Home Blog Page 322

5 reasons why a SIM-only subscription is the best choice for internationals in the NL

Liana Risseeuw 🇱🇰
-
0
5 reasons why a SIM-only subscription is the best choice for internationals in the NL

Are you an international trying to get a Dutch number, but don’t want the whole hog of needing to buy a phone, too? Well, it sounds like you might need to check out a SIM-only deal! 💁🏻‍♀️

Between figuring out the weird beast that is the Dutch tax authority, to navigating the perilous waters of Nederlands, the life of an international in the Netherlands isn’t easy — factor in choosing a SIM subscription, and you’re just about swamped.

Maak je geen zorgen (don’t worry), because we’ve got a small cadeautje: five reasons why choosing a SIM-only subscription is your best option. 🙌

1. It’s cheap (and that’s the best price!)

These days we’ve got bills to pay, inflation to contend with, and Tikkies to send. Our wallets are drained, and we’re all looking for the best kortingen (discounts) on mobile data subscriptions.

Enter… (drumroll please!) SIM-only subscriptions.

photograph-of-a-Dutch-man-in-a-beige-turtleneck-looking-at-his-phone-using-sim-only-subscription-whilst-his-laptop-and-cup-of-coffee-sit-on-the-cafe-table-next-to-him
Finding a SIM-only contract that’s cheap and powerful enough for you? Easy as pie! Image: Freepik

A SIM-only deal is a type of contract where you pay a monthly rate for the texts, calls, and mobile data that you use. As you aren’t paying off a mobile phone through your subscription (hence the name “SIM-only”), you’re shaving off a huge chunk of the cost.

READ MORE | Mobile phones and SIM cards in the Netherlands: the ultimate guide

Adding to the magic, this means that they’re priced lower than ordinary subscriptions. Instead of paying upwards of €50 to €60 per month, your SIM-only deal will average around €10 to €30.

2. There’s no long-term commitment

Not a fan of heavy dedication or drawn-out goodbyes? Geen probleem (no problem), because a SIM-only subscription won’t bug you for a committed relationship. 😉

Maybe you’re still trying to decide if the subscription is for you? Well, you can temporarily pause your subscription next week, next month, or next year. You’re fully in the driver’s seat, and the choice is yours.

Contrast that to your typical smartphone+SIM subscription — where you’ll have to keep paying off the price of your mobile till your contract ends — and this makes life much easier.

Note: Depending on your subscription, you may have to give notice of your cancellation within a certain period. Although you can temporarily pause your subscription, cancelling it may incur additional costs.

3. Internationals have deals galore

They say variety is the spice of life, and this definitely rings true for internationals looking for the perfect deal to power their online life.

Two-friends-laughing-in-a-Dutch-cafe-whilst-sharing-memes-on-their-phones
Sending your new friends adorable pictures of your cats? Your sim subscription had better be purrfect! 😻 Image: Freepik

Luckily, SIM-only subscriptions are here to slay. 💅

If you’re intent on travelling around Europe while you’re Netherlands-based (hoera for digital nomadism! 🌴), you can bag SIM-only deals that are valid throughout the EU.

Or maybe you’re a cosy homebody, and you’re looking for the perfect internet connection for those Netflix and chill weekends? You’re a lucky duck because a Ziggo internet connection will give you a tasty korting (discount) on some SIM-only deals.

Perhaps you’re homesick and love Facetiming your family, instead? An unlimited data deal would then be a solid choice.

There’s truly a deal for everyone, from the aspiring influencer that needs ALL the gigs to upload their TikToks to the student on a budget that’s counting every cent.

4. They’re as flexible as a master yogi

Whether you’ve recently ditched the yoga studio or the two of you were never besties, a SIM-only subscription will definitely be flexible enough for you.

And no, this doesn’t mean that your SIM-only subscription can do an impressive headstand — it’s even better than that.

woman-looks-at-a-yoga-app-on-her-phone-whilst-using-a-sim-only-subscription-and-sitting-on-a-mat
A SIM-only subscription in the Netherlands is all the flexibility you’ll ever need! Image: Freepik

SIM-only contracts are easy to set up, making them one of the best decisions for tourists or those new to the Netherlands.

