Major southern Netherlands drug bust suspects ordered back to jail
Major southern Netherlands drug bust suspects ordered back to jail
Thirteen of 55 suspects arrested during a massive drug bust in southern Netherlands on Monday, were remanded back into custody after being arraigned on Tuesday and Wednesday. Others still have to appear in front of the magistrate, the Public Prosecutor announced
Tipsters emerge in case of woman found killed in Amsterdam forest
The police received five tips regarding the disappearance and death of Susanna Boon, an Amsterdam woman whose body was found in Nunspeet last week
Lesbian attacked on street, badly beaten by three men
A lesbian couple was attacked and severely assaulted by three men in Groningen during the early hours of Sunday morning. An open letter posted on Facebook by one of the couple’s friends took the internet by storm. Janet hopes that her story will make people aware that homophobia exists, even in the Netherlands.
Opposition annoyed at Justice Min. no-apology attitude
Opposition parties are getting annoyed with Ard van der Steur’s attitude in the parliamentary debate on the terrorist attacks in Brussels. Numerous parties demanded that he acknowledges mistakes that were made. But the Ministry of Security of Justice maintains that his ministry did nothing wrong, but improvements will be made.
European Commission: Dutch referendum has no effect on Ukraine agreement
The Netherlands voting “no” in the referendum on the association agreement between the EU and Ukraine, has no effect on the agreement itself. The agreement was already signed and unanimously adopted by all EU member states’ heads of government, and the Dutch “no” does not change that, a spokesperson for the European Commission said
ABN Amro board member resigns after Panama Papers connection
Bert Meerstadt is resigning as member of ABN Amro’s supervisory board with immediate effect, following reports that his name was mentioned in the Panama Papers – 11.5 million documents, spreadsheets, emails and other files leaked from Panamanian legal consultancy Mossack Fonseca that form the basis of a worldwide investigation into tax evasion.
Louis Van Gaal not returning to Netherlands’ football
Louis van Gaal will not be leaving his post as manager of Manchester United to return to the Netherlands
Court rejects all Wilders’ demands in hate speech trial
The court in Amsterdam rejected all three of PVV leader Geert Wilders’ requests during the second, very short, pre-trial hearing in the hate speech trial against him. Wilders’ lawyer demanded that the trial be suspended while a document leak is investigated, that one of the judges step down and that a number of expert witnesses be questioned.
Housing prices up 20 pct in Amsterdam, 5.5 pct nationwide
The Netherlands’ housing market is keeping up its strong recovery in what real estate agents association NVM calls a “slightly surprising” manner. Home prices are up 5.5 percent nationwide. Amsterdam even saw a 20 percent increase, according to NVM’s figures for the first 3 months of this year
Sharp increase in Dutch renting above their pay grade
The number of Dutch households with a relatively low income and relatively high rent increased significantly in the past years – from 8 percent in 2009 to 18 percent last year. In the same period the households living in the reverse situation – high income, low rent – decreased by 10 percent from 28 percent to 18 percent, according to figures Statistics Netherlands released on Thursday.
Amsterdam buses to go cash-free from September
Amsterdam public transporter is starting the installation of card-payment machines on trams and buses from September. The intention is to have all buses and trams equipped to be cash-free by January 1st
Interior Min.: Referendum law needs revision
The Ukraine referendum on Wednesday shows that the Netherlands’ referendum law needs revision, according to Home Affairs Minister Ronald Plasterk.
Justice Min. under fire in Brussels attack debate
Minister Ard van der Steur of Security and Justice is facing a lot of heat from opposition parties in the parliamentary debate on the Brussels bombings. The opposition wants to know if he is still in control of his Ministry and whether he is part of the problem or part of the solution.
Opponents of US-EU trade deal TTIP launch Dutch referendum bid
Inspired by the no-camp’s success in the Ukraine referendum, opponents of the US-EU trade deal TTIP and the Canadian version CETA are now also trying to get a referendum vote on this issue.
VVD leader forces MP to withdraw Salafist Islam ban bill
VVD leader Halbe Zijlstra forced one of his parliamentarians, Sjoerd Potters, to withdraw a legislative proposal on the status of religious organization in the Netherlands. According to Zijlstra, the bill “does not suit the VVD vision”
Some 10,000 piglets killed in Brabant piggery fire
Some 10 thousand piglets were killed in a fire that destroyed a large piggery in Oirschot on Wednesday night. On Thursday morning the remains were still smoldering. The police closed down large area around the farm due to asbestos concerns.
Damning blood test results for DuPont plant neighbors
The first blood tests on two people living near the DuPont factory in Dordrecht showed that the concentration of toxic chemical C8 in their blood is much higher than the government expected, newspaper AD, who had the blood tests done, reports.
Court to answer Wilders’ demands in hate speech trial
A second pre-trial hearing in the hate speech trial against PVV leader Geert Wilders is scheduled for Thursday. During the hearing the court is will decide on a number of requests the PVV leader made
Teen moms drops 13.5% in Netherlands
The number of teenagers becoming mothers in the Netherlands has been dropping for years. Last year 1,574 teenage girls had a child, 13.5 percent less than in 2014, according to figures released by Statistics Netherlands on Thursday.
ABN Amro supervisory board member named in Panama Papers
Bert Meerstadt, a member of ABN Amro’s supervisory board, is mentioned in the Panama Papers – 11.5 million documents, spreadsheets, emails and other files leaked from Panamanian legal consultancy Mossack Fonseca that form the basis of a worldwide investigation into tax evasion.
Do or die day for Justice Min. Ard van der Steur
Today is sink or swim for Minister Ard van der Steur. At 10:15 a.m. he faces the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament, in the second attempt for a debate on the terrorist attacks in Brussels on March 22nd. Whether Van der Steur survives the day as Minister of Security and Justice, remains to be seen.
Newspapers: Ukraine referendum results “an embarrassment,” “a dilemma”
On Thursday morning Dutch newspapers described the preliminary results of the Ukraine referendum – 61 percent against with a voter turnout of 32 percent – as “an embarrassment”, “a dilemma” and a “recipe for discontent”. All agree that the “no” vote means tough times ahead for Prime Minister Mark Rutte and his cabinet.