Talks between home affairs minister Guusje ter Horst and police unions about the disputed pay claim came to nothing last night after one hour.

The minister saw ‘no beginning to a solution’ and said she will appoint a mediator to find a breakthrough in the negotiations.
Ter Horst wants the mediation process finished within two weeks, but did not say who she will appoint. ‘It will be someone both sides can trust,’ she told the NRC.
The offer on the table is for a 9.25% rise over two years for beat officers at the top of their salary scale and 6.25% for the rest. Police unions say this is not enough. The NPB union wants 3.3% a year as well as help with healthcare costs and better rates for irregular hours. The ACP union is calling for a €200 monthly increase across the board.
The minister claimed yesterday evening that she has moved towards the unions’ claims but NPB chairman Hans van Duijn said ‘the gap is still too great’.
What effect the breakdown in talks will have on the planned national strike on Thursday and the weekend’s football is not yet known. They will depend on who Ter Horst appoints as mediator, say the unions.