After completing this impressive feat, the new, student-designed, sun-fuelled car is apparently a force to be reckoned with.
This two-seated vehicle dubbed the “Stella Terra”, was designed by students at the Eindhoven University of Technology, the Guardian reports.
However, before they send their creation out into the world, the Stella Terra has to undergo a series of tests.
One such test was zooming over the irregular landscape of North Africa — and it passed the 1,000-kilometre driving test with flying colours.
Cutting-edge technology
The car is fuelled by solar panels installed on its roof, weighs a light 1,200 kilograms, and has a range of 710 kilometres on a sunny day, reports TU Eindhoven in a press release. 🚗💨
According to the Solar Team Eindhoven’s manager, Wisse Bos, the technology used to keep Stella Terra is lightyears ahead of anything on the current market.
Don’t live in a sunny climate? In places like the Netherlands, this car could still serve you, but over shorter distances, thanks to its rechargeable lithium (Li)-ion battery.
Even if the weather isn’t hot enough to fry an egg, the car’s solar panels are so blindingly strong that the energy produced can charge electronic devices.
Today, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will embark on a diplomatic mission to Israel for talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The main focus of this meeting is to clarify the tragic incident involving 33-year-old Islam al-Ashqar, a Dutch woman who lost her life in the Gaza Strip. Her sons are still in the region, according to NU.nl.
In a tweet posted on X, Rutte emphasized the urgency of the situation in Gaza, highlighting the need for a “humanitarian pause” to deliver vital aid to the innocent civilians of Gaza.
He also stressed that now, more than ever, a “two-state solution” is extremely important.
Mark Rutte’s stance on Israel has been evident on multiple occasions. However, his message also conveyed a nuanced approach, emphasizing that Israel should exercise restraint to prevent the regional conflict from escalating further.
Rutte claimed that while Israel has to remove the threat from Hamas and free the hostages, this should be done in a way to avoid more civilian casualties.
The exact details of the meeting remain to be seen.
The moon-made-of-cheese theory might feel real when our favourite natural satellite looks like someone took a bite out of it this weekend.
That’s right! A partial lunar eclipse is set to strike the weekend before Halloween, from Saturday, October 28, to Sunday, October 29, to be exact.
This optical “bite” illusion happens because a portion of the Moon passes through the Earth’s shadow, Weeronline reports.
When and where to moon gaze
Live in the Netherlands or Belgium, or just happen to be passing through this weekend? Look up to the skies!
This golden opportunity will start at 8:01 PM, with the eclipse reaching its peak at 10:15 PM in full view from Utrecht. Then, at 12:29 AM, this rare event is set to wrap up.
However, you may wonder just how Halloween-y this episode will get.
Make no mistake: a partial lunar eclipse is not a “blood moon” and won’t appear red in colour — unlike that blood moon from January 2019.
Take a raincheck on those plans today. If you happen to be in the Wadden Islands, a full-blown code yellow storm is on the horizon — and if you’re anywhere else in the Netherlands, you’re going to be soaked. 🌧
This morning will be misleadingly mild: cloudy in some parts, dry as a bone in others.
However, as the morning progresses, there will be a downpour of rain that starts in the south of the country before spreading its way across more and more cities, NU.nl reports.
How much rain are we talking about exactly? Between 20 to 40 millimetres, depending on your location. Not sure what that means? Let’s just say when it pours, it pours. ☔️
Look what the wind blew in: Code yellow
Precipitation isn’t the only force at work — winds are predicted to pick up throughout the day. 🌬
Specifically, areas along the coastline, as well as above the IJsselmeer, are set to have some strong gusts.
🛰 Prachtige 'krul' vanmiddag bij Ierland! Dit lagedrukgebied zorgt de komende dagen voor veel regen: in ons land kan tot zondag lokaal >50 mm vallen 👇 pic.twitter.com/00Ajpu9vlt
Translation: “Beautiful ‘curl’ this afternoon in Ireland! This low-pressure area will cause a lot of rain in the coming days: 50 mm may fall locally > in our country until Sunday”
We would also recommend against venturing out to northern coastal areas. This is where gusts will reach a strength of roughly 80 kilometres per hour. Not ideal for a beach day. 🏖
In fact, what feels like the millionth code yellow warning of 2023 has been issued for the Wadden Islands.
The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) warns of gusts reaching up to Wind Force 8 in the region, so hold onto your hats! Or maybe just don’t go there.
In the south tonight? You’ll be right as rain
Depending on where in the country you are, temperatures will differ wildly. 🌡
The north of the Netherlands might have no more than a measly 6 to 9 degrees Celsius, while the southern provinces could have a comparatively luxurious 11 to 15.
Yep, if you’re looking to have Friday night plans other than a night on the couch with some tea, you might want to make them in the south.
Come evening, the rain will drift off towards the north, and the winds will settle into more a more reasonable breeze.
Still, try to keep any beach festivities to a dull roar; the Dutch coastline, and the northern coast in particular, will enjoy Wind Force 7 gusts tonight.
What indoor activities have you been saving for a rainy day? Let us know in the comments below!
How did an 18-year-old boy from the Dutch city of Arnhem become the number one criminal on the Times Top 10 Crime Stories of 2010? 🤔
From an infamous disappearance that made international headlines to the murder of a former presidential candidate’s daughter, Joran van der Sloot has quite the criminal record.
The Dutch criminal was extradited in June 2023 to the US to potentially extend his current 28-year-long Peruvian prison sentence by an additional 25 years.
Van der Sloot is being taken to court for his alleged extortion after demanding $25,000 from suspected victim Natalee Holloway’s family in 2010 in exchange for details about the whereabouts of their daughter’s body — and as of October 2023, he’s allegedly confessed to her murder.
