Politics News in English

Halsema on removed picnic tables at Café ’t Sluisje: city must ‘draw a line somewhere’

Shareholders profit from high oil prices, motorists pay the bill

Surging oil prices linked to tensions between Iran and the U.S. have led to record profits for major oil companies, including Shell, BP, and Total. The significant earnings growth has prompted calls f...

Alderman Pels: City not responsible for birds trapped in nets at Rijksmuseum, but delay contributed to problem

Tonight live on NH: Willem Arondéus Lecture on freedom by Jip van den Toorn

Cartoonist Jip van den Toorn will deliver the annual Willem Arondéus lecture on freedom tonight at the Grote of St. Bavokerk in Haarlem. The event, which is broadcast live by NH, honors the legacy of...

Nearly 30 municipalities considering fat bike ban, some waiting for national policy

A survey of Dutch municipalities reveals that nearly 30 local governments are considering a potential ban on fatbikes. While some municipalities are exploring local measures, others are currently wait...

Royal Marechaussee: fire in 't Harde caused by explosives exercise

A wildfire that broke out on April 29 at the Artillery Shooting Range in 't Harde was caused by a military exercise involving explosives. Following a factual investigation, the Royal Netherlands Marec...

European Parliament urges member states to speed up European defense union

Members of the European Parliament from eleven countries are calling for the swift establishment of a European defense union to ensure independent security capabilities. The proposal suggests that thi...

Prank calls after fatal Osdorp shooting subject of debate: Halsema seeks more powers against inflammatory online posts

No more check-ins at municipal bike parking from June

Starting June 1, Amsterdam will eliminate the check-in requirement at municipal bicycle parking facilities, allowing cyclists to park for free for up to seven days. The initiative aims to reduce stree...

Halsema not in favor of physical security for National Monument after vandalism

How does the mayor deal with the arrest of rooted children? Council remains dissatisfied with Wienen's asylum policy

The Haarlem city council majority has requested further dialogue with Mayor Jos Wienen regarding the deportation of long-term resident children. Despite the mayor's claim that he is not informed of su...

Gorinchem recount final, Democrats largest party

Democraten Gorinchem has been confirmed as the largest party in the Gorinchem municipal council after the final results of the April 29 revote were established. The party secured seven seats, maintain...

Alderman De Raadt scraps general smoking ban for Haarlem sports and play areas: ‘Unenforceable’

Haarlem Sport Alderman Eva de Raadt has rejected a city council proposal to implement a smoking ban across all sports and play areas in the city. De Raadt cited legal limitations under the Tobacco and...

Fewer people with debt settlement loans and debt relief after assistance program shortened

The number of people receiving debt restructuring credits and participating in debt relief programs in the Netherlands decreased significantly last year. This decline follows the shortening of the dur...

Jamie (D66) to face mother (VVD) in Castricum council chamber after all: ‘We have mixed feelings’

Jamie Shalders of the D66 party is joining the Castricum municipal council following the departure of candidate-alderman Erik Hordijk. This appointment means he will serve alongside his mother, Renata...

Shell reports significant profit due to Middle East war

Shell reported a first-quarter profit of nearly $6.9 billion, driven by a significant increase in oil prices. The price surge is attributed to market volatility caused by the ongoing conflict in the M...

Local resident voluntarily goes to jail tonight in new season of Hell or Hotel

Wybren van Haga, a resident of Haarlem, will voluntarily enter prison alongside London Loy for the new season of the television show Hel of hotel. The program, which features participants experiencing...

Heritage of the Week | NSB Bookstore De Driehoek/Het Bolwerk (1936-1945)

Propaganda material from a former NSB bookstore was recently discovered during renovations at Kalverstraat 3-5. The historical items, dating from 1936 to 1945, have been transferred to the NIOD Instit...

Summer holidays less popular due to fuel crisis

Rising fuel costs and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are making summer vacations less popular among Europeans. High prices for both airline tickets and car travel are forcing many travelers ...

Polling stations open for British elections

Polling stations have opened across Great Britain for local elections in England and parliamentary elections in Wales and Scotland. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour Party is expected to face signi...

Longer free bicycle parking in municipal facilities from June 1, 2026

Starting June 1, 2026, Amsterdam will deactivate the access gates in its municipal bicycle parking garages to simplify use. From that date, bicycles can be parked for free for a maximum of seven days.

’t Groot Clooster users slam participation process and ask alderman for suspension

Four organizations based at 't Groot Clooster in Heemstede have requested an immediate suspension of the participation process concerning the area's future. The parties submitted a formal letter to Al...

What punishment awaits monument vandals and Remembrance Day disruptors? This fact works in their favor

During the National Remembrance Day on Dam Square in Amsterdam, activists defaced the National Monument and disrupted the two-minute silence to protest the war in Gaza. A total of thirteen people were...

Had a Netflix subscription? A class action lawsuit is being prepared, and you can join for free

The Stichting Bescherming Consumentenbelang is preparing a mass claim against Netflix for increasing subscription prices since 2017 without clear transparency. The foundation argues that these price h...

Housing market divide: widening gap between renters and buyers

Stephen Colbert's witty interview with former President Obama was balm for the soul

MSF: Malnutrition in Gaza devastating for pregnant women and babies

An analysis by Médecins Sans Frontières warns that extreme food shortages in Gaza are having devastating effects on pregnant women and newborns. The international medical organization highlights tha...

New residence permit holders are working more often

An increasing number of refugees with residence permits in the Netherlands are finding employment shortly after being granted status. According to data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS), these individ...

Party for the Animals wants Rijksmuseum bird netting removed 'as soon as possible'

The Party for the Animals (PvdD) is calling for the immediate removal of anti-bird nets placed over trees in Amsterdam's Carel Willinkplantsoen by the Rijksmuseum. The museum installed the nets to pre...

EU politicians want swift action on new AI model before hacking chaos breaks out: ‘Bad guys get golden opportunity’

European MEPs are calling for urgent action and access to test a new AI model called Mythos, which is capable of rapidly identifying security vulnerabilities. They warn that the technology could provi...