News

A man accused of preparing an attack on Princess Amalia and Princess Alexia denies any violent intent, according to his lawyer. Prosecutors say he possessed axes with carved messages and shouted threats before his arrest in January. The court has ordered him to remain in custody while experts assess his mental state.

Odido will end the Tele2 Thuis internet service at the end of May because the older network is no longer future‑proof. Customers will move to Odido Internet unless they choose another provider. The company says the transition takes around three weeks and that it will correct any overpayments afterwards.

Mortgage applications fell sharply in April as rising interest rates made buyers more cautious. First‑time buyers and movers applied for fewer loans, while demand shifted towards higher‑priced homes. Analysts say the cooling market may help stabilise house prices after years of rapid increases.

Train services between Utrecht and The Hague came to a halt on Monday morning after a signal failure near Moordrecht. ProRail expects the disruption to affect the morning rush hour while engineers investigate the cause. NS is running replacement buses on several routes to support travellers.

Severe thunderstorms brought heavy rain and hail to southern parts of the Netherlands on Saturday evening, leading to localised flooding and the suspension of a professional football match. Fire crews tackling a wildfire in the Budel and Weert area were forced to change tactics due to the sudden deluge. A weather warning remains in place for most of the country as the storms begin to ease.

US tariff plans are intensifying pressure on Europe, with Germany warning of recession risks if trade tensions escalate. The Netherlands is not facing broad US sanctions, but it remains exposed to fallout through ASML export controls, ICC-related measures and weaker trade flows across the region.

A second fire broke out on Saturday morning in a nature reserve near Oirschot, but was quickly brought under control by the regional fire department.

Pension funds have benefitted from rising stock prices recently. While the Iran war was a setback to the financial markets, and therefrom to pension funds, the ceasefire has enabled pension funds to be in a strong position to fulfill their financial obligations.