Dutch prisoners who currently enjoy countryside views and can cook their own food are suing the government over a deal for Norwegian convicts to take over their "luxury" cells. The agreement, signed by Dutch deputy justice minister Fred Teeven on Monday, is aimed at alleviating waiting times for convicted criminals in Norway, where prisons are almost filled to capacity.
Relatives of the Norwegian inmates are also angry at the multi-million euro (dollar) deal for 242 of them to be transferred to another country hundreds of kilometres (miles) away. Inmates at the Norgerhaven prison near Assen in the northern Netherlands would have to forfeit the privileges of long-term prisoners if they are transferred.
They can currently grow vegetables, keep chickens, cook their own food, gaze at the scenic Dutch countryside and have a generous daily exercise regime. Dutch media have labelled them "luxury" cells. The prisoners also have their own "hobby space", can choose what colour to paint a wall of their cells and have private 55-channel television, Dutch media reported. Now, at least 17 long-term prisoners, serving sentences of between 10 years to life for crimes including murder, have taken the Dutch justice ministry to court, their lawyer Hettie Cremers told AFP.