Home Blog Page 312

Rows of TikTok tourists take over Amsterdam’s city centre

Lyna Meyrer 🇱🇺
-
9
Rows of TikTok tourists take over Amsterdam’s city centre

Fries, bubble tea, and cookies — a combination that not only makes for a perfect lunch break, but also appeals to millions of people on social media.

The power of TikTok is both a blessing and a curse — and the business owners on Amsterdam’s Negen Straatjes (Nine Little Streets) are proof of it.

While some stores serve thousands of customers daily, others are struggling with nuisances caused by them: blocked sidewalks, overflowing rubbish bins, and food in their stores.

The reason behind the huge lines of visitors? TikTok, where creators have been sharing Amsterdam’s food hotspots. And of course, everyone wants a piece of the pie.

Queuing for fries

The short videos get millions of views, and the demand for Fabel Friet which, according to TikTok creators, has “the best fries in Amsterdam”, is growing out of control.

The queue to the store, which opened in the Runstraat in 2020, can get so long that it crosses the Keizersgracht. While waiting in the queue, customers pass their orders to Fabel Friet using a QR code.

READ MORE | This expat’s TikToks about weird Dutch habits went viral (because they’re relatable AF!)

“We also permanently have two security guards, who ensure that the flow of the line is smooth and that people don’t eat on our neighbours’ doorsteps,” explains owner Floris Fleizer.

“We empty the municipal waste bins a few times a day”.

@alifewithsarah Theyre good tbf 🍟 #amsterdam #frites #food ♬ Hey, Mickey! – Baby Tate

While proud of the business’s success, he understands that his store’s popularity can burden fellow business owners and local residents.

“But what else can we do? I can’t really ask customers to stay away.”

A nuisance to other businesses

“Of course, I’m not happy about this,” the owner of a local clothing boutique tells Het Parool. She is frustrated about the daily lines that run hundreds of metres past her shop window.

These days, “I’m more concerned with keeping fries out of the store than selling clothes,” she says.

For many small business owners like herself, the so-called “TikTok line” cannot end soon enough.

READ MORE | 33 best things to do in Amsterdam in 2023 [UPDATED]

“We can talk and complain endlessly, and meanwhile, the city is deteriorating. Soon, all the small shops here will disappear, and the Negen Straatjes will become a kind of Red Light District.”

Cookies, bubble tea and a whole lot of rubbish

Also benefiting from the TikTok hype are Koekmakerij Van Stapele and Chun Café.

At Van Stapele, in the alley between Spui and Singel, people start lining up before the cookie store even opens. “It’s insane,” says the employee of a nearby coffeeshop.

Customers of Chun Café on the Berenstraat, which sells bubble tea and sandwiches, have to be handled by a crowd manager while they queue on two sides of the street.

@redchenko_marie 📍Chun Café Literally it’s worth every second of waiting, super good and tasty, 1000% recommend to visit if you are in Amsterdam #travel #thingstodo #bucketlist #mustvisit #bucketlisttravel #amsterdam #amsterdamcity #amsterdamguide #amsterdamfood #netherlands #netherlands🇳🇱 #amsterdamtips #amsterdamfoodguide #amsterdamfoodspot #chun #chuncafeamsterdam #chuncafe #sandwhich #ribeyesandwich #traveltiktok #travellife #visitamsterdam #visitnetherlands ♬ B.O.T.A. (Baddest Of Them All) – Eliza Rose & Interplanetary Criminal

So, what to do? The area manager of the Negen Straatjes, Lony Scharenborg, is not entirely sure.

“It is nice that people like to come here, but I also see the potential that the area could succumb to its success. These queues for eateries are not good for other entrepreneurs, and residents suffer from litter in the streets.”

What do you think about the TikTok crowds in Amsterdam? Tell us in the comments.

Hoera! Dutch house prices are even cheaper (and still falling)

Simone Jacobs
-
0
Hoera! Dutch house prices are even cheaper (and still falling)

Ready and raring to finally buy your own home? It may be the perfect time for that, with housing market prices currently falling and less overbidding.

According to RTL Nieuws, the average selling prices for Dutch houses are lower than asking prices for the first time in four years. You can take your pick of terraced houses, apartments, corner houses, detached houses, and semi-detached houses, as they are all selling for less. 

More houses for less

Figures from the largest association of real estate agents and appraisers in the Netherlands, NVM, show that house prices fell by a groot 8.2% compared to 2022’s first quarter. 

