Municipalities not sharing experience on dealing with New Year's violence: report

6 days ago

Aggression and intimidation against local government officials has decreased since 2022

NL Times

Local administrators and politicians dealt with aggression and intimidation slightly less often last year than in 2022. A noticeable fact was that the politicians and administrators were insulted less often: from 45 percent in 2022 to 41 percent last year. “If representatives of the people do not feel free to make decisions, then that affects the heart of our democracy.” …

Aggression Administrators Local Administrators Intimidation Slightly Uitermark

2 weeks, 2 days ago

Ombudsman calls for reassessment of protest rights in the Netherlands

NL Times

Dutch National Ombudsman Reinier van Zutphen is launching a new investigation into the state of protest rights in the Netherlands, citing growing concerns over the restrictions placed on demonstrations. Van Zutphen questioned the severity of such actions, calling it “borderline” and expressing concerns over the broader impact on the right to protest. Seven years ago, Van Zutphen’s earlier report concluded …

Netherlands Rights Protests Ombudsman Protest Right Van Zutphen

3 weeks, 5 days ago

Police allege Amsterdam Nieuw-West riots were organized on social media: Report

NL Times

Riots in Amsterdam’s Nieuw-West district that culminated in multiple assaults and a tram being set ablaze were announced on social media the night before, district sources told the Telegraaf. The violent incidents on November 11 involved hundreds of youths who detonated heavy fireworks, vandalized vehicles, and attacked bystanders, which overwhelmed law enforcement efforts. The unrest, centered around Plein ’40-’45, was …

Social Media Nieuw

4 weeks, 1 day ago

Amsterdam faces rising tensions over policing protests and violence

NL Times

Pro-Palestinian protests at University of Amsterdam locations that devolved into violent clashes with police earlier this year became unwieldy because of the presence of "malicious rioters" who blended in among the "well-intentioned demonstrators." Responding officers had difficulty identifying those who only wanted the situation to escalate for their own reasons from peaceful protestors, the Amsterdam police force said in a …

Amsterdam Violence Protests Jewish Israeli Force Holla

5 months, 2 weeks ago

Discrimination and bullying rampant in Amsterdam municipality

Dutch News

According to the latest report carried out on behalf of the municipality of Amsterdam, 55% of city workers have experienced bullying, humiliation and/or exclusion over the past 12 months. “At the same time, managers bear a responsibility in this regard to bring about change,” wrote deputy major Hester van Buren in a letter to city council members earlier this week, …

Van Buren

6 months, 1 week ago

Vulnerable people often helped too little, too late by Dutch municipalities

NL Times

Municipalities do not always know how to reach people who need care and support, which can cause a group of vulnerable people to find themselves in a worse position than they should have been, said the Netherlands Institute for Social Research. It noted that when people do not make use of facilities and available office hours at town halls, they …

Municipalities Scp

9 months, 3 weeks ago

Municipal housing costs up 6% this year; 94 municipalities charging over €1,000

NL Times

Residents of 94 municipalities in the Netherlands will spend more than 1,000 euros on municipal housing costs this year. The municipal housing costs bill will increase by an average of 5.9 percent this year. A multi-person household will spend an average of 951 euros in municipal housing costs this year, an increase of 53 euros compared to a year earlier. …

Costs Average Euros Housing Costs Veh Municipalities Housing Municipal Housing

10 months ago

Ombudsman investigating Dutch government’s terrorism watch list

NL Times

The National Ombudsman has launched an investigation into how the government handles its terrorism watchlist. According to Ombudsman Reinier van Zutphen, citizens often don’t realize they’re on the list, only finding out when they can’t enter a holiday destination or get arrested abroad. The Ombudsman launched this investigation to determine whether the government handles this data carefully because not doing …

Ombudsman Van Zutphen

1 year, 5 months ago

France’s small towns are reeling from the spread of rioting. ‘Now it’s affecting the countryside’

