Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Closure of Stingray coffeeshop in Beverwijk now final: license revoked after incidents
The Council of State has upheld the decision to permanently close coffeeshop Stingray in Beverwijk by rejecting the owners' appeal. Mayor Martijn Smit's revocation of the operating permit and toleranc...
Dutch Parliament not reassured after social media explanation of algorithms
Representatives from TikTok, Meta, and Google failed to reassure members of the Dutch House of Representatives during a meeting regarding algorithm transparency and platform influence. Lawmakers expre...
Berendsen summons Iranian ambassador over drone and missile attacks
Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen has summoned the Iranian ambassador following drone and missile attacks carried out by Iran on neighboring countries. Berendsen specifically cited concerns regardi...
Father and son Schouten together in Progressief Uitgeest (PU). ‘We’re not going to talk about politics all the time’
Alderman Jan Schouten and his son Thomas are both representing the political party Progressief Uitgeest in the upcoming local elections. Jan holds the top spot on the candidate list, with Thomas follo...
Russia releases two Ukrainian-Hungarian prisoners of war
President Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday that Russia will release two prisoners of war who hold both Ukrainian and Hungarian citizenship. The decision followed a meeting between the Russian lea...
Slovakia withdraws controversial whistleblower law
Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has announced the withdrawal of a controversial law intended to limit whistleblower protections. The legislation, which was suspended shortly after its introductio...
Four months in prison for hitting police officer at demonstration
A 24-year-old man from The Hague has been sentenced to four months in prison for assaulting a police officer during a demonstration. The court found that the suspect struck the officer on the back of ...
Slightly more female executives in government
The share of female directors in Dutch public organizations and government bodies rose from 41% in 2024 to 43% in 2025. This research, commissioned by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, h...
Amsterdam residents fill out Voting Compass: "Denk? I completely disagree"
AT5 has launched the Kieskompas voting aid to help residents navigate the record 35 political parties participating in Amsterdam's upcoming municipal elections. Residents testing the tool in Vondelpar...
Israeli troops advance in southern Lebanon
Israeli troops have advanced into several villages and towns in southern Lebanon, following an earlier warning for civilians to evacuate the area. The military action targets Hezbollah positions in th...
Election voting passes not properly delivered everywhere
The delivery of voting passes for municipal elections has faced issues in several Dutch municipalities, including Doetinchem, Spijkenisse, and Veenendaal. Residents reported receiving duplicate passes...
EU chief: Iran causing its own downfall with attacks on neighbors
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that Iran is risking its own destruction by continuing to launch attacks against neighboring countries. She stated that Iran's current strategy appears to be...
Hearing on elevator problems: "Could not do groceries"
A hearing was held at the Stopera in Amsterdam to address frequent elevator breakdowns that have left many residents stranded in their homes. Stakeholders, including residents, housing corporations, a...
Dutch Parliament seeks clarity on €2 billion pledged to Ukraine
The Dutch House of Representatives is seeking clarification regarding 2 billion euros in additional aid for Ukraine promised by the previous cabinet. During a defense budget debate, both opposition an...
Doctors Without Borders expands emergency aid in Lebanon
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is expanding its emergency aid in Lebanon as tens of thousands of people flee Israeli airstrikes. The organization reports mass displacement following Israeli military or...
Turkish source: Iranian missile was intended for Cyprus
A Turkish official reported that an Iranian missile intercepted on Wednesday was likely intended for a base in Cyprus rather than Turkey. The source suggested that the missile went off course before b...
Dutch troops in Middle East will not be withdrawn
Dutch Defense Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz has announced that military personnel currently on missions in the Middle East will not be recalled for the time being. Despite the escalating regional conflict...
After ten years of bickering, Heintje Hoeksteeg residents finally get a gate: It was a public toilet
After a ten-year campaign, residents of Amsterdam's Heintje Hoeksteeg will finally see their alley closed at night with gates to combat persistent drug dealing and public nuisance. The gates will be l...
Velserbroek neighborhood remains dark due to bureaucratic ping-pong between authorities: ‘We are caught between three parties’
Residents of the Linie street in Velserbroek have been without functional street lighting for over a year due to a bureaucratic dispute between government agencies. Despite safety concerns from the co...
Adults with city pass can also get swimming lessons for one euro
Starting in September, low-income adults in Amsterdam with a city pass can access swimming lessons for one euro to encourage water safety among those who never learned. The initiative, announced by Al...
Listed companies more often have enough women than private firms
A study by the CPB found that listed companies in the Netherlands have more women on their supervisory boards than other large companies. This trend is driven by the mandatory gender quota that applie...
Sports clubs struggling: Too few volunteers and rising regulations. 'We are not a business'
Dutch sports clubs are facing a critical shortage of volunteers alongside increasing regulatory burdens from the government and sports associations. Clubs are calling for more official support to help...
Demolition of worn-out Giraf in Hillegom begins, new one expected in summer 2028
The demolition of the De Giraf primary school in Hillegom has officially begun following a symbolic ceremony led by local officials. The project aims to replace the aging school with a brand-new build...
Iran says it targeted Kurdish groups in Iraq
The Iranian military launched missile strikes against Kurdish militia positions in northern Iraq, targeting groups they described as separatists. The attacks focused on camps near the Iranian border h...
Hegseth: We’ve only just begun in Iran, will now push forward
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the United States and Israel are winning the conflict against Iran. During a joint press conference with General Dan Caine, Hegseth indicated that milit...
Hegseth: Leader of Iranian group behind Trump assassination plot is dead
U.S. Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth announced that the leader of an Iranian group involved in an assassination plot against Donald Trump has been killed. Hegseth did not disclose the identity of t...
US behind attack on Iranian warship near Sri Lanka
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the United States was responsible for a submarine attack on an Iranian warship near Sri Lanka. The announcement was made during a press conference de...
Prepare your vote at the election market
An election market is being organized to help citizens prepare for the upcoming municipal elections. The event provides an opportunity to learn more about the political parties participating in the vo...
Costa says EU stands fully behind Spain
European Council President António Costa informed Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez that the European Union stands fully behind Spain. Costa confirmed the expression of support following a phone ...
Macron expresses solidarity with Spanish PM over US conflict
French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed European solidarity with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez following threats of economic sanctions from U.S. President Donald Trump. The conflict aro...