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The Netherlands has ‘singing bike paths’ and we’re absolutely obsessed

Ada Dolanay
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The Netherlands has ‘singing bike paths’ and we’re absolutely obsessed

The Dutch are famous for doing all kinds of things on bikes — holding hands, transporting furniture, and probably juggling stroopwafels while going backwards. Now, they’ve outdone themselves with roads that encourage bikers to sing aloud. 🎤

Ten years ago a Dutch columnist pitched the brilliant idea of a zangfietspad (singing cycle path) — a designated cycle path where people can, well, sing and cycle. 

She envisioned these paths to invite bikers to channel their inner Beyoncé while traveling across the Dutch roads. 

Sounds awesome? That’s what the Netherlands thought too. So, since the idea was first pitched, singing cycle paths have popped up in various Dutch cities, towns, and villages. 

Wanna sing and cycle your heart out? Here’s where 

According to the Fietsersbond, you can find singing cycle paths in Amsterdam, Almere, Hierden, Amstelveen, Dongen, Houten, Den Bosch, Drimmelen, Tiel, Veenendaal, Norg, Leiden, Zoetermeer, Lansingerland, Alphen aan de Rijn and Roermond. 

Don’t feel down if there’s none on your usual route. If you’re a zangfietspad enthusiast, and would like to set one up near where you cycle — you can!

READ MORE | Dutch Quirk #129: Bike recklessly — and somehow remain unhurt 

Just reach out to your gemeente (municipality), and politely explain that singing your heart out to Bohemian Rhapsody on the way to work is non-negotiable. Yes, we’re serious.

Oh, and before you ask: No, the police won’t write you a ticket for skipping the sign’s suggestion. The zangfietspad is just a cheerful reminder to take your spectacular singing beyond the shower curtains. 🚿

How do you feel about dedicated singing cycle paths all around the country? Let us know in the comments below.

This Dutch Christmas festival was cancelled due to… wolves?!

Beatrice Scali 🇮🇹
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This Dutch Christmas festival was cancelled due to… wolves?!

Every December, the Schaapskooi, a natural area in the province of Utrecht, lights up with Christmas celebrations — but this year, some unwanted guests spoiled the party. 🐺

Due to the growing presence of wolves in the area, and some rather alarming close encounters, the annual Schaapskooi’s Kerstfeest (Christmas Festival) was cancelled, reports RTL Nieuws.

The party is off

The Grinch-esque decision was made by Utrechts Landschap, the organisation that owns and manages the Heidestein, which is the nature reserve where the festival usually takes place.

READ NEXT | Christmas in the Netherlands: your guide to Dutch holiday foods and celebrations

After deliberation with the Province of Utrecht, the organisation concluded that hosting the Christmas party would have been irresponsible — especially considering its usual target audience.

Every year, the festival is attended by thousands of people, many of which are families with small children and pets: exactly the type of crowd that makes wolves protective of their cubs and potentially aggressive.

Close calls

The decision also happened in the aftermath of a few close encounters in the Province, especially around the Utrechtse Heuvelrug, where the Schaapskooi is also located.

This year alone, one girl was bitten by a wolf and another was injured.

READ MORE | Avoid this Dutch nature reserve after possible wolf attack on a child

Following these incidents, the authorities have advised hikers against visiting the province’s natural areas with children or pets.

Last summer, a portion of the Den Treek estate, also on the Utrechtse Heuvelrug, had to be closed off for weeks due to the attacks. 

READ NEXT | Rare footage of Veluwe wolfpack captured by wildlife cam (video inside!)

Since then, the Utrecht Province has been trying to obtain permission to capture, sedate, and tag the wolves behind the attacks, who are now believed to belong to a single pack — but so far, it has failed, reports RTL Nieuws.

For the time being, tracking the wolves is impossible, meaning that public events like the Schaapskooi Christmas Festival cannot be hosted safely.

What do you think of the decision to call off the Kerstfeest? Share all your thoughts in the comments below.

