“The Netherlands at standstill”
The Netherlands is currently at economic standstill, while other nations are continuing to develop their competitive capacity. Stated AkzoNobel executive Hans Wijers during an appearance at news show ‘Nieuwsuur’. “We are like frogs swimming in slowly heated water. We feel comfortable and are not aware that we are being boiled”. The executive painted a picture for the layman.
Wijers urges the cabinet to address the pressing issues facing the Netherlands today. He emphasizes several measures in particular, such as making the housing market more accessible, reforming the tax rebate on mortgage interest, liberating the administrative burden of dismissal and raising the retirement age, “by January 1st” Wijers advised the cabinet.
Wijers holds the current Dutch administration responsible for the lack of progression and reform in the Netherland. “The parties are occupied with winning the next elections rather than the well being of the Netherlands on the long run” he stated.
The former minister of economic affairs (’94-’98) described the current state of the Netherlands as “depressed, unambitious, and focussed on the short term rather than the long run”, which is exactly what separates Holland from other countries such as Poland, Britain and Turkey, where, according to Wijers, they maintain an “optimistic, forward looking” attitude.
Reporting politics: The urge to score
September’s elections killed a lot of birds with one stone. Extremist parties on the left and right were decimated, consensus politics was restored to the centre of Dutch life, and anti-euro sentiment was put firmly in its place. Sobriety at last. The media played a major role. It has turned into the king-maker of The Netherlands. We’ve become used to... Read More »
Marked for death
Headstrong parliamentarian Geert Wilders is seen by many, or at least by himself, as the ‘successor’ of Fortuyn. His intellect and the way he presents himself are a far cry from the front man of the LPF, but he is successful. The Dutch political landscape is not easy for foreigners to understand for foreigners. The main reason is the extraordinary... Read More »
Europe in 10 days
Organized group-tours across Europe are enormously popular. Countless Americans, British and Asian tourists engage in voyages that guide them past the tourist attractions Europe has to offer, such as Buckingham Palace, the Eiffel tower in Paris and the ring of canals of Europe’s ‘sin city’; Amsterdam. However one wonders whether these cultural explorers experience the ‘real’ Europe. The Internat… Read More »
Have no fear – Germany is here
Germany is increasingly taking the lead in the handling of the euro crisis…and critics are raising the usual fears of German domination. But, according to Mark Maathuis, there’s no other solution. Germany’s impressive economic management can be the engine to pull the entire continent out of the doldrums. The country seems to have come to terms with its decades-old... Read More »
Murder in Amsterdam
Around the turn of the century, the well-read social scientist, writer and politician Pim Fortuyn (1948-2002) dropped a political bomb in The Hague. As leader of his own right-wing party LPF, he justly criticized many prominent politicians for their failure to address certain problems in Dutch society. The Dutch political landscape is not easy for foreigners to understand for foreigners.... Read More »
Mochi, The Hague
East meets west in Mochi – an unexpected culinary hot spot tucked away on the Mallemolen in the trendy Denneweg section of The Hague. With a menu combining South American and Japanese influences, Mochi is as fun and distinctive as its name. Owner and chef Patrick Buyze is a Dutch native who studied throughout Asia and is married to... Read More »
The Dutch Political System in a
The Dutch political landscape is not easy for foreigners to understand for foreigners. The main reason is the extraordinary number of political parties in Holland, a phenomenon that has only gained importance since the rise and deadly fall of the flamboyant taboo-breaking politician Pim Fortuyn. This booklet can be seen as a much slimmeddown version of Andeweg and Irwin’s treatise.... Read More »
Beauty and banality
For tourists, there’s the museums. But expats resident in The Netherlands will be expected to display insider knowledge of the country’s current culture when they return home. Beverwijk’s Black Market beckons. t o me, the black market is a journey through time and space. There, I feel like Marco Polo discovering the riches of far-flung lands and peoples, the... Read More »
New issue available
Available october 5. in all bookstores in The Netherlands and on Tablisto for use on the tablet Greenberg250 – Who is who in the top of Dutch Business. The new chair of the Central Bank’s Board of Supervisors – Alexander Rinnooy Kan, is often referred to as the most influential man in The Netherlands. In this issue, he offers his views on politics, Europe and the financial sector. The Netherlands Film Festival – T… Read More »Reporting politics: The urge to score
September’s elections killed a lot of birds with one stone. Extremist parties on the left and right were decimated, consensus politics was restored to the centre of Dutch life, and anti-euro sentiment was put firmly in its place. Sobriety at last. The media played a major role. It has turned into the king-maker of The Netherlands. We’ve become used to... Read More »
Marked for death
Headstrong parliamentarian Geert Wilders is seen by many, or at least by himself, as the ‘successor’ of Fortuyn. His intellect and the way he presents himself are a far cry from the front man of the LPF, but he is successful. The Dutch political landscape is not easy for foreigners to understand for foreigners. The main reason is the extraordinary... Read More »
Europe in 10 days
Organized group-tours across Europe are enormously popular. Countless Americans, British and Asian tourists engage in voyages that guide them past the tourist attractions Europe has to offer, such as Buckingham Palace, the Eiffel tower in Paris and the ring of canals of Europe’s ‘sin city’; Amsterdam. However one wonders whether these cultural explorers experience the ‘real’ Europe. The Internat… Read More »
