about the book:Taking you on a trip through his life in the Netherlands, Marc Resch makes us grateful for his powers of observation and capacity to remember all that assaults your consciousness and sub-consciousness alike. - XPat Review
01 September 2010
From BBC News:
Two Yemenis arrested in Amsterdam on suspicion of planning a terror attack have been released, prosecutors in the Netherlands have said. An investigation failed to find any evidence against the two men, the Dutch national prosecutor's office said. They were arrested on Monday upon arriving at Amsterdam airport on a flight from the US after a request from US authorities. US officials later said they did not believe they were planning an attack.
Both men had been travelling to the Yemeni capital Sanaa, and were arrested on arrival at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport on-board a United Airlines flight from Chicago. They were not sitting together. They had checked luggage onto an internal flight in the US that they did not then take. Officials in the US say it appears they missed the flight and were re-routed by United Airlines to travel via Amsterdam. That flight, from Chicago's O'Hare to Washington Dulles International Airport, was called back once it was found they were not on board. US officials believe the two men did not know each other and were not travelling together.
Read the full article here
The Independent sails and bikes on and around the IJsselmeer (includes travel information and tips for getting around).
"The first port of call, Hoorn, has evidently existed even longer than me: a 16th-century tower with defensive pretensions stands between the harbour and the town. On a warm summer's evening the citizens spill out onto the streets: either to loll on deck-chairs and gossip outside their houses (front gardens are a rarity in Dutch towns) or to converge on the cafés on the main square. Like most of the ports visited, Hoorn comes with an impressive pedigree. It was once a port for the Dutch East India Company, the world's first multinational. The first group cycle ride was a mere 10-mile circuit, evidently designed to allow the two guides (Gwen, a teacher, and Louisa, a student) to assess levels of skill and stamina. Happily for young or untoned limbs, the Netherlands does not require mountain bikes. (Its highest point, in the far south-east of the country, is a peak of barely 1,000ft that is shared with Germany and Belgium.)
A steady 10mph on the flat leaves you free to feel the breeze brushing your cheeks. You let your eyes rest on the scenery: avenues of beech or oak carving through meadows populated by contented cattle or posturing herons. Your ears tune in to a soundtrack where birdsong is usually more prevalent than motor transport, except on a few rare occasions when the procession strays near a rowdy highway – such as the Houtribdijk, a 20-mile-long dyke that begins at the port of Enkhuisen. We were quickly whisked away by boat into a tourist attraction that celebrates Dutch pragmatism: when they didn't like the lie of the land, they redrew the map."
Read the full article at the Independent
30 August 2010
From NJ.com:
A new book, entitled "Dutch New York and Beyond: A Travel Guide," will focus on the Dutch legacy in Jersey City, according to today's Jersey Journal. Gajus Scheltema, the Dutch Consul General and the book's author, toured some of the historic sites in Jersey City two weeks ago. "The Dutch influence in New Jersey is really a big deal, but much less of it is known than on the (New York side of the) Hudson," he said during the two-hour Aug. 18 tour of the Bergen Square area.
The Apple Tree House on Academy Street has been closed for decades awaiting completion of renovations. The Newkirk House, now Sanai's Restaurant on Summit Avenue, has been significantly modified on the inside, the Old Bergen Cemetery is closed to visitors, and Old Bergen Church's original structure has been replaced. But although Jersey City's sites won't be featured in the book, they will be mentioned, which is still beneficial for the city, said John Hallanan, president of the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy. "It's wonderful to get the recognition that Jersey City has such a rich Dutch heritage," he said.
Read the full article here
From Bloomberg:
Three-time Dutch Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers, who brokered talks on forming a government between his Christian Democrats, the Liberal Party, and the anti-Islam Freedom Party, said he now opposed the plan, citing concerns about freedom of religion. “My stance has developed from a ‘yes, but’ to a ‘no, unless,’” Lubbers wrote in an Aug. 20 letter to the Christian Democrat leader in parliament, Maxime Verhagen, and party chairman Henk Bleker published by Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant today. Lubbers’s change of view may jeopardize the formal negotiations that started last month on establishing a Liberal- Christian Democrat government that would rely on the support of the Freedom Party, led by Geert Wilders, to get legislation through parliament. It would be the Netherlands’ first minority administration since World War II.
If the talks fail, it would leave the Liberals led by Mark Rutte, who won the elections, with limited options to form a majority government. The most straightforward would be teaming up with the Christian Democrats and the Labor Party, which placed second in the elections. Wilders receives police protection around the clock and faces trial in the Netherlands on charges of inciting hatred in his 2008 film “Fitna,” in which he calls on Muslims to rip out “hate-preaching” verses from the Koran.
Read the full article here
26 August 2010
From World Cup Blog:
It actually is five seasons, but it feels like decades. Ajax and the Champions League. In the 1970s, Ajax owned the top flite in Europe, in the mid 90s Ajax reached the finals twice but since the Bosman arrest, no more big successes in Europe for youth development institute Ajax. Ronald Koeman came far in his coaching job with Ajax in the Champions League but other than that, Slavia Prague and Kopenhagen were among the names of clubs that were better – apparently – on the night and got entrance to the Millionaire’s Ball, blocking the Sons of Gods of many many needed euros. Because apart from the sportive prestige, Ajax isn’t doing to well in the monetary stakes and simply needs some successes in the P&L as well. Group stage Champions League will help, for sure.
Read the full article here
23 August 2010
From BusinessWeek:
The 180-year-old chestnut tree Anne Frank mentioned repeatedly in her diary while she hid in an Amsterdam annex during World War II fell over today. “At 1:30 p.m. we heard a loud noise, about 30 tons of wood came thundering down,” Hans Westra, director of the Anne Frank Foundation, said by telephone. “The Anne Frank house wasn’t hit. I’m very glad no one was hurt.” A steel harness was put around the tree about 18 months ago to keep it upright after fungus attacked the chestnut. The tree will be replaced by one of its saplings, Westra said.
