Bad News from the Netherlands

Half of Dutch Population Overweight

2012-02-09T09:59:00.000+02:00

Health Minister Edith Schippers is worried about the increasing number of Dutch people who are overweight. The National Institute for Health and Environment RIVM, has recently undertaken research which shows that almost 60% of the male population is overweight and 44% of the female population is overweight. One out of 7 in these groups is so overweight that there are serious risks to their health.
http://nos.nl/artikel/335559-meer-dan-helft-nederlanders-te-dik.html

Minister: Dutch Railways Remain Vulnerable in Bad Weather

2012-02-08T09:34:00.002+02:00

Minister of Infrastructure Schultz (Liberals) has written to Parliament stating that the Dutch railway system will always remain vulnerable in cases of extreme weather. The minister admitted that the reliability of the infrastructure and communication system to travelers had not been adequate last Friday and Saturday during the cold winter weather. Earlier, the minister had promised that there would be improvements in the rail service in winter conditions.

http://www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2680/Economie/article/detail/3161060/2012/02/07/Minister-Schultz-Spoor-blijft-kwetsbaar-bij-extreem-weer.dhtml

Teachers Need Training against Aggression

2012-02-07T09:27:00.001+02:00

Sjoerd Slagter, Chairman of the VO-raad, the national umbrella organization of high schools said that “In many schools, there is an authority crisis. Teachers do not know how they have to deal with physical and mental violence from students. Also, aggressive parents cause an increase in tensions in schools. They also undermine the authority of teachers.” The VO-raad therefore started together with the Radboud University a special course for teachers to arm themselves mentally against violence.

http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/11454144/__Leraar_krijgt_agressietraining__.html?sn=binnenland

Fraudulent Professor Received 2 Million Euro in Research Grants

2012-02-06T10:22:00.000+02:00

Psychology Professor Diederik Stapel, who had to leave Tilburg University because he invented research data on a large scale has received in total 2.2 million Euro in research grants from the Dutch Organization for Scientific Research (NOW). This has been said by the Chairman of the NWO, Jos Engelen.
www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2672/Wetenschap-Gezondheid/article/detail/3156400/2012/02/04/Frauderende-Stapel-kreeg-2-2-miljoen-subsidie-van-NWO.dhtml

Huge Criminality among Antillean and Moroccan Immigrants

2012-02-05T10:37:00.000+02:00

The Social and Cultural Planning Bureau (SCP) concludes in a report that criminality is the biggest problem for integration of immigrants in the Netherlands. The SCP calls the share of the Antillean and Moroccan youngsters in criminality ‘shocking.’ Of all Moroccan male youngsters between the ages of 12 and 23, 65% have been arrested at least once. Non-Western immigrants receive 6 times more Social Security than autochthonous Dutch.

http://www.elsevier.nl/web/Nieuws/Nederland/329558/SCP-Aantal-Marokkanen-in-criminaliteit-schrikbarend.htm?rss=true

Almost All Chicken in Supermarkets Infected with Dangerous Bacteria

2012-02-02T10:29:00.001+02:00

The consumer organization Consumentenbond said that almost all filet of chicken in supermarkets is infected with the ESBL bacteria. The organization sees this bacteria - which is resistant to almost all antibiotics, as “one of the greatest food threats in the Netherlands.” The problem is wider in industrial chicken farms than in biological chicken growing.
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2012/01/31/bijna-alle-kip-in-supermarkt-besmet-hoe-gevaarlijk-is-dat/

Police Website Gives Access to Female Escort Firm

2012-02-01T09:36:00.001+02:00

On the national website of the Dutch police, a text pop-up occasionally flashes which says: “You are now visiting the website of a female escort firm.” That firm is suspected of human trafficking. The police say that this is not a result of hacking, but of faulty planning of the website.
www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1012/Binnenland/article/detail/3148102/2012/01/31/Politie-nl-meldde-urenlang-u-bezoekt-een-website-van-een-escortbureau.dhtml

Rotterdam: Third Electric Current Breakdown in One Month

2012-01-31T13:46:00.002+02:00

On Monday a major electric current breakdown occurred in Rotterdam. It was the third this month. Trams and metro’s did not operate, 25 people had to be freed by firemen from elevators. The provider Stedin claims that each time the reasons were different.
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/11410773/__Rotterdam_is_stroomuitval_zat__.html?sn=binnenland,buitenland

European Commission: Netherlands Breaks Purchasing Rules

2012-01-30T09:55:00.002+02:00

The European Commission said that the Netherlands transgresses the EU purchasing rules in the military field. The Commission requested that the Netherlands introduces these rules into legislation, otherwise it will bring the issue before the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.
www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/3139240/2012/01/26/EU-keurt-Nederlandse-aanbestedingen-defensie-af.dhtml

Most Dutch Municipalities Suffer from Excrement

2012-01-22T11:54:00.000+02:00

More than half of Dutch municipalities report that they suffer from dog excrement. Citizens there regularly complain about these problems. The problems are larger in bigger towns than in small communities. This results from research presented on the First National Symposium on Dog Policies. According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, dog excrement is the number one irritation in the Netherlands. The number of dogs in the Netherlands is estimated to be around 1.5 million. At the Symposium, a Professor of Veterinary health from Utrecht University will speak. He claims that dog excrement is not only a nuisance, but can also be lethal due to the worms in it.
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/11329360/__Praten_over_hondenpoep__.html

Arch Bishop: Roman Catholic Church did not Live up to Norms

2012-01-19T10:14:00.000+02:00

The Arch Bishop of Utrecht, Wim Eijk has said to a parliamentary committee that his Church did not live up to its own values. He was heard in view of the Deetman Report, which found that there had been between 10 and 20 thousand victims of sexual abuse in Catholic institutions, of which 1,000 are considered serious cases. The report discussed the ‘culture of silence’ in the Church. The Arch Bishop admitted that the report gave a correct view of the situation and he said that he was ashamed. He added that the Church will have to regain the confidence of the Dutch population.
www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4692/Misbruik-rk-kerk/article/detail/3127437/2012/01/18/Eijk-we-leefden-niet-volgens-onze-eigen-normen.dhtml

Dutch Police have Increasing Problems with their Pistols

2012-01-18T10:15:00.000+02:00

Already in 2009, the Dutch Police should have introduced their new pistols. A police lawyer, Ingrid van den Berge said that the present pistols, Walther P5, are not functioning properly in many ways. Modern bullets place too much pressure on these weapons which have to be repaired, often at high cost. In addition, they can only take 8 cartridges, whereas new weapons should have 15. The police lawyer said that if no decision is taken soon, the safety of police agents will be at risk.
www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/3123865/2012/01/16/Politie-heeft-steeds-meer-problemen-met-dienstpistool.dhtml

Total Failure of Crisis Communication after Major Fire

2012-01-17T14:16:00.002+02:00

When a major fire in the chemical plant of Chemie-Pack broke out in January 2011, the communication system between authorities and residents in its neighborhood totally failed. These results are from a draft report of the Investigation Council for Security. The report mentions as examples of failing services - the non-functioning of telephone information and the crisis website. Data of importance to residents were not officially released. Information provided to the residents was sometimes contradictory. The Council concludes that the communication was severely handicapped as so many authorities were involved.
www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/3122496/2012/01/15/Crisiscommunicatie-na-Moerdijkbrand-faalde-volledig.dhtml

Netherlands left Ecological Disaster in Curaçao

2012-01-16T10:08:00.000+02:00

The government of Curaçao said that the Netherlands has left an ecological and economic disaster on the island. The Shell company, then still owned partly by the Dutch government, left behind a refinery and an asphalt lake against the payment of a symbolic one guilder. This was said in reply to a threat made by competent Dutch Minister Liesbeth Spies. She wanted a faster reply from the Curaçao government as to its vision of the future of the refinery. Spies has said that she would block a financial program for the island if the vision document wasn’t published soon. The Curaçao government said that the Netherlands has no right to rush Curaçao with this matter in view of what it left behind there.
www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4332/Groen/article/detail/3122140/2012/01/14/Nederland-liet-ecoramp-achter-op-Curacao.dhtml

