Last night, US President Donald Trump announced that he would suspend all military aid to Ukraine — at least for now. Now, the Netherlands and the rest of Europe must step up to shape the peace plan for Ukraine.
During a special summit for Ukraine in London on Sunday, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said that the Netherlands would join the military planning for a European “coalition of the willing.”
However, as the NOS writes, the Netherlands has not yet made any concrete commitments for support.
Schoof’s plan
While Schoof has stressed that US support is crucial for any agreement to succeed, he has also reaffirmed that the Netherlands views Russia as the aggressor and supports a peace agreement that ensures Ukraine’s sovereignty.
“It is important that the Netherlands joins in,” he says, adding that the country has shown its “willingness to participate actively.” However, he hasn’t made any concrete agreements in London.
“If you don’t join in, you don’t know what’s going on,” Schoof emphasised.
The Netherlands supports Ukraine as firmly as ever. Now more than ever. We want a lasting peace and an end to the war of aggression started by Russia. For Ukraine and its people, and for Europe.
Former Dutch Prime Minister and current NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also weighed in, stating that Europe’s involvement depends on the concrete ceasefire agreement.
Opposition wants to do more
Schoof’s lack of concrete commitments has sparked criticism from opposition parties in the Dutch House of Representatives.
Frans Timmermans, leader of GroenLinks-PvdA, expressed disappointment, pointing out that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer immediately pledged extra arms deliveries. “I would have liked the Netherlands to have taken a step forward, as other countries have done,” he said.
D66 leader Rob Jetten echoed this sentiment, calling on Schoof to show more leadership and clarify what additional support the country is prepared to offer.
Discussions about the situation in Ukraine and European defense strategies will continue on Thursday, March 6, in Brussels.
Nervously contemplating a visit to a hospital in the Netherlands? We understand the jitters, and the best way to dispel them is to arm yourself with sufficient info so that you’re well prepared.
Between the different types of insurance coverage available and the list of requirements for hospital care, healthcare can get pretty confusing.
We’ve all been there, so we’ve got something to help: a guide on all you need to know about going to the hospital in the Netherlands. 🙌
I need hospital treatment in the Netherlands: What do I do?
This depends on your situation; let’s talk about it.
Emergencies
If you’re absolutely desperate for emergency care, calling 112 will be your best bet.
This number will take you through to the ambulance, the fire brigade, or the police.
Emergencies can be scary, but rest assured you’ll be in good hands. Image: Dreamstime
However, it’s important to note that if you don’t happen to have health insurance, you’ll have to foot the bill for all treatment carried out — including the ambulance that took you to hospital.
If, on the other hand, you have Dutch health insurance, these costs will be covered by your basic insurance.
Non-emergencies
For issues that aren’t life-threatening, it’s best to go through your doctor first. Heading straight to the hospital will cost you much more for issues your doctor would likely be able to treat.
Plus, even if you find yourself requiring care from a specialist, your GP will be able to refer you to one.
It’s cheaper and more effective to always see your GP first. Image: Depositphotos
After your GP has referred you to a hospital, you’ll need to register. For this step, it’s important that you bring:
some form of ID (such as a driver’s licence, ID card, or passport)
your GP’s information
your health insurance card
your BSN
Afterwards, you may be given a folder with all your information, and you’ll need to bring this along with you every time you head to the hospital.
Staying overnight in a hospital in the Netherlands
The thought of staying overnight in a hospital may have sent a volley of questions shooting through your mind, so we’re here to answer some of them for you. 👇
What should I bring with me?
You’re generally advised to bring your toiletries (such as your shampoo and toothpaste), a change of clothes, and whatever medicine you need.
As a personal preference, you may also find it comforting to bring a book or a laptop/tablet with a streaming service along.
Will I get a private room?
Unfortunately, this isn’t the norm.
Private rooms are the exception, not the norm. Image: Freepik
Most wards are mixed-gender and shared between six patients, though some double rooms are also available.
Can my family stay with me?
Whilst some hospitals may have facilities for your family to stay with you, it’s not a guarantee that all of them will.
Therefore, it’s always important to double-check with the hospital you will be admitted to.
Can I go to the hospital if I am not insured?
Whilst you can definitely go to the hospital if you’re uninsured, it’s a costly option and the total sum of money your treatments are worth may put a serious dent in your finances.
Therefore, getting some sort of health insurance is strongly recommended if you’re going to be moving to the Netherlands.
Let op! In addition to being handy at keeping costs down, having some form of basic health insurance is mandatory by Dutch law.
But what if you’re just jetting to Amsterdam for a month-long summer vacation in Europe? Irrespective of the time period involved, it’s always a good idea to invest in some form of travel insurance.
How much will it cost me to go to the hospital?
If you have Dutch health insurance, the total amount you’ll have to pay will depend on how high your deductible (eigen risico) is.
Living in the Netherlands? You may be legally obligated to take out Dutch health insurance. Image: Dreamstime
This is the amount of money you’re obligated to pay before your health insurance kicks in and covers your medical bills. In the Netherlands, your health insurance deductible can range from €385 to €885.
A higher deductible often means you’ll be paying lower monthly health insurance fees — but, let op: this requires you to have a larger sum of money saved up for emergencies.
Not insured? Helaas pindakaas — a trip to the hospital could likely cost you anywhere from fifty to several thousands of euros, depending on your treatment. 😬
How different types of Dutch health insurance will affect your hospital visit
If you’re intending to live in the Netherlands, your first port of call should be ensuring you’ve got appropriate insurance.
The Dutch have two main types of health insurances: basisvezekering (mandatory basic insurance) and aanvullende verzekering (additional/optional insurance).
