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Tired of Dutch cities? 5 reasons to consider moving to ‘the country’

DutchReview Crew
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Tired of Dutch cities? 5 reasons to consider moving to ‘the country’

Swapping a Netherlands’ stad (city) for a dorp (village) might just be the best decision you ever made.

Having lived in Amsterdam for nine years, I have recently moved to a small Dutch village, so I feel qualified to explain why it is indeed possible to be tired of city life.

Firstly, I think we can all agree that the notion of “the country” in the Netherlands is very different to what is considered the country in other parts of the world. After all, an Australian living in “the country” can mean you are miles from anywhere.

READ MORE | Where to live as an international in the Netherlands: the complete guide

This is most definitely not the case in the Netherlands, which leads me to my first point in favour of moving to the country….

1. Remote-ish but close to important services

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The Dutch train network is incredibly well connected to the cities. Image: NS

Living in a small village in the Netherlands does not mean you are disconnected. If I travel 15 minutes by bike, I have the choice of two supermarkets and many essential shops. I may have to work a bit harder to get my groceries, but it does mean I shop smarter.

When I moved, I was worried about missing restaurants, bars, and cafes, all a short walk from home in Amsterdam.

But the bonus about living in a very small country like the Netherlands means you are always close enough to a big city, and the excellent freeways and train connections ensure you are never too far from a great lunch.

So, you get the peace and quiet (no student parties on the terrace next door all summer) and the big city vibe, just less often.

2. Fresh produce, from farm to table

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It doesn’t get fresher than this. Image: Freepik

My well-trodden walking route takes me past fresh eggs, onions and potatoes that are available all day via an honesty box (how quaint!).

There is a local farm that sells vegetables directly from their barn, and in April, a white asparagus and strawberry farm come to life.

I can support local farmers and feel confident I am buying fresh produce. 🍓

3. Quiet roads with plenty of room to run, walk and fiets

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Imagine this is your backyard. Image: Freepik

Navigating my local area in Amsterdam was, at times, a challenge.

My street was typically narrow, one-way, and crowded. If there wasn’t a truck of some description blocking the street (obviously at the exact time I left for work), then there was an assortment of bikes, scooters, cars, delivery vans and construction vehicles (so much construction!) all competing for space.

READ MORE | 7 scenic bike paths in the Netherlands

At times it was anxiety-inducing!

I now have long open paths that cut through fields and local drivers who slow down or stop to allow walkers past.

4. Feeling a bit more Dutch

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English is used less in villages than in the cities. Image: Depositphotos

In my last year in Amsterdam, I noticed English was increasingly being spoken in cafés and restaurants.

Every expat living in Amsterdam has experienced trying to order in their best Dutch, only to be served in English.

Well, when you live in a small village, you get to speak Dutch all the time! There is none of this switching to English.

Whilst a bit daunting at first, I feel my Dutch language skills might progress, and there is a sense of accomplishment that comes from operating in Dutch rather than falling back on English.

5. House prices!

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You get a lot more bang for your buck in the country. Image: Freepik

I do not wish to add to the ongoing and, at times, overwhelming discussion of house prices. And yet…..it has become apparent, that buying an apartment, let alone a house in Amsterdam, is becoming exceedingly difficult for the average punter.

READ MORE | How to buy a house in the Netherlands: 9 steps

Where I live, you can buy a four-bedroom house, with a garage and garden, for around €380,000. Funda suggests for the same price in Amsterdam you can probably buy a single car park.

Not everyone wants to live in a small village, but if we are talking value for money, then there is a lot of value (and space) to be found outside of the city.

Do I miss the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam? Sometimes. Investing in a great coffee machine is vital!

Would you switch the hustle and bustle of city life for a small town? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!

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Amsterdam to receive trainloads of rubbish from Rome — for sustainability??

Naomi Lamaury
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Amsterdam to receive trainloads of rubbish from Rome — for sustainability??

Amsterdammers already have a lot to deal with but now they will also have to take in weekly trainloads of the Italian capital’s garbage. Due to Rome’s insufficient capacity to burn its rubbish, the Dutch have offered to bring the waste to Amsterdam for incineration instead. 

Starting from the beginning of April, there will be a weekly train running between Rome and Amsterdam to bring a casual 900 tons of rubbish to the Dutch capital for incineration, reports RTL Nieuws. 

Why? You may ask. Well, believe it or not, it’s all in the name of environmentalism. 

No incinerator? We’ve got one! 

