Amsterdam’s very own Fat Phill’s is the rising star in the burger business, with both national and international media reporting that it “beats” industry giants like McDonald’s — but how?
Let’s sink our teeth into the juicy details. 😋
A fast-growing fast-food chain
Armin Vahabian, the mastermind behind Fat Phill’s, started his culinary hustle by selling poké bowls and sandwiches from the kitchen of his father’s Persian restaurant, writes Het Parool.
This quickly escalated into American-inspired burgers after Vahabian discovered the Philly cheesesteak on a trip to the U.S.
With witty and… adventurous slogans like “We make ‘m fatter” and “The fattest in town,” Fat Phill’s has seen its brand boom — despite current health trends.
Today, the restaurant is raved about in the media. Het Financieele Dagblad has crowned it the “fastest growing hamburger chain in Europe,” and food bloggers claim it “beats out McDonald’s and KFC any day of the week.”
A taste of international success
Fat Phill’s started with one location in Amsterdam but quickly spread its wings to multiple locations across the Netherlands, from Amsterdam’s Flower Market to Leiden.
The burger joint has recently opened a new location in London, meeting with rave reviews and a 4.5-star rating. Now, the chain has plans to expand to Munich, as well. ✈️
Moving to the Netherlands and finding a job without speaking Dutch may seem challenging, but there are numerous opportunities if you know where to look.
Here are 10 essential tips to help you find a job in the Netherlands, without speaking Dutch!
1. Use English-language job boards
There are several job boards tailored for English-speaking job seekers in the Netherlands. Websites like Undutchables and Together Abroad list positions specifically for expats.
These platforms make it easier to find jobs that don’t require Dutch proficiency. Make sure your CV is up to date first — there are handy online platforms that can help you update it, format it, and tailor it to each job!
2. Target multinational companies
Multinational companies in the Netherlands often use English as their primary working language. Many international corporations have offices in major cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague, and actively seek English-speaking professionals.
Look for companies in sectors like tech, finance, or consulting, which are typically open to international talent.
3. Focus on international hubs
Cities like Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Rotterdam are home to many international companies and have a high concentration of English-speaking professionals.
Targeting job opportunities in these areas may increase your chances of finding a position that doesn’t require Dutch.
Jobs in the Netherlands are often flexible to work from home. Image: Depositphotos
4. Use LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a widely-used platform in the Netherlands and is instrumental in job hunting. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is updated and tailored to your target roles.
Connect with recruiters and companies in your field, and consider reaching out to potential employers directly to express your interest in open positions.
5. Develop in-demand skills
The demand for skilled professionals is high in sectors like IT, finance, engineering, and healthcare. If you have expertise in these areas, your chances of finding a job without speaking Dutch are significantly higher.
Consider taking online courses to develop skills in these in-demand fields if needed.
6. Attend networking events
Networking is crucial in the Netherlands, and many networking events are held in English, especially those catering to expats.
Attend job fairs, industry meetups, and other events to connect with professionals in your field. Make sure to bring your resume with you.
7. Work with recruiters
Several recruitment agencies in the Netherlands focus on placing English-speaking talent.
Undutchables and Adams Multilingual Recruitment are two agencies known for connecting expats with job opportunities. Partnering with these agencies can streamline your job search.
8. Apply for English-speaking jobs
Some roles inherently require English fluency, especially those with a focus on international markets. Examples include digital marketing, content writing, sales, customer service, and technical support for English-speaking clients.
Search for job descriptions that list English as the primary language.
English-speaking jobs are not always easy to find, but they do exist. Image: Freepik
9. Prepare for cultural differences
The Dutch work culture values directness, transparency, and punctuality. Being aware of these cultural norms can help you make a positive impression during interviews and while networking.
Show your willingness to adapt to the local work culture even if you’re not fluent in Dutch.
10. Start learning basic Dutch
While you can secure a job without Dutch, learning some basics can be advantageous and make daily life easier.
