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Flying from the Netherlands? You’re going to pay significantly more than other travellers

Kriti Swarup
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Flying from the Netherlands? You’re going to pay significantly more than other travellers

As if international flights were not already expensive enough, from 2027, travellers flying out of Schiphol Airport will pay a significantly higher air passenger tax compared to transfer passengers. 

Travellers departing from any airport in the Netherlands currently pay about €29 in air passenger tax. This fee is included in the ticket price and fully paid by the passenger.

Everyone knows the Dutch government loves an opportunity to tax its people. So it has simply done what it does best.

And now, it plans on taxing passengers even more.

So how much will I have to pay in 2027?

Starting in 2027, the air passenger tax will depend on flight distance, reports de Volkskrant. 

Flights within the EU will stay at €29, medium-haul flights (2,000-5,500 km) will be taxed €47, and long-haul flights over 5,500 km will cost the passenger a whopping €70.86.

Basically, the farther you flee from the winter gloom, the higher your tax bill. 

Here’s a glimpse of where our money might be going…

No tax for the transfers 

There is one exception to this tax, however. 

Schiphol is among the largest transfer airports in Europe. To help keep that position, the air passenger tax does not apply to transfer passengers. And neither do the airport fees that Schiphol charges airlines. 

For instance, if you were to fly from Brussels to Washington with a transfer in Amsterdam, you would be exempt from the tax.

READ MORE | Dutch MPs worry new flight tax will send travellers packing (to Belgium)

And it’s not just travellers from the Netherlands who are unhappy about this.

Fed up with charging higher ticket prices for passengers flying from Amsterdam, EasyJet’s country director William Vet tells the ANP: “You can’t burden one group of passengers so heavily. Schiphol is pricing itself out of the market.”

Currently, for every euro a traveller departing from the Netherlands pays in taxes, a transfer passenger pays 39 cents, according to research agency SEO. 

How has your experience been travelling from a Dutch airport? Tell us in the comments!

These are the Netherlands’ most attractive municipalities in 2025

Lyna Meyrer 🇱🇺
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These are the Netherlands’ most attractive municipalities in 2025

Every year, researchers rank all 342 Dutch municipalities to determine which are the most attractive places to live. Now, the 2025 results are in.

The annual Atlas voor gemeenten measures woonaantrekkelijkheid (residential attractiveness) across more than 50 indicators, including housing prices, safety, amenities, and environmental quality.

And the winner of 2025? Amsterdam!

Attractiveness ≠ quality of life

What makes Amsterdam so irresistible? While the historic city centre, excellent public transport, two universities, and an abundance of restaurants and cultural venues all contribute to its appeal, there is one interesting irony…

Amsterdam might top the attractiveness charts, but it ranks a rather disappointing 39th out of 50 municipalities when measured for brede welvaart (broad prosperity), a comprehensive indicator of quality of life.

READ MORE | 17 Dutch towns with the funniest names

The capital’s main weaknesses? Safety scores are particularly poor, and many residents struggle with work-life balance. 

Amsterdam’s housing crisis certainly doesn’t help matters either. When it comes to nature and environmental quality, Amsterdam also ranks disappointingly low.

photo-of-Jordaan-district-with-Amsterdam-buildings
Amsterdam shines in some areas, but falls short in others. Image: Freepik

What about the other municipalities?

Amsterdam’s first place is followed by the cities of Amstelveen, Utrecht, and Leiden — but the real winner in this year’s rankings isn’t actually a winner at all, it’s Maastricht.

The southern city climbed from 40th to 34th place over the past decade, making it the strongest riser in residential attractiveness.

What changed? Improved safety perceptions and better local amenities have transformed Maastricht’s fortunes.

READ MORE | Where to live as an international in the Netherlands: the complete guide

The city also saw the biggest increase in broad prosperity amongst the 50 largest municipalities studied. Dimensions like safety, employment opportunities, and material wellbeing all improved significantly.

Way to go, Maastricht!

Are you team Amsterdam-despite-the-chaos, or are you ready to embrace Maastricht’s steady climb? Let us know in the comments below!