A big fire at Rome’s largest waste management facility has left the country’s waste management without an incinerator, making it insufficient. It will take at least until 2026 before the new facilities will be ready. 

Until then, Amsterdam has decided that it will take in all of the pizza, pasta, and parmesan leftovers. 

The Amsterdam Waste and Energy Company (AEB) and their Italian counterparts decided that the 1,700 kilometres journey from Rome to Amsterdam to burn the waste was the best solution for the residents of Rome and the environment. 

Better to burn it than bury it

Believe it or not, research by CE Delft found that this deal is the best solution for the environment, without leaving the people of Rome surrounded by rubbish.

Transporting the garbage for incineration is better for the environment than dumping all of the waste at a landfill in Italy. 

Echt? Ja. Dumping waste releases methane which is a very harmful greenhouse gas. You’re better off chucking it in the fire than letting it rot. 

Although the researchers did also point out that there are more options to process the waste than just this solution…

READ MORE | The Netherlands and Sustainability: Suprisingly not that good…

A big Tikkie sent to the Italians

So why did we opt for this one? Well, this move will cost the Italians. Although we don’t know exactly how much because the AEB doesn’t want to say exactly, the Italian newspapers have given us an indication. 

At €200 per ton of waste, the Dutch stand to earn up to €28 million over three years. 

READ MORE | Living in Amsterdam: the ultimate guide to Amsterdam life

The deal also includes the condition that the energy created from incinerating the waste will be used towards heating some homes in Amsterdam. AEB already does this to heat more than 30,000 homes around Amsterdam.

So it’s not all about the geld guys!

A history of taking in rubbish

It isn’t the first time that the Netherlands is taking in waste from Italy. 

In the year 2020 alone, 24 million tons of rubbish were imported to the Netherlands, which is about 30% of the total waste processed in the Netherlands. If we weren’t used to it before, it looks like we will have to get used to it now. 

What do you think about the deal? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Lekker? Giant meatball from extinct woolly mammoth unveiled in Amsterdam

Naomi Lamaury
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Lekker? Giant meatball from extinct woolly mammoth unveiled in Amsterdam

The Dutch capital is known for introducing new forward-thinking ideas to the world and today is just another example. You can now go see a giant meatball cultivated out of lab-grown woolly mammoth meat at the NEMO Science Museum in Amsterdam. 

Food scientists at the Australian cultivated meat firm, Vow, have grown meat from the proteins of an extinct woolly mammoth. And guess what they did with it? They cooked it into a huge meatball of course!

Did you say mammoth meat?

Yes, we did. Vow says that they chose mammoth meat specifically for this lab-grown meat experiment as a symbol of the loss caused by climate change, AFP reports. 

On their website, Vow writes that “The mammoth is a gigantic symbol of loss. We hope our meatball will resurrect conversations about meat and climate change.” 

READ MORE | 17 ideas that make the Dutch sustainability super-heroes

Although it does sound a little wacky, Vow says that the lab-grown protein from the extinct animal also illustrates the way for future foods. 

“We chose to make a mammoth meatball to draw attention to the fact that the future of food can be better and more sustainable,” Noakesmith tells AFP.

Is that… safe?

For now, we suggest you don’t dig in. 

At Nemo, guests will be able to look but not touch. Getting a taste yourself will have to wait a little longer as more testing is needed to make sure that the thousands-of-years-old-but-new meat is completely safe for us to eat.

Although Vow’s chief scientific officer, James Ryan, doesn’t seem too worried telling AFP that “It smelt a bit like when we cook our crocodile meat.” Lekker.

READ MORE | Dutch company will be the first in the world to sell lab-grown meat

Expert in alternative proteins, Christopher Bryant, tells AFP that lab-grown meat is a safe alternative as it avoids the usual pathogens, antibiotics, and other contaminants often found in conventional meat.

“Unlike conventional meat, which comes from dirty and unpredictable animals, cultivated meat is produced with extreme precision in sanitised food production facilities,” Bryant tells AFP.

How was the meatball made?

The food scientists grew the proteins that make up the meat over multiple weeks and completed them with genes from the mammoth’s closest relative, the African elephant, in order for the scientists to then cultivate the meat.

To give an idea of how massive this meatball is, it had to be browned on the outside with a blowtorch after being slow-cooked in an oven. 

Is it time to ditch conventional meat?

Lab-grown meat is a promising solution. Global meat consumption has almost doubled since the 1960s, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation. 

