Wilders on trial
Controverisial Islam critic and Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders is currently on trial, accused of hate speech, inciting discrimination and insulting Muslims as a group. Mr Wilders is being prosecuted for a number of statements, including his claim that Islam is a fascist religion. But with his political movement the Freedom Party providing crucial support to the new government, the question remains what will happen if the politician is convicted.

Occult connections
Last November the small fishing villiage of Urk was rocked when 14-year-old Dirk Post was stabbed to death. This week, a teenage boy went on trial accused of the murder, and in a shocking twist he confessed to the crime. His lawyer claims the boy stabbed Dirk after a group of teens had conducted a seance in local woods.

Children's Book Week
This week is Children's Book Week in the Netherlands, a time to stimulate children to read. But research shows that children can benefit from books even before they themselves are able to read. This is why parents are encouraged to read aloud to their children even when they are only a few months old. Unfortunately, though, this practice is less common among minority groups in the Netherlands. A a library in Utrecht is working to change this.

Drawing from afar
Dutch cartoonist Jesse van Muylwijk's comic strips are published in 14 newspapers here in the Netherlands. His work deals with current affairs in Holland, despite the fact that Mr Van Muylwijk actually moved to Canada five years ago. He recently made a short trip back home to receive a major prize for his lifetime's work.