The Dutch Guy in The Hague, NL

Street violence in Sweden

Ronald — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 09:09:05 +0000

The fatal beating last Friday of a teenager outside a party venue in central Stockholm has had a profound effect on Sweden’s youngsters and parents. Thousands are expected to gather in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö today to demonstrate against street violence. The incident has led to soul-searching in some parts of the media about whether children are left to their own devices more than is good for them, and has left people asking whether this traditionally peaceful society is becoming inured to violence. But it has also led to constructive debate about how parents and children alike can work to make sure that streets, and schools can be made safer.

Cartoon

Ronald — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 10:18:32 +0000

Your new house for free!

Ronald — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 19:11:56 +0000

The local government of Rotterdam is giving away houses for free. Unfortunately the houses are completely neglected and need to be renovated, which is a condition that has to be met for the ‘lucky’ owner.

‘The Ball Boy’

Ronald — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 12:31:06 +0000

Even the ball boys along the side of a game can have there small influence on the opposition. For example here during Tottenham Hotspur (ENG) – Anorthosis Famagusta (CYP)

Click here: ‘The Spurs Ball Boy’

Cartoon

Ronald — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 20:12:09 +0000

Dutch and Danes love the bicycle

Ronald — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 14:03:07 +0000

A new study from the European Union indicates that only the Dutch can outdo the Danes for having the most bicycle-oriented culture.

Nearly 24 percent of Danes polled said the bicycle was their preferred means of daily transport, while just over 13 percent indicated they preferred the bus, train or subway to get from place to place.

The results of the study should come as no surprise to Copenhageners or visitors in the nation’s capital: special lanes and traffic lights for bikes are a fixture on most roads, and crossing the street means looking out for both four- and two-wheeled traffic.

In addition, the International Cycling Union (UCI) officially named the city as the world’s first Bike City earlier this year.

Denmark is well above the EU average in its love for the two-wheeler. Of the union’s nearly 500 million residents, only 8.7 percent said that the bicycle would be their first choice for transport, while 20.6 percent prefer public transport.

In the Netherlands, a full 40 percent of the population prefer the bicycle over other means of transport. The automobile was found by the study to be the number one choice for transport in the EU.

Catherine Tate: Look at my face, I’m not bothered!!

Ronald — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:55:34 +0000

Check out this really funny sketches of Catherine Tate as ‘Lauren’ See first nr 1..

(1) Working at Billy Burger Bar

(2) Working at Downing Street with Tony Blair

Cartoon

Ronald — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 16:16:38 +0000

Traditional Danish dish

Ronald — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 19:29:50 +0000

Dairy companies are praising the warm weather for its effects on koldskål sales, which are at an all-time high, reported public broadcaster DR.

Koldskål – literally ‘cold bowl’ – is a refreshing citrus-flavoured dairy product consisting primarily of eggs, sugar, buttermilk, vanilla and lemon juice. It is traditionally eaten during the summer, usually with a spoon, and commonly flavoured with crushed, sweetened biscuits.

While it is not uncommon that koldskål is homemade, most people buy it pre-made in milk cartons from the supermarket. The nation’s largest dairy company, Arla, reported that sales for the item are moving at a record pace this year.

Good to know a good Danish dish!

Stricter security at Danish national stadium

Ronald — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 13:04:05 +0000

The Danish national football team’s fans have been asked to keep an eye on potential troublemakers to prevent spectators from rushing the pitch.

The Danish Football Association (DBU) and Copenhagen’s Parken Stadium unveiled plans Wednesday for tightening security during national football matches.

The move came after a Danish football fan rushed the field in the closing minutes of a qualifying match against Sweden earlier in the month. The fan tried to grab the referee, who then stopped the match and subsequently gave Sweden the win, much to the anguish of the sold-out crowd and football fans across the country.

In the aftermath of the match, UEFA, European football’s governing body, sided with the referee and ruled that Denmark would lose its home field advantage in Copenhagen for the next four matches.

While DBU is currently seeking a replacement stadium with enough capacity to host the four qualifying matches, Parken Stadium has begun working to ensure it can manage crowds in the future when the national team returns to Copenhagen.

At a press conference, DBU and Parken stated that the team of nearly 300 stadium guards did an adequate job in controlling the crowd, but they agreed more could be done to prevent fans from entering the pitch.

Among the measures adopted to deter fans from rushing the field: a hefty DKK 10,000 fine (EUR 1350) for offenders.

In addition, Parken is considering creating an extended, horizontal fence similar to the one recently installed at Wembley Stadium, which still provides a good view for spectators.