Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Politics on the Amstel: Poll changes campaign dynamics and embarrassing debate over Stek Oost
Journalists from AT5, Het Parool, and De Telegraaf discussed the shifting dynamics of Amsterdam’s political campaign, where PvdA, GroenLinks, and D66 are currently neck-and-neck in the polls while t...
EU steel exports to US fall 30 percent due to high import tariffs
Steel exports from the European Union to the United States dropped by 30 percent during the second half of last year compared to the same period in 2024. This significant decline is attributed to the ...
This is how we make Haarlem natural gas-free
The city of Haarlem has established its Heat Program 2026–2030, which outlines a step-by-step plan to become entirely natural gas-free by 2040. Starting in late 2026, the municipality will collabora...
Council approves final design for Groene Singel
The Haarlem City Council has approved the final design for the redevelopment of the Gedempte Oostersingelgracht into a new neighborhood park called "Groene Singel." The project will add over 4,000 m²...
Majority of city council rejects plan for cable car over the IJ
A majority of the Amsterdam City Council has expressed opposition to a proposed cable car across the IJ river, citing concerns about its financial vulnerability and heavy reliance on tourists. While t...
Coalition will miss its own nitrogen targets with current plans
The Dutch coalition government's current plans are insufficient to meet its own nitrogen reduction targets by 2035, according to calculations released by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agenc...
Everyone worse off under coalition plans, especially lower incomes
Proposed coalition plans from D66, VVD, and CDA are expected to reduce the purchasing power of all households, with lower-income earners facing the most significant impact. The decline is primarily at...
Lower incomes will feel new cabinet measures more than high earners
Calculations by the CPB indicate that the new Jetten cabinet's economic plans will reduce disposable income, with lower-income households expected to feel the impact most significantly. In response to...
Dutch citizens no longer allowed to participate in Polymarket betting
The American betting platform Polymarket has blocked Dutch users from participating in wagers on its site. This action follows a demand from the Dutch Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit) for the c...
Construction of 6,500 homes in Hamerkwartier still possible after deal with chemical company Ketjen
The City of Amsterdam has reached an agreement with chemical company Ketjen to proceed with the construction of 6500 homes in the Hamerkwartier district, following a previous legal block over health a...
Haarlem City Council approves Green Singel design
The Haarlem city council has approved the final design for the redevelopment of the Gedempte Oostersingelgracht, also known as the Groene Singel. The project will add over 4,000 square meters of green...
Berlinale proves political rows smolder longer at film festivals without Hollywood stars
The 76th Berlinale film festival faced a notable absence of Hollywood stars, which caused media attention to shift toward a persistent political controversy regarding the Gaza conflict. Tensions were ...
Dick Schoof was mocked and reviled, but still quietly left his mark
After 600 days in office, the premiership of non-partisan Dutch leader Dick Schoof is coming to an end. Despite lacking political allies and facing significant criticism, the former top civil servant ...
What stuck: Alderman Groot Wassink’s swipe at VVD and JA21
Amsterdam Alderman Rutger Groot Wassink criticized the VVD and JA21 parties during a tense city council debate about incidents at the Stek Oost housing complex, dismissing their motion of censure as a...
Housing construction in Hamerkwartier to proceed after deal with Ketjen
The industrial area Hamerkwartier will be transformed into a mixed residential neighborhood following a new agreement with the chemical company Ketjen. This deal enables the commencement of housing co...
Major parking problems in this new neighborhood: 'Barrier is being forced open'
Residents of "The Bridge" residential building in Amsterdam-Zuidoost are facing severe parking shortages because the municipality does not issue street parking permits for new developments in the area...
Traffic fines in Haarlem generate more revenue for state treasury than in 2024
Traffic offenders in Haarlem generated more than 8.3 million euros for the state treasury last year. According to figures from the fine collection agency CJIB, this total represents the revenue collec...
Construction plans for 6,500 homes in Hamerkwartier back on track after chemical plant compromise
Construction of 6,500 homes in Amsterdam's Hamerkwartier district is set to begin next year following a compromise between the municipality and the chemical plant Ketjen. The agreement addresses previ...
Political cooperation between Muslim and Jew leads to widely supported dialogue plan: ‘Investing in peacetime’
Amsterdam city councilors Sheher Khan and Itay Garmy, a Muslim and a Jew from opposing political parties, have received unanimous support for their "Bekend maakt bemind 2.0" plan to foster structural ...
Amsterdam can ban fatbikes in specific areas
The Amsterdam City Council has approved a measure allowing the ban of fatbikes in specific areas where they cause safety issues or public nuisance. A pilot program starting later this year will implem...
Former Prince Andrew released by police but remains suspect in investigation
Former Prince Andrew was released from a Thames Valley police station around 7:00 PM local time following questioning. He remains a suspect in an ongoing investigation into allegations of potential mi...
Who is new State Secretary for Finance Eelco Eerenberg? Humorous policy wonk championed sex work and tens of thousands of homes
Eelco Eerenberg, a 41-year-old D66 alderman from Utrecht, has been named as the new Dutch State Secretary of Finance. He replaces Nathalie van Berkel, who withdrew from the position on Monday followin...
Three local parties want to break through in Amsterdam: can they take on the established order?
Three local parties—De Stem van Amsterdam, Hart voor Amsterdam, and Namens Amsterdammers—are campaigning to challenge the established political order in Amsterdam's upcoming municipal elections. T...
Half-million euro fine for construction companies that bribed Sint Maarten minister
Two subsidiaries of the construction company VolkerWessels were ordered by a court in Zwolle on Thursday to pay a combined fine of €480,000 for bribing former Sint Maarten minister Theo Heyliger. Th...
Rising numbers of people unable to work costing the treasury billions
Rising disability benefit costs are placing a multi-billion euro burden on the state treasury as the number of people unable to work continues to grow. In response to these skyrocketing expenses, the ...
Dutch want to live more sustainably, but government misses opportunities
Most Dutch citizens are willing to adopt more sustainable and climate-conscious lifestyles, which could potentially save megatons of CO2 emissions. However, the government is currently missing opportu...
Government raises 923 million euros from emission rights auction
The Dutch government raised approximately 923 million euros last year through the auction of carbon emission rights. These rights must be purchased by large industrial companies to legally emit CO2, w...
A coffee with Grethe van Geffen (Namens Amsterdammers): "People feel let down"
Grethe van Geffen, leader of the local party Namens Amsterdammers, is campaigning for the municipal elections with proposals to reduce bureaucracy and improve community facilities in areas like IJburg...
Should Zandvoort circuit make way for housing?
The Zandvoort municipal council is debating the possibility of using the local racing circuit for long-term housing development over the next 30 to 40 years. While some political parties support explo...
Fat bike ban to proceed as PvdA and GroenLinks change course
The Amsterdam city council coalition parties GroenLinks and PvdA have decided to support a proposal granting the municipality the authority to ban fatbikes in busy urban areas. While specific location...