The Dutch student housing market is notoriously tight, and now, TikTok scammers are taking advantage of that.
Following an investigation by NOS Stories, it has become clear that the popular app is flooded with hundreds of fake student rooms scattered across the Netherlands.
And while you may be thinking “but who turns to TikTok to find a student room?”, allow us to draw your memory back to the time when we used Facebook for the same purpose.
Desperate students are being caught out by the scam, with some losing as much as three months’ rent.
What do these scams look like?
Unfortunately, these scams can be pretty convincing, because they use listings that actually do exist — on Pararius. Photos from real listings are being taken from their site and posted by “real estate agents” on TikTok.
The rental site has been experiencing people coming to them thinking they have successfully rented a room for quite a while.
And as Jasper de Groot of Pararius tells NOS, “We are completely fed up with it and want action from TikTok now.”
“A number of victims come to us,” De Groot says. “They think they are renting from us because they have transferred an amount. But that is not to us, but to a scammer.”
And it’s not the only site that has noticed this. Funda and Kamernet have also experienced a similar issue.
Kamernet is advising anyone who comes across these fake listings to report them to TikTok; should this not work, they may take legal action against the app.
How are they getting money from people?
While anyone who has gone through a legit real estate agency knows that you shouldn’t be required to send any money before even seeing the room, not everyone knows this.
The scammers tell interested students that in order for them to attend a viewing, they have to first secure their spot with some money.
Merel (19) tells NOS of how this happened to her. She found an €850 student room on TikTok. “Then I got an email back. We had to pay €150 for the viewing, and that money would then be refunded after the viewing, as a kind of real estate agent fee.”
Christof (19) tells a similar story to NOS. “My mother forwarded something,” he says. “I responded to it, and within five minutes I got a reply. The room was mine if I paid a reservation guarantee of €120.”
Thankfully, both of the students realised something fishy was up and didn’t send the money, but not everyone is so fortunate.
According to NOS, the Fraud Help Desk has seen a jump in the number of reports of rental fraud. With just 21 recorded in the second half of 2025, compared with 175 in the first half of 2026.
Speaking with the NOS, Juliana Könning of the LSvB (National Student Union) warns people to watch out for the red flags:
“For example, if there is urgency behind the payment: you have to transfer the money today because there are other candidates. Or if someone keeps postponing the viewing but already wants the money.”
TikTok isn’t doing much about it
Prarius has been trying and failing to get TikTok to take action and remove the fake advertisements.
De Groot tells NOS, “We are doing everything we can to make this happen. We are sending the files containing the complaints from victims to TikTok, writing a registered letter, but TikTok is not cooperating.”
He says the rental platform will also take legal action against the app.
Meanwhile, when asked by NOS Stories, TikTok claims that it does remove scam posts. When the outlet shared a number of examples of these scam posts, they were indeed taken down. However, hundreds more continue to flood the popular social media platform.
TikTok did not explain why it has done nothing with the reports from Pararius.
If you know, you know. And if you don’t know, well… now you do. Since 2008, having sex in Amsterdam’s Vondelpark has been legal, as long as you stick to a few guidelines.
That’s right, you can ‘sleep’ with someone (minus the bed) smack in the middle of Amsterdam and in the great outdoors. 🌿
Does this progressive law make strides for the sexual liberation movement? Or did the Dutch government’s indulgence in people’s thrill-seeking go too far? That’s up to you to decide.
Here are the facts 👉👌
Vondelpark amasses millions of visitors per year. 10 million visitors, to be exact. Some of these are, well, freakier than others.
So how did this wholesome park, once a stylish recreation ground for middle-class Amsterdammers in the mid-19th century, become a swing-set-by-day, sex-swing-for-swingers-by-night kind of place?
It all started on a fateful September day in 2008, when Amsterdam Alderman Paul van Grieken made a life-changing and controversial announcement.
It was suddenly legal for consenting adults over the age of 18 to, *ahem*, get it on in Vondelpark — so long as they:
did so under the cloak of night (never when it’s light outside),
didn’t have “intercourse near the playground,”
and cleaned up their “garbage” afterwards. 🥴
You’re welcome to the Vondelpark 🥰😎✌🏼 in Amsterdam. Funfact: It’s allowed to have sex in public HERE, if you take the trash with you after 🤣🤣🤣. Except around the playground 😂😂😂😂😂😂. pic.twitter.com/sDIt2ZVbNt
The reason for this new law? Who knows. The way Van Grieken saw it, it wasn’t something he could regulate even if he wanted to. Perhaps the sexual activity was already happening, so much so that Amsterdam police were tired of fighting it.
As the saying goes, if you can’t beat ‘em, join… okay, yeah, maybe not.
