DutchNews Podcast

The Liberate The Utrecht Fish Edition - Week 10 - 2026

As local elections approach, we talk to polling expert and political scientist Tom Louwerse about the kaleidoscopic range of candidate and parties on offer and how voters can make sense of it all. Rob Jetten's first week as prime minister proves to be a bumpy ride, and not just because he's travelling by road to Brussels. The cabinet comes under fire from all sides as it tries to support Donald Trump and uphold international law at the same time. Unions threaten strikes after walking out of a meeting on the coalition‘s plans to make everyone retire later and then cut their nursing care. And in sport, Jutta Leerdam‘s speed skating suit leaves the competition for dust in an online fundraising auction.

The Knights of the Orange Underpants Edition - Week 9 - 2026

Rob Jetten starts work as prime minister by shaking hands with Olympic heroes and doing backroom deals with PVV refuseniks. Mona Keijzer creates an unstable situation in farmers' party BBB after being passed over for the leadership. Internet provider Odido is in double trouble after hackers leak its customers' data. And art historians get a surprise when they view a collection of "very nice" etchings.

The Half-Baked Diplomas and Fake Fish Tarts Edition - Week 8 - 2026

Rob Jetten starts his term one finance minister short of a full cabinet after Natalie van Berkel is found to have inflated her credentials on LinkedIn. More new homes are being built, but not enough to tackle the housing shortage or cool the property market. The armed forces are struggling to recruit chefs, mechanics and other support staff in the battle to spend the extra Nato billions. A new rail link is planned to connect Eindhoven to Brussels. And the Dutch shorttrack skaters eclipse the stars of the big oval at the Winter Olympics.

The Kok and Bol Story Edition - Week 7 - 2026

The new government of D66, VVD and CDA gets straight down to work, suffering its first defeats in parliament before the ministers have even been sworn in. Nearly 100 people are stripped of their citizenship for the equally grievous offences of supporting international terrorism and refusing to give up a second passport. Celebrity boxer Jake Paul crumbles again as Jutta Leerdam claims the Dutch speed skating team's first gold medal in Milan. And AI solves the mystery of an ancient Roman board game that may have inspired the latest coalition negotiations.

The Flitsmeister Frikandel Formatie Edition - Week 6 - 2026

The coalition talks wrap up record time with Rob Jetten announcing plans for everyone to work longer and pay more for nursing care when they retire. In an early test of the coalition's discipline, Dilan Yesilgöz surprises finance minister Eelco Heinen by blurting his cabinet appointment into the first microphone that drifts her way. Local government taxes go up by 6.5%, with the steepest rises in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht. An alleged double agent goes on trial accused of passing secrets to Moroccan intelligence for 30 years. And in sport, the Dutch skating team sharpen their blades for the Winter Olympics while PSV take another giant step to the Eredivisie title.