[OpenSpending] [OKFN-NL] €278bn through shell companies in Netherlands

[Chris Taggart]

At OpenCorporates we have a policy of not evading blocking of IP addresses
(using TOR or similar) – if the company register has taken that view we are
not going to try to evade it, but we are happy to make that public.

Chris
Co-founder



On 20 June 2013 22:25, Ton Zijlstra <ton.zijlstra at gmail.com> wrote:

> That seems an overblown characterisation of the KvK and their actions or
> lack thereof.
> Op 20 jun. 2013 23:04 schreef <k.brzezinska at xs4all.nl> het volgende:
>
>> dear OKFN-ers, and other friends,
>>
>> Hi its Karen.
>>
>> Okay, I have spoken to my pal in the US. He says the SEC won't have info
>> abt those companies unless they have a US branch or operations. One would
>> have to go at it state by state, to find which companies are registered.
>>
>> However, I have now just done a google search of "trusts Netherlands" and
>> came up with a disquieting list of possibilities.
>>
>> I will attach a screen shot because it gave me the willies.
>>
>> Before we go any further, i would like to point out that 'blocking' of an
>> IP address seems like a downright hostile reaction. My question, have any
>> scrapers tried scraping from a TOR address (or similar) to avoid being
>> blocked?
>>
>> I'd also like to point out that people who are used to secreting their
>> info about billions of currency units aren't known for being mild
>> mannered. Just FYI. If we are looking at money that's being laundered, or
>> 'merely' evading taxation, we are not going to be popular. And these folks
>> are not bound by the laws of governmental courtesy, if you get my drift.
>>
>> Having been married for some time to someone who represented monied
>> criminals (and who ended up drifting in that direction himself) I can say:
>> we should keep our eyes open when dealing with these matters.
>>
>> Finally, is there an OKFN protocol? Were I to call these offices, looking
>> for info, do I say I'm a journalist working with the OKFN/ Open Spending
>> project? (I"m sure that would get them to open right up...!) ;-)
>>
>> kind regards,
>>
>> Karen Brzezinska (Amsterdam)
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Got it.
>>
>> On Thu, June 20, 2013 20:50, Jonathan Gray wrote:
>> > Hey Karen,
>> >
>> > Very interesting indeed. Out of interest where are you based?
>> >
>> > By following up on the list, I mean:
>> >
>> > 1. Signing up to the OKFN Netherlands and OpenSpending mailing lists
>> here:
>> >
>> > http://lists.okfn.org/mailman/listinfo/openspending
>> > http://lists.okfn.org/mailman/listinfo/okfn-nl
>> >
>> > (I assume that you are on at least one of these in order to have seen my
>> > initial message)
>> >
>> > 2. Replying to my initial email (which you replied to just to me and
>> > others
>> > to our individual addresses), copying in openspending at lists.okfn.organd
>> > okfn-nl at lists.okfn.org. This means that the people on those two lists
>> will
>> > see your reply, which will enable us to have a broader conversation, and
>> > for other people to contribute and to get involved!
>> >
>> > Looking forward to hearing from you!
>> >
>> > All the best,
>> >
>> > Jonathan
>> >
>> >
>> > On 20 June 2013 20:43, <k.brzezinska at xs4all.nl> wrote:
>> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> I really don't mean to laugh. When I worked at the newswires, the
>> >> mythological 'openness' of the Dutch government, so very pro-business
>> >> and
>> >> pro-secrecy, was an open joke. So it comes as no surprise. One of my
>> >> favorite memories from that period was when the CEO of one of the
>> >> bourse-listed Dutch companies said, in response to a question about
>> >> pricing agreements and the possible violation of EU directives by such
>> >> agreements, responded: We like orderly markets. What's wrong with that?
>> >>
>> >> ;-) Uh, gee, nothing.
>> >>
>> >> Getting back to you: I must admit i don't really understand what you
>> >> mean
>> >> by
>> >> following up on the list, much as i'd like to do it. Can you send me a
>> >> link that would explain it to me, if you haven't got the
>> >> time/inclination
>> >> to do so yourself? I learn these things quickly, but the past months
>> >> have
>> >> been absorbed by legal matters, a trip to Kenya and taking on some
>> >> considerable responsibilities at a neighbourhood tv project. Did I
>> >> mention
>> >> DIY-aggro at home? That too. Just the tiniest bit of handholding at
>> this
>> >> point will yield great benefits, I promise.
>> >>
>> >> Cheers, K.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> On Thu, June 20, 2013 19:16, Jonathan Gray wrote:
>> >%3
>>
>>
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>
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-------------------------------------------------------
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http://opencorporates.com
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