The Netherlands: Floriade Expo 2022 - A once every 10 years International Horticultural Exhibition = Green solutions to living.

Once every 10 years the gates open to the International Horticultural Exhibition Floriade. On the 14th of April 2022 we open to show everyone a celebration of green solutions to living.

At the international horticulture exhibition Floriade Expo 2022 in Almere, you can enjoy greenery for six months from April 14 to October 9, 2022. Here you will discover green solutions from national and international innovators and brainiacs that make our cities more fun, more beautiful and more sustainable. You will also enjoy the scent and colors of flowers, plants, vegetables and fruit. Dive into the theme ‘Growing Green Cities’ and learn more about developments in the field of greenery, food, health and energy.

Read more at: Floriade Expo 2022 - English - Floriade

Circular Economics - Recycling: Netherlands in EU top three for recycling, says circular economy report

The Netherlands is in
Europe’s top three for recycling, according to the latest figures
published by the Dutch statistics office.

A report on the ‘circular economy in the Netherlands’ – looking at the
extent to which the country uses raw materials and recycles what it uses
– shows that it is apparently improving.

In 2018 the country consumed around 20% less in materials than in 2000 –
including goods that are used in production. On average, each resident
used 10,000 kilos of materials in 2018 – however another 21,500 kilos
per head were produced, intended for export.

Read more at DutchNews.nl:

Upcycle Center Almere

The Netherlands is in Europe’s top three for recycling, according to the latest figures published by the Dutch statistics office.

A report on the ‘circular economy in the Netherlands’ – looking at the extent to which the country uses raw materials and recycles what it uses – shows that it is apparently improving.

In 2018 the country consumed around 20% less in materials than in 2000 – including goods that are used in production. On average, each resident used 10,000 kilos of materials in 2018 – however another 21,500 kilos per head were produced, intended for export.

One example of the many cities in the Netherlands focusing on improving their recycling efforts is the modern city of Almere (population +/-200.000) in the new Dutch province of Flevoland, reclaimed from the Zuiderzee (South Sea), which in 1986 officially became the 12th Dutch Province. 

The city of Almere’s ambition is to become a city without waste. The city’s goal is that this year each citizen only produces 50kg of household waste.

At the moment, around 75% of the household waste collected doesn’t belong in it, such as paper, plastic, glass or organic waste. By separating these raw materials, they can be reused, meaning fewer raw materials are needed to create new products.

The municipality is responsible for waste collection in the city,utilizing waste bins and (underground) containers. There are three recycling stations (recyclingperrons) where you can discard your waste for free. And there is a free collection service for bulky waste that may otherwise be difficult to transport.

In addition, the municipality cleans up litter in the city and takes care of illegal dumping.

Almere-Digest

The Netherlands: Europe's number one biking country, becoming unsafe for bikers as higher speed mopeds and scooters are also allowed on bike paths

Scooters and Mopeds,
danger on Dutch bike-paths

There are more bicycles than residents in The Netherlands, and in all the big Dutch cities up to 70% of all journeys are made by bike.

To make cycling safer and even more inviting the Dutch have also built a vast network of cycle paths.

These are clearly marked, have smooth surfaces, separate signs and lights for those on two wheels, and wide enough to allow side-by-side cycling and overtaking.

In many cities the paths are completely segregated from motorised traffic. Sometimes, where space is scant and both must share, you can see signs showing an image of a cyclist with a car behind accompanied by the words 'Bike Street: Cars are guests'.

But there is a major danger now lurking on these beautifiul bike paths, Molpeds and scooters,the Dutch call them "snor fietsers",  and these also include, what one biker called the "silent killers", electric scooters, who are also racing silently over these serene bike-paths, at high speeds.

Very often Scooters and Mopeds go at speeds of 50 km per hour or even more, specially when the engine is "souped up".

Also Pizza delivering persons on scooters have a reputation of always going too fast.  To make matters worse, because these scooters are on the bike-path, they also don't have to wear a helmet.

In December 2017 a majority of the Dutch parliament approved  a city of Amsterdam request to move mopeds and scooters from their municipality bike-paths to the open roads and highways. 