But what compelled this notorious criminal to commit all these gruesome, heartless acts? His crimes are shocking and disturbing and have had deeply negative effects on so many people — and it all started when he was only a teenager.
Golden child turned cold-blooded killer
On the outside, it looked like Joran had a pretty decent and privileged childhood. He was born in Arnhem to his dad, a lawyer, and his mom, an art teacher. At the age of 10, he moved with his family to Aruba, where he was an honours student at the International School of Aruba.
Joran was also known for his athletic ability, even competing in doubles tennis with his father at Moët et Chandon Anniversary Cup in 2005.
However, not everything was sunshine and rainbows for this golden boy. After breaking up with his girlfriend at the age of 16, Joran sought comfort in the scene of Aruban nightlife.
He even moved from his bedroom to his parents’ guest house in the garden so that no one could see what he was up to. Joran’s mother had said that Joran had a problem with compulsive lying and often snuck out of the house to go to casinos.
No one knew that this seemingly normal young boy would grow up to find himself as one of the most notorious Dutch criminals of all time.
The disappearance of Natalee Holloway
Natalee Holloway was an 18-year-old American woman who went on vacation with her friends, along with chaperones, to Aruba in celebration of their high school graduation.
She graduated with honours from Mountain Brook High School in Alabama and received a full scholarship to the University of Alabama, where she planned to study medicine.
However, Natalee would never board her return flight to the United States, devastating both her family and the world.
Anyone remember the Natalee Holloway case? I still find this to be one of the saddest stories ever. She was never found and her family never really got closure. pic.twitter.com/x4hmw6GSnJ
It all began on the night of May 30, 2005, the last day of their trip. Natalee and her friends went out for a night on the town and visited Aruba’s Oranjestad bar and Carlos’n’Charlie’s nightclub.
Natalee was last seen at around 1:30 AM by her classmates, who noticed her getting into a car with 17-year-old Joran and two other men.
When Natalee failed to show up for her flight later that same day, the Aruban authorities were notified, and an investigation began.
Thanks to eyewitnesses and surveillance cameras, the police were able to identify Joran van der Sloot as potentially the last person to see her alive.
Hundreds of volunteers from Aruba, the U.S., and even 50 Dutch marines joined the search-and-rescue efforts, but Natalee’s body was never found.
Memorial wall for Nathalee Holloway just a few days after her disappearance. Image: Mary Thompson/Wikimedia Commons/CC2.0
While much of the case thus far pointed to Joran van der Sloot as being responsible for her disappearance, he was never formally charged due to a lack of evidence.
The case officially remains unsolved, and Natalee Holloway was declared legally dead on January 12, 2012, at the request of her father. However, after 18 years, Van der Sloot confessed to her murder, claiming to have kicked and hit her on the head with a large stone. He then allegedly disposed of her body in the nearby ocean.
International attention
Natalee Holloway’s case is one of the most famous disappearances in the world. The case garnered media attention from many U.S. andDutch television networks.
It was so big that even the famous late crime journalist, Peter R. de Vries, set up an undercover sting operation and recorded a taped confession from Van der Sloot.
In the recordings, he admitted — under the influence of marijuana — to a man he believed to be a drug dealer (actually a petty criminal hired by the TV program for this undercover stint) that Natalee died on the morning that she disappeared.
He claimed that Natalee had a seizure and that he tried to revive her but was unsuccessful. Then, he called a friend to help dispose of her body in the ocean.
However, Van der Sloot later argued that he lied in the confessions in order to impress the man he believed to be a drug dealer. While the recordings were damning, they could not be used to get an arrest warrant for him or anyone else who could have been involved.
Furthermore, despite the evidence and retracted confessions, van der Sloot was never charged with Natalee’s disappearance.
The murder of Stephany Flores Ramírez
Stephany Flores Ramírez was the daughter of a highly influential businessman and former presidential candidate, Ricardo Flores, in Peru. She was a 21-year-old business administration student at the University of Peru.
On May 30, 2010, exactly five years to the day after Natalee’s disappearance, Stephany attended a poker tournament in Lima at the Atlanta City Casino. When she failed to return home, her family reported her missing to the police.
Meanwhile, hotel security footage showed Van der Sloot and Flores Ramírez entering a hotel room booked under his name.
Later, van der Sloot was seen leaving the room — but Flores Ramírez never emerged. He even told hotel staff “not to bother the girl in the room.”
But when the hotel staff opened the door to the room, they discovered the young woman’s lifeless body. Her cause of death was ruled to be blunt force trauma to the head, and police found a tennis racquet believed to be the murder weapon.
Motive
Peruvian authorities determined that Stephany Flores Ramírez was murdered because she had been looking at Van der Sloot’s laptop and asking questions about Natalee Holloway’s disappearance. Apparently, he grew enraged and killed the woman.
After the murder, Van der Sloot fled to Chile but was caught by police and was extradited back to Peru for questioning. A week later, he confessed to murdering Stephany but later tried to retract his confession.
RIP to Stephany Tatiana Flores Ramírez, the Peruvian woman he confessed to murdering on the ANNIVERSARY of Natalee’s disappearance all because she Googled him on his laptop and saw what he did to Natalee Holloway
Two weeks later, justice finally came for Joran van der Sloot when a Peruvian judge ruled his confession valid and sentenced him to 28 years in prison for her murder.
He is now rotting away in a Peruvian prison cell, where he has received a lot of media attention over the years. He also married a Peruvian woman who was working and selling goods in the prison and had a child with her.
Van der Sloot left behind a trail of pain and devastation for two innocent families who still are still from their losses. Natalee Holloway and Stephany Flores Ramírez were both young, bright women who had their futures taken away from them — and they will never be forgotten.
Have you heard about Joran van der Sloot’s crimes before? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
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!
