Quite a few VVD people were angry with us, because last year we made the Rotterdam alderman for culture caught stupid: she argued that cultural institutions did not need to open during the week at all, because hard-working people only had time for art on weekends anyway. In doing so, it flattened out schools, tourists, old people and part-time workers from being able to enjoy art on their own time, and thus also closed off the ability of art institutions to engage in audience recruitment in a normal way.
Everyone spoke outrage at it, and even laughed at it.
But meanwhile, reality has caught up with the laughs. Today, the cuts to Rotterdam's cultural sector were presented, and they are coming off very badly. Among the big cities, Rotterdam is tackling the arts the hardest. As a result, at least the Rotterdam Theatre will be closed two days a week from now on.
http://www.rijnmond.nl/nieuws/05-09-2012/bijltjesdag-voor-rotterdamse-cultuursector
The cuts at a glance:
English (UK) 
Nederlands 
Français 