Don’t get us wrong — we were lucky with the King’s Day weather. But today’s temperatures will have us wishing we could do it all over again, with more orange shades and fewer orange coats.
Well, that is until the storms begin this afternoon.
It will be a truly sizzling summery day across the Netherlands today, with temperatures ranging from a casual 20 degrees to a blissful 27 degrees, NU.nl reports.
It will even stay in the double figures overnight with temperatures as high as 14 degrees, so sunny terrasje evenings feel more of a reality than they have for a while. 🌞
But don’t get too excited yet.
Temps off the scale, but hail will prevail?
Of course, this weather comes with lots of dangers. Burning, exhaustion, overheating… but what about the whiplash caused by how much it changes?!
From freezing temperatures last week to this morning’s soaring sunshine, however, it’s set to turn again.
While you may enjoy sunshine this morning, you can expect thunderstorms and hail later today. 🌩
We have a saying here in the Netherlands related to the weather in April that can be translated to roughly mean "April does whatever the fuck it wants"
That + Climate Change = probably the reason why
— Rin 🐾 | vTuber | commissions open (@mochirinmusic) April 30, 2024
The southwest of the country will have its worst before it gets better, with a showery morning and spells of thunder until the sun breaks through.
Then, across the rest of the Netherlands, the familiar strong winds, thunderstorms and possibly even hail (yes, HAIL) will develop in the late afternoon and evening.
This is especially likely in the southeast and northern coastal areas.
Great news! Last week, the Dutch House of Representatives passed the Affordable Rent Act, aiming to prevent renters from paying exorbitantly high rents.
This means that starting July 1, 2024, rent for more than 300,000 homes in the Netherlands will be reduced.
Typically, rents will only decrease when a new tenant moves in, but current tenants can still ask for a rent reduction, reports NU.nl. Here’s how. 👇
Determine your maximum rent
The Netherlands has a point system and calculator (available in English) to determine the maximum rent a home can have based on factors like square metres, the presence of a kitchen, garden, or shower, the energy label, and the value of the house.
There are two main types of rental housing in the Netherlands: social housing, with up to 142 point and rental limits of €879 per month, and free-sector housing, where landlords can determine the price they want to charge for a room, house, or apartment.
However, thanks to the Affordable Housing Act, rental homes with up to 186 points and a rent of €1,123 will also soon receive a maximum rent.
The question lies in whether you’ll get a rent reduction this year or next:
If your home is worth less than 142 points and you pay less than €879 but more than what your home is worth, the landlord must reduce the rent to the limit by July 2024.
If your home is worth less than 142 points but you pay more than €879 based on a free-sector contract, your landlord will have to adjust your rent within a year. You can expect a rent reduction by July 2025.
Rent reduction for new tenants
For the remaining 157,000 homes with point totals between 142 and 186, rent reductions will only apply once new tenants move in.
That means if you belong to that group and pay too much rent, you’ll only receive the full rent reduction if you move to a similar property.
On the bright side, you could still receive a rent reduction, says Ten Broeke, as “the new rental law allows you to enter discussions with your landlord.”
“Your landlord has no interest in you moving because of the high rent. He wants certainty of income […], and the new tenant will pay less. So if you now pay €200 too much per month, you may be able to get a partial rent reduction.”
Will you be able to apply for a rent reduction in the Netherlands? Tell us in the comments!
Thinking of travelling to, through, or from Tilburg in the coming weeks? Think again.
As ProRail begins a “monster job” at Tilburg station, ALL train services have been cancelled until Monday, May 13.
Sounds annoying? Well, it is. But as ProRail tells Omroep Brabant, it’s necessary to bring us closer to “the end of 10 years of renovation of Tilburg station.”
What can we expect?
As the construction workers work hard on renovating platforms and renewing rail rods and overhead lines, the NS is deploying a total of 150 buses to transport passengers.
Travellers can expect their commute to take longer and include more stopovers. 👇
The NS will deploy:
Express buses between Breda – Tilburg – ‘s-Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch)
Bus stops between Oisterwijk – Tilburg – Tilburg University
Stop buses between Boxtel and Oisterwijk
Stop buses between Tilburg – Tilburg University – Tilburg Reeshof – Gilze-Rijen – Breda
Passengers travelling between Breda and Eindhoven should take the express bus to Den Bosch and switch to the train there.
As always, the NS advises travellers to plan their trip using the NS travel planner.
Finding a job in the Netherlands is hard, especially as an international. LinkedIn’s overview of the top Dutch companies to work for in 2024 is a great place to start, however. 😉
The professional networking platform compiles an annual list ranking companies’ opportunities for career development, promotions, and new skills.
