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!
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!
Looking for a cosy spot to work or study in Amsterdam? We’ve found the best of the best.
Let’s be honest; sitting at the same desk and staring at the same walls every day for hours on end messes with your focus.
But if you’re living in Amsterdam, you have a ton of great options for studying and working outside of your home. Our team often come from Amsterdam and collaborated on this article to bring you the best of the best. 💪
Oh, and it goes without saying, but all of these spots have top-quality coffee to help you power all your tasks! ☕️
The Volkshotel is a trendy spot for students in Amsterdam and at the top of our list. Located in central Amsterdam, just a stone’s throw from the UvA, the hotel has a werkplaats(working area) with plenty of indoor and outdoor study spaces and huge windows.
Have a group project or need to schedule a work meeting? The Volkshotel has lots of meeting rooms that you can book for group sessions.
They even have work cabins! How gezellig is that? But heads up: you have to pay for the work cabins, and the prices can vary depending on the size. If you want free, it’s best to stick to the werkplaats.
🏢Type: Coworking space 💶 Price: The werkplaats is free. Cabin prices vary 🕐 Opening times: Every day from 7:30 AM to 12:00 AM 📍 Location: Wibautstraat 150, 1091 GR Amsterdam
A former cinema built in the roaring ’20s, Coffee & Coconuts is now home to a huge, spacious café. It’s great place to study or work, especially if you want the feeling of an open space.
Coffee & Coconuts offers a menu of mostly organic and locally sourced food, as well as freshly roasted beans from all over the world. All-day breakfast, anyone? And if you’re there until later in the day, you can switch from coffee to cocktails too. 😉🍸
This place is especially great for group projects or small meetings, as they have big tables and an inspiring atmosphere to get those creative juices flowing.
🏢Type: Café 💶 Price: Free when ordering food and/or drinks 🕐 Opening times:Sunday-Tuesday 8 AM to 6 PM, Wednesday to Saturday 6 PM to 10 PM 📍 Location: Ceintuurbaan 282-284, 1072 GK Amsterdam
3. Bar Kantoor: the lekkerste office in Amsterdam
If a modern working space, classy vintage furniture, and delicious food and drinks sound like a nice combination to you, you’ll love Bar Kantoor!
Located inside a former office of the Westerfabriek, inside Westerpark, Bar Kantoor is a great base for getting some work done while exploring one of the most interesting areas West Amsterdam has to offer.
Plus, on sunny days, you can take advantage of their lovely green terrace, with plenty of space to take your work outside or simply sit back and enjoy a drink. 😎
🏢Type: Bar, restaurant, and working space 💶 Price: Free when ordering food and/or drinks 🕐 Opening times: Daily 7 AM to 9:30 PM, open until 11 PM on Fridays and Saturdays 📍 Location: Haarlemmerweg 8, 1014 BE Amsterdam
4. OBA: the cheapest place to study or work in Amsterdam
A free place to work or study in Amsterdam? With no pressure to purchase an overpriced coffee? That’s the magic of public libraries!
This library is a magical, free space. Image: Depositphotos
Amsterdam’s OBA is a huge library network. We particularly like OBA Oosterdok, a multi-level library close to Amsterdam Centraal with stacks of study nooks and desks.
You can just walk in, set up your laptop, and start ticking things off your to-do list. The Wi-fi is free — no library card needed!
🏢Type: Library 💶 Price: Free 🕐 Opening times: Weekdays 8 AM to 10 PM, weekends 10 AM to 8 PM 📍 Location: All over Amsterdam, but we like Oosterdokskade 143
5. Coffee Bru: colourful and cosy
This is the perfect coffee spot for socialising, meetings, and alone time. Coffee Bru has comfortable seats and a quirky atmosphere. They’ve nailed the perfect combination between loads of colour and just enough wood and plants to keep the place feeling gezellig.
On top of the friendly service, they have an amazing rotation of weekly filter and espresso roasts. You can even choose from two locations just 1500 metres away from each other — so if one is full, you can just hop on over to the other!
