ban

The number of municipalities in the Netherlands that banned the release of balloons more than tripled over the past year, according to a study by De Noordzee foundation. The foundation is committed to getting such a ban implemented across the Netherlands, because the plastic in balloons is harmful to animals and the environment, NOS reports.

The Zeist city council decided to ban the release of balloons in the municipality. According to the council, it only causes litter in the environment. "These balloon remains are eaten by fish, birds and other animals and that causes animal suffering", the council said. RTL Nieuws reports.

The motion was accepted by a large majority on Tuesday evening. Zeist will add the ban on releasing balloons to the city's General Local Regulations.

Schools, businesses and associations will be informed of the ban, and the harmful consequences of releasing balloons, as soon as possible. 

Rotterdam mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb was authorized to ban a demonstration against Zwarte Piet in November 2016, the court in Rotterdam ruled. Activist group Kick Out Zwarte Piet wanted to protest in Rotterdam during the arrival of Sinterklaas in November 2016. Mayor Aboutaleb banned this demonstration out of fear of disturbances. Some 200 demonstrators were arrested.

Dutch municipalities will get the possibility to ban fireworks over New Year's. A majority in parliament supports this plan, and the government can live with such a local fireworks ban, turned out during a parliamentary debate on Wednesday evening, ANP reports.

The Dutch government will not implement a general ban on firecrackers and firework rockets over New Year's because the cabinet considers this measure too far-reaching, Minister Ferdinand Grapperhaus of Justice and Security and State Secretary Stientje van Veldhoven of Infrastructure and Water Management wrote in a letter to parliament, ANP reports.

Minister Wopke Hoekstra of Financie is looking into whether banning certain cryptocurrency exchanges is desirable and possible. He hopes to give the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament, information about this in the next few weeks, AD reports.

According to Hoekstra, the government would like to ban bitcoin derived products such as binary options - where people basically gamble on whether an asset like Bitcoin will rise to a specific price, or fall below a certain amount. But he added that this must first be properly investigated. 

On Wednesday the court in Utrecht banned motorcycle gang Bandidos in the Netherlands. The judge ruled that the club constitutes a threat to public order and that justifies a civil law ban. The club will be disbanded, ANP reports.

The Public Prosecutor is soon going to court to try and ban outlaw motorcycle gang Satudarah from the Netherlands, the prosecutor's national office confirmed to AD.This follows the arrest of several Satudarah members on Tuesday.

No extra measures will be taken against online sex advertisements in public areas - they will not be banned or removed, Minister Ard van der Steur of Security and Justice said in response to questions from SGP leader Kees van der Staaij

Zuid-Limburg is stepping up its battle against outlaw motorcycle gangs. Maastricht Mayor and head of the safety office Onno Hoes announced that they plan to ban the various chapters individually.

http://www.nltimes.nl/2015/04/27/ninety-euro-fine-for-driving-old-diesel...