• January
• February
• March
• April
• May
• June

For the 2003 news of July-December, click here

10 January
Clash of cultures continues

The "Muslim issue" which was so central to populist Pim Fortuyn's campaign remained centre stage in 2003. Two female Muslim students mounted a challenge to the ban on wearing veils that cover the entire face at an Amsterdam educational institute. They lost and decided to look for another school.

17 January
Pair jailed in Nulde case

Mike Jansen is jailed for 12 years and his partner Wanda Rikkers for eight for the gruesome killing of the woman's four-year-old daughter Rowena. Known as the "girl from Nulde", Rowena's severed head and body parts had been found dumped in various locations around the Netherlands during 2001. Wanda Rikkers had her jail term reduced in the Arnhem Appeals Court on 24 October from eight to six years.

22 January
Voters go to the polls to 'fix' 2002 result

The Dutch public go back to the polling booth for the second general election in eight months to fix the Dutch political system that had been so traumatised in 2002 by the Fortuyn factor. After his murder nine days earlier, his LPF party won a place at the Cabinet table following the election on 15 May 2002.

 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next >