Dutch Quirk #53: Have giant music trucks infiltrate cities and demand money

Farah Al Mazouni 🇸🇾 🇺🇸
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Dutch Quirk #53: Have giant music trucks infiltrate cities and demand money

I remember walking down an Amsterdam street, thinking I imagined music in my head until I finally ran into the source behind it: a big hunk of large parked machinery on the sidewalk.

Draaiorgels, or barrel organs, are huge triggers of culture shock in the Netherlands — at least, they were to me.

With fans (and foes) among tourists and locals alike, there’s a certain allure about barrel organs roaming the streets throughout Dutch cities and villages.

What is it?

A Draaiorgel (or pierement) is basically an old-fashioned yet colourful musical automaton on wheels with a culture and a history that’s unique to the Netherlands.

Think of them as one-of-a-kind Dutch jukeboxes: it’s a sight (and sound) not to be missed during your stay in the Netherlands.

READ MORE | Dutch Quirk #89: Eat warm stroopwafels from the market

Often made of painted wood or sometimes metal, entertainers move the barrel organs from corner to square either manually or by pushing them with a bike.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yez1LV0hXDg

Once a spot is claimed by the musical beast, the street entertainer fires up the music.

This is soon followed by the sound of rattling coins in a tin can, inviting onlookers (phone in hand) to wander, wonder, and share a penny. 🤳

READ MORE | The Efteling: whimsical Dutchness

The mechanics alone are enchanting: ornate dolls in the organ window, a wheel for manual operation, and sometimes a visible organ book.

Why do they do it?

The tradition of barrel organs dates back to the 18th century as a form of entertainment through street music. 🎶

Although perhaps not as popular now as it was then, the tradition of roaming barrel organs is a part of the Netherlands’ cultural identity to this day.

One way the tradition has been brought into the 21st century is with a charming rendition of the Netherlands’ entry to the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest! 👇

Why is it quirky?

Are you a fan of circus-like music appearing randomly? Or just an unconditional admirer of Dutch culture?

READ MORE | 11 Dutch songs to learn the language (and culture!) 

Whatever your interest in this quirky tradition, it’s certainly a unique experience. But there’s history at the heart of this art.

The Perlee family company, one of the most popular and oldest barrel organ families in the Netherlands, still exists today in the Jordaan area of Amsterdam.

Should you join in?

Look, you might not have a choice.

If you’ve spotted the giant music truck quietly rolling down a street, rest assured they’ll be stopping nearby to play their sweet tunes soon, so feel free to follow on foot (or run in the opposite direction). 🚶‍♀️

Noise pollution aside, while it’s most popular during summer’s warm months, pierement street entertainers can be spotted at various events and markets throughout the year.

READ MORE | The 18 best street markets in Amsterdam: the ultimate guide

If you’re in Amsterdam, barrel organs can often be heard around Dam Square or Klaverstraat.

If you’re not able to catch a live barrel organ performance in the street, no worries, as you can still see a draaiorgel display in a museum instead.

READ MORE | The museum town of the Netherlands: 14 great museums to visit in Leiden

Utrecht’s Museum Speelklok carries its own collection of restored barrel organs, and if you’re in Haarlem, make sure to check out their Draaiorgelmuseum — a place that’s fully dedicated to the lost art.

What do you think of this Dutch quirk? Have you experienced it? Tell us in the comments below! 👇

Dutch author Rutger Bregman accuses BBC of censorship after Trump comments cut from lecture

Abuzer van Leeuwen 🇳🇱
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Dutch author Rutger Bregman accuses BBC of censorship after Trump comments cut from lecture

Dutch historian and author Rutger Bregman has publicly accused the BBC of censorship, claiming the British broadcaster removed a segment from his prestigious lecture series in which he called Donald Trump “the most openly corrupt president in American history”.

The alleged edit was made to the first episode of Bregman’s edition of The Reith Lectures, titled “A time of monsters”, which aired on BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday morning.

A prestigious platform with strings attached?

The Reith Lectures are no small deal. Each year, the BBC invites a prominent figure to deliver a series of radio talks aimed at contributing to “the intellectual and cultural life of the nation”.

This year, Bregman was chosen to discuss weighty topics: the rise of authoritarianism, the failure of elites across the political spectrum, and the urgent need for what he calls a “moral revolution”.

