Author: NLtimes.nl

The four largest cities of the Netherlands will introduce new restrictions to enforce social distancing rules, and to cut down on the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus. In Amsterdam, local measures will include closing parks at night, creating more one-way foot traffic, and special opening hours of public facilities for the elderly and those … Continue reading “Amsterdam closing parks to stop illegal Covid parties; No face mask rule in Rotterdam”

A surge in new infections of the SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus will translate to new restrictions in at least six regions of the Netherlands beginning on Monday. “The coronavirus is making a comeback,” Prime Minister Mark Rutte said at a press conference Friday night.Submitted by Zack Newmark on Friday, 18 September 2020 – 19:30

The SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus infected the mink on a farm in the Netherlands for the 54th time in five months, the government said. Approximately 6,500 mothering animals and their offspring will be culled as a result of the discovery. “The contamination came to light from the ‘Early Warning’, the monitoring system in which animals are … Continue reading “Coronavirus diagnosed at 54th Dutch mink farm”

Public health institute RIVM quietly changed its guidelines on the use of face masks in elderly care. The advise always stated that masks were “not necessary” if elderly care workers only had “short contact” with the people in their care. On August 17, that was changed to face masks are “necessary, even for short contacts, … Continue reading “RIVM quietly changes face mask advice in elder care”

Approximately 1,977 more people in the Netherlands have tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus, public health agency RIVM said on Friday. It was the fourth consecutive record breaking day for most new coronavirus infections. The total was released shortly before patient coordination office LCPS acknowledged that there were 288 people being treated for Covid-19 … Continue reading “Nearly 2,000 new coronavirus infections; Covid hospital total doubled since Sept. 7”

The Public Prosecution Service demanded life in prison against father Camil A. and his sons Dejan and Denis from Hengelo. They are accused of murdering four men in a cannabis grow shop on Van Leeuwenhoekstraat in Enschede in 2018. Submitted by Janene Pieters on Friday, 18 September 2020 – 15:10

The Public Prosecution Service (OM) has issued a fine to Justice and Security Minister Ferd Grapperhaus for violating social distancing rules at his own wedding.Submitted by Zack Newmark on Friday, 18 September 2020 – 14:22

Prince Contantijn said on Friday he was self-isolating after having “close contact” with someone a week ago who tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus. Earlier this week, the 50-year-old brother of King Willem-Alexander was among those in attendance at the King’s presentation on Budget Day in The Hague.Submitted by Zack Newmark on Friday, 18 … Continue reading “Dutch Prince self-isolating over Covid concerns”

A new committee was established to evaluate which cultural goods and art in the Netherlands are vital for the collection, the Council for Culture announced. The Committee Collection Netherlands’ goal is to create “an overarching vision for a dynamic collection” so that this collection can “be protected by the government for future generations”. The committee will … Continue reading “New committee to determine which art must be protected by Dutch government”

From Monday, employees in healthcare and education will get priority in being tested for the coronavirus, the Ministry of Public Health announced. Employees in these two sectors can call a special priority number when booking an appointment for a test. That number will be released on Monday morning.Submitted by Janene Pieters on Friday, 18 September … Continue reading “Healthcare, education workers to get priority in Covid testing from Monday”

Action group Extinction Rebellion announced a number of climate demonstrations in Amsterdam over this weekend. The city decided to allow most of these protests, with some strict requirements. No blockades will be allowed, and participants must maintain social distancing. The climate activists announced that they wanted to protest on Zuidas on Friday morning, including a road … Continue reading “Amsterdam limits Extinction Rebellion climate protests”

Employees worked more hours during the coronavirus, both people who started working from home and those who still went to the office. But they did not experience extra stress or burnout symptoms because of this, TNO concluded after surveying over 10 thousand people in the Netherlands.Submitted by Janene Pieters on Friday, 18 September 2020 – … Continue reading “Employees worked harder during Covid crisis, but aren’t more stressed: study”

Psychiatry professor Damiaan Denys of the Amsterdam University Medical Center was awarded an Ig Nobel prize for his years-long research into Misophonia – a mental illness in which certain sounds like snoring, chewing, slurping or lip smacking can drive people to extreme tendencies.Submitted by Janene Pieters on Friday, 18 September 2020 – 09:45