Unfortunately not many, if not any of the cities in the Netherlands, have taken any similar action as Amsterdam so far.  It is also well known in the Netherlands, that local police is not very agressive, when it comes to writing out "tickets" against moped and scooter riders, who are going too fast on the bike-paths.

As one bike-rider in the city of Almere noted: how many more bikers will need to get serious accidents, before our Municipality takes any action?

EU-Digest 

Brexit: Bye Bye Britain -The Netherlands here we come- More than 250 firms interested in Brexit move to The Netherlands

The Netherlands: Almere, -one of
 the most modern cities in Europe

Dutch officials are in contact with more than 250 companies about a possible post-Brexit move, the government said on Wednesday, after Sony revealed it would shift its base to the Netherlands.
 
The Dutch government will announce a final figure in February but “every new arrival of a business, big or small, is a success”, Michiel Bakhuizen, a spokesperson for the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency, told AFP.

Japanese electronics giant Sony is following Panasonic in moving its European headquarters across the North Sea to the Netherlands ahead of Britain’s scheduled departure from the EU in March.

While Prime Minister Mark Rutte said during a recent visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that he “doesn’t see Brexit as a business opportunity”, the Netherlands has still pushed hard to win post-Brexit investment.

Via the investment agency, the Dutch government is “in contact with more than 250 interested in an eventual move to the Netherlands because of Brexit”, Bakhuizen said. “The number of businesses we are in contact with for a possible arrival is growing. At the start of 2017 it was 80, at the start of 2018 150, and now it’s more than 250.

“This increase will continue and it’s not strange, because there is great uncertainty at the moment in Britain. And if there is one thing that’s bad for business, it’s uncertainty.”

The spokesperson said he would not comment on “individual” cases such as Sony, but added that the Netherlands welcomed any such decision. “In mid-February we will announce the number of companies that have left the UK for the Netherlands because of Brexit,” he said.

Asked whether Abe’s visit had helped with the Sony move, the spokesperson said that “it’s certain that these political and diplomatic moments help”.

However, Rutte warned in a press conference with Abe that any extra investments would be offset by the overall “negative impact” of Brexit, particularly if Britain crashes out without a deal with the EU.
Dutch officials said this week they are preparing for the “blue sea of uncertainty” that a no-deal Brexit would create.

Dutch foreign minister Stef Blok told a parliamentary committee on Wednesday that “we have started early with our preparations but, of course, it has become more intensive because of a possible no-deal Brexit”.

There is a famous Dutch saying which goes as follows: "de een zijn dood, is de ander z'n brood". which in English would translate to :"their loss, your gain" - Yes indeed, if Brexit happens, the Netherlands could "laugh all the way to the bank". 

Read more at: More than 250 firms interested in Brexit move to The Netherlands

The Netherlands: Almere is fastest growing area of the Netherlands

 The relatively new city of Almere has been the fastest growing part of the Netherlands over the past 20 years in terms of its economy, jobs and population.

Almere, created on reclaimed land in the 1960s, is a planned city and got its first houses in 1976. It became an independent local authority area in 1984.

The new CBS figures show Almere’s economy grew 144% between 1996 and 2016, compared with average national growth of 50%. Its population has gone up by 75% and the number of jobs by 90% over the same period.

Of a  total population of close to 200.000 inhabitants 32% was not born in the Netherlands. This provides for a great cultural environment and a wide choice of exotic foods

Read more: Almere is fastest growing area of the Netherlands - DutchNews.nl

The Netherlands-Almere: Can This City Predict The Fate Of The Dutch Elections?

Solar Island Almere

Founded in 1976, this city 30 kilometers from Amsterdam offers a glimpse into the future of the Netherlands. Leaving behind the tourist droves of the capital, a 20-minute ride on an Intercity train — equipped with WiFi — whisks you through windmills and farmland to reach Almere.

Lying 3.2 meters below sea level, the 7th largest city in the country has a population of almost 200,000 people. One in three locals hails from outside the European Union (EU). The local statistics office says Almere is home to 153 nationalities and 181 ethnicities.