Government Refuses to Apologize for Wrongdoings of its Wartime Predecessor

2012-01-15T09:52:00.000+02:00

In a very formal answer to questions posed by the PVV Freedom Party, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said that he sees no reason to apologize for the behavior of the Dutch government in exile in London during World War II toward the persecution of Dutch Jews. He said that no new facts have come to the light about the London government in 2000, when the then- government apologized for the wrongdoings of the postwar Dutch government towards the Jewish community. Rutte suggested in his answer that the Jewish community should have asked for the government to apologize – a rather illogical request. (The Netherlands thus remains the Western European country which has done by far the least to officially admit its role in the persecution of Jews, let alone apologize for it.)
http://m.depers.nl/binnenland/623281/Excuses-Rutte-kiest-makkelijke-weg.html

Much Extra Money Invested into Education without Results

2012-01-12T10:14:00.001+02:00

The Social and Cultural Planning Bureau (SCP) announced that many millions of additional money has been invested in education, care and security. This has in many cases, not led to improvements. The SCP gives as one example education. The scores of tests have not improved over the years.
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/11284007/__SCP__Onderwijs_niet_beter__.html?view=print

TV Program Shows Naked Queen Beatrix

2012-01-11T11:41:00.001+02:00

A satirical program on the Dutch Socialist Vara broadcasting station showed a manipulated video of Queen Beatrix and Crown Prince Willem Alexander naked among the Papuas in New Guinea. Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders had criticized the Queen covering her hat with a scarf while visiting the Sheik Zayed mosque on a state visit to Abu Dhabi. The official reaction was that she was respecting local customs. The satirical program thereupon showed what she would do on an imagined state visit to Papua, New Guinea.
www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2694/Internet-Media/article/detail/3112503/2012/01/09/Veel-reacties-op-montage-Beatrix-van-Lucky-TV.dhtml

Former Parliamentarian: Netherlands – Country without a Vision

2012-01-10T09:29:00.001+02:00

Rob Oudkerk, a former Labor Party parliamentarian claims that the Netherlands is a mediocre country which tries to hide that fact behind its hypes and arrogant nothingness. He said that the Netherlands should take an example from Hong Kong, which he had just visited. Oudkerk said that as a result of two Dutch TV presenters who ate a little bit of meat off each other, the Netherlands now has an image in Hong Kong of “a country without norms and visions, cannibalistic, quarreling and always second rate.”
www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/3184/opinie/article/detail/3109020/2012/01/08/Nederland-visieloos-landje-dat-altijd-tweede-wordt.dhtml

Great Majority of Dutch against Apologizing to Jews

2012-01-09T10:12:00.002+02:00

A poll taken by Maurice de Hond found that sixty-seven percent of the Dutch opposes formal apologies by the Dutch government to the Jews for the disinterest of the wartime government in exile in the persecution of the Jews. Of these, half say that they should not be made because it is so late. Only 27% support the apologies. The issue of Dutch wartime misconduct became world news last week after Geert Wilders, leader of the Freedom Party called on Prime Minister Mark Rutte (Liberal) to offer apologies. Wilders reacted to similar attitudes of former Deputy Prime Ministers Els Borst (D66 Left Liberals) and Gerrit Zalm (Liberals) in Manfred Gerstenfeld’s book Judging the Netherlands: The Renewed Restitution Process 1997-2000.
www.spitsnieuws.nl/archives/binnenland/2012/01/twee-derde-geen-excuses-jodenvervolging

Former Dutch Bank Chief: Netherlands will Lose Part of its Loan to Greece

2012-01-08T09:59:00.000+02:00

Nout Wellink, the former President of the Dutch Central Bank (DNB) considers it most probable that the Euro countries will have to write off part of their loans to Greece. While Finance Minister Jan Kees de Jager keeps saying that the Netherlands will receive all of its money back, Wellink says that this is not realistic. He said that the much publicized contribution of the banking system to the losses of Greece will ultimately amount to very little and that the hole will have to be filled by government money.
www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/7264/Schuldencrisis/article/detail/3101276/2012/01/01/Wellink-Nederland-is-deel-lening-Griekenland-kwijt.dhtml

The Dutch More Pessimistic Than Ever About Their Financial Future

2012-01-05T13:18:00.002+02:00

The Dutch have never been so pessimistic about their own financial future before. One third of them expects a deterioration in the coming twelve months. During the global financial crisis at the end of 2008, it was 20%. More than two thirds of the Dutch think that the economy will deteriorate in the coming year. Only 39% of the people are satisfied with the European politics. All this was published by the Social and Planning Bureau (SCP).
www.rtl.nl/(/actueel/rtlnieuws/economie/)/components/actueel/rtlnieuws/2012/01_januari/05/economie/nederlanders-nog-nooit-eerder-zo-somber.xml

Former Ministers: Dutch War-Time Government Failed the Jews and Should Apologize

2012-01-04T09:50:00.002+02:00

Former Deputy Prime Ministers Els Borst (D66) and Gerrit Zalm said that the Dutch government in exile in London failed the Jews under German occupation and that the current Dutch government should apologize to the Jewish community for that. Borst also mentioned that Dutch Queen Wilhelmina was hardly interested in the fate of the Jews. She said that the government in exile saw the Jewish Dutchmen as a special group and not as true Dutchmen. She added, “My intuition is if all Catholics or reformed people had been deported to Germany, the government in London would have instructed the population in the occupied Netherlands about what to do.” The interviews with Borst and Zalm were originally published in Manfred Gerstenfeld’s new book Judging the Netherlands: The Renewed Holocaust Restitution Process, 1997-2000.
www.depers.nl/mobile/detail.aspx?id=621165

Economic Crisis in Red Light District

2012-01-03T09:39:00.002+02:00

There is an economic crisis in the Amsterdam Red Light District. Men who visited once a week now only visit once every two months. This was said by Metje Blaak, the spokesperson of the Red Threat, the trade union of prostitutes. Only prostitutes with a specialization such as sado-masochism still earn well. One prostitute told the Dutch TV program NOS that more and more women have to seek part-time work in other areas.http://www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/7264/Schuldencrisis/article/detail/3099444/2011/12/30/Crisis-op-de-Wallen-klanten-blijven-thuis.dhtml

Policemen and Others Wounded on New Year’s Eve

2012-01-02T10:00:00.003+02:00

In several Dutch towns, policemen were wounded on New Year’s Eve. In Utrecht, 5 policemen were wounded by violence. Four policemen had to be sent to the hospital because someone squirted acid in their faces. Also, one fireman and five ambulance workers were wounded in town. All in all, the fireman had to intervene more than 360 times. In total, 50 people were arrested in the town, which is about equal to last year’s New Year’s eve festivities. In other towns, there were policemen and firemen wounded and many other incidents.
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/11220864/__Agenten_belaagd__.html

2005-2010: Large Numbers of Mosques Targeted by Violence

2012-01-01T10:07:00.000+02:00

During the years of 2005-2010, mosques in the Netherlands were targeted by violence 117 times. There was vandalism recorded 37 times and mosques were sprayed with graffiti 43 times. Pig heads were also placed next to mosques. In the U.S. during that period, 42 such incidents took place. These results were gathered by research done by Ineke van der Valk on behalf of the Euro Mediterraan Centrum voor Migratie en Islamofobie. (EMCEMO). In 99 cases, the perpetrators were not found.
www.depers.nl/binnenland/620398/Ruim-100-geweldsincidenten-bij-moskeen.html