Global farming of animals makes up 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions caused by humans, playing a big role in climate change already affecting millions of people worldwide. Meaning alternative methods such as this could greatly help prevent further emissions. 

Not quite ready for mammoth meat? That’s fair. Maybe it’s time to try out vegan bitterballen?

What do you think about lab-grown meat? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Amsterdam prepares to launch Stay Away campaign targeting men from the UK

Francesca Burbano
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Amsterdam prepares to launch Stay Away campaign targeting men from the UK

Amsterdam has launched a new campaign, warning wild British sex and drug tourists to “Stay Away.”

Specifically, the online campaign will mainly target men aged between 18 to 35 from Great Britain. Why? They’re the demographic of tourists who tend to cause a lot of nuisance. 

This is especially the case in popular tourist areas such as De Wallen, the old city centre of the capital, which includes the Red Light District, reports RTL Nieuws. 

How will the “Stay Away” campaign work?

The campaign, which starts this week, will be triggered when people in Britain enter terms into search engines such as “stag party Amsterdam”, “cheap hotel Amsterdam” and “pub crawl Amsterdam.”

In an attempt to drive hopeful UK tourists away from Amsterdam, warning video adverts will pop up when showing the search results. 

The ads will describe the risks and consequences of excessive alcohol and drug use: fines, a criminal record, health damage, and hospitalisation. 

The message of the campaign is clear — a trip to Amsterdam may create the kind of memories you don’t want to relive. 

READ MORE | Amsterdam is considering an ‘erotic center’ to replace the Red Light District

However, it’s not just the Brits who need to be handled. The campaign will be further evaluated and developed in the coming months, aiming at tourists from other European countries as well — and even parts of the Netherlands. 

A ban on acting wildly 

For years, people have complained of drunken Brits acting despicably by urinating in public, throwing up in canals, stripping off in drunken brawls, and going on all-night drink and drug benders. 

Sofyan Mbarki, deputy mayor for economic affairs and the inner city, said that Amsterdam was already taking measures against excessive tourism and “irresponsible” growth. 

In a press release statement, he stated that “visitors are still welcome, but not if they misbehave and cause a nuisance.”

Mbarki went on to say that “we have to do even more in the coming years if we want to give tourism a sustainable place in our city.” 

READ MORE | Sex work is work: etiquette and a guide to Amsterdam’s Red Light District

Following the “Stay Away Campaign”, the “How to Amsterdam” campaign will also start this month, aimed at tourists that visit Amsterdam. 

The campaign will tell tourists what is and what is not allowed in the city, for example, with signs forbidding urinating in public, drunkenness, buying drugs from street dealers, and causing noise pollution. 

To combat nuisance tourism even further, it was previously announced that smoking weed in Amsterdam’s city centre will be banned from mid-May. No smoking = no rowdy tourists. 

What do you think about these campaigns? Tell us in the comments below!

This Dutch province is in the best economic position in Europe (and it doesn’t surprise us!)

Simone Jacobs
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This Dutch province is in the best economic position in Europe (and it doesn’t surprise us!)

Where is the best place to live and work, you ask? According to Trouw, the province of Utrecht is your answer, beating out 230 regions for the best economic competitive position in Europe. 

That’s right. The Regional Competitiveness Index (RCI) measures the ability of a region to offer an attractive environment for companies and residents to live and work. And Utrecht is our hero! 🥇

The criteria for the win

The EU commission based the index on 70 indicators consisting of economic factors and other quality-of-life measurements.

READ MORE | 18 unmissable things to do in Utrecht in 2023

Some of the indicators that are considered every three years include low corruption, the presence of healthcare and educational institutions, as well as employment of younger individuals and women. 

Utrecht’s rise to the top

The 2019 edition of the RCI had Utrecht sharing second place with London, with Stockholm coming in first. This time around, Utrecht beat Stockholm for the top position. 🎉

All Dutch regions scored fairly well, with higher regional competitiveness in the northwest of the Netherlands. 

Praise all round

The commissioner of Dutch King Willem-Alexander, Hans Oosters, says, while receiving the prize in Brussels, “As the province of Utrecht, we are very proud. The Utrecht region is a very attractive area, students like to live and work here for a reason.”

READ MORE | Moving to Utrecht: everything you need to know about living in Utrecht in 2023

“A strong economy, good cooperation between governments and the business community and an attractive climate for innovative entrepreneurs — it is all-important for the future of the Netherlands and Europe,” praises Prime Minister Mark Rutte “the Utrecht region has shown how successful their approach is. A wonderful result.”

