Mastodawn

JA21 leader in Amsterdam assaulted on the street after election debate https://nltimes.nl/2026/03/18/ja21-leader-amsterdam-assaulted-street-election-debate

JA21 leader in Amsterdam assaulted on the street after election debate

Kevin Kreuger, the current leader of the JA21 faction in Amsterdam and a city council member, was assaulted on Osdorpplein in Amsterdam Nieuw-West on Monday. He said on X that he was “beaten up by four young men” shortly after he left the AT5 debate for the municipal elections. According to Kreuger, he intervened when the four young men threw an ice cream at a woman, after which they stormed him and beat him up. “When I said something about this, things turned grim,” he said.

NL Times

Netherland News 1h ago

Netherlands in European top 3 for ketamine use https://nltimes.nl/2026/03/18/netherlands-european-top-3-ketamine-use

Netherlands in European top 3 for ketamine use

The Netherlands ranks in the European top three when it comes to ketamine use, along with Belgium and Germany, according to a sewage water analysis by the European drug agency EUDA. Ketamine remnants in Dutch sewage increased by over 40 percent compared to 2024, AD reported.

NL Times

Netherland News 1h ago

Hopes that sunny, warm weather can prevent historically low election turnout https://nltimes.nl/2026/03/18/hopes-sunny-warm-weather-can-prevent-historically-low-election-turnout

Hopes that sunny, warm weather can prevent historically low election turnout

The turnout for municipal elections continues to decline. Some experts fear that the turnout for today’s election will be historically low. Hopefully, sunny skies and high temperatures will convince more people to get outside and cast their vote.

NL Times

Netherland News 1h ago

Unlike rest of campaign, final election debate mainly focused on asylum, not housing https://nltimes.nl/2026/03/18/unlike-rest-campaign-final-election-debate-mainly-focused-asylum-housing

Unlike rest of campaign, final election debate mainly focused on asylum, not housing

While other debates around today’s city council elections focused mainly on housing and safety, the final debate on NOS on Tuesday revolved mostly around asylum. Local lead candidates and the parliamentary leaders of the five largest parties in the Tweede Kamer also discussed the other topics, but asylum is where the debate turned heated.

NL Times

Netherland News 2h ago

Good turnout at overnight polling stations, aimed at getting young poeple to vote https://nltimes.nl/2026/03/18/good-turnout-overnight-polling-stations-aimed-getting-young-poeple-vote

Good turnout at overnight polling stations, aimed at getting young poeple to vote

The nighttime polling stations saw a good turnout, with hundreds of votes cast. These polling stations are aimed at convincing young people to vote while they’re out and about, enjoying the nightlife. Most other polling stations opened at 7:30 a.m., although opening times may vary at some locations.

NL Times

Netherland News 3h ago

Pay for Dutch municipal council members rises nearly 21% since 2022 https://nltimes.nl/2026/03/18/pay-dutch-municipal-council-members-rises-nearly-21-since-2022

Pay for Dutch municipal council members rises nearly 21% since 2022

Municipal council members across the Netherlands have seen their compensation increase sharply since the last local elections in 2022, with payments rising by nearly 21 percent over four years, according to an analysis by ANP based on annual rates. The increase is significantly larger than the growth recorded in the previous 2018–2022 period.

NL Times

Netherland News 3h ago

Special polling stations: Vote in a museum, castle, music hall, or movie theater today https://nltimes.nl/2026/03/18/special-polling-stations-vote-museum-castle-music-hall-movie-theater-today

Special polling stations: Vote in a museum, castle, music hall, or movie theater today

Netherlands residents can cast their votes in the city council elections at countless train stations, town halls, and libraries today. But those looking to do their democratic duty in a more out-of-the-ordinary location can also vote in several museums, theaters, castles, music halls, and movie cinemas, among others.

NL Times

Netherland News 4h ago

Local elections underway, with Haaksbergen adding asylum center referendum to ballot https://nltimes.nl/2026/03/18/local-elections-underway-haaksbergen-adding-asylum-center-referendum-ballot

Local elections underway, with Haaksbergen adding asylum center referendum to ballot

Residents of Haaksbergen will cast two ballots on March 18: a municipal council vote and a separate advisory referendum on the conditions for a new asylum seekers center (AZC) in the municipality of Twente.

NL Times

Netherland News 4h ago

Millions of Dutch residents head to polls for municipal elections https://nltimes.nl/2026/03/18/millions-dutch-residents-head-polls-municipal-elections

Millions of Dutch residents head to polls for municipal elections

More than 14.2 million people across the Netherlands are eligible to vote in municipal elections today, according to preliminary figures from CBS. Residents must be registered in a Dutch municipality, at least 18 years old, hold EU citizenship, or have lived in the Netherlands for at least five years. About 80 percent of the population meets these criteria.

NL Times

Netherland News 10h ago

ADO Den Haag seal Eredivisie return after five-year absence https://nltimes.nl/2026/03/17/ado-den-haag-seal-eredivisie-return-five-year-absence

ADO Den Haag seal Eredivisie return after five-year absence

After five years away, ADO Den Haag has secured its return to the Eredivisie. A narrow 1–0 victory over Jong FC Utrecht on Tuesday night ensured the Keuken Kampioen Divisie leaders can no longer be overtaken by third-placed De Graafschap. Match-winner Evan Rottier received a warm ovation as he left the pitch with ten minutes remaining.

NL Times