Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Arrests at demonstrations in Vriezenveen and Wijk bij Duurstede
Police arrested three people on Monday evening during protests against the arrival of asylum seekers in Vriezenveen and Wijk bij Duurstede. The arrests occurred after the demonstrations escalated, wit...
Poverty in Germany hits record: 13.3 million people below the poverty line
Poverty in Germany reached a record high in 2025, with over 16 percent of the population living below the poverty line. According to the Paritätische Wohlfahrtsverband, this affects approximately 13....
Russian secret service discovers spyware on top officials' phones
The Russian secret service (FSB) claims to have uncovered a large-scale foreign intelligence operation involving spyware installed on the phones of high-ranking officials. This software reportedly all...
Tata Steel cuts ties with Donald Pols again after information about past
Tata Steel Netherlands has ended its association with Donald Pols, the former director of Milieudefensie, just days after he started as head of sustainability and communication. The company made the d...
Mother of BBB leader Caroline van der Plas seriously ill, politician takes step back
BBB leader Caroline van der Plas is taking a temporary leave from her duties in the House of Representatives to care for her seriously ill mother. Her mother, Nuala van der Plas-Fitzpatrick, is a form...
Japanese Emperor to visit Delft, Leiden, Utrecht and Amstelveen
Japanese Emperor Naruhito is scheduled to visit Delft, Leiden, Utrecht, and Amstelveen in two weeks. The official program for the visit was announced by the Netherlands Government Information Service ...
Dutch nationals prosecuted for plot to kidnap Belgian minister
Belgian authorities are seeking to prosecute three Dutch suspects for an alleged 2022 plot to kidnap former Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne. The federal prosecutor's office in Brussels confi...
Esmah Lahlah, number two of GroenLinks-PvdA, leaves Parliament to become Amsterdam alderman
Esmah Lahlah, the second-ranked member of the GroenLinks-PvdA party in the Dutch Parliament, is resigning from national politics to become an alderwoman in Amsterdam. She accepted the role following a...
MP Esmah Lahlah (46) to become alderman in Amsterdam
Chantal van den Berg from Vijfhuizen will not become CDA MP after all, but alderman in Alphen aan den Rijn: 'If they call me, I will clearly say no'
Chantal van den Berg, a CDA politician from Vijfhuizen, has been officially installed as an alderman in Alphen aan den Rijn instead of joining the Dutch House of Representatives. She expressed her ent...
Esmah Lahlah becomes Amsterdam deputy mayor and leaves The Hague early: ‘I won’t pretend to be an Amsterdammer’
No cavity wall insulation if traces of bats are found
The Dutch government has implemented the eDNA method to detect the presence of protected bats before cavity wall insulation can be installed. This requirement ensures that homeowners comply with wildl...
Amsterdam helps residents keep their homes cool
The city of Amsterdam is allocating €50,000 to help residents implement energy-saving heat mitigation measures. The funds are intended for items such as shade cloths and fans to help keep homes cool...
Late-night snacks still possible in Amsterdam West: district to keep many snack bars open late
New law forces companies to pay back wages
The Dutch cabinet is introducing a new law to ensure employees who have been underpaid receive the wages they are owed. This measure specifically aims to protect labor migrants from exploitation and h...
Dead and dozens wounded in heavy attacks on Ukraine
At least nine people were killed and dozens more injured following heavy airstrikes across various regions of Ukraine on Monday night. The capital city of Kyiv was among the areas hit, and emergency c...
How Pride grew from a small gay party to a mega-event: "It’s always been a struggle"
Journalists Michiel Klaassen and Menno Sedee have released a book exploring the 30-year history of Amsterdam Pride and its evolution from a promotional party into a major activist event. The authors h...
Inflation soars to 3.5 percent in May, Iran war makes everything more expensive
Inflation in the Netherlands rose to 3.5% in May, significantly exceeding analysts' expectations according to the Central Bureau of Statistics. The increase is primarily driven by rising fuel and ener...
More municipalities have local heat plans, majority still do not
The number of Dutch municipalities with or developing a local heat plan has increased from 90 to 128 over the past year, according to the Red Cross and the Climate Alliance. While this is seen as a po...
Documentary reveals just how filthy the North Sea floor is
The documentary 'De Noordzee BV' highlights the 'Fishing for Litter' project, which has removed more than 8.5 million kilograms of trash from the North Sea over the last 25 years. It explores the moun...
Yeah, go grab a mattress, otherwise those poor Romanians will get sore backs
EU agrees on return policy, including ‘return hubs’
The European Parliament, the European Commission, and EU member states have reached a provisional agreement on a new regulation for the return of rejected asylum seekers. The compromise, which include...
Haarlem must house 283 more status holders this year
The municipality of Haarlem has provided housing for 91 status holders since the beginning of this year. According to figures from the Ministries of the Interior and Justice, the city is required to a...
Police: Officer unaware woman was pregnant during arrest
A police officer who pulled a pregnant woman to the ground during an arrest at an asylum seeker center in Zeist stated he was unaware of her pregnancy. The police reported that the officer would have ...
Farewell after twelve years in the eye of the storm as Zandvoort alderman. Gert-Jan Bluijs: ‘Above all, you must be able to look ahead’
Gert-Jan Bluijs is stepping down as an alderman in Zandvoort after twelve years in the position and sixteen years as a council member. Known as "the treasurer," his departure marks the end of a long e...
Keti Koti month begins with memorial march: "Have more love and understanding for each other"
Dozens of people participated in the 'Memre Waka' commemorative walk through Amsterdam's city center to mark the start of Keti Koti month. The procession visited historical sites linked to the slave t...
Keti Koti month kicks off with memorial march: 'Have more love and understanding for each other'
The Keti Koti month began with 'Memre Waka,' a commemorative walk through Amsterdam's city center past historical sites linked to the slave trade. Participants marched to the Mayor's residence to emph...
Trump: Called Israel and Hezbollah, attacks will stop
Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he has spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and representatives of Hezbollah to discuss a cessation of hostilities. He claims that Hezbolla...
Citizens' initiatives soon easier to arrange in North Holland
The province of North Holland is lowering the required number of signatures for citizen initiatives from 5,000 to 1,500. This change aims to make it easier for residents to place specific topics on th...
Emergency departments to receive partially fixed budget of 4.6 million from 2027
Starting in 2027, emergency departments will receive a partial fixed budget of approximately 4.6 million euros to supplement current patient-based funding. This shift in the Dutch healthcare system ai...