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Living in the Netherlands? Your buying power is about to increase: here’s why

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
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Living in the Netherlands? Your buying power is about to increase: here’s why

Now that’s a shocking headline — but you can shut that jaw and drop those eyebrows because it’s a fact. If you’re living in the Netherlands, you’re going to see your purchasing power increase in 2024.

Yep, while residents of the Netherlands have seen their purchasing power drop over the past few years, the tides are changing.

According to the Dutch Central Planning Bureau (CPB), our purchasing power is set to increase by 2.7% in 2024.

Here’s why. 👇

Wages are going up, inflation is going down

Firstly, Dutch wages are receiving a much-needed boost this year, with the minimum wage increasing.

However, it’s not just people who receive minimum wage who will see a boost in their income. Many workers in the Netherlands are expected to see some better figures on their paychecks.

READ MORE | Salaries in the Netherlands: the ultimate guide to Dutch wages

Not only that, but certain benefits are higher in 2024. (Huurtoeslag, we’re looking at you. 👀)

You can also expect to enjoy more bang for your buck, because inflation is continuing to drop this year. The CPB forecasts that it will sit pretty at around 2.9%.

So what do all these changes mean? Well, what they boil down to is that your purchasing power just had a gentle — but noticeable — nudge in the right direction.

We’re still not back to pre-coronavirus power

Not to rain on your parade, but it is worth noting that while this increase is great, we still haven’t returned to a pre-pandemic level of purchasing power.

READ MORE | The cost of living in the Netherlands in 2024

However, we’re not far off! This year, our wallets will only be 0.5% less effective than they were before our world was rocked by rona — and y’know what? We’ll take it.

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Why ‘Tikkie’ is called Tikkie: behind the app’s unusual name

Katrien Nivera 🇵🇭
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Why ‘Tikkie’ is called Tikkie: behind the app’s unusual name

From splitting the Friday borrel drinks with your coworkers to paying for your friend’s birthday present with friends, Tikkie is one of the most important aspects of life in the Netherlands.

Anyone who’s lived here knows that the Dutch are sticklers for accounting and finances, and the Tikkie app is one of those innovations that comes from their perceived stinginess.

The handy app lets you forward payment requests via WhatsApp and other forms of social media, making it extra easy for groups of people to split costs.

But why is it called a ‘Tikkie’? 🤔

Useful and friendly

According to Freek de Steenwinkel, director of Tikkie, the name ‘Tikkie’ is meant to be an onomatopoeic sound, similar to a “ka-ching” or a check sound that rings when someone is paying for something at a cash register.

Whilst it’s fun to imagine paying with “Kachings” or “Cheqs”, there’s a reason why Tikkie prevailed.

“‘Tikkie’ sounded friendly; besides being useful, it should also be fun”, says Steenwinkel to De Ondernemer. Useful and friendly, it is indeed.

A new set of etiquette

Since its creation, Tikkie has created a whole etiquette surrounding money transfers and finances.

@dutchreview €0,36 for “sip from my water bottle” ??? #netherlands #tikkie #nederlands #fyp #dutchtiktok #dutch #internationalstudent ♬ My Happy Song – Super Simple Songs

That includes when to pay someone’s request, when to send a Tikkie, and even the appropriate amount of money you can request from someone. (Hint: there’s no minimum! 😉)

Call it stingy or call it cheap — the Dutch will call it innovative and considerate.

What are your experiences using Tikkie? Do you like using it? Tell us in the comments below. 👇

This Rotterdam landlord is charging over €1000 in rent for a 9m2 room

Liana Risseeuw 🇱🇰
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This Rotterdam landlord is charging over €1000 in rent for a 9m2 room

Anyone looking for a room or flat to rent in the Netherlands knows that finding one in your budget is as difficult as a trek to Mordor. One recent room listing, however, just about takes the cake for sheer audacity.

Rotterdam resident Vanessa Bruin took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to share screenshots of a rental listing that had caught her eye.

And, at €1050 a month for a 9m2 room, the screenshots raised as much ire as they did brows.

Say goodbye to long showers!

The room was advertised on HousingAnywhere — an international website for mid to long-term rentals — that’s popular with international students and expats in the Netherlands.

