News from the Netherlands – Euro Weekly News https://euroweeklynews.com News and views in English since 1998 Mon, 10 Aug 2026 12:27:55 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 https://euroweeklynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/cropped-EuroWeeklyNews-Favicon-2-60x60.png News from the Netherlands – Euro Weekly News https://euroweeklynews.com 32 32 Football fans gasp as pre-match stunt takes unexpected turn at Dutch season opener https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/08/10/football-fans-gasp-as-pre-match-stunt-takes-unexpected-turn-at-dutch-season-opener/ Mon, 10 Aug 2026 12:27:55 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=576076 Thousands of supporters gathered at De Adelaarshorst Stadium in Deventer for the opening weekend of the new Eredivisie season, but it was a dramatic pre-match incident rather than the football that first grabbed everyone’s attention. Fans were dressed in their teams colours, they had found their seats and were ready for the game, but just before kick-off between Go Ahead Eagles and Willem II…

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]]> Moroccan olives under scrutiny after dangerous lead levels found in two European batches https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/08/08/moroccan-olives-under-scrutiny-after-dangerous-lead-levels-found-in-two-european-batches/ Sat, 08 Aug 2026 21:58:20 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=576000 You could have a jar of olives in the fridge right now without giving much thought to where they came from. They are one of those everyday foods that can end up on a dinner table, in a salad or beside a drink without anyone checking the country of origin. But two separate batches of Moroccan pitted green olives have now been flagged in Europe after testing found lead levels above the permitted…

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]]> Dutch PM Rob Jetten makes history on Amsterdam Pride boat https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/08/03/dutch-pm-rob-jetten-makes-history-on-amsterdam-pride-boat/ Mon, 03 Aug 2026 14:50:08 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=575515 A white shirt and a black life vest replaced the usual suit for Rob Jetten as he waved from the water. Around him, 80 decorated boats and packed canal banks turned a political milestone into one of Amsterdam’s best-known spectacles. Rob Jetten became the first sitting Dutch prime minister to take part in Amsterdam’s Pride Canal Parade on Saturday August 1. The openly gay leader sailed through…

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]]> Sticky sweet tribute, why Dutch Art Museum covers gallery floor in 390kg of peanut butter https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/07/11/sticky-sweet-tribute-why-dutch-art-museum-covers-gallery-floor-in-390kg-of-peanut-butter/ Sat, 11 Jul 2026 10:21:30 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=573637 Visitors entering the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam are encountering a truly bizarre sensory experience. Exactly 390 kilograms of smooth peanut butter has been meticulously smeared across the gallery floor. Titled Pindakaasvloer (Peanut Butter Floor), the installation opened to the public on July 9 and is scheduled to run until September 6. Transforming the gallery space into a…

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]]> Miraculous survival. Wild shelduck endures high-speed collision and 30-minute grille ride near Den Helder https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/07/05/miraculous-survival-wild-shelduck-endures-high-speed-collision-and-30-minute-grille-ride-near-den-helder/ Sun, 05 Jul 2026 14:34:30 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=573177 A remarkable rescue operation recently took place near Den Helder, Netherlands, after a wild shelduck survived a high-speed collision and spent half an hour trapped inside a car’s front grille. Amstelmeer, a picturesque lake in the Kop van Noord-Holland region, was the scene for the initial impact. Because this open wetland area is flanked by main roads, local waterfowl frequently fly low across…

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]]> The kind of abuse no one sees is now being treated as a crime in the Netherlands https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/07/01/the-kind-of-abuse-no-one-sees-is-now-being-treated-as-a-crime-in-the-netherlands/ Tue, 30 Jun 2026 22:29:09 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=572927 For many people, the idea of abuse is still linked to something visible. A raised voice, a confrontation, or injuries that can be explained and seen. But for others, it looks very different. It can be quiet, gradual and almost impossible to describe from the outside. It might be a partner who wants to know where you are all the time. Who questions your friends. Who checks your phone.

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]]> Amsterdam could become one of Europe’s most expensive city breaks under new tourism crackdown https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/06/07/amsterdam-could-become-one-of-europes-most-expensive-city-breaks-under-new-tourism-crackdown/ Sun, 07 Jun 2026 21:42:16 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=571002 Amsterdam has spent decades attracting visitors from around the world. The canals, museums, cafés and lively city centre have helped turn the Dutch capital into one of Europe’s most popular city break destinations. But if local politicians get their way, visiting Amsterdam could soon become noticeably more expensive and look quite different from the version many travellers know today.