Eighty Percent of Dutch: Abuse in Roman Catholic Church Continues

2011-12-29T09:53:00.000+02:00

Four out of five Dutchmen believe that even today, there is still sexual abuse in the Dutch Roman Catholic Church. Eighty percent think that the leaders of the Church in the Netherlands were aware of the enormity of the abuse. Seventy-five percent think that the statute of limitations for this type of abuse should be abolished. This was found by an opinion poll by the pollster Maurice de Hond. The report of the Deetman Commission found that between 1945 – 1981, Roman Catholic officials sexually abused 10,000 – 20,000 children. Of the approximately 800 perpetrators who have been identified, more than 100 are still alive.
www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/3093937/2011/12/24/Peiling-4-op-5-Nederlanders-gelooft-dat-misbruik-in-kerk-doorgaat.dhtml

‘Scumvillage’ – New Dutch Word of the Year

2011-12-28T10:20:00.001+02:00

The annual competition for the new word of the year has – as a sign of the times – been won by the word “scumvillage” (tuigdorp). The word was invented by Geert Wilders, leader of the Freedom Party who suggested that persistent offenders would be separated in such a village where only asocial people would be housed. The word won 43% of the votes. In second place came the word “Guinea pig police” (caviapolitie) – a nickname for the new animal cops.
www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2011/12/tuigdorp_is_van_dales_word_of.php

Netherlands Hemp Champion of Europe

2011-12-27T09:38:00.000+02:00

As far as European drug rankings go, the Netherlands is now the continent’s leader in hemp growing. There are about 40,000 illegal hemp growers there. Their annual profit is about 2 billion Euro. Every year, 5,000 hemp nurseries are dismantled. According to the police, the operators of these nurseries are mainly big criminal organizations which have no opposition to using violence, corruption and killing. Often for these nurseries, illegal electric hookups are used which increases fire risk.
www.depers.nl/binnenland/619275/Nederland-het-Europese-hennepland.html

Finance Minister: Economy Recovery Only After 2013

2011-12-26T09:25:00.002+02:00

Dutch Finance Minister Jan Kees de Jager (Christian Democrat) said that only from the year 2013 can one expect economic recovery. Problems have been built up in southern Europe for 15 years. Europe has been too slow to understand that action was needed. He added that if one looks forward, countries shouldn’t be saved, but rather the banks. The only main reason why at present countries are saved is because of the fear that it may infect the European banking system. 2011 is going to be a difficult year.
www.nu.nl/politiek/2700288/jager-verwacht-herstel-2013.html

Soccer Game Cancelled after Fan Attacks Player

2011-12-25T09:51:00.001+02:00

Due to a security lapse, a fan was able to enter the playing field in a cup match between two top Dutch clubs, Ajax and AZ Alkmaar. He tried to hit the goalkeeper of AZ Alkmaar, who evaded him and kicked the fan multiple times. The referee then showed the goalkeeper a red card because of violent conduct. Thereafter, the AZ Alkmaar players walked off the field. The police are holding the fan. The Dutch Justice Minister, Ivo Opstelten (Liberal Party) said the attack was “beastly” and added “jerks and nuts don’t belong on the field.” He approved of the Alkmaar players walking off the field.
www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/dec/21/ajax-az-alkmaar-goalkeeper-fan/print

Investigation into Major Mortality Rate in Catholic Establishment

2011-12-22T19:50:00.002+02:00

A major investigation will be undertaken into the high mortality rate of the Roman Catholic Girls’ establishment, St. Anna, in the township of Heel between 1952 and 1954. In that institute for mentally handicapped women and girls, 40 people died in that period. The independent investigation commission will look into the archives of the municipality and also interview former inhabitants or their descendents. www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/5091/Religie/article/detail/3084680/2011/12/20/Uitgebreider-onderzoek-naar-sterftecijfers-meisjes-St-Anna.dhtml

Lawyer: Diocese is a Criminal Organization

2011-12-21T10:35:00.000+02:00

The lawyer Jan Boone said that the Rotterdam Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church is a criminal organization. He wants former Bishop Philippe Bär, the leaders and the members of the diocese to be prosecuted and has put in a complaint to this effect to the police. Boone said that the diocese had the intention to facilitate or at least to tolerate the sexual abuse of children. If it didn’t do so intentionally, it allowed it to happen while knowing about it. According to Boone, that is enough for condemnation. Bishop Bär brought into his diocese a priest about whom negative opinions had been given. While he was a priest, he was prosecuted twice and sexually abused many children. The diocese said that Boone’s claims have no foundation in truth.
www.nu.nl/binnenland/2698438/aangifte-bisdom-mist-grondslag.html

University Hospital Specialist: Intensive Care in our Hospital is Poor

2011-12-20T10:06:00.001+02:00

Specialists at the Medical Center of the Amsterdam Free University (VU) have said that the intensive care department of their hospital gives poor service to patients. If they needed treatment, they would go to another hospital. The specialists speak about “a culture of fear where the advice of medical specialists is not listened to.” They mention two incidents where patients have died. The Inspectorate of Health has also published a critical report about the “exceptionally worrying situation.” In March, a lung patient died. The department has ignored the advice of lung specialists on various occasions.
www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/5270/Zorg/article/detail/3075761/2011/12/14/Situatie-op-intensive-care-van-VUmc-alarmerend.dhtml

15,000 College Students Possibly Affected by Certificate Fraud

2011-12-19T09:27:00.002+02:00

The Telegraaf daily reports that fraud with certificates of qualification at the College Hogeschool van Amsterdam (HvA) possibly affects 15,000 students. They might have become the victims of years of mismanagement and intimidation. Peter Fonkert of the Economy and Management Studies Department says that results of exams were introduced mistakenly into the computer due to errors in the administration system. He said that the chaos on campus is hard to describe. Students with the lowest grades, might have received the highest ones. These results were never corrected because teachers were afraid of measures being taken against them. Sixty percent of HvA teachers have expressed in writing their lack of confidence in the college’s management .

www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/11147000/__Beerput_HVA_geopend__.html

Journalist: Ten to Twenty Thousand Victims of Catholic Sex Scandal

2011-12-18T09:32:00.001+02:00

Journalist Joep Dohmen of the NRC Handelsblad daily said that between 10,000 to 20,000 children were abused in Catholic institutions between 1945 and 1985. This calculation was made by the Deetman Commission in its investigation of sexual abuse in the Dutch Roman Catholic Church. Most victims were between 11 and 14 years old. In most cases, only touching was involved. In 10% of the cases, it was worse, such as rape.
Dohmen claims that Dutch Cardinal Simonis did not tell the truth on TV last year when he said that he did not know about the abuse. One example is that in 1991, he appointed a condemned pedophile priest as Pastor in Amersfoort. There the Pastor abused 6 children who complained to the police and possibly tens of others.
www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/5091/Religie/article/detail/3079067/2011/12/16/Tussen-10-en-20-000-slachtoffers-RK-Kerk.dhtml

Research Organization: Al Qaeda Plans Attack in Amsterdam

2011-12-15T10:22:00.000+02:00

The American research organization Flashpoint, follows Muslim extremism worldwide. It says that on the website Shamukhforum, a terror attack on Amsterdam has been announced. This website is related to Al Qaeda and is a chat room for Al Qaeda sympathizers. Flashpoint collaborates with the ministries of Justice and Defense in the U.S., Scotland Yard in England and the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1041/Amsterdam/article/detail/3076515/2011/12/14/Al-Qaeda-dreigt-met-aanslag-in-Amsterdam.dhtml

The Netherlands in Economic Recession

2011-12-14T09:41:00.000+02:00

The Central Planning Bureau (CPB) has announced that the Netherlands is in an economic recession. The current quarter will be the second consecutive one where there is economic shrinkage. For the first two quarters of 2012, shrinkage is also forecast to amount in total to 0.5%. The budget deficit next year is expected to be 4.1%. In September, the forecast for this figure was 2.9%. The CPB expects that 475,000 people will be unemployed, which is 90,000 more than in 2011.
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2011/12/13/cpb-cijfers-nederland-in-recessie-extra-bezuinigingen-nodig