If you’re on the hunt for a dedicated coworking space with heaps of innovative people in a unique location, Startup Village in Amsterdam’s Science Park is the place.
Better yet? It’s coworking space is completely free!
But don’t stress; you won’t have to get through the day uncaffeinated. The nearby cafe Traiteur Ted’s will give you your coffee bean fix.
So you want to leave your house but don’t know anywhere that will let your dog, cat, bunny, hamster, or lizard join you? Well, Back to Black is a lover of all our fluffy (or scaly) friends! 🦎
As for the actual coffee, Back to Black boasts its own roastery and produces high-quality, sustainable coffee, which you can also purchase by bag to take home. They also offer barista and latte art workshops, so you know they’re not messing around!
The comfy layout is perfect for studying, with tons of seating to work solo, in a group, or with your dog.
Looking for a clean, minimalist atmosphere for your focused work sessions? Bocca’s got your back. And they’re serious about coffee: they manage the entire coffee chain and doing it sustainably.
The café charges €6 per hour to get some work done there, but you do get a drink that’s included in the price.
🏢Type: Café 💶 Price: €6 per hour with a drink included 🕐 Opening hours: Weekdays 8 AM to 6 PM; weekends 9 AM to 6 PM 📍 Location: Kerkstraat 96H, 1017 GP Amsterdam
9. Rum Baba Cafe: for a chiller workday
They call themselves “your happy eclectic home away from home”. Rum Baba is undeniably gezellig, and get this — they have their own bakery just a few doors down for your sweet tooth. 🥐
There’s plenty of seating, including a long wooden table perfect for groups. On sunny days, you can also work outside and take in that sweet vitamin D.
A hidden gem, The Coffee Virus is discretely located in one of Shell’s old laboratories. It’s famous for its great coffee and amazing chai tea and offers a relaxed environment for studying or working in Amsterdam.
This cafe’s focus is to create nice and cosy spots to meet other entrepreneurs following the same paths as you. The Coffee Virus wants you to build some connections while having some yummy food and coffee!
🏢Type: Café 💶 Price: Free when ordering food and/or drinks 🕐 Opening hours: Weekdays 8:45 AM to 4 PM, closed on weekends 📍 Location:Overhoeksplein 2, 1031 KS Amsterdam
11. Espressofabriek: something for everyone
Espressofabriek is known as the ideal meeting place in the heart of Westerpark. It has a spacious room with plenty of seating, perfect for silent studying.
This café has four locations in Amsterdam, each with long tables perfect for studying and several nice plants for all you plant lovers! Just don’t get too distracted snapping photos. 🪴
White Label Coffee focuses on quality in every aspect. From making the best cup of coffee to paying producers fairly in Rwanda and Brazil (cheers to fair trade!).
🏢Type: Café 💶 Price: Free when ordering food and/or drinks 🕐 Opening hours: Weekdays 7 AM to 6 PM; weekends 8 AM to 6 PM 📍 Location:Jan Evertsenstraat 136, 1056 EK Amsterdam
13. Lot61: serious about coffee
Their motto, “Stay caffeinated”, is something we can get behind. We will definitely need their delicious brews while we sit in their cafés for hours on end.
The nicest part of the place — you can watch them hand roast your coffee beans on their huge Probat roaster in the middle of the café. They have limited space for seating, so get there early for a morning study session. The coffee and rustic atmosphere are worth it!
🏢Type: Café 💶 Price: Free when ordering food and/or drinks 🕐 Opening hours: Weekdays 8 AM to 6 PM; weekends 9 AM to 6 PM 📍 Location:Kinkerstraat 112, 1053 ED Amsterdam
14. Monks Coffee Roasters: good in the mornings
While all these places have delicious coffee, Monks Coffee Roasters also serves a mean brunch. Suddenly, sending emails at 9 AM doesn’t feel so bad with their pancakes or tacos sitting next to your laptop! 🥞
They also have loads of comfortable seating areas for you to focus on work whilst enjoying a nice cup of coffee. If you’re REALLY into coffee, they have a wide range of choices from Aeropress to French press.
