D66 lobbyist quits over harassment report as pressure grows on Kaag

DutchNews, April 21, 2022 

D66 leader Sigrid Kaag is facing questions from party members.
Photo: ANP/Robin Utrecht

Lobbyist Frans van Drimmelen has quit coalition party D66 and resigned as a political consultant after he was accused of sexually harassing a party colleague. 

Van Drimmelen said in a statement that he had had an extramarital affair in 2015 and made persistent attempts to contact the woman after it ended. But he disputed that he had abused his position in the party or that he was guilty of sexual intimidation, 

More than 700 D66 members have called on party leader Sigrid Kaag to state what she knew about a private inquiry into Van Drimmelen’s behaviour, which concluded he had ‘stalked, threatened and blackmailed’ the woman between 2015 and 2016. He was given a formal warning by police but not charged. 

The party members have also urged Kaag to publish an anonymised version of the report into Van Drimmelen’s behaviour, which was carried out by independent research agency BING following an anonymous blogpost by the woman in December 2020. Kaag is facing questions about why the report, completed in March 2021, had been kept quiet for a year 

The party leadership has said it will present its conclusions on the matter on Friday. The public part of the investigation, focusing on whether there was a broader culture of sexual intimidation in D66, found there was ‘no question of an institutionally unsafe environment.’ 

The episode has damaged trust in Kaag and D66, with 78% of its supporters telling EenVandaag that they thought it cast the party in a bad light. Only 45% said they backed Kaag as leader, down from 71% a month ago. 

In a statement to the AD and Parool newspapers, Van Drimmelen described the relationship, which he said ended in the summer of 2015, was a ‘stupid thing’. 

‘Afterwards I tried to start a conversation by sending messages via various channels. I was keen to know why the affair had ended,’ he said. 

‘The second stupid thing is that I tried for too long, too persistently and at times extremely unpleasantly to make that conversation happen. In doing so I sometimes said things that I realise came across as threatening. Even though it was made clear that the woman did not want any contact whatsoever.’ 

Van Drimmelen also stepped down from his position as partner in corporate communications agency Dröge and Van Drimmelen. ‘I am completely leaving public life and will work on a new future later,’ he said. 

Overmars quits Ajax over 'inappropriate' messages to female colleagues

France24 – AFP, 7 February 2022 

Marc Overmars, who played for Ajax, Arsenal and Barcelona, has resigned as
sporting director of the Amsterdam club LLUIS GENE AFP

Amsterdam (AFP) – Former Dutch international Marc Overmars resigned as sporting director of Ajax after admitting sending a "series of inappropriate messages" to female colleagues, the club announced. 

The bombshell announcement on Sunday was greeted with shock in the Netherlands, with football commentators saying it would leave a large gap at the country's top football club. 

It also came as the country was reeling from a similar scandal involving sexual abuse in one of its most popular TV talent shows, The Voice of Holland. 

The 48-year-old Overmars, who won the Champions League with Ajax in 1995 before going on to play for Arsenal and Barcelona, said he was "ashamed" of his behaviour. 

"I am ashamed. Last week I was confronted with reports about my behaviour and how this has come across to others," the 86-time international said in a statement. 

"Unfortunately, I didn't realise that I was crossing the line with this, but that was made clear to me in recent days. I suddenly felt enormous pressure. I apologise." 

He added: "This behaviour is unacceptable. I now see that too. But it's too late. I see no other option but to leave Ajax. This also has a major impact on my private situation. That is why I ask everyone to leave me and my family alone." 

Overmars had been in his post at Ajax since the summer of 2012 and recently penned a contract extension until 2026. 

In his time as part of the backroom staff, Ajax made the Champions League semi-finals in 2019 and final of the Europa League in 2017. 

In his playing career, he represented the Netherlands at four major tournaments -- the 1994 and 1998 World Cups and 2000 and 2004 European championships. 

'Devastating'

Ajax supervisory board chairman Leen Meijaard described Overmars as "the best football director that Ajax has had". 

But he added: "It is devastating for the women who have had to deal with the behaviour. When we heard news of this, we immediately acted, carefully deliberating and weighing what was the best thing to do." 

"Unfortunately, he has really gone over the line, so continuing as director was not an option, as he recognised himself. It is extremely painful for everyone." 

"Who would have thought a MeToo moment would also happen in football?" NOS commentator Arno Vermeulen told the national public broadcaster. 

"After everything that happened in show business, now it's football's turn," Vermeulen said. 

"It is a painful moment, but the only correct decision is for Ajax and Overmars to part ways," he said. 

'Complicated'

The former international's departure leaves a large hole at the Amsterdam powerhouse, with much of its recent success attributed to Overmars and Ajax chief executive and former Dutch and Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar. 

"The successes at Ajax are linked to Overmars and Van der Sar. They were like Siamese twins," Vermeulen said. 

"That link is now been broken due to Overmars, which is making it utterly complicated for Van der Sar," he said. 

Said Van der Sar: "Marc and I have been playing together since the early 1990s, first at Ajax and then with the national team and we have been colleagues in the management of Ajax for almost ten years now." 

