Which town in the Netherlands makes the happiest residents? It’s the big showdown between the Dutch cities. 💪
The Dutch are almost always at the top of the world’s happiness rankings, but which specific cities are the happiest? Let’s see!
The Dutch Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS) compared many indicators that make up a happy city, including factors like income, wealth, and unemployment. They also looked at ‘softer’ measures such as satisfaction with life, the amount of nature per inhabitant, and, importantly, the distance to the closest cafés.
Who came out on top? Drum roll please… the little town of Dalfsen, in the province of Overijssel, reports AD.nl! 👑
A peaceful community in Dalfsen
What makes the 30,000 residents of Dalfsen the happiest people in the Netherlands? It doesn’t actually have much to do with economic numbers, but more with the community.
Dalfsen is quite average in terms of the economy and income. However, they won the trophy with a high life expectancy, high social cohesion, strong mutual trust, and having schools and cafes within walking distance (no bikes? 😯), among other things.
Living in Dalfsen is peaceful, with hardly any crime and relatively low unemployment.
What’s the happiest Dutch province?
Looking for a new place to live but not quite sure about Dalfsen? Well, turns out that the second, third, and fourth happiest cities in the Netherlands are all nearby Dalfsen — also in Overijssel.
After Dalfsen, life in the Netherlands is the most enjoyable in Dinkelland, Raalte, and Staphorst.
Loyal Randstad lovers, you might be wondering where you stand in the happiness ranking. Well, turn out the happiest town in the Randstad, De Ronde Venen, is only the 23rd happiest in the country. 😳
The unhappiest areas of the Netherlands
Wondering which towns are not so nice to live in? The statistics show that the majority of cities at the bottom of the list are in the south of the Netherlands.
All the way in last place is Heerlen, with lots of crime, a low life expectancy, low income, and little contact within the community. Close to Heerlen stands Rotterdam, Kerkrade, Brunssum, and Schiedam.
Results to be taken with a grain of salt
Since the CBS’s measures look only at the city level, it doesn’t take into account how happy people in individual municipalities are. Therefore, the results of the study are to be taken lightly.
For example, some municipalities in the Randstad score low on greenery, even though there’s plenty of it right outside the cities. Or, municipalities right outside big cities might score low on employment, but inhabitants actually have great work prospects in nearby cities.
And, of course, what makes people happy in a city depends on preferences. Some people prefer busy, buzzing cities, while others prefer quaint small villages full of nature.
What do you think about the ranking, and are you surprised? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
From car-sharing to scooters and e-steps — shared mobility in the Netherlands provides you with tons of options to go, drive, or cycle green. 🌱
Moving towards a more sustainable future means rethinking how we use our transport systems.
Maybe you’ve already noticed shared mobility initiatives popping up in and around your favourite Dutch city without really understanding what you’re looking at. Like:
Green mopeds dropped off randomly on the side of the street. 🛵
Groups of tourists endangering everyone around them on the same type of uni-coloured bike. 🚲
Bright red cars parked near your house. 🚗
Or Dutchies that are zooming past you on motorised versions of scooters we all used to play with as kids. 🛴
Whatever the case, shared mobility is arguably the future of transport.
So, hop on board and find out what version can get you cruising sustainably all throughout the Netherlands.
So, to put it very simply as an example: instead of one person owning and using their own bike, shared mobility makes a publicly- or privately-owned bike accessible to several users.
Of course, not always at the same time. Meaning there will be no cosying up with four other people on your shared moped. (Unless that’s what you’re looking for 😉.)
Looking for a shared car in the Netherlands? It’s just an app away! Image: Depositphotos
Types of shared transport in the Netherlands
To give you a good overview of the different modes of shared mobility in and around the Netherlands, we’ve created this comprehensive list.
From bike-sharing to car-sharing to electric steps (yup, you’ve read correctly) — here are the options to look out for if you want to travel smart.
Car-sharing services in the Netherlands
Did you know that most privately-owned cars stand still about 90% of the time? What a waste!
