Politics News in English

Brussels to call on member states to ban conversion therapy

The European Commission will call on EU member states to ban conversion therapy in response to a petition signed by over one million people. However, the Commission does not intend to propose a unifie...

Another banana peel for the cabinet: the approaching end of mortgage interest deduction

The Dutch government is facing renewed political pressure as civil servants and coalition parties CDA and D66 push for the abolition of the mortgage interest deduction. Despite previous claims that th...

Investigation into Farage for failure to declare million-pound donation

A British parliamentary watchdog has launched an investigation into Reform UK leader Nigel Farage regarding an undeclared donation of 5 million pounds. The inquiry follows reports that the significant...

Seven minors arrested after Apeldoorn riots

Police in Apeldoorn arrested seven minors on Tuesday evening following a gathering in the De Maten district protesting asylum seeker reception plans. While six local youths were detained for disturbin...

Trump arrives in China for state visit

U.S. President Donald Trump has arrived in China for an official state visit. He is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week.

Report: Cabinet must take action on mortgage interest deduction

Officials from the Dutch Ministry of Finance report that the government must address issues regarding mortgage interest deductions, despite a coalition agreement to leave the policy unchanged. The rep...

Shots heard at Senate in the Philippines

Dozens of gunshots were reported at the Philippine Senate on Wednesday, though the exact cause of the incident remains unclear. The event may be linked to Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, who is currently wa...

Municipality withdraws Bloemendaalseweg redesign plan after criticism from residents and business owners: 'We have listened to you'

The municipality of Bloemendaal has withdrawn its plans for the redesign of the Bloemendaalseweg and the local shopping area following pushback from residents and business owners. Alderman Thessa van ...

No luxury Trump Tower for Australian coast: 'Toxic brand'

A deal to construct a Trump Tower on Australia's Gold Coast has been cancelled just three months after it was initially agreed upon. The project developer cited the Trump brand's growing unpopularity ...

King Charles: government seeks equality and EU cooperation

King Charles III delivered the King's Speech, outlining Prime Minister Keir Starmer's legislative agenda for the United Kingdom. The government plans to focus on increasing equality and seeking closer...

Dutch prosecutors find Wilders tweet featuring women's faces not a crime

The Dutch Public Prosecution Service (OM) has dismissed complaints against PVV leader Geert Wilders regarding an image he posted on X in August last year. The image compared a young blonde woman repre...

Dijksma calls Loosdrecht violence an attack on democracy

Sharon Dijksma, chair of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities, visited Loosdrecht to support Mayor Mark Verheijen following arson and vandalism at a new asylum seeker reception center. Both l...

Heemsteeds Burger Belang hopes for calm after period of turmoil: 'We have been through the worst of it'

The local political party Heemsteeds Burger Belang (HBB) is seeking internal stability after years of turmoil and personnel changes. Party chairman Jan Duinker expressed hope for a recovery, acknowled...

Is the fatbike ban in Vondelpark smart? What readers think: ‘They’ll just be back in a few months’

No prosecution for soldiers after Ede and Oirschot heath fires 2025

The Dutch Public Prosecution Service has decided not to prosecute five soldiers following wildfires that occurred during military exercises in Ede and Oirschot last year. The criminal cases related to...

Energy agency warns of decline in global oil stocks

The International Energy Agency warns that global oil stocks are decreasing at a record pace due to conflict in the Middle East. This instability has significantly disrupted oil exports from the regio...

COA shocked: Loosdrecht riots very impactful and frightening

The Dutch asylum seeker reception agency (COA) expressed shock following violent riots at an emergency shelter in Loosdrecht on Tuesday night. Rioters targeted the facility with fireworks and arson sh...

Lebanon reports deaths from Israeli strikes

Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon killed eight people, including two children, on Wednesday. The attacks targeted vehicles traveling on a highway between the capital, Beirut, and the southern part of the ...

First Eurovision semi-final without the Netherlands attracts few viewers

The first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest attracted only 541,000 viewers in the Netherlands, a significant decrease from previous years. This low viewership is attributed to a local boycott ...

Journalist Frans Heddema (1936-2026) was a monument: the aldermen came to him

Dutch Cabinet 'horrified' by Loosdrecht arson: 'Truly disgusting, truly reprehensible'

The Dutch cabinet expressed horror and condemnation following an arson attack at an emergency shelter for asylum seekers in Loosdrecht on Tuesday. Deputy Prime Minister Dilan Yesilgöz described the i...

Judge: court accreditation policy unlawful

The District Court of The Hague has ruled that the current accreditation policy for Dutch courts and appellate courts is unlawful and non-binding. The verdict follows a legal challenge initiated by th...

53 municipal notices on construction, demolition, tree removal, and hospitality in Haarlem last week

The municipality of Haarlem processed 53 permit applications last week concerning construction, demolition, tree removal, and hospitality activities. While 52 of the notifications involve projects wit...

Haarlem neighborhood platforms want more power for citizens: 'Not just input, but participation and decision-making'

Seven neighborhood platforms in Haarlem are calling for a cultural shift to give residents more influence and decision-making power over local construction and environmental projects. They argue that ...

No additional government measures after riots at reception centers

The Dutch cabinet will not introduce extra measures following violent riots at asylum seeker reception centers, according to Minister David van Weel. The decision comes after a protest at an emergency...

IMF critical of 'freedom contribution' and more pessimistic about Dutch economy

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has lowered its growth expectations for the Dutch economy, citing a particularly uncertain outlook for the near future. The organization also criticized the gover...

Navy ship Evertsen back in Netherlands after weeks of overtime over Iran

The Dutch navy frigate Zr.Ms. Evertsen returned to its home port in Den Helder on Wednesday morning following an extended mission in the Mediterranean Sea. The ship remained at sea for several weeks l...

Three arrests for riots at Loosdrecht emergency shelter

Police arrested three individuals following riots at an emergency asylum seeker shelter in Loosdrecht on Tuesday evening. The suspects face charges including arson, violence against a journalist and p...

Economic growth falls to 1 percent, IMF advises: tackle housing market!

The IMF reports that growth in the Dutch economy is expected to slow to 1% or lower this year, aligning with or falling below the European average. The organization identifies structural issues, parti...

Loosdrecht town hall cleaned after arson

Cleaners began restoring the Wijdemeren town hall in Loosdrecht on Wednesday morning following an arson attack on Tuesday night. The incident occurred shortly after a wing of the building began housin...