Our last podcast of the year features a helter-skelter game of red cards, own goals and penalties that ultimately changed nothing, while away from the Brexit negotiations Ajax qualified for the next round of the Champions League. We ask why girls are more likely to move up the educational ladder then boys, whether stints will ever be allowed back on cycle paths and why a group of Chinese villagers were told to Buddha off by a Dutch court. In the discussion we look at the catchiest – and the most irritating – adverts in the Netherlands and how they have affected cultural life.

TOP STORY

Rutte has May for breakfast as EU rules out reopening Brexit deal

MPs denounce no-deal emergency powers bill as undemocratic

NEWS

Electric ‘stint’ wagons still not allowed back on cycle paths

Girls more likely than boys to move up secondary school ladder

Dutch court throws out Chinese villagers’ claim on Buddha statue

Boyan Slat says ocean clean-up plan is still on despite setback

SPORT

Ajax settle for second in Champions League group after six-goal thriller

The Hague bids to host Tour de France start in 2020

DISCUSSION: The best – and worst – Dutch adverts

Twelve Dutch ads that have become cultural touchstones