the sun rises for free, yet it still costs money

Starting in 2027, solar panel owners in the Netherlands will face increased costs as existing subsidies are phased out. Although solar energy itself is free, the financial benefits previously availabl...

Former minister no longer remembers reason for late 2020 school closures

Former Dutch Education Minister Ingrid van Engelshoven told a parliamentary inquiry committee that she no longer recalls the specific reasons for closing schools in December 2020. During her testimony...

Andy Burnham sworn in as MP in British Parliament

British politician Andy Burnham has been sworn in as a Member of Parliament for the Makerfield district. His return to Parliament is intended to position him as a potential successor to Keir Starmer w...

Zuiderbad no longer heated with natural gas

The historic Zuiderbad swimming pool in Amsterdam is transitioning away from natural gas by installing heat pumps and 263 solar panels, reducing its gas usage by 90%. This sustainability project for t...

Former minister: rapid tests were not an option to reopen schools

Former Dutch Education Minister Ingrid van Engelshoven testified to a parliamentary inquiry that large-scale rapid testing was too complex to enable the early reopening of vocational and higher educat...

Former Fed Chair Alan Greenspan dies at 100

Alan Greenspan, the former chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve who served from 1987 to 2006, has died at the age of 100. He passed away on Monday due to complications from Parkinson's disease.

Vance: Strait to be opened and IAEA to return to Iran

US Vice President JD Vance announced that the Strait of Hormuz will be reopened. Additionally, Iran has invited inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to conduct new inspections...

New alderman knows what it's like to pinch every penny: this is Araya Sumter

Araya Sumter has been appointed as a new alderman in Amsterdam, overseeing social justice, poverty relief, and diversity initiatives. Drawing from her personal history of financial hardship and her ca...

Cabinet wants Senate to be able to amend and return laws

The Dutch cabinet is reintroducing a proposal to amend the constitution, allowing the Senate to modify and return legislation to the House of Representatives. Minister Pieter Heerma has placed the 202...

Pediatrician: more child abuse due to school closures

Pediatrician Károly Illy testified before the Dutch parliamentary inquiry committee, stating that school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic likely led to an increase in child abuse. He emphasized ...

Former Spanish minister sentenced to 24 years for mask fraud

The Spanish Supreme Court has sentenced former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos to 24 years in prison. He was found guilty of bribery, embezzlement, and participation in a criminal organization r...

TU Delft allowed to reserve spots for women in aerospace engineering

The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights has ruled that TU Delft may reserve 30 percent of its Aerospace Engineering study places for female students to address low enrollment in the field. While th...

Have your say on Haarlem station square

From June 29 to July 3, residents and travelers are invited to provide input on the renovation of the Haarlem station area during the Week of the Station Area. The event includes activities like playi...

Andy Burnham wants to succeed British PM Starmer

Andy Burnham, the outgoing Mayor of Manchester, has announced his intention to succeed Keir Starmer as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Starmer resigned on Monday morning following mounting press...

OMT member surprised by specialists' advice for school closures

Pediatrician and OMT member Károly Illy expressed surprise that the Federation of Medical Specialists recommended closing schools in March 2020 without consulting its members. The recommendation was ...

'Welcome to Heemstede', walking for refugees

On World Refugee Day, approximately 100 residents marched through Heemstede to raise awareness for the reception and housing of refugees. The event aimed to show community support for asylum seekers.

External agency to clear Wmo backlog in Velsen; wait times reach twenty weeks

The municipality of Velsen is hiring an external agency to address a backlog of 600 Social Support Act (Wmo) applications. Current waiting times for these requests have increased to twenty weeks.

Lebanese president and US vice president discuss ceasefire

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and U.S. Vice President JD Vance discussed ceasefire efforts in Lebanon during a phone call on Monday. The conversation, reported by Aoun's office, focused on ongoing di...

EU chief Von der Leyen thanks 'statesman' Starmer

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed her gratitude to outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer following his resignation announcement on Monday. Starmer decided to step dow...

Auditor calls out Beverwijk: millions in budget fail to follow rules. Aagtenpark remediation is mandatory

An auditor has flagged the municipality of Beverwijk for failing to properly account for millions of euros in remediation costs for Aagtenpark in its budget. The issue arose because the remediation pl...

Brahim Abid becomes Utrecht alderman after withdrawing from Nieuw-West: ‘I should have sent a note to the district committee’

British Prime Minister Starmer resigns

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced his resignation from office. He submitted his formal resignation to King Charles on Monday morning after holding a press conference at 10 Downing Stre...

Zeelandic-Flemish concerns over nuclear power plants and other energy plans

The Biervliet Village Council in Terneuzen has expressed concerns over national government plans to potentially build two new nuclear power plants in the Paulinapolder area. Additionally, grid operato...

PRO Bloemendaal leader Harold Koster enters firm opposition after failing to join coalition: ‘That was weak of D66’

Harold Koster, leader of the PRO Bloemendaal party, announced his party will move into a strong opposition role after being excluded from the new local coalition. Despite retaining four seats in the r...

Retirees can withdraw part of pension as lump sum from 2029, but it is not without risk

Starting in 2029, retirees in the Netherlands will be allowed to withdraw a lump sum of up to 10 percent of their total pension pot upon retirement. While this provides immediate financial flexibility...

Iranian delegation returns to Tehran after negotiations with US

An Iranian delegation has returned to Tehran following 18 hours of negotiations with the United States in Switzerland. The discussions, held at a resort near Lucerne, aimed to finalize details of a pr...

Watch pediatrician’s COVID hearing: why did schools have to close?

A Dutch parliamentary inquiry is holding hearings this week to investigate the reasons behind school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. On Monday, pediatrician Károly Illy and former Education Mi...

Five parties conclude coalition negotiations in Rotterdam

Five political parties in Rotterdam have concluded their negotiations to form a new city government. The coalition agreement is expected to be officially presented this Friday after final details were...

Prison sentence for former South Korean minister over 2024 power grab

Former South Korean Justice Minister Park Sung-jae has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for his involvement in the martial law declaration of late 2024. The sentence follows his role in the power ...

Sugar tax pushes prices up: Beer soon more expensive due to soft drink tax

The Dutch government's proposed sugar tax for 2030 could lead to significant price increases for both soft drinks and beer. Alcohol excise duties may rise alongside the sugar tax, potentially adding u...