Every year, there’s one day that all Leiden residents look forward to, Leidens Ontzet (Relief of Leiden). On October 3rd, people treat themselves to a city-wide partyfull of food, games, carnival rides, and, most importantly, alcohol! 🍻
It might be the only day that Leiden’s large student population intermingles with the locals as they sing the Leiden anthem or the October 3 song of ‘Rubberen Robbie’ together in brotherly love.
For the people who don’t know what we’re talking about, we’ll explain this exceptional phenomenon to you and clarify some crazy scenes you might see on this day.
The history of Leidens Ontzet
A pretty long time ago, the Dutch were at war with the Spaniards in the Eighty Years War (1568-1648). Like all wars during this time, this was about religion, independence, and power.
The ruler of the Spaniards, Catholic King Philip II, was a repressive old crook who didn’t want the Dutch to be independent. This was obviously ridiculous, and so the Dutchies rebelled against him.
The city of Leiden was attacked by the Spaniards for the first time in October 1573. However, the invaders were soon challenged by Lodewijk van Nassau’s Dutch army.
Lodewijk van Nassau, younger brother of Willem van Oranje. Image: Rijksmuseum/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain
Van Nassau, who was the brother of Dutch freedom fighter Willem van Oranje, eventually got the Spaniards to lift the siege on Leiden on March 21, 1574. But, helaas, this was only temporary: the Spaniards came back with 5,000 men — and this time, the siege would last until October 3.
During the siege, the citizens of Leiden didn’t have enough food and diseases spread all over the city. Thousands of people died from starvation and the plague.
However, the city secretary, Jan van Hout, and the leader of the troops, Jan van der Does were determined not to surrender to King Philip II.
It was a heroic fight, especially when Mayor Van der Werf offered his arm as food to his starving people. Such self-sacrifice must certainly be remembered for eternity… even though it’s a myth.
Van der Werf offering his sword instead of his arm to the people of Leiden. Image: Museum de Lakenhal/Wikimedia Commons/CC 1.0
Van der Werf even has a park named after him with a huge statue dedicated to his honour.
On October 3, 1574, the siege came to an end because of Willem van Oranje’s genius plan. He decided to flood the surrounding areas of Leiden by making holes in the dykes of Holland to expel the Spaniards.
When the surrounding areas were flooded at the beginning of October, the Watergeuzen (water rebels) were making their way to Leiden to set the citizens of Leiden free.
The Spaniards panicked because of the water and the Watergeuzen, and so they fled back to Spain.
The people came out of their houses to see if the Spaniards were really gone. The only thing the Spaniards left was a porridge pot with hutspot (mashed potato and vegetable dish), while the Watergeuzen brought herring with white bread into the city.
The relief of Leiden. Otto van Veen/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain
First thing in the morning, all the citizens went to the Pieterskerk, where they thanked God for this miracle that happened. And since we are all still very thankful, every October 3 we honour this miraculous moment by drinking and partying as much as we can. 😉
Did you know? Willem van Oranje proposed to establish the first university in the Netherlands as a reward for defeating the Spanish. In 1575, Leiden University was inaugurated in the Pieterskerk.
How to party the Leiden way
There are many ways you can enjoy Leiden Ontzet. Want to do it like a Dutchie? Say no more.
Eat some food
You may be asking yourself: is Dutch food even a thing? Yes, it actually is!
While the holiday technically starts on October 3, most people actually begin the festivities on the night of October 2. On this night, Leiden people eat hutspot (a dish of mashed potatoes and vegetables), then go out in the town for drinking and debauchery.
Just what you need before a night of celebration! Image: DepositPhotos.com
When you wake up from your hangover on the morning of October 3, you can make your way to the De Waagfor FREE herring and white bread. 😋
After finishing this “Dutch delicacy”, you can head into the city and take a look at the magnificent Taptoe parade with lights and fun performances.
Ride some rides
After stuffing yourself with some Dutch delicacies, walk around the funfair in the city centre and lose your money trying to win a stuffed animal for your partner.
Here, you can eat some churros and deep-fried doughnuts and get on some roller coaster rides (though you may want to do the rides before eating the snacks 🤢).
Get drunk and watch some fireworks
Did we mention that you should drink alcohol all the time while doing these things?
Then, while getting a good buzz going, you can take a look at all the stages around the city where you can listen to all kinds of music, especially those you don’t want to hear when you’re sober. 💃
Then, just before midnight, you can watch a spectacular fireworks show at the Zijlsingel. 🎆
After that, you can slowly move to an overly crowded pub.
If you’re somehow still able to walk at the end of the evening, you should go to bed and sleep for a few hours before picking up your herring and white bread (again) the next morning on October 4. Then the fun is over, and you’ll have to wait another year to do it all again!
Have you been to Leidens Ontzet, or are you planning to go? Let us know in the comments below!
Freddie Oversteegen was just 14 years old when she became an assassin for the Dutch resistance during the German occupation of the Netherlands.
The teenager would ask her victims if they would like to go for a “stroll” in the woods. The men would never return.
Freddie is credited with the deaths of multiple German soldiers and traitors during the war. How did a young girl manage to do this you may ask? She wore her hair in braids of course. Well, that among other things.
The women of the Dutch Resistance: meet Freddie Oversteegen
Freddie belonged to a group of three young women who would sabotage and assassinate soldiers and traitors during the German occupation. The women were part of a small cell of seven which consisted of her sister, Truus, and Hannie Schaft, known as “The girl with red hair.”
While all three women carried out acts of brave resistance against the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, this article will focus on Freddie, the youngest of the three — and the first to kill.
Communist background
Freddie was born in 1925 and initially lived on a barge with her family in Schoten. Freddie and Truus’ parents raised them to resist.
Her parents hid Lithuanian refugees in the hold of their ship before the beginning of World War II. The family would also later hide a Jewish couple in their home during the 1930s.
Once their parents divorced, Freddie and her sister were raised primarily by their mother, who taught them communist principles. Given the principles they were raised with, it’s no surprise that the sisters resisted the German occupation of the Netherlands.
Work for the Dutch resistance
When the war began, Freddie and Truus handed out anti-Nazi pamphlets on the streets — an act that caught the attention of Frans van der Wiel, the commander of the Haarlem Council of Resistance.
He came to the Oversteegen residence one day and asked whether the sisters would be willing to join. He hoped that their innocent looks would help the resistance.
