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October 3, 2021

The Netherlands: Dutch PM under protection as the ‘Mocro Mafia’ drug cartel sows fear in the Netherlands - by David GORMEZANO

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has been placed under police protection in response to fears of an attack by the Mocro Mafia (Moroccan mafia), a North African criminal organisation linked to cocaine trafficking, two months after Dutch investigative journalist Peter R. de Vries was murdered in Amsterdam.

No more cycling alone through the streets of The Hague to get to meetings for Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. On September 27, Dutch daily De Telegraaf reported that the Royal and Diplomatic Security Services have deployed personal security guards to protect the prime minister, who is believed to be under threat from the Mocro Mafia.

The group operates out of the Netherlands and Belgium and controls a third of all cocaine traffic in Europe. One police union chief said in 2019 that the Netherlands was becoming a narco-state. The 2014 novel “Mocro Maffia”, co-authored by Marijn Schrijver and Wouter Laumans, coined the term and brought the criminal gang to the public’s attention, recounting how a group of Moroccan jewellery thieves in Amsterdam created one of Europe’s most powerful criminal organisations. After its success in the Netherlands, the book was made into a TV series.

Read more at: Dutch PM under protection as the ‘Mocro Mafia’ drug cartel sows fear in the Netherlands

October 1, 2021

The Netherlands formally launched its online gambling market today, October 1

The market for legal online games of chance in the Netherlands opened today, following the news earlier this week that the Dutch Gaming Authority Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) had confirmed that 10 companies had been granted a license to operate in the country. The operators are TOTO Online, FPO Netherlands, Holland Casino, NSUS Malta, Play North Limited, Tombola International Malta, Hillside, Bingoal Netherlands, Betent and LiveScore Malta Limited.

Read more at: The Netherlands formally launched its online gambling market today - Games Magazine Brasil

Netherlands: The Corona entry pass system - as per EU guidelines

This information is provided by

Netherlands Enterprise Agency, RVO On this page

Current rules When is the use of the corona entry pass system mandatory? When is the use of the corona entry pass system not mandatory? Capacity with corona entry pass system How does the corona entry pass system work? Checking the result

Registering events where you use the corona entry pass system

Do you organise (professional sports) events or (youth) activities? Or are you an entrepreneur in the cultural sector? You must use an entry pass system

As of 25 September 2021. With the corona entry pass system it will be possible to organise social activities more often and for more people. Current rules.As of 25 September, the 1.5-metre social distancing rule is no longer in place. You must use the corona entry pass system for certain events that are allowed during the corona crisis. All other basic corona rules,such as washing your hands regularly and making sure there is a good flow of fresh air, remain in place.

Visitors of outside hospitality venues (such as terraces) don’t need a corona entry pass. However, if they want to go inside (to use the toilet or to pay) they need to show their corona entry pass.Children under 13 can enter without a corona entry pass. You need to review both the corona entry pass and the identification of any visitor of 14 years or older.

When is the use of the corona entry pass system mandatory?

in the hospitality sector (such as bars and restaurants, also when part of a store, hotel or sports location) at casino's at festivals with events (both in- and outdoors, with- or without allocated seating) at weddings in public locations at professional sporting events (only for spectators) in the cultural sector (such as cinema's, theatres, concerts)

When is the use of the corona entry pass system not mandatory?

on outside terraces as part of a venue in the hospitality sector (such as bars and restaurants) funeral homes during funerals in airports (after security) at care facilities at goods markets at museums, amusement parks (except hospitality, events and shows), funfairs and nature- or wildlife parks at amateur sporting events in schools at venues for practicing art, culture and sports at events where people do not spend long standing in a single spot (doorstroomevenementen), except for open locations such as town fairs.

Capacity with corona entry pass system

Outdoors with or without allocated seating: 100% capacity, no mandatory closing times Indoors with allocated seating: 100% capacity, no mandatory closing times indoors without allocated seating: 75% capacity, mandatory closing times between 00:00 and 06:00 hours.

How does the corona entry pass system work?

