Today’s Dutch dailies examine the crises at a Rotterdam hospital and in Washington’s corridors of power. There’s also a harrowing look back at events in Norway, a look at Shell’s financial health and talk of a new service industry at Schiphol Airport.

Crisis deepens at Rotterdam’s superbug hospital
All of today’s papers report on new revelations about Maasstad Hospital in Rotterdam, in crisis since a serious superbug outbreak hit the news.

Under the telling headline “The alarm sounded but Maasstad did nothing”, NRC Handelsblad says the hospital’s microbiologists were warned about the resistant bacteria in March but did not inform bosses until May.

Trouw reveals that an expert on patient safety at the hospital has resigned claiming “the hospital didn’t want my help”. AD describes the hospital as a battleground where “prominent members of staff are dishing out fierce criticism to their colleagues”.

Some Maasstad doctors are doing their best to stop the rot. They tell AD: “There’s no safer place for a patient than our hospital” and insist “this panic has to stop”. But so far their cries are falling on deaf ears as “no less than 150 patients have cancelled operations at the hospital in the past two weeks”.

De Telegraaf looks philosophically to the future: “The lessons from Maasstad are essential for the entire health service. Everyone has the right to a safe hospital where patients can be treated without anxiety.”

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US debt crisis: divisions, unrest and fixation
The political stalemate in the United States about the country’s national debt is keeping the Dutch papers busy. It’s front-page news in de Volkskrant, which focuses on “deep divisions among the Republicans” and “unrest among American citizens”, alongside a photo of a group of social and religious leaders down on their knees at a demonstration at the Capitol.

Trouw seems to be in two minds about the whole thing. Its editorial accuses the political opponents of “playing poker on the edge of the abyss” and warns “America is counting down to bankruptcy; we can only hope they come to their senses in time”.

But elsewhere the paper asks: “Who decided that a high national debt is a bad thing?” It goes on to quote a number of economists who reckon “it’s the total fixation in the US and Europe on reducing debt that lies at the heart of the problem.”

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Utøya survivors tell their stories
The recent horrific events in Norway continue to receive major coverage. De Volkskrant and nrc.next feature harrowing first-person accounts from survivors of Anders Breivik’s shooting spree at a summer camp for young socialists on the island of Utøya.

In nrc.next, Adrian Pracon (21) recalls how the water turned red when Mr Breivik’s bullets hit their target and asks some heartbreaking questions: “Why did I survive while my friends were killed? Why did his bullet miss my head?”

The account of Emma Martinovic (18) in de Volkskrant is a mixture of uncertainty and defiance. “I have so many questions ... But I want to say that I will not give up politics. That bastard will not hold us back.”

De Telegraaf reports on more connections between Mr Breivik and the Netherlands: a total of three Dutchmen – all orthodox Christian or right-wing bloggers – were sent copies of the Norwegian killer’s manifesto. None of them seem very happy about it. One recipient insists: “Needless to say, I have more in common with a well-balanced Muslim than with a dangerous liberal/neo-con like Breivik.”

Boom or bust for Shell
Is the barrel half full or half empty for oil giant Shell? It depends which paper you read. AD reports that Shell is getting rich without lifting a finger. “Producing less, yet making almost twice as much profit. Many companies would sign up for a deal like that, but for Shell it’s reality.”

The paper goes on to say that “the company is laying the foundation for growing profits in years to come”, but that the near doubling of its profits over the last quarter is almost entirely due to the rise in oil prices.

Therein lies the rub, according to de Volkskrant, which argues that “despite billions of euros in profits and the successful delivery of mega projects, Shell hasn’t succeeded in substantially stepping up its oil and gas production”. The paper notes that “traditional fields are running dry and Shell is not succeeding in compensating for the loss [...] with new projects.”

The paper concludes soberingly: “The combination of high investment and high dividend payments means that – in spite of major profits – Shell’s debts are rising steadily.”

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Schiphol: a new hunting ground for the world’s oldest profession
Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport prides itself on service. But the flourishing airport service industry on De Telegraaf’s front page – provided by “ladies of pleasure from places such as Riga, Bucharest, Prague and Budapest” – may not be quite what Schiphol’s bosses have in mind.

The paper reports that prostitutes from Eastern Europe “in high heels, dressed to the nines and with only the bare essentials packed in a little bag” are taking advantage of cheap flights and reasonable rates at Schiphol’s airport hotels to rustle up some extra business.

The airport police say that while this thriving trade is illegal, they can only act if someone files charges, something that hasn’t happened yet. Metje Blaak, a spokeswoman for Amsterdam’s prostitutes, is not surprised by the reports: “Prostitutes are resourceful creatures. They’re always coming up with something new.”

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