Dutch Rail (NS) will operate reduced intercity services in much of the country on Sunday and Monday as efforts to reduce the effect of the cold weather on rail services continue More...

At least two Dutch skaters are so far reported killed after falling through the ice, despite warnings to skating fanatics to avoid open stretches and keep to shallow lakes and canals. More...

The Netherlands needs migrant workers in order to ensure the labour market works properly and companies continue to grow, Dutch employers organisations say in a new brochure. More... comments (7)

Railway chaos continues
The wintry weather continued to cause problems on the railways on Saturday and transport minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen was urged by rail users organisations to fine Dutch Rail (NS) for failing to provide a proper service. More... comments (2)

The big freeze continues, -22.9 Celsius in Markenesse
A temperature of as low as -22.9 Celsius was recorded in the village of Markenesse in Flevoland, east of Amsterdam on Friday night, the Telegraaf reports on Saturday. That is the coldest it has been in the Netherlands since the turn of the century, the paper says. More...

No trains in Utrecht and Amsterdam as snow chaos continues
The heavy snow in the Netherlands on Friday led to chaos on the roads and serious disruption to train services, with no rush hour trains to and from Utrecht and Amsterdam. Elsewhere there were far fewer trains than normal. More... comments (9)

Skaters rescued as unreliable ice gives way
At least 10 people have been rescued after sinking through the ice on the Ankeveense lakes near Hilversum, local paper Gooi- en Eemlander reports. More...

Cycle lane signs can be deadly
Posts and poles designed to stop cars using cycle lanes are a major cause of bike accidents, according to researchers at Groningen University. More... comments (2)

Snow causes major traffic problems, trains and planes cancelled
Heavy snow over much of the country on Friday caused serious disruption on the roads and led Dutch Rail (NS) to adapt train services. Some flights from Schiphol airport were also delayed. More... comments (15)

Leers gets tough on 'criminal foreigners'
Immigrants convicted of a crime and given a sentence of at least one night in jail or youth detention within one year of their arrival in the Netherlands will be stripped of their residency permits, if new immigration rules become law. More... comments (7)

Douglas will not play for Oranje at European championships
Twente defender Douglas Franco Teixeira, who gave up his Brazillian nationality to become Dutch last year, will not turn out for the Netherlands at this year's European football championships. More...

Rising healthcare costs don't lead to economising on insurance
The rising cost of health insurance has not prompted people to look for cheaper alternatives or cut down on their cover, according to research by broadcaster Nos. More... comments (3)

Immigrant youth more likely to have police contact: SCP
A new report by the government's socio-cultural policy unit SCP paints a disturbing picture of the position of immigrant youngsters in Dutch society, according to television news companies which have seen a leaked copy. More...

Average retirement age rises to 63
The average retirement age in the Netherlands has gone up 'spectacularly' since 2006 and is now around 63, home affairs minister Henk Kamp has told MPs. More...

Dutch Cup semi finals: AZ-Heracles, PSV-Heerenveen
The line-up for the semi-finals of this season's Dutch Cup competition is completely different to that of last year, Nos television points out on Friday. More...

Severe weather warning for western provinces, heavy snow forecast
The KNMI weather bureau on Friday issued a code orange severe weather warning for western provinces saying heavy snow is on its way. More... comments (9)

Rents to rise 2.3%, in line with inflation
Landlords will be able to put up rents 2.3% - in line with inflation - this year, but some tenants will face rises of 7.3%, according to the home affairs ministry. More... comments (6)

Minister talks to drinks industry about warning for pregnant women
Health minister Edith Schippers is to talk to the drinks industry to discuss adding a warning to pregnant women on the labels of alcoholic drinks. More... comments (1)

MPs want to classify sex with minors as rape
A majority of MPs back a change in the law to always treat sex with a child under the age of 12 as rape, according to media reports. More... comments (3)

The Netherlands told to cut budget deficit to monetary union limits
The Netherlands has been told by the EU’s finance chief in Brussels to reduce its budget deficit to below 3% next year, Nos television reported on Thursday. More... comments (10)

The big freeze drives up gas use
Some 519 million cubic metres of gas were pumped through the Netherlands' pipelines on Tuesday, a 15-year high, natural gas company Gasunie said on Thursday. More... comments (2)

First outdoor ice route on Sunday
The first organised skating route over natural ice will be set up on the Blokzijler lake in Overijssel province on Sunday, local newspaper Stentor said on Thursday. More...

Wilders angry at German ‘right-wing populist’ label
PVV leader Geert Wilders has demanded the German ambassador explain why he and the anti-islam party are mentioned in a 32-page leaflet warning of the dangers posed by far-right political groupings. More... comments (19)

Suspension lifted for Amsterdam's chief rabbi
Amsterdam's orthodox Jewish community has reinstated chief rabbi Aryeh Ralbag after he apologised for signing a controversial document on homosexuality, news agency ANP reports on Thursday. More...

Total spending on research will go down by 10%, says institute
The Netherlands is cutting spending on scientific research by 10% over the next four years, the Volkskrant reports on Thursday, quoting the Rathenau Institute. More... comments (1)

Price hikes boost Unilever
Price rises and higher sales in developing countries helped Anglo-Dutch Unilever to a slight increase in net profit last year, but the company remains cautious on 2012. More...