Basisvezekering
In most cases, basic health insurance is mandatory in the Netherlands. Not being insured may have you on the receiving end of some pretty steep fines. 💸
A basic Dutch insurance package covers emergency stays at the hospital. Image: Freepik
This insurance is known as basisvezekering, and it covers:
Basic appointments with your doctor, blood tests, and prescription drugs
Dental care for children and teenagers under 18 years of age, and emergency dental care for adults over 18
Emergency treatment, including hospital stays, surgery, and ambulance rides
This insurance carries eigen risico, which is the amount of money that you need to pay out of your own pocket before your insurance provider will cover costs for you.
The good news? You could have part of your healthcare costs covered by zorgtoeslag (or health allowance), if you live and work in the Netherlands.
Within your basic health insurance package, you can opt for three different policies: a naturapolis, restitutiepolis, or combinatiepolis.
Naturapolis
With a naturapolis (or in-kind policy), you can only visit healthcare providers with whom your health insurer has an agreement.
Your health insurer will pay your bills directly to the healthcare provider, making the process relatively simple and stress-free for you.
However, if you choose to visit a healthcare provider that’s not affiliated with your health insurer, you will usually need to pay the bills yourself — and your insurer may only reimburse you a certain percentage of the costs.
Restitutiepolis
A restitutiepolis (or restitution policy) gives you the freedom to choose a healthcare provider — even one that’s unaffiliated with your heath insurer.
You’ll generally need to pay your bills directly to your healthcare provider, then submit copies to your health insurer to file a claim.
Depending on your eigen risico (deductible), your insurer may reimburse you the full amount or only a certain amount of it.
Combinatiepolis
A combinatiepolis (or combination policy) is exactly what its name implies: a blend of the in-kind (natura) and restitution (restitutie) policies.
The specifics offered may depend on your health insurer, so it’s always a good idea to check what your policy dictates before taking one out.
Aanvullende verzekering
If the basisvezekering doesn’t provide as wide a range of coverage as you’d like, you can also purchase aanvullende verzekering to go along with it.
When it comes to extensive dental care, you’d best opt for additional (dental) insurance. Image: Freepik
Depending on the kind of aanvullende vezekering you’ve chosen, your package will cover:
Vision care, including spectacles, contact lenses, and ocular treatments
Full dental care for adults over the age of 18, including fillings, check-ups, and surgery
Specialist treatments, like intensive psychological help, physiotherapy, and care for audiological issues
Unlike basisvezekering, you aren’t obligated to take out additional health insurance.
Different types of hospitals in the Netherlands
Not only are there different types of insurances, but there are different types of hospitals in the Netherlands.
General hospitals
These are standard hospitals that provide treatments for less specialised issues.
Academic hospitals
These are more specialised than general hospitals, and are hospitals that work alongside the major Dutch universities.
Teaching hospitals
Like academic hospitals, these are specialised hospitals that work alongside a university and are often used for medical staff who are training.
Wondering if you’re in safe hands? Maak je geen zorgen (don’t worry), because they definitely know what they’re doing. 😉
There’s a lot to get your head around, right? If you stick to this guide and are clued-up on your insurance policy, then hospital visits are going to be a breeze.
Have you ever visited a hospital in the Netherlands? Tell us all about your experiences in the comments below!
Going to hospital in the Netherlands: Frequently asked questions
Do I need health insurance to see a doctor in the Netherlands?
No, you are not required to be insured to see a doctor in the Netherlands.
However, if you have no Dutch health insurance, you will be billed as an uninsured patient — meaning that you will need to pay the entire cost of your treatment.
Is Dutch healthcare free for foreigners?
Unfortunately, the Netherlands doesn’t offer free healthcare for foreigners.
Whilst you’ll still be eligible for healthcare, you will have to foot the entirety of your bill yourself. Depending on which healthcare provider you visit, you may have the option to receive financial assistance or pay your bill in instalments.
What do I need to register at a Dutch hospital?
In general, you will be required to show: some form of ID (such a driver’s licence, residence permit, or passport), your health insurance card, your GP’s information, and your BSN.
Last night marked a special success for Dutch cinema — a movie from the Netherlands won the Academy Award for Best Short Film.
Director Victoria Warmerdam will be the one bringing the golden statue home for her sci-fi comedy Ik ben geen robot (“I’m not a robot”).
An enjoyably unsettling watch
Spare 20 minutes to sink into the trippy movie, which follows a young woman’s identity crisis after repeatedly failing CAPTCHA tests, making her question if she’s a robot. 🤖
Prepare for paranoia — we’ll never look at those tests the same way again…
A comeback for Dutch cinema
Victoria and her partner and producer Trent hope that the monumental win will bring a larger audience to their film and give the entire Dutch film industry a boost.
“This means so much to us, especially because no Dutch people had been nominated in this category since the sixties,” said Victoria to RTL Nieuws.
The win is certainly already boosting Victoria and Trent’s careers. 🤩
“I hear from Victoria and Trent that they are indeed having a lot of conversations and that doors may be opened,” commented Henry van Loon, one of the actors in the award-winning film.
Have you seen any of the Oscar-nominated movies? What did you think of them?
With barely any wind and rising temperatures finally easing the stinging winter chill, it’s time to step outside and soak up what we’ve been missing.
While foggy mornings will still take a while to shake, sunshine and higher temperatures will break through the cold starts, RTL Nieuws reports.
First, fight off the fog
Of course, the sun faces obstacles in its bid to dominate the Dutch skies this week.
The KNMI gave a code yellow warning until 10 AM for dense fog in parts of the country, particularly in South Holland, Utrecht, North Holland, Flevoland, Friesland and Limburg.
From humble cafés to impressive libraries and coworking spaces, here are the 15 best places to work or study in The Hague.
