Budget Day is approaching — a.k.a. the day when the Dutch government reveals its money plans for the next year. And if you’re an international working in the Netherlands, it might bear some goed nieuws for you!
Remember the 30% ruling, the sweet tax cut that so many international workers have come to know and love? Remember how the Dutch government recently threatened to cancel it?
Well, they might have changed their mind, reports the AD.
The 30%… what? The 30% ruling in the Netherlands is a scheme granting certain highly-skilled migrants a tax cut on up to 30% of their earnings during their first five years of work in the Netherlands.
At the beginning of 2024, the scheme was reduced to 30% for the first 20 months, 20% for the following 20 months, and then 10% for the final 20 months.
The tax cut is here to stay (probably)
Last year, in an attempt to replenish the pockets of the Belastingdienst (Dutch tax collection agency), the Dutch House of Representatives agreed to eventually scrap the ruling.
As of 2024, the scheme was downsized, leading to much criticism.
In the run-up to the US presidential election, profiles featuring at least 17 European influencers have been used to spread pro-Trump messages online — one of whom is Dutch.
The problem is, they’re fake.
Amsterdam-based influencer Demi Marić’s photos were used on an X (formerly Twitter) account with the handle @queen0_gabriela.
Her identity was stolen and used to promote Donald Trump’s presidential campaign on an account with around 8,500 followers.
It shared posts such as “Who’s ready to vote for President Donald Trump!!”
“Quite intense to see”
Demi was eventually notified by investigators that her identity was being used.
She found it “quite intense to see”, she tells RTL Nieuws. “It was quite scary to see a profile using my photos in this way”
Fortunately, X acted quickly and removed the profile. Demi believes X and other social media platforms need to do more to combat fake accounts.
This is a major issue as people get their photos stolen and reused online frequently. Demi says she sees fake profiles frequently abusing her photos but is glad it is now getting attention.
No less than 56 profiles have been identified by CNN and the Centre for Information Resilience as fake accounts praising Trump and posting about divisive topics such as LGBTQ+ rights and COVID-19.
They first appear to be ordinary American women who support the Republican candidate, but in reality, these people don’t exist.
This issue is reminiscent of the 2016 US presidential election when Russian trolls spread disinformation throughout Twitter. As a result, measures were put in place to prevent this from happening again.
However, since Musk’s take-over of the platform, many of these measures have been dismantled, leading to a rise in disinformation.
Are you surprised by the use of fake profiles? Let us know in the comments below! 👇
Pretending you live in the tidy IKEA showroom bedroom will never feel more natural (or shame-free). Wear your favourite slippers tomorrow and head to your nearest Dutch store to test out your new bed, then buy it at a great price.
The pyjama party kicks off the Swedish furniture giant’s global campaign to promote the importance of sleep, complete with discounts and fun activities.
Is this some sort of prank?
If you’re imagining the nightmare of turning up to the party in full fancy dress when it turns out nobody else has: don’t worry, us too.
But this is the real deal, as even IKEA employees will be dressed for bed.
So grab your best PJs and earn your free breakfast voucher (until 16:00), as well as special offers on sleep-related products.
Sweet dreams and discounts
Tomorrow’s activities aim to show how IKEA can help improve your sleep quality, with experts in all the stores telling you how to arrange your bedroom best.
At IKEA Barendrecht, you can hear bedtime stories being read, while at IKEA Duiven, you can participate in a sports lesson on top of the parking garage.
And though children can still enjoy the perks even if they refuse the sleepy dress code, this isn’t just further mockery for parents.
All pyjama-d (yes, we made that word up) customers will receive a discount of €20 on every €100 spent in the store; find out more about the conditions on the IKEA website.
Will you be heading to IKEA in your pyjamas tomorrow? Let us know in the comments.
In preparation for my big move from the United States to the Netherlands, I set sail on a Dutch history hunt within the continental US.
