You will also start receiving the Star's free morning newsletter Netherlands’ Prime Minister Dick Schoof lays a wreath during a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima leave after laying a wreath during a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima leave after laying a wreath during a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam Netherlands (AP) — Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk made an impassioned plea for European and transatlantic unity Monday in a speech marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands from World War II German occupation “The experience gained 80 years ago tells us that only when (we) stand together can we overcome,” Tusk said He added that “in the face of the threat posed by (President Vladimir) Putin’s Russia we need to deepen our European and transatlantic life Tusk spoke at a Dutch Liberation Day ceremony where WWII veterans were given a standing ovation by crowds who lined streets to watch a military parade as modern and wartime aircraft flew overhead Polish troops were among Allied forces who helped liberate the Netherlands Festivities in Wageningen centered on a square outside the Hotel de Wereld, where German top brass signed papers on May 5, 1945, that formally ended the brutal five-year occupation as the war drew to a close across Europe their chests decorated with medals and legs covered in blankets sat on the front row watching the ceremony Germany finally surrendered on May 8, now known as Victory in Europe Day Liberation Day in the Netherlands is celebrated on May 5, a day after the country observes two minutes of silence to honor its war dead Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans used the occasion to call for renewed efforts to nurture peace “War and aggression are back in Europe and it is up to us to protect peace,” he said Brekelmans’ speech was briefly disturbed by a small group of protesters who shouted “Free free Palestine!” Police detained five people as Brekelmans continued to address the crowd some of whom booed at the demonstrators as they were led away a smoke canister was thrown onto a festival stage in Wageningen where Tusk and his Dutch counterpart Dick Schoof were standing Dutch King Willem-Alexander and others laid wreaths at the national monument in Amsterdam and two veterans lit a Liberation Fire in Wageningen hours later ignited the flame in Wageningen’s central May 5 Square The country’s southern regions were freed in 1944 but the populous western towns and cities had to wait months and endure a devastating famine known as the Hunger Winter that killed thousands Events across Europe marking the end of the 1939-45 war come as the traditional friendly links with the United States, whose forces helped liberate the Netherlands and much of the continent, are fraying. The European Union and the administration of President Donald Trump are now embroiled in a trade war Tusk appealed for unity at a time of global insecurity “Genuine solidarity between people and nations that will prevent the evil from shaping our present and future,” he said “The time of Europe’s carefree comfort Today is the time of European mobilization around our fundamental values and our security.” Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account cars pulled to the side of the road and no planes arrived or departed in the Netherlands for two minutes on Sunday as the country went silent to remember victims of war Thousands of people gathered in Amsterdam to watch as Dutch King Willem-Alexander laid a wreath at a war memorial 80 years and a day since the country was liberated from Nazi occupation in 1945 The first speaker at the annual event was 14-year-old Marijn van der Wilk who read a poem he had written about resistance during the war In a time when doing good could be life-threatening And yet they did it,” he said during the nationally televised event Prime Minister Dick Schoof discussed the grief his family felt over the death of his grandfather who was executed by Nazi soldiers for his work in the resistance When we think of all the people who were murdered for who they were at which flags fly at half staff from buildings throughout the country honors military personnel and civilians killed in conflicts around the world since the outbreak of World War II It is followed Monday by celebrations to mark the country’s liberation from Nazi German occupation at the end of the war Not every place in the country observed the remembrance Some predominantly Christian areas honored the dead on Saturday a few hundred people gathered for an alternative commemoration A group of civil servants organized May 4 inclusive an event to remember all victims of conflict frustrated with the Dutch government’s response to the conflict in Gaza “We commemorate both the victims of the past and the victims of today A few pro-Palestinian slogans could be seen in the crowd in Amsterdam two veterans will light a Liberation Fire to kickstart a day of celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the end of German occupation of the Netherlands from Canada will light the flame in Wageningen the central city where German officers signed the official surrender in 1945 Mike Corder in The Hague contributed to this report The Netherlands and Poland will strengthen their military cooperation through a new agreement set to be signed in early July in Warsaw, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof and his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk announced Monday, de Gelderlander reported. The two leaders made the announcement during a joint press conference in Oosterbeek Although the full content of the agreement has not yet been disclosed both governments confirmed their ministries