Stroomz Strijp Pharmacy in Eindhoven was struggling for enough staff until they found the ultimate candidate: she’s always got a smile on her face, she doesn’t take breaks, and she speaks five languages.
She’s also a hologram.
That’s right, their new ‘deepfake’ computer-generated assistant looks and sounds real but isn’t really there.
Stroomz Strijp reopens next month with their new digital pharmacist ready for patients’ questions and concerns, Omroep Brabant reports.
All the answers
The helpful hologram has already perfected her Dutch, English, Spanish, Turkish and Arabic and can be programmed in many different languages.
And if you’ve got a cold and you’re struggling to hear — no problem, Google Translate provides subtitles throughout the conversation.
“We looked at what many conversations are about. We have worked out the most common conversations and they are now conducted with you by the digital assistant from a box,” Pim Poels, manager of Stroomz pharmacies, tells Omroep Brabant.
But what about privacy?
Don’t worry, you don’t have to tell the whole waiting room about your, ahem, private issues.
There is a separate consultation room for sensitive matters, which can be opened remotely and contains another screen ready for the conversation to continue.
Sounding more like an Apple showroom than a pharmacy?
Well, there is the option to speak to a REAL HUMAN BEING if the digital assistant can’t help. That’ll be via a screen, too, though.
And the final piece of the tech puzzle? Following the hologram consultation, your medication will be waiting for you in a prescription vending machine (refrigerated, if necessary). 🤖
What do you think about this new hologram service? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Translation: The #politiebureaus are closed for 24 hours today, just like last Tuesday. We campaign for a good early retirement. @NineKooiman and Erik Smit explained last week why this is important.
Flyers instead of fines
In a kind of iconic move, the police strike has also been manifesting in the form of flyers.
Specifically, officers have been issuing flyers instead of fines when someone commits a minor violation. The flyers lay out why the police union is striking.
According to the Landelijk Actiecentrum Politieacties (National Centre for Police Actions):
“Only when politicians, administrators and employers take the right steps towards a decent RVU (early retirement scheme) will the police unions stop taking action. Until then, the actions will only increase.”
Dutch fans often make themselves known at major football events, normally by flooding the streets with oranje. But at Sunday’s European Championship match against Poland, their attire was a whole lot more controversial.
Three male supporters wanted to express their patriotism by recognising a Dutch football hero, Ruud Gullit, who was part of the Euros-winning team in 1988.
So, they grabbed their orange shirts, wigs and brown face paint… yeah, that’s where it all went wrong.
Now, the fans are receiving worldwide criticism for wearing ‘blackface’, which is considered a racist and deeply offensive tradition, as RTL reports.
Dutch fans have brought a lot of fantastic colour to Hamburg today. These lads might have misjudged it a little with their homage to Ruud. pic.twitter.com/MdcSstiKaK
Football is a game of attack and defence; the same goes for the supporters now facing different opinions from people all over the world.
Many believe this is another case of the-Dutch-do-blackface-and-think-it’s-fine, with the Daily Mail explaining, “it is a particularly controversial issue in the Netherlands, where the tradition of Christmas character Zwarte Pietcauses much division.”
Some Dutch people gonna be with you soon to explain that blackface is just culture https://t.co/vfrMaChjfD
Sunday’s incident adds to an already problematic legacy when it comes to the Dutch colonial past and history of blackface.
Many claim troubling traditions like Zwarte Piet are a thing of the past, and awareness is growing in the Netherlands. But it’s not just the Ruud Gullit wannabes that suggest otherwise.
So, for those defending the Oranje fans, consider if their face painting is really as harmless as it seems. “It’s easy to say it wasn’t intended that way. People ignore the impact of that intention”, sociologist Aspha Bijnaar tells RTL.
Blowing the whistle
Can we expect to see more Ruud Gullit dress-up at the next match? Not in the case of one of the fans.
He tells RTL, “It turns out that I offend people with it. That’s really the last thing I want, so I decided to stop.”
What do you think about the controversy surrounding these fans wearing blackface? Let us know in the comments below.
Ever whipped through the Dutch and German countryside on the super speedy ICE trains? Well, starting today, the connection between Amsterdam and Frankfurt just got even faster.
