Zooming around on fatbikes and e-bikes has become a popular way for Dutch teens to get around, but those rides will soon come with a little extra gear.
From 2027, anyone under 18 will likely need to strap on a helmet when cruising electric wheels.
More safety, fewer hospital visits
The Dutch House of Representatives originally toyed with separate rules for fatbikes versus regular e-bikes and the imposition of a legal minimum age for riding a fatbike. However, both of those measures proved to be legal tangles that would take years to implement.
So, what’s the quickest and least legally complex solution? A helmet rule.
But helmets are just the tip of the iceberg, as the Dutch government also wants to promote safer riding habits, reports the NOS. Meanwhile, e-bike manufacturers are now preparing to introduce a quality mark.
Accidents are on the rise
A study by VeiligheidNL for the Dutch government found that between 2020 and 2024, ER visits for young e-bikers doubled. In the same period, brain injuries in 12- to 18-year-olds who ride e-bikes increased sixfold.
Fatbike accidents, once unheard of, shot up to over 300 cases since 2020. Research also shows e-bikers are twice as likely to end up seriously hurt compared to regular cyclists.
Hospitals have been ringing alarm bells for years, and this move is finally a solid step towards keeping young riders’ heads protected.
Are you a fatbike rider, or do you hate them like everyone else? Tell us in the comments below!
Don’t cycle home alone: Nijmegen’s Radboud University has just issued an official warning to all students, following a horrific encounter near Goffert Park.
According to VOX, Radboud University’s official magazine, the incident involved an incoming student from the Faculty of Arts.
While she was cycling home from one of Radboud’s orientation week activities, there was an attempt to force her into a car and carry her off. Thankfully, the victim was able to escape.
There’s safety in numbers, says orientation coordinators
“Our concerns are with the victim,” Radboud orientation coordinator Elke Moser Melis tells VOX. “She is also getting support in filing a report, and a confidential advisor has been called in.”
Fearing a repeat attempt by the same aspiring kidnapper(s), Melis and other members of the introduction team sent out a WhatsApp message to all the orientation committees:
“Unfortunately, yesterday we almost had a situation where one of our students was involuntarily taken in a car on the way back from an activity. I’m asking you to ensure that students don’t cycle home alone and to pay extra attention to ensuring everyone gets home safely.”
Radboud students want more practical measures
“Never cycling alone is difficult,” one student tells Omroep Gelderland. They point out that most students live in different locations, making it unfeasible to cycle together for the entirety of a journey.
One solution that students have landed on is the “toothbrush selfie”, which is a picture of yourself brushing your teeth, so that your friends know you’ve got home safely.
However, as highlighted by police chief Gert Veurink, this doesn’t solve the crux of the issue and puts the burden of safety solely on potential victims (typically women).
“I was raised with the idea: you don’t let girls cycle home alone. You make sure they get home safely,” Veurink says in an interview with Omroep Gelderland.
“Yet, the question increasingly being asked on social media is: isn’t that also a kind of victim-blaming? Why shouldn’t women be allowed to cycle home alone? Those are conversations we need to have together.”
What solutions would you propose for incidents like this? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
Did you know that the Dutchies are ALWAYS on time? No? Well, get used to it.
Without being overdramatic, let us give you a pro trip to survive life in the Netherlands: if you want to have an appointment, a job, or any human relationship with a Dutch person, you need to learn to be on time.
What is it?
There is a concept behind everything in the Netherlands.
The Dutch infrastructure, architecture, and services are always well-planned and organised (and typically overly bureaucratic).
So it probably won’t surprise you that the Dutchies themselves are no exception.
In fact, their calendar is almost as well planned as their train syst… life under the sea level.
Why do they do it?
Well, why not? That’s also a valid question, right?
Being late to a personal meeting is simply disrespectful, and you can never give back the time for those waiting for you.
While the Dutch probably won’t think bad things about you if it happens occasionally (or if you say that you got stuck waiting for an open bridge), it’s better to try not to be late.