Here’s how rising inflation will impact your Dutch grocery bill

Lina Leskovec
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Here’s how rising inflation will impact your Dutch grocery bill

If you’ve noticed your bills were looking suspiciously high this month, you’re not wrong — prices were higher this November than at the same time last year. 

The CBS (Central Bureau for Statistics) calculated a 4% average increase in prices compared to last year. Three products were hit particularly hard. 👇

The essentials (and tobacco)

Food, drinks, and tobacco were all hit the hardest by inflation — seeing a price increase of 6.2% on average, according to NU.nl.

Tobacco plays the largest role in this since its excise duty increase in April. (If you needed that final push to quit smoking, there you have it. 😉)

Quitting eating and drinking is not really an option, however, so we’ll just have to put up with a higher grocery bill. 

READ MORE | Saving money in the Netherlands: 5 Ways to Save Money Like the Dutch

If you were hoping that the price increases were limited to products, we have another disappointment for you. The average price of services also increased by 5.5% compared to the same time last year. 

The only shining exception is energy — where prices decreased by 0.1%. Hey, at least it’s something!

Not too bleak

However, while an average inflation level of 4% sounds bad, it’s still reasonably under control — if you compare it to the crazy 14.5% that was reached two years ago, that is.

READ MORE | Dutch savings accounts: Best interest rates in the Netherlands in November 2024

If you compare it to the DNB’s (Bank of the Netherlands) goal of 2%… yeah, there’s still room for improvement. 😬

Do you have any tips on how to save money in the Netherlands? Leave them in the comments below!  

This Dutch municipality is paying off its poorest residents’ debts

Beatrice Scali 🇮🇹
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This Dutch municipality is paying off its poorest residents’ debts

The Municipality of Arnhem is trying out an innovative poverty relief scheme: it’s offering to pay off the debts of 60 households from its poorest district, Immerloo — but not everyone trusts them enough to accept the money.

So far, the municipality has cleared around €200,000 of debt, reports NU.nl.

“There is no catch”

Did this headline tickle your sceptical bone? Well, Immerloo residents had the same reaction.

Even though the authorities insist that “there is no catch,” most of the targeted households have turned down the offer for now.

READ MORE | 7 reasons the Dutch don’t do debt

“People have a lot of distrust towards the government. We are not allowed to enter the first time we ring the doorbell,” a spokesperson for Arnhem’s alderman tells NU.nl.

However, that seems to be slowly changing. “With 15 households, we are at the point where we can come by more often,” the spokesperson adds.

First few households are debt-free

For the families that did accept, life is about to change.

The municipality has already mapped out the debts of the first ten households, which together amount to about €540,000, spread over 250 different creditors.

Eighty of these debts, corresponding to roughly €200,000, have now been paid off.

READ NEXT | Dutch Quirk #18: Refuse to go into debt

The municipality is moving fast, especially seeing the urgency and seriousness of the problems faced by these families — some of which have been postponing surgery or struggling with childcare due to their financial issues.

A clean slate

Apparently, the scheme has no hidden conditions — the municipality just wants to give its poorest residents a chance to start fresh.

READ NEXT | This Dutch billionaire family will clear A THOUSAND families’ debts for years to come

The money is coming partly from a buy-back fund set up for this initiative, and partly from major municipality creditors, including energy supplier Vattenfall and insurance company Menzis.

The scheme also includes two optional years of free guidance to help the participating residents stay debt-free in the future.

What do you think of this groundbreaking debt relief scheme? Share your opinion with us in the comments below.

Woman (19) dies after being struck by tree during Storm Conall

Lina Leskovec
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Woman (19) dies after being struck by tree during Storm Conall

A code orange weather warning was in effect in several Dutch provinces yesterday due to storm Conall. The storm resulted in destruction and even caused a casualty in Gelderland. 

According to the NOS, a 19-year-old woman tragically lost her life during what is being described as one of the strongest autumn storms in Dutch history. 

