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Criminalising prostitution in the Netherlands would be a disaster for women

Chuka Nwanazia
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Criminalising prostitution in the Netherlands would be a disaster for women

The Netherlands is famous for a lot of things: tulips, cheese, canals, beautiful canal houses, world-class dikes, coffee shops, and of course, the legal status of prostitution in the low country. Yes, prostitution is legal in the Netherlands as long as it concerns voluntary sex between adults.

In April 2019, a Christian youth organization called Exxpose presented a petition to the Dutch Lower House to criminalise prostitution. They claim their aim is to “prevent the exploitation and trafficking” of women and young girls. But their stated intentions also raise questions: is placing a ban on prostitution truly going to make women safer? And does such a ban truly stop the patronization of prostitutes?

What do Exxpose want?

Exxpose’s initiative to question the legal status of prostitution in the Netherlands quickly gathered 40,000 signatures. They are also demanding the introduction of the Nordic model, a model in which the selling of sex isn’t a punishable offence, but rather the purchasing of it. The Christian youth association wants a debate on the floor of the Lower House about the issue.

ChristenUnie MP Gert-Jan Segers also supports the initiative and wrote on the Exxpose website “Love and sex belong together … Prostitution has everything to do with sex, but nothing to do with love.”

“It would be great if this citizens’ initiative forced the House of Representatives to think about the legal status that prostitution has enjoyed in the Netherlands these past few years,” he continued.

Prostitution in the Netherlands - Amsterdam Red Light District
Amsterdam Red Light District by night. Image: Not4rthur/Flickr

There are many people who consider MP Gert-Jan Segers’ comments to be naive as well as shortsighted and false.

That’s because adults who have sex may love each other, but sex doesn’t always have to do with love. There are millions of people in the Netherlands (and all over the world) who have sex daily but aren’t in love with each other. The idea that there must be love in order for sexual intercourse between two consenting adults to take place is both naive and misleading.

What do politicians and other countries think?

Exxpose’s initiative has received mixed responses so far from politicians, everyday citizens and of course, prostitutes. Interest groups like PROUD Netherlands have also been extremely critical of the ChristenUnie and Exxpose.

Foxxy, a board member of PROUD Netherlands believes that the call to make prostitution illegal or the adoption of the Nordic model has nothing to do with a selfless concern for the welfare of women or prostitutes but rather the fact that their religion frowns on prostitution.

“This petition is not in the sex workers’ interest. It’s people who read the Bible who are trying to stop us,” she told the BBC.

Furthermore, evidence gathered from different European countries that have adopted the Nordic model presents serious reservations about the so-called Nordic model.

The debate is now happening in all sorts of places. Exxpose believes that the vast majority of young people who end up in prostitution are forced to do so due to ‘urgent financial need’ or pimps and human traffickers.

But their claims are usually based on incorrect assumptions and estimates. They have neither done extensive research nor used data from interest groups to support their claims on the matter.

A lot of prostitutes believe that the groups’ aim is simply to deprive women of the right to make their own decisions as it concerns their own lives and bodies.

So what is the Nordic (Swedish) model?

Exxpose wants the Netherlands to introduce a model where buying sex is a punishable offence. A similar model has also been introduced in Norway. In this so-called Nordic model, prostitutes are not punished when caught selling sex, instead, they are offered alternative means of employment and a way out of the world of prostitution. The questions still remain, how realistic and effective is this model?

What do sex workers have to say about all this?

In response to the 40,000 signatures gathered by Exxpose, PROUD Netherlands, an interest group for sex workers, demonstrated on the streets of Amsterdam. The members were furious because adopting the Nordic model would not only take away their source of income but also make their work unsafe.

How effective has the Nordic model been in countries that introduced it?

In Ireland, where this model was recently introduced, violence against sex workers has doubled in the past year. And in France, HIV prevalence has started rising again.

Migrants are the main victims of this model. Most of them are recruited by pimps running underground prostitution rings, where they are heavily worked without regard for their financial or health status. In extreme cases, they are heavily abused and even murdered.

Exxpose’s call for the adoption of the Nordic model is based on nothing but moral policy. It is insensitive to scientific evidence and is extremely harmful to sex workers.

Since 1999 prostitution has been prohibited by law in Sweden. In 2010, the government claimed that street prostitution had been halved and other forms virtually banned. There are still no figures to support that claim.

Some experts believe that it is possible that the prostitutes have left Sweden to other countries where they can safely operate without fear of being abused by pimps and violent customers.