🏢Type: Café 💶 Price: Free when ordering food and/or drinks 🕐 Opening hours: Weekdays 8 AM to 4 PM; weekends 9 AM to 4 PM 📍 Location: Bilderdijkstraat 46, 1052 NB Amsterdam
15. Coffee Room: for late-workers
This is one of the few cafés in Amsterdam that stays open until the wee hours of the morning (ahem, 7 PM). If you’re in the zone while you work, you get to enjoy the lovely vibes of this café for a whole extra hour or two.
They’ve got big tables, small tables, a terrasje, counters, and a very eclectic collection of comfy vintage chairs. Oh, and a mezzanine! It’s the perfect level of seriousness (a lot of people around you will be hyper focused) and relaxed (a great playlist and super friendly staff).
🏢Type: Café 💶 Price: Free when ordering food and/or drinks 🕐 Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 8 AM to 6 PM; Sunday, 9 AM to 7 PM 📍 Location: Bilderdijkstraat 46, 1052 NB Amsterdam
16. YUSU: all things matcha
Yes, they do serve coffee, but they also make mean matcha and matcha-flavoured cakes, cookies — you name it! Plus, the whole vibe of the place is just… *chef’s kiss*.
Comfy couches, massive windows, and consistent colours (the green plates and cups are enough to make you feel like an influencer).
The modern look of the place is bound to motivate you enough to act like you have your life together and you definitely know what you’re doing at work. 😅 Not to mention, the staff are super friendly, and you can bring your pets!
🏢Type: Café 💶 Price: Free when ordering food and/or drinks 🕐 Opening hours: Mondays to Saturdays, 8 AM to 6 PM; Sundays, 9 AM to 6 PM 📍 Location: Andreas Bonnstraat 2, 1091 AX Amsterdam
We’re absolutely looking forward to grabbing a coffee at one of these places and procrastinating while pretending to work. Hopefully, you’ll do better. Good luck! ☕️
What are your favourite places to study or work in Amsterdam? Tell us below!
The Netherlands’ best-rated mobile service providers are all budget service providers: Simyo, Ben, and Youfone.
New to the Netherlands and unsure which mobile service provider to use? Enter… the Consumentenbond.
Also known as the Dutch Consumers’ Association, this organisation is dedicated to identifying which tech products you ought to spend your hard-earned money on. 💸
How? By judging each provider on the quality of features like mobile calling, internet, and customer service, the Consumentenbond ranks them with a score out of 10. Here are the top three!
This post might have affiliate links that help us write the articles you love, at no extra cost to you. Read our statement.
Simyo officially takes the crown as the Consumentenbond’s top Dutch mobile service provider for 2024, with a stellar 8.5 points out of 10.
And, as the recipient of no less than 30 awards since they first topped the charts in 2013, it’s easy to see why they rank so highly for customer satisfaction.
Being a budget service provider, they’re most well-known for the sheer affordability of their packages — which start at a low €6 per month.
However, with access to KPN’s speedy, ultra-reliable mobile network, excellent customer service and a range of prepaid/SIM-only plans and mobile subscriptions with a phone that can be adjusted monthly, affordability isn’t the only reason they’ve received a provider rating of 9.8.
Nabbing second place on the list of best Dutch mobile service providers with an excellent 8.3 out of 10 is Ben, another budget provider offering high-quality mobile calling and internet.
Powered by Odido’s expansive and super-dependable mobile network, Ben ranks well for its above-average internet connectivity and speed.
These internet packages, which start at an affordable €10, can be cancelled on a monthly basis.
In addition to this, Ben also scores highly on their clear and effective customer service, nabbing a very respectable 8 points out of 10 on the Consumentenbond’s scale.
Regularly named in the top three of the Consumentenbond’s list of best Dutch mobile providers, Youfone is yet another budget provider that offers you a generous bang for your buck.
Hot on their competitors’ heels, Youfone scored a superb 8.2 out of 10 to solidify their place as an exceptional provider of mobile internet.
