Prime minister will not use veto over new EU budgets

Expatica - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Speaking during a debate ahead of Wednesday's summit, Rutte said he will do his best to ensure the Netherlands does not have to make a top-up payment of at least €350m, but that the chance of that happening is 'very small'.Several opposition parties oppose the payment of the extra bill, needed to make sure Brussels balances its books. However, the ruling parties, plus the D66 ...

Households put more money into investments

Expatica - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

For nine quarters households were taking money out of their investments, but in the first quarter of 2013 money went back in, to the tune of €18m, the Dutch central bank said on Tuesday.The rise is probably a result of low interest rates on savings accounts and the recent improvement in the stock exchange, says the ...

Friesland to press ahead with building new skating stadium

Dutch News.nl - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

The province of Friesland will press on with building a new speed skating stadium in Heerenveen, even if the national skating association opts to make Almere its preferred location. The Thialf stadium has been home to top-level speed skating since the 1980s but its future is in doubt now the Dutch Olympic committee and the KNSB are on the point of opting to build a state-of-the-art stadium ...

Hunger strikers can be force fed as last resort says supreme court

Dutch News.nl - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Nine asylum seekers are currently on hunger strike in the Netherlands, the justice ministry said on Tuesday evening. Three are in Zeist, two are in Rotterdam, tree in Scheveningen and one in the high-security prison of Vught. The latter is also refusing liquids, a justice ministry spokeswoman told the Telegraaf. Junior minister Fred Teeven has asked the supreme court to advise on his options ...

Not enough MPs back collective asylum for Afghan interpreters

Dutch News.nl - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

There is not enough support in parliament to ensure a collective asylum deal for Afghans who worked as interpreters for the Dutch military in Afghanistan, the Volkskrant reports on Wednesday. The ruling VVD and PvdA both say cases should be looked at on an individual level. 'Asylum is an individual right and needs to be judged individually,' VVD parliamentarian Han ten Broeke told the ...

Maastricht mayor may backtrack on tourist cannabis cafe ban

Dutch News.nl - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Maastricht mayor Onno Hoes, who has been struggling to ensure legislation banning tourists from the city's 11 cannabis cafes is put into practice, is now looking at alternatives, Nos television reports. The broadcaster says the mayor and council officials are looking at the option of moving the city's coffee shops to the border area. Then foreigners could be allowed to use them ...

Belgiums Elia interested in stakes in Dutch French grids

Reuters - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

BRUSSELS | Wed May 22, 2013 2:59am EDT BRUSSELS May 22 (Reuters) - Belgium's power grid operator Elia would consider buying stakes in Dutch grid firm TenneT and French operator RTE, owned by state-controlled electricity company EDF, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday. "They are really in same market zone as Elia, since they are neighbouring countries this makes it interesting ...

Apple paid €5m to Dutch tax authorities last year Volkskrant

Dutch News.nl - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Computer giant Apple, under fire at home in the US for avoiding tax, paid an estimated €5m to the Dutch tax office last year, according to calculations by the Volkskrant. ...