What’s more, keeping your own car is really quite expensive. Most people pay between €250 to €450 a month for fuel and maintenance — and then only use it a fraction of the time. 😅
These are just two reasons why car-sharing (autodelen) is becoming more and more popular in the Netherlands. Whilst in 2018 only 515,000 people used car-sharing, the numbers grew to 730,000 in 2021.
Private: you borrow a car from a friend or neighbour.
Cooperative: You share/lease cars with other people.
Commerical: You hire a car from a car-sharing company.
Private car-sharing
Even if you’re new to the wonderful world of car-sharing, you might have borrowed your parents’ car before. Or maybe one of your friends has a van that helped you transport a bunch of furniture during your last move. 🚚
That is a private scheme of shared mobility, though an informal one.
Cooperative car-sharing
More official forms of car-sharing include cooperative schemes, where you get together with your neighbours to create a car-sharing agreement.
That way, a number of households can come together and agree, for instance, on leasing three cars and three parking spaces together.
Commercial car-sharing
Last but not least, there are a number of commercial companies, which allow you to rent a car for an hourly or daily rate.
Some of them require paid subscriptions, whilst others are paid-per-use.
Below you can find a comprehensive overview of the most popular car-sharing providers in the Netherlands.
Like your colleagues? Why not set up a car-sharing scheme and drive to work together? Image: Depositphotos
The most popular car-sharing companies in the Netherlands
Cooperative
SnappCar is a platform that helps you to rent out your car to other users. (Ultimate plus: money 💸💸.) And, of course, you can also rent other people’s cars. SnappCar has operated for ten years now, and over 13,000 Dutch users have registered their cars for sharing. Leuk!
BlaBlaCar is a carpooling app that helps to connect you with people who are making a trip from A to B and still have seats in their car.
DEEL is a non-profit based in The Hague that helps you and your neighbours to set up your very own car-sharing agreement. DEEL is supported by The Hague municipality, and you can apply for a six month subsidy if you want to try it out!
Corporate
Greenwheels is one of the most popular car-sharing companies in the Netherlands with over 2,600 vehicles and is available across the country. There are different subscriptions available, for frequent or non-frequent users.
MyWheels (formerly Car2Go) is another car-sharing provider with widespread availability throughout the Netherlands. No subscription is necessary, so you only pay a fixed hourly rate.
ShareNow is a subscription-free app that offers car-sharing in eight European countries. With a focus on reducing cars within cities, ShareNow operates from Amsterdam. Free parking and pick-up points are available in the capital city.
SIXTshare offers cars in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht and The Hague. But there are also drop-off points in Maastricht, Groningen, Almere and Eindhoven. SIXTshare also has various vehicles available, serving every possible need.
Witkar.nl rents out two-person electric vehicles and works with a free-floating system. This means you can drop off and park your Witkar car for free anywhere in the areas where the company operates — which is all over the Netherlands!
Amber offers car-sharing for a very specific target group: companies and freelancers. Want to step up your professional game and make your business more sustainable? Amber can help with that!
A shared-mobility e-car is charging next to a Dutch canal. Image: Depositphotos
Pssst: Did we forget one of your favourite car-sharing companies? 🤫 Tell us in the comments! We’ll make sure to share it with the world.
📲 Step by step: how to sign up for (most) car-sharing apps
Search for and install a car-sharing app of your choice on your phone’s app store.
Select the ‘sign-up’ option on the app. This will usually require you to register the following information:
The country you are operating from.
Personal information such as your full name, address, date of birth and phone number.
A password or a pin code.
Verify your driver’s licence. This can be a little tricky because you will have to take a picture of both the front and back of your document. 📸 Make sure that the shot isn’t blurry, and that no light reflects back on the camera!
Prove that it’s actually you signing up to the app, and not some weirdo who’s stolen your driver’s license. Sometimes you will have to take a photo or video of yourself. Other times, you will have to send a voice recording. Your app of choice will provide you with detailed guidance on how to proceed!
