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Dutch police have ended a hostage situation after a man with a firearm held several people in Amsterdam's Apple flagship store on Tuesday (February 22).&nbsp;

Police have said that the hostage taker was overpowered after a siege lasting several hours and all the hostages had been freed.&nbsp;

Around 10:30 pm local time (2130 GMT), the gunman was arrested after he ran out of the building at the central Leidseplein square, which is in the heart of the Dutch city.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-capitol-attack-probe-top-us-court-formally-rejects-donald-trumps-fight-over-january-6-attack-records-455537">US Capitol attack probe: Top US court formally rejects Donald Trump's fight over January 6 attack records</a>

Previously, police had deployed several special units after they were alerted of an armed robbery at 5:40 pm local time (1640 GMT). It looks like the robbery had rapidly transformed into a hostage situation.&nbsp;

As per the police, the gunman was "lying on the street and a robot was examining him for explosives" in front of the Apple store.&nbsp;

Scary images and videos were circulated on social media forums where two people can be seen running out of the Apple store.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/in-an-attempt-to-regulate-his-childs-online-behavior-father-accidentally-jams-out-entire-towns-internet-455479">In an attempt to regulate his child's online behavior, father accidentally jams out entire town's internet</a>

One of them being hit by an unmarked car, flying over the hood from the impact. However, there's no official verification of the images.&nbsp;

Tim Wagemakers, who is an independent journalist claimed that he was in a nearby building.

He had tweeted that there were heavily armed police at the site, adding that locals had been asked to remain inside and stay away from their windows.&nbsp;

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There is an ongoing hostage situation in an Apple Store at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Leidseplein?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Leidseplein</a>, Amsterdam (🇳🇱). 
 
This comes shortly after reports of an armed robbery. There is a heavy police presence in the area. 
 
Will update on the thread below: <a href="https://t.co/3ZJuQEh5dd">pic.twitter.com/3ZJuQEh5dd</a>
— Aerospace Intelligence (@space_osint) <a href="https://twitter.com/space_osint/status/1496184303662903296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
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NOW - Hostage situation at an Apple Store in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Amsterdam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Amsterdam</a>.<a href="https://t.co/JZDXEvPjVx">pic.twitter.com/JZDXEvPjVx</a>
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) <a href="https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1496173874106486787?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Dutch police have ended a hostage situation after a man with a firearm held several people in Amsterdam's Apple flagship store on Tuesday (February 22). Police have said that the hostage taker was overpowered after a siege lasting several hours and all the hostages had been freed.

Dutch police have ended a hostage situation after a man with a firearm held several people in Amsterdam's Apple flagship store on Tuesday (February 22). Police have said that the hostage taker was overpowered after a siege lasting several hours and all the hostages had been freed. Around 10:30 pm local time (2130 GMT), the gunman was arrested after he ran out of the building at the central Leidseplein square, which is in the heart of the Dutch city. ALSO READ | US Capitol attack probe: Top US court formally rejects Donald Trump's fight over January 6 attack records Previously, police had deployed several special units after they were alerted of an armed robbery at 5:40 pm local time (1640 GMT). It looks like the robbery had rapidly transformed into a hostage situation. As per the police, the gunman was "lying on the street and a robot was examining him for explosives" in front of the Apple store. Scary images and videos were circulated on social media forums where two people can be seen running out of the Apple store. ALSO READ | In an attempt to regulate his child's online behavior, father accidentally jams out entire town's internet One of them being hit by an unmarked car, flying over the hood from the impact. However, there's no official verification of the images. Tim Wagemakers, who is an independent journalist claimed that he was in a nearby building. He had tweeted that there were heavily armed police at the site, adding that locals had been asked to remain inside and stay away from their windows. There is an ongoing hostage situation in an Apple Store at #Leidseplein, Amsterdam (🇳🇱). This comes shortly after reports of an armed robbery. There is a heavy police presence in the area. Will update on the thread below: pic.twitter.com/3ZJuQEh5dd — Aerospace Intelligence (@space_osint) February 22, 2022 × NOW - Hostage situation at an Apple Store in #Amsterdam.pic.twitter.com/JZDXEvPjVx — Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) February 22, 2022 ×

Hostage situation at Amsterdam Apple store ends, police arrest gunman

Thousands of protesters took to the streets of the Dutch capital to denounce government's virus protocols. Demonstrators packed Amsterdam streets in opposition to the government imposed covid-19 restrictions and vaccination campaign. Protesters waved flags and chanted anti-government slogans as they marched through the streets.

Netherlands: Thousands protest against Covid-19 curbs in Amsterdam

Several thousand people took to the streets in Amsterdam on Sunday, to protest against the COVID-19 restrictions that have been imposed by the government.