Muslim Radicals Want to Continue Creating Disturbances

2011-12-13T09:53:00.001+02:00

Abu Hamza, of the radical Muslim group Sharia4Holland told the Spits Daily that his organization wants to continue creating disturbances, similar to the one where they disrupted a debate in which Parliamentarian Tofik Dibi (Green Left) and the author Irshad Manji participated. The debaters were spit at and eggs were thrown at them. Hamza expressed his sympathy for Al Qaeda and said that the radical Muslim Mohammed Bouyeri who killed mediamaker Theo van Gogh was justified in his actions, as van Gogh had insulted Allah. Hamza said that his organization was still small, but through Twitter and the distribution of flyers, they were looking for more members. The Christian Democrats Party wants the same laws used against soccer hooligans to be applied against Muslim radicals also. In this way, they can be prohibited from entering meetings, their range of movement can be limited and they can be forced to visit police stations regularly.
www.spitsnieuws.nl/archives/binnenland/2011/12/meer-acties-zoals-deze%E2%80%99

Employees of Police Center Complain about Quarrels and Abuse of Power

2011-12-12T10:10:00.000+02:00

The National Expertise Center for Diversity (LECD) of the Dutch Police, functions poorly because of infighting and abuse of power of the director. The Center was founded in 2001 in order to attract more non-Western immigrants, women, homosexuals and the handicapped to the police ranks. According to the TV program Nieuwsuur, 10 of the 15 employees have complained to a person they trusted about the center’s management. One of them said anonymously, “I lived through Hell at the center.”
www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/3069240/2011/12/07/Expertisecentrum-politie-gebukt-onder-ruzie.dhtml

Secret Service Worried about Radical Muslim Group

2011-12-11T12:07:00.001+02:00

The Dutch Intelligence Service, AIVD is worried about the rapid radicalization of the Muslim group “Sharia4Holland.” The AIVD remarked that the group appears increasingly in public and hands out flyers on the street. This group is held responsible for the disturbance in an Amsterdam meeting where Parliamentarian Tofik Dibi, (Green Left) had eggs thrown at him. Radical slogans were also shouted. Various parliamentarians of the Labor Party, the Christian Democrats and the Liberals have criticized the group. The Freedom Party wants the group to be prohibited.
www.parool.nl/parool/nl/4024/2011/article/print/detail/3070660/Moslimgroep-radicaliseert-razendsnel.dhtml

Radical Muslims Throw Eggs on Parliamentarian

2011-12-08T10:00:00.000+02:00

Parliamentarian Tofik Dibi (Green Left) and author and Muslim activist Irshad Manju have complained to the police after the debate in which they participated in Amsterdam was disturbed by radical Muslims. They threw eggs on them and spat at Manju. The special mobile unit of the police had to expel these Muslims which numbered between 20 and 30 out of the building. Two were arrested. The group probably belonged to the Belgian organization Sharia4Belgium. The discussion focused on “a new generation of Muslims which inspire hope.”
www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/3069160/2011/12/07/Radicale-moslims-verstoren-debat-over-geloven.dhtml

Rating of Major Dutch Bank Cut

2011-12-07T11:50:00.002+02:00

The Dutch cooperative bank Rabobank lost its triple-A rating from Standard and Poor. About 15 other banks were downgraded, but Rabobank was the only one that was taken down two notches. Its current rating of double-A still makes it the highest rated privately owned bank in the world.
www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/30/us-rabobank-rating-idUSTRE7AT0UP20111130

Five Policemen Wounded After Soccer Game

2011-12-06T10:51:00.000+02:00

After a soccer game between FC Utrecht and FC Twente in the Dutch top soccer league, riots broke out and five policemen were wounded. The policemen felt threatened enough to fire several shots into the air. The Mayor of Utrecht, Aleid Wolfsen (Labor) said that hooligans misbehaved terribly and that their entrance should be prohibited for many games to come. Supporters of FC Utrecht claim that the mayor is responsible for the riots because he did not react when hooligans of the FC Twente threw firecrackers at young Utrecht fans.
www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2698/Sport/article/detail/3064358/2011/12/05/Fans-FC-Utrecht-woedend-op-burgemeester.dhtml

Wikileaks: Dutch Companies Sell Spy Software to Dictators

2011-12-05T10:24:00.001+02:00

RTL News reported that Wikileaks revealed tens of documents that Dutch and other Western companies sell spy software to dictatorships. Where spy services in the past focused on individuals and their environment, now, massive digital data are being collected and analyzed. Three Dutch companies are named by Wikileaks: Group 2000, Pine Digital Security and Fox-it.
www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/3884/WikiLeaks/article/detail/3060113/2011/12/01/Nederlandse-bedrijven-verkopen-spionagesoftware-aan-dictators.dhtml

The Hague: Leakage Causes Evacuation of Intensive Care Department

2011-12-04T11:57:00.001+02:00

Sixteen patients in the intensive care ward of the Haga Hospital in The Hague have been moved to other hospitals or other departments due to leakage in the intensive care ward from the roof. A number of operations had to be delayed.
www.powned.tv/nieuws/binnenland/2011/12/ic_haags_ziekenhuis_ontruimd.html

Minister: Impossible to Prohibit Pedophile Organization

2011-12-01T10:00:00.000+02:00

Minister of Security and Justice Ivo Opstelten (Liberal) does not intend to ask the prosecution to try to legally prohibit the existence of the Martijn Organization of Pedophiles. He said that there is no case because there is no child porno on its website and no links to sites where prohibited material can be seen. All that has happened is that individual members of the club, including the chairman, have been condemned of child abuse or the possession of child pornography. Five parties have asked the minister to take legal action against Martijn. Christian Democrat Parliamentarian, Madeleine van Toorenburg said, “The Netherlands doesn’t understand how such a disgusting organization can exist.”
http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/11032288/__Opstelten__Pedoclub_niet_vervolgd__.html?p=2,2

University Hides Academic Fraud

2011-11-30T09:52:00.001+02:00

The ASAP student party at the Radboud University in Nijmegen wants the university to publish the report on the investigation of the integrity of Professor Roos Vonk. Last week, Vonk was publicly censured without the report being published. She had said that people who eat meat are nastier than vegetarians. Her statement was based on data of Professor Diederik Stapel of the University of Tilburg, who has in the meantime been fired as these and many other data were invented. Earlier this month it became known that last year, a doctoral student had been seriously warned after he had manipulated data. This information was not published at the time. His contract was not extended and his data could not be used. It has also become known this month that a senior researcher has resigned at the medical center of the university because the collection of his data was unverifiable.

www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4556/Onderwijs/article/detail/3055821/2011/11/29/Nijmeegse-studenten-Maak-onderzoek-naar-Roos-Vonk-openbaar.dhtml

www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4556/Onderwijs/article/detail/3026160/2011/11/10/Nog-een-geval-van-fraude-in-Nijmegen.dhtml

Dutch Economy has Come to a Halt

2011-11-29T10:37:00.001+02:00

The Dutch Statistics Office has released figures which show that the Dutch economy shrank by .03% in the third quarter compared to the second quarter. For November, a .04% shrinkage is expected, yet, it may be followed by an incidental 0% growth in December, mainly as a result of the holiday season.
www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/dutch-economy-has-come-a-halt

Many Dutch Hospitals are Plagued by Vermin

2011-11-28T09:44:00.000+02:00

RTL News has asked all Dutch hospitals about their experiences with vermin. Only 20 were willing to reply. All these hospitals more or less suffer from vermin. This concerns mice and rats in the cellars, cockroaches in the kitchens and flies in the operating rooms. During the past three years, flies were found seven times in the operating theaters of various hospitals. The Director of the Knowledge Center of Plagues Caused by Animals, Nico Vonk said to RTL News that hospitals have to do more in order to keep vermin out. He added, “Policy is still that one only acts when there are already existing problems.”
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2011/11/26/veel-ziekenhuizen-hebben-last-van-ongedierte/

