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Dutch health authorities in three cities will pay drug addicts who receive free heroin not to use cocaine. There are approximately 25,000 hard drug addicts in Holland, a figure that has remained stable in recent years due to the government’s prevention policies, which include giving addicts free methadone and heroin in an effort to reduce drug-related crime.

Cocaine and crack use however has increased five-fold in the past decade and the Ministry of Public Health has now decided to fund a 14-month scientific study aimed at devising alternatives to the problem. Addicts who stop using cocaine could earn up to 56 euros a week.

Neelie Kroes, a former minister and member of the Dutch liberal party, VVD, who is now European Commissioner of Competition & State Aid, has been accused of lobbying for property magnates. Kroes admits she actively lobbied the Rotterdam municipal government on behalf of property developer Jan Dirk Paarlberg. The Dutch Public Prosecutor’s office however now views Paarlberg as a member of a criminal network of property developers. The Algemeen Dagblad published a study showing that many members of the Dutch military hold negative views about immigrants in the military. “Nearly three-quarters of lower-ranking soldiers disapprove of the multicultural society,” the paper wrote, “and a large majority of high-ranking officers share the same view.”

Mass-circulation newspaper De Telegraaf and various journalist associations are suing the government for allegedly allowing the Dutch intelligence service, AIVD, to wiretap two Telegraaf reporters. The AIVD has reportedly started eavesdropping on the reporters. The paper reported that the AIVD systematically observed and bugged Telegraaf reporters Joost de Haas and Bart Mos. De Telegraaf charged that “journalists whose work it is to simply pass on news, now formally run the risk of being seen as a danger to the state.” Elsewhere, Dutch Foreign Minister Ben Bot claimed, “the mood of malaise about Europe is diminishing”. One year after the Dutch and French voted ‘No’ to the European draft constitution, Minister Bot was quoted in the NRC as saying the EU’s three main priorities are now, “energy security, dealing with cross-border crime, and a new legal instrument for administering Europe.” Bot added that the Dutch ‘No’ to the draft constitution undermined Holland’s standing within the EU.
Anti-Western

De Volkskrant published excerpts from a confidential report, entitled ‘Radicals and Democrats’, compiled by the Institute for Migration & Ethnic Studies for Dutch Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk. One of the reports conclusions is that “nearly half of young ethnic Moroccans are anti-Western.” Forty percent reject western values and democracy, while seven percent would resort to violence to defend Islam. The report also stated that many pro-democracy, ethnic Moroccans also feel discriminated against, and that this discrimination leads to radicalization. Elsewhere, Queen Beatrix visited Holland’s oldest mosque in Den Haag and did not shake hands with the mosque’s male clerics, as they had requested, because they said Islam forbids men to shake hands with women. This caused conservative Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders to demand that the government explain the Queen’s “bowing to Muslims”. Meanwhile, the Queen’s eldest son, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and his wife, Princess Maxima, were in Mongolia to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the Central Asian nation.

The Dutch government launched a campaign to clean up the Netherlands: people who throw cigarette butts, soda cans and other trash on the streets will be fined up to 50 or 60 euros. De Telegraaf says it’s about time, “because this country is dirty”. The Dutch Parliament approved a bill abolishing entrance fees to Dutch state museums. Dutch taxpayers will receive a card from the tax office that allows them to visit museums for free. The hope is that this will encourage more people to visit museums. Elsewhere, a 56-year-old man living in a nursing home died and was only found three days later. “A bizarre incident”, wrote De Volkskrant, adding that it was unacceptable that his death went unnoticed for such a long time.

Finally, World Cup fever has gripped Holland, as the Dutch team booked its place in the next round. Hundreds of Dutch fans however were forced to watch their team’s 2-1 win over the Ivory Coast in their underwear in Stuttgart, after stadium stewards claimed to have stopped an ‘ambush marketing’ ploy by Dutch supporters, who turned up wearing orange pants bearing the name of Dutch brewery Bavaria. The stewards made the fans remove the offending pants before being allowed to enter Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion. Anheuser Busch’s Budweiser is the official beer for the tournament. FIFA, world football’s governing body, fiercely protects its sponsors from brands that aren’t FIFA partners. Markus Siegler, FIFA’s director of communications, said that, “if thousands of people turn up wearing the same thing to market a product and to be seen on TV screens then of course we must stop it.” However, Peer Swinkels of the Dutch brewery Bavaria, said the pants ban was “absolutely ridiculous”. Swinkels: “You cannot tell people to strip off their pants and force them to watch a game in their underwear. That is going too far!” (DM)

Dutch health authorities in three cities will pay drug addicts who receive free heroin not to use cocaine. There are approximately 25,000 hard drug addicts in Holland, a figure that has remained stable in recent years due to the government’s prevention policies, which include giving addicts free methadone and heroin in an effort to reduce drug-related crime. Cocaine and crack use however has increased five-fold in the past decade and the Ministry of Public Health has now decided to fund a 14-month scientific study aimed at devising alternatives to the problem. Addicts who stop using cocaine could earn up to 56 euros a week.

