The Dutch police have released an image of the suspect involved in a fatal shooting that occurred on May 1 in the town of Rijswijk, near The Hague.
The incident took place around 5:45 PM on the terrace of a hotel on Van Vredenburchweg, where 41-year-old Cemil Önal from Turkey was shot at close range and died at the scene.
According to Turkish media, the victim was a whistleblower who accused high-ranking Turkish politiciansof corruption and money laundering. He is also said to repeatedly have warned Dutch authorities that he feared for his life.
Looking for leads
The suspect in the fatal shooting is described as approximately 1.80 meters tall, with a normal to sturdy build, a beard, and wearing black clothing — specifically, black Adidas pants and black shoes with white soles from Nike.
Investigators have determined a possible escape route for the suspect. He is believed to have fled the scene towards Guntersteinweg and then continued north in the direction of Erasmusweg.
The police have not disclosed further details about the motive or the suspect’s identity, since the investigation is still ongoing.
They are now looking for witnesses who may have information, particularly two individuals who were reportedly sitting on a bench in the park near the crime scene around the time of the incident.
Additionally, authorities are interested in any footage from the area between 3:30 PM and 6:30 PM on May 1, including from security cameras, video doorbells, or dashcams.
Information can be shared anonymously via the online police tip form, or at 0800-6070. For international callers, the police tip-off line is available at +31 (0)79 345 98 00.
A regular Tuesday afternoon took a shocking turn in Amsterdam-Noord when gunshots rang out near Gare du Nord, leaving a 20-year-old student injured.
The same evening, a special police team swooped in and arrested two 17-year-olds, who are believed to be connected to the shooting.
According to Dutch police, all three individuals, the victim and the suspects, attend the same ROC school in Amsterdam.
Gunfire in broad daylight
The shooting happened around 2:45 PM on the afternoon of May 6.
Officers rushed to the scene and found the victim lying on the street, injured but still conscious.
Arriving a short while later, emergency crews provided first aid on the spot before rushing the victim to the hospital. Meanwhile, witnesses reported seeing two people dressed in black running toward Krijtmolenpark.
Following the incident, Amsterdam police wasted no time launching an investigation, with both suspects arrested later that evening.
One of the suspects is believed to have fired the shots, while the other is accused of being his accomplice.
Translation: [#Shooting in front of secondary school #ROC of #Amsterdam. A 20-year-old boy was shot in the right leg. 2x suspects, including the shooter, fled on a scooter. The report came in at 14.42 hrs. #PD cordoned off #trace investigation. 2x casings and scooter seized. Gare Du Nord #Amsterdam-Noord]
As reported by AT5, Amsterdam police said: “It is possible that a conflict arose in the school before the incident.’’
Both teenagers are now in custody and have only been granted access to speak with their lawyer.
As the investigation is currently ongoing, the police aren’t releasing further details for now.
Community shaken
Given that the shooting happened in broad daylight, with several people nearby at the time, it’s no surprise that the incident left a strong emotional impact on those who witnessed it.
The police recommend calling Victim Support at 0900-0101 if you were affected or need someone to talk to. You can also contact your local police officer.
The investigation is still underway, and police urge everyone who saw or heard anything to come forward. If you have any relevant camera footage, you can share it through this tip form by indicating the case number 2025109787.
We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but extensive roadworks are due across several motorways in the Randstad — and yes, they’ll affect your commute! 🚧
From today (May 9) onwards, the Rijkswaterstaat will be launching major infrastructure upgrades to improve roads and waterways.
Given the size of the job, these renewals mean serious traffic disruptions, so plan your trip wisely!
Here’s what we know
The disruptions will impact weekdays and weekends, so wherever you’re headed, it’s smart to plan accordingly. 📅
Listen up! Here’s what you need to know:
From Friday, 9 May 8 PM until Monday, 19 May 5 AM, the A12 will be closed between the Maanderbroek and Lunetten junction on the Veenendaal towards Utrecht road. Traffic will be diverted on the A30, A1, A27, A50, A15, A2 and A27 depending on your direction of travel.
From Friday, 9 May until Monday, 12 May, and from Friday, 23 May until Monday, 26 May, the A27 will be closed at the Everdingen junction towards Utrecht.
From Friday, 9 May 10 PM until Monday, 26 May 5 AM, the A1 will be closed between the Watergraafsmeer and Diemen junction. Traffic will be redirected via the A2 and A9 highways.
From Friday, 9 May 10 PM until Monday, 12 May 5 AM, the road between the Everdingen and Lunetter junction will be closed. Traffic will be rerouted via the A2 and A12.