Does a person have a valid corona test certificate, valid proof of vaccination or proof of recovery? They can put these certificates in the CoronaCheck app on their smartphone. Proof of vaccination is valid from no earlier than at least 2 weeks after full vaccination (in Dutch) and from 4 weeks after a Janssen vaccination. A negative corona test result can only be used as a valid test certificate within 24 hours of testing. With the CoronaCheck app they can generate the corona entry pass as a QR code. They may also print a copy of the corona entry pass through CoronaCheck.nl. EU residents may use an EU Digital COVID Certificate

(DCC). Checking the result As the organiser or business owner you can check if a person has a valid corona entry pass with the CoronaCheck scanner

. You, or one of your employees, scan the CoronaCheck app QR code on the visitor’s phone or on their printed copy. If the screen turns green the person has a valid corona entry pass, if it turns red the corona entry pass is not valid or not available. You cannot see which type of certificate they have. You can only verify that their corona entry pass is valid. Then you must check if the data on your screen match the data on the proof of identity.

It is your responsibility as the organiser or as the business owner to check the corona entry pass in the CoronaCheck app or a printed version of the corona entry pass. You should make sure you check the corona entry pass in a safe way. Registering events where you use the corona entry pass system

You need to register your event through the Testing for entrance website

(in Dutch) if:

you need a one-time permit from the municipal authorities and you expect at least 1,000 attendees you organise an event in a large event location with a permanent permit and you expect at least 3,000 attendees

Read more at: Corona entry pass system | Business.gov.nl

September 29, 2021

The Netherlands: Dutch politician is arrested over plot to KILL Prime Minister Mark Rutte

Arnoud van Doorn, who quit the far-right Freedom Party in 2012 to convert to Islam, was detained in the Hague over the alleged plot. He was released without charge on Monday but police said an investigation was ongoing.

Also on Monday police announced they had stepped up security for Rutte, who is known for cycling to work with little or no security, over fears he could be targeted for kidnapping or attack by drug gangs.

Police said they arrested van Doorn after he was seen 'acting suspiciously' in the same area of the Hague as Rutte.

The prosecutor's office said van Doorn appeared to be gathering information for 'preparation of attempted murder', without elaborating.

But his lawyer Anis Boumanjal said van Doorn had only been in the Hague for an hour prior to his arrest and was in the area to give his mother's cat medication.

In that time he stopped for coffee at a café that was coincidentally opposite the gym where Rutte was exercising and then just happened to walk past a BMW believed to be carrying the PM.

Read more at: Dutch politician is arrested over plot to KILL Prime Minister Mark Rutte | Daily Mail Online

September 28, 2021

The Netherlands - Global Warmimg: IMF says Dutch economy is recovering, but more needed in climate change fight

The strong economic recovery of the Netherlands justifies the Cabinet's decision to stop the massive coronavirus economic support packages. But the continuing direction of the coronavirus pandemic remains "uncertain" and politicians in The Hague will have to remain ready to reactivate support programs such as the NOW scheme if necessary, according to researchers from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Read more at: IMF says Dutch economy is recovering, but more needed in climate change fight | NL Times

September 27, 2021

The Netherlands: Dutch Covid-19 hospitalizations at lowest point in 10 weeks

Hospitals in the Netherlands have admitted 301 patients with Covid-19 this past week, the lowest total since July 19. Hospital admissions have fallen by 20 percent compared to the previous seven-day period, according to figures from patient monitor LCPS which were updated on Monday.

An average of 43 patients were admitted each of the past seven days, including 10 sent to an intensive care unit. A week earlier, hospitals were accepting 54 patients daily, though the number of average ICU patient admissions remained the same.

Read more at: Dutch Covid-19 hospitalizations at lowest point in 10 weeks | NL Times

September 25, 2021

Netherlands: Thief jailed for stealing van Gogh and Frans Hals paintings worth millions of pounds from museums - by Amar Mehta

A man has been convicted of stealing a painting by Vincent van Gogh worth several million pounds from a museum in the Netherlands.

The 59-year-old was also found guilty of snatching a Frans Hals piece from another museum in the country, again worth millions of pounds, and neither of the works have been recovered.

Read more at: Netherlands: Thief jailed for stealing van Gogh and Frans Hals paintings worth millions of pounds from museums | World News | Sky News