Freddie Oversteegen, a Dutch girl who was the unsuspecting killer of dozens of Nazis. Along with her friend Hannie and her sister Truus, the girls worked with a team from the Dutch Resistance to lure men into the woods for a promised kiss. The men got a bullet to the head instead pic.twitter.com/Au2PVszv6E
Freddie was just 14 years old at this point. But with the permission of her mother, and the promise to “always stay human,” the sisters joined the Council of Resistance.
Truus recalled in an interview for the book ‘Under Fire: Women and World War II’ that it was only after joining the resistance that Der Wiel revealed that he planned for the girls to sabotage bridges and railway lines. “We told him we’d like to do that,” Truus said.
The girls followed through: they blew up bridges and train tracks. But they also smuggled Jewish children out of the country and out of concentration camps.
A cycling assassin
However, this work was not the only thing that Der Wiel had in store for the two sisters. Truus recalled that he also told them they would need to “learn to shoot — to shoot Nazis.“
“I remember my sister saying, ‘Well, that’s something I’ve never done before!'” Freddie would be the first of the three women to carry this act out.
Freddie was just a teenager when she first assassinated someone. In an interview with the BBC, her son speculates that her first victim was a Dutch woman who planned on handing over a list of Jewish people to the Germans.
She approached the woman in the park, asked her for her name — to see if she had the right target — and then shot her.
as a teenager during World War II, Freddie Oversteegen hid refugees in her home and lured nazi soldiers into the woods and shot them. When asked how many she had killed, she said, “A soldier never tells.” pic.twitter.com/0HdkPc6Opl
Freddie was quite small and wore her hair in two braids which made her look innocent and enabled her to get away easily. Her method of attack was often a drive-by. Truus would cycle a bike whilst Freddie sat on the back and shot.
“We always went by bike, never walked, that was too dangerous. I always made sure the coast was clear. That worked very well.”
Luring Nazis and collaborators to their deaths
As if the idea of a young girl conducting a cycle-by shooting isn’t shocking enough, Freddie and her sister are most famed for their second assassination technique — luring men, often German soldiers, to their deaths.
Freddie would meet soldiers and collaborators in the taverns and ask them if they would like to go “for a stroll.” Upon accepting the offer, the targets would be led to the woods and shot in a surprise attack.
Collaborators were publicly shamed. Image: Jan Arkesteijn/Wikimedia commons/CC3.0
When speaking in a television interview about her attacks, Freddie talked of the strange compulsion to help her victims up again “Yes, I’ve shot a gun myself, and I’ve seen them fall, and what is inside us at such a moment? You want to help them get up.”
Drawing the line
When asked about the attacks against soldiers and collaborators, Freddie described them as a “necessary evil.” However, the three women assassins did have to draw the line at one point.
The resistance had asked the women to help take the children of a senior Nazi officer hostage. They planned to exchange the children for captured members of the Dutch resistance. But if the negotiations soured, they would have to kill them.
At this point, Freddie, Truus, and Hannie refused to carry out the mission. “We are no Hitlerites. Resistance fighters don’t murder children,” Freddie told one interviewer.
Legacy
Once the war was over, Freddie remained the quieter of the two Oversteegen sisters. Truus became an artist and lectured about her time in the Dutch resistance.
It was only in 2014 that Freddie was really recognised for her efforts during the resistance. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte awarded her and Truus the Mobilisation War Cross.
Her son, Remy, described the moment as a highlight in his mother’s life. Streets in Haarlem were even named after Freddie and her sister.
A few things about Freddie Oversteegen I couldn't fit in the article. She described herself as a "soldier". Her family viewed the stereotype of she and Truss as seductresses to be highly reductive.
In an interview with VICE, Freddie said that once the war ended, she coped by “getting married and having babies.” However, her son, Remi, believes the war never stopped for his mother. In an interview with NH Nieuws, he claimed that “The war actually lasted 80 years for Freddie.”
Freddie expressed a similar sentiment herself when talking to VICE about conversations with her sister “we never had to say ‘remember when,’ because it was always at the top of our minds.”
Freddie Oversteegen passed away on December 5, 2018 — one day before her 93rd birthday.
What do you think of this brave teenager? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
Ah, seagulls — the ultimate winged villains. Always ready to fly down and reign chaos on unsuspecting people.“Get rid of them all!” we scream, but alas, the flying bastards are protected.
Seeing seagulls gang up on people naively enjoying their croquette or herring is pretty much an everyday occurrence in the Netherlands, especially near the beach.
Relentless, predatory, and ambitious, seagulls will always find a way to snatch food from your hand.
In other countries, the solution to such a seagull issue might be to shoot them, and, in typical human fashion, probably drive them to extinction.
In the Netherlands, however, seagulls are protected by law. “Oh God, why?” you may ask. The truth is, we don’t really know. 🤷♂️
We guess the Dutch like to accommodate all beings, human or not, that live in the country.
In defence of the seagulls
Though we may not be big fans of seagulls ourselves, there is a point to be made about them.
Most animals struggle to thrive in urban environments, so many go extinct or are pushed out of cities to rural areas.
Seagulls, on the other hand, are not only ever-present in (Dutch) cities, but they thrive in these environments.
Waiting for you to get up so they can snatch your snacks. Image: Pixabay
Normally, seagulls are sea-faring birds, but nowadays, you can also find them deep inland, where there are delicious trash bags to rip open in cities.
Birds, in general, are well-suited for urban living. They have high mobility and can travel wherever they want, without being limited by urban obstacles.
Crows and ravens are great examples of such birds, whose intelligence and problem-solving skills help them successfully navigate urban life.
So, just like any other bird, seagulls deserve our respect simply because they can survive in the heavily modified environments we developed in the last two centuries.
Sure, they’re not as gracious and mysterious as ravens are, as they have more of a schoolyard-bully-stealing-your-lunch-money kind of approach to problem-solving. But hey, no judgment!
Attempts to control the Dutch seagull population
The Dutch have tried to deal with seagulls before, but the birds’ great adaptability has made all such attempts fail.
Now, the seagulls are allowed to roam free through the skies of the Netherlands.
Several ineffective measures were applied to deal with the pesky seagulls.
For example, some people tried to hunt them down with falcons. That method was ineffective, however, especially for the falcons, which tend to get hurt in urban areas.
Others have tried reintroducing foxes into the dune landscape to control the population of seagulls. Still, our lovely birds have replaced the dunes with the city, rendering these measures ineffective.