Proost to Utrecht! We are all proud of you. 

How do you feel about Utrecht’s success? Tell us in the comments!

More breathing room: the Netherlands introduces a ‘smarter academic year’

Lyna Meyrer 🇱🇺
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More breathing room: the Netherlands introduces a ‘smarter academic year’

Today, pilots for a “smarter academic year” are starting in the Netherlands. Kicking off the project is the University of Amsterdam.

Over the next few years, a total of fifteen universities will take part in various pilot projects, which are meant to give teachers and students more “space and peace”.

The pilot phase of this project will run until 2026 — and the government is allocating a whopping €13 million to it.

Make universities great again

Research by De Jonge Akademie has revealed that the Dutch academic year is long and intense. Oh echt?! 🫠

On average, as the government claims, Dutch school years are about nine weeks longer than at other, comparable European institutions.

READ MORE | Studying in the Netherlands: the ultimate guide

Where students at your average Nederlandse university have 30 educational weeks, students at Ghent University (Belgium) have 24, and at St. Andrews in Scotland, only 21. 😳

The result? Stressed students, tired teachers, anxious researchers, and a whole lot of pressure.

But that’s not all! What makes things even worse is that, outside of the weeks where lectures and exams take place, students get no breathing room. AT. ALL.

Because exams and deadlines are often scheduled right after holidays, students spend their Christmas “break” with their heads in the books, cramming for upcoming exams. 📚

Here’s the plan

To make the academic year more manageable, all while maintaining the A+ quality of Dutch education, the researchers of the De Jonge Akademie have come up with a plan, which Minister of Education Dijkgraaf is gladly putting into action.

In total, 42 pilot projects will allow universities across the country to test out the new and improved academic year.

READ MORE | Student loans, financing, and scholarships in the Netherlands in 2023

The projects boil down to two major points of improvement: reducing the number of weeks with education and exams, and organising the existing educational activities in a better way.

More time and flexibility

While teachers and researchers will get more time for research and scientific activities, the measures should give students more time for extracurricular activities, internships, and summer school.

READ MORE | Rejected! University of Amsterdam plans to admit fewer international students

Each university can choose up to three measures to implement and test. The University of Groningen, for example, is choosing to schedule fewer teaching and testing weeks in some of their bachelor programmes, according to de Volkskrant.

What do you think about the government’s plan to make the academic year more manageable? Tell us in the comments!

This week’s Dutch regional public transport strikes cancelled, conversations continue

Francesca Burbano
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1
This week’s Dutch regional public transport strikes cancelled, conversations continue

After weeks of strikes affecting regional public transportation in the Netherlands, transport staff will not strike this week. 

This is the result of the talks between trade unions and employers over the past few days, which will continue this week, reports NU.nl. 

According to the trade union FNV (Federation of Dutch Trade Unions), “good steps have been taken.” Eindelijk (finally)! 

An anticipated agreement between the two parties 

For weeks, employers have not met the demands of the trade unions: reducing their workload and a salary increase, that is. 

This resulted in continuous strikes, with regional public transportation being affected. 

But hopefully, no more! 

These conversations have been led by two former trusted members: FNV (Federation of Dutch Trade Unions) chairman, Han Busker, and director of the employers’ association AWVN (General Employers Association of the Netherlands), Harry van de Kraats. 

No strikes on Wednesday or Thursday 

The trade unions have temporarily paused their strikes to have these conversations, with planned strikes on Wednesday and Thursday not taking place anymore. 

Since no agreement has been reached yet, the strikes for next week continue, so passengers prepare! These strike days are planned for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. 

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

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

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
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Interest, inflation, and lower house prices: what does this mean for Dutch housing?

The Dutch housing market has seen some significant changes over the past year. What does this mean for current hopeful homeowners — and what does it mean for 2023? 

We were tired of these questions running around in our heads, so we decided to tackle them.  

What do the current lower house prices mean for hopeful home buyers?

If you’re anything like us, your ears probably perked up at the recent news that Dutch house prices are continuing to cool off. 

However, when it comes to housing news, it’s sometimes hard to hear good news and not question it — so we did.

According to the experts, it’s good news, if prices go down even a little, it’s more advantageous for buyers. However, they don’t know if they will drop as low as we saw in 2008.