Have no fear – Germany is here
Germany is increasingly taking the lead in the handling of the euro crisis…and critics are raising the usual fears of German domination. But, according to Mark Maathuis, there’s no other solution. Germany’s impressive economic management can be the engine to pull the entire continent out of the doldrums. The country seems to have come to terms with its decades-old... Read More »
Murder in Amsterdam
Around the turn of the century, the well-read social scientist, writer and politician Pim Fortuyn (1948-2002) dropped a political bomb in The Hague. As leader of his own right-wing party LPF, he justly criticized many prominent politicians for their failure to address certain problems in Dutch society. The Dutch political landscape is not easy for foreigners to understand for foreigners.... Read More »
Mochi, The Hague
East meets west in Mochi – an unexpected culinary hot spot tucked away on the Mallemolen in the trendy Denneweg section of The Hague. With a menu combining South American and Japanese influences, Mochi is as fun and distinctive as its name. Owner and chef Patrick Buyze is a Dutch native who studied throughout Asia and is married to... Read More »
The Dutch Political System in a
The Dutch political landscape is not easy for foreigners to understand for foreigners. The main reason is the extraordinary number of political parties in Holland, a phenomenon that has only gained importance since the rise and deadly fall of the flamboyant taboo-breaking politician Pim Fortuyn. This booklet can be seen as a much slimmeddown version of Andeweg and Irwin’s treatise.... Read More »
Beauty and banality
For tourists, there’s the museums. But expats resident in The Netherlands will be expected to display insider knowledge of the country’s current culture when they return home. Beverwijk’s Black Market beckons. t o me, the black market is a journey through time and space. There, I feel like Marco Polo discovering the riches of far-flung lands and peoples, the... Read More »
Influential Internationals: We present our selection
At the start of the year, the finals of The Voice of Holland were broadcast after months of searching for singing talent in The Netherlands. Nearly four million viewers voted: more even than the viewers who watch football. To be honest, even we at the International Correspondent were among them. The biggest winner wasn’t, though, the unknown artiste with the golden voice who beat out the competition. It was the produ… Read More »
International businesses flock to...
Agency aims to draw in a 100 businesses by 2014 Europe’s biggest port and logistics hub, Rotterdam attracted a total of 24 international businesses in 2011 due to the effective practices of the RIA (Rotterdam Investment Agency). According to the RIA the foreign investments will greatly stimulate the local economy and job market. Their prognosis is that the new found funding by these... Read More »
Education minister favors domestic...
Stenden college is disappointed with Halbe Zijlstra’s (minister of education) decision to refuse Dutch universities and schools for higher education the possibility to offer accredited education programs abroad. Minister Zijlstra urges Dutch universities to focus on domestic education programs. Internationally oriented universities and colleges such as Stenden College, which offers educational pr… Read More »New Blood
Introduction It is our privilege to launch, with this issue, our annual list of the 50 most dynamic international residents of The Netherlands. It has been an awe-inspiring task to review CVs submitted by our contributors and make a selection, and we may have overlooked important candidates or made misjudgements. Please inform us where you disagree with our choices, and... Read More »
PVV top splits over ‘lack of...
Geert Wilders’ second man leaves right wing party Hero Brinkman, a member of the Dutch parliament representing the right wing PVV since 2006, has left the party, stating he can no longer tolerate ‘the lack of democracy’ within the PVV organisation which according to Brinkman revolves around one man, party leader Geert Wilders. Brinkman also objects against the manner... Read More »
Dutch export profits shrink in 2012
The Dutch export industry anticipates a 7 percent increase of turnovers this year, a significant drop from the 10 percent increase of profits in 2011. These are the results of a study on the ‘trends in export’ performed by insure company Atradius and export organization Fenedex. The declining export-profit forecasts in the Netherlands are attributed to the current economic crisis.... Read More »
Rabo and Friesland Bank announce merger
Dutch financial service provider Rabobank merges with small lender Friesland Bank. The boards have reached an agreement on a cooperative fusion. For this purpose, Friesland Bank will initially function as a 100% subsidiary of Rabobank. The merger will take up to 2 years to complete, and the 900 jobs at the Friesland bank will be preserved. The near – century... Read More »
Budget deficit negotiations back on...
‘Catshuis’ budget deficit negotiations continued yesterday, according to reports by the state information service. The Dutch cabinet reportedly found itself at the brink of collapse on Wednesday, as PVV party leader Geert Wilders halted the ‘Catshuis’ budget deficit negotiations. News network NOS reported that the negotiations were going thought a “difficult phase” as Wilders was reluctan… Read More »
Cabinet divided over healthcare
A dispute on prospective cuts and spending for health care is holding up the ‘Catshuis’ budget cut negotiations. Dutch newspaper ‘Trouw’ reported on Friday. The paper asserts that PVV frontman Geert Wilders is not budging on the issue of health care, objecting to the budget plans proposed by governing parties VVD and CDA to increase healthcare fees and cut... Read More »