Confirm how to access cars on the app. On some, you can either register your OV chip card or request a card from the car-sharing service. You will later be able to use it in order to access the car/vehicle you’re renting. With other services, you’ll have an owner or representative who will give you the keys in person.
Pay any subscription fees, if your chosen service requires it.
Enable the app to access your location and find a car near you.
And off on that day trip you go! 🚗💨
Shared scooters and mopeds in the Netherlands
You might know this as a scooter, moped, or even just Vespa, but this Dutch word is definitely one of our favourites: bromfiets. 🏍
It literally means ‘vroom-bike’ — and what better way to describe the motorised two-wheelers the Dutch love so much?
Scooters are only allowed on some Dutch bicycle baths and some Dutch roads, depending on the city. Image: Unsplash
The shared mobility trend has also given rise to several companies that are dedicated to making scooter-sharing possible.
The most popular scooter-sharing companies in the Netherlands
According to shared-micromobility.com, the scooter-sharing market in the Netherlands is dominated by these three national champions 🏆:
Felyx is the OG amongst scooter-sharing companies in the Netherlands. Since they started in 2017, Felyx has set up shop in 24 Dutch cities and expanded to other European countries. Sign up on the app, get the first fifteen minutes for free and you’re good to zoom past all those bikes on your shared, forest-green e-scooter! 🛵💨
GO Sharing really is an all-rounder when it comes to shared mobility. They offer e-cars, e-bikes, as well as e-scooters. Just register on their app, see if any of their scooters are close by, reserve your ride and you’re good to vroom off.
Check started their Rotterdam-based business in March 2020 (a week before the pandemic hit 👀). Well, they still managed to take their business off the ground and are now operating 3,000+ e-vehicles nationwide. Just like the other two, you have to download the app and get started. Easy-peasy.
Psst: Already have a car (rijbewijs B) or motorcycle license (rijbewijs A)? You can hop right on a scooter! If not, you’ll need a special divers license (rijbewijs AM). In the Netherlands, this licence can be acquired from the age of 16 onwards.
Felyx e-scooters waiting for you to hop on! Image: Depositphotos
📲 Step by step: how to sign up for scooter-sharing programs
Search for and install a scooter-sharing app of your choice on your phone’s app store.
Select the ‘sign-up’ option on the app. This will usually require you to register the following information:
The country you are operating from.
Personal information such as your full name, address, date of birth and phone number.
A password or a pin code.
Verify your driver’s licence. Yep, you need one of these! Take a picture of your licence and upload it into the app. 📸
Prove that it’s actually you signing up to the app by following the instructions.
Add a payment option (and don’t forget to take advantage of any free sign-up minutes you can get!)
Enable the app to access your location and find a scooter near you.
Fun fact: are you already ‘vrooming’ or still ‘snorring’? 🤔The Dutch make a distinction between a bromfiets and a snorfiets.
A snorfiets (snoring bicycle, another fun word) can reach a speed of up to 25km/h. A bromfiets, on the other hand, can go up to 45km/h.
Both vehicles are generally understood to be ‘scooters’ or ‘mopeds’. A motorfiets is a motorcycle and a category of its own. (Up there with the big guys.)
Shared bikes in the Netherlands
This might come as a surprise to you but bike-sharing hasn’t taken off in the Netherlands as much as in other European countries.
This is logical, of course. Dutchies love their bikes and use them much more than other nations, so many Nederlanders or internationals living in the Netherlands will own a fiets or two of their own. 🚲
However, whether you’re looking for a shared bike on one of your trips to the Netherlands or you’re having visitors in need of a trusty two-wheeler, there are definitely options out there.
The most popular bike-sharing companies in the Netherlands
Oh, and what a lovely surprise! 🥰 Some of the best ones are listed right here:
OV-fiets is part of the Dutch national transportation system NS and the largest organised bike-sharing system in the Netherlands. Bikes can be conveniently checked out with an OV chip card and there are over 300 bike deposit locations at most central stations and prominent metro stops.
