News in English - RTV Maastricht

News in English - RTV Maastricht News in English for not-yet-Dutch speakers in Maastricht since 2016.

The radio program Lucas ON AIR from RTV Maastricht has been nominated for the Limburg Pop Award 2025 in the category Bes...
30/10/2025

The radio program Lucas ON AIR from RTV Maastricht has been nominated for the Limburg Pop Award 2025 in the category Best Initiative.

The award honors innovative projects, events, or organizations that have given an extra boost to the Limburg pop scene ranging from groundbreaking initiatives that contribute to growth, development, and diversity, to efforts that bring people together within the regional music community.

In his weekly live show, host Lucas Lejeune shines a spotlight on up-and-coming artists from Limburg. Every Friday from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., he features regular segments, interviews, and music from all decades, with a particular focus on locally produced songs and American country music.

Almost every week, a local artist from Maastricht or elsewhere in Limburg joins the show to talk about their musical journey, ambitions, and inspirations. The Lucas ON AIR network has now featured more than fifty guests, bands, and artists. For many emerging musicians, the Friday evening program serves as a valuable springboard to reach an interested and engaged audience.

In its category, Lucas ON AIR competes against Nieuwe Nor Nacht Academy (Heerlen) and Roermond in Tune (Roermond). A jury will select the winner, with the Limburg Pop Awards taking place on December 7 at the Muziekgieterij in Maastricht.

Frans Timmermans is stepping down as leader of GroenLinks–PvdA. The Maastricht-born frontrunner of the merged party anno...
30/10/2025

Frans Timmermans is stepping down as leader of GroenLinks–PvdA. The Maastricht-born frontrunner of the merged party announced his resignation following the disappointing election results.

According to exit polls, the party is projected to win only 20 seats, making GroenLinks–PvdA the fourth-largest party in the Netherlands.

Speaking at a party gathering, Timmermans said he was taking responsibility for the disappointing outcome and would step down as leader. His decision also means he will not take a seat in the Tweede Kamer (House of Representatives).

A 19-year-old accused of r**e in Maastricht is also suspected of committing other s*xual offenses as a court hearing rev...
17/10/2025

A 19-year-old accused of r**e in Maastricht is also suspected of committing other s*xual offenses as a court hearing revealed.

According to L1 News, the suspect, Ibrahim I., is a 19-year-old Syrian national. He is alleged to have r**ed an 18-year-old girl. Two other Syrian men were also involved: Mohammad A. and Achmed El A., aged 22 and 24, respectively. The suspects were all staying in different asylum seekers’ centers at the time of the r**e, though it is unclear whether they were awaiting asylum status or were recognized refugees.

The incident occurred on October 29 last year in the city center. The victim was reportedly pulled off her bicycle and taken into a building, where she was r**ed by two men. Police reported that the victim was under the influence of alcohol. “The suspects took advantage of her vulnerable situation. She was r**ed through force, violence, and threats", the public prosecutor said. “I find it strange that the Public Prosecution Service is accusing me of r**e with violence", Mohamad A. told the court through an interpreter. “I did have s*x, but not with violence.” According to the Public Prosecution Service, a co-suspect claimed that A. had s*x with the victim against her will. The victim, who is not originally from Limburg, was in her first year of studies in Maastricht at the time of the incident.

Despite the victim filing a report immediately, the police were initially unable to solve the case. A breakthrough came only after surveillance footage was released. Two men subsequently turned themselves in and were arrested in July. It is not yet known when the case will be heard in court.

During the hearing, it emerged that Ibrahim I. is also suspected of two other s*xual offenses. On May 9, he allegedly r**ed a 15-year-old girl in Maastricht, and on June 1, he allegedly assaulted a woman in Sittard. According to the Public Prosecution Service, these cases are still under investigation.

The city council is set to review the first-time homebuyer loan, which covers the gap between the purchase price of a ho...
16/10/2025

The city council is set to review the first-time homebuyer loan, which covers the gap between the purchase price of a home and the maximum mortgage. This follows questions from the PvdA and VVD parties and comes in response to a likely change in the scheme across Limburg, expected to take effect on January 1.

The Limburg provincial government proposes increasing the maximum purchase price for homes eligible for the loan from €280,000 to €345,000. At the same time, the maximum loan amount would be reduced from €56,000 to €40,000, and the province would cover only 50% of the loan instead of the current 75%.

The remaining portion would be funded by municipalities in Limburg. In Maastricht, the current scheme mirrors the existing provincial arrangement. The city can choose to maintain the scheme, which would mean paying €36,000 per loan starting January 1. This additional expense could deplete the budget faster, resulting in fewer loans for first-time buyers.

The city council has stated that if Limburg’s changes are implemented, it will reconsider the thresholds for the first-time homebuyer loan. The city is willing to cover the extra costs, and the loan budget will be increased. “If the budget is exhausted, the municipal council can decide to allocate new funds or suspend the loan again,” the council said in a response to the PvdA.

Over the past three years, 99 first-time homebuyer loans have been issued, with an average loan amount of €37,801, the council reports in response to questions from the VVD. The party expressed concern that reducing the provincial contribution could make the loan significantly less effective. “The effects of the (not yet approved) reduction are still unknown,” said Alderman Pas.