The top of the tree, which stood in a closed garden behind one of Amsterdam’s canal houses, could only be seen from one particular spot in Anne Frank’s house. German police arrested Anne Frank in the house on Aug. 4, 1944. She died in March 1945 in the Bergen-Belsen death camp at the age of 15. The Anne Frank House opened in 1960.
Read the full article here
From Radio Netherlands:
It's not unusual to see Amsterdam's canals crawling with boats and barges but today the city's main seaway had a slice of the action. SAIL 2010 kicked off with a procession of boats travelling from coast to capital - with thousands turning out to watch them arrive. And for a landlubber who'd never actually heard of this nautical event, being afloat among thousands of boats was an impressive experience. While people-watching from the press boat was an amusing pastime, the tall ships taking part really stole the show. This year the offerings fall into two different categories: those more than 40 metres long, and their smaller siblings.
The procession was led by the flagship Stad Amsterdam - a behemoth of a boat measuring 76 metres long. Dutch Crown Prince Willem-Alexander made an attempt to hide behind the reams of rigging, finally obliging his fans with a wave from deck before ducking back below deck. It's tough being royal. Other notable entries this year include the Swedish Gotheberg, with its bright blue and gold helm and a giant lion striding its prow. Like many of the vessels taking part in the SAIL 2010 event, the Gotheberg is actually a replica of a sunken ship - but they're so impressive it doesn't really matter.
Read the full article here
From Sail2010.nl:
SAIL Amsterdam is the largest event in the Netherlands which is free to the public. In 2005 the event drew 1.8 million visitors, who gave SAIL Amsterdam 2005 high marks. SAIL Amsterdam 2010 will take place from Thursday 19 August to Monday 23 August 2010 on and around the IJ river.
SAIL's main attraction will be the impressive fleet of Tall Ships, sailing heritage craft, modern ships, naval ships and replicas. In addition to this, every day there will be a varying programme of all kinds of cultural and sports activities. The theme of SAIL 2010 is ‘a nautical encounter between the past, present and future’.
The idea behind SAIL Amsterdam originated during preparations for the celebration of Amsterdam's 700 years of existence in 1975. After the huge success of SAIL Amsterdam 700, organisers decided to hold another SAIL Amsterdam in 1980. In order to effectively manage the organisation, the permanent SAIL Amsterdam Foundation (SSA) was established in 1977. Since then, the SSA has successfully organised SAIL Amsterdam in 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005 and is now focussing on the 8th edition of the event.
Lots more information and the complete programme can be found on the Sail2010 website
From AFP:
Dutch teen Laura Dekker arrived in Portugal Saturday after a 10-day test cruise with her father leading up to her bid to become the youngest person to sail around the world solo, her manager said. "Laura arrived in the Portuguese port of Portimao in the early morning hours," manager Peter Klarenbeek told AFP, adding the docking had been kept under wraps at the 14-year-old's request.
Dekker set off from Den Osse in the southwestern Netherlands on August 4, days after winning a 10-month court battle with child welfare authorities concerned she was too young to undertake the trip. Accompanied by her father Dick, the petite blonde set sail on her red-hulled 11.5 metre (38 foot) ketch Guppy for Portugal for a trip meant to iron out any technical problems before launching her official solo bid. Klarenbeek said the girl would leave from Portugal "within the next week", and a final date would be announced in the coming days.
Dekker turns 17 on September 20, 2012, allowing her a little over two years to complete the trip, during which she intends to stop at several ports along the way. Dekker has said her route from Portugal will take her across the Atlantic Ocean and into the Pacific via the Panama Canal. She plans to stop at the Galapagos islands before heading to Australia, Thailand and through the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden back to Europe.
Read the full article here
From the Wall Street Journal:
The European Commission said Monday that Air France-KLM's Dutch KLM unit should fully compensate passengers for delays and cancellations caused by volcanic ash that shut most of Europe's air space for periods in April and May and bring its policy in line with European Union law.
The Commission's intervention came after it emerged that KLM was only reimbursing passengers for the first 24 hours that they were stranded by the ash cloud. A KLM spokeswoman said the airline would wait for the outcome of an European Union Transport Council review of compensation before it will alter its reimbursement policy. Airlines have been arguing that EC regulation 261, which says airlines have a duty of care to look after passengers stranded and to reimburse them any expenses incurred, is too tough on airlines, particularly in the event of a natural disaster that is beyond their control.
Read the full article here
10 August 2010
From the Washington Times:
Three right-wing political parties in the Netherlands began formal coalition talks Monday, exactly two months after Dutch voters went to the polls, with the aim of establishing the country's first minority government since World War II. Under the formula being discussed, the election victor -- the austerity-minded Liberal Party -- would join forces with the center-right Christian Democratic Appeal, and the two coalition partners would govern with the outside support of the anti-Islam Freedom Party. Together, the three parties command a bare majority, with 76 of the 150 seats in the lower house of parliament. The parties have agreed to observe a media blackout during the talks, and a Liberal spokesman declined to comment on the proceedings to The Washington Times. "We're usually a very open country," he said with a laugh. "But not during coalition negotiations."
Liberal Party Chairman Ivo Opstelten, who is leading the talks, has said he expects a resolution in about three weeks, though delays are possible, given the Christian Democrats' resistance to many of the Freedom Party's demands. In addition to calling for a stricter immigration policy, party leader Geert Wilders has also advocated a ban on the Koran, a headscarf tax and other measures aimed at the country's growing Muslim minority. "Coalition talks usually take a little bit of time in the Netherlands," Dutch Ambassador to the United States Renee Jones-Bos said in an interview. "The [postwar] average is 87 days, and sometimes it has taken longer.