Associated Press

PARIS — After a pleasant evening of wine-tasting — joyfully billed “Grapes and Friends!” — with a hundred or so people and oysters, charcuteries and cheeses, the mayor of the picturesque French town of Quissac was on his way home. Quissac’s unsettling experience last Friday night — and those of other out-of-the-way towns and villages also hit by unrest to …

France Social Violence French Mayor Small Town

1 year, 8 months ago

Budget deficits loom for majority of Dutch municipalities

NL Times

The majority of municipalities in the Netherlands are expected to face structural budget deficits in 2026, according to an analysis commissioned by the Association of Dutch Municipalities. This situation raises concerns about the ability of municipalities to cover their expenses and maintain a buffer to absorb setbacks. The analysis compared the annual financial statements of 308 municipalities, revealing that municipalities …

This Situation Municipalities Dutch Municipalities

1 year, 10 months ago

Several municipalities critical of Cabinet’s housing plans

NL Times

Several municipalities are clashing with Housing Minister Hugo de Jonge over the types of homes they have to build according to the plans in his new housing act. “That is good for people with a middle income and people with a lower income.” The Ministry described the mandatory minimum of 30 percent social housing as “the stick behind the door,” …

Homes Social Housing Municipalities Telegraaf De Jonge

1 year, 10 months ago

Municipalities set too strict requirements to exempt low-income households from taxes

NL Times

In the past year, most Dutch municipalities applied stricter requirements than necessary to exempt low-income households from municipal taxes, NOS reports after it surveyed 180 municipalities. In September, the government increased that limit to 3,275 euros for a single person to give low-income households more financial space to build up some savings as a buffer to absorb setbacks. Moerman called …

Tax Low Nos Limit Municipalities Moerman

1 year, 11 months ago

Dutch gov't failing to protect families who get evicted: Ombudsmen

NL Times

The government is not doing enough to protect the rights of families evicted from their homes because of payment arrears, nuisance complaints, or crime. And that has significant consequences for the children’s well-being and development, and their parents’ dignity, National Ombudsman Reinier van Zutphen and Children’s Ombudsman Margrite Kalverboer said in a joint report. “I see people at risk of …

Children Housing Families Van Zutphen Ombudsmen

1 year, 11 months ago

Dutch government has failed the people, says National Ombudsman in scathing interview

NL Times

National Ombudsman Reinier van Zutphen was strongly critical about the functioning of the government in an interview with De Telegraaf. Now, looking back over the entirety of 2022, he said the government rating did not improve, “because they have failed, and they simply do not keep their promises," he told the newspaper. The scandal led to the resignation of Prime …

Van Zutphen National Ombudsman

2 years ago

Rotterdam mayor won’t create a “state of siege” during Morocco’s next World Cup match

NL Times

The mayor of Rotterdam, Ahmed Aboutaleb, is not planning on announcing an massive expansion of police powers to enforce a “state of siege” immediately or after Morocco’s next World Cup game. “Come do your grocery shopping, buy something, drink something, eat something; it is especially fun at this time of year in the city.” He promised the party that the …

Rotterdam

2 years ago

Research shows Limburg municipalities most vulnerable to organized crime

NL Times

Municipalities in Zuid-Limburg are most likely to fall into the grip of organized crime, according to research by RTL Nieuws. Heerlen for instance ranks number 1 in the Underworld map ranking, which was published Thursday. The police counted 131 cases of drug trafficking and 48 cases of arms trafficking in the first ten months of this year, according to RTL …

Underworld Municipalities Rtl Rtl Nieuws Heerlen Shows Limburg

2 years ago

Dutch municipalities unsure how to handle a new influx of Ukrainian refugees this winter

NL Times

The winter weather in Ukraine will continue to get colder in the coming week as the country struggles to make repairs after Russian attacks took out large portions of its energy infrastructure. Temperatures in Kyiv could fall below -8 degrees Celsius next week, prompting Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra to say the Netherlands will be ready to take more refugees …