What’s the catch?
Let’s hope you didn’t just glance at this article’s headline, grab a suitcase full of sex toys, and make a beeline for Vondelpark in broad daylight. Slow down there, cowboy! ☝️🤠
First, and very importantly, keep in mind that sex is not legal in other Dutch parks, only in Vondelpark.
Should this article inspire you to venture into the Volderpark shrubbery for your own sexcapade, whether it’s to spice up a dead marriage or because you’re without accommodation (Amsterdam is expensive, after all), remember the three S’s:
1. Sort out the trash (Ew)
While the municipality claims to be indifferent about any sex that may or may not be happening behind closed doors/vegetation, they are tired of finding the condoms people often leave behind. (Um, understandably so).
So, unless you want your DNA traced back to you (just kidding), make sure you clean up after you wrap up.
2. Stay secluded; voyeurs should be excluded
Although this might seem like common sense, some adventurers before you have failed in this area. Let their mistakes be a lesson to you.
You’ve got to stay camouflaged, buried deep in bushes, even wear all camo if possible, and make sure you sufficiently stifle the sounds of your midnight lovemaking. 🤫
If you’re an innocent dog walker who isn’t interested in park sex, try to steer clear of bushes if you happen to find yourself frolicking around Vondelpark after hours, lest you accidentally encounter some naked cuddling.
Consider this a warning. (That said, please don’t try your hand at voyeurism either. Don’t be that guy/girl.)
3. Stop, just stop
Wait, you weren’t actually going to go there, were you? Please don’t. This is an intervention.
Think about the stinging nettles that could end up in any…orifices. Not to mention the fact that there are plenty of ticks in the Netherlands. Stay safe out there! 😬
Enter at your own risk
In 2017, police chief Bernard Welten issued a warning reminding park-going sex-havers to keep things tasteful and, above all, discreet.
One couple got so caught up in the throes of the passion that year that it became an audible, visible “nuisance” to those around them.
It’s perfectly fine to go at it “at times when no one is walking their dog in Vondelpark,” suggested Welten at the time.
But if a wide-eyed dog walker stumbles upon a scene that’s mentally scarring and then notifies the police, the authorities won’t hesitate to “act”.
Basically, do try to keep your dignity and respect for others intact when partaking in some horizontal tango in Vondelpark. (Well, in this case, it might be more of a vertical tango, but you know what, let’s not get into it.)
Mixed reception
Like any progressive, sex-positive decision, this Vondelpark law was met with its fair share of pushback.
Among the most critical voices was an employee of Vondelpark’s Blue Tea House, who called the whole affair belachelijk (ridiculous).
He also pointed out the government’s hypocrisy, considering how many restrictions there are for paid sex compared to unpaid sex.
An elderly couple strolling through the park with their grandchild back in the day also scolded the municipality for being “irresponsible” and for promoting “filth.”
Whether or not you agree, it’s important to keep the opinions of locals in mind when embarking on your own…journey.
Significance in the LGBTQ+ community
Over the years, the site has gained a reputation for its significance concerning Amsterdam’s LGBTQ+ community.
Well before the law was in place, parts of Vondelpark were reportedly a hotspot for gay men to have late-night trysts, dating back to, some say, the 17th century.
Considering the strict, discriminatory rules they faced, doing it at home may not have been an option.
Cases like that do demonstrate why meeting somewhere outside to engage in funny business — so long as it’s both safe and consensual — might not be that bad of an idea.
Is this law reasonable, helpful, or just plain disturbing? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Whether you’re legally obliged to take it or you’re doing it voluntarily on your path to a Dutch passport, the inburgeringsexamen can feel like a bureaucratic maze with no map.
So let’s fix that. Here are the eight questions you’re most likely asking, answered as plainly as we can manage.
1. First things first: what is the inburgeringsexamen?
The inburgeringsexamen (civic integration exam) isn’t one exam. It’s a set of them, testing your Dutch language skills and your knowledge of how Dutch society actually works.
Pass the lot, and you’ll get an inburgeringsdiploma, an integration certificate. That’s often a hard requirement for permanent residency or Dutch citizenship.
In other words: it’s the gatekeeper.
Studying for the inburgering exam doesn’t have to mean expensive evening classes.InburgeringOnline.nl offers flexible, self-paced courses you can follow from your sofa, with practice exams built in.
If you’re a non-EU national on a relationship visa, or you have refugee status, you’re almost certainly inburgeringsplichtig, meaning obliged to integrate. A letter from DUO will tell you if this is the case.
However, if you’re an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen, you’re exempt. (As are people with certain qualifying Dutch, Belgian, or Surinamese diplomas.)
