The Netherlands can close all its coal plants, but only if a national law to that effect is implemented, according to advice the Council of State sent to Economic Minister Henk Kamp on Wednesday, ANP reports.

The Tweede Kamer called on Kamp last week to close all the coal plants by making the efficiency requirements so high that they can't be met by any coal plant. The council of state investigated whether this was possible.

In the Rotterdam World Trade Center on Thursday politicians, companies, architects and inventors signed a 'green deal' for the eventual construction of the Dutch Windhweel - a massive, sustainable building in the shape of a wheel that will, hopefully, generate more energy than it uses. This very ambitious project is still in its planning phase, but if it becomes a reality, it is set to be an icon for green electricity, Trouw reports.

The Netherlands is Europe's fourth most innovative country, according to the European Commissions' European Innovation Scoreboard for 2016. Sweden took first place, like in 2015, followed by Denmark and Finland. The United Kingdom makes up the top 5, NU.nl reports.

While investigating a bribery scandal in the procurement of police and defense vehicles, the Public Prosecutor did not look into possible criminal action by then Defense Minister Henk Kamp, Nieuwsuur reports based on the criminal file. Lower level officials are facing criminal charges and were dismissed for similar actions, according to the news program.

The Netherlands wants to be a permanent member of the G20 - an annual meeting of the 20 leading economies in the world. According to Minister Henk Kamp of Economic Affairs, the Netherlands deserves a spot on the G20 as the 17th largest economy in the world, AD reports. 

"At the next G20 reshuffle, it is logical that the Netherlands will become a permanent member", Kamp said. "The next Cabinet should work on that."

AkzoNobel rejected an unsolicited takeover bid from American company PPG Industries, the Dutch paint and chemicals company announced on Thursday morning after PPG's bid leaked to the media. According to AkzoNobel, the PPG offer is too low and not in the interest of shareholders, customers or staff, ANP reports.

PPG offered 54 euros in cash and 0.3 PPG shares for each AkzoNobel share. Using the PPG share price on February 28th, the bid amounted to 83 euros per AkzoNobel share. The Dutch company's stock closed at 64.52 euros per share on Wednesday. 

Drenthe, Friesland and Groningen launched a global campaign to bring a massive Tesla factory to north Netherlands. "Hi Tesla. We are Top Dutch", the website launched with the campaign reads. 

The government will not make a decision this year on closing the coal plants in the Netherlands, sources in The Hague told news wire ANP. This is expected to annoy parliament, who wants Minister Henk Kamp of Economic Affairs to make haste with the closure of the plants.

The Dutch government wants everyone in the country to have access to high speed internet. Minister Henk Kamp of Economic Affairs calls wireless internet a basic need, such as water and electricity. The government is working hard to make fast wireless internet available to everyone in the Netherlands, RTL Nieuws reports. 

The Netherlands nominated itself to be the location for a new European plant for American electric car manufacturer Tesla. "The government will certainly endeavour to get the production plant to the Netherlands", Minister Henk Kamp of Economic Affairs wrote to parliament, the Financieele Dagblad reports.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima arrived in a rainy New Zealand on Monday morning for a three day state visit. They were welcomed to the Government House in Wellington by a Maori ceremonial challenge, in which visitors have to show that they come with good intentions, ANP reports.