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Tuesday 31 July 2012
Olympics: Van Rijsselberghe starts well, hockey women uninspiring
Windsurfer Dorian van Rijsselberghe made a flying start off the coast of Weymouth on Tuesday in his quest for Olympic gold.
Serbian fugitive arrested in The Hague
Police in The Hague have arrested a Serbian national who is wanted for the possession of weapons and drugs.
Profit down at Nuon after write-offs
Energy company Nuon saw profit fall 62% in the first half of 2012 compared with the year-earlier period, news agency Novum reports.
Farmers desert Christian Democrats for liberal right-wing VVD
The Christian Democrat party CDA is losing its reputation as the most popular choice of farmers and market gardeners, news agency ANP reports.
Official property valuations fall again
The official valuation of property, used to calculate property taxes, dropped again to an average €232,000, the central statistics office CBS said on Tuesday.
Ziggo sells 32 million more shares
Cable company Ziggo is selling a further 32 million shares following its launch on the Amsterdam stock exchange earlier this year, the company reported on Tuesday.
Somali nationals protest at loss of freedom
A group of around 80 Somali refugees camped out overnight on the steps of the immigration service in Den Bosch in protest at their treatment.
More job losses forecast for construction sector
The number of orders for building work is so low the sector is forecasting a flood of job losses over the coming months. 
DAF Trucks does well in Russia
Truck-maker DAF had a successful year following the opening of its marketing and sales office in Moscow in 2011.
Dutch national anthem sounds strange at Olympics
Music scholars are critical of the sound of the Dutch national anthem at the Olympic Games in London.
Imtech books rise in profit and turnover
Gouda-based engineering group Imtech on Tuesday announced a rise in both profit and turnover and a growing order book.
Monday 30 July 2012
Who wants to strip in honour of Vincent van Gogh?
Artists group the Itinerant Museum of Art is looking for people who will strip naked and allow a painting by Vincent van Gogh to be painted on their body.
KLM plane had threatening letter on board
A passenger aircraft which had to turn back to Amsterdam's Schiphol airport shortly after take-off on Monday morning contained a letter saying there were explosives on board, airport police said on Monday evening.
Olympics: More disappointment for Dutch sportsmen
While the Dutch men's field hockey team scraped through their first match, judo fighter Dex Elmont could only manage fourth place and tennis player Robin Haase lost his first round match.
Nature areas to lose some of their protection
Junior environment minister Henk Bleker is to scrap rules designed to protect threatened plant and animal species from 13 Dutch sites covered by the European Union's Natura 2000 scheme.
Civil servants who refuse to marry gays will not be sacked
Civil servants who refuse to marry gay couples will not face the sack, home affairs minister Liesbeth Spies told parliament in a briefing on Monday.
Employers offer tax-free bonus instead of pay rise
The employers' organisation AWVN is suggesting workers should be given a tax-free bonus in 2013 rather than an increase in salary.
Large companies seeking consultation with unions and workers
Ten of the Netherlands' biggest companies want a return to the 'polder' model of government rather than the current policy of pushing through reforms without consultation.
MPs want action on chemical sector supervision
MPs are calling for a thorough investigation into the supervision of the chemical industry following the closure of the Norwegian tank storage company Odfjell.
Air France-KLM posts net loss, halves operating loss
Franco-Dutch airline Air France-KLM on Monday announced a second quarter net loss of €895m and a halving of its operating loss to €66m.
Expensive medicine payments should be scrapped, says health advisor
The health insurance council CVZ on Sunday told the health minister it wants to stop payments for three expensive medicines used in the treatment of metabolic disorders, the Nos reports.
Sunday 29 July 2012
Olympics: Marianne Vos gives Holland first gold
Cyclist Marianne Vos gave the Netherlands its first gold medal at the Olympics with a win in the 140-kilometre women's road race on Sunday.
Socialists continue to grow in the polls, majority coalition becomes more difficult
The Socialist party SP continues to grow in the polls and is winning voters from all the other parties, according to the latest poll published by Maurice de Hond on Sunday.
Olympics: Disappointing start for Dutch swimmers
Inge Dekker, Marleen Veldhuis, Femke Heemskerk and Ranomi Kromowidjojo on Saturday failed to defend the Olympic title they won four years ago in Peking in the 4x100 metres freestyle relay.
Friday 27 July 2012
Dutch photographer released by Islamic captors in Syria
A Dutch and a British freelance photographer are back in Turkey after being held for a week by radical Islamic rebels in Syria, the NRC reports.
Four vocational training colleges latest to join derivatives scandal
Four large vocational college groups are the latest public institutions to have become embroiled in the derivatives scandal, the Telegraaf reports on Friday.
Half Amsterdam-based companies are actually freelancers
Half of the 94,000 companies registered in Amsterdam are actually freelancers with no personnel, according to new research by the city council's statistics office O&S.
Declining bike sales hit Accell in the Netherlands
Europe's biggest bicycle maker, the Heerenveen-based Accell Group, has been hit by falling bike sales, the Financieele Dagblad reports.
Where have all the CDA leader's Twitter followers come from?
CDA leader Sybrand van Haersma Buma has generated over 24,000 Twitter followers in a short space of time, but a lot of questions are being raised about where they came from.
Belgian newspaper group eyes KPN's BASE subsidiary
Belgian newspaper group Persgroep, which owns Dutch papers Het Parool, AD, Trouw and the Volkskrant, is a potential bidder for KPN's Belgian telecoms arm BASE, according to Belgian paper De Tijd.
Rabobank to cut 3,000 jobs in the Netherlands
Non-listed Rabobank is to reduce its workforce in the Netherlands by 3,000 over the coming years but compulsory redundancies will not be necessary, the Financieele Dagblad reports on Friday.
The Netherlands suspends aid to Rwanda over Congo rebels
The Netherlands has stopped supplying aid to Rwanda until the authorities suspend help to rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the foreign ministry has told the Financial Times.
Rabobank has sacked four bankers involved in Libor scandal: FD
Rabobank sacked in 2008 and 2011 a total of four members of staff who may have been involved in the Libor interest rate-fixing scandal, the Financieele Dagblad reports on Friday, quoting financial sector sources.
Thursday 26 July 2012
Parliament recalled for a second time to debate eurozone crisis
Parliament is recalling party finance specialists for the second time this summer recess to debate the financial situation in Greece and the rest of the eurozone, Nos television reports.