It is also believed that pimps in Sweden and environs have taken their prostitution rings underground. This makes regulation extremely difficult and the progress (or lack thereof) of such a model nearly impossible to track.

What do the statistics say?

In France:

  1. 42 percent of sex workers experience more violence
  2. 38 percent feel pressured to have unsafe sex with customers
  3. 70 percent of sex workers now have a bad relationship with the police
  4. 78 percent of sex workers have less income

Source: medecinsdumonde and French report on prostitution.

In Ireland:

Since the introduction of the Nordic model, there has been a 50 percent increase in the number of cases of violence against sex workers.

Source: newstatesman

In Sweden:

The law has the opposite effect and, above all, has reduced access to assistance and increased violence against sex workers.

Source: Crime, Law and Social Change and British Society of Criminology

How it’s done in New Zealand

Perhaps there is more salvation in decriminalising prostitution, as has been done in New Zealand. There, legislation specifically aimed at banning prostitution has been abolished. For sex workers, normal labor law applies: self-employed prostitutes do not need a special permit, as is the case in the Netherlands.

Velvet December, coordinator for advocacy at PROUD Netherlands is a huge fan of the New Zealand model and spoke about it after a visit to the country. “We spoke with sex workers in New Zealand and noticed how positive the legislation there is for their position,” she said. “They are much more independent and the violence against them has significantly decreased.”

VICE Nederland wrote an article on the New Zealand model, stating that in New Zealand sex workers have the same rights as journalists or bicycle makers.

“Sex work is seen as a “normal” job in New Zealand and that makes it safer for sex workers to go about their businesses,” the article stated.

Would banning prostitution work?

As the social debate rages on, many consider a ban on the patronisation of prostitutes unrealistic and ineffective. It is not entirely clear what problem a ban is going to solve, but it is primarily a moral discussion that deserves social debate. The reality remains that there is a lot of demand for sexual services and banning the buying of sex will not stop the buying of sex.

Prohibiting prostitution is the same as prohibiting capitalism. It is pointless banning something you cannot eradicate. What you must do is seek to regulate it so that those who engage in it are made to abide by rules that protect them and everyone else.

Exxpose also claims that every prostitute in the Netherlands has no love for what they do and are only doing it for the money, but the same can also be said of other professions.

After all, you only have to get on the train in the morning rush hour to see a lot of people who are not exactly passionate about going to work and are driven solely by financial need. Those professions are all legal, so what makes them more special than prostitution?

Regardless of the sector where one works, as long as their job is legal, they chose it and they aren’t hurting anyone, they should be respected. And to the feminists supporting the adoption of the Nordic model: the so-called Nordic model will only make prostitutes more vulnerable. No model, no matter what name you give it, can ever eradicate prostitution.

What is the background of prostitutes?

One of the people behind Exxpose is Willemijn de Jong who works at the Salvation Army. She is a Christian, motivated by a ‘religious conscience’ and claims to have spoken to lots of prostitutes in the Netherlands and concluded that they always started from an exploitation position.

According to her, there are no prostitutes who are strong women and have consciously chosen to go into the profession. The industry is mainly filled with women who are victims of human trafficking, abuse, and oppression. The ‘strong woman’ who deliberately chooses it does not exist. In her book, the story is always the same: one of misery and exploitation.

Interviews with sex worker

Bonton Strip Club Amsterdam
Bonton Strip Club Amsterdam. Image: Chuka Phillip-Jonson

While writing this article, I decided to pay a visit to some escort agencies, strip/sex clubs and the red light districts to interview sex workers, strippers and entrepreneurs in the prostitution business. I spoke to more than 20 sex workers, took a tour of their rooms in the red light district and had conversations with sex workers on their motivations for going into the business.

One of the many sex clubs I visited was Bonton Sex Club based in Amsterdam. A discrete gentleman’s club with a lot of rules meant to provide a safe working environment for their sex workers as well as a fun atmosphere for their customers. I spoke to some of their working girls and found out that Exxpose really has a warped sense of the prostitution industry in the Netherlands.

Firstly, I realised that sex clubs, strip clubs and the whole prostitution business isn’t the den of sex, hard drugs, misery and exploitation that it has been made out to be. They are actually legitimate and clean places of business that frequently undergo checks by officials from the Dutch government and where foul play and dirty business is discovered, their permit is immediately withdrawn.

In order not to lose their permits, they have strict rules that their customers must abide by, are protective of their sex workers: make sure that they are never abused by customers, pay them well and are open to constant checks from government officials to make sure that the working girls aren’t victims of human trafficking and/or forced prostitution.