Some geniuses have tried shooting the gulls, but there’s just something about carrying weapons in urban areas and shooting birds mid-air that seems a bit ineffective (and slightly American). 😅
Seagulls stare into your soul. Image: Pixabay
Lastly, there have been attempts to replace their eggs with fake eggs, but this has turned out to be pointless and expensive.
Overall, seagulls see through all and every human plot against them.
Seagulls: a protected species in Holland
After several failed attempts at getting rid of the birds, the Dutch seemed to give up. The Nature Conservation Act now protects seagull species in the Netherlands.
Overall, seagulls are here to stay — at least in the Netherlands. Try not to feed them, befriend them, or make eye contact with them. Let them be, and they’ll leave you alone.
If opening a new (Dutch) bank account is high on your list of priorities, you’ll love this new welcome bonus for ING’s banking services. 💸
New ING customers can now score a €100 welcome bonus, simply for opening a bank account and depositing €250 in their Orange Savings account.
You’ve also got a generous period to get your new account sorted, with the promotion running all the way to February 28, 2027.
Here’s how to claim your €100
Rest assured, scoring that sweet cash bonus is a surprisingly straightforward process. Let’s run through these four easy steps so we can help your bank account go ka-ching! 💰
(Needless to say, promotional terms apply.)
1. Sign up via the ING mobile banking app and open an ING current account
To kickstart the sign-up process, you’ll need to download ING’s mobile banking app.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re an Android user or an Apple fan; this patriotically orange app is available on both the Google Play Store and the App Store, in addition to ING’s website.
Tip: While ING has released several mobile apps, “ING Mobile Banking App” is the one you’ll need to download.
Then, it’s time to open a standard current account or “betaalrekening”.
Once inside the app, you should be able to select “Betaalrekening” from the list of accounts available.
Next, ING will ask you for some additional details. This typically involves answering a few questions and providing some form of identification (a passport or EU ID card will do).
It’s best to have this info on hand, so you can breeze through these requirements. Image: Magnific
The identification documents you need depend on your nationality and residence status, so check ING’s current account page for the accepted identification documents and any additional requirements before applying. You can choose one of the four ING Plans that fits your needs best.
2. Don’t forget to opt in
Just as the Dutch need a heads-up before you announce yourself as a surprise dinner guest, ING needs a little confirmation that you’re actually participating in this promotion.
After you’ve finished signing up for your ING account in the app, return to ING’s Newcomer Welcome Bonus page, and you’ll spot a button asking if you want to participate.
3. Save at least €250 in your (free!) ING Orange Savings account
Naturally, you’ve got to give a little to get a little.
And a “little”, in this case, means saving €250 in the ING Orange Savings account that is automatically part of your ING Plan.
Once you’ve set your cash aside, it’s important to remember that the amount must stay untouched for the duration of this challenge (eight weeks).
4. Make five payments in the first 8 weeks
Did we mention that part of the challenge is treating yourself?
Put your new account to work, whether you’re opting for some mid-week retail therapy or need to grab your weekly set of stroopwafels at your favourite Dutch supermarket. Your choice of what to spend on (or how much to spend) is entirely up to you.
Treat yourself — and your friends! Image: Magnific
If you don’t have an ING debit card yet, don’t worry. These purchases can also be made from Google Pay, Apple Pay, or even the payment feature on your Garmin smartwatch.
Just remember, you’ll have to make at least five individual payments within eight weeks and save at least €250 in your Orange Savings account before your reward appears in your bank account.
Ticked all the boxes? Time to sit back and relax, while ING transfers €100 to your account within eight weeks of you meeting all the conditions.
Who’s eligible for ING’s €100 sign-up deal?
If you’re ready to hop aboard the free €100 train, it’s high time we discussed the eligibility requirements. 👇
This one’s a biggie: the current offer is only valid for new ING customers. In other words, anyone “who has not held any ING product in the 12 months prior to opening the account”.
If you’re an existing user, or you just recently closed an ING account, well… helaas pindakaas, but it looks like you’ll be missing out on some free cash.
ING also stresses that you can’t combine this promotion with their other welcome offers on current accounts. So, while you might be tempted by new offers that crop up, you can only pick one.
And, last but certainly not least, all four steps outlined in the previous section need to be completed within 8 weeks. So be sure to bookmark this article and go through all the steps if you want your free €100 welcome bonus.
Sure, €100 is sweet… but is ING the right bank for me?
If your only exposure to ING is this article, it’s only natural to wonder if this bank really is the right choice for you.
As a team of internationals, we’re big fans of services that combine accessibility with affordability. ING offers a great blend of the two, with current account plans starting at a mere €4 per month and a sign-up process that can be completed in a matter of minutes.
We also love the convenience of their highly-rated mobile app (currently sitting at 4.6 out of 5 stars!), which gives you the option to handle all your banking transactions securely while on the go.
Whether you’re new to the Netherlands or a Dutch person looking to switch bank accounts, ING has a wealth of financial benefits on offer. (Yes, the €100 bonus is just the cherry on top!)
Will you be signing up for this new welcome bonus? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
Starting next year, savers and investors in the Netherlands could pay wealth tax from a much lower threshold, under a new budget plan the Dutch government unveiled this Tuesday.
In a joint letter to the Tweede Kamer (the Dutch House of Representatives), Prime Minister Rob Jetten, Finance Minister Eelco Heinen, and State Secretary for Finance Eelco Eerenberg spell out some of the changes currently on the table.
At present, the plan is an offer to opposition parties, as Jetten’s minority cabinet can’t pass a budget reform without their votes.
Though none of this is finalised yet, here are some of the key changes outlined in the letter:
Lower Box 3 tax threshold from 2027
Box 3 taxation is part of the Dutch income tax system that covers personal wealth, such as savings, investments, and second homes.
According to this system, you only pay tax on wealth above your tax-free allowance. In 2026, the Belastingdienst (Dutch tax office) has set this threshold at €59,357 per person, or €118,714 with a tax partner.
In an earlier budget plan, the tax-free allowance was set to be raised to €61,000. Sadly, this plan might just be scrapped.
Should the government’s amended budget plan move ahead, your tax-free allowance in 2027 could be cut to €30,846 — the same level as in 2020. In other words, if you have savings or investments exceeding €30,846, you could very well be required to pay taxes on these funds.
Helaas, the Box 3 tax threshold might very well be slashed in 2027. Image: Magnific
€1,000 tax-free allowance on returns
And, in two years, the interest you earn on investments or your savings could also face additional taxation.
