2012 in the Netherlands


This article lists some of the events that took place in the Netherlands in 2012.

Incumbents

Events

January

  • 2: Fire in the Goffert Stadium in Nijmegen.
  • 3-7: High water by a Northwestern storm, together with heavy rainfall, causes water inconveniences in the Western and Northern parts of the country.
  • 9: The Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij reports the discovery of Metslawier-south, the largest gas field on dry land since 1995.
  • 13: Joran van der Sloot is sentenced by a Peruvian court to 28 years in jail for the murder of Stephany Flores in 2010.
  • 13: The price of gasoline matches its highest level ever. The asking price of gasoline is 1,757 euro per liter, making it 10 to 20 cents higher than in neighboring countries.
  • 21: Laura Dekker arrives in Sint Maarten after a 518-day sailing trip around the world, making her youngest solo-sailor to sail around the world.
  • 24: The oldest authentic museum building in The Netherlands, Het Teylers Museum in Haarlem, announces to co-operate with Wikipedia.
  • 27: Willem Holleeder is released from prison after serving 2/3 of his jail term.
  • 29: Speedskater Stefan Groothuis wins the world championship sprint at the Olympic Oval in Calgary.

February

  • 1: The banks completely switch to SEPA for credit transfers.
  • 3-4: Heavy snowfall causes many problems on the road in The Netherlands and other parts of Europe.
  • 10: After hackers put the supposed data of hundreds of KPN customers online, at least 2 million customers have their mailboxes blocked for a day.
  • 17: Prince Friso of Orange-Nassau is caught in an avalanche whilst skiing in Lech, Austria; the accident results in a severe brain injury that leaves the prince in a coma.
  • 18: The Dutch polonaise record was broken in the Brabanthallen in 's-Hertogenbosch. It first stood at 1100 and is now bested with 1723 participants.
  • 20: Labour Party politician Job Cohen announces to step down as party leader and chair of the congress fraction.

March

April

May

  • 1: Street dealers increase disturbances on the streets when the "Weed Pass" is introduced in the provinces of Zeeland, Limburg and North Brabant.
  • 5: Dutch author David Pefko wins the Gouden Boekenuil, the most important literature prize in Flanders, for his novel "Het voorseizoen".
  • 7: Writer A.F.Th. van der Heijden wins the Libris Literatuur Prijs for his novel "Tonio".

July

  • 1: Astronaut André Kuipers returns to earth after spending more than half a year in outer space.
  • 18: 2 cars are used in an assault on the municipal office in Waalre. The fire that follows destroys the building completely.
  • 22: The residents of approximately 180 homes are evacuated because of asbestos pollution in the Kanaleneiland neighborhood of Utrecht.

August

  • 4: 13 people get injured and end up in the hospital after a sudden storm causes a marquee to collapse during the music festival of Dicky Woodstock near the village of Steenwijkerwold.

September

October

November

December

  • 1: The 10th edition of the Junior Eurovision song contest takes place in the Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam.
  • 6: Queen Beatrix officially opens the Hanzelijn with a ride in the Royal train.
  • 6: Co Verdaas steps down as state-secretary of Economic Affairs due to the commotion over his unlawful declarations during his time as deputy of Gelderland.
  • 9: The Benelux train between Amsterdam and Brussels is replaced by the high velocity train Fyra.
  • 24: DJs Gerard Ekdom, Michiel Veenstra and Giel Beelen collect €12,251,667 with 3FM Serious Request 2012.
  • 31: The GPD, the press agency of many Dutch and Flemish newspapers, sends its last message after 76 years of service. In 2013, publisher Wegener will start their own press service, making GPD lose its most important customer and cease existence.

Elections

Sports

Deaths