Dutch news in brief – 13 February

Police find cannabis and guns

Police seize 200kg of cannabis when they stopped a car in Nieuw-Vennep on Friday. Four men were arrested at the scene and one was found to be carrying a gun. In a follow-up operation, police raided a building were the drugs were grown and arrested another two men. Three more guns were also recovered, news agency Novum reported.

Maja’s friend to be prosecuted

The public prosecutor (OM) has confirmed that Nina K. aged 15, is to be prosecuted for withholding information about the murder of her friend Maja Bradaric, newspaper De Telegraaf reported. Maja’s burning corpse was found dumped near the eastern city of Nijmegen on 18 November 2003 and several young men have been arrested.

Willem-Alexander to head Water Commission

Crown Prince Willem-Alexander has been appointed chairman of a new water advisory committee. The new body replaces the current water management board CIW, which has monitored water management policies since 1973. The Prince’s task will be to advise State Secretary Melanie Schultz van Haegen about the implementation of a new national accord on water management, Novum reported.

All water charges on the one bill

The three charges levied by local authorities in the Netherlands for sewage, water purification and drinking water will be combined on one bill over the next three years, the Cabinet decided on Friday. The move is designed to make the Dutch public more conscious of the cost of providing water to households. Environment State Secretary Peter van Geel said it was not the government’s intention to make water more expensive, RTL news reported.

Advocaat stays on as Dutch coach

Dick Advocaat is to stay on as coach of the Dutch national soccer team until the summer of 2006. He has been in charge of the team since 2002 and has agreed to stay on until the end of the World Cup in Germany in two years time.

Subject: Dutch news