Dutch News

In this week's podcast we tackle the biggest, blackest hot potato of our times - when and how will the Zwarte Piet debate end? It's been a week of bitterness and recriminations, with a chaotic end to the Yugoslavia tribunals in The Hague and the Dutch government facing accusations of fitting up an airline pilot who spent eight years in an Argentinian jail before being cleared this week of throwing dissidents out of planes in the 1970s. We also pick our favourites from the shortlist for Dutch Word of the Year and look at Ajax's attempts to export their renowned academy system to China – just as Dutch football clubs plunge in the European pecking order.

We look back on a week of thwarted protests as MPs fail to talk out a bill to scrap a tax break for homeowners and the A7 motorway is gridlocked by the Zwarte Piet debate. Amsterdam emerges as the first big winner in the Great Brexit Clearance Sale (and immediately frets about the effect on house prices), the Yugoslavia tribunal in The Hague delivers its verdict on the Butcher of Bosnia and a Dutch men's sports team shocks Europe by winning a match. In our discussion we ask which Dutch books you can buy your relatives this Christmas.

The Dog Ate My Podcast Edition - Week 46 by Dutch News

Tax-free Millionaires' Shortbread (It Was A Scone) - Week 45 by Dutch News

This week's podcast has a transport theme as a judge calls time on Amsterdam's beer bikes, the Anne Frank Foundation cries foul on Germany's national rail operator and Russia has a hissy fit over air cargo slots at Schiphol. We also tackle the mystery of the cat that travelled 150km to a Belgian town with an appropriate name. In our discussion we analyse the two-day debate in Parliament to welcome the new Dutch government.

In this week's we give you the lowdown on who's who in the new Dutch government and find out why the health minister's shoes made a splash at the swearing-in ceremony. Others to make a splash this week were the protester who disrupted a dolphin show in Japan and the students who came up with a novel way to stop green roofs leaking. In sport, we find out why Max Verstappen is still angry about being pushed off the podium and which Dutch player is officially the world's best footballer.

In this week's we give you the lowdown on who's who in the new Dutch government and find out why the health minister's shoes made a splash at the swearing-in ceremony. Others to make a splash this week were the protester who disrupted a dolphin show in Japan and the students who came up with a novel way to stop green roofs leaking. In sport, we find out why Max Verstappen is still angry about being pushed off the podium and which Dutch player is officially the world's best footballer.

In a change to our regular podcast format, this week we interview author Ben Coates about why the Dutch are different, how he became an accidental migrant and how, as a former British political hack, he struggled to make sense of a political system that relies on parties agreeing with each other. We also bring you the names to look out for as the new Dutch government takes shape, the latest news on the murder of student Anne Faber and the remarkable story of the tigers that fled the war in Syria.

There's an early Christmas feel to this week's podcast as we unpack the eagerly awaited coalition agreement, wrap up the Abba penalty kicks saga and find out how a neglected pet chicken led police to a drug dealer's treasure trove. We also have news of some green eggs and a ham-fisted attempt to break out of jail.

The Deplorable Hand Grenade Edition - Week 40 - 2017 by Dutch News

The Cannibal Car Park Edition - Week 39 - 2017 by Dutch News

This week, we’ll be bringing you up to speed on the budget and the coalition talks; we’ll tell you about a Dutchman who was outstanding on his bike while a lot of new bike owners in Tilburg had problems standing out; and we find out what happened when Amsterdam’s women tried to take a stand against the city’s public toilets.. Our discussion looks at the pandemonium that ensued when a major high street chain store said it was scrapping boys and girls labels on children’s clothes.

The Twitching Game Show Finger Edition - Week 37 - 2017 by Dutch News

The Suicidal Kleptocat Edition - Week 36 - 2017 by Dutch News

The Loose Camel Edition - Week 35 - 2017 by Dutch News

The What Is Taking Them So Long Edition - Week 34 - 2017 by Dutch News

The Summer of Chicks Edition – Week 33 - 2017 by Dutch News

The We Apologise For Everything Edition - Week 28 - 2017 by Dutch News

The Bitterball Twist Edition - Week 27 - 2017 by Dutch News

The Fishy Edition – Week 26 - 2017 by Dutch News