of defense are actively working out the details “Our cooperation is actually progressing very naturally,” Schoof said He emphasized that it was essential to further develop European military collaboration “It is important to shape the defense cooperation we seek—whether it's about training or the defense industry—within Europe,” he added The military partnership comes amid increasing concerns over Russian aggression and growing uncertainty about the future presence of U.S Poland has been reinforcing its defense ties with multiple European countries Tusk is scheduled to sign a similar far-reaching military and economic cooperation agreement with France Schoof praised Poland’s leadership in driving defense collaboration within the European Union “The Netherlands appreciates the leading role Poland is playing in strengthening European defense,” he said Poland has “really put that discussion on the map” since taking over the rotating EU presidency on January 1 Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago the Polish government has significantly increased its defense spending Poland is currently allocating 4.7 percent of its gross domestic product to defense the highest level among NATO member states Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz stated in early April that Warsaw intends to raise that figure to 5 percent next year the Dutch cabinet under Prime Minister Schoof currently spends just 2 percent of GDP on its Ministry of Defense Princess Catharina-Amalia is seen greeting fans (and a furry friend) on King's Day in April 2025 The future queen is pictured skiing in February 2020 The princess unveiled a plaque at the tulip garden she dedicated to the people of Madrid on April 9 Princess Amalia (center) matched with her little sisters at the inauguration of their father along with Sultan Haitham bin Tarik during a state visit in Amsterdam has overcome a scary period in her young life Princess Amalia became the Princess of Orange—the title given to the monarch's heir-apparent—when her grandmother The future queen has lived a relatively "normal" and private life with her two sisters Princess Alexia enjoying plenty of regal pursuits like horseback riding She was even dubbed "the cocktail queen" after working a summer job at a beach bar But shortly after enrolling at the University of Amsterdam in 2022, the young royal faced a terrifying prospect. As the BBC reported at the time "Princess Amalia - and the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte - are understood to have appeared in organised crime communications which indicated they may become a target." The princess was living in student housing at the time and was forced to move back home with her parents in The Hague not only due to the kidnapping scare and increased security presence but because Amalia was robbed of her university experience It's not nice to see your child live like that Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends Princess Amalia returned to Amsterdam in 2024 to finish her education at the university but she can live and study in the Netherlands again" thanks to unknown "measures" that were taken I want to thank everyone who took care of my safety and well-being in Madrid." Now Princess Amalia has been able to settle back into her studies and life in Amsterdam—she's pursuing a degree in politics law and economics—as well as the occasional royal duty the poised princess joined her parents and sister Alexia for King's Day festivities honoring King Willem-Alexander's birthday she donned a diamond tiara for a state visit from the Sultan of Oman Although it will likely be decades before Princess Amalia takes the throne, the Netherlands does have a history of abdication unlike Britain—her father was just 46 when Queen Beatrix abdicated in his favor But whenever the Princess of Orange's time comes the crown appears to be in more than capable hands "If I can avoid a bad situation through diplomacy then I have made the world a little bit better Kristin ContinoSenior Royal and Celebrity EditorKristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.” She's passionate about travel and learning everything she can about her favorite city in the world An estimated 140,000 to 160,000 people took part in Freedom Meals across the Netherlands on Monday According to the National Committee for 4 and 5 May a total of 1,200 Freedom Meals—known in Dutch as Vrijheidsmaaltijden—were organized throughout the country The Freedom Meals are intended to bring together people of all ages and backgrounds to talk about themes of freedom and oppression Organizers said meals took place in more than 80 percent of Dutch municipalities highlighting strong nationwide participation Each Freedom Meal includes a traditional “freedom soup” served to guests as a symbol of shared values and reflection This year’s soup recipe was created by Jet van Nieuwkerk a Dutch television presenter and food journalist known for promoting healthy cooking Her recipe was served at all locations hosting the event King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima joined residents at a Freedom Meal held in the Morgenstond neighborhood of The Hague State Department has authorized the potential Foreign Military Sale to the Netherlands for Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMs) and associated equipment on April 25 The complete estimated value of this deal amounts to $2.19 billion The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) provided the necessary certification to U.S The defense agreement seeks to boost the Royal Netherlands Navy’s precision strike capabilities the Netherlands has requested up to 163 Tomahawk Block V All-Up Rounds (AURs) and up to 10 Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control