Don’t stress about not being able to find your perfect home, as there are also even more houses available to choose from. 

READ MORE | 7 ways buying a house in the Netherlands could save you money (wait what?)

In fact, there are almost double the amount of houses for sale this year compared to last year, with 31,000 homes for sale at the beginning of 2023 versus 16,500 in 2022. Looks like you’ll have the upper hand this time!

Wonder what house prices are like? The average price of a house is now €394,000. That might seem like a lot, but it’s a far better rate than you would have got with the expected 20% increase in house prices that was predicted last year.

Mortgage interest rates increase

If you’re all set to head out to that house viewing, you may need to gently nudge the brakes.

Whilst house prices may have decreased, the amount you can borrow from the bank has also gone down. You can thank increased mortgage interest for that. Niet leuk!

This is likely to hit sole earners the hardest. “Due to the interest rate increase, I can get a mortgage of €10,000 to €15,000 less,” Mirthe Kok, a 26-year-old sole earner, tells RTL Nieuws. 

House prices depend on region

House prices have fallen more steeply in some regions than others. Prices in North Brabant fell by 2.9% while those in North Limburg fell by more than 10%. 

There are also fewer home buyers in certain regions, with an increase in the popularity of homeownership outside of the Randstad. 

A spokesman for NVM explains that this might be due to the rise in people working from home thanks to Covid-19, which means you don’t necessarily have to live in or near a big city.

What do you think of the decreasing house prices? Tell us in the comments!

Football supporters attack LGBT+ youth group in Eindhoven

Francesca Burbano
-
0
Football supporters attack LGBT+ youth group in Eindhoven

On Saturday evening, 20 football supporters attacked an LGBT+ youth meeting being held in a COC building in Eindhoven. 

The COC is a national volunteer support organisation for LGBT+ rights, with local associations in many Dutch cities. 

According to COC Eindhoven, the football supporters that stormed the meeting ripped the rainbow flag from its pole and tried to set it on fire. When a volunteer asked the aggressive mob to stop, he received a blow to the head for getting in the way. 

The attackers also shouted homophobic and discriminatory slurs such as “kankerhomo” (which translates to “cancer gay”) at attendees of the youth meeting, reports Omroep Brabant. Most of these attendees were minors up to eighteen years of age.

Minors from the meeting are shocked

Fortunately, the volunteer that was assaulted is doing well, given the circumstances. According to the chairman of COC Eindhoven, Benjamin Ector, “the blow was not too bad, it seems that he has not suffered any permanent damage.”

The youth group that attended the meeting, on the other hand, was frightened by what happened, and help is being offered to those who need it. 

READ MORE | Even in Amsterdam: homophobes shoot gel gun at people sitting on gay bar’s terrace

“What started as a normal and pleasant meeting turned into a real hell,” Ector stated. 

Despite the flagpole being broken and the flag missing, Ector notes that the damage to the building could certainly have been worse.

Football supporters are getting a bad reputation 

The COC group suspects the attackers to be football supporters that attended the match between PSV and Excelsior, which started an hour after the incident, as they mentioned PSV during the encounter.

This isn’t the only time anti-gay violence has hit the news in recent weeks. Last Tuesday, anti-gay chants were heard against PSV player, Xavi Simons, by Spakenburg supporters. 

Ector told Omroep Brabant that, “as long as anti-gay chants are allowed, you normalise such behaviour. Someone has to say: here is the red line.” 

Translation: The recent words of hatred towards the rainbow community lead to acts of hatred. That has to stop! By teaching everyone from an early age to respect each other, no matter who you are and who you fall in love with. And through hate crimes…

The COC Eindhoven has invited the municipality of Eindhoven, the KNVB, and PSV, for a meeting to guarantee safety for everyone before, during, and after football matches. It also aims to put an end to anti-gay chants in football stadiums. 

What do you think about this incident? Tell us in the comments below! 

More rain and higher temperatures to hit the Netherlands this week

Lyna Meyrer 🇱🇺
-
0
More rain and higher temperatures to hit the Netherlands this week

Have you ever heard of the Dutch saying ‘April doet wat hij wil‘ (April does what it wants)? Well, we’re about to see the idiom in action.

From rough winds, to rain, to sunshine — this week’s weather will fluctuate more than the Netherlands’ housing prices. Strap in! 🌦️

Starting off strong

After a lovely long Easter weekend, Tuesday starts on a (more or less) good note.