But, I couldn’t just buy a book like a normal person — nah, I went for the more expensive, dramatic, and yet romantic route in a jumpy attempt to get familiarized with a culture I was about to be soon part of. 🧳
For my attempt’s itinerary, I booked a ticket to New Jersey and found myself a tiny NYC apartment in the southern tip of Manhattan in New York City (ahem, New Amsterdam) not knowing this would be a mutual housing pattern in both cities.
Let me reminisce for you
I began my journey by visiting The Vander Ende – Onderdonk House located at the border of Queens and Brooklyn, with its charming white stones tucked away from New York’s steel skyscrapers.
It was within the oldest Dutch Colonial stone house from the 1820s in New York City that I encountered the famous Dutch clogs.
Up next, I took long walks around Breukelen (Brooklyn), Parelstraat (Pearl Street), Haarlem (Harlem), and Waal Straat (Wall Street) — where no one other than Google Maps and street signs bothered to correct my use of the old Dutch names. 🤳
See, within my US life, which preceded my Syrian one, as beautiful as I found New York to be in its unique way, I couldn’t help but wonder if Amsterdam (the city I would be moving to) would feel as scary to me as New York City made me feel.
The metropolitan and constant hustle of New York City scared my inner child. People always run to catch the subway from their first job to the second, just going around the clock and acing it.
Was the populous city of Amsterdam a good fit for me at all?
A whole different story
Well, fast forward to this day, I’m sitting on a window ledge of my gezellig Amsterdam apartment, finally under the same roof as my loved one, thinking about that cone of hot marketfrites I had yesterday and laughing at the idea that I had cold feet about living in Amsterdam or the Netherlands.
Sure, Amsterdam turned out to be a populous city filled with sassy seagulls and busy crosswalks where texting and walking simultaneously is as much of a hazardous activity as it was in New York.
But, the truth is, this city also turned out to be as hearty as a cup of your favourite soup on a rainy day. It’s a spirited, and welcoming city with its own character and style with the occasional pyromaniacal tendencies.
Did you have to go through a big move to or from the Netherlands? Tell us all about it in the comments!
Bursting with features such as unlimited data and connectivity upon arrival, Holafly is one of the best travel eSIM options for tourists en route to the Netherlands. 🤳🏼✈️
Whilst it’s exciting making plans to tiptoe through the tulips and munch your way through every flavour of stroopwafel, the logistics of getting a mobile connection during your stay in the Netherlands can be fraught with confusion.
We’ve been there, so if you’re a fellow international who’s in the market for a stellar travel eSIM during your stay in the Netherlands, let’s talk about Holafly. 👀
Who are Holafly — and why should I care?
Born from its founders’ desire to stay connected whilst on the road, telecommunications company Holafly is a major player in the world of travel eSIMs.
An eSIM (or embedded SIM) is a digital SIM card that can be downloaded onto your device and then activated whenever it’s needed.
So, why should you care? Well, if you plan on travelling to the Netherlands, their eSIMS are your ticket to staying connected (and avoiding some pretty hefty roaming bills).
What we liked about Holafly’s eSIMs
When it comes to functionality and ease of usage, there were many things we loved about these digital SIMs.
Let’s run through a few of them! 👇
1. Installing a Holafly eSIM is super easy
It’s a fact that most people aren’t tech wizards, and companies shouldn’t expect their customers to wade through endless pages of technical jargon to operate their products.
In contrast to other confusing eSIM installations I’ve experienced, setting up Holafly’s eSIM was super simple, and I really appreciated that.
Forget about lengthy user manuals. These eSIMs are super-easy to install and activate. Image: Depositphotos
To add a new data plan with an eSIM, I just needed to scan a QR code we received via email after purchasing a SIM package.
This downloaded the eSIM onto my device, which could then be activated within minutes. And that was it — no stress, no hassle, and no lengthy steps to complicate the process!
2. Surfing the web is a breeze with unlimited data
Picture this: one minute you’re Google-mapping your way through an unfamiliar Dutch city with near-identical canals, and the next… you’re staring at your mobile in dread.
Most of us have been there, done that, and can attest to how annoying it is.
Thankfully, all of Holafly’s Dutch eSIM packages come with unlimited data, ensuring you never find yourself mapless in a maze of canals again. 💪
3. Your plan automatically connects upon arrival
If I’m perfectly honest, this is probably my favourite feature!