Despite its diversity, Almere voted for the xenophobic right-wing Party for Freedom (PVV) for the last seven years. Headed by Geert Wilders, a controversial figure, the party is leading in national polls ahead of Wednesday’s election. PVV could even unseat the current government of Prime Minister Mark Rutte. The Dutch election is the first in a long line of crucial polls in Europe this year. It comes ahead of votes in France, Germany, and the Czech Republic.

In Almere, no house is further than 400 meters from a bus stop. Public transportation and bicycles have dedicated lanes on roads. The town square is an enormous open-air shopping mall with three-story buildings that make it reminiscent of a college campus. An atmosphere of order and tranquility prevails in residential neighborhoods — this is not a neglected area where far-right parties often thrive.

A third of Almere’s residents are aged younger than 25 years and only 9% of inhabitants are older than 65 years. Local economic trends match national ones — 2% GDP growth and an unemployment rate of 5.3%, much lower than the Eurozone average of 9.6%. After a day in the city, it’s difficult to find someone who openly admits to supporting the PVV.

Faiza, 50, has lived in the Netherlands for 20 years. She’s waiting for her number to be called in the city hall, a vast open space with comfortable couches and floor lamps that makes it seem like a furniture showroom. "They are ashamed to say so publicly but in private many residents support Wilders’ views," she says. "I don’t know what’s happening to Dutch society, it used to be that respecting rules and laws was sufficient for integration. It’s not like that anymore, especially for Muslims, and our religion is seen as a disease that must be kept at bay."

In recent years, there have been a few cases of radicalized Islamists in Almere but none managed to carry out terrorist attacks. This trend may have contributed to anti-Muslim sentiment in the city. The first point of Wilders’ policy manifesto promises to "de-Islamize" the Netherlands. This would involve shuttering mosques and Islamic schools and banning the Islamic veil and sales of the Koran.

Few people in the country believe the Netherlands will split from the EU.

The upcoming election has also focused on the question of immigration. Denk, which means "think" in Dutch, is a new pro-immigrant party. Founded by Turkish immigrants, the party may gain representation in parliament for the first time.

There are 28 parties contesting the election but only half of them are likely to get enough votes to win seats. Even if Wilders gets the most votes, it will be difficult for the PVV to form a coalition in a country with an ultra-proportional electoral system. It will take at least three months for any winner to put together a credible coalition.

"Wilders definitely won’t be in the coalition government that emerges," says Meindert Fennema, a political scientist at the University of Amsterdam. "No one wants to ally with the PVV and even he has no intention of becoming Prime Minister."

The logic goes that it would be too politically risky for Wilders to govern; it suits him better to stay in the opposition.

This is exactly what has happened to the PVV in its stronghold of Almere. Despite being the single largest party to win there, it has been kept out of local government by a coalition of opposing parties. 

Instead, the city government is controlled by the progressive liberal D66 party. Franc Weerwind, the mayor, is the son of immigrants from Suriname. In 2015, he also became the first person of color to become a mayor in the Netherlands.

Read more: Can This City Predict The Fate Of The Dutch Elections? - Worldcrunch

The Moon: Tonight Is A Record-Breaking Supermoon - The Biggest In 68 Years

The Supermoon as it was seen above Almere, The Netherlands

There will be an amazing spectacle tonight as the first supermoon in almost 70 years appears in the night sky. In fact, if you’re younger than 68 you have never witnessed this record-breaking supermoon in your lifetime.

Tomorrow morning, November 14th, the moon will be the closest it has been to Earth since 1948. It will appear 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than the average monthly full moon. Of course that’s dependent on hopefully viewing the supermoon without the obstruction of a cloudy night. Thankfully it appears most of the United States will remain mostly clear for tonight’s supermoon.

If you happen to miss the moon tonight, you’ll have to wait until November 25, 2034 so take some time to go outside tonight and witness the impressive moon.

A supermoon typically refers to the concurrence of two phenomena. One is when the moon is within 90% of its closest position to Earth in its orbit. Since the moon’s orbit is elliptical the moon during perigee is about 30,000 miles closer to the Earth than the apogee.

The other phenomenon is syzygy, which is when the Earth, sun and moon all line up as the moon orbits Earth. When both a perigee and syzygy occur and the moon is located on the opposite side of the Earth from the sun we get a supermoon.

