Expatica news

Dutch news in brief, 8 November 2004

Van Gogh to be cremated Tuesday afternoon

Van Gogh Murdered filmmaker Theo van Gogh will be cremated in a private ceremony at the crematorium De Nieuwe Ooster in Watergraafsmeer, Amsterdam, on Tuesday. In contrast to the high spectacle of Pim Fortuyn’s funeral — who was shot and killed in May 2002 — there will be no funeral procession prior to Van Gogh’s cremation. The auditorium has capacity for 150 invited guests. The list of people attending includes family, friends and classmates of Van Gogh’s son. Some 350 guests will watch the ceremony on television screens in a tent behind the auditorium, while interested members of the public can watch the ceremony from large screens outside the immediate area and Nederland 2 will broadcast it live. The cremation will start at 5pm and will only be open to invited guests. Some 500 people will gather at a secret location on Tuesday night for a farewell party.

Amsterdam mosque faces Cabinet’s wrath

The Dutch Cabinet intends to take legal action against the controversial Amsterdam mosque El Tawheed and deport its imam. Deputy Prime Minister Gerrit Zalm said on Friday that the mosque’s funds had already been frozen based on suspicions that it originated from a shady Saudi group, but he refused to talk of closure. Political sources now claim that the cabinet is fed up with the mosque’s management and its imam, which are alleged to be abusing the freedom of religion laws to stimulate radicalism, newspaper De Telegraaf reported. The suspected killer of Theo van Gogh is alleged to have frequently visited the mosque, suspicions dismissed by the mosque’s legal counsel.

Dutch surgeons transplant ovary to arm

Dutch surgeons at Leiden University have saved the fertility of a woman undergoing cancer treatment by transplanting her ovary into her arm. The surgeons hope she could become the first woman in the world to become pregnant thanks to the procedure. Publishing their studies in the journal Cancer, the surgeons claim the technique has the advantage of keeping the ovary whole and intact with a good blood supply, which should improve success rate, BBC reported.

Honorary tribute to champion cyclist

Family and friends paid their last respects on Monday to former champion cyclist Gerrie Knetemann, who died of a heart attack on 2 November at the age 53. An honour service with various guest speakers — including the chief of the Dutch cycling union KNWU, Joop Atsma — in the Sportpaleis of Alkmaar paid tribute to the champion Dutch cyclist from 10.30am Monday. A private burial ceremony was held later in the day. The French Tour cyclist and former world champion road cyclist died while making running repairs to his mountain bike while riding near Bergen (North Holland).

[Copyright Expatica News 2004]

Subject: Dutch news