The Dutch town of Diemen wants to ensure that there are no barriers to getting, well, protective barriers. From 2025, the town will provide residents with free condoms.
“Wrap it before you tap it” has been preached far and wide.
However, condoms aren’t always accessible to everyone — and this has led to a worrying trend.
Not enough young people are wrapping it
In 2023, the RIVM found that more and more young people in the Netherlands were contracting STDs.
The town council of Diemen discussed these findings and decided prevention was key, RTL Nieuws reports.
As a result, the motion “Do it right, do it safe!” was born. The town would provide free condoms where free menstrual products are already found (with the exception of primary schools).
All but two council members voted in favour of the motion.
Make condoms available in more areas
The council will also investigate installing dispenser machines in hospitality establishments, retirement homes (👀), and associations.
As part of the initiative, the condoms must also come with information about STDs and safe sex in the form of a flyer or QR code. Sounds like a good deal to us!
Stay safe out there guys, and maybe move to Diemen.
What do you think of this initiative? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Will the real Dutch music haters please stand up? Eminem is proving you all wrong with his new hitthat samples a song by Dutch duo Mouth & MacNeal.
That’s right, the world-famous rapper’s new album includes a track called Lucifer, which uses amelody from the B-side of Dutch classic How Do You Do from 1971.
How Do You Do was a global hit and reached number eight on the American Billboard Hot 100. But what made Eminem dig up its lesser-known B-side?
Emmen-em: the Dutchification of a rap superstar
The B-side in question is the legendary Dutch producer Hans Van Hemert’s Land of Milk and Honey, performed by Mouth & MacNeal:
But Van Hemert himself admits to NOS, “I didn’t think it was that great of a song”.
For him, The Land of Milk and Honey was a chance to experiment with some exotic instruments — ever heard of a bouzouki?
Well, now you can hear the catchy melody of the obscure Greek instrument in Lucifer, which has already been streamed over 11 million times on Spotify. 👇
Eminem inspired by M & M
As far as we know, this isn’t a grand reveal of THE Slim Shady’s love for quirky 70s Dutch music.
In reality, it comes down to business moves made by Van Hemert’s music publisher, responsible for bringing lasting attention to his songs in the industry today.
But this isn’t exactly a lucrative endeavour (are we surprised?).
Van Hemert estimates this sample will earn him about €10,000, which he also has to split between eight people. Still, he sees it as “the icing on the cake” of his successful career.
Do you recognise the Dutch sample in Eminem’s song? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Usually, a technical error associated with the NS means a world of inconvenience for travellers, but in this case, it was actually quite a happy accident.
Those who received the very early birthday present were offered three gifts:
They could upgrade to first class (for a small fee of €2.50), buy one return ticket (for a meagre €8.95), and enjoy a whole month of free e-book reading.
Asking if you’re ready for summer is probably a stupid question —July might finally feel like July this weekend and all we can say is, FINALLY. 🥳
If you love the heat, you’ll certainly want to make the most of the dry, tropical week before us. (And, perhaps, question why you live in the Netherlands. 👀)
But if you hate the heat? Well, you’ve been spoilt recently… and it won’t be long until your cold-blooded existence will be satisfied again.
Summer’s comin’ in hot
Let us build some sun-spense: it all begins with a thirst-inducing Thursday, with temperatures between 24 and 26 degrees and even up to 27 degrees in the southeast.
Then there’s fan-yourself Friday, which will maintain the tropical vibes with more dry, sunny weather (and temps creeping up to 30 degrees), as reported by AD.
And, finally, the star of the show: sizzling Saturday. 🥵
Thermometers will soar to a scorching 32 degrees Celsius in the southeast and 31 degrees inland. If the winds hold off, it’s likely to be a perfect beach day.
Helaas, thunderstorms loom towards the end of the day on Saturday, and rainy, cooler days will follow next week.
How will you enjoy this week’s scorching sunshine? Let us know in the comments below.
As of today, July 17, Rotterdam transport company RET will schedule additional “metros”along the Rotterdam and The Hague lines during rush hour. 🚇
If you hate rush hour traffic on public transport, some good news is heading your way this week: commuters on the Rotterdam to Den Haag (The Hague) metro route will benefit from more frequent journeys.