Photo credit: Almere-Digest
Read more: onight Is A Record-Breaking Supermoon - The Biggest In 68 Years

The Netherlands - Almere, one of Europe's newest and most modern Cities celebrates it's 40th anniversary

Almere - Europe most modern city celebrates its 40th anniversary

From the moment of its establishment in 1976, Almere has been one of the fastest growing cities in Europe.

It was initially developed as a suburban area in the east of Amsterdam, however, it has grown into the status of being Holland’s most exemplary new town.

In just 40 years it has attracted over 200,000 residents and approximately 17,000 businesses.

Almere is the largest city in the province of Flevoland and now also the seventh largest city in the Netherlands.

This November Almere celebrates it's 40th anniversary.

Almere-Digest congratulates the Municipality and Citizen's of Almere!

Almere-Digest

Netherlands: Almere, Tvesha Chauhan from India, becomes it's 200.000 inhabitant

Almere, the Netherlands newest and Europe's most modern city, celebrated the arrival of it's 200.000 new inhabitant, Tvesha Chauhan from India, who was registered this past Monday, November the third.

She was officially welcomed to the city by Franc Weerwin, the Mayor of Almere, who is a Dutch Citizen from Suriname descent.

Almere's first citizens arrived in the city only back in 1976, after the area was reclaimed from the Zuider-Sea and became part of a new Dutch Province, completely reclaimed from the sea on June 27, 1985 , "baptized" Flevoland, the 12th Dutch Province.

On January 1, 1986. Dutch Parliament passed an act whereby the Province of Flevoland was created, and the rest is history.

Almere heeft 200.000 inwoners|Binnenland| Telegraaf.nl

Almere, de jongste stad van Nederland, heeft nu 200.000 inwoners. De grens werd symbolisch gepasseerd door de tienjarige Tvesha Chauhan uit India, die met haar…

telegraaf.nl

The Netherlands - City of Almere Parking Fines considered "Municipality Legalized Robbery" by vistors and citizens

Almere: a parking fine can cost you a fortune

Parking fines, you know they exist, but how high they are usually is a total mystery until you get a fine.

Of course rules are rules, but they should be proportional. Not a Municipality legalized robbery.

Visiting the city of Almere on Sunday, July 31, to do some errands, we parked the car at 12.55 in a downtown Almere open air car parking called "Landdroesdreef" and paid  € 4.10 (US $ 4.60) to park for approximately one and a half hour worth of parking time until 2.27 pm..

Unfortunately, the errands in downtown Almere took slightly more time than expected and when we arrived at the parking lot it was 2.42 pm, only some 15 minutes too late and we found a fine on the windshield of the car for € 62.50 (approximately $70 US Dollars).

The parking "police", who had given the fine were still standing on the parking lot and we immediately went to them to apologize for the 15 minute delay, but they were not willing to forgive the fine, or even reduce it. Worse of all, they were also unable to explain why a fine for 15 minutes of overtime in a parking lot was € 62.50.

By whatever standards, these kind of a parking fines are ridiculous, specially in smaller cities like Almere, or on a Sunday, when in most cities around the world, there are either reduced parking rates or no parking fees at all.

The Municipality of Almere and the business community would do good to look into this if they want to make Almere consumer friendly and attract more visitors and tourists to the city..

EU-Digest

The Netherlands: Almere, Europe's most "avant-garde" multi-cultural city celebrating it's 40th birthday

From the moment of its establishment in 1976, Almere has been one of the fastest growing cities in Europe.

Initially developed as a suburban area east of Amsterdam, it has become one of Europe's most impressive new modern multi-cultural cities.

 During the past 36 years, it has also become the home of some 200,000 residents and 18.000 businesses.

Almere is the largest city in the Province of Flevoland and now also the seventh largest city in the Netherlands.

A Facebook page  (unfortunately in Dutch only) is commemorating this event. the whole year, until the exact date (November 30)  when  Almere's first settlers arrived, many years ago.

The Facebook page also  illustrates many of the important facts and events that took place during the 40 years since Almere became one of the fastest growing and most modern multi-cultural European cities.

Over the years, as the city developed  it also quickly got the reputation of being one of Europe's, architecturally, most "avant-garde cities".

