The article discusses a new experiment in the Netherlands where coffee shops like 'The Baron' will start offering 'legal cannabis' from government-approved suppliers starting December 15. The owner, Rick Brand, is excited about the prospect of selling high-quality, pure cannabis without the current legal ambiguities. Although cannabis is tolerated in the Netherlands, it is not fully legal, and coffee shops often operate in a grey area with stock from potentially criminal sources. The experiment aims to provide clarity and better quality products for consumers. The trial will last four years and begin in Breda and Tilburg, with plans to expand to other cities including Amsterdam. The initiative has political opposition, and there are concerns about the impact on youth and the potential increase in hard drug trafficking.

The Groningen gas field in the Netherlands, Europe's largest, is set to cease production on October 1, with the possibility of a one-year extension in case of severe winter conditions. Residents have experienced earthquakes for over two decades due to drilling operations, causing psychological distress and property damage. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced the closure amid global energy supply concerns. Despite the end of production, seismologist Laslo Evers warns that earthquakes may continue for several years due to the time needed for the gas reservoir to stabilize. Locals have faced bureaucratic challenges in receiving compensation for quake-related damages, and the region's soft soil exacerbates the impact of the tremors on structures not designed to withstand such events.

The article discusses a new experiment in the Netherlands where coffee shops like 'The Baron' will start selling government-approved 'legal cannabis' from December. Owner Rick Brand is looking forward to offering high-quality, pure cannabis products without the uncertainty of illegal supply chains. The experiment aims to bring clarity and legality to the sale of cannabis, which has been tolerated but not legal in the country. The trial will begin in Breda and Tilburg and later expand to Amsterdam. The initiative has political opposition, and there are concerns about the impact on youth and the rise in hard drug trade. The experiment will last four years, and its outcomes will be closely watched.

The far-right Party for Freedom (PVV), led by Geert Wilders, has won the Dutch legislative elections according to exit polls by Ipsos, securing 37 seats in the lower house of Parliament. This marks a significant political shift in the Netherlands, surpassing the ruling People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), which has been in power for the last thirteen years under Prime Minister Mark Rutte. The VVD, led by Dilan Yesilgöz-Zegerius, hoped to become the first female and first Prime Minister of foreign origin, but only managed to secure 24 seats. The social democrats and ecologists, led by Frans Timmermans, came in second with 25 seats. The election results indicate a potential for a deep political crisis and challenging coalition negotiations ahead.

A new centrist party, created just three months ago, is leading the polls for the Dutch legislative elections on November 22. Another recently established party became the leading political force in the Senate and provincial councils last March. These rapid rises are causing concern among traditional parties. Pieter Omtzigt, who launched his own party, is particularly gaining attention in the Netherlands, overshadowing the leaders of traditional parties.

Rick Brand, the owner of 'The Baron', a Dutch coffee shop, is preparing to participate in a government experiment starting December 15, where he will offer government-approved 'legal cannabis'. Despite the common belief, cannabis is not legal in the Netherlands but is tolerated. Coffee shops like 'The Baron' operate in a legal grey area, often receiving stock from unregulated sources, which can sometimes contain pesticides or other additives. The experiment aims to provide legal clarity and better quality products for consumers. It will initially take place in Breda and Tilburg, with plans to expand to other cities including Amsterdam. The initiative has political opposition, and there are concerns about the impact on youth and the potential increase in hard drug trafficking.

The Dutch royal family and the Netherlands have been shaken by the discovery that Prince Bernhard, the late husband of former Queen Juliana, was a member of Adolf Hitler's Nazi party. Despite his previous denials, a membership card from 1933 was found in his personal files, confirming his affiliation. The revelation has sparked calls for an inquiry into his Nazi past, but Prime Minister Mark Rutte has rejected these demands. The current King Willem-Alexander has acknowledged the emotional impact of this news, particularly on the Jewish community. The royal family's popularity has been declining, with recent polls indicating a significant drop in public confidence and increased support for the Netherlands becoming a republic. This comes after a series of public relations missteps by the royal family during the Covid pandemic.

Recent revelations about the Nazi past of Prince Bernhard, the grandfather of the current Dutch King Willem-Alexander, have sparked outrage in the Netherlands amidst already waning popularity of the royal family. The royal house confirmed the existence of a NSDAP membership card dated 1933 attributed to Prince Bernhard. Historian Flip Maarschalkerweerd discovered the card in the private archives of Prince Bernhard at Soestdijk Palace. Despite previous media revelations and denials by Bernhard until his death in 2004, calls for a government investigation have been made, with the CIDI, a Dutch Jewish organization, also demanding an inquiry. The royal family's popularity has declined, with only 38% of Dutch citizens expressing 'real trust' in the king, down from nearly 80% in 2020. The family faced criticism for attempting a secret vacation to Greece during the COVID-19 travel restrictions and were booed during a political ceremony day in The Hague.

