2026 in the Netherlands
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Events from the year 2026 in the Netherlands.
Incumbents
[edit]- Monarch: Willem-Alexander
- Prime Minister: Dick Schoof (until 23 February); Rob Jetten (since 23 February)
Events
[edit]January
[edit]- 1 January –
- During the night of New Year's Day, a fire razes the Vondelkerk church tower in Amsterdam.[1]
- New Year's celebrations lead to widespread disorder nationwide, with petrol bombs thrown at police in Breda and 14 people sustaining eye injuries in Rotterdam. Two men die in fireworks incidents in Nijmegen and Aalsmeer.[2]
- 2–9 January –
- Severe winter weather bring snow and ice across much of the country, prompting KNMI code orange warnings for dangerous travel conditions and causing widespread disruption to transport nationwide.[3][4]
- At Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, hundreds of flights are cancelled over several days due to snow-covered runways and deicing constraints, including around 450 cancellations on 5 January alone.[4][5]
- NS services are affected by weather conditions and temporarily shut down on 6 January after snow and frozen railroad switches make operations unsafe, with services gradually resuming later that day.[4]
- 8–9 January – Storm Goretti brings strong wind gusts across the country and causes heavy snow in the provinces of Friesland, Groningen, Drenthe and on the West Frisian Islands.[6]
- 15 January – Four people are injured in an explosion that destroys several buildings in the historic centre of Utrecht.[7]
- 20 January – Seven members of the House of Representatives led by Gidi Markuszower defect from the PVV and form the Markuszower Group.[8]
- 27 January – The Overijssel District Court sentences an Eritrean national to 20 years' imprisonment for leading a criminal network that trafficked migrants across the Mediterranean from Libya and subjected them to abuse and extortion upon arrival in the Netherlands.[9]
February
[edit]- 6 February – The Netherlands returns a 3,500-year-old Ancient Egyptian sculpture to Egypt after a Dutch investigation confirmed the artefact, which surfaced at an art fair in Maastricht, had been looted and unlawfully removed during the 2011 Egyptian revolution.[10]
- 6–22 February – Netherlands at the 2026 Winter Olympics
- 23 February – Rob Jetten is inaugurated as prime minister.[11]
March
[edit]- 5 March – The Royal Netherlands Navy joins the European naval task force in defending Cyprus against Iranian missile strikes.[12]
- 5–8 March – 2026 World Allround Speed Skating Championships at Thialf in Heerenveen.[13]
- 12 March – Iceland and the Netherlands announce they will both intervene on the side of South Africa in the International Court of Justice's genocide case against Israel.[14]
- 13 March – A suspected arson attack is carried out on a synagogue in Rotterdam.[15]
- 14 March –
- 16 March – An explosion causes a fire at an office building in Zuidas, with no reported injuries.[18]
- 18 March – 2026 Dutch municipal elections
- 22 March – Between 200 and 300 demonstrators gather in Amsterdam, to protest against the war and the Iranian government.[19]
- 25 March – Under the St Peter and Paul Church in Maastricht, the remains of legendary French musketeer d'Artagnan are believed to be found.[20]
April
[edit]- 2 April – Suspects in the 2025 Drents Museum heist return three of four stolen artefacts, including the Helmet of Coțofenești.[21]
- 29 April – Multiple wildfires are active throughout the country, with most notably the fire near 't Harde on the Veluwe.[22]
May
[edit]- 6 May – Following the MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak in which several Dutch people have died, multiple patients arrive in the Netherlands for treatment and evaluation.[23]
- 7 May – A man is arrested on suspicion of carrying out a bomb attack on the D66 party headquarters in The Hague.[24]
June
[edit]- 4 June – Police announce the arrest of four people on suspicion of drugging and sexually abusing female acquaintances and sharing videos of the incidents online.[25]
- 5 June – The Northern Netherlands District Court sentences three people to 47 months' imprisonment for the theft of the Helmet of Coțofenești during the 2025 Drents Museum heist.[26]
- 11 June – A car hits a group of cyclists on a school camping trip near Vogelwaarde; three people die and four others are injured.[27]
- 11 June–19 July – The Netherlands participates at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- 15 June – A court in The Hague sentences a Syrian asylum-seeker to 26 years' imprisonment for the torture and rape of imprisoned opponents of the regime of Bashar al-Assad during the Syrian Civil War.[28]