Obviously this made Almere also a very attractive city for architecture students to visit.

If Dutch is not your maternal language, there are also numerous other websites containing information about Almere - its corporate sector, its sustainability, the facilities and opportunities that residents, businesses and institutions alike have by being established in Almere.

The following sites might be a good place to start looking:  Chamber of Commerce,  World Trade Center Almere, VVV Almere, The City of Almere, Almere Sun Island, Wikipedia Almere, Floriade 2022 - Growing Green Cities, Almere-Digest,

Mayor, Mr. Franc Weerwind

A friendly welcoming city, from its Mayor, Mr. Franc Weerwind, to all the city's residents.

It all seems to be happening in Almere.!

Almere-Digest 

The Netherlands: Foreign tourists in the Netherlands often unable to use their local debit and credit cards - by RM

Foreign Credit and Debit cards not easy to use in Holland

The Netherlands is not very "Tourist Friendly" when it comes to tourists wanting to use their debit or credit cards for local purchases.

Most of the time they are unable to pay with their credit/debit cards for purchases or expenses in local stores, restaurants,gas stations, train stations, toll roads,  hotels or super-markets.

US bank credit or debit cards, even those with a "chip" or "pin-code" usually won't work in the Netherlands and basically force the owner of that card  to take out cash from a local ATM. This automatically results in high bank charges for these transactions by the credit card holder's own local bank in addition to potential exchange charges in the Netherlands.

As one tourist, who wanted to pay for a raincoat she bought in a local department store in the city of Almere, but had all her cards declined, said in desperation - "this must be the first country in the world where the banking system and stores don't want to make it easy for tourists to pay for their goods with a debit or credit card."

Almere-Digest 

The Netherlands: The 'King of Bling' is coming to Almere on Saturday June 20

On Saturday June 20 the "King of Bling" is coming to Almere

The King of Bling is a funny comical show – for young and old - about King Midas, a King, who could turn everything he touched into gold.

The two hour musical is fast moving and full of spectacle and colour - and all this in a spectacular setting with beautiful costumes. 

The lyrics and all the songs in the show are in Dutch.

Tickets (€2,00) can be bought at the location of the show: Basisschool “Dukdalf”, Makassarweg 68, Almere Buiten, or odered by sending an e-mail with your name and address to  kingbling488@yahoo.com, also, please include the number of tickets you want to order.

Buy one ticket and get another one free. - just in case you want to take along a friend or a family member.

Reserved tickets can be picked-up and paid for at the location of the show: Basisschool “Dukdalf”, Makassarweg 68, Almere Buiten, between 14:30 – 14:45 . The show begins at 15.00 .

NEDERLANDS

King of Bling komt naar Almere op zaterdag 20 juni

Een grappige, muzikale komedie – geschikt voor jong en oud - over Koning Midas, de koning die alles in goud veranderde.

Deze 2 uur durende musikale presentatie verplaats zich in een snel tempo. En dit alles in een prachtige 'setting' met mooie kostuums. De voorstelling zowel de liedjes zijn in het Nederlands.

Kaartjes (á €2,00) kunnen van tevoren besteld worden: Om uw kaartjes te bestellen stuur een e-mail naar kingbling488@yahoo.com met vermelding van uw naam, adres en het aantal kaartjes dat u wilt bestellen.

Koop 1 kaartje en krijg het 2e kaartje gratis (om iemand anders uit te nodigen.)

Gereserveerde kaartjes kunt u aan de kassa bij de Basisschool “Dukdalf”, Makassarweg 68, Almere Buiten, betalen en ophalen tussen 14:30 – 14:45 . De voorstelling begint om 15.00.

EU-Digest 

The Netherlands - Almere - Christianity: KIDZARK Productions Captivates Young and Old at NDIC

When Sunday arrives in Almere, one of Europe's most modern, functional and multi-cultural cities in Europe, its citizens have a variety of choices,varying from sleeping in, sports, reading, attending Church services, you name it.

And to think that Almere, situated east of Amsterdam, was created just 36 years ago as part of a huge land reclamation project. This eventually resulted in a new Dutch Province called Flevoland. It has been a successful venture.  In those 36 years Almere has attracted over 195,000 residents and 14,500 businesses and more flowing in every day..