On the weekend of Friday, 16 May, 8 PM until Monday, 19 May, 6 AM, and Friday, 23 May, 8 PMuntil Monday, 26 May, 6 AM, the A2 carriageway will be closed between the Maarssen and the Oudenrijn junction. Traffic will be diverted to the parallel carriageway.
We voeren de komende weken op verschillende #snelwegen grootschalig onderhoud uit. 🚧 Daardoor verwachten we extra drukte op de weg. Check daarom vooraf je route en pas je reis indien mogelijk aan.
Translation: We are carrying out major maintenance on several #highways in the coming weeks. 🚧 As a result, we expect extra traffic on the road. Therefore, check your route in advance and adjust your trip if possible.
Expect delays and plan ahead
With school holidays and luscious weather keeping us company, traffic is expected to spike, especially this weekend.
Delays could range from 30 to 60 minutes, so it’s best to give yourself extra travel time and check your route before departure.
If avoiding traffic sounds more appealing, consider rescheduling your plans, grabbing your sunnies and going for a picnic near your house to dodge the delays. 🧘🏻♀️
How will you spend this weekend? Will your plans be affected by the roadworks? Let us know in the comments below.
Australia and the Netherlands may not be mentioned in the same sentence all that often, but you’ll be surprised how many links there are between them.
For two very different landmasses (one tiny, one huge) on opposite sides of the globe, Australia and the Netherlands have an unlikely but close connection.
Dutch exploration of Australia
Alright, time for a crash course in history
For many Dutchies, it isn’t a big surprise to hear that the Dutch were the first Europeans to set foot on Australian soil.
The navigator Willem Janszoon made landfall in Queensland in 1606 and Western Australia in 1618. 🧭
Then, of course, Dirk Hartog was the leader of the second European group to land in Australia — and the first to leave an artefact behind to record his visit in 1616. Namely, the Hartog Plate on what is now known as Dirk Hartog Island.
Australia and the Netherlands have vastly different landscapes, but a shared history nonetheless. Image: Depositphotos
Frederik de Houtman, Abel Tasman, and Willem de Vlamingh were the other notable Dutch explorers who first began charting the land Down Under in the 17th century.
In fact, the Dutch played such a big role in the exploration of Australia that the country was once called “New Holland.” 😱 That’s until it was colonised by the English in 1788.
Dutch shipwrecks in Australia
With so many Dutch ships exploring Australia and sailing past its West Coast on their way to Jakarta (then Batavia), there were inevitably also quite a few shipwrecks.
Why inevitably? Were the Dutch bad seafarers? Neeee. 🙅♂️
The coast of Western Australia is the resting place of more than 1,400 shipwrecks (not just Dutch ones) because of its long and difficult coastline and the common powerful storms and cyclones.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the inability to accurately measure longitude meant many ships turned out of the “Roaring Forties” (the nickname for the strong westerly winds around Australia) too late.
The result? Ships smashed into the coast instead of heading up to Indonesia — whoops.
Perhaps the most well-known shipwreck on the West Australian coast is the VOC ship Batavia, which was lost in 1620.
The story of the mutiny, wreck, and consequent massacre that took place amongst the survivors of Batavia has made this shipwreck quite infamous.
The replica in Lelystad. Quite a sight! Image: Depositphotos
By now, it’s been the subject of numerous articles, books, films, and even an opera!
If you want to feel part of this intriguing Dutch-Australian history, you can visit a replica of the ship in Lelystad. Remains of the original shipwreck are displayed in the Western Australian Museum, Geraldton.
Dutch place names in Australia
The Dutch didn’t only leave shipwrecks behind in Australia but also their (beautiful?) language — or at least words and names from it.
Even today, a lot of places in Australia are named after Dutch people or places. While some of these names have changed throughout time, many still exist in an anglicised version.
What might be surprising to a lot of Aussies, and maybe even Dutchies, is just how many places were named by the Dutch.
Tasmania has the Dutch to thank for its name! Image: Depositphotos
Let’s start with the usual spots named after notable Dutch people or places in the Netherlands, such as:
Dirk Hartog Island, Western Australia (named after the explorer who landed there)
Arnhem Land, Northern Territory (named for the city of Arnhem)
Gulf of Carpenteria, Queensland (named for Pieter de Carpentier, then Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies)
Wessel Islands, Northern Territory (named after the ship Klein Wesel, which was named after the city of Wesel)
Maria Island, Tasmania (named after Maria Van Aelst, the wife of Anthony Van Diemen)
And of course, the original name for Tasmania was Van Diemen’s Land, named for Anthony Van Diemen, then it was changed to Tasmania, for Dutch explorer Abel Tasman!
