An 18-year-old Dutchman is one of 203 reported hostages being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The man, Ofir Engel, who some outlets are reporting is 17 years old, was visiting his girlfriend when he was kidnapped from the Kibbutz Be-eri, reports the NOS.
Kidnapped
Ofir reportedly called his father at 6 AM on Saturday morning to tell him alarms were going off. He, his girlfriend, and his girlfriend’s family were sheltering inside a safe room.
Around 1:30 PM, Ofir’s family lost contact with him.
“There were a few terrorists with guns that went inside their house; they [were] trying to open the safe room, and they succeeded,” Ofir’s aunt, Yael Engel Lichi, told The Jewish Chronicle.
Ofir, his girlfriend, and her family were removed from the safe room. The assailants allegedly shot the family’s dog and kidnapped Ofir and his girlfriend’s father.
“I don’t have words to describe, not because I don’t know good English…but also in Hebrew, we don’t have words in human language to describe the horror,” Yael told The Jewish Chronicle.
Dutch response
The Israeli embassy in The Hague is calling for the release of the man and all the other hostages. Outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte earlier also called for all innocent hostages to be released.
The embassy remains in contact with the man’s family.
Thanks to decades of innovation and hard work, the Netherlands is one of the world’s largest agricultural exporters— but the looming climate crisis is an ever-present topic influencing the agricultural sector, and the Netherlands is no exception.
With groundbreaking innovations around every corner, the Dutch are renowned for their agricultural progress.
How did such a small country become a top dog in food export, and how are they dealing with the world’s changing climate?
The Dutch agriculture industry is growing
Dutch agriculture exports rose 17% last year, which amounts to over €120 billion worth of goods — a record year for the industry and a proud Dutch moment.
You might have already seen one of these videos in which the Dutch prowess in agriculture, food exporting, and innovation was shown:
So, what has generated such an expansion?
Exporting Dutch agriculture: what and where?
In 2021, Germany was the largest international consumer of Dutch bio-products (€26.3 billion), followed by Belgium (€12.1 billion), France (€8.6 billion), and the UK (€8.6 billion).
Ornamental plants and flowers are the hottest export items for the Netherlands, raking in about €12 billion in 2021. Dairy products, eggs, meat, and vegetables profit over €25 billion combined.
With tons of income, nevertheless, the Dutch are also becoming increasingly (and painfully) aware of the climate impact of the agri-export game. This is one of the factors that pushed quite a few interesting Dutch agriculture innovations into the spotlight.
Dutch innovations: Farming for the future
Innovation, in general, has always been a key part of Dutch culture and society and has really helped in developing more modernised farming methods in the lowlands.
The Netherlands keeps impressing us with fun innovations. Image: Pixabay
The R&D (research and development) expenditure in the Netherlands has more than tripled in the past 30 years. That’s around 2% of the nation’s GDP! So, no wonder the Dutch have a reputation for being innovative and forward-looking.
‘‘But how exactly are the Netherlands being innovative when it comes to farming?’’ We hear you ask. Here are our three favourite examples that also help the agriculture sector become more sustainable.
Sustainable Dutch bananas from greenhouses
The University of Wageningen grew its first crop of locally grown Dutch bananas using an alternative soil composite made of coco peat and rock wool. The process makes sure no fungus makes its way into the product through bad soil and overall creates a more efficient and effective banana growing process.
It’s examples like these that give us hope regarding the current global climate crisis — at least we know there are people out there doing their part! 🌏
Using food waste to feed farm animals
Naturally, with a globally increasing demand for meat comes a constant need to feed livestock. Although veganism is increasing in popularity, it also feels like it’s becoming a more polarising issue — as are most things. 🥲
But there is help. Dutch company Nijsen/Granico produce about 90,000 tons of animal feed a year entirely from human food waste and thus creates a far more sustainable meat production circle.
The Dutch are making important steps in the direction of more sustainable food production practices. Image: Depositphotos
Isn’t it nice to know that even after being eaten, your food fuels another living being?
The floating farm in Rotterdam
In 2018, we wrote about Rotterdam’s new “floating farm“. The entire farm will be sustainable, feeding their cows with leftovers from local restaurants, collected by electric-powered trucks from GroenCollect.
The remaining feed needed will come from home-grown duckweed — how smart! Even the cow manure is collected and sold, making the floating farm quite sustainable. 💩
Dutch agriculture and the climate: Still a touchy subject
It’s no secret that the agriculture sector is one of the most problematic in terms of global emissions and climate change. That’s why the Dutch made an oath that goes a little like this: “producing twice as much food using half as many resources”.