The new versions of the ICE trains, called ‘ICE 3neo’, look the same and travel the same routes, running seven times daily from Amsterdam to Cologne and Frankfurt.
But those familiar red and white stripes will be zooming past quicker than before — and their speed isn’t the only improvement, the NS shares in a press release.
It’s what’s on the inside that counts
The Deutsche Bahn-owned trains might have WiFi that’s as fast as the journey time, but their speedy service makes them a very popular and busy travel option.
This ICE train feels more an airplane judging by how fast it is,and how many people there are-how packed it is
— Muhammad Zaryan Shahid (@zaryan_shahid) March 1, 2023
Now, ICE International has reformed the interior of the trains to provide a more spacious and comfortable experience for its passengers.
With plans to run ICE trains as far as Munich by 2025, the extra room to stretch out is great news.
Fast track for the footy
“We look forward to a summer in which many travellers choose the train. For example, for a holiday or a visit to one of the sporting events”, says Heike Luiten, director of NS International.
And visiting sporting events is just what we’re thinking, with the Euros 2024 already kicking off this summer.
But take note, Oranjefans: if you don’t want to miss the game (natuurlijk), don’t leave it to the last minute to book the train.
ICE trains might be the best option for getting to Germany quickly; just make sure you purchase the ticket at least two days before you intend to travel.
Do you plan to travel with one of the new ICE trains soon? Let us know in the comments below.
If there’s one consistent thing about Dutch weather, it’s that it’s not really consistent at all.
On the brighter side, it seems like the tides (and clouds) are finally turning.
The chances of sunnier, drier weather increase in the second half of the month, but meteorologists are unsure if temperatures will also increase, reports Het Parool.
In the coming weeks, temperatures are likely to increase to at least the low 20s, with the occasional rain throughout the country (nothing unusual).
Towards the end of June, the Netherlands should finally see dry and sunny weather. Local showers and thunderstorms are possible, but the predominantly rainy weather seems to be over.
Parents in most of the 🌍: You can’t cycle to school in this weather….
However, it’s still uncertain how warm the weather will get. In the event of a south-east wind (coming from southern Europe and Africa), there are chances of temperatures 25 degrees Celsius and more.
Winds from the North Sea will only bring the temperature around 19 to 23 degrees.
What are your plans if the weather is finally sunny and warm in the Netherlands? Tell us in the comments below. 👇
There’s nothing quite like a football game to get the Dutch fanatical and frenzied — and this weekend was no different.
The 2024 UEFA European Football Championship began last Friday, and Oranje (the nickname for the Dutch national football team) had its first match against Poland on Sunday, June 16.
Natuurlijk, a horde of orange was present in Hamburg, Germany, to display their support for the team.
The Oranje fan parade began gathering as early as 8:30 AM, dancing along to Dutch DJ Armin van Buuren’s greatest hits before making their way to the stadium, reports the BBC.
My city (Hamburg) is currently being taken by the Dutch 😂 finally some atmosphere again and no bought NPCs like in Qatar! I love it! #EM24pic.twitter.com/L7oDMMLbAg
Tens of thousands of fans walked from Hamburg’s city centre towards the Volksparkstadion, sporting full orange suits, lion costumes, and cheese wheels for hats.
And of course, it wouldn’t be a Dutch football match if the fans weren’t dancing to Links Rechts either (yes, a football match does count as a patriotic event).
You’ve devoured all the Rotterdam top 20 lists and think you have seen everything the city has to offer? Well, no, no, no, dear friend — I’m pretty sure I can reveal some hidden gems of this amazing city that you haven’t seen before.
Having lived in the port city my whole life, I can safely say that I have found some top spots that many other people won’t know about. And it’s your lucky day — because I’m not a gatekeeper! 🤫
This list of 16 hidden gems in Rotterdam will take you across all corners of the city, and the best part? Most of the locations on the list are free!
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1. Café De Riddert: the smallest bar in Rotterdam
Do you remember that time you were so drunk you fell over? Well, probably not.
In any case, Café de Riddert is so small this wouldn’t even be possible! This brown café, just around the corner from Centraal Station, offers special beers, whiskeys, and live music.