If Limburg’s changes go ahead, the council expects Maastricht’s loan budget to be exhausted by October 2026. If the current scheme remains in place, the budget would last until October 2027.

Maastricht Aachen Airport (MAA) continues to expand its network of destinations. Starting 31 March 2026, Wizz Air will o...
16/10/2025

Maastricht Aachen Airport (MAA) continues to expand its network of destinations. Starting 31 March 2026, Wizz Air will operate flights three times a week to Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro.

This announcement follows a series of Eastern European route additions earlier this year, including Chișinău (Moldova), Bucharest (Romania), Tuzla (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Katowice (Poland), and Lublin (Poland). The airport hopes that the expanding network will boost Limburg’s economy and secure the long-term growth of MAA.

“The addition of Podgorica highlights the confidence Wizz Air has in our airport", said Dean Boljuncic, Director of Airport Development. “This new route strengthens our air connections to Southeast Europe, providing convenient travel options for tourists and passengers visiting family.”

Maastricht dancer Jaïra Joy Luhulima was crowned world streetdance champion in Los Angeles. The 18-year-old from Maastri...
15/10/2025

Maastricht dancer Jaïra Joy Luhulima was crowned world streetdance champion in Los Angeles.

The 18-year-old from Maastricht faced off against South Korean dancer Waack###y in the final and was declared world champion after an intense battle. Jaïra Joy is the first Dutch dancer and the first woman to win the world title at a national final.

In the semifinals, Jaïra defeated the American crowd favorite David “The Crown” Stalter. She then faced South Korean dancer Waack###y (Si Yeon) in the final round; Waack###y had previously won the world championship in Frankfurt in 2023.

The final was intense: both dancers scored the same amount of points which lead to a third round. The audience at Clippers Stadium overwhelmingly voted for Jaïra Joy. Afterwards, Jaïra was beaming. “It feels really insane,” she said. “I never expected that a girl from Maastricht would beat dancers from countries like the U.S., Japan, and Korea. This is truly a dream come true.”

Jaïra Joy had already become Dutch champion in July during the final at Vondelpark in Amsterdam, which earned her a spot at the world championship. She is the first woman to win the world title by qualifying through a national championship. Her final opponent, Waack###y, had competed last year thanks to a wildcard.

Ahead of the official start of Magisch Maastricht 2025–2026, the city is already decorated with festive lighting powered...
15/10/2025

Ahead of the official start of Magisch Maastricht 2025–2026, the city is already decorated with festive lighting powered entirely by local green electricity. Centrummanagement Maastricht and NieuweStroom made this possible by purchasing Green Certificates.

The initiative is part of the city’s effort to create a sustainable and festive winter season. This year, the event is being carried out by Avontuur-Blachere.

“The fact that all the festive lighting runs on local green electricity this year makes us very proud", said Thijs de Graaf, director of NieuweStroom. “We aim to create a welcoming and sustainable city. The lighting also helps to spread visitors across different areas, so not everyone is in the same place at the same time. This way, both residents and visitors can fully enjoy the magical winter weeks", added Astrid Verberne, director of Centrummanagement Maastricht.

According to the organizers, the lighting does more than just enhance Maastricht’s festive atmosphere; it also improves livability. Visitors and residents will stay outside longer thanks to the cozy and attractive atmosphere. Moreover, people will feel safer in these illuminated areas.

The lighting also acts as a natural guide, leading visitors through the city’s most picturesque spots. The light route passes by the Fronten and Bonnefanten parking areas, encouraging visitors to reserve a spot in advance and helping reduce traffic from drivers searching for parking.

In Maastricht, 3.4 percent of households are millionaires, according to new figures from CBS (Statistics Netherlands). T...
13/10/2025

In Maastricht, 3.4 percent of households are millionaires, according to new figures from CBS (Statistics Netherlands). This is slightly below the national average of 5.5 percent.

As of January 1, 2024, the Netherlands had a total of 452,000 millionaire households, 17,000 more than the year before. The CBS includes the value of owner-occupied homes and mortgage debt when calculating total assets.

Limburg has the lowest proportion of millionaires of all Dutch provinces. Municipalities such as Brunssum, Heerlen, and Kerkrade rank among the areas with the fewest millionaire households in the country. Maastricht performs slightly better at 3.4 percent but still lags far behind national hotspots like Bloemendaal and Laren, where roughly one in three households has millionaire status.

Nevertheless, Maastricht follows the national trend of growth in the number of millionaires: in 2021, only 2.5 percent of households in the city were millionaires.

According to CBS, millionaire households in 2024 had a median net worth of €1.6 million, compared to €110,000 for non-millionaires. Two-thirds of millionaires have assets between €1 and €2 million.

Nearly 40 percent of Dutch millionaire households rely on pensions as their main source of income. For the rest, income mainly comes from current employment, with 55 percent of that group being self-employed.

