Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Beverwijk sacrifices green space for Heemskerk housing development: 299 new homes near station area
The Beverwijk city council has approved a plan to construct 299 new homes at Euratomplein near the Heemskerk station area. The project involves building on a small portion of land belonging to Beverwi...
'If this ban is implemented, it won't solve the PFAS problem': Jasper Roubos from Haarlemmermeer fears for the future of Dutch arable farming
Dutch farmer Jasper Roubos warns that a potential ban on pesticides containing PFAS could destroy the country's arable farming sector without effectively solving the chemical pollution problem. The Ne...
Netherlands considers ban on PFAS pesticides
The Netherlands is considering a ban on various pesticides containing PFAS to protect the country's groundwater. While drinking water companies support the potential measure, farmers have expressed si...
Life can be lonely as a Palestinian in Amsterdam: ‘We long for a safe space to share our pain’
The newly formed Palestinian Network Amsterdam (PNA) has launched a series of gatherings to provide a safe, supportive space for Palestinians in the city to connect and heal from collective trauma. Su...
Amsterdam-Noord’s frayed edges under pressure: ‘Without these places, you become a kind of Almere. That is a choice’
Rapid population growth in Amsterdam-Noord is threatening the survival of unique creative and community-led "fringes" as temporary leases expire to make room for housing and sports facilities. Residen...
These Americans traded the US for Amsterdam because of Trump
A growing number of Americans are emigrating to the Netherlands, particularly Amsterdam, driven by political dissatisfaction and safety concerns in the United States. Statistics from the Dutch Immigra...
Schoof reflects on premiership: 'When they asked me I thought it was a joke that got out of hand'
In a farewell interview, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof rated his performance between a six and a seven after leading a coalition of PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB for eighteen months. Schoof, a non-partisa...
Police praise critical eye of Big Brother Awards
The Dutch National Police have adjusted their operational methods based on critical feedback provided by the digital rights organization Bits of Freedom. During the 2025 Big Brother Awards, Deputy Pol...
Dutch Tax Authority continues to use algorithms, promises improvement
The Dutch Tax Authority has committed to using algorithms more responsibly following criticism and receiving a Big Brother Award for privacy violations. However, a spokesperson stated that the organiz...
Sale of Diemerbos forest scrapped: ‘We said: we won’t let that happen’
The sale of the Diemerbos recreation area between Diemen and Amsterdam has been averted for the next two years after local and provincial governments reached a joint financial agreement. The funding a...
Public art not representative: Amsterdam is a male stronghold when looking at statues
The city of Amsterdam is developing a new policy framework to ensure its 1,750 public artworks and monuments are more representative of its diverse population. Research indicates that women, people wi...
Mayor Halsema: homeless foreign crack addicts may be repatriated more often
Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema has proposed scaling up the voluntary repatriation of homeless foreign drug users, particularly Eastern European migrants, to address the city's growing crack cocaine pro...
Andrew may be removed from line of succession after Epstein case
The British government is considering legislation to remove Prince Andrew from the royal line of succession due to his ties with Jeffrey Epstein. This move would proceed once the police investigation ...
Trump calls Supreme Court ruling a disgrace and announces new tariff
U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized a Supreme Court ruling that declared many of his import tariffs illegal, calling the decision a "disgrace." Trump expressed deep disappointment in the judges...
Power struggle within BBB: Mona Keijzer was supposed to take over
Internal tension has surfaced within the BBB party following the unexpected appointment of Henk Vermeer as the successor to leader Caroline van der Plas. Although Mona Keijzer was previously slated to...
Caroline's shadow, the party's 'fixer': who is Henk Vermeer really?
Henk Vermeer is stepping into a more prominent leadership role within the Dutch BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB) party as leader Caroline van der Plas takes a step back from the spotlight. Known as the party'...
Merz re-elected CDU leader with 91 percent of the vote
Friedrich Merz has been re-elected as the chairman of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) after securing 91 percent of the vote at the party's congress. This result confirms his continued lea...
Zelensky: US and Russia want Ukraine to give up Donbas
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in an interview with AFP that both the United States and Russia are pressuring Kyiv to cede the Donbas region to end the war immediately. Zelensky emphasi...
Amsterdam asks government for help tackling moldy homes
Amsterdam Housing Alderman Zita Pels has requested support from the Dutch national government to address the issue of mold in local residential properties. The city aims to ensure healthy and mold-fre...
NU+ | How Prince Andrew was increasingly backed into a corner
Former Prince Andrew has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, marking a significant escalation in a long-standing criminal investigation. The arrest follows years of controversy ...
Police seek contact with Prince Andrew's (former) security guards
The Metropolitan Police are seeking to contact current and former security officers who worked closely with Prince Andrew as part of an ongoing investigation. Authorities are asking these individuals ...
US now also eases environmental rules on mercury emissions
The Trump administration is relaxing environmental regulations concerning the emission of mercury and other hazardous air pollutants. According to the EPA, the policy change is intended to help older ...
State Secretary advises parents to keep children away from play sand
Dutch State Secretary Judith Tielen has advised parents and organizations to prevent children from playing with play sand due to concerns over potential asbestos contamination. While no formal ban has...
Why the Van Berkel case is also making other ministers nervous
Nathalie van Berkel of the D66 party has withdrawn as the designated State Secretary of Finance and as a Member of Parliament after it was revealed that her CV contained incorrect information. This de...
Coffee with Tim Kuijsten (ChristenUnie): Not becoming a city where people live past each other
Tim Kuijsten, the lead candidate for the ChristenUnie in Amsterdam, aims to reclaim the party's city council seat by focusing on strengthening community institutions like churches and neighborhood cen...
Moldy homes: many reports are addressed but not resolved
An independent report on Amsterdam's mold eradication program reveals that while inspections have become faster, structural issues in many homes remain unresolved or receive only temporary fixes. Resi...
Defeat for Trump: US Supreme Court rules tariffs unlawful
The US Supreme Court has ruled that import tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump are unlawful, stating that the authority to set such duties belongs to Congress. While the ruling does not affect t...
CDA leader Rogier Havelaar: ‘This city government polarizes: anyone who thinks differently is sidelined’
Rogier Havelaar, the CDA party leader in Amsterdam, has criticized the current city administration for polarizing the community and dismissing dissenting opinions from entrepreneurs and the national g...
Caroline van der Plas steps down as BBB leader, Henk Vermeer to succeed her
Caroline van der Plas is stepping down as the leader of the BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB) and will be succeeded by Member of Parliament Henk Vermeer. While Vermeer takes over the party leadership, Van der ...
A coffee with Carla Kabamba (Party for Tomorrow): "This city must not become homogeneous"
Carla Kabamba, leader of the Party for Tomorrow (Partij voor Morgen), outlined her vision for Amsterdam ahead of the municipal elections, focusing on affordable housing and increased investment in voc...