The incident

The young woman died after being struck by a tree yesterday evening in the Gelderland town of Lochem. 

She was cycling through the countryside at about 7:15 PM when tragedy struck. 

The police will continue investigating the incident. 

Translation: A person fell under a tree on the Koopsdijk in Lochem just after a quarter past seven. On-site assistance was of no avail and the person unfortunately died. We continue to investigate. No further information is known at this time.

More destruction

Storm Conall is officially the 69th most severe autumn storm to hit the Netherlands since measurements began in 1910. 

Its consequences were visible throughout the country: a houseboat in Leiden was blown against a bridge, and a tree fell onto a tram track in Amsterdam. 

In addition, several trees fell in The Hague and ferry rides were cancelled in De Wadden. 

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Dutch Quirk #52: Write poems for each other on pakjesavond

Christine Stein Hededam 🇩🇰
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Dutch Quirk #52: Write poems for each other on pakjesavond

Didn’t think the words “Dutch” and “poetry” were two things you’d hear in one sentence?

Well, turns out Dutchies can be quite the lyricists — at least during the Sinterklaas celebrations. 🎅🏼

After Sinterklaas’ (usually controversial) arrival in the Netherlands, the pepernoten, chocolate letter, and mandarin madness all culminate on December 5, which is pakjesavond! 🎁

But pakjesavond isn’t only Dutchies’ edge over the rest of the world’s Christmas celebrations (um, who wouldn’t want two festive holidays in December?).

It’s also an evening of bad rhymes, roasts, and awkward memories as everyone reads aloud their sinterklaasgedicht (Sinterklaas poem).

What is it?

Prior to pakjesavond on December 5, each person is assigned a family member or friend to write a poem for — which they’ll have to perform during the evening’s festivities.

Cute, right?

Before releasing the aww-sounds and thinking you’ve discovered a soft side to the Dutch directness, there’s a twist!

READ MORE | Sinterklaas for expats: all the Dutch you need to make it through the holiday season

A sinterklaasgedicht isn’t your usual sobby poetry — there’ll be no declarations of great love or friendship.

Nope, the Dutch take this opportunity to remind friends and family of all the funny moments, stupid mistakes, and weird quirks of the designated recipient.

Yep, typical Dutch directness, even during the holidays. 🤣

READ MORE | The complete guide to writing a top Sinterklaas poem

So, when celebrating pakjesavond in the Netherlands, your real concern shouldn’t be whether you made it onto Sinterklaas’ nice list but if your friends and family remember that embarrassing thing you did two months ago. 👀

However, you can barely blame your friend or family member for bringing up an embarrassing mistake, as a sinterklaasgedicht is always written from the point of view of either Sint or his helper Piet.

Sneaky! 🙊

Why do they do it?

Sinterklaas poems have a long history in the Netherlands with the oldest known poem dating back to 1647.

In the 1800s, the poems took on an educational character and were given to young school children.

READ MORE | A chocolate letter from Sinterklaas: A delicious Dutch gift

From around 1945, the sinterklaasgedicht tradition started looking more like how we know it today.

They were written by Sint or Piet, and adults started to join in on the fun as well.

So why do Dutchies write poems for each other on pakjesavond? It’s tradition — and a fun one at that! 🎉

Why is it quirky?

Well, we don’t know about you, but if you write a poem to someone, it’s usually a nice one, (we hope).

The whole oration of your embarrassing moments or cute quirks is not on the usual schedule of family festivities in most other parts of the world. 😅

Not that the poems are straight-up mean, but they are certainly blush-provoking.

Should you join in? 

Why not?! Living in the Netherlands is a chance to embrace and experience different traditions from your own.

And, after all, it’s always good to get the creative juices flowing and have a good laugh at someone else’s expense.

Maybe your Dutch friends will even write one in English for you! 🥰

What do you think of this Dutch quirk? Have you experienced it? Tell us in the comments below!

