News

Museum attendance in the Netherlands continued its strong recovery last year, driven by international tourists, younger visitors, and record use of the Museum Card.

Heavy rain and multiple accidents led to the busiest morning rush hour of 2026 in the Netherlands, with traffic jams stretching hundreds of kilometers and causing significant delays around major cities.

European consumer protection watchdogs and the ACM have launched nine formal investigations into major video game developers over deceptive in-game purchasing tactics in titles like Minecraft and Candy Crush Saga. Regulators argue that virtual currencies obscure real monetary costs and unfairly target vulnerable younger players. To eliminate these manipulative practices, the ACM is urging the European Commission to introduce a total ban on virtual currencies in games played by minors.

Healthcare professionals and foundation Tegengif have called on the Dutch government to enact a PFAS discharge ban and support an EU-wide phaseout. The signatories, including intensive care specialist Diederik Gommers and organizations like Groene Zorg Alliantie, urge the healthcare industry to replace PFAS-containing medical devices with existing safe alternatives to safeguard public health.

The Dutch cabinet plans to make education the main source of funding if talks on social security savings fail to deliver enough results. New figures show that most ministries could face budget reductions from 2029 onwards, while Defence, the King and the Infrastructure Fund would be spared.

September 2026 was one of the warmest Septembers ever recorded in the Netherlands, driven by unusually high temperatures at the end of the month. Despite slightly below-average rainfall, the month was not exceptionally dry, although drought conditions remained in place.

Blue Health Intelligence has secured €3.4 million to support its expansion plans in the Netherlands and abroad. The Amsterdam-based start-up wants to make regular health checks a routine part of preventive healthcare and is already considering new locations in Paris or Milan.

Dutch advocacy groups Offlimits and The Firewall have given Meta a two-week deadline to stop selling its AI camera glasses in the Netherlands or face a legal injunction. The organizations warn that the device facilitates secret filming and online harassment, while processing unconsented footage in violation of European privacy laws.