Many Dutch people appreciate the effort, and it shows your willingness to integrate into the culture. Free online platforms like Duolingo or Memrise can help you get started.
A serial molester is on the loose in Rotterdam. While investigations are ongoing, the police have disclosed footage of a suspect, warning women to “stay alert”.
The warning came after recent reports by six different victims, three of whom have filed a formal complaint, reports RTL Nieuws.
Serial attacks by the same man
The attacks have all occurred on public roads in Rotterdam Centrum or Noord, mainly at night or early in the morning while it’s still dark.
By reviewing nearby footage, police have singled out a suspect. He appears to be a man with the following characteristics:
aged between 25 and 40
gets around by bike
speaks Dutch
dark hair, eyes, and facial hair
dark-coloured puffer jacket
To help with the search and try to warn possible victims, the authorities have released footage of the suspected serial molester to the public:
Authorities call on victims to come forward
So far, six women have come forward with assault reports. The investigators, however, think there might be more and have called on victims to come forward.
Since the molester seems to have only targeted women, for now, police have specifically warned women to “stay extra alert.”
Police warning draws criticism
The warning has been criticised by “Stichting De Veilige Nacht”, a foundation working to make Rotterdam’s nightlife safer.
“Once again, the blame is being placed on the woman,” Anouk Bol of the foundation tells RTL Nieuws.
The police, nonetheless, maintain that the warning is meant to alert people to suspicious situations while further action to apprehend the suspect is taken behind the scenes.
Know anything about the suspect? As the investigation continues, the police have asked people to come forward with any valuable information by calling 0800-6070.
Tired of the grind at your workplace? Go wind down at Bar Kantoor, the West Amsterdam restaurant where elegant office decor meets tasty wining and dining.
This restaurant’s Dutch name literally translates to “bar office”, but don’t let this fool you!
We went there ourselves, and can confirm that at Bar Kantoor, your only job is to eat and drink to your heart’s content. 😉
What is Bar Kantoor?
Nothing feels better than sipping on a drink in the sun after a long day of work. 😎 Image: Bar Kantoor/Facebook
Bar Kantoor is a sustainable restaurant located in Westerpark in West Amsterdam. It owes its name to the building where it’s housed, a former office of the Westergasfabriek.
Today, the building feels far removed from its past industrial context: it’s an elegant, finely decorated brick construction featuring a big, sunny terrace, ideal for soaking in whatever sunrays Dutch weather allows.
The interior is even more interesting: the furniture is entirely inspired by the building’s former function, in a cosy yet tasteful mix of second-hand pieces. If you observe the bar, for example, you’ll notice it is made of original filing cabinets. 🗄️
Bar Kantoor’s menu is rich and varied, featuring both Dutch classics such as bitterballen and kaaskroketten and international favourites such as hummus and flammkuchen.
All ingredients are 100% organic, seasonal, and prepared with a zero-waste mindset. As we went in late autumn, for instance, we had some delicious pumpkin and feta flammkuchen — highly recommended!
You know the food is good when everyone is too busy eating to take aesthetic pictures. 😍 Image: DutchReview
The drinks list reflects the same care for quality and detail as the rest of the menu.
For purely professional purposes, we also sampled some drinks and can definitely recommend the Paloma and Dutch Negroni. 🍸
No tipsy co-workers were harmed taking this picture. 🥰 Image: Dutchreview
Join their events, or host your own
Owing to its ample space, Bar Kantoor is also a great event venue.
You can check out the events they organise on their website: from brunches to drag queen disco bingo nights, you will definitely find something that floats your boat or flies your kite (…or moves another metaphorical outdoor sports-related object of your liking).
If not, you can also rent out the space for your own events: from work meetings to birthday parties to weddings, those walls have truly seen it all.
For a truly exclusive experience, we recommend renting out the beautiful Library.
Yep, you’ve guessed it: as per Bar Kantoor’s usual, it is not a literal library.
