A low-key Budget Day brings sober news on the economic front, unless you happen to be a princess approaching her 18th birthday. New coronavirus restrictions are imminent as a surge in infections puts even more strain on the testing system. The tension also took its toll on Rotterdam’s Erasmusbrug and the prosecutor handling a high-profile racial abuse case. Plus we tell you why zoos have been hit by corona and there’s a sense of anticlimax around the new football season in Emmen.

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Ophef of the week: Towering Hume-iliation for Telegraaf over university’s name change

News

Pared-down budget day stripped of pomp and ceremony as economic clouds gather

Hottest Prinsjesdag on record with tropical temperatures in The Hague

• Read a full English translation of the King’s speech from the throne (Government website)

Budget focus is on strengthening economy, says Hoekstra

Health boards not ready for second Covid wave, inspectors warn

Student cities face new coronavirus restrictions as infections soar

Zoos at risk of closing after ticket sales slump during lockdown

Anger as prosecutor is dropped from racial abuse case in wake of Zwarte Piet row

Rotterdam’s Erasmusbrug closed to traffic after overhead cabling collapses

Utrecht removes ring road to restore canal

Sport

KNVB: fans need time to adjust to ban on singing in stadiums

Robben injured after 29 minutes of Groningen return as Ajax and PSV win

Dutch football association pulls plug on sex toy sponsorship with FC Emmen