Whilst the audacious price may have garnered the most criticism, it was the line ‘you are only allowed to shower for FIVE minutes a day’ that truly pushed things over the top.

Translation of the first tweet: Room to rent, 9m2, the rest of the facilities must be shared with two other tenants. Price 1,050 euros per month. And oh yes… you are only allowed to shower for 5 minutes a day. Is this extortion? Dishonest*?

Translation of the text in the second tweet:
You will rent a:

  • Beautiful neat room with bed, desk, and open cabinet.
  • Your room has direct access to a balcony.
  • You can make use of the beautiful adjacent bathroom with a shower and washbasin. Shower for a maximum of 5 minutes per day, more use will incur additional costs charged.
  • You can use the kitchen.

What are your thoughts on this divisive rental listing? Tell us all your thoughts in the comments below!

*Our editorial team actually had a big discussion on the best way to translate this word. Other options appear to include ‘fraudulent’, ‘malicious’, and ‘malpractice’.

Buying a house in the Netherlands has never been so expensive

Katrien Nivera 🇵🇭
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Buying a house in the Netherlands has never been so expensive

It seems like we’re not far off from breaking another housing price record — and not in a good way. 😬

For the second month in a row, housing prices have been on the rise in the Netherlands, with existing houses now costing 1.8% more than last January.

If housing prices continue to rise like this, the Netherlands will reach a new peak by March or April, writes NU.nl.

Prices on the rise

According to CBS, housing prices peaked in the summer of 2022 when people were buying homes for an average of €445,000.

Prices started decreasing until June 2023, but began to climb once again on a monthly basis.

Now, houses are selling for an average of €433,000. Say what? 😭

More homes sold

What’s truly interesting, however, is that there are actually more home sales taking places this year as compared to the last few years.

In January, 14,452 homes changed ownership in the Netherlands, about 10% more than the number of homes sold in January 2023.

There are a few possible explanations for this: the energy crisis and high inflation rate last year likely held buyers back from purchasing homes.

Purchasing power has also increased, and it’s also easier to qualify for the National Mortgage Guarantee that protects homebuyers from debt in case of a forced home sale.

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Oh hell nee! Yet ANOTHER storm is about to hit the Netherlands

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
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Oh hell nee! Yet ANOTHER storm is about to hit the Netherlands

If you were hoping to step outside your door tomorrow and enjoy a refreshing walk, we’re going to have to advise against it. Yet another code yellow storm is on its way to the Netherlands.

Yep, you know the drill by now. Tomorrow is a day for tea, working from home, and seasonal depression.

The KNMI (Royal Dutch Weather Institute) has announced that wind gusts of up to 100 kilometres per hour will batter the coast and make their way across the entire country tomorrow.

They’ll eventually subside at 11 PM — just in time for that evening walk. 🙃

Oh, and it’s also going to rain

If that’s not enough to dampen your spirits, don’t you worry, the rain can do that for you.

Omroep West reports that aside from winds that will blow even a seasoned Dutchie off their bike, it’s going to rain cats and dogs.

READ MORE | 11 TikToks that perfectly describe Dutch weather

In good news, temperatures are at least set to remain mild — so you’ll only get wind-whipped and soaked should you have to step outside.

Oh, the joys.

@dutchreview

At least the sun is out 🥲 #CapCut #winter #lifeinthenetherlands #dutchreview #MemeCut #voorjou #fyp

♬ original sound – DutchReview

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Hoera! The Netherlands is one of the best countries for higher education in all of Europe

Liana Risseeuw 🇱🇰
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Hoera! The Netherlands is one of the best countries for higher education in all of Europe

The topic of Dutch higher education has made quite a splash in the news lately — often not entirely for good reasons. (*cough* There’s a five-year wait for student housing. 👀 *cough*)

However, now it’s time to celebrate a major win instead! 🎊

According to The Campus Advisor, the Netherlands is the sixth-best destination for higher education in Europe. 🏆

Among the best in Europe

Each of the countries on The Campus Advisor’s list were scored on metrics such as graduate career prospects, quality of education, student diversity, and cost of living — so, how did we do?

With an average score of 4.32 out of 5, the Netherlands ranked highly. However, its highest rating of 4.58 out of 5 was given in the category of job prospects.

