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Helaas pindakaas, KLM cancels several Cityhopper flights from the Netherlands this summer

Naomi Lamaury
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Helaas pindakaas, KLM cancels several Cityhopper flights from the Netherlands this summer

Planning to escape the wet weather of a Dutch summer? Not so fast! After Transavia was forced to scrap flights this month, KLM is following suit and cancelling several of its European flights.

KLM’s subsidiary Cityhopper will be offering a reduced number of flights this June as a result of a technical parts shortage, reports RTL Nieuws. 

(Unfortunately, this means the chances of being flown by Dutch King Willem-Alexander, a secret occasional Cityhopper pilot, have just dropped significantly. 😢)

However, according to KLM, this should only be a few cancellations and the affected travellers should have enough time to rebook another flight with them and still jet off for the summer. 

New KLM aircraft isn’t ready

What kind of technical issues, you might be wondering? Well, KLM has a pretty good reason to put some flights on halt. New aircraft from the Brazilian manufacturer Embraer are suffering technical issues and cannot be put into service yet. 

The Dutch airline is currently consulting with Embraer and engine builders Pratt & Whitney to resolve the issue as soon as possible. 

For now, however, KLM will continue to use the old Embraer aircraft while waiting for the new ones to be ready. 

Transavia’s not flying either

Cityhopper isn’t the only Dutch airline with problems this summer. Transavia, another KLM subsidiary, also cancelled several flights earlier this month, leaving many Dutch travellers to reschedule their holiday plans.

READ MORE | Going camping in France: what you need to know

While rebooking was possible, the price for a new flight had, of course, already gone up. 

Adding insult to injury, two Transavia aircraft also suffered lightning damage and the company was unable to lease many more. 

With all the chaos hitting short-haul flights this summer, it looks like it might be time to explore international train travel, instead. Luckily, the Netherlands has no shortage of trains to Paris, Vienna, or London.

What is your favourite summer holiday destination? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

One Dutch cat just FLOODED a town hall this weekend (yes, you read that right!)

Simone Jacobs
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One Dutch cat just FLOODED a town hall this weekend (yes, you read that right!)

Ever wondered how much damage one cat can cause? Nee? Well, a certain tomcat decided to show us by wreaking havoc in a Dutch town hall. 

The town hall of Dokkum in Friesland had a surprise guest last Friday night. Only this guest didn’t bring wine and kaas. Instead, the furry interloper flooded the building with several centimetres of water, causing more than €10,000 worth of damage.

Some hairy evidence

Feline supporters may be wondering what evidence they have that it was a poes that caused the damage. Well, a contractor stopped by on the weekend and found a chair full of cat hair and several flooded rooms.

Translation: Can a cat open a tap like that? I think it’s quite an accusation. #Dokkum #kraan #kat #waterschade Cat causes water damage.

Wondering how the sneaky feline got in in the first place? According to NU.nl, the cat crawled through a hole in one of the floors and opened the tap of a pipe in the process. Oeps!

An expensive accident 

To make matters worse, month-long renovations to the town hall were just nearing completion when the damage occurred. Whilst the official opening of the town hall will still take place on May 22, 35 workstations of a total of 183 cannot be used due to damage.

Moisture soaked into the walls and furniture, and some water also got into the parking garage. Luckily the concrete floor was not damaged beyond repair and just needs some time to dry.

If you get shocked at how much your housecat is costing you after scratching up your couch, you can only imagine that Alderman Bert Koonstra is not impressed with costs ranging between €10,000 and €20,000!

“In Downing Street they have Larry the cat. We apparently have Doerak the tomcat here,” says Alderman Koonstra.

The water might have chased away any normal hydrophobic kitty, but this Dutch kat was only too pleased to stick around and watch the chaos unfold. Luckily, this made it easier for the cat culprit to be found and removed from the building. 

Has a cat ever caused an expensive mess for you to clean up? Tell us about it in the comments!

More clouds and rain? Ja, the Netherlands starts this week off with gloomy weather

Eva Gabriella
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More clouds and rain? Ja, the Netherlands starts this week off with gloomy weather

Clear skies and bright sunshine wouldn’t be appreciated as much in the Netherlands without a few clouds and rain showers. 

Similarly, our cloudy and rainy start to the week will turn to gold light rays by Friday, according to Weeronline.

A wet start to the week

A mixture of clouds, mist, fog, and a sprinkle of light rain will envelop the country this morning. 

Hoping for clearer weather in the afternoon? Unfortunately, not much will change over the course of the day as rain will fall from the west and move over the rest of the Netherlands. 

READ MORE | Need some peace and quiet this Spring? Visit the Japanese Garden in The Hague

Yet it’s not all doom and gloom, as temperatures will hover between 15 and 19 degrees Celsius and will stay that way throughout the week.