Since the turn of the century, many farmers have reduced dependence on water for key crops by as much as 90%. Dutch farmers have also almost completely eliminated the use of chemical pesticides in greenhouses.
But there is still much to be done if the world is to feed 8 billion people AND save the climate by 2050.
The Dutch government previously aimed to cut its nitrogen emissions in half by 2030 but has since dropped these ahead of the November elections after a lot of backlash from farmers.
The Dutch government’s previous goal of reducing emissions didn’t sit well with farmers. Image: Depositphotos
The high tensions between the government and the farmers were not making life easier for Dutch consumers, and the most recent clashes have brought increased attention to the impact of Dutch agriculture on the longevity of the planet.
Nevertheless, the Dutch innovative culture might give the environmentally concerned some peace of mind. After all, the top five agri-food companies in the world have bases in the Netherlands, so the way to global change is relatively short.
Are you impressed with Dutch agriculture? Or are there areas where the industry can improve? Tell us in the comments below!
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on February 28, 2019, and was fully updated in October 2023 for your reading pleasure.
The latest narrative by Joran van der Sloot says he did, in fact, murder missing American teenager Natalee Holloway 18 years ago. The question is, do we believe it?
The two-time Dutch killer recently came clean about his side of the story in exchange for a shortened prison sentence from the US justice department, RTL Nieuws reports.
Previous web of lies
While the latest confession tells a completely different story than the one before, this version of events is actually “the truth”, according to Van der Sloot.
That being said, the 36-year-old criminal, who has been described as a pathological liar, assured the law he was being honest a number of times in the past.
So, what’s changed this time around? Apparently, Van der Sloot has found the “voice of God” and, therefore, no longer has the ability to lie.
At least, that’s what he says in a new Videoland documentary titled ‘The Confession of Joran’.
Failed sexual advances turned murderous
In a tell-all to the FBI, Van der Sloot disclosed horrifying details of what allegedly happened the night of 18-year-old Holloway’s disappearance 18 years ago.
He claims that after a drink and drug-fuelled night, he brought the American teenage girl to a beach on Aruba, the Caribbean island they were (separately) vacationing on.
When she rejected his sexual advances, explaining that she was a virgin, Holloway kneed him between the legs, presumably in an act of self-defence after 17-year-old Van der Sloot “pressured” her.
Then, blinded by anger, Van der Sloot kicked back her in response — so hard that she fell to the ground. The sight of this reportedly caused Van der Sloot to panic.
Even so, rather than help her, Van der Sloot says he took the easier route by grabbing a large stone from nearby construction and hitting her over the head with it. He then disposed of her body in the nearby ocean.
“I just don’t believe a word of the story”
However, those who have heard the same murderous man spin stories about Holloway being human trafficked, dumped in a swamp, or experiencing an epileptic attack are doubtful about the legitimacy of this new narrative.
“I just don’t believe a word of the story,” is what legal scholar Peter van Koppen has to say.
The Netherlands is gearing up for a breathtaking meteor shower this weekend, and here’s how you can experience it firsthand. ✨
According to Weeronline, stargazers in the Netherlands can expect to witness an impressive 22 to 33 shooting stars streaking across the sky every hour from Saturday to Sunday.
Although the most visible meteors will fall on the nights of October 21 and 22, meteorologists report that you also have a chance of spotting these celestial travellers a few days before and after this window.
Where to watch the meteor shower
For the optimal meteor shower experience, it’s all about location, location, location. If you find yourself in an area with minimal light pollution, you’re in for a real treat. Such conditions are ideal and you can witness up to four times as many meteors.
Now, the meteorological fine print: the conditions for observing this meteor shower could definitely be better.
Why, you ask? Well, the peak of this celestial show is expected to occur around 5 PM on Sunday. That’s right, it’s still daylight.
So, while the meteors will definitely be streaking across the sky, don’t be disappointed if the show isn’t as spectacular as you’d hoped for.
Weird Dutch weather is working in our favour
However, don’t despair just yet because Dutch weather can be as changeable as it is unpredictable.
While it’s still unclear if there will be clouds covering the stars and blocking our views, meteorologists note that there is a glimmer of hope that the cloud cover might just part ways.
So gather your blankets, find a cosy spot, and keep your eyes on the skies this weekend. With some luck and a touch of Dutch meteorological whimsy, you might just get to make that perfect wish on a shooting star.
Will you watch the meteor shower this weekend? Tell us in the comments!
