The Netherlands: Clipper Stad Amsterdam 'home' again!

Stad Amsterdam at sea

The Clipper Stad Amsterdam is back in Amsterdam for about 6 weeks after a wonderful time in the Mediterranean, the south coast of England and Belgium.

The coming weeks are mostly dominated by various day sails, cocktails and seminars on board. On September 7th and 8th she was moored be at the Maritime Museum in Amsterdam,where  visitors of the museum could visit her.

In late September we will go back to the shipyard for 10 days for maintenance following our intensive 6-month yard period earlier this year. Middle of October, the Clipper Stad Amsterdam will sail down south again: to the Canary Islands and later on to the Caribbean with the help of the trade winds. We will be arriving at Martinique on December 1st.

For additional Information click here

Almere-Digest

The Netherlands: Health Insurers saw their profits double last year but premiums remain high

Dutch insurance companies nearly all doubled their profits last year, but industry business leaders said they are doubtful that they can reduce their customers premiums in 2014.

Last year Dutch health insurers saw their profits more than double to 1,4 billion euros. In response to the figures, the Minister for Health Edith Schipper said was that there was a "social imperative" to conclude that higher income leads to lower premiums.

Roger van Boxtel, CEO of insurance company Menzis, said that he wants nothing more than to lower premiums, but that any further decrease in premium costs depends very much on the measures that the government presents in the Budget.

As to the large profit figures made by the health insurers, van Boxel said, "Many people have been saying over the last few months ‘that we made very large profits’. But if you want to be a healthy company, you need to have buffers."

The Dutch health insurance system (since January 1st, 2006) is a combination of private health plans with social conditions built on the principles of solidarity, efficiency and value for the patient.

Health insurance in the Netherlands is mandatory if you are on a long-term stay and is designed to cover the cost of medical care. As a rule, all expats must have a Dutch health insurance even if they are insured for healthcare in their homeland also.

Dutch insurance companies are obliged by law to offer you the basic package. They can not deny coverage because of gender, age or health profile.

Almere-Digest

Almere: Asian tiger mosquito found in seven Dutch locations, clean-up underway

The Asian tiger mosquito has been identified at seven locations in the Netherlands and efforts are underway to eradicate it, government safety experts said recently.

The mosquito, which can carry dangerous diseases such as yellow fever, has been identified at used tyre import companies in Oss, Weert, Montfort, Almere, Lelystad, Emmeloord and Harderberg, the NVWA inspectorate said in a statement.

The European centre for infectious diseases said earlier this year the tiger mosquito, an aggressive, day-time biting mosquito which can transmit some 20 viruses and parasites, had made its home in the Netherlands, but that was denied at the time by local officials.

Read more: DutchNews.nl - Asian tiger mosquito found in seven Dutch locations, clean-up underway

The Netherlands - cardiologists’ Olympics: Riding bicycle regularly keeps heart diseases away says Dr Garg from India

If you are worried about the daily consumption of petrol in the wake of price hike, you must start bicycling. By riding a bicycle, you can control the cardiac diseases and can also reduce the transportation expenses.

These views were expressed by city’s renowned cardiologist Dr Vijay Garg after he returned from Amsterdam, Netherlands recently. Dr Garg attended the conference of cardiologists’ Olympics, held between October 31 and September 4. More than 28,000 cardiologists from 82 countries attended the conference and pondered over topics of medical sciences.

Dr Garg further detailed that the government of the Netherlands supports citizens who exercise by constructing separate roads for cyclists. 

It is a matter of concern that ratio of people suffering from cardiac diseases is increasing frequently in developing countries in comparison to developed ones. If a man does exercise regularly, he can reduce 40 percent the possibility of having heart diseases.

People, who have A+ blood group, are at a higher risk to fall sick with heart diseases.

People living luxurious life have more chances of suffering from cardiac arrest. Dr Garg has been felicitated with the honor of European Society of Cardiology Fellow three years back. India has only 2500 fellows of European Society of Cardiology at present

Read more: The Freepress Journal

Netherlands liable for deaths of three Bosnian Muslims killed at Srebrenica: says Dutch supreme court

The Dutch Supreme Court ruled Friday that the Netherlands was liable for the deaths of three Bosnian Muslim men during the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, even though its forces there were part of a U.N. peacekeeping mission.

The decision upheld a 2011 appeals court judgment that was seen as setting a worrying precedent for countries providing troops for United Nations peacekeeping forces, because it held the Dutch state responsible for events that happened during a UN mission.

The case was brought by Hasan Nuhanovic, an interpreter who lost his brother and father, and relatives of Rizo Mustafic, an electrician who was killed. They argued that all three men should have been protected by Dutch peacekeepers. Mustafic and Nuhanovic were actually employed by the Dutch, but Nuhanovic’s father and brother were not.

The victims were among thousands of Muslims who took shelter in the UN compound as Bosnian Serb forces commanded by Gen. Ratko Mladic overran Srebrenica on July 11, 1995. Two days later, the outnumbered Dutch peacekeepers bowed to pressure from Mladic’s troops and forced thousands of Muslim families out of the compound.

Bosnian Serb forces sorted the Muslims by gender, then trucked the males away and began executing some 8,000 Muslim men and boys. Those bodies were plowed into hastily made mass graves in what international courts have ruled was genocide.

The slaying was the worst massacre on European soil since World War II.

Read more: Netherlands liable for deaths of three Bosnian Muslims killed at Srebrenica: supreme court - The Globe and Mail

Almere - the environment: Using sheep instead of grass mowers

Sheep instead of lawn mowers?

Starting today a herd of some 300 sheep will take over from the gas guzzling and noisy grass mowers in Almere Harbor ( Almere Haven) to keep all public "green" areas trimmed and proper during a three year trial period.

The local city council says they believe this is an environmentally friendly way to keep public grass areas not only trimmed, but also to protect certain plant species, which sheep don't eat, from extinction.

The Council also expressed the hope that the grazing sheep will create additional interest among the local inhabitants as to the ecology and wildlife surrounding them.

Almere-Digest

Almere Harbor Festival - 3 day fun for the whole family and free parking

This weekend the Almere Harbor Festival in Almere Haven, Province of Flevoland, kicks off with free activities for the whole family, including an open air classical concert of the Gelderland Province Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Gijs Leenaars on Saturday, September 7, 8.30 pm. 

A special performance by the Almere Youth Symphony Orchestra on Friday, September 6, 8.00 pm, conducted by Hans Welle, with guest  performances by Almere's Elise Doorn, Elise de Koning and Iris Lommerse. 

The 3 day festival will also include boat rides on the century old classic Dutch fishing boats known as "botters", food and beer tasting events, circus Corrosia, and a two day antique market. 

Parking during the 3 day festival at Almere Haven is free.

Festival Program  

Friday  Deptember 6

11.30-16.00  Botterrace
16.00-22.00  Havenkom Proeverij
16.00-22.00  Bierproeverij
19.45-21.30  Jeugdorkest AJSO  

Saturday 7 september
11.00-17.00  Kunstmarkt
12.00-17.00  Circus Corrosia12.00-16.00  Botterfestival
13.00-23.00  Havenkom Proeverij
13.00-23.00  Bierproeverij
20.00-22.00  Yakult Havenkom Concert
 
Sunday 8 september
11.00-17.00  Kunstmarkt  12.00-17.00  Circus Corrosia  11.00-18.00  Brocante en Antiekmarkt
12.00-16.00  Botterfestival
11.30-18.00  Shantykoren
12.00-18.00  Havenkom Proeverij
12.00-18.00  Bierproeverij

Almere-Digest