What are the rooms in the Red Light District like?

In the red-light district, each room is equipped with an alarm button for the safety of the women. In sex clubs and escort businesses like Bonton, where the focus is mainly on luxury, rooms are equipped with jacuzzis, clean beds, alarm buttons, and telephones so sex workers can easily call the attention of the security when they feel threatened by customers.

At every location I visited, there was extra attention given to the safety of the sex workers. This is something that could be at risk if Exxpose was allowed to get their way.

Prostitution in the Netherlands - Safety button at the Red Light District Amsterdam
Safety button at the Red Light District Amsterdam. Image: Chuka Phillip-Jonson

The images that Exxpose paints of the “plight of sex workers in the Netherlands” aren’t true. There is a multitude of motivations and a diversity of people who do sex work. The girls I spoke to had different motivations as to why they were in the business. Some claimed it was purely for the money, others because it was what they were good at and a few admitted to being the “party girl” and really loving their job.

How much of sex work is sex?

Another myth being thrown around by Exxpose and some politicians from the conservative side is that sex workers usually have a lot of sex in order to earn money. Turns out it’s not true.

A lot of the sex workers I interviewed revealed that there were days and sometimes weeks they made a lot of money without having sex. Yes, sex is involved in their line of work but turns out most customers pay good money to just talk or spend time with prostitutes.

At sex clubs like Bonton and Club LV, rich customers paying a lot of money just to take prostitutes clubbing is a regular request. There are also men who pay good money to just sit in the jacuzzi, drink champagne and have conversations with prostitutes. There are some customers who have fetishes that have nothing to do with sexual intercourse and pay prostitutes good money to have them gratified.

For Exxpose and others to conclude that sex is all prostitutes do in their line of work is both ignorant and a blatant lie.

Can I experience a tour for myself?

For those who are interested and would like to take a look into the world of prostitution in the Netherlands, pay a visit to Bonton Amsterdam and do their red-light district tour. The tour gives you an opportunity to start a conversation with their sex workers and experience a day in the life of a working girl.

You’d be surprised to find that much of what you have heard about prostitutes and prostitution is totally false. It is just a job like every other job and the Dutch government also earns a considerable amount of revenue from the tax that the industry generates.

What are some challenges faced by sex workers?

Unfortunately, despite paying so much tax, sex workers in the Netherlands still aren’t allowed to buy houses or rent apartments. They are also not entitled to WW Uitkering (unemployment benefits you get from the government when you are wholly or partially unemployed).

It is a shame that organizations like Exxpose would rather seek to take away the livelihood of thousands of sex workers while making the profession unsafe for them. They would actually be helping if they focused solely on the fight against human trafficking and forced prostitution in the Netherlands.

Prostitution must stay legal for the safety of women in the Netherlands

Since 2000, the Netherlands has been trying to turn prostitution into a normal profession. PROUD Netherlands has been at the forefront of the fight to see that prostitutes have the same rights as others in the Netherlands labor market.

There is also the stigma surrounding the profession to combat which isn’t very easy with Christian organizations like Exxpose. Their initiative will seek to undo all that PROUD Netherlands has been able to achieve in the last couple of years.

The human rights organization Amnesty International also came out in support of keeping prostitution legal in the Netherlands. “We stand for the decriminalization of male and female prostitutes who work without coercion.

We rely on facts and evidence to prove that criminalization makes sex work less safe, because it means that sex workers cannot count on protection from the police and their abusers and violent customers can easily violate their rights with impunity. We know the arguments. A ban (of any kind) on prostitution will only drive it underground. We must separate human trafficking from voluntary prostitution.” they wrote.

“If two adults voluntarily have sex and a financial transaction also takes place, there should be no problem with that,” Amnesty continued. “Legalization also increases the possibilities for government control and improves the financial and health position of the prostitute. And that is what Amnesty is all about.”

Furthermore, a 2016 New York Times article also highlighted Amnesty International’s criticism of the Nordic model, stating that, “Amnesty also calls into doubt the claim that the Nordic model effectively combats trafficking, calling the Norwegian government’s evidence to this effect ‘fundamentally weak and undermined by alternative evidence’.”

The Two Camps: For and Against

The arguments from both camps (for and against) are known so well because the same discussion has been going on for ages. And that is strange because both camps agree for the most part. We all want to help women who are in the sex industry. No one is in support of human trafficking, exploitation and forced sex. And in theory, none of us, except perhaps a few Christian fundamentalists, object to payment for sex on a voluntary basis.

