One in Six Civil Servants, Gas at a Four-Year High, and the Roze Koek Crackdown

The cabinet wants about 25,000 fewer central government jobs by 2035, with help from AI, fewer rules and possibly tighter freedom-of-information rules. Plus European gas hits its highest price since 2022, an Amsterdam Islamic school is told to improve or lose its funding, parking permits get much pricier, and new Schiphol rules that could mean more night noise. We also cover the Temu and Shein parcel drop, remember Rudi Fuchs, hear Herman Koch's news, and look at the blood bank's biscuit problem.

The cabinet wants 25,000 fewer civil servants: State Secretary Eric van der Burg aims to cut about 16 percent of central government jobs by 2035, saving €3.5 billion yearly. (DutchNews.nl, NOS)
Gas price hits its highest level since 2022: European gas topped €97 per megawatt-hour on Monday, roughly triple pre-war levels, as storage drains and Qatari LNG stays blocked. (NU.nl)
Haga Lyceum told to improve or lose funding: State Secretary Judith Tielen can cut the Amsterdam Islamic school’s funding after inspectors found mismanagement and poor exam results. (NOS, NU.nl)
Amsterdam parking permits get much pricier: From 2027 most Amsterdam residents’ permits rise by €10 to €15 a month, doubling in areas like Buitenveldert. (Het Parool)
Schiphol’s new noise rules may allow more noise: NRC found the limits taking effect on 1 November exceed even worst-case noise forecasts, especially at night. (NL Times)
Fewer parcels from outside the EU: PostNL’s international parcels fell about 32 percent last quarter after a new €3 EU levy hit Asian web shops. (DutchNews.nl, NU.nl)
Rudi Fuchs, former Stedelijk director, dies at 84: Art historian Rudi Fuchs, who also led Documenta and the Van Abbemuseum, died at home in Amsterdam on Sunday. (NU.nl, NOS)
Herman Koch reveals he has Parkinson’s: ‘The Dinner’ author Herman Koch, 73, who’s had prostate cancer since 2020, told Eva Jinek about his diagnosis. (NOS, NU.nl)
The blood bank’s biscuit problem: Sanquin donors must now ask volunteers for free snacks after people took home about €1,000 of treats monthly in Delft. (DutchNews.nl, NOS)

What’s on in Amsterdam (Tuesday 27 October 2026)

Two Gentlemen of Verona (in English): An English-language Shakespeare comedy about two friends who fall for the same woman, with a scene-stealing dog. (Tuesday 27 October, 20:00–22:00 (also Wednesday 28 October), Badhuistheater, Oosterpark (Amsterdam-Oost))
Lucie Horsch: Baroque with Nicolas Altstaedt and Thomas Dunford: The recorder player performs Marais, Telemann, Hotteterre and Bach with cellist and lutenist in the Concertgebouw’s smaller hall. (Tuesday 27 October, 20:15–22:10, The Royal Concertgebouw Amsterdam (Kleine Zaal), Oud-Zuid)
Trainspotting on the big screen: Danny Boyle’s 90s classic about Mark Renton’s Edinburgh friends screens at LAB111 in Oud-West. (Tuesday 27 October, 12:40–14:13 (screenings run until Tuesday 3 November), LAB111, Oud-West)

Also in the news

Price gap between A-brands and store brands widens in supermarkets: Consumentenbond found A-brands rose 2 percent in a year while store brands got 6 percent cheaper. (NU.nl, NOS)
KLM suspends Dubai flights for the whole winter: Citing Middle East unrest, KLM won’t fly to Dubai until the end of March and has suspended Saudi flights until 27 November. (NU.nl, NOS)
Budget talks with opposition resume, no deal in sight: The cabinet met JA21 and BBB seeking support for next year’s tax plan, but there wasn’t a breakthrough. (DutchNews.nl, NOS)
Pinkpop 2027 announces RAYE, Mumford & Sons and blink-182: Sting and Nothing But Thieves will also play the three-day festival in Landgraaf. (NU.nl)

One in Six Civil Servants, Gas at a Four-Year High, and the Roze Koek Crackdown

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What’s on in Amsterdam (Tuesday 27 October 2026)

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