Like Simyo, Youfone offers you access to KPN’s super-speedy and ultra-reliable mobile network for a fraction of the price of a monthly KPN subscription.
And, unlike many other budget providers, Youfone also provides 5G functionality with their SIM-only plans.
A woman was rescued by bystanders after her car ended up in a freezing canal on Monday evening in the Frisian city of Franeker.
NOS writes that how the vehicle ended up in the water is unknown.
The nameless heroes
In this case, it wasn’t emergency service workers who jumped into the freezing canal to pull the woman to safety, but bystanders.
Passersby acted quickly, saving her before emergency services even arrived.
Fortunately, a quick check by ambulance staff concluded that the woman had escaped unharmed.
Meanwhile, in Amsterdam…
This happened shortly after a similar incident in the capital. On Saturday, two tourists took a break from sightseeing to pull a motorist out of the Keizergracht canal in Amsterdam’s city centre.
Dutch weather hasn’t been very forgiving lately (or ever), but if you love snow, we might have some good news for you.
If you live in Limburg, that is.
Yep, those in the southeast can rejoice (or recoil) as a few centimetres of snow are expected later in the day.
Wet snow and wetter rain
RTL reports that the Limburg hills, particularly, will see some wet snow later in the afternoon and evening.
This will surely be a welcome change after the rain and potential hailstorm the region is experiencing this morning.
This is Dutch snow we’re talking about, though, which means the wintery blanket will only be a few centimetres, and it might not stick around for long since the weather in the coming days will be changeable.
However, Limburg can expect more wet snow on Thursday morning, and there may be some moderate frost in the hills when the sky clears. Unfortunately, it won’t be nippy enough to get your skates out.
Nevertheless, southeast residents should count their blessings; wet snow that doesn’t stick around is still better than the rain the rest of the country will be dealing with.
Those living in other parts of the Netherlands will experience local rain and hail showers with occasional clear spells today.
Especially the northern coastal area can expect stronger winds in the afternoon.
Luckily, tomorrow looks more promising. It will remain dry, and we might even see some of the rarest Dutch winter commodity — sunshine!
It’s just the northern coastal area that can’t catch a break, with a chance of more rain and hail forecast in this region tomorrow.
Are you one of the lucky ones that might see some snow these days? Let us know in the comments!
Windmills are one of the first things you think of when you hear the words “Holland” or “the Netherlands.” You’ll be pleased to know that the stereotype is true.
Of course, the Netherlands is more than just windmills, but it’s still a great excuse for a visit, as there’s no shortage of these iconic buildings.
So, if you’re living in the Netherlands and fancy a windmill trip, or if you’re doting on Dutch life and are coming to visit, then don’t forget to check these out! Here are eight great windmills to visit in the Netherlands.
This post might have affiliate links that help us write the articles you love, at no extra cost to you. Read our statement.
1. Kinderdijk
Kinderdijk isn’t just one windmill, but a whole windmill park. It’s located in South Holland, and if you’re a tourist, there are many tour companies prepared to give you an all-inclusive experience.
The windmills are actually still lived in, so don’t be surprised to see someone’s underwear hanging up outside. 🩲
Have you ever seen a more Dutch sight? Image: Emma Brown/Supplied
Kinderdijk is not only one of the Netherlands’ 12 World Heritage sites, but also has a small museum, a cafe, and a shop. You can have a boat tour that takes you alongside the windmills, or you could walk or bike around the area.
2. Zaanse Schans
Zaanse Schans is similar to Kinderdijk in the sense that it’s a windmill park, but Zaanse Schans is by far the most popular of the two.
There are plenty of things to do in the area, and you can actually go inside many of the windmills. Some of the buildings are also museums and shops.
Zaanse Schans is filled with different coloured windmills. Image: Pixabay
Take a bike ride around the area, enjoy a walking tour, or explore some of the local stores. It’s also easy to reach Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam.
