Politics News in English

Zelensky invites Slovak PM Fico to Kyiv for energy talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has invited Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico to Kyiv to discuss their ongoing dispute regarding energy supplies. The invitation follows a phone call between the...

Chaos over US import tariffs, but limited impact on the Netherlands

New US import tariffs are expected to have a generally favorable impact on the Netherlands, with some exports potentially becoming cheaper. However, certain sectors like beer brewing and horse trading...

Hillegom Mayor closes drug house on Frederik van Eedenlaan

The mayor of Hillegom has ordered the closure of a residence on Frederik van Eedenlaan for three months following suspicions of hard drug trafficking. As a result of this enforcement action, the occup...

Rutger Groot Wassink defied eight years of right-wing cancel culture – including at the Dokwerker this week

Japan maintains male-only succession

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed in parliament that the imperial throne will remain restricted to male descendants. This decision aligns with a 2021 expert panel recommendation that de...

Dutchman claims responsibility for defacing Churchill statue in London

A Dutch activist using the pseudonym Olax Outis has claimed responsibility for defacing the Winston Churchill statue in London with spray paint. The 38-year-old previously targeted the British Embassy...

Cutting Schiphol in half would benefit the economy, Delft study finds

A study by research firm CE Delft suggests that the Dutch economy could benefit if Schiphol Airport were reduced to half its current size. The report, commissioned by the Social Council Schiphol and r...

Coffee with Farhad Fatemi (Het Elan): You don't have rights, you are given them

Farhad Fatemi, leader of the political party Het Elan, is campaigning for the Amsterdam municipal elections with a focus on poverty reduction and debt relief. His key proposals include increasing tour...

Supreme Court advised to partially retry Willem Engel case

The Advocate General has advised the Dutch Supreme Court that the case against Viruswaarheid leader Willem Engel should be partially retried. Engel was previously sentenced to sixty hours of community...

Tackling the climate crisis is more important than comfortable living

The article presents a weekly proposition asking readers for their opinions on whether addressing the climate crisis should take priority over housing comfort. It invites the audience to participate i...

US Embassy in Israel tells staff wanting to leave: go today

US Ambassador Mike Huckabee has authorized embassy staff in Jerusalem to leave Israel due to heightening regional tensions. He urged those wishing to depart to do so by Friday.

Jozef Church Preservation Association not giving up: 'We will go to any lengths to prevent demolition'

The Association for the Preservation of the Jozefkerk and Rectory is fighting to prevent the demolition of the Jozefkerk monument in Hillegom. While the municipality plans to preserve only parts of th...

Drinking water company PWN ordered to provide customer data to tax collector; Cocensus wins court case for sewage tax

The Dutch drinking water company PWN has been ordered by a court to provide customer data to tax collector Cocensus. This information is deemed necessary for the accurate assessment and collection of ...

Utrecht mayor critical of university security

Utrecht Mayor Sharon Dijksma has criticized Utrecht University for failing to implement sufficient security measures to prevent building occupations. The mayor's comments follow several incidents in w...

Build homes on the asylum seeker center site in Santpoort-Zuid

The article presents a weekly proposition asking for reader opinions on building housing on the current asylum seekers' center site in Santpoort-Zuid. It invites the public to share their views on the...

Chaos over Box 3: what is the current status of wealth tax?

The Dutch government is facing significant uncertainty regarding 'Box 3' wealth tax legislation due to conflicting decisions between the House of Representatives and the new cabinet. This political in...

Dutch prison service DJI hit by data breach

The Dutch Custodial Institutions Agency (DJI) has confirmed a data leak involving the personal information of its staff members. According to a spokesperson, the breach exposed employee email addresse...

Iran: US must drop excessive demands

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has urged the United States to drop its "excessive demands" to reach a diplomatic agreement. The call followed talks between delegations from both countries hel...

Local ceasefire for repairs at Ukrainian nuclear power plant

A local ceasefire has been established around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine to allow for the repair of damaged cables. The facility has been under Russian control since shortly after...

'Unacceptable': after DigiD, Dutch Tax Authority also wants to put VAT software in US hands

The Dutch Tax Authority is considering outsourcing the management of the national VAT system to an American IT company, raising concerns about national sovereignty. Experts warn that this move could a...

Put simply, the state pension row is about 2.7 billion: these are the alternatives for Jetten

Prime Minister Rob Jetten is considering alternatives to raising the state pension age while still needing to secure 2.7 billion euros for the national budget. Although several options for cutting cos...

Climate coalition warns again: ‘Climate policy is barely getting off the ground’

One month before the elections, the Haarlem Climate Coalition has issued strong criticism regarding the city's climate policy. The group claims that the implementation of environmental initiatives is ...

Santpoort-Zuid asylum center site to become neighborhood park; recreational walking path possible

The municipality has announced that the site of a future asylum seekers' center at De Elta sports park will eventually be transformed into a neighborhood park. The long-term plan includes the potentia...

Municipal elections on March 18: what the SP wants

On Wednesday, March 18, residents of Haarlem will go to the polls to elect a new municipal council. Reporter Nynke La Porte is providing an overview of the different political parties and their plans,...

Municipal elections on March 18: what the Action Party wants

On March 18, residents of Haarlem will vote in the municipal elections to select a new city council. Reporter Nynke La Porte provides an overview of the candidates and their plans, focusing on the Act...

The Housing Crisis Sightseeing Tour takes you past 'expensive yuppie flats and exploited rentals'

Protesters in Amsterdam will hold a "Wooncrisis City Sightseeing Tour" this Sunday to highlight the city's ongoing housing shortage and rising living costs. The event marks five years since the first ...

Ousted alderman Özütok: 'I expect an apology.' Preliminary misconduct probe finds no grounds for integrity investigation

A preliminary investigation into alleged transgressive behavior by former Beverwijk alderman Nevin Özütok has concluded there is no basis for further integrity research. While Özütok is demanding ...

Greens win in Labour stronghold, fresh blow for Starmer

The Green Party won a by-election in the Gorton and Denton constituency near Manchester, a traditional Labour stronghold. The Labour Party fell to third place behind Nigel Farage's Reform UK, marking ...

Pakistan declares ‘open war’ on Afghan Taliban

The Pakistani Minister of Defense declared an "open war" against the Afghan Taliban government following several days of cross-border attacks. Both neighboring countries have been engaged in deadly mi...

Haarlem parties clash over housing shortage: build, build, build, but for whom exactly?

On Wednesday evening, political parties in Haarlem gathered at the Pletterij debate center to discuss the city's housing shortage and construction goals. The debate focused on identifying where new ho...