Ja, hoor, you can just choose your package, buy your SIM, pop it into your mobile, and you’re good to go.

There’s literally no reason to not take the plunge and try out a SIM-only subscription. 🤷🏻‍♀️

5. Dutch bureaucracy? We don’t even know her

SIM-only subscriptions are easy peasy lemon squeezy to set up and will save you from a lot of headache-inducing red tape.

No forms, papers, and hoops to jump through to get a Dutch number? Sign us right up! 🥳

Your transition to life in the Netherlands will be off to a running start, as you won’t be sitting around and waiting for a valid mobile connection to get your utilities, GP registration, and other fiddly bits sorted.

In addition to this, as you won’t be paying off a mobile phone during your subscription, you may even avoid a loan registration at the BKR (Credit Registration Office).

Done and dusted, these are just five reasons why SIM-only subscriptions seriously kick ass. 🙌 Now, get that phone sorted, call up your friends, and start sending those Tikkies! 

Will you be checking out a SIM-only subscription? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

STAP applications postponed due to MAJOR technical issues

Lyna Meyrer 🇱🇺
-
0
STAP applications postponed due to MAJOR technical issues

The long-awaited STAP budget round that was meant to open earlier today has been postponed due to MAJOR technical difficulties.

The government-funded training subsidy allows eligible employees to develop their professional skills via education and training.

The first round of 2023

A total of €170 million are allocated to the subsidy each year and split among applicants in several registration rounds. Each applicant can apply for a €1,000 contribution for the development of their professional skills.

READ MORE | Five facts about the STAP subsidy that will inspire you to upskill your career

This morning, during what was meant to be the first application round of 2023, hundreds of people were left waiting to get their hands on the contribution, but in vain.

Since the major technical malfunction could not be solved in the short term, the applications for the STAP budget have been closed for now, and will not be open until further notice.

Frustrated applicants

Frustrated applicants are taking to Twitter to express their anger (and confusion) with UWV, the benefits agency behind the STAP application.

Chaos broke out at 10:30 AM when the STAP application website stopped working due to technical malfunctions.

As RTL Nieuws reports, the UWV had hoped to resolve the issue by 11 but did not manage.

Second postponement

After the technical malfunction, this will be the second time that this round of STAP applications will have to be postponed.

The round that should have originally taken place in January 2023 was initially postponed due to concerns that the budget was being misused.

For now, not much is known about when the application will be back up.

What do you think about the technical malfunction of the STAP application? Tell us in the comments!

OMT announces no need for a new round of COVID-19 vaccinations this spring

Liana Risseeuw 🇱🇰
-
0
OMT announces no need for a new round of COVID-19 vaccinations this spring

Feeling needled by all the Covid-19 shots you’ve had to get? Well, you may not have to get another jab, as nearly everyone in the Netherlands has now built up sufficient immunity to do without them! 💪

According to an advisory report by the Dutch Outbreak Management Team (OMT) for vaccinations, there is no requirement for a fresh round of vaccinations this spring.

The OMT was asked to compile a report on the desirability of another round of vaccinations due in spring 2023, with input from experts in the fields of epidemiology, vaccinology, virology, and immunology (among many others).

Re-vaccinations may not be necessary

RIVM vaccination studies included in the report have also discovered that antibody levels plateau after a fourth booster.

This entails that further re-vaccinations (such as the bivalent booster due in spring 2023) will likely only have a minimal effect in building up antibodies in an individual that already has stable protection.

woman-getting-vaccine-doctor
Even the elderly experience milder infections. Image: Depositphotos

Even at-risk groups, such as the immunocompromised and the elderly, have been noted to be experiencing far milder infections.

As such, a general re-vaccination round for even these groups is not advised.

However, the report also makes it clear that re-vaccinating the severely immunocompromised will vary on a patient-to-patient basis, and should be discussed with one’s healthcare provider.