Refugees Ukraine Dutch Netherlands Nos Municipalities

2 years, 5 months ago

Too few public toilets in NL; Only a third of municipalities doing something

NL Times

The Netherlands still has far too few public toilets, but the subject is at least on the agenda of more and more municipalities. About a third of city councils paid attention to public toilets, discussing them, accepting proposals about increasing their number, or even setting money aside to improve the public toilet situation in the municipality, the Tiolet Alliance said …

Alliance Public Toilet Public Toilets Municipalities

2 years, 6 months ago

Right wing public broadcaster spread wrongful information: ombudsman

Dutch News

Right wing television channel Ongehoord Nederland has broken the public broadcasting sector’s journalistic code of ethics by spreading wrongful information and not differentiating between fact and opinion, the broadcasting ombudsman said on Tuesday. ‘Journalistic programmes on public channels are not an open platform and presenters are not there to facilitate this,’ Smit said in her ruling. ‘We do understand that …

Public Broadcasting System Spread Wrongful

2 years, 6 months ago

Right wing public broadcaster spread wrongful information: ombudsman

Dutch News

Right wing television channel Ongehoord Nederland has broken the public broadcasting sector’s journalistic code of ethics by spreading wrongful information and not differentiating between fact and opinion, the broadcasting ombudsman said on Tuesday. ‘Journalistic programmes on public channels are not an open platform and presenters are not there to facilitate this,’ Smit said in her ruling. ‘We do understand that …

Wing Public

2 years, 6 months ago

Dutch police lacks long-term vision: Inspectorate

NL Times

Police in the Netherlands cannot do their job properly because they lack a long-term vision, the Justice and Security Inspectorate said in a report released on Friday. In the review, the Inspectorate writes that the justice minister, the Public Prosecution Service, and the mayors of the country’s municipalities must draw up a long-term vision together. The Inspectorate's review came about …

Work Unit Recent Years Inspectorate

2 years, 6 months ago

Municipalities under intense administrative pressure with Ukrainian refugees

NL Times

Eight in ten Dutch municipalities face increased administrative pressure due to the reception of tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees, NOS reports based on a survey of about half of the municipalities. When the Cabinet decided that municipalities would be responsible for sheltering Ukrainian refugees instead of the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers, they had to spark …

Refugees Netherlands Asylum Cabinet Ukrainian Nos Shelters

2 years, 7 months ago

Municipalities forced to make housing plans for homeless, ex-patients

NL Times

Municipalities are being forced to draw up an emergency plan to prioritize certain target groups such as the homeless and ex-patients when allocating housing. If municipalities fail to do so, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will determine the percentage of homes that municipalities must make available for these groups. This is stated in the program ‘A Home for Everyone’ that …

Housing Municipalities

2 years, 9 months ago

Fledgeling public broadcaster accused of racism and biased reporting

Dutch News

Public television association ombudsman Margo Smit is starting an investigation into complaints about alleged racism and biased reporting by fledgeling broadcaster Ongehoord Nederland. Smit said she had had received reports about ‘incorrect information, desinformation, bias, and racism’ relating to the broadcaster’s new current affairs programme. Complaints came in after Ongehoord Nederland director Arnold Karskens said ‘certain forces are steering president …

Ongehoord Nederland Public Broadcasters

2 years, 9 months ago

Fledgeling public broadcaster accused of racism and biased reporting

Dutch News

Public television association ombudsman Margo Smit is starting an investigation into complaints about alleged racism and biased reporting by fledgeling broadcaster Ongehoord Nederland. Smit said she had had received reports about ‘incorrect information, desinformation, bias, and racism’ relating to the broadcaster’s new current affairs programme. Complaints came in after Ongehoord Nederland director Arnold Karskens said ‘certain forces are steering president …