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]]> Burglar hides from Dutch police under a laundry basket https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/05/22/burglar-hides-from-dutch-police-under-a-laundry-basket/ Fri, 22 May 2026 09:51:15 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=569748 Police officers from Zoetermeer in the Netherlands responded immediately to reports of suspicious activity near a residence in the Rokkeveen neighbourhood in south Holland on the evening of Tuesday, May 19. Multiple units, including uniformed and plainclothes personnel, conducted a thorough search of the area. Officers soon located a man in a garden corner attempting to conceal himself under a…

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]]> Call of nature: Poison dart frogs found in Schiphol Airport toilet https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/05/10/call-of-nature-poison-dart-frogs-found-in-schiphol-airport-toilet/ Sun, 10 May 2026 12:59:51 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=568716 Customs officers at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam discovered six poison dart frogs recently after a passenger spotted one moving near a departure hall toilet and raised the alarm. Officers found a plastic container inside a nearby bin, complete with moss intended to keep the amphibians alive during transit. One blue-black specimen wandered freely close to the facilities while five others…

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]]> Hantavirus evacuees arrive in the Netherlands for hospital treatment https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/05/07/hantavirus-evacuees-arrive-in-the-netherlands-for-hospital-treatment/ Thu, 07 May 2026 21:52:03 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=568561 Several patients linked to a hantavirus outbreak have been transferred to the Netherlands for hospital treatment following coordinated medical evacuations involving European health authorities. The first group of patients arrived on the evening of Wednesday, May 6, at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. They were met by Dutch medical teams and taken by ambulance to specialist hospitals for further care.

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]]> Amsterdam bans burger and flight ads from streets in major climate crackdown https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/05/06/amsterdam-bans-burger-and-flight-ads-from-streets-in-major-climate-crackdown/ Wed, 06 May 2026 13:22:33 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=568429 People walking through Amsterdam will no longer see posters promoting burgers, fried chicken, cheap flights or petrol cars across the city’s public spaces. The Dutch capital has officially started enforcing a ban on advertising linked to meat products and fossil fuels, becoming the first capital city in the world to introduce restrictions of this kind on such a large scale. The move…

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]]> “Ghost tenant” loses home in Netherlands after paying rent for two decades https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/04/28/ghost-tenant-loses-home-in-netherlands-after-paying-rent-for-two-decades/ Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:32:45 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=567786 A tenant in the Netherlands has been evicted after reportedly paying rent for nearly 20 years while not using the property as their primary residence. The case concerns a residential lease in Zwolle, where continued occupancy of the property as a main home was a contractual requirement. The renter was described as a “ghost tenant” due to the long-term absence from the property despite continued…

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]]> DHL worker nabs teddy bear smuggling surprising stuffing https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/04/19/dhl-worker-nabs-teddy-bear-smuggling-surprising-stuffing/ Sun, 19 Apr 2026 10:41:56 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=566900 An unusual smuggling attempt has been uncovered in the Netherlands. Workers at a DHL sorting centre in Beek near Maastricht Aachen Airport noticed something odd about one of the parcels passing along the conveyor belt recently. Quick thinking by a postal employee led to an immediate call to police in the Westelijke Mijnstreek area. Officers arrived at the facility and examined a light brown…

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]]> Only 300g of meat per week: Why the Netherlands is enforcing strict new food limits in 2026 https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/04/11/only-300g-of-meat-per-week-the-netherlands-is-slashing-national-diet-rules-in-2026/ Sat, 11 Apr 2026 15:16:34 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=566262 The Netherlands Nutrition Centre has officially slashed the recommended weekly meat intake to 300 grams, a 40% reduction, as part of the new 2026 “Wheel of Five” guidelines released this April. For the first time, Dutch authorities are capping red meat at just 100 grams per week and halving the daily cheese allowance to 20 grams. This update prioritizes “planetary health…

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]]> Pro-Israel centre in Dutch town targeted in overnight explosion https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/04/05/pro-israel-centre-in-dutch-town-targeted-in-overnight-explosion/ Sun, 05 Apr 2026 10:23:43 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=565728 Dutch police are currently investigating reports of an overnight explosion that occurred on the evening of Friday, April 3 at the Israel Centre ​in the ​Dutch town of Nijkerk, located to the southeast of Amsterdam. According to reports, there were no injuries as a result of the explosion, but there was damage to the establishment itself, albeit minimal. The Israel centre is run by the Christians…

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]]> Legendary musketeer D’Artagnan may finally be found beneath Maastricht church https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/03/29/legendary-musketeer-dartagnan-may-finally-be-found-beneath-maastricht-church/ Sun, 29 Mar 2026 19:40:24 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=565197 Human remains believed to be those of the famed French musketeer D’Artagnan have been uncovered beneath a church in the Dutch city of Maastricht, prompting a scientific investigation that could resolve a centuries-old historical mystery. The skeleton was discovered during renovation works at the Church of St Peter and Paul after part of the floor gave way, revealing a previously unknown burial…

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]]> Why some Dutch hospitals are paying €2,800 more for the same cancer drugs https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/03/15/why-some-dutch-hospitals-are-paying-e2800-more-for-the-same-cancer-drugs/ Sun, 15 Mar 2026 21:53:55 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=564025 Some hospitals in the Netherlands are paying up to €2,800 more than others for the same cancer medicines, according to research examining how oncology drugs are priced across European healthcare systems. The findings have raised concerns about the lack of transparency in pharmaceutical negotiations and the impact that confidential pricing agreements can have on public healthcare budgets.

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]]> Dutch Beemster cheese wins World Championship Cheese 2026 https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/03/07/dutch-beemster-cheese-wins-world-championship-cheese-2026/ Sat, 07 Mar 2026 22:27:08 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=563325 A Dutch cheese has claimed top honours at one of the world’s most respected dairy competitions, winning the title of World Champion Cheese 2026 in a field of thousands of international entries. Beemster Royaal Grand Cru, a rich, cow’s‑milk cheese produced by CONO Kaasmakers in Westbeemster, The Netherlands, was named the best cheese in the world at the World Championship Cheese Contest in…

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]]> Irish beef faces gradual exit from Dutch supermarket shelves https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/02/26/irish-beef-faces-gradual-exit-from-dutch-supermarket-shelves/ Thu, 26 Feb 2026 21:47:52 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=562598 A leading Dutch supermarket chain has confirmed plans to gradually remove Irish beef from its shelves as part of a longer-term shift towards sourcing beef domestically. Jumbo said it intends to “slowly” phase out Irish beef while expanding its supply of cattle sourced within the Netherlands. The retailer stressed that the move will take place over time and will not involve an immediate…

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]]> Amsterdam crowned easiest European city for UK expats in 2026 https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/02/20/amsterdam-crowned-easiest-european-city-for-uk-expats-in-2026/ Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:51:13 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=561996 THE bustling and busy Dutch capital might be the 2026 hotspot for Britons looking to relocate to another country. According to the 2026 Feather Relocation Index, which ranks cities’ appeal for expatriates based on factors including ease of legal processes, abundance of job opportunities and ease of social integration, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, has been named the easiest European city for Brits…

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]]> Dutch daycares remove decorative craft sand after asbestos alert https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/02/09/dutch-daycares-remove-decorative-craft-sand-after-asbestos-alert/ Mon, 09 Feb 2026 12:25:25 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=560879 Childcare centres across the Netherlands have begun disposing of decorative and play sand following concerns that some products may contain asbestos, prompting precautionary action across the sector. The move follows independent testing that identified asbestos fibres in several decorative sand products commonly sold for children’s activities. The findings prompted the Dutch Childcare Industry…

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]]> Netherlands challenges Belgium’s plan to charge foreign drivers €100 a year https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/01/29/netherlands-challenges-belgiums-plan-to-charge-foreign-drivers-e100-a-year/ Thu, 29 Jan 2026 21:47:15 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=559933 The Dutch government has publicly opposed Belgium’s proposal to introduce an annual road charge of around €100 for foreign-registered vehicles, warning that the plan could unfairly burden cross-border drivers and raise concerns under European Union law. Belgium is examining the introduction of a nationwide toll or vignette system that would apply specifically to vehicles registered outside the…

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]]> Amsterdam moves to ban high-speed ‘fatbikes’ after surge in serious injuries https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/01/28/amsterdam-moves-to-ban-high-speed-fatbikes-after-surge-in-serious-injuries/ Wed, 28 Jan 2026 09:47:57 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=559818 Amsterdam’s city government is taking bold action to curb the growing number of crashes involving “fatbikes”, oversized electric bicycles with wide tyres and powerful motors, by planning targeted bans in popular public spaces. The proposals come after authorities and health experts reported an increase in serious injuries tied to these vehicles, prompting heated debate between cycling enthusiasts…