Former Euro Commissioner Calls Split of Euro Unavoidable

2011-11-27T11:07:00.002+02:00

Frits Bolkestein, a former Commissioner of the European Union at the time it was decided upon, said that a split in the Euro is unavoidable. Germany and a number of other countries will have to create a separate unit. He added that Greece should be removed from the Euro zone and if Italy were to be removed, he wouldn’t “shed a tear.” He admitted that he and other politicians had not understood the mistakes in the construction of the Euro as a currency even though he had always been skeptical about it. He also came out against Euro obligations. Bolkestein said he had calculated that the Netherlands would have to pay 7 billion Euro extra interest if they were introduced. He added, “We already have problems to cut back our budget by 18 billion Euro.”www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2011/11/26/bolkestein-noemt-opsplitsing-eurozone-onvermijdelijk/

Erasmus University Dismisses Professor After Research Fraud

2011-11-24T10:57:00.002+02:00

The Medical Center of the Erasmus University in Rotterdam has dismissed Medical Professor Don Poldermans. According to the university, the Professor has invented research data and damaged the confidence of patients. According to the university, Poldermans has presented results which cannot be concluded from the patient information. He has been working at the hospital for decades. Poldermans said that he did not follow the guidelines, but did not falsify data. (Recently Diederik Stapel, a Professor of Social Psychology at Tilburg University admitted to years-long fraud.)

www.elsevier.nl/web/Nieuws/Wetenschap/322628/Erasmus-Universiteit-ontslaat-hoogleraar-na-fraude.htm?print=true

Many Unprofessional Driving Instructors

2011-11-23T12:01:00.001+02:00

As it is so easy to pass driving instructor exams, many unprofessional instructors are working at present. Labor Party Parliamentarian Sharon Dijksma said that almost anyone can become a driving instructor in the Netherlands. Driving instructors already pass the exam when they answer 42 out of 60 questions correctly. The Parliament wants Minister Schultz van Haegen of Infrastructure to take action.
www.powned.tv/nieuws/binnenland/2011/11/veel_beunhazen_bij_rijscholen.html

Many Municipalities Poorly Supervise Public Swimming Pools

2011-11-22T10:04:00.001+02:00

According to RTL News, more than half of Dutch municipalities do not carry out periodic inspections of public swimming pools. At the swimming pool in De Reeshof in Tilburg early this month, a baby was killed when two rusty loud speakers fell on him. According to Jaap van Duijn a specialist who inspects swimming pools, the main danger is in the use of certain types of steel in swimming pools. The chlorine vapors in swimming pools in combination with the urine found in the water attack the fasteners of elements in the ceiling.
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/10962220/___Toezicht_zwembaden_rammelt___.html

Sex Addiction Greatly Increases in Netherlands

2011-11-21T09:31:00.001+02:00

The number of people addicted to sex in the Netherlands has greatly increased. At present, it is the third most significant addiction in the Netherlands after alcohol and nicotine addictions. There is a hard core of 300,000 people who suffer from sex addiction – for these people, sex is an obsession and they cannot go one day without viewing pornographic images. Dick Trubendorffer of the Amsterdam addiction clinic GGZ, says that with such a high number of addicted, sex addiction becomes an epidemic. He remarked that if this continues, a society will develop in which people do not have the ability to establish stable relationships.
www.parool.nl/parool/nl/224/BINNENLAND/article/detail/3043820/2011/11/21/Steeds-meer-seksverslaafden-in-Nederland.dhtml

Hospital Apologizes to Families of Five Patients Who Died

2011-11-20T10:13:00.001+02:00

The board and supervisory council of the Scheper Hospital in Emmen have apologized to the families of five patients who did not survive stomach operations. According to the conclusions of the Investigation Council for Safety, not only the surgeon was responsible for the lack of safety of the patients during the operations, but also the hospital was negligent. The surgeon was dismissed in 2009. The prosecution is checking whether he can be prosecuted for criminal negligence.
www.nos.nl/artikel/314359-ziekenhuis-emmen-biedt-excuses-aan.html

Dutch Have Little Confidence in the Future

2011-11-17T09:56:00.002+02:00

Many Dutchmen have expressed little confidence in the future of their children. The majority of the population thinks that after years of increasing affluence, there will be a decline from now on. Such an opinion hasn’t been dominant since the Second World War. Salem Samhoud, of the consultancy company which ordered the research among 1,240 Dutchmen concludes, “We apparently can not offer our children what we ourselves have had.”
www.spitsnieuws.nl/archives/binnenland/2011/11/weinig-vertrouwen-in-toekomst-kindertjes

Curacao Government: Dutch Racist Policemen Humiliated Demonstrators

2011-11-16T10:13:00.001+02:00

The Curacao Plenipotenary Minister in The Hague, Sheidry Osepa considers the behavior of the police in Dordrecht as humiliating, unacceptable and racist. During the official arrival of Sinterklaas, a Dutch folkloristic figure, 4 demonstrators were arrested. They protested against the presence of Black Peter, the traditional assistant of Sinterklaas. The police said that the demonstrators had been told five times to end their illegal demonstration.
www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4492/Nederland/article/detail/3033622/2011/11/15/Curacao-ziedend-Racistische-agent-vernederde-betogers-tegen-Zwarte-Piet.dhtml

Arnhem: Virus Found Again in Hospital

2011-11-15T10:17:00.001+02:00

The geriatric department of the Rijnstate Hospital in Arnhem has been infected for the second time this year by the Norovirus which causes severe stomach spasms. The department has been closed. It has now become known that in the nursing home St. Anna in the city of Heel, the Norovirus has also spread.

www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2672/Wetenschap-Gezondheid/article/detail/3031041/2011/11/13/Opnieuw-norovirus-in-ziekenhuis-Rijnstate.dhtml

Did Dutch Commander in Srebrenica Know That There Would Be Mass Killings?

2011-11-14T12:16:00.001+02:00

The Dutch Surgeon Ger Kremer claimed that Thom Karremans, was aware that thousands of Muslim men would be killed after the fall of the Srebrenica
enclave in Bosnia in 1995. Kremer who was with the Dutchbat, the U.N. peacekeeping force in Srebrenica, made this claim on Dutch public television last week. He accused Karremans of lying under oath to the Yugoslav Tribunal and the Dutch Parliamentary inquiry. Military historian, Christ Klep said Karremans version of the story is inaccurate. He said that many of the former Dutchbat soldiers he has interviewed say they new about the impending genocide and their commander must have known as well. Karremans continues to deny that he knew what would happen.

http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/%E2%80%98karremans-knew-about-srebrenica-executions

Twenty-Five Dead Due to Mistakes in Care for Thrombosis

2011-11-13T10:36:00.000+02:00

Since October 2010, at least 25 people died due to mistakes in the care for Thrombosis. These results come from a list established by the Inspectorate for Health Care (IGZ). According to the organization, the number of dead is probably higher because not all incidents were registered. The problems occurred in many places – hospitals, nursing homes, psychiatric institutions and with home patients who are controlled by a Thrombosis service. The Inspectorate wants to approve the medical care for the patients which did not happen last year.

www.depers.nl/binnenland/609740/Doden-door-fouten-bij-trombosezorg.html

Big Increase in Complaints about Lawyers

2011-11-10T10:50:00.001+02:00

In 2010 in Amsterdam, 474 people complained about the behavior of their lawyers compared to 398 in 2009. This finding was published by the Council of Supervision of the Order of Lawyers. In 40% of the cases, the complaint was found to be justified. Most complaints were about the quality of service, financial costs and poor communication.

www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1041/Amsterdam/article/detail/3021189/2011/11/07/Meer-klachten-over-Amsterdamse-advocaten.dhtml