The first of four episodes was broadcast on Tuesday morning and briefly made available online before the BBC took down the webpage entirely later that day. A transcript, however, is still floating around.

“The decision came from the top”

In a video posted to his social media on Tuesday, Bregman didn’t mince words. He said he’d been told that the decision to cut his remark about Trump came from “the highest levels of the BBC”.

He stressed that the broadcaster commissioned the series themselves and that all episodes “went through the full editorial process”. The lecture was recorded weeks ago in front of a live audience of 500 people at the BBC Radio Theatre in London.

Bregman described himself as “deeply disturbed” by what he sees as an act of “self-censorship driven by fear”, specifically, fear that Trump might sue the BBC. “This isn’t about left or right,” he said. “This is about the health of our democratic institutions.”

A media storm brewed by The Daily Mail

The controversy kicked off last week when British tabloid The Daily Mail claimed, based on a single anonymous source, that Bregman had called Trump a “monster” in his lecture.

Writing for De Correspondent, Bregman dismissed this as a “self-invented story”, just the latest manufactured outrage in what he called “the soap opera of the BBC versus Trump”.

The BBC has been under intense scrutiny in recent months, particularly after incorrectly quoting Trump in a documentary, a mistake that drew sharp criticism and threats of legal action.

British libel laws put broadcasters on edge

It’s worth noting that UK media outlets operate under some of the strictest defamation laws in the world. The burden of proof for any statement lies with the publisher, which means broadcasters like the BBC can face significant legal risks for even mildly contentious remarks.

Still, Bregman argues that caving to that pressure threatens something bigger than one broadcaster’s legal safety. “This concerns all of us,” he said.

The BBC has not yet responded to Bregman’s allegations.

What do you think? Is self-censorship a growing problem for public broadcasters, or is the BBC just playing it safe in a legal minefield? Let us know in the comments.

Best Black Friday deals in the Netherlands 2026

DutchReview Crew
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Best Black Friday deals in the Netherlands 2026

Looking to score some Black Friday bargains in the Netherlands in 2026? We’ve rounded up the top deals that will save you some cash. 

Black Friday in the Netherlands is a pretty big deal — yes, it’s an American holiday, and no, the Dutch have nothing to do with Thanksgiving. But the Dutch do love to save money, and that’s where these Black Friday deals come in. 

During Black Friday and its follow-up Cyber Monday, there are stacks of sales all over the Netherlands on almost anything you could want, from electronics to home goods and more.

In this article, we’ll outline the top Black Friday deals in the Netherlands, and update you with the newest discounts as soon as they arrive!

This post might have affiliate links that help us write the articles you love, at no extra cost to you. Read our statement.

Best tech Black Friday deals in the Netherlands

Headphones and speakers

bose-quietcomfort-ultra-headphones-black-friday-deal

Save €100 on these premium Bose QuietComfort headphones

If you’re looking for premium headphones without the premium price tag, you can’t go wrong with this over-ear set from Bose. Designed for people who want ultimate immersion, these headsets feature the best in audio technology and noise-cancelling.

Get the deal
apple-airpod-max-black-friday-deal-netherlands

Enjoy crisp audio with discounts on Apple’s AirPod Max headphones

For over-ear headphones that feel luxe and sound incredible, these AirPods really hit the mark. They offer immersive spatial audio, seamless noise cancellation, 20-hour battery life, and a comfy, elegant design that’s unmistakably Apple.

Get the deal
jbl-partybox-stage-320-bluetooth-speaker-black-friday-sale

Get the party started with this JBL Bluetooth speaker (now for €180 off!)

This powerhouse delivers a bass-thumping auditory experience through dual 6.5″ woofers, with an adaptive lightshow that dances along with your music. Even better? The JBL Partybox is splashproof, so you needn’t worry about spills.

Get the deal

Smartwatches and activity trackers

apple-watch-series-11-black-friday-deal-netherlands

Smash those fitness goals and save some cash on this Apple Watch

This Apple Watch Series 11 has all the bells and whistles you’d expect in an activity tracker, from an ECG heart sensor to exercise tracking and a detailed breakdown of your sleep score. Even better? It’s now on sale!