Photo-of-couple-sitting-on-couch-hoping-to-buy-house-in-the-Netherlands-while-Dutch-house-prices-are-lower
There’s actually some good news for hopeful homeowners in the Netherlands. Image: Freepik

What we’re seeing is that there are fewer people showing up for house viewings, and while there was a real bidding war in 2021, from what the experts have seen, overbidding is almost gone. 

READ MORE | Good news! Buying a Dutch house may no longer be a distant dream for young people

A reduction in overbidding will certainly help hopeful homeowners pay slightly less for their dream home — and this is a trend that is set to continue. As of January of this year, estate agents have announced that they will be more transparent during the bidding process.

How will rising mortgage interest rates affect Dutch mortgages? 

In 2022, the Netherlands saw its record-low mortgage interest rates rise again to rates as high as 4.5%. The result? Many people are wondering how this will affect future mortgages.

It’s important to understand that in the Netherlands, mortgage interest is factored in when calculating your borrowing power. The higher the interest, the less money you can set aside for the actual buying of the house.  

However, higher interest rates aren’t all bad news when it comes to your mortgage. In fact, mortgage interest can be deducted from your gross income — meaning that you actually save a bit of money when tax season rolls around.

Why? The higher the interest rate, the higher the amount that you can deduct from your gross income. 

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Rising Dutch mortgage interest rates aren’t all bad news for internationals. Image: Freepik

While rates have indeed risen this past year, it doesn’t look like they will rise any further. While, indeed, mortgage interest rates tripled in 2022, the current Dutch mortgage interest rates are still very attractive when compared to interest rates in other countries.  

Rates of 4.5% on the long-term market are really below average, so they are still an attractive interest rate. Internationals find 4.5% not that high; it isn’t as high as in many of their countries.

READ MORE | 8 steps to getting a mortgage and buying a house in the Netherlands for expats

Moral of the story, Dutch mortgage interest rates have risen — and there are both advantages and disadvantages for Dutch home buyers. That being said, relatively speaking, mortgage interest rates in the Netherlands are still quite favourable! 

How will the extra €75,000 from the Dutch government help mortgage applicants?

In 2022, the Dutch minister for housing, Hugo de Jonge, announced that the Dutch government would soon help those with middle incomes (between €40,000 and €60,000 a year) to buy a home. 

How? By introducing a housing subsidy of up to €75,000, which buyers can put towards their offer on a house. 

However, the implications of this subsidy are not so simple. First of all, the subsidy is not set in stone. Mortgage advisors make a calculation based on the hopeful buyers’ income. So while someone’s income may make them eligible for the subsidy, the question still remains: are they eligible for the mortgage?

While receiving a subsidy of €75,000 sounds great, it’s important to realise that, as the Dutch say, we’re “taking a cigar from our own box.” 

Recipients of this subsidy must repay this amount back to the Dutch government when they decide to sell their home. In fact, if you make a profit on the sale, part of this profit will also have to go back to the Dutch government.  

What do you see happening for the current generation of home buyers? 

We asked the burning question: what about us? — ehh, we mean, all the people who are dreaming of having a home in the Netherlands at some point. 

The answer to this question depends on how the current housing shortage in the Netherlands will continue to develop. The Netherlands currently has a shortage of houses. It needs about 350,000 houses to tackle it. If nothing is done, this will rise to a million.

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How does the Dutch housing market look for young people who hope to buy a home in the Netherlands? Image: Freepik

While Hugo de Jonge has announced that the Netherlands plans to tackle this shortage by building 900,000 extra houses by 2031, the execution of this plan may prove to be difficult. 

READ MORE | Just stack em! Dutch government wants to build new houses on top of old ones

However, for internationals, there’s still some opportunity to be found in the Dutch housing crisis. Why? Well, turns out the Dutch housing crisis isn’t the worst one out there. In fact, it could even be described as favourable. 

On average, expats have well-paid jobs, have more in savings, and many of them compare the Netherlands to even more expensive homelands. Houses in Amsterdam are not as expensive as houses in Paris, for example.

What will the nitrogen crisis and the energy crisis mean for housing? 

The nitrogen and energy crisis has affected almost every aspect of life in the Netherlands, including housing. 

Due to factors such as increased costs for building materials, permit issues, and a personnel shortage, the building of new houses has faced a lot of disruption this year.  

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How does the Dutch nitrogen crisis feed into the Dutch housing crises? Image: Freepik

The energy crisis has also led to a new trend in Dutch housing. With the cost of heating your home being quite expensive at the moment, future homeowners are looking for sustainable measures in their potential homes.

