It's been a cold spring, and it is going to get colder

05-20-2013

This year’s spring is one of the coldest on record and it is set to get colder over the next few days, according to weather website Weerplaza.

Carice van Houten to play Greta Garbo in new biopic

05-20-2013

Dutch actress Carice van Houten is to co-produce and star in a new biographical film about the legendary Swedish film star Greta Garbo, Screen International reports.

Dutch cookie law to be watered down

05-20-2013

Dutch rules requiring all websites to get express permission from visitors to use software known as cookies is to be watered down, economic affairs minister Henk Kamp has told parliament.

Bodies in ditch are missing brothers aged nine and seven

05-20-2013

Two bodies found in a drainage pipe near the river Rhine on Sunday are those of missing brothers Ruben, 9, and Julian, 7, police confirmed on Sunday evening.

VVV Venlo relegated to Jupiler league

05-19-2013

After four seasons in the Eredivise, football club Venlo VVV has been relegated to the first division.

Couple and grandchild on bikes killed as motorist loses control

05-19-2013

A couple in their 60s and their two-year-old grandchild were killed in a traffic accident while out cycling in Limburg on Sunday.

One in three watch Anouk but is the Eurovision winner a Dutch copy?

05-19-2013

Dutch singer Anouk returned to the Netherlands on Sunday after coming ninth in the Eurovision Song Contest, saying she was very happy with her performance.

Hema, Zeeman don't sign Bangladesh textile industry safety deal

05-19-2013

Dutch high street brands Hema, Zeeman, Prenatal and Coolcat have not signed an agreement to improve safety and working conditions for textile workers in Bangladesh, according to the final list of signatories published online.

Police, locals deny claim part of The Hague is a 'Sharia triangle'

05-19-2013

Claims by newspaper Trouw that part of The Hague’s Schilderswijk district is so dominated by orthodox Muslims they are dictating what people should wear and how they should behave, have been denied by both police and local politicians.

Teun de Nooijer bows out of top level hockey with Euro League gold

05-19-2013

Hockey international Teun de Nooijer, 37, bowed out of the top level of the game on Sunday after helping his club, Bloemendaal, win the Euro Hockey League.

Two bodies found, no word on if they are the missing brothers

05-19-2013

Police are trying to identify two bodies found in a drainage pipe at Cothen near Wijk bij Duurstede, close to where they have been looking for two young brothers who disappeared nearly two weeks ago.

Eighteen Dutch women may have died using Diane-35 pills

05-17-2013

Some 18 Dutch women may have died in connection with the anti-acne drug and contraceptive Diane-35, experts in drug side-effects said on Friday.

One in four are now self-employed or have a flexible contract

05-17-2013

The self-employed, known as ZZP'ers in Dutch, now account for 10% of the working population, according to the national statistics office CBS.

Police stop 16-year-old girl heading to Syria to fight: reports

05-17-2013

A tip-off from the Dutch security service AIVD led police to stop a 16-year-old would-be jihadist leaving the country to fight in Syria, the NRC reports on Friday.

Killer Karaoke tv show investigated for animal abuse

05-17-2013

A criminal investigation has begun into the abuse of animals for a new television show named Killer Karaoke in which people can win cash by singing under 'unusual' circumstances, such as in a bath of snakes.

Dutch fur farmers go to court for compensation

05-17-2013

Dutch fur farmers are in court on Wednesday arguing their case for compensation when the industry is finally closed down in 2024.

Big cities won't meet EU targets on traffic pollution

05-17-2013

Five of the Netherlands' biggest cities will not meet EU targets on nitrogen dioxide by 2015, opening them up to heavy fines and a ban on new building, the Volkskrant reports on Friday.

ABN Amro first quarter profit down 17%, 400 more jobs to go

05-17-2013

Nationalised financial services group ABN Amro said on Friday it had booked a 17% drop in profit in the first three months of this year and would be cutting 400 more jobs from its corporate banking arm.

A 200 guilder note sets new sale price record

05-17-2013

The sale of a very rare 200 guilder note raised a record €44,280 at auction this week, says coin and stamp agency MPO.

Forestry commission raises €500,000 selling woodland

05-17-2013

The forestry commission has raised €500,000 from the controversial sale of 34 hectares of woodland and meadows in Overijssel to help offset the impact of government spending cuts.

High taxes make Dutch petrol most expensive in Europe

05-17-2013

Petrol in the Netherlands is the most expensive in Europe, thanks to high taxes, according to research by German motoring organisaation ADAC.

Hospitals, private clinics bill up to €180m in unnecessary treatment

05-17-2013

Hospitals and private clinics are billing health insurance companies for millions of euros worth of treatment which is not medically necessary and therefore is not insured, the NRC reports.

One in seven households 'has trouble paying the bills'

05-17-2013

One in seven households in the Netherlands is having trouble paying their bills, causing half of them sleepless nights, RTL news reports on Friday.

'No increase' in euthanasia cases among dementia patients last year

05-17-2013

There is no evidence that the number of dementia patients opting for euthanasia rose last year from the 49 cases recorded in 2011, according to preliminary figures.

Farmers fail to preserve nature, despite €1bn price tag

05-16-2013

Paying farmers to take care of nature has been a fiasco and most of the €1bn paid out over the past 20 years has been wasted, says an influential committee.