Thousands of people took to the streets of Amsterdam to protest against COVID restrictions

Dutch and European startups are showcasing their latest gadgets at Consumer Electronics Show (CES), CES Unveiled Amsterdam runs from 14th-15th October. A relaxation VR app, an electric scooter, and a medical backpack are just a few of the gadgets on display at CES Unveiled Amsterdam.

Dutch and European startups showcase their gadgets at Consumer Electronics Show

Denmark will be playing their first game away from Copenhagen's Parken Stadium when they take on Wales in their Euro 2020 last 16 tie on Saturday (June 26) but there will still be a familiar feel in Amsterdam - a home away from home for Danish&nbsp;footballers.

The Danish national team has long been influenced by the Dutch masters at Ajax Amsterdam, and plenty of Danish players like Michael Laudrup, Morten Olsen, as a manager, and current striker Kasper Dolberg have thrived in the capital.

For Denmark to be facing Wales in a knockout game two weeks after playmaker Christian Eriksen, who made his breakthrough at Ajax, suffered a cardiac arrest in their opener against Finland, is a huge achievement. Their 4-1 win over Russia, with the team, roared on by a fanatical crowd, saw them through.

There will be no such backing in Amsterdam, however, as fewer than 2,000 tickets have been made available to Danish fans who want to attend the game.

"We have a strength now that we will try to move on with," coach Kasper Hjulmand told reporters in a news conference on Friday (June 25).

"We are looking very much forward to this game after three games at the Parken stadium that had enough feelings for a whole life. Now we are moving forward and we will crank it up tomorrow," he added.

Wales will once again rely on Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale for the creative spark they will need to break down the Danes, as well as the formidable long throw-ins of Conor Roberts.

Ethan Ampadu is suspended after his sending-off in the 1-0 defeat against Group A winners Italy and coach Rob Page is likely to revert to a flat back four after experimenting with a 3-4-3 lineup against the flying Italians.

Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand is again likely to deploy 20-year-old winger Mikkel Damsgaard, who opened the scoring against Russia, in the playmaking role in place of Eriksen, but it will take another sterling collective effort if they are to advance.

Denmark will be playing their first game away from Copenhagen's Parken Stadium when they take on Wales in their Euro 2020 last 16 tie on Saturday (June 26) but there will still be a familiar feel in Amsterdam - a home away from home for Danish footballers.

Denmark will be playing their first game away from Copenhagen's Parken Stadium when they take on Wales in their Euro 2020 last 16 tie on Saturday (June 26) but there will still be a familiar feel in Amsterdam - a home away from home for Danish footballers. The Danish national team has long been influenced by the Dutch masters at Ajax Amsterdam, and plenty of Danish players like Michael Laudrup, Morten Olsen, as a manager, and current striker Kasper Dolberg have thrived in the capital. For Denmark to be facing Wales in a knockout game two weeks after playmaker Christian Eriksen, who made his breakthrough at Ajax, suffered a cardiac arrest in their opener against Finland, is a huge achievement. Their 4-1 win over Russia, with the team, roared on by a fanatical crowd, saw them through. There will be no such backing in Amsterdam, however, as fewer than 2,000 tickets have been made available to Danish fans who want to attend the game. "We have a strength now that we will try to move on with," coach Kasper Hjulmand told reporters in a news conference on Friday (June 25). "We are looking very much forward to this game after three games at the Parken stadium that had enough feelings for a whole life. Now we are moving forward and we will crank it up tomorrow," he added. Wales will once again rely on Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale for the creative spark they will need to break down the Danes, as well as the formidable long throw-ins of Conor Roberts. Ethan Ampadu is suspended after his sending-off in the 1-0 defeat against Group A winners Italy and coach Rob Page is likely to revert to a flat back four after experimenting with a 3-4-3 lineup against the flying Italians. Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand is again likely to deploy 20-year-old winger Mikkel Damsgaard, who opened the scoring against Russia, in the playmaking role in place of Eriksen, but it will take another sterling collective effort if they are to advance.

Football: Denmark relishing Wales Euro clash in familiar Amsterdam

It was a rainy evening in April when Marlies Pinksterboer, an Amsterdam-based jewellery designer, was startled by a loud, rumbling sound. “It was as if a part of a building had come crashing down,” she said. “It was crazy.”

It was too dark to see what had happened, but when she opened the curtains in the morning she saw that the street on the other side of the canal had been cordoned off. A large sinkhole had appeared, and an antique lamppost next to it had fallen down. A shopping cart, devoured by the gaping pit, glittered in the hole.

Had it happened during the day, she said, “someone could easily have fallen in.”

That’s when Pinksterboer started worrying about the 17th-century canal house she lived in. “Will that one day come crashing down,” she wondered, half serious, while standing on one of the ancient brick and mortar walls that line the canals in her neighbourhood of Groenburgwal, one of the oldest areas of Amsterdam.