This bar takes ‘gezellig’ to a whole new level. Image: Cafe De Riddert/Supplied
The beer casks are stored underneath the floor, so it happens quite often that you have to step away from the bar to make room for the floor to open up — it’s magical! For this bar, we can say three really do make a crowd.
Rotterdam has three famous parks to the north side of the river: Vroesenpark, Kralingse Bos, and Het Park (a.k.a. the Euromast Park).
But did you know that next to Het Park, behind a little stream, some trees, and a fence, there is a little park called Schoonoord? Walk past its gates, and you’ll find yourself in a big garden dating back to 1706!
This is something straight out of Lord of The Rings. Image: Yoreh Schipper/Supplied
This place used to be someone’s backyard, but now it’s open and free to visit for everyone. The park has a beautiful pond, a botanical garden, birds, and trees over 250 years old!
3. Eiland van Brienenoord: escape to the highlands
Close to the Feyenoord football stadium, an exit leads to a tiny bridge. This bridge will take you to Brienenoord Island. An island with forest, open waters, and Scottish Highlanders.
So beautiful! Image: Yoreh Schipper/Supplied
Halfway through the island, you’ll find little cottages with gardens full of veggies and plants. Walking underneath the Brienenoord bridge is quite impressive and a huge contrast with the rest of the island, full of nature.
Because of the bridge and the noise of the cars, it may not be the perfect place for some quiet nature, but you do get some nice skyline views.
The old Hofplein train station is a great place to enjoy some city views. This station is built on top of the old train tracks, where you will find a little garden growing herbs, fruits, veggies, and other plants. In summer, you might even stumble upon an event or two.
If you have always wanted to walk over train tracks, this is your chance! Rotterdam plans to convert the old Hofplein train tracks into a 1.2 km-long park, just like they did in New York. The concept has been given the green light, and construction is planned to begin in 2025.
This station is connected to the famous yellow pedestrian bridge “de Luchtsingel”, which also connects to the Biergarten.
Biergarten might be the least hidden spot on this list, and if you have lived in Rotterdam for more than 10 seconds, you will probably already know this place.
Normally, this is the first location I take my international friends to, as it’s close to Centraal Station and, in summer, is a great place to grab a drink and have some food.
Every seasoned resident and traveller in Rotterdam knows about the famous Biergarten. Image: Freepik
Clubs like Annabel, which surround the garden, are closed during the day, but in the evening, everyone is mingling.
You don’t have to go to Zeeland or the north to find islands — there is one in Rotterdam! Noordereiland is floating between the north and south of Rotterdam and is connected by De Willemsbrug and Koninginnebrug.
While the island is officially part of the city’s south side and neighbourhood of Feijenoord, people keep debating whether it is the “real” south. Noordereiland, therefore, remains stuck in the middle.
Noordereiland is situated on the river Maas. Image: Dominik Mecko/Unsplash
The island played a very important role at the beginning of World War II. When the German army caught the Dutch by surprise at the old Willemsbrug on May 10, 1940, the Dutch marines and army fought straight at the south side of the bridge for four days.
Even though the Dutch army was weak, surprised, and not modernized yet, the Dutch were able to keep the German forces from taking the bridges. Of course, this changed after the city bombardment on May 14, 1940.
Next to the island’s rich history, it has great views and locations to take pictures. On the north side, you will have a great skyline view in front of the historical houses. On the west side, you’ll find a unique angle of the Maastoren and Erasmusbrug.
The Maastunnel is the oldest “sunken” tunnel in the Netherlands, opened in 1942 during World War II. The tunnel was built on the mainland and sunk into the water after.
Next to the car tunnel, the city built a cyclist and pedestrian tunnel. If you ever feel like walking 1.2 kilometres to the other side of the city for no reason, this tunnel could be your friend!
Maastunnel on Valentine’s Day. Image: Yoreh Schipper/Supplied
9. Ze Hielden Koers park: for historical remembrance
This is one of my favourite places to relax in summer. Next to the Merchant Memorial for the fallen sailors of WWII, the city built a little park with many colourful flowers and plants.
The park’s official name is “Ze Hielden Koers” park, meaning “they kept course.”
The park is easy to find, right next to Erasmusbrug. It’s an amazing place to bring some drinks, friends, or dates and sit on a bench whilst watching the sunset reflecting in the buildings.
