Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
45-euro waste discount: Is it too little? Beverwijk politicians wonder, but approve anyway
Politicians in Beverwijk have approved a plan to offer residents a maximum annual discount of 45 euros on waste disposal taxes as an incentive for recycling. Although some council members expressed co...
Significant increase in traffic violations this year
The Central Judicial Collection Agency (CJIB) reported a 13% increase in traffic violations in the Netherlands during the first four months of the year. Between January and April, nearly 2.6 million o...
Most Dutch people have an aversion to a political party
According to the National Election Study, over 80 percent of Dutch citizens feel a strong aversion toward at least one political party. This negative sentiment is most pronounced between opposing poli...
Local PRO parties' appeal rejected: GroenLinks-PvdA may be called PRO(gressive Netherlands)
The Dutch Council of State has dismissed an appeal from local political parties, allowing the GroenLinks-PvdA alliance to officially use the name Progressief Nederland (PRO). The court confirmed that ...
Rutte and NATO countries hold first NATO-Ukraine Council in Kyiv
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and ambassadors from all 32 member states are visiting Kyiv on Wednesday. The group is convening the first meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council to discuss ongoing coop...
Het Witte Huis pavilion on Zeeweg must leave by end of summer as Bloemendaal plans to sell site
The municipality of Bloemendaal has decided not to renew the lease for the property at Zeeweg 3 in Overveen, ending a long-term agreement dating back to 1969. Consequently, the pavilion Het Witte Huis...
Day three of COVID inquiry: should elderly care have received face masks earlier?
On the third day of public COVID-19 hearings, former House Speaker Khadija Arib and senior official Ernst van Koesveld appeared before the inquiry committee. The testimony focused on the management of...
Watch: COVID-19 hearing of former House Speaker Khadija Arib
Former House Speaker Khadija Arib appeared before the parliamentary inquiry committee on COVID-19 for the third day of public hearings. Arib led the Dutch House of Representatives during the first pha...
62 asylum seekers spent the night in a sports hall in 2e Exloërmond on Tuesday
Sixty-two asylum seekers spent Tuesday night in a sports hall in the village of 2e Exloërmond due to overcrowding at the Ter Apel registration center. The municipality of Borger-Odoorn provided the f...
Police officers affected by police violence videos: 'His face is going around the world'
Police officers in the Netherlands are facing increased scrutiny and emotional pressure due to social media videos that capture and amplify incidents of potential violence. A recent viral video of an ...
Cabinet considers measures for problematic protests: tougher and faster intervention during escalation
The Dutch cabinet is preparing measures to allow mayors and riot police to intervene more quickly and forcefully during demonstrations that seriously disrupt public order. Proposed changes to the nati...
Zelensky reports attacks on oil and St. Petersburg base
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced strikes on an oil terminal and a military base in Russia's St. Petersburg region, as well as a weapons plant in the Tambov region. These targets are lo...
Study: bailiffs can help identify problematic debt
A pilot program across six municipalities has shown that bailiffs can effectively identify individuals with problematic debts by referring them to local authorities. This proactive approach helps muni...
Kuwait Airport closed after damage from Iranian attack
Kuwait International Airport has been closed indefinitely following a drone and missile attack launched by Iran. The military reports that the strike caused multiple injuries and significant damage to...
Highway and rail protesters must be easier to remove: cabinet intervenes
The Dutch cabinet plans to introduce measures making it easier for authorities to remove and transport protesters who block highways or railways. While streamlining the process of clearing such demons...
Bailiffs lead unprecedented number of debtors to support services
A pilot program involving bailiffs has successfully connected a previously overlooked group of individuals struggling with debt to support services. The initiative demonstrates how bailiffs can play a...
North Holland residents can help shape provincial policy via citizens' initiatives, such as building in protected areas
Residents of North Holland will soon be able to influence provincial policy through the submission of citizens' initiatives. This new mechanism allows the public to directly impact decisions on variou...
Oil prices rise after further escalation in war between Iran and the US
Oil prices rose on Wednesday following a further escalation in the conflict between Iran and the United States. This increase comes after previous hopes for a ceasefire extension and the opening of th...
New coalition plans for the next four years announced today: live on AT5 from 11:30
PRO Amsterdam and D66 have reached a new coalition agreement for the city, focusing on significant budget cuts by streamlining the municipal organization and prioritizing core tasks. The agreement add...
Strict maximum of 200 residents for Santpoort-Zuid asylum center
The local government has confirmed that the future asylum seeker center in Santpoort-Zuid will house a maximum of 200 residents. This clarification was provided in response to questions from the FVD p...
Toos & Henk - June 3
Cartoonist Paul Kusters creates the daily comic strip 'Toos & Henk,' which appears from Monday to Saturday. The series provides his unique perspective on current events.
Kuipers and allies want new deal on greening healthcare
Former Health Minister Ernst Kuipers and other climate advocates are calling for new government agreements to further the sustainability of the Dutch healthcare sector. They urge ministers to continue...
Boulders seem to be on their way out in Haarlem: ‘This is a City of Flowers, not a city of boulders’
Haarlem is phasing out the use of large Scandinavian boulders in public spaces following growing political opposition. Critics argue that the 'Flower City' should prioritize greenery over stones, lead...
De Groenhoek prepares fresh daily meals for young and old. Neighborhood stores allowed to stay in Velsen after all
The Velsen city council has decided to allow neighborhood shops to remain unrestricted, citing their essential social function within the community. Local business De Groenhoek in IJmuiden serves as a...
Castricum hosts no asylum seekers and has no sites in mind: Municipality summoned to explain; ‘We count on understanding’
The municipality of Castricum currently provides zero asylum seeker reception spots and lacks concrete plans for future housing. Consequently, the local government must soon explain its lack of progre...
'What if this goes horribly wrong?' MPs alarmed by poor inspections and lack of oversight of municipal bridges
Dutch Members of Parliament have expressed alarm over reports of neglected bridge maintenance and poor oversight across various municipalities. MPs Chris Stoffer and Lucienne Boelsma-Hoekstra warned o...
Trump backs right-wing presidential candidate in Colombia
U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his full support for far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella in Colombia's upcoming presidential election. De la Espriella will face left-wing human righ...
Opinion: 'A palace for civil servants on the Amstel? Placing it in Noord or the Bijlmer bridges the city’s divide'
PRO Amsterdam and D66 present coalition agreement today: what will be cut and where will they invest?
Pregnant woman after police incident: I was just asking a question
Malak Mahmoud, a pregnant woman who fell during a police intervention at an asylum seeker center, told Al Jazeera that she was merely trying to ask officers a question when the incident occurred. The ...