Yes, it does say murder. Our nation has been renowned for it’s mussels for ages, as ‘Zeeuwse Mosselen’ are world famous for their taste and fat.
Dutch mussels differ from all other mussels as they are treated well in every stage of their life, to benefit both the fishers and consumers and the mussels.

Nowadays, all production involving livestock has to be ‘durable’ (‘Duurzaam’) yet it has remained unclear for about half a century now what it means exactly. One can only guess it involves a humane life for the animals, no destructive impact on the (direct) environment and perhaps even fair pricespaid to the producers. All’s fair, yet the unclear definition has lead to environmentalist groups prosecuting all types of animal industry. The mussel is the newest in a row.

In my opinion, the production of mussels ís durable. For three or four generations, Dutch have fished for mussels in the Waddenzee, and all this time it has been good for both the fishermen (who made nice profits) and the mussels (the population is comparable in size, both total and per mussel, and location). The fishermen involved practice a type of gardening: small mussels are relocated to pieces of sea where they grow faster and to bigger sizes. These are then taken out of the water to be consumed whenever they are the appropriate size, but only after being placed in the Westerschelde for a relative short period of time to loose all the sand. After all, they are ‘Zeeuwse mosselen’.

Another example is the following: before the mussel-production was forcefully transferred from the Oosterschelde to the Waddenzee about 50 years ago, (the Oosterschelde was closed off from the North Sea due to the protection of our shore with the DeltaWerken) there were no Common Eiders on the Waddenzee. They now live and prosper there, diversification of an indigenous specie as a result of mussels.

The first week of March has been catastrophic for those involved in the production of mussels. The most influential advisory council in The Netherlands (Council of State) has withdrawn the semi-annual permit issued by the ministry of agriculture after lobbying by environmentalist groups. What’s ironic is that Vogelbescherming and the Waddenvereniging both also cheered after the withdrawal. No more production means less bird on the Waddenzee, what’s to cheer?

For 2008 and 2009, the production of mussels is available, yet limited. Starting in 2010, there will not be any Dutch mussels available. Possibly ever. The best mussels will be lost, and for what cause? That is still unclear, yet there is a connection to be found: dhr. W. van Dieren, who possibly made a deal with NAM to abolish the production of Cockles and Mussels in exchange for the drilling for oil in the Waddenzee. This is speculation, but the appearance of the member of ‘The Club of Rome’ is quite possibly not coincidental.

Inheritance tax probably is the most disliked and misunderstood form of taxation our country has. Whenever a departed dear one grants a part of their ‘fortune’ to you, you’ll have to pay taxes for receiving it, even when you have not yet received it (for instance, when your mom still lives in the parental house when your dad passed away).

Let’s face it: inheritance tax is obsolete and weird, as you’ll pay taxes over money that already has been taxed in the past, and possibly even re-taxed every year if the sum exceeded €20.000 (1.2% wealth tax).
State secretary of Finance de Jager has rightfully declared he intends to discard this kind of taxation, but he also mentioned that this would have to be done ‘budget neutrally’. in other words: the state cannot afford to loose the 2 billion euros of income generated from inheritance taxes each year. Therefore, De Jager needs to get that money from somewhere else. As this is not easily achievable, De Jager only makes the regulations surrounding inheritance easier. Not less.

Partners and children of the deceased, who now pay between 5% and 27% of the inherited sum, will be paying the same in the future, yet nephews, uncles, nieces and aunts will pay lower amounts. They now have to pay up to 68%, which is quite a lot. It also is a high percentage compared to our neighboring countries. (Dutch link)
Any cheers possibly appearing on the faces of those who think the law is put out of order will have to be fading away fast after reading this, as they quite possibly will not or very limitedly profit from the announced measures by De Jager.
However futile, the commitment of De Jager is to be applauded as it paves the way to more rigourous intervening when it comes to the inheritance taxes. Like in Sweden and Portugal, who declared inheritance taxation to be re-taxing owned money and completely abolished their laws accordingly.

I don’t think we are quite ready for such measurements, and the inheritance taxation will remain to be the most dreaded form of taxation in The Netherlands for quite some time to come.