DutchNews Podcast

More evidence this week that the Netherlands is recovering from the coronavirus pandemic as people try to offload the jigsaw puzzles and DVDs they bought during lockdown on the King's Day street markets. The government has a clear-out of its munitions depots to support Ukraine's war effort, as Ukrainian refugees boost net migration in the first quarter of 2022. King Willem-Alexander finally makes it to Maastricht, while Amsterdam keeps up its Koningsdag tradition of imposing an alcohol limit that everyone ignores. And health minister Ernst Kuipers is urged to step up the long-term coronavirus plan to avoid a surge in infections, lockdowns and overcrowded attics next winter.

This week the PvdA had to find a new leader after Lilianne Ploumen decided she was unsuited to the job and quit as an MP. But the real crisis was at D66, where Sigrid Kaag was undermined by the party's woefully misjudged handling of a sexual harassment inquiry. Germany angered the islanders of Schiermonnikoog by announcing plans to drill for gas in the Waddenzee. Feyenoord tore up their plans for a new stadium on the Maas and Erik ten Hag ended weeks of speculation by confirming his move to Manchester United.

Former health minister Hugo de Jonge tried to extricate himself from the face mask scandal this week by defending a deal that he officially had nothing to do with. Another former minister, Stef Blok, is deployed to speed up the confiscation of Russian assets as the number of Ukrainian refugees reaches 22,000. Soaring fuel prices drive inflation up to its highest level in 1976, while economic uncertainty puts the brakes on the housing market. In football news, Ajax coach Erik ten Hag looks to be packing his bags for Manchester as Ronald Koeman is confirmed as the successor to Louis van Gaal as Oranje coach. And a new breed of organised criminal makes life sour for Noord-Brabant farmers.

*Apology: unfortunately this week's recording was disturbed by occasional drilling noises. We have passed the workman's details on to Maurice de Hond.* Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy was the toast of Brielle this week as he commemorated the 450th anniversary of the town's liberation from Spain. In his address to the Tweede Kamer he also called on the Dutch to send more weapons, stop buying Russian gas and lift the handbrake on his country's wish to join the EU. Zwolle is in shock after a double fatal shooting in McDonald's while families ate dinner. The long-running campaign to create a legal supply chain for cannabis cafes hits the buffers again because of a shortage of growers. Oranje warm up for the World Cup by beating Denmark in Christian Eriksen's first international match since his cardiac arrest. And we reveal which lucky patron is receiving Paul's historic red pencil. - Peregrine falcon webcam: https://www.vogelbescherming.nl/beleefdelente/slechtvalk - Belgian parliamants thread: https://twitter.com/LeChouNews/status/1509086541683077122

Disgrace and disappointment dominate a week in which Hugo de Jonge again dodged questions about his part in a deal to buy substandard face masks that made three enterprising young lobbyists €20 million richer. His successor as health minister, Ernst Kuipers, warned that the pandemic isn't over but we're going to remove all the restrictions anyway. A book that accused a Jewish notary of betraying Anne Frank's family is withdrawn from sale after an independent report dismantles its central claims. The war in Ukraine prompts a startling change of tone in how Dutch politicians talk about refugees, which doesn't go unnoticed. And there's plenty of sporting ophef as Louis van Gaal lashes out against FIFA and disgraced football director Marc Overmars is welcomed with open arms and overt amnesia in Antwerp.

We do our best to help you digest the alphabet soup that is the local election results, including the sad news that Jesus will not be setting Rotterdam's municipal tax rates for the next four years. The flu season kicks off just as the last coronavirus restrictions are lifted and Ernst Kuipers puts his faith in the common sense of the Dutch people. The Netherlands is struggling to meet its climate change targets or find an estimated €90 bn of assets held by sanctioned Russians. And Ajax extend a remarkable home record in Europe as they lose 1-0 to Benfica.

As war continues to rage in Ukraine, we focus this week on a campaign closer to home: the municipal elections on March 16. There's rage in The Hague too as foreign affairs minister Sigrid Kaag goes AWOL in faraway Maastricht. The government brings in measures to relieve the effect of the war on living costs, but not until July. Luckily it's wasting no time in taking down the coronavirus restrictions just as infections crank up in the wake of Carnaval. And we speak to Groningen-based journalist Andrii Degeler, who returned to his native Kharkhiv just as the Russian invasion began.

A massive upheaval of the European postwar order and the invasion of a sovereign state puts a damper on the Netherlands' coronavirus "freedom day". Politicians roundly condemn Vladimir Putin's incursion in Ukraine, but only after Mark Rutte makes time to chat about his car on a TV talk show. Three storms caused record amounts of damage to cars and buildings and left four people dead. A suspiciously named brand of gin triggers 'No Go' letters from Yoko Ono and an even more suspicious crowdfunding campaign. And we look back to the distant days of last week when the Dutch scooped a sackload of skating medals at the Winter Olympics. Terrible Maps map: https://twitter.com/TerribleMaps/status/1495793175054753792

Freedom Day is almost here, and what finer way to celebrate than by reviving the biggest superspreading events of the last two years: Carnaval in Brabant and reopening nightclubs? Confusion abounds at political party Volt as one of its MPs is suspended over allegations of inappropriate behaviour shortly after being the target of online abuse. Ireen Wüst brings down the curtain on her illustrious skating career as the Dutch team scoop up medals in Beijing. Storm Eunice brings chaos to the roads and rails, but at least traffic is flowing freely on a controversial bridge for squirrels in The Hague. And another EU-related storm – Brexit – has blown thousands of jobs across the North Sea, but not in the direction the Brexiteers were hoping for.

Following the cancellation of TV talent show The Voice, football club Ajax and the Dutch parliament are the latest institutions to face accusations of sexual harassment. The Dutch government brings forward plans to relax the pandemic measures and sketched out its strategy for 'living with the virus'. Energy prices drive inflation up to its highest level in 40 years, but are wages keeping pace? Also, we explain why Big Brother is watching you on discount store cameras and how a suspiciously named Swede caused ophef in the Dutch speed skating camp.