The virus is no longer a pandemic

The report also states that, from an epidemiological perspective, omicron and its sub-variants are no longer a pandemic.

This is because a pandemic refers to an uncontrollable spread of a virus that puts a strain on public healthcare infrastructure.

As the virus and its strains are currently endemic, they are a constant viral presence that is easier to prevent. 🦠

In addition, the advisory report noted that with the high degree of accumulated immunity in the population (via infection, vaccination, or a combination of both) and the milder strains of the new omicron variants, the disease burden would likely remain low.

The House of Representatives will need to assess the report

The OMT’s report will be sent to the House of Representatives for a final decision.

Depending on their decision, the advice outlined in the report will either be followed or disregarded.

What do you think of the OMT’s decision? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

Northern Lights visible for a second night in a row in the Netherlands

Mihály Droppa
-
0
Northern Lights visible for a second night in a row in the Netherlands

Did you see it? Dutch residents were able to see the Northern Lights again last night!

All Dutch social media platforms are full of leuke fotos of the recent natural phenomenon. 

Many people travelled to the Dutch coast to see the Northern Lights, RTL Nieuws reports. 

Let’s go!

On the second day in a row, even more people have decided to drive to the sea to see the lights in person. 

One of the best spots was Zwarte Haan, a hamlet on the Wadden Sea, where a real traffic jam escalated on the road to the beach to catch a glimpse of the aurora. The Northern Lights were also visible from as far south as Zeeland.  One Belgian couple  drove two hours to see it, according to the NOS. 

“My girlfriend was in Lapland the other day, and there she saw the green northern lights. When we heard it could also be seen here, we got in the car. Here it’s red.” – said a tourist on the beach to NOS. 

Take a look at the last evening’s snaps!

Have you seen the Northern Lights in person? Do you have pictures? We would love to see it! 

Another round of Dutch regional public transport strikes starts today

Lyna Meyrer 🇱🇺
-
1
Another round of Dutch regional public transport strikes starts today

Yup, here we go again. Fifteen more strike days have been announced for Dutch regional public transport, and the first one is TODAY.

The rest of the strike days will take place over the coming six weeks, and affect Openbaar Vervoer country-wide. Yikes! 😮‍💨

Strikes aren’t going anywhere

In case you don’t know why this is all happening (and has been for weeks): It’s because there has yet to be an agreement on ongoing collective labour negotiations.

What do the trade unions demand? A wage increase for about 13,000 employees. 📈

Trade union FNV wants the salaries of the affected workers to be increased by 16.9% over a one-year period, while the CNV demands a 14% increase over 18 months.

READ MORE | It’s over! Dutch garbage collectors reach an agreement, all strikes are off

The VWOV (Employers Association Association of Employers Publicrepeatedly indicated multiple times that it cannot match the demanded salary increases. Their last offer was an 11% increase.

While people are starting to get fed up with the situation, the strikes likely won’t go anywhere until an agreement is reached.

Plan ahead

We’d love to tell you otherwise, but the exact plan of what OV will and will not run is unknown. All you can do to plan ahead is to check your route on the day itself, using sites such as 9292.

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

According to RTL Nieuws, NS trains should run according to their normal timetables, just like most buses, metros and trams in Rotterdam, The Hague and Amsterdam.

The reason for that is thatcompanies’panies’ employees fall under a different collective labour agreement.

All aboard the strike train

Ready to use the strikes as an excuse to work from home? Great, these are the days you can look out for. 😉

  • Thursday, March 2
  • Monday, March 6
  • Wednesday, March 8
  • Friday, March 10
  • Tuesday, March 14
  • Wednesday, March 15
  • Monday, March 20
  • Wednesday, March 22
  • Friday, March 24
  • Wednesday, March 29
  • Thursday, March 30
  • Monday, April 3
  • Wednesday, April 5
  • Friday, April 7

Do you think the strikes will have their desired outcome? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!

