RAI

The bicycle industry in the Netherlands is preparing for skyrocketing sales of electric bicycles in 2020. Thousands of companies are eager to make use of the new tax-friendly lease scheme with which employers can provide employees with a "company bike". Industry association Bovag and RAI expect that up to 150 thousand more e-bikes will be sold next year, AD reports.

Amsterdam will not host the Eurovision Song Competition. The Ziggo Dome, the intended location, is not available when the Song Competition is set to be held. " This in connection with bookings and reservations that on closer inspection can not be rebooked", Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema wrote in a letter.

The city tried to find another location, but it was to no avail. The RAI and Johan Cruijff Arena are also unavailable. And AFAS Live is too small.

The Amsterdam police found a real Kalashnikov, also known as an AK-47, offered for sale at RAI on Friday. The automatic weapon, which had been disabled, was offered as a collector's item, Het Parool reports.

Police officers found the weapon after a tip. Even though the gun was disabled, it's barrel had been sealed and no bullets could be placed in its cartridge, the possession of such a weapon is still a punishable offense, the police said.

The Kalashnikov was confiscated and an official report was filed against the owner. 

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.