HTM is a Zoetermeer-based service that cooperates with the local transportation network. Do you already have an HTM tram or bus ticket? Then you can rent a bike for just €1!
Urbee is a bike-sharing company that operates all over the Netherlands. Just download the app, find a bike near you and unlock it with your phone. Makkelijk.
Donkey Republic is another widely available bike-sharing platform in the Netherlands, which operates all over Europe. Their bright orange bikes are hard to miss!
Cargoroo might be the most Dutch suggestion on the list. The company offers shared bakfietsen (cargo bikes). Dutchies love their cargo bikes to transport their kids, groceries, furniture, or anything else for that matter. With Cargoroo, you can rent electric bakfietsen in any major Dutch city. How handy!
📲 Step by step: how to sign up for bike-sharing programs in the Netherlands
Search for and install a bike-sharing app on your smartphone if required (for OV-fiets you only need an OV chip card)
Select the ‘sign-up’ option on the app. You may need to enter:
The country you are operating from.
Personal information such as your full name, address, date of birth and phone number.
A password or a pin code.
Add a payment option (and don’t forget to take advantage of any sign-up bonuses you can!)
Enable the app to access your location and find a bike near you.
City steps (a Tilburg special!)
Okay, now we’ve made sure how to access shared mobility like cars, scooters and bikes in the Netherlands. But have you heard of shared, electric steps? 🤔
This form of shared mobility is unique to the Dutch city of Tilburg: e-Steps. Since 2019, these nifty, electronic kickers will have you cruising through the city at lightning speed! Or, well, at 25km/h at least.
You can reserve your e-steps online and either pay the hourly, half-day or whole-day rate. Once charged, these babies can drive for six hours at a time. No more tired feet after a long day of urban exploration. 💪🏻
Benefits of using shared mobility in the Netherlands
Now that you’ve got all the options in the world (or, well, at least the Netherlands) on how to use shared mobility in cheese country, let’s briefly talk about why it’s actually a pretty good idea.
The most obvious benefit of shared mobility is reducing the number of cars and increasing the number of e-vehicles on the streets. This has the following perks:
better air quality,
reduced CO2 emmissions,
fewer traffic jams (and thus, less stress),
and more available parking spaces (a.k.a also less stress).
Another upside of shared mobility is that it can save you a lot of money. We’ve already said it, but considering most people only use their cars 10% of the time, think about all the maintenance costs that could be saved by using one car between multiple households.
If you’re in the Netherlands for only a short amount of time, shared mobility schemes make it possible for you to avoid investing permanently into a car, bike or scooter.
It’s also perfect if you only need a car a few times a year — for big shopping trips, weekends away, road trips to nature — but can bike or use public transport for the rest.
And, last but not least, most of these sharing initiatives use green energy! What’s not to love? 🥰
When are you gonna hop on your e-scooter and reap the benefits of shared mobility? Tell us in the comments below!
Shared mobility in the Netherlands: frequently asked questions
What are the best e-bike rental apps in the Netherlands?
Visiting the Netherlands and wanting to cruise through the streets like a local? These three apps will have you hop on a sustainable e-bike in no time: GO Sharing, Donkey Republic and Urbee.
What are the best car-sharing apps in the Netherlands?
There is a huge Dutch car-sharing market and you have the luxury of picking between a dozen different providers. Some of the most popular companies and apps providing cars in the Netherlands are GreenWheels, SnappCar, ShareNow, and MyWheels.
How can I rent an e-scooter in the Netherlands?
Three main companies are dominating the Dutch e-scooter market, which leaves you with more than enough to choose from! The three top options are Felyx, GO Sharing, and Check. Download their respective apps in the app store and you’re good to go!
How can I rent an e-car in Amsterdam?