Why is it quirky?
The unwritten rule of being 10 minutes late without any bad looks when you arrive is simply not a thing here (yes, we’re sorry, Southern Europeans).
If you’re five minutes late to a doctor’s appointment, there’s a good chance that they’ll just… cancel your appointment.
It’s a fact of life that in the Netherlands, you always need to be on time. The only legitimate excuse to be late is to have a flat tyre.
If it’s about bikes, you can always find a helping hand. Image: Depositphotos
For some reason, having a non-functioning bike immediately makes it completely fine to be late from anywhere.
You can be late for your own funeral; the Dutchies will still give you their DIY tips on how to fix your fiets (bike) without any tools.
But, credit where credit is due: the Dutch approach to timeliness has nothing on the Germans.
Should you join in?
Jaa! While at first, it might feel like overplanning your days can kill all the spontaneity, it won’t.
It can be quite relaxing to organise your schedule and simply be on time.
If you are one of those people (🙋🏻♂️) who can be late even if you have all the time in the world, then I suggest turning your clock a bit forward to make sure to have functioning human relationships while living in the Netherlands.
What do you think of this Dutch quirk? Have you experienced it? Tell us in the comments below!
Brace yourselves for typical Dutch weather, with lower temperatures, rain, and some moderate wind. ☔
If you’ve had enough of sweating all the way through summer, RTL Nieuws has a very welcome update for you: from today (August 28) onwards, we’ll be saying doei to 25+ degree Celsius weather.
And hello to rain showers.
A healthy mix of rain and shine
While the day might kick things off with a few morning showers, skies are expected to clear up by mid-morning.
Reflecting this burst of sunshine, regions to the west and east of the Netherlands will get lightly toasted under temperatures of 21 to 24 degrees Celsius. The southwest is forecast to remain more moderate, with temperatures of 17 to 18 degrees.
Meanwhile, lucky ducks along the eastern border will cling to some traces of summer weather, with temperatures of up to 25 degrees Celsius.
By afternoon, typical Dutch wind and rain will pick up again, with strong gusts expected along the coast and a chance of thunderstorms in the southwest.
Come nighttime, skies will clear once again, and temperatures will drop to around 12 to 17 degrees.
Tomorrow is expected to be much of the same, with slightly more cloud cover.
So, is Dutch summer really over?
With Buienradar reporting temperatures as low 0 degrees at night over the past week, it certainly seems as though our summer fun may have reached its end.
However, given that the main culprit behind our spell of changeable weather is the now-dissipated Hurricane Erin, we could always be in for a surprise.
The Dutch capital is one wheel-whizzing, bell-dinging whirlwind of bicycles. But did you know you are around 20 times more likely to get injured while cycling in the US than in Holland?
That’s because it’s truly built for bikes here—almost a quarter of the population cycles every day, most residents own a bike, and kids are practically born pedalling.
It’s great that cycling, a fun, healthy and cheap activity, holds mighty high significance in this country. But how exactly did Amsterdam become THE bicycle paradise?
To bike or not to bike (it’s not even a question)
If you recently moved to the Netherlands, you might be considering buying a bike. And don’t hesitate! Riding a bike is good for your body AND the environment. But also, you don’t exactly have much choice.
It’s just the way the Dutch do things: pedal power is ALWAYS preferred.
As someone who came here from England, I can certainly say that I have never felt safer on a bike. We often joke about cyclists having the highest status on the roads here, but it’s true.
Was it always this way?
Not at all. After WWII, cars were all the rage. The Dutchies (like many others) were scrambling to get their paws on shiny modern motors that they could brag about to their neighbours.
It is sad now to think how many bikes were left to rust away in garden sheds just so traffic could jam up the city’s lovely narrow lanes. They even proposed filling in the canals with concrete!?
I can hardly imagine it these days, Amsterdam without bikes is like, well, Amsterdam without rain. Check out the origins of this wonderfully whizzy bike city. 👇
The concept of ‘Living Streets’ (or Woonerf), was realised in the Netherlands to restrict traffic casualties, and the video makes a good point; it’s not just safety in numbers, it’s power!
