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Cabinet ministers returned from their summer break this week and got stuck into late-night budget talks. Pieter Omtzigt was accused of sabotaging his own plans to make government more accountable by setting up a “war room” with NSC’s two senior ministers to renegotiate the budget. Omtzigt also voiced concern about the declining Dutch and European birth rates, in a speech that was definitely not dog-whistling to far-right Great Replacement theories but kept mentioning the number of babies in Africa. The right-wing cabinet cuts funding for “bed and board” accommodation for failed refugees and tells provincial governments to scrap their nitrogen reduction plans. And Ajax captain Steven Bergwijn is told his international career is over after accepting a €27 million carrot to play in Saudi Arabia.

Ophef of the week:The Hague council blasts “cancelled” airport road signs

Mass sperm donor wants Netflix to take down “The Man With 1000 Kids”

News

Free school meals and expat tax break saved, according to leaked budget plans

Budget talks expose cracks in coalition as NSC set up “war room”: Telegraaf

Ministers to press ahead with VAT hike on books, culture and sport

Schoof pledges continued Dutch military support during visit to Ukraine

Government to stop bed and board funding for failed refugees

Dutch government calls a halt to provincial nitrogen reduction plans

Omtzigt warns of “geopolitical implications” of labour migration

Dutch tourists spend twice as much in Netherlands as foreigners

Hotel tax hike will only raise 40% of what ministers claim, say economists

Sport

Ajax confirm sale of Steven Bergwijn to Saudi Arabia for €21m

Deal to sign Ghanaian winger falls through after Ajax miss deadline