Almere today is the largest city in the province of Flevoland and the seventh largest city in the Netherlands.

This past Sunday in Almere was probably not much different from other Sundays, as to what people choose to do during the weekend or on Sunday's -- except maybe at NDIC,  which stands for "New Day International Church"

NDIC opened its doors in Almeer at the beginning of September 2007, mainly because of the large influx of expats and internationals into the city,
and the need for an English language church.

"One of our primary goals has always been", say NDIC Pastor Melvin Ho and his wife Louise, " to be sensitive to multi-national cultures and provide a spiritual home for people from all around the globe living in this city and surrounding areas".

"Obviously we also have our doors wide open for Dutch folks who prefer to listen to sermons in English", says Louise..

Over the past years NDIC has become the  home to many people from all over the world, with or without a previous church background, and as one churchgoer at NDIC noted, "we like it here because it feels like family, and we find the environment is conducive to exploring faith whereby God can be encountered in new and creative ways. It is very refreshing and stimulating."

Judy Mensch of Kidzark Productions

And indeed, this refreshing dynamism was also noticeable this past Sunday at NDIC, when Judy Mensch and Carolina Neeft of Kidzark Productions visited and captivated young and old church members alike with their lively participative family presentation.

"Our plays are morally based and biblically principled, but they are not, per se, ‘Christian” plays.  The idea is to bring a popular story that families would want to see.  By doing this we do our best to come along-side local churches and help them with family evangelism through drama. The shows we bring to churches are purposed to reach families in local communities but they are also a great introduction to the principles of God", says Judy.

The happy faces during the fellowship coffee and tea break, following the Kidzark presentation seemed to signal that this new, open and refreshing approach to Christianity is not only appreciated,  but also here to stay.   

EU-Digest

Netherlands: Geert Wilders "a racist A-hole" screams headline of the AD newspaper - Is he? - "Absolutely" say majority of Dutch voters

With his latest anti-Moroccan outburst, Geert Wilders may have blown his chances in the European elections, writes Robin Pascoe.
Even though his party only fielded candidates in The Hague and Almere, Geert Wilders must have hoped it was going to be his night.
The party was pretty well assured of remaining the biggest in the polder city and looked set to dominate in The Hague as well.
- See more at: http://www.dutchnews.nl/columns/2014/03/so_are_we_now_allowed_to_call.php#sthash.06I0wMzr.dpuf

With his latest anti-Moroccan outburst, Geert Wilders may have blown his chances in the European elections, writes Robin Pascoe.
Even though his party only fielded candidates in The Hague and Almere, Geert Wilders must have hoped it was going to be his night.
The party was pretty well assured of remaining the biggest in the polder city and looked set to dominate in The Hague as well.
- See more at: http://www.dutchnews.nl/columns/2014/03/so_are_we_now_allowed_to_call.php#sthash.06I0wMzr.dpuf

Geert Wilders may have blown his chances in the European elections, writes Robin Pascoe in the Dutch News.NL following his racist statements last night in the Hague.

Even though Wilders party the PVV  fielded candidates only  in The Hague and the city of Almere, Wilders must have hoped it was going to be his night in the Hague, just like in 2010.

The party was pretty well assured of remaining the biggest in the polder city of Almere and looked set to dominate in fhe Hague as well.

It did not work out for Wilders as he had hoped.

Support for the PVV fell in both places - almost one percentage point in Almere and 2.6 percentage points in The Hague. Only Government coalition partners Labour and the VVD did worse in the city of peace and justice.

Before the results became known, however, Wilders was prepared to triumph. He entered the party meeting in The Hague - once again - as he called it, "the eye of the Tiger",  from the theme of the movie Rocky. He wanted to be the classic underdog looking to deliver a knock-out blow to the political establishment in The Hague.

He spoke of what a great night it was - even though the results that interested him were not yet out - and then came the chanting. 'Do you want more or fewer Moroccans in your city and in the Netherlands?,’ Wilders asked the crowd. They chanted ‘fewer, fewer, fewer’. 'We're going to organize it,' Wilders said with a faint smile.

"It ain't going to happen - you racist A-hole", said a political opponent. .