Read the full article here
From iAmsterdam:
Amsterdam Gay Pride is a huge celebration and devotion towards equality for the gay, lesbian and transgender communities held between 1 and 8 August in 2010, with parties, drag olympics and of course the canal parade. Amsterdam Gay Pride remains one of the best celebrations of its kind around the globe, taking place in the first weekend of August every year, and drawing over 350,000 gay and straight participants and visitors to stay and play in Amsterdam. The city is a rainbow of events in gay and straight venues alike, from dance parties to film festivals, sporting events, culture and more.
The canal parade is the festival's centrepiece, where lavishly decorated barges give the term 'float' a literal meaning. On Saturday 7 August same-sex skin soak up the Dutch sun and put on a show for those on the banks of the Prinsengracht and Amstel River with onboard DJs, ridiculous themes and plenty of smiles. Meanwhile smaller boats line the canal walls and at the mouths of adjoining canals, enjoying the party by shimmying up to each other, forming a flotilla of fun.
A full guide to all the events can be found here (iAmsterdam.com)
From Unesco.com:
The historic urban ensemble of the canal district of Amsterdam was a project for a new ‘port city’ built at the end of the 16th and beginning of the 17th centuries. It comprises a network of canals to the west and south of the historic old town and the medieval port that encircled the old town and was accompanied by the repositioning inland of the city’s fortified boundaries, the Singelgracht. This was a long-term programme that involved extending the city by draining the swampland, using a system of canals in concentric arcs and filling in the intermediate spaces. These spaces allowed the development of a homogeneous urban ensemble including gabled houses and numerous monuments. This urban extension was the largest and most homogeneous of its time. It was a model of large-scale town planning, and served as a reference throughout the world until the 19th century.
More here
23 July 2010
From Time:
BP might be the corporate bad guy du jour, but the toxic transgressions of another multinational corporation are giving them a run for their money. A Dutch court has found the oil trading company Trafigura guilty of transporting toxic waste to the Ivory Coast in west Africa and dumping it there, injuring as many as 30,000 Ivorians since 2006. The corporation was also fined $1.5 million for the activity. The court also said Trafigura had concealed the dangerous nature of the cargo when it was originally taken from a ship in Amsterdam. The company faced criminal charges over the scandal for the first time since it began four years ago when Ivorians began to fall ill from the waste in the nation's largest city Abidjan.
The waste was placed on tankers in the Netherlands, then moved to the Ivory Coast, where the cost of getting rid of the waste was cheaper. But rather than disposing of it properly, Trafigura "dumped it over the fence" without considering the consequences.
Read the full article here
19 July 2010
From the Associated Press:
The mother of a 14-year-old Dutch girl who wants to sail solo around the world said in an open letter published Saturday she has given up her opposition to her daughter's planned trip. Laura Dekker's dream of becoming the youngest person to sail alone around the globe has been thwarted by a Dutch court that last year made her a ward of the state amid concerns over her physical ability and her social development if she is isolated and out of school for months. Dekker's mother, Babs Mueller, wrote in an open letter published in the Algemeen Dagblad newspaper that she no longer opposes the voyage. "I know she can do it, she's a strong girl who does not give up easily," Mueller wrote. "Of course no mother on earth likes it if her daughter goes to sea alone. I will have sleepless nights from the worry, but this is about Laura and how I can help her." Last year, Mueller told another Dutch paper, De Volkskrant, that she opposed her daughter's trip.
Dekker is due in court Tuesday for a hearing on whether she should remain a ward of the state. Mueller also wrote that she has lost faith in child care agencies monitoring Dekker. "Laura isn't a criminal, she just wants to sail," she wrote. The dangers Dekker faces were highlighted last month when a 16-year-old California girl, Abby Sunderland, ran into trouble on a solo attempt when powerful waves snapped her mast in the Indian Ocean, prompting a tense 20-hour rescue mission.
Read the full article here
15 July 2010
From the Associated Press:
Maverick Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders says he is launching an international "freedom alliance" to spread his anti-Islam message across the West. He told The Associated Press in an interview Thursday he will launch the international movement late this year, initially in five countries: the United States, Canada, Britain, France and Germany. Wilders, who calls Islam a "fascist" religion and wants an end to immigration from Muslim nations to the West, has seen his support in the Netherlands soar in recent years.
Wilders is due to stand trial in October on hate speech charges.
Full article here
From the Associated Press:
Two fighter jets, one of them orange, escorted the Netherlands soccer team through Dutch airspace Monday, a day after the loss in the World Cup final. The staff at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport formed an honor guard when the plane touched down. The team was whisked by bus to a hotel on the North Sea coast. A series of welcome-home events await Tuesday, including a meeting with Queen Beatrix at her palace in The Hague in the morning followed by a boat tour through Amsterdam's canals and a party in the city's Museum Square. The events may help both players and fans shake off the country's third loss in a World Cup final. The latest one was a 1-0 defeat in extra time to Spain in Johannesburg. Among the headlines in Dutch newspapers was "Not Again" above pictures of dejected Dutch players following the final whistle. The Netherlands also lost to hosts West Germany and Argentina in 1974 and '78. The Algemeen Dagblad daily's headline was "Orange tears."
In Amsterdam on Monday, scores of dejected fans using Dutch flags as blankets woke up on the platforms of the city's Central Station after missing the last trains home. More than 100,000 orange-clad fans watched the match on giant screens at the city's Museum Square but quickly and relatively quietly left after Andres Iniesta's extra-time goal shattered their dreams of finally shaking the tag of the best team never to win the World Cup. Litter left in their wake included trampled orange vuvuzelas, a reminder of the droning soundtrack of the World Cup in South Africa.
