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These popular Dutch e-bikes are being kicked to the curb: here’s why

Ellen Ranebo
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These popular Dutch e-bikes are being kicked to the curb: here’s why

Popular bike company, VanMoof, has pulled the brakes on their sales and deferred payments. Now, Marktplaats is flooded with dirt-cheap e-bike offers. Is this the end of the road for one of Amsterdam’s favourite two-wheelers?

Until recently, VanMoof e-bikes were about as prolific in hip Dutch cities as seagulls, mice, and oat milk cappuccinos.

But the common creature that is the VanMoof is starting to go extinct, making a mass migration to Marktplaats. Here’s why: 

Where’s the money? 

Despite its expensive looks, the decidedly “hip” Amsterdam bicycle brand appears to be in financial difficulty. The company was allowed to postpone a payment after they requested an extension, RTL Nieuws reports.   

While this deferred payment has bought them some time, administrators are left frantically scrambling to help the company “find a solution to the problems” to stave off bankruptcy. 

Thanks to investors, the company was catapulted into international fame after its founding in 2009. By 2021, they were bringing in 83 million euros. 

Unbelievable, right? So much so that it turns out they were also losing “no less than 87 million” that same year, according to RTL Nieuws. Jammer. 

New item listed for sale

The news that VanMoof brought the sales of new bicycles to a halt has really ground peoples’ gears. Not a good look. 

In fact, not only are sales coming to a halt, but people are actually selling on their beautiful, albeit flawed VanMoofs. Since Monday, there has been a 33% increase in VanMoof bike advertisements on Marktplaats. But why? 

Because word on the street says VanMoof can no longer afford to cover the maintenance and repairs customers need for the e-bikes’ unique, custom-made parts.  

The fear is that old reliable bike repair shops like Kwikfit will demand that customers cough up the cash themselves.

To make matters worse, complaints about VanMoof’s e-bikes being sketchy, and falling apart easily began circling around on social media a couple of years ago. 

Regardless of the tarnished reputation, customers scrolling through Marktplaats are reportedly still taking the bait and showing lots of interest.

It could be because the listings are as cheap as chips. In this economy, who could blame them? 🤷‍♀️

READ MORE | Meet Upway: the new online marketplace for refurbished e-bikes (that won’t make your wallet cry)

Will VanMoof survive? It’s down to any investors/people with money who can find it in their hearts to help them stay afloat. *Cough* Does anyone want to start a GoFundMe? 

Is this potential bankruptcy justified or a cruel tragedy? Share your thoughts in the comments below! 

Man stabs several people in centre of Leiden, victims left seriously injured

Naomi Lamaury
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Man stabs several people in centre of Leiden, victims left seriously injured

The suspect of a stabbing in the centre of Leiden that left one person dead, and several people seriously injured this morning, is still at large. Police continue to circle the city. 

A man with a head injury, described as dark-skinned with short hair, is suspected of stabbing multiple people in the Diaconaal Centrum De Bakkerij (a church aid centre) on the Oude Rijn, before fleeing the scene. 

All emergency services are currently at the scene to help the victims, including two trauma helicopters and four ambulances, reports the NOS. 

One person, a 66-year-old man, has died of his injuries, and two people are injured. The victims are employees of the aid centre.

At the time of writing, a police helicopter and arrest team are searching the centre of Leiden for the suspect. 

The police have asked people on Burgernet to keep an eye out for the suspect, but they should stay away from the man if spotted. 

It is still unknown why the incident occurred.

Stay up to date with all the news in the Netherlands by following DutchReview on Facebook.

Dutch students invent electric car that charges in just 4 minutes!

Simone Jacobs
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Dutch students invent electric car that charges in just 4 minutes!

Waiting a whole 25 to 40 minutes to charge an electric car? These Dutch students say nee to that and have proven that the Dutch deserve their street cred of being some of the best innovators.

Students of the Eindhoven University of Technology think that charging times of electric cars, such as the Tesla and Volkswagen ID4, are too long. So what did they do about it? What our beloved Dutchies do best: innovate. 