Rotterdam storage group Odfjell closes down more tanks
Norwegian tank storage company Odfjell has closed down a further 50 tanks at its Rotterdam site because of safety concerns, the company confirmed on Thursday.
Old VVD Facebook posts upsets Spain
A month-old Facebook post on the VVD’s election campaign page has led to protests in Spain after it was picked up by the Brussels’ correspondent of El Mundo, the NRC reports.
Statistics say the Netherlands should pick up six Olympic golds
The Netherlands should win six gold, seven silver and six bronze medals at the London Olympics, based on the country’s performance at previous games.
Staffing agency Randstad sees earnings almost halve
Randstad, the world's second largest staffing agency, reported a large drop in second quarter profits on Thursday.
Shell earnings fall on lower oil prices
Oil giant Shell booked net profit of $6bn in the second quarter of this year, down from $8bn in the year-earlier period. The drop is due to the 'spectacular' fall in oil and gas prices, the Financieele Dagblad said.
The Dutch get married later
The average age of a Dutch man when he gets married for the first time is 37, while women are almost 34 years old, according to new figures from the national statistics office CBS quoted by the Telegraaf.
Save an animal hotline 'a success'
Some 5,000 calls a month have been made to the special animal hotline set up by the government earlier this year.
NS service performance monitor misses key elements: RTL
The way Dutch Rail (NS) self-assesses its performance is lacking in several key areas, according to RTL news
Little improvement in the number of female bosses
Two studies out on Thursday show efforts to boost the number of women in upper layers of management at Dutch companies are not having much effect.
Bottom of housing market slide not yet in sight: ABN Amro
The slide in house prices is set to continue for some time to come with ABN Amro economists forecasting an 8% drop next year, the Volkskrant said on Thursday.
Police intervene after partygoers rampage in Rotterdam (update)
Six people were arrested when riot police were called out to restore order in central Rotterdam in the early hours of Thursday morning after partygoers went on the rampage.
Wednesday 25 July 2012
MPs call for debate on latest Greek, eurozone developments
MPs from the eurosceptic SP and PVV plus the staunchly pro-European D66 on Wednesday called for a debate on the latest developments in Greece and the eurozone.
Utrecht asbestos scare: evacuation remains in force
It is still unclear when hundreds of people forced to leave their homes in Utrecht because of an asbestos scare will be able to return, news agency ANP said on Wednesday.
Gangland boss Willem Holleeder to write magazine column
Holland's most notorious criminal, kidnapper and blackmailer Willem Holleeder, is to write a column for weekly Nieuwe Revu, the magazine said on Wednesday.
Business confidence sinks to 2.5 year low
Dutch business confidence sunk to its lowest level in 2.5 years in July, the national statistics office CBS said on Wednesday.
Mecom books lower sales, profit in the Netherlands
Mecom booked a 6% decline in revenue from its Dutch activities in the first half of this year, the Britain-based newspaper group said on Wednesday.
Information provider Wolters Kluwer boosts first half turnover
Publishing group Wolters Kluwer booked a 7% increase in sales in the first six months of this year, thanks to the American market.
'A2 motorway could have a top speed of 170 kph without problems'
The A2 motorway, at the centre of a campaign to have the speed limit increased from 100 kph to 130 kph, could take cars going much faster without breaking noise nuisance norms, according to research for Trouw.
Strong sun warning issued
The public health institute RIVM on Wednesday took the unusual step of issuing a strong sun warning, urging people to cover up outdoors because of the risk of burning.
White, professional politicians set to dominate new parliament
Just one person with Surinamese or Antillean origins is likely to be elected to the 150-seat parliament in the September general election, while the number of people with business experience is likely to be halved.
Tuesday 24 July 2012
Want to swim? Avoid the rivers and there are jams to the beach
The Netherlands biggest rivers such as the Rhine, Meuse and Waal are the most dangerous places in the country to swim because of the shipping and the treacherous currents, government officials told website nu.nl on Tuesday.
Utrecht asbestos scare: more people told to leave their homes
The 174 families forced out of their homes in Utrecht because of the asbestos scare are to be given €150 in compensation by housing corporation Mitros, the organisation said on Tuesday.
Satnav maker TomTom sees sales shrink but net profit rises
Satellite navigation system maker TomTom said on Tuesday it had booked an increase in net profit in the second quarter of 2012 but sales were down overall.
No Gay Pride for Ajax: match against PSV comes first, says club
Amsterdam football club Ajax has turned down an invitation to take part in this year’s Gay Pride boat parade, the AD reports on Tuesday.
Sports Illustrated forecasts five golds for Dutch at Olympics
American magazine Sports Illustrated says the Netherlands will win five gold medals at the Olympic Games which kick off in London on Friday.
ING buys time by appealing against Brussels' restructuring plan
ING said on Tuesday it is to appeal against the European Commission’s decision to reaffirm the break-up of the Dutch financial services group.
KPN’s earnings fall again in second quarter, cuts dividends
Despite a cost-cutting programme, telecoms group KPN on Tuesday announced a 25% decline in net profit to €315m due to intense competition from other providers and internet-based smart phone applications.
Moody's downgrades Dutch economic outlook to negative
Ratings agency Moody’s has downgraded the economic outlooks in the Netherlands, German and Luxemburg from stable to negative, due to developments in the eurozone.
Monday 23 July 2012
Asbestos found in Utrecht homes, dozens evacuated (update)
High concentrations of asbestos have been found in and around an apartment block in Utrecht’s district of Kanaleneiland, the city’s deputy mayor said on Monday.
More people have problems paying for health insurance
There was a 35% rise in the number of people having difficulty in paying their health insurance premiums in the first six months of this year, according to research by the NRC.
Cannabis addiction up but Holland has fewer heavy drinkers
The number of people considered to be addicted to cannabis tripled between 2000 and 2010, according to addiction institute Trimbos on Monday.
Two more jailed in connection with Amsterdam daycare abuse case
Two men were jailed for 42 months and nine months on child abuse charges by a court in Amsterdam on Monday.
Brussels opens 'in-depth' probe into TNT Express takeover by UPS
The European Commission has ordered an 'in-depth investigation' into the takeover of Dutch express delivery group TNT Express by US peer UPS.
Asbestos found in Utrecht homes, dozens evacuated
Dozens of people evacuated from their homes in the Utrecht district of Kanaleneiland on Sunday because of an asbestos scare will have to spend at least one more night in a hotel, news agency ANP reports.
