Ask a Dutchman!

[Takhisis]

It is, shall we say, sordid and pathetic.

 

[Tahuti]

^I agree that prostitution exists and has for a very long time, but that area is in the central bit of Amsterdam, and it is quite rare to have humans be walking around- or sitting- behind a glass window visible from the steet, so as to expose themselves as sex-objects to be rented.

I occasionally walk around that place with friends even though I never paid for a prostitute, just for to look around. For some reason, it attracts plenty of tourists (including women) who do not come for prostitution services but seemingly to marvel at the unique sights, as if it were some kind of open-air museum.

Why are your feelings that?

Decadence of civilisation and all that.

 

[hangman]

How's the racism in Belgium/Netherlands? Is it an urban/rural thing? I'm seriously contemplating emigration, and the Netherlands is one of my top choices. However, the anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant thing is a bit of a sticking point for me. I've seen more than enough in my part of the world.

Is knowing Arabic a marketable skill? What about French or Spanish?

 

[Takhisis]

This is a slightly less serious question, but during the Hockey World Cup(s) I noticed, with growin concern, that most of it was being played in sunshine. What is being done to the Netherlands?

 

[Agent327]

Climate change? We've been having hotter summers and less icy winters for years now.

How's the racism in Belgium/Netherlands? Is it an urban/rural thing? I'm seriously contemplating emigration, and the Netherlands is one of my top choices. However, the anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant thing is a bit of a sticking point for me. I've seen more than enough in my part of the world.

Is knowing Arabic a marketable skill? What about French or Spanish?

Definitely marketable skills, although I can't say anything in detail. I used to do translations from French a.o. and plenty of trade is conducted with foreign countries, including Arabic speaking countries. We are, after all, a trade country.

There's definitely racism here, but my impression is that is for the most part a very vocal minority. Legislation is very strict about discrimination (although you may be aware there are always ways around that, no business can openly discriminate on whatever grounds).

 

[Agent327]

The Dutch prosecution (Openbaar Ministerie) is now looking into the matter if the persons responsible for shooting down the Malaysian Airways civilian airliner can be prosecuted. The Netherlands signed a law 4 years ago making it possible to prosecute any person guilty of war crimes committed against Dutch nationals. If indeed the airliner was shot down the guilty party or (parties) may be liable to "a crime committed during armed conflict against civilians who are not a party", according to professor International Law William Schabas. A member of the prosecution arrived in Kiev on last Saturday.

 

[Takhisis]

Climate change? We've been having hotter summers and less icy winters for years now.

Hmph. It's more likely that moral degeneration is actually making Hell materialise somewhere between Rotterdam and Den Helder.

The Dutch prosecution (Openbaar Ministerie) is now looking into the matter if the persons responsible for shooting down the Malaysian Airways civilian airliner can be prosecuted. The Netherlands signed a law 4 years ago making it possible to prosecute any person guilty of war crimes committed against Dutch nationals. If indeed the airliner was shot down the guilty party or (parties) may be liable to "a crime committed during armed conflict against civilians who are not a party", according to professor International Law William Schabas. A member of the prosecution arrived in Kiev on last Saturday.

I would say no. How can you ignore local laws? It would set an unforgivably wrong precedent.

 

[Kyriakos]

The Dutch prosecution (Openbaar Ministerie) is now looking into the matter if the persons responsible for shooting down the Malaysian Airways civilian airliner can be prosecuted. The Netherlands signed a law 4 years ago making it possible to prosecute any person guilty of war crimes committed against Dutch nationals. If indeed the airliner was shot down the guilty party or (parties) may be liable to "a crime committed during armed conflict against civilians who are not a party", according to professor International Law William Schabas. A member of the prosecution arrived in Kiev on last Saturday.

Wasnt Israel's ex president, Ariel Sharon, found guilty by a court in Belgium of crimes against humanity? And nothing much happened.
Now call me old-fashioned, but would it have been absurd for the EU to help force the decision taken by the national court of its host capital?
Hypocritic cratic hippoi.

 

[Quackers]

Any good quality Dutch films I ought to watch? Ones which are availiable with English subtitle files online
I watched Borgman last night and i really liked it

 

[Kyriakos]

Any good quality Dutch films I ought to watch? Ones which are availiable with English subtitle files online
I watched Borgman last night and i really liked it

The human centipede

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Any good quality Dutch films I ought to watch? Ones which are availiable with English subtitle files online
I watched Borgman last night and i really liked it

Vet Hard is a very funny action movie. Don't know about availability with subtitles.

