Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Second Chamber
Politics
Sports
Cora van Nieuwnhuizen
Ferdinand Grapperhaus
football
Tweede Kamer
parliamentary debate
Budget 2020
budget debate
Budget Day
Budget Day 2019
Mark Rutte
Ministry of Justice and Security
Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management
Friday, 20 September 2019 - 10:27
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Dutch cabinet ministers busted watching football during parliament debate

The parliamentary debate on the national budget on Thursday was apparently not exciting enough to keep the attention of all those present. Ministers Ferdinand Grapperhaus of Justice and Security and Cora van Nieuwenhuizen of Infrastructure and Water Management were caught watching football while Prime Minister Mark Rutte spoke.

The General Political Viewing - the parliamentary debate on the government's budget for the coming year - is always held on the Wednesday and Thursday after Budget Day. This meant that parliamentarians and Ministers had to miss some great football matches on Thursday. In the Europa League, PSV played against Sporting Lisbon, AZ played against Partizan Belgrade, and Feyenoord faced off against Rangers FC, according to AD.

But the budget debate was not enough to keep Grapperhaus and Van Nieuwenhuizen away from the football. When the camera moved to the back of the Ministers, who were sitting in the box behind the talking Prime Minister, it found that both minsters were watching football on their tablets.

A screenshot ended up on Twitter. And while a few found it funny or understandable to seek some distraction in the hours-long debate, others called it "disrespectful", "scandalous" and "unbelievable". One Twitter user wrote: "If I did this at my job, I would be fired."

Er waren ministers al klaar met de #APB19 @ferdgrapperhaus en @CvNieuwenhuizen kijken lekker voetbal in vak K #ranfey pic.twitter.com/czgRJKyDrb

— Ron Fresen (@ronfresen) September 19, 2019

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Some Dutch cities not flying Syrian flags for earthquake victims at refugees' request
  • Van Gogh Museum kicks off 50th anniversary year with family exhibition
  • Three Dutch people reportedly among those killed in Turkey-Syria earthquakes
  • History of Indonesia in colonial era deserves a prominent place in Dutch education
  • Dutch consumers hunting down more cheap nearly-expired groceries and factory rejects
  • Eneco will sign fixed energy price contracts for the first time since 2021

Top stories

  • Three Dutch people reportedly among those killed in Turkey-Syria earthquakes
  • Putin played an active role in conflict around MH17 downing; No new suspects prosecuted
  • 42% of secondary school teachers witnessed anti-Semitism in class
  • 40% of home buyers end 2022 were first-time buyers
  • Dutch team rescues 6 people from rubble in Turkey; Death toll climbs to 8,100
  • Rutte tells Erdogan the Dutch can offer more help; Dutch donate millions in relief aid

© 2012-2023, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content