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]]> Dutch hospital performs world-first 3D-printed hip implant surgery https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/01/16/dutch-hospital-performs-world-first-3d-printed-hip-implant-surgery/ Fri, 16 Jan 2026 20:56:44 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=558685 A HOSPITAL in the Netherlands has successfully performed a groundbreaking surgery on a 36-year-old man suffering from hip dysplasia. The man received a 3D-printed hip implant at the Anna Hospital in Geldrop, Noord-Brabant on Friday, January 16, marking the very first time the surgery has ever been carried out on a human patient. Hip dysplasia occurs when the hip socket is misshapen or poorly…

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]]> A charity that helps those with nothing could lose everything: why expats in Spain are backing Arne Soeten https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/01/08/a-charity-that-helps-those-with-nothing-could-lose-everything-why-expats-in-spain-are-backing-arne-soeten/ https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/01/08/a-charity-that-helps-those-with-nothing-could-lose-everything-why-expats-in-spain-are-backing-arne-soeten/#comments Thu, 08 Jan 2026 19:55:25 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=557935 Arne Soeten, founder of the Costa Blanca homeless charity Project 4 All, is facing the prospect of a custodial sentence that supporters say could dismantle one of the region’s most vital support networks for vulnerable people. After years devoted to helping those living on the margins of society, Soeten now risks imprisonment because he is unable to pay a confiscation order totalling €387,000…

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]]> https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/01/08/a-charity-that-helps-those-with-nothing-could-lose-everything-why-expats-in-spain-are-backing-arne-soeten/feed/ 2 Firefighters rescue three Dutch septuagenarians in five-hour night mountain operation in Spain https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/01/03/firefighters-rescue-three-dutch-septuagenarians-in-five-hour-night-mountain-operation-in-spain/ Sat, 03 Jan 2026 19:18:46 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=557512 A dramatic rescue operation by land was launched on Friday January 2 in the mountains near Benigembla after one member of a hiking group was unable to continue on the PR-465 trail. The operation, coordinated by the Alicante Provincial Fire Consortium, lasted more than five hours and concluded in the early hours of Saturday. The alert was received at 18:32, reporting a group of three hikers in…

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]]> Utrecht’s Dom tower breaks its own record after years of renovation https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/12/27/utrechts-dom-tower-breaks-its-own-record-after-years-of-renovation/ Sat, 27 Dec 2025 07:37:50 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=557040 For a long time, Utrecht’s Dom Tower was something people talked about more than they visited. Wrapped in scaffolding during years of renovation, the city’s best-known landmark felt temporarily out of reach. That wait is now well and truly over. Sunday December 21, the Dom Tower welcomed its 100,000th visitor of the year, a milestone that makes 2025 its busiest year on record.

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]]> Frosty festive surprise: Coldest Christmas in decades https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/12/26/frosty-festive-surprise-coldest-christmas-in-decades/ Fri, 26 Dec 2025 21:43:23 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=557034 Christmas Day in the Netherlands was the coldest since 1994 as temperatures remained below freezing throughout the country’s national benchmark weather station in De Bilt, marking the first official ice day of the winter season. At the same time, the night that followed brought the winter’s first moderate frost, with lows plunging well below zero in many areas. In De Bilt, the mercury never rose…

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]]> Masked Islamists target Hanukkah event in Amsterdam https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/12/15/masked-islamists-target-hanukkah-event-in-amsterdam/ https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/12/15/masked-islamists-target-hanukkah-event-in-amsterdam/#comments Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:10:36 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=555934 Chaos reportedly erupted in Amsterdam late Sunday night as masked attackers stormed a Hanukkah concert, sending concertgoers into panic. The assault comes just hours after a deadly assault on Bondi Beach (Australia), where over 15 Jews have been killed during a Hanukkah event. Eyewitnesses described terrified attendees fleeing the venue as security forces arrived to secure the area.

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]]> https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/12/15/masked-islamists-target-hanukkah-event-in-amsterdam/feed/ 9 AI glasses spark “RIP privacy” alarm in the Netherlands: A new era of recognition? https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/12/06/ai-glasses-spark-rip-privacy-alarm-in-the-netherlands-a-new-era-of-recognition/ https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/12/06/ai-glasses-spark-rip-privacy-alarm-in-the-netherlands-a-new-era-of-recognition/#comments Sat, 06 Dec 2025 13:46:32 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=555122 Facebook and Meta are back investing in their once commercially failed AI glasses, hoping to get wearable, purchasable models onto shop shelves for 2027. A recent viral demonstration of AI glasses by Dutch tech journalist Alexander Klöpping has sent shockwaves through the Netherlands and ignited a fierce debate about the future of privacy. Klöpping donned a pair of AI-powered smart glasses on a…

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