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Sex education in schools needs an update, campaign groups say

School sex education lessons should be about more than condoms and the pill, and should also tackle having fun, gender diversity and sexual boundaries, student groups, sexual health organisations and other campaign groups said on Monday. In total, 37 organisations signed up for the manifesto, which was initiated by the Rutgers sexual health centre. Sex education at school misses out on key information and needs reform, the organisations say. ‘Youngsters give their sex education classes a score of 5.8 out... More >

Piet Adema named new agriculture minister

Former ChristenUnie party chairman Piet Adema has been named as the new agriculture minister, succeeding Henk Staghouwer. The appointment of Adema, 57, was confirmed on Monday, four weeks after Staghouwer decided he was ‘not the right person’ for the job after nine months in office. He was the first minister to resign from Mark Rutte’s fourth cabinet. As agriculture minister his main role will be to draw up plans for the future of the farming industry, which is facing severe... More >

HAK to stop veg production for six weeks

Dutch food company HAK, best known for its jars of apple sauce, brown beans and peas, is halting production for six weeks from January because of the uncertainty over energy prices. The current high level is making it uneconomic to produce jars of preserved fruit and veg during the winter months, director Timo Hoogeboom said. ‘Current energy costs are exorbitant and up 10 times on a year ago,’ he said. ‘We are doing everything we can to cover the cost... More >

Recession fears grow as PMI drops below 50

The Dutch purchasing managers’ index (PMI) has dropped below the crucial level of 50 for the first time in two years, strengthening fears that a recession is imminent. The PMI, measured by managers’ association Nevi, is based on a monthly survey of supply chain managers to gauge their perceptions of whether market conditions are expanding or contracting. The index figure fell from 52.6 in August to 49.0 in September. A score below 50 means the majority of managers see a... More >

Ice rink owners face energy crisis

The Dutch outdoor skating season is about to start but the sector is facing major concerns about the cost of keeping the rinks frozen. Ice rink owners say they will need millions of euros in additional funding to keep the tracks open past the end of the year because of soaring energy costs. Dennis van Rijswijk, chairman of rink owners association VKN, told broadcaster NOS the sector requires between €5 million and €8 million to keep afloat. ‘Without action, rinks... More >

Thousands take part in Open House Day

Estate agents’ organisation NVM held its first ‘open house day’ in three years this weekend, in an effort to ramp up interest in homes that have been on the market for some time. In total, 11,000 houses were open for visitors and some 55,000 potential buyers saw at least one property for sale, the NVM said. The last open day took place in 2019, but a shortage of housing and coronavirus restrictions put paid to the event for the past... More >

More homes have heat pumps

The number of heat pumps in use in the Netherlands rose almost 50% last year as thousands of homeowners switched from gas-fired central heating. However, schools, hospitals and other public buildings were slower to make the change, with an increase of just 12%, indicating a slowdown, national statistics agency CBS said on Monday. In total, 368,000 new heat pumps were installed last year, of which 325,000 were placed in private homes. Some 1.3 million heat pumps are now in use,... More >

Deaths by falling double in 10 years

The number of people dying after a fall has doubled in the last 10 years, reaching 5,400 in 2021, national statistics agency CBS said on Monday. People over the age of 80 and dementia patients are most likely to die after falling, tripping over something or slipping, the CBS found. Falls account for some 3% of deaths a year. Six in 10 people who died in a fall last year were living in residential care. Most of them had dementia... More >

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