The Netherlands: VVD continues to back PM Mark Rutte but coalition options are limited

A number of prominent VVD members have gone public with their support for beleaguered caretaker prime minister Mark Rutte, who is facing increasing isolation in The Hague after ‘forgetting’ he had suggested moving a critical MP to a ‘new role’.

Former ministers in Rutte-led governments, including Henk Kamp, Annemarie Jorritsma and Fred Teeven have all given their public backing to the prime minister, and there is no-one within the party who is publicly doubting his leadership, the NRC reported. After all, they point out the VVD won the election with 34 seats and ‘you do not dump a leader who made his party the biggest again’

Read more at: VVD continues to back Mark Rutte but coalition options are limited - DutchNews.nl

EU - Coronavirus Travel Restrictions: Czechia Adds Belgium & Netherlands to High-Risk COVID-19 Category

The Czech Republic’s government has announced that from April 5, Belgium and the Netherlands will be included on the COVID-19 dark red list, in which are placed countries profoundly affected by the Coronavirus disease.

At the same time, Ireland and Malta will be placed on the red list of countries, while Iceland will move to the orange list, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

Czechia’s Ministry of Health decision comes after taking into account the updated data from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), which shows the degree of risk which countries face from the spread of the virus.

Read more at: Czechia Adds Belgium & Netherlands to High-Risk COVID-19 Category - SchengenVisaInfo.com

The Netherlands: Lawmakers censure Dutch PM Rutte over coalition talks- by MIKE CORDER

Netherlands (AP) — Caretaker Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s political future was in doubt Friday after lawmakers passed a motion of censure against him that was filed by two parties in his own outgoing coalition.

The politically damaging move came at the end of a marathon parliamentary debate about the stalled process to form a new government following elections last month. Opposition lawmakers accused Rutte of lying and undermining public trust in politicians. He narrowly survived a motion of no-confidence.

It was a stunning fall from grace just over two weeks after his conservative party won the most seats in parliament in the election, putting him in line to form his fourth governing coalition and possibly become the country’s longest-serving prime minister.<

Read more at: https://apnews.com/article/mark-rutte-netherlands-europe-elections-338dc3293ec7bf1ac206c9f3659caea1

Rapid Corona test: Netherlands set to launch rapid-test ‘Corona-Check’ app

The Netherlands will test an app this weekend called “coronacheck“, which will help aid entrance to festivals. Asking users of the app to travel to one of 100 test locations nationwide partake in a rapid test, an employee will fill in a code in your app which will create a QR code. At the entrance of a festival, the employees will scan the code and when the screen turns green you will have access to the event. The result is valid for 48 hours, and the test is free. The app is linked to your name and date of birth and that will be checked upon entrance to avoid fraud. People in the Netherlands can also use this app for other public events or settings, such the cinema, concerts, and sports matches.

At the press conference on Monday, outgoing Netherlands minister Mr. De Jonge indicated that a law still has to regulate the obligation to enter certain places. This law will be discussed in the House of Representatives this month. According to the Ministry of Health, the country will not open again fully until mid-April at the earliest. The parallel test streets will be located at a hundred different locations, and the new is generally being welcomed as a positive development for the country of the Netherlands.

RFead more at: Netherlands set to launch rapid-test ‘Corona-Check’ app

The Netherlands: Same-sex marriage around the world, 20 years after Dutch first - by Rachel Savage

Exactly 20 years ago, one lesbian couple and three gay couples tied the knot in Amsterdam's city hall - making history as the Netherlands became the first country to allow same-sex marriage, a step since followed by nearly 30 other nations.

During the two decades since the law took effect, thousands of gay and lesbian couples have wed in the Netherlands - representing 1.7% of all marriages, according to the national statistics bureau.

About 750 lesbian couples and 620 gay male couples have married on average annually over the last five years, and there are now some 20,000 married same-sex couples living in the country, official data shows.

Read more at Same-sex marriage around the world, 20 years after Dutch first

The Netherlands Eurovision 2021: Jeangu Macrooy "Birth Of A New Age" Lyrics

“Birth of a New Age” is written by Jeangu himself alongside Perquisite, with whom Jeangu writes all his material. Jeangu was reselected as the Dutch participant for Eurovision following the cancellation of last year’s contest.

“Birth of a New Age” is special because its lyrics are partially in Sranan Tongo, the local language of Jeangu’s birth country Suriname. Sranan was born as a Dutch and English-based creole language Eurovision 2021,Jeangu Macrooy,The Netherlands,“Birth of a New Age”,EU,initially used by slaves to communicate with each other. Nowadays, it is still an important language of intercultural communication in Suriname. Jeangu will be the first ever contestant to perform the language at Eurovision.

Jeangu Macrooy told NPO Radio 5’s Volgspot why he chose to incorporate the language into his entry:

Read more: Jeangu Macrooy "Birth Of A New Age" Lyrics - The Netherlands Eurovision 2021

The Netherlands: Movie Industry: Production Begins In the Netherlands on Horror ‘Moloch’, XYZ Selling

Production is underway in the Netherlands on director Nico van den Brink’s debut feature Moloch, which has been boarded for world sales by XYZ Films. Splendid Film has taken distribution rights in Benelux.

In the horror-thriller, 38-year-old Betriek lives at the edge of a peat bog in the North of the Netherlands. When she and her family are attacked by a random stranger one night, Betriek sets out to find an explanation. The more she digs, the more she becomes convinced that she is being hunted by something ancient. Today, we can reveal a first look image from the movie.

The Dutch-language pic is being produced by Sabine Brian and Ronald Versteeg for NL Film in Amsterdam. Todd Brown and Maxime Cottray are executive-producing for XYZ. Cast is being kept under wraps.

Read more at: Production Begins In The Netherlands On Horror ‘Moloch’, XYZ Selling – Deadline