Dutch news in brief, 18 July 2006

Healthcare costs up 50pc

Healthcare costs have risen by 50 percent in the last five years, pushing up expenditure under the AWBZ (National Act on Exceptional Medical Expenses) from EUR 27.6 billion in 2000 to EUR 41.5 billion in 2005. The College for Health Insurance (CVZ) said this came to an average annual increase of 8.5 percent.

Nine arrested for assault on teen

Police have arrested nine teenage girls on suspicion of involvement in an assault on a 14-year-old girl in a park in Amsterdam West on 25 June. The victim was suspected of spreading rumours. One of her ‘friends’ called to her house and used an excuse to get her to come to the park. The other girls were alerted by MSN instant messenger and SMS to wait for her arrival. She suffered bruising and a suspected concussion from kicks to the head and body in the ensuing attack.

Police arrest shoe fetishist

Police arrested a 32-year-old German at a campsite in Maasbree, north Limburg, on Sunday for the theft of shoes. The resident of Mönchengladbach admitted taking 10 pairs of shoes because he gets sexual gratification from footwear. Police discovered 200-300 pairs of shoes in his home. He claimed he bought these shoes over the internet.

Investors buy cable company for EUR 2.1bn

Investors Cinven and Warburg Pincus have bought cable company Casema for EUR 2.1 billion. The intention is that the cable company based in The Hague will work closely with Multikabel based in North Holland. Casema is the second-largest cable company in the Netherlands and is mainly active in The Hague, Amersfoort, Breda and Utrecht. Warburg Pincus owns all the shares in Multikabel.

Subject: Dutch news