Veldhoven

Finland leads the 2026 World Happiness Report for the ninth year, but the Netherlands slips to seventh place amid the toll of social media on youth well-being. Teens averaging more than 2.5 hours daily on platforms like Instagram and TikTok report plummeting life satisfaction, especially among girls, while moderate users thrive. In Brainport Eindhoven, expat families and tech hubs face heightened risks, spurring calls for EU-wide bans on age 15, digital detoxes, and real-world bonds.

With municipal elections taking place across the Netherlands, researchers and regulators are raising fresh concerns about AI-generated disinformation, biased voting chatbots, and foreign interference targeting local politics for the first time. The tactics are new, but the goal is familiar: to shape what voters see, feel, and ultimately decide. Whether this digital pressure changes the result remains to be seen, but the infrastructure behind it is already in place.

Taalcafés (Language Cafés) are informal gathering spots designed to help internationals practice Dutch in a low-pressure environment. Unlike formal language schools, these sessions focus on having real conversations about daily life, hobbies, and work over coffee.

Veldhoven residents are invited to a public meeting on 12 March to explore how the town will heat its buildings in a post-gas era. Independent researchers will present potential energy scenarios for 2050 and gather local feedback for a final report on the town's sustainable future.

About two thousand ASML employees held a walkout to protest against planned layoffs and a lack of transparency from management. Union leaders and international staff expressed deep concerns over increased workloads and the specific residency challenges facing the expat community. The scale of the protest is intended to pressure the company into reconsidering its current reorganisation strategy.

Cyber security is now a vital part of daily life as digital footprints continue to expand. Simple habits like using unique passwords and enabling two-factor authentication can protect against common threats. Staying informed helps individuals avoid financial loss and maintain their privacy online

A "code yellow" warning is in place for snow and ice across the southern half of the Netherlands tonight and Thursday morning. Up to 5 cm of snow could settle in some areas, leading to difficult travel conditions before temperatures rise later in the day.

The annual carnival celebrations reached a highlight yesterday as the Great Parade marched through the streets of Rommelgat. The procession route alternates each year:...