France Burns, a Leiden Clinic's Final Count, and a Ring Lost for 83 Years

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• Leiden donor fraud: the count rises to sixteen: A clinic’s final report says a lab technician fathered 16 donor children, not 11, and carried two genetic conditions. (NOS)
• A server seized for the US, and a nervous cloud industry: Amsterdam police seized a server belonging to Italian activist provider A/I after the US labeled it a terrorist group. (NL Times, NU.nl)
• France and Belgium: protests turn violent, Limoges city hall burns: About 550,000 people joined a month-old pupil movement in protests across France, and some marches turned violent. (NOS, NU.nl)
• Poverty relief groups start waiting lists: Two in three local aid groups say requests for help rose over the past year, and 11 percent now keep waiting lists. (NL Times)
• Overbidding on homes is cooling: Nearly two-thirds of homes went above asking price last quarter, down from 71 percent, as listings rose 24 percent. (NU.nl)
• More street preachers, more complaints: Nine of 18 municipalities say street preaching is rising, and Zwolle’s mayor wants the law changed to deal with complaints. (NL Times, NOS)
• Farewell to Maarten Spanjer: The actor and presenter, best known for the hidden-camera show Taxi, has died of cancer at 73. (NOS, NU.nl)
• Amsterdam Marathon day: Dutch champion Mikky Keetels, a KLM flight attendant, aims to break 2:30 on Sunday as both defending champions return. (NU.nl, Het Parool)
• A wedding ring comes home after 83 years: A metal detectorist found the ring Jo Nabuurs lost in 1942–43 and returned it to his son Bert. (NOS)

What’s on in Amsterdam (Sunday 18 October 2026)

• Mehmet Polat Quartet: Oud player Mehmet Polat’s quartet mixes jazz improvisation with world music traditions in a free afternoon concert. (Sunday 18 October, 15:00–17:00, Greene Room, Elementenstraat 16, Houthavens (Amsterdam-West))
• AmsterArt in the Kerk: Artists sell original work in the Posthoornkerk, with workshops, and part of each ticket goes to restoring the Vondelkerk. (Sunday 18 October, 13:30–18:00 (Indian Roots art workshop at 13:30), Posthoornkerk, Haarlemmerstraat (Haarlemmerbuurt, Centrum))
• The Famous Boom Chicago Improv Comedy Show: English-language improv, sketches and live music at the club where Seth Meyers and Jordan Peele got their start. (Sunday 18 October, 19:00–20:30, Boom Chicago, Jordaan)

More on in Amsterdam

• Sanam: Beirut six-piece Sanam play Bimhuis, mixing krautrock, electronics and avant-jazz with Arabic poetry. (20:30 - 22:00, Bimhuis)
• Sam Tompkins: UK singer Sam Tompkins plays Melkweg to mark his new album ‘Are We Gonna Sing?’, named after a family video. (19:30, Melkweg)
• Vivaldi’s De vier jaargetijden door Noa Wildschut: Violinist Noa Wildschut plays Vivaldi’s four violin concertos in a Sunday morning concert. (11:00 - 12:00, The Royal Concertgebouw Amsterdam)

Also in the news

• Trump pauses Russia sanctions; Dutch delegates walk out as Russia addresses the IMF: Trump has paused Russia sanctions he signed a month ago, including possible tariffs of up to 100 percent on big oil buyers. (NOS, NU.nl)
• Wolves make deer and boar on the Veluwe more alert: Monitoring shows boar, roe deer and red deer have changed their behavior around the Veluwe’s roughly one hundred wolves. (NL Times, NOS)
• Drug for metastatic pancreatic cancer may come to the Dutch market: A drug that may help people with metastatic pancreatic cancer live longer, where few treatments exist, could reach Dutch pharmacies. (NU.nl)
• €100 notes in cash machines appear to be catching on: In a Geldmaat trial at 46 locations, 57 percent of customers offered €100 notes chose them. (NOS)