You Think It's Bad Here - News from the Netherlands

NIS News Bulletin is an English-language Dutch news service. Below is an assortment of headlines and opening lines from some of their recent articles. Some of them are funny and some are sobering. Click on the links to read the full article.

Nov. 21, 2009 - Government Therapists Order Prostitutes for Psychopaths - A clinic where disturbed criminals, most of them murderers, are locked up, hires prostitutes for them. These visit the closed government institution for 105 euros per 'treatment.'

Nov. 26, 2009 - Working Unattractive due to Inactivity Subsidies - It is relatively unattractive in the Netherlands to start working more or to take a job from a position of unemployment. This is specifically due to the disappearance of subsidies and allowances for such groups, concludes the Central Planning Bureau (CPB).

Nov. 27, 2009 - Dutch more Worried about their Culture than Economy - The Dutch are more worried about their culture than about the economy. They are also much more worried about ordinary crime than about terrorism, according to a survey by the National Anti-terrorism Coordinator (NCTB) for the Government Information Service (RVD).

December 2, 2009 - Lower House Backs Jobs for 'Government Journalists' - A majority in the Lower House will support a plan to give newspapers and news magazines 60 'government journalists.' When parliament has formally voted, the measure can start immediately.

December 3, 2009 - PvdA Repeats: Dutch Must Leave Uruzgan [Afghanistan] - The government Labour (PvdA) party repeated yesterday that the Netherlands must get out of Uruzgan after the present mission ends. The new US strategy for Afghanistan announced by President Barack Obama changes nothing regarding this position.

December 8, 2009 - Amsterdam Wants to Legalise Cannabis-Growing - Mayor Cohen van Amsterdam is urging the cabinet to legalise cannabis-growing under state supervision.

Because sales of cannabis via 'coffee shops' are permitted, but the supply of cannabis to the coffee shops is not, it is mostly criminal gangs that supply the shops. Therefore, government-controlled cultivation could take the wind out of the sales of organised crime, Cohen argues in a letter to Home Affairs Minister Guusje ter Horst.

December 9, 2009 - School 'Too Diverse' for Christmas Tree - The Haagsche Hogeschool college will not put up a Christmas tree this year because it does not want to cause provocation to immigrant students. The tree is too closely linked with Christianity, according to the school management.

December 9, 2009 - PvdA Leadership Overruled by Local Muslims - Labour (PvdA) has been made to look a fool by local party members in Amsterdam choosing an unknown Muslim as their leader for the local elections.