The general level of education followed closely behind with a rating of 4.57. In fact, most areas were given a generous rating of 4.5 or higher, except for one.

It was the cost of living as a student that brought down the Netherlands’ average, with a score of only 3.19 out of 5.

Overall though, people are impressed with the Netherlands’ level of higher education.

In the words of one reviewer: “I’ve had an amazing experience here, and you will get a high-quality education. I’d love to stay in the Netherlands even after I graduate.”

What other countries made the list?

D’you want to know which other countries landed on The Campus Advisor’s hot list? Here’s the full ranking! 👇

RankCountry
1The United Kingdom
2Germany
3Ireland
4Switzerland
5Denmark
6Netherlands
7France
8Czechia
9Austria
10Sweden
11Portugal
12Belgium
13Finland
14Norway
15Spain

Do you agree with The Campus Advisor’s rankings? Tell us all your thoughts in the comments below!

Close your windows! Venomous pet cobra feared on the loose in Lelystad

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
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Close your windows! Venomous pet cobra feared on the loose in Lelystad

One pet owner in Lelystad is not having such a great day right now. Their pet cobra has gone missing — and it’s causing quite the stir.

According to reports by the NOS, the unconventional pet went missing from its owner’s home on Monday.

Yesterday, the municipality of Lelystad warned its residents to keep windows and doors closed, and keep their own pets indoors or on a leash.

The specific snake in question, a shield-nosed cobra, isn’t as poisonous as other cobras — but you should still stay at least one metre away if you come across it.

Perhaps don’t do what this guy is doing, for example. 👀

Could still be in the house

However, all this chaos may be for nothing, as one snake expert believes the cobra may actually still be in the house.

Speaking to radio programme Nieuws en Co, Walter Getreuer, owner of a reptile zoo, explains that the outdoor weather conditions would be too harsh for the snake.

He attended the owner’s home with his specially trained dog to search for the pet. While he didn’t find the snake, he did find several cats.

Getreuer explains to the programme that his dog can only signal the snake’s presence if he is within one metre of the snake, however, the presence of cats in the house may have caused the snake to hide within the home.

“That is a clear predator for a snake. If it is hidden very deep somewhere, my dog ​​does not give a signal,” he says.

However, if you do happen to come across the escapee, please stay at least one metre away and call 112.

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Fascinated by all things ‘alive’? This museum exhibit is for you

Lyna Meyrer 🇱🇺
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Fascinated by all things ‘alive’? This museum exhibit is for you

Tilburg’s TextielMuseum has done it again: the unique museum of textiles is bringing us another fascinating exhibit! “Is it alive?” can be seen between 14 October 2023 and 7 April 2024!

What’s this all about, you ask? The simple answer: life! But of course, there’s much more to it. Let’s check it out. 👇

Is what alive?

Before you screech in fear, don’t worry, this isn’t some display about scary critters and crawlies — the artwork isn’t actually alive. 😉

“Is it alive?” is shown at Tilburg’s unique TextielMuseum, which, as the name suggests, centres around the world of textiles. The exhibition showcases fascinating textile artworks which are inspired by the processes and movements of nature. 

Photo of art installation "Is it alive?" in Tilburg exhibition at the TextileMuseum
Just look at this texture! Image: Morgan O’Donovan/TextielMuseum

One of the exhibit’s artists, Lonneke Gordijn from DRIFT, tells the curators that “if you look closely at how things in nature are constructed — it’s so complicated and so logical — it makes you wonder if nature is not the high-tech part in our world.”

It’s exactly this premise that’s at the heart of “Is it alive?”, which brings textiles to life with the use of fascinating modern technologies. 

The result? A unique exhibition that combines innovation, textiles, technology and art. 🍃

I’m intrigued, tell me more! 

Curious about what you can actually see during this exhibition? Let’s have a look at what awaits you.

The centrepiece of the exhibit is a piece called “I am Storm” by the artistic duo DRIFT, made up of Lonneke Gordijn and Ralph Nauta. 

