Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Tackling the climate crisis is more important than comfortable living
The article presents a weekly proposition asking readers for their opinions on whether addressing the climate crisis should take priority over housing comfort. It invites the audience to participate i...
US Embassy in Israel tells staff wanting to leave: go today
US Ambassador Mike Huckabee has authorized embassy staff in Jerusalem to leave Israel due to heightening regional tensions. He urged those wishing to depart to do so by Friday.
Jozef Church Preservation Association not giving up: 'We will go to any lengths to prevent demolition'
The Association for the Preservation of the Jozefkerk and Rectory is fighting to prevent the demolition of the Jozefkerk monument in Hillegom. While the municipality plans to preserve only parts of th...
Drinking water company PWN ordered to provide customer data to tax collector; Cocensus wins court case for sewage tax
The Dutch drinking water company PWN has been ordered by a court to provide customer data to tax collector Cocensus. This information is deemed necessary for the accurate assessment and collection of ...
Utrecht mayor critical of university security
Utrecht Mayor Sharon Dijksma has criticized Utrecht University for failing to implement sufficient security measures to prevent building occupations. The mayor's comments follow several incidents in w...
Build homes on the asylum seeker center site in Santpoort-Zuid
The article presents a weekly proposition asking for reader opinions on building housing on the current asylum seekers' center site in Santpoort-Zuid. It invites the public to share their views on the...
Chaos over Box 3: what is the current status of wealth tax?
The Dutch government is facing significant uncertainty regarding 'Box 3' wealth tax legislation due to conflicting decisions between the House of Representatives and the new cabinet. This political in...
Dutch prison service DJI hit by data breach
The Dutch Custodial Institutions Agency (DJI) has confirmed a data leak involving the personal information of its staff members. According to a spokesperson, the breach exposed employee email addresse...
Iran: US must drop excessive demands
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has urged the United States to drop its "excessive demands" to reach a diplomatic agreement. The call followed talks between delegations from both countries hel...
Local ceasefire for repairs at Ukrainian nuclear power plant
A local ceasefire has been established around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine to allow for the repair of damaged cables. The facility has been under Russian control since shortly after...
'Unacceptable': after DigiD, Dutch Tax Authority also wants to put VAT software in US hands
The Dutch Tax Authority is considering outsourcing the management of the national VAT system to an American IT company, raising concerns about national sovereignty. Experts warn that this move could a...
Put simply, the state pension row is about 2.7 billion: these are the alternatives for Jetten
Prime Minister Rob Jetten is considering alternatives to raising the state pension age while still needing to secure 2.7 billion euros for the national budget. Although several options for cutting cos...
Climate coalition warns again: ‘Climate policy is barely getting off the ground’
One month before the elections, the Haarlem Climate Coalition has issued strong criticism regarding the city's climate policy. The group claims that the implementation of environmental initiatives is ...
Santpoort-Zuid asylum center site to become neighborhood park; recreational walking path possible
The municipality has announced that the site of a future asylum seekers' center at De Elta sports park will eventually be transformed into a neighborhood park. The long-term plan includes the potentia...
Municipal elections on March 18: what the SP wants
On Wednesday, March 18, residents of Haarlem will go to the polls to elect a new municipal council. Reporter Nynke La Porte is providing an overview of the different political parties and their plans,...
Municipal elections on March 18: what the Action Party wants
On March 18, residents of Haarlem will vote in the municipal elections to select a new city council. Reporter Nynke La Porte provides an overview of the candidates and their plans, focusing on the Act...
The Housing Crisis Sightseeing Tour takes you past 'expensive yuppie flats and exploited rentals'
Protesters in Amsterdam will hold a "Wooncrisis City Sightseeing Tour" this Sunday to highlight the city's ongoing housing shortage and rising living costs. The event marks five years since the first ...
Ousted alderman Özütok: 'I expect an apology.' Preliminary misconduct probe finds no grounds for integrity investigation
A preliminary investigation into alleged transgressive behavior by former Beverwijk alderman Nevin Özütok has concluded there is no basis for further integrity research. While Özütok is demanding ...
Greens win in Labour stronghold, fresh blow for Starmer
The Green Party won a by-election in the Gorton and Denton constituency near Manchester, a traditional Labour stronghold. The Labour Party fell to third place behind Nigel Farage's Reform UK, marking ...
Pakistan declares ‘open war’ on Afghan Taliban
The Pakistani Minister of Defense declared an "open war" against the Afghan Taliban government following several days of cross-border attacks. Both neighboring countries have been engaged in deadly mi...
Haarlem parties clash over housing shortage: build, build, build, but for whom exactly?
On Wednesday evening, political parties in Haarlem gathered at the Pletterij debate center to discuss the city's housing shortage and construction goals. The debate focused on identifying where new ho...
Housing group soon without a home, splitting up is not an option: May is getting very close
The De Nieuwe Ark residential group in Haarlem is urgently seeking a new home because their current building is scheduled for demolition on May 31. The group, which includes residents with disabilitie...
Transition pays off, pensions to rise significantly
Retirees switching to the new pension system are seeing an average increase of 14 percent in their payouts, with some increases reaching up to 20 percent. However, these higher incomes may lead to a r...
Volt lead candidate Juliet Broersen: ‘I think the city can be much more progressive’
Majority back state pension motion that unions say doesn't go far enough
A majority of the Dutch House of Representatives has passed a motion to soften proposed increases to the state pension (AOW) age. While supported by coalition parties and some opposition, trade unions...
Parliament wants to offset losses in revised Box 3
The Dutch House of Representatives has passed a motion to allow the offsetting of investment losses from previous years within the new Box 3 tax system. Supported by a majority including the VVD, Chri...
Bruls apologizes for Nijmegen's role in slavery system
Mayor Hubert Bruls of Nijmegen has formally apologized for the city government's involvement in the colonial slavery system during a private meeting at Radboud University. The apology follows a 2025 u...
Markuszower group wants to keep coalition agreement intact, helping the cabinet
The Markuszower Group has pledged temporary support for the Dutch minority cabinet, opting to leave the existing coalition agreement between D66, VVD, and CDA unchanged. Vice-chairman Hidde Heutink ar...
Melania to chair UN Security Council meeting next week
Melania Trump will preside over a United Nations Security Council meeting next week, marking the first time a First Lady has held such a position. Her office stated that she will use the session to em...
Three takeaways from the new cabinet's first debate
Prime Minister Rob Jetten's minority cabinet must re-evaluate several policy areas following its first debate with the House of Representatives. Adjustments are required for plans concerning state pen...