Ailish Lalor

Ailish was born in Sydney, Australia, but grew up by a forest in south-east Ireland, which she has attempted to replace with a living room filled with plants in The Hague. Besides catering to her army of pannenkoekenplantjes, Ailish spends her days convincing her friends that all food is better slightly burnt, plotting ways to hang out with dogs and cats, and of course, writing for DutchReview.

Why are there no public toilets in the Netherlands?

It's the moment we all dread in the Netherlands: having to use the loo when you're out and about. There's just one problem: where the...

8 books about the Netherlands you need to read

Grey and rainy days are no exception in the Netherlands, and there's nothing better than curling up inside with a book to while them...

7 things the Dutch don’t talk about, but should

There are some things the Dutch don't talk about that they really, really should. What on earth is in bitterballen? And why is the Netherlands...

What was the VOC? The Dutch East India Company explained

A lot of the time, it's not entirely clear what the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) was, what it did, and whether we should be proud...

Paternity leave in the Netherlands: a complete guide for new fathers in 2026

Dutch paternity leave gives new fathers up to 15 weeks of statutory leave (geboorteverlof), but it's essential to understand the complex UWV payout rules...

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