And here are the wildcards — names that don’t sound like they were named by the Dutch, but actually were:
Even the town where I grew up in Tasmania, called Kingston, is a sister city to Grootegast, a village in Groningen.
The Dutch immigrants who settled in the town of Kingston founded the local Calvin Christian School, which hosts an annual oliebollen festival.
In fact, so many Dutch immigrants moved to an area in Kingston now called Firthside, that it was originally called ‘Little Groningen’!
Immigration from the Netherlands to Australia
Although the Dutch began the exploration of Australia, the southern land was eventually colonised by the British. It then became a federation in 1901 and finally an independent sovereign nation after World War I. 🎉
After World War II, immigration to Australia from Europe boomed, and the Dutch were one of many nationalities who helped to populate the vast country.
Today, 240,000 Australian residents claim Dutch ancestry, and 95,000 were born in the Netherlands. Many parts of Australia have strong Dutch communities that are still active today — leuk!
Some of the most notable Dutch Australians include:
Paul Cox (Paulus Henrique Benedictus Paul Cox): a filmmaker born in Limburg who emigrated to Australia in 1956.
Edward Duyker: a historian, biographer, and author who has written numerous biographies of early explorers as well as ‘The Dutch in Australia.’
Anna Johanna Maria “Annita” van Iersel: known as Annita Keating from 1975-1998 and the former wife of Paul Keating, former Prime Minister of Australia.
Anthony LaPaglia: a well-known Australian actor whose mother was Dutch and father was Italian.
Trevor Marmalade (Jason van de Velde): an Australian comedian of Dutch descent.
Harry Vanda (Johannes Hendrikus Jacob van den Berg): a Dutch-born Australian musician who was best known as a member of the 1960s Australian rock band The Easybeats.
Johnny Young (Johnny Benjamin de Jong): a Dutch-born Australian singer hailing from Rotterdam.
Aussies in Holland
While many Dutch immigrants moved to Australia in the ’50s and onward, nowadays, there are many Australians who live in the Netherlands.
The two countries have an agreement that makes it fairly easy for Australians to work, study, and live in the Netherlands.
Naturally, this means that there are large Australian communities to be found, particularly in Amsterdam and The Hague.
Politicians from Australia have visited the Netherlands in the past (as well as King Willem and Queen Maxima visiting Australia on more than one occasion).
Where to go for Australian food in the Netherlands
There’s also an increasing number of Australian-owned and/or themed restaurants, bars and cafes opening around the country.
Thinking of moving to Amsterdam for your studies? Picturing canal views and gezellig student life? Adorable. But the reality is far less romantic and far more expensive.
According to rental platform Kamernet, student rents across the Netherlands rose by an average of 6.2% last quarter, bringing the national average to €683 per month.
Spoiler alert, Amsterdam is way above this average. 😬
Amsterdam is still the queen of pain
According to Kamernet, the average rent for a student room in Amsterdam now sits at a painful €979 per month, up 3.2% from last year. 👑
It remains the undefeated champion of Dutch rent prices, towering over Utrecht with an average of €803 for a student room, and Haarlem at €770.
Translation: too few rooms, too many students, and landlords acting like they’re not renting, but auctioning off square meters to the highest bidder. 💸
Whether braving the Amsterdam market or trying your luck in a smaller city, the crisis isn’t just real — it’s expensive, relentless, and very much still here.
Got a rent horror story, a secret housing tip, or just want to vent with fellow students? Drop it in the comments — let’s bond over our shared financial trauma. 💔
Have you ever looked out your window, seen even more clouds and thought “I’m out of here”? Go for it, but just know that you may already be living in one of the happiest cities in the world.
With no less than four Dutch cities landing among the top 50 rankings in the Happy City Index, it turns out that some parts of the Netherlands can be pretty great places to live — and hey, we’ve all seen how happy we can be when the sun comes out.
So, where should you make sure to be this year? Keep an eye on Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Eindhoven.
Ok, but what counts as happiness?
“Happy” is a very broad term, so how does the Happy City Index actually measure this?
It’s not as simple as stopping strangers outside train stations and asking how many dogs they’ve petted in the last 24 hours.
