Dutch news in brief – 16 March - Expatica Netherlands

Uproar over 60pc pay rise for ING chief

Unions and MPs have expressed outrage after ING chief Ewald Kist earned 60 percent more in 2003 than he did in 2002. He enjoyed a pay rise from EUR 708,000 to almost EUR 1.7 million, the banking group’s annual report indicated. The pay rise is primarily due to a bonus of EUR 400,000. ING directors did not receive a bonus in 2002 because they failed to meet company targets. Social Affairs Minister Aart Jan de Geus has since sent a warning letter to employers group VNO-NCW.

De Telegraaf reports EUR 26m loss

Newspaper De Telegraaf recorded a EUR 25.8 million loss last year, compared with a EUR 4.9 million loss in 2002. The media company attributed the loss to a EUR 49 million write-off for its share in the Brouwer-groep. De Telegraaf expects to return to profitability in 2004 after advertising revenue remained stable in the first nine weeks of the year.

Chocolate less popular in 2003

The Dutch ate 71,000 ton of chocolate last year, 3,000 less then 2002. A total of EUR 532 million was spent on chocolate in 2003, a decline of 2 percent. On average, Dutch nationals ate 30kg of chocolate, biscuits and other sweets or snacks, totaling EUR 2.7 billion in turnover. Savoury biscuits, peanuts, chips, peppermint and licorice were especially popular.

Safe sex ends with arrest

A man was arrested on Monday night as he tried to break open a shop condom machine. The 32-year-old Venray resident said he had placed money in the machine, but was not supplied with a prophylactic and thus resorted to breaking it open. He was taken to a local police station in Limburg North for questioning.

Subject: Dutch news