Dutch TV Program Obtains Confidential Europol Data

The Dutch TV program Zembla has obtained 700 pages of confidential information from the European police agency, Europol.  The data includes hundreds of names and telephone numbers of people associated with terrorism between 2006-2008 as well as an analysis of the Dutch radical Muslim Hofstad group and the Madrid bombings. The data was obtained from former Europol employee who took it with her and she now works for the Dutch National Police.  Europol has informed the Dutch National Police and it is up to the Netherlands whether the woman in question will be prosecuted.

http://nltimes.nl/2016/11/30/dutch-tv-program-gets-hold-confidential-europol-docs

Parliament: Incompetence Enables Jihadists to Operate

In a parliamentary debate on terrorism, there was much criticism about the execution of the anti-terrorist policy.  Even the government parties consider that incompetence leads to the jihadists being able to operate freely.  Parliamentarians are of the opinion that no new measures were required but rather proper execution of the measure that already exist.  There are several examples of jihadists who could pass at airports through passport control because the systems didn’t identify them.

http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/27096754/__Aanpak_terrorisme_faalt__.html

Moroccan Wanted to Bomb Synagogue

It has now become known that a Dutch Moroccan visitor of the Arrayan mosque in the north of Amsterdam planned a terrorist attack on a synagogue in Amsterdam.  He was the head of a terror group which shortly afterwards wanted to plant a bomb at a financial institution in the same part of town.

http://www.parool.nl/amsterdam/-bestuurders-arrayanmoskee-in-vizier-opsporingsdiensten~a4421428/

Traffic Jams Cost Dutch Economy more than 1 billion Euro

Traffic jams cost the Dutch economy in 2015 1.1 billion Euro, according to a report by the TNO institute. The government has spent much money on road improvement in recent years. Yet the figure of these costs is equal to the one in 2011.

www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2016/11/traffic-jams-cost-the-economy-up-to-e1-1bn-last-year/.

People seeking compensation for earthquakes linked to gas extraction

127 householders in Groningen province whose homes have been damaged by earthquakes linked to gas extraction are seeking compensation for trauma and distress. Lawyer Pieter Huitema says that his clients suffered from problems such as stress, lack of concentration, poor sleep and persistent anxiety. If the case is successful it may lead to claims from others among the more than 100,000 people been affected by the earthquakes in the Groningen gas field.

www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2016/11/groningen-householders-lodge-claim-for-distress-linked-to-earthquakes/

                          

Timmermans: Europe is in danger of failing

Frans Timmermans is the First Vice-President of the European Commission and a former Dutch minister for foreign affairs. In an interview he said: “We have fallen into the trap of identity politics. If the driving force of the European construction is national, cultural or ethnic identity, then it will not survive. For the first time in 30 years, I really believe that the European project can fail.”

www.euractiv.com/section/euro-finance/interview/frans-timmermans-the-european-project-can-fail/

Bolkestein: Big D-Mark Area Currency Will Replace Euro

Frits Bolkestein is a former Dutch EU Commissioner, leader of the Dutch Liberal Party (VVD) and Defense Minister.  He says that the Eurozone is a failure as the economic differences between southern and northern Europe are too big.  He thinks that a northern European enlarged D-Mark currency will replace the Euro.  If so, it will be adopted by Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Austria.  The big question is whether France will belong to the new currency area.  If not, the political bond between France and Germany will fade away.  This is currently the main bond in the European Union.

Timmermans: Gulen-movement involved in Turkish Coup

Frans Timmermans, the Dutch Vice President of the European Commission has said that the Gulen-movement “certainly" played a role in a failed coup in Turkey earlier in 2016.

Timmermans told the Belgian paper Knack: "It is now clear that what President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says about the role of the Gulen moevement in the coup is not total nonsense." He added that there are growing indications for his statement on the basis of American investigations.

http://nltimes.nl/2016/11/15/timmermans-gulen-played-role-turkey-attempted-coup

Wilders: The Netherlands is Losing Freedom of Speech

In a process against Geert Wilders, leader of the Freedom Party the Public Prosecutor has asked a penalty of 5000 Euro. Wilders had asked some of his followers whether they wanted more or less Moroccans. The answer was: “less Moroccans.” Wilders has reacted to the penal demand by saying: “the biggest problem in our country – the problem with Moroccans – is now punishable according to our elite.” He added: “I will continue to fight for a safe Netherlands. That is why Islamic terrorists have been trying to kill me for 12 years. Today these terrorists rejoice.”  

www.gatestoneinstitute.org/9354/geert-wilders-prosecutor

Dutch Ships with War Graves disappeared from Bottom of Java Sea

In February 1942 three Dutch ships were sunk in a battle with the Japanese in the Java Sea near Indonesia. It now turns out that they have partly or entirely disappeared from the bottom of the sea. This is probably due to robbers, who are interested in the ships’ metal. More than 900 Dutch marines and 250 Indonesian Dutch marines were killed in the battle. Also the wrecks of British ships, who were part of the Allied forces in the battle have disappeared. 

www.defensie.nl/actueel/nieuws/2016/11/15/nederlandse-oorlogsgraven-in-javazee-verdwenen

Verbal Abuse in Dutch Parliament

Dutch parliamentarian Selcuk Ozturk (Denk) has suggested that the Dutch army should no longer have weapons. It led to an exchange of verbal abuse between him and Louis Bontes (for the Netherlands) in the Dutch parliament. Bontes said that Erdogan should do the same. Ozturk said; “who are you to ask me about where my loyalties are?”  Bontes replied: Who are you. … go back to Turkey.”

http://nos.nl/artikel/2143442-schreeuwpartij-in-kamer-tussen-ozturk-en-bontes.html

Groningen: City Center Flooded with Moroccan Pickpockets

The city center of Groningen is flooded with Moroccan pickpockets. These are asylum seekers with hardly any chance of being given asylum, as Morocco is considered a safe country. Many of them live in two asylum centers. The pickpockets target mainly wallets, wallets, coats and telephones. Groningen mayor Pieter den Oudsten has said that these people should be sent back to their country of origin immediately.

www.elsevier.nl/nederland/achtergrond/2016/11/groningse-binnenstad-overspoeld-door-zakenrollende-marokkanen-400719/

Role of Former Head of Dutch Police Investigated

Investigations are under way concerning the waste of money by the National Council of the Police Union’s (COR) representatives at the time Gerard Bouman was head of the National Police. Bouman’s successor Erik Akerboom has said that indeed large parts of the COR’s budget were wasted. Bouman, who is still adviser of the Dutch Police has announced that he will temporarily abstain from carrying out any advisory activities while the investigation is under way. All COR members have resigned their functions.

www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/39681/nbsp/article/detail/4411061/2016/11/08/Ex-korpschef-Bouman-legt-werk-tijdelijk-neer.dhtml