State Secretary Tielen (Youth, Prevention and Sport) tightens the rules for enforcing the age limit on alcohol sales. Delivery services will now be fined if they deliver beer, wine, or spirits to minors. This tightening is necessary because research shows minors still often manage to buy alcohol online. Currently, only the online seller can be fined, while in practice the online seller and delivery service are often not the same company.

European Commission Press release Damascus, 09 Jan 2026 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Antonio Costa visited Damascus today to discuss the renewed bilateral relations with Syria. They met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Shaara to discuss this new chapter in bilateral relations, focused around three pillars.

The Council of Ministers has approved 17 ambassadorial appointments on the proposal of Minister Van Weel of Foreign Affairs. These appointments become final once the host countries have given their approval. The Council also approved the appointment of 3 permanent representatives to international organizations. The appointments will take effect from this coming summer.

Mirjam Koster-Wentink is appointed Director-General of the Education Executive Agency at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. The Council of Ministers approved this on the proposal of Minister Rijkaart of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. The appointment takes effect on May 1, 2026.

In the cabinets response to the advice of the Council for Public Administration (ROB) “Settling the imbalance” (March 2025) and “Making progress with delegated authority” (July 2025), Minister Rijkaart of the Ministry of Interior and Kingdom Relations announces a further exploration to improve monitoring of (existing) delegated authority tasks. The minister has sent the cabinets response to the House of Representatives.

The cabinet has requested advice from the Council of State on a proposal to amend the Financial Relations Act. In recent years, issues have arisen with certain grants to municipalities and provinces from the national government, such as high administrative and accountability burdens. After advice from the Council of State, the bill can be sent to Parliament.

Mirjam Koster-Wentink has been appointed Director-General of the Education Executive Agency at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. The Council of Ministers approved this on the proposal of Minister Rijkaart of the Ministry of Interior and Kingdom Relations. The appointment takes effect on May 1, 2026.

The Province of North Holland has closed lanes on the N201 near Uithoorn due to frost damage to the asphalt. A reduced speed limit applies and an emergency repair will take place on January 14.

European Commission Statement Damascus, 09 Jan 2026 President al-Sharaa,Thank you for your warm welcome to Damascus today. It is now one year ago that decades of fear, silence and state violence finally began to...

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, anxiety and depression complaints among young people were increasing, but during the pandemic this trend accelerated. The number of young people in the Netherlands at high risk of anxiety or depression disorders rose sharply between 2020 and 2022, according to an inventory of international and Dutch research by Nivel and RIVM.

The court temporarily prevents the municipality of Zwolle from closing and demolishing the parking garage on Noordereiland. The judge rules that the closure of the parking deck may have needed a prior traffic decision.

Rijkswaterstaat warns of slippery roads due to snow and freezing until Saturday morning, January 10, 2026. Adjust your driving style and be cautious.

Do you want to gain control over your buildings energy consumption? Are you looking for practical tools to manage energy…

Hydropower projects are no longer eligible for subsidies for energy cooperatives and homeowners associations.

European Commission Press release Brussels, 09 Jan 2026 The European Commission has published Guidelines under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) to bring further predictability and ensure transparency for companies.

European Commission Press release Brussels, 09 Jan 2026 The European Commission has proposed to mobilise €7.5 million from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) to help 3,414 workers dismissed after the closure of carmaker Audis plant in Brussels.

The municipality of Utrecht temporarily closes all municipal indoor sports facilities as a precaution due to heavy snow load on the roofs.

From January 9 to February 19, 2026, it is possible to respond to the plans.

The coming nights will be very cold. Therefore, we are taking extra measures for homeless people.

Entrepreneurs get more time to apply for heat network subsidies.

Dullness, togetherness, and sparkling. These are the three themes of the New Years speech by Kings Commissioner Ina Adema.

The Public Prosecution Service North Holland demands TBS for a man guilty of violence against a passerby and a police officer in Hoorn.