Van Baarle News Today

The rise of whooping cough and measles infections has a lot of attention focused on vaccinating young children. But older adults are also very vulnerable. Immunologists, therefore, advocate for a national vaccination program for the elderly, EenVandaag reports.

The leaders of 13 of the 15 political factions represented in the Tweede Kamer co-signed a statement expressing their outrage at the rise of anti-Semitism "in places where everyone should be able to gather freely and safely." The leaders of FvD and Denk were the only two in the lower house of Parliament who refused to put their names on the document, which was presented in response to the harassment and heckling targeting Jewish singer Lenny Kuhr.

Several professors will spend time on Monday discussing alternative forms that could be used to create the next Cabinet to lead the Netherlands. They will meet with Kim Putters, who was nominated by Parliament to lead a new round of talks with political parties and experts starting this week. During this four-week “intermediate phase” of the formation process, Putters wants to gain clarity about the different ways in which parties can cooperate to create a coalition.

PVV leader Geert Wilders says he wanted to stand up for the freedom of all Dutch people, including those with a Muslim background. He thinks it is “fine” that they visit mosques and read the Koran and calls that “a completely natural thing to do.” At the same time, he insists that Islam is a “reprehensible, hateful, and violent” religion.

The left-wing parties in the Tweede Kamer have called for an urgent debate with Ronald Plasterk about the state of affairs in the Cabinet formation. Plasterk has been leading talks with the PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB about forming a new government, but NSC leader Pieter Omtzigt surprised everyone by announcing his party was pulling out of negotiations. Centrist parties also expressed dismay.

Hundreds of people protested in The Hague on Sunday against "the untenable situation in Palestine and the genocide of the Palestinian people". Among other things, they demanded an immediate ceasefire and immediate access to humanitarian aid where it is needed.

The PVV's likely victory in Wednesday's election is partly due to choices made by the VVD, said D66 leader Rob Jetten at his party's election night celebration in Amsterdam. The VVD pushed voters down this path with "campaign choices on the backs of refugees." Several other parties agreed, saying VVD leader Dilan Yeşilgöz and her party normalized many far-right opinions.

The global materials firm has named Frederique van Baarle as president and CEO, replacing Antonis Papadourakis, who has retired.

Muslims in the Netherlands are losing their trust in the country's government as reports emerged it has been carrying out secret probes and...

More energy and manufacturing is coming, says Susie Bower.