EU-Digest

n the event, support for the PVV fell in both places - almost one percentage point in Almere and 2.6 percentage points in The Hague. Only Labour and the VVD did worse in the city of peace and justice.
Wilders was prepared for triumph. He entered the party meeting in The Hague - once again - to Eye of the Tiger, the theme from the boxing film Rocky. The classic underdog looking to deliver a knock-out blow to the political establishment in The Hague.
He spoke of what a great night it was - even though the results that interested him were not yet out - and then came the chanting. 'Do you want more or fewer Moroccans in your city and in the Netherlands?,’ Wilders asked the crowd. They chanted ‘fewer, fewer, fewer’.
'We're going to organise it,' Wilders said with a faint smile.
- See more at: http://www.dutchnews.nl/columns/2014/03/so_are_we_now_allowed_to_call.php#sthash.06I0wMzr.dpuf

The Netherlands: Sharia proponent Haitham al-Haddad Upcoming Visit To Almere Causing Major Controversy

Haitham al-Haddadi coming to the Netherlands

The City Council of Almere has been embroiled in a controversy as to a speaking engagement of Haitham al-Haddad in Almere. Cleric Haitham al-Haddad  is a controversial Sharia proponent from England. 

He comes to Almere on Februari 7 at the invitation of the Organization of Muslim Youth Almere.

Show van Dijk member of the PVV ( Freedom Party)  political fraction in the Almere City Council said that  the Muslim Clerc Haitham al-Haddad should not be allowed to speak in Almere. He noted that Haitham al-Haddad in the past has made some very radical statements about non-muslims which are unacceptable in a secular and multi-cultural society like the Netherlands. Also the SP (Socialist Party) representative in the Almere City Coincil said they were against Haitham al-Haddad presentation in Almere.

 

The VVD (Conservative), Liveable Almere ( Right-Wing) and Green (Liberal) political fractions in the City Council stated that based on Dutch laws guaranteeing the right to freedom of expression, Haitham al-Haddad should be allowed to  give his talk on Sharia Law, as long as the content of his talk does not violate Dutch laws and the politicians suggested that the format of the presentation not be one of a formal lecture, but rather an open discussion..

It might be good to note that all aspects of a Muslim's life are governed by Sharia. Sharia law comes from a combination of sources including the Quran (the Muslim holy book), the Hadith (sayings and conduct of the prophet Muhammad) and fatwas (the rulings of Islamic scholars).

In Europe so-called Islamic "peace judges" or arbiters are settling criminal cases, not just in Germany but in many other European countries as well. Muslim immigrants generally prefer their own judges and do not trust secular Western legal systems. Thus, Islamic shadow justice systems are making inroads into Western societies. 

"Under Sharia law to settle disputes can be innocent, but it can also undermine Western ideas of fairness," Der Spiegel reports. 

Journalist Joachim Wagner, author of a new German study on parallel justice, says that the world of the Islamic shadow justice system is "very foreign, and for a German lawyer completely incomprehensible. It follows its own rules. The Islamic arbitrators aren't interested in evidence when they deliver a judgment, and unlike in German criminal law, the question of who is at fault doesn't play much of a role." The arbitrators "talk with the perpetrator's family who are generally the ones who have called the arbitrator, and with the victim's family," Wagner says. "They ask: Why did this happen? How bad is the damage? How serious is the injury? But for them, a solution of the conflict, a compromise, is the most important thing." 

  

Reportedly, at least 85 Sharia courts now operate in the UK, dispensing rulings that are often illegal, per British jurisprudence.

Muslim states which embrace Sharia Law are able to enforce public morality and as a result have greatly reduced women’s mobility and their participation in the public sphere.

In 2008, a Dutch-Turkish woman was raped by her nephew. But the Dutch-Turkish Imam Bahauddin (Bahaeddin) Budak advised her not to inform her relatives about it. If she would go pulic about the crime and sue her nephew in court, her life might be in danger. 

He also advised her to forgive the perpetrator. Such crimes are very common among Turkish, Moroccan, Pakistani, Iraqi and Iranian immigrants in Europe many of whom still regard women as sex objects. There is also a strong tendency to cover up crimes such as rape. Women who dare to talk about it in public, or who report such crimes to the police, very often face serious repercussions, since the so-called "honor of the family" is at stake. 