The danger is certainly not exaggerated. Amsterdam, with its scenic canals lined with picturesque, 17th- and 18th-century buildings, a major European tourist destination, is slowly crumbling.

Sinkholes are appearing in its small streets, and nearly half its 1,700 bridges are rickety and need repairs, frequently requiring trams to cross at a snail’s pace. As a huge project to shore up the canal walls gets underway, the city is beginning to look like one gigantic construction site.

The fundamental problem is the state of the walls: About 125 miles of them are so dilapidated that they are in danger of collapsing into the canals, potentially taking buildings and people with them.

Last year a canal wall near the University of Amsterdam came crashing down without warning, leaving sewer pipes dangling and disoriented fish jumping out of the water. Fortunately no one was walking by just then, but one of the tourist boats that constantly ply the canals had just passed.

Like much of the Netherlands, Amsterdam lies below sea level. Built on a swamp and heavily expanded in the 17th century, the city sits atop millions of wood pilings that serve as foundations. The Royal Palace on the Dam, for example, rests on 13,659 of them. Virtually everything in central Amsterdam is supported by these pilings.

Perhaps surprisingly, the pilings are still in relatively good shape, but they were engineered for a different age.

“At the time these were built to carry the weight of horses and carriages, not of 40-ton cement trucks and other heavy equipment,” said Egbert de Vries, the alderman in charge of what promises to be an enormous rebuilding project. As modern life changed the city, many houses were fortified with cement and concrete, but the underpinnings of streets and canal walls were ignored.

Many of the wood pilings have shifted, cracked or collapsed under the pressure, causing the bridges and canal side walls to sag and crack. Water then seeps in, cleaning out mortar, further hollowing out the infrastructure and creating sinkholes.

Add to this all the traffic happily cruising the 17th-century canal rings where centuries earlier Rembrandt would walk to his studio and Spinoza debated religion. SUVs park right on the edges of the canals, while garbage trucks have displaced the boats that used to collect the waste. Before the pandemic, a flotilla of tourist boats swept through the canals, making sharp turns that created propeller turbulence, further eating away at the foundations.

Something had to be done, and soon. “If we would have continued like this we would have headed straight for a catastrophe,” De Vries said.

The reconstruction will take at least 20 years and cost 2 billion euros, about $2.5 billion, and perhaps even more, experts have calculated. “These are big numbers, and work needs to take place in a very busy, closely populated area,” De Vries said. “People live here and work here, and we usually have many tourists.”

In the center of the city, in the Grachtengordel, 15 bridges are currently under repair. Some are closed, like the Bullebak, an iconic bridge and critical part of the city’s infrastructure.

Engineers are trying to prevent the collapse of the canal walls the bridge is connected to, while at the same time disentangling a web of electricity and internet cables, phone lines and other services that use the bridge.

“It’s a very complex intervention,” said Dave Kaandorp, a building contractor working on the renovations. He did see one upside, as the canals were suddenly being used for what they were intended for. “We bring a lot of the building materials over the water now.”

Still, many mainly see the downside of all the work. Along several of the city’s most beautiful canals, historic trees have been cut down to ease pressure on the canal walls. Steel sheet piles shore up walls deemed to be in danger of imminent collapse. Divers and technicians with remotely operated underwater cameras search for the worst cracks.

“One would have hoped the municipality would have dealt with this earlier,” said Kadir van Lohuizen, a well-known Dutch photographer who focuses on climate change. He lives on one of the 2,500 houseboats in Amsterdam. “Instead they spent all their money on the new metro line.” That line, the North-South Line, about 7 miles long, cost more than 3 billion euros and took 15 years to build.

Van Lohuizen and the 24 other boat owners along the Waalseilandsgracht have recently been told they will have to relocate temporarily from spots where they have moored for decades so that repairs can be made to the canal walls.

“Some houseboats will be temporarily placed right in the middle of the canal. For others there is a chance that their boats won’t fit anymore after support systems for the walls are placed,” he said. “It’s a gigantic mess. Right now they are building at 2 kilometres a year, and 200 kilometres need to be repaired. This could take a century.”

It was a rainy evening in April when Marlies Pinksterboer, an Amsterdam-based jewellery designer, was startled by a loud, rumbling sound. “It was as if a part of a building had come crashing down,” she said.

