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Dutch bomb killed 70 people in Iraq in 2015, Dutch media claims

Dutch F-16s were involved in an attack on an IS car bomb factory in Iraq in 2015 that killed at least 70 civilians, sources have told the NRC newspaper and broadcaster NOS. The attack, one of the bloodiest in the international effort to combat IS, destroyed a complete neighbourhood in the town of Hawija. Ministers have always refused to give details about the Dutch military attacks in Iraq on security grounds. Reuters reported at the time that 70 civilians had... More >

Father of the farmhouse family arrested

Drenthe police have arrested a second person in their investigation into the mysterious family found on a remote farmhouse in Ruinerwold – the 67-year-old man described as the father of the group. He was picked up on Thursday night and is suspected of depriving others of their liberty, possibly endangering their health and money laundering. The money laundering charge stems from the large quantity of cash found on the farm, even though he had no job and no social security... More >

Jihadi brides in court to be brought home

A group of Dutch female jihadis and their children are taking the Dutch state to court in an effort to force their removal from prison camps in northern Syria. The 23 women and 55 children are being kept in two camps and their campaign to be brought back to the Netherlands is supported by five law firms, broadcaster NOS reported. The case will be heard on November 1. The court documents say that by not bringing the women back, the... More >

Roompot holiday parks for sale: FD

French investment house PAI Partners is in the process of selling the Dutch holiday park group Roompot Vakanties for some €1bn, including debts, the Financieele Dagblad said on Friday. A sale would mean the company has changed hands for the third time in 10 years. PAI bought Roompot from Dutch investment house Gilde Buy Out Partners in mid 2016 for almost €600m. The sale process will start next year and there is considerable interest from other investment groups, sources close... More >

Ekoplaza to take over struggling Marqt

Specialty supermarket group Marqt is being taken over by Udea, the parent company of organic supermarket chain Ekoplaza, the two companies said in press release. ‘This alliance will maintain the Marqt mission, generate major operational and logistics synergies and will have a sold basis and financial structure to build for the future,’ the joint statement said. Marqt, which said earlier this autumn it would close its large branches on Amsterdam’s Rembrandtplein and on the Hofweg in The Hague, currently has... More >

Keep Afghan army interpreter in NL'

Army unions and aid groups have joined forces to urge the Netherlands not to deport an Afghan man who worked as a translator for the military for 13 years. They have taken out a page-sized advert in the Telegraaf calling for a rethink, after the man’s request for a residency permit was rejected. ‘The Taliban and IS see interpreters and others who worked for the international military in Afghanistan as spies and traitors,’ the advert states. ‘They are threatened and... More >

10 metre limit for New Year beach bonfire

This year’s New Year bonfires at the beaches of Scheveningen and Duindorp may be no bigger than 10 metres by 10 metres by 10 metres, acting mayor Johan Remkes has said, on the basis of fire brigade advice. ‘It is this, or nothing,’ Remkes said at his first meeting of The Hague’s city council on Thursday. Last year’s fires were 45 metres and 48 metres tall, and the Scheveningen fire sent huge clouds of cinders into the seaside town, causing... More >

BN Amro credit card holders face ID checks

Three million people with an ICS credit card will have to go through a new identity check as part of ABN Amro’s efforts to get compliance with anti-money laundering rules up to scratch. International Card Services, which is part of ABN Amro, is asking all clients to reconfirm their identities and while an online procedure is being prepared, this currently has to be done in person, the Volkskrant said on Friday. ICS is contacting clients by mail and letter and... More >

GroenLinks got biggest donation last year

The biggest individual donation to a political party last year was €166,000 left to the left-wing green party GroenLinks in the will of psychotherapist Joop Valstar, current affairs show Nieuwsuur said, on the basis of an analysis of party annual accounts. Currently all donations over €4,500 have to be reported. Nieuwsuur used freedom of information legislation to request all political party financial reports and other finance-related documents relating to last year. The VVD receives donations from several foundations as well... More >

Biros banned from Amsterdam pavements

The shiny black electric cars known as Biros, which dot the pavements in well-heeled parts of Amsterdam, face new rules from January 1, the city council has decided. From January 1, Biros must have a number plate, will be banned from the bike lanes, and must park in legal parking spaces, the Volkskrant reported on Friday. Drivers who continue to park on the pavement face fines of €95. People with physical disabilities to adapt their Biros for use as invalid... More >

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