Ongehoord Nederland Public Broadcasters

2 years, 11 months ago

Dutch Covid policy must change, mayors say in call for help

NL Times

The mayors of about 30 cities asked the Cabinet to fundamentally revise the coronavirus policy in a cry for help. It puts too much pressure on citizens and local governments, mayors Femke Halsema and Paul Depla wrote in an opinion piece in the Volkskrant, partly on behalf of their colleagues. With so many citizens on the verge of drowning, the …

Cabinet Mayors

2 years, 11 months ago

Violent incidents against ambulance workers on New Year's few but still an issue

NL Times

The Dutch ambulance service still had to deal with some violent incidents during New Year's. There were a few violent incidents but overall, not much happened," a spokesperson of Ambulance Care Netherlands said. "There is no excuse for violent offenders," Grapperhaus said in a written statement. Although many explosions took place during the turn of the year, the firework ban …

Violent Incidents

2 years, 11 months ago

Older people staying in large homes is a key factor to housing crisis: Municipalities

NL Times

A main driver of the housing crisis in the Netherlands is the limited availability of smaller homes which older people can move into when their is less of a need for a larger living space, NOS reported. The larger homes would become available for younger families if it were easier for older people whose children have moved out to then …

Housing Housing Crisis Older People Municipalities

3 years, 1 month ago

Voters go to polls as 11 municipalities merge into four

Dutch News

Local elections are taking place this week in 11 municipalities that are being reduced to four under government restructuring. The biggest merger will take place in north-east Brabant, where five existing municipalities, including Cuijk and Boxmeer, will be replaced by the Land van Cuijk, with a population of 90,000 people. It’s not surprising that a local party was the largest …

3 years, 1 month ago

Voters go to polls as 11 municipalities merge into four

Dutch News

Local elections are taking place this week in 11 municipalities that are being reduced to four under government restructuring. The biggest merger will take place in north-east Brabant, where five existing municipalities, including Cuijk and Boxmeer, will be replaced by the Land van Cuijk, with a population of 90,000 people. It’s not surprising that a local party was the largest …

3 years, 6 months ago

Dutch municipalities easy prey for cyber attacks

NL Times

Municipalities in the Netherlands do not provide cybersecurity training against cyber attacks and are therefore extremely vulnerable to them, ANP reported. The research stated that the small municipality of Zeewolde in Flevoland was a positive example of of a city taking an active role in combating cyber threats. Research stated that most municipalities, including Zeewolde, failed to prevent people from …

Easy Access Municipalities Zeewolde

3 years, 8 months ago

Ethnic profiling complaints must be taken more seriously: Ombudsman

NL Times

The authorities and institutions in the Netherlands must take reports and complaints of ethnic profiling more seriously, according to National Ombudsman Reinier van Zutphen. The majority of people who experienced ethnic profiling already do not file a complaint about it because they feel it will lead to nothing, Van Zutphen said. The question is no longer if the Dutch government …

Ethnic Ombudsman Van Zutphen Ethnic Profiling

3 years, 10 months ago

Rotterdam riots: Over 50 arrests, 10 cops injured

NL Times

The Rotterdam police arrested over 50 people during riots in the city on Monday evening. Around 10 police officers were injured during the disturbances, police chief Fred Westerbeke said to NOS Radio 1 Journaal. In Rotterdam, especially around Beijerlandselaan in Rotterdam Zuid, shops were looted, rioters pelted the police with stones and fireworks, and hindered first responders in their duties. …

Rotterdam Westerbeke

3 years, 10 months ago

In Pictures: Rioters battle Dutch police over COVID-19 lockdown

Al Jazeera

Rioters violently confronted police in several Dutch towns and cities defying the country’s coronavirus curfew. Police said hundreds have been detained since the weekend as rioters threw rocks and in one case knives at police, and burned down a COVID-19 testing station. The police trade union NPB said there could be more protests ahead as the lockdown drags on and …