Universities invest in derivatives, speculate on interest rates
Dutch universities are faced with losing tens of millions of euros from their investments in complicated interest rate-based products, the Financieele Dagblad reports on Monday.
Philips Q2 net profit improves as reorganisation takes effect
Electronics giant Philips posted net profit of €167m in the second quarter of this year, as the reorganisation set in motion by chief executive Frans van Houten began to have an effect.
Sunday 22 July 2012
Dutch couple among Zanzibar ferry victims
A Dutch couple are among the victims of last week's Zanzibar ferry disaster, it was confirmed at the weekend.
Friday 20 July 2012
'Home copy charge should be extended to phones, tablets'
The organisation which collects home copy fees paid on blank CDs and DVDs wants to expand the levy to smartphones, tablets, personal computers and memory chips, sources have told website Webworld.
Strict Christian party loses European court fight on women MPs
A Dutch political party which operates according to a strict interpretation of the Bible and opposes votes for women has lost its efforts to stop women from becoming MPs on its behalf.
Frank de Boer criticised for gay footballer comments
Gay rights lobby group COC has demanded Ajax trainer Frank de Boer apologise for comments he made about gay sportsmen to broadcaster BNN.
Too much English at Rotterdam primary schools: court
Dutch primary schools should no longer be allowed to give more than 3.5 hours of lessons in English a week, according to a Rotterdam court ruling.
Dow Chemical in court for breaking Dutch environmental rules
The public prosecution department is taking legal action against chemicals giant Dow Chemical in Terneuzen for repeatedly breaking environmental laws, Nos reports on Friday.
Holland's widest motorway may get higher speed limit
Transport minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen is to draft legislation allowing motorists to drive at 130 kph on part of the A2 motorway at night, she told Radio 1 on Friday.
Nigerians arrested at Schiphol with €1.2m in cash
Police at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport have arrested two Nigerian nationals who were carrying a total of €1.2m in cash, news agency ANP reports.
Heineken makes €3.3bn bid to buy out Asia Pacific Breweries partner
Dutch brewer Heineken has made a S$5.1bn (€3.3bn) offer to buy out its partner in Asia Pacific Breweries, stirring up a potential battle for control of the company.
Teen solo sailor Laura Dekker stalked by paedophile for a year
A 60-year-old paedophile, currently in court accused of child abuse and the possession of child pornography, spent a year pursuing teenage solo sailor Laura Dekker, the AD reports on Friday.
Rabobank bank card restrictions cut fraud
Rabobank’s decision to stop customers using their bank cards to withdraw money from cash machines outside Europe has resulted in an 85% drop in skimming incidents, the bank said on Friday.
Thursday 19 July 2012
12-year-old is Schiphol airport's youngest smuggler
A 12-year-old boy from Mali was arrested at Schiphol airport on Wednesday on suspicion of smuggling heroin, police said on Thursday.
Jobless total rising for a year, youth employment hardest hit
The Dutch unemployment rate rose to 6.3% in June, marking a year of steady increases, the national statistics office CBS said on Thursday.
Mecom chief quits, could herald split-up: FD
The chief executive of British media group Mecom, which owns Wegener and Media Groep Limburg, resigned after a board meeting on Thursday following shareholder pressure.
SUV hater 'wanted to protect the environment'
A man who admitted deliberately scratching five SUV cars and is suspected of attacking several more may end up with a community service sentence, the Telegraaf reports on Thursday.
Rotterdam airport signs up British Airways
Britain's biggest airline BA is to begin providing three services a day between Rotterdam airport and London Heathrow from December.
Stork 'postpones' private placement, blames market conditions
Engineering group Stork is 'postponing' the private placement of shares totalling €315m citing 'difficult market conditions'.
Dutch cultural institute in Paris to close, staff protest
Staff at the Dutch cultural institute in Paris, the Institut Neerlandais, have begun a petition to the queen against the closure of the organisation because of budget cuts.
Five Dutch nationals rescued from Zanzibar ferry
Five Dutch nationals are among those rescued after a ferry carrying 280 people capsized off the coast of Zanzibar, killing at least 30 people.
Bankrupt man jailed for insulting queen Beatrix
A 47-year-old man has been given 80 hours community service and a 90 day jail term, 77 days suspended, for insulting queen Beatrix and sending threatening letters to two mayors, urging them to cancel Queen's Day celebrations.
Airport police close net around turkey sandwich saboteur: Telegraaf
Police at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport have been able to establish at what point in the production process needles must have been inserted into six turkey sandwiches which ended up on Delta Airline flights, the Telegraaf reports on Thursday.
Pension cuts loom for millions as funds' financial buffers shrink
The country’s biggest pension funds, including the giant civil service fund ABP and healthcare sector fund PFZW, will very probably have to cut payouts next year because of reduced financial buffers.
Dutch royal family is most expensive in western Europe
The Dutch royal family has overtaken that of Britain to become the most expensive in western Europe, according to annual research by Belgian professor Herman Matthijs.
Wednesday 18 July 2012
House sales boom in June but first half sales remain flat
Around 16,000 houses were sold in June, nearly 70% more than in the year-earlier period, the land registry office said on Wednesday.
Smart phone banking grows in popularity
The number of Dutch people using their smart phone to pay bills and check their bank balance increased by 17.5% in the second quarter of 2012, according to figures from telecom analyst Telecompaper.
Project developer sues Noord-Holland province over land values
Project developer Chipshol, which is embroiled in a long-running dispute over land around Schiphol airport, is suing the province of Noord-Holland for €9m, reports press agency Novum.
Business improves at Amsterdam port
Amsterdam port booked an increase in turnover of 1.5% in the first six months of 2012 compared with the year-earlier period, figures released on Wednesday by the port authority show.
Town hall destroyed by fire after night-time attack by two cars
The town hall in the Brabant village of Waalre has been destroyed by fire, apparently caused after two cars drove at the building in the early hours of the morning.
ASML upbeat on 2012 second half
Veldhoven-based chip machinery maker ASML booked turnover and net profit slightly up on analysts' forecasts in the second quarter of the year.
Spending in cafes drops significantly, a day out costs much more
People are spending a lot less money during a night out in a cafe, according to figures released by Bedrijfschap Horeca, the organisation that tracks turnover in the catering sector.
Community service and not guilty verdicts for football hooligans
Arnhem appeal court on Tuesday sentenced 11 Utrecht football supporters to community service and found four not guilty of rioting during last December's match between Utrecht and Twente.
