Living near Borssele? Stock up on iodine
Tuesday 09 March 2010
People living within a 10 km radius of the Netherlands’ only nuclear power station Borssele will be able to stock up on iodine tablets at their local town hall from next week.
The pills offer a small measure of protection in the event of a leak from the power plant, which is in Zeeland province.
According to Nos tv, the cabinet stockpiled iodine pills shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York as a precaution. However, ministers decided not to distribute the pills then to avoid causing unnecessary panic.
Local authorities have now decided to distribute the pills because it would be to ...... Read More

Fortis banks to disappear from high street
Tuesday 09 March 2010
The name Fortis Nederland is to disappear from Dutch high streets in April and will be either closed altogether or replaced by ABN Amro bank branches, the state-owned banking group said on Tuesday.
Fortis Nederland is being integrated into ABN Amro following the two banks’ privatisation in 2008.
The operation to merge the high street banking operation should be completed by the summer, news agency ANP said. However, there will be temporary Fortis counters in some branches for some time.
Eventually the merged bank will have 500 branches, ANP said. At the moment, ABN Amro has 501 and Fortis 15 ...... Read More

Rush hour lanes do cut traffic jams: minister
Tuesday 09 March 2010
Traffic jams on the A12 motorway have been cut sharply following the introduction of a special rush hour lane, according to caretaker transport minister Camiel Eurlings.
The motorway, which runs from Arnhem and Utrecht to The Hague, is a notorious jam hotspot.
But the introduction of an 11 km extra lane from Zoetermeer to The Hague has had a major effect, Eurlings said. ‘Evening rush hour jams have more or less disappeared while morning ones have been cut by 30%,’ he told reporters.
Rush hour lanes are only open during peak periods and when traffic volumes are higher than 3,000 vehic ...... Read More

Emergency planning law may pass senate
Tuesday 09 March 2010
Draft legislation to allow fast-track planning procedures for a number of major infrastructure projects may now become law after all, Nos tv reports.
The legislation has already passed through the lower house of parliament but seemed likely to be stuck in the senate, which also has to give its approval.
But now it seems ChristenUnie senators will back the bill, which is supported by the Christian Democrats and VVD Liberals. That would give a 39 out of 75 majority in favour.
Key projects
The aim of the temporary legislation is to reduce the permits and planning procedures needed for 58 key constru ...... Read More