As the letter states, “a tax-free allowance of €1,000 will apply” from 2028; anything above this threshold could be taxed.
Higher assumed returns on investments and property
Currently, Box 3 taxes wealth based on the returns that the Belastingdienst assumes you make. For shares, bonds, crypto, second homes, and rental properties, the tax office assumes a 6% return — taxed at 36% of your assumed return per year.
According to the joint letter, the Dutch cabinet now wants to raise that assumed return by 1.5 percentage points in 2027.
Even if your investments or rental income don’t earn you a cent more, you could be looking at a higher tax on your capital. Money in savings accounts, on the other hand, won’t be affected by this particular change.
However, this change is intended to be temporary, and would apply only in 2027. As stated in the letter, it’s one of the ways the cabinet plans to cover the cost of the new system, which it estimates at around €3 billion a year in 2028 and 2029.
Good to know: If your investments earn less than the Belastingdienst’s assumed return, you can report your actual return on your tax return and pay less.
Tax on investment gains only when you sell
Under the new plan, gains on shares, bonds, options, and other financial instruments from 2028 onwards will only be taxed when you actually sell.
As a result, the letter notes, “capital gains tax will apply to the vast majority (approximately 90%) of assets in Box 3 that appreciate in value”.
Other assets that fall under Box 3 taxation and appreciate in value will switch over to this new system by 2030.
Making a buck off selling some investments? Come 2028, the Belastingdienst will want a slice of that pie. Image: Magnific
More measures to boost purchasing power
It’s not all doom and gloom, however.
The cabinet also wants to raise the income level for Bracket 3, where the top income tax rate kicks in. In 2026, the threshold sits at €78,426, with any income above this amount incurring 49.50% tax.
From 2027, this threshold could rise to €80,578. In other words, your income would need to exceed €80,578 to be taxed in Bracket 3 in 2027.
As a downside, the arbeidskorting (employed person’s tax credit, or a discount for workers that lowers the amount of tax payable) would go up by €133, instead of the planned €173.
Several changes for BV owners
Running your own private limited company (BV)? As the letter outlines, your Box 2 tax rate on income from shares could drop from 31% to 29.2% in 2027, for up to four years.
Meanwhile, the amount you can borrow from your own BV before extra tax applies would be cut, falling from €500,000 to just €100,000.
Taking effect from 2027, this change is intended to be staggered over five stages, each with a decrease of €80,000 — until the lowered borrowing limit of €100,000 is reached.
October is the month Dutch summer finally stops pretending and autumn moves in with its umbrella, its scarf, and a surprisingly packed social calendar.
Sure, the days are getting shorter and your bike rides wetter. But with medieval parties, fairytale castles and the world’s biggest club festival on the agenda, there’s no excuse to hide under a blanket.
Here’s what to mark on your calendar this month. 👇
1. Party like it’s 1574 at Leidens Ontzet
Time to get tipsy and go on a ferris wheel. Image: Dreamstime
If you’ve ever wanted to experience an entire city eat mashed potatoes and herring and then party until the small hours, welcome to 3 October in Leiden.
The fleeing Spaniards left behind a pot of hutspot (mashed potato and vegetable stew), while the rebels arrived with herring and white bread. Leiden still marks the occasion with the same menu, plus a few extras:
Hutspot on the night of October 2, when most locals kick off the festivities
Free herring and white bread at De Waag on the morning of 3 October
The Taptoe parade, a procession of lights and performances
A funfair, live stages and fireworks just before midnight
This year, 2 and 3 October fall on a Friday and Saturday, so no need to call in “sick” the next day.
2. Catch the Afrovibes festival (October 1 to 4)
Afrovibes returns for its 23rd edition, bringing theatre, dance, music and spoken word by makers from Africa and the African diaspora to three Dutch cities.
This year’s theme is Soil / Soul, exploring the connection between land, ancestry and heritage, according to De Brakke Grond. The festive opening is there on Thursday, October 1, with a live set by DJ Mo Wrights and singer-songwriter Bahghi.
Amsterdam: De Brakke Grond (October 1 to 3), Framer Framed (October 3 and 4), and Bijlmer Parktheater (October 3 and 4, to be confirmed)
Rotterdam: Maaspodium and Fenix (October 3 and 4)
Utrecht: Theater Kikker (October 4)
3. Enjoy Piano Nights at the Concertgebouw
For the music nerds. Image: Magnific
On Wednesday, October 7, pianists Eric Christian and Nino Gvetadze take over the Concertgebouw’s Main Hall for 90 minutes of neoclassical music, from romantic melodies to Ludovico Einaudi.
You’ll be sitting in the same hall where Mahler, Strauss and Stravinsky once conducted their own work, which is not a bad way to spend a Wednesday.
Tickets cost €19 to €59 (plus a €5 booking fee), and your first drink is on the house. 🍷 Just note there’ll be strobe lights. You’ll find all the details on our Piano Nights event page.
4. Stay up late at Museumnacht Den Haag (October 10)
Check out The Hague’s iconic musuems — at night. Image: DepositPhotos.com
On Saturday, October 10, The Hague turns into one big after-dark playground. The organisers call it het fènste avondsje kuns en kultuâh — “the finest evening of art and culture” in the city’s famous local accent.
From 7 PM, one ticket gets you into dozens of museums, galleries and hidden gems. Highlights include:
The Netherlands may be flat, but it’s not short of castles, and October is when their parks look their best.
Some examples? Kasteel de Haar, near Utrecht, is the largest castle in the country. It was rebuilt from a ruin by Pierre Cuypers (yes, the Rijksmuseum guy) between 1892 and 1912.
Its gardens are open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM, with a maze and a deer park to explore. If the drizzle kicks in, head inside the castle itself.
Prefer something smaller? Kasteel Oud Poelgeest in Oegstgeest, just outside Leiden, sits on a wooded estate of over 10 hectares. It was once home to famous Leiden professor Herman Boerhaave, and its castle bar has a terrace overlooking the pond.
6. Go pumpkin picking
That’ll make you forget about the weather for a moment. Image: Dreamstime
Once the apples are picked, it’s time for pumpkins to steal the spotlight.
Up north, the Pompoenplukdagen (pumpkin-picking days) return to the Nieuwlandse Akker in Groningen on October 3 and 4, with a local market and pumpkin carving for kids.
Down in Groesbeek, near Nijmegen, Groentenhof Poelen hosts free Halloween pumpkin days on the last three Sundays of October. Just bring wellies — Dutch fields in October are not known for being dry.