Rather, it is a cosy meeting room, perfect for organising an office brunch, for example. After all, business runs smoother when nibbling on a crunchy bitterbal. 😉
Like the rest of the Bar Kantoor spaces, the Library can be booked online as a simple venue or coupled with different catering services.
📍 Location: Haarlemmerweg 8, 1014BE Amsterdam ⏰ Working hours: Daily 7 AM to 9 PM, open until 11 PM on Fridays 💰 Prices: The menu and rent fees can be found on this brochure or on the website
Don’t want the night to end? Stay at the Conscious Hotel
You’re telling me I get to relax, stay in the heart of Amsterdam, AND minimize my carbon footprint in one hotel stay?! Image: Conscious Hotels/Supplied
If you’re having a bit too much fun with those Palomas, you can even sleep them off on-site!
We don’t mean simply dozing off on one of Bar Kantoor’s comfy couches: there is a far better option.
Housed in the same building as Bar Kantoor, the Conscious Hotel is a 100% electric, sustainable hotel.
Featuring 89 elegant rooms, it is the perfect place to get a restorative night of sleep, recharge for the day with Bar Kantoor’s delicious breakfast, and set out to explore Amsterdam West.
Starting today, international travellers must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the United Kingdom. The UK government’s reasoning for this new step? “To better monitor their borders.“
While European nationals can still visit the UK for less than 180 days without the permit, an ETA will be mandatory starting April 2, 2025.
What does this mean for Dutch travellers?
If you’re travelling from the Netherlands to the UK after April 2, you’ll need to secure an ETA in advance.
The NOS emphasises that this measure applies even for short trips or transits through British territory, as well as for children and babies.
You have permission to live, work or study in the UK,
You are a British or Irish citizen,
You are travelling with a British overseas territories citizen passport, or
You live in Ireland and travel from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man.
What you’ll pay for an ETA
As with all good things in life, an ETA comes with an application fee of around €12 (£10).
Tip: Make sure to apply on time! Most applications are processed within minutes, but others can take up to three working days. You can apply on this website starting March 5th.
Once approved, your ETA is valid for the next two years and can be used for multiple trips.
So, whether you’re off to the UK for a plate of fish and chips, to refine your posh British accent, or just for a short layover at London Heathrow, make sure you’ve got your shiny new ETA. ✨
What do you think about this new measure? Let us know in the comments below.
Pas op, train travellers! Double-check the travel planner before you leave your house the next few weekends, or you might find yourself trying to take the train from a platform that isn’t in use.
The NS is renovating several tracks around Amsterdam this January, meaning your usual journey might see some (temporary) changes.
More construction, fewer trains
Planning on catching a flight? Brace yourself for challenges getting to Schiphol by train — at least this weekend (January 10-13), when ProRail will carry out some work on the airport’s tracks.
Platforms four, five, and six will be unavailable, and fewer trains will run as a result.
That same weekend, you’ll face a similar issue but on different tracks. From January 10 to 12, construction work will also impact the route between Amsterdam Muiderpoort and Weesp.
This means almost no trains will run on that route this Saturday and Sunday (January 11 and 12). Travellers trying to reach Amsterdam Centraal from Amersfoort or Hilversum can travel through Duivendrecht.
But if you think you can delete the NS app and resume your regular peaceful travel after this weekend, we have some bad news for you. At least if you’re heading south… Amsterdam South, to be specific. 😬
Station Zuid will also be getting a makeover, this time between Saturday, January 18 and Sunday, January 26.
The result? Tracks three and four won’t be used, and fewer trains will run. So, make sure to double-check your journey that week (or come up with some good excuses for being late).
Will these NS renovations impact your journey? Let us know in the comments!
Got a headache? Paracetamol. Sleepless nights? Paracetamol. Broken leg? Hmm, maybe try a paracetamol. Or two, that’ll do it.
This, ladies and gents, might as well be a recorded conversation between a Dutch doctor and their patient.
Why? Because the Dutch are known to rely on paracetamol as a cure-all to a ridiculous extent.
What is it?