Some people must take the inburgeringsexamen. Image: Magnific
But plenty of exempt people take it anyway. Citizenship and stronger residence permits both generally require proof of Dutch language ability, and inburgering is the most common way to prove it.
Unsure whether you’re exempt? The full list is on the DUO website.
The five core exams — reading, writing, listening, speaking, and KNM (Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij, or Knowledge of Dutch Society) — cost €50 each, so €250 total.
ONA (Oriëntatie op de Nederlandse Arbeidsmarkt, or Orientation on the Dutch Labour Market), which only some people sit, adds €40.
The MAP module is free.
However, retakes cost the fee again every time.
The PVT (participation statement) is fiddlier. It’s free for asylum status holders, but everyone else pays €150.
Asylum status holders also get their course covered by the municipality, with the first two attempts at each exam free. That only applies if you sit the exam at the level set out in your PIP (personal integration and participation plan), not a lower one.
Everyone else either self-funds or borrows from DUO.
4. What are the deadlines?
If you’re obliged to integrate, you get three years. This is the inburgeringstermijn, or integration period, and the clock starts from the date in your DUO letter. Under the 2021 law, that’s after your PIP is agreed with your municipality.
Miss it without good reason, and you risk a hefty fine. Under the 2013 law, DUO can charge up to €1,250. Under the 2021 law, fines from DUO and the municipality together can reach €4,080, according to the Juridisch Loket.
There are several deadlines to keep in mind. Image: Magnific
That’s not purely about the exam. The municipality can also fine you for skipping the brede intake (the initial assessment interview) or ignoring the MAP.
One bit of relief: if you’re receiving bijstand (social assistance), you sometimes won’t be fined at all.
Extensions exist for illness, a new baby, or a lack of childcare. But you can only apply from 2.5 years in, so there’s no point panicking early.
What if I’m a voluntary candidate?
There’s no ticking clock. Your timeline is about eligibility instead.
For naturalisation, the standard requirement is five continuous years in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The exceptions are narrower than people assume.
The IND allows a three-year route if you’ve lived here three continuous years with valid residence and lived together with the same Dutch partner, who must hold Dutch nationality when you apply.
The two-year route isn’t the shortcut it sounds like. It only helps if you lived here previously and your total adds up to ten years or more.
For permanent residency, the application process is similar; however, you must go through the IND and passport gemeente.
5. What’s actually on the exam?
Everyone sits four language exams — reading (lezen), listening (luisteren), writing (schrijven), and speaking (spreken) — plus KNM, covering healthcare, housing, work, education, and Dutch norms and values. The language level sits at A2 or above.
Beyond that, it depends on which law you fall under and when you became obliged, according to DUO.
Under the 2021 law, everyone also completes the MAP module (Module Arbeidsmarkt en Participatie) and the PVT, the participation statement track.
Under the 2013 law, it splits by date. Obliged from October 2017? You add the ONA exam and the PVT. Between 2015 and 2017? ONA, but no PVT. Before 2015? Neither.
The PVT works the same way under both laws: you attend workshops, then sign a statement saying you respect Dutch values. Yes, there really is a signing ceremony.
6. What language level do you need: A2 or B1?
It depends on your track, and this trips people up most.
Under the Wet Inburgering 2021, the target is B1. With this level, you can hold a proper conversation, follow the news, and explain your opinion.
Whether you need A2 or B1 depends on which track you’re on. Image: Magnific
If B1 isn’t realistic, there’s the Z-route (zelfredzaamheidsroute, or self-reliance route), which aims at A1 and focuses on functioning in daily life rather than passing exams. You can sit the A2 exams voluntarily, but the route itself doesn’t take you there.
All of that concerns people obliged to integrate, refugees in particular.
Taking it voluntarily? Then A2 is still enough. The IND currently requires the exam at a minimum of A2 for naturalisation.
It’s worth knowing if you’re on the Z-route and later want a passport, the route’s certificate doesn’t prove A2, so you’d need to pass the A2 naturalisation exams separately.
Note: The government has been considering raising the naturalisation language requirement to B1, and is separately working on a bill to extend the residence requirement to ten years. However, neither of these matters has been settled and taken effect.
7. How should you prepare?
Realistically: a formal course, self-study, or a bit of both.
Courses give you structure, a teacher, and those all-important registered hours, which matter enormously if you ever need the waiver route. Self-study is cheaper and fits around a job (just make sure you’re disciplined).
Either way, do the official practice exams. They’re free through DUO, and they’re a great way to see what you’re facing.
And then there’s the unglamorous advice nobody wants: use Dutch in daily life. Order your coffee in Dutch. Read the free newspaper. Let the cashier’s small talk defeat you a few times.
It’s slow, mildly humbling, and it works better than any textbook.
