http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/netherlands/ en-us Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:42:01 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2047091/posts Smoking ban leads to new religion Wednesday 16 July 2008Café owners in the Netherlands are joining religious movement known as the One and Universal Smokers Church of God, the Telegraaf reports on Wednesday.‘We stand firmly behind the church’s teachings and that is smoking,’ Cor Busch, owner of the former Lindeboom café in Alkmaar told the paper. ‘Smokers are being discriminated against… but a beer and a cigarette belong together.’ Smoking has been banned in Dutch bars since July 1. Several dozen bars have joined the movement which claims the Dutch constitution and European rules give it legitimacy under the... Dutch News (The Netherlands) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2047091/posts#comment Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:42:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2046515/posts THE HAGUE, 17/07/08 - Five jobless families that were given a free holiday from their municipality have returned prematurely from the outing. One of the reasons was that the camp-site was not found luxurious enough, local newspaper Tubantia reports. The five families with children are unemployed and therefore have little money. Losser municipality offered them the opportunity to stay for free for a week at De Holenberg camp-site in the village of Schaik. Within three days, however, they returned disappointed to Losser. The camp-site did not meet expectations, according to Tubantia. One of the families even phoned the municipality from... NIS News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2046515/posts#comment Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:20:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2045083/posts The arrest of a controversial Dutch cartoonist has set off a wave of protests. The case is raising questions for a changing Europe about free speech, religion and art. Amsterdam On a sunny May morning, six plainclothes police officers, two uniformed policemen and a trio of functionaries from the state prosecutor's office closed in on a small apartment in Amsterdam. Their quarry: a skinny Dutch cartoonist with a rude sense of humor. Informed that he was suspected of sketching offensive drawings of Muslims and other minorities, the Dutchman surrendered without a struggle. "I never expected the Spanish Inquisition," recalls the... Wall Street Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2045083/posts#comment Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:43:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2044848/posts THE HAGUE, 12/07/08 - Fokke Fernhout, the former vice-president of the Maastricht district court, was found guilty Friday of possession of child pornography. But he is not being penalised. Eleven very explicit videotapes with titles such as 'Boys for Sale' and 'Sweet Little Boys' were found in 2001 in the judge's home by a construction worker. He was renovating the floor under which the material was hidden. Fernhout eventually seemed to be facing a jail term. But after numerous appeals, in which the sentence got lower and lower, he now gets away without any penalty at all. In 2004, before... NIS News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2044848/posts#comment Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:04:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2043636/posts THE HAGUE, 11/07/08 - Prominent members of the Christian democratic (CDA), Labour (PvdA) and conservative (VVD) parties appear to be involved with the controversial movement of Turkish Imam Fethullah Gulen. Among them is 'integration through dialogue' guru Doekle Terspstra (CDA), according to Elsevier magazine. Last week, TV programme Nova reported that numerous organisations in the Netherlands are affiliated to the Gulen movement. They appear to act as though they consider integration important, but are in reality aiming for Islamisation, various sources told Nova. One of these organisations is the association of Turkish entrepreneurs in the Netherlands, HOGIAF, according to the... NIS News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2043636/posts#comment Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:46:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2042273/posts Amsterdam - Dutch legislator and Islam critic Geert Wilders wants the Dutch government to break off all diplomatic relations with Jordan if that country does not cease its efforts to seek his extradition. On June 10, the Jordan public prosecutor announced he was charging Wilders with incitement against Islam following a complaint, filed by a group the Messenger of Allah United Us, over his 16-minute political film Fitna, released late March. In the film, Wilders expressed concern about what he called the Islamization of the Netherlands and the spreading of Muslim fundamentalism in Europe. Writing in Dutch daily newspaper Volkskrant... M&C http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2042273/posts#comment