DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

29 May 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Election round-up: Krol takes to the skies, Asscher meets Turkish organisations, Denk criticised

March 13, 2017

The leader of the pensioners’ party 50Plus, Henk Krol, has set off on a one-day helicopter tour of the country with less than 48 hours to go until the election.

Krol set off from Lelystad airfield at 9.30am and is visiting 10 locations from Limburg to Friesland. At his first stop, the Amsterdam ArenA, he was handed a petition supporting his plan to bring the pension age back down to 65.

Krol scaled down his campaign a week ago after a series of TV blunders over the cost of his pension policy saw his opinion poll ratings fall sharply, but the 50Plus leader recovered some ground with a spirited performance in the opening leaders’ TV debate a week ago.

Asscher attacks Nazi gestures in Amsterdam

Labour party leader and deputy prime minister Lodewijk Asscher has attacked demonstrators who gave Hitler salutes and used other Nazi references as they protested against the Dutch government’s handling of the diplomatic row with Turkey.

Asscher met Turkish community leaders at his ministry to call for them to help ‘de-escalate’ the dispute, which has led to protests on the streets of Rotterdam and Amsterdam on successive nights. ‘Everyone round the table felt hurt by the suggestion that Nazi practices are happening here.’

Asscher told NOS he was shocked to see Nazi gestures and slogans on the capital’s Plein 40-45, whose name commemorates the wartime occupation by Germany. ‘If you do that there’s something wrong with you between the ears,’ he said.

Muslim community leaders have accused Denk of using ‘aggressive campaigning methods’ to secure votes from the Muslim population.

Muslims ‘under pressure’ from Denk

The Council of Moroccan Mosques in the Netherlands said the party, founded by two former Labour MPs of Turkish origin, used emotional language and was polarising the debate by insisting that Muslims should vote for them because of their belief or ethnic origin.

‘You cross a line if, like Denk, you tell people they should vote for you or otherwise they’re traitors,’ said spokesman Saïd Bouharrou.

Denk candidate Farid Azarkan dismissed the council’s criticisms as unfounded.

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Election Politics
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Cracks grow in coalition as Faber clashes with party leaders
Fail again, fail louder: Wilders’ asylum plan is a hollow shell
Province calls for wolf to be culled after attack on woman
Lily growers face restrictions after doctor's pesticide petition
Dutch destinations: venture back into the Veluwe
NewsHomeEconomyArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now