Community

In Veldhoven, 8,688 eligible voters used the StemWijzer tool to help them navigate party platforms. This accounts for approximately 23.5 per cent of the municipality's 36,900 eligible voters.

Newly released data reveals that thousands of voters across the Brainport region turned to digital guides to prepare for today's local elections.

With municipal elections taking place across the Netherlands, researchers and regulators are raising fresh concerns about AI-generated disinformation, biased voting chatbots, and foreign interference targeting local politics for the first time. The tactics are new, but the goal is familiar: to shape what voters see, feel, and ultimately decide. Whether this digital pressure changes the result remains to be seen, but the infrastructure behind it is already in place.

Dutch Interior Minister Pieter Heerma says he personally contacts local politicians who face threats, calling for stronger support for councillors dealing with intimidation. Reports show aggression against municipal councillors has doubled in recent years, highlighting growing pressure on local representatives.

Taalcafés (Language Cafés) are informal gathering spots designed to help internationals practice Dutch in a low-pressure environment. Unlike formal language schools, these sessions focus on having real conversations about daily life, hobbies, and work over coffee.

Eindhoven is set to transform the Markt from an outdated, stony square into a green and accessible meeting place. The city council has approved the preliminary design, which marks the final stage of the city centre's major red-brick street renovation.

An explosion hit a Jewish school in Amsterdam-Buitenveldert overnight, prompting a swift response and renewed concern about recent attacks on Jewish institutions. Authorities say the incident targeted the Jewish community and are reviewing footage and claims posted online. Police are also examining possible links to explosions in Rotterdam and Liège.

Eindhoven has opened a new "bicycle bank" to provide 500 refurbished bikes a year to residents on low incomes. The project combines sustainable transport with social welfare by offering affordable mobility and mechanical training placements for volunteers.