Albert Heijn Restarts, Asylum Rules Pass, and Poems on Garbage Trucks

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• Albert Heijn restarts after the cyberattack: Ahold Delhaize has restarted some systems and is restocking stores from several distribution centres, but deliveries are improvised for now. (DutchNews.nl, NOS)
• Senate passes asylum measures: Senators backed ending IND penalty payments and easier deportation for asylum seekers convicted of offences carrying two-plus years. (NOS, NU.nl)
• Veilig Thuis says it can’t cope: The domestic violence hotline wants €70 million a year, as half of reports miss the five-day deadline and waits average two months. (DutchNews.nl, NOS)
• Inflation, fuel and gas prices: Prices rose 3.4 percent in September, driven by fuel up 27.2 percent, while Euro95’s recommended price hit a record €2.732. (DutchNews.nl, NU.nl)
• Regional transport strike: Bus and train drivers at Arriva, Qbuzz, Transdev and others begin weekly walkouts over pay, while NS runs normally. (NOS)
• Mortgage guarantee limit rises: From 2027 the national mortgage guarantee will cover loans up to €500,000, or €530,000 with energy-saving measures. (NU.nl, NOS)
• Pride arson case: Prosecutors say Anes A., 27, acted with terrorist intent when he set fires on a train and at Amsterdam Centraal. (NL Times, Het Parool)
• Russian gymnasts refused Dutch visas: World champion Angelina Melnikova and two teammates can’t compete in Rotterdam’s world championships, an Olympic qualifier, says their federation. (NL Times, NOS)
• Poetry on Rotterdam’s garbage trucks: Rotterdam’s tradition of poetry lines on garbage trucks, started in 1988, is now recognised as Dutch intangible cultural heritage. (NU.nl)

What’s on in Amsterdam (Wednesday 14 October 2026)

• Free Lunch Concert: International Vocal Competition ’s-Hertogenbosch: Singers from ’s-Hertogenbosch’s international vocal competition give a free half-hour lunchtime concert in a major concert hall. (Wednesday 14 October, 12:30–13:00, The Royal Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Oud-Zuid)
• Boom Chicago Improv Comedy Show: Boom Chicago, where Seth Meyers and Jordan Peele got their start, offers English-language improv, sketches and live music. (Wednesday 14 October (the run continues until 14 January), various times, The Famous Boom Chicago Comedy Show, Jordaan)
• Music films at Melkweg Cinema: Melkweg’s arthouse cinema shows only music films, including rare concert recordings and documentaries on Bowie and The Beatles. (Wednesday 14 October, 19:00–21:00, Melkweg, Leidsebuurt)

More on in Amsterdam

• Ólafur Arnalds - Falling Apart Together: Icelandic composer Ólafur Arnalds, who scored The Hunger Games, plays his melancholy mix of neoclassical and electronic music. (At various times, The Royal Concertgebouw Amsterdam)
• Pub Choir: In this sold-out Melkweg show, the audience learns and sings a song in three-part harmony. (19:30, Melkweg)
• Amsterdam Klezmer Band - 30 jaar: The band plays klezmer, Balkan, jazz and hip-hop at the Concertgebouw’s Kleine Zaal on 14 October at 20:15. (20:15 - 22:00, The Royal Concertgebouw Amsterdam)

Also in the news

• 400 public broadcaster staff urge NPO to drop Eurovision return: Around 400 staff have signed an urgent letter calling NPO’s decision to take part in Eurovision unacceptable. (NL Times, NU.nl)
• Court of Audit: Dutch roads and rail not ready for NATO military transport: The Court of Audit says bridges especially fall short, and fixing military corridors will cost at least €9.5 billion. (NU.nl, NOS)
• Amsterdam prepares court case to be able to keep out unhealthy eateries (Het Parool)
• Court orders government to enforce ban on docking pigs’ tails: After a case brought by Varkens in Nood, the farm secretary must check whether three pig farmers follow tail-docking rules. (DutchNews.nl, NOS)