The Netherlands said ‘tot ziens’ to coronavirus restrictions this week. Photo: ANP/HH/ Peter Hilz
Disgrace and disappointment dominate a week in which Hugo de Jonge again dodged questions about his part in a deal to buy substandard face masks that made three enterprising young lobbyists €20 million richer. His successor as health minister, Ernst Kuipers, warned that the pandemic isn’t over but we’re going to remove all the restrictions anyway. A book that accused a Jewish notary of betraying Anne Frank’s family is withdrawn from sale after an independent report dismantles its central claims. The war in Ukraine prompts a startling change of tone in how Dutch politicians talk about refugees, which doesn’t go unnoticed. And there’s plenty of sporting ophef as Louis van Gaal lashes out against FIFA and disgraced football director Marc Overmars is welcomed with open arms and overt amnesia in Antwerp.
Exclusive giveaway for Patrons: claim the pencil Paul voted with in this year’s local elections
Ophef of the week: Backlash in Antwerp as Marc Overmars is named technical director
News
Hugo de Jonge under fire again as more details of ‘Sywertgate’ face mask deal emerge
Netherlands abandons face masks despite more than 40,000 cases a day
Rutte meets Erdogan on first trip to Ankara since 2012 to discuss war in Ukraine
MPs call for more compensation for low-income families as inflation rises
High energy prices sparked by invasion drive down Dutch consumer confidence
Ukrainian war adds to pressure on overburdened refugee shelters
Ukrainians welcome here: are the Dutch applying double standards to refugees?
Andrii Degeler looks back on a month of war and devastation in Ukraine
Book on betrayal of Anne Frank withdrawn after historians publish rebuttal
Sport
KNVB lines up Ronald Koeman to take over from Van Gaal after World Cup
Van Gaal blasts decision to host World Cup in Qatar as ‘ridiculous’
‘Fascist’ statue removed from outside Amsterdam’s Olympic Stadium
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl
The DutchNews.nl team would like to thank all the generous readers who have made a donation in recent weeks. Your financial support has helped us to expand our coverage of the coronavirus crisis into the evenings and weekends and make sure you are kept up to date with the latest developments.
DutchNews.nl has been free for 14 years, but without the financial backing of our readers, we would not be able to provide you with fair and accurate news and features about all things Dutch. Your contributions make this possible.