Queen Beatrix has no plans to hand back some of her salary
Queen Beatrix has no plans to follow the example of Spanish king Juan Carlos and hand back some of her salary because of the economic crisis, the state information service RVD told RTL news on Wednesday.
The Netherlands' smallest school closes down
The Netherlands' smallest school closes its doors for the last time today, because falling pupil numbers have made it financially untenable.
Failing chemical sector firms rarely closed down, says AD
The supervision of the chemical industry is a sham, with inspections rarely leading to tough action such as closure and inspectors merely having 'a quiet word' with the management, the AD reports on Wednesday
TNS Nipo poll gives Socialists a four-seat lead
The latest TNS Nipo opinion poll shows the Socialist Party is stretching its lead over the VVD Liberals, while Labour continues to trail in third place.
Tuesday 17 July 2012
Council of State halts deportation of Somali refugees
The Council of State on Tuesday ruled the Netherlands must stop deporting failed Somali asylum seekers because of the continuing violence - effectively reversing government policy.
Later pension age will reduce pensioner total by 500,000
Increasing the state pension age to 67 by 2023 will delay the pensions of 500,000 people, according to calculations by national statistics office CBS.
Needles found in airline sandwiches
The FBI is investigating how needles came to be placed in sandwiches served on four Delta Airline flights from Amsterdam to the US on Sunday.
School swimming lessons out of favour
Just 42% of Dutch primary schools still organise subsidised swimming lessons, according to new figures from the local authorities association VNG.
Turkish groups call for probe into fatal row between neighbours
Turkish organisations in the Netherlands have called for a ‘far-reaching and independent’ investigation into a dispute between neighbours which led to the death of 64-year-old Aziz Kara.
Commercial property still over-valued by €37bn: Arcadis
Investors, business and government must be prepared to write off a further €37bn on their Dutch commercial property investments, according to civil engineering group Arcadis in Tuesday's Trouw.
Political parties have €24m to spend, PVV remains a mystery
The Netherlands' main political parties boosted their assets considerably last year and now have a combined €24.2bn in their party coffers to spend, according to research by the Financieele Dagblad.
Charities largely spared by crisis as donations rise again
The Netherlands' biggest charities appear to be largely immune from the economic crisis, with donations rising an average 4% last year, according to research by the Volkskrant.
Romney will create 65,000 jobs in the Netherlands: Obama team
If Republican Mitt Romney becomes president of the US in November, his policies will create 65,000 jobs in the Netherlands - according to Barack Obama's campaign team.
Dutch tourists injured in Norwegian minibus crash
A number of Dutch tourists were taken to hospital when the minibus they were travelling in flipped over after hitting an obstacle close to Stavanger in southern Norway on Monday afternoon.
Nijmegen four-day march starts
A total 41,272 people have signed up for this year's Nijmegen Vierdaagse, or four-day march, which traditionally starts on the third Tuesday in July.
Monday 16 July 2012
Campaign to encourage greenhouse growers to employ locals is a flop
A special programme set up by Rotterdam city council to encourage people claiming welfare benefits to work in the horticultural industry has resulted in just five people being given a permanent job, the Telegraaf reports.
Bankruptcy rate rises 25%
The number of companies going bankrupt rose 25% in the first six months of the year to nearly 4,000, according to new figures from the national statistics office CBS.
More students sign up for 'lottery' university subjects
Almost 41,000 would-be students have signed up for university and college courses which require a lottery for places, a slight increase on last year, higher education body Duo said on Monday.
PSV agrees five-year contract with Luciano Narsingh
PSV Eindhoven and SC Heerenveen have agreed transfer terms for young international Luciano Narsingh after Ajax and the Frisian club failed to reach a deal.
Human rights court criticises Holland over drugs conviction
The Netherlands made serious mistakes when it convicted a British national for drugs smuggling based on the evidence of an informer who refused to be questioned in court, the European Court of Human Rights said in a ruling last week.
Sharp rise in ethnic minority youth unemployment
The unemployment rate among youngsters with an ethnic minority background rose between 22% and 29% over the first three months of this year, compared with 10% for the native Dutch, according to new research by the Forum institute.
Minister says he'll guide one pension fund through reform process
Social affairs minister Henk Kamp has told the Financieele Dagblad he will personally guide one pension fund through the process of switching to a new flexible pension contract.
Two golds for Dutch schoolboys at mathematics Olympiad
The Dutch team at this year's high school Mathematics Olympiad won two gold and three bronze medals, making the Netherlands and Britain jointly the most successful western European teams at the event.
UPS takeover of TNT delayed, may hit PostNL dividend this year
The European Commission's review of the takeover of Dutch firm TNT Express by UPS will delay finalisation of the deal until the fourth quarter of this year, the American delivery giant said in a statement.
New company bosses earn less
There has been a structural reduction in the salary packages awarded to senior executives in the Netherlands, taking average annual earnings down 23% to around €1m, according to research by the Volkskrant.
Little change in new opinion poll, SP and VVD neck and neck
A slight rise in support for the VVD means the right-wing Liberals and Socialist Party are neck and neck in the latest Maurice de Hond opinion poll, published on Sunday.
Kingfisher population down to 100 pairs
There are just 100 breeding pairs of kingfishers in the Netherlands, as the short but very cold snap this winter reduced the remaining population by 75%, according to bird experts.
Violence against the police is getting nastier, says police chief
There were 405 registered incidents of violence against the police in the past three months, including 40 attempts to run over police officers, according to media reports at the weekend.
Saturday 14 July 2012
At least 600 jobs go as cannabis cafe reforms begin to bite
At least 600 people have lost their jobs since all cannabis cafes in the south of the country were turned into members' only clubs, the NRC reports on Saturday.
Friday 13 July 2012
SNS Reaal shares plunge following fears over financial situation
Shares in financial services group SNS Reaal were down around 15% in late trading on Friday following reports that the group may be considering selling two of its insurance units.
Dutch firm may be implicated in European shrimp cartel
The European Commission is investigating a possible cartel in the trade of North Sea shrimp which has affected Dutch, German, French and Belgian consumers, the organisation said in a statement on Friday.
The Hague orders former colony Curaçao to clean up its finances
The former Dutch colony of Curaçao has been given until September by the government in The Hague to draw up a plan to get its finances in order.
Poor weather leads to boom in last-minute sun holidays
The wet weather so far this summer means more people are booking last-minute sunshine holidays, with one holiday firm reporting a 40% rise in late bookings, Nos television reports.