Get the deal
garmin-fenix-8-activity-tracker-black-friday-deal

Get €200 off the price of this rugged Garmin Fenix 8

When it comes to activity trackers, this Garmin has it all: detailed insights into your performance, health metrics, and comprehensive sleep data. And you needn’t baby it, either — its robust, stainless steel case and scratch-resistant screen are built to last.

Get the deal

Laptops

apple-macbook-pro-14-inch-m5-black-friday-deal

Get up to €130 off on a 2025 M5 MacBook Pro

Apple may have just released their best MacBook yet, but you can already shave over €100 off the price of these beauties this Black Friday. Featuring the new and improved M5 chip, this laptop is powerful enough to handle every task on your to-do list.

Get the deal
hp-victus-15-gaming-laptop-black-friday-sale

Snag the HP VICTUS 15 gaming laptop for €300 off

Looking for a laptop that can handle both work and play? The HP Victus 15 has a fast processor, smooth graphics, and a sharp 15.6‑inch screen that keeps you immersed — whether you’re beating a new level of your favourite game or streaming Netflix.

Get the deal
samsung-galaxy-book4-black-friday-deal-netherlands

Stay productive and save €200 on this Samsung Galaxy Book4

Looking for a lightweight but powerful laptop for work or study? This Galaxy Book4 packs quite a punch with its powerful Intel Core 7 processor, allowing you to multitask with ease. Plus, it’s lightweight enough to carry around easily and has plenty of storage for your files and apps.

Get the deal

Monitors

benq-gaming-monitor-dutch-black-friday-deal

Save 35% on the BenQ MOBIUZ EX240N gaming monitor

Forget craning your head down at your laptop when working from home! This BenQ monitor is 23.8 inches and fast enough for gaming — so definitely fast enough to browse DutchReview when you’re meant to be working. 😉

Get the deal
samsung-odyssey-oled-monitor-black-friday-deal-netherlands

Score €230 off on this 27-inch Samsung OLED monitor

Looking for a monitor that makes every frame count? The Samsung Odyssey delivers ultra-fast 240 Hz refresh rates, deep contrast, and razor-sharp 4K visuals. Coupled with its anti-reflective screen and HDR10+, games and movies look stunning from every angle.

Get the deal

Software & apps

Score 88% off on a Surfshark VPN subscription and get three months free

Dying to watch that episode of your favourite show, but Netflix isn’t streaming it in your region? This Surfshark VPN makes easy work of crashing through that hurdle by giving you access to servers all across the globe. Not to mention the best part — your data is kept safe from nosy companies and hackers.

Get the deal
nordvpn-dutch-black-friday-deal

Save 74% on NordVPN and get three months free

Perhaps you’ve also heard that you “should” get a VPN, but it always seemed too tricky, too expensive. But you’re here looking at this article — so why not finally set up a VPN and browse safely with NordVPN’s world-class security? Five minutes and you’re protected. Cool, huh?

Get the deal
orbit-mobile-esim-esims-in-the-netherlands-black-friday-deal

Get connected with Orbit Mobile and save up to 40% on your eSIM plan

Whether you’re travelling soon or just want a better deal on your data plan, these eSIMs offer a speedy and reliable connection for super-affordable prices. Want another even more off your plan? Just use our code DUTCH10.

Get the deal
nordpass-logo-showing-white-mountain-on-green-circle-with-nordpass-written-below

Save 56% on NordPass Premium and get three months free

While you’re getting your privacy in order, maybe it’s time to get your passwords in order, too. A password manager like NordPass keeps your passwords secure — and easy for you (just you!) to access them. Even better? You can also store credit card details or personal notes!

Get the deal

Best household Black Friday deals in the Netherlands for 2026

Furniture

flexispot-sit-stand-desk-black-friday-deal-50-percent-off

Enjoy up to 50% off on FlexiSpot products

Do you work from home? Great news: you can transform your office setup with up to 50% off on FlexiSpot desks, chairs, and more. And, as a remote-friendly office, we especially love the E7 Flow sit-stand desk — now available with a generous €300 discount.

Get the deal

Meal deals

hello-fresh-black-friday-meal-deal-netherlands

Nab up to €90 off on your first four HelloFresh meal boxes

Meal planning can be an absolute bummer, which is exactly why a HelloFresh subscription comes in handy. With ingredients delivered right to your doorstep and weekly menus tailored to your preferences, you no longer need to sweat over what to cook for dinner.

