Daily paper group PCM is to join forces with millionaire investor Marcel Boekhoorn to launch a free quality tabloid newspaper. The aim is to rival Spits and Metro and attract younger readers who are used to getting their news for free.

PCM chairman Ton aan de Stegge and Boekhoorn know each other from telecoms firm Telfort. Both had been working independently on freesheet plans. ‘You can either go all out to compete or join forces,’ Aan de Stegge told the Financieele Dagblad. ‘There is no point in both coming up with a party piece.’
The alliance means the Volkskrant’s plans to launch its own quality tabloid have been put on ice.