It was a rainy evening in April when Marlies Pinksterboer, an Amsterdam-based jewellery designer, was startled by a loud, rumbling sound. “It was as if a part of a building had come crashing down,” she said. “It was crazy.” It was too dark to see what had happened, but when she opened the curtains in the morning she saw that the street on the other side of the canal had been cordoned off. A large sinkhole had appeared, and an antique lamppost next to it had fallen down. A shopping cart, devoured by the gaping pit, glittered in the hole. Had it happened during the day, she said, “someone could easily have fallen in.” That’s when Pinksterboer started worrying about the 17th-century canal house she lived in. “Will that one day come crashing down,” she wondered, half serious, while standing on one of the ancient brick and mortar walls that line the canals in her neighbourhood of Groenburgwal, one of the oldest areas of Amsterdam. The danger is certainly not exaggerated. Amsterdam, with its scenic canals lined with picturesque, 17th- and 18th-century buildings, a major European tourist destination, is slowly crumbling. Sinkholes are appearing in its small streets, and nearly half its 1,700 bridges are rickety and need repairs, frequently requiring trams to cross at a snail’s pace. As a huge project to shore up the canal walls gets underway, the city is beginning to look like one gigantic construction site. The fundamental problem is the state of the walls: About 125 miles of them are so dilapidated that they are in danger of collapsing into the canals, potentially taking buildings and people with them. Last year a canal wall near the University of Amsterdam came crashing down without warning, leaving sewer pipes dangling and disoriented fish jumping out of the water. Fortunately no one was walking by just then, but one of the tourist boats that constantly ply the canals had just passed. Like much of the Netherlands, Amsterdam lies below sea level. Built on a swamp and heavily expanded in the 17th century, the city sits atop millions of wood pilings that serve as foundations. The Royal Palace on the Dam, for example, rests on 13,659 of them. Virtually everything in central Amsterdam is supported by these pilings. Perhaps surprisingly, the pilings are still in relatively good shape, but they were engineered for a different age. “At the time these were built to carry the weight of horses and carriages, not of 40-ton cement trucks and other heavy equipment,” said Egbert de Vries, the alderman in charge of what promises to be an enormous rebuilding project. As modern life changed the city, many houses were fortified with cement and concrete, but the underpinnings of streets and canal walls were ignored. Many of the wood pilings have shifted, cracked or collapsed under the pressure, causing the bridges and canal side walls to sag and crack. Water then seeps in, cleaning out mortar, further hollowing out the infrastructure and creating sinkholes. Add to this all the traffic happily cruising the 17th-century canal rings where centuries earlier Rembrandt would walk to his studio and Spinoza debated religion. SUVs park right on the edges of the canals, while garbage trucks have displaced the boats that used to collect the waste. Before the pandemic, a flotilla of tourist boats swept through the canals, making sharp turns that created propeller turbulence, further eating away at the foundations. Something had to be done, and soon. “If we would have continued like this we would have headed straight for a catastrophe,” De Vries said. The reconstruction will take at least 20 years and cost 2 billion euros, about $2.5 billion, and perhaps even more, experts have calculated. “These are big numbers, and work needs to take place in a very busy, closely populated area,” De Vries said. “People live here and work here, and we usually have many tourists.” In the center of the city, in the Grachtengordel, 15 bridges are currently under repair. Some are closed, like the Bullebak, an iconic bridge and critical part of the city’s infrastructure. Engineers are trying to prevent the collapse of the canal walls the bridge is connected to, while at the same time disentangling a web of electricity and internet cables, phone lines and other services that use the bridge. “It’s a very complex intervention,” said Dave Kaandorp, a building contractor working on the renovations. He did see one upside, as the canals were suddenly being used for what they were intended for. “We bring a lot of the building materials over the water now.” Still, many mainly see the downside of all the work. Along several of the city’s most beautiful canals, historic trees have been cut down to ease pressure on the canal walls. Steel sheet piles shore up walls deemed to be in danger of imminent collapse. Divers and technicians with remotely operated underwater cameras search for the worst cracks. “One would have hoped the municipality would have dealt with this earlier,” said Kadir van Lohuizen, a well-known Dutch photographer who focuses on climate change. He lives on one of the 2,500 houseboats in Amsterdam. “Instead they spent all their money on the new metro line.” That line, the North-South Line, about 7 miles long, cost more than 3 billion euros and took 15 years to build. Van Lohuizen and the 24 other boat owners along the Waalseilandsgracht have recently been told they will have to relocate temporarily from spots where they have moored for decades so that repairs can be made to the canal walls. “Some houseboats will be temporarily placed right in the middle of the canal. For others there is a chance that their boats won’t fit anymore after support systems for the walls are placed,” he said. “It’s a gigantic mess. Right now they are building at 2 kilometres a year, and 200 kilometres need to be repaired. This could take a century.”

Sinkholes, collapsing canal walls, rickety bridges: Amsterdam is crumbling

Dutch police on Saturday ruled out terrorism angle in the spate of stabbing they were investigating. The stabbings caused one death and four injuries. A 29-year-old man was arrested in Amsterdam after the stabbing attack that took place late on Friday. The attack took place in the capital's museum quarter. There are many restaurants and bars in this area.

"The police is conducting an extensive investigation into the various incidents and the circumstances," Amsterdam police said in a statement.

"The investigation team led by the Public Prosecution Service is keeping all options open, but at the moment has no direct indications that there is a terrorist motive."

