The Netherlands: Should the Dutch ‘Black Pete’ tradition be abolished?

Many children in the Netherlands have grown up with the image of Black Pete, a helper for St Nicholas, an equivalent of Santa Claus.

The character is highly controversial, as the figure is usually portrayed by a white person wearing blackface makeup with exaggerated lips and an afro wig

Note Almere Digest: Indeed quite controversial. This has been a centuries old tradional Childrens celebration, before it became a racial issue. Amazing that the people promoting this as a racial issue have no qualms with the flagrant human rights violations of Saudi Arabia and many other countries around the world?

Read more at: Should the Dutch ‘Black Pete’ tradition be abolished? | Netherlands | Al Jazeera

The Netherlands: restaurants in the Netherlands to defy coronavirus measures and open in January - by Victoria Séveno

While the Dutch government are yet to announce the coronavirus measures that will be in place over the Christmas period - Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Health Minister Hugo de Jonge are expected to do this at a press conference on December 8 - De Jonge has stated that, if the number of coronavirus infections doesn’t drop over the coming weeks, it’s possible that the current semi-lockdown could stay in place until at least mid-January.

Read more at: Restaurants in the Netherlands to defy coronavirus measures and open in January

Coronavirus vaccine: US Presidents Obama, Clinton and Bush pledge to take Covid vaccine on TV to show its safety

ormer US presidents Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton have pledged to get vaccinated for coronavirus on television to promote the safety of the vaccine.

The trio’s effort comes as the Food and Drug Administration prepares to meet next week to decide whether to authorize a Covid-19 vaccine produced by Pfizer and BioNTech as more than 3,100 people died from the coronavirus in America on Wednesday, a record single-day high and more than the number of people killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Read more at: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/dec/03/obama-clinton-bush-covid-vaccine-safety?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

The Netherlands: Groningen tops first ranking of the Netherlands' healthiest cities

Groningen is top of a new list of the healthiest Dutch cities compiled by civil engineering group Arcadis. Groningen, the list compilers say, has benefited from largely banning cars from the city centre, encouraging cycling and walking, limiting the development of high rise flats and offices and combating noise and air pollution.

Read more at: Groningen tops first ranking of the Netherlands' healthiest cities - DutchNews.nl

Britain-Netherlands relations: Creatives from UK and NL discuss how to adapt to Brexit and Covid

Creatives from the UK and the Netherlands came together in a virtual session on 25 November 2020 to discuss opportunities for, and threats to, future Anglo-Dutch cultural collaboration. In less time than it takes to drive from London to Birmingham, the nearly thirty participants from all over England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Netherlands had concluded a very successful session, coming up with some excellent analyses of what is required to maintain strong international cultural connections. It shows there are positives to the 'new normal' of meeting each other online. The useful input that was gathered during this meeting helps the Dutch Embassy in the UK, organiser of the event, to focus its efforts on facilitating bilateral cultural exchange.

Read more at: Creatives from UK and NL discuss how to adapt to Brexit and Covid | News item | netherlandsandyou.nl

The Netherlands: Unilever officially no longer Dutch company

For 91 years, the company structure was divided between the Netherlands and Great Britain, with two head offices in London and Rotterdam. The company also had two boards and two types of shares.

To simplify its structure, the company decided in 2018 to opt for one main office. Initially, the choice fell on Rotterdam, possibly partly due to the government's announcement to abolish the dividend tax. However, after opposition from influential shareholders, London became the final choice. In the end, the abolition of the dividend tax in the Netherlands was not passed.

The restructuring means that important strategic decisions will subsequently be made in London. This brings an end to the long Dutch history of the company, but in practice – at least in short term – there won't be much change.

Read more at: Unilever officially no longer Dutch company | NL Times

Nigeria-Netherlands relations: Nigeria gets back 600-year-old artefact from the Netherlands

Nigeria has received a “priceless” terracotta head believed to be at least 600 years old which was smuggled to the Netherlands, the information minister said.

Dutch ambassador to Nigeria Harry Van Dijk on Thursday returned it to Information Minister Lai Mohammed in a ceremony in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

ead more at: Nigeria gets back 600-year-old artefact from the Netherlands | Europe | Al Jazeera