Occasional sun sightings

We’re likely to see fields of clouds remain sprawled across the sky tomorrow. Whilst showers may occur in the north and east, it’ll mostly stay dry. 

However, don’t get too excited! The dreaded wind will be charging from the north to northwest at a considerable speed, although not fast enough to blow your socks off. 🍃

READ MORE | 5 ways you can tell that it’s spring in the Netherlands

The sun may make an appearance or two if we’re lucky, though a real treat lies in store for us on Wednesday. 

Good things come to those who wait

From Wednesday to Sunday, the sun will shine bright like a diamond. Finally! ☀️

You may feel the urge to head to the beach and leap into the sea for a refreshing swim, but we must warn you that temperatures will be a cool 12 to 15 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, despite the sun. 

READ MORE | 15 things to do this spring in the Netherlands

There will be a mild dew on Thursday morning, though as the day progresses the skies will stay clear for the sun to appear.

By Friday, temperatures will hit a summery 23 degrees Celsius in the south. Time to get your garden furniture out or sit on a terrace! 🥳

What are your thoughts on the temperamental spring weather? Tell us in the comments below!

Feyenoord fever: why you shouldn’t take the train to Rotterdam on these upcoming days

Simone Jacobs
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Feyenoord fever: why you shouldn’t take the train to Rotterdam on these upcoming days

If you’re planning to go to Rotterdam on Monday for reasons that aren’t Feyenoord related, you might not want to take the train. The city is going to be buzzing on both Sunday and Monday. So, what the hell is going on? 

Feye-what?? In case you’re super new here, Feyenoord is the beloved football club of Rotterdam-South, and they stand to win the Dutch league this Sunday. 

If Feyenoord wins — and Roterdammers strongly believe they will — the NS expects train carriages on Sunday and Monday to become more packed than tuna in a can due to large crowds of Feyenoord fans heading to Rotterdam by train.

Sunday and Monday will be affected

First, Feyenoord should and is expected to become the national champion in the match against Go Ahead Eagles on Sunday, reports AD — and considering how intense Rotterdam supporters are, it’s best to be prepared. 

This will then be followed by the ‘huldiging’ on Monday, which will celebrate the win on Rotterdam’s main street, the Coolsingel, at 12 PM.

Ok, when can I expect the chaos to start?

Technically, the match on Sunday kicks off at 4:45 PM. However, the gates of De Kuip will open at 2 PM so supporters can start amping themselves up for the match. 

This means you might want to be an early bird if you have plans in Rotterdam. You can expect the city to be in a “jolly” mood the whole day.

If the beloved Rotterdam team win, don’t be surprised to see supporters taking a dip in the Holfplein fountain at the Coolsingel as is tradition — and many more shenanigans.

photo-happy-feyenoord-fans-taking-a-dip-in-hofplein-fountain-rotterdam-2017
Can’t compete with these Feyenoord frenzy vibes. Image: Abuzer van Leeuwen/Supplied

If previous years of Feyenoord fever are anything to go by, pre-celebrations will probably start earlier on Sunday, with the city centre filling up with celebratory hopefuls and, most likely, drinking fans. 

Although the match is on Sunday, if the Rotterdam team wins, the celebrations will then stretch to Monday, where the team will be honoured in front of Rotterdam City Hall.  

And they’re going to be BIG, the city is expecting more than 100K people to rock up for some classic football hooliganism — we mean celebration.

Rotterdam transport is prepping for a Feyenoord frenzy

To prepare for the hectic Monday in Rotterdam, more metros will be running in the city between 9 AM and 4 PM. 

Given that the team will be celebrated on the Coolsingel, the centre of the city will be closed to traffic. So if you’re travelling, you should treat yourself to a caffeinated drink before your commute and take detours and large crowds into consideration.

Yes, the municipality of Rotterdam is expecting many thousands of supporters in the city centre. But geen probleem! If you’re nervous of football fans, you can still rest easy. 

The city is prepared, with police deploying hundreds of people on Sunday and Monday to ensure that everyone has the best possible time celebrating. 

In 2017, when Feyenoord also won the league, the celebrations were ecstatic but also relatively peaceful.

Are you a Feyenoord fan? Well then, enjoy folks, the weather forecast is looking good and it’s been a long time coming. Tell us about your experience in the comments!  

Feature Image: Wouter Engler/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 4.0

What? The Netherlands is dropping down the EU rankings for LGBTI+ rights

Eva Gabriella
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What? The Netherlands is dropping down the EU rankings for LGBTI+ rights

In a turn of events that feels very un-Dutch, the Netherlands has sunk another spot in the global ranking for LGBTI+ rights. 

In fact, according to the NOS,  the Netherlands now sits in fourteenth place on the Rainbow Europe Index, an index created by the non-governmental organisation for LGBTI+ rights. 

But why?

The tiny country’s standards aren’t declining per se, instead other countries are surpassing them on the list by improving their initiatives towards the cause.