7. Take a trip through the human body
Now that’s an interesting piece of architecture. Image: Андрей Бобровский/Wikimedia Commons/CC3.0
If your curtains have revealed a rainy day and the children are bouncing off the walls, then one option is to head to CORPUS in Oegstgeest. You literally walk through a giant human body (let them bounce off those walls instead).
You enter through the knee and finish in the brain, riding through the heart as a red blood cell in a 5D theatre along the way. You travel in small groups with an English audio tour, and there’s an interactive section afterwards where you can even test your hearing. It’s recommended for ages six and up.
It works with time slots, so book ahead. Bonus: it’s just down the road from Kasteel Oud Poelgeest.
8. Chill out with some bunnies
You know what’s better than relaxing? Relaxing with bunnies. Image: DutchReview
If October’s grey skies are getting to you, might we suggest a rabbit?
The Quiet Rex in Amsterdam-Noord is an adults-only (20+) reading lounge where free-roaming bunnies hop around while you read, craft or quietly work.
The soft and bouncy staff include Caesar (Chief Executive Officer) and his brother Julius (Chief Risk Officer), who decide when it’s time to cuddle. Check out their website for all the booking options.
9. Finally start saving (and snag €100 while you’re at it)
Time to save some money during the rainy days. Image: Magnific
With the end of the year in sight, it’s a good moment to tackle the money admin you’ve been putting off since January.
Looking for a new bank account to get your saving journey started? ING currently offers newcomers a €100 welcome bonus for opening an account and depositing €250 into an Orange Savings account.
If you need to dance it all off, Amsterdam Dance Event celebrates its 30th edition this year, turning the capital into one giant dance floor for five days.
Electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre is guest of honour and plays the opening concert at AFAS Live on October 21. Other highlights from ADE’s line-up include Eric Prydz at the Gashouder and Het Nationale Ballet’s Swan Lake Remixed.
Pack comfortable shoes and a waterproof jacket. You’ll need both.
Whether you’re after history, culture or a very well-behaved rabbit, October in the Netherlands has plenty to offer to distract you from the rain.
What’s on your October bucket list this year? Let us know in the comments!
Somewhere in Amsterdam-Noord, a rabbit named Caesar is waiting for you to feed him some mint — oh, and he lives among hundreds of books and crafts.
If your idea of a good time involves a velvety rabbit napping near your feet and uninterrupted peace with a good book, we’ve found your happy place.
It’s called The Quiet Rex, an adults-only (20+) quiet reading lounge on Amsterdam-Noord’s Papaverweg, where the whole concept is doing very little, very peacefully.
Born from corporate burnout
The Quiet Rex founder, Paola, spent years in the high-pressure corporate world before deciding enough was enough.
“The fun had left my life,” she recalls, “and the happy moments were when I was reading on the sofa and having my bunnies run all over me.”
So, she and her husband, Gero, made a plan. As she describes it, “I decided to quit corporate and do what I like and what I think other people might enjoy,” and The Quiet Rex was born.
Together, they’ve created a space to decompress and momentarily escape the stresses of life — all in the company of rabbits.
Read, craft, work, or simply exist
The space (and bunnies) run across two floors:
Downstairs is the Focus Lounge, where you can settle in with a book from the library, dip into the free arts and crafts (painting, diamond painting, colouring, puzzles, you name it), or plug into the Wi-Fi and quietly work.
Pick from hundreds of books while bunnies snuffle at your feet. Image: DutchReview
The ground floor means step-free access too, so guests who can’t manage stairs still get the full experience. Upstairs is the Reading-only Lounge, with a wider English-language collection.
Booking is simple: you can choose between reading with the bunnies, doing arts and crafts with the bunnies, working with the bunnies, or even feeding the bunnies.
Reading and arts and crafts both cost €16.50 for an hour, €31 for two, or €42 for three. A quiet work desk is a little cheaper at €12, €23 or €34 for the same slots.
Want to do all of the above and feed the bunnies at the same time? Book one of the two daily one-hour slots for €19.50, which includes a €3 portion of fresh vegetables.
Ready to swap your inbox for a bunny?Book your spot here. The lounge is open Wednesday to Friday from 1 PM to 9 PM, and weekends from 11 AM to 7 PM.
There are no hot drinks, no loud machines, no clatter, just turning pages and letting your shoulders drop.
Vegan and gluten-free snacks are available, along with chilled drinks such as bottled water, iced tea, vegan cappuccinos, and plant-based chocolate and banana milk. However, this isn’t a bunny “café.” As Paola emphasises: “We’re a reading lounge.”
The bunnies are in charge
The real staff here have fur. There’s Julius (Chief Risk Officer) and Caesar (Chief Executive Officer), brothers just over eighteen months old and former house pets. Caesar, apparently, used to double as a makeup remover.
They decide when it’s time to cuddle. Image: DutchReview
Meanwhile, upstairs, you’ll find Evelyn (VP of Business) and young Hugo (Sales Executive).
Just remember, you don’t get to chase them. Guests stay seated, and the rabbits do exactly as they please.
“It’s a cohabitation type of situation,” Paola explains. “You come here to do your thing, you read, you relax, and the bunnies are around you. Whatever interaction happens, it has to happen organically.”
And that gentle restraint is the entire philosophy. “We’re here to give the guests space for themselves, to just think about something else,” she says.
For anyone worn down by demanding jobs, busy families or general adult life, that might be the best bit of self-care going.
Fancy an hour of doing gloriously little with a rabbit for company?Reserve your lounge chairand tell us in the comments: would you read, craft, or just quietly nap?
Nervous about your upcoming energy bills this winter? Thankfully, there’s a silver lining: households in the Netherlands can apply to the Noodfonds Energie (Energy Emergency Fund) from January 4 to May 7, 2027.
If you’re unsure of the process or want to get your ducks in a row beforehand, Rijksoverheid notes that you can “contact the Emergency Fund to ask questions and prepare to submit an application” from December 1, 2026.
With a budget of around 193 million, the Dutch government estimates it can help around half a million households weather this winter’s rising energy bills.
But is your household on the list? Here’s what to know.
Does your household qualify for the energy fund?
Eligibility hinges on two factors: you must be in a low-income household with high energy bills. And yes, that includes households with district heating, a warmtenet (heating network), and students.
According to Rijksoverheid, the following households are eligible for the energy fund:
Households with a gross income up to 130% of the social minimum and an energy quota of 8% or higher.