The atmosphere in The Hague is motivating, with a mix of international big-city vibes and cosy old-town Dutchness.
The City of Peace and Justice attracts ambitious busy-bees worldwide, giving The Hague a reputation for being a great working city.
While Storktown might not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking of Dutch student towns, rest assured, the city has tons to offer for students, too — if you know where to look for it.
Bookstor is incredibly cosy, and incredibly cool, at the same time. Image: Bookstor Café/Supplied
You haven’t really lived in The Hague if you haven’t had a work/study sesh at the Bookstor Café — your dark-academia-bookstore-core-Pinterest-board come to life. Needless to say, it’s a great place to study and work in The Hague.
Centrally located at Noordeinde, this bookstore/café combo is perfect to escape the busy streets for some peace and quiet. The unwritten rule is that focused work is best done in the back, while the front is more chatty.
The slightly uncomfortable chairs and relative lack of table space and sockets are outweighed by the extremely cosy and productive atmosphere. Bookstor is bound to make you stay for hours, feeling like an intellectual superhero.
🏢 Type: Cafe 💰 Price: €2-4 for coffee ⏰ Opening hours: 8 AM until 7 PM, Monday to Sunday 📍 Location: Noordeinde 39, 2514 GC Den Haag
2. The Social Hub Collab: young, vibrant, and connected
Connected to what was formerly known as The Student Hotel, The Social Hub Collab is a coworking space with a young, international community. It’s a great place to work in The Hague if you want to feel connected to the rest of the world.
The membership options are as flexible as those working there, and access to the on-site gym is even included in the price — sweet!
The fun, playful, and modern design matches the vibe of TSH perfectly, regardless of whether you’re after a silent area, a private office, or a busy communal space.
In addition, the networking events, inspirational talks, and discounts on food and drinks mean TSH will give you a lot of bang for your buck.
🏢 Type: Coworking space 💰 Price: from €109/month or €19/day ⏰ Opening hours: 8:30 AM until 6:30 PM, Monday to Friday 📍 Location: Hoefkade 9, 2526 BN Den Haag
3. Stadthuis public library: a view to die for
With a location as iconic as “The Ice Palace” (that is, The Hague City Hall — a massive and impressive glass building), the main public library in The Hague is quite the place to work and study.
With spacious desks, stable WiFi, great caffeine accessibility, and a lovely city view, it’s no wonder this library is a fan-favourite among The Hague’s students.
Popularity comes at a price, however, so if you want to secure a spot in the magically silent building, you should get there early in the morning (especially during finals season!). Oh, but the actual price? It’s free!
Fun fact! The Hague City Hall (aka the “Ice Palace”) featured as Europol headquarters in ‘Ocean’s Twelve.’
🏢 Type: Library 💰 Price: €0 ⏰ Opening hours: 12 PM until 8 PM Monday,10 AM until 8 PM Tuesday to Friday,10 AM until 5 PM Saturday, 12 PM until 5 PM Sunday. 📍 Location: Spui 68, 2511 BT Den Haag
4. House of Tribes Café: in the centre of everything
House of Tribes is a central, modern café perfect for work and study sessions. Image: Depositphotos
Smack-bang in the middle of Turfmarkt is House of Tribes, a café bustling with big-city energy. It might not be the biggest café, but it makes excellent use of its space, with plenty of spots for work and study purposes.
Sockets are easily accessible, and you’ll be surrounded by a lovely mix of busy government employees and chatty students.
Despite a sometimes slightly unstable WiFi situation, House of Tribes’ convenient location and good energy make it a lovely place to work or study in The Hague.
🏢 Type: Café 💰 Price: €3-5 for coffee ⏰ Opening hours: 8 AM until 6 PM, Monday to Sunday 📍 Location: Turfmarkt 28, 2511 CA Den Haag
5. The Hague Tech: the big brain HQ of Storktown
We all need a pop of colour in our workday. Image: The Hague Tech/Supplied
Located in the dynamic working area around Laan van NOI, you’ll find The Hague’s most tech-y coworking space.
The Hague Tech covers the basics (you know, meeting rooms, flexi-desks, offices), as well as the extras (good coffee, sleek design, and cheap croissants).
People come for the wide range of membership options — from day passes and virtual spaces to private offices — but stay for the amazing community feel and the extra dashes of sparkle (we’re talking massage chairs, ping pong, and pool tables) that give this place pizzazz.
Coffee Fellows is a great place to work or study if you need somewhere central. Image: Depositphotos
Coffee Fellows is another conveniently located café, more or less inside the City Hall.
Needless to say, it’s a favourite pitstop for busy folks running around the administrative capital of the Netherlands, but it’s also a top place to get some work done.
Although the café is on the smaller side, the WiFi — and socket accessibility and general vibe of Coffee Fellows make for a nice place to study or work in The Hague — and the coffee is top-notch.
🏢 Type: Café 💰 Price: €3-4.50 for coffee ⏰ Opening hours: 7:30 AM until 7 PM Monday to Friday, 9 AM until 6 PM Saturday, 10 AM until 6 PM Sunday. 📍 Location: Turfmarkt 22, 2511 CA Den Haag
7. Spaces Works: grand and sleek
Spaces The Hague is located in one of the most iconic buildings in town. Image: Depositphotos
Ok, the exterior is more castle than sleek, but that’s just a bonus to the interior. Spaces Works is a coworking space located in an impressive Art-Deco-meets-Hogwarts-type building that somehow manages to be super fresh and modern at the same time.
Spaces offers private parking, an on-site café, and a game room, with a community that runs on passion and productivity.
The coworking membership gives access to all Spaces locations in the world (yep, all 3000 of them), so if you’re a restless digital nomad, this should be your top pick for a place to work in The Hague!