Systems (TTWCS) The package also includes satellite data link terminals (KIV-18A) integrated secure broadcast systems (KSX-5) communications security devices (KGV-135A) has been named the principal contractor for the program The Royal Netherlands Navy intends to incorporate Tomahawk missiles into the De Zeven Provinciën-class air-defense and command frigates (LCFs) as well as upcoming vessel designs Plans to equip the frigates with Tomahawks were originally mooted in 2005 but rejected The vessels are already equipped with 40-cell Mk 41 strike-length vertical launching systems so integration will not be an issue The Netherlands will establish itself as one of the few European navies with deep-strike land attack capabilities through this integration which boosts their operational capabilities within NATO and coalition operations The purchase contains both Block IV and Block V variants of the Tomahawk system With its designation “Tactical Tomahawk” the Block IV provides forces with the ability to redirect missions during flight as well as extended loiter functions and improved tactical versatility through its improved sensor set The Block V system delivers navigation upgrades together with modernized communication features while also providing stronger electronic warfare resistance as well as advanced penetration capabilities for air defense systems These future upgrades to Block Va and Vb variants will enable them to engage moving naval targets and hardened ground targets The Tomahawk Land Attack Missile is a subsonic cruise weapon which can travel more than 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) during its flight The missile operates using inertial navigation and GPS guidance together with terrain contour matching (TERCOM) for precise targeting and carries a 450-kilogram (1,000-pound) conventional warhead The missile maintains autonomous control systems and stealth features while allowing programmers to select multiple destinations before flight and receive new instructions during active operations which make it suitable for deep penetration missions in hostile territories government personnel will be assigned to the Netherlands as part of this deal creating opportunities for industrial collaboration between U.S This collaboration will help reinforce strategic ties and promote mutual technological development Tags: , , , This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kenneth Price a 47-year-old engineer living in Eindhoven The following has been edited for length and clarity I've been living in Eindhoven, Netherlands I moved here from San Diego for my job in machine engineering in the semiconductor industry most locals were confident that the result would be different than what it was there were a lot of conversations about it Since Trump won the election and took office in January I've been getting a lot of questions as an American abroad Most people here seem to think that almost all Americans are into politics but my views don't align with either major party I've never voted for either of the two major parties. I've always voted third party because I don't believe in binary choices It's been hard to explain that to people here It's not uncommon for people to start the conversations here by asking who you voted for I think they automatically assume I support the current administration They see a lot of divisiveness on social media I don't follow the news in the US all that much What I do follow on social media is polarized I hear mostly about how friends in the US are afraid to leave the country to visit because they fear not being able to return home "I'm glad I'm here." They're fairly understanding once you explain that you don't know the answer to their questions It's a bit disconcerting that you have to explain it because it wasn't like that before last year I came to the Netherlands several times a year for four years before moving full-time The election solidified my decision not to return to the US I can apply for citizenship or renew it at the end of the five years We want to stay for the quality of life, work-life balance and low crime — everything about this place that the US isn't I noticed that conversations always start with "no offense." I respond "Where's that coming from?" Regardless of whether I agree People always ask me to explain what the US government is doing It seems as though people feel like they have to go out of their way to have conversations about topics related to the US if they know you're American we have a center-right government and some politicians who get compared to Trump This government is mostly unpopular among the people I associate with but I know it's popular among certain groups and people are always making comparisons to the US The politics here are less polarized because there are more options for who to vote for I have money in a US bank account that I want to move here The exchange rate used to be roughly one-to-one I don't want to keep anything in my US bank account I'm worried it won't be worth anything unless something significant changes Being directly affected like that has made me mad Both vehicles leading the Dutch passenger car ranking are battery-electric While EVs made up a third of all new registrations last month the overall growing EV uptake appears to have plateaued According to the latest data from BOVAG, RAI Vereniging, and RDC, fully electric cars accounted for 33.9 per cent of all new passenger car registrations in the Netherlands in April. A total of 9,206 BEVs were registered—up just 1.5 per cent year-on-year—pointing to a stagnating trend. This figure also sits slightly below the Q1/2025 BEV share of 35.3 per cent Leading the overall passenger car ranking across all powertrains was once again the