Crime boss ordered to repay nearly €18m in blackmail cash
Dutch crime boss Willem Holleeder has been ordered to repay nearly €18m which he is said to have made from blackmailing three businessmen.
Goldman Sachs advises SNS Real about 'rigorous' shake-up
Dutch financial services group SNS Real has brought in Goldman Sachs to look into various scenarios for restoring its financial health, the Financieele Dagblad said on Friday.
Construction group Ballast Nedam issues profit warning
Construction company Ballast Nedam on Friday issued a profit warning because of the 'very difficult' market conditions.
Minister prepares to farm out four train services, NS furious
Transport minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen is preparing to put four regional train routes out to public tender, much to the fury of national rail operator NS, according to media reports on Friday.
State pension could be means-tested, says pensioner party leader
The state pension system (AOW) could eventually become means-tested, so that wealthy pensioners would receive less cash, Henk Krol, leader of the 50Plus party, says in an interview with Friday's Volkskrant.
FC Twente moves into next Europa League qualifying round
FC Twente moved into the second Europa League qualifying round on Thursday night with a 3-0 victory over Andorran side UE Santa Coloma.
IT group Capgemini poised to sack Dutch staff
IT services group Capgemini is in talks with the company works council on a new redundancy round in the Netherlands, news agency ANP reports.
Thursday 12 July 2012
Finance specialist MPs debate Spanish bail-out, many critical voices
Spanish bank bosses should have their salaries maximised and be stopped from claiming bonuses as conditions for getting EU bail-out cash, Christian Democrat and Labour MPs said on Thursday.
Gay Iraqis are now eligible for asylum in the Netherlands
The situation facing gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in Iraq is so serious that they do now qualify for asylum in the Netherlands, immigration minister Gerd Leers said on Thursday.
Export growth reaches 18 month high
The value of Dutch exports rose 9% in May, compared with a year ago, showing the fastest growth in the past 18 months, the national statistics office CBS said on Thursday.
House sales pick up in second quarter but prices fall again
There are signs the housing market may be beginning to recover following the publication of new figures showing a rise in sales over the past three months.
Ministers to discuss reducing size of parliament and senate
Ministers will discuss plans to reduce the size of the upper and lower houses of parliament at Friday's cabinet meeting, the Volkskrant reports on Thursday.
Treasury recouped €4.5bn from fraudsters last year
The tax office earned €4bn in fines and penalties for non or late payment of taxes last year, justice minister Ivo Opstelten said on Thursday.
Liver cancer death rate doubles for men in 15 years
The number of men dying from liver cancer has doubled over the past 15 years, according to new figures from the national statistics office CBS.
Flexible contracts unpopular in health care sector
Flexible labour contracts are making working in the healthcare sector increasingly unpopular, according to research by the Abvakabo public sector workers' union.
Non-listed property funds need proper supervision, says watchdog
There are still serious problems at a number of non-listed property funds, the financial services watchdog AFM said on Thursday.
Wednesday 11 July 2012
Photographs are evidence of Dutch atrocities in Indonesia
Two photographs showing an execution in Indonesia have been found in a skip in Enschede. Until now, no pictorial evidence of Dutch atrocities committed in the former colony has ever surfaced.
386 arrested in Limburg since coffee shops became clubs
Police in Limburg have arrested 386 people for soft drugs offences since new rules for cannabis cafes came into effect in May, news agency ANP reports on Wednesday.
Dutch state pension age to rise in stages from next year
Next year some 200,000 to 225,000 people will have to wait a month past their 65th birthday before they can start collecting their state pension, the Telegraaf reports on Wednesday afternoon.
Tourist attraction bosses call for sunnier weather forecasts
Wrong forecasts are causing considerable damage to outdoor attractions as day trippers cancel plans to go out because of poor weather prospects, Joep Thonissen, head of tourist attraction association Recron told news agency ANP.
Sharia4Holland spokesman fined for threatening Geert Wilders
A member of fringe Muslim group Shariah4Holland has been fined €750 and sentenced to a one-month suspended jail sentence for threatening Geert Wilders, leader of the anti-Islam PVV.
Fines for slow students not illegal, says court
The government’s plan to charge slow students higher fees from the next academic year is not against the law and does not hinder people from going to university, a judge in The Hague ruled on Wednesday.
Few foreigners live in the Netherlands
The Netherlands has one of the lowest percentages of non-Dutch nationals living within its borders in the EU, according to new figures from the EU statistics office Eurostat.
VDL to buy Nedcar plant for €1, but nothing has been signed yet
Japan's Mitsubishi Motors has agreed to sell the Nedcar plant in Born, Limburg to Dutch industrial group VDL for a token €1, according to media reports on Wednesday.
Holland Financial Centre disappoints the sector: FD
A public-private sector initiative to boost the Netherlands' reputation as a financial centre has not met industry expectations, the Financieele Dagblad reports on Wednesday.
Exam results down slightly, but are not as bad as feared
Although the pass rate for this year's school leaving exams is down slightly, changes in the way final marks are calculated did not lead to the dramatic drop many had been expecting, the Volkskrant reports on Wednesday.
Stolen paintings worth €1.4m turn up at auction, 13 years later
Five paintings, including one by Dutch master Jan Steen, which were stolen from a house in Bilthoven, near Utrecht, 13 years ago have turned up at an art auction, news agency ANP reports.
Legal euthanasia has not led to more cases in the Netherlands
The introduction of legalised euthanasia in the Netherlands has not led to an increase in the number of cases according to a team of Dutch university researchers, writing in The Lancet magazine.
We've got too many hospitals, says health insurance chief
Some 15 hospitals could close down in the Netherlands without patients being worse off, according to Wim van der Meeren, head of the CZ health insurance group.
Pension age to rise in stages from next year, as senate votes yes
The Dutch state pension age is to increase in stages to 66 by 2019 and then go up to 67 in 2023, now new legislation has been approved by both houses of parliament.
TSMS, Samsung also in talks on chip machine firm ASML stake
TSMC and Samsung are also in talks with Dutch chip machinery maker ASML over an up to 10% stake, following a €4.1bn investment in the company by Intel, the Financial Times reports.
Tuesday 10 July 2012
Pear growing outstrips apples
For the first time ever, the Netherlands has more pear orchards than apple orchards, the national statistics office CBS said on Tuesday.
