Politics

Former ASML CEO Peter Wennink and KPN CEO Joost Farwerck warn that the Netherlands’ digital infrastructure is falling behind. They argue that rapid technological developments demand new investment, European collaboration, and government procurement that values digital sovereignty.

Eindhoven has welcomed 23 new city councillors in a ceremony that highlighted the city's shifting political landscape. The new council features a slight increase in female representation and a diverse range of advocates for housing, disability rights, and labour. 

Four dedicated local politicians in Veldhoven have been awarded royal honours for their extensive service to the community. The group includes some of the town's longest-serving representatives, ranging from experienced alderpeople to well-known local figures.

Prime Minister Rob Jetten has met with ASML CEO Christophe Fouquet to discuss the future of the Dutch semiconductor industry. The talks focused on maintaining a world-class business climate and the strategic importance of the Eindhoven region.

A few hundred people gathered in The Hague on Saturday to call for diplomacy in the Iran conflict. The organisers want the Dutch government to take a clearer stance and push for an immediate halt to attacks. Nearby, a separate group marked the birthday of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte.

Prime Minister Rob Jetten has rejected calls to delay government spending on security and innovation, arguing that global instability makes these long-term investments more critical than ever. Despite soaring fuel prices and mounting pressure to provide immediate financial relief to households, the latest Spring Memorandum reveals that the Cabinet has almost no fiscal breathing room left. Jetten warned that halting current projects to fund short-term aid would be a mistake, leaving the government to navigate a difficult balancing act between its ambitious coalition goals and the urgent needs of struggling families.

The Dutch Cabinet has approved a new bill granting police expanded powers to collect and monitor personal data from public social media accounts to prevent public order disturbances. Minister David van Weel argued the legislation "brings the police into the 21st century," pointing to recent violent riots at the Malieveld as evidence that authorities need better tools to track online-organised unrest. While current rules only allow officers to view public information, the new law will permit the formal extraction and use of this data; however, the powers do not yet extend to private or closed groups, though future plans to include them are already under consideration.

Forum for Democracy has clarified that it does not have a blanket policy to reject candidates who win council seats through preferential votes, despite reports of friction in several Dutch municipalities. While the party maintains that any requests for candidates to step aside are based on "tailored" agreements made in advance, several successful candidates in areas like Hoogeveen and Venlo have already left the party, claiming they were pressured to hand their seats to those higher up the list. Ultimately, while the FVD spokesperson insists there is no general guideline against personal votes, the resulting disputes have seen 11 candidates enter local councils without the party's formal backing.