🏢 Type: Coworking space 💰 Price: from €199/month ⏰ Opening hours: All day/night, Monday to Sunday, but access depends on membership 📍 Location: Zuid Hollandlaan 7, 2596 AL Den Haag
8. Local libraries: fuss-free and close by
Feel like getting out of your crusty room but don’t quite feel like going to the busy city centre? We hear you.
If you’re looking for a quiet space to work or study in The Hague, you’ll be happy to hear that the city has tons of local libraries scattered around, with desks waiting to be used.
Laakkwartier, Haagse Hout, Scheveningen — there’s a local library just about everywhere you look.
The space and facilities available differ between libraries, though, so be sure to double-check in advance if you have any particular needs (like extra strong coffee, for example).
🏢 Type: Library 💰 Price: €0 ⏰ Opening hours: Varies, but typically between 11 AM and 6 PM 📍 Location: Various locations
9. Coffee Company: an ode to good caffeine
Hit up Coffee Company for some seriously delicious coffee. Image: Depositphotos.
A stone’s throw away from the Royal Palace (we know, another iconic The Hague location), you’ll find the Coffee Company.
With big windows, tall ceilings, and a productive atmosphere that beats most offices, this chain café is another great place to work or study in The Hague.
The Coffee Company’s love language is centred around good coffee so this gem will hit all the caffeine spots needed for an efficient work sesh.
Also, the big community-style table in the middle of the room gives the venue a social edge — without being too distracting.
🏢 Type: Café 💰 Price: €3-5 for coffee ⏰ Opening hours: 7:30 AM until 6 PM Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM until 6 PM Saturday & Sunday 📍 Location: Noordeinde 54, 2514 GK Den Haag
10. The Sweet Spot: come as you are
The Sweet spot hits the sweet spot. Image: Depositphotos
The Sweet Spot is a coworking space that really lives up to its name: it’s relaxed, diverse, and designed to make you feel at home while getting your job done.
Creatives, scientists, tech geniuses — everyone’s welcome at this homey melting pot that can only be described as the most livingroom-esque place to work in the Hague.
Both members and non-members can use the space’s services, which include event venues, photo studios, and the option to register your business at The Sweet Spot’s address for posting purposes.
This is, of course, in addition to everything else that comes with a coworking space (work desks, coffee, stable wifi, and a cosy community).
🏢 Type: Coworking space 💰 Price: from €139(month ⏰ Opening hours: All day/night, Monday to Sunday, but access depends on membership 📍 Location: Javastraat 21, 2585 AC Den Haag
11. Lola’s Bikes and Coffee: sporty study sessions
Lola’s isn’t just for people who wear lycra. Image: Freepik
Whether you’re a biker yourself (and let’s face it, who isn’t in this country), or you just like to hang around fit people, Lola’s is for you.
The perfect mix of chill and sporty vibes makes Lola’s Bikes and Coffee a great place to work and study in The Hague. Walk upstairs for a quiet space, and although the sockets aren’t easy to find, there are usually just enough to go around.
Sit down by the big table in the centre, which gives the room a nice communal feel, and enjoy the view of the cute backyard.If you want maximum privacy, secure a seat in the winter garden-like room in the very back — it’s like having your own home office at a café!
🏢 Type: Café 💰 Price: €3-5 for coffee ⏰ Opening hours: 9 AM until 7 PM Monday & Wednesday, 9 AM until 6 PM Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday 📍 Location:Noordeinde 91, 2514 GD Den Haag
12. New Babylon Gardens: pay for what you use
The sleek interior of New Babylon gives your work day just the right feel. Image: Depositphotos
Situated at arguably the most central location in The Hague (Central Station), New Babylon Gardens is the perfect choice for those needing a flexible place to work in The Hague.
Furnish your own office space, or make use of the ready-made options and pay only for what you actually use. It’s simple: you get a bill at the end of the month, reflecting how much you’ve used your membership, and pay less if you use it less (although you’ll probably want to hang out here all the time, so don’t get too optimistic about the pricing).
With a modern, professional design and hotel feel, New Babylon will give anything from regular workdays to important meetings quite the facelift. Users love the speedy WiFi and delicious coffee, and the welcoming reception and nice views are a bonus.
Right next to the beautiful Palace Garden, you’ll find Pistache — a cute little café with a canal view. This spot is on the smaller side, but there’s usually space among the focused workers and chatty lunchers.
While it’s not a dedicated work café, you’ll always find workers tapping away on laptops and students immersed in books at Pistache. That being said, it might not be ideal if you need absolute silence to get work done.
People come for the gezellige atmosphere and stay (for hours) for the wide selection of delicious coffee, food, and healthy juices.
🏢 Type: Café 💰 Price: €2.20-3.70 for coffee ⏰ Opening hours: 8 AM until 5 PM Monday to Friday, 8 AM until 6 PM Saturday & Sunday 📍 Location:Prinsestraat 134, 2513 CH Den Haag
14. Urban Café: a hotspot for busy city folks
Urban Café in The Hague is a great dynamic place to work. Image: Depositphotos
If you like the idea of working in the “Ice Palace” (i.e., the fancy-schmancy city hall) but prefer the café vibe to the silence of the public library, Urban Café is the perfect choice.
It’s spacious, filled with natural light, with plenty of sockets and table space available for the many students and professionals who come here to work.
You’ll sit practically in the middle of one of the city’s busiest crossings, an inspiring, if only a little distracting position, in the very heart of The Hague.
Urban Café prides itself on being “every coffee lover’s dream”, so it’s no wonder people tend to rate this one of the best places to work and study in The Hague.
