Dutch gave one billion to charity groups in 2005

Good causes organisations raised 995 million euros from the public in 2005. This was 45 million more than in the previous year, the annual report of the Central Bureau for Fund-raising (CBF) published yesterday shows.
Total spending on good causes by the charitable bodies rose to a record 2.5 billion euros last year. This was because [...]

Read the story »

New electricity line between Netherlands and Germany

TenneT, the manager of the Dutch high-tension network, is to construct a new electricity link between the Netherlands and Germany in partnership with German energy company RWE. The new line will make it possible to import cheaper electricity from Germany.
Dutch electricity is relatively expensive because much is generated using natural gas, the price of which [...]

Read the story »

BBC requesting more money for Dutch cable delivery

The BBC is looking to make far more money from the provision of BBC1 and BBC2 to cable systems in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Up to now, the cable operators have paid an amount to cover copyright issues, as part of an agreement covering all foreign TV channels provided on cable.
But with effect from [...]

Read the story »

Analogue TV broadcasts in the Netherlands have ended

The analogue TV transmitters in the Netherlands were switched off overnight, bringing to an end 55 years of terrestrial analogue programme delivery.
From today, terrestrial programme delivery is 100% digital. For the majority of people, the historic change will have passed unnoticed, as most households in the Netherlands receive their TV programmes via cable.
But [...]

Read the story »

Poor students lose out in EU Erasmus scheme

Twenty years after the EU launched its student exchange programme Erasmus, the poorest students still find it difficult to take part in it. Meanwhile, participants from the new member states benefit much more in terms of better jobs than their west European counterparts.
Read the rest of this interesting article in the EU Observer of 7 [...]

Read the story »

New header

I’ve used a photograph of the cobblestones in Maastricht’s Market square for Crossroads’ new header. Maastricht’s cobblestones have a very specific and recognisable shape and pattern.

The idea of the cobblestones was suggested to me by my colleague Atticus Mullikin at the European Journalism Centre, who judiciously pointed out that they perfectly evoke the theme of [...]

Read the story »

Amnesty International Maastricht holds rally for the cause of Maastricht resident Abdullah Al-Mansouri: a photo-reportage

On the eve of the International Human Rights Day, Amnesty International Maastricht yesterday (9 December) organised a rally through the streets of Maastricht for the cause of resident Abdullah Al-Mansouri. A photo-reportage by Danya Chaikel for Crossroads. [more photographs...]

Read the story »

Contract for TV detective series signed in Maastricht

“Flikken Maastricht” is the name of the new Dutch detective series that will be broadcast next year on the TROS channel.
A contract for 13 episodes was recently signed in Maastricht by the producers of the television series, the police, the tourist office and the city of Maastricht.
The first episode will be filmed in March [...]

Read the story »

Higher entry price to Tefaf

The Tefaf art fair in Maastricht has decided to increase its entry ticket prices. In 2006 an entry ticket cost EUR 40; in 2007, visitors will be asked to pay EUR 55 per person.
The price increase is meant to slow down the explosive growth of the number of visitors.
Last March a record number of [...]

Read the story »

Arcen Gardens and Monde Verde bankrupt

The Gardens of Arcen and the Mondo Verde theme park in Landgraaf are bankrupt.
Both parks are to close due to lack of visitors. Arcen has a deficit of more than EUR 6m. For Mondo Verde, the figure reaches EUR 13,5m.
Source: L1, 6 December 2006

Read the story »

Maastricht-Brussels for less than 20 euros

The first Maastricht-Brussels express train will depart from Maastricht central station at 7.07 am on Monday 11 December, reports today’s Dagblad De Limburger.
The new train connection will allow travellers from Maastricht to reach Brussels in 1h20 for less than EUR 20. The exact prices for the one-way and return tickets have not yet been disclosed.
Every [...]

Read the story »

UM research: Anti-smoking vaccine receives subsidy

Research into the anti-smoking vaccine NicVax, headed by Professor Onno van Schayck from University of Maastricht, has received a TOP subsidy. The Dutch organization for Scientific Research (NWO) confirmed this recently to Maastricht researchers at the Caphri Research Institute (The Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht).
Thanks to this subsidy, research into the vaccine [...]

Read the story »

Europe in Limburg

On November 29 a new TV series ‘Europa in Limburg’ started on L1 TV. The series shows what is being done with European funding in Limburg. These are concrete activities such as education in local languages, cross-border transport, nature parks and tourist routes across borders. These are the European projects from which everyone profits.
The [...]

Read the story »

Strong Dutch objections to EU Technology Institute

The Lower and Upper Houses have strong objections to the European Commission’s plans to set up a European Technology Institute (EIT). Both Houses have sent a letter to European Commissioner Jan Figel (Education).
The EIT is intended to contribute to the EU’s efforts to become the most competitive knowledge economy by 2010. It should encourage partnership [...]

Read the story »

Bill against criminals hiring others to do jail time for them

Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin wants photos and digital fingerprints to be taken of all arrested suspects. He thus hopes to prevent criminals “from concealing their identity”.
Criminals sometimes make accomplices serve their prison sentences for them. This is possible because criminals are often released once their sentence is pronounced. They are then requested to [...]