The Netherlands' terror threat level remained unchanged, as per broadcaster RTL Nieuws.

Police said they were initially called to a report of one stabbing, but "on the spot it became clear that four other stabbing incidents had taken place in the immediate vicinity, a total of five victims."

"One of the victims died on the spot, the four other victims were taken to hospital," police said.

Emergency services rushed to the scene and two medical helicopters landed in a park next to the famed Van Gogh museum and Rijksmuseum.

At the time of the stabbings, the restaurants in the area were closed due to coronavirus restrictions.

The Netherlands has suffered a number of terror attacks in past years including the stabbing of two US tourists at Amsterdam railway station in 2018 by an Afghan man who was later jailed.

But there has also been a recent rash of crime in the capital, including an armed robbery on a cash van in Amsterdam earlier this week in which a suspect was killed after a high-speed chase with police.

(With inputs from agencies)

Dutch police on Saturday ruled out terrorism angle in the spate of stabbing they were investigating. The stabbings caused one death and four injuries. A 29-year-old man was arrested in Amsterdam after the stabbing attack that took place late on Friday.

Dutch police on Saturday ruled out terrorism angle in the spate of stabbing they were investigating. The stabbings caused one death and four injuries. A 29-year-old man was arrested in Amsterdam after the stabbing attack that took place late on Friday. The attack took place in the capital's museum quarter. There are many restaurants and bars in this area. "The police is conducting an extensive investigation into the various incidents and the circumstances," Amsterdam police said in a statement. "The investigation team led by the Public Prosecution Service is keeping all options open, but at the moment has no direct indications that there is a terrorist motive." The Netherlands' terror threat level remained unchanged, as per broadcaster RTL Nieuws. Police said they were initially called to a report of one stabbing, but "on the spot it became clear that four other stabbing incidents had taken place in the immediate vicinity, a total of five victims." "One of the victims died on the spot, the four other victims were taken to hospital," police said. Emergency services rushed to the scene and two medical helicopters landed in a park next to the famed Van Gogh museum and Rijksmuseum. At the time of the stabbings, the restaurants in the area were closed due to coronavirus restrictions. The Netherlands has suffered a number of terror attacks in past years including the stabbing of two US tourists at Amsterdam railway station in 2018 by an Afghan man who was later jailed. But there has also been a recent rash of crime in the capital, including an armed robbery on a cash van in Amsterdam earlier this week in which a suspect was killed after a high-speed chase with police. (With inputs from agencies)

Amsterdam stabbings: No terror link seen, say police

A suspected armed robber died and seven others were arrested Wednesday following spectacular firefights with dozens of Dutch police officers who chased them along roads and across a meadow near Amsterdam, police said.

The drama began in the afternoon when armed hooded men dressed in black allegedly opened fire at a vehicle transporting goods from or near a precious metals business north of the Dutch capital.

Police said the suspects then fled in at least two vehicles toward the small village of Broek in Waterland, with dozens of police officers wearing armoured vests in hot pursuit.

Several Dutch media said the vehicle contained gold or diamonds worth up to 50 million euros.

"It's a situation that does not happen every year," a police spokesman said during a press conference.

Video from witnesses shared on Dutch media showed a car smash into a garden behind a home and the suspects, dressed in black and wearing balaclavas, jump out and head to a neighbouring meadow.

The images also showed helicopters hovering overhead as the suspects and police exchanged fire at the start of the evening.

Smoke rose into the dark skies from a car that was ablaze.

A police spokesman confirmed that the officers had used their firearms.

The police said that two suspects were wounded, including one who died, though it was not clear whether he had been shot by a policeman.

None of the witnesses was hurt in the firefights, the mayor of Amsterdam said.

A suspected armed robber died and seven others were arrested Wednesday following spectacular firefights with dozens of Dutch police officers who chased them along roads and across a meadow near Amsterdam, police said.

A suspected armed robber died and seven others were arrested Wednesday following spectacular firefights with dozens of Dutch police officers who chased them along roads and across a meadow near Amsterdam, police said. The drama began in the afternoon when armed hooded men dressed in black allegedly opened fire at a vehicle transporting goods from or near a precious metals business north of the Dutch capital. Police said the suspects then fled in at least two vehicles toward the small village of Broek in Waterland, with dozens of police officers wearing armoured vests in hot pursuit. Several Dutch media said the vehicle contained gold or diamonds worth up to 50 million euros. "It's a situation that does not happen every year," a police spokesman said during a press conference. Video from witnesses shared on Dutch media showed a car smash into a garden behind a home and the suspects, dressed in black and wearing balaclavas, jump out and head to a neighbouring meadow. The images also showed helicopters hovering overhead as the suspects and police exchanged fire at the start of the evening. Smoke rose into the dark skies from a car that was ablaze. A police spokesman confirmed that the officers had used their firearms. The police said that two suspects were wounded, including one who died, though it was not clear whether he had been shot by a policeman. None of the witnesses was hurt in the firefights, the mayor of Amsterdam said.