Money Spent on Problematic non-Western Youngsters is Wasted

2011-11-09T10:11:00.000+02:00

Thirty-four cities in the Netherlands where many Moroccan and Antillean youths live have been receiving funds from the government to reduce the problems with these youths. According to the National Broadcasting Foundation (NOS), this money has been wasted. The number of school leaders and unemployed has only increased further since the subsidies were introduced in 2009. The subsidies will be paid until the end of 2012.
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/10796885/__Aanpak_risicojongeren_mislukt__.html

Fifty Youth Gangs in The Hague

2011-11-08T10:42:00.000+02:00

Fifty youth gangs are active in The Hague, according to police findings. The members’ age range is from 12 until the late 20’s. The ethnic composition is diverse, but the number of Moroccans is disproportionately high. Nine gangs are criminal. Twenty-seven cause harassment such as destruction and vandalism. Fourteen consist of youngsters who hang around and annoy neighborhood residents. The police say that such groups in the course of time may upgrade to more severe categories of criminal behavior.
www.nu.nl/binnenland/2660043/vijftig-jeugdbendes-in-haag.html

Shortage of Personnel in Police Situation Rooms

2011-11-07T19:21:00.002+02:00

The Police Trade Union (ACP) is very worried about the shortage of personnel in police situation rooms. The problem is particularly serious on weekends and in the evenings. The Chairman of the ACP, Gerrit van de Kamp said that in view of the planned merger of situation rooms, it is very difficult to find new personnel. He has asked the Minister of Security and Justice Ivo Opstelten (Liberals) to take action.
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2011/10/29/politievakbond-luidt-noodklok-over-onderbezetting-meldkamers/

Three Deaths in Rotterdam Hospital Due to Bacteria

2011-11-06T10:03:00.002+02:00

The Inspectorate for Health Care (IGZ) has concluded in an investigative report that the Rotterdam Maasstad Hospital has not adequately reacted to the outbreak of the Klebsiella bacteria. The management of the hospital has misjudged the size, severity and length of the outbreak. Most probably, three patients died due to this bacteria and possibly another ten also. In total, 107 people were infected and 4,000 people were in contact with infected patients. The bacteria was first found in October 2010, only at the end of May 2011 were measures taken.
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/10840063/___Maasstad_heeft_gefaald___.html

Brunssum: Hospital Operation Room Closed Due to Flies

2011-11-03T10:30:00.001+02:00

In an operating room of the Atrium Medical Center in Brunssum, no surgery can be carried out for three days because of flies in the room. Thus a sterile environment could no longer be guaranteed by the hospital. Last month a similar problem occurred in the operation rooms of the Rijnstate Hospital in Zevenaar which led to closure of these rooms.

http://nos.nl/artikel/309369-vliegjes-in-operatiekamers-brunssum.html

Nijmegen: Hospital Department Closed Due to Bacteria

2011-11-02T09:52:00.001+02:00

The intensive and medium care departments of the Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital in Nijmegen have been closed due to the VRE bacteria. Five patients are being treated in isolation there.

www.nu.nl/binnenland/2655843/ic-ziekenhuis-nijmegen-dicht-darmbacterie.html

Chair of Curacao Parliament: The Netherlands is becoming Racist

2011-11-01T09:59:00.002+02:00

Ivar Asjes, Chairman of the Curacao Parliament has said that if the Netherlands expels the Angolan youngster Mauro Manuel, Curacao should grant asylum to him and his foster parents. He added that the Dutch debate on whether to expel this youngster who has lived for more than 8 years in the Netherlands, indicates that it is becoming a racist country.
www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1013/Buitenland/article/detail/3005824/2011/10/31/Voorzitter-parlement-Curacao-Wij-moeten-Mauro-opnemen.dhtml

Deputy Minister: Brown Rats Increasingly Resistant against Poison

2011-10-31T10:31:00.001+02:00

Deputy Minister Joop Atsma of the Environment is worried about the increasing resistance of brown rats to poison. This is what he wrote to Parliament. Studies show that 39% of rats studied are increasingly insensitive to pesticides. The Minister promised a detailed investigation into the exact size and spread of resistant mice and rat populations in the Netherlands.
www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2664/Nieuws/article/detail/2996742/2011/10/27/Bruine-rat-steeds-vaker-resistent-tegen-gif.dhtml

Police Surprised by Turkish Attack on Kurdish Center

2011-10-30T10:24:00.002+02:00

The Amsterdam police were surprised by the anti-Kurdish riots after a demonstration by Turks. Jan Pronker, District Chief of Police in the center of Amsterdam told the Amsterdam Municipal Council that it had not been expected that the anti-PKK protest would deteriorate. About 60 Turks attacked a Kurdish center. There were wounded and there was destruction in the building. A Kurdish spokesman criticized the police and said that they were the attacked, but they were treated like perpetrators.
http://www.parool.nl/parool/nl/4041/2011/article/print/detail/2996600/Politie-was-verrast-door-aanval-op-Koerdisch-centrum.dhtml

Netherlands the Most Polluted Country in European Union

2011-10-27T09:50:00.001+02:00

Dutch air, water and soil are the most polluted in the European Union. Its rank is number 27. This results from a report by the Dutch Foundation for Nature and Environment (Natuur & Milieu) in its report Ranking the Stars. The report compares the Netherlands with other European countries on issues such as climate, environment and nature. According to the foundation, the soil pollution largely derives from nitrogen and phosphates related to the large number of animals designated for slaughter. The air quality is bad because of the high emission of nitrogen dioxide.
www2.natuurenmilieu.nl/nieuws/perscentrum/20111015-nederland-is-meest-vervuilde-land-van-europa/

Dordrecht: Department of Hospital Closed Due to Bacteria

2011-10-26T09:53:00.001+02:00

The Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Dordrecht has closed a department due to the MRSA bacteria. This has been announced by the hospital. In the meantime, a number of people have been infected. This bacteria has been found in a patient at the oncology department and with three employees. The infected employees are at home at present.
www.parool.nl/parool/nl/224/BINNENLAND/article/detail/2987007/2011/10/24/MRSA-bacterie-in-Dordts-ziekenhuis.dhtml

Poor Air Quality can Block Economy of Major Towns

2011-10-25T11:03:00.000+02:00

The Organization of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) has written a letter to Deputy Minister Joop Atsma of Infrastructure and Environment warning him that the air quality in the four major Dutch cities – Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht has to be improved. If this is not done, economic developments in these towns may stop. The problems with for instance, nitrogen dioxide, are so major that communities cannot solve them by themselves. This the more so as they only have an impact on 20% of the pollution.

www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2680/Economie/article/detail/2948180/2011/10/04/Luchtkwaliteit-kan-economie-steden-stilleggen.dhtml

Haarlem Hospital: Intensive Care Unit Closed Due to Bacteria

2011-10-24T13:08:00.000+02:00

At the Kennemer Gasthuis, a hospital in Haarlem in July and September, six patients were infected with the klebsiella bacteria. Recently, part of the intensive care unit was closed because of this. Despite the fact that special hygienic measures were taken in July, patients were again infected in September.
www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4516/Gezondheid/article/detail/2964963/2011/10/12/Ziekenhuis-Haarlem-sluit-intensive-care-wegens-bacterie.dhtml

Many Rats in South Amsterdam

2011-10-23T09:36:00.000+02:00

In the southern part of Amsterdam, there are many brown rats. A woman who lives on a square there told a newspaper that she had seen 30 rats on the square where she lives. She said: “I understand that there are rats in Amsterdam, but the number of them is absurd. They cause me nightmares.”
The municipality has not done anything to combat the situation. A bar tender at a café in the square said that he has now seen rats crossing the square for the last 8 months. A spokesman for the neighborhood council said that they are going to deal with the problem in November.

http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/10773067/__Veel_ratten_in_Amsterdam-Zuid__.html?view=print