August
[edit]- 13 August –
- One person dies and several others are injured in an explosion at the Port of Rotterdam.[29]
- Ukraine repatriates the remains of nationalist leader Yevhen Konovalets from Crooswijk General Cemetery in Rotterdam for an official reburial in Kyiv.[30]
- 14–30 August – 2026 Mens and Women's FIH Hockey World Cup in Wavre, Belgium and Amstelveen, Netherlands.[31][32]
- 28 August – A court in The Hague sentences a Rwandan-born man to life imprisonment for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the Rwandan Genocide in 1994.[33]
September
[edit]- 12 September – Death of Alfredo Goeloe during an arrest by the police in Rotterdam-Zuid, leading to protests against police brutality.[34][35][36]
- 15 September – Multiple pipes are discovered on rail tracks across the country in a suspected act of sabotage, causing widespread disruptions to transportation.[37]
- 22 September – A ban on the entry of any goods, including those brought in by private travelers, from Israeli settlements in the West Bank or the Golan Heights comes into effect.[38] Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announces that Israel will revoke diplomatic privileges and Israel-issued credentials of Dutch diplomats in Ramallah in response.[39]
- 23 September – The Netherlands ceases its Eurovision boycott over Israel's participation and says it would compete in 2027, citing new regulations preventing conflict-hit nations from hosting even if they win, as well as new voting rules.[40]
October
[edit]- 12 October – Authorities ban Hapoel Be'er Sheva F.C. fans from attending the team's Europa League match against AZ Alkmaar in Alkmaar, citing security concerns over potential demonstrations and clashes between Israeli fans and protestors.[41]
- 27 October – The Netherlands withdraws from next year's Eurovision Song Contest, citing "sensitivities" over Israel's participation.[42]
Holidays
[edit]Source:[43]
- 1 January – New Year's Day
- 3 April – Good Friday
- 5 April – Easter Sunday
- 6 April – Easter Monday
- 27 April – King's Day
- 5 May – Liberation Day
- 14 May – Ascension Day
- 24–25 June – Pentecost
- 25 December – Christmas Day
- 26 December – Boxing Day
Arts and entertainment
[edit]Television
[edit]Deaths
[edit]- 5 January –
- Ad van Kempen, 81, actor (1-900, 'n Beetje Verliefd, Winter in Wartime).[44]
- Elsje de Wijn, 82, actress (Frank en Eva, For a Lost Soldier, Baantjer).[45]
- 8 January – Astrid Roemer, 78, author.[46]
- 11 January – Herman Wouters, 85, politician, mayor of Grobbendonk (1989–1997).[47]
- 13 January – Annemarie Prins, 93, actress (Îles flottantes, Code Blue, Accused).[48]
- 15 January – Robert Jensen, 52, television and radio presenter.[49]
- 11 February – Cees Nooteboom, 92, novelist (Rituals, The Following Story, All Souls' Day), poet and journalist.[50]
- 14 February – Tom Van der Bruggen, 80, inventor.[51]
- 20 February – Femke Boersma, 90, actress (Het Wonderlijke leven van Willem Parel, Pastorale 1943).[52]
- 21 February – Koos Postema, 93, radio and television presenter.[53]
- 1 March – Yukkie B, 56, rapper.[54]
- 25 March – Esther Roord, 61, actress (Kees and Co).[55]
- 12 April – Sonja Barend, 86, television personality.[56]
- 24 April – Jade Kops, 19, social media influencer and cancer activist.[57]
- 25 April – Greet Prins, 72, politician, member of the Senate (2019–2026).[58]
- 26 April – Dick Matena, 83, comic writer and cartoonist.[59]
- 8 May – Karin Spaink, 68, journalist, writer, and feminist.[60]
- 15 May – Bas Westerweel, 62, radio and television presenter (Het Klokhuis).[61]
- 3 June – Lieke Marsman, 35, poet.[62]
- July – Rob Dieperink, 38, football referee[63]
- 6 September – Guus Kouwenhoven, 84, arms dealer[64]
- 14 September – Tara Singh Varma, 78, MP (1994–2001)[65]
- 15 September – Ben Saunders, 43, English-born singer (Follow That Dream)[66]
- 30 September – Paulien Cornelisse, 50, writer and comedian[67]
- 21 October – Romano Hummel, 27, speedway rider (Berwick Bandits).[68]
- 25 October – Rudi Fuchs, 84, art historian and museum curator.[69]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "Fire at Vondel Church Amsterdam" (in Dutch). Safety Region Amsterdam-Amstelland. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
- ↑ Leigh, Suzanne (1 January 2026). "Netherlands police face 'unprecedented' New Year's violence". BBC News. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
- ↑ "KNMI - Liveblog code oranje gladheid januari 2026". KNMI. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Teruglezen: Trucks met vloeistof voor ijsvrij maken vliegtuigen onderweg". NU. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
