How diverse is Dutch science? According to a majority in the Second Chamber, perhaps not quite diverse. Last week, the Chamber adopted a motion that calls upon the government to clarify whether Dutch university staff is made up too much homogeneous. ^{(Dutch only)}

Recommendations to the new State Commission by Montesquieu Institute: confidence will not be recovered by large or small constitutional interventions. ^{(Dutch only)}

The Maastricht Treaty marked the first step towards the establishment of the European Union (EU) as we know it today, after the Lisbon Treaty.

Passing a Dutch integration exam is mandatory for most non-EU immigrants. This should be done within 3 years after their arrival, under the threat of a fine or non-extension of the residency permit. The exam fee is 350 EUR. The preparation course costs 4000-5000 EUR on average.

When Trump tweeted "See you in Court, the security of our nation is at stake" he was absolutely right, but not as he intended it to mean. Because yes, courts are essential for the security of (the citizens of) the state.

Albert Camus famously wrote that ‘life is the sum of all your choices.’ Private lawyers could not agree more. At the core of private law lies the idea that individuals are allowed to know better than the State.

I am sure everybody is aware how our environment has changed over the past years and how ongoing shifts in our societies show us that this will continue for the period ahead. And I am sure that most of us feel inconvenience. Inconvenience as we face challenges not experienced before or at least not to this extent. It is not just the Brexit or the recent winning of Donald Trump that is showing this to all of us. It is a subtle but profound “always there” change on all levels in our society. And it is a change that is a consequence of massive interconnectedness we realized by the technological evolution.

Have you ever considered of enjoying your retirement elsewhere, perhaps in a sunnier European destination?  ^{(Dutch only)}

In January Dr. Jessica Alleva, from the Department of Clinical Psychological Science at the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, was honoured twice for her work on improving body image. She received the 2016 Seymour Fisher Outstanding Body Image Dissertation Award and the Distinguished Women Scientist Fund 2016 (she is the first UM researcher to receive these honours).

This contribution argues that the Trump decree to end US financial support for health organisations which provide information about sexual and reproductive health rights is contrary to human rights. The response by the Dutch government is more in line with human rights.