There’s no fiddling with access codes, no toggling things on and off, and no irritated head-scratching as you wonder why you’ve got no signal — just instant connectivity.
No pressing buttons or toggling with access codes — just instant connection! Image: Freepik
Provided you’ve already installed a Holafly eSIM on your device, you can simply stroll off the plane and be greeted with a seamless connection to the best data providers in the Netherlands. 🙌
Given that my current mobile data provider (KPN) offers 500 MB/min/SMS packages for an eye-watering €40, an eSIM will often be far more affordable than activating your data roaming!
4. You have access to the region’s best and fastest mobile networks
Yup, we mean it: Holafly really does give you access to the best regional data providers.
For eSIMs to the Netherlands, they’ve partnered up with Orange — a leading telecommunications provider in Europe.
What does this mean for you? Well, you’ll be able to surf, scroll, and search using Orange’s blazing-fast and extensive mobile network. ⚡️
5. You’re free to share up to 500MBs of data — daily!
It’s inevitable: you’re on holiday with your family or a few of your best friends and… lo and behold, somebody just forgot to top up their mobile data subscription.
(Perhaps you’ve even been this person at some point. 🤭)
What’s a little data amongst friends? 😉 Image: Freepik
This boils down to one of you needing to hotspot your precious GBs to your forgetful travel partner — if your mobile subscription even allows you to hotspot data at all, of course.
With Holafly, however, sharing data is simple and stress-free.
Not only do you get up to 500MBs of data to share daily, but you can also hotspot to multiple devices at the same time.
6. You can choose a flexible package based on the duration of your trip
There’s nothing more annoying than having your subscription randomly run out on the last few days of your trip.
(Or bleeding cash because the only available eSIM package lasts a full month, instead of offering shorter periods. 🤨)
Fortunately, Holafly offers a range of duration-based packages — from 5 to 90 days.
In other words, you’re fully covered whether you’re spending a week sightseeing your way through Amsterdam, a month touring the entire Netherlands, or enjoying a three-month-long extended holiday in this neck of Western Europe.
Holafly eSIMs: What we didn’t love
We could rave about all of Holafly’s handy features till the cows come home, but as with everything, there were some aspects that didn’t exactly make our hearts sing. 😮💨
1. They’re pricier than the average travel eSIM
Honestly, unless you’re an international who regularly drops the price of a week’s worth of groceries on overpriced Amsterdam stroopwafels, you’re likely to find Holafly’s eSIMs rather expensive.
True, there are features aplenty — but you’ll be paying a premium price for them! Image: Freepik
In our experience, though, while there are cheaper offerings by other travel eSIM providers, these do not offer the range of services that Holafly does — or the option for true unlimited data.
However, if it’s stellar quality and near-limitless mobile data that you want, then this may not necessarily be a con for you.
2. An eSIM may not be compatible with your device
If you’re thinking of installing an eSIM on that ancient Nokia that hasn’t seen the light of day since dinosaurs still roamed the earth… we’re going to have to stop you right there. 😬
Holafly’s eSIMs are only compatible with relatively new mobiles, from regions and operators with no restrictions on digital SIM cards.
Are you wondering if yours is on the list? The Holafly website has an up-to-date guide on which mobiles can support their eSIMs, so our advice would be to double-check before you buy!
3. You can’t get a mobile number, send messages, or take calls
If you were hoping to access a Dutch number during your stay, you’re likely to be sorely disappointed, as Holafly no longer offers mobile numbers for their European eSIM packages.
And, as a largely Gen Z office that prefers texting, we also found the lack of SMS capabilities a touch annoying.
That being said, Holafly’s unlimited data did allow us to send as many messages as our hearts desired over WhatsApp, so it wasn’t as though we were completely forced out of our comfort zones.
Minor quibbles aside, I was won over by Holafly’s ease of connection, generous unlimited data packages, and access to a reliable and speedy network.
Have you ever tried Holafly’s eSIMs? Tell us all about your experience in the comments below!
