News Blog Netherlands July 21 2025

Dutch Government: War in Gaza Must Stop Immediately, Bloodshed Pointless

(THE HAGUE) The Dutch government believes the war in Gaza must end immediately. This is stated in a statement by outgoing Foreign Minister Veldkamp and colleagues from 24 other countries.

"The suffering of Gaza's citizens has reached a new low," the statement reads. "Further bloodshed is pointless."
With the statement presented today, the minister wants to maintain pressure on Israel, he writes on X, "to improve the catastrophic humanitarian situation." Veldkamp (on picture) has previously called for a ceasefire and also said that "in a broader sense, Palestinian suffering in the Gaza Strip is intolerable." In the statement, the countries attach no consequences if Israel ignores the call.
According to Israel, the call from the 25 countries is "detached from reality" and sends the wrong message to Hamas.
The signatories criticize the way Israel is currently distributing aid in the Gaza Strip. It is dangerous and leads to instability, the statement said. "It robs the people of Gaza of their human dignity. We condemn the dribs and drabs of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, trying to meet their most basic needs of water and food. It is horrific that more than 800 Palestinians have been killed while trying to receive aid."
Israel blocked humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip for months this spring. The UN Human Rights Commissioner stated that the policy appears "to be aimed at imposing living conditions on the population that are incompatible with their continued existence as a group in Gaza." Combined with direct attacks on civilians and hospitals, dehumanizing statements by Israeli politicians, and the systematic approach, this amounts to genocidal violence.
Since the end of May, only the controversial American-Israeli organization GHF has been authorized to provide food aid in the region. The EU and the UN do not recognize GHF as an aid agency.
(Source: NOS.nl)

Teacher stabbed at school musical is back home: 'I'm fine'

(ALBLASSERDAM) The 53-year-old teacher who was stabbed last week in Alblasserdam (near Rotterdam) is back home, a family spokesperson said. Recep is doing well, but he must rest for the time being.

The stabbing occurred Wednesday evening (July 16) during the break of a musical for eighth-grade students. An argument broke out between three men. The teacher tried to calm them down. He was then stabbed.
The teacher was taken to the hospital by ambulance with serious injuries. A day later, his life was no longer in danger, but he had to remain in the hospital until yesterday.
"After several very tense and intense days, he and his family are especially happy and relieved that he can now continue his recovery at home," said the spokesperson. The family declined to comment further on the incident.
Three men have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the stabbing. The suspects are a 44-year-old man from Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, a 35-year-old man from Alblasserdam, and a 39-year-old man from Drieborg. The trio remains in custody and will appear in court today.
(Source: NOS.nl)

Polluting steel slag temporarily banned in high-risk areas

(THE HAGUE) A temporary ban will be imposed on the use of steel slag (*) in areas where it could pose a risk to public health. This was announced by outgoing State Secretary for the Environment Thierry Aartsen to the House of Representatives. A majority in the House had urged a temporary ban.

For one year, the use of steel slag will be prohibited in areas where direct contact with the material or its dust is possible, such as cycle paths, footpaths, and playgrounds. The ministry is introducing a permit requirement for other land-based applications "to ensure safe use."
The gray, stony material left over from steel production is often used as a cheap building material, for example, in the construction and reinforcement of roads, dikes, and waterways.
However, the RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) has concluded that harmful substances are released when steel slag comes into contact with rainwater and groundwater. People can also experience symptoms such as nosebleeds.
The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) has already warned twice that steel slag causes environmental damage despite the application of current laws and regulations. The Netherlands Court of Audit also sounded the alarm and called for action.
* What is steel slag?
Steel slag is produced in the Netherlands by Tata Steel. It is a residue after steel production and looks like a gray, stony substance containing heavy metals. Tata Steel has no use for it, but it does produce approximately 650,000 tons of steel slag per year. This equates to the volume of approximately 26,000 trucks. The Dutch government promotes the so-called circular economy: waste should be reused as much as possible. Therefore, companies that produce and sell steel slag prefer to label it as a building material, not as waste.
(Source: NOS.nl)