Kids

Outgoing State Secretary for Youth Judith Tielen is advising parents and organisations to stop children from using play sand, craft sand, and squeeze toys for the time being due to potential asbestos contamination. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) is currently testing approximately 100 samples to determine if they exceed the legal limit of 0.1 per cent asbestos, with results expected in approximately two weeks. While a total ban cannot be issued until the specific health risks are confirmed by the RIVM, the advisory remains in place as a precaution for schools, nurseries, and households.

Belgian firm Sparkx is set to launch Europe’s largest indoor sports amusement park in Nieuwegein next autumn. Covering over 7,500 square metres at De Beursfabriek, the site will offer visitors the chance to try fifty different sports, from basketball to wingsuit simulators. This expansion into the Dutch market follows Sparkx’s rapid success in Belgium and is expected to create 125 new jobs.