People with a mental illness who request euthanasia are facing longer and longer waiting times before they can get help. Since December, the waiting time at the Euthanasia Expertise Center has doubled to two years, Trouw reports.Submitted by Janene Pieters on Friday, 18 September 2020 – 09:16

On 18 September 2019, defense attorney Derk Wiersum was shot dead outside of his Amsterdam home. A year later, defense attorneys across the Netherlands, but in Amsterdam in particular, are still shaken by their colleague’s murder and the consequences it had for their profession.Submitted by Janene Pieters on Friday, 18 September 2020 – 08:50

Prime Minister Mark Rutte would say little about the new measures against the coronavirus that will be announced at a press conference on Friday evening. “It is not the case that anything is going to happen today or tomorrow,” Rutte said in parliament on Thursday. “We are still in talks wit the security regions. All … Continue reading “New Covid rules not set in stone yet, PM says; Hospitality industry worried”

Nearly 340 thousand people who had paid work in the first quarter of this year, had lost their job in the second quarter – a record, Statistics Netherlands said on Friday. The decrease was greatest among business and administrative professions, such as receptionists, service professions such as hotel and catering industry staff, and in transport … Continue reading “Record 340,000 people lost their jobs in the second quarter”

Cafes, bars and restaurants in the Randstad region of the Netherlands will only be allowed to host 50 people at a time, down from 100. The new rule could go into effect as soon as Friday in six of the country’s 25 security regions, including Amsterdam-Amstelland, Rotterdam-Rijmmond, and Utrecht.Submitted by Zack Newmark on Thursday, 17 September … Continue reading “Biggest Dutch cities to restrict bars, restaurants in Covid fight: Report”

Dutch naval vessel Zr. Ms. Groningen intercepted a large cocaine shipment for the second time this week while deployed in the Caribbean Sea. The patrol was able to stop a speedboat which was carrying an estimated 465 kilograms of cocaine. The street value of the find was estimated at between 21 and 28 million euros, according to … Continue reading “Dutch marine ship intercepts drug transport in Caribbean”

Two hospitals in Amsterdam and The Hague reported coronavirus outbreaks. At the Antoni van Leeuwnehoek Hhospital in Amsterdam, employees in the blood collection department contracted the virus. And at the HMC Westeinde hospital in The Hague 17 employees and one patient tested positive for Covid-19.Submitted by Janene Pieters on Thursday, 17 September 2020 – 17:40

Feyenoord can continue with its plans for a new stadium on the banks of the Maas, the Rotterdam club announced on Thursday. The commissioners of the football club and Stadion Feijenoord have agreed that the stadium will be taken to final investment decision, which is scheduled to happen in the autumn of 2021. The estimated … Continue reading “New Feyenoord stadium green-lit at €444 million”

Feyenoord can continue with its plans for a new stadium on the banks of the Maas, the Rotterdam club announced on Thursday. The commissioners of the football club and Stadion Feijenoord have agreed that the stadium will be taken to final investment decision, which is scheduled to happen in the autumn of 2021. The estimated … Continue reading “New Feyenoord stadium green-lit at €444 million Rutte on infections in 2e Kamer + De Jonge letter”

For the third straight day, the Netherlands surpassed its highest total of new coronavirus infections reported in a single day. Early data from public health agency RIVM on Thursday showed that 1,756 people tested positive for the virus, a 13.5 percent increase over Wednesday, and more than double the single-day tally reported last Tuesday.Submitted by Zack Newmark … Continue reading “1,756 coronavirus infections today; More cases this week than all of July”

Last week the FIOD, the tax authority’s investigative department, found and confiscated approximately 185 kilograms of ketamine. This drug has a street value worth of 4.5 million euros. Two men at the age of 54 and 56 were arrested. They were both from the Amsterdam area, NOS reports. Ketamine is used in the medical world as a pain … Continue reading “€4.5 million worth of ketamine confiscated in large bust”

The rapidly increasing number of coronavirus infections, especially in cities in the Randstad area, is concerning, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in the second day of the parliamentary debates on the 2021 budget on Thursday. “It is time to turn the tide. We have to reverse this trend,” Rutte said.Submitted by Janene Pieters on Thursday, … Continue reading “It’s time to turn the tide, Dutch PM says about increasing Covid infections”