While there are many companies that provide e-cars nationwide in the Netherlands, there are some specifically catering to the Amsterdam area. Check out Fetch, ConnectCar, and SIXT share for reliable, Amsterdam-based services.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in February 2022, and was fully updated in August 2023 for your reading pleasure.
Ah, the Netherlands: progressive and easy-going, right? …Right? Well, maybe wrong, for the 50% of Dutchies who don’t support Amsterdam Pride celebrations.
Yep. In a recent Event Brand Research survey, findings suggest that out of the 11,000 respondents, half aren’t fond of Pride festivities in Amsterdam — even after 27 years of them running.
Why? Because many are deeming the gathering “risqué” (*cough* that’s kind of the point), reports RTL Nieuws. 👀
Inside vs. outside Amsterdam
Attitudes in and outside of the Dutch capital vary greatly, explains Hendrik Beerda, consultant of the company behind the survey.
He explains that Amsterdammers who are up close and personal to Pride events have a “more nuanced” perspective on them than, say, non-Amsterdammers who only catch a glimpse of the Boat Parade on TV.
The Boat Parade is the one time when people tend to wear their “scandalous” outfits, according to brand consultant Beerda.
The only event that has earned a reputation for being even bolder than pride is the Kamasutra fair (that exists?).
Are more people feeling the love?
On the bright side, many of those who complain about Pride are still “sympathetic” to the event’s cause (whatever that means).
Compared to last year’s findings, which situated Amsterdam Pride at 36th place (out of 50) when it came to Pride support, the population’s encouragement has jumped up to 31st place this year. 🎉
Imagine you’re going about your business at work, then sssssurprise! You have a visitor… and it’s a snake!
The staff at the sorting centre of Weer & Co in Dordrecht had a shock on Wednesday when they came across something we’re sure they didn’t know how to sort — a royal python! 🐍
Sssstay calm and carry on
While many of us would surely want to scream and jump up on the table at the slithery surprise, the staff at the thrift store’s clothing sorting centre didn’t.
They stayed remarkably calm and casually called the animal care centre Louterbloem, reports AD.
The dierenambulance workers took the non-venomous constrictor snake with them and are now looking for the owner.
Well, when you think of it that way, you can’t help but feel sorry for the little guy. He’s just someone’s lost pet. Wait a minute… how do you lose your royal python? 🤨
Someone has some splaining to do! 😉
Would you stay calm if you found a snake at your workplace? Tell us in the comments!
The About Damn Time singer is being sued by three of her backup dancers for sexual misconduct and creating a hostile work environment. Among other things, the dancers claim to have been forced to eat bananas from sex workers’ vaginas in an Amsterdam sex bar.
This is meant to have happened in February of this year, when Lizzo took a trip to Amsterdam with her team.
She and approximately 20 other people went to the infamous Bananenbar for a night, during which dancers were allegedly forced into situations they did not want to be in.
Sexual misconduct — in many ways
One dancer has come forward and accused Lizzo of forcing them to touch a naked performer, even though they were not comfortable doing so.
While on the night out, Lizzo also “began inviting other cast members to take turns touching the nude performers, catching dildos launched from the performers’ vaginas, and eating bananas protruding from the performers’ vaginas”, according to the lawsuit.
Lizzo’s former creative director, along with one of her former dancers, share support for the lawsuit filed against the singer:
“I’m not apart of the lawsuit – but this was very much my experience in my time there… I very much applaud the dancers courage to bring this to… pic.twitter.com/ojxxQ7l28m
Why is this lawsuit coming now if this happened in February? Well, that’s because, apparently, this behaviour was not a one-time thing. The dancers claim that just a month later, Lizzo once again “deceived them into attending a nude show”.
Inappropriate remarks and a hostile work environment
Another dancer on Lizzo’s crew accused her of commenting on her weight gain. This has come as a shock to fans, who know Lizzo as being very vocal about body positivity.
The singer also allegedly accused one of the dancers of drinking on the job, fired another one for recording one of their meetings for notes, and subjected them all to an “excruciating re-audition”.
