The Netherlands: The Dutch housing market in 2021 - booming

Over 75 percent of the houses that come on the market are sold either at the asking price or (far) above; 10% above the asking price has almost become the norm. The number of viewings and offers per property has declined somewhat, however, the pressure remains consistently high. Since January 1, 2021, investors are paying 8 percent in transfer tax and are expected to become more reticent to buy, at least for the time being. This will slightly improve the position of first-time buyers.

As the housing market is so tight and private buyers hardly have insight into the ultimate selling prices of the listed houses, more and more people who are looking for a house opt for the services of a real estate agent. This often gives them a better chance to view the available houses (as estate agents know which houses are coming on the market before they are listed online) and the estate agent can offer more information regarding the state of the house and the expected selling prices. Consequently, they will have a better idea of what price they should offer for a house and, thus, are usually more successful at having an offer accepted.

Read more at: The Dutch housing market in 2021

EU: Dutch researchers test ways to party during the pandemic

It's a music festival much like any other. More than a thousand people are packed together, dancing to thumping beats and chugging beer. They aren't keeping their distance, not wearing masks. It's the way it used to be, before the pandemic. The event took place on Saturday, in the small town of Biddinghuizen in the Netherlands — with government approval.

The Back to Live festival was a trial run. Researchers want to find out if and how large-scale events can take place despite the pandemic. In Biddinghuizen, revelers had their temperatures taken at the entrance to the festival grounds and had to show not just a ticket but also a negative PCR test result. They all got a sensor to wear around their necks tracking their movements, and then the fun could begin.

Read more at: Dutch researchers test ways to party during the pandemic | Europe| News and current affairs from around the continent | DW | 22.03.2021

The Netherlands: Larges Dutch criminal investigation' finds corruption among Amsterdam police

The officer appeared on the radar of the investigative services through the analysis of intercepted messages from the Encrochat encryption service, whose computer server was seized in France on June 12, 2020. This happened after the investigation team had been following the communication between the officer and external parties since April 1, 2020.

This led to the largest Dutch criminal investigation ever. Murders

Read more at: https://nltimes.nl/2021/03/06/larges-dutch-criminal-investigation-finds-corruption-among-amsterdam-police

Womens Rights: Turkey exits European treaty designed to protect women from violence

Hundreds of women gather in Istanbul on Saturday to oppose a move by the Turkish government to exit the Istanbul Convention, a European treaty designed to protect women from violence. (Umit Bektas/Reuters)

Turkey withdrew early Saturday from a landmark European treaty protecting women from violence that it was the first to sign 10 years ago and that bears the name of its largest city.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's overnight decree annulling Turkey's ratification of the Istanbul Convention is a blow to women's rights advocates, who say the agreement is crucial to combating domestic violence.

Read more at: Turkey exits European treaty designed to protect women from violence | CBC News

Germany: Volkswagen to slash up to 5,000 jobs to fund electric vehicle drive

Carmaker Volkswagen will shed up to 5,000 jobs between now and the end of 2023 as part of cost-cutting to finance its transition to electric vehicles, the company said in a statement on Sunday.

Up to 900 employees would opt for an early retirement scheme while others would leave the company as part of a gradual halting of their activities, it said.

It did not give a precise figure for those employees, saying only that it would be in the lower end of a “four-digit number”, an expression usually used to mean between 2,000 to 4,000.

Read more at: https://apiwp.thelocal.com/20210314/volkswagen-to-slash-up-to-5000-jobs-to-fund-electric-vehicle-drive/

EU - Vaccination Certificate: TravelFirst glimpse of new EU 'vaccine certificate' for summer-by Elena Sánchez Nicolás

The European Commission unveiled on Wednesday (17 March) its common approach to vaccine certificates to ease free travel within the bloc - amid concerns over the slow and unequal rollout of vaccines across member states.

The announcement comes after tourism-reliant member states, led by Greece, and industry players like the International Air Transport Association, urged the EU to establish a form of vaccination proof ahead of the summer holiday season. <

Read more at: First glimpse of new EU 'vaccine certificate' for summer

The Netherlands elections- PM Rutte wins for the 4th time: Party leaders react to Dutch election results; Left wing let down

Party leaders from across the political spectrum gave their reactions to the exit poll results after voting in the 2021 parliamentary elections wrapped up. Seventeen parties were projected to take at least one of the 150 seats in the Tweed e Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament. Below follows a round up of reactions from party leaders.

Not included are speeches covered in a separate article, like those from Mark Rutte, the leader of the apparent winner VVD, Sigrid Kaag, who led D66 to a second place finish, and Geert Wilders, whose PVV finished in third. Also missing is Thierry Baudet, leader of the FvD, who gave no reaction three hours after the polls closed despite an apparently strong election result based on exit poll data.

It was a "painful" defeat for the Greens, said GroenLinks leader Jesse Klaver of his party's projected six-seat loss. "This result also means that colleagues will not come back, and that hurts."

Read more at: Party leaders react to Dutch election results; Left wing let down | NL Times