Chairman Margreet Jansen of Stisan, an umbrella organization that covers nine abortion clinics, would like to see a nationwide ban on demonstrations in the vicinity of the clinics. She wants national politicians to start paying attention to this issue of protesters harassing and intimidating women who visit the clinics, NOS reports. Submitted by Cheyenne Martodikromo on Thursday, … Continue reading “Abortion clinics call for nationwide ban on protesters around clinics”

Today FC Emmen released a statement on their website that Dutch football association KNVB hasn’t given Easy Toys, a sex toy shop, permission to be presented as the main sponsor of the football team. The team is upset about the rejection and will look further into the KNVB’s arguments. It is not their intention to let … Continue reading “Sex toy shop’s sponsorship of FC Emmen vexes Dutch football assoc.”

The Netherlands’ test system for the coronavirus is not prepared for a second wave. The testing capacity must be further increased, and that will be a “huge task” for the GGD health services and the laboratories involved, the Inspectorate for Healthcare and Youth said after investigating the testing capabilities in July and August, NOS and … Continue reading “Netherlands’ Covid testing system not ready for second wave, Inspectorate says”

In August, 426 thousand people in the Netherlands were unemployed, a slight increase compared to July and the fifth consecutive month that unemployment in the Netherlands increased, Statistics Netherlands reported on Thursday. The increase does seem to be slowing down. Submitted by Janene Pieters on Thursday, 17 September 2020 – 11:20

The first day of the parliamentary debate on the national budget was interrupted and quickly overshadowed by the coronavirus crisis.Submitted by Janene Pieters on Thursday, 17 September 2020 – 10:25

A large German lab that applied to help the Netherlands with coronavirus testing capacity, was blocked by the Ministry of Public Health with the requirement that a Dutch-speaking doctor must be affiliated with the lab. With the result that the Netherlands did not make use of the 5 thousand extra tests the lab could do … Continue reading “Dutch Ministry blocking German lab from Covid market by insisting on Dutch language: Report”

A man was shot dead on Parellelweg in Rotterdam on Wednesday evening. The police are looking for witnesses. Passersby found the seriously hurt man in a parked car at around 9:00 p.m. and alerted the emergency services. Attempts to resuscitate the victim were to no avail. The man died at the scene. The police released … Continue reading “Man shot dead in Rotterdam; Witnesses sought”

The increasing number of coronavirus infections in the Netherlands prompted Germany to declare the provinces of Noord-Holland and Zuid-Holland “risk areas”. This means that travelers from these two provinces will have to get a coronavirus test when arriving in Germany, and quarantine for 14 days, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.Submitted by Janene Pieters on … Continue reading “Covid-19: Germany declares Noord- & Zuid-Holland ‘risk areas’”

The Dutch association for the hospitality sector KHN is worried that new restrictions on bars and restaurants will be announced on Friday. Rumors about a mandatory closing time of midnight in the large cities are particularly worrying. “Such a decision means an extra financial setback for a sector that is already looking into the abyss,” … Continue reading “Catering sector worried about new Covid restrictions”

Investigation into encrypted communications between criminals, which the police got access to by breaking into the EncroChat systems, also revealed corruption within the police, the police confirmed after reports in De Telegraaf. This involves things like cops leaking police information to criminals, police chief Henk van Essen said in a statement on the police site.Submitted … Continue reading “Police corruption revealed in investigation into encrypted criminal messages”

Secondary vocational schools want to scrap the central practical exam in April. According to the schools, pupils in the pre-vocational secondary courses missed about 13 weeks of practical lessons before the summer holiday due to the Covid-19 lockdown, and most of the material was not covered. The schools cannot guarantee that the pupils will be … Continue reading “Vocational schools want to scrap practical exams over Covid delays”

The national arrival of Sinterklaas in the Netherlands will take place this year, but the location will not be announced, broadcaster NTR said on Wednesday. Due to the outbreak of the new novel coronavirus there will also be no public admitted to the event. The event will only take place if government rules regarding the … Continue reading “National Sinterklaas arrival to happen in secret, closed to the public”

Anyone travelling to Belgium from the Dutch provinces of Noord-Holland and Zuid-Holland will be subject to a mandatory quarantine and coronavirus test upon arrival starting on Friday. Belgium’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the two provinces will be added to their list of Red Zones beginning on Friday at 4 p.m.Submitted by Zack Newmark on Wednesday, … Continue reading “Belgium places Noord & Zuid-Holland on Code Red over coronavirus”

