Limburg

The popularity of high-speed electric bikes is skyrocketing in the Netherlands. On July 1st there were 17,200 speed pedelecs in the Netherlands, an increase of almost 62 percent compared to two years ago. These pedelecs - from 'pedal electric cycle' - are particularly popular among people aged 55 and older, Statistics Netherlands reported on Thursday.

Dutch media are filing summary proceedings against the court in Limburg and the municipality of Brunssum in an attempt to force more freedom of the press around the investigation into Nicky Verstappen's death. This is partly due to a review of the case planned for Tuesday that is not accessible to any journalists, NU.nl reports. 

The police shot a man in a mental institution in Geleen in Limburg on Monday evening. The institution asked the police to come help with a difficult client. The man was injured, NU.nl reports.

The police responded to the institution on Burgemeester Lemmenstraat at around 8:45 p.m. The man had a weapon with him when he came out of his room and threatened to fire at the police and staff, according to the police. The police shot the man to overpower him.

Public health institute RIVM issued a "smog alarm" for Noord-Brabant, Zuid-Holland, Limburg, Zeeland, Noord-Holland, Flevoland and Utrecht. The air quality in parts of these provinces will be "very poor" this afternoon and early evening due to the formation of ozone in the air, the institute warns, ANP reports.

A 15-year-old girl died in a collision between a speedboat and a rubber boat off the coast at Zoutelande on Tuesday afternoon. What caused the collision is not yet clear. The driver of the speedboat was arrested, Omroep Zeeland reports.

The accident happened at around 3:15 p.m. The girl was on the rubber boat. The police are investigating how the accident happened. As far as is known, no one else was hurt.

The girl came from the Limburg village of Neer. Her family and other witnesses were offered support and aid. 

The police arrested a 27-year-old man in Maastricht on Wednesday on suspicion of involvement in terrorism. He is suspected of inciting a terrorist crime in the Netherlands and cooperating in training people to become a terrorist, the Public Prosecutor said on Thursday. 

The police launched an investigation into the man last month, after information from intelligence service AIVD. The suspect used social media to spread jihadist and violent propaganda, including calls to commit violence, the Prosecutor said.

An investigation into the discovery of cocaine hidden in a flower shipment in January led to a much larger drug bust in April. Ten people were taken into custody who worked for a logistics firm at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam after 160 kilograms of cocaine was found in another flower shipment.

It was not revealed when the arrests took place, but eight of the suspects were still in custody on Thursday.

Authorities arrested a man in connection with the New Year's Day murder of rapper Feis, 32, in Rotterdam. The arrest was made in Kerkrade, Limburg on Wednesday afternoon less than a day after police issued a 15 thousand euro reward for information leading to the capture of prime suspect Silfano Junior M.

Four people were hurt in a stabbing incident at a care facility in Maastricht on Wednesday. The suspect, one of the location's clients, was also injured in the morning violence, police said in a statement.

An employee of the care center on Vijverdalseweg and the suspect were taken to an area hospital. The other three victims were treated at the scene.

The incident was first reported to authorities at about 5:50 a.m. The motive was still under investigation four hours later.

A body was discovered in the Maas river in the Limburg town of Meers on Monday night. The police are investigating.

So far it is not yet clear whether the victim died in an accident or a crime, the Limburg police said on Twitter. Their identity is also not yet known. 

The police responded to a report of a body seen near Koevaart at around 7:00 p.m. on Monday, according to RTL Nieuws. After a search, including with a police helicopter, the victim was found. 

The Limburg police suspended four officers from the Horst-Peel and Maas regions for dereliction of duty. They are accused of "unprofessional behavior", the Limburger reports. 

The police would only confirm to the newspaper that four cops had to hand in their gun and pepper spray last week and are no longer allowed to enter the police station. What exactly they are accused of, the police did not say. "They have not behaved in a way that we would expect from police officers", a spokesperson said.