We’ve all been there: On our commute home from work, a teenager flies by at seemingly ridiculous speeds. Of course, they’re on one of those e-bikes that resemble a classic motorcycle — a.k.a. a fat bike.
Officially, fat bikes are considered e-bikes with wider tyres, but many compare them to a moped or a scooter, of which you need a licence to ride.
The debate about these bikes, which has continued for a while, is ongoing — and more and more people in the Netherlands are calling for a ban on them.
What’s the issue with fat bikes?
RTL wanted to understand what people in the Netherlands really think of these two-wheeled monstrosities, so they conducted a survey.
The result? (Not shockingly), almost half of the participants (45%) reported being regularly annoyed by sharing the road with fat bikes.
The research also suggests that 95% of people want the bikes to be banned entirely for those under 16, thinking this would reduce accidents dramatically.
Many also believe in enforcing helmet use, with 89% suggesting this would make a difference.
Gijs Rademaker of RTL says, “When it comes to e-bikes [in general], the majority favour a ban for younger children and a helmet requirement.
So, should they be banned?
39% of people surveyed believe fat bikes should be banned altogether, with many believing they are just too dangerous.
This, unfortunately, gives all people who ride fat bikes a bad rep, as the bike has become a symbol of “misconduct in traffic”.
However, many people use fat bikes as a way of commuting or as an easier way of getting out on the bikes, with one user saying they “ride 40 or 50 kilometres every day” on it”.
Do you think fat bikes should be banned? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Amsterdam’s Artis zoo faces an uncertain fate amid pushes to close it in the name of animal welfare.
The long-running zoo has welcomed Amsterdammers and tourists since 1838. However, when city councillors return after summer break, Artis’s head could be on the chopping block.
A fish out of water
The Partij voor de Dieren (Party for the Animals) is bringing the zoo’s existence up for debate, and academics agree.
One of the main arguments is that some animals simply need more space than a city zoo can afford.
“Elephants are such large animals that such a small space greatly hinders them from exercising natural behaviour”, Maarten Reesink, teacher of animal studies at the UvA, tells De Telegraaf.
“Some other animals have a fine life in the zoo, perhaps better than in the wild. Smaller prey do not need much space, and in Artis there is no danger of predators. There’s not that much wrong,” he explains.
Other animals in Artis are kept for, quite simply, the gezelligheid. Sea lions exist perfectly fine in the outside world, swimming and hunting over large distances. In Artis, they are contained in small enclosures and limited pools.
The future of Artis
While the zoo could face closure, it could also face renewal.
The future Artis might act as a reception location for animals that can’t live in the wild. For example, the zoo already receives vultures, which can no longer survive in the outside world.
However, whether zoos will be used for breeding programs in the future is another question. Behavioural biologist Claudia Vinke from Utrecht University points to the risk of inbreeding and an inability to return to nature later.
The Party for Animals is now discussing what Artis could look like in the future. Yet, public support for change could be limited after a recent survey found that only 49% of the Dutch population think some animals no longer belong in the zoo.
A report on the zoo in the future is expected at the end of this year.
Do you think zoos should be preserved or shut down? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
It’s no secret that the Netherlands has a MASSIVE student housing shortage — but a solution could be on the horizon.
What is it, you ask? According to AD, researchers from the independent knowledge organisation Platform31 suggest cutting the beloved huurtoeslag (rental allowance). 😬
They believe the allowance has made it too attractive for developers to build studio apartments rather than shared homes for students.
What is the rental allowance? The rental allowance or rent benefit is a government contribution in the Netherlands that helps with rental payments.
To qualify for huurtoeslag, you must live in a self-contained rental property and meet specific income, rent, and asset limits based on your household composition.
So, how would this help?
Students living in shared housing are currently not eligible for rental allowance since they don’t live in a self-contained space. As a result, more students choose to live in studios to be able to cash in that sweet huurtoeslag.
So, cutting the rental allowance could help ease the student housing crisis by making it more attractive for developers to build homes with multiple student rooms.
Platform31’s research shows that over the course of 50 years, billions of euros could be saved by cutting the huurtoeslag.
