Three people have been killed and one seriously injured after becoming trapped in a manure silo on a farm in Friesland, website nu.nl reports.

The Netherlands will veto any moves by the European Union to impose sanctions if Israel presses ahead with building settlements on disputed territory east of Jerusalem, foreign minister Frans Timmermans is quoted as saying by news agency ANP.

Junior justice minister Fred Teeven has revised his controversial plans to close 26 prisons - reprieving seven from the closure list.

US film and television giant Netflix confirms Dutch market entry
American film and internet television giant Netflix on Wednesday confirmed plans to enter the Dutch market 'before the end of this year'.

New official rules: you can keep a cat as a pet but not a camel
The government has published new rules listing mammals which are suitable to keep as pets, ruling out big cats, camels and raccoons.

Dutch are becoming less materialistic but more self-centred
Around one third of the Dutch have taken a decision to become less materialistic, as more people accept the downturn in prosperity, according to the latest mentality monitor from researchers at Motivaction.

US universities MIT, Colombia, Duke join new Amsterdam institute bids
Three prestigious US universities have joined consortia bidding to set up a new institute of technology in Amsterdam, Nos television reports on Wednesday.

Teen drunk clampdown: senators back rise in beer-buying age to 18
The upper house of parliament on Tuesday voted in favour of new legislation which will increase the age at which teenagers can buy alcohol from 16 to 18.

One in 10 firms shifts jobs abroad, but most work goes to the EU
One in 10 of the Netherlands’ larger firms relocated work overseas between 2009 and 2011, largely to other EU countries, according to new figures from national statistics office CBS.

More young parents leave labour market
There was a slight drop in the number of working parents with young children in the first three months of this year, social affairs minister Lodewijk Asscher told parliament on Tuesday.

CSM to change name to Corbion
Food ingredients group CSM said on Tuesday it is to change its name to Corbion in the ‘latest stage’ of its transformation into a provider of bio-based products.

Fewer holiday jobs for students
Students will find it increasingly difficult to find work for a few weeks during the summer months because of demographic and working practice changes, website nu.nl reports on Tuesday.

Small farms not a good business proposition
Small farmers are finding it increasingly difficult to find someone to take over their farms when they stop work, according to Wageningen University researchers.

School exam theft: 26 pupils admit to cheating
In total, 26 secondary school pupils have taken advantage of an amnesty for cheaters and admitted they saw exam papers stolen from a school in Rotterdam, junior education minister Sander Dekker told parliament on Monday night.

Coalition divided over wind power: report says 'stop building turbines'
The ruling parties VVD and Labour are divided over the future of wind power following the publication of a new report which called for a five-year moratorium on plans to build more wind turbines.

New-born baby boy found abandoned in Roermond street
Police in the Limburg town of Roermond are looking for the mother of a baby boy, found dumped on a grass verge on the Wilhelminalaan.

Income tax system needs major overhaul, to be made simpler: report
The tax on savings should be reduced and the number of income tax bands cut back from four to two, according to a government commission.

Wednesday is going to be hot, hot, hot
Weather bureaus are warning of extreme temperatures on Wednesday, as hot air blows into the Netherlands from Spain and North Africa.

Creating mega province around Amsterdam will save €70m: minister
Merging the provinces of Noord-Holland, Utrecht and Flevoland into a single entity will save €70m a year, according to draft legislation published by home affairs minister Ronald Plasterk on Monday.

Scrap the €500 note, says influential foreign policy body
The €500 note should be abolished because it is mainly used in criminal circles, according to the government's influential advisory council on international affairs AIV.

Three more arrested over school exam theft
Three more 18-year-olds have been arrested in connection with the theft of exam papers from a Rotterdam school.

Seven jailed for linesman death: tough sentences merited says court
Six teenagers and a 51-year-old man have been jailed for their role in the death of a football linesman who was kicked by a mob after a youth game in Almere last December.

House sales, new mortgages continue to decline
The number of housing transactions in May was down 18% on a year ago but up 27% on April, according to land registry office Kadaster on Monday.

The Netherlands tried to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians
The Netherlands spent at least a year trying to broker a breakthrough in the deadlocked peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, the NRC reports on Monday, quoting confidential sources.

Dutch environment policy is outdated and short-term, says agency
The Netherlands’ environmental policy needs a complete overhaul because it is out of date in many areas, according to the government’s environmental assessment agency PBL.

Forced prostitution shifts to unsold homes in residential areas
Tougher controls on the licenced sex industry are leading to a shift towards home-based prostitution, the acting chief of the Dutch national police force says in Monday’s Volkskrant.