The main disagreement has always been about whether that “voluntary basis” exists. If women voluntarily choose to go into the industry, their safety and rights must be protected. Exxpose may disguise their advocacy as the “liberation of women” but in truth, they are only going to make the industry unsafe for all sex workers.

It is true that there are women who are trafficked and forced into prostitution. These are the women that need our help the most. So in a situation where you suspect that a woman is being forced into prostitution or a victim of human trafficking, here are the ways to report it.

Forced prostitution in the Netherlands red light district
Reporting Forced prostitution in the Netherlands Image: Michael Coghlan/Flickr

Reporting forced prostitution

How to Recognise forced prostitution

A prostitute is possibly working under coercion if:

  1. they are forced to have sex for a fee;
  2. their partner forces them to have sex with acquaintances or friends;
  3. their partner forces them to pay off debts by having sex with strangers;
  4. they are younger than 18;
  5. they are forced to engage in unsafe sex;
  6. they are abused, blackmailed or threatened.

Do you suspect that someone has been forced into prostitution? Or that someone is a victim of human trafficking? Then report this to the police via 0900-8844 or anonymously to Meld Misdaad Anoniem (M.) via 0800-7000.

The employees of Meld Misdaad Anoniem will not see your telephone number and the call is not recorded. They also do not record your name, address, and other personal details, so you do not have to be scared of being harassed by the perpetrators.

Where can I get help if I am forced into prostitution in the Netherlands?

As a victim of forced prostitution (or human trafficking) you can go to different agencies for help and relief. You can also always contact the police for help.

Agencies for help and relief with forced prostitution

There are various agencies that offer assistance to victims of forced prostitution (or human trafficking). These organizations offer legal, medical and psychological help.

  1. CoMensha is the national Coordination Center against Human Trafficking. They identify the nature and extent of human trafficking and are committed to the interests and rights of (possible) victims of human trafficking in the Netherlands. They are also responsible for the victims of sexual exploitation, other labor exploitation, criminal exploitation and forced begging, forced organ removal, etc.
  2. Slachtoffer Hulp Netherland (Victim Support) helps victims of different sorts of crimes, traffic accidents, disasters, and calamities. You can reach out to them for emotional support and they also make sure that victims are sent to the right agencies where they can get the best help.

Offering support to a victim of human trafficking

Victims of human trafficking are often afraid of doing something about it themselves. Sometimes the victim does not know that they are being exploited or that human trafficking is a punishable offence. If you suspect that someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, please bring it to the attention of the police immediately. You can also offer support and advice. Here are a few tips:

  1. Try talking to the victim about it, preferably as quickly as possible because the pimp often tries to isolate and keep them from having friends.
  2. Make sure that the victim knows that they can always turn to you for support.
  3. Share information about human trafficking with them and also let them know how the police can help them.

Reporting forced prostitution (undocumented victims)

Always report forced prostitution to the police. Make an effort to do something if you can, especially if the victim is undocumented. In the case of an undocumented victim, the Human Trafficking Residence Scheme applies.

The scheme states that:

  1. As a victim, you have a 3-month period where you can decide if you want to stay in the Netherlands or go back home. This is usually for victims of trafficking who were forced to leave their countries.
  2. The 3-month period also offers you a chance to rest and heal, especially for victims who have been heavily abused by pimps and violent customers. You may also think about cooperating in a criminal investigation into the perpetrator (s).
  3. If you decide to cooperate, you will receive a temporary residence permit (B8.3).
    During the 3-month period, you are entitled to shelter, benefits and medical assistance.
  4. You may work in the Netherlands for the duration of your residence permit.

Reality Check: No ban can eradicate the world’s oldest profession

Prostitution in the Netherlands - Amsterdam Red Light District windows
Amsterdam Red Light District windows. Image: Mitch Altman/Flickr.

Aletta Jacobs, an advocate for women’s rights was not in favour of a prostitution ban. “That would only make women more vulnerable and also make it more difficult for prostitutes to have access to health care,” she said.

Making prostitution illegal will not stop it. It will only send it into a dark and underground world, just as it is in the United States. Pimps have a lot of power in the US and run underground prostitution rings where women who don’t stay in line are either ‘kept in line’ or even murdered. That is something that the Netherlands does not want. Seriously, the Netherlands does not want to be pulling out the lifeless bodies of prostitutes from its canals.