Get the deal

Organisational items

ekster-key-case-black-friday-deal

Score 20% off on this handy Ekster key case

Tired of fumbling with your keys or losing them in your bag? This clever little organiser from Ekster holds two to eight keys in a sleek case made of recycled aluminium or premium leather. Even better? It comes with a lifetime warranty, and you can snag an extra 10% off with the code DUTCHREVIEW10.

Get the deal
ekster-cardholder-pro-black-friday-sale

Keep your bank cards safe and get 17% off on this premium cardholder

With its sleek aluminium frame and space for up to 14 cards, Ekster’s Cardholder Pro is a real game-changer for keeping your wallet organised. We’re also big fans of the MagSafe version, which magnetically attaches to your devices for easy access.

(Or, if you’re looking for a more luxe option, we love the Wallet Pro in handcrafted Vachetta leather. Use the code DUTCHREVIEW10 for even more off your order.)

Get the deal

Bedding

emma-sleep-hybrid-premium-mattress-black-friday-sale

Get up to 50% off on a new mattress from Emma Sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep is the first step towards living a long, healthy life… which is exactly why you need this Emma Hybrid Premium Mattress! Thanks to its Thermosync technology, it absorbs your body heat and redistributes it, keeping you nice and toasty on those long, winter nights.

Get the deal
emma-sleep-free-bed-combi-deal-for-black-friday

Score a free (yes, FREE) bed with Emma Sleep’s Combi-Deal

Though buying new bedding can be expensive, this Black Friday deal proves that you can still furnish your house on a budget, with massive discounts on a mattress and duvet, free pillows, and the cherry on top: a free bed!

Get the deal

Personal care

dyson-airwrap-black-friday-deal-netherlands

Treat yourself to the famous Dyson Airwrap (now for 27% off!)

If you want long, glossy locks and dramatic volume, this powerful hair styling tool is your new best friend. Plus, with six different attachments and a nifty heat control mechanism, you avoid the heat damage of traditional curlers.

Get the deal
photo-of-philips-diamond-care-toothbrushes-in-black-friday-sale-netherlands

Save 54% on the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Series 9000 two-pack

Impress your Dutch dentist with these gold-standard toothbrushes! Not only do they claim to whiten your teeth in just one day, but they come with four different modes to suit your teeth AND connect to an app to see where you’ve missed. You get two bases in this pack, one white and one rose gold, + four brushes!

Get the deal
philips-shaver-i9000-prestige-ultra-black-friday-deal-on-male-shaver

‘Shave’ up to 42% off the price on this Philips i9000 Prestige Ultra shaver

Wave doei to nicks and scratches with this precision beard shaver! It comes with five settings, a pressure sensor, and a trimmer, allowing you to sculpt your beard to perfection. We’re also big fans of the UV charging case, which charges AND sanitises your device for you.

Get the deal

Plants and decor

plantje-black-friday-sale-on-monstera-plants

Brighten up your living space with fabulous discounts on some leafy friends

From roses to ferns and anti-mosquito plants (yes, they exist!), Plantje’s sales are a great way to decorate your house or apartment on a budget. Our favourites have to be these gorgeous Monstera plants that add a much-needed pop of colour to your sitting room or study.

Get the deal

Best Dutch Black Friday deals for travel

Travel gear

ekster-travelpack-vacuum-kit-black-friday-deal

Pack smart and get up to 43% off on this vacuum TravelPack

If you hate wrestling your suitcase shut after you’ve crammed in some last-minute items, this vacuum kit is an absolute lifesaver. Plus, thanks to its durable, anti-rip nylon and waterproof fabric, your clothes will stay safe and dry. Want even higher discounts? Use our code DUTCHREVIEW10.

Get the deal

Travel tickets & holidays

tui-black-friday-deals-flight-tickets-and-cruises

Treat yourself to travel discounts of up to €400 with Tui

Are you looking for a fab winter getaway, or are you ready and rearing to make some summer travel plans? With a wide range of discount codes for flights, cruises, city trips, and more, you won’t want to miss TUI’s Black Friday sale!