Whether you need flexible working options or are looking for an employer that actually cares about their workers, read on.
Oh, and we checked whether they offer English-speaking roles, so you don’t have to. 👇
You will recognise the top three
If you’ve made a coffee, opened your computer, or checked your bank balance already this morning, then you’ve probably already encountered the company at the top of the list. 🥇
Claiming the number one spot is household appliance giant Versuni, previously part of Phillips. You know, THE coffee machine makers and air fryer aficionados.
Next up is computer chip manufacturers ASML, followed by multinational banking and financial services provider Rabobank.
The top two, Versuni and ASML, commonly offer tech-based opportunities in similar roles, such as Software Engineers, while Rabobank is the place for Financial Advisors and Business Analysts.
Which of the 15 can I work for as an English speaker?
You can’t just narrow down your job hunt to these top performers without considering the important stuff like location and, y’know, if they’ll actually hire you without speaking Dutch.
Let’s take a closer look at exactly who these top 15 companies are and what they can currently offer international workers:
Company name
Locations in the Netherlands
Current English-language opportunities
Versuni
Brabantse Stedenrij, Randstad, Groningen
✅ Some
ASML
Brabantse Stedenrij, Randstad, Eindhoven region
✅ Many
Rabobank
Randstad, Brabantse Stedenrij, Enschede
✅ Some
SAP
Randstad, Brabantse Stedenrij, ‘s-Hertogenbosch
❌ Most roles require both Dutch and English
EPAM Systems
Randstad
✅ Some
Nike
Randstad, Amsterdam
✅ Many
Kraft Heinz
Randstad, Arnhem-Nijmegen, Amsterdam
✅ Some
ServiceNow
Randstad, Amsterdam
❓ Not clear
Medtronic
Brabantse Stedenrij, Randstad
✅ Some
AP Moller – Maersk
Rotterdam
❌ Most roles require both Dutch and English
KPMG
Randstad, Brabantse Stedenrij, Amsterdam
❓ Some, but not always clear
Coty
Randstad, Amsterdam
✅ Multiple
Miro
Randstad, Amsterdam
❓ Some, but not always clear
Deloitte
Randstad, Brabantse Stedenrij, Amsterdam
❓ Not clear
Uber
Randstad, Amsterdam
❌ Mostly roles require both Dutch and English
You can find more information about the current vacancies for each company in the top 15 by checking out LinkedIn’s official list.
What do you think of the job market in the Netherlands for internationals? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Dutch toilets have been making a splash in a recent Reddit thread, where an exasperated expat questioned their infamous “poo shelf“. Which, as the Dutchies hilariously pointed out, saves you from splash.
As an international, it’s quite taboo (or should we say, ta-“poo”) when you first encounter the strange Dutch toilet design with its flat area and small hole. 👇
My husband is Dutch and the first time I saw their toilets I thought I’d gone to the other type of coffee shop by mistake. Wtf is this. Why is there a shelf?! Why is it backwards?!? pic.twitter.com/ubWIxyoegK
And the confusion was real for this expat, who took to Reddit to question the baffling bog. More than happy to explain their quirky invention, the comments were a-flush with knowing Dutchies.
The comments not only helped them discover the reasons for the multifunctional toilet design but also familiarised them with some toilet terms.
The splash-back when you drop your deposit? That’s known as “Poseidon’s kiss”. And the shelf itself? That’s the snoeptafel in Dutch, AKA the candy table. 🥴
Who knew this was such a cultural artefact of not only Dutch pride but also Dutch hobbies? The art of inspecting their business is clearly not something to, um, sniff at:
So, the next time you visit a toilet in the Netherlands that exhibits this poo-fectly normal Dutch feature remember not to question; just appreciate it. It might even be one for the scrapbook (or “crap book”, as one user helpfully suggested). 💩
Do you have anything to add to the thoughts on this Dutch invention? Let us know in the comments below.
Are you an international who loves working in Amsterdam? Or would you like to become one? Well, you’re not the only one!
In fact, Amsterdam ranks second in the list of most attractive cities for potential expats in the WORLD.
According to a recent study conducted by the Boston Consulting Group, The Network, and The Stepstone, more than 150,000 professionals from 188 countries were surveyed to find out where they would like to work if they ever needed to move abroad.
London dominates the top ten
According to Business Insider Nederland, London has once again been named the most attractive city for international workers — a title it has held since 2014.
Is it because people prefer fish and chips over raw haring? Maybe. But the most plausible reason is the English language which, despite Dutchies’ impressive proficiency, makes London overall more international-friendly.