During the 70th edition of BBB Maastricht, a new world record was set: the organizers unveiled an abrikozenvlaai (aprico...
12/10/2025

During the 70th edition of BBB Maastricht, a new world record was set: the organizers unveiled an abrikozenvlaai (apricot pie) weighing 1,057 kilograms which was officially recognized by Guinness World Records. The enormous vlaai was made by bakers Sébastien Trudelle of Patisserie Smores and Johan Nulens.

To make the vlaai, they used 350 kg of flour, 600 eggs, 300 kg of sugar, and 530 kg of apricots. “It was a huge challenge that required great precision. We’re incredibly proud that we pulled it off,” said Sébastien Trudelle afterward. Once the record was officially confirmed, the vlaai was cut and shared with visitors.

The hospitality trade fair BBB Maastricht opened on October 6 at the MECC. This year marks the 70th edition of the event which originally began as a fair for bakers and pastry chefs. The anniversary was celebrated with the giant vlaai Limburg-style pie as the main attraction. The fair runs through Wednesday, October 8.

Another record was also broken. The opening day attracted a large number of visitors from both the Netherlands and Belgium, who attended tastings, demonstrations, and networking events. “It’s amazing to see how many professionals have found their way to Maastricht,” said Silvie Slachter, BBB Maastricht’s fair manager. “The strong turnout makes this anniversary edition even more festive.”

This year, 460 adults and 86 children were counted as dak- en thuisloos (homeless or without a fixed residence) in Maast...
11/10/2025

This year, 460 adults and 86 children were counted as dak- en thuisloos (homeless or without a fixed residence) in Maastricht, according to the latest ETHOS count, carried out on April 10. In the broader Maastricht-Heuvelland region, a total of 853 people were identified, including 153 children without a permanent home. The results were announced October 8, 2025.

57 gemeenten (municipalities) in nine regions across the Netherlands participated in the most recent ETHOS census. ETHOS stands for 'European Typology of Homelessness and Housing Exclusion,' and aims to count and understand homelessness in Europe. The survey confirms a higher number of homeless people than other sources, such as CBS.

What's striking about the Maastricht Heuvelland region is the relatively high number of people under thirty: more than a quarter of homeless people are young people between the ages of 18 and 27 (29%). Not everyone without a permanent home lives on the streets. The count found that 22 percent temporarily stay with family or friends, 30 percent are in institutions without prospects for follow-up housing, 4 percent have shelter in unconventional places such as caravans or tents, and 6 percent sleep outdoors. During the night of April 9–10, 40 adults were counted sleeping outdoors in the entire region with no children among them. Most children stay temporarily with family, friends, or in shelters.

The main circumstances contributing to homelessness in Maastricht and the surrounding area include flight or migration (13%), relationship breakdown (10%), domestic violence (10%), mental health issues (7%), and financial difficulties (5%). The municipality emphasizes that these factors should not be seen as direct causes of homelessness, which is often the result of structural issues, such as a shortage of affordable housing and limited flow from institutions to permanent homes.

The gemeente (municipality) has decided not to involve home seekers in decision-making on housing policy or projects. Ac...
10/10/2025

The gemeente (municipality) has decided not to involve home seekers in decision-making on housing policy or projects. According to officials, the effort to include them outweighs the potential benefits.

The stadsbestuur (city council) based its decision on experiences in other cities. In Helmond, home seekers are part of an advisory committee that provides input on housing policy. In Utrecht, they advise on new construction projects.

However, wethouder (alderman) Frans Bastiaens considers both models from Helmond and Utrecht impractical for Maastricht. “On the one hand, it’s difficult to form a stable group of home seekers and keep them engaged, because once they find a home, they no longer belong to the target group. Moreover, previous experiences in Maastricht show that maintaining continuity in participation on such a council is challenging. In addition, housing preferences vary widely. It is therefore questionable how representative a small group of home seekers can be for the entire population,” he explains.

The wethouder emphasizes that the needs of home seekers are still being taken seriously. A housing needs survey will be published early next year. In addition, project developers conduct their own housing market research.

09/10/2025

"Do you sometimes feel unsafe in Maastricht?" That's what we asked our followers on social media recently. The reactions were overwhelming. Our social media channels were buzzing with discussion. Places that were called unsafe were, for example, the Kesselskade, Mosae Forum, the tunnel that connects Nazareth and Ambi, and the surroundings of the train station and the Meerssenerweg.

Adres

Bankastraat 3
Maastricht
6214XN

Website

Meldingen

Wees de eerste die het weet en laat ons u een e-mail sturen wanneer News in English - RTV Maastricht nieuws en promoties plaatst. Uw e-mailadres wordt niet voor andere doeleinden gebruikt en u kunt zich op elk gewenst moment afmelden.

Contact

Stuur een bericht naar News in English - RTV Maastricht:

Snelkoppelingen

Delen

Type

Social Media User Guidelines

These guidelines are in place to help create a safe environment on all social media channels run by News in English – RTV Maastricht.

The aim of our social media channels is to create an environment where our community can engage safely in debate and is free to make comments, questions and suggestions.

We ask that anyone engaging with our social media channels shows courtesy, kindness and respect for all other members of our social media communities.

By engaging with our social media channels you agree to follow these guidelines.