Breaking news

NXP to scrap 1,300 jobs in Holland Dutch chip maker NXP, a former subsidiary of electronics giant Philips, announced on Friday that it is to scrap 4,500 jobs worldwide, 15% of its total workforce. Some 1,300 jobs will be axed in the Netherlands over the coming two years.

The biggest Dutch trade union federation FNV told the media on Friday that it is ‘shocked’ by the extent of the cuts. ‘We knew the reorganisatio

Main news

Nuclear power licence will be processed, PM The cabinet will handle the application for the construction of a new nuclear power plant by energy concern Delta as normal, Dutch prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende is reported as saying following Friday’s cabinet meeting.

He said that he does not want to predict the future but pointed out that the processing of such an application requires considerable time. ‘The question is

Other news

Germany, UK, Spain risk recession as EU cuts GDP Brussels -- The European Commission cut its 2008 growth estimates for the European economy to 1.4 percent Wednesday as three of the continent’s heavyweights risked slipping into recession.

The European Union executive’s latest interim forecasts suggest that Germany, Britain and Spain would be posting two consecutive quarters of negative growth this year.

If co

Workers

Dutch ban burka in schools Amsterdam - The burka, a head-to-toe covering worn by some Muslim women, will be banned from Dutch schools and universities, Education Minister Ronald Plasterk said on Monday.

The minister said in a letter to Parliament that he was preparing a bill to outlaw the garb from mid-2009.

Not only pupils and teachers, but anyone entering the school or university pre

Life & Health

Dutch drivers paid to leave cars at home In the government’s latest experiment to reduce massive traffic gridlock, 800 drivers are paid to not drive during rush hour.THE HAGUE – In an attempt to alleviate the massive daily gridlock on Dutch roads, the government is launching an experiment Wednesday in South Holland where motorists are paid not to drive during rush hour.

Eight hundred volunteers who use the A12 moto

Time out

What's on selection: September 2008 Pick a category, and watch Harrison Birtwistle not fit into it. The 74-year-old British composer has a thing for the theatrical, but revels in washes of abstract sound; his music can be ritual-inflected or based on pre-set programs; he favors forward-moving narrative constructions but builds his narratives from refraction and variation; strongly rhythmical patches easily cede to unabashed lyricis

Static Content

The Netherlands at a glance How we look upon and judge the lifestyle and workplace of other cultures depends on how we view the world from our own cultural background.

The Netherlands is a small country with a limited internal market, consequently the Dutch look across their borders for markets. They started out as worldwide maritime traders in the 16th century and today they are still significant players