"That now stops very abruptly." 

"We were working on something very beautiful here, so this news will also be a blow to everyone who cares about Ajax," Van der Sar said. 

The impact of Overmars' departure hit wider than just the football world. 

Ajax, which is listed on the Amsterdam stock exchange, saw its share price plunge by almost 5.0 percent in early morning trade on Monday.

‘lt’s not the women’, say female staff as The Voice scandal spreads

DutchNews, January 21, 2022

De Mol speaking during the programme. Photo: Koen van Weel ANP

Media mogul John de Mol has been widely criticised for appearing to lay part of the blame for the continued sexual harassment of female contestants on talent show The Voice of Holland at the feet of the women themselves. 

De Mol told the documentary makers in an interview that ‘the broader problem is that women do not tend to report this sort of thing immediately.’ 

‘They seem to feel some sort of shame. I don’t know what that is. I would like to explore that,’ De Mol said. 

That comment led to a full page advert in the AD from the female staff at Talpa, De Mol’s production company, saying ‘Dear John, It’s not the women who are the problem.’ 

Elsewhere, De Mol’s comments were slammed for being insensitive and for blaming the victims. 

In Trouw, expert in gender related violence Renée Romkes called the comment ‘a classic example of reframing, a rhethorical trick’. De Mol appears to have sympathy for the shame of the women, Romkes said ‘but what he is really saying is: it is their problem, not mine.’ 

Former coaches and presenters of the show joined in the criticism on social media, with Chantal Janzen saying the revelations ‘made her puke’ while Wendy van Dijk, another former presenter declared herself ‘speechless’. 

Singer Ilse de Lange, a former coach on the programme, said ‘it is horrible to see people who want to make the dream to make it as an artist come true end up in such a nightmare. It is a good thing this will now be thoroughly investigated.’ 

So far 19 women have identified musician and partner of De Mol’s sister Linda Jeroen Rietbergen as a sexual predator, while one of the show’s directors was mentioned by 15 women. Singer Marco Borsato allegedly touched six contestants, including three under-age girls inappropriately. 

One former contestant has filed a report with the police accusing rapper and coach Ali B of raping her eight years ago, when she appeared on the show as an 18-year-old. The woman told her story on Boos in a disguised voice, saying she ‘froze’ during the attack and that it had taken her years to realise she was not to blame. 

Lawyer 

Lawyer Ruth Jager said it is common for women to remain silent after being abused. ‘It’s totally unjustified but they feel partly responsible. (…) What de Mol should have said is: keep your dirty paws to yourself,’ she told the Volkskrant. 

It is not yet clear if De Mol can be held liable for what has happened. ‘There will be a discussion about whether or not there there is a case to be made for rape in the case of Ali B. Those are valid questions,’ lawyer Richard Korver said, adding he hoped the discussion would also focus on ‘how we as a society handle this’. 

The public prosecution office has called on women who have experienced sexual harassment while appearing on The Voice to report to the police, not to the lawyers of current owners of the format ITV. ‘Investigations will be carried out by a specialised team. Proof may be difficult to produce but it is certainly not impossible,’ the department said.

Related Article:

Dutch creator of The Voice accused of victim-blaming over abuse claims on show

‘Leading’ trauma surgeon sacked for sexual misconduct

DutchNews, May 17, 2019

Photo: Depositphotos.com

 A Twente hospital has sacked a trauma surgeon for sexual misconduct in the second major #metoo scandal in the Netherlands this week. 

The 64-year old surgeon was dismissed from his post at the Medisch Spectrum Twente earlier this month following 18 accusations of sexual misconduct and verbal aggression from staff including nurses, interns and secretaries. 

None of the accusers have filed police complaints as yet. 

In a letter from the hospital to the medical inspectorate quoted by the Volkskrant, hospital offcials say the incidents which cover the period between 2014 and now ‘may well have had a negative influence on the quality of care at the hospital’. 

The surgeon, who was given a prestigious royal distinction for his work, has admitted having being verbally aggressive but denies abuse of power and being a sex pest. 

‘Some of the accusations are true. I can be rough verbally. That can have an effect and I am not always aware of it,’ he told the paper. ‘But if people start to accuse you of sexual misconduct then, as a man, you are playing a match with a 5-0 disadvantage.’ 

He also denies endangering the quality of care. ‘The whole country knows my name. I am one of the leading trauma surgeons. If it is said the quality of care has been compromised it will have to be proven.’ 

Inspectors 

Staff have also said their accusations were not properly handled by their superiors. Healthcare inspection body IGJ, which will investigate the matter said that ‘to deliver good and safe care the culture has to be right,’ a spokesperson said. 

The sacking of the Twente surgeon comes in the wake of news this week that a law professor at the University of Amsterdam was sacked at the end of 2018 because of sexual misconduct. The professor, who can only be referred to by his initials R.B. following a court decision, was known as a ‘flamboyant, charismatic man with a lust for life,’ the paper said.