Neelie Kroes, a former minister and member of the Dutch liberal party, VVD, who is now European Commissioner of Competition & State Aid, has been accused of lobbying for property magnates. Kroes admits she actively lobbied the Rotterdam municipal government on behalf of property developer Jan Dirk Paarlberg. The Dutch Public Prosecutor’s office however now views Paarlberg as a member of a criminal network of property developers. The Algemeen Dagblad published a study showing that many members of the Dutch military hold negative views about immigrants in the military. “Nearly three-quarters of lower-ranking soldiers disapprove of the multicultural society,” the paper wrote, “and a large majority of high-ranking officers share the same view.”

Mass-circulation newspaper De Telegraaf and various journalist associations are suing the government for allegedly allowing the Dutch intelligence service, AIVD, to wiretap two Telegraaf reporters. The AIVD has reportedly started eavesdropping on the reporters. The paper reported that the AIVD systematically observed and bugged Telegraaf reporters Joost de Haas and Bart Mos. De Telegraaf charged that “journalists whose work it is to simply pass on news, now formally run the risk of being seen as a danger to the state.” Elsewhere, Dutch Foreign Minister Ben Bot claimed, “the mood of malaise about Europe is diminishing”. One year after the Dutch and French voted ‘No’ to the European draft constitution, Minister Bot was quoted in the NRC as saying the EU’s three main priorities are now, “energy security, dealing with cross-border crime, and a new legal instrument for administering Europe.” Bot added that the Dutch ‘No’ to the draft constitution undermined Holland’s standing within the EU.
Anti-Western

De Volkskrant published excerpts from a confidential report, entitled ‘Radicals and Democrats’, compiled by the Institute for Migration & Ethnic Studies for Dutch Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk. One of the reports conclusions is that “nearly half of young ethnic Moroccans are anti-Western.” Forty percent reject western values and democracy, while seven percent would resort to violence to defend Islam. The report also stated that many pro-democracy, ethnic Moroccans also feel discriminated against, and that this discrimination leads to radicalization. Elsewhere, Queen Beatrix visited Holland’s oldest mosque in Den Haag and did not shake hands with the mosque’s male clerics, as they had requested, because they said Islam forbids men to shake hands with women. This caused conservative Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders to demand that the government explain the Queen’s “bowing to Muslims”. Meanwhile, the Queen’s eldest son, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and his wife, Princess Maxima, were in Mongolia to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the Central Asian nation.

The Dutch government launched a campaign to clean up the Netherlands: people who throw cigarette butts, soda cans and other trash on the streets will be fined up to 50 or 60 euros. De Telegraaf says it’s about time, “because this country is dirty”. The Dutch Parliament approved a bill abolishing entrance fees to Dutch state museums. Dutch taxpayers will receive a card from the tax office that allows them to visit museums for free. The hope is that this will encourage more people to visit museums. Elsewhere, a 56-year-old man living in a nursing home died and was only found three days later. “A bizarre incident”, wrote De Volkskrant, adding that it was unacceptable that his death went unnoticed for such a long time.

Finally, World Cup fever has gripped Holland, as the Dutch team booked its place in the next round. Hundreds of Dutch fans however were forced to watch their team’s 2-1 win over the Ivory Coast in their underwear in Stuttgart, after stadium stewards claimed to have stopped an ‘ambush marketing’ ploy by Dutch supporters, who turned up wearing orange pants bearing the name of Dutch brewery Bavaria. The stewards made the fans remove the offending pants before being allowed to enter Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion. Anheuser Busch’s Budweiser is the official beer for the tournament. FIFA, world football’s governing body, fiercely protects its sponsors from brands that aren’t FIFA partners. Markus Siegler, FIFA’s director of communications, said that, “if thousands of people turn up wearing the same thing to market a product and to be seen on TV screens then of course we must stop it.” However, Peer Swinkels of the Dutch brewery Bavaria, said the pants ban was “absolutely ridiculous”. Swinkels: “You cannot tell people to strip off their pants and force them to watch a game in their underwear. That is going too far!” (DM)

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