View from Ze Hielden Stand Park. Image: Yoreh Schipper/Supplied
Make sure you go to the restroom before going to the park; the nearest one is quite a walk away.
10. Heemraadssingel: take a romantic stroll in Rotterdam
The Heemraadssingel is a 1.5-kilometre-long park in Delfshaven built around 1900. The stroll offers little bridges, different kinds of trees, birds, and lots of bird poo.
On both sides of the singel, you can find historic houses and artwork. If you can read Dutch, you’ll enjoy the explanation texts that were stuck on little electric houses along the water.
A rare shot of sunny Rotterdam from Heemraadssingel. Image: Yoreh Schipper/Supplied
The Heemraadssingel is only one of the many singels in Rotterdam. Some other singels are Noordsingel and Provinierssingel. You can enter the walk from the south side at metro station Coolhaven or the north side at Beukelsdijk.
11. Rotterdam’s town hall garden: for quiet reflection
Would we be right if we said that you probably hadn’t discovered this cosy garden yet? The town hall at Coolsingel, built between 1914 and 1920, has two entrances on both sides of the building to enter the garden.
🙌 Some of the recent sights of Rotterdam by 🚲… Depot reflections, Mass Tunnel signage 👌, Coolsingel urban mobility reprioritised 🥇 & Hefpark urban BMX park / garden so close to the city centre 🪴 pic.twitter.com/ga7mxkButA
It’s a public space and free to enter. The garden is pretty small, but hey, it is not about size. It is about the kind of sandwich you bring. Amazingly, this kind of silence is hidden right in the city’s centre.
Did you know that all small harbours and docks in the centre of Rotterdam are named after what they used to import and export? For example, Veerhaven (feather), Bierhaven (beer), and Wijnhaven (wine).
It’s very difficult to miss Vessel 11 in the canals. Image: Yoreh Schipper/Supplied
You can sit outside on the deck in summer, but if it is colder, just cosy up inside in the living room and order a home-brewed ale, lager, stout or IPA. The bar rents out little floating hot tubs, so you can float around the canals in your swimsuit whilst drinking an IPA.
Anyone up for a boating trip? We know we are. Image: Yoreh Schipper/Supplied
13. Dakpark: An amiable of epic tunes in Rotterdam
Last but certainly not least, we’ll take you to the western part of town. The M4H area is full of old renovated buildings that store artists, musicians, and creative and innovative concepts.
One of the bigger projects here is the roof park on top of a big shopping centre. It’s a great place to relax if you happen to be in the neighbourhood.
Bring your children because in summer they turn on the water fountains! It has a rooftop restaurant, so you can always find restrooms and grab some beers.
We’re still in the M4H area for this last stop. Keilecafe started as a temporary pop-up bar, but when we noticed the bar was still there in mid-winter, we knew it would stay as a sort of permanent festival.
You might have been willing to ignore what exactly is inside your favourite fried Dutch snacks on account of their deliciousness, but now that fairytale (or should we say ponytail) is over.
That’s because new research reveals that meat from discarded British and Irish racehorses is ending up illegally inside our bitterballen and kroketten, nu.nl reports.
We’re not supposed to be eating that meat (to state the obvious) because it might include traces of the horses’ medication from their racing injuries.
Our stomachs are already turning… 😫
Putting the ‘mare’ in nightmare
How do the racehorses end up inside your bitterballen, you ask? Well, first, they start losing, get injured, or are simply too expensive to care for.
Then, they are transported to the Netherlands and Belgium under appalling conditions so that they can receive a new identity, animal protection organisation House of Animals tells nu.nl.
As we reach the halfway point of the first month of summer, we wish the crystal ball foretold of better weather. But helaas, the Netherlands has yet more rain to come.
Oh, and some thunder too!
In fact, maybe you should forego any expectations for sunkissed skin and denim jackets for the time being.
According to this weekend’s weather forecast, ’tis the season for damp shoulders and dripping umbrellas.
Rain, winds, thunder — and maybe some sun
This morning’s weather is a good indication of what we can expect the vibes to be this weekend. Overcast with a strong chance of drizzle.
As a low pressure point moves across the Netherlands, the weather looks to be especially depressing on Saturday, with plenty of rain in the morning.