- ↑ "Mass cancellations at Amsterdam airport as snow and ice wreaks travel chaos". The Independent. 6 January 2026. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
- ↑ "KNMI - Liveblog code oranje gladheid januari 2026". KNMI. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
- ↑ "'Gigantic explosion', fire in Dutch city of Utrecht, four hurt". France 24. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ↑ "7 lawmakers quit Geert Wilders' far-right party in stunning setback for Dutch anti-Islam firebrand". AP News. 21 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ↑ "Dutch court sentences Eritrean man to 20 years for cruel people smuggling". AP News. 27 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ↑ "Netherlands returns 3,500-year-old looted sculpture to Egypt". Reuters. 6 February 2026. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
- ↑ "New Dutch government sworn in under centrist Jetten". France 24. 23 February 2026. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ↑ "Spain, Italy and Netherlands join European naval deployment to Cyprus". Euronews. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
- ↑
- ↑ "Iceland, Netherlands join ICJ genocide case against Israel". Anadolu Ajansi. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
- ↑ "Dutch police probe suspected arson after explosion at Rotterdam synagogue". AP News. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ↑ "KNMI - Aardbeving van magnitude 3 bij Drentse Geelbroek". KNMI. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
- ↑ "Explosion damages Jewish school in Amsterdam with no injuries reported, mayor says". Euronews. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ↑ Stift, Ruben (16 March 2026). "Explosie bij een kantoorgebouw op de Zuidas in Amsterdam". NRC (in Netherlands Dutch). Retrieved 16 March 2026.
- ↑ "Hundreds protest in Amsterdam against Iran war". NL Times. 22 March 2026.
- ↑ "Musketeer d'Artagnan's remains believed found under Dutch church". BBC. 25 March 2026. Retrieved 25 March 2026.
- ↑ "'It's amazing': stolen 2,500-year-old Romanian gold helmet has been found". The Guardian. AFP. 2 April 2026. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- ↑ "Brandweer geeft na dagen sein brand meester voor grote natuurbrand 't Harde". nos.nl (in Dutch). 2 May 2026. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
- ↑ "Geen van de opvarenden heeft symptomen van hantavirus, Nederlanders aan de beurt voor evacuatie". AD. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
- ↑ "A bomb explodes at the Dutch premier's party headquarters, but nobody is injured". AP News. 9 May 2026. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ↑ "Dutch police detain 4 suspects in probe into men who drugged, abused women they knew". AP News. 5 June 2026.
- ↑ "Thieves who stole Romanian treasures from a Dutch museum each sentenced to 47 months in prison". AP News. Retrieved 6 June 2026.
- ↑ "A car hits a school group in the Netherlands, killing 2 kids and a chaperone". AP News. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
- ↑ "Syrian sentenced to 26 years in prison by Dutch court for crimes against humanity". Associated Press. 15 June 2026. Retrieved 25 June 2026.
- ↑ "Explosion at Dutch port of Rotterdam leaves 1 dead, several injured". Associated Press. 13 August 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
- ↑ Kate Tsurkan (13 August 2026). "Ukraine repatriates remains of 20th-century military leader Yevhen Konovalets with state honors". The Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ Iveson, Ali (3 November 2022). "Netherlands and Belgium to hold combined Hockey World Cups in 2026". inside the games. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ↑ Alice Devilez (3 November 2022). "La Belgique accueillera le Mondial de hockey 2026 avec les Pays-Bas". RTBF. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ↑ Khalil, Hafsa (28 August 2026). "Dutch court sentences man to life over Rwanda genocide". BBC. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
- ↑ "Persoon overleden bij aanhouding Rotterdam". ANP. 13 September 2026. Retrieved 15 September 2026.
- ↑ "Stille tocht voor Alfredo Goeloe die overleed na arrestatie; na afloop onrustig". NOS. 14 September 2026. Retrieved 15 September 2026.
- ↑ "Politiebureau en ME bekogeld na stille tocht voor man die omkwam bij arrestatie". NU.nl. 14 September 2026. Retrieved 15 September 2026.
- ↑ "Suspected sabotage causes major Netherlands rail disruption". BBC. 15 September 2026. Retrieved 15 September 2026.
