News

Drivers in the Netherlands are being warned of difficult conditions during Tuesday’s evening rush hour. Thunderstorms with heavy rain, hail and strong winds could cause flooding and long delays. Weather-related disruption may last into the evening, particularly in northern areas.

Local authorities in the Netherlands are increasingly introducing heat plans to protect residents from hotter summers. While more municipalities are taking action, most still lack a plan. Organisations warn that vulnerable groups remain at risk without wider adoption.

Stephen van Rooyen will lead the new Ziggo Group while staying on as CEO of VodafoneZiggo. Liberty Global plans to complete the merger with Telenet this year and list the new company in Amsterdam next year. Jany Fruytier will join as Chief Financial Officer.

Transavia says it does not expect more cancellations after last week’s technical issues. The airline cancelled 22 flights but says operations have now returned to normal. It adds that the situation was not comparable to the aircraft shortages seen in earlier summers.

Employees can now lease more than one bicycle at the same reduced tax rate. The Tax and Customs Administration aligned the rules after concerns from leasing companies. The second bicycle must still meet business‑use requirements.

The Council of State warns that the cabinet’s plan for a New Year’s Eve fireworks ban includes exceptions that are too easy to obtain. It argues that national organisations could exploit the system and that enforcement on the night itself is limited. The cabinet is urged to tighten the rules and set clearer national standards.

Mortgage applications dipped slightly in May, but activity remained high after a surge earlier in the year. First‑time buyers submitted fewer applications, while rising home values outpaced the growth in mortgage amounts. HDN says the figures suggest buyers are relying more on their own funds.

The number of new TBS patients has dropped, but Dutch forensic clinics remain full because too few people can move on to other forms of care. Longer treatment periods and growing waiting lists are increasing pressure on the system. TBS Nederland warns that the lack of outflow is affecting both capacity and safety.