Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Tofik Dibi addresses rent arrears and bailiff scandal: "I am a human with real human problems"
Amsterdam city council member Tofik Dibi has addressed concerns regarding his residency and financial situation after reports surfaced about his rent arrears and avoidence of bailiffs. Dibi confirmed ...
Coronavirus committee questions Kajsa Ollongren, Grapperhaus to appear later today
Former ministers Ferd Grapperhaus and Kajsa Ollongren provided second testimonies to the parliamentary committee investigating the Dutch government's COVID-19 response. The hearings revealed internal ...
Grapperhaus praises Rutte, but texts reveal 'autocratic' PM 'really made mistakes' during pandemic
Former Justice Minister Ferd Grapperhaus testified before a parliamentary inquiry, praising Mark Rutte while leaked messages revealed his private criticism of the prime minister's autocratic tendencie...
Former minister Grapperhaus was 'quite exhausted' at the end of the COVID-19 pandemic
Former Justice Minister Ferd Grapperhaus testified before a parliamentary committee investigating the COVID-19 pandemic, where leaked text messages revealed he used derogatory language toward colleagu...
Housing associations: we can build 20,000 new homes in Amsterdam if profit tax is abolished for us
Housing associations in Amsterdam are urging Housing Minister Elanor Boekholt-O’Sullivan to eliminate profit taxes for their organizations. They estimate that such a policy change would provide the ...
Vote at the Stopera at 12:30 PM: Oostbrug cost explosion and what to do with data centers?
The Amsterdam city council is debating the significant cost overrun of the Oostbrug project amid allegations that former alderman Melanie van der Horst withheld financial information from the council....
Judith Krom (PvdD) chair of Amsterdam presidium: ‘Guardian of the culture within the council’
Judith Krom of the PvdD has been appointed as the new chair of the Amsterdam city council presidium after a period of intense political deliberation. She will be responsible for overseeing council ope...
1.5-degree target is a lost cause: 'There are no good scenarios left now'
A new UN report warns that the 1.5-degree Celsius global warming target will be temporarily exceeded even under the best-case scenarios. Scientists emphasize that significant environmental damage is a...
Nine questions about the nuisance caused by homeless crack addicts in Amsterdam – and what can be done about it
Mayor Femke Halsema has expressed urgent concern over rising homelessness and drug-related issues in Amsterdam. Journalists have been investigating the underlying causes of this crisis, including the ...
North largely at a standstill during strike: "Annoying, but they are absolutely right"
Public transport and ferry services in Amsterdam-Noord will be halted on September 9 due to a scheduled strike. Although the disruption poses challenges for residents, many locals have expressed under...
Former chief investigator of ombudsman suspected of violating official secrecy and computer hacking
Bernadette Verheggen, the former chief investigator for the Amsterdam ombudsman, is facing allegations of computer hacking and violating official secrecy. The investigation relates to the suspected le...
Former alderman Van Dantzig convicted of driving under the influence of drugs
Former Amsterdam alderman Reinier van Dantzig has been fined 1500 euros for driving under the influence of multiple drugs. He was caught by police near Alkmaar after attending a festival, a mistake he...
Leaked budget meant to woo opposition, but Jetten faces rejection
Leaked budget plans aimed at courting opposition support for the Jetten cabinet have been rejected by key political figures. Despite these efforts, the cabinet continues to face resistance, complicati...
Hearing on squatted school building: can squatters stay?
Squatters occupying a former school building in Zwanenburg are challenging a municipality-led eviction order in court. They argue that the planned demolition is premature because mandatory environment...
Author of leaked report on misconduct at Amsterdam municipality suspected of violating official secrecy and computer fraud
Lead investigator Bernadette Verheggen is under investigation for allegedly leaking a confidential report regarding misconduct within the Amsterdam municipality. Authorities conducted raids on her pro...
VU students Marlon U. and Reinout V. appeal community service sentences for ‘violence with discriminatory intent’
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam students Marlon U. and Reinout V. have appealed their sentences for a violent altercation deemed to have discriminatory intent. The defense claims the incident was a polit...
Willem-Alexander, Máxima and Beatrix attend funeral of Norwegian King Harald
King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima, and Princess Beatrix will travel to Oslo to attend the funeral of King Harald of Norway, who passed away at 89. The royal family has cleared their schedule to att...
King and Queen joined again by all their daughters on Prinsjesdag
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima were joined by all three of their daughters for the annual Prinsjesdag ceremony. The event featured the traditional Speech from the Throne, where the King outlin...
New King Haakon takes oath in Norwegian parliament, wife Mette-Marit absent
King Haakon VIII has officially taken his constitutional oath before the Norwegian parliament following the death of his father, King Harald. The ceremony proceeded without Queen Mette-Marit, who rema...
Smaller budget cuts not enough for PRO and unions, strikes to continue
Dutch labor unions are proceeding with nationwide strikes after rejecting the government's partial reversal of planned social security cuts. Major disruptions are expected on September 9th as public t...
Prinsjesdag documents leaked: extra money for purchasing power, fewer benefit cuts, and deductible increase postponed
Leaked Prinsjesdag documents show the Dutch coalition government plans to delay healthcare deductible increases and reduce planned cuts to social security benefits. While the government is implementin...
Overasselt shooting linked to escalating conflict over large quantity of Bolle Jos's cocaine
A fatal shooting occurred in Overasselt during an attack by a large armed group targeting a warehouse, resulting in the death of a security guard and the arrest of 34 suspects. Investigators believe t...
Amsterdam's new municipal secretary Catrien Lenstra to cut 2,500 jobs: 'We must organize work fundamentally differently'
New Amsterdam municipal secretary Catrien Lenstra is launching a major reorganization aimed at increasing administrative efficiency. The plan includes cutting 2,500 jobs and fostering a culture of gre...
Police stop investigation into doxing of Israelis on flyers during WorldPride
Police in Amsterdam have halted an investigation into the distribution of flyers that doxed Israelis during the WorldPride Canal Parade. Authorities stated there were insufficient leads to identify a ...
Editor-in-chief Joost Niemöller leaves ON! due to 'difference of opinion'
Joost Niemöller has resigned as editor-in-chief of the broadcaster Ongehoord Nederland following a controversial segment in which he praised aspects of Adolf Hitler. The broadcaster removed the foota...
Minister wants to accelerate construction of 30,000 homes at five new locations
Housing Minister Elanor Boekholt-O'Sullivan has designated five new development sites to fast-track the construction of 30,000 homes across the Netherlands. By providing national support and funding, ...
Who wants to have coffee with Jetten? JA21 and PRO are not keen
Prime Minister Rob Jetten is seeking opposition support for the government's upcoming budget, but leaders from JA21 and PRO remain skeptical. They criticize the coalition's lack of a clear political c...
Province struggles with new wind turbines near Amsterdam-Noord
The North Holland provincial council is debating the controversial installation of three wind turbines near Amsterdam-Noord due to concerns over traffic safety at the Coenplein junction. While support...
Higher healthcare costs and pension spending widen government budget deficit
The Netherlands reported a widened budget deficit in 2025, reaching 18.9 billion euros due to rising costs in healthcare, state pensions, and social welfare programs. Although government tax revenues ...
Running red lights or texting while cycling? Haarlemmermeer community officers can now issue fines
Community officers in Haarlemmermeer are now authorized to issue fines to cyclists and pedestrians for traffic violations such as phone use or running red lights. The municipality is implementing thes...