Dutch news in brief, 25 January 2005

Half of Iraqis register for election

About half of the Iraqis living in the Netherlands have registered in the past week to vote in the nation’s first election in almost 50 years, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said on Tuesday. About 30,000 Iraqis live in the Netherlands and about 14,000 of them had registered to vote by Sunday. But the registration process was extended by one day to finish on Monday. In total, about 237,704 Iraqis living abroad have registered for the poll, to be held on 28, 29 and 30 January. That is less than 25 percent of Iraqis overseas. Polling stations in the Netherlands are located in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Zwolle.

Concern over school road safety

The Dutch road safety organisation, 3VO, claimed on Tuesday that the traffic situation around two-thirds of Dutch schools is unsafe. It said children who walk to school are at risk from speeding motorists and chaotic traffic situations caused by parents dropping their children off. It demanded speed limits near schools to be reduced to 30kmh. It also wants child-safe routes to be created when new schools are built.

Diamond theft investigation abandoned

Police have abandoned an investigation into a spectacular diamond and jewellery theft in a museum in The Hague two years ago. The public prosecutor said on Tuesday that the inquiry had not achieved any definite results and there were no further clues to continue the investigation. The museum, Museon, is still working on the financial settlement in relation to the EUR 6 million theft, which took place on the night of 1 December 2002.

Woman chases ‘bag thieves’ in car

A 55-year-old woman from Borger in Drenthe chased two alleged bag thieves with her car on Sunday night. The men allegedly stole her bag from her car and tried to escape on a scooter. The woman and another motorist, who witnessed the alleged theft, set out in pursuit of the pair. But the men fell off their scooter at a nearby car park and escaped by foot, leaving the stolen bag behind. A 19-year-old man was killed in a similar incident in Amsterdam last week and the 43-year-old woman is being investigated for possible manslaughter charges.

Subject: Dutch news