August 2005 - Association of Dutch Businessmen

DUTCH NEWS
2005, Dutch Media/Newspapers
KNMI to study
superstorms
The Royal Meteorological Institute (KNMI)
in De Bilt, will carry out a comprehensive
research in the coming years on the
chance of occurring superstorms in the
Netherlands.
Superstorms are storms with a wind
force of 12 on the Beaufort Wind Scale.
A recent research has shown that
superstorms can occur as a result of very
exceptional conditions, including the
merging of two storm depressions into
a single depression. The phenomenon
superstorm is characterised with an
extreme wind speed and very heavy
rainfall. Superstorms have never been
registered in the Netherlands so far.
Current climate models indicate that
very fierce storms can principally occur
over the northern Atlantic Ocean. Due to
the greenhouse effect though, the area
where such storms can occur, might move
towards Europe, KNMI said.
Lonnie van
Brummelen
wins 2005 Prix de
Rome Award
Artist Lonnie van Brummelen, 36,
won the 2005 Prix de Rome Award
in the category Impressive Art.
Van Brummelen was born in
Soest, central Netherlands, and
graduated in philosophy from the
University of Amsterdam (UvA) in
1995.
The second 2005 Prix de Rome
Impressive Art award was given to the
Israeli-born Dutch-based artist Yael
Bartana, 35. The prize money of this
award is 20,000 euro ($24,200).
The two basic awards were given
to the Esther Tielemans, 29, and the
Chinese Kan Xuan, 33.
Prix de Rome is the oldest and
most prestigious Dutch prize for
artists and architects, aged under
35. The award was established in
1817 and is given in a total of 10
categories since 1985.
Rotterdam sets up Art, Culture Council
The municipality of Rotterdam, western Netherlands, established a Council
for Arts and Culture.
The setting up of the institution is one of the last steps in the ongoing
restructuring of the art sector in Rotterdam.
The Council for Arts and Culture will replace the former Rotterdam Art
Council (RKS), and will be responsible for the development and implementation
of the quality control in the Rotterdam art sector. The first chairman of the
Council for Arts and Culture is the former Rotterdam municipality council
member, Mickey Teenstra.
The Rotterdam mayor and aldermen appointed the members of the Council
for Arts and Culture, including the politician Nebahat Albayrak, lecturer Arjo
Klamer, architect Monica van Steen, the management board chairman of the
university Hogeschool Rotterdam, Jasper Tuytel, and Tom Gosselaar, an assistant
in musical projects.
Tilburg to introduce
children university
Dutch University of Tilburg (UvT), will
introduce a university for children in
October 2005.
The lecture rooms will be open for
children aged between 10 and 12. During
the lectures, professors will tell the
children about the tricks in advertisement
industry and the new dialect that chatters
use on the chatting programme Microsoft
Network (MSN) Messenger.
Children, who have followed four out
of the total six lecture programmes at the
children’s university, will get a diploma
from the Rector Magnificus of the UvT.
Parents will not be welcome during the
lectures.
Three of four
celebrated Father’s Day
Three out of four Dutch have celebrated
Father’s Day, last June 19, 2005.
The majority of the Dutch bought a
present. A total 92 pct of those, who
bought a present, gave it to their father.
Some 24 pct of the surveyed said they’ve
bought a present for their father-in-law
and 11 pct for their partner. Perfumes and
cosmetic products were ranked among
the most popular presents for Father’s
Day. The Dutch spent an average 37 euro
($44.7) on a present. According to the
survey, 80 pct of the Dutch celebrate
Mother’s Day.
The survey was carried out among 700
Dutch citizens.
329,000 on unemployment benefits Q1 2005
The number of people in the Netherlands receiving unemployment benefits stood at
329,000 in the first quarter of 2005 compared to 325,000 at end-2004, the Dutch
Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) said.
The seasonally adjusted number of Dutch receiving unemployment benefits
increased by over 1,000 per month in the first three months of 2005. The increase
stood at a bit less than 1,000 per month in the second half of 2004.
The increase of the unemployment benefits is fully attributed to women.
The increase stood at 1,000 per month over the last half year. The number of
men with unemployment benefits has remained almost unchanged for three
consecutive quarters.
The number of Dutch receiving social security benefits stood at 327,000 at
end-March 2005, an increase of 11,000 compared to end-December 2004. The average
monthly increase was between 3,000 and 4,000.
The number of disabled people with benefits decreasd by 11,000 to 950,000 at
end-March 2005 compared to end-December 2004.
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Vol.15 • No. 6 • July/August 2005