Bikes n’ beyond
If you also love how accommodating the Netherlands is for bikes — especially expats like me, who know it’s miles better than cycling in our home country — then you’ll be pleased to know it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
The best tip? Just avoid rush hour altogether. The NS advises that if your working schedule is flexible, avoid taking the train on Tuesdays and Thursdays altogether.
However, autumn train chaos is about to get even more chaotic, as ProRail (the Dutch national railway network) has a full schedule of renovation planned for The Hague in September, Vught in October, and Schiphol in November.
Does your regular commute run through any of these locations? While the NS will provide replacement transport, their buses have limited capacity, so arranging an alternative route or a different mode of transport beforehand is a great idea.
Will you switch to a quieter train or brave the rush-hour crush? Share your choice in the comments below!
If you’ve been following Dutch politics lately, you’ll know that political stability isn’t exactly the Netherlands’ strongest suit right now.
According to the latest EenVandaag poll, the VVD has plummeted to just 15 seats, a dramatic eight-seat drop from their previous 23… and their worst performance in decades.
What’s happening to the VVD?
The liberal party that once dominated Dutch politics under Mark Rutte is experiencing a spectacular collapse.
Adding insult to injury, over half of past VVD voters (56%) now think Yeşilgöz should step down. Her current supporters are a little more forgiving, with 64% backing her to stay, but they’re advising her to be “less populist” and focus more on traditional VVD policies.
The bigger political picture
Meanwhile, the PVV has regained its position as the largest party with 33 seats, followed by GroenLinks-PvdA at 26 seats. The CDA continues its steady rise to 22 seats, making it the third-largest party and potentially crucial for any future Dutch coalition.
The political trend is clear: the CDA is rising while the VVD is falling.
But why is the CDA so popular? Well, the party’s popularity can largely be attributed to its leader, Henri Bontenbal, who has emerged as the preferred choice for prime minister with 44% support according to an RTL Nieuws poll.
Bontenbal significantly outpaces his rivals and is seen as someone who “chooses his words carefully” and comes across as “sympathetic” to voters.
What this means for coalition building in the Netherlands
With these numbers, forming a stable government after the upcoming October 29 elections becomes increasingly challenging.
A centrist coalition would require all five major parties (GroenLinks-PvdA, CDA, VVD, D66, and ChristenUnie) to reach the 76-seat majority needed to govern, a complicated arrangement that could lead to months of negotiations.
The Dutch coalitionsystem means that even significant polling shifts don’t guarantee quick political solutions, as we’ve seen with the lengthy cabinet formation processes in recent years.
A government in chaos
The political landscape has become even more fragmented after the NSC left the cabinet last week following disagreements over the Netherlands’ response to the Gaza conflict.
This departure came just months after the PVV pulled out in June over asylum policy disputes, leaving Prime Minister Dick Schoof’s government with only two parties (VVD and BBB) holding just 32 of the 150 parliamentary seats.
Currently, the VVD and BBB are figuring out how to continue governing with something that resembles a cabinet.
Can you vote in the upcoming elections? Let us know in the comments!
Hold up — sororities and fraternities in the Netherlands? Isn’t that an American thing? Well, it’s complicated, but there is a Dutch version, alongside a whole stack of student associations.
In the simplest terms, these groups of students get together for socialising, networking, and…going kinda crazy.
They’re considered a gezelligheidsverenigingen(social association), and often come with strange traditions and strict rules. Members often even live together in sorority or fraternity houses.
Sound familiar? Let’s get into it.
What are these Dutch fraternities and sororities?
You’ve definitely seen them around: young Dutch guys with a gelled-up hairdo, matching suits and dirty classic ties. After all, that’s hard to miss.
In general, if you see groups of girls or guys all dressed identically, they’re probably from some branch of what’s known as ‘the corps’.Het Korpsis by far the largest student association in the Netherlands, with branches in every student city.
