Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Tweede Kamer
The Chairman's seat at the Tweede Kamer photo: JanKranendonk / DepositPhotos
Politics
Tweede Kamer
budget 2019
Klaas Dijkhoff
problem neighborhoods
Denk
Tunahan Kuzu
CDA
Sybrand Buma
d66
Alexander Pechtold
Groenlinks
Jesse Klaver
Wednesday, September 19, 2018 - 15:10
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Ruling party's plan for problem neighborhoods sparks fierce debate

The VVD's proposal to punish law breakers in problem neighborhoods twice as harshly as someone from another neighborhood, led to sharp accusations during the first day of the General Political Considerations, the parliamentary debate on the government's budget and plans for next year, on Wednesday. 

VVD leader Klaas Dijkhoff announced this plan in newspaper AD on Wednesday morning. According to Dijkhoff, problem neighborhoods are neighborhoods "in which it is not clear who is in charge", neighborhoods were integration has failed. The government must find neighborhoods in which more than half of the residents are of non-western origin and where crime is high, he said. In those neighborhoods punishments should be twice as harsh. 

DENK parliamentarian Tunahan Kuzu called this postcode racism, NOS reports. CDA leader Syband Buma wondered how someone recruiting children from bad neighborhoods for drug dealing is worse than the same happening to kids from other neighborhoods. 

D66 leader Alexander Pechtold accused Dijkhoff of using "a trick" by going to a newspaper and using harsh words about tackling crime and disadvantages in certain city districts. Pechtold thinks that ultimately nothing will come of this plan, but by going to the newspaper Dijkhoff created the image that the VVD is working hard to tackle the problems in those neighborhoods. 

This made Dijkhoff angry. According to the VVD leader, it is easy to write off the plan "as a distinction on background or postal code". He said he made a proposal that he wants to talk about openly. "If it is up to you, nothing will be done for those children of four who do not yet speak a word of Dutch", he said to Pechtold. Dijkhoff also said that it is good for the freedom of all residents of bad neighborhoods that crime is better addressed in neighborhoods where you are more likely to become a victim.

The atmosphere in the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of parliament, turned grim at this point, according to the broadcaster. GroenLinks leader Jesse Klaver accused Dijkhoff of stepping on the bottom of society and degrading entire neighborhoods. Dijkhoff responded that Klaver is probably the best person to recognize that quality. Dijkhoff doesn't think that he is stepping on the bottom of society, but that he is standing up for the people living in those neighborhoods. 

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Hundreds attend Baudet election events in Helmond and Eindhoven
  • Sharp increase in use of Dutch gov't websites
  • More female entrepreneurs in the Netherlands
  • More Covid vaccination centers opening in NL; Goal 1.5 million shots per week
  • Third of patients with rare cancer initially misdiagnosed
  • New law increases maximum prison sentence for rape to 9 years

Top Stories

  • Proof of negative test results could help reopen NL faster: Covid think tank
  • 28 arrested at anti-lockdown protest in Amsterdam
  • Netherlands extending travel alerts to April 15; Child swim lessons to restart soon: Reports
  • Infections down 2 percent for the calendar week; hospitalizations stay the same
  • Virologist says he sees merit in opening terraces if it is well regulated
  • Dutch could reopen cafe terraces, universities in three weeks: Report

© 2012-2021 NLTimes.nl, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact