Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
North Korea honors soldiers who committed suicide in Ukraine
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has praised soldiers who reportedly blew themselves up to avoid being captured by Ukrainian forces while fighting alongside Russia. Kim described the soldiers' actions ...
United Arab Emirates to leave OPEC oil cartel
The United Arab Emirates has announced its withdrawal from the oil cartel OPEC. The country also plans to stop participating in monthly OPEC+ meetings that involve non-OPEC members such as Russia.
United Arab Emirates to leave OPEC oil cartel
The United Arab Emirates has announced its decision to withdraw from the OPEC oil cartel. This move represents a significant blow to the organization of oil-exporting nations and its leading member, S...
Minister Heerma calls Loosdrecht vandalism 'unacceptable'
Dutch Minister of the Interior Pieter Heerma has condemned the vandalism of the Loosdrecht town hall as "unacceptable." He emphasized that public buildings belong to everyone and that local officials ...
Man pleads guilty to planning terror attack at Taylor Swift concert
A man pleaded guilty in a Wiener Neustadt court on Tuesday to planning a terrorist attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna. The 2024 threat resulted in the cancellation of three scheduled performan...
Investigation into trees in Haarlemmerhout and Frederikspark
The City of Haarlem is conducting a study into the health and future of approximately 1,000 trees within the Haarlemmerhout and Frederikspark. Independent specialists will assess tree conditions and s...
Ask the negotiators your question
Following recent elections, the political parties Pro Haarlem, D66, and CDA are negotiating a new coalition agreement for the city of Haarlem. Residents are invited to submit questions about the negot...
CDA, VVD MEPs vote against EU long-term budget
MEPs from the Dutch parties VVD and CDA voted against the European Parliament's proposed 2.2 trillion euro budget for 2028-2034. In contrast, D66 supported the proposal, which represents a 10 percent ...
Local parties object to name Progressive Netherlands
Nine local political parties, led by ProVeenendaal, have filed an appeal with the Council of State against the new name of the GroenLinks-PvdA alliance, Progressief Nederland (PRO). The parties argue ...
Energy crisis increases pressure on regional airports
Regional airports across Europe are facing increased pressure due to the consequences of the conflict in the Middle East. The trade association ACI Europe issued this warning during a recent meeting i...
Lecture on Protect Ukraine and performance by 12-year-old Ukrainian pianist at Bloemendaal Freedom Meal
On May 5th, Dorpskerk Bloemendaal will host a Freedom Day event featuring a lecture by author Jaap Scholten on his "Protect Ukraine" initiative. The celebration includes a performance by a 12-year-old...
European Parliament wants tax on crypto and online gambling
The European Parliament has approved a mandate for the 2028-2034 EU budget, proposing a total of 2.2 trillion euros. To fund this increased budget, negotiators suggest introducing new taxes on cryptoc...
Mayor on Loosdrecht: this undermines society
Mayor Mark Verheijen of Wijdemeren condemned violent riots in Loosdrecht, stating the actions of around fifty individuals go beyond asylum debates and undermine free society. On Monday night, rioters ...
Finland and Estonia report delays in US weapons
The presidents of Finland and Estonia report that deliveries of American weapons to European countries are being delayed. They attribute these delays to the United States prioritizing military shipmen...
Zelensky criticizes Israel over grain from occupied territory
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Israel for accepting a ship carrying grain from Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine. He condemned the trade of what he termed "stolen grain," stating ...
Israel issues new evacuation order for locations in southern Lebanon
The Israeli military has issued new evacuation orders for sixteen locations in southern Lebanon, following similar directives given over the weekend. The army stated that these measures are necessary ...
CNN: US speeds up deportation of unaccompanied migrant children
The Trump administration is reportedly accelerating deportation hearings for unaccompanied migrant children by moving court dates forward by weeks or months. According to CNN, these children sometimes...
VVD and JA21 move forward with community service ban for violence against emergency workers
The political parties VVD and JA21 are proceeding with a legislative proposal to ban community service sentences for individuals who commit violence against emergency responders. Despite receiving sig...
City of Amsterdam: King's Day quieter than last year
King's Day in Amsterdam was quieter and less crowded than the previous year, according to the city municipality. Mayor Femke Halsema's safety measures are credited with ensuring a more orderly celebra...
Former South Korean first lady sentenced to 4 years in prison on appeal
Former South Korean first lady Kim Keon-hee has been sentenced to four years in prison for corruption following an appeals court ruling. This decision increases her previous sentence of twenty months.
Amsterdam has already collected 3,540 cubic meters of waste after King's Day
Cleaning workers in Amsterdam have collected 3,540 cubic meters of waste following King's Day celebrations, a slight increase compared to the previous year. To restore cleanliness to the capital, the ...
Maasdriel: no evidence of proxy vote fraud
An investigation by the municipality of Maasdriel into potential proxy vote fraud during the March municipal elections found no concrete evidence of wrongdoing. The results, announced on Tuesday, conc...
Fire at Russian oil refinery in Tuapse after attack
Ukrainian drones attacked an oil refinery in Tuapse, Russia, causing a major fire. The regional governor reported that evacuations were initiated in response to the incident.
Hollandse Duinen officially becomes a national park
The Hollandse Duinen area along the South Holland coast has been officially designated as the 22nd national park in the Netherlands. Minister Jaimi van Essen announced the new status for the coastal r...
Dutch Tax Authority to get new bank account number on May 1: what to look out for
Starting May 1, 2026, the Dutch Tax Service will adopt a new bank account number, transitioning its banking services from ING to Rabobank. Taxpayers must ensure that all payments are directed to the n...
Hillegom aims to ease pressure on youth care: fewer intensive referrals, earlier detection
The municipality of Hillegom is implementing a new plan to reform its youth care system by focusing on providing support closer to home. The initiative aims to reduce the reliance on specialized care ...
'The IJmond is full of workers', so Jan and Jan bring back Labour Day
Jan Berghuis and Jan Müter of the FNV union are reviving Labor Day traditions in the IJmond region with a celebration at Café de Zon on May 1st. The event aims to honor the area's strong working-cla...
Police: Multiple people vandalized Loosdrecht town hall
Police are investigating the vandalism of a partially vacant town hall in Loosdrecht, which they believe was carried out by a group of people on King's Day. The perpetrators threw stones through the b...
Hillegom city council wants to accelerate procedure for extra padel courts: The five extra courts meet the growing demand for sports locations
The Hillegom municipal council plans to accelerate the approval process for five additional padel courts at Padelhill to meet increasing demand. This expansion aims to provide more opportunities for p...
Death toll of US attack on school in Iran revised to 155
Iranian state media has revised the death toll from a U.S. attack on a primary school to 155 fatalities, down from an initial estimate of 175. The strike occurred on the first day of the conflict.