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ABN Amro just paid a steep price—8.5 million euros—for failing to properly guard against money laundering over a full year, as regulators found glaring gaps in how they vetted high-risk customers, especially when red flags like large cash moves or sanctioned-country dealings popped up. The Dutch central bank called it a “structural lack of depth,” and while the fine was reduced for the bank’s coop...

The Netherlands is witnessing a troubling uptick in street disrespect, with 18% of people reporting it last year—up from 15%. Women, especially young ones, and city dwellers are hit hardest, with urban areas seeing nearly 25% reporting incidents. Public transport and shops are also hotspots, while government workers remain the least affected. This growing trend reveals a deeper societal shift in p...

Den Bosch is dialing back Carnaval chaos by scrapping the street parties on Thursday — a move that ends the unofficial kick-off and forces bars to close early — in an effort to rein in the six-day festival frenzy. The official kickoff is now jumping to 9 AM Friday, and while the mayor admits it’s a tough call, businesses are fuming over the restrictions — though the ban stays confined to the city...

New Dutch stats reveal a troubling uptick in public disrespect, with 18% reporting street harassment since 2021—especially hitting young women hardest, and climbing for older women and men alike. City dwellers are most affected, with nearly a quarter in busy areas saying they’ve crossed boundaries. This surge comes after street sexual harassment became a crime in July 2024, adding urgency to a pro...

Dutch cybercriminals may have pulled off the massive Odido data breach—posing as IT staff to phish their way in. Police are hot on their trail, collecting digital breadcrumbs and even offering a public reward for the caller’s identity. ShinyHunters initially claimed credit, leaking stolen data after Odido refused to pay the ransom. The High Tech Crime Team is digging deeper, with the suspect’s voi...

A summer nightmare unfolded overnight in Velsen-Noord as a massive fire tore through beach holiday homes, forcing evacuations and sending one person to the hospital with burns. Fire crews raced to the scene at 2 AM, battling flames that had already consumed several huts, and didn’t fully gain control until 3:44 AM—still smothering hotspots. The cause remains unknown, but the eerie spectacle drew a...

Amsterdam has unveiled its first-ever permanent Pride monument, the Walk of Pride, honoring 53 trailblazers from LGBTQIA+ history — including transgender pioneer Dirkje Kuik and Black writer Edgar Cairo — as the city kicks off Pride Month with a powerful blend of celebration, education, and sobering reminders of past struggles. The official opening at De Nieuwe Kerk featured performances, speeches...

A 39-year-old logistics worker from Dordrecht is suspected of being the inside man in a massive cocaine smuggling ring, with dozens of kilos hidden in banana shipments destined for Lidl stores in the Netherlands. The bust, uncovered in Moerdijk, led to the seizure of €53,000 in cash, a car, and a boat—though his employer remains uninvolved. Authorities are probing whether he was coerced or willing...

The Dutch government is building its own sovereign cloud — a fully government-owned and operated national data center — to ditch reliance on overseas tech giants and regain control over its digital infrastructure. Designed with homegrown expertise, the project aims to house critical data locally, manage physical access, and invite public input before launching pilot government apps by 2026. If suc...

Rotterdam Zoo’s legendary Titan Arum is blooming again—this time with its infamous corpse-smelling stench to lure pollinators. Standing up to three meters tall, the rare plant only flowers every decade or so, and its scent is a wild evolutionary tactic to attract insects in its Sumatran rainforest home. This specimen, hand-pollinated in collaboration with another botanical garden, showcases nature...

Mews, the Amsterdam-based hotel tech giant, is reshaping its future by cutting 15% of its global workforce — a bold move to accelerate its AI-driven transformation. CEO Matthijs Welle insists the hospitality industry is racing toward an AI-powered future, and Mews must lead it — even if it means restructuring now, not later. With summer vacation season in full swing, the company can’t afford to wa...

Daley Blind’s emotional return to Ajax marks a dream come true as he re-signs for a one-year deal, bringing back the veteran defender who’s played over 300 matches and scored 13 goals for the club. His third stint at the Amsterdam giants comes amid the departure of young star Sean Steur to Newcastle for a reported €27 million — money Ajax hopes to reinvest. Blind, who’s watched the club struggle f...

AI is turning cybercrime into a deadly force, and Dutch regulators are sounding the alarm: phishing attacks are smarter, faster, and deadlier thanks to artificial intelligence. With account takeovers tripling last year and criminals using AI to craft hyper-personalized scams, companies must urgently upgrade their cybersecurity—before they become easy targets. The Dutch Data Protection Authority wa...

A new survey reveals that workers in their 30s and 40s are hitting burnout hard—nearly a third say their jobs feel meaningless, and a quarter are drowning in work with no time to finish it. These key contributors to the workforce also report low satisfaction, with 10% feeling their work doesn’t matter and a third calling it pointless. They’re also the least supported by employers, frustrated by br...

Amsterdam’s ramen scene is exploding with flavor—seven standout spots serve everything from authentic Tokyo broths to avant-garde vegan bowls and luxury Wagyu creations. Taka Ramen delivers traditional lunch-only perfection, Hinata blends soba with vegan flair, and Sapporo brings creamy Northern Japanese vibes. Gifu ups the ante with premium duck and beef, while Fuku’s exclusive tasting menu deman...

Dutch and Spanish cops pulled off Europe’s biggest MDMA bust ever—947 kilos—snagging 15 suspects in a wild cross-border drug ring that trafficked pills from Spain and the Netherlands through Ghana to Latin America, used MDMA as cocaine payment, and smuggled cannabis via rigged vehicles, with the operation culminating in a January 2026 raid that also seized ecstasy, weed, cash, guns, cars, and watc...

Dutch prosecutors have launched a criminal probe into SABIC over alleged illegal dumping of toxic PFBS chemicals into the Westerschelde and Theodorushaven, sparking a major environmental and health concern. The investigation, spurred by environmental groups, targets potential violations of environmental permits and could hold top executives accountable. Meanwhile, Tata Steel is also facing crimina...

Summer just got a tropical upgrade—head two hours from Amsterdam to ‘t Nije Hemelriek, a Caribbean paradise with white sand, turquoise waters, and free access. Nearby, the 50-meter-deep Gasselterveld lake offers jaw-dropping views and adrenaline-pumping mountain biking. Add a treetop walkway for epic perspectives, then unwind with drinks and local treats—all without paying a dime. Listen in comfor...

Sabic, the giant plastics firm, is under criminal investigation for allegedly dumping toxic PFAS chemical PFBS into the Westerschelde estuary since the 90s—without permits—and facing mounting pressure after a court ordered massive cuts to its emissions, with public health warnings already in place for local fish and shellfish. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.c...

Heat waves are hitting record highs, and older adults living alone are in serious danger—especially as nursing homes decline and independence policies push seniors to stay home. With bodies that cool slower, medication side effects, and no one checking in, the risks are mounting. Experts warn this trend leaves vulnerable populations exposed when temperatures soar, forcing a tough balance between a...