🏢 Type: Café 💰 Price: €3-5 for coffee ⏰ Opening hours: 1 PM until 5:30 PM Monday, 9:30 AM until 5:30 PM Tuesday to Saturday, 12 PM until 5 PM Sunday. 📍 Location: Spui 130, 2511 BT Den Haag
15. Kaafi: popular for a reason
Often described as one of the best cafés for studying and working in The Hague, Kaafi definitely lives up to its reputation.
The whole back of the café is dedicated to working folks, and the homey vibe, spacious desks, and socket accessibility make up for its relatively small size.
The big, communal work table is covered in natural light from the ceiling — a surprising twist to a place that, from the outside, looks like it might be rather dark.
Located on one of The Hague’s cosiest streets, Kaafi is a hidden gem boasting speciality coffee and absolutely marvellous food.
🏢 Type: Café 💰 Price: €3-4.10 for coffee ⏰ Opening hours: 10 AM until 4 PM, Monday to Sunday 📍 Location:Prinsestraat 25, 2513 CA Den Haag
There you have it! Our 15 favourite places to study or work in The Hague for busy and productive hustlers. The administrative capital of the Netherlands knows how to take care of its students and workers, and there are tons of great cafés and coworking spaces to pick from.
What’s your favourite place to study or work in The Hague? Did we miss any spots on this list? Tell us in the comments below!
Utrecht is making history with Merwede—the country’s largest car-free urban district. With thousands of homes and zero private parking spots, this neighbourhood is built for bikes, not bumpers.
After multiple delays, construction finally begins next week. The goal? More homes, cleaner air, and a city designed for people—not cars.
Even bats and butterflies are getting VIP treatment with special nesting spots. 🦇🦋
Less cars, less chaos, more bikes
Merwede is replacing an old industrial estate along the Merwede Canal, just a 10-minute bike ride from Utrecht Centraal.
Other Dutch cities (looking at you, Delft, Leeuwarden, and Maastricht) have dabbled in car-free zones, but Utrecht is taking it to the next level.
Most people know New York was originally named New Amsterdam, but what about New Zealand? Was it originally Zealand before the Dutch arrived? Where does the name come from?
Many of the answers to these questions can be found in the 17th century — the time of the Dutch East India Company, violent colonisation and Abel Tasman (you may know this as the Dutch Golden Age, but that’s a little misleading).
Dutch explorers: the first foreigners to reach New Zealand
Explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to discover the South Pacific land, later known as New Zealand and Tasmania.
Abel Tasman “discovered” (in the way that colonisers like to discover) New Zealand in 1642.
When he first sighted the land, he named it Staten Landt, believing it to be part of the land off the coast of Argentina, now known as Isla de los Estados.
When it was realised that New Zealand was not part of South America, the Dutch renamed it Nova Zeelandia in Latin and Nieuw Zeeland in Dutch.
Whalers, missionaries, and traders soon followed, but it wasn’t until 1840 that Britain claimed the islands and established New Zealand’s first permanent European settlement at Wellington.
Abel Tasman — who was he?
Abel Tasman was a Dutch seafarer, merchant and explorer who travelled as part of his services to the Dutch East India Company (VOC).
He originally hailed from a small village called Lutjegast, located in the province of Groningen. However, he later moved to Amsterdam to start his career at sea.
Tasman was born in 1603, but the first we ever hear of him is in 1631 when his name is mentioned in an Amsterdam newspaper announcing his engagement to his wife.
He and his wife moved from Amsterdam to Batavia (modern-day Jakarta) in 1637 after he signed on for a further 10 years of service to the VOC.
Tasman set off on his first major voyage in 1642 and would go on to explore Mauritius and Tasmania. (Yes, the island’s current name would later be derived from Tasman’s!)
From Tasmania, the expedition would eventually find itself off the coast of modern-day New Zealand.
Abel Tasman National Park. Image: Oren Rozen/Wikimedia Commons/CC3.0
The first meeting between the Dutch and the Maori
Tasman’s ship docked about seven kilometres off the coast of what is believed to have been Golden Bay. Four boats were sent to gather water for the crew, which led to the expedition’s first encounter with the Māori.
A double-hulled waka (Māori canoe) attacked one of the four boats. 🤺
Four crew members were beaten to death using clubs. The small boats quickly returned to the main ship, which was then approached by two wakas.
A historical depiction of the Dutch arrival at Golden Bay. Image: Isaack Gilsemans/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain.
Tasman wrote of the exchange in his diary:
“After our people had been on board about one glass, people in the two canoes began to call out to us in gruff, hollow voices,” Tasman recalled in his diary.
“We could not in the least understand any of it; however, when they called out again several times, we called back to them as a token answer. But they did not come nearer than a stone’s shot.”
“They also blew many times on an instrument, which produced a sound like the moors’ trumpets. We had one of our sailors (who could play somewhat on the trumpet) play some tunes to them in answer.”
Shots fired
The trumpet didn’t work.
Tasman’s ship began to retreat from the bay, and Tasman noted 22 wakas on the shore. Soon, 11 of the wakas set out for the ship.
The Dutchmen fired on the Māori, shooting one man holding a small white flag. The ship then left the bay.
Archaeological research later discovered that the Dutch had likely tried to land in a rich agricultural area, which would have, understandably, alarmed the Māori and triggered a defensive attack.
The history of the Golden Age is not as golden as the name would have you believe, with the Dutch committing many atrocities against native peoples during this time.
Other Zeeland namesakes
The two major seafaring provinces of the Netherlands in its Golden Age were Holland and Zeeland.
The Dutch explorers originally named the largest landmass of Oceania and the two islands to the southeast, respectively Nieuw-Holland and Nieuw-Zeeland.
The former was eventually replaced by the name Australia, and Captain James Cook of Britain later Anglicised the latter name to New Zealand. After British settlers arrived in New Zealand, English became the main language.
