In good Dutch tradition Sidelines will use this first column of 2008 to outline a few resolutions for this year.

Firstly, Sidelines aims to devote fewer features to the Dutch attitude to foreigners – this will of course depend on the likes of Geert Wilders and Rita Verdonk going very quiet – so this is probably just wishful thinking.
Secondly, Sidelines plans to write fewer features based on the endless stream of statistics spewed out by hundreds of different organisations – especially statistics which differentiate between the native Dutch and foreigners. Are readers really interested in how much money second-generation immigrants give to charity or how often they visit the doctor?
Sidelines also pledges to pay less attention to politicians who do nothing but draw up grand plans which then get shot down in flames a few days later. This will require the government to actually push through some useful legislation. But, seeing as the current cabinet has now been in power for a year, ministers must be about ready to pass some real laws.
Sidelines also promises to cut back on features about the postal delivery service, energy prices, bad taxis, the weather, prostitutes and trains. A Happy New Year to all our readers.