Not keen on also shelling out hundreds of euros and going into debt for a Dutch school? At InburgeringOnline.nl, you can learn Dutch up to a B1 level for less than €9 a month. Plus, the lessons are entirely online and self-paced. Want to study every day? Once a week? The choice is yours! See the options.
8. What happens if you fail?
The big one. Let’s take the panic down a notch.
You can retake
Resit any failed section as many times as you need, and passed sections stay valid. The catch is that every attempt costs the fee again.
Failing isn’t the end of the world. Image: Magnific
You can scale down
Within the B1 route, you can drop to A2, but only after 600 hours of language lessons at a school with a Blik op Werk quality mark. The municipality decides, and the decision goes into your PIP.
The demonstrable-effort waiver
This only exists under the Wet inburgering 2013. Started on or after January 1, 2022? Skip ahead.
Still here? Then there’s the ontheffing wegens aantoonbaar geleverde inspanningen, or AGI. It’s a waiver, not an exemption: you were obliged, and the obligation gets lifted because you’ve proven you tried.
According to DUO, you’ll need at least 600 course hours at a school listed on zoekinburgerschool.nl when you enrolled. Only classroom time counts.
You’ll also need three attempts at every exam, with no more than two NT2 exams counting per component, and you can’t apply until 2.5 years in. Short on attempts? Apply anyway, but expect a €150 test.
How it works under the 2021 law
Under the newer law, that waiver doesn’t exist. There’s no effort-based route out at all.
Instead, people who can’t reach B1 go on the Z-route, which swaps exams for an effort requirement: 800 hours of language lessons, plus another 800 hours of participation for asylum status holders.
The sting is in the tail. Finishing the Z-route doesn’t prove you’ve reached A2. If you later want to naturalise, you’ll either sit the A2 exams anyway or request a separate advies (advice) from DUO.
Make sure to raise this with your municipality early.
Have you sat the inburgeringsexamen, or are you dreading it? Tell us how it went in the comments below!
If you, like every Dutchie, love a korting and the chance to snag a good deal, just remember that if it’s on Booking.com, you need to second guess it. The number of people getting scammed on the site is shooting up.
According to NOS, the Fraudehelpdesk has seen the number of reports of scams skyrocket over the previous months.
How are they scamming people?
What makes these scams so effective is that they’re using actual photos of real listings from other booking platforms. There’s no AI-looking couch to make you raise an eyebrow.
They even copy over the information given on the real listing, making the whole scam look very legit.
However, the red flag comes when it’s time to pay. Instead of paying on Booking.com, you will be contacted by the scammers who will send you to an external site to complete your payment. This is all part of a phishing scheme.
Then, once you’ve endured the queues at Schiphol, the screaming baby on your flight, and the two-hour drive from the airport, you’ll arrive outside your planned accommodation only to be told by neighbours that it’s a scam.
And it’s working
Speaking with NOS, this is exactly what some Dutch holidaymakers experienced.
Hans Hooijer tells the NOS of his ordeal when booking an apartment in Cape Town:
“The booking was confirmed and I received a regular email via Booking.com. At that time, there were no signs that anything was wrong. I received a call from someone posing as the owner of the apartment, requesting me to transfer €355. After that, I would receive the access code for the front door.”
And guess whether the code actually worked…
Hooijer was told by neighbours of the apartment that it was a scam, and he was the third person that week to fall for it.
Not just holidaymakers are affected
One woman, Elisa, tells NOS that in her case, people were arriving at her home in Portugal thinking they had booked it on Booking.com.
“On Booking.com, there was exactly the same information and photos that I had posted on the other platforms, and our personal details were also listed. Only the name of the accommodation had changed,” she tells the outlet.
In one day, she had two families show up at the same time. They thought she had scammed them and became angry towards her.
What’s Booking.com doing about it?
According to Booking.com, every listing “is checked for potential fraudulent activity, both during and after registration. In rare cases where a malicious party nevertheless manages to circumvent our security measures, we remove the accommodation immediately as soon as this is discovered or reported. We regret any situation in which a traveler and/or partner is affected by cybercrime and take this extremely seriously.”
In spite of the platform’s regrets, the damage caused by fraud on the site has risen significantly over the past year, with NOS reporting a jump from €75,000 in damages in 2025, to €82,000 in just the first half of 2026.
Do you use Booking.com? Will you continue to? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
For weeks, the world has been awaiting the arrival of a once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse on Wednesday — and for weeks, the Dutch have been making jokes about how it’ll probably be too cloudy here to see it.
However, believe it or not (and fingers crossed), the skies are expected to be clear.
This is all thanks to the unusually sunny weather we’ve been experiencing.
