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The inverted flags weren’t the only distress signal as the king opened Parliament for what looks set to be a gruelling year. The speech was rewritten at the last minute to include the government’s hastily agreed energy price cap, one of several measures designed to bring down the soaring inflation rate. The cabinet walked out of parliament in protest at Thierry Baudet’s latest conspiracy theory about Sigrid Kaag, who also came under fire for wanting to splash out on a more sustainable budget briefcase. Louis van Gaal is caught out embroidering his playing career as the Netherlands make progress in the Nations League. And there’s animal news galore with happy lions, thriving wolves and a feisty seagull.

Ophef of the week: Kaag sent packing over plan to replace budget suitcase

Prinsjesdag (budget day)

MPs vote to increase support for people struggling to pay energy bills

Gas price cap will also boost energy efficiency, experts say

Parliament votes for €100 million to pay for free school meals

Income tax down, asset tax up: what the 2023 budget means for you

Kaag brands Baudet ‘extremist’ after ‘spy college’ tirade derails debate

English text of King Willem-Alexander’s speech from the throne (from government.nl)

News

Consumer confidence hit new record low in September

House prices rise year-on-year but growth slows for fourth month

Three lions at Amsterdam’s Artis Zoo to get big new enclosure

At least 16 wolf cubs born in the Netherlands this year so far

More teething troubles at ‘back-to-front’ school in Oost-Souburg (NOS, Dutch)

Sport

Netherlands a draw away from Nations League quarter-finals after beating Poland

Cyclist Bauke Mollema dive-bombed by magpie and ambushed by seagull

pic.twitter.com/nZlj94wk6z

— Cycling out of context (@OutOfCycling) September 20, 2022