Fear and pride link many of the stories that dominate today's papers: the Dutch national ego is omnipresent. Fear over the looming flu epidemic is coupled with pride over the level of Dutch preparedness; pride over of the first Neanderthal remains discovered on Dutch soil is coupled with vague nationalistic fear of not being a member of the club - the Belgians discovered their Neanderthal remains more than a century ago.

The integration minister's derisive comments about Geert Wilders are coupled with the fear of appearing like a bunch of right-wing racists and Dutch pride over their linguistic skills is coupled with the nationalistic fear of losing the tie that binds: a common language.
 

Experts predict flu epidemic in the autumn
All of the papers report on the outbreak of Mexican flu in three schools but praise the measures taken by the health authorities: "Calm reigns despite dramatic increase in flu cases" trumpets the populist De Telegraaf. The paper proudly writes: our poll reveals schools are not taking emergency measures and are calmly meeting the looming crisis head-on". De Volkskrant's front page headline fearfully predicts, "flu epidemic expected in the autumn" before proudly noting that the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) expects the number of deaths will be "lower than expected." The left-wing broadsheet interviews Jim van Steenbergen head of the institute's infectious disease control unit.

AD skilfully combines fear and pride in its front page headline, writing: "Emergency measures to combat flu epidemic ready". The populist tabloid reports that companies and government institutions have ordered "Tamiflu and surgical masks for essential workers," and the country will carry on in an efficient manner in the event of a flu epidemic.

We've got one too: Dutch show off their very own Neanderthal
Several papers print a rather odd photograph of a skull - Trouw actually uses a slightly larger-than life version on the front page of its pullout section - the skull has a small black section of bone in it that on closer reading actually turns out to be the only real Neanderthal bit in the skull; the rest of it is a reconstruction. The piece of bone found in Zeeland amongst a load of shells measures just five by 13 centimetres.

AD writes "the Netherlands has finally got its' own Neanderthal. And not before time: Germany discovered Neanderthal remains 153 years ago and the Belgian discovery was even earlier; in 1829, " adding, somewhat sneeringly: "but they didn't know what they had".

Trouw devotes several pages and photographs to the find, and quotes archaeologist Wil Roebroeks, "it is mainly evidence that our North Sea is a potential archaeological and geological treasure chest." Mr Roebroeks proudly showed off the bit of bone to his mum, who, according to AD said, "Is that all?"

What a lot of rubbish: integration minister slams Wilders
Almost all of today's morning papers proudly quote Integration Minister Eberhard van der Laan's response to Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders' statement on Danish television that "millions of European Muslims should be deported and stripped of their nationality if they do not adapt to European values". The papers quote the minister extensively but the tone varies: the headline in the left-wing de Volkskrant is a direct quote: "Wilders is talking a lot of rot about European Muslims," while Trouw goes for, "Van der Laan challenges Wilders". The populist papers go with a more neutral "Van der Laan says Wilders is talking rubbish". 

De Volkskrant writes that, according to Minister van der Laan, "either Wilders can't count or he just isn't interested in solving problems but wants to sow anxiety about Islam". AD and Trouw use the same quote and both of them add: "And if someone breaks the law, whether they be Catholic or Protestant or Muslim, they should arrested and tried, in exactly the same manner''. Hear, hear.

Fury over attempt to make Amsterdam bilingual city
"English on the tram rouses fury" headlines De Telegraaf, reporting that an attempt by Amsterdam city Councillor Lodewijk Asscher to make the capital a bilingual city has sown fear in the hearts of Dutch language lovers and protectors of the nation's culture. The Dutch language defence association leapt into action after Councillor Asscher introduced regulations to make announcements on public transport in Dutch and English.

The association's secretary, Ab Braamkolk, tells the paper, "Dutch already has so many English elements and this just a step too far". Mr Braamkolk warns, "giving English names to centuries-old historical places will destroy Dutch culture". Odd that a simple measure to make the city friendlier for tourists can arouse such fear.

Clash over location of new Dutch history museum
The new Dutch history museum has been a source of controversy for some time; which city will get it, how will Dutch history be presented, who will be the director, and how to thwart the city of Arnhem after it won the battle for the museum. De Volkskrant reports the latest twist in the story: Culture Minister Ronald Plasterk announced that the museum would be located next to the John Frost bridge in the centre of Arnhem, close to the place where the WWII battle for the city took place, and not at the location announced in Arnhem's winning bid.

This has upset MPs as well the authorities in the cities that lost out; the general feeling is that Arnhem somehow cheated and failed to play fair. However, as AD notes, "Minister Plasterk on collision course with MPs over museum location." MPs want Arnhem to build the museum where it originally claimed it would and plan to challenge the culture chief over it. Several more twists to the story are expected.