Households with a gross income between 130% and 200% of the social minimum and an energy quota of 10% or higher.
What is an energy quota? An energy quota, or energiequote, is the share of your gross income that goes towards gas, electricity, or heating.
How much money can you expect?
Helaas, if you’re dreaming of your entire energy bill vanishing in a puff of smoke, that isn’t going to happen anytime soon.
The Emergency Energy Fund plans to pay “half of the energy costs for people that exceed the limit of 8 or 10%” of their energy quota.
In terms of ballpark figures, Rijksoverheid notes that households “will receive a total compensation of at least 120 euros and a maximum of 1,800 euros”.
Students and those belonging to a heating network are also eligible, but the amount of compensation you’ll receive varies. Image: Magnific
And don’t expect the funds to land in your bank account immediately, either. On average, you can expect a wait time of four to six weeks before you know how much compensation you’ll receive.
Where possible, the Emergency Fund will settle the amount “evenly against the energy bill by your energy supplier over 12 months”.
No first come, first served
In previous years, the Energy Emergency Fund closed as soon as its budget was used up.
This year aims to be different, with Rijksoverheid promising: “Everyone who is entitled to it and submits an application will receive compensation from the Emergency Fund.”
“I want to help all households eligible for it this coming winter,” adds Minister of Social Affairs and Employment, Hans Vijlbrief. “We are taking the higher energy prices of the new year into account to ensure that people do not miss out on any money.”
Want to make sure DutchReview pops up on your news feed more often? Just add us as a preferred news provider, and we’ll handle the rest.
Often, Amsterdam gets all the attention from visitors to the Netherlands. But Eindhoven, AKA the City of Light, has been quietly building a case for itself. Here’s why you need to visit, and what to look out for.
Home to bold post-war architecture, craft beer bars, and a hotel literally built inside a light bulb factory, Eindhoven is worth the train ride, for sure.
Not to mention the food scene is excellent, the neighbourhoods are fascinating and full of life, and it’s far less crowded than Amsterdam.
Here’s everything you could get up to while visiting Eindhoven:
1. Step inside the Philips Museum
Visit this iconic museum in Eindhoven to get a full understanding of the city’s history. Image: DepositPhotos.com
Everything in Eindhoven leads back to Philips. This company shaped the city, from its neighbourhoods and parks to its football club and identity. So starting here makes perfect sense.
The Philips museum is housed in the original 1891 factory building where Gerard Philips first started producing light bulbs.
Inside, you can walk through 135 years of innovation: from those early bulbs to CDs, shavers, and now AI. The second half of the museum is interactive and hands-on, which makes it entertaining for all kinds of learners.
💰 Price: €13.50 for adults; €7 for children aged 4 to 17; free for under-4s; free on Tuesdays from 3:30 PM to 5 PM (excluding school holidays)
⏰ Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 11 AM to 5 PM; also open on Mondays during Dutch school holidays
Make the most of your visit by booking your stay at this iconic Eindhoven hotel. Image: WestCord
Speaking of Philips, the WestCord Hotel Eindhoven is partly housed in the Lichttoren — the monumental Philips Light Tower, built in 1909.
This was the factory where Philips engineers tested light bulbs late into the night. The tower’s name stuck, and so did its legacy.
Today, the loft rooms inside it have 4-metre-high ceilings, exposed industrial features, and the kind of atmosphere that no newly built hotel can manufacture.
The hotel also underwent a major renovation in 2025, adding brand new rooms in the adjacent Mathilde Tower alongside the restored rooms in the Lichttoren.
From the magnificent in-house restaurant to the well-stocked bar and a wellness centre with saunas and a Turkish bath, WestCord is perfect for unwinding after a full day of exploring.
The fitness area and meeting and event facilities also make it a solid option for business travellers who want somewhere with more personality than a standard conference hotel.
💰Price: Rooms from around €144 per night. Prices fluctuate seasonally, so it’s best to check the website for exact prices.
This former industrial area is now full of life and fun. Image: DepositPhotos.com
For decades, the entire Strijp-S complex belonged to Philips, and ordinary Eindhoven residents weren’t allowed in. It was a closed industrial site where employees worked, nicknamed the verboden stad: the forbidden city.
These days, it’s the most energetic neighbourhood in Eindhoven. Old Philips factory buildings have been transformed into restaurants, studios, shops, a cinema, and a concert venue, all while keeping the industrial bones intact.
From the Klokgebouw to the Ketelhuis, this is an area well worth exploring.
💰Price: Free to explore
⏰Opening hours: Open all day; individual venues vary
4. Discover the future at the Next Nature Museum (Evoluon)
The Evoluon is a truly unique building. In short, it looks like a flying saucer that landed in Eindhoven in 1966 as a gift from Philips to the city.
When the Next Nature Museum moved in, this architectural marvel was finally able to house something as interesting as it looks.
The museum asks what happens when technology becomes our second nature. Virtual reality time machines, printed food, living cities, wild robots: it’s thought-provoking stuff, and the exhibitions are built to be played with rather than just looked at.
💰Price: €17.50 for adults; €8.50 for students, CJP cardholders and teens aged 13 to 17; €5 for children aged 4 to 12; free for under-4s and Museumkaart holders.
⏰Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 11 AM to 5 PM; usually also open on Mondays and Tuesdays during school holidays, and until 6 PM during Dutch Design Week
Time for some culture? This historic museum is just the right pick. Image: DepositPhotos.com
Founded in 1936, the Van Abbemuseum is one of Europe’s oldest public contemporary art museums.
Its collection comprises over 3,400 works, including works by Picasso, Mondrian, and Marlene Dumas, as well as one of the largest collections of El Lissitzky paintings anywhere in the world.
The building itself is also worth noting: the original 1936 structure sits alongside a striking 2003 extension designed by Abel Cahen.
It’s a museum that takes art seriously without taking itself too seriously.
💰 Price: €16 for adults; free for children under 13; €8 for students and CJP cardholders; free on Tuesdays from 3 PM to 5 PM; free with Museumkaart
Get some coffee, shop around, and enjoy the magic of the De Bergen neighbourhood. Image: DepositPhotos.com
De Bergen is Eindhoven’s answer to Amsterdam’s Negen Straatjes: a neighbourhood of independent boutiques, concept stores, and good coffee tucked into streets that run off the main shopping drag.
If that doesn’t convince you, note that the locals call it Eindhoven’s Quartier Latin!
Look for vintage finds at All Vintage and ethical fashion at Vielgut. Then, you can sit outside at one of the terrace cafés and simply watch the city go by.