Kia EV3 The model established itself as the country’s bestseller in the first quarter Tesla’s registrations plummeted by around 74 per cent year-on-year down to just 382 units compared to 1,457 in April 2024 While Q1 already signalled a downward trend for the brand the drop was far less dramatic: Tesla registered 1,660 Model 3 units (-37% YoY) and 1,752 Model Ys (-58% YoY) in the first quarter of the year The overall Dutch passenger car market declined by 4 per cent in April hybrids (including plug-in hybrids) dominated BEVs followed with a 34 per cent share (9,206 units) ahead of petrol cars at 14 per cent (3,901 units) A closer look at the model ranking reveals that the battery-electric Kia EV3 and Skoda Elroq were the two best-selling cars in the Netherlands last month with 871 and 843 registrations respectively The Elroq achieved this result immediately upon entering the market Rounding out the top five were the Kia Niro (628 units) Tesla and Volkswagen were largely absent from the April charts the third to fifth places were taken by the Volvo EX30 (371 units) The compact EV frontrunners—Kia EV3 and Skoda Elroq—accounted for nearly 19 per cent of all electric registrations in April The top five electric models combined captured a 30 per cent market share indicating that the remainder of EV sales are spread across a wide range of models bovag.nl I agree with the Privacy policy electrive has been following the development of electric mobility with journalistic passion and expertise since 2013 we offer comprehensive coverage of the highest quality — as a central platform for the rapid development of this technology Every contribution counts — we must act now we must also look forward – to a vision of freedom not hijacked by hatred May 5 is the day the freedom is celebrated in the Netherlands But that freedom is increasingly under threat and authoritarian tendencies are driving a shift toward the far right Along with that shift comes an ideology rooted in racism and exclusion – ideals that are gaining ground in our country Freedom alone is not enough to counter the destructive forces represented by the PVV and its supporters Ethics and social justice must go hand in hand with freedom These values are inseparable – because freedom without justice and equality is not true freedom It undermines the foundations of our democracy and the rule of law And that’s not the path that will lead us out of the downward spiral we currently face That’s why DiEM25 in the Netherlands is actively working to build and shape our political party We believe that freedom belongs to everyone – not that one person’s freedom should come at the expense of another’s the West has forgotten what Aristotle taught us: that virtue and ethics are inseparably tied to both freedom and economics MERA25 Netherlands is committed to restoring these values to their rightful place We believe in an inclusive society where people work together to make collective freedom a reality We know we can do better than fighting over scraps of freedom that remain out of reach for most while the gap between rich and poor grows ever wider If we don’t work together to achieve real freedom it will remain nothing more than a hollow dream That’s why we’re committed to MERA25 Netherlands we won’t just dream of freedom and equality – we will make it real Do you want to be informed of DiEM25's actions? Sign up here Hopefully we will all pause for two minutes to reflect on the atrocities committed in the past As Romanians prepare to head to the polls on May 4 and 18 they do so under the shadow of a deep betrayal of democracy those who challenge the dominant narratives are silenced Despite international rulings and mounting evidence of genocide the Central Bank of Ireland continues to approve Israeli war bond sales across the EU KLN Logistics Group Limited has expanded its presence in the Europe and Africa (EMEA) region with the opening of a new 61,000 sq ft bonded logistics facility in Hoofddorp This expansion involves upgrading its existing Hoofddorp site to a larger warehouse and processing center to address the increasing demand for e-commerce capacity The new Hoofddorp facility has dedicated 40 percent of its operations to handling e-commerce shipments Equipped with a specialized warehouse and six loading docks the facility enables KLN to offer comprehensive solutions and distribution services to its customers “This new facility will enhance our operational capacity in the Netherlands and the EMEA region particularly in response to the recent growth in e-commerce with up to 40 percent of our capacity dedicated to this emerging market Our team is eager to transition to this new facility which is easily accessible and equipped with state-of-the-art technology to improve the efficiency and quality of operations.” The Hoofddorp facility is strategically located less than 30 kilometers from Amsterdam and under 60 kilometers from Rotterdam This new facility complements KLN’s existing operations in Rotterdam and Middelharnis further strengthening its network in the Netherlands อัพเดตข่าวสารและบทความที่น่าสนใจในอุตสาหกรรมโลจิสติกส์ก่อนใคร ผ่าน Line Official Account @Logistics Mananger เพียงเพิ่มเราเป็นเพื่อน @Logistics Manager หรือคลิกที่นี่ UK authorities launch raids of six properties Three people have been arrested as part of an investigation into an alleged £3 million ($4m) bribery case relating to the construction of Microsoft data center in the Netherlands The UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) announced on Wednesday that it had launched an investigation targeting UK company Blu-3 and former associates of the global construction firm Mace Group and had raided five properties to look for evidence Individuals at Blu-3 are suspected of paying more than £3m ($4m) of bribes to former associates of Mace Group in relation to the construction of the data center More than 70 SFO staff searched four homes and one commercial property across London and three individuals were arrested for questioning with SFO officers assisting the principality’s authorities Blu-3 is a firm that helps manage construction projects and according to its website has an ongoing association with Mace having worked with the construction company on projects including The Shard in London It is also involved in data center projects around the world, and its website refers to “Project Nimble,” a €19.4 million ($22m) project to develop a hyperscale campus in Middenmeer The data center involved in the case was not specifically named by the SFO, but Microsoft has a large campus under development in Middenmeer said: “Paying bribes to do business undermines our financial markets the reputation of British companies and the rule of law and will not be tolerated “Today’s action is a reminder that we will take rapid and robust action to tackle suspected bribery and corruption wherever it appears – at home and overseas.” The UK’s solicitor general Lucy Rigby KC MP added: “Bribery undermines the values of fairness and playing by the rules “This government is committed to tackling all forms of bribery to protect working people and ensure criminals are brought to justice.” A Mace spokesperson said: "Mace has a zero tolerance approach to breaches of our code of ethics and takes any allegations of bribery extremely seriously We are committed to fully supporting the Serious Fraud Office in investigating allegations against any former associates of the group." A Blu-3 spokesperson said: “Blu-3 is currently supporting an external SFO investigation and is fully cooperating with the agency "We take matters of this nature extremely seriously and are committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct across all of our operations.” Data Centre Dynamics Ltd (DCD), 32-38 Saffron Hill, London, EC1N 8FH Email. [email protected]DCD is a subsidiary of InfraXmedia Today is the day that the Netherlands has run out of the raw materials that the earth can produce for it in a year, according to the Global Footprint Network but the improvement is not because the Netherlands has become more sustainable The overshoot date for each country is calculated by dividing the availability of natural resources (biocapacity) by its consumption (ecological footprint) and then multiplying it by the number of days in a year which is why its overshoot day falls early in the year “If everyone in the world lived like the Dutch, we would have used up everything the earth can renew in a year by May 5,” Joost Brinkman, the Dutch researcher involved in the annual study, explained to NU.nl you can reason with common sense that at some point you will get into trouble if you spend more than you earn for years in a row.” overshoot day for the Netherlands was April 1 but the improvement is because of better data on Dutch exports not because the Dutch became that much more sustainable in one year the ecological footprint per Dutch person has decreased by 40 percent due to climate policy the Netherlands’ biocapacity was reduced by half the day on which the world population has used up all the resources the planet can renew in a year Much of the Netherlands remained dry and cool on Monday evening, May 5, with clear skies dominating across most of the country and temperatures expected to drop sharply overnight. According to meteorological forecasts colder-than-usual weather will continue through Tuesday and Wednesday but conditions are set to become warmer and sunnier later in the week Temperatures are set to drop sharply under the clear sky and light wind overnight lows were forecast to reach near freezing The coldest spots in the south were expected to fall to around 4 degrees while coastal regions would remain slightly milder with temperatures dipping to about 6 degrees low-lying clouds will likely drift inland from the North Sea and move into the far north central and southern parts of the country are expected to begin the day with significant sunshine while northern regions will see heavier cloud cover the cloud layer is expected to expand southward though precipitation is expected to be minimal Temperatures will remain below normal for early May A mostly moderate wind from the north will hold highs to around 12 degrees in the north and up to 16 degrees locally in the south temperatures this time of year range from 14 to 18 degrees A similar pattern is expected on Wednesday with dense cloud cover dominating much of the country skies are expected to clear in many places Daytime highs will range from 13 to 17 degrees The second half of the week will bring a longer stretch of dry weather Inland areas are forecast to reach around 20 degrees by the weekend The return of strong spring sunshine will offer more comfortable conditions for outdoor activity A group of pro-Russian hackers took down the websites of several Dutch municipalities and provinces on Monday in retaliation for the Netherlands’ military assistance to Ukraine At least 19 websites were affected by the coordinated distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, which overload websites and applications with targeted requests to knock them offline, the Algemeen Dabbled newspaper reported The hacker group NoName, which previously claimed credit for DDoS attacks across Europe, the U.S. and Ukraine, said it picked the latest target as the Netherlands because it had sent Ukraine 6 billion euros in military assistance “It's time to visit the Netherlands again and remind you how the help of the Kyiv regime ends,” NoName wrote on Telegram Monday Cybersecurity experts say NoName hackers target between five and 15 websites per day for a greater impact of DDoS attacks, which frustrate users but otherwise do not steal information or compromise critical infrastructure NoName targeted the websites of local governments in Switzerland and France over the past year The Dutch military intelligence service revealed last week that Russian hackers targeted an unidentified public facility in the Netherlands last year marking the first known cyberattack on its infrastructure Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. 