Dutch news in brief, 17 December 2004

Record number of Dutch bankruptcies

A record number of bankruptcies are expected in the Netherlands this year, with some 7,000 businesses expected to go under. That is 9 percent more than in 2003. But the increase is not as extreme as last year, when there were a 29 percent rise in the number of bankruptcies recorded, credit insurer Euler Hermes said on Friday. The number of bankruptcies across the European Union remained stable in 2004, with the poor Dutch performance being attributed to the sluggish economy, NOS reported. Growth is expected to pick up to 1.5 percent next year and the rise in bankruptcies will be restricted to under 8 percent.

Distrust, abuse thrives in public service

Four out of every 10 public servants doubt the integrity of their colleagues and 20 percent suspect that management are not honest, magazine Binnenlands Bestuur (Domestic Administration) said on Friday. There is low preparedness to report abuses within the public service and one-third of survey respondents know of fudging in work hours, expense claims and undisclosed gifts. Another third does not know what to do in such a case. The independent magazine about the government surveyed 1,600 readers to compile its results.

Burglar gives man shock of his life

A 53-year-old man from Sneek got the shock of his life on Thursday night when he found a burglar hiding in his bedroom wardrobe. But the man quickly recovered and collared the burglar and with the help of a neighbour, they detained him until police arrived. The 34-year-old burglar, of Leeuwarden, had entered the house via the backdoor and had attempted to thieve a camera, jewellery and a mobile phone.

Maxima’s cousin in ‘royal’ Playboy shoot

The stripping cousin of Argentinean-born Princess Maxima will appear in men’s magazine Playboy next year in what has been described as a “very royal” photo shoot in North Amsterdam. Maria Vina, 23, is a professional stripper and pole dancer in Buenos Aires, but performed at a party organised by the Ex Porn Star company in Amsterdam on 3 December. Vina will return to Argentina on Saturday, but her 10-page nude photo shoot will appear in the April issue of Playboy, De Telegraaf reported. Maxima is the wife of Dutch Crown Prince Willem-Alexander.

Subject: Dutch news