In too many cases, these defenseless victims are subsequently even killed by family members. Budak was also a Muslim religious teacher at the "Inholland university of applied sciences" in Amsterdam. Inholland's director Cor de Raadt had Budak temporarily suspended, but a lot of Dutch Muslims complained about De Raadt's decision and showed solidarity with Imam Budak. 

A Dutch professor in Theology at Amsterdam University noted: "Sharia Law is an archaic law which should not even be qualified as a law. It does not belong in any shape or form in Europe, or for that matter in any other self respecting Democratic society". 

 Almere-Digest 

The Netherlands: Almere and four other cities selected for nomination as the bicycle city of Holland

Biking is fun, scenic and safe in the Netherlands

Almere, Europe's newest and most modern city has been selected together with the cities of Eindhoven, Enschede, Velsen and Zwolle,  to be nominated in the spring of 2014 as the bicycle city of the Netherlands by the Dutch Bicycle Federation.

These five cites were among nineteen cities that had initially registered to participate in this selection.

There are more bicycles than residents in The Netherlands and in cities like Amsterdam and The Hague up to 70% of all journeys are made by bike. 

To make cycling safer and more inviting the Dutch have built a vast network of cycle paths.

These are clearly marked, have smooth surfaces, separate signs and lights for those on two wheels, and wide enough to allow side-by-side cycling and overtaking.

Even before they can walk, Dutch children are immersed in a world of cycling. As babies and toddlers they travel in special seats on "bakfiets", or cargo bikes. These seats are often equipped with canopies to protect the children from the elements.

Biking in the Netherlands is an integral part of everyday life rather than a specialist's accessory or a symbol of a minority lifestyle. Dutch people in general are not concerned about having the very latest model of bike or hi-tech gadgets. 

Getting on a bike is fun and safe in the Netherlands

Almere-Digest

The Netherlands: Almere cuts budget by another 7 million euro's

Almere

After cutting Almere's budget by 17 million euro's in the spring, councilman Mark Pol of the Conservative VVD announcing the proposed budget for 2014 said the City budget would be cut by another 7 million euro's.

It was also announced that the Dutch Government  had cut Almere's subsidy from the National City Council Fund by 6 million euro's and that the City would receive euro 900.000 less for school housing purposes.

All these budget cuts for Almere come in addition to budget cuts which now total 48 million since 2010.

Presently Almere has 195,000 inhabitants and 14,500 businesses. . It is also considered one of  Europe's fastest growing cities and is well on the way to become the fifth largest city in the Netherlands over the next twenty years.

These budget cuts are seen as potential dangers to Almere's future development and growth. The city is only 38 years old and is seen by many architects around the world as Europe's most modern and environmentally advanced cities

Almere-Digest

Almere: Asian tiger mosquito found in seven Dutch locations, clean-up underway

The Asian tiger mosquito has been identified at seven locations in the Netherlands and efforts are underway to eradicate it, government safety experts said recently.

The mosquito, which can carry dangerous diseases such as yellow fever, has been identified at used tyre import companies in Oss, Weert, Montfort, Almere, Lelystad, Emmeloord and Harderberg, the NVWA inspectorate said in a statement.

The European centre for infectious diseases said earlier this year the tiger mosquito, an aggressive, day-time biting mosquito which can transmit some 20 viruses and parasites, had made its home in the Netherlands, but that was denied at the time by local officials.

Read more: DutchNews.nl - Asian tiger mosquito found in seven Dutch locations, clean-up underway

The Netherlands-Almere: Grass Mowers Replaced By Sheep

Sheep instead of lawn mowers?

Starting today a herd of some 300 sheep will take over from the gas guzzling and noisy grass mowers in Almere Harbor ( Almere Haven) to keep all public "green" areas trimmed and proper during a three year trial period.

The local city council says they believe this is an environmentally friendly way to keep public grass areas not only trimmed, but also to protect certain plant species, which sheep don't eat, from extinction.

The Council also expressed the hope that the grazing sheep will create additional interest among the local inhabitants as to the ecology and wildlife surrounding them.

Almere-Digest