Travel tip: Avoid peak times in the summer, as it gets very busy with all the tourists. So if you have the chance, avoid the busy times — both when it comes to times of the day and time of year. 📅
3. Molen de Valk
Molen de Valk can be found in the beautiful city of Leiden, home of DutchReview. It’s been there since the start of the 17th century, so it’s certainly one of Leiden’s greatest pride and joys.
A view you’ll pass by on your way to the Dutch Review office. Image: Emma Brown/Supplied
The mill was originally used for grain, and now it’s a little museum, dominating the view of the lovely university town. It’s great for your Instagram, and it’s a great place to be in general.
4. The windmills of Schiedam
If you’re after impressive windmills, then Schiedam is your place. Schiedam is home to some of the tallest windmills in the whole world — up to eleven floors high!
The original purpose of these huge windmills was to grind grain used to produce Jenever — making the city famous for the product. You can learn all about this inside one of the windmills (De Walvisch), which has been transformed into a museum.
Here you can see one of the original 20 windmills of Schiedam, de Kameel. Image: Pixabay
It was later rebuilt and made into a museum that tells you about the Netherlands, windmills, and how these transformed the country.
The windmill in Haarlem is hard to miss! Image: Michielverbeek/Wikimedia/CC4.0
Not only is the windmill great to check out, but Haarlem itself is beautiful and well worth a visit.
6. De Gooyer
Looking for windmills in Amsterdam? Look no further than De Gooyer, one of Amsterdam’s most famous windmills. It was built in the early 16th century, so it’s certainly old.
It’s not in the place where it was first built, as it has been moved around Amsterdam.
For Amsterdam tourists with limited time on their hands, De Gooyer is the best option. Image: Swimmerguy269/Wikimedia Commons/CC3.0
Nowadays, you’ll find the windmill turning on the first Saturday of the month, so it’s the perfect time to see it in action while on your Saturday morning walk.
7. De Dikkert
De Dikkert is an old sawmill, which used to be in Zaandam. Now, however, it’s a restored corn mill located in Amstelveen.
Therefore, again, if you’re around the Amsterdam area, it’s the perfect place to visit.
This place simply screams “pancakes”! Image: Quistnix/Wikimedia Commons/CC2.5
What makes this windmill unique is that it is a restaurant, too — so if you want to be able to say you’ve eaten in an old windmill in Holland, this is your chance!🍴
8. Keukenhof windmill
The windmill in the Keukenhof Gardens is quite a stunning sight, with the burst of colour coming from the tulips.
Ahhh some colour to go with your windmill. Image: Depositphotos
This windmill was built in 1892 and was originally used as a polder mill. Nowadays, it is in retirement and used as an ornament.
Hey, we wish we could retire at Keukenhof and be surrounded by bundles of flowers every day. 🤩
Visit for free on National Mill Day
A perfect time to visit windmills is on National Mill Day, which falls on the second Saturday in May every year. On this day, you can enter hundreds of different windmills for free. 🎟️
Also, it’s the day to witness all the windmills turning, so it’s certainly a unique day in the Netherlands and the perfect day to see all the windmills for yourself (if only you get around them all, that is).
So there you have it — eight great windmills to visit in the Netherlands. There are plenty more where these came from, too (we just listed our favourites, and the most popular ones, here).
See, the stereotype is true — the Netherlands really is full of windmills. 😉
Have you ever visited any of these windmills? What other Dutch windmills should we add to the list? Tell us in the comments!
Deciding to buy a home in the Netherlands is a big step — but now you also need to decide which type of Dutch mortgage suits you best.
That can’t be too hard, right? Of course, an annuity mortgage is the right option for you! But then a linear mortgage also has benefits — and an interest-only mortgage could save you some money, right?
Feeling lost? Geen probleem! We’ve gathered the most common Dutch mortgage types for you to consider. Let’s break them down. 👇
The two main mortgage options in the Netherlands
Let’s start with the basics — and by that, we mean the types of mortgages most people choose. In the Netherlands, there are two main types of mortgages that most home buyers will opt for: the annuity mortgage and the linear mortgage.