That being said, most Dutch workers in the survey indicated that they are less likely to move abroad for work, partly due to their intense emotional connection with the Netherlands. 🧡
Among the most popular countries, Australia is at the top, followed by the United States, Canada, the UK, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, Singapore, France and Spain.
Where in the world would you most like to work? Tell us in the comments!
Ah, the Dutch and their monarchy. Let’s just say they have a bit of a love/hate relationship — like siblings who’ve never quite gotten along but will sit next to each other at formal events.
You’re probably wondering, what do the Dutch even think of the monarchy? What’s their opinion of the king and queen? When did the Kingdom of the Netherlands even begin?
Well, you’re in geluck because we’ve compiled the unholy cacophony that is the history of the Dutch Royal Family and how Dutch people really feel about their monarchs.
Spoiler: there’s a lot of tea — so pinkies up, queens. ☕
🏰 A brief history of the monarchy in the Netherlands
Where did this interesting royal history begin? It all goes back to one man — surprise, surprise — the famous Prince of Orange (Willem I).
The biggest castle in the Netherlands, the Castle de Haar was formerly owned by the Van Zuylen family, who are Dutch nobles. Image: Depositphotos
Prince Willem I followed a long line of victorious nobles, and his descendants would go on to be celebrated across the world for their victories in war — including that one time Prince William III became King of England.
The Royal Family in the Netherlands was established all the way back in 1814 after Prince Willem I won a historical battle against Napoleon. Since then, the Netherlands has been its own independent kingdom.
The Dutch Monarchy passes by right of succession according to those who are the descendants of Prince Willem I. This means that all the Dutch Royals are related to the historical Prince of Orange.
However, in terms of long-reigning monarchies across the world, the Dutch Royal Family is actually quite young.
Who are the current Dutch monarchs?
King Willem-Alexander is currently the reigning monarch in the Netherlands, having been responsible for the crown since 2013.
The King and Queen and their three daughters. Image: Koninklijkhuis
King Willem-Alexander is married to Queen Máxima. They married back in February 2002 and have three daughters together: Crown Princess Catharina-Amalia, Princess Alexia, and Princess Ariane.
🤴 What is the role of the monarchy in the Netherlands?
The first thing you should know about the royal family in the Netherlands is that the King can’t decide to impose a ban on stroopwafels one morning because he ate a particularly bad one the day before.
The monarchy in the Netherlands has a constitutional function. The King is the Head of State, and he, along with the other ministers, makes up the government.
However, under the constitution, King Willem-Alexander is the president of the Council of State, a historical role that is purely symbolic in nature. The Dutch King’s main duties are:
Receiving heads of state
Paying state visits
Attending jubilee events of important social institutions
Visiting and supporting the victims of national disasters
Sure, these are very kingly duties, but that doesn’t mean the King has much of a say when it comes to legislation and the introduction of laws — and you know what? Goed.
🙄 How do the Dutch feel about the Royal Family?
Yes, we know, it’s the burning question — do Dutch people actually like their monarchy?
Like many countries with monarchical constitutions, the answer to this question is a bit complicated. It sort of opens up a can of worms. 👇
When you compare this figure to the 35% of young people who believed that Britain should remain a monarchy in 2020, it seems that the Dutch quite like their royal family.
But, in 2023, it was revealed that less than half of Dutch people were satisfied with the King and his rule. That being said, 64% of survey respondents said they were happy with Queen Maxima’s performance in the royal family.
But the Dutch are obsessed with orange?
We know how it looks — the Dutch may not be 100% supportive of the monarchy, but they sure like to wear their orange hats, scarves, and T-shirts.
You’ll see lots and lots of orange-wearing Dutchies on King’s Day. Image: Depositphotos
Part of this comes down to national pride. While the colour orange brings us back to the Dutch monarchy and their beloved Prince of Orange, this doesn’t necessarily mean every single person who wears orange on King’s Day is a monarchist. 🍊
And they celebrate King’s Day!
Speaking of K-day, this major aspect of Dutch culture is celebrated annually on the king’s birthday. It is a day of festivity (and lots of drinking! 😉) across the Netherlands.
Taking place on 27 April, the king visits a different city each year to take part in the festivities.
The Dutch tend to enjoy a day of celebration, parades, and even street games on King’s Day. Perhaps comparable to St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland, the day is dominated by orange-wearing Dutchies celebrating their nation and history.
😨 Major controversies in the Dutch monarchy
However, just like every monarchy, even the Dutch Royals have been involved in their share of controversies over the years. Grab the towels! We’re about to spill some hot royal tea.
Like many royal families, the Dutch monarchy is no stranger to controversy. Image: Depositphotos
Nice for some, but while y’all were partying it up in Greece, we were locked away from our closest friends and family. 😒
Or what about the party they threw for Princess Amalia’s birthday in December 2021 while coronavirus cases were surging?
