News Blog Netherlands July 23 2025

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Countries must protect the climate, International Court of Justice rules in groundbreaking ruling

(THE HAGUE) Countries must protect the climate to guarantee their citizens a clean, healthy, and sustainable living environment. If they fail to do so by failing to address greenhouse gas emissions, they may be committing an unlawful act under international law.

This is the finding of the International Court of Justice in The Hague in a long-awaited advisory opinion on countries' climate obligations.
If countries fail to meet their climate obligations, other countries affected by the consequences of climate change could demand reparations, the court stated. In doing so, the court effectively opens the door to substantial claims for reparations from countries affected by climate change.
The court calls a clean, healthy, and sustainable living environment a human right. Without adequate action against climate change, countries endanger that environment. The court also considers such an environment a prerequisite for other human rights.
Although the court's advisory opinion is not binding, all its firm findings on legal responsibility to combat climate change are groundbreaking.
Moreover, UN countries view this opinion as a guiding principle. Every word in the opinion will be carefully considered by climate lawyers and governments and could serve as a new starting point for future climate cases and negotiations.
(Source: NOS.nl)

Show Media News: Golden Earring guitarist and singer George Kooymans (77) has passed away

(HILVERSUM) George Kooymans has passed away at the age of 77, his family announced in a statement. The Golden Earring guitarist and singer suffered from the neurological disease ALS.

"We say goodbye to a great musician and composer, whose work extended beyond Golden Earring. George was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, but above all, a friend," the statement reads.
In 1961, Kooymans and his neighbor Rinus Gerritsen founded the band The Golden Earrings, which later became known as Golden Earring. The group scored major hits with songs like "Radar Love," "Twilight Zone," and "When the Lady Smiles." The band, from The Hague, was also popular abroad.
Golden Earring had various lineups over the years. Since 1970, the core of the band consisted of Kooymans, Gerritsen, Barry Hay, and Cesar Zuiderwijk.
In addition to being a guitarist and singer, Kooymans was also a composer, lyricist, and producer. He performed not only for Golden Earring, but also for other well-known Dutch artists like Earth & Fire, Patricia Paay, Guus Meeuwis, Herman Brood, and Henk Westbroek.
Golden Earring last performed with Kooymans in November 2019, when the band gave a concert at Rotterdam Ahoy.
(Source: NU.nl)

Multiple arrests after discovery of explosives in car in Utrecht

(UTRECHT) Police have arrested several people following the discovery of hazardous materials in a car in Utrecht last night. Two apartment buildings on Aziëlaan, near the car, had to be evacuated.

The materials were in jerrycans in the trunk of a car parked on Beneluxlaan. "These were liquids that, either individually or in combination, could lead to an explosion," says Wim Hoonhout of the Central Netherlands police.
The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service (EOD) was called in to secure the materials. Approximately 240 people were evacuated from their apartments. They were able to return to their homes around 2:30 a.m. (CEST).
Police deployed dogs, drones, and a helicopter to ensure the area was safe enough for an investigation, says Hoonhout.
The helicopter and drones were used to search the area for the occupants of the vehicle. "That car didn't just fall out of the sky. We used thermal imaging cameras to see if we could trace anything back to the car we found in the area," Hoonhout explains.
(Source: NOS.nl)

Sports News: Van Poppel leaves Tour de France due to birth of daughter

(NETHERLANDS / FRANCE) Danny van Poppel will not be riding his bike for the seventeenth stage of the Tour de France on Wednesday. The Dutch champion has become the father of a daughter and is therefore returning home.

Van Poppel announced on Instagram on Wednesday that he has become the father of daughter Bobbie. "Dear Bobbie, we are so incredibly proud and happy that you have come into our lives. The baby can't wait for daddy to come home today," wrote Van Poppel, who is in a relationship with television presenter Stéphane Kox.
In a video from his team, Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, Van Poppel subsequently confirmed his decision to leave the Tour. "I'm looking forward to going home, but it's also a shame. We were in a good flow. I wish the team all the best," said Van Poppel.
The 31-year-old Dutchman's goal in recent weeks in the Tour was to help sprinter Jordi Meeus win stages. That mission failed. Meeus has only finished in the top ten once so far. However, teammates Florian Lipowitz and Primoz Roglic are in the top ten of the general classification. Van Poppel's best result was eleventh place in stage eight.
Van Poppel is the fourth Dutch rider to leave the Tour early this year. Marijn van den Berg, Cees Bol, and Mathieu van der Poel previously withdrew due to physical reasons.
(Source: NU.nl)