Europe Netherlands The new cabinet removed the national nature restoration plan and nitrogen emission policy: provinces are now no longer required to continue the current nature restoration and nitrogen precipitation reduction programme
Europe Netherlands Some solar panels from ECORAN GmbH can cause electric shocks when touched, alarmed the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority by publishing a warning from the manufacturer advising against touching the solar panels
Europe Netherlands A Dutch study suggested testing saliva instead of blood to determine the severity of a respiratory infection in children who suffer from it regularly
Europe Netherlands The amount of land dedicated to cherry cultivation has almost tripled in the last 24 years, but the number of growers has remained the same; due to the high need for pesticides, growers were granted an exemption for the use of chemicals this year
Europe Netherlands Zwolle will probably abandon its plan to ban advertisements for services using fossil fuels, such as long-distance air travel, combustion engine cars and cruise ships, as research has shown that a ban is 'legally impossible'
Europe Netherlands 16 hospitals reported an increase in number of requests for endometriosis examinations, with family doctors increasing referrals to specialists; gynaecologist Klinkert has patients with endometriosis symptoms in first half of 2024 equal to whole of 2023
Europe Netherlands The number of violent deaths in Amsterdam this year is already higher than the total for 2023, after a fatal shooting under the Westelijke Merwedekanaaldijk bridge brought the total number of violent deaths in the city this year to 12
Europe Netherlands The Affordable Rent Act has passed the vote of the Eerste Kamer, the Dutch Senate; aimed at reducing rental prices in the medium and social housing sectors, it will be implemented as of next Monday
Europe Netherlands Almost 60% of electors voted against the municipality's green plans in the Amsterdam referendum; the turnout for the referendum was 37,5%, about 10% lower than the number of voters for the European Parliament
Europe Netherlands The number of tourists visiting Amsterdam reached a new record last year, with some 9,4 million tourists spending at least one night in the city, despite efforts to discourage over-tourism
Europe Netherlands Amsterdam follows the example of Utrecht and Leiden and abandons the central armrest of park benches as this type of bench is increasingly considered hostile architecture and the capital wants to be more welcoming to its homeless residents
Europe Netherlands Newborn mothers in the Netherlands need more support for breastfeeding, according to the Nutrition Centre: 71% stopped breastfeeding earlier than they had hoped and two-thirds are disappointed because they felt forced to give up
Europe Netherlands The 'coronavirus pass', a digital certificate introduced in September 2021 that allowed people vaccinated or cured of Covid to access museums and events, did not violate fundamental rights, the Hague judges stated