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Weather forecasts suggest clear skies could give skygazers in the Netherlands a good view of Wednesday's partial solar eclipse. Nearly 90 per cent of the sun will be covered at its peak, though high clouds could still affect visibility as the sun sits low on the horizon. Meanwhile, observers in parts of Spain and Iceland will be able to witness a total eclipse.

Temperatures across the Netherlands are expected to surge later this week, with forecasts predicting highs of up to 35 degrees Celsius. Weather service Weeronline warns that eastern and south-eastern regions could experience a fifth regional heatwave this summer. The heat will follow a brief cool period early in the week before warm air returns on Wednesday.

Consumer spending in the Netherlands dropped by four per cent during June's severe heatwave as people chose to stay indoors. Data from ABN AMRO shows that while rural residents reduced their travel and overall spending, city dwellers continued to spend money at local venues. Supermarkets remained an exception to the trend, seeing increased sales nationwide despite the extreme weather.

Police cleared dozens of Extinction Rebellion activists from a major highway in The Hague on Saturday afternoon following a protest over government climate policy. A total of 45 people were arrested during the demonstration, with one man remaining in custody after allegedly biting an officer. Traffic was able to resume shortly after officers removed the protesters from the roadway.

Dutch road authority Rijkswaterstaat is adding new highway signage to stop heavy lorries and coaches from crossing the structurally weakened Merwedebrug. While automated cameras have caught over a thousand Dutch violators, international rules prevent automatic fines for foreign-registered vehicles. Authorities are evaluating further enforcement options as non-compliant traffic continues to cross the bridge.

KLM plans to restart flights between Amsterdam and Tel Aviv on 25 August, featuring a safety-focused crew stopover in Cyprus. While Israeli airlines maintained the route throughout the recent six-month pause, KLM continues to restrict services to other regional hubs due to ongoing security risks.

Dutch parents received higher state subsidies for childcare in 2025, with government allowances covering 68 percent of costs on average compared to 65 percent in 2024. While overall out-of-pocket expenses varied significantly by household income, total child attendance at childcare centres continued to rise. Meanwhile, registered childminder services experienced a notable drop in popularity over the same period.

Airbnb has raised its full-year revenue outlook after a surge in travel demand and the FIFA World Cup pushed quarterly bookings up 10 percent to 148.3 million. Revenue grew 17 percent to $3.6 billion, while new host listings jumped as property owners capitalized on the tournament. The platform also cut customer service costs using artificial intelligence tools and remains optimistic about sustained momentum through the remainder of the year.