Amid the disappointment was pride that a nation of just 16 million had reached the final, knocking out five-time champion Brazil along the way thanks to a 2-1 quarterfinal victory in Port Elizabeth that will likely be remembered as the team's best performance. "Fought like lions," said the front-page headline in best-selling daily De Telegraaf next to a photo of striker Robin van Persie and winger Arjen Robben holding their heads in their hands, Robben on his knees on the Soccer City turf.
Read the full article here
From Goal.com
So the final picture was a familiar one. The Dutch players stormed away, sullen, bickering. At least this time they were bickering at the referee rather than between themselves. But the result was the same. The Netherlands failed to collect the World Cup for the 16th time, the third at the final hurdle. Spain won 1-0, but the Oranje will believe on reflection that they beat themselves. Again. It could have all been so different for Bert van Marwijk’s men. And not because of Howard Webb’s decision not to penalise the combination of Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Ramos for blocking off Eljero Elia’s foray into the box seconds before Andres Iniesta’s winner. Instead, Holland could have won the game in the 62nd minute when Wesley Sneijder’s delightful through ball sent Arjen Robben through one-on-one with Iker Casillas.
It was the kind of chance that their gameplan was made for. They set out to hold Spain wherever possible, shake them up, kick them if necessary (and necessary it was), then take the chance that would inevitably come their way. La Furia Roja had so nearly been upset by a similar approach in their last two fixtures, overcoming the temporary scares presented to Oscar Cardozo and Toni Kroos on their way to a first World Cup final. But Robben’s was arguably the most gilt-edged of them all. And he bottled it.
[This time] it all seemed to be working, despite the brutality with which some of their first half challenges had been exacted, until Robben dithered and dallied and eventually tried to sidefoot past Casillas, who blocked with his foot. Had he been more decisive, he’d surely have rounded the Spain No.1, or even drilled the ball at the first attempt into a near-gaping net. But he didn’t. Minutes later he proved that he’d lost his cool completely, shirking off a Carles Puyol challenge which was reminiscent of a tight end taking out a running back, but panicking once he saw Casillas advance once more. His response was to perform a swan dive and immediately chase the referee around like an overzealous stalker. With that, Robben’s effectiveness waned. As did Holland’s. They were two missed opportunities which typified the Oranje’s night. Nay, their history.
Read the full article here
From the Washington Times: Can the Netherlands stop Spain?:
A new member will be joining the World Cup champions club. Will it be the Netherlands or Spain? Only seven countries - Uruguay, Italy, Germany, Brazil, England, Argentina and France - belong to that exclusive club. The last member to join was France in 1998. The Netherlands reached the final game in 1974 and 1978, losing both times to Germany and Argentina respectively. Spain, the current European champion, will be playing in its first final. The pre-tournament favorite, will find the Dutch harder to get past than Germany. It could be a very close and cautious game. Like Spain, the Netherlands plays good possession-soccer. The talented Wesley Sneijder, who led Inter Milan to beat Barcelona in Champions League play, is the engine of the Dutch team. Holland's bad boys, Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommel, will seek to disrupt Spain's stylish game and rattle the Spanish ball-artistry of Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta.
The Dutch have deadly attacking power in Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben, while Spain will look to David Villa and Pedro Rodriguez. A good portion of the Dutch players, have played for Spanish clubs and know what to expect. It's all well and good, to hold possession and string 30 passes, but in the end, you have to try and score. That will be the task for Spain, the masters of the one-goal win in the knockout stage. The Netherlands have scored 12 goals to Spain's seven at these finals. The final pits two of the world's most attractive teams, in terms of attacking style and passing. Spain and the Netherlands have produced so many great stars down the years that they deserve a shot at winning the big one. Spain is hard to beat with its crisp passing. The Spanish have only lost a couple of games since November 2006. The United States ended Spain's record 35-game unbeaten streak, at the Confederations Cup last year. And Spain did slip up in its first game of these finals losing 1-0 to Switzerland. The Dutch are also on a winning streak. The team is trying to equal Brazil's achievement in 1970 of winning every qualifying game and every World Cup match. In South Africa, the Netherlands has beaten Denmark, Japan, Cameroon, Slovakia, Brazil and Uruguay to reach the final game.
Read the full article here
From Monsters & Critics: Van Bronckhorst and Netherlands dream of making football history
Netherlands captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst hopes to realize a life-long dream Sunday by helping his team defeat Spain at Soccer
City to allow him to become the first Dutchman to lift the World Cup trophy. In what will be van Bronckhorst's last game for his country, Holland will be looking to make it third time lucky in a World Cup final after falling at the final hurdle in 1974 and 1978 to Germany and Argentina, respectively. Coach Bert van Marwijk also emphasised the magnitude of the clash against the Spanish, calling it 'the most important match' in his football life so far. 'It's quite something,' he said. 'This applies to all the players too. No Dutch player has ever been a world champion and that is quite special but we are approaching it as a normal game.'
The 58-year-old has a full squad to select from after Wesley Sneijder and goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg both recovered from minor knocks sustained in the semi-final victory over Uruguay. 'All players are fit, top fit even,' he said. A new world champion will be crowned Sunday and van Marwijk said both teams were deserving of the title. 'We beat Brazil and Spain beat Germany and that's why these sides are in the final,' he said. 'I think the two teams are very well organized and play to a specific vision. They are very stable and I also believe that they are two of the best teams, and I would like to emphasise 'team'.' Although van Marwijk said he had always hoped to face Spain since taking over as Dutch coach in 2008 this will be his first match against Vicente del Bosque's side. 'I've been coach for two years and I have thought at times that I would love to play Spain and now it's happening,' he said.
Read the full article here
From the New York Times: For World Cup Final, South Africans put past aside:
Given that the Dutch are former colonial masters and their descendants instigated the harsh racial policies of apartheid, one might think that many South Africans, blacks especially, would not cheer for the Netherlands against Spain on Sunday in the World Cup final. In truth, many will not, but mostly for reasons involving the aesthetics of soccer, not a half-century of state-mandated oppression of blacks. “Loads of us favor Spain, but it is because they have a flair, a quality,” said Lucas Radebe, a black South African who was captain of World Cup teams in 1998 and 2002. “This is all about football. History is history.”