New Zealand may have had a violent christening, but the name certainly stuck. In fact, it can be found all around the world.
Namesakes in the US
The city of Zeeland in the US state of Michigan was settled in 1847 by Dutchman Jannes van de Luyster and was incorporated in 1907. The city still maintains a distinctive Dutch flavour.
Say what you will about the Dutch, but they’re incredibly well–travelled. Image: Depositphotos
Flushing, a neighbourhood within the borough of Queens, New York, is named after the city of Flushing (Vlissingen in Dutch) in Zeeland. The name dates from the colonial period of New Netherland, when New York was still known as New Amsterdam.
Zeeland, North Dakota is another town named for this province and whose earliest settlers were of Dutch heritage.
Other corners of the world
The Dutch colonies of Nieuw Walcheren and Nieuw Vlissingen, both on the Antillian island of Tobago, were named after parts of Zeeland.
The Canadian town of Zealand, New Brunswick was named after the Zeeland birthplace of Dutchman Philip Crouse, who settled in the area in 1789.
Paramaribo, the capital and largest city of Suriname has a Fort Zeelandia, the former Fort Willoughby during the British colonisation.
Fort Zeelandia was a fortress built by the Dutch East India Company from 1624 to 1634 in the town of Anping (Tainan) on the island of Formosa, present-day Taiwan, during their 38-year rule over the western part of the island.
A violent history, a lasting legacy
The history of New Zealand shows us that the Dutch Golden Age has certainly left its mark on the world, whether we like it or not.
Perhaps the least malignant of these legacies are place names. In fact, the Dutch are responsible for naming many areas of the world!
Did you know about New Zealand’s Dutch history? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
This article was co-written by Freya Sawbridge and Sarah O’Leary.
In January, two women were assaulted and beaten unconscious on a Rotterdam metro. Now, a 12 and 14-year-old were arrested in connection with the violence.
The assault was caught on security footage and aired on Bureau Rijnmond, a Dutch crime investigation show, leading to the girls’ arrests.
Beaten unconscious
Late on January 21, 2025, two women were on the Rotterdam metro when they were harassed by two young girls. As NU.nl writes, one of the women tried to confront them, and the girls walked up to her.
Feeling threatened, the woman grabbed her phone to call police and take photos of the attackers.
Buying a house in the Netherlands? Congrats on taking that big step! Becoming a homeowner is a challenge for everyone but especially so for internationals who are navigating the journey without fluent Dutch.
You have a number of hurdles ahead of you — so let’s make the process much easier by decoding some of the key Dutch terms you should know.
1. Te koop
These magic words are exactly where your journey to buying a home in the Netherlands begins.
As soon as you see the words “Te Koop”, you know a new Dutch house just came up on the market. Image: Dreamstime
Te koop means for sale — and as soon as you see that fresh cardboard sign stuck to the window, you better run (not walk) to your computer.
Given that there are more home-seekers than houses in the Netherlands at the moment, these signs don’t tend to stay up for too long.
In fact, in 2024, it takes an average of just over one month for a house to sell in the Netherlands.
2. Hypotheek
This is another word that you are going to become quite familiar with once you dedicate yourself to buying a house in the Netherlands.
It’ll probably start to feature in your nightly sleep-talking segment — and all your everyday grown-up conversations for the next few months.
So, what does it mean? Mortgage! Yep, makes sense now, doesn’t it?
3. Hypotheekakte
With every mortgage, there comes a hypotheekakte — a mortgage deed.
Think of this as a very important handshake between the person taking out the loan (you) and the person giving the loan (the bank). However, this handshake comes in the form of a legal document.
In this document, you metaphorically spit on your palms, shake hands, and give each other a nod that says, “I promise that if I can’t pay my mortgage, the loaner can take my property as collateral.”
The “hypotheekakte” (mortgage deed) is an important Dutch term for you to learn. Image: Freepik
The deed also contains the terms of the mortgage, such as when payments will be made, the mortgage rate, and the duration of the mortgage.
4. Taxateur
Unbelievably, a taxateur has nothing to do with taxes or taxidermy.
Instead, it’s an appraiser: a professional who will carry out a valuation of your potential home and determine if the house is worth what the sellers are asking.
You better familiarise yourself with the word because a taxateur is compulsoryif you want to apply for a mortgage in the Netherlands.
5. Taxatierapport
Once the taxateur has used their magic to evaluate your home, they will present the taxatierapport.
This is a valuation report, in which you are usually presented with not only the estimated value of the house but also information such as its energy efficiency.
6. Ontbindende voorwaarden
While this term sounds quite scary to the non-Nederlander, its meaning is actually quite simple: resolutive conditions.
“Ontbindende Voorwarden” means resolutive conditions in Dutch, and they are very important. Image: Freepik
When buying a house, the buyer may present some resolutive conditions to the seller.
For example, they might say: “I will buy your house — but on the condition that we keep the furniture in the kitchen because it’s super gezellig and gorgeous.”
More common resolutive conditions include financing, such as: “I agree to buy your house unless the bank refuses to give me a mortgage.”
7. Schuld
Technically, “schuld” means “guilt” in Dutch.
However, in the context of buying a house, this actually refers to your debt — which, we promise, you don’t need to feel guilty about, no matter what those Dutchies say!
Most people have some form of debt hanging over them, and mortgage advisors understand this.
Don’t be discouraged. Telling your adviser that you have debt doesn’t necessarily mean your housing dreams are over.
8. Hypotheekrenteaftrek
While this may sound like a complicated and scary word, it will soon sound like music to your ears.
Hypotheekrenteaftrek translates to “mortgage interest deduction” in English.
Put simply, it means that with certain mortgage types, you can deduct the mortgage interest from your gross income.
