Ownership & classification
Founded: 1919
Ownership
de Volkskrant was founded in 1919 as a Roman Catholic daily tied to the Catholic pillar, but those confessional ties were severed decades ago and it is now a secular quality newspaper. It is owned by DPG Media (formerly De Persgroep), a Belgian media group controlled by the Van Thillo family. DPG acquired the title via the former PCM group in 2009 and rebranded as DPG Media in 2019; DPG Media Nederland is the country's largest media company.
Funding
Financed commercially through subscriptions and a digital paywall plus advertising, within the privately held DPG Media group. It draws no party, church or state funding.
Affiliation & stance
Editorially center-left and progressive, but its historical Catholic affiliation is gone and it operates under commercial private ownership (Van Thillo family / DPG Media) with editorial independence. With no party or state control, it is correctly classified INDEPENDENT (lean CENTER_LEFT).
Editorial lean
- Our estimate
- Lean Left
- Measured from coverage
- Centerbased on 301
76/100
Factual
73/100
Objective
502
Articles
502
reports
Top stories
Most covered right now

Russia attacks Kiev with ballistic missiles: there are fires and casualties
'Mega-consumers' of food and energy cost the environment $5.7 billion a year

Draper dropped out of Wimbledon, the British were left without their biggest assets.
The Pope called on nations to put food, water and health above geopolitical interests

Worldwide expenditure on nuclear weapons at record levels

The prosecutor suspects that criminal activities are the cause of the Amsterdam explosion

Two large nuclear power plants?

Five people shot dead at German juvenile facility

Tension around the inauguration of the Moluk monument: will Jetten apologize?
Recent coverage

An American gets the maximum amount of recovery time at Wimbledon.
The article discusses the scheduling of the first-round doubles match at Wimbledon involving American tennis player Serena Williams and her sister Venus Williams against the Argentine-Colombian pair Solana Sierra and Camila Osorio. The match was initially scheduled for Thursday and Friday but has been postponed due to Serena's injury during her singles match. Tournament organizer Andy Murray (likely a misstatement, as Andy Murray is a British player, and the correct name might be someone like Ashley Barker or another official) stated they are giving Serena as much time as possible to recover. They ruled out postponing the match to later dates unless necessary for safety or tournament flow. The match is expected to take place on a larger court to accommodate the large crowd attracted by Serena and Venus, who are major stars. Serena returned to professional tennis after four years, but she lost her first singles match and injured her knee. She did not attend a press conference afterward due to health reasons and expressed her commitment to participating in the doubles event. Serena and Venus have won six doubles titles together, including a title in 2016.
Ukraine reports two dead after night attacks by Russia, with the death toll in Kiev rising to 30.
At least two people were killed and eight injured in Russian air strikes on the Sumy region and Kryvyj Rih in Ukraine during the night of Thursday to Friday, according to Ukrainian authorities. This follows a large-scale Russian attack on Kyiv earlier in the week which killed at least 30 people and injured around 100 others. In response to the attacks, Ukraine conducted missile strikes on Belgorod in Russia, causing a fire at an energy facility and killing one woman, according to Russian media. The overnight strike on the city of Romny in the Sumy region hit a residential building, killing two women and injuring a man, reported regional administrator Oleh Hryhorov via Telegram. Another seven people were injured in a missile strike on Kryvyj Rih, according to military city administrator Oleksandr Vilkul. In Kyiv, teams discovered three more dead bodies during the night, bringing the total number of victims to 30, according to Reuters citing Ukrainian health authorities. Kyiv's military administrator Tymur Tkačenko stated that the attack injured 99 people. Moscow claimed the extensive attack was a response to Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, including those carried

Multiple witnesses corona investigation are threatened again
Multiple witnesses who testified before the parliamentary inquiry into the coronavirus crisis in the Netherlands are being threatened again, according to the commission. This follows recent testimonies where witnesses reported experiencing threats during the pandemic. Commission chairperson Daan de Kort condemned the behavior as unacceptable and stated they are working with police and security services to address the issue. Witnesses called by the commission are legally required to appear and testify under oath, and the threats undermine the integrity of the process. Several individuals, including former members of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), have previously spoken about receiving threats during the pandemic. Former Justice Minister Ferd Grapperhaus was heavily protected due to frequent threats, and concerns were raised about whether scientists feel safe enough to speak openly.