This money, in turn, could be invested into the construction of new shared housing, which would be able to accommodate many more students.
The mental health benefits of shared housing
Whereas Platform31 believes the rental allowance should be cut entirely, the Dutch National Student Union believe that there is another solution: extending it to those who live in shared student housing.
The union agrees that there is more of a need for ‘old-fashioned’ rooms, as they can not only help with the housing crisis, but they can also have great benefits for the tenants.
Specifically, students in studio apartments tend to socialise a lot less than those in regular rooms. For example, the student union “spoke to a student who lived in a studio for the first three months and didn’t speak to anyone”.
This can not only have an impact on a student’s social life but also their general studies as socialising is part of the university experience.
Do you think the rental allowance should be cut in the Netherlands? Let us know in the comments below 👇
Departing on that lovely late-summer holiday today? Not if you’re flying from Eindhoven Airport.
Since early this morning, Einhoven Airport has been dealing with a big network malfunction, writes the NOS.
The result? Air traffic has been brought to a complete standstill. At least for now.
Several other government services, including DigiD, some emergency services, the Coast Guard and the Royal Dutch Marechaussee are also affected by disruptions this morning, but it’s not known whether there is a connection.
Little clarity
The disruption began just as the airport was preparing for its first flights of the day and has prevented any planes from taking off or landing. 😬
As of now, there is no clear timeline for when the problem will be resolved. “No air traffic is possible until the cause is found and the issue is fixed,” a spokesperson told the NOS.
In verband met een netwerkstoring kan er geen vliegverkeer op Luchthaven Eindhoven worden afgehandeld. Het is nog onduidelijk wanneer de verstoring is verholpen. Er wordt hard gewerkt aan een oplossing.
Translation: Due to a network failure, no air traffic can be handled at Eindhoven Airport. It is still unclear when the disruption will be resolved. A solution is being worked on.
Travellers at Eindhoven Airport are currently stuck in the arrivals hall, unable to proceed to the gates.
The disruption appears to only affect Eindhoven Airport, as other Dutch airports are operating normally.
If you have plans to fly out of Eindhoven in the (very) near-future, we recommend you keep an eye on the airport’s website.
Let’s kick off your day with a pressing question: Are you more of a “gangbang,” “milf,” or “amateur” aficionado? Yes, we’re diving into the world of porn.
Either way, your answer might reveal more than you think — at least according to Samira van Bohemen, a researcher at Erasmus University in Rotterdam. She’s currently busy investigating how our porn preferences might be linked to our social backgrounds.
She is highly interested in this correlation, as she tells Barabara de Jong from the AD — especially considering the fact that some of us “watch porn more often than they brush their teeth”. 🤫
So, what does porn tell us about ourselves?
If you gravitate toward the “slutty schoolgirl” trope (the scientist’s words, not mine), it might be a sign that certain forms of gender inequality are manifesting themselves in your body, which is why this type of content arouses you sexually.
But this (maybe unconscious) bias is not entirely your fault; it is mostly taught by your environment. That’s why, according to Van Bohemen’s research, the surroundings we grow up in might just have a say in shaping our porn preferences.
While Van Bohemen can’t say yet whether someone from a disadvantaged neighbourhood may have different preferences than someone who grew up in an upscale area, this is part of what her research is digging into.
For example, “We are examining whether individuals raised in very conservative environments, who hold the belief that men and women are fundamentally different, are more attracted to certain stereotypes than those from more progressive backgrounds,” she tells the AD.
The unspoken out in the open
Over the coming five years, Van Bohemen and her team will investigate why people from different social backgrounds are attracted to certain stereotypes in porn.
In doing so, Van Bohemen is uncovering something that’s usually hidden in our daily lives.
Similarly, porn often deals with themes we tend to sweep under the rug, such as the inequality between men and women, class differences and sexual preferences for ethnic groups.
The first findings of the study will be presented in November at the Erasmus University Rotterdam. So, stay tuned, because things are about to get… revealing. 😏
What do you think about Van Bohemen’s research? Share your thoughts in the comments!
