Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Smotrich: International Criminal Court wants to arrest me
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich claims he has been informed that the International Criminal Court (ICC) is seeking his arrest. The request reportedly involves alleged crimes against humanity...
Wienen sees tougher asylum policy: ‘Drawing attention to child deportations has become even more complicated’
Haarlem Mayor Jos Wienen informed the city council that he will continue to oppose the deportation of well-integrated refugee children living in the municipality. Wienen noted that advocating against ...
Tielen: not all special education schools should close
State Secretary Judith Tielen has clarified that special education schools will remain open, addressing concerns from a teacher survey showing widespread opposition to merging school types. Tielen sug...
Saïd R.'s lawyers angry after conversations in high-security prison overheard
Lawyers for Sa'id R. expressed frustration during a Marengo trial hearing, alleging that confidential conversations with their client in the Extra High Security Prison (EBI) were audible to others. Th...
FC Groningen fans welcome in Volendam for play-off match against Ajax after all
Flotilla: ten more ships en route to Gaza, 41 intercepted
The Global Sumud Flotilla reports that ten aid ships are currently traveling toward Gaza, while 41 other vessels in the fleet have been intercepted by Israel. The mission aims to deliver humanitarian ...
Psychiatric patient Malek F. confesses to attempted murder in Mesdag Clinic
Malek F., a 39-year-old TBS patient, confessed in a Groningen court to the attempted murder of a fellow patient at the Mesdagkliniek last year. He stated that he acted on commands from voices in his h...
'Corona' returns to The Hague: parliamentary inquiry will contain surprises, says committee chair
A Dutch parliamentary inquiry into the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic will begin public hearings next week, featuring testimony from key figures such as Mark Rutte and Hugo de Jonge. C...
Former Spanish PM Zapatero investigated for COVID fraud
Former Spanish Prime Minister José Zapatero is under investigation for money laundering and involvement in a criminal organization related to COVID-19 state aid for the airline Plus Ultra. The probe ...
Dutch face longer waits for new cancer drugs: 'Unacceptable for such a wealthy country'
Access to new cancer treatments in the Netherlands is declining, with only 41% of medications approved in Europe over the last four years expected to be available to patients by 2025. This represents ...
Russia holds major nuclear arsenal exercise
Russia is conducting a large-scale nuclear arsenal exercise from Tuesday to Thursday involving over 64,000 military personnel. The drills include test launches of ballistic and cruise missiles as part...
Report: sex workers intimidated and exploited, no oversight
A report by the Sex Work Reporting and Advice Point (SMAP) reveals that sex workers in the Netherlands face poor working conditions, intimidation, and exploitation. The organization criticizes the gov...
Media watchdog warns of democratic risks from feeds
The Dutch Media Authority (CvdM) has warned that social media recommendation algorithms pose a threat to democracy by impacting the free formation of public opinion. Based on an analysis of these feed...
Discrimination test to prevent new benefits scandal will not be mandatory
Dutch Interior Minister Pieter Heerma announced that government organizations will not be legally required to use a discrimination test designed to prevent future scandals. Although approximately fort...
Holiday parks often scenes of criminal activity; North Holland approach to go nationwide
An approach developed in North Holland to combat criminal activities at holiday parks is being expanded nationwide through the 'Gastvrij Veilig' campaign. The initiative aims to improve the detection ...
Amsterdam drivers still speeding on 30 km/h roads, but average speed drops
Homeowners Association wants stricter control on house hunting: ‘Still cronyism’
Vereniging Eigen Huis is calling for stricter government oversight of the housing market, citing ongoing issues with transparency and "cronyism." Their research reveals that bidding logs are frequentl...
Other cities have long had public heating companies: what is holding Amsterdam back?
Subsidy pot shrank, site crashed, and now a lottery decides on changing room renovations and concrete rot repairs
Deaths in Kenya during protests against fuel price hikes
Four people were killed and more than 30 injured during protests against rising fuel prices in various Kenyan cities. Minister of Interior Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed the casualties during a televise...
Looting and violent clashes during Bolivia protests
Protests in the Bolivian capital of La Paz have escalated as demonstrators stormed several government buildings. In response to the unrest, the government is prosecuting a protest leader on charges of...
Trump announces expansion of drug discount program
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that the government-backed website TrumpRx.gov will expand its offerings to include generic medications. The platform is designed to provide consumers with di...
Municipalities see cabinet step forward after asylum riots
Sharon Dijksma, chair of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities, expressed satisfaction after emergency talks with the cabinet regarding recent riots at asylum seeker reception centers. The mee...
Minnesota prosecutes ICE agent for assault among other charges
A 53-year-old ICE agent in Minnesota has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon following a shooting incident in mid-January. The agent is accused of firing at a Venezuelan migrant, who sus...
Jetten: Markuszower now 'not at the front of the line' for cooperation
D66 leader Rob Jetten stated that he will not prioritize cooperation with Gidi Markuszower until the latter more firmly retracts comments advocating for 'maximum violence' against Palestinian refugees...
Jetten wants more tailored approach for municipal asylum reception after talks
Prime Minister Rob Jetten announced that the Dutch cabinet will focus on customized solutions to assist municipalities with local asylum seeker reception. A specialized flying team will be established...
Engelen residents hand over petition for welcoming asylum center
Residents of the village of Engelen submitted a petition with approximately 800 signatures to the Den Bosch city council, advocating for a hospitable welcome for 50 young asylum seekers. The group aim...
Trump calls off planned Tuesday attack on Iran
U.S. President Donald Trump has postponed a planned military strike against Iran that was scheduled for Tuesday to allow for diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement. While the attack is cancelled for...
Defend Loosdrecht ‘hijacks’ lawsuit for immediate closure of emergency shelter; will it be a madhouse at the court too?
A group of eight companies and five residents from Loosdrecht are taking legal action in an Utrecht administrative court to demand the immediate closure of a local emergency asylum shelter. The activi...
No money for new siren system, emergency sirens to disappear in 2028
The Dutch government will discontinue the monthly air raid siren system starting in 2028 due to a lack of funding for a new, innovative replacement. Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel ann...