💰 Price: Free to wander around. Depends on how much you spend!
⏰ Opening hours: Most shops open Tuesday to Saturday, around 10 AM to 6 PM; hours vary by shop
If you want to bring something more exciting home than the trinkets at the airport gift shop, Urban Shopper is the answer.
Located in Strijp-S, it’s a collective of small creative entrepreneurs selling original design pieces, vintage items, and things you didn’t know you needed until you saw them.
If you’re a lover of creative gifts, this is where you need to be.
💰 Price: Free to enter
⏰ Opening hours: 11 AM to 6 PM Wednesday to Friday, 11 AM to 5 PM on Saturday, 12 PM to 5 PM on Sunday. Closed on Monday.
9. Visit Piet Hein Eek’s design empire at Strijp-R
Piet Hein Eek is probably the most famous Dutch designer you’ve never heard of. Fret not, after a visit to Eindhoven, you’ll be an expert.
His base at Strijp-R is a former Philips ceramic workshop, now home to his studio, shop, exhibition space, grand café, and hotel.
He works with reclaimed and waste materials, and his aesthetic (rough-luxe and a bit chaotic) runs through everything on site. Plus, the restaurant is excellent for lunch.
10. Walk (or skate) through Area51 — the largest indoor skatepark in the Netherlands
Area51 is an enormous indoor skatepark housed in a former Philips building in Strijp-S.
At 2,800 square metres, it’s the largest indoor skatepark in the Netherlands, and whether you skate or not, it’s worth a look.
The space itself is impressive, and the energy is good. There’s a café with a balcony overlooking the skate track if you’d rather watch with a drink in hand than shred with the other skaters.
Sessions run in limited time slots, so book your spot online in advance. You’ll receive an access code by email once your reservation is confirmed. Each day has two time slots, and the minimum age on the track is 7.
💰 Price: €8 per session online; day tickets €14.50, Monday to Friday only (online only, not available during school holidays or weekends)
⏰ Opening hours: Sessions run in fixed time slots. Booking online is the safest bet, but if there’s no special event on, you can simply rock up for any slot, just know that tickets cost €1 more at the door. For more information, check the website.
Twenty food stalls, one central location. A veritable cornucopia of flavours!
The Down Town Gourmet Market’s QR code ordering system means everyone at the table can eat something completely different. Hands down, this is one of the best lunch stops in the city centre.
Vietnamese pho, Spanish pinchos, sushi, burgers: it’s all there. Order a bit of everything, find a table, and see what arrives. The food scene in Eindhoven is worth making time for, and this is a good place to start.
💰Price: Around €10 to €15 per person
⏰Opening hours: Monday closed; Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday 12 PM to 11 PM; Friday and Saturday 12 PM to midnight
De Kazerne is a restaurant, event space, and rotating art exhibition wrapped into one building.
The interiors are inspired and uplifting despite leaning into dark tones and industrial character. Plus, the changing design exhibitions shift the atmosphere entirely.
The food has a modern Italian touch, with a menu that changes regularly to make the most of seasonal ingredients. Expect largely vegetarian-friendly dishes, with fish and meat options too.
Chef Giovanni Gabana and his team serve robust, largely vegetable-forward dishes, with fish and meat options available too. Make sure to book ahead; this one fills up.
⏰Opening hours: Kazerne opens daily from 7:30 AM. The restaurant kitchen is open Monday to Wednesday from 5 PM to 8:30 PM, and Thursday to Saturday from 12 PM to 9 PM.
Eindhoven has a vibrant brewing tradition, and two spots keep it alive better than anywhere else.
Van Moll is a craft beer brewpub near the city centre, serving up experimental beers, board games, and a relaxed crowd.
Stadsbrouwerij Eindhoven takes a similar approach, with simple food alongside the beer and a terrace that fills up fast in summer. Both are low-key, local, and exactly what you want at the end of a full day of city exploration.
💰 Price: Beer from around €4 to €6 per glass, but ultimately, it depends on how much you drink!
Natlab is Eindhoven’s independent cinema, and it’s a lovely place to spend an evening. Housed in a former Philips building in Strijp-S, the bar is affordable, and the programming is fascinating.
The films shown skew towards arthouse and international film rather than whatever blockbuster is everywhere else.
Not all international films are screened with English subtitles, though, so be sure to check the listing before you book.
Tip: In summer, they screen films outside in the courtyard!
Eindhoven is also one of the greenest cities in the Netherlands. That’s thanks to the legacy of Frits Philips, who collected trees on his travels and had them shipped back to plant around the city.
Philips de Jongh Park is one of the more pleasant results: a large park in the west of the city with a Stadspaviljoen (city pavilion) serving coffee, lunch, and drinks.
It’s free, it’s peaceful, and it makes a good contrast to the Strijp-S industrial aesthetics.
Eindhoven is compact. Most major attractions are within a short bike ride of each other.
Renting a bike, either from the station or your hotel, is the best way to cover Strijp-S, Woensel-West, and the parks without feeling pressured to watch the clock.
It goes without saying that biking in Eindhoven is pleasant and efficient. After all, this is the Netherlands: the cycling infrastructure is excellent.
💰 Price: Bike rental from around €12 to €15 per day
📍Available at:Eindhoven Centraal and various rental points across the city
Getting to and around Eindhoven
By plane
Eindhoven Airport is the second-busiest airport in the Netherlands after Schiphol. It’s served by Ryanair, Transavia, Wizz Air, and others, with routes across Europe.
The airport is around 7 kilometres from the city centre and is accessible by bus, taxi, or hire car. Note: Eindhoven Airport does not have its own train station; it is accessible by bus from Eindhoven Centraal.
By train
Eindhoven Centraal is well-connected. Direct trains run from Amsterdam (about 1 hour 15 minutes), Utrecht (around 50 minutes), Rotterdam, Den Haag, and Maastricht.
Check ns.nl for specific updates and timetables.
Other public transport
Bus lines 400 and 401 connect Eindhoven Airport to the city centre in around 20 to 25 minutes, depending on the line (bus 400 is the faster, more direct service).
Within the city, buses are reliable, but most central attractions are easily reached on foot or by bike.
Have you been to Eindhoven, or is this your first visit? Tell us what’s on your list in the comments below!
Frequently asked questions about visiting Eindhoven
What is the best time of year to visit Eindhoven?