Human Trafficking in Dutch Inland Navigation

2011-10-21T16:12:00.002+02:00

The police and labor inspection have started a major investigation against the exploitation Philippine seamen on the Dutch inland navigation. The police now systematically control ships on Dutch rivers. The labor inspections suspects that exploitation, which is a form of human trafficking and false reporting are structural problems in Dutch navigation.
www.elsevier.nl/web/Artikel/318518/Actie-tegen-uitbuiting-in-binnenvaart.htm

Nijmegen: Five Policemen Wounded after Soccer Game

2011-10-20T18:19:00.001+02:00

Five policemen were wounded in Nijmegen after riots at the end of the soccer-game NEC-Vitesse. NEC hooligans threw stones, tree branches and security gates on the policemen. Various police-cars and the busses of the visiting Vitesse were damaged. Twelve hooligans were arrested.
www.gelderlander.nl/nieuws/algemeen/binnenland/9687380/Vijf-politiemensen-gewond-na-NECVitesse.ece

Copper Theft from Train Rails Increases

2011-10-19T11:24:00.001+02:00

The ProRail company which is in charge of the Dutch railway infrastructure said that the number of cases of theft of copper from train tracks is increasing. Such theft now on the average occurs 43 times per month. ProRail considers this a worrying situation. It costs about 13 million Euro per year. The theft also creates dangerous situations on the tracks as well as train delays. ProRail is trying to fight the phenomenon with security fences, dogs and the police.
www.cobouw.nl/nieuws/algemeen/2011/10/10/koperdiefstal-op-het-spoor-43-keer-per-maand

University Professor May Have Invented Research for Many Years

2011-10-18T16:27:00.002+02:00

Professor Diederik Stapel of Tilburg University has been found to have recently published fraudulent research. Philip Eijlander, the Rector Magnificus of the university now is of the opinion that this academic may have invented research findings for many years. Eijlander thinks that the same is true for research by Stapel at the universities of Groningen and Amsterdam. The fact that the professor carried our most of his research alone may explain why it has lasted so long before the truth came to the surface. The commission which investigates the fraud will publish its results on 31 October.
http://www.omroepbrabant.nl/?news/162736982/Rector+Magnificus+UvT+Fraude+Diederik+Stapel+duurde+vijf+tot+tien+jaar.aspx

Did Dutch Soldiers Die Because of Intelligence Blunders?

2011-10-17T16:12:00.001+02:00

The Telegraaf daily claims that because of quarrels in the Dutch military intelligence service MIVD in 2007 secret information about road-bomb factories in Afghanistan was not used. This has possible led to the Killing of Dutch soldiers. The factories could continue to operate after two secret agents were not debriefed. The daily obtained the information from a former spy.
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/10737910/___Doden_door_fouten_van_MIVD__.html?view=print

Curaçao: Dutch Marine Soldiers Deadly Afraid of Criminals

2011-10-16T08:12:00.001+02:00

The Liberal Party (VVD) and the Freedom Party want clarification from the government about news that criminals on the Dutch island of Curaçao are attacking Dutch marine soldiers and their families. The soldiers are deadly afraid of these criminals who also use violence against Dutch youngsters and regularly break into the soldiers families’ homes. Liberal Parliamentarian André Bosman wonders why the Netherlands subsidizes the Curaçao detective service.. www.spitsnieuws.nl/archives/binnenland/2011/10/zorgen-over-geweld-tegen-militairen-cura%C3%A7ao

Many Cowards in Dutch Police

2011-10-13T18:51:00.001+02:00

A quarter of the Dutch police force doesn’t act in situations where they find themselves at risk. They are either poorly trained, afraid of violence, or consider that they have too little backup. These are the findings of a confidential report by the Police Academy. The study is based on interviews with 4,400 policemen. Other results show that certain policemen also avoid violent situations because they do not receive support from their bosses.
www.spitsnieuws.nl/archives/binnenland/2011/10/kwart-politie-grijpt-niet-in-bij-geweld

Antillean Threatens Mayor with Death

2011-10-12T10:44:00.001+02:00

Mayor Yvonne van Mastrigt of Hoogezand-Sappemeer has been threatened with death. The police identified the person concerned as a 32 year old man from the Dutch Antilles. The man belongs to a group of 40 people who are watched closely upon orders by the Mayor. They cause a large part of the problems in the town. After the threat, the Mayor received police protection and the Municipality was closed. The Mayor became very emotional about the threats.
www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/2953003/2011/10/06/Burgemeester-Hoogezand-bedreigd.dhtml

Christian Daily Leaves Extreme Anti-Semitic Talkbacks on its Website

2011-10-11T09:58:00.001+02:00

The Christian “quality” daily Trouw leaves extreme anti-Semitic talkbacks on its website. The following one has been there now for more than a day and a half: “The factories in Germany and the rest of Europe were in the hands of the Jewish people which paid starvation wages to their workers, while they made giant profits on the American markets. This is the reason why Hitler became so angry with this people. He had warned them frequently enough to be honest traders and pay decent salaries. The Jews refused this, which led to hatred against these people….That’s what I know about it. They became rich from the crisis.”

The person signs with the nickname Dolf and has a number of other hateful talkbacks as reactions to a review of a book by the writer Ian Kershaw.

http://www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4468/Schrijf/article/detail/2959407/2011/10/09/Niemand-durfde-te-twijfelen-aan-Hitler.dhtml

Train Drivers Shocked by Urine Bag Proposal

2011-10-10T11:34:00.000+02:00

The Dutch railways have proposed that they will make urine bags available on trains which have no toilets. People who are in need can obtain these bags and isolate themselves in the one driver cabin which isn’t in use when the driver sits in the other one. Wim Eilert of the Trade Union of Train Personnel (VVMC) initially thought it was a joke. He now says that the plan has not been discussed with the drivers and it is inconceivable that drivers’ cabins where these people work become toilets.
http://m.volkskrant.nl/article/2/2956145/Vakbond-machinisten-over-NS-plaszak-Is-dit-een-grap.html

Liberal Parliamentarian: Polish Hooligans not Afraid to Murder

2011-10-09T09:30:00.002+02:00

The Liberal Parliamentarian Bart de Liefde has said that his party is afraid for the safety of Dutch soccer fans in Poland and Ukraine at next year’s European championship. This fear derives from the fact that Polish hooligans seem to have freedom to battle. Local security people say that tickets for the games are already in the hands of violent people. De Liefde said: “Polish hooligans are violent, racist, anti-Semitic and are not afraid to murder… The camping sites of Dutch fans should not have to be turned into fortresses.”

www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/10677061/__VVD_vreest_veldslag_Pools_tuig__.html?view=print

Amsterdam Cabs Give Bad Service

2011-10-06T09:49:00.000+02:00

The German Automobile Association (ADAC) has published a comparison of taxi service in 22 European cities. They judged the cab driver, the cab, the route taken and the price. According to the research, half of the drivers failed – they drive through red lights, take longer routes, charge more than permitted, or refuse to take passengers. Amsterdam came in at 19th place. Rotterdam was 10th, Barcelona was the best rated, the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana, was last.

www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4492/Nederland/article/detail/2952742/2011/10/06/Amsterdam-scoort-slecht-in-taxi-test.dhtml

Father of Queen Continued Hidden Military Lobbying

2011-10-05T09:37:00.002+02:00

Prince Bernhard, the late father of Queen Beatrix, broke his promise to the Dutch government not to be involved in any business matters. It now turns out that the Prince was not only involved in an effort in 1994 to sell Dutch marine ships to the United Arab Emirates, but also tried to sell planes of the Dutch company Fokker of which he had been a supervisory board member in the past. In 1976, the Prince was not prosecuted for bribe money paid by Lockheed. He had however, to promise to give up all of his board memberships, not to be involved anymore in business affairs and he also had to give up his military uniform. The historian Gerard Aalders said that this is the first proof that the Prince who died in 2004 did not keep his commitments to the government. He had suspected for a long time that this was the case, but could never find any proof.