So, there is this rumour that the Dutch prescribe paracetamol for everything. We might not have any statistics on it but isn’t there a grain of truth to every stereotype?
Speaking from lived experience, if you have a headache and ask any Dutchie if they have paracetamol, they will pull a pill package out of their pocket.
The latest data report from the Foundation for Pharmaceutical Key Figures (SFK) even notes that the use of medicine dispensed by public pharmacies is steadily decreasing among Dutch people.
A side effect of their love for the lighter paracetamol, perhaps?
Why do they do it?
For one, while in other countries you can only get paracetamol in the pharmacy, the Dutch can buy the magic pills prescription-free in any supermarket, drug store or even gas station.
Naturally, this makes it an easy fix. Why go home because of a headache if pain relief is a ten-minute supermarket trip away (instead of a hospital visit)?
In Netherlands, one get Ice cream with #Paracetamol (500mg). When you have a Headache, you don’t need to go a pharmacy, instead just take a bowl of Ice cream.#fwdpic.twitter.com/8IBERFKgEq
Another reason for the Dutch paracetamol affinity might be their healthcare system. Before being referred to any specialist, you’ll first have to visit your Dutch GP (huisarts).
And before you have convinced your general practitioner of the seriousness of your illness, you’ll have to penetrate the Dutch no-nonsense attitude.
Want to know just how much the Dutch like their paracetamol? This music video about two hungover guys singing how paracetamol will help them drink even more tonight might give you an idea.
🎶 Where, where, where, where
Where is the paracetamol?
I have a hangover
Because of the alcohol
Where is the paracetamol? 🎶
Should you join in?
This is really up to you!
If your Dutch GP is giving you trouble, don’t be afraid to put your foot down and tell them that you’d rather be referred to a specialist than wait it out with a pack of paracetamols.
What do you think of this Dutch quirk? Have you experienced it? Tell us in the comments below!
The Hague Court of Appeals has ruled that a former teacher from a Protestant secondary school should not have been suspended after showing pupils a nude film of himself and his partner.
According to the ruling, it’s a matter of freedom of expression, not pornography.
From artist to teacher
RTL reports that the teacher joined the school on a trial basis in August 2023, teaching art to children aged 12 to 15.
The school knew that he used to work as an artist and photographer but didn’t know that this work included nude shots of the teacher and that these images were posted online.
It comes as no surprise that the students found these photos and shared them with each other.
The teacher then tried to get the situation under control in an… unorthodox way.
He talked to the students about the photos and proceeded to show them a film that included him and his partner in the nude.
First trial
The school was not impressed with this pedagogical approach. They immediately suspended the teacher after the incident and went to the subdistrict court demanding dismissal.
The first ruling sided with the school, although it claimed that it didn’t consider the man’s actions to be pornographic.
The court ruled that it was okay that the teacher talked about the nude photos with his students. As for the film? It wasn’t as serious as the pictures, anyway.
Still, the trust between him and the students had been irreparably broken, the court ruled, so a dismissal was in order.
Win on appeal
However, the teacher decided to appeal against the ruling — and won.
The court focused on whether this was a matter of artistic expression and decided, yes, it was. However, it still ruled that the teacher should have shown his students the film.
The second ruling determined that immediate suspension was too severe a punishment and that it could “have a “chilling effect” on other employees, who may therefore become hesitant to express their own opinion.”
The man will receive €10,000 as compensation but has decided to leave the drama of a teacher’s life behind — he now works as a social cultural worker.
Do you think the suspension was too harsh? Let us know in the comments!
Former Groningen mayor Koen Schuiling is heading to court today, accused of inappropriate behaviour on the highway, reports AD.
Are we talking about heckling another driver? Or rear-ending someone? Nope, we’re talking about masturbation.
Some might find this shocking; others would say, are you even a public figure if you haven’t faced a scandal like this?
The incident
Back in March 2024, a road user reported seeing Schuiling allegedly masturbating in his car on a highway near Groningen.
Police arrived in response to the complaint, confronting Schuiling. He defended himself by claiming he was simply trying to soothe a severe stomach ache.