This re-audition was so intense, in fact, that one of the dancers allegedly “soil(ed) herself” onstage for fear of what would happen if she excused herself to use the restroom.
Lizzo’s dance team captain, Shirlene Quigley, has also faced accusations. Dancers claim that she repeatedly made derogatory remarks about dancers who had sex before marriage and that she tried to convert these “infidel dancers”, de Telegraaf reports.
What does Lizzo say?
While Lizzo herself has yet to respond to the allegations, the staff at Bananenbar has issued a statement.
According to de Telegraaf, they have claimed that they remember the night as a “very pleasant eventing on which nothing strange happened”.
Bananenbar also states that their bar staff is trained to respond to signs of discomfort or threats, but they noticed nothing other than a relaxed atmosphere that February evening.
Have you been keeping up with this Lizzo scandal? Tell us in the comments!
Planning on taking a train to or from Rotterdam Blaak this week? Think again, because the station is closed for repairs. But not the repairs you might expect; this is… pee-related.
Yup, excessive amounts of urine at one of Rotterdam’s main stations have damaged the rails up to the point where trains are unable to fit on the tracks.
Where’s all this pee coming from?
Good question.
You see, in older trains, the toilets don’t have the same intricate pipe system that new trains have, which washes away all your troubles at the push of a button.
Instead, when you flush the toilet in many of those trains, what happens is simply that a flap opens, and your business is disposed of. Right onto the tracks. Wherever you are.
If you do this at a train station, it just… stays there. No rain or anything to flush it away or clean it up (other than people).
Quite the cleanup job
This pee situation (or should we say “pee-tuation”?) seems to be especially problematic at Rotterdam Blaak. Why? Because some of the station’s sleepers, which are the supports that lie underneath the rails, are made of wood.
Since wood is malleable, meaning it can slightly change size or shape without breaking, some sleepers have shrunk due to urine, “among other things”, as RTL Nieuws writes.
(We hope the “other things” are not what we think they are, but they might be. 💩)
The result? The trains don’t fit on the tracks anymore. 🚄
So for the next week, the wooden sleepers in the station will all be replaced with concrete ones, so that trains can resume running as intended.
Not a recent problem
You would think something like this would spark some sense of urgency. But no, this has been an issue since 2020, when it “became clear that some tracks at Blaak station were in urgent need of maintenance due to wear and tear”, as RTL Nieuws explains.
Still, exactly how much is the average net salary (which, as Metronieuws points out, differs from income)?
According to 2023 data, an average Dutchie is bringing in €2544 net per month. That means they’re saving around €152.64 monthly — not half bad, right?
Time and energy better ‘spent’ elsewhere?
If Dutchies had a euro for every time they were called cheap, they’d be loaded. But is it a bad rep without enough perks? 😬
Interestingly enough, despite their long-held reputation for frugality, studies show that the Dutch aren’t more thrifty than other countries’ inhabitants. Jammer! 😢
Even so, here is your daily reminder that we could all learn a thing or two from Dutchies’ money-saving habits.
Having savings to fall back on is crucial in case you randomly need to fork out for, say, home repairs or increased medical bills.
If you’re wondering whether or not you save enough, check out NIBUD’s Buffer Calculator (in Dutch) to find out more (and also to put your restless mind at ease).
Do these findings come as a surprise to you? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Did you get to work this week dishevelled by the rain? Well, get used to it. We’re officially going through the wettest week of this year’s Dutch summer.
You will probably get your feet wet every day this week. Yup, between five to 10 millimetres of rain are expected, every. single. day.
Not a fan of getting soaked every time you step outside? Then today is the day to stay cosied up inside. Up to 20 millimetres of rain could splash right onto you, reports RTL Nieuws.
What about a little bit of sun?
Luckily, there’s a chance that we might be spared from the rain for a few hours this afternoon and catch a glimpse of sunshine. 🌥️
However, you might want to make your outing quick — because the rain will most likely be back at our doorsteps this evening.