In the morning, we’ll get lots of sunshine all throughout the Netherlands, accompanied by moderate-level windiness. ☀️

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

Lekker terrasje pakken (grabbing a terrace) after work? Not today, unfortunately. While temperatures will rise to about 14 degrees Celsius, clouds and strong winds will start to dominate in the afternoon, only to bring us rain later tonight.

Rainy days ahead

From Wednesday through Friday, Buienradar will be your best friend.

These three days will bring us turbulent (or just typical Dutch?) weather, WeerOnline reports, with strong winds and regular rain showers.

In good news, however, the sun will regularly pop out in between rain showers. Hoera!

The weekend brings us sunshine

From Saturday onwards, the wind will decrease, and we will see more of that big fiery ball in the sky (that’s the sun, everyone!). Temperatures will rise to 15 degrees Celsius.

And finally, the highlight of the week: a SUN-day that lives up to its name. On April 16, temperatures will rise, and the sun will come through more and more. ☀️

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

And the best part? Spring is here to stay! After the weekend, the weather will be much calmer, and temperatures are set to stay between 14 and 20 degrees. 🥳

What’s your favourite way to spend a sunny day in the Netherlands? Tell us in the comments.

7 ways buying a house in the Netherlands could save you money (wait what?)

Abuzer van Leeuwen 🇳🇱
-
1
7 ways buying a house in the Netherlands could save you money (wait what?)

Tired of throwing away your hard-earned cash on rent but not feeling wealthy enough to spend hundreds of thousands of euros buying a house in the Netherlands? Believe it or not, buying a house can actually save you some money in the long run.

Fair enough, getting a mortgage of €436,000 seems ludicrous when you spend two minutes in the supermarket trying to choose between spending €2.50 on Boursin or 90 cents on artificial garlic cheese.

Yes, I am that person, but at one point in my life, I also got a mortgage, and that turned out to be a life-changing, but a good, financial decision.

1. Mortgage costs are tax deductible — meaning you get some money back

Did you know that almost all mortgage-related costs are tax-deductible when applying for a mortgage?

Think of the advisory and mediation costs, the valuation report, the mortgage deed at the notary, and the costs for the NHG — all of these are tax-deductible.

Photo-of-woman-celebrating-because-she-has-saved-money-by-getting-a-mortgage-in-the-Netherlands
Your mortgage interest is tax deductible — and that means you save some money in the long run. Image: Freepik

Furthermore, the interest you pay is also tax-deductible for your own mortgage. In some cases, this lowers the monthly expenses significantly. 

For example, someone who pays over €4,500 for such costs could have €3,500 returned after a few months by the tax office. This whole process will be taken care of by the mortgage intermediary.

2. A mortgage is an investment — unlike rent

Paying rent is always a necessity when you first arrive in the Holland. 

However, after paying someone else’s mortgage for some time, it might be time to consider owning your own property in the Netherlands.

Many people are surprised that they have paid off quite a sizeable sum after a few years. Sometimes this is €20-30,000 in five years. That’s also real-life money flowing to your bank account if you decide to sell your house and move away from the Netherlands.

READ MORE | Interest, inflation, and lower house prices: what does this mean for Dutch housing?

Being an international isn’t an issue when it comes to getting a mortgage in the Netherlands.

3. Getting a mortgage now can save you money in the future

My pension could be healthier, so I’m keen to take care of my cash. But by opting to take out a mortgage now, I can save myself some financial burden in the future. 

In 25 years, when I pay off my humble home, I can live mortgage-free, or sell it and use that money to sail around the world.

Photo-of-couple-preparing-crib-for-baby-in-Dutch-house
Taking out a mortgage in the Netherlands is an investment in your future. Image: Freepik

READ MORE | 7 Dutch cities to move to right now (recommended by mortgage experts)

Of course, it works the other way around as well. If you sell your house for less than you bought it for, you might be left with debt.

But as long as houses in the Netherlands are in strong demand — which they currently are — that shouldn’t happen anytime soon. 

READ MORE | Your borrowing power for a Dutch mortgage in 2022

While the Dutch housing market is currently cooling down slightly, after eight years of boiling up, mortgage experts believe this won’t last for long.  

4. Inflation will be on your side

Inflation means that money is less valuable over time — and we’ve all felt it this past year. But it’s important to remember that it also means certain items increase in value. 