Stay indoors! Storm Conall brings code orange to the Netherlands

Lina Leskovec
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Stay indoors! Storm Conall brings code orange to the Netherlands

After a code yellow warning was issued for several Dutch regions on Monday, the weather delivers another blow (literally). Code yellow has now been bumped to code orange.

Due to storm Conall, some Dutch regions can expect very heavy winds today. 👇

What is a code orange?
According to the KNMI (Royal Dutch Weather Institute), a code orange is issued when there is a high chance of dangerous weather, with risk of possible damage, injury or a lot of nuisance.

The culprit? Storm Conall

The NOS reports that code orange will be in effect this evening in these provinces:

  • North Holland 
  • Friesland 
  • Flevoland 
  • Groningen 
  • Drenthe 
  • Overijssel.

The situation is a bit better in South Holland, Utrecht and Gelderland, where code yellow will apply. 

Translation: Code orange for storm Conall, which is causing very heavy gusts of wind in the north of the country today. Keep an eye on the KNMI app or the website when the weather warning applies to your province.

In typical storm fashion, Conall will cause wind gusts of 120 to 130 kilometres per hour in the coastal regions, and 100 to 100 km/h inland. 

The code applies from 6 PM tonight and will unfortunately disrupt more than just your hairstyle.

Traffic jams and a busier rush hour are expected, especially in the Randstad area. KLM has also cancelled 72 flights from Schiphol. 

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These are the healthiest (and unhealthiest) supermarkets in the Netherlands

Ada Dolanay
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These are the healthiest (and unhealthiest) supermarkets in the Netherlands

Dutch supermarkets may lure you in with an array of colourful fruits and veggies, but don’t be fooled — cookies and chips are lurking in the next aisle, ready to sabotage your good intentions. 

So, how healthy are Dutch supermarkets really?

To answer that, the government ranked some of the most popular stores based on how healthy their products are and their efforts to encourage healthier choices for consumers. 

Spin the Schijf van Vijf

As Het Parool writes, the Schijf van Vijf (Wheel of Five) is the official model used by the Dutch government to provide information about healthy dietary patterns. 

Each segment contains food groups that provide health benefits and essential nutrients. Foods that do neither? Those are excluded from the wheel.

young-woman-with-a-child-buying-fruit-and-vegetables-at-the-supermarket
Yep, fruits and veg are a big part of the wheel! Image: Depositphotos

According to guidelines, no more than 15% of your daily food intake should be outside the wheel — but supermarket sales show that not all consumers are sticking to this advice. 👀

For example:

  • At Aldi, 28% of sales fall within the wheel.
  • At Dirk, 32% of sales fall within the wheel.
  • At Lidl, 37% of sales fall within the wheel.

Jumbo and Albert Heijn claim that 40% of their sales fall within the Wheel of Five, but they only report their sales from private labels. 

READ MORE | Can I drink tap water in Amsterdam?

According to Charlotte Linnebank, director of Questionmark, a European foundation researching food systems, this gives a distorted picture since “it is precisely the A-brands that often offer unhealthy products”.

The healthiest supermarkets: ranked

In 2018, Dutch supermarkets signed the National Prevention Agreement, committing to encourage their consumers to purchase more products from the Wheel of Five.

However, by offering discounts on unhealthy products, supermarkets contradict their commitment, as these acties make us consume more of these items than intended.

photo-of-shelf-junk-food-in-dutch-grocery-story
The colourful packaging of unhealthy foods also attracts people to it. Image: Depositphotos

Based on these parameters, researchers have created a list ranking each supermarket’s efforts to become healthier for consumers… And the results are in. 👇

1 Eco Plaza 👑
2Lidl
3Dirk
4Jumbo
5Aldi
6Albert Heijn
7Plus

Yep, the infamous and much beloved Albert Heijn ranks second to last on the list. 🥲

Albert Heijn and Jumbo both resist the results of this research, claiming that the system used in the scoring does not do justice to their efforts to help people achieve healthier lifestyles. 

Do you feel as though this list reflects the reality of these supermarkets? Let us know in the comments below.

