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The European Union is set to unveil a new strategy to reduce its dependence on foreign technology providers for microchips, AI, and cloud services. The draft proposals include emergency powers to override contracts and fast-track local data centre infrastructure. These measures come amid growing concerns in Brussels over the dominant market share of American digital companies.

Nearly 2,300 people took part in the fourth edition of Night against Sexual Violence in Rotterdam to raise awareness of street harassment. The charity walk raised a record sum of more than €320,000 to improve safety for girls and young women. Participants walked up to 20 kilometres through areas where women often feel unsafe.

Following the tropical heat of the weekend, the KNMI has issued a yellow alert for renewed extreme weather conditions in North Brabant.

Brussels will unveil new rules for chips, cloud computing, and AI to reduce the European Union's dependence on countries like the United States. This initiative, known as the technological sovereignty package, aims to boost local production and includes laws to accelerate the development of data centers and enhance the supply security for chips.

A part of the village of Moerdijk in North Brabant is to be removed by the municipality to make way for the expansion of the existing port and industrial estate in that location.

The Amsterdam AEX index dipped slightly by 0.2 per cent to close at 1,034.93 points on the final trading day of May, despite booking an overall monthly gain of more than 2 per cent. Construction firm BAM stole the spotlight in the MidCap index, surging 16.6 per cent after broker Oddo BHF upgraded the stock to a "buy" based on improved profitability in its UK operations. Elsewhere, ABN AMRO led the main index gains following the completion of its €250 million share buyback scheme, while Heineken dropped 2.3 per cent. Meanwhile, broader markets saw slight dips in London and Paris, and oil prices slid up to 1.9 per cent on hopes of a swift end to conflict in the Middle East.

This spring has ranked as one of the top five warmest since records began in 1901, with an average temperature of 11 degrees outstripping the usual 9.9 degrees. According to the KNMI weather institute, March, April, and May were consistently warm, dry, and bright, averaging 730 hours of sunshine nationwide—a 29 per cent increase over the last 30 years. Rainfall was also down significantly at 105 millimetres compared to the historical average of 148 millimetres, though regional variations saw Beek in Limburg experience the wettest and gloomiest conditions, while De Kooy enjoyed the most sunshine.

The new Dutch public transport pass is now available in 550 Primera high-street shops, making it easier for less digitally savvy passengers to buy them and top up using cash. The pass is part of the new "OVpay" system, which allows travellers to pay for buses, trams, and trains using the new card, a bank card, or a mobile phone. The change comes ahead of the complete phase-out of the old OV-chipkaart at the end of next year, with the in-store launch expanding access beyond the previous online-only and ticket-counter options.