For example, in the Netherlands, intersex babies are undergoing unnecessary gendering operations where the sex of the child is determined by either their parents or healthcare professionals. This often leads to psychological problems in the unsuspecting child.

READ MORE | More Dutchies choose to make their baby announcements gender neutral

Secondly, researchers have reported through the Social and Cultural Planning Office that while there’s a law that criminalises insulting sexual orientation, there isn’t one in place that penalises those who insult one’s sexual identity and intersex people. 🤷

Additionally, the Council of State has ruled a negative vote for banning gay “conversion therapy” in the Netherlands as they believe a total ban would go against the freedom of religion.

Let’s be optimistic

While these revelations are of major concern though the Netherlands. The country continues to uphold its liberal and accepting nature, which is shown through fewer and fewer cases of discrimination against trans people.

What’s more? A new transgender law may soon allow someone to change their gender identity by simply booking an appointment at their local town hall. 

READ MORE | From the Stonewall riots to Roze Zaterdag: the origins of Amsterdam Pride

Look, of course, being in fourteenth place means other countries rise above the Netherlands, such as Malta, which stays firmly in first place for the eighth year in a row. 🥳

But that also means many countries lie below it. Namely, in Turkey and Azerbaijan, where among other things, same-sex marriages are, unfortunately, a no-go.

The Netherlands certainly has progress to make. However, we here remain among the fortunate few who can be open about their sexuality and sexual identity — and that’s a win in our books. 

Let’s hope in the future, the country will continue to stride forward when it comes to LGBTI+ rights.  

What are your thoughts on their drop in ranking? Tell us in the comments below!

Doei rain! Sunshine and over 20 degrees forecast for the NL this weekend

Lyna Meyrer 🇱🇺
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Doei rain! Sunshine and over 20 degrees forecast for the NL this weekend

It’s hard to believe on this gloomy Friday morning, but indeed, sunshine is on its way to the Netherlands. Hoera!

Yup, the sun (that big yellow ball in the sky, you might remember it?) is making an appearance for Mother’s Day, and we’ll get a weekend with temperatures of up to 23 degrees Celsius. ☀️

Time to get the sunnies out 😎

Both Saturday and Sunday will be mostly sunny and warm — ideal for outdoorsy Mother’s Day adventures (or just a cocktail on the terrasje 😉).

READ MORE | 15 things to do this spring in the Netherlands

According to WeerOnline, this weekend’s temperatures will be above average for this time of year, locally reaching up to 23 degrees Celsius.

Of course, there is a slight chance of precipitation on both days — it’s the Netherlands, after all. This will mostly affect the southeast of the country.

Back to gloom after Monday

If you really expected spring to last this time, we’re sorry to disappoint you. 🫠

From Monday onwards, the Netherlands goes back to its regular programme: wind, clouds, rain showers, and temperatures between 10 and 14 degrees.

How will you spend the rare sunny day? Tell us in the comments.

Flash delivery drivers in Amsterdam banned from settling in residential areas

Eva Gabriella
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Flash delivery drivers in Amsterdam banned from settling in residential areas

Enough is enough! The municipality of Amsterdam has decided that flash delivery services no longer have a place among residential neighbourhoods in the fast-paced city. 🚴

The decision was made after many residents voiced their concerns over the noise nuisance and traffic safety in their neighbourhoods, reports the NOS.

Kicked to the curb

The municipality issued a zoning plan on Wednesday evening which allows dark stores to reside along the curbs of business parks. 

Though, dark stores may be licensed to operate in a mix of both residential and work areas. It’s stressed that this would only happen in exceptional cases since the feelings of Amsterdam’s residents are of utmost importance. 

READ MORE | Online grocery shopping: a guide to Dutch grocery delivery services

Alderman Reiner van Dantzig of spatial planning ensures that “Amsterdam residents (will) get a nicer living environment in this way.” Hoera! 

You can’t please everyone 

Of course, the delivery services aren’t pleased that they’re being shunned from specific areas with the new zoning plan.

A spokesperson for Getir stated that “this zoning plan discriminates. It treats our sector differently from comparable services that also deliver.”

Since they have no say in the matter, Getir and Flink have announced a tightened code of conduct to adhere to the new regulations. At least, they’re not being kicked out for good. 😅 

What do you think about the municipality’s decision? Tell us in the comments below!

Dutch criminal Joran van der Sloot to be extradited from Peru to the US

Naomi Lamaury
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Dutch criminal Joran van der Sloot to be extradited from Peru to the US

Peru is planning to extradite Dutch criminal Joran van der Sloot to the United States and prosecute him for extortion over Natalie Holloway’s disappearance in 2005.

Holloway, an 18-year-old American student, went missing in Aruba after last being seen leaving a bar with Van der Sloot, according to the NOS. 

