Dutch economy outperforming others because of “intelligent lockdown”

While the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic dealt an unprecedented blow to the Dutch economy, the Netherlands is still doing better than many other European countries, Statistics Netherlands reported on Tuesday. This may have to do with the Netherlands' "intelligent lockdown" keeping more sectors open than in other countries with stricter lockdowns.

In the second quarter, the Dutch economy contracted by 8.5 percent compared to the previous quarter. "This was the strongest contraction ever recorded," the stats office said. But compared to other European countries, the Dutch economy came off favorably. Germany's economy shrank by 9.7 percent, Belgium's by 12.1 percent, and France's by 13.8 percent

Read more at: Dutch economy outperforming others because of “intelligent lockdown” | NL Times

The Netherlands: Churchgoers in Dutch 'Bible Belt' defy coronavirus instructions

Hundreds of Dutch worshippers from a deeply conservative branch of Protestantism gathered in churches across the Netherlands on Sunday, defying government instructions to limit indoor groups to 30 to try to contain surging coronavirus infections.

Although Dutch churches are exempt on constitutional grounds from the government order, almost all church associations had said they would follow the rules, after massive gatherings in some Protestant churches last week had sparked outrage.

Reformed Protestant churches in what is known as the Dutch Bible Belt had made it clear they would continue to receive considerably more than 30 faithful at a time, despite the heavy criticism.

Read more at: 
Churchgoers in Dutch 'Bible Belt' defy coronavirus instructions | Reuters

Soccer: Italy 1-1 Netherlands: Improved Oranje earn point in Bergamo - Italy

The Netherlands kept their chances of progressing in the Nations League alive with a well-earned point against Italy in Bergamo.

Frank de Boer is still searching for his first win after four games as manager, but his team looked far more assured and incisive than they did in the goalless draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday.

Read more at:
Italy 1-1 Netherlands: Improved Oranje earn point in Bergamo - DutchNews.nl

Netherlands: COVID-19 Entry Requirements Travelers Need To Know

The Netherlands is one of the most visited countries in the world  receiving over 17 million annual visitors prior to the pandemic.

The country is now looking to revitalize its tourism sector after being decimated by the coronavirus.

Below,  see link below ,are all the latest COVID-19 entry requirements for the Netherlands and everything you need to know before booking your trip. 

Note Almere Digest: Arriving after 6 pm at Schiphol airport means you can not use or go to the Coronavirus test center, because it is closed from 6pm to 8am. Also wearing face masks, which is obligatory in Public transport, is not required in stores, shops, supermarkets, and restaurants. One local Albert Heijn supermarket we visited  did not even have sanitary disinfectants dispensers, or wipes available for the shoppers entering the supermarket. All by all it seems the Dutch do not have a solid well defined Coronavirus protection system in place.
 

Read more: 
Netherlands: COVID-19 Entry Requirements Travelers Need To Know - Travel Off Path

The Netherlands: Groningen's Winsum is voted the Netherlands' prettiest village - DutchNews.nl

The village of Winsum
in the north of Groningen province has been named prettiest village in
the Netherlands by motoring organisation ANWB.

Read more at DutchNews.nl:

The village of Winsum
in the north of Groningen province has been named prettiest village in
the Netherlands by motoring organisation ANWB.

Read more at DutchNews.nl:

The village of Winsum
in the north of Groningen province has been named prettiest village in
the Netherlands by motoring organisation ANWB.

Read more at DutchNews.nl:

Winsum was voted the Netherlands prettiest village of the year by the Dutch tourism organisation ANWB

Read more at: 
Groningen's Winsum is voted the Netherlands' prettiest village - DutchNews.nl

Netherlands: Dutch Ambassador to US Defends Netherlands' Tough EU Stance - by Natalie Liu

Despite acquiescing to a compromise solution at last week’s rancorous but ultimately successful EU summit, Dutch diplomats are offering no apology for their country’s tough stand on financial assistance to the members worst hit by the global pandemic.

Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte and other leaders of what became known as “the frugal four” argued against a more generous relief offer promoted by France and Germany before settling on a package comprising $460 billion in grants and $424 billion in loans.

In an interview with VOA, Andre Haspels, the Netherlands’ ambassador to the United States, maintained that the tough medicine that Dutch officials prescribed for the suffering EU countries was no worse than what his government had delivered to its own citizens.

