Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Politics on the Amstel: Campaign derails during AT5 recordings and Halsema makes podcast debut
In the latest episode of the "Politiek aan de Amstel" podcast, journalists from AT5, Het Parool, and De Telegraaf discuss the effectiveness of boycotting the Forum voor Democratie party and the closur...
Power grid in three provinces reaching capacity, connection freeze looms
Grid operator TenneT announced on Thursday that the high-voltage power grid in the Dutch provinces of Utrecht, Gelderland, and Flevoland has reached its capacity limits. Consequently, the operator war...
Laboratories find much more asbestos in toys, including in 'magic' play sand
Dutch laboratories have detected asbestos in at least 25 samples of play sand, including popular "magic" sand products. Despite these findings, no official safety recalls have been issued yet to remov...
Officials: Ending sea cruises could jeopardize funding for bridge over the IJ
Amsterdam officials have warned that banning sea cruises by 2035 and canceling a new terminal could jeopardize state funding for major projects, including bridges over the IJ and new housing developme...
New gymnastics hall named Turnhuis Haarlem
The new gymnastics hall in Haarlem-Noord has been officially named "Turnhuis Haarlem" following a public voting process among residents and athletes. Revealed by Sports Councilor Eva de Raadt and gymn...
A coffee with Ruud Thonhauser (BBB): "Bringing common sense to Amsterdam"
Ruud Thonhauser is representing the BBB party in its bid for the Amsterdam City Council, aiming to introduce "down-to-earth common sense" to the municipal government. Drawing on his local upbringing, ...
Elsbeth Etty writes book on February Strike: How is it possible they dared
Journalist Elsbeth Etty has released a new book titled "We moeten iets dóén!" which explores the motivations of participants in Amsterdam's 1941 February strike against Nazi persecution. Through res...
Houtfestival takes a one-year break to consider its future
The Houtfestival in Haarlem has been cancelled for 2024 after the local municipality offered only a partial subsidy of €48,000 instead of the requested €80,000. Organizers will use this one-year h...
End of the road for Haarlem nature garden? "Ten years of work gone"
Board members of a permaculture garden in Haarlem fear their decade of ecological work will be destroyed by municipal plans to raise the site's ground level with a meter of sand. While the city argues...
North Holland municipalities fined for investigating Muslim residents
The Dutch Data Protection Authority has fined ten municipalities a total of €250,000 for conducting secret investigations into the religious and political backgrounds of their Muslim residents. Thes...
Ray of hope for new Westeinder campsite owner: municipality issues permit after all
The municipality of Haarlemmermeer has granted an operating permit to Kleen Estate for camping De Westeinder, reversing an earlier refusal based on past asbestos violations. While this is a legal vict...
Unrest in Uithoorn over removal of sensitive Schiphol enforcement point
Residents of Uithoorn are protesting the removal of a key noise enforcement point used to monitor Schiphol Airport's aircraft noise, fearing it will mask structural violations and reduce financial com...
Amsterdam to get monument for guest workers: "People who helped build the city"
Amsterdam is planning to build a monument to honor guest workers for their historical contributions to the city, following strong support from the Moroccan and Turkish communities. The project has a b...
Haarlemmermeer Lyceum discriminated against student by preventing prayer at school
The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights has ruled that Haarlemmermeer Lyceum in Hoofddorp discriminated against a Muslim student by preventing her from praying and refusing to establish a quiet roo...
Haarlem takes extra step against discrimination
The city of Haarlem has introduced a new action plan for 2026-2028 aimed at preventing discrimination by improving reporting awareness, establishing an organizational "allies network," and honoring co...
Disclosure of documents and information regarding diversity and inclusion Part 2
The City of Haarlem has disclosed documents and information regarding diversity and inclusion following a request made under the Open Government Act (Woo). The request was originally submitted by an i...
Business premises closed after discovery of drugs and fireworks
Mayor Jos Wienen has closed three business premises in the Waarderpolder industrial area of Haarlem after police discovered 666 hemp plants and nearly 1,100 kilograms of illegal fireworks. The illegal...
Mayor closes house after drugs found
Mayor Jos Wienen has closed a residence in Haarlem for one year after authorities discovered nearly 10 kilograms of soft drugs, weapons, and evidence of trafficking following an anonymous tip. A court...
Should the civil service be swept clean or is bureaucratic bloat exaggerated?
Amsterdam is planning to reorganize its civil service following criticism over "administrative obesity" and concerns that its 22,000-person workforce, the largest in the Netherlands, is inefficient an...
Street safety a top priority, but unclear where exactly it is unsafe
Following high-profile violent incidents in Amsterdam, street safety has become a top priority, yet research reveals that official data fails to clearly identify specific unsafe locations. Although a ...
Many nightlife businesses worried about the future: Fishing in the same pond
A survey of 26 Amsterdam nightlife businesses reveals that nearly half of entrepreneurs fear for their survival due to declining visitor numbers and falling revenues. This downturn is attributed to ri...
Lease signed: Ruigoord can stay for another 25 years
The Ruigoord artist village near Amsterdam has secured its future for the next 25 years after signing a new lease agreement with the Port of Amsterdam and the city municipality. Effective from January...
Council criticizes GVB over treatment of staff: GVB finds apologizing quite difficult
Amsterdam city council members have sharply criticized public transport operator GVB for its poor treatment of employees and a culture of intimidation, with several political parties calling for the i...
Suriname Museum opening live on AT5 this afternoon
King Willem-Alexander will officially open the Suriname Museum in Amsterdam-Oost today as part of the celebrations marking 50 years of Surinamese independence. Accompanied by Mayor Femke Halsema, the ...
The multi-headed waste monster: why fines alone won't clean up the city
The City of Amsterdam has expanded its team of waste enforcement officers to 53 members to crack down on illegal trash dumping by searching for identifiable information on items left outside container...
Growing criticism of GVB, yet it is always granted the right to operate here: why?
Despite mounting criticism over service disruptions, safety incidents, and mismanagement, Amsterdam’s public transport provider GVB was recently granted a new 11-year exclusive operating contract. W...
More than 500 malfunctions: why the bicycle conveyor belt at Central Station keeps failing
The moving walkways at Amsterdam Central Station’s €91 million underground bicycle parking facility have recorded 506 malfunctions since opening in early 2023. These frequent disruptions are cause...
City cleaning to return to neighborhood-based approach soon, says alderman
Amsterdam's city cleaning and garbage collection services will return to neighborhood-based work schedules in 2024 to combat high sick leave and a loss of local expertise. Alderman Van Buren announced...
You can't peak too early in your career: 'As long as you have a goal'
Recent high-profile political successes, such as Rob Jetten's potential premiership in the Netherlands and Zohran Mamdani's mayoral win in New York, have raised questions about peaking too early in a ...
Nuisance from illegal street races in the port area: It's life-threatening
Illegal street racing and drifting in Amsterdam’s Westelijk Havengebied are causing significant safety concerns, noise, and litter for local businesses, some of which handle hazardous materials. Des...