On the other hand, many black and mixed-race South Africans are rooting for the Netherlands, along with white Afrikaners, who are of Dutch descent. Radebe said that 16 years after the fall of apartheid, this represented a sign of progress, a recognition of deep historical and cultural connections, and a confirmation of Nelson Mandela’s belief in the healing power of sports. In 1995, a year after being voted president, Mandela famously wore the jersey of the Springboks, the national rugby team largely supported by whites and resented by blacks, as South Africa won the world rugby championship here. “We forgive and forget,” Radebe said. “You’ve got to live in the world and you want to do it in peace. Mandela said we had to tolerate each other. Somebody has to give in so we can make our way forward. Sport has the power to unite people and change individuals.”
soccer connection has existed between the Netherlands and South Africa for more than half a century. The first black South African soccer player to play professionally in Europe was Steve Mokone, who joined the Dutch team Heracles in the late 1950s, a decade after apartheid had been codified in 1948. In 1999, a Cape Town team in South Africa’s Premier League took the name of Ajax and began operating in a joint venture with the renowned and powerful Amsterdam club.
Read the full article here
From the Associated Press: Netherlands into World Cup final, 3-2 over Uruguay:
A Dutch treat: The Netherlands is in the World Cup final. Long wasteful with its soccer talent, the Netherlands sure has has found the right touch in this tournament. Dutch stars Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben scored three minutes apart in the second half as the Netherlands beat Uruguay 3-2 Tuesday night to advance to their first championship match since losing in 1978 to Argentina. Winners of all six games in South Africa, the Oranje will face either Germany or Spain in Sunday's title game at Soccer City in Johannesburg. The Netherlands lost its other appearance in the final, to West Germany in 1974. Both of those title-game defeats came during the golden period of Dutch soccer, and in the opposition's homeland. No such worries this time, and no country outside of Africa has had as much fan support as the Netherlands.
Sneijder's goal came somewhat unexpectedly because Uruguay had shut down the Dutch offense for much of the second half. His left-footed shot from just inside the penalty area barely ticked the leg of defender Maximiliano Pereira and, with Robin van Persie almost deflecting it again, it skidded past goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. Then Robben sent a cross from Dirk Kuyt past a flat-footed Muslera with a brilliant header as Robben was leaping away from the net. His teammates piled on in an Oranje Crush celebration, and Robben came up from it with mud on his forehead, a smile on his face — and the knowledge that Netherlands was ahead 3-1 and likely headed to the championship match. For good measure, Robben blew kisses to the fans. Pereira scored a late goal for Uruguay but the Netherlands' defense held up for the final few minutes and the party was on.
Read the full article here
From BBC Sport:
Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk has warned his players to keep their feet on the ground ahead of Tuesday's World Cup semi-final against Uruguay. The Dutch arrive as favourites after beating five-time champions Brazil but Uruguay will be confident following their victory over Ghana on penalties. "Uruguay are a team of fighters," said Van Marwijk. "They battle and survive - it will be a very dangerous match. "We must not underestimate them otherwise things will go wrong for us." The Netherlands are through to their first World Cup semi-final since France 1998 and remain in contention to lift the trophy for the first time in their history.
"I told the Dutch Football Association two years ago that I was not going to this tournament just to take part in it," stated Van Marwijk, who took over from Marco van Basten after Euro 2008. "I'm a sportsman and if I go somewhere, I want to win. People might think that's arrogant but we have proven we can beat Brazil, one of the best teams in the world. We're going for it [the trophy] but I will make it very clear to my team - we have still got two matches to play and the next match is the most important. We will have to really concentrate."
Read the full article here
From ESPN: The final four
About the Netherlands squad:
After coming from behind to beat Brazil 2-1 to run its World Cup record to a spotless five wins, zero losses, the Netherlands has to be considered the odds-on favorite to defeat Uruguay and make it to its first World Cup final since 1978. The attacking trio of Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, and Robin van Persie is clicking and all 11 players have shown the willingness to run and tackle for the full 90 minutes to get a result.
This Dutch squad does not really follow the model of its slick-passing, total-football predecessors. That's not to say this team can't string passes together and strike wonder goals. It can. It's just that if the Netherlands needs to get nine players behind the ball to defend, it does just that. How tough is this Dutch squad? Its last defeat in a competitive game in regulation time came in November 2007, a 2-1 loss to Belarus. "Some think, because of the Dutch stereotype, that we're lightweight and flighty. Well, we're not," said Sneijder, the Inter Milan star who scored both goals against Brazil. "We may be small, but we have heart. So much heart."
Read the full article about all four semi-finalists here
From the New York Daily News:
The Dutch overcame a major obstacle in Brazil in their quest to reach the World Cup finals Friday. The Netherlands came back from halftime deficit, rallying for two second-half goals en route to a stunning 2-1 triumph over the five-time world champions at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Friday. The Dutch, who have never won a championship. reached the semifinals for only the fourth time. They will take on the winner of the Uruguay-Ghana match, which will be played later today. After winning the title in 2002, the Brazilians have been eliminated in the quarterfinals for two consecutive World Cups.
An own goal by Felipe Melo in the 53rd minute and a header by Wesley Sneider in the 68th minute sparked the Dutch to the historic win. Melo had to be the goat of the match for the South Americans as he was red-carded in the 73rd minute, forcing them to play a man down the rest of the match.