It is true that there are a few prostitutes in the Netherlands who are victims of forced prostitution and sex trafficking and are constantly abused by pimps. The Dutch government and the police must do more to catch these pimps and set these women free. Placing a ban on prostitution will only have adverse effects on sex workers and women in general.

A ban will send the industry underground where it will become extremely difficult to regulate and prostitutes will no longer be able to receive protection from the police and will be at the mercy of abusive pimps and violent customers. The focus should be on fighting forced prostitution in the Netherlands and in all of Europe.

The truth is, prostitution is older than everyone on this earth. As long as the demand for paid sex exists, it can never be eradicated. You can criminalise that need, as they do in Sweden and other Nordic countries, but that is just like banning cigarettes. The ban will not reduce or eradicate the demand, it will only give rise to the sale of a black market version of the same product. An adulterated version even.

The need is there and Nordic model or no Nordic model, it will always be there. If a woman sees financial gain in meeting the sexual needs of men, then the government should create an environment that protects the financial interests of the women as well as her safety.

It is a human right not to have to prostitute yourself, but it’s also a human right to be allowed to make the choice if you want to or not. To the women who want to, let them have the freedom and a safe environment to do so.

Adopting a Nordic model or banning prostitution in the Netherlands will not only be a disaster for sex workers in the Netherlands, it will also create an unsafe environment for women in general. Furthermore, it will see the liberal values on which the Netherlands is built trampled upon and thrown into the canals.

Let us focus all our strengths on fighting forced prostitution and human trafficking in the Netherlands. Leave the legal status of prostitution alone.

What do you think about prostitution in the Netherlands? Would the adoption of the Nordic model be a good or bad thing? Let us know in the comments below!

Austrian couple receive €500,000 of ecstasy pills after buying clothes from Dutch online store

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
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Austrian couple receive €500,000 of ecstasy pills after buying clothes from Dutch online store

A internet shopping spree went wrong this week when an Austrian woman bought two dresses from a Dutch online shop. A few days later as the couple ate breakfast, the postman brought their package to Linz – and a second package filled with 24,800 ecstasy pills. 

The couple, aged 58 and 59, were confused by the additional package which was addressed to them. The woman originally thought the mistaken package was full of decorative stones. However, the man quickly realised it was full of the party drug instead.

Very cutely, the couple assured each other that neither of them had ordered half a million euros of pills to share with their friends. And then? We’re assuming their pupils dilated, they clenched their jaws, and they began to sweat – from stress, obviously.

We guess they look a little decorative. Image: Austrian Police

They then did the responsible thing and contacted the post office. The police were called (stat!) and an investigation revealed the intended recipient was someone in Scotland – who we can assume was very worried at this point wondering where their pills were.

Of course, the Scot was arrested. Dutch police are still trying to find the sender of the package.

What do you think of this mis-addressed mishap? Something you might like to receive in the post? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: Austrian Police

Coalition under stress as VVD kicks Van Haga out after yet more trouble

Ailish Lalor
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Coalition under stress as VVD kicks Van Haga out after yet more trouble

The VVD has decided to remove Wybren van Haga from the party following his involvement as a landlord in a property that he owns. After a group meeting, Klaas Dijkhoff, leader of the VVD, stated that van Haga had violated previous agreements made in line with the findings of the Integrity Committee by continuing to act as a landlord of the properties he owns.

Van Haga has not decided whether he will resign as a member of the lower house yet, saying that he first wants to consult some people. “It’s a lot to process.”

Van Haga’s past indiscretions

Van Haga has a history of causing trouble for himself: since the end of 2017 he has been the subject of an internal integrity inquiry by the VVD. Last year he was told to decide between continuing his work as an entrepreneur while also having a seat in the Chamber of Commerce. He was also caught driving under the influence of alcohol this summer.

The coalition will be under stress if Van Haga decides to become an independent. Image: Abuzer van Leeuwen.

Van Haga’s reaction

After 38 years as a VVD member, van Haga declared that he was disappointed in the party’s decision. “Their calculation came to a different result than my own.” He admitted that he had sent an email to a tenant, but denied that this had violated the agreement he had made last year.

“The fundamental problem here… is whether you can be an entrepreneur and a representative of the people at the same time.” He said.

Consequences for the coalition

If van Haga decides to continue as an independent member of the lower house, the VVD will only have 32 of the 33 seats left and the government coalition of VVD, D66, CDA and ChristenUnie will only have 75 seats. The government will lose its majority and need to work with smaller parties to regain it.

Featured Image: Abuzer van Leeuwen. 