Read the story »

Schools told to improve Dutch and maths

Dutch school pupils are falling so far behind in terms of language and maths that they are disadvantaged when they go into further education, according to the government’s educational advisory council. The council warns that Dutch educational standards are losing ground internationally.
Education minister Maria van der Hoeven asked the council to look at school [...]

Read the story »

Amnesty International Maastricht: “We want to see Al-Mansouri”

Dutch citizen and Maastricht resident Faleh Abdullah Al-Mansouri, 60, was last May arrested in Syria and extradited to Iran. He is now believed to be held in Karoun Prison in Ahwaz City, the capital of the Province of Khuzestan, and possibly at risk of the death penalty, as well as torture and ill-treatment. Amnesty International Maastricht is fighting for his cause.[continued...]

Read the story »

New report aims to inspire new government with feel good factor

More ethnic minority school leavers are going into further education and there is a growing ethnic middle class, according to a report drawn up by the government’s social planning unit SCP.
The SCP, which publishes an annual report on the state of the nation, says it deliberately looked for ‘inspiring examples and rich opportunities over [...]

Read the story »

Dutch happiest Europeans

The Dutch are the happiest Europeans followed by the Irish and the Belgians, reveals a new survey.
Belgians also rank amongst the biggest consumers of psychological self-help books, but scientists haven’t researched into the significance of this relationship.
This survey initiated by the European Commission showed that the Dutch are the Happiest Europeans surveyed with as [...]

Read the story »

Netherlands to lose large area to new industry parks

A study conducted by two environmental organisations shows that within the next ten years an area three times the size of the island of Texel will be lost to new industry parks. The organisations are calling for a ban on the construction of new parks. They say that measures such as modernising old industry parks [...]

Read the story »

Cabinet: Borders open to Polish workers from beginning of next year

The cabinet feels it’s important to open the borders as of January 1st, 2007 for workers from Poland and seven other Central- and Eastern European countries that joined the European Union in 2004. At a time when the number of vacancies is rapidly rising and it is becoming increasingly difficult for employers to find sufficient [...]

Read the story »

More and more media and mail via the Internet

Nearly 60 percent of the 10.5 frequent Internet users in the Netherlands used the Internet for media activities such as reading a newspaper, listening to the radio or watching TV in 2006. The Internet is also replacing traditional postal services to a large extent.
News increasingly reaches the public via the Internet
News items are [...]

Read the story »

Rozendaal richest municipality

Rozendaal was the wealthiest municipality in the Netherlands in 2004. The average income level there was 56 percent higher than the national level. The province North Holland has the most wealthy municipalities, while Groningen and Friesland have the most poor ones.
Six of the ten richest municipalities in North Holland
Following Rozendaal in the province of [...]

Read the story »

Changing migration flows push up income in big cities

Net international migration to the big cities in the Netherlands has dropped sharply since 2000. In addition in net terms, fewer people have moved from these cities to other municipalities. This has resulted in higher per capita income levels in the big cities.
Immigration down
In 2000 and 2001 the Netherlands had the highest immigration flows [...]

Read the story »

The Netherlands: a tax haven for multinationals

date : 20 November 2006 news
Many foreign companies establish themselves in the Netherlands to take advantage of its very attractive tax system. Every year about €3,600 billion (over eight times the Dutch GNP) of foreign companies’ money flows through the Netherlands. This can have negative consequences for other countries, both rich and [...]

Read the story »

Netherlands to suspend expulsion of asylum seekers

A vote last week by the Dutch lower house of parliament in favour of a general pardon for asylum-seekers who have been in the country for more than five years is threatening the position of Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk, a member of the caretaker government. For the last four years, the centre-right majority in parliament [...]

Read the story »

Mayor of Amsterdam elected second best mayor in the world

Mayor of Amsterdam, Job Cohen has been elected the second best mayor in the world. John So, Mayor of Melbourne, won the title for World Mayor 2006. The mayor of Amsterdam was praised for calling for unity and tolerance after the murder of filmmaker Theo van Gogh. City Mayors, which organises the internet competition, is [...]

Read the story »

Ministry of Education, Culture and Science launches new website

The Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science has revamped its website.
Its English section features a comprehensive overview of the Dutch education system as well as an analysis of Dutch education in relation to the job market.
Visitors will also find detailed information about the structure of the Ministry.
Press releases are available in Dutch only.
Visit: Ministry [...]

Read the story »

UM research: The dangers of whisky and candlelight

Entertaining article about two UM research projects in today’s Guardian:
Whisky and candlelight, consumed repeatedly over many years, involve some measure of danger. Two Dutch research projects tried to take that measure. They hoped to confront the spectre of death - to either confirm or disprove the worry that good whisky and sacred candles, singly or [...]

Read the story »

Dutch people get acquainted with Uzbekistan at Maastricht University

The University of Maastricht (the Netherlands) has hosted a presentation of political and economic reforms, being carried out in Uzbekistan, which was devoted to 14th anniversary of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Jahon news agency reported that it was organized by the Embassy of Uzbekistan to Belgium together with the Netherlands Fund Caravan [...]

Read the story »

« Previous Page — Next Page »