Crowds and cancellations
According to Omroep West, the outpouring of frustration at overcrowded metro wagons — and frequent missed journeys as a result — was the catalyst for change.
Rail work along the Rotterdam-Den Haag line is largely responsible for the current commuter chaos. Image: Depositphotos
Exacerbated by summer’s commuter boom, the chaos was initially caused by halted train traffic between Den Haag Centraal and Rotterdam Centraal stations due to rail work.
NS provides alternate options
Also responding to the chaos was the Dutch national rail operator NS, chiming in with a few possible solutions to the bedlam on the tracks.
In addition to buses being deployed along the Rotterdam-Hague route, commuters can also opt to travel via Gouda — albeit with the added downside of a slightly longer travel time.
How are you weathering the rush hour pandemonium? Share your thoughts and tips in the comments below!
“In the immediate presence of an employee, a wolf probably came at a child in a flash,” the care centre explains. “The physical confrontation lasted very briefly. After that, the animal disappeared into the forest.”
Parental instincts kick in
If it was indeed a wolf, the Utrecht province believes any aggression was probably in defence of its cubs, especially if the child got too close.
We’re sure the parents will be feeling equally protective — but following a check-up, the child is fortunately said to be in good health aside from a few scratches and a fair helping of shock.
Are you surprised by this close encounter? Let us know in the comments below.
Rain and rent struggles might be two things the Netherlands just can’t shake, but their main difference? While rain falls, rent just keeps rising.
The housing site Pararius reveals that the advertised rents for properties in the private sector increased by almost 10% on average in just one year.
According to the report, the rising rents underline “the continuing pressure on the Dutch rental market, driven by limited supply and strong demand.”
Let’s talk numbers
So, how do we break down these numbers?
The average rent new tenants in the private sector can expect to pay is €18.79 per m2, which is around €1,409 per month for a 75 m2 rental.
This time last year, that same rental property would have cost €17.10 per m2.
Which cities should I be worried about?
Hunting for a similarly sized home in the capital will set you back around €2,068, making Amsterdam the most expensive Dutch city to rent in, yet again.
However, rental prices are rising less rapidly in Amsterdam and Utrecht than they are in other Randstad cities — for example, in Rotterdam and The Hague.
And it’s worth checking out Eindhoven for less scary sums, as it’s the only major city where rents have decreased over the last year.
Fewer homes available
Right now, you don’t exactly have the pick of the bunch, as almost a third less homes are available for new tenants this year.
So, you’ve managed to scrape together enough savings to start looking for a house in the Netherlands, congrats! But what exactly will that money get you?
That, my lucky friend, depends on where you’re looking to buy.
Thankfully, De Hypotheker has compiled a list of the most affordable and most expensive municipalities to buy a house in the Netherlands in 2024.
The list is based on how much you can expect to pay per m2 of a house, and let me tell you, the differences will make you spit out your stroopwafel.
The most affordable Dutch municipalities to buy a house
Looking for a house with a back garden? Or hoping you won’t have to listen to your neighbours through a shared wall?
Then here are 15 of the cheapest municipalities to buy a house in the Netherlands in 2024.
Cheapest municipalities
Price per m2
Pekela
€1,995
Kerkrade
€2,040
Eemsdelta
€2,119
Het Hogeland
€2,151
Brunssum
€2,160
Heerlen
€2,169
Oldambt
€2,188
Stadskanaal
€2,206
Veendam
€2,218
Waadhoeke
€2,279
Landgraaf
€2,294
Den Helder
€2,308
Emmen
€2,337
Westerwolde
€2,352
Noardeast-Fryslân
€2,360
Taking the top spot is the municipality of Pekela, which you will find in east Groningen. However, if the north doesn’t interest you, how about the south?
Located in Limburg, the city of Kerkrade snags a silver medal as the second cheapest municipality to buy a Dutch home.
However, if you’re out of luck in Limburg, it looks like you’ll have to head back up to Groningen, home to the third most affordable municipality of Eemsdelta.
The most expensive municipalities to buy a house
Do you want to know where to avoid if you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck? Then here are 15 Dutch municipalities where you’ll be paying the most per m2.