The best time to visit Eindhoven is in late October, during Dutch Design Week. This is when Eindhoven is at its most electric, as the whole city becomes one sprawling design exhibition. November brings Glow, the light festival that turns streets and buildings into a free outdoor gallery. If you’d rather visit in warmer weather without the festival crowds, May and June are also a good bet.
Is Eindhoven worth visiting?
Yes, Eindhoven is absolutely worth visiting. After all, it’s the Netherlands’ design capital, with a great food scene, and creative neighbourhoods that reward slow exploration. Plus, it’s far less crowded than Amsterdam.
How many days do you need in Eindhoven?
Two days is the sweet spot for a first visit to Einhoven. A weekend gives you enough time to cover the Philips Museum, Strijp-S, De Bergen, and a proper dinner without feeling rushed. However, design and food obsessives could easily fill three days.
What is Eindhoven famous for?
Eindhoven is primarily famous for Philips, the Dutch electronics giant founded here in 1891. But it’s also worth mentioning that the city is home to Dutch Design Week, the Glow light festival, PSV Eindhoven, and an iconic skyline.
I’d always assumed that investing was something reserved for people in suits who shout at screens all day. As it happens, you can do it from your sofa in your pyjamas, and I’ve got the experience to prove it.
We’ve all been there: you accidentally mentioned investing while out for drinks, and now a man is leaning across the table telling you that you HAVE to start.
He mentions a bunch of names and numbers, but you’re three pints in, and investing feels like something meant for an older and more grown-up version of yourself.
Well, sometimes that grown-up version of yourself is just you on a Wednesday afternoon with some free time. As a complete beginner, I decided to take the plunge and sign up for Trading 212. Here’s how it went.
Note: This article contains sponsored content to help keep the lights on. DutchReview isn’t a financial advisor, and this article shouldn’t be taken as financial advice.
Ready to start investing? Readers of DutchReview can sign up with Trading 212 using code REVIEW and receive up to €100 in free fractional shares.
I’ll be honest: I was bracing myself for a bureaucratic nightmare.
If you’ve lived in the Netherlands for more than five minutes, you’ll know that signing up for anything usually involves digging out a very specific number from a very specific letter you definitely didn’t keep.
Happily, that wasn’t the case here, and the whole process was refreshingly intuitive.
I just downloaded the app, popped in my details (address, nationality, BSN), and verified my identity without having to shuffle through a drawer of old paperwork.
After sending in a scan of my passport and a less-than-glamorous recording of my face, my identification was verified quickly. Within about 10 minutes, I was ready to go.
Note: When investing, your capital is at risk, and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.
One huge perk that I immediately enjoyed was a free fractional share. When you sign up for Trading212 using one of its partner links, you automatically qualify to receive up to €100 in fractional shares.
All you have to do is deposit a minimum of €1 into your account, and voila! In my case, I received €50 in Exxon. Certainly not a bad way to start my investment journey.
An interface that lays out all your options
Once I was in and armed with my free fractional share, I was met with a myriad of options. Stocks, ETFs, top winners, top losers — you name it, it was there.
I won’t lie, it was a tiny bit overwhelming at first. As someone who didn’t know an ETF from an ETA, I had a moment of mild panic.
But after watching a few YouTube guides to get my bearings (search term: “A beginner girl’s guide to investing — for dummies”), I started to appreciate just how intuitive the whole interface actually is.
Tip: Trading 212 also offers its own beginner’s guides, which I also found super helpful. Once I’d had a read through, the options that initially seemed daunting started to make a lot more sense.
I appreciated that I could easily navigate between the different sections of the app. Image: DutchReview
4.2% interest on your cash while you decide how to invest
Sometimes, you need a moment to decide how you want to invest. I certainly did.
However, I could take comfort in the fact that my uninvested cash was still accruing value.
At Trading 212, any uninvested cash sitting in your account can earn interest. In fact, they currently offer a 4.2% interest rate, paid out daily, for new users who hold uninvested cash in the app.
It’s a handy little perk if you want your spare money to keep ticking over while you do your research.
Note: Uninvested cash kept in Trading212 is placed into a Money Market Fund. This means that the cash is technically held as an investment, and therefore isn’t protected in the same way it would be in a bank account. Investing involves Risks. The new customer bonus is included for four months; thereafter, it is 2.80% (variable). Terms apply & activation required. Further information and terms on trading212.com
A special feature: make your own investment pie
Now for the feature that really won me over.
Trading212’s investment pie is exactly what it sounds like. You build a “pie” made up of different investments, and each “slice” represents a portion of your money going into a particular stock or fund.
Want 40% of your money in one company and 60% spread across a few others? You can slice it up however you like. Trading 212 then automatically invests your money according to the proportions you’ve set.
As a beginner, I found this oddly comforting. Rather than fretting over individual purchases, I could see my whole strategy laid out in one neat, colourful circle.
It made me feel like I was in control, even when I wasn’t entirely sure what I was doing — and a reminder: the following is not investment advice or portfolio management. I’m a writer, not a finance bro.
The above is not investment or portfolio advice; this is purely for demonstrative purposes. Image: DutchReview
A surprising sense of community
Here’s something I didn’t expect: Trading 212 has a “social” side.
When I started poking around, I found a feed of the latest conversations, plus access to various investment communities.
It felt less like a cold financial app and more like a forum where people actually talk to each other and discuss their findings.
The pies had comments underneath them, often with links to YouTube videos breaking down how and why they’d been put together.
I liked that I was able to read about other users’ experiences, and even ask questions if needed! Again, this is not investment advice. Image: DutchReview
For a nervous beginner like me, this was a game-changer. Seeing other people’s reasoning, and realising they were learning too, made the whole prospect of investing feel far more human and a lot less intimidating.
Of course, I’m not one to trust people on the internet blindly (and neither should you, for that matter), so I did my own research before deciding where I want to make my investments.
Some things I considered? Whether my money would be used to fund weapons, the oil industry, or a certain orange man.
Overall verdict: a less intimidating way to start your investment journey
As a beginner, the idea of investing can feel overwhelming, confusing, and frankly a bit out of reach.
But Trading 212’s intuitive interface, clever investment pies, and surprisingly welcoming community all worked together to make taking that first step feel manageable.
And it’s not just for nervous newcomers, either. The app also packs in the more advanced tools that seasoned investors would expect, so there’s plenty of room to grow as your confidence does.
For me, it turned investing from something I’d always put off into something I actually felt ready to try.
Inspired? Sign up for Trading 212 using code REVIEW to receive up to €100 in free fractional shares.