One suspect dead after the shoot-out, high-speed chase near Amsterdam: Police 

With dazzling displays of colour including tulips in purple, yellow, and crimson hues worthy of the 17th-century tulip mania, the Keukenhof flower garden outside The Hague usually rivals Amsterdam's top museums as one of the Netherlands' largest tourist attractions.

Dutch tulips bloom at Keukenhof with no tourists to admire them

The COVID-19 testing centre in North of Amsterdam has witnessed an explosion. Police have confirmed that the explosion appears to have been intentional.

Explosion at COVID-19 testing centre near Amsterdam

The agency said 78 "Brexit" companies moved to the Netherlands last year, the same number as in 2019 lifting the total since the 2016 Brexit referendum to 218.

More 'Brexit' companies shift to the Amsterdam

Dutch capital Amsterdam has now displaced London as Europe's biggest share trading centre, after left European Union's single market last year through Brexit.

World Business News: Amsterdam replaces London as Europe's biggest share trading centre

Amsterdam's zoo Artis, one of the oldest animal parks in Europe, said on Thursday it will stop keeping lions because it can't afford them due to the financial fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

Amsterdam zoo Artis gives up lions amid coronavirus cash crunch

Dutch police arrested 25 people and handed out 3,600 fines for violations of a nighttime curfew which went into effect on Saturday in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

A protest against lockdown measures is planned for Sunday afternoon on Amsterdam's Museum Square, and Mayor Femke Halsema designated the area as a "high-risk zone" to give police the power to frisk people for weapons.

The Netherlands was the last country in the Europe Union to begin vaccinations and so far has vaccinated a total of 77,000 doctors and nurses.

Parliament voted narrowly last week to approve the curfew, swayed by assertions that an English variant is about to cause a new surge in cases. New infections in the country have generally been declining for a month.

Last Sunday, protesters clashed with riot police on horseback on the square, leading to the detention of 143 people.

Police said those who were arrested on Saturday night were people who refused to go home or who committed acts of violence.

Exceptions to the curfew, which runs through February 9, include medical emergencies, people performing essential jobs and people walking their dogs. Violators can be fined 95 euros ($115).

Dutch police arrested 25 people and handed out 3,600 fines for violations of a nighttime curfew which went into effect on Saturday in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Dutch police arrested 25 people and handed out 3,600 fines for violations of a nighttime curfew which went into effect on Saturday in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus. A protest against lockdown measures is planned for Sunday afternoon on Amsterdam's Museum Square, and Mayor Femke Halsema designated the area as a "high-risk zone" to give police the power to frisk people for weapons. The Netherlands was the last country in the Europe Union to begin vaccinations and so far has vaccinated a total of 77,000 doctors and nurses. Parliament voted narrowly last week to approve the curfew, swayed by assertions that an English variant is about to cause a new surge in cases. New infections in the country have generally been declining for a month. Last Sunday, protesters clashed with riot police on horseback on the square, leading to the detention of 143 people. Police said those who were arrested on Saturday night were people who refused to go home or who committed acts of violence. Exceptions to the curfew, which runs through February 9, include medical emergencies, people performing essential jobs and people walking their dogs. Violators can be fined 95 euros ($115).

Dutch police make several arrests for curfew violations

Amsterdam is plagued by overflowing hordes of tourists and is considering a ban on visitors from cannabis-vending coffee shops, to balance the quality of life for locals and the demands of travellers.

Amsterdam is plagued by overflowing hordes of tourists and is considering a ban on visitors from cannabis-vending coffee shops, to balance the quality of life for locals and the demands of travellers. Young tourists commissioned by Mayor Femke Halsema conducted a survey which revealed that half the respondents chose to visit the Dutch capital because they wanted to experience a cannabis cafe. The survey sought to investigate "what would happen to the willingness of tourists to visit Amsterdam if either the availability or accessibility of one or more of these factors should reduce or disappear," by observing the most popular reasons for visiting Amsterdam. Addressing the ever-increasing flood of tourists has been a consistent issue for Amsterdam, as the famously liberal city strains to deal with a surge in visitors and vulgar vacationists. Approximately 57 per cent of respondents put coffee shops near the top of their list of important reasons for coming to Amsterdam, while 34 per cent indicated they'd come to Amsterdam less often if they weren't able to visit coffee shops. Eleven per cent stated that the sole reason they were visiting is for the cannabis cafe. Halsema, before conducting the survey, sent a letter to councillors and suggested that the city's coffee shops can put "the quality of life in the city centre under pressure." On April 1, 2020, new measures will be in place to regulate group tours of the area and prevent tour groups from passing the red-light windows, touring past 10 pm and idling in "places that are sensitive to pressure" such as narrow bridges or new entryways. Anyone found in violation of the rules would be fined $205.