Most expensive municipalities
Price per m2
Amsterdam
€7,187
Laren
€6,327
Bloemendaal
€6,053
Heemstede
€5,583
Amstelveen
€5,299
Diemen
€5,263
Blaricum
€5,220
Zandvoort
€5,181
Ouder-Amstel
€5,138
Haarlem
€5,115
Wassenaar
€5,000
Utrecht
€4,945
Bergen (NH)
€4,934
Schiermonnikoog
€4,908
Landsmeer
€4,901
It’s no surprise that Amsterdam is the most expensive municipality to buy a house in the Netherlands in 2024 — but what about the two other municipalities in the top three?
Located in North Holland, Laren boasts a picturesque, quaint Dutch aesthetic — while still being located centrally.
Bloemendaal, on the other hand, offers the beach life while also being located in North Holland. You get the best of both worlds — and you certainly pay for it.
The Netherlands is a wonderful place to live, especially for internationals. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t inexplicable, strange, and extremely important things you need to know before moving here.
I have now lived in the Netherlands for many years, and I can honestly say that it is an amazing place. It has beautiful cities, a laid-back pace of life, and friendly people.
However, as for many expats, moving here was also an overwhelming experience. New traditions, customs, habits and, on top of that, a whole new language.
Once I arrived on Dutch soil, I was confronted by a series of questions.
What is the correct way to act to blend in with the Dutch? What situations should be avoided? What the heck is going on, and how can I possibly survive?
It was a lot to take in, and almost every international goes through it.
Luckily, during many years of living in the Netherlands, and writing about my experiences on my blog, Accidentally Dutch, I have learned how to navigate some of the most confusing situations (mostly by falling headfirst into them 🙃).
1. The country isn’t called Holland (apart from when it is)
When talking with a Dutch person, never refer to the country they come from as Holland. It is called the Netherlands.
Holland is only a part of the country (two of the western provinces to be exact).
While we’re at it, let’s take a moment to acknowledge the 12 different provinces in the Netherlands. Only two of them (North Holland and South Holland) make up what we call Holland.
Behold: the 12 Dutch provinces. Image: Depositphotos
The Dutch are very adamant that their country is called the Netherlands. It is not called Holland… never!
… unless when they’re supporting their country in an international sporting event. That’s when they can be heard shouting, “Hup Holland hup,” as if their lives depended on it. 🥳
2. They don’t wear bicycle helmets
The Netherlands is a country well-known for cycling. It’s a large part of Dutch culture and identity. Bicycle safety? Not so much.
The Dutch have been cycling for so long (and have become so in tune with their bicycles) that they don’t understand the need for bicycle helmets.
Anyone who wears one stands out as odd.
There’s no more fool-proof way of standing out as an international than to wear a helmet. Image: Freepik
That’s why wearing a bicycle helmet is not considered a good survival tip, in the Netherlands at least.
If you want to blend in with the locals, it’s best to forgo the protective headgear, and don’t even think about wearing a high visibility vest. 😳
3. They will put your biking skills to shame
In addition to not wearing a bicycle helmet, it’s important to learn how to bike. You might think, “I already know how to bike,” but trust me, you’re wrong.
You might know how to propel a bicycle through a peddling motion, but you don’t really know how to cycle — not like the Dutch. 💪 🚲
Cycling in the Netherlands means you can cycle with your hands in your pockets, while towing a second bike alongside yourself, or confidently give someone (adult or child) a lift on the back of your bike.
It means you can cycle while transporting any number of weird and wonderfully large and impractical objects, or all of the above at once.
4. Strange (Dutch) people might offer you candy
Many Dutch treats are a delightful experience to discover. Stroopwafels, hagelslag, poffertjes, to name but a few.
When you try them for the first time, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them. 🤤
On the other end of this spectrum is drop— a small black sweet that would be the equivalent of liquorice in other countries, if it wasn’t for the extreme, insanity-inducing salty taste. 🥴
I can only assume that Dutch taste buds have evolved to withstand it because apparently, they love the stuff.
To be fair, there are less extreme tasting varieties of drop, but it’s the double salt varieties that the Dutch enjoy offering to expats, so they can watch their shocked reactions.
If a Dutch person ever offers you this black little sweet, do not accept it.
