At last, adoring fans across Denmark can see for themselves just why André Rieu is a musical phenomenon again. André Rieu and his touring production is unlike anything else in the entertainment world. Music fans can expect the experience of a lifetime when they attend the only classical concerts where the audience jump to their feet and dance in the aisles.

Fully recovered from his illness, Andre said: “I am so excited to be back on stage, doing what I love most, playing beautiful music, together with my orchestra, for all my fans! Thank you all for your support and love, it has been the best medicine for my recovery! See you in March!”

The stunning costumes and elaborate stage-sets add to the romantic and festive atmosphere Rieu creates. Conducting the Johann Strauss Orchestra with his violin bow – just like the composer himself – Rieu’s onstage charisma and rock-star demeanour make his live shows simply irresistible. Tickets for Rieu’s concert are now available at http://www.akkc.dk.

André Rieu & his Johann Strauss Orchestra
01 March 2011 – 8pm – Aalborg, Denmark – Gigantium
Tickets via http://www.akkc.dk

CAREER
A Dutch violinist, conductor and showman, Rieu has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. Together with his 50-pieces Johann Strauss Orchestra, he tours on five continents. Every year, more than 700,000 fans attend an André Rieu concert, establishing him as one of the top ten touring acts in the world. In 2008 he was crowned nr. 1 Classic Artist in the US and scored more than 100x Platinum in Australia.

Dutch children have been rated the most fortunate children in Europe. Their parents go out of their way to please them, and teachers expect less of them than some of their European counterparts.

The German researchers studied children in 21 industrialised countries on the basis of six criteria: material wealth, health, education, relationships, safety and their own feelings of luck. The Netherlands has come top of a league table for child well-being across 21 industrialised countries.

Swedish and Finnish children were in second and third place. American children were bottom of the list where boys and girls are the most negative about their current situation and future possibilities.

Surveys by Britain’s Child Poverty Action Group, Unicef International and the World Health Organisation have all reached similar conclusions about Dutch children.

This is the second time Dutch children ranked happiest in Europe.

The happiest children
1 Netherlands
2 Sweden
3 Finland
4 Norway
5 Spain
6 Switzerland
7 Denmark
8 Germany
9 Belgium
10 Poland
11 Ireland
12 Czech Republic
13 Portugal
14 Austria
15 France
16 Italy
17 Canada
18 Greece
19 Hungary
20 Great Britain
21 United States

Source: Unicef

The Dutch paid 266.70 euros Net per person in 2008 for the European Union. This is based on the last known EU report, which appeared late last year.

The Netherlands has contributed 4.4 billion euros in total to the EU. That is the difference between the payments to the EU and received subsidies.

”I can not understand a lot of money. And that amount is even after the 1 billion euro discount that we receive each year since 2007,”said Van der Stoep.

The Dutch government granted the discount in 2005, after tough negotiations by then-Minister Gerrit Zalm (Finance) and Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende. The reduction was an end to the Dutch position of largest net contributor per person.

”The most important is that this year the negotiations begin for the 2014-2019 budget period. I have a hard head that we still keep the discount. The Dutch government must use it for full or tolerance to other countries”, said PVV’er, which hopes that other parties concerns.

After the Dutch Sweden were paying the highest fee per person (194 euros) , followed by Denmark (135 euros) and Germany (133 euros). Then the inhabitants of five countries. Nineteen of the 27 EU countries were net recipients in 2008.

The European Commission itself does not publish its own calculations of the net contribution of countries per capita any more.

While for young Dutch people up to 24 years the proportion is about 90% for using the Internet daily. This leaves other countries behind the Netherlands, while Sweden, Denmark and Luxembourg also rank high.

In the 27 EU countries, 65% of households had access to the internet during the first quarter of 2009, compared with 60% during the first quarter of 2008, and 56% had a broadband internet connection in 2009, compared with 49% in 2008. In the Netherlands, 90% of Dutch households have internet access.

The number of broadband connections is growing steadily, from 49% of households last year to 56% in 2009. The Netherlands top the list with 77% of broadband connections.

Nearly 40% of Europeans are shopping online, 63% of Dutch people shop online. Online shopping is most popular in the UK, 66% purchased goods or services over the Internet.

Booking a holiday online is most popular. Secondly, the purchase of clothing and sports products.

Remarkable is the fact that many high educated people are more online than lower educated. While 87% of the high educated use the internet at least once a week, and only 38% of the less educated.

The study shows we spend more hours staring at screens than doing anything else. But are we losing something profoundly human in all those texts, tweets and chats?

The participants need to bring 6200 euros each to compete. That brings the total prize pool of 1.8 million euros. The prize in the tournament contains over half million Euro. Last year Jan Sörensen from Denmark won an amount of 623,000 euros.