Are you hitting the road? Here you will find an overview of the files and activities. Check the rail timetable here.
What can you expect today?
- Dutch students and schoolchildren are once again taking part in a global climate strike. The protest is organized by Fridays for Future, the youth movement that emerged from the climate strikes of activist Greta Thunberg. The Dutch participants of the protest gather at 2:00 PM on the Jaarbeursplein in Utrecht. Then they will hold a climate march through the city centre.
- In The Hague, summary proceedings are filed this morning by the events industry against the State. The industry does not agree with the decision to allow only 75 percent of the visitor capacity indoors at events without permanent seats and to keep the closing time of clubs at midnight.
- Outgoing Prime Minister Rutte addresses the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York. Meetings are also planned with various heads of government and with António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General.
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What did you miss?
The House of Representatives wants to quickly get rid of the student loan system. Last night, at the end of the General Political Reflections, a motion to replace the student loan system with a basic grant was passed: almost all political groups voted in favour. The VVD voted against.
A large part of the House also agreed last night with a VVD motion for two billion in extra investments. That money will go to a partial abolition of the landlord levy, higher wages in primary education, to the police, more boas and defense and to compensation for the higher energy prices for citizens.
Other news from the night:
- Trump advisers subpoenaed to storm Capitol: Former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and former adviser Steve Bannon, among others, must explain their role to the committee next month about their role during the storming. They were in contact with Trump when supporters broke into the administration building.
- Tax authorities are going to collect debts again: After a months-long break due to the corona crisis, the tax authorities will send about 500,000 blue letters to people with, for example, a road tax arrears.
- ‘Significant extra effort required for Dutch climate policy’: An analysis by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) shows that policy in all areas must be sharpened considerably in order to meet the new European climate targets.
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And then this:
A small white house with a red roof has escaped the burning lava of the volcanic eruption on La Palma. A striking photo, which went viral this week, shows lava flows moving around the house.
The house was designed 30 years ago by the Dutch builder Ada Monnikendam. She built it at the time for a Danish couple. After seeing the iconic photo, Monnikendam contacted them again. “We had to cry,” says Monnikendam. “We were convinced that the house had been bulldozed. It is joy because that one house is still there. And sadness about the drama you see everywhere.”
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/nginx/o/2021/08/19/14001753t1h8b1b.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 "Candidates for the Culture Excellence Award – Cultural and Entertainment Events – Culture + are invited")