 

[Tahuti]

Any good quality Dutch films I ought to watch? Ones which are availiable with English subtitle files online
I watched Borgman last night and i really liked it

Abel by Alex van Warmerdam is really funny, though it is also really weird.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

New Kids would be a weird movie to watch for a non-Dutchie.

I wonder how well that would translate.

 

[Tahuti]

It would be the Dutch equivalent of Saints Row: While I understand SR is a video game and New Kids is a movie, both have the same cultural functions in the respective countries of origin.

 

[Quackers]

The human centipede

Checkmate, I'm already a fick suck that i've already seeked it out and watched it.

Vet Hard is a very funny action movie. Don't know about availability with subtitles.

Abel by Alex van Warmerdam is really funny, though it is also really weird.

Will have a look, ty.

 

[kochman]

never mind

 

[Jan H]

Wasnt Israel's ex president, Ariel Sharon, found guilty by a court in Belgium of crimes against humanity?

No. A lawsuit was filed, but rejected by the court because no Belgian citizens or residents were involved.

A previous version of the law did not have this requirement. The "universal jurisdiction law" had been enacted after the Rwandan genocide (hence the name "genocide law"). But when all kinds of activists started misusing it (like the case against Sharon, but also one against Yasser Arrafat), the law was ammended and restricted to cases involving Belgian citizens or residents.

Any good quality Dutch films I ought to watch?

Sorry for hijacking the Dutch thread ;-)
Some excellent Flemish movies (spoken in Dutch, or something that ressembles it at least ;-) ):
Rundskop (Bullhead) - action / drama movie with some humour as well; Oscar nomination; lead roll played by Mathias Schoenaerts
De Helaasheid der Dingen (The Misfortunates) - hilarious, sort of bittersweet movie about life in a small Flemish town (involves lot of drinking)
The Broken Circle Breakdown - tragic movies about a couple who lose their daughter to cancer (and there is a lot of blue grass music in the film); also nominated for an Oscar

 

[Agent327]

On the airline tragedy:

In a speech on Malaysian television PM Najib Razak told last night that negotiations with the separatists in Eastern Ukraine have resulted in an agreement to obtain the black boxes from flight MH17 and to allow transport of the physical remains from Torez to Charkov. The speech was transmitted after midnight on Malaysian tv stations.

"Earlier his evening I have spoken with Alexandr Borodai, the one in charge over the territory where the tragedy occurred", he said. According to the Malaysian PM it has been agreed with the rebel leader that 6 members of the Malaysian crisis team will accompany the train to Charkov. From Charkov all bodyparts will by flown to the Netherlands in a C130 Hercules plane. Bodily remains of Malaysian passengers will then be repatriated to Malaysia.

The stepmother of the Malaysian PM died in the attack on MH17 over Eastern Ukraine.

Hmph. It's more likely that moral degeneration is actually making Hell materialise somewhere between Rotterdam and Den Helder.

I would say no. How can you ignore local laws? It would set an unforgivably wrong precedent.

I am truly clueless as to what you are talking about...

No. A lawsuit was filed, but rejected by the court because no Belgian citizens or residents were involved.

A previous version of the law did not have this requirement. The "universal jurisdiction law" had been enacted after the Rwandan genocide (hence the name "genocide law"). But when all kinds of activists started misusing it (like the case against Sharon, but also one against Yasser Arrafat), the law was ammended and restricted to cases involving Belgian citizens or residents.

It would seem the Netherlands have a similar law then, since 4 years.

 

[Tahuti]

Some excellent Flemish Southern Dutch movies
Rundskop (Bullhead) - action / drama movie with some humour as well; Oscar nomination; lead roll played by Mathias Schoenaerts
De Helaasheid der Dingen (The Misfortunates) - hilarious, sort of bittersweet movie about life in a small Flemish town (involves lot of drinking)
The Broken Circle Breakdown - tragic movies about a couple who lose their daughter to cancer (and there is a lot of blue grass music in the film); also nominated for an Oscar

Fixed that for you! Now you are no longer hijacking the Dutch thread!

 

[Agent327]

Officially Flemish speak Dutch, or rather General Civilized Dutch (sic!), as it is properly known. A Flemish person often wins the National Dictation, which is an annual event televised here.