The humid weather will bring temperatures up to 20 degrees Celsius today, while the rest of the week is expected to be even cooler at around 18 degrees Celsius. Yikes.
The wettest week of the summer
Besides this week’s sweater weather, make sure to keep a biiig umbrella close by. The rain won’t be slowing down throughout the week, and showers are expected every day. ☂️
And for those that are usually skipping through the puddles and dancing in the rain, beware that there is a chance of thunderstorms on Thursday.
While there may be glimpses of sunshine throughout the week, they will most likely be brief, with clouds hiding right around the corner. It seems like a good time to switch on the women’s World Cup or get your Duolingo practice in.
On the bright side, the wettest week of the summer means it can only get better from here, right…?
What’s your go-to rainy day activity? Tell us in the comments below!
Each year, on May 5, the Dutch celebrate the day their country was liberated from Nazi occupation during WWII.This is known as Bevrijdingsdag (Liberation Day) — a national holiday here in the Netherlands. 🇳🇱
Throughout 1944 and 1945, several Nazi-occupied Dutch cities were liberated by the Allies. On May 5, 1945, an official agreement was signed on the capitulation of German forces in the Netherlands.
These days, the Dutch commemorate those who lost their lives during WWII on Remembrance Day on May 4, and the country’s liberation is celebrated on the next day.
To give you an impression of what the liberation of the Netherlands felt like, we’ve gathered four videos that’ll throw you right back to 1945! The best part? They’re colourised, which really brings the feelings of joy and relief felt by the newly-liberated Dutch citizens alive.
The city of Haarlem, located in the North Holland province, was liberated on May 8, 1945. In its early years, the city used to be a major trading port in the North Sea. Today, it’s home to blossoming tulip fields, art museums, and stunning cobblestone roads lined by gabled houses.
2. Nijmegen
This Dutch city was liberated between 17 and 20 September 1944 during the largest military operation enacted on Dutch territory: ‘Operation Market Garden.’
Earlier that year, Nijmegen suffered badly from an aerial bombardment on February 12, 1944, which left many of its buildings destroyed.
Nijmegen is the oldest city in the Netherlands, which is evident from its rich history. This historic footage shows the damaged city, battles of American paratroopers and liberated cheers of Nijmegen’s residents.
3. Zutphen
Zutphen is a Dutch town located in the East of the Netherlands. It was liberated from Nazi occupiers on April 6, 1945, by the 3rd Canadian division. Zutphen’s liberation took a lot of effort, as extensive fighting left many parts of the town in shambles.
Despite all the damage, modern-day Zutphen is known to have one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe. It has kept its historical charm with beautiful historic warehouses, churches and courtyards.
4. Deventer
Deventer is a Dutch town located in the Salland historical region of the Overijssel province. It was liberated on April 10, 1945, and left destroyed after a brutal battle between Canadian liberators and Nazi occupiers.
This colourized video shows members of the Dutch fascist NSB party being forced into the crowd by armed resistance fighters. Dutch crowds can be seen parading along the streets of Deventer and mocking the newly-found traitors.
There you have it! These are the videos of Haarlem, Nijmegen, Zutphen and Deventer showing original footage of Dutch citizens being liberated from Nazi occupiers.
While there are many pictures of the Netherlands during WWII, colourised videos enable us to really feel the sense of relief, joy and freedom the Dutch experienced after almost five years of oppression and hardship.
If you enjoyed these videos, check out Rick’s youtube channel for more restored and colourised footage of other cities worldwide.
Have you ever celebrated Liberation Day in the Netherlands? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in May 2022, and was fully updated in August 2023 for your reading pleasure.
After analysing 45 cities through review sites such as TripAdvisor, these were the most disappointing ones in the Netherlands. From overpriced attractions to museums with nothing to offer, these cities should really up their game! 😳
Data analysts from Preply scoured high and low for the most honest reviews of Dutch cities. The result? A list of 45 Dutch cities, ranked by how likely tourists were to be disappointed by a visit.