This student commutes 4 hours daily from Germany to the Netherlands — thanks to the housing crisis

Lina Leskovec
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This student commutes 4 hours daily from Germany to the Netherlands — thanks to the housing crisis

You haven’t really been a student in the Netherlands until you’ve had some housing troubles. No one knows this better than Vos Vissers, who has to commute four hours each day to get to and from university.

While Voss attends a Dutch university, he technically isn’t a student in the Netherlands — at least not in his free time. He still lives in his German hometown, since finding a room in Utrecht is simply impossible. 

The daily grind

The second-year journalism student describes his daily commute to the AD. It starts at about 7:30 AM in Kranenburg, Germany, a town right across the border. 

The bus is the first mode of transportation on Vos’s list — if it shows up. If it doesn’t come or happens to arrive early, he has to wait an entire hour for the next one. 🚏

After taking the bus across the German-Dutch border, Vos hops on a 50-minute long train to Utrecht, followed by a tram to his university campus. 

His total travel time? A whopping four hours. We just hope his teachers have a relaxed lateness policy.  

Sounds exhausting? Must be. But not as exhausting as trying to find a room in Utrecht.

The Utrecht housing nightmare

Vos applied to about 80 rooms in Utrecht last year, but got invited to a hospiteeravond only five of those times. 

As he remarks, getting invited to meet the roommates in a student house is no success on its own. 

READ MORE | 5 things to know about the Dutch student housing crisis

Potential new roommates have to toe the line between not being too nice (and seeming fake) and not being too reserved. 

And you better hope one of the room applicants isn’t already friends with the residents. In that case, your chances are zero. 

There might be hope for Vos

Considering the fact that Vos is still making his 4-hour journey a year and a half into his studies, he has to be an incredibly optimistic and determined person (or at least incredibly passionate about journalism). 

But the good news is that he might have things to look forward to. 

In the coming year, Utrecht will see the largest increase in the amount of student rooms in the entirety of the Netherlands, with hundreds of new accommodations being announced. 

READ MORE | 11 creative solutions to the Dutch student housing crisis that makes us say “Why didn’t we think of that?”

However, the shortage is significant, with one estimate being that Utrecht needs over 5,000 new student rooms. 😬

In any case,we just hope Vos’ commute to his graduation will be significantly shorter!

What’s the craziest housing situation you’ve had to deal with? Let us know in the comments!

Dutch family causes chaos at school: Three brothers, sister, and father arrested

Ada Dolanay
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Dutch family causes chaos at school: Three brothers, sister, and father arrested

A violent incident at a secondary school in Bladel, North Brabant, on Monday morning led to the arrest of five members of the same family. Among them were three brothers, along with their sister and father.

According to the AD, the family allegedly caused a disturbance involving school staff on the premises. 

Tensions rise before police arrive

Let’s start from the beginning — since we’re all wondering how this started.

The trouble began when the two brothers who attend the school confronted a fellow student over an ongoing conflict. In his defence, the student hid under a table. 

READ MORE | The Dutch school system for dummies: a guide from one parent to another 

As Omroep Brabant reports, staff noticed the tension and attempted to intervene. The result? A new fight broke out, this time between the siblings and janitors. 

Things got even worse when the sister of the two brothers also jumped into the mix. 

In the meantime, police had been called, and the three siblings eventually got arrested. 

It doesn’t end there…

The situation took another turn when the father and eldest son arrived at the school after hearing about the altercation.

Once they found out about the kids’ arrests, both reacted aggressively. “They went completely berserk”, says school principal Maarten De Veth. 

The father had to be restrained with a taser in the middle of the schoolyard. Ultimately, both the father and the eldest brother were arrested as well.

The family has been said to cause unrest in the past, but there are also rumours that the children have had to endure discriminatory remarks and bullying.

Support for the students 

Many students of the school witnessed the violence taking place, so after the incident, all students were sent home for the day.

Headmaster De Veth emphasises that the perpetrators are temporarily not welcomed at school. 

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