Legal

Laws, regulations, and court rulings (including official guidance and enforcement) plus what these rules mean for residents and businesses.

Mandatory DUI Courses Rise Sharply in the Netherlands

Dec 19, 2025

•

3 min read

Mandatory DUI Courses Rise Sharply in the Netherlands

A new reporting system and rising drug-driving detections mean tens of thousands of motorists now face mandatory courses or medical assessments.

Legal

Overcrowded Dutch Prisons Hold Large Numbers of Unconvicted People

Dec 11, 2025

•

4 min read

Overcrowded Dutch Prisons Hold Large Numbers of Unconvicted People

Lawyers say suspects are detained too easily as nearly half of Dutch prisoners have not yet been convicted, despite human rights warnings.

Legal

Crime

Parliament Blocks Decision for Opening Lelystad Airport for the Third Time

Dec 11, 2025

•

5 min read

Parliament Blocks Decision for Opening Lelystad Airport for the Third Time

Majority of MPs demand caretaker cabinet drop plans to open airport for commercial flights before new government forms.

Legal

Dutch Consumer Association Wants to Ban Door-To-Door Sales

Dec 10, 2025

•

4 min read

Dutch Consumer Association Wants to Ban Door-To-Door Sales

Scandal at Delta Fiber triggers a wider push to ban all unsolicited doorstep sales in the Netherlands

Legal

Community

Employers Warn Many Dutch Workers May Not Get Pay Rises Next Year

Dec 9, 2025

•

3 min read

Employers Warn Many Dutch Workers May Not Get Pay Rises Next Year

Businesses say rising costs leave little room for higher wages as unions and employees brace for tighter budgets

Economy

Legal

Dutch consumers win right to sue Apple over App Store practices

Dec 4, 2025

•

4 min read

Dutch consumers win right to sue Apple over App Store practices

Ruling confirms Dutch courts can hear €637 million damages claim filed on behalf of millions of iPhone and iPad users.

Legal

Business

Dec 3, 2025

•

8 min read

Netherlands Faces a Growing Illegal Fireworks Crisis with Smuggling, Violence, and Dangerous Deliveries

From Ajax stadium chaos to deadly explosions and postal package bombs, illegal fireworks plague the Netherlands as government prepares nationwide ban.

Legal

Breaking

Crime

Amsterdam Considers Further Increasing Tourist Tax

Nov 29, 2025

•

3 min read

Amsterdam Considers Further Increasing Tourist Tax

City may raise rates after 2026 if national VAT increase fails to reduce visitor numbers.

Economy

Legal

Nov 21, 2025

•

4 min read

Dutch Bill Aims to Let Children Have Up to Four Legal Parents

VVD proposal would formalise multi-parent families, especially in LGBTQ+ and blended households, with strict court approval before pregnancy.

Legal

Five Men Arrested for Using Groningen Earthquake Repair Subsidies to Buy Lamborghinis

Nov 20, 2025

•

5 min read

Five Men Arrested for Using Groningen Earthquake Repair Subsidies to Buy Lamborghinis

Investigators say over €1 million meant for repairing damaged homes ended up funding luxury cars through forged documents

Legal

Crime

Court to Decide on Plan to Raise Deposits for Plastic Bottles

Nov 19, 2025

•

4 min read

Court to Decide on Plan to Raise Deposits for Plastic Bottles

Inspectorate pushes for double deposits on small and large bottles (to €0.30 and €0.40) or introduce a 15-cent return bonus, to reach a 90% recycling target.

Environment

Legal

Dutch Households Expected to See Lower Energy Bills in 2026

Nov 17, 2025

•

5 min read

Dutch Households Expected to See Lower Energy Bills in 2026

ING expects average bills to drop around 4%, with even bigger savings for homes that no longer use gas

Environment

Legal

Nov 10, 2025

•

3 min read

No Action Yet on Illegal Fatbikes

Watchdogs report zero confiscations this year as unapproved high-speed e-bikes continue to circulate across the Netherlands.

