Politics

The Dutch tax authority has defended its continued use of algorithms while promising to improve its ethical standards. The organisation recently received the infamous "privacy prize" for its digital practices, leading to a public discussion on how to balance efficiency with legal rights.

Caroline van der Plas is stepping down as leader of the BBB to focus on representing the countryside as a Member of Parliament. She will be succeeded by party co-founder Henk Vermeer, who aims to lead with a focus on common sense and socially conservative values. While the party has seen its popularity decline since joining the cabinet, it continues to transition from its original focus on agricultural policy to broader issues such as asylum and culture ahead of the upcoming local elections.

The D66, VVD, and CDA coalition plans to raise an additional €5 billion by increasing income tax rates, offsetting a shortfall in healthcare funding. While households and businesses will save a combined €7.3 billion on health insurance premiums, the government will recover these costs by raising the first two income tax brackets by 0.93 percentage points by 2030.

The incoming Jetten cabinet's policies are expected to slightly increase poverty in the Netherlands, according to the CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis. While poverty was projected to reach 2.5 per cent by 2030 under existing policies, the new coalition's plans will push that figure to 2.7 per cent.

Seventeen political parties will contest the Eindhoven municipal elections on 18 March 2026. The official candidate lists highlight a significant number of international and bicultural residents standing for office. News Brainport is keen on the region's social diversity and civic participation. So, we have done a round-up of the internationals running in the municipal elections 2026.

The D66 party has named 41-year-old Eelco Eerenberg as the new State Secretary for Finance. The appointment follows the withdrawal of Nathalie van Berkel, who stood down after inaccuracies were discovered in her CV. Eerenberg, currently an alderman in Utrecht, brings extensive experience in local government and finance, having previously served as a councillor and administrator in Enschede.

Voters in 258 municipalities can now use the Voting Guide to prepare for the 18 March municipal elections. The tool features local issues and was created with the help of regional journalists. Most municipalities use either the Voting Guide or the Voting Compass to help residents compare party positions.

The outgoing head of the Netherlands' largest employers' organisation warns that artificial intelligence will trigger a structural wave of layoffs. While some sectors face staff shortages, experts argue that the country must improve its retraining programmes to help workers adapt to an AI-driven economy.