Netherlands Covid

3 years, 10 months ago

Riot police called out across the Netherlands as trouble flares for third night

Dutch News

Riot police were called out to cities across the Netherlands on Monday evening in a third night of rioting following the introduction of a curfew to try to stop the spread of coronavirus. Police chief Willem Woelders told current affairs programme Nieuwsuur: ‘Things were relatively quiet until 7.30pm, but then all hell broke loose.’ In Haarlem and Rotterdam police threatened …

Riot Rutte Riot Police Eindhoven Trouble Flares

3 years, 10 months ago

Police union expects "days or weeks" of curfew riots

NL Times

Police union NPB fears that the illegal protests, riots and other general unrest various Dutch municipalities saw over the weekend were just the start of the curfew-related unrest. "I hope it was a one-off, but I'm afraid it was a harbinger for the coming days and weeks," NPB spokesperson Koen Simmers said to Nieuwsuur. Rioters wreaked havoc in the Eindhoven …

Dutch Riot

3 years, 11 months ago

Eight out of ten Dutch municipalities face budget cuts in 2021

NL Times

Many Dutch municipalities have a rough year ahead of them financially, with eight out of ten having to implement budget cuts. “The situation is not sustainable," BDO president Rob Bouman said to NOS after analyzing the annual accounts of 355 municipalities. The biggest reason behind municipalities' financial problems is their social tasks, where currently 40 percent of the budget is …

Municipalities Bdo Bouman Biggest Cuts

3 years, 11 months ago

Dutch Fireworks Association wants local fireworks shows

NL Times

The Dutch Fireworks Association wants local fireworks shows to take place in all municipalities next New Year’s Eve. Since a fireworks ban was implemented the past New Year’s Eve due to the coronavirus pandemic, more and more people are advocating for a definitive ban. But according to the Dutch Fireworks Association, the discussion is going in the wrong direction, and …

Local Fireworks Nvb Dutch Fireworks Association Eve Safer

4 years ago

Municipalities asked to do more for young people during pandemic

NL Times

The association of Dutch municipalities VNG called on its members to do more for young people and organize activities for them, including during New Year's. Young people are disproportionately affected by the coronavirus crisis, and their municipalities have to make sure they still have perspective, Paul Depla, Breda mayor and head of a VNG working group that investigated the social …

Young Young People Depla

4 years, 1 month ago

Parties for young people necessary for safe New Year's: Security Council head

NL Times

There will need to be events for young people over New Year's, according to Hubert Bruls, mayor of Nijmegen and head of the Security Council. If there's nothing for young people to do, it will be "a very tough challenge" to guarantee safety that night, he said to newspaper AD. The police agree that activities for young people are a …

Security Council Young People

4 years, 3 months ago

New Covid restrictions likely in big Dutch cities: RIVM

NL Times

New regional measures intended to slow the spread of coronavirus are likely to be introduced in the largest cities of the Netherlands, said Jaap van Dissel, the head of the Center for Infectious Disease Control at public health agency RIVM. Speaking on Friday to AD, when the RIVM announced the highest single-day total of new infections since April 11, Van …

Rivm Van Dissel Regional Restrictions

6 years, 9 months ago

International Expats: A Crucial Voice in Eindhoven's Upcoming Elections

Dutch News

Local parties in Eindhoven are working to involve their expat community in the upcoming local elections on March 21. The city's expat center organized a meeting to provide information and answer questions about the elections, while the city council is considering a local tax on flights from the airport and a special debate on nightlife.

Politics Law Housing Integration and Jobs Eindhoven

6 years, 9 months ago

International Expats: A Crucial Voice in Eindhoven's Upcoming Elections

Dutch News

Local parties in Eindhoven are working to involve international voters in the upcoming local elections on March 21. The city's expat center organized a meeting for international voters to learn more about the elections and what the parties have to offer. The city's mayor has pledged to do more to involve the city's internationals, and the changes will first be …

Politics Law Housing Integration and Jobs Eindhoven

Municipalities not sharing experience on dealing with New Year's violence: report

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