Small, but intense local thunderstorms with hail and strong winds caused nuisance and damage in various places in the Netherlands on Tuesday evening.
Around Leerdam, cars, houses and gardens were damaged by rain and hail, RTV Utrecht reports. A number of trees toppled over across roads and had to be removed by the fire brigade. In Oudewater a scouting club lost their tents thanks to the strong winds. No one was injured.
Eighty residents of Montfoort and Oudewater received an SMS from the police on Thursday evening. "MESSAGE FROM POLICE: Your telephone number was found on a drug dealer's phone", the message read, according to NOS.
From Wednesday divers will be searching the Hollandse IJssel near Oudewater for World War II bombs. The river needs maintenance between Gouda and Nieuwegein, and the water board wants to make sure that everything is safe before the work can begin, NOS reports.
Historical research shows that the river contains many WWII bombs that never exploded. As long as they are left alone, they are not dangerous. But part of the work that needs to be done to the river is dredging to keep it deep enough for barges. Therefore the bombs will have to be removed first.
Last year the number of reported crimes in the Netherlands dropped by 8 percent, continuing its declining trend over the past years, according to newspaper AD's annual Crime Meter. Amsterdam also saw a decrease in crime, but the Dutch capital is still the most dangerous city to live in crime-wise.
Sisters Susen and Nadine Pielucha from Hekendorp were both killed in a car accident that happened in Oudewater on Friday. 23-year-old Nadine was announced dead on Saturday. On Sunday it was announced that 19-year-old Susen also died of her injuries, AD reports.
A 21-year-old man was also involved in the accident. He was hypothermic, but is not in life threatening danger. He is Susen's boyfriend.
It is expected that the European Commission will today announce protective measures to contain the bird flu outbreak in Utrecht yesterday.
A positive test for bird flu has led the Dutch government to ban the transportation of all poultry products nationwide, the Ministry of Economic Affairs announced Sunday. The ban affects the distribution of poultry, eggs, poultry manure and used bedding from poultry farms, and similar items are banned from mixed farms.
Starting today Scherpenzeel is run by the youngest mayor of The Netherlands. The 31-year-old Ben Visser was installed in an extraordinary council meeting in the Veluwe town.