Tue, 8 Jul 2008 08:24:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2041158/posts THE HAGUE (AFP) — The Netherlands will ban Iranian students from studying nuclear technology, a source of tension between Iran and world powers, at its universities, the government said Friday. "It is forbidden... to grant Iranian nationals access to special training or teaching that could contribute to nuclear proliferation activities in Iran and the development of systems for transmitting nuclear arms," the foreign ministry said in a statement. Some powers including the United States suspect Iran of seeking to develop a nuclear bomb. Iran insists its nuclear program is aimed at producing energy to serve a growing population. Friday's measure... Iran Focus http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2041158/posts#comment Sat, 5 Jul 2008 17:26:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2041013/posts The Netherlands will ban Iranian students from studying nuclear technology, a source of tension between Iran and world powers, at its universities, the government said Friday. "It is forbidden... to grant Iranian nationals access to special training or teaching that could contribute to nuclear proliferation activities in Iran and the development of systems for transmitting nuclear arms," the foreign ministry said in a statement. Some powers including the United States suspect Iran of seeking to develop a nuclear bomb. Iran insists its nuclear program is aimed at producing energy to serve a growing population. Friday's measure adds to a Dutch... Breitbart | AFP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2041013/posts#comment Sat, 5 Jul 2008 08:55:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2039753/posts Dutch Refuse To Consider Super Hornet Jul 2, 2008 By Joris Janssen Lok The Netherlands defense ministry refuses to include Boeing's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in an evaluation of potential candidates for its next-generation fighter requirement. Lockheed Martin's F-22 Raptor also will not be considered, despite a direct request from the country's Parliament to include both U.S. fighters in an evaluation of potential alternatives to the Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). The Dutch appeared to be firmly committed to the F-35A ever since they joined the JSF System Development & Demonstration program as a Level 2 partner in 2002.... Aerospace Daily and Defense Report http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2039753/posts#comment Wed, 2 Jul 2008 15:06:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2039369/posts AMSTERDAM, 02/07/08 - Party for Freedom (PVV) leader Geert Wilders is considering making a sequel to his anti-Islam film Fitna. After investigating dozens of complaints against the politician, the public prosecutor's office (OM) decided on Monday that none of these indicate punishable offences. "The decision of the OM is a good overture to a book of Fitna 2," Wilders said yesterday. Wilders yesterday also asked Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen to summon the Jordanian ambassador in The Hague. A prosecutor in that country is preparing a case against Wilders for insulting Islam. "I do not have to keep to the laws... NIS News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2039369/posts#comment Tue, 1 Jul 2008 20:39:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2039367/posts THE HAGUE, 02/07/08 - Yesterday, on 1 July, a series of tax measures came into effect that will make the Dutch population's life more expensive. Additionally, they are no longer allowed to smoke in hotels, bars and restaurants. The cabinet introduced its new flying tax yesterday. For a flight of up to 2,500 kilometres, an extra 11.25 euros will have to be paid, and for longer flights, as much as 45 euros. Despite high fuel prices, the government also raised excise duties on diesel by 3 cents and on LPG by 1.5 cents a litre from yesterday. Smokers also have... NIS News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2039367/posts#comment Tue, 1 Jul 2008 20:38:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-backroom/2039053/posts You can still light up in a Dutch cafe after July 1, but only if you're smoking marijuana, not tobacco. Bloomberg reported June 20 that the Netherlands' new indoor-smoking ban allows patrons to smoke inside marijuana "coffee shops" as long as the joint is pure cannabis. But cutting joints with tobacco will be illegal. Tobacco smoking also will be banned in other public places except in separate, unstaffed rooms. "Every customer will have to learn how to smoke pure,'' said Robert Kempen, co-owner of The NooN and Mellow Yellow Amsterdam coffee shops. "Sales will definitely fall," said Rida Oulad, a... Join together http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-backroom/2039053/posts#comment Tue, 1 Jul 2008 10:21:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2038764/posts THE HAGUE, 01/07/08 - The Public Prosecutors' Office (OM) has rejected all charges against MP Geert Wilders. Neither his film Fitna