Authorities weren’t convinced, leaving the ex-mayor to face court today.
In court today
Schuiling announced his departure as Groningen’s mayor in September. While he may have avoided questioning from the press by skipping the usual farewell interviews, now, he must face the heat.
To ensure a fair trial for the former mayor, the case will be handled by the neighbouring Public Prosecution Service of the Eastern Netherlands.
Schuiling refuses to pay a fine of €250 which he previously received for the offence.
He is arguing that doing so would imply guilt and tarnish his record.
Today, Schuiling and his prosecutors will appear before a magistrate judge in Zwolle.
Will you be following the case? Let us know in the comments below.
It might be interesting to know that the very ground you walk on has more than meets the eye.
The Netherlands carries a variety of facts that many tourists (and maybe even locals) might not yet know — and here are just seven of them:
1. Some of Amsterdam is built entirely on poles
Amsterdam relies on old wooden poles to hold up its iconic houses. Image: Depositphotos
Due to the soil in Amsterdam consisting of a thick layer of fen and clay, some buildings in the city are built on wooden poles fixed in a sandy layer, approximately 11 metres deep.
Since the olden days, the houses in Amsterdam were known to have been built on wooden foundation poles that are driven deep into clay, peat, and water until they reach the first layer of solid sand.
Even some of the trees in Vondelpark are supported by wooden poles to keep them from sinking into the marshy ground.
Amazingly, the Royal Palace at Dam Square is built on no less than a baffling 13,659 wooden poles! 😱
2. More than a quarter of the Netherlands is below sea level
An aerial view of one of the very dykes that keep the Dutch afloat. Image: Depositphotos
In addition to the quarter of the Netherlands that is built below sea level, 50% of its land lies less than one metre above sea level. Surprisingly, Schiphol Airport is actually 4.5 metres below sea level! ✈️
The Schiedam Jenever Museum tells all you need to know about the making of gin. Image: Depositphotos
It was not only invented by the Dutch but also introduced to the British as well.
Not a lot of people know that gin was invented in the 16th century and reportedly became a popular drink in Great Britain after William of Orange (King William III) occupied the English, Scottish, and Irish thrones.
A popular story for the term ‘Dutch courage’ is allegedly derived from when gin was used by Brits and the Dutch during the Thirty Years’ War.
4. The Netherlands has the best engineers in the world
In the days following the flood of 1421, engineers built the iconic Kinderdijk. Image: Depositphotos
They are so good at it that an entire province in the Netherlands is known to be made up of land reclaimed from the Zuiderzee in the 20th century — Flevoland!
5. The special case of the birth of Princess Margriet
The maternity ward where she was born had to be declared an international territory so she could inherit her Dutch citizenship from her mother, Princess Juliana.
Every year, the Dutch royal family show their gratitude by sending 10,000 tulip bulbs to the Canadian capital of Ottawa for the tulip festival.
6. Amsterdam Stock Exchange is the oldest stock exchange in the world
Dutchies did it first! Image: Unsplash
Some people argue that the origins of stock exchanges can be traced back to Antwerp (1460), but many more consider the Amsterdam Stock Exchange to be the oldest in the entire world.
It was established in 1602 by the Dutch East India Company (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie or VOC), which issued the first shares on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange.
It was the first company to issue stocks and bonds. It was renamed the Amsterdam Bourse and was the first to formally begin trading in securities.
7. Why orange is the most popular colour in the Netherlands
You won’t know true Dutch culture until you’ve lived through King’s Day. Image: Depositphotos
The lineage of the current dynasty (the House of Orange-Nassau) is traced back to William the Silent or Willem van Oranje (William of Orange) as he’s called in the Netherlands. The Wilhelmus (Dutch national anthem) is written in his honour.
There are so many interesting facts to know about the Netherlands. Now that you know some of them, it’s time to go impress your Dutch friends at the next trivia night!
Which number on the list was the most interesting for you? Tell us in the comments!