The annuity mortgage (Annuïteitenhypotheek)
If you’re the type of person who enjoys the comfort of routine and repetition, then an annuity mortgage may be the choice for you.
Why? With an annuity mortgage, you pay the exact same amount each month (unless you opt for a variable interest rate or the mortgage terms change).
This amount will be made up of your interestplus your mortgage repayment.
However, while the amount you pay will always remain the same, the ratio between interest and mortgage repayment will vary.
For example: if you have an annuity mortgage of €1,200 every month, you will always pay exactly €1,200. However, one month, this €1,200 may cover 60% mortgage repayment and 40% interest. The next month, it may be 62% mortgage repayment and 38% interest.
Struggling to picture what a Dutch annuity mortgage looks like? Perhaps this graph will help. Image: DutchReview
At the beginning of your mortgage term, most of your monthly payment will likely be the interest.
By the end, most of the payment will go off the amount that you borrowed.
Regardless of the ratio, you can rest easy knowing that you will be paying the exact same amount each month (unless you have opted for a mortgage term with variable interest rates).
✅ Pros: It’s simple. There are no unpleasant surprises at the end of the month, you know how much is due.
❌ Cons:You ultimately pay more interest throughout the term of the mortgage than you would with a linear mortgage.
The linear mortgage (Lineairehypotheek)
With a linear mortgage, you hit the ground running. This is because your monthly payments will be at their highest at the beginning of the mortgage term — however, they will gradually decrease.
In a linear mortgage, you pay the same amount of mortgage repayment each month. This means that, unlike an annuity mortgage, the monthly mortgage repayment is fixed.
However, the amount of interest that you pay each month will decrease as the mortgage term progresses.
This means you pay less and less throughout the mortgage term.
With a linear mortgage, you pay less as the mortgage term progresses. Image: DutchReview
For example, at the beginning of the mortgage term, you might have a monthly mortgage repayment of €1,200 and an interest payment of €400 — meaning you pay roughly €1,600 towards your mortgage per month.
However, two years later, your monthly mortgage repayment will still be €1,200 but your interest will have dropped to €350 — meaning you now pay €1,550 per month.
As more and more of your interest is paid off, the total amount you pay every month will gradually lower — handig!
✅ Pros: The mortgage is paid off faster with a linear mortgage, meaning you are less likely to be left with residual debt should you decide to sell your home. Paying more at the start is also a good option if you see other financial burdens (like children) coming your way in the future.
❌ Cons: You benefit less from interest deductions as the mortgage term progresses, and you pay more than you would with other mortgages at the start.
Other mortgage options in the Netherlands
While annuity and linear mortgages are certainly the most popular in the Netherlands, they aren’t the only mortgage types out there.
There are, in fact, several quirky mortgage models in the Netherlands.
An interest-only mortgage is exactly what it says on the tin. You pay only the interest on your mortgage throughout the mortgage term (which is usually a maximum of 30 years.)
Then, once you reach the end of the term, you hand over the entirety of the mortgage repayment.
An interest-only mortgage is another Dutch mortgage type that you may consider. Image: Dreamstime
If you are unable to do this, you can opt to extend the mortgage or sell your house.
An interest-only mortgage isn’t for everyone and lenders will usually take a good look at your file before you are granted one.
Interest-only mortgages are often a good idea if you are looking for more financial freedom at the beginning of your mortgage.
With interest rates relatively low at the moment (compared to 15 years ago, for example), your monthly payments would also be low.
Note: The below mortgage types still exist in the Netherlands, however, they are no longer offered to starters. Homeowners with these types of mortgages are advised to switch to either a linear, annuities, or interest-only mortgage.
For those who already have one of these mortgage options, this is what they look like:
Bank savings mortgage (bankspaarhypotheek)
Similar to an interest-only mortgage, a bank savings mortgage allows you to set aside money for your mortgage repayments in a locked bank account.