Ambassador to US Defends Netherlands' Tough EU Stance | Voice of America - English

Pollution - The Netherlands to ban many single-use plastics by next summer - by Victoria Séveno

Good news for the environment! The Netherlands will ban a number of single-use plastic products from July 2021, in an effort to protect our beaches and oceans.

Read more:
The Netherlands to ban many single-use plastics by next summer

Nederland Oppositie: geen huurverhoging per 1 juli om corona

Corona Virus crisis: Wat heeft de Rutte Regering tot op heden voor de burgers gedaan om hun financieel bij te staan 0.A. Huur vermindering, Hypotheek rente verlichting, Verlaging Zieke kosten verzekering etc.?

Oppositie wil geen huurverhoging per 1 juli om corona

Zie ook: Oppositie: geen huurverhoging per 1 juli om corona - Vastgoedmarkt

Netherlands lands in crossfire in US-China trade war

A Dutch semiconductor company has become the focus of international attention after the United States put pressure on The Hague to halt exports of machines to China. Like many European countries, the…

Read more at:
http://www.rfi.fr/en/science-and-technology/20200504-the-netherlands-lands-in-crossfire-in-us-china-trade-war-coronavirus-asml-superconductor

France and Netherlands call for tougher EU trade conditions

Bloc urged to enforce environmental and labour standards through tariffs

Read more at:
https://www.ft.com/content/e14f082c-42e1-4bd8-ad68-54714b995dff

The Netherlands: Coranavirus Repatriation €10 million fund launched to bring Dutch Citizens back to the Netherlands

Travelers stuck outside of the Netherlands due to flights being halted or severely limited in the wake of the global coronavirus pandemic have a new option to get help to return home. A ten-million euro fund was launched on Monday to provide assistance to stranded fliers, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday.

Essentially, passengers will contribute 300 euros for their own repatriation if returning back from the European Union or 20 countries near the EU. The personal contribution rises to 900 euros for countries further away from the list of EU-adjacent countries.

"We need to do our utmost to get these people home safely," said Stef Blok, the Dutch foreign minister, of the complicated situation. "Because of the huge impact of the coronavirus, this group in particular really has nowhere else to turn."

Read more at: €10 million fund launched to bring people back to Netherlands | NL Times

Netherlands ranked sixth happiest country in the world

The Netherlands is
ranked the world’s sixth happiest country in the latest World Happiness
Report.

Although the country is once again one of the jolliest in the world, it
has slipped one place since last year, and is – according to the report
based on data from the Gallup World Poll – slightly less contented than
it was between 2008 and 2012.

However, only in Finland (first), Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland and
Norway are people happier.

The study assesses factors including the healthy life expectancy, social
support, freedom and average income in the countries, alongside the
levels of corruption, trust, generosity and people’s own ‘life
evaluation’ – which includes their personal feeling of safety.

The Netherlands is categorised alongside ‘Nordic countries’ and the
researchers say that it does better than Europe as a whole because of
levels of social and institutional trust, as well as social connection.
However, as in some other developed highly economies, people feel less
happy in Dutch cities than they do in rural areas.


Read more at DutchNews.nl:

The Netherlands is
ranked the world’s sixth happiest country in the latest World Happiness
Report.

Although the country is once again one of the jolliest in the world, it
has slipped one place since last year, and is – according to the report
based on data from the Gallup World Poll – slightly less contented than
it was between 2008 and 2012.

However, only in Finland (first), Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland and
Norway are people happier.

The study assesses factors including the healthy life expectancy, social
support, freedom and average income in the countries, alongside the
levels of corruption, trust, generosity and people’s own ‘life
evaluation’ – which includes their personal feeling of safety.

The Netherlands is categorised alongside ‘Nordic countries’ and the
researchers say that it does better than Europe as a whole because of
levels of social and institutional trust, as well as social connection.
However, as in some other developed highly economies, people feel less
happy in Dutch cities than they do in rural areas.


Read more at DutchNews.nl:

The Netherlands is ranked the world’s sixth happiest country in the latest World Happiness Report.

Although the country is once again one of the jolliest in the world, it has slipped one place since last year, and is – according to the report based on data from the Gallup World Poll – slightly less contented than it was between 2008 and 2012.

However, only in Finland (first), Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland and Norway are people happier. The study assesses factors including the healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom and average income in the countries, alongside the levels of corruption, trust, generosity and people’s own ‘life evaluation’ – which includes their personal feeling of safety.

The Netherlands is categorised alongside ‘Nordic countries’ and the researchers say that it does better than Europe as a whole because of levels of social and institutional trust, as well as social connection.

