News

Starting with the 2029 European Parliament elections, the Netherlands will switch to a smaller ballot paper, listing only party names and candidate numbers. Trials during recent elections were largely positive, though they showed a slight increase in invalid votes.

More than 3,500 people died during last week’s extreme heat in the Netherlands, according to RIVM. Mortality was around 480 deaths higher than expected, mainly among people aged 80 and older, with the largest impact in the east and south of the country.

A scan of more than 250 Facebook pages shows that many channels posing as news outlets actually spread anger‑driven content to generate advertising revenue. According to Justice for Prosperity, these pages fuel hatred, distort public debate, and undermine trust in Dutch society.

After a strong start to the year, rising mortgage rates are slowing the housing market. ABN AMRO now expects modest price increases this year and next, while income growth and a constrained supply keep prices from falling. Regional price gaps are narrowing and structural bottlenecks such as an overloaded power grid and reduced investor interest complicate the outlook.

The Dutch manufacturing sector maintained strong momentum in June as a surge in new orders pushed the national purchasing managers' index to 55.5. Industrial growth found support from heavy corporate stockpiling ahead of expected price hikes and booming global demand for semiconductor equipment. While geopolitical conflicts raised supply costs, local factories successfully protected margins by passing price increases directly to buyers.

Sony has announced that it will cease production of physical PlayStation game discs by January 2028 as consumer demand shifts heavily toward digital downloads. The policy will require all future game releases to distribute exclusively via digital storefronts and download codes, though existing discs remain unaffected. The historic decision aligns with the upcoming closure of legacy PS3 and Vita digital stores, signaling a permanent end to traditional physical media ownership for the brand.

A historic June heatwave has pushed Dutch healthcare services into overdrive, generating a record volume of heat-related general practitioner visits that doubled last year's figures. The severe conditions led meteorologists to issue an unprecedented code red warning across multiple provinces as temperatures in Limburg reached a record-breaking 39.4°C. Public health agencies continue to urge the public to safeguard vulnerable neighbors and children as communities adapt to increasingly volatile summer spikes.

Several major Dutch cities are urging the government to promote reusable parcel packaging as a way to reduce cardboard waste. They argue that the growing number of deliveries is placing increasing pressure on waste collection systems. The proposal includes giving consumers the option to choose reusable packaging and return it through a deposit-style scheme.