As a result, you ultimately pay lower income tax at the end of each year. Take that, Belastingdienst!
Note: In the Netherlands, this is only possible if you have a linear or annuities mortgage.
9. Fiscaal aftrekbaar
However, mortgage interest is not the only thing that can be deducted from your gross income.
For example, mortgage advice or notary costs can also be fiscaal aftrekbaar, which means they are tax deductible.
10. Bouwdepot
A bouwdepot is essentially a construction deposit.
This is a loan that can be taken from your mortgage and used to finance future renovations on your home.
Another important Dutch term you should know when buying a house is “bouwdepot”! Image: Freepik
Most of the time, your bouwdepot is set up during the process of establishing your mortgage, but in some cases, you can also be late to the party and set it up when your mortgage is already established.
Most of the time, your bouwdepot is set up during the process of establishing your mortgage.
However, in some cases, you can still set it up when your mortgage is already established.
11. Notaris
A notaris is not a thing, but a person. As you will soon learn, when you buy a house in the Netherlands, there’s a lot of legal paperwork involved. This is where a notaris, meaning notary, steps in.
Everyone who buys a home in the Netherlands will get a notary involved in the process. Not only is it mandatory to enlist the services of a notary, it’s also extremely helpful.
They ensure that you dot your Is and cross your Ts — but more importantly, they’ll oversee the transfer of funds during the sale of the home.
12. Bankgarantie
Bankgarantie means, you guessed it, the bank guarantee!
When you buy a house in the Netherlands, you have to pay for the deposit on the house. However, sometimes, people don’t have the money readily available.
In this case, you can use a bank guarantee to reassure the sellers that the deposit will be paid.
Essentially, the bank vouches for you, and you don’t have to worry about using all your savings on the deposit.
13. Onder voorbehoud van financiering
If you find your dream house on Funda, but see that it’s onder voorbehoud van financiering then you need to manage your expectations.
This means that the house has actually already been sold — but it’s subject to financing.
Sometimes there’s still a chance you can buy the home of your dreams. Image: Freepik
Basically, someone else has snapped up the home. However, they still need to come up with the money to pay the sellers.
If they fail to do so by a certain date, the sale won’t go through, and the house will be back on the market again.
14. Studiefinanciering
In the Netherlands, students can take out a loan from the Dutch government in order to help cover the costs of their third-level education.
This studiefinanciering translates as student loans when you apply for a Dutch mortgage.
While you may never have taken out a student loan through the Dutch system, if you’re asked about studiefinanciering, you should mention any student debt you may have abroad.
Most homeowners in the Netherlands once had student debt, and while it depends on how high your balance is, the good news is that this debt doesn’t mean the end of the road for you.
15. NHG (Nationale Hypotheek Garantie)
We really recommend that you familiarise yourself with this term. The NHG is the Dutch National Mortgage Guarantee — and it does exactly what it says on the tin.
If you take out a mortgage with the National Mortgage Guarantee, you have a promise that the NHG will cover the remaining costs of your mortgage should you suddenly be unable to do so (due to losing your job, for example.)
16. Toestemming of vergunning van de gemeente
Sometimes, when you buy your dream home, it still comes with a few flaws that you need to change.
In this case, you may need toestemming of vergunning van de gemeente, which means permission from your local municipality.
Bear this in mind if a big fancy extension is part of your plans for your new home.
17. Makelaar
While this word may make you think of some obscure object you would find in your Dad’s toolbox, it actually refers to a realtor.
One very important Dutch word that you should know when buying a house is makelaar! This means realtor. Image: Depositphotos
Many people looking to buy a home in the Netherlands will opt to have a realtor help them in both the search for a home and the negotiation of their bids.
The best part of a makelaar? They often have the inside scoop into homes for sale that haven’t hit housing websites yet.
18. Makelaarscourtage
The makelaarscourtage refers to the brokerage commission you pay your realtor for all their hard work.
In the Netherlands, this is usually a cost that is calculated based on the price of the house you buy or sell.
In most cases, unless you’ve agreed otherwise, this is only paid once there has been an agreement between the buyers and sellers.
19. Bouwkundig rapport
A bouwkundig rapport is an architectural report of the house.
While it sounds similar to a taxatierapport, the bouwkundig rapport looks at the structural integrity of the home.
It will highlight any potential faulty points in the house’s structure — which could save you some serious money in the long run (and we all know how much the Dutch love saving money.)
20. Overdrachtsbelasting
Ok, so you might not like the translation of this one. The overdrachtsbelasting is the transfer tax you pay when buying a house in the Netherlands.
For houses, the transfer tax amounts to a whopping 2% of the value of the property, so be prepared to factor this into your borrowing power calculations.
However, not everyone pays transfer tax in the Netherlands.
For example, if you are between the ages of 18 and 35 and buy a home worth less than €510,000, then you are eligible for an exemption from paying transfer tax — if you meet certain conditions.
21. Bedenktijd
One unique fact about buying a house in the Netherlands is that it involves a bedenktijd, which means “reflection period.”
The “bedenktijd” is an important period in the process of buying a house in the Netherlands, make sure you know what this Dutch term means! Image: Freepik
The process of placing a bid on a house doesn’t exactly allow much room for thought.
However, once your bid is in and accepted, the reflection period allows three working days to reconsider whether or not you really want to buy the house — or if the seller really wants to sell.
Germany and the Netherlands might not be polar opposites, but if you’ve had the pleasure of working in both countries, you’ll undoubtedly have noticed many little (and not-so-little) differences.
Flat landscapes, harsh-sounding languages, and a deep-rooted, unwavering love for beer — to the untrained eye, Germany and the Netherlands might seem like the same deal.
But behold, when it comes to working and professional life, there are some surprising differences between these two neighbours.