Has this caused a drought? Yes. But at least we’ll be able to successfully burn our retinas on Wednesday should we so wish.
A warm day with few clouds
According to Weeronline, Wednesday is expected to be another balmy day, with temperatures of 25 to 30 degrees forecast throughout the country.
While there will be a few straggling clouds at times (high cirrus clouds, to be specific), even if these do happen to waft through your field of vision just in time for the eclipse, you should still be able to see through them.
Of course, by see through them, we mean whilst wearing your eclipse glasses — seriously, don’t burn your retinas.
What’s actually happening?
On Wednesday August 12, the Netherlands will experience a very impressive partial solar eclipse. What makes this extra special, is that at its peak, 88% of the sun will be covered by the moon.
The eclipse starts at 7:16 PM, with the eclipse peaking at 8:11 PM. It will end at 9:03 PM. Wondering where you should watch it? You can use this calculator.
However, this isn’t the only astronomical phenomenon you can look forward to on the night of August 12 to 13. The eclipse will be followed by a Perseid meteor shower.
This meteor shower offers not only super bright meteors, but also a high hourly rate. You’ll just have to be fairly dedicated to enjoy it, the peak viewing time from the Netherlands is around 3:45 AM.
What if this popular Netflix hit were set in the Netherlands? We posed that question to our readers, and their answers had us in absolute fits of laughter. 🙌
Emily in Paris tells the story of Chicago marketing executive Emily Cooper, who suddenly finds herself launched halfway across the world for an unexpected job opportunity in Paris.
With the show reaching wild heights of popularity, the question on everyone’s mind now is… what if Emily in Paris were set in Amsterdam? 🤔
We asked our wonderful readers to pitch ideas for ‘Sam in Amsterdam,’ and here’s what they had to say!
Sam gets high, tries to bike, and falls into a canal
Oeps! 👀
By far the most popular suggestion involved Sam getting high as a kite on weed or shrooms, trying to bike home, and falling into the canal by accident.
Moments before disaster. Image: Freepik
Given how common it is for tourists, internationals, and even Dutchies themselves to fall into canals, we rate this as a definite possibility!
Sam is invited to dinner by Dutch friends (and gets sent a Tikkie afterwards)
Another responder suggested that Sam becomes intimately acquainted with one of the most definitively Dutch things in the Netherlands: the Tikkie.
In this scenario, Sam gets invited to dinner by some friends of theirs, has a gezellige avond with all of them and then — horror of horrors! — is served with a Tikkie payment request for the meal the next day. 😱
Sam learns to dress better
One reader pitched a scenario in which Sam tries to follow Emily’s fashion sense, and gets utterly drenched by the oh-so-romantic Dutch weather. (Yep, there’s a reason Dutchies tend to dress the same!)
Another pointed out how Emily frequently wastes money on fancy clothes the entire show (with the occasional hilarious result, as seen in the tweet above).
Our reader hoped that some Dutch thriftiness would rub off on Sam, and they’d learn how to save money instead.
Sam gets their third bike stolen
…during their second month in the Netherlands. 🥴
This seems logical to us! Getting one’s bike stolen is almost a rite of passage when you move to the lovely land of cheese, clogs, and quick-fingered cycle thieves.
Sam gets run over by bikes
Speaking of bikes, several of our readers theorised that Sam would end up getting run over by busy Amsterdammers on their beloved fietsen (bikes).
Yep, we could definitely see that happen. Image: Depositphotos
As tourists walking on bike lanes in Amsterdam is worse than raising a red flag to a bull (with some complementary Dutch swearing 😉), this seems highly likely.
What scenarios would you pitch for ‘Sam in Amsterdam’? Tell us all about them in the comments below!
Afrikaans and Dutch — what is the connection? Are these two languages as similar as they’re rumoured to be?
When my cousins were younger, they used to dress identically. It was so cute. They’d show up at our house for a visit with my aunt and uncle, dressed in matching dresses or dungarees. 👯♂️
As you can imagine, outsiders often confused the two. But since my cousins were siblings and not identical twins, it didn’t take long for people to realise they were actually very different.
This is kind of what it’s like with Afrikaans and Dutch. Many people, including the Dutch, seem to have the idea that Afrikaans is practically identical to Dutch.
Although there are, of course, many similarities, they’re officially listed as different languages for a reason.
Afrikaans is basically Dutch, right?
Almost every time I mention that I am South African to a Dutchie, I’m met with a look of surprise mingled with recognition. 👀
They usually exclaim: “Oh, so then you speak Zuid-Afrikaans, right? That’s basically Dutch!” — to which I smile and nod.
While Afrikaans and Dutch are similar, they aren’t the same. Image: DepositPhotos.com
My response is, in essence, a lie: “Yes! Sort of.”
