The Netherlands, Germany and Austria have all relied heavily on so-called short-work programs to keep people in their jobs in the wake of the financial crisis. All three have managed to keep unemployment from soaring, but the Dutch have been particularly effective, The Wall Street Journal reported. At 3.7% in October, according to the European Union statistics office, the country's jobless rate is one of the lowest among the world's wealthy nations. After the crisis hit, the Dutch government, labor unions and employers quickly reached an agreement to begin payroll subsidies.

Dutch shareholders association VEB and Dutch insurer ASR Nederland said on Friday they had requested a Dutch court to order an inquiry into company policy at bankrupt Dutch brokerage Van der Moolen Holding, Reuters reported. Van der Moolen, one of the most prominent names on Wall Street in the 1980s and 1990s, sought creditor protection in August due to a "very weak" liquidity position and was declared bankrupt in September.

DSB Bank NV's Chief Executive Dirk Scheringa on Monday called for a parliamentary investigation into the role played in its collapse by the Dutch finance ministry and Dutch central bank, Dow Jones reported. Scheringa said he may appeal the Amsterdam court's decision to declare DSB Bank bankrupt following a run on deposits. He claimed that the finance ministry and central bank disregarded a new business model DSB Bank wanted to launch, funded by a one-time government loan of €100 million.

Iceland said on Sunday it had agreed to a new deal to repay Britain and the Netherlands billions of dollars of deposits lost when the island's banks collapsed in 2008, paving the way for new aid from international lenders, Reuters reported. Iceland passed a law in August to repay money lost in high-interest "Icesave" accounts, but Britain and the Netherlands balked at the terms, holding up aid from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other lenders for the island's stricken economy.

Iceland, the U.K. and the Netherlands are closer to agreeing to loan terms for Iceland to repay the massive losses by foreign depositors in the collapsed Icesave Internet bank, said Iceland Finance Minister Steingrímur Sigfússon, The Wall Street Journal reported. "I feel there is a real will now to move ahead," said Mr. Sigfússon, after what he described as good meetings on the issue with his British and Dutch counterparts at the International Monetary Fund's annual meeting in Istanbul. He said the situation in the U.K.

Dutch securities trader Van der Moolen Holding NV said Tuesday the Court in Amsterdam has declared the last three entities of the company bankrupt, Dow Jones reported. This affects Van der Moolen Effectenspecialist BV, Curvalue II BV and Curvalue III. Van der Moolen said Sept. 17 it completed the transfer of its European securities position to Securities and Derivatives Trading B.V., a company which is owned by former employees of Van der Moolen and third-party investors. The court Sept. 9 approved Van der Moolen's request to be deemed insolvent, clearing the way for its liquidation.

Britain and the Netherlands oppose a deadline in Iceland's plans to repay savers who lost money held in the island nation's banks when they collapsed, a government official said on Thursday, Reuters reported. A member of Iceland's budgetary committee, who declined to be named, said the two countries would not accept a clause that meant that the repayment guarantee ran out in June, 2024. Iceland's three main banks and its currency collapsed late last year in the global financial crisis. More than $5 billion was lost in Icelandic deposit accounts.

Icelandic lawmakers began a final debate on Thursday on a politically sensitive bill to authorise paying back Britain and the Netherlands more than $5 billion lost in Icelandic deposit accounts last year, Reuters reported. Parliament is expected to approve the government-sponsored bill, the passage of which is seen as key if Iceland hopes to receive further aid from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other lenders. A majority in the Icelandic parliament's budget committee thrashed out some final amendments this week, paving the way for approval when the vote takes place.

Icelandic politicians took a step on Saturday towards passing a controversial bill that will guarantee repayment of funds lost by British and Dutch savers in accounts of collapsed Landsbanki, a member of parliament said, Reuters reported. The parliament's budget committee agreed on a revised version of the so-called Icesave bill and is ready to put it before parliament for voting next week, said Thor Saari, who represents opposition party. the Civic Movement, in the committee.

Dutch brokerage Van der Moolen Holding NV won creditor protection from a Dutch court on Monday, saying it had a "very weak" liquidity position and was considering asset sales and significant writedowns, Reuters reported. The move came less than a month after the company's chief executive resigned, leaving it without a management board. On July 17, Van der Moolen said its top priority would be raising capital amid further losses. The 117-year-old firm was once one of the most recognizable names on Wall Street as a top market maker on the New York Stock Exchange.