Although this list focuses on the top 10, other popular cities made the list of 45 most disappointing. These were: Den Haag ranking at 23, Leiden at 32, Rotterdam at 38, Delft at 39, and Amsterdam at 40.
So here we go, the top 10 cities to avoid in the Netherlands! 👇
10. Arnhem
Ranked last (which is a good thing here!) is Arnhem. Shockingly, the city received an award for the best city centre in the Netherlands in 2007, so how did it land here?
Well, reviewers cite its biggest disappointment as its historic cellars that don’t have much history at all.
Regardless, the city has great nightlife, even though you’ll be charged €5 for a beer. (In Arnhem’s defence, beers are overpriced everywhere now!)
9. Scheveningen
The next city on the list is equally surprising. Yet, despite its cute Ferris wheel and scenic Pier, Scheveningen didn’t strike a chord with visitors. Let’s blame it on the seagulls! 🐦
Despite some stunning sights, visitors were left unimpressed. Image: Depositphotos
Reviewers cited the city’s old, unkempt appearance and habit of overcharging for mediocre food as major cons. However, visitors did love the calm and well-preserved dunes of Scheveningen’s Zuiderstrand.
8. Eindhoven
Despite being known for its cultural heritage and lively nightlife, Eindhoven left 19% of visitors dissatisfied.
— SerialMasticator.eth (@serialmasticatr) June 8, 2023
The biggest letdown? Flying Pins, the roadside installation featuring giant bowling pins and a bowling ball. Sightseers hoped to get closer to the art, but most just got blocked by flowing traffic.
7. Hengelo
Often a destination for partygoers from bigger cities like Enschede, Hengelo hosts more clubs, bars, cafés, and restaurants than its neighbours.
But, as we know, quantity is not the same as quality. The attractions can be disappointing, with Club Merlin taking the crown. Its unfriendly staff and bad beer leave visitors with broken hearts and empty wallets.
6. Deventer
As one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, Deventer is seen as noble and distinguished. Tourists confirmed, though, that these are just euphemisms for “boring”.
Though not home to many sources of entertainment, Deventer’s Museum de Waag was the biggest disappointment. With an expensive entrance fee (€9) and little to show for it, reviewers dubbed it unfinished and careless.
5. Enschede
Next, coming in at number 5, we have Enschede. Its most disappointing attraction? The Holland Casino. (Although, in their defence, isn’t any casino pretty disappointing?)
Enschede was ranked one of the least attractive cities by the Atlas of Municipalities. Other complaints included a need for more English descriptions in the Museum factory and little science to back up their claims.
4. Alphen aan den Rijn
According to reviewers, this city is best enjoyed… by not being in the city. Bring out the hiking boots or get a canoe to enjoy nature because 22% of visitors were disappointed in Alphen aan den Rijn.
Specifically, upcoming visitors were warned against going to the Oranje Wellness Centre, described as less a wellness centre and than a sauna with a sports centre and too many stairs (as if the sauna didn’t get you sweaty enough 🥵).
3. Middelburg
The capital of Zeeland may have the second largest number of historic buildings (after Amsterdam), but according to online reviewers, the city has little else to offer.
Museums are often overpriced, with Charlie’s Chocolate Museum winning the title of most disappointing attraction. One reviewer even described it as “a hobby that has gotten out of hand and has nothing to do with chocolate.”
2. Den Helder
At number 2, we have Den Helder. Attractions left 32% of visitors disappointed in this city, with the biggest bummer being the Fort Kijkduin museum and aquarium.
Adding insult to injury? According to reviewers, there just aren’t that many other entertainment options.
1. Emmen
And last but not least, almost half of Emmen’s visitors leave disappointed. The kicker was the Broken Circle and Spiral Hill artwork created by Robert Smithson in 1971, as reviewers even struggled to see it at all.
