Politics News in English

Second Chance Foundation in Amsterdam East faces closure in a week, to the dismay of the Party for the Animals: 'This is far from enough'

Minister Sjoerdsma called to Parliament again today: what’s going on with the budget deal?

D66 Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma is appearing before the Dutch House of Representatives today to explain a controversial budget deal regarding development aid. The minister faces criticism for orchestrat...

Haarlem reaches new coalition agreement

Political parties PRO Haarlem, D66, and CDA have presented a new coalition agreement for Haarlem titled "Samen bouwen aan een sterk Haarlem." The plan prioritizes the construction of 12,000 affordable...

British Defense Secretary Healey resigns over budget row

British Defense Minister John Healey has announced his resignation following a dispute over funding. In a post on social media, Healey shared his resignation letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, exp...

Cabinet votes for EU pesticide plan despite risks

Dutch State Secretary Silvio Erkens announced that the cabinet will vote in favor of a European proposal to simplify pesticide regulations, despite concerns about environmental and health risks. While...

PVV politician sentenced to community service for hitting XR activist

Ronald van Tiggelen, a PVV provincial council member, has been sentenced to 200 hours of community service for driving into a climate activist at the provincial house in Haarlem. The court convicted h...

Social housing tenants to pay 3.6 percent more on average this year

Housing corporations in the Netherlands are increasing social housing rents by an average of 3.6 percent this year, according to industry body Aedes. This figure represents the maximum allowable incre...

Maintenance on Kerklaan in Heemstede, new step towards 30 km/h limit

Maintenance work will take place on Kerklaan in Heemstede for two days starting Tuesday, June 16, to replace the asphalt. This project covers the section between Herenweg and Burgemeester van Lennepwe...

Business owners ask minister for more police: "Daily crime or nuisance"

Dozens of Amsterdam business associations have sent a formal letter to the Minister of Justice and Security requesting more police presence to combat daily crime and public nuisance. The organizations...

VNG after ruling: religious exemptions from compulsory education harder to obtain

The Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) is tightening rules for religious exemptions from compulsory school attendance following a recent Supreme Court ruling. Starting next school year, p...

Twelve officers injured after new riots in Northern Ireland

Twelve police officers were injured during overnight riots in Northern Ireland. Authorities arrested sixteen individuals following the unrest, according to Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn.

Sweden scraps plan for tougher sentences for 13-year-olds

The Swedish government has withdrawn a controversial proposal that would have allowed children as young as 13 to be sentenced to prison. Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer acknowledged that the plan wa...

New aldermen sworn in: "You will see more women and otters in public spaces"

Nine aldermen for Amsterdam's new coalition were officially installed following questioning by the city council. The new leadership includes five first-time aldermen, such as Elise Moeskops, who empha...

New aldermen installed: "You will see more women and otters in public spaces"

Nine aldermen of Amsterdam's new coalition were officially installed, consisting of four returning members and five new faces. While the city council provided broad support for the group, some members...

No further explanation from Sjoerdsma on 'shadow deal'

Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma has informed the Dutch House of Representatives that he will not provide further details regarding an alleged 'shadow deal' between the D66 and VVD parties. The agreement rep...

Iran: ceasefire now virtually meaningless after US attacks

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned recent U.S. attacks as illegal and criminal violations of a ceasefire agreement. Officials stated that these military actions have rendered the cu...

Ben & Jerry’s being ‘destroyed’ by Magnum owner, says founder

Ben & Jerry's co-founder Ben Cohen has accused the brand's parent company of 'destroying' the label by attempting to suppress its political activism. Cohen claims the owner has specifically tried to b...

Elon Musk to become first-ever trillionaire: net worth rising by $1 million per minute

Elon Musk is projected to become the world's first trillionaire as his fortune grows at an average rate of 1 million dollars per minute. Over the past year, his wealth has increased exponentially and ...

Canada also introduces social media measures for children under 16

Canada has announced a ban on social media for children under the age of 16 if platforms fail to meet new safety standards. Major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X will be required to implemen...

At this long, cumbersome World Cup, the drama for now lies in matters other than football

The upcoming World Cup is described as a long and cumbersome tournament where the initial excitement stems from external factors rather than the matches themselves. Although the tournament is expected...

Referee denied entry and fans unwelcome at World Cup: 'Even during the Cold War this didn't happen'

Historian Paul Reef has criticized FIFA and sports organizations for failing to take a stand against human rights violations that are directly impacting athletes and referees ahead of the World Cup. H...

Protest at Tiltenberg over potential asylum center: 'Big middle finger to Bloemendaal municipality'

Approximately 50 residents held a protest on Wednesday evening against a proposal to house 100 asylum seekers at the Tiltenberg in Vogelenzang. The demonstration took place at the gates of the former ...

Consultancy firm investigates UWV following reports of culture of fear

Consultancy firm KPMG has launched an investigation into the Dutch benefits agency UWV following reports of a potential culture of fear within the organization. The UWV confirmed the probe on Thursday...

Minister intervenes: Closure of care villas paused until children find alternative placements

Minister Mirjam Sterk has paused the closure of two care villas for severely disabled and sick children. The facilities will remain open until suitable alternative care locations have been found for a...

UN sees decrease in displaced people worldwide

The UN refugee agency UNHCR reported that the number of globally displaced people fell to nearly 118 million by the end of 2025, marking the first decline in a decade. Despite the decrease of 5.4 mill...

PowNed paints a shocking picture of Forum for Democracy: 'A money-hungry cult'

Provincial Executive member Anouk Gielen (27) candidate lead candidate for PRO Noord-Holland

Current deputy Anouk Gielen has been nominated as the lead candidate for PRO Noord-Holland for the March 2027 Provincial Council elections. The party describes the 27-year-old as a significant politic...

Investigation into toxic work culture at UWV following reports from young doctors in Amsterdam

Fewer international students in Amsterdam for the first time in 20 years

Alderman refuses to use ferrets against rats: "Less animal-friendly"

Amsterdam Alderman Alexander Scholtes has rejected a proposal to use ferrets for rat control, citing animal welfare concerns and high implementation costs. The city will continue to prioritize prevent...