Get the deal

Best entertainment Black Friday deals in the Netherlands

Streaming services

skyshowtime-black-friday-deal-for-streaming-subscription

Slash 33% off the price of a SkyShowtime subscription

Ready to binge your favourite films and series without hefty subscription costs? This SkyShowtime discount is calling your name! Whether you want Premium’s crystal-clear UHD viewing experience or Standard’s sheer convenience, you’ll get 33% off for the first six months.

Get the deal

We’re updating this article regularly as more deals are released!

Got a deal that you think should make the list? Leave a comment below!

ABN AMRO is cutting nearly a quarter of all its jobs

Ida Allen-Auerbach
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ABN AMRO is cutting nearly a quarter of all its jobs

Leading Dutch bank ABN Amro announced job cuts numbering in the thousands this Tuesday in a continued effort to focus on private banking. 

CEO Marguerite Bérard, who took up the position this past April, spelled out the bank’s plans to reduce costs and increase its profits in an announcement by the bank earlier this morning, RTL Nieuws reports. 

How many jobs are we talking about?

The company aims to slash 5,200 full-time positions by the year 2028. As of this year, 1,000 jobs have already been cut. 

The remaining 4,200 jobs will be reduced in the coming years. Many positions simply won’t be re-filled as contracts expire. 

Using 2024 as a benchmark year, at which point the company had around 22,000 employees, the cuts amount to nearly a quarter of ABN’s workforce. 

Acquisitions and aspirations 

In some ways, the announcement is not a surprise. 

Thanks to a reduction in Dutch government stakes in the company, ABN Amro has been seen flexing its increased autonomy to maximise power on an international scale. 

The acquisition of NIBC and German bank Hauck Aufhäuser Lampe by ABN Amro are recent indicators of the bank’s goal to increase their competitiveness in Northwestern Europe. 

READ MORE | ABN AMRO now gives you a very sad 1.25% on your savings

ABN Amro has also sold their personal-loan focused subsidiary, Alfam, to Rabobank.

In other words, they are separating themselves from their previous work with consumers and smaller businesses in favour of big, wealthy individuals outside the Netherlands. Let the other banks deal with the little guy, right? 

What now?

While those employees losing their jobs are being offered financial support and aid in finding employment, there’s no doubt that a change this big will ruffle some feathers. 

Aside from the moral quandary of a Dutch company redirecting its interests in such a drastic way, job cuts might be due to AI streamlining.

In their press release, ABN Amro described “optimisation” through the integration of AI. 

The world is changing, and ABN Amro is moving right along with it. 

What are your thoughts on the job cuts? Let us know in the comments below! 

Spot a mistake on your receipt? At these supermarkets, you’ll now get a free product

Kriti Swarup
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Spot a mistake on your receipt? At these supermarkets, you’ll now get a free product

Shopping at Hoogvliet, Dekamarkt, or Nettorama, and you see an error on your bonnetje? You can now get the wrongly priced product or a gift certificate for free, reports RTL Nieuws. 

Picture it: you’re cruising in the neighbourhood Dekamarkt, and see 12 eggs for €2.50. Nice!

At the checkout, your bill is a little higher than expected. You blame the inflation. 

However, after taking a closer look at the receipt, you find that you were charged €4.50 for the eggs. Helaas pindakaas!

But now, this may work in your favour. If you point out the error to staff, you could receive either a gift certificate or the eggs for free.  

Why this change? 

At Nettorama and Vomar, the Consumers’ Association found that receipts were incorrect for 13% of the purchases. 

Meanwhile, Dirk and Dekamarkt faltered in 11% of all cases. 

Hoogvliet performed the worst, where customers paid a higher price at check-out than listed in-store for more than 1 in 5 products.

READ MORE | Best supermarkets in the Netherlands: the international’s guide

Albert Heijn, Jumbo, and Plus are not in the clear either. These giants had previously donated a total of 1.8 million euros to charities due to errors in their receipts.

And the Dutch Consumer’s Association was not impressed.

Either fix the problem, or start being charitable

After reprimanding the regional stores in April, the Consumers’ Association (bless them) carried out another survey in August.

