Trouw opens with the shocking news that at least 30 percent of local politicians have received threats directly related to their political activities. According to a questionnaire sent to the country’s local lawmakers – who number approximately 10,000 - three out of 10 have had threatening or abusive phone calls, letters and e-mails or have been the victims of physical violence.

 

The results from cities with more than 10,000 residents were even more shocking; 46 percent said they had been threatened.

 

AD writes that the majority of local politicians are campaigning on issues that voters do not consider important; "representatives are concentrating on employment, housing and social cohesion, but voters are more concerned about rising crime and safety on the streets," trumpets paper on its front page. It's no wonder that so few people bother to vote any more.

 

"One gold and three nothings," headlines de Volkskrant on the front page of its sports section above a photograph of a disconsolate Sven Kramer. The great Dutch hope for skating medals only managed to win a gold and bronze at the Vancouver Winter Olympics, far short of his aim of winning three gold medals.

 

AD’s sport section leads with "disappointment and joy; Team Orange takes home eight medals," and the paper devotes several pages to analysing the wins and losses.

 

De Telegraaf focuses on the winners; "four gold medals," writes the paper in huge letters on the front page of its sport section. Trouw sums up the Dutch performance in Vancouver with "lots of surprises in Vancouver, but far fewer medals than hoped for".

 

Several papers cover the ongoing row between the Dutch Catholic Church and gays and lesbians; the spat started when a priest in Reusel, in the bishopric of Hertogenbosch, refused to give communion to an openly gay man, Gijs Vermeulen, who had been elected carnival prince.

 

For the past two weeks, gays and lesbians and their supporters have attended Sunday morning mass at St Jan's Cathedral in Hertogenbosch and staged walkouts to protest against the Catholic Church's position on homosexuality.

 

The Protestant Trouw has a photograph of three pink-clad protesters seated in the front pew and de Volkskrant carries a photo of ordinary worshippers wearing pink triangles with the slogan, "Jesus doesn't discriminate".

 

NRC.next writes that dozens of people made a noisy exit after the priest announced, "one of the requirements for taking Holy Communion is the correct expression of sexuality". The paper says the protests, organised jointly by the COC, the Dutch lesbian, gay, bi- and transsexual rights organisation, and the Gay Krant, a lgbt monthly, are set to continue.

 

An editorial in the paper writes that the church's position on homosexuality is well known and wonders, "Why on earth do gays and lesbians want to be part of the Catholic Church?"

 

"Don't be stingy, pat a colleague on the back, its National Compliment Day," headlines AD on its front page. It is apparently the eighth edition of compliment day and Hans Poortvliet tells the paper, "I started it because "the Dutch are rather sparing with compliments".

 

Mr Poortvliet, who also has a website full of handy tips and advice for the folks who don’t know how to pay a compliment, tells the paper that it is part of the Dutch nature and culture not to show one's appreciation but "sometimes it's really nice to hear that you're doing a good job".

 

He warns, "watch out, a compliment only works if it's meant," adding, "the manager who suddenly pops up and start paying random compliments shouldn't be surprised if people regard him with suspicion or amazement".

 

AD reports that the first sign of spring has been spotted; a lapwing or pewit was seen in Drenthe on Saturday. According to the paper, the reappearance of pewit is a sure sign that winter is drawing to a close.

 

Lapwings are members of the plover family and migrate huge distances; many over winter in India and Africa and their return to the Netherlands hopefully marks the beginning of better weather.

 

However, the paper does warn that all is not well for the lapwing; the number of breeding pairs has dramatically fallen over the last few years, mainly due to intensive agricultural practices.