From summer to autumn within a day: expect rainy days after the record-breaking sunny weekend

Ailish Lalor
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From summer to autumn within a day: expect rainy days after the record-breaking sunny weekend

The weather this week will be unpredictable, with precipitation every day- quite the change after the record-breaking warm weekend we’ve just had. The UN opening press release at the Climate Action Summit in New York warns that we’ve just experienced the five warmest years on record. This Friday, the global climate strike will arrive in the Netherlands, with a protest in The Hague.

A rainy week ahead

It’s really beginning to feel like autumnal today: which makes sense, given that yesterday was the meteorological start of autumn. This week we’re getting the most typical sort of Dutch weather: unpredictable apart from the fact that there will definitely be rain every day, as Weerplaza reports. It shouldn’t get cold, though. Temperatures are set between 16 and 20 degrees, which is mild for this time of year. If you’re wondering what to do with yourself in this typically Dutch weather, check out our guide on what to do in the Netherlands when it’s raining.

rain in the netherlands
There will be rain every day this week. Image: KirstentB/Pixabay.

First summer day of autumn

Despite being autumn-appropriate, these showers feel like quite the change after last weekend, where we had our first summer day of autumn. A summer day occurs when the temperature reaches 25 degrees- which it did in De Bilt at about 2pm on Sunday. Even warmer temperatures were recorded in other parts of the country: in Zeeuwse Westdorpe it reached 27 degrees, and it was 28 degrees in both Maastricht and Eindhoven. All of these places broke the record for the highest temperature ever recorded on that day. Plenty of people headed to the beach to enjoy what was potentially the last day of summer.

heatwave in the netherlands
This Sunday, people headed to the beach for maybe the last time this year! Image: Pixabay.

The last five years were the warmest ever recorded

While our warm Sunday might have been nice, it’s not an innocuous event. According to the UN, the last five years were the warmest ever recorded, and the “warming of the earth is speeding up”. Between 2011 and 2015 the global temperature rose by 0.2 degrees- this is in addition to the 1.1 degree change we have experienced since the industrial period began. The UN also reported that the sea level and amount of CO2 in the atmosphere had reached record highs. On Monday, the UN Climate Action Summit began in New York. Greta Thunberg gave this speech, which you should absolutely watch:

The Netherlands and climate change

In the Netherlands, we need to take all of this seriously, especially rising sea levels. Given that we built cities on already sinking land, the climate crisis is a massive risk for the country- as it is for the world. This Friday there will be a climate protest in The Hague, with people in the Netherlands joining the millions worldwide who are striking this week to express their dissatisfaction with how governments are dealing with the crisis.

Featured Image: KirstentB/Pixabay.

Dutch man suspected of raping and murdering a Romanian girl (11) commits suicide

Ailish Lalor
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Dutch man suspected of raping and murdering a Romanian girl (11) commits suicide

A Dutch man suspected of abducting, raping and murdering an eleven-year-old Romanian girl has committed suicide in Brabant by deliberately driving into a truck. 

Last Friday, Mihaela Fieraru did not come home from school. On Sunday, she was found dead in a field a few kilometers from her home town of Gura Sutii, not far from Bucharest. Before her body was found, Romanian police had found CCTV images of three cars with possible connections to the incident, one of which belonged to the Dutch man. He was questioned in Romania, but not arrested, because there were not yet sufficient grounds to arrest him. After that, the man went back to the Netherlands.

Search for the murderer

After the body of the Romanian girl was found, the hunt for the perpetrator began. The Dutch man was officially charged on Monday afternoon, and the Dutch police were informed that he might have returned to the Netherlands.

Suspect commits suicide

On Monday afternoon the man, 47 years old from Cuijk, committed suicide by deliberately driving into a truck on the Vegetasscheweg in Escharen in Brabant. The police chief in Romania has announced this on Romanian national television, and the Dutch Prosecution Service in East Brabant has confirmed it.

The truck turned over on the road, but the truck driver is unharmed.

Featured Image: Dickelbers/Wikipedia

Van Dijk misses out, but Van Veenendaal awarded world’s best female goalkeeper!

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
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Van Dijk misses out, but Van Veenendaal awarded world’s best female goalkeeper!

The Dutch are good at two things: making cheese and playing football. Okay, maybe a few more, but the playing football part is definitely true. The Dutch women’s team has been skyrocketing in popularity in recent years – and goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal just got named FIFA’s Best Women’s Goalkeeper for 2019. That’s right, the best!