“Because we haven’t seen enough improvement at DekaMarkt, Hoogvliet, and Nettorama, we’ve ordered them to stop making receipt errors and held them liable for the losses consumers are suffering,” Sandra Molenaar, director of the Consumers’ Association, tells RTL Nieuws.

The result? You get your free eggs (or a gift certificate).

The three supermarkets have also agreed to hire “mystery shoppers” to check prices, who will share results with the Consumers’ Association. 

With pricing errors happening so often, the price guarantee defends something sacred: a shopper’s love for a good korting.

Will you be double-checking your bonnetje? Share your story in the comments. 

The Netherlands’ Eurovision ultimatum has backfired spectacularly

Lyna Meyrer 🇱🇺
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0
The Netherlands’ Eurovision ultimatum has backfired spectacularly

Dutch broadcaster AvroTros drew a line in the sand back in September: if Israel competes at Eurovision 2026, the Netherlands won’t. The twist? They’re now pretty much alone in that stance.

And there’s a Dutch artist already picked who might never take the stage.

It all started with what seemed like solidarity. When AvroTros made its announcement, multiple other countries were already questioning whether Israel belonged at the contest given the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and allegations of government interference in Eurovision 2025.

AvroTros was betting on strength in numbers. Surely more broadcasters would join the cause, right? Well… no.

Plot twist: everyone else bailed

Fast-forward to today, and that united front has crumbled.

According to the AD, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has scrapped not one but two planned votes on Israel’s participation because, well, there’s no longer much appetite for kicking them out.

The 2026 host, Austria, has been especially supportive of Israel’s inclusion, with Germany strongly backing them up.

Meaning? The chances of Israel being kicked out of the competition are now basically nonexistent.

To appease everyone, the EBU has tried to address some concerns by overhauling the voting system and introducing stricter rules about political meddling from governments.

And the boycotters? Well, Iceland’s already slowly walking back on its threat, and Austria’s reportedly trying to sweet-talk the other countries into changing their minds, too.

AvroTros is stuck

Multiple sources say AvroTros and director Taco Zimmerman aren’t budging from their September statement. Backing down now would look like a massive climb-down, and the broadcaster’s not too keen on that.

But here’s where it gets awkward: They’ve already chosen someone to represent the Netherlands. Yep, there’s an artist out there, song ready to go, practising for their big breakthrough that might never come.

And if the Netherlands does sit out 2026, then what? Does AvroTros plan to boycott indefinitely? We’re not sure, but there’s already rumours about the Netherlands potentially handing Eurovision duties to a different broadcaster after 2026.

For now, there’s a very real possibility that the Netherlands could be absent from one of Europe’s most iconic nights of television. We’ll see what happens…

Do you think the Netherlands should stick to its principles or rejoin Eurovision? Let us know in the comments.

Paying over €900 in rent? You might qualify for rental allowance next year

Abuzer van Leeuwen 🇳🇱
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0
Paying over €900 in rent? You might qualify for rental allowance next year

From 2026, renters paying sky-high prices will finally be able to apply for huurtoeslag (rental allowance), regardless of how much their rent costs.

The change could help 170,000 extra people, including internationals stuck in the expensive private rental market.

Up until now, if you were paying more than €900 per month in basic rent (excluding g/w/e and service charges), you were completely shut out from receiving government help with housing costs. That’s changing next year, reports NU.nl.

Who can apply for rental allowance?

From 2026, the Dutch government is scrapping the €900 rent ceiling that previously excluded many renters from claiming huurtoeslag. Anyone aged 21 and over can now apply, no matter how high their rent is.

There’s a catch, though (isn’t there always?).

The government will only provide benefit payments on rent up to €933 per month. If you’re paying €1,500 in basic rent, you’ll only get help with the first €933 of it.

For younger renters aged 18 to 20, the threshold is lower at around €500.

The amount you receive also depends on your income and assets. Curious to know if you can receive anything? You can make a test calculation on the government’s website.

The conditions (because there are always conditions)

Before you start mentally spending that extra cash, there are requirements. Your home must be self-contained (with its own front door, kitchen, and toilet), and your income and assets need to fall below certain thresholds.

For single renters, the benefit stops if you have more than €38,479 in savings or assets.

The exact income cap isn’t entirely clear yet, but you can be fairly certain the government won’t be handing out huurtoeslag to those earning a ton. (Fun Dutch fact: a ton is €100,000.)