Read the full article here
Brazilians fall to Oranje ambush (AFP)
Brazil's dreams of a sixth World Cup title were shattered as the Netherlands came from behind to claim a famous 2-1 win in an enthralling quarter-final here on Friday. An own goal by Felipe Melo - who was to be sent off later - and a Wesley Sneijder header enabled the Dutch to overturn Robinho's early opener for Brazil and completely turn around a match that, at half-time, the five-times world champions appeared destined to win comfortably. The defeat means Brazil's campaign has ended at the quarter-final stage for the second successive World Cup while the Netherlands can look forward to a semi-final against Ghana or Uruguay having avenged their 1994 and 1998 last-eight defeats by the Brazilians. The Dutch cause had not been helped by losing centreback Joris Mathijsen to a knee injury minutes before kick-off. The consequent disruption to their defence was quickly apparent, and Robinho had already had one effort chalked off because of a debatable offside call against Dani Alves by the time he gave the Selecao a tenth-minute lead.
An afternoon that had started so positively for Brazil began to take on a nightmarish tinge when Melo was shown a straight red card for a stamp on Robben with 18 minutes left. Cesar pulled off a fine stop to prevent Sneijder from claiming his second and only a last-ditch tackle ended Kuyt's surge through the Brazilian defence as the Dutch soaked up the late pressure and made their numerical advantage count on the counter attack.
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From the Montreal Gazette:
Now, matters get serious. With all due respect to Chile, a sub-par Ivory Coast and Korea DPR, outside of a dour handshake draw against Portugal with both sides already qualified for the knockout stage, no one has yet possessed the combined ability and authority to put the Brazilians under the screws yet. Friday at Port Elizabeth, a Dutch side that has gone professionally about its business with little fanfare is fully capable of doing just that.
“We know there is always this expectation that Brazil will be the winners, but being the favourite does not allow you to win the World Cup,” cautioned coach Dunga, as the buzz surrounding increases by the game. “Some people doubted that we would perform, but as we go along that confidence is growing and growing and we hope to make it to the final. “Holland have a great World Cup tradition and they are very similar to the South American teams, so we have to be extremely careful. We have to be prepared to deal with extremely technical, excellent players.”
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Dutch 'underdogs' ready for Brazilian challenge (AFP)
The Dutch will be the underdogs for the first time at these World Cup finals when they play five-time champions Brazil in the quarter-finals on Friday, Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk said on Tuesday. The 58-year-old slightly toned down his remarks of Monday when he had said that the Dutch were "almost unbeatable" to declaring on Tuesday that they posed an "enormous challenge". However, van Marwijk said that his side's target was to be crowned champions of the world for the first time in their history after losing in two finals and they would have to beat sides of the quality of Brazil if they were to achieve that goal. "Brazil presents us with an enormous challenge, but we remain dedicated to our goal of winning the World Cup," said the coach.
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From the Associated Press:
Archeologists have uncovered a mass grave with the complete skeletons of 51 horses buried side-by-side, probably the long-forgotten equine victims of a 17th century battle over a strategic Dutch river. It was the largest known equine burial ground in Europe, although chief archaeologist Angela Simons said Wednesday that many such sites have probably existed and have been plowed up over the centuries by unwitting farmers. The archaeological team had been looking for evidence of prehistoric human settlements in the area when they came across the unexpected find. "From the first shovel, it was horses, horses and more horses," said Angela Simons, of the Hazenberg company, which was employed by the Dutch government to survey the ground ahead of a construction project.
The skeletons were in a ditch in a field near the Maas River in Borgharen, around 2 miles (3 kilometers) north of the Dutch border city of Maastricht. Initial carbon testing dated the bones to the 17th century, when the Netherlands was still struggling to emerge as a nation. If the horses were killed in a battle, likely candidates include a fight in 1632 during the Eighty Years' War, when Dutch rebels quartered in Borgharen repelled a surprise charge by the Spanish cavalry. Another possibility is the 1673 siege of Maastricht by soldiers of French "Sun King" Louis XIV. That battle is considered a milestone in siege warfare, because of how the attacking French used zigzagging ditches to give their soldiers cover from the city's battlements.
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» Ruud van Nistelrooy gets Netherlands call-up to replace injured Robin van Persie
Veteran striker Ruud van Nistelrooy returned to the Netherlands squad for the first time in two years Monday as coach Bert van Marwijk called him up to replace the injured Robin van Persie for two European Championship qualifiers. Van Persie injured his left ankle on Saturday in Arsenal's 2-1 defeat of Blackburn Rovers and the Dutch Football Association said Monday he is likely to be out of action for "at least a few weeks." He was expected to join the Netherlands' training camp on Tuesday.
World Cup runner-up the Netherlands plays Group E qualifiers in San Marino on Sept. 2 and against Finland in Rotterdam four days later. Announcing his squad last Friday, Van Marwijk said Van Nistelrooy could still play in the Euro 2012 campaign. "Ruud is already 34 and will be 36 in two years at the European Championship but we will call him up if necessary," Van Marwijk said.
Read the full article at the Associated Presscomments | ¶
» Real Madrid, AC Milan, Ajax to meet in Champions League
Real Madrid, AC Milan and Ajax, who have won 20 European Cups between them, will meet in the group stage of the Champions League. It is the second consecutive season that nine-time champion Madrid and seven-time winner Milan have been drawn together. Auxerre is the fourth team in Group G. "It is a very difficult group of course, but very attractive for the fans (because) of all the history with these three clubs," Madrid director of football Emilio Butragueno said. "It will be very even." Ajax, which won the last of its four European Cups in 1995, is back in the Champions League for the first time since 2005 after beating Dynamo Kiev in the playoff round. "You want to win every match and when you see AC Milan and Real Madrid in the pool, you know it will be tough," Ajax coach Martin Jol said. It was an intriguing draw for Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf, a two-time winner with the Serie A side who has also won the competition with Madrid and Ajax.