In the Netherlands, a bank savings mortgage allows you to set aside money in a locked bank account. Image: Freepik
The account can only be used to hold money for your mortgage. Once you reach the end of your mortgage term, the mortgage repayments will be withdrawn from the account in one big, beautiful lump sum and used to pay off the mortgage.
Throughout the term of your mortgage, you only pay your mortgage interest.
Aside from the obvious advantage of lower monthly repayments, another plus of having a bank savings mortgage is that your savings can grow tax-free.
Life mortgage (Levenhypotheek)
With a life mortgage, you take out a life insurance policy and use this to pay off your mortgage at the end of the mortgage term.
Some homeowners in the Netherlands opted for alternative Dutch mortgage types, such as a life mortgage. Image: Depositphotos
It works like this: you pay no mortgage repayments throughout the mortgage term and instead make monthly payments towards your mortgage interest and your life insurance premium.
While you aren’t making mortgage repayments during the term, you are investing money in your life insurance policy — which consists of both a saving or investments portion and a death risk portion. This way, part of the mortgage can be repaid in case of death.
At the end of the term, the built-up capital is used to pay the mortgage repayments.
Luckily, you don’t need to die for that to happen — the investment is returned to the bank, and the capital gained is (hopefully) enough to cover your mortgage.
We’ve got to admit it, the Dutch are certainly inventive.
A hybrid mortgage (hybride hypotheek)
You can think of a hybrid mortgage as a mix of a bank savings mortgage and a life mortgage. Throughout the term of the mortgage, you only pay the interest plus a savings/investment premium.
This means that you can decide to either pay your premium into savings or investments — or you can spice it up and do both!
Regardless of your choice, once you reach the end of the mortgage term, you will pay off the mortgage repayment (hopefully) using the accrued savings.
Tax-deductible Dutch mortgage types
One huge pro of opting for either an annuity or linear mortgage is that the interest on both of these mortgage types is tax deductible in the Netherlands.
This means that, as long as you meet certain conditions, you can receive back a percentage of the mortgage interest you paid when filing your income tax return.
In 2024, this amount is 36.97% of the mortgage interest paid on annuity or linear mortgages.
Which mortgage should I consider as an international in the Netherlands?
As an international in the Netherlands, it’s good to know that you will be offered the same options as a Dutch person who applies for a mortgage, namely: an annuities mortgage, a linear mortgage, or an interest-only mortgage.
There are several mortgage options available to internationals in the Netherlands. Image: Dreamstime
That being said, everyone’s situation is different. As an international, it may be best to opt for either an annuities mortgage or a linear mortgage. Here’s why:
Both mortgage options work for almost everyone’s circumstances, which means there’s a good chance they will work for yours too.
The simplicity of annuity and linear mortgages means that you are less likely to come across any unpleasant hiccups during the mortgage process — and no one needs that when it’s all happening in a different language.
The interest on annuities and linear mortgages is tax-deductible. This is not the case with other mortgage types.
Deciding on a mortgage in a different country can be scary at first, but remember to trust your instincts — they brought you here, didn’t they? 😉
How did you find the experience of choosing a mortgage in the Netherlands? Tell us in the comments below!
Types of mortgages in the Netherlands: Frequently asked questions
Which Dutch mortgages are tax deductible?
In the Netherlands, mortgage interest on linear mortgages (Lineaire hypotheek) and annuities mortgages (Annuïteitenhypotheek) is tax deductible.
All other Dutch mortgage types do not offer tax-deductible mortgage interest.
Can a non-national get a mortgage in the Netherlands?
Your nationality has no effect on which Dutch mortgage types you can apply for.
However, if you are a starter, you are only eligible for a linear mortgage (lineaire hypotheek), annuities mortgage (annuïteitenhypotheek), or an interest-only mortgage (aflossingsvrije hypotheek).
What is the mortgage term in the Netherlands?
A mortgage in the Netherlands is typically up to 30 years maximum. However, most banks will allow borrowers to choose a shorter term if they wish.
What are the different Dutch mortgage types?
In the Netherlands, there are several different mortgage types. These include:
