Father John (62) and son Roemer (21) discuss their experience growing up and raising a family in Amsterdam. They refer to themselves as 'the Sigimen,' a term John is proud of and has tattooed on his forearm, highlighting their positive relationship with the city and its people.
Maternity care workers in the Netherlands are taking legal action to classify eight-hour on-call shifts as paid working time, arguing that current compensation of approximately 12 euros is far below minimum wage. Supported by Bureau Clara Wichmann and unions like FNV and CNV, the plaintiffs contend that the requirement to be immediately available restricts their personal lives and constitutes invisible labor. Although the collective agreement does not recognize this time as work, lawyers argue it must be compensated under EU law. The case aims to pressure the government to increase funding for maternity care, which faces severe staff shortages and budget constraints.
A Trimbos Institute and Utrecht University study reveals that acceptance of homosexuality among 12-to-16-year-olds has dropped significantly, particularly among boys. Trouw attributes this trend to conservative social media influences and religious views, urging educators and parents to actively promote inclusivity and defend LGBTQ+ rights against rising intolerance.
María del Carmen Abascal had lived in her flat on Sainz de Baranda Street since 1956. Madrid’s Tenants' Union and the UN had opposed the decision to evict her.
The municipality of Utrecht will reopen an extra drop-in location at the Lutheran Church on Hamburger Street during cold weather this winter. Managed by the Salvation Army, this facility aims to reduce pressure on the Herstart day shelter, which becomes overcrowded and less effective for guidance when temperatures drop. The cold weather protocol activates when nighttime feels-like temperatures fall below freezing or the KNMI issues red alerts, jointly determined by four major municipalities and local health services to prevent serious health damage among those sleeping outdoors.
Tens of people gathered in Utrecht on September 12 to hold a silent march for Alfredo Goeloe, who died during an arrest in Rotterdam-Zuid. A speaker at Domplein highlighted that 80% of people dying during arrests have a migration background, citing police violence concerns. Goeloe, 51, was arrested for speeding on a fatbike and possessing drugs after fleeing when asked for identification. He collapsed and died shortly after the arrest, though the exact cause remains unclear.
The asylum seeker center in Capelle aan den IJssel operates without fences or barriers to keep out unwanted visitors. Instead, it features an open coffee bar and offers barista training courses, aiming to bring the outside world inside and create a welcoming environment for everyone.
According to new figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS), 10 percent, 1 in 10, o
87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal was forcibly evicted from her Madrid home after 71 years following a legal dispute with investment fund Urbagestión, which raised rent to an unaffordable level citing a technicality in her inheritance contract. The eviction involved riot police using tear gas and pepper spray against protesters, sparking outrage and symbolizing Spain's housing crisis, while demonstrators criticized regional President Isabel Díaz Ayuso amidst calls for justice.
The author argues that queer individuals should not use their insecurity as a tool to attack Muslims or people of color. Instead, society must address deeply rooted homophobia to ensure that teens coming out of the closet are no longer left alone.
The proportion of Amsterdam teenagers aged 12 to 18 suspected of committing a crime has nearly halved over the past ten years. Despite this decline, minors remain relatively more likely to be suspected of crimes than adult residents of Amsterdam.
The proportion of teenagers aged 12 to 18 in Amsterdam suspected of committing a crime has nearly halved over the past ten years. Despite this decline, minors remain relatively more likely to be suspected than adult residents.
In Vianen, Stichting Praat organized a dirty laundry exhibition on Voorstraat to raise awareness about child abuse. Founder Ted Kloosterboer, a survivor of neglect and sexual abuse, aims to make the topic more approachable by inviting visitors to share their stories on clotheslines. The initiative highlights that approximately 119,000 children are victims annually in the Netherlands, including cases of severe torture. Alderman Kees Bel of Vijfheerenlanden noted that one in twenty-five children is affected, emphasizing the need for community vigilance and support since municipal responsibility for youth care began in 2015.
78-year-old Rinus Jenzon from The Hague feels isolated following the death of his older sister Lenie and the recent termination of his volunteer work at SVV Scheveningen football club. Jenzon, who served the club for 60 years, stated he was sidelined via a letter despite being named Volunteer of the Year. The club secretary cited a lack of budget for his role but confirmed Jenzon remains welcome as a visitor. His situation coincides with the Week Against Loneliness, highlighting his struggle to cope with these dual losses.
Boy Tanis, a 19-year-old from Geertruidenberg, has collected over 18,000 signatures for a petition against smoking influencers on social media and intends to present it to the Dutch House of Representatives. Inspired by his own struggle with smoking triggered by social media exposure, Tanis seeks warnings or campaigns regarding images of smokers, having previously won the Clean Air Netherlands Smoke-Free Prize 2026 for his efforts.
A woman in Tilburg lost her job after competing in a Hyrox race while sick-listed, sparking debate about employee rights during illness. Labor law attorney Jean-Louis van Os clarifies that company doctors determine permissible activities based on recovery needs, meaning exercise or vacations may be allowed if they aid healing. Employers cannot unilaterally decide fitness for work without medical opinion, and courts generally side with official medical judgments unless evidence suggests deception, as seen in previous cases involving fraudulent sick leave claims.
A court has ruled in favor of animal rights organization Wakker Dier, ordering the national railway company NS to display posters promoting 'Eat No Animals Day' on station billboards. NS had previously refused to show the advertisements, arguing that the message was too controversial. The judge rejected this justification in an interim injunction, mandating that the campaign materials must be visible to the public at train stations despite the operator's objections regarding the nature of the content.
Eight in ten 16- to 34-year-olds in the Netherlands report that their smartphones harm their everyday lives.
The Dutch Service for Penal Institutions (DJI) projects a significant personnel shortage, with staff numbers expected to drop by nearly 5,000, or 30 percent, over the next decade. To cope with this deficit and existing cell shortages, Staatssecretaris Claudia van Bruggen plans to implement a stricter regime, including reduced visiting hours and limited security for low-risk inmates, allowing more prisoners to wear electronic bracelets during the day. This approach aims to reduce staffing needs while addressing the current gap of approximately 1,000 missing employees and over 6,300 convicted individuals currently released early due to lack of space.
Approximately forty residents carried a symbolic coffin containing Amsterdam-North through Amsterdam’s metro and city center on Wednesday to protest structural neglect and lack of investment. Resident Eva Bollen stated that the community has reached its limit regarding the district's marginalization.
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