Read the full article at USA Todaycomments | ¶
» Georgian businessman takes over Vitesse Arnhem
Former Georgia coach Merab Jordania has taken over Vitesse Arnhem, making the financially troubled team the first Dutch Eredivisie club with a foreign owner. The club says it aims to win the league within three seasons after the wealthy businessman pledged to pump cash into Vitesse to buy players and build a new training complex. Jordania said in a statement Monday he has good contacts with major international clubs and "they will soon bear fruit" for Vitesse.
Read the full article at USA Todaycomments | ¶
» FIFA inspectors begin tour of Holland and Belgium 2018 World Cup bid
FIFA's World Cup inspection team rolled into Holland and Belgium today with the rank outsiders convinced they will not just be making up the numbers when the all-important vote is taken on December 2. The four-day visit marks the first by the FIFA team in Europe where four candidates are going head-to-head to stage the 2018 tournament. No-one outside the two Benelux countries gives them a realistic chance but that has not stopped the campaign gaining momentum in the last few days, with "back the bid" slogans co-inciding with the arrival of the FIFA team who landed in Brussels to be greeted by a string of sporting ambassadors including tennis star Justine Henin who gave the official welcome to the evaluation commission.
Read the full article at Inside World Footballcomments | ¶
» Netherlands ending military mission In Afghanistan
At a brief ceremony on Sunday, the Dutch ISAF-operation Task Force Uruzgan (TFU) is to hand over the security responsibilities of the central Uruzgan province to an American-led coalition of soldiers. The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a statement that the Dutch will be replaced by American, Australian, Slovak and Singaporean soldiers in a region where opium production is high and the Taliban very active. Deployed in 2006, the 1950-strong Dutch military contingent was praised by US President Barack Obama as "one of the most outstanding" in Afghanistan.
Read the full article at RTT Newscomments | ¶
» Suriname ex-strongman Bouterse back in power
The former military ruler of Suriname, Desi Bouterse, has been elected president by the South American nation's parliament. Mr Bouterse won the necessary 36 votes out of 50 after weeks of negotiations with political factions following a narrow election victory in May. Bouterse, 64, first led Suriname after taking power in a coup in 1980. He has been accused of killing political opponents and convicted of drug trafficking in the Netherlands. His supporters waved flags and cheered outside parliament in the capital Paramaribo, after he secured enough votes for the presidency. But opponents voiced dismay that the former coup leader had been elected. "We have gone totally mad in this country," government employee Michael Charles told the Associated Press news agency.
Read the full article at BBC Newscomments | ¶
» Google to scan Dutch library collection
Google said Wednesday it is teaming up with the National Library of the Netherlands to scan more than 160,000 of the books in its collection. The Internet giant said in a blog post that the public domain works will be made available via Google Books and the Koninklijke Bibliotheek will receive copies of the scans that can be viewed via the library's website. "The books we'll be scanning constitute nearly the library's entire collection of out-of-copyright books, written during the 18th and 19th centuries," said Philippe Colombet, a Google strategic partnership development manager. "Anyone interested in Dutch history will be able to access and view a fascinating range of works by prominent Dutch thinkers, statesmen, poets and academics and gain new insights into the development of the Netherlands as a nation state," he said.
Read the full article at AFPcomments | ¶
» Netherlands may use "decoy Jews" to fight anti-Semitism
Police in the Netherlands are to use 'decoy Jews' to catch anti-Semitic attackers amid growing concerns about rising hate crime in the country. Amsterdam mayor Lodewijk Asscher ordered the new strategy in a bid to cut the number of verbal and physical attacks on Jews. Officers will wear religious dress such as skullcaps as they patrol the streets. The move was sparked by secret footage gathered by the Jewish broadcasting company, Joodse Omroep, which showed young men, often of Muslim immigrant origin, shouting and making Nazi salutes at a rabbi when he visited different areas of the Dutch capital. Similar schemes are already used in other crime areas with decoy prostitutes, homosexuals and elderly deployed to help catch would be muggers and abusers.
Read the full article at the Daily Mailcomments | ¶
» Snoop Dogg banned from the Netherlands
Rap-star Snoop Dogg has been banned from the Parkpop music festival in the Netherlands because city officials claimed that he was not welcome there. The rapper was due to headline the festival along with other headliners including actress/singer Juliette Lewis and German singer Nena. Although the reasoning behind the official action has not been determined, Snoop Dogg has had legal issues in the past. According to Peace FM, a statement issued by officials states that, “Snoop Dogg will not perform at Parkpop (the concert was cancelled) in order to preserve the free, open and friendly nature of Parkpop.”
Read the full article at Celebrity Cafecomments | ¶
» Early Mondrian painting stolen in Netherlands
Police say a portrait painted by Dutch artist Piet Mondrian early in his career has been stolen from a museum in the Netherlands. Thieves apparently forced the doors at the Freriks Museum in the eastern town of Winterswijk in the early hours of Tuesday morning and took the painting, police say in a statement. The piece, Portrait of Arda Boogers, is dated to around 1908. It is a naturalistic portrait of a young woman, far different in style from the abstract minimalist paintings for which Mondrian is best known. Police called for witnesses or people with tips to come forward Tuesday. The painting was insured for euro23,000 ($28,000).
From the Associated Presscomments | ¶
» Oil company on trial over toxic waste dump
The trial of an oil trading company accused of exporting toxic waste to Ivory Coast has begun in the Netherlands. Swiss-based company Trafigura is alleged to have dumped the toxic residue from the cleaning of fuel transportation tanks in the Ivory Coast in 2006. A United Nations report published last September found "strong" evidence blaming the waste for at least 15 deaths and several hospitalisations. The ship's captain and four others are accused of breaking environment and waste export laws in Dutch territory. No-one representing Trafigura made it to the dock of the Amsterdam district court for the start of the trial.