MPs recalled from holiday to debate Spanish bank support
Just a few days after closing for the summer, parliament is recalling party finance specialists to debate the decision by eurozone finance ministers to lend Spain €30bn to help its banks.
Senate backs establishment of national police force
On its last day of business before the summer recess, the upper house of parliament on Tuesday backed plans to establish a national police force.
The Netherlands near top of food security rankings
Food in the Netherlands is easily available, affordable and of good quality, placing the country in fifth place on a new ranking of 'food security'.
Chaos on the railways, again
Trains between Amsterdam and Amersfoort are not running on Tuesday afternoon and are unlikely to be back to normal until the evening, Dutch Rail says.
Late in paying your bills? Trial debtors' register gets green light
Work is under way to set up a national debt register which will stop consumers taking out loans if they are in arrears with other payments, the AD reports on Tuesday.
North and south Europe at odds, says finance minister
There could be arguments ahead between northern and southern European countries, finance minister Jan Kees de Jager said ahead of Monday night's meeting on the eurozone crisis.
Dutch credit rating lowered by small agency
The small American credit rating agency Egan-Jones has lowered the Netherlands' credit status from AA-minus to A because of the continuing debt crisis in Europe and the higher monetary burden the country is carrying.
Senate to debate pension age increase after all
The upper house of parliament, or senate, will on Tuesday debate the cabinet's plans to increase the state pension age to 67 after all, the Telegraaf reports.
Ajax gives up on Narsingh
Amsterdam football club Ajax no longer expects to add young international Luciano Narsingh to their squad for next season because Heerenveen has not accepted a higher bid, the Telegraaf reports on Tuesday.
Rich Arabs to save largest Dutch windfarm
Energy firm Taqa, owned by the oil rich state of Abu Dhabi, is about to commit to a milliion-dollar investment in a gigantic windfarm in the North Sea, the Telegraaf reports.
Occupy Utrecht calls it a day after tents are slashed
Protesters at the Occupy camp in Utrecht dismantled their camp on Monday evening after a number of tents were slashed with a knife by a ‘mentally-unstable homeless man’, local television reports.
Shell is 'world's biggest company'
Anglo-Dutch oil giant Royal Dutch Shell is the biggest company in the world, according to the 2012 Global 500 list published annually by Fortune Magazine.
Economic crisis, automation 'halves' stockbroking incomes
Stockbrokers’ income has halved over the past five years thanks in part to the credit and the economic crises, the Financieele Dagblad reports on Tuesday.
Government spends €2m on factory farm with one million chickens
The government is subsidising the development of what will be the Netherlands’ biggest factory farm with over a million chickens and 30,000 pigs, according to calculations by animal rights group Wakker Dier.
Intel invests €4.1bn in Dutch chip machinery maker ASML
Chip machinery maker ASML and American computer components maker Intel on Monday evening announced a €4bn agreement for the development of new generation product technology.
Monday 09 July 2012
The Netherlands often says 'nee' to policy from Brussels: research
The Netherlands is one of the EU member states most likely to vote 'no' to proposals put forward at meetings of European ministers, according to VoteWatch Europe, which monitors voting patterns.
Teaching assistant at blind school arrested for child abuse
A teaching assistant at a school for blind and partially sighted children has been arrested on child abuse charges, the public prosecution department said on Monday.
BMW confirms plans to build Minis in the Netherlands
German car maker BMW confirmed on Monday that it is to start producing the famous Mini car in the Netherlands. The car is currently produced at Oxford in Britain.
Olympic Gold for the Netherlands – from 1900
The Olympics haven’t started yet but the Netherlands has won gold already, albeit one that dates back to 1900, the Volkskrant writes on Monday.
Got a short surname? Facebook may ask you to prove you are real
Several Dutch users of the social network site Facebook have been blocked from using their accounts because their surnames are too short, newspaper Metro reports on Monday.
Make weathermen who get it wrong pay, say seaside councillors
Weather forecasters should be 'made to pay' for getting it wrong because mistakes cost companies 'hundreds of thousands of euros' on a daily basis, according to Labour councillors in the seaside town of Hoek van Holland.
Insurers ditch shares because of new solvency rules
Dutch insurance companies are moving away from shares because they are becoming too expensive, thanks to new solvency rules from Brussels, the Financieele Dagblad reports on Monday.
Set malfunction gives Merkel a moustache
German chancellor Angela Merkel was shown on the 18.00 hours Nos television news on Sunday with a 'Hitler' moustache - thanks to the set design.
Public broadcasters worried about election plans, more cuts loom
Public broadcasting companies are worried their financial position may become worse after the general election because the two Liberal parties and the PVV want to cut their budgets even further, the AD reports on Monday.
More people can't pay their bank debts, one in 12 are in arrears
The number of people who are behind in repaying bank loans rose slightly to 7.7% over the first six months of this year, but is set to reach 8% by the end of 2012, the credit registration agency BKR said on Monday.
Saturday 07 July 2012
Royals pose for traditional summer photograph
Crown prince Willem-Alexander, princess Máxima and their three daughters have again posed for their traditional summer holiday photographs, arriving by bike and with the three girls as usual in matching dresses.
More MPs leave the PVV as the election candidate list is published
Three MPs for the anti-immigration PVV are being forced out of parliament and one has already quit the party - the fourth to leave in under a week.
Talpa works on new reality tv show: pick a foster parent
Television production group Talpa is working on a new reality show in which foster children would be allowed to pick their favourite foster parents, news agency ANP reported on Saturday.
New polls show gains for the VVD
New polls by Maurice de Hond and Ipsos Synovate show gains of three seats for the right-wing Liberal VVD and prime minister Mark Rutte, taking the party's total to 29 and 35 respectively.
Failure to appoint ambassador could hit US-Dutch relations: NRC
A new US ambassador to the Netherlands is unlikely to be appointed before May 2013, a fact which could pressure the relationship between the two countries, the NRC reports, quoting diplomatic and civil service sources.
Dutch transport sector pension fund challenges Goldman Sachs
The Dutch transport sector's pension fund Pensioenfonds Vervoer is preparing to sue Goldman Sachs' asset management unit for €250m for failing to properly manage its portfolio up to 2010.
He's back: Louis van Gaal to return as Dutch national football coach
Louis van Gaal is to replace Bert van Marwijk as coach of the Dutch national football team. Van Marwijk quit last month after Oranje's poor showing in the Euro 2012 championships.