Amsterdam considers banning tourists from cannabis cafes

An ageing 1,500 ton Soviet-era submarine known as "Foxtrot", built in Latvia in 1956, is being removed from a harbour in Amsterdam where it was abandoned in 2002.

Abandoned submarine in Amsterdam port makes final journey before dismantlement

Extinction Rebellion: Climate protests around world

A three-mast schooner left the port of Amsterdam on Wednesday (October 2) with 36 young Europeans on board, heading to Chile to participate in the United Nations Climate Conference.

Young Europeans start seven-week sailing boat trip to COP25

Belgian liberal <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/under-one-flag-two-belgiums-seek-one-government-after-vote-222028">Charles Michel</a>, who was elected by EU leaders on Tuesday as the next chair of EU summits, does not believe in hanging around.

He will replace Poland's Donald Tusk in the role of European Council president for the next five years.

Michel became his country's youngest prime minister in 2014 when he took office aged 38 as only Belgium's second premier from the French-speaking liberals.

He was also the first Belgian leader to become a father while in office, his partner's first pregnancy effectively divulged by Barack Obama during a visit to the White House in 2015. He has an older son from a previous relationship.

A lawyer by training, studying in Brussels and Amsterdam, he entered politics as a provincial counsellor aged 18 and then entered the national parliament at 23.

Michel is currently heading a caretaker administration in Belgium after an inconclusive election in May, with talks on forming a new government continuing.

He is the oldest son of Louis Michel, EU commissioner for development and humanitarian aid from 2004-2009.

Aides say Michel enjoys reading and cooking on a barbecue but his chief passion outside the office is biking, initially doing moto-cross with a friend and is now still hooked on bike road trips, saying a more direct connection with nature gives them a "sensual dimension".

Belgian liberal Charles Michel, who was elected by EU leaders on Tuesday as the next chair of EU summits, does not believe in hanging around. He will replace Poland's Donald Tusk in the role of European Council president for the next five years.

Belgian liberal Charles Michel, who was elected by EU leaders on Tuesday as the next chair of EU summits, does not believe in hanging around. He will replace Poland's Donald Tusk in the role of European Council president for the next five years. Michel became his country's youngest prime minister in 2014 when he took office aged 38 as only Belgium's second premier from the French-speaking liberals. He was also the first Belgian leader to become a father while in office, his partner's first pregnancy effectively divulged by Barack Obama during a visit to the White House in 2015. He has an older son from a previous relationship. A lawyer by training, studying in Brussels and Amsterdam, he entered politics as a provincial counsellor aged 18 and then entered the national parliament at 23. Michel is currently heading a caretaker administration in Belgium after an inconclusive election in May, with talks on forming a new government continuing. He is the oldest son of Louis Michel, EU commissioner for development and humanitarian aid from 2004-2009. Aides say Michel enjoys reading and cooking on a barbecue but his chief passion outside the office is biking, initially doing moto-cross with a friend and is now still hooked on bike road trips, saying a more direct connection with nature gives them a "sensual dimension".

Belgium's Prime Minister Charles Michel named European Union Council chief

Tens of thousands of people marched through the heavy rain in Amsterdam Sunday, calling on the Dutch government to act to counter the effects of climate change.

The organisers, including Greenpeace and a number of Dutch groups, said around 40,000 turned out for the demonstration, the first of its kind in the Netherlands.

"The high turnout is the proof that people now want a decisive policy on climate from the government," they said in a statement.

The Netherlands is particularly vulnerable to the consequences of climate change, as part of the country lies below sea level and some of its lands has been reclaimed from the sea.

"We are under sea level, so we really need to do something about it," said one demonstrator, Esther Leverstein, a 21-year-old climate studies student at Amsterdam University.

"We're great with water (management) but we need to step up our game."

Gert van Rees, a 72-year-old pensioner, said she was concerned for future generations.

"We have seven grand-children and sometimes we are really worried. So that's why we are here, it really should change."

In February, around 15,000 school students skipped school to march for action on climate change, following the example of their fellow students across the border in Belgium.

A second youth march for the climate is scheduled for Thursday in Amsterdam.

Tens of thousands of people marched through the heavy rain in Amsterdam Sunday, calling on the Dutch government to act to counter the effects of climate change. The organisers, including Greenpeace and a number of Dutch groups, said around 40,000 turned out for the demonstration, the first of its kind in the Netherlands.