Meanwhile, couples face different limits based on their combined income.

These changes are particularly relevant for internationals who often end up in the private rental sector by default. 

Social housing waiting lists are notoriously long, and earning “too much” for social housing whilst still struggling with eye-watering private sector rents is a familiar predicament for many expats.

@dutchreview It would help with the heating bill #netherlands #amsterdam #housing #renting #housingcrisis ♬ Horror mystery music box loop(1168519) – Yorm

Will you be applying for huurtoeslag once the new rules take effect? Let us know in the comments below.

The one where the cast of Friends tried to speak Dutch (and failed)

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
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The one where the cast of Friends tried to speak Dutch (and failed)

It may come as no surprise that the most popular sitcom of the 1990s, Friends, was also a hit in the Netherlands. But did you catch these Dutch references sprinkled throughout the show?

It makes sense that Dutch references make an appearance in some of the episodes. After all, New York was originally New Amsterdam, with Dutch settlements in the Americas starting as early as 1613.

But enough ancient history — let’s head back to the nineties and see the four times Friends made a mess of our favourite guttural language.

The one with the bestiality

Now, that’s far too racy to be the real title of the episode, but there was one incredible episode where they snuck in a bestiality joke — because it was in Dutch.

READ MORE | Did the Dutch really buy New York for 24 dollars?

In the episode, Ross is trying to learn Dutch to snag a sweet apartment from a dying Dutch woman (we always knew he was a bad egg). Armed with a Dutch phrasebook, he sits in Central Perk and tries it out on barista Gunther — who unexpectedly speaks Dutch right back.

Yep, did ya hear that? “Jij hebt seks met ezels” or, as we English speakers like to say, “You have sex with donkeys.” Mic DROP. Who said Friends was rated PG?

Interestingly, it was a Dutch guy working at the Dutch Consulate in Los Angeles who got called in to make the joke and help the actors with their pronunciation. Erik Grouwstra told De Volkskrant that the joke worked because people would only understand the word ‘sex.’

“It was racy enough, but people probably wouldn’t get angry easily because they didn’t know exactly what was being said,” he explained.

It did lead to quite a few threads on Yahoo Answers asking what on earth ‘azul’ or ‘asil’ meant.

The one with the ‘Dutch’ girl (who clearly wasn’t Dutch)

In this episode, they didn’t actually try to speak Dutch — but they did try to pronounce the infamous Dutch ‘G.’

The plotline is simple: the gang is playing football on Thanksgiving when an attractive woman walks up and introduces herself as Marga. Her accent could have been confused for Russian, German — or any language other than Dutch.

READ MORE | Tom Holland in Holland?! 7 times the Netherlands appeared in Hollywood movies

In fact, as one YouTube commenter said, Joey actually pronounces her name better than she can herself.

But there’s even more pure Friends gold when Chandler asks Joey: “Where do the Dutch come from?”

The one where the identity thief steals the Dutch language

In this episode, Monica has her identity stolen. When she goes to catch the culprit, she tells the identity thief her name is “Monana” — and that it’s Dutch (um, okay, Monica).

READ MORE | Names in the Netherlands: the ultimate guide to Dutch names

Like being caught on your C2 Dutch skills on your resume, the identity thief just happened to speak Dutch too. “May I have this dance?” she asks. Grab some popcorn, skip to minute 2:55 and let the awkwardness ensue.

The one where they prey on a dying Dutch woman

The only housing crisis that could top the one in the Netherlands would be New York in the ’90s. So if you hear of a fragile old Dutch lady dying, you’d better snatch up the house before she…

Spoiler alert! She ain’t dead yet. Cue Ross awkwardly pretending that he and the dying Dutch woman are best friends. One problem? The old lady doesn’t speak English.

“Nice to meet a friend of my mother’s,” her daughter says in Dutch. Only she’s not the best Dutch speaker either. Watch and learn how to be as excruciatingly awkward as Ross.

Maybe Ross’ awkwardness with the Dutch language could be your key to securing a good apartment during the Dutch housing crisis.

What do you think of these Dutch moments in one of the most successful American sitcoms of all time? Tell us in the comments below!

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