The student team, InMotion, designed an electric race car that can be charged in just four minutes, reports RTL Nieuws. That’s super snel and we can’t help but wish our smartphones could charge that quickly too!

Charging fast and going far

On July 13, the students presented their innovation which can drive for a whopping 250 kilometres on a full battery. Combine that with the short charging time and you can’t help but hope your own car will have those features soon. 

Long charging times are often seen as a reason not to switch to electric cars. However, with their speedy charging race car, the InMotion team wants to prove that charging times can be reduced to make electric cars more attractive to customers. Goal achieved! 

“From 2030, all cars sold in the Netherlands must be emission-free, but people must be willing to take that step,” says team manager Julia Niemeijer to Editie NL. “We say to companies and the industry: come on, you can do that too.” You tell them, queen. 💅  

Keeping it cool

So how did a team of students figure out how to do something that well-known companies haven’t been able to do yet? Apparently, the secret to fast charging is keeping the battery cool — and InMotion came up with a way to cool the battery at cell level. 

“It was very challenging that there was only a few millimetres of space between the cells in the module to apply the cooling technology. This meant that we had to work very precisely. We are very happy that we have found a method that makes this possible.”

READ MORE | 7 innovative Dutch projects for a sustainable future

They aren’t stopping there, though. The team of students wants to further develop the car so that it can compete in the 24 hours of Le Mans, an endurance-focused sports car race held in France. 

We can’t wait to see what else they come up with — and if the rest of the industry will be able to keep up with them!

Would you switch to electric driving with a shorter charging time? Tell us in the comments!

No BSN needed! This Dutch bank just made opening an account much easier for internationals

Naomi Lamaury
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No BSN needed! This Dutch bank just made opening an account much easier for internationals

What a relief! One of the biggest Dutch banks has made it possible to open a bank account without a BSN — and it’s great news for internationals. 

Hoera! ABN AMRO launched a new system which allows anyone to open a bank account, without yet having their BSN in hand.

This means that internationals left waiting for Dutch municipalities to cough up their BSN are no longer left bankless in the meantime.

Those without a BSN will now be able to open an account with the popular Dutch bank and will be given a 90-day window to snag an appointment with the municipality and finally get their BSN, ABN AMRO has announced. 

One less stress when moving

This is a huge step for internationals coming to the Netherlands.  

Usually, many internationals face a vicious headache-inducing cycle where they need a Dutch address and an identity number, known as a BSN (Burgerservicenummer), to open a Dutch bank account — but they need a bank account to pay for a place to live! 

The result? Weeks and weeks with everything on hold, waiting for each thing to get ticked off one at a time, while internationals sit around biting their nails in stress. 

By allowing internationals to open an account while they wait on bureaucracy to catch up, getting a Dutch bank account can be quickly checked off the metres-long to-do list when moving to the Netherlands. 

And the process is easy-peasy

With ABN AMRO’s new system, opening a bank account looks much smoother in general. 

Now, all you need to get started is an identification document (passport or residence permit) and a Dutch address. Well, granted, getting a Dutch home address isn’t as easy as it sounds these days…

READ MORE | How to set up your utilities in the Netherlands (in English!) with PartnerPete

What’s more, you don’t need to even be in the country yet to get your banking ready for your arrival!

The initial process can all be done thousands of kilometres away from the Netherlands through the ABN AMRO app — once you’ve got a place to live waiting for you, of course. 

Just make sure to mark the 90-day deadline in big, bold, red letters in your calendar! 

What’s been your experience with the administration when moving to the Netherlands for the first time? Tell us in the comments below!

International train SHAKE-up: Thalys just became Eurostar

Julia de Oliveira Moritz
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International train SHAKE-up: Thalys just became Eurostar

A merger in the works since 2019 has finally been confirmed: from October 2023, Thalys will be gone, and Eurostar will reign supreme. Hoera?

