Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
How heated will the National Protest be, including in Haarlem? Anti-asylum center protesters potentially drowned out by counter-protest
A national protest against asylum seeker centers is scheduled to take place this Saturday across eight Dutch provincial capitals, including Haarlem and Amsterdam. Local residents supporting the center...
Castricum council wants part of new IKC Cunera taller than two stories; local residents unhappy
The Castricum municipal executive proposes adjusting the design of the IKC Cunera building in Bakkum to include a section higher than the agreed two stories. While the council believes this change wil...
Jetten speaks to emergency workers and COA about asylum center violence
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten met with emergency responders, COA staff, and volunteers on Friday to discuss recent violence at asylum seeker reception centers. The meeting follows a series of demons...
China confirms Xi visit to United States this fall
Chinese President Xi Jinping has accepted an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump to visit the United States this autumn. The announcement was officially confirmed by the Chinese state news age...
Belgian coalition clashes over NATO target
The Belgian government coalition is currently divided over the timeline for meeting NATO's defense spending targets, as some parties seek to delay increases to avoid budget cuts in other sectors. Defe...
Zelensky: Russia trying to drag Belarus deeper into war
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia is attempting to involve Belarus more deeply in the ongoing conflict. He warned that Russian forces may plan to launch attacks against Ukraine...
Frontex sees drop in illegal border crossings into EU
The European border agency Frontex reported a 40 percent decrease in illegal border crossings into the EU during the first four months of 2024. This significant decline is based on a comparison with t...
US and UK removed highly enriched uranium from Venezuela
The United States and the United Kingdom successfully removed highly enriched uranium from Venezuela and transported it to the American state of South Carolina in early May. The material was prepared ...
Leave the Kleine Houtweg alone
The article invites readers to share their opinions and vote on a proposition regarding the future of the Kleine Houtweg. The title suggests a sentiment in favor of leaving the street undisturbed.
Heemstede placed under state supervision over shortage of asylum seeker housing
The Dutch Ministry of Asylum and Migration has placed the municipality of Heemstede under supervision for failing to meet its legal requirements for asylum seeker housing. Correspondence shared with l...
Four arrests after demonstration in Apeldoorn on Ascension Day
Police arrested four individuals during a demonstration against asylum seeker housing in Apeldoorn on Thursday evening. Two suspects were detained for insulting police officers, while the other two we...
Trump says he made no commitments to Xi on Taiwan
During his visit to China, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he made no commitments to President Xi Jinping regarding Taiwan. Trump also indicated that a decision on a new arms deal with the dem...
Demonstration against Christians for Israel at Koningkerk ended with violence; ‘a wrist was broken’
Riot police in Haarlem forcibly ended a pro-Palestinian demonstration by the group Ummah for Gaza on Wednesday near the Koningkerk. The protest, which targeted a Christians for Israel meeting, was dis...
Kennemer Golf Club slams 'incorrect' distribution of lottery funds, but KLM Open will proceed next year
The Kennemer Golf & Country Club has criticized a lottery-based sports subsidy distribution that is expected to provide less funding than budgeted. Despite these financial concerns, club manager Harro...
Demonstration in Haarlem North ended
On May 13, Mayor Jos Wienen terminated a demonstration by Ummah voor Gaza in Haarlem-Noord due to concerns over public safety and potential disorder. The protest occurred outside a church hosting a 'C...
Iran questions US reliability in peace process
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressed a lack of trust in the United States regarding Middle East peace negotiations during a BRICS meeting in India. He cited contradictory messages from Wa...
Stadskanaal mayor: Do not take the law into your own hands
Mayor Klaas Sloots of Stadskanaal has issued an urgent appeal to residents not to take the law into their own hands following unrest in the municipality. An emergency ordinance has been implemented in...
Palestinian news agency reports settler attacks in West Bank
Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that Israeli settlers set fire to cars and a mosque near Ramallah on the West Bank. Additionally, Israeli forces reportedly shot and killed a 16-year-old boy duri...
Van Weel strongly condemns Markuszower's call for violence
Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel has condemned remarks by MP Gidi Markuszower, who suggested that Palestinian refugees should be deterred with violence. Van Weel emphasized that calls for violenc...
Ombudsman wants parents in benefits scandal to be better informed
National Ombudsman Reinier van Zutphen has urged State Secretary for Finance Sandra Palmen to improve the quality of information provided to parents affected by the childcare benefit scandal. He expre...
Criticized anti-bird nets at Rijksmuseum to be removed: "Breeding season well advanced"
The Rijksmuseum is removing controversial anti-bird nets from trees in Amsterdam's Carel Willinkplantsoen after several birds became trapped in the mesh. While the nets were intended to prevent nestin...
City pass in Haarlemmermeer can simplify and improve low-income policy. External agency: 'Lowers barriers for sports, culture and social activities'
A report by consultancy Medialect suggests that introducing a city pass for low-income residents in Haarlemmermeer would effectively simplify the municipality's social welfare policies. The study indi...
Philippine minister: We will comply with ICC arrest warrant
Philippine Justice Minister Fredderick Vida announced that the government will comply with an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for Senator Ronald Dela Rosa. Dela Rosa, a former police...
Schiphol security guards sound alarm: workload sky-high and safety under pressure
Security guards at Schiphol Airport, represented by the FNV union, are sounding the alarm over excessive workloads and a failing safety culture. Employees report that the high pressure is affecting th...
Markuszower: I should have expressed myself better, more sharply and more appropriately
Dutch politician Gidi Markuszower admitted in an interview with Sven Kockelmann that he should have spoken more precisely and appropriately during a previous encounter with the platform Left Laser. He...
Ben (of Ben & Jerry’s) wants to ‘free’ his ice cream brand: ‘They no longer dare to speak out against Trump’
Ben Cohen, the founder of Ben & Jerry’s, has expressed a desire to buy back the ice cream brand, claiming that its social activism has been stifled under corporate ownership. While Cohen argues the ...
Inspectorate to investigate agencies in Stadskanaal assault case
The Dutch Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ) is investigating the involvement of agencies such as Veilig Thuis and the Child Care and Protection Board in a child abuse case in Stadskanaal. The i...
Politics on the Amstel: Who is to blame for the cancelled festival and these names are circulating for alderman
Amsterdam's Music On festival was cancelled after the municipality withdrew its permit over safety concerns, sparking debate regarding accountability among local officials. Journalists also discussed ...
Will it be 6-3 or 5-4? Negotiations are not only about portfolios, but also political balance
Amsterdam to install new trash cans to combat littering
Starting in June, the City of Amsterdam will install 200 new trash cans featuring recycling compartments for deposit bottles across seven high-traffic locations. This initiative is part of a broader p...