News about festivals, Donald Pols, and the Hondius (Wednesday, May 6)

At fourteen liberation festivals in the Netherlands, people celebrated freedom on Tuesday. In Utrecht, the grounds were already full in the afternoon. In Rotterdam, the gates briefly closed in the evening, and artists also spoke about freedom.

Donald Pols is leaving Milieudefensie (Environmental Defense Netherlands) and will start working at Tata Steel Netherlands from June 1. There, he will be director of sustainability and head of communications. Milieudefensie considers this move inappropriate and immediately parted ways with him.

The World Health Organization is looking for passengers from a flight on April 25 for investigation. A Dutch woman on that flight later died from hantavirus. The World Health Organization is now investigating the Hondius and contacts on Saint Helena.

Three sick crew members of the Hondius are going to the Netherlands for care. Oceanwide expects two special planes on Wednesday; later the ship will be allowed to go to the Canary Islands. Spain wants to send a medical team first; one of the three is Dutch.