It’s the oldest and most prestigious society, with weird traditions and often generational members. Famous chapters of this society are Minerva in Leiden (the King was a member there) and the — rather infamous — Vindicat in Groningen.
Membership fees are high enough to attract only the elite (or very wealthy) students since regular student budgets usually can’t afford it.
As a member of the studentencorps, you’re expected to have a high level of commitment, so maintaining social groups outside of this close-knit community is hard, but it is also why bonds made here are so strong.
Society life tends to be stronger in the smaller cities where there’s not much going on at night. After all, what else is there for these raucous students to do?
The result, unfortunately, is that associations in places like Rotterdam and Amsterdam have more of a snobbish atmosphere (since fewer people are allowed to join).
Hazing — yep, that happens in the Netherlands
All right, let’s get to the juicy stuff. Throughout my bachelor’s degree, stories about what goes down at some sororities and fraternities have shocked and bewildered me.
I’m not going to attempt to separate the rumours from the truth, but it’s no secret that certain student societies in the Netherlands have made the news a few times for hazing (ontgroening).
Hazing, to some, means “pushing boys to become men” through tasks that are (apparently) designed to bond people together.
When these go too far, though, humiliation, violence and physical abuse have sometimes resulted.
In general, hazing has been limited at many universities, and there are now strict rules about what students are allowed to do during introduction weeks.
For example, minimum water consumption and sleep hours must be met, and first-year students are not allowed to drink alcohol at all. It makes you wonder what it was like before, right?
Traditions of fraternities and sororities in the Netherlands
As if hazing wasn’t weird enough, some fraternities and sororities have traditions and rules they must follow — or risk removal.
One housemate I had was obligedto go drinking every Wednesday night, which seemed more like a chore for her when school got intense. So don’t underestimate them when they say there’ll be lots of drinking.
Members of some Dutch fraternities are not allowed to wash their ties… ever. Image: Pexels
Another Dutch fraternity has a rule that they have to wear the same tie every night out. That’s not so weird, right? But here’s the thing: they’re not allowed to wash it.
Some are in the fraternity for four or more years, and, despite wild nights out and countless beers spilt, that tie will never be washed. Gross.
My personal impression
It began, as many university stories do, during my introduction week. I wandered through the park filled with colourful stands of the many student associations, eating free ice cream.
“Hallo!” A perky girl jumped in front of me. She proceeded to ramble on about something I didn’t understand, so when she paused for a breath, I asked if she could switch to English.
That popped her inflated face pretty quickly. “Sorry, we’re only for Dutch girls,” she said blankly.
As a member of a Dutch sorority or fraternity, you’re in for a lot of drinking. A lot. Image: Unsplash
The heat sensors in the back of her skull caught on to another freshie, and she leapt upon the newcomer behind her, leaving me alone in front of the stand.
After that, I was never particularly interested in joining what seemed to be nothing more than Dutch people getting drunk together. Some international friends joined and complained that the drinking became too much.
I’d see girls cycling out in matching uniforms every night, singing like deranged animals and barely scraping themselves into class the next day.
Going Dutch
To be honest, I think Dutch student societies were just too much of a culture shock for me. There seemed to be an attitude towards studies of “As long as I pass, it’s fine.”
This is not what I grew up with at all, and when you’re an international, you have a lot on the line when it comes to failing.
You’re paying triple the fees, have uprooted your entire life for your education, and the government has grounds to deport you if your grades aren’t high enough.
Spending tons of money to basically get wasted every week with people who didn’t really want me there anyway was just not for me.
I have, however, had international friends who joined sororities and fraternities and loved it.
They met new friends, went on trips that sometimes got them jobs after university, and helped them assimilate into Dutch culture. So check them out for yourself and see what you think.
Don’t worry, there are plenty of other ways to make great friends and have fun during your student years; I can promise you that. 😉
I made most of my friends at free drop-in sports clubs, my faculty’s magazine, oh and crying with fellow students at the back of the lecture hall (she laughs nervously).