nor statements he has made in the past constitute any criminal offences. In recent months, dozens of individuals and organisations have lodged charges against Wilders for discrimination and incitement to hatred, prompted by his statements and his anti-Islam film Fitna, which was released on 27 March. After examining all the charges in detail, the OM reported yesterday that it saw no grounds for prosecution. OM spokesman Leo de Wit said that "Wilders' statements only concern Islam as a religious... NIS News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2038764/posts#comment Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:31:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2038067/posts Cannabis lovers will be exempted from a public smoking ban in the Netherlands from next week onwards. Marijuana is technically illegal in the Netherlands but has been decriminalised, with small quantities sold in coffee shops, making them big attractions for tourists. Cutting the Cannabis with tobacco which some smokers do, could land the shop owners a fine of up to 2,400 euros (3,778 US dollars). Not a problem, says coffee shop owner Arjan Roskam whose marijuana strains have won 31 Cannabis Cup prizes over the years and who count Hollywood celebrities, members of Europe's royal families, lawyers, judges and police... Times Now http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2038067/posts#comment Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:19:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2037432/posts THE HAGUE, 28/06/08 - Any Dutch person who downloads protected songs, films or software via the Internet is breaking the law, Het Financieele Dagbad reported Friday. The newspaper based this on a verdict of the district court in The Hague. "This is the first time a Dutch judge has characterised the unauthorised downloading of copyright-protected material for private use as illegal. This week's verdict is diametrically opposed to the position of the government. It has always tolerated downloading for private use," according to the newspaper. In the Netherlands, producers of blank media carriers such as empty DVDs remit a levy... NIS News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2037432/posts#comment Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:43:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2036376/posts THE HAGUE, 26/06/08 - The Public Prosecutor's Office (OM) appears to have launched an initiative against comments on Internet sites that are critical of the multicultural society. The OM is among other things focusing on the popular website GeenStijl.nl. GeenStijl received a written request this week to report to a police station in Amsterdam, without further information on what it was about. GeenStijl's editors reported they were told that 14 comments on its website were punishable offences. These were contributions from visitors to the site in 2006. GeenStijl is astonished at the move. It says it is actually very active... NIS News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2036376/posts#comment Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:48:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2033792/posts European air force bases that store U.S. nuclear bombs are failing to meet basic security requirements to safeguard the weapons, according to a report obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. The U.S. keeps an estimated 350 thermonuclear bombs in six NATO countries. In four of those — Belgium, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands — the weapons are stored at the host nation's air bases, where they are guarded by specially trained U.S. military personnel. But according to an internal U.S. Air Force report, the sites are falling short of Department of Defense requirements, with fencing and security systems in... Time/CNN http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2033792/posts#comment Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:51:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2033549/posts THE HAGUE, 20/06/08 - A large majority (82 percent) of the Dutch describe themselves as personally happy. But 64 percent simultaneously consider that things are going more the wrong than the right way with the Netherlands, shows a Social and Cultural Planning Bureau (SCP) study released yesterday. The Dutch give their circle of friends and acquaintances and their daily activities (work, study) a more than satisfactory rating (7.4-7.7). The Dutch society as a whole gets a rating of 6.2, while politicians in The Hague get no more than a 5.1. Nearly three-quarters (72 percent) of the population agree that 'in... NIS News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2033549/posts#comment Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:56:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2029067/posts THE HAGUE, 11/06/08 - A Muslim has made an anonymous call to the Islamic community to stop complaining about discrimination and distance itself from violence committed in the name of Allah. "We Muslims must finally just let go of our egoism