But, no more white lies. No more! 😤
I’m writing this article to finally expose the truth: No. It’s not basically Dutch. In fact, much like two siblings dressed identically, Afrikaans and Dutch are from the same family but not twins.
Afrikaans: a brief history
I’ve decided to invoke the use of the Google Dictionary to best explain this:
“Afrikaans: a language of southern Africa, derived from the form of Dutch brought to the Cape by Protestant settlers in the 17th century. It is an official language of South Africa, spoken by around six million people as their first language.”
It’s important to add that while the root of the language is Dutch, it’s also an amalgamation of German, French, and Indonesian. Interesting, right?
Fun fact: Afrikaans is only one of twelve official languages in South Africa (yes, twelve — hello Rainbow Nation!).
Can South Africans understand Dutch?
As noted by Google, Afrikaans is “derived from Dutch”, so the saving grace is that the language is still very relevant to the Netherlands.
Dutchies haven’t got it entirely wrong this time. If you can speak Afrikaans, you will most likely understand some Dutch.
What makes it more nuanced is that not all South Africans speak Afrikaans as their first language with native proficiency.
Many do, but there is a high chance that the sunny South African you do meet has another first language. English, Xhosa, or Zulu are just some examples.
Many South Africans only speak Afrikaans at the high-school level (guilty!), and some not at all.
Some parts of Afrikaans and Dutch are incredibly similar. The written Dutch words are often comparable to Afrikaans words, which means that you can easily grasp the gist of a sentence.
Spoken Dutch, however, can be mind-boggling! The majority of spoken Dutch is as difficult for an Afrikaans speaker to learn and understand as it is for a German, for example.
That being said, the basis of Afrikaans does mean South Africans can pick up Dutch relatively easy, so there is that little advantage.
Feel free to ask any South Africans you may know for further insight into the challenges and similarities between the two languages.
A favourite pastime of mine is to do the Afrikaans-Dutch conversation table and see similarities and differences between two words. Here’s a little taster:
English
Afrikaans
Dutch
Understand
Verstaan
Begrijpen/Verstaan
A bit
’n Bietjie
Een beetje
Left/Right
Links/Regs
Links/Rechts
The
Die
Het/De
Really!?
Rerig
Echt
Of course
Natuurlik
Natuurlijk
Banana
Piesang (also Indonesian)
Banaan
In general, I think Afrikaans and Dutch are like my cousins: not twins but sisters. The same roots but different branches. The analogies could go on and on!
I hope this musing makes it easier for South Africans to explain and for Dutchies to understand. After all, in a way, we are family. 🫂
Did you know about the similarities and differences between the languages? Tell us in the comments!
Living in a foreign country is exciting, but amidst this emotion, many internationals make financial mistakes that could easily be avoided.
From using the wrong bank account to losing money on unnecessary expenses, here are nine common financial mistakes expats make in the Netherlands.
1. Missing out on government allowances
Many internationals in the Netherlands aren’t aware that the Dutch government offers various allowances (toeslagen) to help residents manage living costs.
Expats who meet the income requirements can apply for:
Huurtoeslag (rent allowance)
Zorgtoeslag (healthcare allowance)
Kinderopvangtoeslag (childcare allowance)
Those expats who do know about these benefits often don’t look into them — be it because they don’t realise they could qualify for them or because the application process seems intimidating.
However, missing out on government allowances could cost you hundreds of euros each month. So, check your eligibility!
2. Using a foreign bank account for too long
While your foreign bank account might still work in the Netherlands, using it is not always the most practical.
While convenient, using your foreign bank account will cost you a lot more in the long run. Image: Freepik
Not only could a Dutch bank account be required for things like paying your rent, receiving your salary, and getting a Dutch phone number, but a foreign account could also lead to high transaction fees or payment issues.
The solution? Getting a Dutch bank account! Many banks let new customers open an account online, so avoiding these issues and making daily financial transactions smoother has never been easier.
Our top financial tip for expats in the Netherlands? Find a bank that truly understands what it’s like to build a life in a new country. ING makes everyday banking simple, stress-free, and tailored to the needs of internationals — from low fees and helpful budgeting tools to a user-friendly experience that just makes sense.
Did you know you might be paying more wealth tax (vermogensbelasting) than necessary? Wealth tax in the Netherlands is the tax you pay based on your savings and investments, even if you haven’t actually earned much from them.
While the Dutch wealth tax is relatively low compared to other countries, once your assets exceed the tax-free threshold, you’ll have to pay tax in box 3 of the income tax system.
Instead of taxing your actual income, the Belastingdienst assumes you earn a certain return on your assets each year. The higher your assets, the higher the assumed return — and the more tax you pay.