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

Ultimately, the current energy and nitrogen crisis will affect both future and current homeowners. Future homeowners are going to be looking for houses that are more sustainably made — and current homeowners are going to be renovating their homes to appeal to them.  

Is now the time for internationals to buy houses in the Netherlands? 

The answer to this question is quite relative. Why? Because it depends on what you consider to be a “bad” housing crisis. 

Photo-of-international-couple-moving-into-house-they-bought-in-the-Netherlands-with-high-interest
Internationals can still buy a house during the current Dutch housing crisis, don’t give up! Image: Freepik

Many internationals in the Netherlands are running from far worse housing crises. As a result, the Netherlands’ house prices are, surprisingly, quite appealing. Yep, that’s right, this is the world we live in, folks! 

While internationals are less deterred by the current Dutch housing prices, Dutch buyers are much warier. The result? More housing opportunities for international buyers.

The takeaway is simple, while the Dutch housing market may seem scary, there are still opportunities for internationals — and we need to hold onto that. 

How do you feel about the housing market in the Netherlands? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Watch your words: Six Dutch police officers suspended following racist comments

Naomi Lamaury
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Watch your words: Six Dutch police officers suspended following racist comments

Six Dutch police officers were suspended on Sunday after posting a video with racist comments whilst in Paris, France.

According to NU.nl, the group of police officers drove through a street in Paris last week, making racist comments about people of colour and filming the incident as a social media video. 

The video was said to have been shot while the group of officers were off-duty in Paris for the Netherlands vs. France football game. 

Sparking an uproar on social media, a police investigation was subsequently launched into the statements made and the officers’ involvement.

Racist comments

The video shows the officers commenting multiple times that there is only “one white person” to be seen. 

READ MORE | As a Black man, I can tell you that institutional racism in the Netherlands is running rampant: OP-ED

The video shows another person commenting: “There’s another one with a bomb belt here.”

At another moment in the video, an officer asks the group: “You are filming as if we are driving in a zoo, aren’t you?” and a person agrees with the question. 

One officer also asked the group whether they wanted “more or less” and the group responded with “less, less, less” in reference to PVV (Party for Freedom) leader Geert Wilders’ controversial Moroccan ruling. 

In 2014, Wilders asked at an election meeting whether those attending wanted “more or fewer Moroccans” and the crowd chanted “less, less” in response. To which he then replied, “Then we will arrange that.” He was then found guilty of group insult by The Court of Appeal in The Hague. 

Police response

The police chief of the East Netherlands, Janny Knol, told NU.nl: “As the police, we are very shocked by these images and statements because we want to be a police of and for everyone.” 

“The behaviour of these colleagues, even though they were in their private time, is not in keeping with this and is completely unacceptable.”

READ MORE | How to support anti-racism in the Netherlands beyond social media

According to the police spokesperson, the six officers are denied access to all police locations while the investigation is open. 

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

Grab your umbrella: More rain to hit the Netherlands this week

Simone Jacobs
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Grab your umbrella: More rain to hit the Netherlands this week

Dying to finally say hoi to spring? We may have bad news for you, as a wintery start to the week means you can’t put those winter coats away just yet. 🥶

According to Weerplaza.nl, this week is off to a rather miserable start, with the weather varying for the rest of the week.

Monday blues

With wind, wet snow, hail and rain all in one week, it looks like a little bit of winter is sneaking into your spring day.

Monday may start off frosty, with temperatures hovering around 7 to 8 degrees Celsius, but don’t worry, because the sun will peep through the clouds during the day.

A fairly dry and sunny Tuesday will follow. It might be a cloudy afternoon with some light evening rain, but it won’t get warmer than a chilly 8 degrees Celsius.

A warmer, but rainy, week ahead

Wednesday is expected to be warmer, with a maximum temperature of 14 degrees Celsius. Although you’ll have to contend with some clouds and the possibility of rain, the warmer temperatures just might give you a chance to pick some beautiful bloemen (flowers).

We’ll see the highest temperature of the week on Thursday, at 16 degrees Celsius. The day will experience a cycle of clouds, sun and light rain, with a heavier shower possibly making an appearance inland.

Translation: Winter is back a bit today. It is quite cold and there are showers with a chance of wet snow and hail. The sun shines between the showers.

A windy weekend

The weekend will start off with a very windy and rainy Friday. (Good luck to any cyclists willing to fight that battle! 😬)

The wind will continue throughout the weekend, with rain or showers expected daily. 

How do you feel about this week’s weather? Tell us in the comments!

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