RAI

Last year bicycle sales in the Netherlands dropped to the lowest level in 30 years, according to figures from RAI, Bovag and GfK. Despite this revenues from bicycle sales reached a record high by increasing 4.2 percent, mostly thanks to the increasing popularity of expensive electric bikes, ANP reports.

Last year 928 thousand new bicycles were sold, a decrease of 5.7 percent and the lowest point since 1987. In 2007 a total of 1.4 million bikes were sold, but since then sales decreased every year.

The next Dutch government should include a Minister for Mobility, who must focus on improving the connection in and between cities to prevent a further increase in traffic jams and accidents, according to a manifest set up by a coalition consisting of seven major public transporters and car companies, NOS reports. 

The second annual Tulp Festival kicked off on Friday in Amsterdam. Tulpen, or "tulips," are the famous symbol of the Netherlands, and they will blanket the capital city throughout the month of April.

The about 240 thousand Turkish-Dutch people in the Netherlands will be casting their votes for the Turkish parliamentary elections between Wednesday and Sunday.

Volkswagen, Porsche, Bently, Seat and Audi car keys, among others, are easy to hack because the chip in the ignition key and the code in the immobilizer are not programmed properly. This involves the Megamos Crypto chip, which is installed in hundreds of thousands of cars in the Netherlands, and millions world wide.

After years of delays, Amsterdam RAI is getting its own hotel and with its 650 rooms, Nhow RAI will win the title of largest hotel in the Netherlands. The design of the building was chosen from eleven candidates and is designed by Rem Koolhaas from well-known Rotterdam architecture firm OMA.

Automotive sales in the Netherlands is headed for the lowest number of new cars sold since 1969. In comparison to last year, new car sales has dropped with over 19 percent in 2014, a prediction made by Aumacon in anticipation of decreased sales in the beginning of this year.

The Netherlands is honouring all 298 victims of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 crash in a memorial service in Amsterdam Monday.

Flags across the Netherlands will be lowered to half-staff on Monday morning in advance of the country’s national memorial ceremony for the victims of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 later that afternoon. The commemoration at the RAI convention center in Amsterdam begins at 1 p.m., before Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte takes the stage to speak on behalf of the nation.

The Dutch Senate yesterday honored the victims of flight MH17 during the first meeting of the new parliamentary year. A minute of silence followed speeches from Senate president Broekers-Knol and Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the NOS reports.

Consumers bought fewer cars in 2013 than in 2012. December 31st counted 417,036 newly registered passenger cars, 17 percent less than the year before, according to data from the RAI, BOVAG, and the Central Bureau Mobility Information.