That’s why it’s smart to regularly review your finances and see if there are ways to reduce what you owe. There are some smart ways to do this. For example:
Invest in a pension product: Depending on your income, you can invest a certain amount of money into your so-called jaarruimte each year, tax-free.
Take advantage of tax relief on green investments: You can put up to €26,715 (€53,430 for tax partners) tax-free into green investments, according to the Belastingdienst.
Gift money to your children: According to the Belastingdienst, you can reduce your taxable assets by giving your children a tax-free gift of up to €6,908 annually, or up to €33,129 for a specific purpose, such as a house purchase.
4. Tipping when it’s not necessary
In the Netherlands, tipping is appreciated but not expected. While rounding up the bill at a restaurant is common, no one expects you to leave a 20% tip (we’re looking at you, Americans).
Not only do internationals often tip excessively at restaurants, but they also tip at places where it’s not customary to tip in the Netherlands at all, such as the hairdresser or the nail salon.
Tipping after a haircut? Not necessary in the Netherlands! Image: Depositphotos
Of course, your tip is always appreciated, but remember that nobody would hold it against you if you didn’t tip. Remember, unnecessary tipping can add unnecessary expenses, so this is an easy way to save some money.
5. Being over-insured
Being insured is important, but being over-insured is an easily avoidable financial mistake.
Many internationals end up with overlapping insurance policies, such as health insurance, travel insurance, and liability insurance.
While it might seem like more coverage means better protection, it often just means you’re paying double for the same protection.
For example, if your health insurance already covers emergency medical expenses abroad, getting additional travel insurance for the same coverage might be unnecessary.
To avoid this, review your existing coverage before signing up for new policies, or simply check with your insurance provider.
Being over-insured will cost you, but you don’t want to be under-insured either. Opening an account with ING ensures that you can keep all your insurance under one roof — giving you solid coverage, without paying extra.
6. Staying uninformed about Dutch pension options
Failing to build a Dutch pension can be a costly mistake, even if you don’t want to think about it right now. This is especially important for internationals who plan on staying in the Netherlands long-term.
In the Netherlands, the pension system is made up of three pillars:
State pension (AOW): Provided by the government but only fully available to those who have lived and worked in the Netherlands for 50 years before retirement.
Employer pension schemes: Many Dutch employers offer pension contributions, but participation and benefits vary by industry and employer.
Private pensions and investments: Expats who don’t qualify for a full AOW or an employer pension can supplement their retirement savings with private pension plans or investment accounts.
Many expats don’t think about pension planning much or assume they’ll eventually rely on their home country’s pension system. However, it’s important to build your pension without gaps as much as possible to ensure financial security in retirement.
7. Skipping the GP (and going straight to a specialist)
Navigating the Dutch healthcare system can be tricky, and many expats don’t take the time to properly deal with it until it’s too late.
Between long waiting lists at general practitioners (GPs) and their less-than-ideal reputation, internationals often decide to skip the GP and go straight to a specialist when dealing with a health issue.
Need to see a dermatologist? Talk to your GP first. Image: Depositphotos
Does this cut the waiting time? Sure, but it also costs you money.
You see, the only way to get your specialist treatment covered by health insurance in the Netherlands is if you’ve been referred by a GP. If you decide, for example, to seek out a dermatologist before first consulting your GP, then you’ll be paying out of your own pocket.
Getting your Dutch GP to refer you to another doctor can be difficult, but it’s worth fighting for if you want to save some money.
8. Refusing to hop on a bike
Riding a bike on a crowded Dutch bike lane can be scary — especially for those of us who, unlike the local kids, didn’t learn to bike before we could walk.
But here’s the thing: public transport in the Netherlands is expensive, and relying only on trains, trams, buses, and metros is a costly affair.
Sure, getting a car is an option, but for most people it’s not really necessary in the Netherlands (and also costs a lot of money).
So, what’s the solution? Take a deep breath and hop on that fiets. Trust me, it’s a lot of fun, and your wallet will thank you.
9. Not getting a public transport subscription
Even if you are a bike enthusiast, there will inevitably be times when you’ll have to make use of public transport.
This handy card could save you lots of money. Image: Dreamstime
When that happens, it’s highly advisable that you get an NS abonnement — a subscription for your public transport travel.
While the NS offers many different options here, the most profitable for most of us is their NS Flex Dal Voordeel. This subscription gives you a 40% discount in off-peak hours, on holidays, and on weekends, for just €5.95 per month.
From pensions to bank accounts and benefits, navigating finances in a foreign country can be overwhelming.
But hey, now that you know the nine most common financial mistakes of expats in the Netherlands, you know what to look out for!
Can you think of any more financial mistakes you made in the Netherlands? Share them in the comments and help others out!
