Aviation in the Netherlands can only be allowed to grow if the sector decreases its nitrogen emissions, a committee on nitrogen emissions led by Johan Remkes said in advice to the government about air travel. Remkes thinks it only fair that aviation, like other sectors, makes a balanced contribution to reducing emissions. If that doesn't happen, Schiphol can't grow any further and Lelystad Airport can't open for holiday flights, the committee said, NOS reports.
Johan Remkes
Jan 15 '20 08:21
Jan 6 '20 11:00
Support for a nationwide ban on firecrackers and rockets is growing within the political parties, including within the coalition. Coalition parties D66 and ChristenUnie called for such a ban. And two VVD mayors went against their party's position to call for such a ban, NOS reports.
Acting mayor Johan Remkes of The Hague argued for an "enforceable ban on firecrackers and rockets" for consumers on television program Buitenhof. And mayor Jan van Zanen of Utrecht asked the VVD to cooperate in a ban on all consumer fireworks.
Jan 1 '20 17:31
Firefighters in the Netherlands responded to 4,340 reported incidents between New Year's Eve and the beginning of New Year's Day. The number corresponds to nearly a three percent increase over the same period last year, though 14 of the 25 emergency services regions showed a decrease.
Dec 4 '19 13:40
A restless night was expected in The Hague on Tuesday after the municipality announced that it will not grant permits for the New Year's bonfires on the beaches of Duindorp and Scheveningen, because the organizers could not meet the requirements. In Duindorp, where riot police had to intervene for three nights before Tuesday, the atmosphere was relatively calm.
Dec 3 '19 07:27
For the third night in a row, the Duindorp neighborhood of The Hague was restless. Some 13 people were arrested for throwing stones, public violence and insult, a police spokesperson said to NU.nl. Footage on social media shows fireworks exploding near riot police officers. Calm returned around midnight.
Nov 29 '19 15:35
The organization behind the New Year's bonfire on the Duindorp beach in The Hague decided to pull the plug on the event. They no longer have any faith in the municipality of The Hague, the organizers announced on Friday, NU.nl reports.
On Thursday evening the municipality of The Hague met with the organizations behind the annual bonfires on the beaches of Duindorp and Scheveningen. The municipality said that a final decision on whether the events would be granted permits would be made on December 3rd.
Nov 27 '19 14:30
The New Year's bonfires on the beaches of Sceveningen and Duindorp in The Hague will likely not happen in the coming years because there is "no evidence of a demonstrably professional organization", interim mayor Johan Remkes said. The organizers of the two annual bonfires are also unable to get insurance - no one wants to insure them after last year's rain of sparks, RTL Nieuws reports.
Oct 18 '19 14:45
The fire department advised that the New Year's bonfires on the beaches of Scheveningen and Duindorp can be no larger than 10 meters by 10 meters. And the builders of the bonfires will have to hold to that recommendation, interim The Hague mayor Johan Remkes said at his first council meeting on Thursday. "It's that or nothing", he said, NOS reports.
Oct 9 '19 14:20
VVD politician Johan Remkes was asked to be the interim mayor for The Hague, Omroep West reports based on sources. He agreed to take the position, according to the broadcaster.
After the resignation of VVD mayor Pauline Krikke, in the midst of two major scandals in the city, the municipality of The Hague is looking for a replacement for at least a year. Remkes was asked to fill this position, as the municipality believes he can return stability and calm to the city.
Jun 26 '19 08:56
Minister Kasja Ollongren of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations plans to make changes to the ways the Netherlands elects members of both the Eerste Kamer and Tweede Kamer. She wants to introduce a new electoral system in which preference votes on candidates are given more weight, NRC and Volkskrant report based on sources around the government.
Jul 13 '18 08:40
As mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema sees her three "biggest tasks" as tackling serious crime, connecting citizens from all parts of the city, and protecting individual identity. "Whether it is a young transgender or an Islamic homosexual. You'll find me on the side of people who want to be themselves", she said after being sworn in by Johan Remkes, commissioner of the King in Noord-Holland, NOS and Het Parool report.
Jul 12 '18 08:34
Femke Halsema will be sworn in as mayor of Amsterdam on Thursday afternoon. Commissioner of the King Johan Remkes will swear her in during a special city council meeting, during which the council will also say goodbye to acting mayor Jozias van Aartsen. The ceremony can be watched live here from 5:00 p.m.
May 21 '18 10:00
The vacancy for the new mayor of Amsterdam will be reopened because too few suitable candidates have applied, the Provincial Board of Noord-Holland announced, NU.nl reports.
A total of 29 candidates applied in the first application round. Only four of them have a full-time position in government. The confidential committee handling the appointment finds the number of suitable candidates too limited.
Apr 10 '18 10:30
The parties in Amsterdam's city council have high demands for the city's new mayor. They are looking for someone who "deals wit things with humor and perspective", radiates a vision, and is "accessible and approachable for all sections of Amsterdam society", according to a confidential draft profile drawn up by the party leaders, which the Telegraaf managed to get hold of.
Nov 3 '17 08:50
Jozias van Aartsen was appointed interim mayor of Amsterdam. The former Hague mayor was appointed by Commissioner of the King Johan Remkes after consultation with the faction leaders in the Amsterdam municipal council. He starts on December 4th, NOS reports.
The 69-year-old VVD politician was Commissioner of the King in Drenthe since April this year. Before that he was mayor in The Hague, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Agriculture. Jetta Klijnsma (PvdA) is taking over from Van Aartsen as the King's commissioner in Drenthe. She was sworn in on Wednesday.
Oct 19 '17 09:45
Secretive and long-ongoing cabinet formations in the the Netherlands is one of the weaknesses in the country's parliamentary system, according to the preliminary conclusions of a committee investigating the Dutch political system. The committee is led by Noord-Holland's commissioner for the King Johan Remkes, NOS reports.
Oct 17 '17 16:40
Deputy Amsterdam mayor Kasja Ollongren has an exciting week ahead. Her party the D66 is looking for ministers in the Rutte III cabinet, and Commissioner of the King Johan Remkes is looking for an interim mayor for Amsterdam. And Ollongren is a favorite for both functions, sources tell Het Parool.
Sep 19 '17 09:16
Shocked and sad reactions met Amsterdam mayor Eberhard van der Laan's announcement that he is stepping down due to his metastasized lung cancer. Van der Laan (PvdA) announced on Monday afternoon that he is resigning, based on the advice of his doctors. One Amsterdam city council member described the news as "a punch to the face", RTL Nieuws reports.
Mar 30 '16 16:10
The city council of Amsterdam is set to give its formal recommendation in favor of keeping the city’s mayor, Eberhard van der Laan, in office for a new six-year term. The decision will be announced at the beginning of a council meeting on Wednesday, according to Het Parool.
May 19 '15 10:53
The commissioner of the King Johan Remkes has ordered an investigation into Bussum Mayor Henk Heijman's expense claims. Heijman has decided to resign his duties during the investigation and informed the municipal council of Bussum of his decision on Monday.
Apr 8 '14 10:42
A state member from the Provincial States has not shown up for six months, but is still receiving a salary. Now, the King's Commisssioner in North Holland, Johan Remkes, says she should leave.