Photo-of-bike-parked-outside-row-of-houses-in-the-Netherlands
Dutch inflation rates can actually work with you instead of against you. Image: Freepik

For example, if inflation rises by 2% per year, (or y’know, 17% — it’s not a weird number for the Netherlands), then a house purchased for €300,000 one year will be worth €306,000 the following year.

It’s worth noting, however, that while the rent you pay is adjusted for inflation, your mortgage isn’t. 

For example, back in 2004, €500 a month was a lot to pay for a mortgage. Today, however, that’s a steal. 

5. You can deduct your interest payments from tax

There’s one important Dutch word that you need to know when it comes to deducting your mortgage interest from tax: ‘hypotheekrenteaftrek‘ — take it in. 

The best way to understand how the ‘hypotheekrenteaftrek’ works is through an example: 

If someone pays €885 per month, they may get up to €330 back from the tax office each quarter to compensate for that. This is because the interest we pay on our mortgage can be taken from our income tax. 

READ MORE | After buying a house in the Netherlands — the ultimate aftersale guide for expats

There are some maths involved when it comes to this, so it’s best to check in with your mortgage advisor. 😉

6. A new mortgage could stabilise your monthly expenses

If you’ve read any economic news in recent years, you’ve probably seen that interest rates, while they may be on the rise, are still low compared to the period before the financial crisis. But how can this help you stabilise your monthly mortgage payments?

photo-of-real-estate-agent-putting-sold-sticker-on-house-in-netherlands
Choosing to buy now is a smart move when it comes to Dutch interest rates. Image: Jeroen Stoop/Wikimedia Commons/CC3.0

Choosing to buy is a smarter move now than in the past few years because, with a more relaxed market, you can at least have the time to think about which property you would like to purchase — and maybe even negotiate on some occasions.

7. Current homeowners can also save money by buying a new house

Not only will new homeowners save money by buying a new house, but the same also applies to current homeowners. 

Did you know that when you have locked your current interest rate, your mortgage can actually move with you to a new place? The Dutch call this the meeneem hypotheek which means, “take your mortgage with you.”

READ MORE | Buying an old vs. new house in the Netherlands: the key differences

How will this save you money? The answer lies in those lower interest rates from back in the day. With a meeneem hypotheek, you can buy a new place and enjoy the lower interest rate that applied a few years back.

However, if you need an additional mortgage to compensate for purchasing a new place, the additional amount will be based on the currently available rates.

Obviously, many factors come into play with all of this, and for quite a few of these steps, you would need some expert advice. It’s always important to have an expert on your side when you’re making such a major life decision. 

Do you feel that you have saved money by buying a house in the Netherlands? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

It’s certain: no trains between Leiden and The Hague until at least April 18

Lyna Meyrer 🇱🇺
-
1
It’s certain: no trains between Leiden and The Hague until at least April 18

Bad news, commuters: due to the train accident in Voorschoten on April 4, trains between Leiden and the Hague will not run until April 18. Earliest.

This was announced by NS and ProRail on Thursday afternoon. Initially, they had aimed for April 11, but the damage has turned out to be greater than expected, writes the NOS.

Repair work has not started yet

While the freight train has entirely been removed from the accident scene, part of the passenger train is still in the meadow adjacent to the train tracks.

Initial investigations have shown that additional measures are needed before the derailed passenger train can be removed entirely.

Only after all parts and debris have been removed, repair works can start on the tracks, overhead lines, and underground cabling.

Buses to replace the trains

To replace the trains that usually run between The Hague and Leiden, buses will run between the two cities in the meantime.

They stop at The Hague Mariahoeve, Voorschoten, Leiden De Vink, and Leiden Centraal.

Details remain unclear

At around 3:30 AM on Tuesday, April 4, a freight train collided with a construction crane on a train track near Voorschoten.

A few moments later, a passenger train derailed due to parts of the crane that were on the track. As a result, nineteen train passengers were injured, and the 65-year-old crane driver died.

READ MORE | How did the train accident in Voorschoten happen? Experts weigh in

Many questions surrounding the accident remain unclear as of now.

Stay updated with all the news in the Netherlands by following DutchReview on Facebook.

Thousands of students in the Netherlands file lawsuits for energy allowance

Naomi Lamaury
-
0
Thousands of students in the Netherlands file lawsuits for energy allowance

Around 2,500 students in the Netherlands are challenging the municipalities’ exclusion of students from the national energy allowance. 