As the first country to legalise same-sex marriage, the Netherlands has long been considered one of the safest, most open nations for the LGBTQ+ community.
But the community keeps evolving, and so does its terminology.
FLINTA stands for Female/Feminist, Lesbian, Intersex, Transgender, and A-Gender. All of these identities fall under the broader LGBTQ+ umbrella, but FLINTA is more specific.
FLINTA spaces trace their roots to 1970s Germany, where Frauenräume (women’s spaces) provided overtly feminist environments where women could feel safe and separate from patriarchal structures. As the concept evolved, so did the acronym.
Today, FLINTA is a term you’ll regularly hear in the Dutch queer community, from club flyers to sports events. FLINTA-only spaces have become a standard distinction in queer nightlife across the Netherlands.
But why would that be necessary in such an inclusive country? Good question.
What is FLINTA?
One thing has remained consistent throughout FLINTA’s evolution: the explicit exclusion of cisgender men — that is, men who were born male and identify as male.
Beyond creating safer spaces for those more likely to experience the effects of patriarchy (including sexual assault), the FLINTA distinction helps people who identify within the category feel included and celebrated in the LGBTQ+ community.
Why does it exist in the Netherlands?
The Netherlands is famously inclusive, with plentiful resources for LGBTQ+ individuals. So why would yet another separate space be necessary? Besides, isn’t excluding people based on gender a form of discrimination?
The reality is that patriarchy is insidious; it shows up even in queer spaces. LGBTQ+ nightlife has historically been oriented around gay men, and while that isn’t inherently problematic, the social dynamics of a male-centred club are quite different.
FLINTA events exist partly for safety, but also to meet a simpler desire: non-male-oriented fun.
As Dutch FLINTA-event organiser Ari Ochoa told Trouw: “Men have had the space to play and experiment for years. We haven’t.”
As the Netherlands’ openness has helped the LGBTQ+ community grow, that community has also grown more nuanced internally.
What’s out there?
FLINTA events are inclusive, but they’re also great fun.
In Amsterdam alone, there’s the Janey Festival, a music-and-dance event for lesbians and beyond. There’s FLINTA-Voetbal for the football fans, or even BottomsupBar for a playful (and, yes, kinky) night out.
The list goes on.
It’s a scene that’s still growing and still evolving. If the packed event calendars are anything to go by, the FLINTA community is clearly filling a gap.
Are you familiar with FLINTA spaces in the Netherlands? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
A BMW riddled with hundreds of bullet holes has popped up on Marktplaats for €55,000, and it turns out this battered sedan once shared the screen with George Clooney and Brad Pitt.
If you thought the strangest thing you’d find on Marktplaats was someone’s half-used bag of flour, think again!
This BMW 550i is being sold as a genuine piece of Hollywood history, complete with a cracked windshield and enough bullet holes to give even the strongest stomach trypophobia.
The listing appeared on July 26 and has already been viewed more than 4,000 times. The seller, based in Oosterhout, is asking a hefty sum for a 2008 BMW with just one kilometre on the clock.
So what makes this BMW worth €55,000?
According to the Marktplaats listing, this isn’t a replica or a look-alike. It’s described as the actual “picture car” used during the making of Wolfs, the 2024 action-comedy starring Clooney and Pitt as two rival fixers forced to work together over one chaotic night.
In the film industry, a “picture car” is a vehicle that appears in a film, TV programme, commercial, or photoshoot, generally as a prop. Many of these become quite famous in their own right, like Baby, Dean Winchester’s ’67 Impala from the TV show Supernatural.
According to the Marktplaats listing, this car’s “entire bodywork was hand-painted with hundreds of realistic bullet holes” and a “specially prepared” windshield.
In the seller’s words, this makes it a “unique collector’s car.”
There’s a Hollywood name behind the car (allegedly)
The listing credits the build to Dennis McCarthy, a Los Angeles vehicle specialist who runs a company called Vehicle Effects. If you’ve watched a car-heavy blockbuster lately, you’ve probably seen his work.
McCarthy has served as picture car coordinator on every Fast & Furious film since 2006, and his team has also built vehicles for films including Batman v Superman and Avengers: Endgame, according to Vehicle Effects.
The seller says the BMW was chosen for Wolfs by McCarthy’s company, prepped for its shootout scene, and then quietly kept in private ownership after filming wrapped.
If you’ve got the cash and a serious love of film memorabilia, this might be the most unusual set of wheels currently for sale in the Netherlands. Just don’t expect it to pass a normal aankoopkeuring (pre-purchase inspection) without a few raised eyebrows.
Would you drop €55,000 on a bullet-riddled BMW 550i, with a film star past? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
