Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
End of net metering hits hard: energy bills up by hundreds, but these tips help you recoup solar costs quickly
Dutch households with solar panels will face significantly higher energy bills starting in 2027 due to the termination of the national net metering scheme. Despite these costs, experts suggest specifi...
Life behind the barrier with poor education: Augustien (76) prefers recognition over apologies
Augustien Matulessy-Souisa reflects on her childhood experiences living in a Moluccan residential camp, highlighting the isolation and poor education faced by her community. As Prime Minister Jetten p...
Bob Deen: 'War is not a natural phenomenon that you can't do anything about'
Security expert Bob Deen has been appointed as the new director of Clingendael, the Netherlands Institute of International Relations, starting next month. Deen, who became a prominent figure for his a...
Mystery solved: The impressive story behind this statue
This article explains the history and significance of the statue located at the Anton de Komplein, a site known for its regular markets. It identifies the figure depicted and shares the impressive sto...
'Council work should not be based on money,' says Marielys Roos (HvB) about her compensation
Marielys Roos, a council member for Hart voor Bloemendaal, emphasizes that serving in local government should be a way to give back to the community rather than a job motivated by money. Balancing fif...
Paint peeling from Reflecting Pool, Trump blames vandals
Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that several individuals have been arrested for vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington. One of the suspects identified is 67-year-old Da...
Charles to be first monarch to make tax returns public
King Charles III will become the first British monarch to make his personal tax returns public in an effort to increase transparency. The decision by Buckingham Palace comes as the royal family's fina...
The Observer: British PM Starmer to resign Monday
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to announce his resignation on Monday, according to a report by The Observer. This follows previous media reports that he was weighing his future over t...
US Vice President to Switzerland for talks with Iran
U.S. Vice President JD Vance has traveled to Switzerland for diplomatic talks with Iran focused on regional stability. Vance expressed hope that the discussions would lead to progress in ending attack...
Al Jazeera cameraman killed in Gaza attack
An Al Jazeera journalist was killed in an Israeli drone strike on the Bureij refugee camp in Gaza. The attack, which targeted a house, reportedly killed two other individuals as well.
VVD’s Eric van der Burg returns to cabinet: ‘I laugh a lot, but I also wear my heart on my sleeve’
Eric van der Burg has returned to the Dutch cabinet after a brief hiatus due to conscientious objections regarding the PVV. The VVD politician, known for his outspoken nature, discusses his political ...
'No, it is fundamentally unfair that a Zandvoort councillor is paid less than in Haarlem': Belinda Göransson has been a councillor for 20 years
Belinda Göransson, a long-serving council member, argues that it is unfair for representatives in smaller municipalities to receive lower pay than their counterparts in larger cities like Haarlem. Sh...
Risk of unrest in Zandvoort: municipality declares emergency decree
The municipality of Zandvoort has implemented an emergency ordinance until Monday to manage high visitor volumes and prevent potential disturbances. This measure grants authorities additional powers t...
Pakistan: Sunday talks between Iran and US in Switzerland
The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that talks between Iran and the United States will take place this Sunday in Bürgenstock, Switzerland. Pakistan continues to serve as a mediator to...
Another emergency order in Zandvoort to ensure safety through Monday
An emergency ordinance has been issued for Zandvoort, effective until Monday evening, to ensure public safety on the beach and in the town center. This measure follows previous safety interventions im...
MiGreat: Six people outside in Ter Apel during severe weather
Six people, including two children, were reportedly left outside in severe weather on Friday evening after arriving at the Ter Apel reception center. The aid organization MiGreat criticized official a...
Iran: Strait of Hormuz closed again over attacks on Lebanon
Iran has announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli military strikes on Lebanon. Tehran stated that the attacks represent a serious violation of a recent agreement between Ir...
'Are you going to the mayor?' ask PRO councilor Kim’s children weekly: 'I rely heavily on my family to manage everything'
Kim van Goethem, a council member in Haarlemmermeer, discusses the challenge of balancing her political work with a job at the municipality of Haarlem and a family of two young children. She credits t...
Judge seizes passport of Spanish PM's wife
A Spanish judge has ordered Begoña Gómez, the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, to surrender her passport and remain in the country ahead of her trial. The travel restriction also applies to on...
New PvdD leader Teunissen wants to stand up for animals and people
Christine Teunissen, the new leader of the Party for the Animals (PvdD), pledged to advocate for both animals and people during her first party congress in Den Bosch. She emphasized that the party's m...
Japanese imperial couple received in Belgium after visiting the Netherlands
Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako arrived in Belgium on Saturday to begin a two-day state visit following their stay in the Netherlands. They were welcomed at Melsbroek military airport by ...
UN human rights chief concerned over European return rules
UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk expressed concern over the European Parliament's recent approval of stricter rules for returning rejected asylum seekers. He urged the EU and its member state...
The man who mobilized 300,000 protesters warns: ‘How to bring a government to its knees’
Former FNV leader Lodewijk de Waal provides guidance to current trade union leaders as they launch a week of actions against the Dutch cabinet. Having previously mobilized 300,000 protesters, De Waal ...
Councilor Bas de Ruig reviews documents during dinner: ‘Sometimes there is little time between work and council’
Bas de Ruig, the 32-year-old floor leader for D66 in the municipality of Velsen, discusses the challenges of balancing his political duties with a 32-hour work week. He currently serves in the local c...
Councilor Moussa Aynan wished he had spent more time with his newborns: ‘I wasn’t well prepared’
Haarlem council member Moussa Aynan reflects on the difficulty of balancing his twenty-year political career with the birth and upbringing of his three children. He notes that he was not well prepared...
World Cup quickly becomes political minefield, former minister Conny Helder knows all about it
Former Dutch sports minister Conny Helder reflects on the political complexities and pressures involved in representing the Netherlands at the World Cup. Political reporter Hans van Soest notes a shif...
Former SP chairman and co-founder Hans van Hooft (84) dies
Hans van Hooft, a co-founder and former chairman of the Dutch Socialist Party (SP), has passed away at the age of 84. A prominent figure in the party's history, he served as a national lead candidate ...
Bolivia declares state of emergency over blockade crisis
The President of Bolivia has declared a state of emergency following weeks of public unrest and road blockades. This measure grants the government increased powers to restore order, including the depl...
Removing insulation beads makes room for bats: ‘A pleasant climate is always created between the walls’
Alderman Judith Schram participated in bricking up a wall at a residence in Castricum to create a new nursery habitat for bats. The initiative involves removing insulation materials to provide a suita...
Deaths reported in Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon
At least five people have been killed in southern Lebanon following Israeli strikes involving drones, fighter jets, and artillery. According to the Lebanese state news agency NNA, the attacks specific...