Dutch consumer confidence declined in May compared with April, but employers are more positive, the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) said on Tuesday. The CBS said higher oil prices, increasing tension in the Mid-East and falling stock prices probably had an effect on consumer confidence. After a strong rise in February, consumer confidence has fallen in the past three months. High unemployment levels are to blame, the CBS said. But companies are more confident due to rising domestic and foreign orders, leading to an increasing number of companies expecting higher production rates.

Lawyers demand acquittal of convicted serial killer

The fact that the hospital deaths convicted serial killer Lucy de Berk is accused of have been described as “unaccountable”, does not mean she is guilty of murder, defence lawyers claimed in an appeals court in The Hague on Tuesday. The lawyers thus urged the court to acquit the former nurse of all charges, news agency Novum reported. De Berk is charged with 13 murders and five attempted murders and the prosecution has demanded a life sentence. She was convicted last year on four charges of murder and three attempts.

Endstra killer waited for property boss

The two suspects in the murder of real estate magnate Willem Endstra sat and waited on an Apollolaan street bench before he was shot and killed in Amsterdam at about midday on 17 May. The two culprits — one of whom carried out the shooting and other maintained watch — had been sighted by witness at about 11am, crime watch show Opsporing Verzocht said on Monday. The shooter has been described as man aged between 25 and 35 and the other man is described as a man aged between 35 and 40. The shooter ran up the Beethovenstraat into the Breughelstraat, where a getaway car was possibly parked, but police have not ruled out the possibility he disappeared into a house. The second culprit is believed to have fled in the same direction, newspaper Het Parool reported. 

Pentecost long weekend holidays popular

About 900,000 Dutch nationals are heading off on Holiday for the Pinksteren weekend, two thirds of whom will holiday in domestic locations. The Dutch Bureau for Tourism and Congresses said most holiday-makers will stay in caravans, folding trailers, tents or bungalows. Various festivals over the Pentecost weekend are also popular, such as Pinkpop at Landgraaf in Limburg, the Elfsteden Fietstocht (11 Cities Bicycle Tour) in Friesland and the Tros Jubileum in Amsterdam, which celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Dutch public broadcaster. Monday is a public holiday. Traffic delays are expected on Friday and Monday.

Anja murder appeal set for July

The appeal in the Anja Joos murder trial will be held on 9 July in the Amsterdam Court. The court imposed jail terms ranging up to three years on eight suspects for the beating dearth of the Amsterdam drug addict last year. The prosecution has lodged an appeal against seven rulings and the eight suspects lodged an appeal also, Novum reported.
 
[Copyright Expatica News 2004]

Subject: Dutch news