Prince Bernhard’s illegitimate children
After the death of Dutch Prince Bernhard, it was revealed that he had fathered two illegitimate children during his lifetime — one of which was living in France and another in America.
The Dutch prince has become known for fathering two illegitimate children. Image: Harry Pot/WikimediaCommons/CC 1.0
This was revealed during an interview which was released posthumously. Although the Prince fathered two children outside his marriage with Queen Julianna, mother to Queen Beatrix, he wasn’t the world’s biggest time-waster.
He served in World War II, and, upon his death, he said, “If the image is that I was a scoundrel now and again, I’ll give people that.” 🤷♀️
The infamous golden coach
The Golden Carriage was rolled out and paraded about on Prinsjesdag every year — however, it was always met with great debate and pushback.
Why? Well, one of the panels depicts images of slaves. Not only that, but the panel is of a white woman sitting on a throne, surrounded by dark-skinned people kneeling and offering gifts.
The Golden Carriage is a very physical reminder of the troubling past of the Dutch. Image: Minister-president Rutte/Wikimedia Commons/CC2.0
And guess where the gold came from — yep, Suriname.
The Netherlands’ long and troublesome history of colonisation is very apparent in the carriage, making it a controversial item.
Yet, the Dutch Royal Family is making moves to acknowledge their sometimes nasty past, and the carriage was retired in January 2022.
👑 How has the Dutch monarchy adapted in the 21st century?
Although the Kingdom of the Netherlands was established a mere 200 years ago, we have changed a huge amount as a society since those times, and the monarchy has had to change along with us.
Dutch monarchs can now be in a same-sex marriage
The Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalise gay marriage, so the monarchy has had some time to adapt to this epic move towards equality.
In 2021, the news came that if Princess Amalia wished to marry a member of the same sex, she would not have to give up her future role as Queen, something she would have had to do in the past.
The Dutch monarchy said: gay queens welcome 💅 — and this is certainly a big achievement for any LBGTQ+ members of the royal family! 🏳🌈
Princess Amalia — a conscious royal
Speaking of Princess Amalia, she may go down in history as perhaps one of the more socially conscious royals. Upon their 18th birthday, most royals are given an allowance.
Princess Amalia, however, declined the offer of a cool €1 million (!) a year and has chosen not to take her royal allowance whilst she completes her studies.
The princess started her degree at University of Amsterdam in Politics, Psychology, Law, and Economics this September and opted to live in a shared student house, like thousands of other students, rather than in a private, rented residence.
Helaas, in spite of her willingness to live a normal student life, the princess has been forced to move back in with her parents due to outside threats. She recently even spent a year in Madrid amid these safety fears.
She is still considered normal in other ways, however. Like many other Dutch girls, at the age of 18, the princess was also sent a letter of conscription.
🤔 But what does the monarchy really represent?
The trouble with monarchies is that they are the result of a long history of war, and within that, there’s usually a fair bit of colonisation involved.
The Netherlands was no stranger to colonisation, and with it, slavery. Though slavery was outlawed back in 1814, the effects of those years are still seen today — such as in the panels of the Golden Carriage.
A dark colonial past
Like many European countries, the Netherlands sought to expand its wealth and territory in the 17th century into other areas.
The headquarters for the Dutch Slave Trade was located in Fort Elmina in Ghana, where a massive 600,000 slaves were brought to the Netherlands for forced labour.
Elmina Castle in Ghana, where a huge amount of the slave trade occurred. Image: Depositphotos
The Dutch were responsible for half of all slave transports to the New World during the 17th century.
The Dutch still suffer from some colonial hangovers. Celebrations such as Zwarte Piet, a Christmas tradition for many Dutchies, have certainly been shaped by their colonial history.
What does this mean today?
Well, it means that the Dutch monarchy has to acknowledge its long history in order to move forward.
Dutch people wait for the King and Queen on Prinsjesdag. Image: Depositphotos
Efforts such as retiring the Golden Carriage demonstrate a real desire to acknowledge the harm they have caused to the royal reputation.
Also, earlier in 2024, the majority of the Dutch Cabinet officially voted in favour of making the king pay taxes for the first time. For now, the king happily continues to enjoy paying zero tax on his annual income, but those days are numbered.
As we move further into this progressive century, we hope the monarchy can keep up and keep making changes to adapt and represent the Dutch people!
Though the Dutch monarchy is barely over 200 years old, the royal family still has quite an influence on Dutch culture.
This makes any progressive steps the family takes have even more impact on Dutch people and will help launch the Netherlands into this new, open-minded, century.
