Amsterdam, July 13: World Bank

Amsterdam  - Dutch Transportation Minister Camiel Eurlings on Wednesday was set to formally launch a public company founded exclusively to fight increasing traffic jams in and around the city of Ro

Amsterdam - Dutch legislator and Islam critic Geert Wilders wants the Dutch government to break off all diplomatic relations with Jordan if that country does not cease its efforts to seek his extr

Amsterdam - Taxes on diesel and petrol went up on Tuesday in the Netherlands despite months of protest by the Dutch umbrella organization for bus and truck drivers, BOVAG.

Amsterdam - The city of Amsterdam and the Dutch government plan to commemorate on Monday and Tuesday the abolition of slavery in the Netherlands 145 years ago.

Between 2,000 and 3,000 people were expected to attend the ceremony in Amsterdam on Monday.

On Tuesday, several thousand were expected to attend the national commemoration ceremony where Amsterdam Mayor Job Cohen and Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende were also due to be present.

It is the first formal commemoration of the Dutch slavery epoch, that lasted until 1864 during the royal Dutch empire.

At the time the Dutch empire included, among others, the colonies of Surinam and the Antilles.

Amsterdam  - Amsterdam City Council voted in favour of a bill Friday to ban polluting cars like sports utility vehicles (SUVs) from entering the old city centre.

The opposition parties criticized the bill, which it called an "antisocial car plan, instead of a plan to improve the air quality in Amsterdam."

In several parts of Amsterdam city centre the air quality is below the acceptable level. Local politicians have been looking for ways to reduce car traffic.

By prohibiting polluting cars from entering the city, the air quality must improve within the next two years, the councillors said.