2025 The freedom flame is lit in Wageningen Photo: Vincent Jannink ANPThe Netherlands is marking 80 years since the end of World War II on Monday with parades communal meals and speeches across the country will be mainly dry with some sunshine with temperatures up to 15° inland The celebrations themselves began shortly after midnight when the freedom flame was lit on 5 Mei Plein in the heart of Wageningen close to the hotel where German forces signed the capitulation 80 years ago This year the flame was lit by two veterans 100-year-old British veteran Mervyn Kersh and 101-year-old Nick Janicki from Canada some 5,000 runners set off to carry torches to 201 locations across the country including the 14 venues hosting official freedom festivals Last week the government confirmed it would contribute funding to keep the free festivals going Around one million people visit one of the 14 official festivals each year but they have been struggling financially Polish prime minister Donald Tusk will deliver the annual May 5 reading in Wageningen itself The traditional closing concert on the Amstel takes place on the evening of May 5 in the presence of the royal family and local dignitaries The concert will be broadcast live by NOS on NPO 1 The concert always ends with a mass singalong of the Vera Lynn classic We’ll Meet Again We could not provide the Dutch News service without the generous support of our readers Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days We could not provide this service without you Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM: Please consider donating to keep our website running and free for all - thank you The King and Queen of the Netherlands joined Remembrance Day commemorations in Amsterdam King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima laid a wreath as part of a solemn ceremony in Dam Square on May 4 as hundreds of thousands of people around the Netherlands took part in acts of remembrancce the royals joined their fellow citizens in a two minute silence to remember all those who have been killed in conflict Commemorations took place around the Netherlands at the same time King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima took part in a service of commemoration at the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam travelled to Canada to pay tribute to the country’s soldiers who died while freeing the Netherlands Princess Margriet took part in a ceremony at the Holten Canadian Cemetery where they remembered the many who fell in the liberation of the north and east of the Netherlands Princess Margriet was born in Canada as the Dutch royal family lived there during World War Two when the Nazis occupied the Netherlands Veterans Affairs Canada and the Department of National Defence issued the following statement: “Over the course of eight grueling months from September 1944 to May 1945 the First Canadian Army played a major role in liberating the Netherlands from German occupation Canadian soldiers pressed forward against a fierce and determined enemy to the push north to liberate the Netherlands those who fought to free the Dutch people achieved and sacrificed much in their efforts to bring peace to Europe “Private Léo Major became a legendary figure for his actions in April 1945 and with the help of Dutch resistance fighters he liberated the town of Zwolle without the need for large-scale Allied assaults Major was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal “In the 80 years since the liberation of the Netherlands Canada has worked within the rules-based international order to live up to the legacy of bravery commitment and sacrifice demonstrated by Private Major and soldiers like him Our commitment to upholding global peace and stability has been unwavering with active participation in international peace support missions and consistent advocacy for human rights and diplomacy in conflict resolution we remember the more than 7,600 Canadians who died in the 8 dreadful months it took to liberate the Netherlands and in honour of all those who served in this vital operation Click here to read more about the Liberation of the Netherlands Click here to read more about the heroic acts of Léo Major My Dad, John Heinbuch was a member of the 48th Highlanders and was a part of the troops who liberated Holland Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Video evidence, NHLer testimony raise questions in world junior sexual assault trialThe National |May 2Video4:45 Trump repeats 51st state taunt as Carney prepares for White House visitThe National |May 5Video11:28 It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem WatchCTV National News: Thousands gather on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the NetherlandsThousands gather to honour the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands in World War II. Andrew Johnson reports. Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved BRUSSELS — The Netherlands is rolling back its nitrogen reduction targets setting the stage for a showdown with its own judges and Brussels over one of Europe’s most contentious environmental issues The Dutch government on Friday confirmed it will push back its deadline to halve nitrogen emissions from 2030 to 2035 defying a recent court order and putting its green commitments at risk The move, spearheaded by Agriculture Minister Femke Wiersma of the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB), is meant to give farmers more time to adapt, but could instead entrench a years-long standoff over how to cut pollution from intensive livestock farming The decision comes despite a Dutch court ruling in January that ordered the government to meet its existing 2030 deadline to protect sensitive nature areas from nitrogen pollution as the delay risks breaching the EU’s Habitats Directive which obliges member states to prevent the deterioration of protected ecosystems and to restore them “within a short period.” The Netherlands has long been ground zero for Europe’s nitrogen crisis, with its high-density farming blamed for dumping excessive nitrogen into Natura 2000 conservation areas. The country ranks among the worst in the EU for nitrogen pollution per hectare at around four times the European average — far more than its landscapes and protected habitats can absorb Successive governments have struggled to square environmental obligations with farmer pushback, a conflict that helped topple the last coalition and fueled the rise of Wiersma’s BBB, which became the largest party in the Dutch Senate in 2023 and joined the national coalition government last year The new plan includes a €2.2 billion “starter package” to encourage farmers near vulnerable nature sites to downsize relocate or invest in cleaner technologies The package covers voluntary buyouts for livestock farmers including €750 million for those who choose to shut down and €627 million for dairy producers who scale back Another €100 million is set aside for nature restoration The government is also preparing to overhaul how nitrogen is regulated Dutch policy has been based on how much nitrogen pollution settles in protected areas — the so-called critical deposition value (KDW) Wiersma’s plan signals a move away from that system toward setting emission limits directly at the source How those caps will be calculated remains unclear “This plan offers perspective for farmers and space for innovation while we keep working toward nature recovery,” Wiersma told reporters ahead of the adoption Environmental groups, legal experts and the Dutch state attorney had already warned in recent days that the plan could fail to meet judicial requirements after details of the proposal began circulating in the Dutch press on Wednesday and Thursday a Dutch court sided with Greenpeace in a case challenging the government’s slow progress on nitrogen reduction The ruling ordered the state to cut pollution fast enough to bring at least half of all nitrogen-sensitive conservation areas below harmful thresholds by 2030 The judge cited the Netherlands’ obligations under the Habitats Directive which prioritizes the health of protected ecosystems over economic flexibility The government has appealed the decision but must comply with the ruling while that process is ongoing By unilaterally shifting the target to 2035 Wiersma’s plan risks being seen as non-compliant with both the Dutch court and EU law potentially exposing The Hague to further lawsuits and financial penalties including Greenpeace and Mobilization for the Environment (MOB) have already signaled they will take the government back to court if the delay goes ahead Greenpeace called the adopted plan “an insult to the rule of law,” accusing it of lacking binding measures for agriculture The European Commission has so far held back from saying whether the Dutch delay is compatible with EU law, though officials in the environment department have repeatedly stressed that the Habitats Directive leaves little room to put off required action “The Netherlands must put in place and implement effective measures to reduce nitrates and nitrogen pollution in order to meet the EU requirements on nature and water quality,” Commission spokesperson Maciej Berestecki told POLITICO “It is up to the Dutch authorities to decide on effective measures to ensure compliance and reach agreed targets.” Commission lawyers are expected to review the Dutch plan following the government’s adoption of the package on Friday Any failure to comply with EU law could eventually trigger infringement proceedings from Brussels The delay hands Wiersma’s BBB a political win with its rural base but risks locking the Netherlands into another round of courtroom battles at home and in Brussels This story has been updated to include reaction from Greenpeace and the European Commission industry-led policy and deepening ethical and biological risks are exposing flaws in the world’s most efficient meat machine exposing the reach of ultra-persistent chemicals in Europe’s food chain Brussels is chockablock with people trying to influence new rules on everything from Big Tech to pesticide use Here’s where they’ve put most of their efforts Hungary and Slovakia are battling outbreaks of the highly contagious livestock disease The Netherlands is expected to replace nearly half a million solar panels within the next five years, but the process of recycling these panels remains in its early stages, according to recent findings by the Dutch investigative program Pointer. Despite being rich in valuable materials like aluminum old solar panels often end up being destroyed or improperly processed While Belgium’s PVcycle company currently handles the disposal of old panels The panels that are sent abroad often find their way to landfills in African countries where there is little oversight on recycling practices who has enjoyed 15 years of free electricity and four years without gas due to his solar panels is frustrated by the lack