'Spared reluctance' and conflicting fundamental rights: that's how the curfew came about
The article discusses the implementation of the curfew during the coronavirus pandemic in the Netherlands, which required people to stay indoors from 9 PM until the next morning. This measure was introduced in January 2021 amid concerns about a surge in infections and new variants of the virus. Although the government initially resisted due to concerns about fundamental rights, the curfew was eventually implemented after pressure from health experts like the OMT advisory body. The article highlights the tension between individual freedoms and public health, noting that while the curfew was seen as a heavy infringement on personal liberties, it was justified by the need to protect lives. Officials such as former Justice Minister Ferd Grapperhaus expressed reluctance but ultimately supported the decision, acknowledging the difficult balance between rights and safety.
The Volkskrant TV selection for Sunday 5th of July
The article is titled 'De Volkskrant tv-selectie voor zondag 5 juli' and appears to be a listing or selection of television programs featured by De Volkskrant on Sunday, July 5th. The content provided is minimal, consisting of the title repeated, which suggests it may be a brief announcement or a placeholder for a more detailed program guide. No additional information about specific programs, topics, or contexts is included.
It 's all right . It 's all right .
The article mentions 'Bas van der Schot' but does not provide additional context or content beyond this name. It appears to be either an incomplete entry or a reference to a person, possibly a politician or public figure, without further elaboration.

Putin recognizes the oil map for the first time
Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged for the first time that Russia is building 'some oil reserves' during a meeting focused on energy issues. He emphasized the need to strengthen domestic oil production and increase output. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces continued their attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, detonating an oil purification plant in the southern Krasnodar region, which produces around four million tons of crude oil annually. The Krasnodar region is one of Russia's largest oil-producing areas located near the Black Sea. On Tuesday, Ukrainian forces launched large-scale air strikes on Sevastopol, the largest city on Crimea, including attacks on oil facilities. In response, Russia, which annexed Crimea in 2014, has restricted fuel sales to the public to counteract the energy shortages. According to reports, these attacks have had no impact on the front line. During an interview with a Russian state television station, Putin described the Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure as an attempt to destabilize Russian society. He stated that Ukraine's goal was to halt the deployment of Russian military units to improve their position in arms control talks.
Bruno Mars in the Arena: unparalleled soul show like no one else is presenting (★★★★☆)
The article reviews Bruno Mars' concert at the Arena, describing it as an extraordinary soul performance that has not been presented by anyone else. The review gives a four-star rating, highlighting the energy and quality of the show. The focus is on the musical experience and audience reaction rather than any political or controversial content.
Netherlands most popular holiday destination, over the border Dutch prefer to go to France
The article states that the Netherlands is the most popular vacation destination for Dutch people, and that Dutch citizens most prefer to travel abroad to France. It highlights the trend of Dutch tourists choosing France as their preferred international destination.
Nitrogen plans Cabinet assured of House majority: Pro 'finally sees a step forward'
The Dutch government has secured a parliamentary majority for its nitrogen reduction plans, which aim to address environmental concerns related to nitrogen emissions. This development marks a significant step forward for the government, as it ensures the plan can proceed despite previous opposition. The plans involve measures to reduce nitrogen pollution, primarily from agriculture, which has been a contentious issue in the Netherlands. Environmental groups and some political parties had previously criticized the government's approach, but this new support indicates a shift in political consensus. The outcome could lead to changes in agricultural practices and land use across the country.
The planet doesn't need saving at all.
The article challenges the common narrative that the planet needs to be 'saved,' suggesting that this perspective might be exaggerated or misleading. It questions whether the urgency surrounding climate change is overstated and explores alternative viewpoints on environmental issues. The piece likely presents arguments that downplay the severity of ecological threats or highlight potential overreach in current environmental policies. It may reference scientific debates or critiques of alarmist rhetoric in climate discussions.
New tactics seen in Iran and Russia: drones fighting as a whole
The article reports that both Iran and Russia are employing a new tactical approach by using drones that operate as a coordinated unit in military operations. This strategy appears to enhance their combat capabilities by allowing drones to function as a unified force rather than individual units. The report highlights this shift in tactics as part of evolving military strategies in the region.
Peter Berdowski: Hoe Nederland verstrikt raakte in de eigen torenhoge klimaatambities
The article discusses Peter Berdowski's critique of the Netherlands' ambitious climate goals, arguing that the country has become entangled in its own high expectations. Berdowski, a former minister and energy expert, questions whether these targets are realistic and highlights potential challenges in achieving them. The piece explores the tension between national ambitions and practical implementation, including issues related to energy transition, economic impact, and international commitments. It raises concerns about whether the Netherlands is setting itself up for failure by pursuing overly aggressive climate policies without sufficient planning or support.
Overlooked
Under-reported & one-sided