READ MORE | Dutch Quirk #13: be innovative (and not be shy about it) 

This new installation is making its premiere during “Is it alive?”, and consists of some 20 larger-than-life-size stems that bounce in the imaginary wind. 🌬️

On top of that, the TextielMuseum will showcase spectacular “living architecture” by Philip Beesley, interactive works by Bart Hess, and the impressive works of fashion designer Iris van Herpen, as well as Tanja Smeets.

More than art — dive into the research

The artworks displayed during the “Is it alive?” exhibit are not your average pieces of art. 

In fact, there’s plenty of scientific research that went into them, and each piece is as innovative as it is fascinating. 

READ MORE | 7 innovative Dutch projects for a sustainable future

Parts of the technique behind the “I am storm” installation, for example, are the result of intricate research conducted by the TextielMuseum’s very own textile lab. 

two-women-setting-up-is-it-alive-museum-exhibition-in-tilburg
A lot of time goes into each woven structure. Image: Tommy de Lange/TextielMuseum

Similarly, Philip Beesley’s prototype of the “Poietic Veil Tilburg” was created in collaboration with the renowned TU Delft. It’s the glorious result of the collaborative research effort between the artist and students from the university. Heel impressive!

Want to learn more about this unique making-of process? Dat kan! 

Yup, “Is it alive?” not only showcases the artworks themselves but also takes visitors through their process of creation — “revealing that artists are sometimes inventors and can drive innovation”.

 Curious to see this unique art exhibition yourself? Here’s all you need to know:

📍 Where? At the TextielMuseum, at Goirkestraat 96 in Tilburg.

⏰ When? From 14 October 2023 until 7 April 2024!

🔎 How? You can get your tickets online. 👩‍💻

We’ll see you there! 👋

What are you most excited to see at the TextielMuseum? Tell us in the comments!

It’s almost here! Here’s where you can soon go surfing in the centre of Rotterdam

Lyna Meyrer 🇱🇺
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It’s almost here! Here’s where you can soon go surfing in the centre of Rotterdam

Just in time for spring, Rotterdam is getting an exciting new attraction: Rif010 — an urban surfing paradise right in the heart of the city.

Ten years later than planned, the construction of Rif010 is finally nearing completion, writes the AD.

In just a few months’ time, you can catch some waves right next to the famous Rotterdam Foodhallen (if you dare 🌊).

Surf’s up! 🤙

The dreamer behind this project? Edwin Van Viegen.

As a surfer himself, his idea was to create a wave pool in Rotterdam’s Steigersgracht canal so people could surf around in a truly unique setting. 🏄‍♂️ 

Rif010’s big opening is on July 6, when the water sports oasis will host a big surf competition. After that, the surf course will be open all year round, between 10 AM and 10 PM (except on Sundays).

READ MORE | Surfing in the Netherlands: where to go and what to know in 2024

Anyone who wants to ride Rotterdam’s artificial waves can either rent a board or use their own. On top of that, the canal will also be made suitable for kayaking, rafting and diving lessons! 🤿

Tickets selling fast

Now you may be wondering: what does this fun cost? Well, it depends on the wave you’re planning to catch.

One hour of surfing on a big wave will cost €50, while surfing on a smaller one will cost €35. These prices include the surfboard rental.

The pre-sale of the tickets has already begun, and tickets are flying off the shelves. “The first few weeks are already fully booked”, Van Viegen tells the AD.

Will you check out Rif010? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Prepare for delays: fewer trains running through Schiphol next week

Katrien Nivera 🇵🇭
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Prepare for delays: fewer trains running through Schiphol next week

Double-check your schedules, because fewer trains will be travelling to and from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport starting next Monday.

ProRail, the Dutch railroad contractor, will be renewing the railways between February 26 and March 7, as well as fixing the escalators, stairs, and ramps of the train station.

The NS calculates extra travel time of around 15 minutes for passengers due to the minor renovations, and recommends checking the NS or 9292 app for travel advice, reports NU.nl.

Renovations in the future

ProRail and NS are currently two years into a six-year renovation plan for the Schiphol Airport tracks and train station.

They will also definitely be working on the railways from March 29 to April 1, 2024, and from May 9 to May 13, 2024. Further activities are planned for November.

These renovation plans aren’t the first disruption to train traffic in Schiphol — fewer trains were running to and from Schiphol in late 2023.

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