www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1012/Binnenland/article/detail/2946660/2011/10/04/Prins-Bernhard-schond-afspraak-met-regering.dhtml

Misbehaving Dutch Judges Are not Dismissed

2011-10-04T08:14:00.002+02:00

Misbehaving judges or those who do not function face no risks of being fired. This results from research by RTL News. In the past ten years only one judge has been dismissed. During fourteen years she caused problems due to major drinking problems. Misbehavior of Dutch judges consists of unsolicited sexual approaches, drinking problems or unprofessional acts. The well-known lawyer Gert-Jan Knoops suggests that an independent council has to evaluate judges. He added that judges who evaluate each other are like butchers who give a mark of approval to their own meat.
www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/2945422/2011/10/03/Zich-misdragende-rechters-worden-nauwelijks-aangepakt.dhtml

1,100 Illegal Criminals Walking Free in the Netherlands

2011-10-03T10:06:00.002+02:00

In the past two and a half years, 1,100 illegal criminals have been released from jail and are now walking free in the Netherlands. Some are people who have been jailed for hindrance or theft. There are also potential murderers among them. These people should have been expelled from the Netherlands, but they were not. This data has been obtained by RTL News from the state service for Return and Departure.

www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/2941300/2011/10/01/Criminele-illegalen-steeds-vaker-vrijgelaten.dhtml

Homosexuals Terrorized in Many Dutch Towns

2011-10-02T09:26:00.001+02:00

Hans Krol, Editor in Chief of the Gaykrant, a paper for homosexuals, has opened a hotline which homosexuals can contact if they are harassed. According to Krol, homosexuals are terrorized in many Dutch locations. Recently this has received much publicity as some of them have had to move from their homes because of such harassment. The Police even frequently recommend that they not react because that would aggravate the problems.
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/10634137/__Homos_overal_geterroriseerd__.html

Twenty-five Soccer Supporters Arrested

2011-10-01T19:50:00.000+03:00

The police in Eindhoven have arrested 25 supporters of the Rotterdam soccer club Feyenoord. These threw on terraces of coffee houses glass and furniture and also on the train station threw glass. They also broke windows of a cafeteria. It is unclear why the supporters were in Eindhoven.
www.ad.nl/ad/nl/5619/Feyenoord/article/detail/2926920/2011/09/25/25-Feyenoord-supporters-opgepakt-in-Eindhoven.dhtml

Dutch Development Project in Guatemala Total Failure

2011-09-28T08:57:00.002+03:00

A development project, heavily subsidized by the Dutch government in Guatemala has totally failed. In 2007, the Dutch government made available 9 million Euro for the improvement of the harbor in Champerico. The government of Guatemala paid the other 29 million Euro. The work was done by a Dutch company and supervised by a Dutch consultancy office. Nowadays, the harbor is full of sand and boats can longer leave from it. The poverty in the village has increased.
www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2668/Buitenland/article/detail/2927663/2011/09/26/Ontwikkelingsgeld-verspild-bij-haven-Guatemala.dhtml

Majority of Dutch: Parliamentary Debate on Budget Undignified

2011-09-27T10:04:00.000+03:00

Seventy percent of the Dutch population found the parliamentary debate on the national budget “undignified.” Sixty-two percent considered that the remarks made by Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders to Prime Minister Mark Rutte (Liberals) saying, “Behave normally,” should not be allowed. Sixty-two percent considered that the Prime Minister’s reaction wasn’t adequate. In the same poll, it was found that 49% of the Dutch is against financial support for Greece, while 38% is in favor. Forty percent is in favor of the prohibition of minarets and 45% is against.

www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/7884/Prinsjesdag/article/detail/2926841/2011/09/25/61-procent-Nederlanders-vindt-uitspraak-Wilders-niet-kunnen.dhtml

Polish Media: Netherlands has become a Hostile Country for Poles

2011-09-26T10:09:00.001+03:00

The Polish tabloid Fakt writes that an anti-Polish campaign has been unleashed in the Netherlands. The quality paper Gazeta Wyborcza had as a heading “Why don’t they want Poles in the Kingdom of Tulips?” The weekly Polityka writes: “Our nationals have become a favorite scapegoat for the xenophobes.” Polskie Radio said that not a day passes in the Netherlands without giving information about Polish immigrants - mostly in a negative context. Jan Minkiewicz, an external advisor of the Polish embassy in the Netherlands said, “The Polish government watches what happens in the Netherlands these days very closely.” This started at the end of last year when the Hague Alderman Marnix Norder warned of a “tsunami of Poles.”
www.depers.nl/binnenland/598565/Schrik-van-xenofoob-Nederland.html

President of Central Bank: Greek Bankruptcy One of our Scenarios

2011-09-25T12:20:00.001+03:00

Klaas Knot, the new President of the Dutch Central Bank (DNB) said that the bankruptcy of Greece is one of the scenarios the bank works with. He wondered whether the Greeks see the seriousness of the situation. It is doubtful whether their authorities are competent enough and their politicians have enough control over the country. Knot is the first president of a European Central Bank to speak so clearly about a possible bankruptcy of Greece. Such statements are highly unusual for a central banker, the more so as Knot is also a member of the board of the European Central Bank.
www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4504/Economie/article/detail/2924884/2011/09/23/DNB-sluit-bankroet-Griekenland-niet-uit.dhtml

Attack with Anti-Tank Weapon on Amsterdam Courthouse

2011-09-22T10:07:00.000+03:00

The attack on early Wednesday morning on the Amsterdam courthouse apparently was done with an anti-tank grenade. A large number of windows have been broken and the staircase of the court tower was damaged. Two people were seen leaving the scene after the attack. In 2007, the special security court elsewhere in Amsterdam was also attacked. The Minister of Security and Justice Ivo Opstelten (Liberals) said that the attack is “unacceptable and terrible.”

http://nos.nl/artikel/274562-aanslag-gerechtsgebouw-met-antitankwapen.html

National Budget is Leaked before Official Publication Date

2011-09-21T09:55:00.001+03:00

According to plan, the national budget should have been made public last Friday. However, due to a mistake by a computer expert, it was leaked a day before. This led to much criticism of the government by politicians from both government and opposition parties. Minister of the Interior, Piet Hein Donner (Christian Democrat) regretted that this had happened, but said that when something goes wrong, one should not automatically blame the government. Deputy Minister Henk Bleker said that it was very annoying but “the world is not burning.”
www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/7924/Prinsjesdag/article/detail/2909881/2011/09/15/Reacties-op-uitlekken-nota-Knulligheid-ten-top.dhtml

Imam who Worked in Dutch Jail, Arrested in Madrid

2011-09-20T13:23:00.000+03:00

Hasan B., is a 44 year old Islamist who has been working for a long time as an Imam in the Tilburg jail. He has been arrested in Madrid at the request of the Moroccan authorities which has asked for his extradition. In 1985 he was condemned to death in Morocco because of his involvement in the murders of political opponents. The Dutch Ministry of Security and Justice confirmed that he had indeed worked in the jail, but as long as he is investigated in Spain, the ministry is not willing to employ him anymore.

www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2668/Buitenland/article/detail/2905863/2011/09/14/Radicale-imam-Hasan-B-werkte-in-Tilburgse-gevangenis.dhtml

Shortage of Public Toilets in the Netherlands

2011-09-19T10:49:00.002+03:00

Scientists, physicians and the Organization of the Elderly (ANBO) say that there is a major shortage of public toilets. The ANBO tries to convince the train companies and the authorities to install enough toilets in trains and stations. Also in shopping areas, there should be sufficient clean toilets. The Urologist Paul Krik said that hundreds of thousands of people in this way are increasingly isolated because they do not dare to relieve themselves on the street. Many elderly do not drink when they are outside which increases the risks of dehydration.
www.parool.nl/parool/nl/224/BINNENLAND/article/detail/2913442/2011/09/17/Ouderenbond-wil-meer-openbare-wc-s.dhtml