David Levitz

Dutch Daily Briefing · Episodes

Zelensky in The Hague, and Booking.com Wins on Office Days

Zelensky visits The Hague and the Netherlands pledges billions for Ukraine, though the money had already been set aside. Also today: a deadly train crash in Spain, a court backs Booking.com on office days, pension funds flush with cash, bird flu keeps poultry indoors, gas breaks €100 and the Vondelpark fatbike ban stays. Plus a royal lunch, a Roman glass trick recreated, and what's on in Amsterdam this weekend.

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Thursday, 29 October 2026 · 15 min

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  • Zelensky in The Hague: After meeting Zelensky, Prime Minister Jetten announced a €500 million winter package for Ukrainian air defence and drones. (DutchNews.nl, NOS)
  • Deadly train crash in Spain: A Renfe train hit a stationary Iryo train south of Madrid, killing at least 68 people and injuring over 179. (NOS, NU.nl)
  • Booking.com can require office days: An Amsterdam court ruled Booking.com may require staff to work 40 percent of their time in the office. (NL Times, DutchNews.nl)
  • Pension funds flush ahead of the switch: ABP and PME now have funding ratios above 132 percent, mainly because interest rates have risen sharply. (NOS, NU.nl)
  • Bird flu: poultry ordered indoors: After outbreaks at three farms in three days, nearly 96,000 birds were culled and all Dutch poultry must stay indoors. (NL Times, NOS)
  • Gas price breaks 100 euros: Europe’s benchmark TTF gas price passed €100 per megawatt-hour, its highest since December 2022, hitting households on dynamic contracts first. (NOS, NU.nl)
  • Vondelpark fatbike ban stays: Amsterdam is keeping its fatbike ban in the Vondelpark, which cut fatbike traffic there by over 85 percent, but won’t extend it. (NL Times, NU.nl)
  • Lunch at the palace: The King and Queen hosted 27 high achievers at Noordeinde Palace, including Suzan & Freek and writer Connie Palmen. (NOS)
  • The Roman glass trick: Sheffield researchers say they’ve recreated the Lycurgus Cup’s green-to-red colour change using gold and silver nanoparticles in glass. (NU.nl)

What’s on in Amsterdam (Thursday 29 October to Sunday 1 November 2026)

  • Imagine Film Festival: Amsterdam’s fantasy, horror and cult film festival includes the PH1SHed_ world premiere and a 4K Donnie Darko restoration. (Opens Thursday 29 October and runs to Sunday 8 November; screenings between 12:00 and 23:00, LAB111, Oud-West)
  • Chicago Underground Duo: Rob Mazurek and Chad Taylor are touring Hyperglyph, their first duo album in eleven years. (Thursday 29 October, 20:30–22:00, Bimhuis, Oostelijke Eilanden (Oost))
  • EINDER by Boris Acket: Boris Acket has filled a former market hall with a walk-through installation of movement, light and sound. (Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November, at various times, Centrale Markthal, Westerpark (West))
  • ITADAKI Japanese food festival: Japanese chefs and makers gather in Noord for a day of sushi, ramen, sake and matcha. (Saturday 31 October, 12:00–19:00, DB55, Danzigerbocht 55, Amsterdam-Noord)
  • Greg Shapiro: King Me – 250 years of Donald Trump: Boom Chicago’s Greg Shapiro uses stand-up and storytelling to satirise America’s 250th birthday. (Sunday 1 November, 20:15, De Kleine Komedie, Amstel (Centrum))

More on in Amsterdam

  • Klaus Mäkela dirigeert Mahler 7 bij het Concertgebouworkest: Future chief conductor Klaus Mäkelä leads the Concertgebouw Orchestra in Mahler’s Seventh Symphony. (At various times, The Royal Concertgebouw Amsterdam)
  • Deborah Levy - Brainwash Festival Opening Night: South African author Deborah Levy opens the Brainwash Festival with a talk on living together. (Thu 29 Oct, 19:30 - 23:00, Skatecafé)
  • PAN Amsterdam: The art, antiques and design fair returns to RAI Hall 8 for its 39th edition. (At various times, PAN Amsterdam (RAI Hall 8))
  • Dia de los Muertos: On Friday 30 October, cima Rooftop Bar hosts a night of cocktails, Latin-inspired food and music. (Fri 30 Oct, 20:00 - 23:59, CIMA Rooftop Bar)

Also in the news

  • D66 councillor in Boxtel arrested on suspicion of election fraud: Sohib Hussain, 38, who also works for the Public Prosecution Service, is suspected of election fraud and official corruption. (NL Times, NOS)
  • Tens of thousands of elderly alarm buttons at risk as the 2G network shuts down: EenVandaag’s research finds alarm buttons for vulnerable elderly people will stop working once the 2G network is switched off. (NOS)
  • Odido CEO steps down months after cyberattack and cancelled IPO: Søren Abildgaard is stepping down at Odido and will be replaced by longtime company executive Tisha van Lammeren. (NL Times)
  • Left-wing opposition frustrated as D66 drops plan to tax the royals: PM Jetten is setting aside a motion to tax the royal family, though D66 filed a similar one in 2024. (NOS)