The crowning glory came as part of the The Best FIFA Football Awards at a ceremony in Milan last night. While all eyes were on Dutch male defender Virgil van Dijk for FIFA Best Men’s Player, he was pipped at the post by Argentinian and Barcelona captain and forward Lionel Messi.

But, all is not lost, because Van Dijk did manage to sneak into the dream team FIFPRO World 11, alongside fellow Dutchies Matthijs de Ligt, and Frenkie de Jong.

A win for the women

The Dutch women already impressed us with their ferocity and stamina in this year FIFA Women’s World Cup when they beat the odds to make it to the Grand Final against the US. Let’s not also forget their domination on home ground at the 2017 European Championship either.

Now, our favourite female goalkeeper Sari Van Veenendaal, captain and backbone of the women’s team, has been officially named the Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper 2019 – is that a tear coming to our eye?

It gained Van Veenendaal a spot in the FIFPRO Womens World 11 – but sadly our other mighty Dutch women didn’t make it in. We’re still proud! O Nederland, o Nederland!

Have you been watching the FIFA awards? Should Van Dijk have been crowned number 1? And how proud are you of our women’s team? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: Katie Chan/wikimedia

Brits furious after ‘mystery cruise’ takes them to IJmuiden

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
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Brits furious after ‘mystery cruise’ takes them to IJmuiden

Aaah, a mystery cruise promising to whisk you away on a “special voyage” to explore “undiscovered gems” on a “holiday to remember. Sounds like a dream right? But, as recent participants on a British cruise found out, sometimes ‘undiscovered gems’ untouched by tourism are “undiscovered” for a reason. 

The estimated 900 passengers of the 710 room cruise vessel paid up to 1600 euros for their 11-night glamour filled adventure, filled with excitement for their first glamorous stop, The Sun reports.

Buuut, their dreams were destroyed when their first stop was Great Yarmouth, where some travellers had come from in the first place. Stop number two has to be an improvement, right?

Wrong! What a fun game. They then headed to Dunkirk, a small town on the east coast of France famous for a WWII battle, and now with enhanced police security due to a serious influx of migrants.

Super Troopers Smh GIF by Fox Searchlight - Find & Share on GIPHY

“Some have said they won’t get off the ship at the next destination. They just want it to be over,” a passenger told The Sun.

Stop number three actually was huge upgrade when the ship headed to beautiful Antwerp in Belgium for some fries and waffles – and it all got better from there.

Just kidding! The grand finale was a stop in the Netherlands, home of stretching fields of tulips and beautiful cheese milked straight from the cows! Sounds great, right? But instead of docking in beautiful, historic Amsterdam or newly-built Rotterdam, they found themselves in … IJmuiden, an industrial port city in north Holland.

One word? Picturesque. Image: Udo Geisler on Flickr

Now, at DutchReview we don’t discriminate – we love all parts of the Netherlands! But, suffice to say the British passengers were not impressed with the small city.

“[I]t was like being on a council estate, with cheap shops like Poundland.” one passenger told The Sun. “There have been a lot of complaints and the crew know people are not happy.”

Another passenger told The Sun “It’s mutiny on here. God knows where we will end up next.”

But, the cruise company is defending themselves. Martin Lister, head of itinerary planning & destination experience, said they’ve received a number of positive comments.

“It is a shame that a minority feel this cruise has not met expectations,” he told. “We hope our guests will continue to get into the spirit of the cruise and are looking forward to those destinations that they have not yet visited.”

What do you think of this luxury cruise itinerary? How happy would you be to dock in IJmuiden? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: Hans Splinter/Flickr

Thomas Cook goes insolvent; future of Dutch branch unknown 

Freya Sawbridge
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Thomas Cook goes insolvent; future of Dutch branch unknown 

Thomas Cook, a British travel agency, has declared insolvency and left thousand of travellers stranded as flights and package deals have been cancelled. How this will affect the Thomas Cook’s Dutch branch is still unknown. 

The Dutch branch of Thomas Cook

Earlier today, it became infeasible to book any further travel plans with the company. However, as it currently stands, their online site remains live.

It is estimated that over 10,000 Dutch people are currently travelling with Thomas Cook. NOS reports that the travel agency has around 400,000 customers in the Netherlands every year.

Bankruptcy at Thomas Cook?

If Thomas Cook declares bankruptcy, the Stichting Garantiefonds Reisgelden intends to take care of the travellers. So if you have booked with Thomas Cook you need not worry, you will be rebooked through another travel agency or get your money back.

