David Levitz

Dutch Daily Briefing · Episodes

A Blue Sweep, an Open Marriage and HEMA at 100

Democrats win the US Senate as well as the House, and Trump says he accepts the result. In The Hague, the coalition lets its own parties vote different ways on the tax plan. Also today: inflation climbs again, Klaas Knot is nominated to run the European Central Bank, human rights groups pull back from the International Criminal Court, a new study on rental discrimination, HEMA turns 100, and 1.7 million fake Pokémon cards.

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Thursday, 5 November 2026 · 15 min

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  • Inflation rises to 3.7 percent: Dutch prices rose 3.7% in October, the highest since last September, with energy up 14.4% on a year ago. (NOS, NU.nl)
  • Democrats sweep Congress: Democrats flipped seven Republican seats to hold at least 54 of 100, with Mississippi and Alaska still uncalled. (DutchNews.nl, NOS)
  • The coalition’s ‘open marriage’ on taxes: D66, VVD and CDA may vote separately on the tax plan as a last resort, testing a Pro-Volt wealth-tax proposal. (NU.nl, NOS)
  • Klaas Knot nominated to lead the ECB: The Dutch government wants former central bank chief Knot to replace Lagarde, who leaves early on 7 February. (DutchNews.nl, NOS)
  • Human rights groups pull back from the ICC: At least twenty groups, including Human Rights Watch, scaled back or ended cooperation, many because of US sanctions. (NU.nl, NOS)
  • Your name and your chances of renting: A test with 4,096 fake applications found Moroccan-sounding names got fewer viewing invites, reversing the last monitor’s finding. (Het Parool)
  • Marco Borsato wants his legal costs back: Acquitted last year, the singer is asking the state for over €431,000, mostly for his lawyers. (NOS, NU.nl)
  • HEMA turns 100: The chain opened on Amsterdam’s Kalverstraat in 1926 selling fixed-price goods and now has over 700 stores. (NOS)
  • 1.7 million fake Pokémon cards: Rotterdam customs seized 1,719,000 counterfeit cards from a Maasvlakte container in May; Nintendo confirmed they were fake. (NOS)

What’s on in Amsterdam (Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 November 2026)

  • Klaus Mäkelä conducts the Concertgebouw Orchestra: Dvořák’s Seventh and Bartók’s Duke Bluebeard’s Castle: Mäkelä, the orchestra’s future chief, conducts Dvořák’s Seventh and Bartók’s opera with Jennifer Johnston and Gerald Finley. (Thursday 5 and Friday 6 November, 20:15–22:40, The Royal Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Oud-Zuid)
  • Laugh Out Proud: LGBTQIA+ open mic: Katie Nixon hosts the first night of a new open mic at Boom Chicago, where anything goes. (Thursday 5 November, 22:15–23:15, The Famous Boom Chicago Comedy Show, Jordaan)
  • Midterm Madness: the US midterms aftershow: A two-room festival-style evening on what the US midterm results mean for America, Europe and the world. (Friday 6 November, 19:30–23:00, Pakhuis De Zwijger, Oostelijke Eilanden)
  • Imagine Film Festival: Amsterdam’s fantastic film festival ends with a 4K Donnie Darko, Videodrome, Ghost in the Shell and Dutch thriller PH1SHed_. (Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 November, screenings between 12:00 and 23:00, LAB111, Oud-West)
  • NoordOogst outdoor market: A monthly first-Saturday urban-farm market in Amsterdam-Noord selling local produce, food, drink and makers’ goods. (Saturday 7 November, 11:00–16:00, NoordOogst, Meteorenweg 272-280, Amsterdam-Noord)

More on in Amsterdam

  • Museumnacht 2026: Melkweg Expo’s Museumnacht programme focuses on mental health, set inside an exhibition by recent art graduates. (Sat 07 Nov, 19:00, Melkweg)
  • Makoto Ozone: The Japanese pianist, who has worked with Chick Corea and Gary Burton, brings his jazz-classical trio to Bimhuis. (Sat 07 Nov, 20:30 - 22:00, Bimhuis)
  • Power of the Tech Bros: ZEG Festival uses storytelling, music and conversation on 7 November to look at how to curb big tech’s influence. (Sat 07 Nov, 18:00 - 19:30, De Balie)
  • The Amsterdam Storytelling Festival: David Labi - Fatherload: Brussels-based London-born storyteller David Labi performs his show at the Amsterdam Storytelling Festival. (Sat 07 Nov, 21:00 - 22:15, Podium Mozaïek)

Also in the news

  • Cyberattack costs Albert Heijn owner Ahold Delhaize up to €250m in sales: Last month’s attack will cut Ahold Delhaize’s fourth-quarter sales by €200 million to €250 million. (DutchNews.nl, NU.nl)
  • Maastricht University cancels Jewish student meeting over security: The university called off a Jewish student group’s lecture, citing online calls from supporters and opponents. (DutchNews.nl, NOS)
  • Up to 30% fewer livestock farms expected under nitrogen plans: Wageningen researchers expect 10 to 30 percent fewer livestock farms but no threat to food security. (DutchNews.nl, NOS)
  • 550,000 Dordrecht-area residents sue Chemours over PFAS: A foundation has filed a class action against the chemical company on behalf of about 550,000 residents. (NL Times)