However, as in some other developed highly economies, people feel less happy in Dutch cities than they do in rural areas.

Read more at: Netherlands ranked sixth happiest country in the world - DutchNews.nl

The Netherlands; Turkish immigrants will have to formally 'inburger' from 2021: says Government minister

Turkish immigrants will have to formally ‘inburger’ from 2021: minister

Read more at :
https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2020/02/turkish-immigrants-will-have-to-formally-inburger-from-2021-minister/

The Netherlands: Two gov't parties now support women's quota in listed companies

A mandatory women's quota for executive positions in listed companies is now one step closer. Coalition party CDA expressed support for a quota to ensure that at least 30 percent of listed companies' top positions are filled by wmen. The party, along with coalition partner D66, is submitting a motion calling on the government to adopt the recent proposal.

Read more at:
https://nltimes.nl/2019/11/21/two-govt-parties-now-support-womens-quota-listed-companies

The Netherlands: Court orders Netherlands to bring back kids from Dutch ISIS mothers, but not mothers, stuck in Syria

A court in Den Haag ordered the Netherlands to quickly bring 56 children of Dutch parents back to the country from Syrian detention and displacement camps. The case was filed on behalf of 23 mothers living in the camps. In its verdict, the court noted that "the children have not chosen to go to Syria or to stay in Syria. They are sitting there now because their parents have been involved in ISIS.

Read more at:Court orders Netherlands to bring back kids, but not mothers, stuck in Syria | NL Times:

Tourism: Netherlands, Aruba land on Lonely Planet top 10 destinations

Aruba and Netherlands are two of the best destinations to visit in 2020, according to travel guide Lonely Planet's annual list of the best countries to visit. In the top 10 countries, Aruba is in fourth place and the Netherlands in seventh.

Read more at: Netherlands, Aruba land on Lonely Planet top 10 destinations | NL Times:

The Netherlands: Nato assembly document confirms US nuclear bombs are in NL

One of the worst kept Dutch military secrets, that US nuclear weapons are being stored at the Dutch airbase in Volkel, has been been confirmed in a draft report to the Nato parliament.

The information is contained in a document drawn up for discussion in the Nato parliamentary assembly on June 1, entitled ‘A new era for nuclear deterrence? Modernisation, arms control and allied nuclear forces.’

The report was written by a member of the Nato parliamentary assembly’s defense committee and is not an official Nato document, the organisation told DutchNews.nl.

‘Nato PA reports are public documents based soley on open source information,’ the Nato PA press service said. The report’s compiler discovered the slip and has removed the sentence in a new version of the report which was published on July 11.

The original document states that the US forward deploys 150 nuclear weapons for use by US and allied aircraft.

These, it says, are stored at six US and European bases, including Volkel in the Netherlands and Kleine Brogel in Belgium as well as bases in Germany, Italy and Turkey.

Note EU-Digest: This will make Europe an immediate target for any attack from a foreign aggressive military source. As someone suggested: "lnstead of storing these weapons in Europe, why not keep them in the basement of the White House in the US"

Read more at:
Nato assembly document confirms US nuclear bombs are in NL - DutchNews.nl

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The Netherlands: Nationalists and populists issues lose favorability in the Netherlands

There was faltering support for the Netherlands to withdraw from the European Union, according to a survey of voters and non-voters in the Netherlands during the 2019European Parliamentary elections. 

The poll, conducted by Ipsos for broadcaster NOS, also showed several nationalist issues falling out of favor with the Dutch public. Just 15 percent of people agreed with a mandate saying the Netherlands should leave the EU. That is down from 24 percent of respondents five years ago. About 65 percent disagreed with the sentiment, with the rest saying they either did not know or did not care. 

Interestingly, about 60 percent of voters said the Netherlands is better as part of the European Union, while fewer than 40 percent of non-voters said the same. Still, about 69 percent want to see the EU grow even stronger because of international tensions, while only 7 percent disagreed.

Read more at:
https://nltimes.nl/2019/05/23/nexit-nationalist-issues-lose-favorability-netherlands

The Netherlands: Huge 24 hr transport strike coming to the Netherlands at the end of May

Read more at: https://www.iamexpat.nl/expat-info/dutch-expat-news/huge-transport-strike-across-netherlands-coming

The Netherlands: American hate preacher denied entry into the Netherlands and all other EU member and EU Schengen countries

Read more at :
https://www.iamexpat.nl/expat-info/dutch-expat-news/american-hate-preacher-denied-entry-netherlands