Journalist, writer, broadcaster
2023 in Belgium and the Netherlands: The far right and serious crime
For the New European, 2023 was all about the seedy side of The Netherlands and Belgium, drugs, murders and spy scandals – and above all, the far right Geert Wilders winning the Dutch elections. Before that there had been stories about drug smuggling through the port of Antwerp, Amsterdam’s Red Light district, and a BelgianContinue reading 2023 in Belgium and the Netherlands: The far right and serious crime
documenta fifteen – more about the politics than the art
I intended this documenta fifteen review for The New European to be mostly dedicated to what was on show rather than about the antisemitism controversies that the show in Germany’s Kassel has been embroiled in. Unfortunately, then, right after the opening, there was another major incident and the piece slightly changed direction. Even so, whenContinue reading documenta fifteen – more about the politics than the art
France’s healthcare turn – The Lancet
The Lancet is a peer-reviewed medical journal with an unparalleled name in the field. It also publishes more generalist news stories on medicine and healthcare and it’s such a pleasure to contribute to those. This one, done between France’s presidential and parliamentary elections, looks at the ‘preventive turn’ that many who work in the sectorContinue reading France’s healthcare turn – The Lancet
Dutch benefits scandal for Thompson Reuters Foundation
The childcare benefits affair is one of the worst scandal that the Dutch state has been involved in this century. It involves the authorities hounding thousands of parents over non-existent or trivial claims in an anti-fraud frenzy that got out of control and that was skewed towards the most vulnerable members of society and minorities. My first story for the Thompson Reuters Foundation.Continue reading Dutch benefits scandal for Thompson Reuters Foundation
Dutch colonial amnesia challenged
The Dutch are slow to come to terms with their colonial past. An exhibition on Indonesia’s War of Independence in the Rijksmuseum and a report on Dutch atrocities during that war, may help change thingsContinue reading Dutch colonial amnesia challenged
Brexit blogging in times of crisis
I keep blogging for BCU’s Centre for Brexit Studies, although lately it focuses more on general despair with the direction of Europe and its allies.Continue reading Brexit blogging in times of crisis
Europe and Syria’s refugees
All my stories in the New Europan can be accessed here. One of the stories that I was most proud of in 2021 was on Syrian refugees. I was lucky to come across the excellent and articulate artist Issam Kourbaj in Amsterdam’s Museum of the Tropics. And it was fun to look at the NetherlandsContinue reading Europe and Syria’s refugees
The decline of Social democracy
The New European asked me to shed a light on the baffling decline of social democratic parties in Europe, in the wake of Labour’s poor performance on Super Thursday in May. My unsurprising conclusion: it’s complicated…
Dutch elections take
I got this Dutch pre-election analysis for The New European mostly right, but than again it wasn’t rocket science: Long-serving Dutch PM Mark Rutte gained seats, and so did the far-right. I didn’t see the gain for the so-called progressive liberals of D66 coming but don’t think it’s particularly significant. Further fragmentation and the far-rightContinue reading Dutch elections take
Book chapter: bodies in conflict
And now for something completely different. I contributed a chapter to the book Bodies of Evidence, edited by Gurtum Ertem and Sandra Noeth, associated with Tanzhaus nrw Düsseldorf, published by Passagen Verlag. My contribution: Being There: Journalists and Dead Bodies in Conflict. A rollicking read.
Dutch collectors go for private museums – FT
It’s OK again to flaunt your wealth in the Netherlands as art collectors open a rash of new private museums. A piece for FT Wealth
Impact investing in Israel and Palestine – FT
Can impact investing in Israel and Palestine help bring peace? It’s an argument sometimes used by opponents of the BDS campaign against Israel. The jury is out on both approaches. A piece in the FT
Israel’s economy – CNBC
This gig ran for ten weeks until the end of July this year and had me reporting in-depth on Israel’s economy and investment opportunities for CNBC. Of course it was advertising driven; Israel is diversifying its branding efforts somewhat and flooding the internet with non-conflict related, economy and preferably high-tech focused stories, is part ofContinue reading Israel’s economy – CNBC
A tale of two hotels – FT
Beirut is charming, if you’re passing through. Reporting can sometimes be tricky because of the civil war-sized chips that people have on their shoulders. I though this piece was innocent enough but it seems nothing is in Lebanon. A tale of two hotels
Little impact yet of BDS against Israel – Jane’s
The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions attempt against Israel is yet to have a measurable economic impact. That is no to say that it may not be having a psychological impact on Israelis and on the image of Israel abroad. A piece for Jane’s Intelligence Weekly.
Orange Fever
A piece I did on Dutch Jews and identity politics for Jewish Renaissance magazine in London. It’s not online so I put it here.
Patrons of Palestine – FT
I happened to spend a couple of months in Ramallah in 2016, accompanying my wife, who was curating the Qattan Foundation’s Yaya young artists of the year award. It was a good opportunity to do a piece for the FT on the cultural landscape in Ramallah and the Palestinian territories, which Qattan more or lessContinue reading Patrons of Palestine – FT
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