Politics News in English

Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.

Spinozacampus residents sound alarm: rat infestations caused by illegal dumping
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Spinozacampus residents sound alarm: rat infestations caused by illegal dumping

Residents of the Spinozacampus in Amsterdam Zuidoost are calling for urgent action against persistent waste dumping and a subsequent rat infestation. While the municipality has promised to add contain...

Closed storage facility and home in North contained half of Opium List: at least 22 types of drugs
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Closed storage facility and home in North contained half of Opium List: at least 22 types of drugs

Mayor Halsema of Amsterdam has ordered the closure of a home and storage unit in the city's Noord district for three months after police discovered at least 22 types of illegal drugs. Authorities foun...

Kennedy Center puts Trump's name back on building despite court ruling
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Kennedy Center puts Trump's name back on building despite court ruling

Despite a prior court ruling, the Kennedy Center in Washington has decided to reinstate Donald Trump's name on its building. This action marks a significant development in a long-standing legal disput...

Former PvdA politician and ex-mayor Jacques Wallage (79) has died
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Former PvdA politician and ex-mayor Jacques Wallage (79) has died

Former PvdA politician and mayor of Groningen, Jacques Wallage, has passed away at the age of 79. He served as the mayor of Groningen from 1998 to 2009.

For nearly thirty years I have heard the same empty promise: no homeless person should have to sleep on the street anymore
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For nearly thirty years I have heard the same empty promise: no homeless person should have to sleep on the street anymore

Taylor Swift again forbids Donald Trump from using her music
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Taylor Swift again forbids Donald Trump from using her music

Senators investigate gift to Trump following diamond tariff exemption
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Senators investigate gift to Trump following diamond tariff exemption

U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal are investigating a diamond ring gifted to President Donald Trump by the Antwerp diamond sector. They allege the gift may have influenced import t...

Children's ombudsmen sound alarm over care for 20,000 asylum-seeking children: 'Serious violation of children's rights'
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Children's ombudsmen sound alarm over care for 20,000 asylum-seeking children: 'Serious violation of children's rights'

Rainbow House cancelled after 8 years of planning: municipality opts for multiple LGBTQ+ meeting spots across Amsterdam
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Rainbow House cancelled after 8 years of planning: municipality opts for multiple LGBTQ+ meeting spots across Amsterdam

What is your opinion on the points system for social housing?
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What is your opinion on the points system for social housing?

Municipalities and housing corporations in the Amsterdam region are conducting a survey to gather feedback on the points system for social housing. They are seeking input from housing seekers to ident...

Appeal by Marius Borg Høiby against continued pre-trial detention rejected
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Appeal by Marius Borg Høiby against continued pre-trial detention rejected

The court of appeal in Oslo has rejected the appeal filed by Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit, regarding the extension of his detention. He will remain at his reside...

Switzerland wants to raise VAT to free up extra funds for defense
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Switzerland wants to raise VAT to free up extra funds for defense

The Swiss government is proposing a 0.5 percentage point increase in VAT over the next twelve years to generate 24 billion Swiss francs for defense spending. This initiative aims to secure significant...

Help decide which Haarlem residents receive funding for a good idea
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Help decide which Haarlem residents receive funding for a good idea

The municipality of Haarlem is seeking a new representative from the Haarlem Oost area to join its Initiatiefraad, a committee that evaluates and allocates funding for local community initiatives. Res...

46 reports of demolition and tree felling in Haarlem last week
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46 reports of demolition and tree felling in Haarlem last week

Last week, the municipality of Haarlem processed 46 permit applications concerning demolition and tree felling. Of these applications, 45 were for projects within Haarlem and one was for Spaarndam.

From a portion of fries to Minister of Defence was only a small step
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From a portion of fries to Minister of Defence was only a small step

Forum school to open Monday and receives funding despite controversy: eighteen students in classrooms
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Forum school to open Monday and receives funding despite controversy: eighteen students in classrooms

Despite significant public criticism, a new Forum school is set to open in the Netherlands with eighteen students and government subsidies. The school currently meets all legal requirements, though of...

Too complex and disadvantageous for those with lower digital skills? Social housing points system under scrutiny
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Too complex and disadvantageous for those with lower digital skills? Social housing points system under scrutiny

Kennedy Center must pay 250,000 dollars to musician who canceled after Trump controversy
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Kennedy Center must pay 250,000 dollars to musician who canceled after Trump controversy

The Kennedy Center has been ordered to pay jazz musician Chuck Redd $250,000 in damages. This follows the center's unsuccessful lawsuit against the artist, who refused to perform at the venue due to i...

Rijkswaterstaat drought chief has ‘never seen this before’, but there is no reason to panic
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Rijkswaterstaat drought chief has ‘never seen this before’, but there is no reason to panic

Rijkswaterstaat describes the current drought in the Netherlands as unprecedented territory, noting that the effects will persist for months even if rainfall occurs. Despite the severity, the situatio...

Van der Horst (D66) hits back after criticism over withholding information on Oostbrug: 'Direct attack on my integrity'
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Van der Horst (D66) hits back after criticism over withholding information on Oostbrug: 'Direct attack on my integrity'

Billion-euro deficit for bridges and roads: why borrowing more money is not a good idea
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Billion-euro deficit for bridges and roads: why borrowing more money is not a good idea

Economists are warning against increasing the national debt in the Netherlands to fund urgent maintenance for roads, bridges, and dikes. While some politicians in The Hague advocate for borrowing more...

Public Prosecution Service demands prison sentence for father due to criminal exploitation of son who threatened school shooting in Zaandam
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Public Prosecution Service demands prison sentence for father due to criminal exploitation of son who threatened school shooting in Zaandam

Opposition parties demand transparency on higher Oostbrug costs and want to know why the council was not informed before the elections
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Opposition parties demand transparency on higher Oostbrug costs and want to know why the council was not informed before the elections

Deposed Syrian dictator Assad sentenced to death in absentia
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Deposed Syrian dictator Assad sentenced to death in absentia

Ukrainian drone strike hits Russian oil refinery 2,200 kilometers from the border
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Ukrainian drone strike hits Russian oil refinery 2,200 kilometers from the border

Trump's company loses $238 million and sells accelerated access to tweets
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Trump's company loses $238 million and sells accelerated access to tweets

Trump Media and Technology Group, the parent company of Truth Social, reported a loss of $238 million between April and June. This figure represents a significant increase compared to the company's fi...

Alderman knew about Oostbrug cost explosion before election but withheld information
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Alderman knew about Oostbrug cost explosion before election but withheld information

Amsterdam Alderman Melanie van der Horst withheld information about a massive cost increase for the proposed Oostbrug project until after the March 2026 municipal elections. Documents reveal that the ...

GGD: Amsterdam’s approach to crack nuisance stalls due to lack of coordination: 'Districts and organizations operate in silos'
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GGD: Amsterdam’s approach to crack nuisance stalls due to lack of coordination: 'Districts and organizations operate in silos'

The coming weeks are critical: which roads, bridges, and railways can actually be replaced?
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The coming weeks are critical: which roads, bridges, and railways can actually be replaced?

The Dutch government, led by Minister Vincent Karremans, is currently reviewing transportation projects due to significant budget deficits. This autumn, authorities will decide which infrastructure pl...

New York wants to raise 500 million with pied-à-terre tax for ‘safer streets and cleaner parks’: is that an idea for Amsterdam too?
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New York wants to raise 500 million with pied-à-terre tax for ‘safer streets and cleaner parks’: is that an idea for Amsterdam too?