Thursday 09 February 2023
The world’s oldest woman who died two years ago aged 115 had the physical and mental condition of a 60 to 80-year-old, according to doctors who have examined the body. More >
It has all gone rather quiet on the formation talks – he’s a sensible man, that Hans Wijffels who is in charge. Move the negotiations out of that hotbed of gossip, The Hague, and the rumour stream immediately dies down. Nevertheless, there is a little news around today: this time on the thorny issue of pensions. More >
Mind-boggling. There is no better word to describe the current controversy over college students who can’t spell or do simple maths. The latest figures show that almost two-thirds of vocational college students would fail the language test held in the final year of primary school! More >
The government and city authorities spend a great deal of time and energy improving the lot of urban youth. Unemployment, poverty, violent crime, under-age drinking, poor education and racism all tend to be seen as inner-city problems. But, if a string of recent reports are to be believed, it might in fact be time to switch tack. More >
Margreeth De Boer, who chaired the investigation into the construction failures at the Bos en Lommer shopping centre, says she was ‘shocked’ by the disregard for human safety shown by those involved in the project. She shouldn’t be. More >
Reality is sometimes stranger than fiction. Certainly if the reality is the high security prison in Vught. The media is awash today with stories about how Willem Holleeder, who is awaiting trial on charges of extortion and ordering gangland killings, managed to give an interview to the Telegraaf and a tv programme without the knowledge (let alone permission) of the prison authorities. More >
Big, big important news from the prime minister’s office late yesterday: apparently the government has managed to cut the amount it spends on communicating with the general public by €6m a year – while at the same time improving the quality of communication. More >
Who better than to help you launder your illegally-gotten gains than someone who used to be out to catch you at it? Today’s Volkskrant carries an interview with Ton Apeldoorn, an ex-tax office investigator who has set up his own company to help people clean up their illicit finances. More >
The Netherlands never ceases to amaze in the way it manages to find solutions for the strangest of problems. Until today, Sidelines had no clue that there were some 11,000 people in the country who refuse to pay towards state-run insurance schemes because they believe so passionately that God will provide. More >
Today’s Volkskrant has answers for anyone who wondered why the AEX blue chip stock market index has done so well and tipped 500 points. More >