Concertgebouw Orchestra sacks conductor over #metoo allegations

DutchNews, August 2, 2018

Queen Maxima with Daniele Gatti (right) earlier this year. Photo: Wesley de
Wit | Hollandse Hoogte

The Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam has sacked chief conductor Daniele Gatti with immediate effect, following last month’s report in the Washington Post in which he was accused of sexual assault in 1996 and 2000. 

‘These accusations and Gatti’s reactions in this respect have caused a lot of commotion among both musicians and staff, as well as stakeholders both at home and abroad,’ the orchestra said in a press statement on Thursday. 

‘In addition, since the publication of the article in the Washington Post, a number of female colleagues with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra have reported experiences with Gatti, which are inappropriate considering his position as chief conductor,’ the statement said, without going into details. 

‘This has irreparably damaged the relationship of trust between the orchestra and the chief conductor,’ the statement said. 

All concerts planned with Gatti, who joined the Amsterdam orchestra in 2016, will proceed with other conductors.

Leading Dutch director steps back after #metoo claims by actors

DutchNews, November 7, 2017

Photo: Depositphotos.com

 A Dutch film and theatre director has said he is retiring from the business after admitting ‘crossing the line’ with actors under his direction. 

Job Gosschalk, who is 50, issued a statement on Tuesday saying that some rumours about his behaviour circulating in the last few weeks were grounded in fact. 

‘I have worked on scenes one to one with actors at my home,’ Gosschalk said. ‘I have on occasion asked them to take their clothes off. I have in some cases, I realise now, crossed the line. I have not taken the difference between my position and that of the actor sufficiently into account.’ 

Gosschalk denied that there had been any physical contact during these sessions or that he had been involved with drugs or had contact with minors. 

The claims against Gosschalk were made two weeks ago in Nieuwe Revu magazine, although he was not then named. And NOS Radio 3 has also spoken to actors about being sexually intimidated by Gosschalk. 

The director and producer worked as a casting director for years but switched to active film making in 2008. He was involved in several films, including the box office hit Alles is Liefde. 

Metoo

Gosschalk is the second big name from the Dutch film and theatre world to be caught up in the fallout of the #metoo discussion. 

Earlier this month, Amsterdam director Ruut Weissman did not attend the premier of a new production of Fiddler on the Roof at the De La Mar theatre in Amsterdam  because of allegations of sexually inappropriate behaviour at the city’s theatre school while he was its artistic director. 

Not only did he have several relationships with students, but he also failed to take action when faced with claims about other cases of abuse, Dutch media reported.

#MeToo anti-sexual harassment campaign takes off in NL

DutchNews, October 20, 2017

The #MeToo campaign – women sharing their experiences of sexual harassment on Twitter in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein affair– is taking on momentum in the Netherlands. 

Thousands of women from all walks of life are telling their stories, with the latest accusations coming from the academic world. 

Talk shows and papers in the Netherlands have featured accounts from women who say their lives and careers were blighted by saying no. 

Former television presenter Anneke Bakker told DWDD host Matthijs van Nieuwkerken how she believes rejecting the sexual overtures of her superior lost her the job some 35 years ago. On the late show, Pauw, swimmer Ela Hutten claimed her coach had sexually abused her from age 12 to 14. 

The Dutch allegations come in the wake of multiple accusations of harassment and abuse against Hollywood producer Weinstein, who is being investigated by police in London, Los Angeles and New York. 

‘Tell all’ 

It is by no means the first time women have taken to social media to denounce sexual intimidation, the Volkskrant writes. 

Writer Anke Laterveer introduced the hashtag #ZegHet (tell all) two years ago when, she claims, she was sexually assaulted and the perpetrator was not brought to justice. 

‘There is something comforting about a collective confession such as this,’ Utrecht university social scientist Linda Duits told the paper. ‘A hashtag has momentum and gives women the strength to confront the outside world because they know they are not alone.’ 

The Dutch reaction has been given added impetus by the murder of Anne Faber, which instigated discussions about women’s safety, Duits said. 

But she does not believe the Twitter campaign is likely to generate a useful dialogue. ‘Discussing solutions is different from calling all men assholes,’ she told the paper, adding that these lie in better education. 

Poll 

A poll conducted last month by public broadcaster NOS among 1000 men and women from 18 to 35 showed profound differences in attitudes around touching a female body uninvited. 

A full 100% of women said being groped in the crotch or breasts is totally unacceptable, with a small percentage of men thinking this could be acceptable. The male respondents scored consistently higher when it comes to the acceptability of touching other parts of women’s bodies. 

The greatest discrepancy the poll found was over touching a woman’s stomach area without asking: 30 percent of men thought this was permissible, with 76% of women saying this was on the edge or over acceptable boundaries. 

Meanwhile caretaker education minister Jet Bussemaker told NOS on Friday that the problem does not concern women alone. 

‘That so many women are only coming forward now is indicative how ashamed they feel. This is a problem for society as a whole and we should encourage men to become involved,’ she told NOS.

Related Article:

Sexual abuse stories from around the world pour out on social media