Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Appeal by Marius Borg Høiby against continued pre-trial detention rejected
The court of appeal in Oslo has rejected the appeal filed by Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit, regarding the extension of his detention. He will remain at his reside...
Switzerland wants to raise VAT to free up extra funds for defense
The Swiss government is proposing a 0.5 percentage point increase in VAT over the next twelve years to generate 24 billion Swiss francs for defense spending. This initiative aims to secure significant...
Help decide which Haarlem residents receive funding for a good idea
The municipality of Haarlem is seeking a new representative from the Haarlem Oost area to join its Initiatiefraad, a committee that evaluates and allocates funding for local community initiatives. Res...
46 reports of demolition and tree felling in Haarlem last week
Last week, the municipality of Haarlem processed 46 permit applications concerning demolition and tree felling. Of these applications, 45 were for projects within Haarlem and one was for Spaarndam.
From a portion of fries to Minister of Defence was only a small step
Forum school to open Monday and receives funding despite controversy: eighteen students in classrooms
Despite significant public criticism, a new Forum school is set to open in the Netherlands with eighteen students and government subsidies. The school currently meets all legal requirements, though of...
Too complex and disadvantageous for those with lower digital skills? Social housing points system under scrutiny
Kennedy Center must pay 250,000 dollars to musician who canceled after Trump controversy
The Kennedy Center has been ordered to pay jazz musician Chuck Redd $250,000 in damages. This follows the center's unsuccessful lawsuit against the artist, who refused to perform at the venue due to i...
Rijkswaterstaat drought chief has ‘never seen this before’, but there is no reason to panic
Rijkswaterstaat describes the current drought in the Netherlands as unprecedented territory, noting that the effects will persist for months even if rainfall occurs. Despite the severity, the situatio...
Van der Horst (D66) hits back after criticism over withholding information on Oostbrug: 'Direct attack on my integrity'
Billion-euro deficit for bridges and roads: why borrowing more money is not a good idea
Economists are warning against increasing the national debt in the Netherlands to fund urgent maintenance for roads, bridges, and dikes. While some politicians in The Hague advocate for borrowing more...
Public Prosecution Service demands prison sentence for father due to criminal exploitation of son who threatened school shooting in Zaandam
Opposition parties demand transparency on higher Oostbrug costs and want to know why the council was not informed before the elections
Deposed Syrian dictator Assad sentenced to death in absentia
Ukrainian drone strike hits Russian oil refinery 2,200 kilometers from the border
Trump's company loses $238 million and sells accelerated access to tweets
Trump Media and Technology Group, the parent company of Truth Social, reported a loss of $238 million between April and June. This figure represents a significant increase compared to the company's fi...
Alderman knew about Oostbrug cost explosion before election but withheld information
Amsterdam Alderman Melanie van der Horst withheld information about a massive cost increase for the proposed Oostbrug project until after the March 2026 municipal elections. Documents reveal that the ...
GGD: Amsterdam’s approach to crack nuisance stalls due to lack of coordination: 'Districts and organizations operate in silos'
The coming weeks are critical: which roads, bridges, and railways can actually be replaced?
The Dutch government, led by Minister Vincent Karremans, is currently reviewing transportation projects due to significant budget deficits. This autumn, authorities will decide which infrastructure pl...
New York wants to raise 500 million with pied-à-terre tax for ‘safer streets and cleaner parks’: is that an idea for Amsterdam too?
Barack Obama to host six-part podcast about his favorite books
Former US President Barack Obama is set to host a six-part podcast titled 'A Great Book,' where he will discuss his favorite literature with various guests. The series will feature episodes dedicated ...
Neighborhood budget was meant to be more accessible to all Amsterdammers, but mostly the same core group is submitting proposals
Nout Wellink on the lobby for Klaas Knot at the ECB: 'This is not a matter of making a few phone calls'
Former De Nederlandsche Bank president Nout Wellink explains that securing a top position at the European Central Bank requires extensive diplomatic effort rather than simple casual lobbying. He empha...
London mayor wants more space for pubs and nightclubs
London Mayor Sadiq Khan is opposing plans by the Westminster district to restrict the opening of new bars and nightclubs in popular nightlife areas. Khan argues that the city should instead create mor...
Høiby baffled by request to extend pre-trial detention: 'Did everything I could'
Marius Borg Høiby, son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has expressed confusion and disagreement regarding the prosecution's request to extend his pre-trial detention by another month. He claims he was...
Cabinet holiday stress: unions camping out, budget shortfall and no friends in the opposition yet
The Dutch cabinet is facing significant pressure while preparing the upcoming budget ahead of Prinsjesdag. Ministers are struggling with financial shortages and a lack of support from the opposition.
Will the Netherlands get another ECB president after Duisenberg? Klaas Knot is on course, but so is a Spaniard
Klaas Knot, the former president of De Nederlandsche Bank, is a strong candidate to become the next president of the European Central Bank. The Dutch Ministry of Finance has confirmed it would support...
Trump lashes out at oil companies over high fuel prices
Former US President Donald Trump has called on major oil companies like ExxonMobil and Chevron to lower fuel prices. He argues that these corporations are profiting excessively from current high oil m...
Why don't they use mystery guests to prevent the exploitation of sex workers, this window rental owner asks
Hans and Dieneke allowed back in home after 1.5 years: judge rules eviction was disproportionate
A couple who spent 1.5 years in a caravan after being evicted from their home following their son's criminal activities has been granted the right to return by a judge. Although the eviction was legal...