Friday 06 July 2012
VVD calls for cuts totalling €24bn to 'rebuild' the Netherlands
The ruling right-wing Liberal party published its manifesto for the September general election on Friday and called for spending cuts of €24bn to restore order to government finances.
Asparagus grower jailed for human trafficking
An asparagus grower has been jailed for three years for human trafficking and exploiting workers on her farm in the Brabant village of Someren.
No record at marathon parliamentary sitting
Thurday's marathon parliamentary sitting, aimed at clearing all outstanding debates and motions before the summer recess, was not the longest in history after all.
Consultancies hard hit by the crisis: FD
The Netherlands' bigger consultancy groups have been hit by the economic crisis and are being forced to redefine their strategies, the Financieele Dagblad reports on Friday.
The Netherlands to share IMF seat with Belgium
The Netherlands is to share a seat on the board of the International Monetary Fund with Belgium as part of a revamp of the organisation to increase the role of developing countries, news agency ANP reports on Friday.
Turkish brothers win the annual best raw herring award
The Atlantic fish shop in Leiden, run by two Dutch-Turkish brothers, has won the AD newspaper's 2012 award for supplying the best new raw herring in the country.
Office block values set to slide up to 20% this year: ABN Amro
The value of Dutch office properties will shrink by a further 15% to 20% this year, ABN Amro analysts say in a new report.
MPs demand action on dentists' fees, call for return of fixed prices
The future of an experiment allowing dentists to set their own fees appeared to be in doubt on Friday after parliament voted in favour of an immediate end.
Councils get tough on anti-social behaviour
The Netherlands' local councils handed out 27,000 fines for anti-social behaviour last year, a 300% rise on three years ago, according to justice ministry figures.
Writer Gerrit Komrij dies after a long illness
Dutch literary great Gerrit Komrij has died in hospital in Amsterdam at the age of 68 after a long illness.
Psychiatric assessment for crime suspects centre to shut
The Pieter Baan centre in Utrecht, where hundreds of crime suspects have had psychiatric assessments, is to close because of the high cost of managing and maintaining the complex, Trouw reports on Friday, quoting unnamed sources.
MPs back call to cancel new fighter jet, next cabinet will decide
As expected, a majority of MPs have backed calls for the Netherlands to pull out of the joint strike fighter jet project, 10 years after the order was originally placed.
Thursday 05 July 2012
Graduate unemployment rate doubles in three years
The unemployment rate among new graduates and vocational college leavers has doubled over the past three years, according to Maastricht University researchers, quoted by news agency Novum.
Former PVV councillor active on nazi group Stormfront website
A former councillor for the anti-immigration PVV in Noord Holland has close ties to the neo-nazi group Stormfront and submitted 2,200 items to the organisation's website, the Noord-Hollands Dagblad reported on Friday.
BMW to build Minis at Nedcar plant
German car maker BMW will begin producing Minis at the Nedcar plant in Limburg from the end of 2014, the NRC reports on Thursday.
Prime minister attacked over ESM bank support: is unanimity required?
Prime minister Mark Rutte faced criticism in parliament on Thursday as he updated MPs on last week's European summit at which eurozone leaders agreed to allow ailing banks to get direct support.
Five-party coalition backs commuter tax, even though they oppose it
The five-party coalition involved in drawing up austerity measures this year have voted to press forward with plans to scrap the tax break on commuters’ travel, even though four of the parties now oppose the plan.
El-Hamdaoui set for Fiorentina move after all
The transfer of sidelined Ajax striker Mounir El-Hamdaoui to Italian side Fiorentina appears to be back on track after the two clubs reached a deal on Wednesday evening, the Telegraaf reported on Thursday.
Q-fever victims to sue government for compensation
Some 400 people who became infected with the sheep and goat disease Q-fever during the recent epidemic are planning to sue the government for damages, lawyer Luc Rohof told television show Nieuwsuur.
10 public broadcaster presenters still earn more than the prime minister
At the moment, 10 presenters working for the public broadcasting companies earn more than the prime minister, but that will be reduced to eight next year, media minister Marja van Bijsterveldt has told MPs.
Stork's IPO ambitions may be hit by opposition to fighter jets
Possible plans for a stock exchange listing by industrial group Stork could be thwarted because parliament no longer backs buying the JSF jet fighter, the Financieele Dagblad said on Thursday.
Respite for pension funds as ministry relaxes interest rate rules
Dozens of pension funds may be spared cutting pay-outs next year as the social affairs ministry considers changing the way a crucial interest rate is calculated, the Financieele Dagblad reports on Thursday.
Wednesday 04 July 2012
Zeeland has third lowest jobless rate in Europe
The southern Dutch province of Zeeland has an unemployment rate of just 2.7%, the third lowest in Europe, according to research by the European statistics agency Eurostat.
No exceptions to slow student fine for athletes, says minister
Junior education minister Halbe Zijlstra is not prepared to make Olympic athletes an exception to the new system of fines for slow students, he told Nos radio on Wednesday.
There's an election in September, what about MPs' summer holidays?
Tomorrow (Thursday) is the last day of parliamentary business ahead of the official summer recess for MPs - but it is set to be a long one, with votes timetabled up until 03.30 hours on Friday morning.
Former PVV councillor found dead in woods near Utrecht
The body of a man found in woods near Utrecht has been identified as that of a former provincial councillor for the anti-immigration PVV, according to media reports on Wednesday afternoon.
The ones who got away from the PVV: What the papers say
The surprise desertion of two MPs from the anti-immigration, and now also overtly anti-European, PVV minutes after the presentation of the party manifesto has caused another shockwave in the increasingly rocky world of Dutch politics.
Police forces break privacy rules on security, access and time
Every police force in the country breaks the privacy rules on information about non-suspects to some extent, according to research by lobby group Bits of Freedom.
VVD back tracks on space research spending cuts
MPs from the ruling right-wing Liberal VVD have found alternative sources of government cash which they say would allow spending on space research to continue at its present levels.
Government firm on long-stay young refugees: no rethink
The government will not re-examine the asylum applications of youngsters who have lived in the Netherlands for more than eight years if they have family with them, immigration minister Gerd Leers told parliament on Tuesday evening.
Community centre closures cause up to 9,000 job losses
The closure of hundreds of community and drop-in advice centres over the past two years has led to the loss of between 8,000 and 9,000 jobs, according to research by sector organisation MOgroep.