Peter Fankhauser, Chief Executive of Thomas Cook, commented “We have worked exhaustively in the past few days to resolve the outstanding issues… on an agreement to secure Thomas Cook’s future for its employees, customers and suppliers.  Although a deal had been largely agreed, an additional facility requested in the last few days of negotiations presented a challenge that ultimately proved insurmountable.”

“This marks a deeply sad day for the company which pioneered package holidays and made travel possible for millions of people around the world.”

Holiday-goers are protected by EU law

Many people were quick to make a reference to Brexit and draw attention to the raft of legislation that protects EU holiday packages for Brits travelling around Europe.

Many other people expressed their sadness for the thousands of Thomas Cook employees’ who lost their jobs overnight.

Feature image: Hans/Pixabay 

Veterans turned away from Operation Market Garden commemoration after venue fills

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
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Veterans turned away from Operation Market Garden commemoration after venue fills

Four men who took part in Operation Market Garden and who showed up for the events 75-year anniversary last night were turned away. The reason? The VIP room was already full. 

The British soldiers were turned away by the municipality of Arnhem during the commemoration at Airborneplein. Various events have been set up this year to remember the failed WWII military operation which led the deaths of at least 15,000 Allied soldiers.

The memorials for the 75th year are particularly grand, and attendees must show a personalised ticket. The men who were turned away did not possess this.

But, the four veterans were puzzled by the rejection. “We have been around since the early 1980s and have never needed a pass. We thought our medals served as entry tickets,” said 95-year-old veteran Leslie Reeves told NOS.

Who was turned away?

Reeves was the only survivor of his tank unit after fighting in Nijmegen and was seriously injured in Germany after crossing the Rhine. “It is utterly embarrassing that they sent us away. I will never experience such a special occasion again,” Reeves said.

Of the four veterans that were unable to enter, two were eventually able to enter the memorial – but only after a Dutch couple saw them being turned away and gifted them their personal tickets.

96-year-old naval veteran Simeon Mayou and a fellow veteran were forced to turn back to their hotel. “Every year we look forward to the celebration. We saved the whole year to gather the money for the trip to the Netherlands,” he told NOS.

“There were people who were not even born during the war. But we were not allowed in. Our hearts broke.” he continued.

Why were they turned away?

The municipality of Arnhem has expressed regret over what happened, but says that places were limited. Spokesman for the municipality Carlo van der Borgt told NOS that the anniversary event meant only limited tickets were available.

According to Van der Borgt, Arnhem veterans had been invited, and those without an invitation could access an extra area. However, the veterans said that area was so full it was inaccessible.

The mayor of Arnhem, Ahmed Marcouch, wants to set the wrongs right. “If we missed veterans, I want to make up for this as quickly as possible,” he said.

What do you think about these veterans being turned away from the commemoration? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: Mark Hurley/Georgia Army National Guard/Flickr

Dual nationality for Dutch nationals living in the UK considered amidst Brexit chaos

Freya Sawbridge
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Dual nationality for Dutch nationals living in the UK considered amidst Brexit chaos

Dutch political parties have joined forces to create a majority in the Lower House to support a proposal from D66 that would grant Dutch people living in the United Kingdom dual citizenship. 

Current law on dual citizenship

As it currently stands, Dutch law does not permit you to hold two nationalities. This means, if you have a Dutch passport and want citizenship from another country, you must relinquish your Dutch passport.

“Cannot be taken hostage by Brexit”

D66 MP Sjoerdsma stated on twitter that “Now that they are making chaos across the North Sea, Dutch political parties are joining forces. Dutch nationals in the UK cannot be taken hostage by the Brexit”.

Only for Dutch nationals in Britain

The emergency law will only apply to Dutch people living in Great Britain and vice versa. But they will not be left behind as the cabinet has already assured British people living in the Netherlands will get a 15 month extension if the UK leave the European Union without a deal.

3million support the proposal

3million, a large grassroots organisation of EU citizens in the UK who fervently campaign to protect citizens rights support the proposal. But they also believe that British nationals living in the Netherlands should be given a Dutch passport.

They stated on twitter “for someone whose livelihood depends on working in several EU countries, taking on Dutch citizenship provides the only way of keeping their precious EU citizenship” 

Brexit uncertainty

57,000 people want to sit on a beach to watch Brexit unfold for entertainment. But the uncertainty of Brexit could displace thousands of people and disrupt even more jobs and livelihoods.

Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, has stated that Brexit will happen on 31 October 2019, with or without a deal.

Feature image: Christopher Elison/Flikr 

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