Today’s Dutch dailies assess the EU’s Iran sanctions and complain about the new criminal plague of statue theft. There are warnings for the high-riding Socialist Party and Dutch football fans bound for Ukraine. Plus, news of a church sale with a difference.

EU sanctions on Iran: boycott with a bite?
The EU’s sanctions against Iran dominate today’s front pages. In de Volkskrant, Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal speaks of “sanctions with a bite” and this seems plausible enough. The paper explains that “after China, Europe is the most important consumer of Iranian oil”, so an EU-wide oil boycott should hit Iran where it hurts.

De Volkskrant notes “the Iranian authorities insist that the sanctions will not have any noticeable effect on the economy” but believes that “for the citizens of Iran, the sanctions will mean higher prices and increased uncertainty.” De Telegraaf tells us “Iran is furious” and “bent on revenge”.

NRC.next takes a different view. It sees the value of the boycott as “largely symbolic” and argues that “Iranian oil will still find its way into the EU”. It reveals that Italy, Greece and Spain - “the biggest European customers for Iranian oil” - will still be allowed to honour existing contracts for the next six months. Even after this period, the paper reckons Iran and its customers will have “enough room for manoeuvre” to continue trade. One expert tells the paper “it’s not all that complicated to hide the fact that oil originates in Iran”.

No statue safe in the Netherlands
What’s wrong with this picture? AD’s front page features photos of an empty park bench and an abandoned pedestal. The pedestal used to support a two-metre tall war monument in the shape of a bronze flag, while the park bench was home to bronze statues of Dutch writer Simon Carmiggelt and his wife. But now they’ve vanished, stolen by “metal thieves striking shamelessly all over the Netherlands”. The paper reckons “no statue is safe” and reports that “MPs are indignant”.

There’s some consolation in the fact that the thieves didn’t get away with the bronze flag, which weighs hundreds of kilos. But for the time being at least, the place where it stood is just a forlorn pile of rubble. In the words of one MP: “It’s not just the money. We’re talking about cemeteries, churches and [...] a war monument: the emotional damage is considerable.”

The paper’s editorial describes the thieves as “locusts scouring the land in search of copper, bronze and zinc”, spurred on by the high price of these metals and “with no regard for cultural or historical value”. It demands “rapid action” from the government to halt these “looting raids”.

Dutch Socialists: too big for their boots?
Great news for the Socialist Party in the Netherlands. As de Volkskrant reports, they “have risen to record heights in the opinion polls”, which say they are currently “the biggest party” in the country.

The party insists it is “ready to govern” but the paper warns that “being part of a coalition government is a whole different ball game to being in opposition”. It zooms in on the province of North Brabant where the party is “struggling with newfound governmental responsibility” and two of its provincial government representatives have already handed in their resignation.

Under the headline “governing hurts”, a rival politician says he’s seen the Socialist governors so uncomfortable that they were “speaking with tears in their eyes” but that “the coalition must go on [...] it’s like some kind of prestige project for the party [...] we want to get into national government so we have to show we can do it in Brabant”.

That’s all well and good, but as the paper’s editorial points out “joining in makes you ordinary”. In the current Dutch political climate, parties at either end of the spectrum are in the best position to project a clear and appealing image. But once they become part of a governing coalition, they have to “make compromises and present bad news and they become [...] just as vulnerable as all the rest.”

No eastern paradise for Dutch football fans
AD and De Telegraaf issue a stern warning to Dutch football fans planning to head for Ukraine this summer to cheer on the national squad at the European Championships. De Telegraaf reports that it’s still “a mess” in Charkov, where the Dutch will be playing their opening matches of the tournament. Fans will be policed by “over 3,000 Ukrainian policemen who can barely speak a word of English”, while the organisation of the event continues to be beset by financial woes and building delays.

Tongue firmly in cheek, AD exclaims “sleep well, Dutch fans!” before continuing the catalogue of potential disaster with grim pictures of the “filthy student rooms” where the football supporters can bed down for between 30 and 50 euros a night. Showers and toilets are in the hallway and have to be shared with eight other rooms.

It’s not all bad news though. The regional governor seems to know what matters to the Dutch fans and promises in De Telegraaf: “You’ll be able to drink and party everywhere in the city”.

Church sale with a difference
It’s long been known that the Catholic Church is in decline in the Netherlands. An average of two churches a week closed their doors between 2008 and 2011, we are told in today’s de Volkskrant. The paper looks at a side effect of this trend: the vast stores of crucifixes, statues and other religious artefacts that no longer have a home.

A curator tells the paper that many church pews, candleholders and panels depicting stations of the cross find a new home in Eastern Europe. But some items can’t simply be sold off: “Symbolism is very strong in the Catholic Church: you can’t just sell off a chalice that contained the blood of Christ as a fancy cup for someone to drink from”.