Dutch Olympic athletes face fines for being too slow at university
At least a quarter of the Dutch squad for this summer's Olympics in London may end up with a fine for taking too long to finish their college or university degrees, the Volkskrant reports on Wednesday.
Immigration office softens stand on permits for Iranian nationals
The Dutch immigration service is to restart processing residency permit applications from Iranian nationals, apart from knowledge migrants in the petroleum, natural gas, and petrochemical industries, an IND spokesman confirmed to DutchNews.nl.
Tuesday 03 July 2012
Dissidents sabotage PVV manifesto launch with shock resignations
Two MPs for the anti-immigration PVV effectively sabotaged the presentation of the party’s election manifesto on Tuesday by making high profile resignations over Geert Wilders' leadership style.
The Netherlands cannot block emergency fund plans: Brussels
The Netherlands and other small sceptical member states are not in a position to block the formation of the permanent European emergency fund ESM, EU president Herman van Rompuy told the European parliament on Tuesday.
PostNL halts reorganisation until 2013
Postal company PostNL is halting the reorganisation of its delivery operations until 2013 following more complaints about the new centralised locations, the Financieele Dagblad reports on Tuesday.
Most MPs back ditching the JSF fighter jet, despite the cost
The future of Dutch plans to buy dozens of JSF fighter jets is in doubt on Tuesday after it emerged a majority of MPs think the agreement should be scrapped.
High Court orders another retrial for two terrorist suspects
Two men who were earlier found guilty of membership of a terrorist organisation should face a retrial, the High Court said on Tuesday.
Class sizes grow as number of teachers falls
Class numbers are growing in primary and secondary schools, with numbers up by 4% on 2011, junior education minister Halbe Zijlstra told parliament in a briefing on Tuesday.
Two PVV parliamentarians quit as party manifesto is published
Two parliamentarians for the PVV resigned on Tuesday, just moments after the publication of the anti-immigration party's manifesto for the September general election.
One in four social housing tenants earns too much to qualify
Over one in four Dutch households living in rent-controlled accommodation last year earned too much to actually qualify for social housing, according to new research from the national statistics office CBS.
Over 40% of the Dutch population is too fat
Around 6.5 million Dutch people are overweight, according to figures released on Tuesday by the central statistics office CBS.
Still problems at InHolland's media department, says Volkskrant
Some students following courses in media and entertainment management (MEM) at the InHolland college group are still wrongly given pass marks for their final year thesis, the Volkskrant reports on Tuesday.
KPN appoint interim Eric Hageman as new finance chief
KPN is to appoint Eric Hageman as its new chief financial officer to succeed Carla Smits-Nusteling, who resigned in January after a dispute over the new management set-up at the telecoms company.
The Netherlands has too many charities
The Netherlands has around 9,000 charities, many of which overlap, and the Dutch are being driven mad with all the appeals they receive, according to Theo van Loon, who runs a charity for the mentally handicapped.
Indonesia ditches Dutch tank deal, goes to Germany instead
Indonesia has abandoned plans to buy 80 second-hand tanks from the Dutch army and has placed the order with Germany instead, according to local media reports.
KPN introduces unlimited calls and texts tariff
Telecom company KPN has become the first provider in the Netherlands to offer unlimited mobile phone calls and text messaging with no extra costs, opening up the prospect of a new price war.
PostNL does not keep letters and parcels secure enough: Opta
Postal company PostNL is breaking the law on keeping letters and parcels secure, telecom watchdog Opta says on its website.
Cabinet firm on scrapping Amsterdam, Rotterdam borough councils
The government is determined to press ahead with legislation abolishing borough councils in Rotterdam and Amsterdam before the election, home affairs minister Liesbeth Spies told parliament on Monday evening.
ProRail bosses forego partial bonus but get a pay rise instead
The supervisory board of rail track operator ProRail has decided not to approve the final part of the executive board's 2011 bonuses, transport minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen told parliament in a briefing.
Monday 02 July 2012
The Netherlands has second lowest jobless total in Europe
The Dutch unemployment rate according to European calculations is 5.1%, the second lowest in the EU, behind Austria (4.1%), the Eurostat statistics office said on Monday.
Cause of Vodafone fire undetermined
An official investigation into the massive fire at a Vodafone transmission centre in Rotterdam in April has failed to find the cause of the blaze, according to media reports on Monday.
One in five people in the Netherlands is retired, but not all are over 65
More than three million people in the Netherlands are retired, meaning that almost one in five of the population has officially ended their working life, according to new figures from the national statistics office.
Ditch water in west so polluted a pesticide ban is needed: report
Ditch water in parts of the country where the bulb industry is concentrated is so polluted that urgent measures need to be taken, according to Leiden University researchers in Monday's Trouw.
Five party congresses, prospective prime ministers: What the papers say
One more week and Dutch politicians will be off to the south of France or a campsite on the Veluwe national park for a quick respite before campaigning begins in earnest for the September 12 general election. Last weekend, five parties presented their manifestos and candidates. What the papers say.
State vaccine producer sold to Indian production giant SII
The production department of the state-owned vaccine maker NVI, which makes products for national and international vaccination programmes, has been sold to the Serum Institute of India for €32m, the Financieele Dagblad reports on Monday.
Housing corporation Vestia scraps renovations, stops new projects
Struggling housing corporation Vestia is to scrap 4,700 projects to build new homes and renovate existing ones in an effort to save €1.1bn.
Speed limit raised to 100 kph on key ring roads
The speed limit on part of the A12 around Voorburg, western parts of the A10 around Amsterdam and A13 at Overschie is being increased from 80 kph to 100 kph.
Sunday 01 July 2012
Dutch sprinters score gold and silver at European championships
The Dutch men’s 4x100m relay team took the gold medal at the European championships in Helskinki on Sunday, in a new national record time of 38.34.
Election campaigns become clearer as five parties hold congresses
Five of the country's main political parties held mass meetings on Saturday to finalise their plans for the September 12 general election.
Increase in legal drinking age set to rise to 18
It is now very likely the legal age for buying wine and beer in the Netherlands will rise from 16 to 18, possibly even ahead of the September general election.
André Kuipers arrives back on earth after 193 days in space
Dutch astronaut André Kuipers arrived back on Earth on Sunday morning after a six month stay on the ISS international space station.
Gold and silver for Dutch sprinters at European championships
Dutch sprinters Churandy Martina and Patrick van Luijk took gold and silver in the 200m at the European athletics championships in Helsinki on Saturday.
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