of proper disposal options "I want to make sure that my old panels are reused They can still generate electricity for another 10 years so it’s a waste to throw them away," he told Pointer explained that the glue used to bind solar cells to the glass makes it difficult to separate the layers "Solar panels are very difficult to recycle," Späth told Pointer Stichting OPEN is responsible for collecting and processing electronic waste the foundation has faced criticism from the Dutch Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) for failing to meet collection goals and for its low-quality recycling methods which results in the loss of valuable materials Stichting OPEN has begun working with MIREC MIREC can now separate glass from the panels and reuse it the company is still working on methods to extract silver and silicon from the solar cells "We are still working on ways to recover silver and silicon from the solar cells." A growing issue is the illegal export of defective solar panels Dutch customs reported a 23 percent increase in solar panel exports compared to 2022 The majority of these panels are sent to low- and middle-income countries where their recycling is not closely monitored "It is a cheap way for companies to get rid of their leftover products," Van Wezel Some initiatives are working to recycle panels more sustainably operates a "solar panel orphanage," where panels are cleaned "We collaborate with the municipality of Amsterdam providing panels to households experiencing energy poverty." However long-lasting new panels from China makes it difficult for recycled panels to enter the market Stichting OPEN has plans to improve the recycling process in the coming years the foundation expects to be able to recycle all parts of solar panels at a high level discussions are ongoing with ILT to improve the overall recycling system Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk took part in memorial events in the Netherlands. While he was on stage, a lit flare was thrown at his feet, PAP reports The head of the Polish government arrived in the city of Wageningen to take part in events marking the liberation of the Netherlands from Nazi occupation he was scheduled to light the Flame of Liberation together with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof someone in the crowd threw a lit flare at Tusk’s feet The Polish Prime Minister was quickly escorted off the stage and the lighting of the Flame of Liberation ultimately took place The news agency notes that the incident was likely not directed specifically at Tusk Among the crowd were people holding signs criticizing Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip during which Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans was speaking was interrupted by people chanting pro-Palestinian slogans Liberation Day in the Netherlands is celebrated on May 5 and is a national holiday commemorating the end of Nazi occupation in 1945 the Netherlands marks the victory of the Allied forces over the German troops that had occupied the country during World War II The holiday symbolizes freedom and independence and commemorative events held in cities across the country In June last year, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was attacked in Copenhagen Tesla’s car sales in the Netherlands dropped by nearly 74 percent in April compared to the same month last year, according to new data from Dutch industry groups BOVAG The decline follows a report this week that Tesla’s board has launched a search for a new CEO and separate reporting that Elon Musk has stepped away from his advisory role in the Trump administration The Dutch auto market as a whole shrank by 4 percent in April but Tesla’s numbers fell significantly further The company registered just 382 new vehicles last month Tesla sales in the Netherlands had already dropped by 60 percent year over year down from 8,299 during the same period last year The company did not appear in April’s top-selling electric vehicle rankings with the Kia EV3 recording the highest number of registrations among fully electric vehicles The Wall Street Journal reported this week that Tesla’s board of directors has contacted several executive search firms to begin identifying possible successors to Musk citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter said some board members were concerned that Musk’s time in Washington had interfered with his leadership of Tesla That article was followed by additional reporting that Musk has left his post at the White House where he had chaired the Trump administration’s DOGE advisory body on government spending Tesla disputed the Journal’s reporting. Board chair Robyn Denholm posted on X, saying and the board has full confidence in his ability to execute the exciting growth plan going forward.” She called the report “absolutely false.” Tesla did not comment on whether any internal discussions had taken place about Musk’s time commitments Musk stated on X that he would scale back his political involvement and refocus on the company Tesla also posted a statement reading: “Tesla has been declared dead many times But it will be just fine thanks to our owners Tesla’s drop in the Netherlands mirrors broader global trends The company reported a 13 percent decline in worldwide deliveries in the first quarter of 2025 Earnings and profits also fell during that period Musk’s personal net worth dropped by approximately 100 billion dollars due to the company’s falling stock price the Dutch car market showed a small rebound in hybrid and electric vehicle sales A total of 9,206 fully electric vehicles were registered in the Netherlands EVs accounted for 33.9 percent of all new registrations while hybrid cars led the market with 13,329 registrations