So before we look at where these Dutch cities ranked, let’s lay out how they even landed on the list in the first place. The research looked at specific factors:
Citizens — Cities with the greatest social achievements
Governance — Cities with the best governance practices
Environment — Cities with the best environmental practices
Economy — Cities with the best economic performance
Health — Cities with the best health
Mobility — Cities with the best transport infrastructure
So, where did the Dutch cities rank?
Ranking within the top 10, Rotterdam turns out to be the happiest city the Netherlands has to offer — perhaps the butt plug gnome statue has something to do with this.
Next up, sharing the 35th spot with Bruges (Belgium), we have Amsterdam (we imagine rental prices may have dragged it down a few rankings).
This was followed closely by Utrecht at 37, and then, clinging on in 50th place, Eindhoven — let’s thank ASML for this… because they’re always mentioned when it comes to Eindhoven’s achievements. 🙏
For years, Amsterdam has reigned supreme as the Netherlands’ darling among expats, with its bustling streets, historic canals, and a vibrant international vibe.
But a new trend is emerging: more and more internationals are swapping the hustle and bustle of the capital for the calm and character of smaller Dutch cities. But… why?
Big dreams, small cities
Sure, Amsterdam has its charm, but let’s be real: the cost of living is sky-high, the rental market is a blood sport, and the crowds are… relentless.
Renting in Amsterdam? Good luck… Image: Depositphotos
Enter the new wave of expat hotspots: cities like Eindhoven, Groningen, and Dordrecht, which are stepping up as seriously attractive alternatives.
These smaller cities are ticking all the boxes — more affordable housing, a stronger sense of community, better work-life balance, and access to nature.
Space to breathe (and maybe even buy)
Housing in Amsterdam? Let’s just say you’d better have a solid income, a bucket of luck, and the patience of a saint. But in cities like Groningen, you can sometimes find rentals up to 50% cheaper.
Expats moving to these towns are discovering they can rent spacious apartments or even buy property, while still enjoying a high quality of life.
And let’s not forget: being able to host a dinner party without your guests sitting on your bed? Priceless.
Peace, parks, and people who smile at you
Beyond the euros and square meters, there’s something deeper pulling expats to smaller cities: the quality of life. Think less traffic, more greenery, fewer tourists, and friendly locals who might actually say hoi to you on the street.
Cities like Eindhoven and Dordrecht offer a quieter, slower-paced life without sacrificing culture or convenience. You’ll still find great cafés, museums, and local markets, just with shorter queues.
These towns often have strong community initiatives too, making it easier for expats to settle in, meet people, and feel at home.
Not to mention, access to nature trails and parks gives your brain some much-needed space from everyday life.
Careers beyond the capital
Think all the good jobs are in Amsterdam? Think again. Cities like Eindhoven are booming, especially in the tech and innovation sectors; it’s not called the “Silicon Valley of Europe” for nothing.
With strong local economies and plenty of international companies setting up shop, these smaller cities are becoming serious career hubs.
Plus, the work-life balance? Chef’s kiss. You might even have time to pick up that Dutch hobby you keep putting off (hello, cycling club or pottery class!).
Amsterdam, just a train ride away
Of course, leaving the capital doesn’t mean cutting ties with it completely.
Thanks to the Netherlands’ world-class public transport system, cities like Utrecht, Leiden, and Amersfoort are just a quick train ride from Amsterdam.
The capital will always be there! Image: Dreamstime
So whether you need to commute occasionally or just want a weekend museum fix, it’s all within reach.
As the cost of living rises and the desire for balance grows, it’s no surprise that expats are rethinking where they put down roots.
So, if you’re dreaming of life in the Netherlands, don’t be afraid to think smaller. You might just find everything you’re looking for outside the Amsterdam spotlight.
Do you live in a smaller Dutch city? How does it compare to Amsterdam? Share your thoughts in the comments.
You’re probably not interested in hearing about inflation and the rising costs of living again, so we’ll keep it short: it sucks. Luckily, there are still ways to save money — even in this economy.
With impressive money management and saving tools, cashback, and discounts, the Woolsocks app is a dream come true for anyone struggling with the tight grip of rising costs at the moment.
In fact, the name of the company even comes from the old Dutch saying “saving money in your wool sock”, which pretty much describes an old-school piggy bank, fit for the traditionally money-savvy Dutchies.
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Tedious made fun: the life hacks of money management
The first step on any money-saving journey is to get an overview of your income and expenses.
Simply add your Dutch bank account to the Woolsocks app, and it’ll track everything flowing in and out of your digital wallet. It’ll give you a good idea of what your most expensive habits are and where your money really disappears.
Saving money can be easier than you think. Image: Depositphotos
The app will create cute, tidy graphs, so you can get a visual representation of your cash situation.