Tens of thousands of people marched through the heavy rain in Amsterdam Sunday, calling on the Dutch government to act to counter the effects of climate change. The organisers, including Greenpeace and a number of Dutch groups, said around 40,000 turned out for the demonstration, the first of its kind in the Netherlands. "The high turnout is the proof that people now want a decisive policy on climate from the government," they said in a statement. The Netherlands is particularly vulnerable to the consequences of climate change, as part of the country lies below sea level and some of its lands has been reclaimed from the sea. "We are under sea level, so we really need to do something about it," said one demonstrator, Esther Leverstein, a 21-year-old climate studies student at Amsterdam University. "We're great with water (management) but we need to step up our game." Gert van Rees, a 72-year-old pensioner, said she was concerned for future generations. "We have seven grand-children and sometimes we are really worried. So that's why we are here, it really should change." In February, around 15,000 school students skipped school to march for action on climate change, following the example of their fellow students across the border in Belgium. A second youth march for the climate is scheduled for Thursday in Amsterdam.

40,000 join first national climate march in Amsterdam

The main international airport of Amsterdam, Schiphol airport was temporarily closed on Sunday due to the major power outage forcing&nbspoperations to shut down.

Road and train traffic was also stopped by the authorities in order to ensure the safety of travellers.

Following the shutdown, dozens of flights were also delayed and cancelled. Airport waiting rooms were flooded by the waiting passengers. &nbsp

Though roads were reopened after power was restored but the&nbspdisruption in services remains.

Flights to Amsterdam&nbspfrom other airports were also affected as the airport is only handling ten arriving planes per hour following the priority given to flights waiting to take off from the airport.

Schipol airport is one of the Europe's busiest airports. It is the third-busiest airport in numbers of travellers after London's Heathrow and Paris'&nbspCharles de Gaulle airport.

Road and train traffic was also stopped by the authorities in order to ensure the safety of travellers

The main international airport of Amsterdam, Schiphol airport was temporarily closed on Sunday due to the major power outage forcing&nbspoperations to shut down. Road and train traffic was also stopped by the authorities in order to ensure the safety of travellers. Following the shutdown, dozens of flights were also delayed and cancelled. Airport waiting rooms were flooded by the waiting passengers. Though roads were reopened after power was restored but the&nbspdisruption in services remains. Flights to Amsterdam&nbspfrom other airports were also affected as the airport is only handling ten arriving planes per hour following the priority given to flights waiting to take off from the airport. Schipol airport is one of the Europe's busiest airports. It is the third-busiest airport in numbers of travellers after London's Heathrow and Paris'&nbspCharles de Gaulle airport.

Amsterdam's Schiphol airport temporarily closed after power outage

In a bid to minimise and eventually phase out the use of plasticware from the planet, Amsterdam today unveiled the world&#39;s first plastic-free supermarket aisle.&nbsp;

The aisle offers nearly 700 plastic-free goods to the customers along with an option to buy groceries in compostable bio-materials.

The aisle has been introduced at one of the branches of a Dutch supermarket chain called Ekoplaza. The brand runs over 70 stores across the country and hopes to roll out plastic aisle across all its branches.&nbsp;

According to a report by the environment watchdog the Worldwatch Institute, &quot;Some 299 million tons of plastics were produced in 2013, representing a 4 percent increase over 2012&quot;.

&quot;According to the United Nations Environmental Program, between 22 percent and 43 percent of the plastic used worldwide is disposed of in landfills... Approximately 10&ndash;20 million tons of plastic end up in the oceans each year,&quot; reads Worldwatch&#39;s official website.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-to-phase-out-disposable-plastic-items-completely-by-2030-33747">Taiwan has also decided to phase out single-use of plastic items</a>. The blanket ban will encompass commodities like plastic straws, cups and shopping bags. The country plans to phase out single-use of plastic completely by the year 2030 in a bid to cut pollution. Taiwan already has a recycling programme in plastic and charges citizens for plastic bags. 
&nbsp;

The aisle has been introduced at one of the branches of a Dutch supermarket chain called Ekoplaza

In a bid to minimise and eventually phase out the use of plasticware from the planet, Amsterdam today unveiled the world's first plastic-free supermarket aisle. The aisle offers nearly 700 plastic-free goods to the customers along with an option to buy groceries in compostable bio-materials. The aisle has been introduced at one of the branches of a Dutch supermarket chain called Ekoplaza. The brand runs over 70 stores across the country and hopes to roll out plastic aisle across all its branches. According to a report by the environment watchdog the Worldwatch Institute, "Some 299 million tons of plastics were produced in 2013, representing a 4 percent increase over 2012". "According to the United Nations Environmental Program, between 22 percent and 43 percent of the plastic used worldwide is disposed of in landfills... Approximately 10–20 million tons of plastic end up in the oceans each year," reads Worldwatch's official website. Meanwhile, Taiwan has also decided to phase out single-use of plastic items. The blanket ban will encompass commodities like plastic straws, cups and shopping bags. The country plans to phase out single-use of plastic completely by the year 2030 in a bid to cut pollution. Taiwan already has a recycling programme in plastic and charges citizens for plastic bags.

Amsterdam unveils world's first plastic-free supermarket aisle

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