The Dutch government is expected to announce a new set of restrictions in the regions around Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague as a result of the rapidly escalating number of new coronavirus infections. Nearly 1,550 new infections were reported by public health institute RIVM on Wednesday, the most in a single day since the crisis … Continue reading “Rumors of new Covid restrictions as Dutch PM schedules Friday press conference”

An infection of the SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus was discovered at a mink farm in the Haps, a part of the Cuijk municipality. The company has about five thousand mothering animals, the Dutch government said on Wednesday. Symptoms of respiratory illness Covid-19 were observed in the mink stock at the farm. Early Wednesday morning, the Ministry of … Continue reading “Coronavirus found on 53rd mink farm in the Netherlands”

The Netherlands broke its own single day record for most new coronavirus cases for the second day in a row, with 1,546 new positive test results revealed on Wednesday. An estimated two-thirds of the new infections, 1,036, were found in residents of the Randstad region. The national total was 12 percent higher than the previous record, set on Tuesday, and 36 … Continue reading “Swell of new coronavirus cases as 1,546 test positive; Over 1,000 in Randstad”

An international investigation into a drug trafficking and money laundering led to 17 arrests on Wednesday including ten in the Netherlands, police said in a statement. Piet S., known in the criminal underworld as “De Dikke” and with reported ties to the illegal drugs trade and street level assassinations, was believed to be one of those taken into … Continue reading “Video: Police bust 17 in 5 countries in Dutch-Spain drug trafficking case”

The government is not being transparent enough about the costs of the coronavirus crisis, and what the billions of euros in support packages now will mean for the next generation, the Council of State said about the 2021 Budget. “Nobody is talking about what it all costs,” Council of State president Thom de Graaf said … Continue reading “Dutch gov’t not transparent about corona crisis costs: Council of State”

Two men were arrested in the investigation into a body found wrapped in plastic and weighted-down in a lake in Haarlem. The remains of Gregori Lindomar Maduro, aged 31 and from Aruba, were found last April in the Mooie Nel, a recreational area in Haarlem.Submitted by Zack Newmark on Wednesday, 16 September 2020 – 14:16

One year after a coronavirus infection, and maybe even earlier, a person can become infected with the same virus again, Amsterdam UMC researchers concluded based on research into the four known and harmless seasonal coronaviruses. This probably also applies to the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the researchers conclude.Submitted by Janene Pieters on Wednesday, 16 September 2020 … Continue reading “Recovered Covid patients could be reinfected within a year: Amsterdam researchers”

A bird found in the Utrecht region tested positive for the West Nile virus, the first time the virus has been found in the Netherlands. The virus is largely harmless to humans in 80 percent of cases, the RIVM said, while the rest are more likely to develop flu-like symptoms including a fever. “In exceptional … Continue reading “West Nile Virus surfaces in the Netherlands for the first time ever”

The Netherlands coronavirus testing policy – stay at home if you have cold-like symptoms and get tested for Covid-19 – already has the testing system, ranging from the call center workers who have to make appointments to laboratories that process tests, at its limits. And cold and flu season hasn’t even started yet, Bram Diederen, … Continue reading “Dutch Covid testing system heading for complete overload as cold season approaches: Laboratory”

The Austrian and Swiss rail operators OBB and SBB are teaming up to create a night train service between Amsterdam and Zurich, according to plans they presented on Tuesday. The Amsterdam to Zurich night train will launch in December 2021. Submitted by Janene Pieters on Wednesday, 16 September 2020 – 10:45

After a record breaking hot Prinsjesdag on Tuesday, the weather in the Netherlands is starting to cool down. Wednesday will still be hot, with maximums between21 and 29 degrees, but from Thursday things will return to a closer-to-normal 18 to 23 degrees Celsius, Weeronline expects.Submitted by Janene Pieters on Wednesday, 16 September 2020 – 10:45

A citizens’ initiative to move the statue of J.P. Coen in Hoorn was scrapped in a city council meeting on Tuesday evening, but the city council agreed to add this initiative to the agenda for previously announced “city talks” about the statue and racism and discrimination in Hoorn. Initiator 23-year-old Gion Raap can live with … Continue reading “Citizens’ initiative to move colonialist statue in Hoorn scrapped, but included in ‘city talks’”