and our superiority, sanctimoniousness and ignorance," she said in an open letter published yesterday by newpaper De Volkskrant. "We find it marvellous that Islam is growing. But there is a growth of blind belief (...) Take the beheading of non-Muslims in Iraq and Pakistan. The so-called heroic deeds are carried out in the name of Allah. What do we... NIS News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2029067/posts#comment Tue, 10 Jun 2008 21:43:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2027689/posts Gay people in Holland have been shocked by a public attack on a gay man in Amsterdam. Model Mike Du Pree was taking part in a fashion show to promote tolerance towards gay people when a gang of ten Muslim youths dragged him from the catwalk and beat him. A right wing Dutch MP has called for the youths to be deported. Mr Du Pree's nose was broken in the attack, which was motivated by homophobia. The fashion event was held on a public holiday marking the birth of Holland's late Queen Julianna. Newspaper Gay Krant reports that a bystander... Pink News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2027689/posts#comment Sat, 7 Jun 2008 22:28:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2026707/posts THE HAGUE, 06/06/08 - The National Anti-terrorism Coordinator (NCTb) has decided to withdraw personal protection from MP Rita Verdonk. She is baffled, she said on TV programme Knevel&Van de Brink. According to Verdonk, Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin informed her by letter last Tuesday that her bodyguards would be withdrawn on 4 June. She is only still being 'escorted.' This means that instead of permanent bodyguards, she will only have a car behind her following at a distance. Verdonk is the leader and founder of Proud of the Netherlands (TON). The party, currently running second in the polls, was set... NIS News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2026707/posts#comment Thu, 5 Jun 2008 21:46:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2026706/posts THE HAGUE, 06/06/08 - Two-thirds of the Dutch want to ban construction of large mosques. Sixty-five percent of respondents 'agree' or 'agree completely' with this, according to a survey commissioned by TV programme Netwerk and Nederlands Dagblad newspaper. Bureau Intomart GfK surveyed 1,386 people about Islam. Among the Dutch, 59 percent believe this religion will in 40 years time determine the complexion of the Netherlands at least as much as Christianity does now. A similar percentage terms the growth of the number of Muslims in the Netherlands threatening to Dutch culture (57 percent) and to religious freedoms (53 percent). Additionally,... NIS News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2026706/posts#comment Thu, 5 Jun 2008 21:44:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2026704/posts AMSTERDAM, 06/06/08 - Amsterdam municipal transport company (GVB) bus-drivers and tram personnel cannot celebrate Christmas any more. GVB is axing the event to please Muslims, newspaper de Telegraaf suggested yesterday. Personnel association VTN has been told by GVB management that "the multicultural representation of the colleagues at the Christmas party is too one-sided." Supposedly, GVB meant to say that only white GVB staffs have been attending the annual event organised by management in the past years. It has therefore halted its financial contribution to the Christmas party. "We have a limited budget and want to organise something that is intended... NIS News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2026704/posts#comment Thu, 5 Jun 2008 21:37:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2025505/posts Dutch police say a man who pushed his exposed buttocks against a restaurant window as a joke was injured when the glass broke and lacerated his behind. Authorities say a man, 21, and two others had run down a street Sunday morning with their pants pulled down. The man pushed his behind against the window of a restaurant when it broke and cut him. The injured man was treated for his injuries at a nearby hospital. The cafe owner decided not to press charges after the men agreed to pay for the broken window. One News Now http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2025505/posts#comment Tue, 3 Jun 2008 22:07:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2022982/posts Dutch police raided the home of Gregorius Nekschot (a pseudonym meaning "Gregory Deathblow"). Mr. Nekschot makes rude and often sexually explicit cartoons that poke fun at the multicultural society and at religious people, especially Muslims. The police confiscated his computer and a number of drawings. The cartoonist was also arrested and jailed for 36 hours but has been released until his court case is due. "Gregory Deathblow" — the first name refers to Pope Gregory IX who established Papal Inquisition — hides behind an alias.. made drawings for Mr. van Gogh's Web site until it ceased publication in 2004, after... WashingtonTimes http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2022982/posts#comment Thu, 29 May 2008 15:21:45 GMT