Going Dutch

Stories

11 Stories

September 2008
- Koran More Feminist Than Bible: Scholar
  
  Radio Free Netherlands | Sep 2, 08 11:36 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Certain passages in the Koran give women more freedoms than the Bible, a Dutch philosopher tells Radio Free Netherlands. On the site bibleandkoran.net, Marlies ter Borg compares texts on economic independence, marriage, and divorce from both books to dispel what she calls misconceptions about the Islamic faith. "In many ways, the Koran is more modern than the Bible," she says. More »
June 2008
- Dutch Smoking Ban Leaves Pot Users in a Fog
  
  USA Today | Jun 30, 08 2:40 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Effective tomorrow, the Netherlands bans smoking tobacco in public places, and the new law means big changes for Amsterdam's famously relaxed coffeehouses, reports USA Today. Because the law doesn't cover cannabis or hashish, users can continue to smoke them inside. But those who prefer their pot mixed with tobacco, as many do, will have to step outside. More »
March 2008
- Dutch Pol Posts Anti-Islam Film Online
  
  BBC | Mar 28, 08 5:30 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - A controversial anti-Islamic movie interweaving graphic images of 9/11, a beheading and protests by extremists has been posted on a maverick internet site by the leader of a far-right Dutch political party. Dutch television refused to broadcast the 17-minute movie, Fitna , which has been slammed as anti-Muslim propaganda. It ends with the message: "Stop Islamization." Fitna, which means "strife," has already been posted by users on You Tube. More »
February 2008
- Iran Asks Dutch Gov't to Ban Anti-Islam Film
  
  BBC | Feb 17, 08 2:35 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Upset by a right-wing Dutch politician's movie, which portrays the Koran as an inspiration for murder, Iran’s justice minister is asking the Dutch government to ban the film, the BBC reports. The minister called the film, by parliament member Geert Wilders, an unnecessary attack on Islam’s holiest object. The Dutch government has so far supported Wilder’s right to show the film, which is set to air in a few months. More »
December 2007
- Ads Spoof Terror Videos; Not All Are Amused
  
  Guardian (UK) | Dec 24, 07 12:28 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Dutch fireworks-safety ads spoofing Islamic terrorists have drawn criticism for their light take on suicide bombings and portrayal of negative Muslim stereotypes, the Guardian reports. The group depicted in the government-sponsored ads—LAAF, or the “Liberation Army Against Freedom”—is seen getting fireworks delivered as illicit arms, holing up in a cave, and practicing improper firework safety in their efforts to show "our true power.” More »
October 2007
- Voodoo Child Smugglers Busted in Netherlands
  
  BBC | Oct 25, 07 6:09 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Dutch police have broken a child prostitution ring that used voodoo to control its young charges, authorities announced today. Authorities found missing Nigerian children prostituting themselves in France, Italy, and Spain, apparently obeying mystic vows given them by their kidnappers and voodoo shamans. Police have so far arrested dozens accused of smuggling the children into Western countries by abusing the asylum system. More »
- Mushrooms Declared Illegal in Netherlands
  
  Associated Press | Oct 12, 07 5:52 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The party is over in Amsterdam. The Dutch government today announced a ban on psilocybin mushrooms, long tolerated under the Netherlands’ notoriously liberal drug laws, after the well-publicized suicide of a teenage user. The fungus “will be outlawed the same way as other drugs,” the justice minister said. The government will crack down on sellers to enforce the ban, the AP reports. More »
- Muslim Critic Back in Holland, Goes Into Hiding
  
  Times (UK) | Oct 3, 07 10:42 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the former Dutch parliamentarian who has lived in exile since 2006, has returned home after Holland's government stopped paying for her security. The Times of London writes that Hirsi Ali, a Somali refugee known for criticizing Islam, has been under round-the-clock protection since the 2004 murder of the director of a film on which she collaborated. More »
September 2007
- Dutch Gov't Courts More 9-to-5 Women
  
  Economist | Sep 8, 07 2:24 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The Dutch government is working to get women working. A new law mandating that schools must provide afternoon childcare is meant to raise the number of mothers in full-time jobs, the Economist reports. At 66%, the Netherlands has a higher than average female workforce among European countries, but 61% of those are part time. And other social forces stand in the way. More »
June 2007
- Dutch Do Pensions Right
  
  Time | Jun 15, 07 2:00 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Governments around the world are stuck between tightfisted Anglo-American pension plans that pay only a fraction of one's past salary, and extravagant European-style social security that ends up welshing on the payments. But the Dutch have struck a balance that's working, reports Time , as sufficient amounts of money are saved up and invested skillfully. More »
- Kidney Donor Reality Show Was a Hoax
  
  Guardian (UK) | Jun 2, 07 10:48 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - A controversial Dutch reality show featuring a dying woman’s choice of a kidney recipient aired last night—and was revealed as a hoax. The "donor" was an actor; the contestants were real patients who were in on the prank. A producer said the goal was to call attention to the shortage of donor organs, adding, "We have succeeded in spades." More »