Say doei to Thalys, because this autumn, it will no longer exist as we know it. 

Eurostar and Thalys’ have said their shared mission is to connect Europeans and provide routes across the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, and England.

What’s in it for us?

Holding a hot little Thalys ticket in your hand and sweating that it’s now no more than a piece of paper? Stress less. According to Thalys, tickets booked through their website will be automatically transferred to the new eurostar.com website. 

But hold on, what does the merger change then? Will we be charged more? Will the journeys be longer? Will some routes stop existing? We have so many questions.

photo-of-eurostar-train-with-green-nature-surroundings
The merger will happen this autumn. Image: Pixabay

Alright, firstly, we know that this means everything will be in one place: one website, app, and ticket. 

According to Thalys, having one ticket means easier transfers (but we’ve all heard enough missed-train-connection horror stories to be sceptical).

READ MORE | Thalys waves doei to the Netherlands, but it’s good news for international trains

We also know the merger means we can continue to go to London (whoop-de-doop) and other cities — but there’s also a funky new reward programme. Benefits from Thalys and Eurostar are grouped in one programme called Club Eurostar.

If you were a My Thalys member, you won’t lose any points or benefits; they’ll just be transferred to a new account that you’ll just have to activate.

Are there downsides?

Besides the trains being blue and not red anymore, tickets could get more expensive because Eurostar will have a monopoly.

With this market share, Eurostar can charge more for tickets, and we just have to deal with it — Do not pass Go, do not collect $200. 💵

But whether the company decides to up ticket prices remains to be seen. We’ll just have to find out when the merger goes through in October. 

What do you think of this merger? Tell us in the comments below!

This Dutch town just introduced a … “Fun Tax”?

Simone Jacobs
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This Dutch town just introduced a … “Fun Tax”?

Can you have fun and get boozed up at events in Zandvoort? Natuurlijk! But now you’ll have to fork out more geld (money) for entertainment fees.

Yep, you read that right. You’re going to be taxed for having fun. Hieperdepiep (hip hip) hell nee! According to the NOS, the municipality of Zandvoort is implementing an extra tax for organisations of major events from 2024. 

The cost of fun

The so-called “fun tax” will cost event organisers €3 per visitor for events with 10,000 visitors or more. That certainly is a steep cost, so why are they adding it? 

The extra fees will cover the costs that come with big crowds. Traffic controllers, extra garbage collectors, and safety measures are all put in place to make sure you have a leuk time. We guess when you say it like that, it makes sense.

But the niet zo leuk part? This “fun tax” could affect visitors directly — since event organisers can add the extra cost to ticket prices. 

Taking the fun out of F1

You guessed it: Zandvoort’s new entertainment fees will also affect the town’s biggest event, the Formula 1 races.

So, if you’re an F1 fan or you enjoy the Grand Prix at the Circuit Zandvoort, be ready to fork out even more to see tyres squealing down the track. 🏎️

READ MORE | Dutch Formula 1 superstar Max Verstappen races to victory at British Grand Prix

Luckily, the next Grand Prix in late August won’t be affected by the fun tax yet. But with at least 300,000 visitors expected at events like this, you can imagine that the Formula 1 organisation isn’t chuffed about the new tax. 

@tunedout.roadside Zandvoort Historic Grand Prix is a must for every (race)car enthousiast. #formula1 #historicgrandprix #racing #racecars #zandvoort #circuitzandvoort ♬ Memory Reboot – Sped Up – VØJ & Narvent

According to the organisation, events at the circuit bring in a lot of money for the municipality. However, the organisation has said they will accept the tax — begrudgingly, we imagine 👀. 

How do you feel about the new “fun tax” in Zandvoort? Tell us in the comments!

It’s official: Dutch public transport is the second-most expensive in the world

Naomi Lamaury
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It’s official: Dutch public transport is the second-most expensive in the world

Usually, we love it when the Netherlands tops the charts, but not this time… We’ve all been thinking it, but it’s now on paper: the Netherlands’ public transport is the second most costly in the world.