In fact, it is probably best to cut off all contact with that person from now on. They clearly can not be trusted. 🤨
5. Everything you know about queuing no longer applies
Maybe it has something to do with Dutch directness. Maybe everyone’s in a rush.
There’s no way of knowing, but one thing is obvious: the Dutch don’t queue (at least, not in the same way as us obsessive-compulsive Brits).
Any attempt to board a train, tram or bus quickly descends into chaos, as everyone crowds around the open doors and tries to force their way through before all the available seats are gone.
When queuing in the Netherlands, there are no rules. Only survivors. 😅
6. You will hear a non-threatening alarm on the first Monday of the month
On the first Monday of the month at noon, a loud alarm rings out across the whole country.
It’s an ear-splitting sound, reminiscent of an old air-raid siren. It sounds like you should definitely run and hide, and yet, the Dutch don’t react to it at all.
No need to panic, it’s just the emergency alarm system. Image: Freepik
That is because they know it is simply the monthly test of the nationwide alarm system (which is designed to warn people of a sudden emergency), and nothing else. 🚨
The test always makes it easy to spot tourists and newly arrived internationals. They will be the ones with a look of absolute terror and confusion on their faces.
As for what happens if there is a real emergency on the first Monday of the month at noon… No one really knows.
7. When it comes to the language, you can fake it till you make it
Dutch is an extremely difficult language, a fact the Dutch seem to take great pride in.
When a Dutch person hears that you are trying to learn their language, they will gleefully explain how it is one of the trickiest languages in the world. Fun! 😅
So naturally, it’s much easier to learn how to fake-speak the language. During a Dutch conversation, simply nod and smile a lot.
Occasionally, interject with the word ‘dus‘ or ‘ja zeg‘ in agreement. You’ll sail through that Dutch conversation without issue (as long as they don’t ask you any questions they expect an answer for).
8. It’s a good idea to bring throat soothers with you at all times
If you attempt to learn the Dutch language for real, be prepared to have a sore throat for a few months as you try to master some of the more difficult sounds.
That’s another point of pride for the Dutch: that their language includes a lot of sounds that cannot be found elsewhere.
In Dutch, the sounds created by the combinations of the letters ‘ie’, ‘ou’, and even just ‘u’ are very difficult for a non-Dutch person to get right (or even hear how they’re getting them wrong).
However, it’s the ‘g’ sound known simply as ‘the hard g’ that causes the sorest throats amongst non-Dutch people.
It’s hard to describe the sound it creates in writing. However, when most non-Dutch people attempt it, they sound like they’re choking and in need of the Heimlich manoeuvre.
9. A Dutch birthday party might not be all that fun
When you’ve made your first Dutch friend and get invited to their birthday party, you might get very excited, and you should be. It’s a great honour.
Buuut you really shouldn’t expect too much. 👀
Oh yes, the infamous Dutch birthday circle. Image: Depositphotos
You might have envisioned an off-the-hook party, a night of music, dancing and drinking, but the reality is usually very different.
You won’t be dancing. You’ll be sitting in a circle chatting.
You won’t be surrounded by twenty-something party animals. You’ll be surrounded by three generations of the birthday boy or girl’s family, and the strongest thing you’ll be drinking is coffee. ☕️
NS and ProRail will carry out major track maintenance throughout July and August. Annoying? Yep — but perhaps they were counting on cursed Dutch weather to cause more disruption to passenger plansthan their work.
Not only will the bus add about half an hour onto your journey, but the NS also advises avoiding rush hour for further delays.
“We expect large crowds on the buses. Also avoid RET metro line E between Rotterdam Central and The Hague Central due to limited capacity. Plan your trip shortly before departure with the journey planner for the most up-to-date advice.”
Amersfoorters also affected
Amersfoort passengers might have survived the summer of limited train services so far, but they’ll need to keep pushing on for a few more weeks.
Due to ProRail’s major track renewal around Amersfoort Centraal, no more trains will run there for two weeks, until 28 July. Disruption is also expected between 15 and 18 August.
You can reroute via Arnhem or Almere during this period or take one of the replacement buses running throughout the surrounding area.
OK, so what have we learnt after that mammoth travel catchup? NS and ProRail are BUSY. If you want to see all the planned work and consequences for passengers, check out the overview page on NS.
Will these summer travel disruptions affect you? Let us know in the comments below.