The Dutch are good at many things: they’re the best non-native English speakers, the best sleepers, and they even have the world’s best restaurant. Now, they’ve also taken the crown for the world’s best pension system.
Research by the American consulting firm Mercer and investor organization CFA compared the pension systems of 47 countries, which are home to 64% of the world’s population.
The result? The Netherlands has emerged as top of the class. With this, Duchies are reclaiming their throne after having to give it up to Iceland in 2022. 👑
Why the Netherlands?
As NU.nl writes, the Netherlands stands out due to the good order of its pension funds investments and the overall supervision surrounding the pension system. Hoera!
Although the Netherlands is currently undergoing a significant pension reform, experts say the Dutch system is well-suited to modern times in which people don’t stay in the same job for 40 years anymore.
Good to know: The Dutch pension reform will keep the good elements of the present system while making pensions morepersonal and more transparent.
How did other countries rank?
Curious to know how your home country ranked? Let’s check out the top ten countries with the best pension systems. 🏆
Rank
Country
Overall grade
1
Netherlands
A
2
Iceland
A
3
Denmark
A
4
Israel
A
5
Australia
B+
6
Finland
B+
7
Singapore
B+
8
Norway
B
9
Sweden
B
10
UK
B
Out of all the countries researched by Mercer, Argentina came out at the bottom.
Are you surprised by the findings of this research? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!
As the name suggests, this neighbourhood is in the north of Amsterdam. Despite being separated from the city’s main hub by the river IJ, it’s just one short (and free) ferry ride away from Amsterdam Centraal.
It’s quite an underrated part of Amsterdam, despite it being almost one-quarter of the entire city (49km2, to be exact).
How to get to and from Amsterdam Noord
You can get to Amsterdam Noord by ferry, bike, metro, or car — but note that only the first two options are free. 😉
Ferry
If you see this, you’re in the right place! Image:Depositphotos
Let’s start with the most popular, cheapest, and easiest option: the ferry.
The easiest way to get to Amsterdam Noord is to take the free ferry from behind Amsterdam Centraal over to Buiksloterweg (the name will be on the ferry signage).
Simply wait for the ferry to arrive and become empty, then walk on board while the traffic light is still green. After a few minutes, the ferry will sail across the river and deposit you in Amsterdam Noord.
You can follow the same steps in reverse to return to Amsterdam Centraal.
There are also ferry points on the Amsterdam Centraal side of the river at Pontsteiger, Azartplein, IJplein, and Zeeburgereiland.
On the Amsterdam Noord side, you can take the ferry from NDSM, Buiksloterveer, or IJplein (yes, it has the same name as the other side!).
Depending on the terminal, ferries run approximately every 10 to 20 minutes. And yes, you can bring your bike on the ferry for free!
Bike
Despite it being possible, this might be one of the few times the Dutchies avoid biking. Image: Depositphotos
If it’s the dead of night and the ferry isn’t running anymore, it is possible to get to and from Amsterdam Noord by bike.
But be wary; this path is a long one. Only one bike path connects the main part of Amsterdam with its edgy sibling from the north: the Zuiderzeeweg. This detour can quickly become an hour-long trek. Plan ahead!
Metro
Sit back, relax, and let the metro zoom all the way across the IJ. Image: Depositphotos
The metro line M52 runs all day from Amsterdam Zuid to Amsterdam Noord and back. Depending on the time of day, this metro runs between every five and every 10 minutes.
Note that this metro line does stop running shortly after midnight, so if you’re planning a trip to or from Noord between 00:28 and 05:34 (ah, Dutch precision), you might as well call an Uber.
Car
Keep an eye out for that “RING-Noord” sign. Image: Depositphotos
If you want to get to Amsterdam Noord by car, geen probleem. There is a quick and easy 20-minute path that cars can drive to and from Noord via the A10.
(Note that this 20-minute trip can, of course, vary depending on your exact points within the city. This is just an estimate; the important part is to know how to cross the famous IJ).
Things to do in Amsterdam Noord
🎞️ Visit the Eye Film Museum
Amsterdam’s Eye Film Museum is the perfect place for all film enthusiasts. There, you can learn about the first cameras ever used and even make your own flip book or animated film.
Want to mix it up? You can also find a changing roster of films, talks, and events all centred around one cinematic theme.
It looks like a supervillain’s lair, but we promise it’s filled with film-related fun. Image: Wikimedia Commons/Jvhertum/CC2.0
For example, catch a collection of films all by the same director or from the same decade. Or watch some of the old classics in their ongoing “Eye Classics” series.