READ MORE | Joran van der Sloot: the story of a Dutch killer

Holloway’s body was never found. Van der Sloot then demanded $250,000 from the victim’s relatives in exchange for information about the location of the body. 

The Dutchman later admitted that these were false promises. If found guilty, he could be sentenced to 25 years of prison in the United States for extortion. 

Guilty of another murder in 2010

On top of all this, Van der Sloot is being extradited from Peru because he is already currently serving a 28-year prison sentence for murder…

Van der Sloot was found guilty of murdering the 21-year-old student Stephany Flores, five years after Holloway’s disappearance. 

READ MORE | 7 notorious Dutch criminals that will leave you shaking in your clogs

According to Peruvian authorities, he killed Flores in a hotel room after she asked about Holloway’s disappearance.

Van der Sloot will most likely be temporarily extradited to the United States to stand trial and then return to Peru. 

Shortly after the extradition’s announcement, Beth Holloway, the victim’s mother released a statement, writing, “as of this month, I have been without her for exactly eighteen years. She would be 36 years old now.”

“Together, we are finally getting justice for Natalee.”

Van der Sloot’s lawyer has said that they will challenge the extradition. 

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

Image: Aruba Police Force/Wikimedia Commons/Public domain/Modified

This Dutch airport will be closed until the end of June (hint: it’s not Schiphol this time!)

Lyna Meyrer 🇱🇺
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This Dutch airport will be closed until the end of June (hint: it’s not Schiphol this time!)

In a country where everything functions relatively well, Dutch airports are the odd ones out. On this week’s episode of airport chaos: The Maastricht Aachen Airport will be closed for renovation from May 8 through June 30.

Why? Because wear and tear in the runway’s asphalt can release small particles that may damage aircrafts. This needs to be fixed. 🛠️

A big job

The airport’s runway is 2,750 metres long and 45 metres wide, and more than 71,000 tons of new asphalt will be applied to it. 😳

But that’s not all: Dura Vermeer, the contractor company that is responsible for the renovation, will also be replacing around 1,000 light fixtures, fixing 15 kilometres of lines and 100 kilometres of cabling.

As NU.nl reports, the airport may see up to 250 construction workers on the busiest days of the renovation.

Work will be carried out between 7 AM and 11 PM, from Monday through Sunday. 🫠

… and an expensive job

The province of Limburg, a shareholder of the Maastricht Aachen airport, has put aside €35 million for the project.

According to the airport, Dura Vermeer’s contract price is around €22 million. Add to that the additional costs of plan preparation, project management and supervision, and there you have it — doei geld (bye money)! 👋

READ MORE | It’s official: Schiphol airport failed miserably in 2022

Sounds inconvenient? It is, but there’s a silver lining. Since there will be no air traffic for eight weeks, at least the nitrogen emissions from all this work are fully offset.

What do you think about Maastricht Aachen Airport’s big plans? Tell us in the comments.

Less chance of heatwave after showers, clouds and thunder in NL

Francesca Burbano
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Less chance of heatwave after showers, clouds and thunder in NL

It’s almost the middle of May, and the Netherlands is greeted by nothing but wet weather. On the bright side, there is less chance of a heatwave. 

These past weeks have made it hard to plan our outfit in advance: lots of rain and humidity, not the most ideal combination. 

But remember those extremely hot summer days that would reach up to 40 degrees Celsius a few summers ago?  Those days are behind us as “the chance of an extremely hot summer is smaller,” states meteorologist of Buienradar, Nicolien Kroon. 

The wettest spring in years

We can all agree: Dutch weather is unpredictable — you never know when the rain will hit you (hint: always keep your umbrella handy and ja, even when biking). 

While we’re used to a lot of rain, the Netherlands hasn’t seen such a wet spring since 1988…35 years ago. 😳 Reason behind it? “It’s due to the coming and going of low-pressure areas,” states Kroon to RTL Nieuws. 

While it is good for nature (trees and plants are certainly happy), too much rain can also be a problem for farmers and market gardeners with their seeding. “And we are all a bit fed up with it too,” says Kroon. 

A wetter summer

While the past three summers have been very dry and hot (cue flashback of extreme sweating), the rainy weather today is making up for those days.  

“This is good,” states Kroon, as “the water has all been nicely replenished; hopefully, we will have to spray a little less and more moisture will evaporate, making it a little less hot.”

What does this mean for the upcoming days? To burst your bubble, it will continue to be rainy and grey until the end of the week, with a chance of local thunderstorms towards the end of the day on Saturday and Sunday, lovely. 🙂  

But for the rest, the weekend should remain dry with temperatures up to 20 degrees Celsius and sun, just in time for Mother’s Day. 

After the weekend, the rain will continue to soak up the sun this weekend as much as possible. 

How are you managing this cold and wet spring weather? Tell us in the comments below!

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