Ah, the Dutch public transport love-hate relationship continues… Admittedly, it’s pretty great at getting you to every far-away corner of the Netherlands. 

However, the great connectivity comes at a great cost to our wallets, being the second most expensive country in the world for public transport, according to a study by Compare the Market. 

So, next time you’re sitting on the train with the smell of your neighbour’s ramen and all the gossip of the people sitting in the quiet section, ask yourself: “Is it worth it?”

Just how expensive…?

The study looked at the average price of a one-way trip, as well as a monthly ticket in 99 countries.

The Netherlands sits at the tippy top in second place of the most expensive public transport, with an average price for a one-way trip costing you a whopping €3.28 (USD$3.65).

Using public transport regularly to get to work? The average cost for a monthly pass in the Netherlands is at €78.46 (USD$87.51). 

Which Dutch city is the most expensive to travel?

That was a lot of numbers, so let’s take a step back. The Netherlands not only has the second most expensive public transport in the world but is home to three of the top 10 most expensive public transport cities. 

A public transport ticket in Eindhoven (€4.33) is the second most expensive in the world, followed by Rotterdam (€3.85), and The Hague (€3.85). 

READ MORE | Public transport in the Netherlands: the complete guide

It’s not looking good, between the price of housing and the price of fuel these days. If you haven’t made a bicycle your best friend, it’s clearly time to give it a shot. 

How did other countries score?

The pricey Dutch public transport is only topped by one country, can you guess which one?

Switzerland! Yup, taking the bus or train in Switzerland will set you back quite a way with the most expensive public transport in the world (and we can’t say we’re surprised).

A one-way trip, on average, will cost €3.56 (USD $3.97), while a monthly pass, on average, costs €79.14 (USD$88.26) — ouch!

The third most expensive public transport in the world, you ask? That’s Australia, with an average one-way costing €2.63 (USD$2.92), and the average monthly pass at a whopping €95.95 (USD$106.93). 

Here’s the full list:

Most expensive public transportAverage one-way price (€)Average monthly-pass price (€)
1. Switzerland3.5679.14
2. Netherlands 🇳🇱3.2878.46
3. Australia2.6395.95
4. Norway3.2464.69
5. Ireland2.12105.84
6. Sweden2.9169.24
7. United Kingdom2.7773.61
8. Denmark3.1064.57
9. Germany2.8966.40
10. New Zealand1.9095.41

Are you surprised by this ranking? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Here’s why your Dutch grocery bill is about to go down

Julia de Oliveira Moritz
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Here’s why your Dutch grocery bill is about to go down

We never thought this day would come. After months of rising prices in grocery stores, researching the cheapest supermarkets, and living off leftovers, grocery items are becoming cheaper.

This almost seems too good to be true. News about prices lowering instead of rising sounds fake, like a fever dream. But we can confirm: it’s true! 

What a massive win, with products like cucumber, strawberries, melons, butter and eggs (yes, eggs!) becoming cheaper. Now we can splurge and get the good butter! Hoera! 🧈

Wait, why is this happening?

Supermarkets are cutting us some slack for various reasons: first, energy prices are falling, which means that supermarkets aren’t spending as much to maintain themselves. As a result, they don’t have to charge us as much.

READ MORE | What your favourite Dutch supermarket says about you

The second reason for the falling prices is competition. We doubt we were the only ones changing our usual supermarket for a cheaper option. Doei, Albert Heijn, we’re off to Lidl! (Although, let’s be honest, we doubt Albert Heijn was really struggling). 

So essentially, supermarkets were losing customers (because we all want cheaper options, of course). How can they fix this? Make their options cheaper too, so we go back to them!

READ MORE | The ultimate guide to the cheapest supermarkets in the Netherlands

Then there’s overproduction. It’s summer, crops are thriving (some of them, like cucumbers), and farmers have loads to get rid of. Supermarkets buy produce for cheaper, then they can charge less!