🛼 Get creative in the immersive art museum WONDR Experience
Being true experts in the art of play, WONDR has stacks of exhibitions. Visit an incredibly aesthetic playground for adults (ball pit, anyone?), a glittery cocktail, or an 80s-themed roller rink.
You can groove your way right back to the 80s! Image: Roller Dreams/Supplied
Their exhibitions are fit for people of all ages, so bring your mom, dad, kid, grandparents, or partner!
🍺 Check out the art of craft beers with Oedipus Brewing
Beer enthusiasts, this one’s for you! Amsterdam’s very own local, colourful, lively brewery makes delicious beers and gives you their Galaxy Brewery Tour. This tour will teach you how their beer is made — of course, with a tasting!
Welcome to your new favourite bar! Image: Depositphotos
You can learn about how their beer is made, grab some food in their restaurant, Taproom, or go to one of their live music events (they even have a radio station)!
🖼️ Enjoy the graffiti art at the STRAAT Museum
So you’ve learned about movies, you’ve taken a biertje break, and now you’re ready to get in touch with some art. The STRAAT Museum is the best place to go! The museum lives in a reworked warehouse right where you exit the NDSM ferry.
The warehouse is truly a playground for artists. It shows mind-bending works from respected, established names and exciting up-and-coming artists.
And get this: many of the artworks were made there, on-site! You can easily spend a whole day there just looking at these art pieces.
🏙️ Get a view of the city from A’DAM Lookout
Want to float above the clouds with a 360-degree view of the historic city of Amsterdam, from church peaks to skyscrapers? Dat kan, at A’DAM lookout — and you can even enjoy a drink while you’re at it!
It’s a swing for adrenaline seekers. Image: Depositphotos
The view from the top is enough, but if you want some extra adrenaline, hop on the swing and fly above the city. You’ll either experience newfound peace and bliss, or your life will flash before your eyes—hopefully, the former.
🪗 Watch a concert at Tolhuistuin
Food! Drinks! Music! Exhibitions! Debates! Markets! Artists! You name it, Tolhuistuin has it. A self-described “creative workshop for the future”, it’ll leave you with an urge to create something — anything.
Nestled between all the urban vibes of Amsterdam Noord, Tolhuistuin lives in an idyllic garden. If you need that creative stimulation, this is the place to go. Tolhuistuin has events every day. Some paid, some free, but all inspiring.
🏘️ Visit the historic village of Durgerdam
Maybe after so much creative stimulus, you need some peace and quiet to put your art into action. No better place for that than Durgerdam, the minuscule village in Amsterdam Noord with just 430 inhabitants.
Look at the water, take a deep breath, and just sit. Image: Wikimedia Commons/Smiley.toerist/CC4.0
Sure, there are not many activities there, but that’s the point. It’s secluded, it’s calm, it’s relaxing. It’ll put your life on pause and give you a break from the endless scrolling and content we’re all so used to consuming.
🌳 Take a stroll through Noorderpark
This wouldn’t be a list of things to do in Amsterdam without mentioning at least one park. Amsterdam’s Noorderpark is huge, with a big river running right through it. Let your mind wander while you stroll through the trees and experience some urban nature.
It’s the perfect place to cap off your big, action-packed Amsterdam Noord day.
The history of Amsterdam Noord
Despite it being inviting today, Amsterdam Noord has quite a dark past. Up until 1795, it was a place where the corpses of convicts were hung in order to intimidate other civilians. Luckily, times have calmed down since the 1700s.
Even though this photo is from the late 1800s, it doesn’t look too different from today! Image: Wikimedia Commons/Sleding, J./Public domain
But it came a long way, even by 1876, when the area became accessible to steamboats. This was also when the NDSM, a shipbuilding and repair company, established a shipyard in the area.
Until today, the NDSM has the same name. It stands for Nederlandsche Dok en Scheepsbouw Maatschappij (or Netherlands Dock and Shipbuilding Company in English). That’s why the STRAAT Museum is such a big warehouse!
Amsterdam Noord is an often under-explored half of Amsterdam. But clearly, it has so much to offer, so go on and explore. Go on, git!
What’s your favourite part of Amsterdam Noord? Tell us in the comments!
Last weekend, several mysterious packages washed up on the coast of the Dutch North Sea. Their contents were somewhat unorthodox: they were drugs.
The North Holland police unit tells RTL Nieuws that, although weird things wash up on the coast regularly, this is their first time seeing something like this.