- ↑ "Bringing goods from unlawful Israeli settlements". Dutch Customs. 21 September 2026. Retrieved 27 September 2026.
- ↑ "Sa'ar says Israel to revoke credentials of Dutch diplomats in Ramallah over settlement trade ban". The Times of Israel. 27 September 2026.
- ↑ "Netherlands ends its Eurovision boycott over Israel's participation, says it'll compete next year". The Times of Israel. 23 September 2026. Retrieved 23 September 2026.
- ↑ "Netherlands bans Israeli soccer fans from attending Europa League match; Israel demands reversal". The Times of Israel. 12 October 2026. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
- ↑ "In reversal, Holland pulls out of Eurovision; Dutch broadcaster cites 'sensitivities' over Israel". The Times of Israel. Agencies. 27 October 2026. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- ↑ "Netherlands Public Holidays 2026". Public Holidays Global. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
- ↑ "Acteur Ad van Kempen overleden op 81-jarige leeftijd". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ↑ "Karel-zangeres Elsje de Wijn overleden op 82-jarige leeftijd". NU. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
- ↑ "Schrijfster Astrid Roemer overleden". Starnieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ↑ "Oud-burgemeester van Grobbendonk Herman Wouters overleden in ziekenhuis: "Iedereen kende hem als 'den Herman'"". GVA (in Belgian Dutch). 11 January 2026. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
- ↑ "Actrice en regisseur Annemarie Prins op 93-jarige leeftijd overleden". NU. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ↑ "Presentator Robert Jensen (52) overleden". NU. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ↑ "Cees Nooteboom (92) overleden: een groot schrijver die genres en continenten doorkruiste". Het Parool (in Netherlands Dutch). Retrieved 11 February 2026.
- ↑ "Dutch inventor of hit game 'Kapla' dead at 80: family". France 24. 17 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ↑ "Femke Boersma overleden". Spreekbuis.nl (in Netherlands Dutch). 20 February 2026. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
- ↑ "Tv-presentator Koos Postema (93) overleden: 'Een losse en ongedwongen geest'". AD. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ↑ "Nederlandse rapper Yukkie B op 56-jarige leeftijd overleden". RTL (in Dutch). 2 March 2026. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ↑ "Hoe het ooit zo succesvolle Kees & Co geruisloos ten onder ging". RTL (in Dutch). 28 March 2026. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
- ↑ "Sonja Barend (1940-2026) overleden: de koningin van de talkshow ontketende een revolutie op tv". Trouw. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
- ↑ "Influencer Jade Kops (19) overleden: 'We zijn intens verdrietig en ontzettend trots'". NU. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
- ↑ "Eerste Kamerlid Greet Prins (72) overleden, was nog bij stemming asielwet". NOS (in Dutch). 25 April 2026. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ "Literaire striptekenaar Dick Matena (83) overleden". NU. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
- ↑ "Schrijfster en medeoprichter Bits of Freedom Karin Spaink (68) overleden". NU. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
- ↑ "Voormalig Klokhuis-presentator Bas Westerweel (62) onverwachts overleden". NU. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
- ↑ "Voormalig Dichter des Vaderlands Lieke Marsman op 35-jarige leeftijd overleden". NU.nl (in Dutch). 4 June 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ↑ "Rob Dieperink: Dutch referee dies aged 38, weeks after being dropped from World Cup". BBC Sport. 13 July 2026. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ "Fugitive convicted war criminal Guus Kouwenhoven died a free man". Liberia Past and Present. 7 September 2026. Retrieved 8 September 2026.
- ↑ "Tara Singh-Varma (78) overleden, gevallen icoon van diversiteit". NOS Nieuws (in Dutch). 14 September 2026. Retrieved 14 September 2026.
- ↑ van Erp, Joost (15 September 2026). "Ben Saunders (43), eerste winnaar van The Voice, overleden" [Ben Saunders (43), first winner of The Voice, has died]. Omroep Gelderland (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 September 2026.
- ↑ "Schrijver en cabaretier Paulien Cornelisse (50) overleden". nos.nl (in Dutch). 30 September 2026. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
- ↑ "Romano Hummel has died: the world and European champion saw no way out". Speedweek. 21 October 2026. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- ↑ Krouwels, Sabine (26 October 2026). "Voormalig Stedelijk Museum-directeur Rudi Fuchs op 84-jarige leeftijd overleden" [Former Stedelijk Museum director Rudi Fuchs has died at the age of 84]. nu.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 26 October 2026.
