protests

Spain is rocked by mass protests after parliament rejected emergency housing decrees, sparked by the eviction of an 87-year-old. With snap elections looming, the crisis exposes deep housing affordability issues that also affect expats across Europe.

Dutch public-sector workers have escalated protests against Cabinet social security cuts with a national transport strike that halted trains, trams, and buses in major cities. Unions demand full abolition of cuts before Budget Day. Expats should expect possible further disruptions and understand how proposed cuts may affect benefits.

Pro-Palestinian protests in the Netherlands have led to the evacuation of parliament and the arrest of 45 people in Amsterdam. Expats should know that protest bans can be upheld by courts, and disrupting government buildings carries serious consequences.

Extinction Rebellion activists face 120-hour community service and conditional prison demands for blocking the A12 in April, while a new blockade on the same highway was dismantled on 29 August. The cases show Dutch authorities are taking a hard line against highway protests, with potential criminal record and driving licence implications for participants.

Dutch nitrogen talks are stalled by a split among farmer groups, with only LTO and NAJK at the table. For expats, this delays permit issuance for housing and business, prolonging the Netherlands' construction freeze.