The Groningen gas field, Europe's largest, is set to close on October 1, 2023, bringing relief to local residents who have endured earthquakes for decades due to drilling operations. Despite the closure, experts warn that tremors may persist for years. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has allowed for the possibility of gas extraction for one more year under exceptional circumstances. Residents have experienced significant property damage and have struggled with psychological issues and bureaucratic challenges in receiving compensation. Seismologist Laslo Evers explains that the shallow depth of the quakes and the soft soil in the region exacerbate the impact, and the cessation of gas extraction will not immediately halt the tremors.

The Groningen gas field, Europe's largest, is set to close on October 1, 2023, bringing relief to local residents who have endured earthquakes for decades due to drilling operations. Despite the closure, experts warn that tremors may persist for years. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has allowed for the possibility of gas extraction for one more year under exceptional circumstances. Residents have experienced significant property damage and psychological distress, with limited compensation due to bureaucratic issues. Seismologist Laslo Evers explains that the shallow depth of the quakes and the soft soil in the region exacerbate the impact on buildings, which are not designed to withstand such events. The pressure in the gas reservoir will take time to stabilize, indicating that earthquakes will continue even after production stops.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the 'historic' decision by the Netherlands and Denmark to supply Ukraine with US-made F-16 fighter jets to support Ukraine's defense against Russia's invasion. The US State Department approved the transfer, and training for Ukrainian pilots is starting, with deployment expected in early 2024. Zelensky's comments were made during his visits to the Netherlands and Denmark, where he met with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. Meanwhile, Russia reported thwarting Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow and claimed a Ukrainian drone strike in Kursk injured five people. In Chernihiv, Ukraine, a Russian attack killed seven people and injured 148, drawing international condemnation.

Dutch authorities are preparing to move the Fremantle Highway, a cargo ship on fire off the coast of the Netherlands carrying thousands of cars, including 498 electric vehicles, to a new temporary position to prevent an ecological disaster. The ship is currently stable and intact below the waterline. The temperature on board has dropped significantly, and smoke development has decreased. The towing operation to a location 16 km north of Schiermonnikoog is expected to take 12-14 hours and will likely begin this weekend. The cause of the fire, which started Tuesday night, is not yet public but may involve an electric car's battery. The Wadden Sea, near where the ship is located, is a UNESCO World Heritage site with rich biodiversity. Of the 23 crew members evacuated, one has died, and several were injured; the crew is from India.

Sweden's extradition of Mahmut Tat, a Turkish Kurd, to Turkey has heightened concerns among Turkish nationals in Sweden. Ankara has been pressuring Sweden to alter its asylum policies by threatening to maintain its veto on Sweden's NATO membership. Turkey classifies the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) as a terrorist organization and is demanding the extradition of several individuals it considers terrorists. This situation has cast a shadow over Turkish dissidents in Sweden, who fear the implications of Turkey's demands and Sweden's response.

The Netherlands has formed a new government coalition, Rutte IV, which closely resembles the previous Rutte III cabinet. After a record 332 days since the fall of Rutte III and 271 days post-election, four parties agreed to continue with Mark Rutte as Prime Minister. Rutte, who has been in power for over eleven years, is on the verge of becoming the longest-serving Prime Minister in Dutch history, potentially surpassing Ruud Lubbers' record by autumn 2022.

Dutch Foreign Minister Sigrid Kaag resigned following criticism over the mishandling of the evacuation from Kabul, Afghanistan, with the Defense Minister also stepping down hours later. These resignations deepen the political crisis in the Netherlands, which has been without an official government since January due to a previous scandal involving false accusations of fraud by the tax administration against thousands of parents. The Dutch embassy staff in Kabul had abandoned their post overnight on August 14-15, leaving behind Afghan personnel. Approximately 500 Dutch residents or citizens remain in Afghanistan. The political landscape in the Netherlands remains fragmented, with no coalition in sight 180 days after the elections.

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Peter R. de Vries, a prominent Dutch journalist known for his crime reporting and investigative work, was critically injured in an assassination attempt shortly after appearing on RTL Boulevard. The incident has shocked the Netherlands, where de Vries is a household name. The attack bears similarities to the murder of lawyer Derk Wiersum two years prior, which was linked to the drug trafficking mafia. Ridouan Taghi, the alleged head of the local cocaine mafia, is suspected of involvement in both cases. Journalist Mick van Wely, who is under police protection due to threats from the cocaine mafia, criticizes the Dutch government for failing to combat the issue of 'narcoterrorism'.