Here are seven of the Dutch/German work culture gaps.
1. Dutch lunch culture is quick and efficient
German people might have a (sometimes inaccurate) reputation for being on time, quick, and efficient. Their lunch practices, on the other hand? Compared to the Dutch, quite the opposite.
In the Netherlands, lunch typically consists of a humble broodje met kaas (sandwich with cheese), and fair enough, German lunch cuisine is not much different. The difference here lies in the fact that lunch in the Netherlands is consumed at rapid speed, with little time for anything but chewing.
It’s food, we promise. Image: Takeaway/Wikimedia Commons/CC4.0
In Germany, a worker’s lunch break is holy, and pretty much as important as the other working hours altogether. It’s so holy, in fact, that the right to minimum 30 minutes of lunch break every day is spelt out in the German labour law.
Taking up to an hour for lunch is not uncommon in Germany, whereas a Dutch worker’s lunch is over before they can say hagelslag. Why? Perhaps because a Dutch lunch break is typically unpaid — and why waste time eating when you can get paid?
It’s no secret that Germany lags behind in certain (relax, only certain) areas, when compared to the Netherlands. One such thing is the German tendency to pay in cash far more often than those in the lowlands.
That means that if you’re working as a barista, a grocery shop cashier, in retail, or pretty much anywhere else money is being transferred in Germany, you’ll likely have to deal with a lot of coins and bills.
Always bring cash to a café in Germany! Image: Depositphotos
Anecdotes from our German readers have even mentioned instances of young people (particularly in the service industry) getting their wages paid in cash.
Although that’s an extreme case, there’s no getting around the fact that working (and just generally living) in the Netherlands tends to involve way less cash than across the eastern border.
Some might call it laziness, while others call it having a work-life balance. No matter what you choose to describe it as, however, it is a fact of life that Dutch people work less than Germans.
According to the OECD Better Life Index, the Netherlands outperforms Germany in just about every category (except a minor defeat in the Environment and Income sections), snatching an impressive 5th place in the world when it comes to work-life balance.
With an average working week of just 32 hours, we’re not surprised to hear that the Dutch work the least in Europe — and far less than the Germans, who’re working 41.1 working hours a week. Yikes!
4. Dutch people speak English. A. Lot.
Until recently, tourists in Germany had to struggle their way through their holidays with the phrases they remembered from high school German class, crossing their fingers hoping they’d communicated more or less the right thing. Working in Germany was, and still is, relatively difficult without a decent understanding of the German language.
Germans are not exactly known for their English proficiency, and the frequent translation of foreign news, media, and entertainment into German doesn’t make it any easier to practice. The Dutch, on the other hand, pride themselves on their excellent command of the English language.
The job market in the Netherlands is great for people who speak English or German. Image: Depositphotos
As the number one country in the world when it comes to English proficiency (compared to Germany’s 10th place), and with over 90% of the population comfortable speaking English, it’s no surprise that the Netherlands is famous for being quite a lovely place to work as an international.
High English proficiency is seen in daily life as well as in the Dutch workplace, and it’s not uncommon to speak English on a daily basis in a Dutch job.
Comfortable to some, frightening to others, Dutch work culture is (in)famous for being very casual. However, being casual does not necessarily mean that the Dutch are known for being chill and relaxed in the workplace.
What the Dutch are known for is being oh-so direct — a fact that manifests in a tendency to show up to work, well, just as you are. No nonsense, lots of gezelligheid.
The Dutch workplace might be more casual than you’re used to. Image: Depositphotos
This can mean going to the office in jeans and a t-shirt, or in a three-piece suit — whatever works for you is fine for the Dutch workplace culture. It can also mean addressing your co-workers (yes, and your superiors) as the friendly Je rather than the formal U. The Germans would never — it’s “Sie”, not “Du”.
Work meetings in the Netherlands can also occur in relatively unconventional places. While Germans prefer the structure of a good table for their meetings, the Dutch can easily meet around a coffee machine, on a park bench, or over a biertje and some borrel snacks. Speaking of…
6. The Dutch borrel is the same as ‘feierabend’ — but also different
Despite the many differences, Dutch and German work cultures have one key thing in common: their love for beer. It’s an integral part of the coworking environment — the one thing that brings people together, regardless of their nationality, seniority, or position.
Where the Germans religiously celebrate the end of the workday with “feierabend” (literally meaning “evening celebration”) at 5 PM, the Dutch reserve the right to drink beer with coworkers anytime they like.
Beer is a non-negotiable part of the Dutch work culture. Image: Pexels
Of course, the Dutch typically organise borrels at the end of the work day too, but the Dutch borrel goes a lot further than the German equivalent.
Borrel at 5 PM with your coworkers before going home to your wife and kids, borrel at 8 PM with your student friends before going out dancing, or borrel on the weekend — the sky is the limit in Dutch workplace drinking culture.
7. Hierarchy in the Netherlands is just not a thing
It might be a stereotype, but Germans are generally structure-loving people. This is typically reflected in a relatively hierarchical workplace structure.
The Dutch, on the other hand, are (sometimes aggressively) egalitarian at heart, resulting in what the Germans might describe as a frightening lack of structure. The Dutch, meanwhile, will call it freedom.
Yes, this is what a flat workplace hierarchy looks like. Image: Depositphotos
From liberal dress codes and informal and direct speech to democratic and casual meeting culture — the Dutch love for hierarchy-less workplaces can be found wherever you look.
In the spirit of keeping things horizontal, it’s common practice for Dutch leaders to get feedback from their employees, not just the other way around. Oh, and coworkers typically address each other by their first name — in true direct, Dutch fashion.
Germany and the Netherlands might have a number of things in common when it comes to the two countries’ workplace cultures — but also a surprising amount of differences.