From ABC Newscomments | ¶
» Suspected pirates on trial
For the first time in Europe, a trial has begun in the Netherlands against a group of alleged Somali pirates. The five men, captured in January 2009, are accused of launching an attack in the Gulf of Aden against a cargo ship registered in the Dutch Antilles. The BBC's Gerldine Coughlan reports from Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
Listen to the report at BBC Newscomments | ¶
» Dutch regulator: No current plan for short-selling ban
Dutch financial markets regulator AFM said on Wednesday it had no immediate plans to follow Germany in introducing bans on some risky transactions across different asset classes. "We are monitoring the situation closely but at the moment we have no plans to introduce anything of the sort in the Netherlands," said a spokeswoman for the regulator. Germany on Tuesday banned some short-selling of bonds and stocks as well as transactions in credit default swaps, which it blames for much of Europe's debt crisis.
Read the full article at Reuterscomments | ¶
» Netherlands to shut Amsterdam, Rotterdam airports due to volcanic cloud
Amsterdam and Rotterdam airports will close for six hours starting at 06:00 a.m. (0400 GMT) Monday due to a volcanic cloud from Iceland, local media reported. The report from NOS TV said only Schiphol and The Hague airports will close, other Dutch airports will remain open.
From the Wire Updatecomments | ¶
» Dutch appreciation of Canadian vets still strong
Canadian veterans will be feted by royalty Monday as they pay tribute to their own fallen comrades killed in the fight to liberate Holland. During a solemn ceremony at Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery — where 2,338 Canadians are buried beneath uniform white grave markers — Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands will lay a wreath in a special show of remembrance. The Canadian delegation, led by Veterans Affairs Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn, will hold commemorative events at ceremonies and monuments across Holland that will be attended by thousands of students and veterans. Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Gen. Walt Natynczyk, the Chief of Defence Staff, will attend a ceremony at Bergen op Zoom Canadian War Cemetery Thursday.
Read the full article at the Toronto Suncomments | ¶
» Dutch church promises full abuse investigation
Reports by Dutch media about sexual abuse from the 1950s through the 1970s have prompted a wave of new allegations against the Catholic Church in the Netherlands. The church is promising an "independent, open and transparent" investigation into allegations of widespread abuse of children by priests at Catholic boarding schools across Holland. Peter Kohnen with the Catholic Bishops Conference there notes that 15 years ago the church set up a nationwide hotline where victims could report abuse and seek help. "[It was] the first church province in the world that had a stable office for these cases," he says. "So, we thought we had the idea that we were coping with the problem already. We were very, very surprised that these reactions came to surface so suddenly and so massively." Kohnen believes the Netherlands church deserves credit for again taking quick and firm action. Bishops quickly asked a Protestant former head of the Dutch parliament to lead a full investigation. But many victims question whether the investigation will be sufficient or independent. Smeets wants to see a truly independent investigation, one that could look at the archives of the Dutch Catholic Church.
Read the full article at NPRcomments | ¶
» Dutch crooks break into prison to steal inmates' TVs
Not all the bad guys are behind bars; some of them are actually trying to break in. TV-loving thieves have twice broken into a Dutch prison to steal prisoners' boob tubes, Reuters reports. The thieves targeted a "modestly protected" minimum-security prison in the town of Hoorn, which is northeast of Amsterdam. The inmates were out of their cells on weekend furloughs, a justice ministry spokesman said. The government has been unable to say how the thieves managed to get inside the prison.
Read full article at the New York Daily Newscomments | ¶
» Dutch sidestep EU red tape to rescue German ship
Gaining fast on the pirates who had seized a German freighter, Dutch naval captain Col. Hans Lodder had no time to waste on bureaucracy. Sidestepping the command of the European Union's anti-piracy task force, he went instead to his own government for authorization to recapture the ship by force. Lodder first ascertained that the freighter's crew had locked themselves in a bulletproof room. Then he launched his ship's Lynx helicopter with a team of six special forces marines. With troops providing cover fire from the helicopter, the marines rappelled onto the ship's deck of the MV Taipan to shoot it out, if need be, with the pirates. But they met no resistance. The 15-man crew was rescued, and 10 Somali pirates were captured. "The pirates surrendered the moment they saw the marines," Lodder said in a telephone interview Tuesday from the Dutch frigate Tromp. No one was injured. Monday's successful rescue showed that, when swift decisions are needed, it can be quicker to work around the European Union's command.
Full article at the Associated Presscomments | ¶
» Dutch disarm 12 pirates off coast of Somalia
The Dutch navy says it has disarmed 12 more pirates off the coast of Somalia after luring them into a foolhardy attack on a warship. The Netherlands' Defense Ministry says a German patrol plane detected the pirates' position and HNLMS Tromp was dispatched to the spot as part of an EU mission. Two pirate skiffs sped toward it, apparently thinking the Tromp was a commercial vessel. When they realized it was well-armed they tried to flee, dumping their weapons and boarding ladders. The warship stopped them by firing warning shots. Sailors destroyed the two fast skiffs and released the pirates with enough food, water and gas to reach shore.
Read the full article at the Associated Presscomments | ¶
» Dutch minister: US is blocking trade talks
The Dutch economic affairs minister has accused the U.S. government of being the most important hindrance to global trade talks, the so-called Doha round of negotiations which have dragged on for almost a decade. In an interview published Tuesday in financial daily Het Financieele Dagblad, Maria van der Hoeven said the U.S. is unwilling to compromise on any significant issues. It's a position she said was unwise for the world's largest economy. "The United States is the country of free trade and free markets, but that does have two sides to it, you can't just take and not give," she said. Spokesman Ruud Stevens confirmed the quotes in the paper were complete and accurate. "The Americans can build fences around their country, but when the time comes other countries will do the same," she said. Van der Hoeven cited the failure of U.S. Congress to confirm a new chief trade negotiator as an example of foot-dragging by the U.S.
Read the full article at the Associated Presscomments | ¶