The Dutch national elections have resulted in a fragmented parliament with a record-equalling 17 parties winning seats. Prime Minister Mark Rutte's VVD party won, but the D66, a pro-EU, centre-left party led by Sigrid Kaag, emerged as a significant player, becoming the second-largest party and potentially influencing the coalition's direction. Geert Wilders' PVV lost its position as the second-largest party, while Thierry Baudet's Forum for Democracy gained seats with a controversial anti-lockdown message. Traditional left-wing parties like the Labour Party and GroenLinks continued to lose ground. New parties such as the European Federalist party Volt, anti-racism party Bij1, and the farmer's BoerBurgerBeweging will enter parliament for the first time, reflecting a broader societal fragmentation.

A Dutch court has ruled that Shell's Nigerian branch and its parent company, Royal Dutch Shell, must compensate Nigerian farmers for oil spills in the Niger Delta. The case, supported by Friends of the Earth, has been ongoing for 13 years and involves spills in the villages of Goi, Oruma, and Ikot Ada Udo. The court also ordered Shell to install new pipeline equipment to prevent future spills. While Shell Nigeria expressed disappointment, claiming the spills were due to sabotage, the plaintiffs and their lawyer celebrated the decision as a long-awaited justice. The court has yet to determine the compensation amount and resolve the case for one of the villages, Ikot Ada Udo.

Tse Chi Lop, the alleged leader of Asia's largest crime syndicate known as 'Sam Gor' and one of the world's most wanted men, has been arrested in the Netherlands. The arrest was made at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport following a request from Australia's federal police. Tse, a Chinese-born Canadian citizen, is accused of being a major drug kingpin likened to Mexico's 'El Chapo'. Dutch police confirmed the arrest and mentioned that Tse is awaiting extradition proceedings at Australia's request. The Australian police have linked Tse to a large-scale operation that captured 27 individuals involved in drug trafficking in 2012-13. The syndicate is known for producing and supplying methamphetamines globally, laundering money through Southeast Asian businesses. Australia's attorney-general is preparing a formal extradition request for Tse to face trial.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced the resignation of his government following a scandal where thousands of families were wrongly accused of social benefits fraud. The rule of law failed to protect citizens from an omnipotent government, Rutte stated during a press conference. A parliamentary investigation revealed that tax officials erroneously ended benefits for thousands of families between 2013 and 2019, demanding repayments retroactively. Ethnic profiling was involved, targeting dual nationality households. The resignation comes two months before legislative elections and amidst a health crisis. Rutte has led three coalition governments since 2010 and his party, VVD, is leading in the polls despite the scandal.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Brussels reintroduced border controls on March 20, affecting the Belgian enclave of Baerle-Duc in Dutch territory, known for its complex territorial puzzle. Dutch citizens can no longer cross into the south for cheaper goods, with exceptions for vital workers. Baerle-Duc, however, experiences more leniency due to its interwoven nature with the Dutch commune of Baerle-Nassau. The two form a single village, with Belgium 5 kilometers to the south. The Dutch side has a less strict lockdown, not requiring justification for outings and only mandating a 1.5-meter social distance, contrasting with the deserted Belgian streets.

Ridouan Taghi, a powerful criminal network leader involved in drug trafficking, is suspected of ordering at least nine murders in the Netherlands, including those of a former criminal turned blogger, a lawyer, and a rival killed in front of his daughter. Taghi's trial in Amsterdam, which began several months ago and involves 17 defendants, is set for March 6. He was arrested in Dubai and is now detained in Vught Prison. Taghi's criminal activities are compared to those of Toto Riina, a notorious Sicilian mafia boss. Despite his claims of innocence, evidence suggests Taghi's involvement in extreme violence and intimidation, including attacks on media outlets that named him and the murder of lawyer Derk Wiersum, who represented Taghi's former lieutenant Nabil Bakkali.

In the Netherlands, two friends, Jochem Jordaan and Dylan Ahern, created a show called Europashow to engage young people with the European Union and encourage them to vote, amidst concerns of youth disengagement and the rise of nationalist, europhobic parties. The show, which includes interactive elements and political education, has been successful among its attendees, mainly future professionals and potential political leaders. However, the event's audience largely consists of pro-EU individuals, with eurosceptics and europhobes notably absent. The political scene is also marked by the rise of the nationalist Forum for Democracy party, led by Thierry Baudet, which is gaining serious attention from the Dutch government.