And finally, eggs. The infamous, incomprehensibly expensive daily food. Finally, they are becoming cheaper. Why? Due to fewer restrictions surrounding the bird flu, as Joep Smeets of Hiiper tells NOS. Not sure what exactly that entails, but we’ll take it. 🤷‍♀️

Shoppers, rejoice!

We thought the time for news like this would never come, but it’s real. Now we can get nice milk, loads of cucumbers, and eggs. 

Time to cook our friends an actual nice meal. Does anyone want to come over for dinner?

What are you most excited to buy now that grocery items are getting cheaper? Tell us in the comments!

We went to LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre and it was the most fun we ever had as adults (and the kids liked it too!) 

Lyna Meyrer 🇱🇺
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We went to LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre and it was the most fun we ever had as adults (and the kids liked it too!) 

Looking for a fun day out with the whole family but don’t know where to go? Look no further — because we have the ultimate recommendation for you: LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre!

Located on the promenade of beautiful Scheveningen, you’ll find this magical place where children can build, learn and play their little hearts out. As you walk through the legs of an enormous LEGO® giraffe, prepare for a day of building, challenges and plain ol’ fun!

Don’t miss this unique chance to step into the fascinating world of building blocks — without the painful sensation of stepping on a LEGO® brick. 😉

Here are the highlights. ✨

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Get a birds-eye view of The Hague and Scheveningen

Ah, doesn’t LEGO® just bring up all of those fond childhood memories? From making up fantasy worlds to recreating your home town, there’s just endless fun to be had with the colourful building blocks.

Girl-behind-glass-wall-of-The-Hague-LEGO-city-at-Scheveningen-LEGOLAND-Discovery-Centre
You’ll spend hours finding new incredible details in this moving miniature LEGO® version of The Hague! Image: DutchReview

At LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre in Scheveningen, the professional builders have taken the art of LEGO® creation to the next level, and created an impressive and unique replica of The Hague and Scheveningen, using (only) 1.5 million LEGO® bricks!

Master Model Builder Jamie-Lee and her team have poured their heart and soul into every little detail. The result? An impressive MINILAND with endless cool features, including Scheveningen’s famous Ferris wheel, a fully working tram, and of course, lots of bikes! 🎡

Ride through a life-sized LEGO® city on the Imagination Express

Choo-choo, next stop: the Imagination Express. After having seen the world of bricks from above, this is your chance to physically enter the life-size world of LEGO®, with a fun twist.

Hop on the train at Scheveningen station (LEGO® edition😉) and drive through a unique LEGO® world. Here, you’ll witness the magic with your own eyes, as you ride from a mining landscape into the water world and outer space. 

Are you feeling competitive? Use your magic wand to battle your family and friends, and see who can score the most points. 🪄

Learn from LEGO® pros at the Creative Workshop

Time to let those creative juices flow! If you’ve always wanted to build fancy structures, buildings, and cars but never knew how to go about it, now’s your chance to learn from the pros.

Girls-at-desk-of-LEGOLAND-Scheveningen-The-Hague-creative-workshop
Children can take part in the creative workshop and make their LEGO® dreams come true. Image: DutchReview

At LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre, you can take your building skills to the next level, and get the best insider tips and tricks on building with LEGO®. Who knows, maybe you’ll be able to build your own The Hague replica one day! 🤔

Once done with the workshop, head over to the ‘Build & Test’ area, to immediately put your new skills into practice. Here, you can build your own car and put it to the test while racing your friends and family. Whose car will beat the fastest time? 

Train your ninja skills in the NINJAGO® training zone

Feeling brave? That means it’s time for a ninja-tastic challenge — last stop, the NINJAGO® training zone! 🥷

Kid-dodging-lasers-at-daytrip-LEGOLAND-Discovery-Centre-The-Hague
Think carefully but move fast like a ninja to dodge the lasers at the LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre. Image: DutchReview

In the NINJAGO® training zone, you’ll come eye to eye with some of LEGO®’s most exhilarating characters: the NINJAGO®s. As you learn all about Master Wu and the Ninjas, get ready to step into the dark laser maze.

