With Code Black looming in hospitals, the Dutch government brings in a ‘lockdown lite’ in the hope of bringing infections down by Sinterklaas. But at least there’ll be less black on the faces of the saint’s entourage, as research show ‘sooty Piets’ have become the dominant strain. December 5 is also the date when Mark Rutte hopes to have his fourth cabinet installed, a mere nine months after the general election. In sports news, Feyenoord’s plans for a new stadium are torpedoed by rising building costs and Ajax reach a settlement with Appie Nouri’s family.

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Netherlands to bring in partial lockdown, cafes to close from 7pm

Netherlands sets new record of 16,324 coronavirus cases in 24 hours

‘Code Black scenario looming’ if coronavirus infections do not decline

Sinterklaas parades, Carnaval events and D66 congress cancelled

Coalition parties hopeful of reaching outline agreement by December 5

Netherlands will try to repatriate five terrorist suspects to face trial

Yago Riedijk speaks about marriage to IS teenager Shamima Begum in Syria

Utrecht and Den Haag to follow Amsterdam in restricting sales to private landlords

Bloemendaal becomes first place in Netherlands with average €1m house price

 Sooty-faced Piets become dominant type in Sinterklaas parades

Sport

Mounting costs blow Feyenoord’s new stadium on the Maas out of the water

Ajax reach settlement with family of brain damaged former player Appie Nouri

PSV draw level with Ajax at top of Eredivisie after champions draw 0-0

Verstappen expects F1 title race to go to the wire after Mexico win