The legal consultancy firm Legal Advice Wanted is assisting these students in bringing the municipalities to court, reports Het Parool. 

The firm is assisting students that were denied the national energy allowance that was created to help low-income people manage the skyrocketing energy prices. 

READ MORE | 14 dang smart ways to save on energy costs in the Netherlands [UPDATED 2023]

Jaap Kotteman from Legal Advice Wanted says that they expect most of the court cases to begin in the coming months, writes Het Parool. 

What is the energy allowance? 

In 2022, the Dutch government created a one-off allowance of €1,300 for low-income people to manage the sudden rise in energy prices. Many people faced tripling prices in just a few months.

However, most municipalities decided that students aren’t eligible for this allowance.

The municipality of Amsterdam stated that students don’t compare to people that are living off a minimum wage. Umm, tell that to the students living off part-time jobs on the side of their studies. 

Students are left with the option of requesting from their municipalities a partial reimbursement through special assistance (bijzondere bijstand) but this has strict conditions that many students don’t satisfy. 

A win for the students of Amsterdam

Students in Amsterdam have already successfully challenged the municipality’s exclusion of students from the energy allowance. 

The case was brought to a judge, ruling that many students actually are in similar conditions to minimum wage employees and should be allowed to use the allowance.

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

The municipality is now reviewing students’ applications for the allowance. However, the fight continues as the municipality still set several conditions that exclude many students. 

The new allowance conditions in Amsterdam

One of the conditions is that students must have their own energy contracts to be eligible for the allowance. 

This rule still excludes many students that have an inclusive rent contract, meaning that the energy costs are paid as part of your rent by your landlord. 

Additionally, according to Kotteman, this isn’t a condition for non-students. Non-students “only have to be able to demonstrate that they have energy costs.”

READ MORE | Renting a property in the Netherlands: what you need to know

Since the judge’s ruling in Amsterdam, thousands of students have applied for help from Legal Advice Wanted.

The organisation hopes to help out students all over the Netherlands, including The Hague, Leiden, Rotterdam, Groningen, Utrecht, Delft, Amstelveen, and Diemen, among others.

What do you think about the student action? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Famous Dutch gorilla Bokito passes away in Rotterdam Zoo

Simone Jacobs
-
0
Famous Dutch gorilla Bokito passes away in Rotterdam Zoo

Bokito, the gorilla that made world news in 2007, passed away unexpectedly at Diergaarde Blijdorp last Tuesday. 

According to Het Parool, Bokito already didn’t look well last Sunday. The zoo kept a close eye on him and inspected his faeces on Monday, but he still hadn’t improved by Tuesday.

Wanting to take a closer look at him and give him extra fluids, the zoo decided to put him under anaesthesia to make it easier. 

Unfortunately, Bokito died during the anaesthesia, and it is still unclear how this happened.

Bokito’s escape from the zoo

On the zoo’s 125th anniversary in 2007, Bokito escaped from his enclosure. 

The gorilla frightened many of the zoo visitors and seriously injured a 57-year-old woman. She suffered many broken bones and dozens of bites on her arms and legs. 

Young Bokito gone too soon

Bokito, aged 27, died at a fairly young age for a gorilla. Most gorillas live to the age of around 40 years in the wild and 50 years in captivity. Bokito’s death is being investigated.

The gorilla was born on March 14, 1996, in a zoo in Berlin. He came to the zoo in Blijdorp in 2005 as part of a breeding programme, where he had ten offspring. Bokito even had a foster son. This is unusual for gorillas — Bokito was a pleasant surprise.

READ MORE | Dierentuinen: 10 best zoos in the Netherlands

Many are affected by the loss of Bokito. The gorilla group in Blijdorp and his caretakers are upset over his death, the zoo tells Het Parool.

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

How did the train accident in Voorschoten happen? Experts weigh in

Lyna Meyrer 🇱🇺
-
1
How did the train accident in Voorschoten happen? Experts weigh in

Two days after the horrible train accident in Voorschoten, many questions remain unanswered.

How could a freight train collide with a construction crane? What speed were the trains travelling at? When will we know more? While investigations are ongoing, experts are now weighing in to answer these questions.

Not much is certain

Many organisations are currently investigating the accident, but most don’t want to release any information until their research is complete. So, what do we know so far?

