Politics

D66 has come out against the proposed asylum laws in the Senate, saying they are poorly designed and unlikely to work. With D66 opposed, the government needs CDA support to secure a majority, but it remains unclear whether the party will agree. Senator Boris Dittrich questioned whether the legislation would bring fair and effective control over migration.

The National Ombudsman warns that the government’s plan to limit a new municipal support law could leave many eligible people without help. Reinier van Zutphen says the decision may save money now but risks higher costs later. His concerns reflect ongoing mistrust caused by the benefits scandal.

Last November, security guards at Princess Beatrix’s Drakensteyn Castle estate and the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee at a nearby gold vault both reported sightings of unauthorised drones. While the operators and their motives remain unknown, similar sightings were recorded at several Dutch air bases that same weekend. Although the Finance Minister maintains that the national gold reserves are secure deep underground, the incidents have prompted calls for increased investment in anti-drone technology to protect high-security sites.

D66, VVD and GroenLinks‑PvdA want laptops or tablets to be included in the law, that currently guarantees free schoolbooks. The parties argue this would support digitalization and reduce inequality, but State Secretary Judith Tielen questions whether the problem is large enough to justify the estimated 221 million‑euro annual cost.

D66 has agreed to open coalition talks with Hart voor Den Haag after weeks of resistance. The move follows an appeal from exploratory negotiator Ahmed Aboutaleb and could clear the way for a majority coalition in The Hague.

US lawmakers have introduced the MATCH Act, a bipartisan bill designed to force allies like the Netherlands to align their export rules with strict American standards. The legislation specifically targets Dutch chipmaker ASML, aiming to block the sale and maintenance of even older "workhorse" DUV (deep ultraviolet) machines to China. By threatening to restrict the supply of vital US-made components, the bill seeks to close perceived loopholes and ensure that international partners move in lockstep with Washington to limit China’s semiconductor and AI capabilities.

Rising mortgage rates, fuelled by the conflict in the Middle East, have led to a cooling of the Dutch housing market, with the average mortgage amount stalling for the first time in three years. Data from De Hypotheker shows that while existing homeowners are staying active by porting their lower interest rates to new properties, first-time buyers are increasingly being squeezed out. The market is also becoming highly fragmented; activity has plummeted in areas like Utrecht, while provinces such as Zeeland and Groningen have seen a surprising surge in interest, highlighting a shift towards a more stabilised yet regionally divided property market.

Diesel prices at Dutch forecourts have surged to record highs, with the recommended price for a litre of diesel jumping by more than 10 cents on Friday to reach €2.793. This sharp increase follows a spike in global oil prices and wholesale diesel costs, which hit $200 a barrel for the first time since 2022 due to the escalating conflict in Iran. With US President Donald Trump warning of a further crackdown on Iran and fuel tankers being forced to take longer, more expensive routes, experts suggest that high demand and supply disruptions will continue to keep pump prices at unprecedented levels for the foreseeable future.