While the sun may peek through the clouds on Saturday evening, it will be accompanied by heavy gusts of wind and a chance of thunderstorms — so don’t be fooled into finding a seat on a terrace.
Especially if that terrace is located along the coast, which can expect a wind force of up to six or seven.
Whether you’re looking to escape the rain, want to learn about African culture, or doing research for your African Studies major — it’s time to head over to Wereldmuseum Leiden!
Why? The Leiden-based ethnology museum has unveiled “In Brilliant Light”, a spectacular new exhibit focusing on African art, culture and history.
With “In Brilliant Light”, curators have created a platform forartists from Africa and its diaspora. The space lets visitors immerse themselves in the richness of African cultures — right in the heart of Leiden.
👋 Welkom to Wereldmuseum Leiden
Image: Jordi Huisman/Supplied
Wereldmuseum Leiden, formerly known as Museum Volkenkunde, is the place to be for all things ethnology, anthropology, and world cultures. It’s definitely a must-see when you visit the city.
As the pros in all things ethnology, you can be sure that “In Brilliant Light” will be nothing short of, well, brilliant!
Oh, and the best part? Entrance is free for children between 0 and 5 and museum card holders, and reduced for students.
🌍 African art ‘in brilliant light’
So, what exactly is “In Brilliant Light” about? Just like African art, the exhibition is diverse, rich, and culturally significant.
Image: Aad Hoogendoorn/Supplied
The exhibit guides you through eight different sections containing breathtaking artworks that reflect on the heritage of their artists and the world around them.
It features not only a whopping 32 artists from Africa and its diaspora, but also does a wonderful job of shedding light on both historical and contemporary events that influence African culture and society.
Themes addressed include post-colonialism, power, globalisation, change, emancipation and spirituality.
From Africa to the diaspora
The talented artists featured in “In Brilliant Light” reflect on their African homeland and their — voluntary or involuntary — movement away from it.
Their art showcases the diverse cultures, histories, and traditions that are native to the African continent and its people while simultaneously illustrating what connects them with the rest of the world.
Image: Aad Hoogendoorn/Supplied
As a consequence of the African diaspora, we recognise common themes, influences, and even materials that spread across the artworks.
Unique forms of artistic traditions that range from tapestry weaving to woodcarving are showcased as artists draw inspiration from their countries’ history, heritage, folklore and spiritual traditions and share them with the world.
Image: Aad Hoogendoorn/Supplied
Relating to cultural history
While “In Brilliant Light” displays contemporary art, the exhibition also reflects on the rich and sometimes very complex African cultural history.
Colonialism, which undoubtedly had a very significant influence on African culture, is a theme that is omnipresent in “In Brilliant Light”.
Image: Aad Hoogendoorn/Supplied
One thing that many African people share, regardless of whether they are on the continent or not, is a sense of identity loss — finding themselves stuck between their strong cultural ties and their projected future.
This is addressed in one of the exhibition’s central artworks.
Image: Aad Hoogendoorn/Supplied
Johnson Eziefula’s “Birth of the Self” was created specifically for “In Brilliant Light” and depicts a young man standing at a crossroads, realising that, depending on the path he chooses, his life will change drastically.
Creating new perspectives
One sign in the exhibition reads: “In the 1950s and 1960s, almost all African countries [became] independent, [and] African artists emerge[d] as important agents of change.”
Transformation is another major theme addressed in “In Brilliant Light”, illustrating how artists use their craft to reshape history and claim their heritage through their artistic expression.
Image: Aad Hoogendoorn/Supplied
Inspiration is often found in the idea of new worlds and shared dreams for a new society.
With this, art becomes a form of emancipation, allowing artists to develop a new cultural identity, new perspectives, and new visions in a post-colonial world.
🔎 Want to know more?
Great! You can see “In Brilliant Light” at the Wereldmuseum in Leiden until October 31, 2024. Let’s give you all the details you need:
⏰ When? Every day from 10 AM until 5 PM until October 31, 2024 📍 Where? Wereldmuseum Leiden, Steenstraat 1, 2312 BS Leiden 🔎 How? Tickets can be bought at the counter or online
Will you check out “In Brilliant Light”? Share your thoughts in the comments!