Like a real ninja, you’ll be stepping through a dark room, illuminated only by the red lasers. Use your agility to the best of your abilities! Can you manage not to touch the lasers and escape the training zone? 

Buy an exclusive LEGO® set and make your friends jealous 

Phew, after a long day of challenges and creativity, it’s time to unwind at LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre’s very own store. 😮‍💨🛍️

Children-playing-with-LEGOs-at-fun-LEGOLAND-Discovery-Centre-Scheveningen
Dive into the many worlds of LEGO®s for a day! Image: DutchReview

Use the rare chance to pick up some exclusive LEGOLAND® sets, or maybe an old fan favourite. With so many products to choose from, there is guaranteed to be something for everyone.

Missing a specific stone at home to complete your current build? Check out the Pick a Brick wall, maybe you’re lucky and they’ll have it for you! How about building yourself as a minifigure? Dat kan ook! 

Go on a weekday to get the most bang for your buck

Ready for a LEGO®-tastic day? Let’s make sure you can make the most out of it! Here’s how. 👇

Cool-LEGO-car-for-kids-and-adults-at-LEGOLAND-Scheveningen
The children can climb, play, and build with everything around them at the LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre. Image: DutchReview

As you may know, Scheveningen gets heel druk (very busy) on the weekends, and the same goes for LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre. Therefore, it’s highly recommended to try and head there during the week, as the usual 2.5 hour time limit doesn’t apply then.

Whether you’re trying to seriously level up your LEGO® building, or engage in fun challenges with your friends and family, LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre is a great uitje (day out) for the whole family!

Ready for the adventure? Book your tickets now!

What are you most excited to explore at the LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre in Scheveningen? Tell us in the comments.

The Dutch women’s soccer team just pissed off their host country — and the World Cup hasn’t even begun

Naomi Lamaury
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The Dutch women’s soccer team just pissed off their host country — and the World Cup hasn’t even begun

The Oranje women’s football team were seen by thousands on social media, presumably, doing the haka, a traditional Māori dance of New Zealand — and the internet didn’t hold back.

The Dutch football association (KNVB) proudly posted a video and images, via Instagram, of Oranje players Sherida Spitse and Merel van Dongen doing movements that very closely resemble the traditional New Zealand ceremonial dance, the haka, reports NU.nl. 

The Dutch team came under heavy fire for disrespecting and mocking Māori culture without learning about the culture and the meanings behind the dance.  

The haka or not?

The KNVB reacted by asserting that the players weren’t imitating the ceremonial dance, but just doing some sort of physical training “to evoke inner strength”. 🤨

In the video, Spitse can be seen clapping her hands and bending her knees — okay, until here, arguable…

But a few seconds later, Van Dongen is heard shouting “haka, New Zealand.” Oh nee…

If you thought it couldn’t get worse, buckle in. 

The reason that so much attention was drawn to the Dutch’s clumsy faux pas is that four players from Spain had done the exact same, just a week before.

The traditional New Zealand ceremonial dance

While everyone is free to do the ceremonial dance, it has to be done with respect for the indigenous inhabitants of New Zealand, the Māori. New Zealanders saw none of that respect anywhere on the field. 

People quickly took to social media to share their opinions. The New Zealand-Australian actor from Star Wars, Jay Laga’aia, said “You come to our home and have no respect for our culture,” tells NU.nl.

READ MORE | Why does the Netherlands love orange? The full explainer

The Dutch quickly realised that it hadn’t gone down well. 

After not-very-convincingly denying that the players had performed the haka, the KNVB took down the images “out of respect.” 

The Dutch national coach, Andries Jonker, then added that Van Dongen’s blurt, “haka, New Zealand”, was just a joke. “If there’s something that we as a country are good at, it is respecting other countries and cultures.” (Umm, have you heard of Zwarte Piet?).

What do you think of Oranje’s faux pas? Tell us in the comments below!

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