Have you had an experience with a student society in the Netherlands? Tell us in the comments below!
The Dutch health service (GGD) has scheduled another round of COVID-19 vaccinations from September 15 to December 5, 2025.
With the Ministry of Health (RIVM) expecting a possible resurgence in COVID-19 infections, the Netherlands is jumping back into vaccination mode.
As of August 27, the first wave of invitations has just been sent out, advising people to make an appointment for their COVID-19 vaccination.
Who is this new COVID jab for?
At present, only those most vulnerable to the virus are advised to register for a vaccination. The current risk groups include:
People aged 60 and over,
People aged 50 to 59 who regularly receive an invitation to get their flu shots,
Children and adults with compromised immune systems, and
Healthcare workers.
Good to know: If you don’t belong to the aforementioned risk groups, but have an immunocompromised family member, you can still make an appointment with the GGD to receive your vaccination.
How (and where) do I book a vaccination?
The fine print will generally depend on your circumstances. 👇
If you’re 60+ and were vaccinated last year, you will receive a letter with a suggested date, time, and location for your COVID-19 shot.
If you’re a healthcare worker with vulnerable patients, you’ll receive a letter from your employer with instructions on how to register for your vaccination.
However, if you belong to any of the other groups (or you’re 60+ and haven’t had a recent vaccination), you’ll need to schedule your own appointment. You can either book an appointment on the GGD website or call 0800-7070.
Are you trying to book a vaccination for your child? If they’re under the age of 18, you’re required to call 0800-7070 to request an appointment.
Which vaccine will I get?
This round of vaccinations will use the BioNTech/Pfizer mRNA vaccine, which has been adapted to target the most prevalent COVID-19 variants.
For those who can’t (or don’t want to) receive the mRNA vaccine, the RIVM may be rolling out a new protein vaccine. You can likely expect more information about this in December on the RIVM website.
Pas op, Nederlanders! Someone has gained popularity on TikTok by capturing videos of people in the Netherlands running to catch Dutch trains — and guess what? You might just be on one of them.
TikTok is humankind’s most addictive digital drug these days.
By now, you’re likely used to watching creative edits of characters from your favourite television series on repeat, or celebrities turning into iconic memes for three minutes straight.
However, the last thing you’d expect to see on your “for you page” is a video of yourself running to catch an NS train with over a million views on it. Say what? 🤨
What’s this? Dutch TrainTok?
It all started with a TikTok user, @ns.sprinters, and the whimsical idea to film people in some of the 400 NS train stations that the Netherlands boasts.
And it’s safe to say that the Dutch TikTok community is eating @ns.sprinters’ content up.
With 114,800 TikTok followers and videos amassing as much as 3.2 million views, there’s certainly a market for watching people have a bad day at the station.
But what’s all the roddel (gossip) about really? Take a look for yourself!
Sprinting for NS Sprinters
The first victim of this TikTok account takes after the sprint king of the Olympics!
People are bonding in the videos’ comment sections over their mutual fear of @ns.sprinters coming to film in their local station.
I guess this TikTok user should receive some brownie points for the effort they put into catching travellers in their most chaotic moments — but how easy is it for them to really find you?
Well, let’s ease your fears and do a quick rundown, shall we?
The Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) runs about 5,000 scheduled domestic trains to hundreds of central stations in the country, and serves more than 1 million passengers every day.
This means that there’s a higher likelihood of your bike getting stolen five nights in a row than there is of you getting caught on this terrific yet terrifying TikTok account.
The lesson? Keep your eyes peeled
The next time you find yourself running in a train, tram, or bus station in the Netherlands, just keep an eye out for the Dutch boogeyman that is now known as @ns.sprinters.
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself… and also whoever’s behind this TikTok account. Now we have that too. 😒
Could you have gone your whole life without knowing this? Yes, but now you do. Let us know what you think about it in the comments below! 👇
