Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Temu fined 200 million euros for selling illegal products
The European Commission has fined the Chinese online retailer Temu 200 million euros for selling illegal products, including baby toys that fail to meet European safety standards. The commission deter...
Máxima grateful for research into colonial items in collection
Queen Máxima expressed gratitude for an independent investigation into the provenance of colonial items within the Royal Collections. She stated that the findings and recommendations would be fully a...
Small portion of royal colonial objects potentially unlawful
An independent investigation into approximately 1,000 colonial objects in the Dutch Royal Collections found that a small portion may have been unlawfully or unjustly acquired. While the majority of it...
Inspectorate: asylum seekers' phones may not be searched
The Inspectorate of Justice and Security has ruled that authorities may not search the phones and laptops of asylum seekers entering the Netherlands without a solid legal basis. The inspection conclud...
The Hague City Hall evacuated due to suspicious situation
The Hague City Hall has been evacuated due to a suspicious situation. Police are currently investigating the incident, though further details regarding the nature of the threat have not yet been discl...
Unrest in city council over rising costs for Waternet split: ‘Who will pay for this multi-million blunder?’
Amsterdam asked four times if Music On tent was safe but received no response
The municipality of Amsterdam requested safety approval status for a festival tent four times without receiving a response from the environmental service. The tent was ultimately rejected four days be...
Ukrainian parliament approves major EU loan deal
The Ukrainian parliament has approved an agreement with the European Union to secure a loan of 90 billion euros. A significant majority of lawmakers voted in favor of the proposal to accept the financ...
UN experts: Urgent action needed for overcrowded French prisons
United Nations experts have called on France to take immediate action to address severe overcrowding in its prisons. They warned that current conditions in some facilities may violate the fundamental ...
Ukraine claims new attack on Tuapse oil refinery
The Ukrainian military has claimed responsibility for a new strike on an oil refinery in the Russian port city of Tuapse. This facility has been targeted several times since early April, resulting in ...
EU ministers: pressure on Russia must be increased
EU Foreign Ministers meeting in Limassol have called for increased pressure on Russia and enhanced support for Ukraine, noting that President Putin has shown no interest in peace negotiations. The min...
About 130 asylum seekers in Groningen shelter, 10 outside at Ter Apel
Approximately 130 asylum seekers stayed at a temporary shelter in Groningen on Wednesday night because the Ter Apel registration center reached capacity. An additional ten people opted to sleep outdoo...
US Embassy in Kyiv remains open after Russian call to leave
The United States embassy in Kyiv has announced it will remain open despite Russian warnings for foreigners and diplomats to evacuate the Ukrainian capital ahead of planned attacks. In a statement on ...
Netherlands extends Patriot mission in Poland by six months
The Dutch government has decided to extend the deployment of Patriot missile systems in Poland for up to six more months to secure a key logistics hub for aid to Ukraine. Other defense systems, includ...
Kallas: Don't fall into Russia's trap by naming EU envoy
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned that the European Union should not fall into a Russian trap by naming a specific envoy for Ukraine-Russia negotiations at this stage. Speaking ahead of a...
Landlords also dumped rental homes en masse in the first quarter: 'The Netherlands is on the brink of a housing market collapse'
Landlords in the Netherlands continued to sell off rental properties in large numbers during the first quarter of the year. While this trend persists, the Kadaster predicts that the pace of these sale...
Renewed concerns over Lokhorsterduin social housing: 'Are those prices correct?'
Political parties in Bloemendaal have raised concerns regarding the progress and high rental prices of planned social housing at Park Lokhorsterduin in Bennebroek. PRO Bloemendaal and Hart voor Bloeme...
Trump again demands billions from American business newspaper
Former President Donald Trump is suing the Wall Street Journal for at least $10 billion in damages over its reporting. The lawsuit stems from the newspaper's coverage regarding Trump's past ties to se...
Hamer wants better oversight of investigations into transgressive behavior
Mariëtte Hamer, the Dutch government commissioner for sexual misconduct, is calling for the creation of a new organization to oversee investigations into inappropriate behavior. She argues that curre...
Hundreds of gold bars found in former CIA official's home
A former CIA official has been arrested after 303 gold bars, worth over $40 million, were discovered in his home. The official is accused of taking the gold from his workplace, according to reports fr...
Bits of Freedom files complaint with regulator over period-tracking app
The privacy organization Bits of Freedom has filed a formal complaint with the Dutch Data Protection Authority against the period tracking app Flo. The group alleges that the app violates user privacy...
End of war out of sight: oil prices rise again after new US and Iran attacks
Oil prices increased significantly on Thursday morning following new military attacks between the United States and Iran. These escalations, which included a strike on a U.S. airbase, have further dim...
Free documentary on contract labor
De Balie in Amsterdam is hosting a free documentary screening on Friday, June 5, focusing on the history of indentured labor during the colonial era. The event aims to raise awareness about this relat...
The women in ‘Deep Deception’ noticed things didn’t add up, but they couldn’t fathom the massive deception
Fire service, municipalities and VNG call on government to revise building regulations
Dutch municipalities, provinces, and the fire department are calling on the national government to modernize building regulations to keep pace with social and technological changes. A study by TNO rev...
Researchers surprised: children's motor skills haven't declined despite increased screen time
A study by the Dutch Education Inspectorate shows that despite a significant increase in screen time over the last seven years, physical movement skills among eighth-grade students have remained stabl...
New phase, old concerns at well-attended 't Groot Clooster meeting: 'Plans are not set in stone'
Residents of Heemstede attended a well-attended walk-in evening at the town hall on Tuesday to discuss development plans for 't Groot Clooster. The event allowed community members to share their ideas...
Iranian Revolutionary Guard reports attack on US base
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) reported an attack on a U.S. airbase on Thursday. According to state news agency Tasnim, the action was a response to a recent U.S. strike near the southern city...
Ban on US takeover of DigiD fits tougher stance against Big Tech
The Dutch government has blocked the American acquisition of the company behind DigiD to maintain national control over its crucial digital infrastructure. Experts support the decision as a move towar...
Deeper cuts at Spaarne Werkt: Snuffelmug, youth work and giant Cruquius building at risk
Participation company Spaarne Werkt is undergoing significant budget cuts affecting the Snuffelmug thrift store and youth programs to restore its financial stability. The municipalities of Haarlem, He...