Sadly, not much. What is certain is that on Tuesday morning, just before 3.30 AM, a freight train collided with a mobile crane belonging to construction company BAM.

BAM was hired to work on the rails that night and kept two out of four tracks free for trains to run on. According to ProRail, the freight train must’ve not run on the two intended tracks, but on one of the ones that had construction on it.

After this first collision, parts of the crane will have ended up on a track intended for passenger trains, causing an NS intercity to derail just moments later.

Translation: A terrible train accident near Voorschoten, where, unfortunately, one person died, and many people were injured. My thoughts are with the relatives and with all the victims. I wish them all the best.

A human error

André van der Grift was the director of Saferail for eleven years — a company which assures safety during rail work. He believes the accident to be the result of a tragic human error.

“There is almost no other way,” he tells NU.nl.

The protocols and measures that come with rail work can take months, sometimes years, to implement.

A technical error can, therefore, almost certainly be excluded. “Work on a track where trains run really never happens. It’s a no-go,” Van der Grift explains.

A similar accident has not happened in almost 20 years, since 2004.

The speed of the trains

While not much is known about the speed of the freight train, the passenger train is assumed to have been going at a high speed.

ProRail spokesman Aldert Baas tells the NOS that, although Voorschooten is close to Leiden Centraal, the train was not meant to stop there, and was therefore driving at a normal speed.

Calculations using public GPS data from the NS passenger train estimate its speed to have been around 137 kilometres per hour.

Clarity will take a long time

Several organisations have come together to investigate the incident, including the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT), the police on behalf of the Public Prosecution Service, the Labor Inspectorate, the OVV (Dutch Safety Board), ProRail, the NS, DB Cargo and possibly BAM.

Police spokesman Dennis Janus tells the NOS how these investigations will take their course from here.

“We were able to see what happened, but how it happened, we have to look at. We walk through all scenarios. For example, we look at the installations such as switches, the technology, and we are also going to hear people.”

These kinds of investigations are complex and take a long time, he explains. It is likely that months will pass before we know what exactly happened in Voorschoten that Tuesday morning.

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

Freight train involved in accident at Voorschoten drove on the right track, says ProRail CEO

Naomi Lamaury
-
3
Freight train involved in accident at Voorschoten drove on the right track, says ProRail CEO

While the NS is working to restore the tracks by next Tuesday, several agencies are working to understand how the NS passenger train derailed in Voorschoten on April 4. 

With details still being uncovered about the train accident, ProRail CEO John Voppen took to Dutch talk show Op1 last night to clarify some points. According to Voppen, the freight train that hit the construction train had been on the right track, reports RTL Nieuws. 

READ MORE | Trains halted between Leiden and The Hague in the following days after serious rail incident

There were four train tracks on the route at the time, with two closed for construction work and two open for train traffic. Both the freight train and the NS night passenger train that followed it are thought to have been on the correct tracks open for traffic. 

Collision with a construction crane

As investigations into the incident have progressed, we now know a bit more about what happened last Tuesday.

Early in the morning on April 4, a freight train collided with a construction crane belonging to the construction company BAM. The freight train was severely damaged but not derailed. 

Then, at 3:30 AM on the same Tuesday, an NS passenger train collided with either the crane or debris from the crane and was derailed by the impact. 

While it remains unclear how exactly this happened, investigations are ongoing to uncover more details.

30 are receiving care

Of the 50 people on the passenger train, 30 were seriously injured, 19 are in currently in hospital, and three are in intensive care. 

The 65-year-old driver of the crane the freight train collided with was killed in the accident. 

RailAlert, a foundation that “provides a safe and healthy working environment for everyone working on Dutch railways”, says it’s waiting for the investigations’ conclusions.

Investigations are ongoing

Several organisations have come together to investigate the incident. The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) is leading the investigation. 

Additionally, the police, the Public Prosecution Service, the Labor Inspectorate, OVV (Dutch Safety Board), ProRail, the NS, DB Cargo and possibly the BAM are also investigating the accident. 

Train between Leiden and The Hague

Unfortunately, trains between Leiden and The Hague passing through Voorschoten are still on halt. The tracks are expected to be restored by Tuesday, April 11 next week.

In the meantime, NS buses are running between the two cities. 

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

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the freight train driver was killed in the incident. It was the crane driver who the freight train driver collided with who sadly lost their life.

1...311312313...739Page 312 of 739