Stories from Netherlands

Greenpeace is attempting to block the expansion of a large meat processor in Nigeria through a Dutch court. The company, EWS, plans to build six new slaughterhouses which will occupy a area. Greenpeace stated the climate impact of this expansion is unsustainable for the planet.

Software company Chipsoft stated that all stolen data has been removed following a ransomware attack. The company previously reported that a firm managing sites and portals for healthcare institutions was hacked earlier this month.

The administration in the Netherlands published and subsequently deleted a response to a parliamentary inquiry regarding the potential use of automatic weapons by the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK).

More than 800 churches in the Netherlands rang bells yesterday to honor 'rooted children' who grew up in the country but lack residency permits. Organizers originally planned for 420 bells to represent one bell for each child, but participation exceeded double that target.

Dutch churches have issued a joint statement against radical right-wing ideology. The Council of Churches expressed this collective stance for the first time. The statement comes amid discussions regarding the compatibility of Christian values with certain political voting patterns in the country. Koen Wessel of the Council of Churches stated that radical right ideology can be anti-democratic and antisemitic. The group noted that the movement sometimes glorifies violence and focuses on power and domination. A skeleton discovered beneath a church in the Netherlands may belong to the real-life D'Artagnan, the legendary musketeer who inspired The Three Musketeers. The find is described as one of the most spectacular historical discoveries in the Netherlands. The source did not provide a specific city or date for the discovery.

Minister Jerry Aartsen of Labor intends to significantly expand a pilot program designed to help new status holders find employment more quickly. Previous trials were conducted in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Eindhoven.

Wildfires are active in multiple locations across the Netherlands. A heathland fire is burning near a military training ground in Assen. A fire also broke out yesterday morning at a defense training area in the Veluwe and remains partially uncontrolled.

The number of people over age 12 in the Netherlands experiencing sleep problems increased from 20% to 25% between 2017 and 2024, according to CBS data. The Trimble Institute reported that 2.3 million Dutch citizens experience sleep dissatisfaction.

A heath fire in Drenthe, Netherlands, has been brought under control. The fire originated on a military training ground, though the exact cause remains unknown. Smoke is present in the air, and residents in the Netherlands are advised to keep windows and doors closed.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued two additional arrest warrants against former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif. The court's action involves 124 member states.