News

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema warns that hostility towards women is growing and becoming normalised in society. Speaking at an International Women’s Day conference, she called on women to unite and strengthen one another to resist sexism and intimidation.

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has postponed another repatriation flight from Oman, citing security concerns. Travellers affected by the delay are being supported by the Dutch embassy in Muscat while alternative arrangements are explored. The decision follows similar cancellations by other countries in the region.

Emirates has halted all flights to and from Dubai, just a day after announcing plans to resume services. KLM has also delayed its return to several Middle Eastern destinations due to the conflict in Iran. Both airlines say they are monitoring the situation closely as regional airspace remains restricted.

A new survey shows that more than one in six Dutch residents are considering not voting in the municipal elections due to a lack of trust in politics. Supporters of some parties, particularly the PVV and FVD, are more likely to feel this way, while voters in provinces such as South Holland express the highest levels of distrust. The findings highlight notable differences between political groups and regions.

Around 9,000 Dutch citizens in the Middle East have registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for emergency assistance as the Friday afternoon deadline for applications approaches. While the high number of submissions highlights widespread concern, officials clarified that this does not represent the exact number of people requiring repatriation, as some travellers have already departed independently or submitted duplicate forms. Assistance is strictly reserved for Dutch nationals and their family members who reside in the Netherlands; consequently, those living permanently in the region, such as in Dubai, are not eligible for government-led evacuation flights.

The eurozone economy grew slightly slower than expected in the final quarter of last year, with Eurostat revising growth down to 0.2% from an initial estimate of 0.3%. This adjustment also nudged the annual growth for 2025 down to 1.2%, as the wider European Union saw a similar quarterly increase. While the European Central Bank (ECB) had forecast a steady recovery for 2026, those projections are now clouded by the conflict in the Middle East. Analysts warn that rising energy prices could reignite inflation and dampen future growth, making the road to economic stability more uncertain than previously anticipated.

Eindhoven is planning a striking new light installation to sit above a redesigned Ring road intersection. Local residents are being invited to a public meeting on 25 March to share their views on the greenery and landscaping that will surround the new landmark.

The Dutch government is scrapping a major part of the proposed VBAR law, which was designed to strictly define who can work as a freelancer. Employment Minister Thierry Aartsen announced that the complex set of rules—originally focused on factors like who owns equipment or sets working hours—will be replaced by a new Self-Employed Act. This shift aims to reduce the "years of uncertainty" faced by both contractors and clients, who feared heavy fines for misclassification. However, the cabinet will retain a "legal presumption" for lower-paid workers: anyone earning below €38 per hour will be able to more easily claim they are effectively an employee with full rights. The goal is to protect vulnerable workers while giving genuine independent professionals more freedom to operate without the threat of constant legal challenges.