Legal

Nov 8, 2025

•

3 min read

Netherlands to Raise Fines for Illegal Vape Sales to €4,040

Penalties will rise to €2,040 for first-time offenders and €4,040 for larger companies starting July 2026.

Legal

Millions Of EU Officials' Phone Data Tracked and Sold

Nov 4, 2025

•

4 min read

Millions Of EU Officials' Phone Data Tracked and Sold

Investigation reveals brokers selling precise phone location data from millions of devices in Belgium, exposing movements of EU and NATO staff

Economy

Legal

Netherlands Has Far More Migrant Workers Than Earlier Counts, Roughly 1 Million

Oct 27, 2025

•

4 min read

Netherlands Has Far More Migrant Workers Than Earlier Counts, Roughly 1 Million

New analysis says up-to 1.7 million foreign nationals are in the country for work, far above earlier counts, which raises pressure for better oversight, housing and clear rules while keeping the key sectors staffed.

Economy

Legal

NS Will Start a 2-Year Baton Pilot for Rail Security Officers

Oct 25, 2025

•

4 min read

NS Will Start a 2-Year Baton Pilot for Rail Security Officers

Up to 75 Veiligheid & Service staff will carry short batons after extra training, to be used only as a last resort in high-risk situations.

Legal

Report Says €8 Million in Dutch Tech Linked to Secret Russian Defence Project

Oct 23, 2025

•

4 min read

Report Says €8 Million in Dutch Tech Linked to Secret Russian Defence Project

An international investigation ties at least eight Netherlands-based firms to supplies routed via intermediaries for Russia’s “Harmony” seabed monitoring network; Dutch authorities and companies say they follow sanctions.

Legal

Tech

Netherlands Advances With A Small-Scale Uganda Hub for Migrant Processing

Oct 21, 2025

•

4 min read

Netherlands Advances With A Small-Scale Uganda Hub for Migrant Processing

A pilot plan would transfer people who cannot be sent home directly to a temporary hub in Uganda, while facing legal and human rights scrutiny.

Legal

Amsterdam PvdA Proposes Tourist Ban in City-Centre Coffeeshops

Oct 17, 2025

•

3 min read

Amsterdam PvdA Proposes Tourist Ban in City-Centre Coffeeshops

Amsterdam’s largest party wants non-residents banned from cannabis cafés in the Red Light District and the wider centre.

Economy

Legal

Dutch Flag Claimed as Far Right Symbol at Protests

Oct 16, 2025

•

2 min read

Dutch Flag Claimed as Far Right Symbol at Protests

The Dutch flag has been politicised and used at anti-immigration protests, raising questions about who it represents. Courts protect most displays, but cities act on safety, and experts say context decides their meaning

Economy

Legal

Arrests at Anti-Refugee Protests in Houten and Uithoorn

Oct 15, 2025

•

2 min read

Arrests at Anti-Refugee Protests in Houten and Uithoorn

Riot police detain eight as far-right protests target plans to house 337 refugees in Houten and 250 in Uithoorn, with fireworks, threats, and tense scenes

Legal

Crime

More Adults Now Listed as Organ Donors by Default

Oct 14, 2025

•

3 min read

More Adults Now Listed as Organ Donors by Default

About 3.33 million adults, especially many aged 18–25, haven’t recorded a choice under the 2020 opt-out law and are registered as “no objection” to donation.

Health

Legal

EU Parliament Wants a Ban on “Veggie Burger” Names

Oct 9, 2025

•

3 min read

EU Parliament Wants a Ban on “Veggie Burger” Names

Parliament wants meat terms limited to animal products; final law depends on negotiations with member states. Critics call it unnecessary rebranding while supporters say clearer labels protect consumers and farmers.

Legal

Business

Fare Dodging in Dutch Public Transport Now Costs €70

Oct 1, 2025

•

2 min read

Fare Dodging in Dutch Public Transport Now Costs €70

From today, rule-breakers pay €70 plus the fare, with admin fees increasing to €20 after 14 days. This penalty applies on trains, buses, trams and metro.

Economy

Legal