A spokesperson says that packages of drugs are being found across “the entire width of the coast”. 😳
And there’s another problem: the drugs are not just on the coast, but also in the sea. And sea creatures are consuming them.
Sharks on cocaine
Often, smugglers dump drugs into the sea, either as a method of smuggling or to avoid being caught by authorities. The result? Sea creatures can ingest them. And get high.
Cocaine, for example, dissolves very easily in water, so a small tear in a pack is enough to make the drugs consumable by sea creatures.
This can make the animals confused, disoriented, and aggressive — and more dangerous to people.
It’s kind of a lose-lose for everyone, and we doubt sharks have underwater Narcotics Anonymous support groups. 🦈
New methods of drug dealing
Why exactly are drugs washing up along the Dutch coast? Well, it’s all part of a new drug-dealing method.
Since it’s becoming harder to smuggle packages of drugs in sea containers, many smugglers now hide drugs under torpedoes that are bolted under boats.
Another method involves dumping packages at sea with GPS trackers. This way, boats can find the packages and get them to where they need to be.
The police urge anyone who finds a suspicious package not to open it and to call 112 immediately. (In other words: this is not the time to start a questionable side hustle. 😉)
Have you ever heard of something like this happening? Tell us in the comments!
When Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, a group of 37 Dutch tourists was about to leave for Israel with travel agency TUI. Luckily, they were able to cancel the trip in time, and now TUI has cancelled all travels to Israel for the remainder of the year.
If you were planning to travel with TUI in that time period, you will get your money reimbursed. Otherwise, you can reschedule your trip free of charge, according to RTL Nieuws.
Getting your money back
The reimbursement for trips to Israel doesn’t just apply to trips with TUI, but to all travel agencies affiliated with the General Dutch Association of Travel Companies (ANVR).
Anyone who booked a trip with the agencies that fall within the association will get their money back.
In cases like these, travel agencies make use of the so-called “disaster fund”. This fund allows them to be insured in the event of an emergency.
Code orange: only travel if necessary
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued code orange travel advice. This urges people to avoid travelling to Israel as much as possible and to only go there if it’s really necessary.
Because of the code orange, it’s not in the hands of travel agencies to determine whether they can travel or not — and the ANVR can’t say when trips to Israel can take place again.
That being said, both the ANVR and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs do provide regular updates on their social media.
Find the latest updates of the ministry, as well as frequently asked questions and answers about the situation in #Israel and the #PalestinianTerritories, through these links:
Leave it to the Dutch to know how to save their money. According to Het Parool, Dutchies spend 2% less on groceries than the rest of Europe.
Prices vary quite a bit depending on the product. Bread and grains are on average a whopping 14% cheaper in the Netherlands (lucky for all those Dutchies who have a broodje for lunch).
Buying fish in the Netherlands is 12.5% cheaper than the European average, while ready-made meals, and eggs and dairy trail behind at 3.5% and 2.5%.
The Dutchies don’t feel this way
In contrast, Dutch people don’t feel like their groceries are so cheap after all — to the point that people living near Germany will cross the border to shop there for cheaper options.
Dutchies will truly do anything to save money, and we respect it.
This strategy is actually quite logical, as the basic prices in Germany are indeed lower. The prices of specific products also vary depending on regions and store types, so the German Lidl is most likely cheaper than your average Albert Heijn.
That being said, the Netherlands runs deals and discounts more often. It’s the land of Bonus cards, limited-time offers, and buy one, get one free deals.
Back in June, Eurostar announced that their Amsterdam-London train line wouldn’t run for more than a year due to construction. But there is hope: the line might be up and running again sooner than we thought.
Since the heated reception of the news earlier this year, ProRail, NS and the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management are trying to find workarounds for this controversy, according to Treinreiziger.
With these new solutions, the Amsterdam Centraal renovations may start later and finish earlier, says Eurostar CEO Gwendoline Cazenave. So, our chances of drinking beer in another type of gloomy weather will not be (completely) crushed.
The three organisations will send their findings to the Dutch House of Representatives in early November to see how realistic their solution is. Until then, we’re in the clear, and the trains will run normally.
The juicy backstory
This whole situation began due to renovations in Amsterdam Central Station. It’s not safe to have this train running during the construction — not to mention that it wouldn’t be possible to do security or luggage checks at the station.
Since there was quite a bit of commotion about this decision, ProRail, NS, and the Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management had to look for another solution.
Nothing is guaranteed yet, but there is hope that this train route will be less chaotic than we thought.
Do you think there will be a solution, or do you think we’ll be left train-less for 11 months? Tell us in the comments!