On top of this, the app operates and organises automatically, so you won’t have to refresh your old Excel/statistics knowledge at all.
It gets better: cashback on shopping
Cashback is a system originally developed for credit card use that has now entered the world of debit cards and online stores.
Cashback rewards systems let consumers earn a certain percentage of the money they spend on shopping back when they purchase something.
The Woolsocks app does this for you by quietly running in the background and generating cashback — without you having to lift a finger. Just look up if your favourite stroopwafel store partners with Woolsocks, and shop like you normally would.
The only difference is that you’ll get some sweet cashback into your account within just a few days of shopping!
Discounts, because who wants to pay full price?
If the thought of saving money while you’re spending money sounds a bit too good to be true, you can also stick to a more old-fashioned yet trustworthy system: discounts.
Woolsocks has a massive range of partners offering neat discounts on everything from stamps to stoves, from pants to pizza — there’s money to be saved around every corner.
Sure, old-fashioned piggy banks are great, but why not give money-saving a modern twist? Image: Depositphotos
So you’ve got a bunch of money left over. Now what?
We know it sounds like a fever dream to have a bunch of money left over, so it can be tricky to think of ways to put your excess cash to good use.
If you’re looking for inspiration, we’ve got you covered with a few suggestions to make you feel just a little bit better about your saving habits.
Donate to charity
With a long list of local and global charities on Woolsocks, you can pick and choose between heaps of good causes and find your next favourite organisation to gift your excess money to.
Save, because that’s important too
Sure, donating makes you feel great, and more importantly: it helps other people as well. But every now and then, you just have to put aside some cash for your future self, and Woolsocks is great for this.
With simple overviews of income and expenses, cashback and money saved and made, the app makes it easy to keep track of just how much money you can afford to set aside.
It’s not easy saving money in this economy, but some tools and techniques make it just a bit more straightforward. And if you live in the Netherlands, you’re lucky enough to be surrounded by money-saving culture wherever you look!
Have you mastered the Dutch art of saving money? Tell us your best life hacks in the comments below!
Dutchies don’t want to stand out from the crowd by wearing something really different or unique. They just want to blend in with the crowd and not draw too much attention to themselves.
Sticking to this uniform is also in line with the Dutch tendency to be frugal. Buying new clothes all the time to keep up with fashion trends is so last year for your wallet! 💁♀️
Why is it quirky?
A lot of Dutchies dress in a pretty similar way, which can be very amusing to spot. You would expect a little more fun and spontaneity with how free and tolerant the society is, but nope!
Of course, not every Dutchie does this, and you’ll see a lot more varied looks in cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam than in smaller cities.
Should you join in?
This one’s really up to you, boo!
If you enjoy blending in with the crowd and not having to think too much about your outfits every day, go for it.
Or if you think it’s too boring, then do your own thing and shine amongst the sea of hoodies and white sneakers. 🕺✨
What do you think of this Dutch quirk? Have you experienced it? Tell us in the comments below!
In the Hague, Liberation Day was marked by pro-Palestinian demonstrations, which disrupted official events and drew a strong police response.
In Wageningen (Gelderland), things had already gotten tense earlier in the day when protesters climbed a fence and interrupted Defence Minister Brekelman’s speech with chants of “Free Palestine.”
Protest at Leiden University ends in multiple arrests
As the NOS reports, a much larger demonstration occurred outside a Leiden University building on the Turfmarkt.
During the protest, several demonstrators also entered the building and briefly occupied it. According to the university, several emergency door locks were damaged during this occupation.
Police eventually cleared the building and dispersed the crowds, arresting 74 people for property damage and one for unlawfully sharing private information.
However, the strong police response drew strong criticism from student groups. 👇
“We are extremely shocked by the police violence,” Abdelkader Karbache, chairman of the National Student Union (LSVB), told AD. “The violence is increasing so much that even students are being treated like serious criminals.”
PM Schoof speaks out on Gaza plans
Meanwhile, at a press conference with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof spoke for the first time about Israel’s recent military plans in Gaza.
Responding to RTL Nieuws, Schoof called Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s plans to fully occupy the Gaza Strip “worrying.”
He also warned of “far-reaching humanitarian consequences” for both Palestinians and Israeli hostages, stressing the importance of sticking to international law.
De Wever added that the worsening conditions in Gaza demand urgent action: “This has to stop.”
Let’s just say that Liberation Day felt different this year, with added reflection on how history and the ongoing crisis in Gaza intersect.