What do you think of the Dutch monarchy? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
When we think about airport security, we imagine chaos: you walk through the machine and — BEEP — you forgot some keys in your pocket. You walk again — BEEP — maybe it’s your hair tie!? BEEP — some stranger is patting you down.
It’s stressful, you’re sweating, and a lovely long queue of people is forming behind you.
However, if there’s one thing Schiphol Airport doesn’t like, it’s queues. Especially given all the drama over the past few years.
With the May holidays quickly approaching, the airport is bracing itself for a wave of up to 80,000 travellers per day, according to Nu.nl.
While it does warn of longer waiting times at check-in desks and security, it doesn’t expect the same scenes as in previous years.
This is thanks to new equipment at security which should make the process of passing through much simpler.
Simpler? But how?
According to AD, Schiphol has brand new scanners at all of its security gates — 53 in total.
With these scanners, you no longer have to adopt an awkward stance like you’re imitating one of your Sims characters in order for the machine to scan you.
“You can just keep your hands and arms next to your body. That’s a lot easier,” airport operations director Patricia Vitalis tells AD.
According to Vitalis, the new scanners can scan a person’s body for dangerous items within three seconds and are less prone to errors.
What this means for you as a traveller is this:
Fewer people will have to be stopped and checked, fewer people will have to carry out a Vogue photo shoot while trying to pass through the machines, and ultimately, queues will be less long.
But does it actually work?
You may be thinking, hmmm, but is this perhaps too simple? Will the machines actually pick up on danger?
Schiphol already had this thought themselves, so they sent in two men to try pass through the machines with dangerous items.
Schiphol’s coordinator at the Royal Military Police, Colonel Jeffrey van Horn, attempted to pass through the machine with a knife in his sock, while his colleague wore a fake explosive.
Both men were immediately picked up by the machines, and the unknowing staff did everything by the books.
Through with queues
Great, so the machines work — but do they actually help with the queues?
According to Vitalis, yes! “We are already seeing that passengers are going through security significantly faster,” she tells AD.
Say no more, if it means we get to our holiday destination faster and safer, we’re happy. 🏝️
It’s the difference between wearing your orange shorts or digging out an orange scarf, hat and gloves. Well, good news! King’s Day will feel the warmest it has in a while.
The freezing weather recently makes it hard to believe Saturday’s royal celebrations will be anything more than a mass of shivering crowds turning blue, not orange. 🥶
But while it certainly doesn’t feel like spring just yet, come Saturday it will be a lot warmer, reports Weeronline.
King’s Day brings the rays…
Don’t let the festivities go to your head too early, however.
While it will get warmer throughout the day, the street sellers setting up at 8 AM will have a chilly start, with temperatures sitting around 6 degrees.
Knowing the King’s Day crowds, it’s not long after that the activity is truly underway with beer flowing, people dancing, music blaring — and temperatures rising!
In the afternoon, temperatures will reach 17 or 18 degrees, with sunny spells.
The salty whiff of warm fries from the Golden Arches is legendary — and now McDonald’s is asking you to smell its walls to prove it.
Strolling around the streets of Utrecht and Leiden recently, passersby could smell a series of blank red and yellow billboards before seeing them, Food & Wine shares.
That’s because the fast-food giants teased the Dutch public by diffusing the famous scent of their much-loved snack in an advertising experiment asking them to follow their noses. 👇
The idea for aromatic billboards was cooked up by Amsterdam-based agency TBWA\Neboko, in collaboration with production company Raúl&Rigel.
The secret to the intensi-fried smell
The logo-less billboards keep a lot out of sight, which is why using your other senses becomes even more important.
The iconic smell wafts from a hidden compartment containing the fries, which are kept fresh and flavourful by an internal heat-and-ventilation system.
Of course, if tempted (and hungry), the ads were strategically placed just down the road from a McDonald’s, where a Happy Meal could be yours for real.
McDon’t be fooled
Whether the smell entices or repulses you, this pong isn’t permanent in the streets of the Netherlands.
The billboard experiment was just used to capture the confused reactions of suspicious sniffers on film, before asking them if they recognised the scent.
And recognised it they did — just like a familiar perfume can trigger memories of a person who wears it.
That emotional attachment to smell is exactly what McDonald’s is targeting (so, they want our noses AND our stomachs).
Stijn Mentrop-Huliselan, the Chief Marketing Officer of McDonald’s Netherlands, explained that smell is “more effective at sparking clear and emotional memories than images” and hopes this ad “found a new way to remind people of Good Times at McDonald’s.”
Would you recognise the smell of McDonald’s fries? Let us know in the comments below.
