Politics

Eindhoven has introduced a single app to manage all shared bicycles, e-bikes, and scooters across the city. The new system uses 500 designated hubs to keep streets tidy while offering users lower prices and a more reliable service.

Dutch political party membership has reached a 44-year high of 448,100, surpassing 1982 levels for the first time following a nearly 15 per cent surge in 2025. According to the Documentation Centre for Dutch Political Parties (DNPP), 57,000 new members joined last year, with the FVD maintaining the largest base at over 70,000. Significant growth was also seen by PvdA, GroenLinks, JA21, and DENK, each recording increases of approximately 30 per cent or more. While researchers typically expect growth during election years due to increased media exposure, the DNPP described this particular rise as "particularly substantial," especially given the absence of any major new breakout parties.

A major new housing project has broken move-in ground in Eindhoven, bringing 400 energy-efficient homes to the Gestel district. Supported by funding from the city and ASML, the development will transform a former school site into a mix of affordable rentals and private housing.

After an EU justice ministers’ meeting in Brussels, Justice Minister David van Weel warned the Netherlands is vigilant about likely Iranian cyberattacks that could target US and Israeli interests and possibly spread to other targets.

The ECB is on guard about the impact of the Middle East conflict on eurozone inflation amid sharply rising oil and gas prices. Policymakers call the situation volatile and say it is too early to judge the implications for future rate decisions; the bank is expected to hold rates at its next meeting.

The Dutch Data Protection Authority is calling for urgent government action to regulate artificial intelligence and protect citizens from discrimination. The watchdog warns that current oversight is insufficient to manage risks such as deepfakes, fraud, and the impact of chatbots on young users.

European gas prices jumped by more than 9% on Thursday morning, reaching €53.26 per megawatt-hour on the Amsterdam exchange as the conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran entered its sixth day. Although a US-led plan to protect shipping briefly steadied markets on Wednesday, the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz has fueled fears of a long-term energy shortage. This latest price spike was triggered by Iranian claims of an attack on an American tanker in the Persian Gulf, leaving traders increasingly worried about the security of vital global fuel supplies.

A new report from the FNV trade union suggests that government spending cuts will hit women harder than men. The union argues that reduced social security and healthcare services will force many women out of the workforce to take on unpaid care roles. Following a meeting with the cabinet, unions are now preparing industrial action to protest these measures.