Dutch cabinet against allowing telecom companies to put extra “toll” on streaming services

Mihály Droppa
-
1
Dutch cabinet against allowing telecom companies to put extra “toll” on streaming services

Soon, there might be an additional fee on streaming services, such as Netflix and Spotify, and all the other services that need a lot of internet traffic. 

However, the Dutch cabinet opposes a plan from the European Commission to allow telecom companies to impose such a toll when it comes to streaming your favourite movies and music through their services, the NOS reports. 

At the same time, the European Commission has recently consulted on the possibility of approving the levy.

“Are you still watching?”

Because of the new toll, people would need to pay more; therefore, there would be fewer people streaming from their cellular data.

According to Micky Adriaansens, Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, this levy would be largely passed on to subscribers and viewers. 

streaming-services-netherlands-videoland-girl-watching-tv
Streaming your favourite series is one of the best programs after a long day! Image: Unsplash

As a result, they will pay more, while already spending money on telecom companies for access to the internet and other services. This gives telecom providers double payment”, says Adriaansens to NOS. 

Net neutrality

Such an internet toll collection “does not directly lead to additional investments in the construction or quality of digital infrastructure,” according to a study commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs. 

The best telecom networks in the world are already found in the Netherlands, according to RTL Nieuws.

Additionally, telecom companies are not allowed to block, slow down, or charge differently for different types of internet traffic under the European Union’s “net neutrality” regulations. No distinction is made between the different types of internet traffic under net neutrality. 

READ MORE: 4 things to know about sim-only phone subscriptions in the Netherlands

Service providers are also prohibited from doing things like blocking or needlessly limiting internet traffic. 

All things considered, Adriaansens declared, “This is not the proper way to realise European digitization ambitions.”

What do you think of the idea of the new toll? Tell us in the comments!

Willem on the water? This is how the Dutch king is going around for King’s Day 2023 in Rotterdam

Francesca Burbano
-
0
Willem on the water? This is how the Dutch king is going around for King’s Day 2023 in Rotterdam

On April 27, 2023, Rotterdam will turn orange as King Willem-Alexander travels by the iconic water taxi across the Maas river to celebrate his birthday! 

The countdown has officially begun for King’s Day 2023, and preparations are proceeding in full blast. 

An important part of this will be the day trip, where King Willem-Alexander will take a one-kilometre tour through the city of Rotterdam with his family. 🧡

READ MORE | 8 things to know about King’s Day in the Netherlands

The Royal Route for King’s Day in 2023

The walk will start at 11 AM near Afrikaanderplein in Rotterdam-Zuid. After a festive welcome, the royals will walk to the Maashaven, where they will travel in style — getting into a water taxi, that is. ⛴️

The water taxi will sail past the SS Rotterdam, Hotel New York, and then under the Erasmus Bridge to the Leuvehaven, the water taxi tour ending in Plein. 

The rest of the route continues on foot, King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima, and their children will walk across Blaak towards Markthal. You don’t want to miss this sight! 👀

READ MORE | King Willem-Alexander will celebrate King’s Day 2023 in Rotterdam

The tour will end at 1 PM on the Binnenrotte. According to Mayor Aboutaleb of Rotterdam, the route is carefully planned out so that “everything is included […] to immerse the royal family in all the scents, colours, and flavours of the city,” he reports to indebuurt.nl.

The festivities continue

The final location of the walk, the Binnenrotte, will also be the location for the closing birthday party. 

Time to get your groove on at this free event — many different artists will perform (however, the setlist hasn’t been announced yet).💃🏻

READ MORE | 3 things we don’t like about the aftermath of King’s Day festivities

The theme this year will be We’re All Kings and Queens “because everyone is special, and a crown fits on every head,” announced the King’s Day website in Rotterdam. 

Will you be visiting Rotterdam to celebrate King’s Day 2023 this year? Tell us in the comments below! 

Grab your shades: the Netherlands will see sunny weather this week

Liana Risseeuw 🇱🇰
-
0
Grab your shades: the Netherlands will see sunny weather this week

As wild as it sounds, fair weather for fun in the sun may actually be on the cards for the Netherlands this week! ☀️

According to the KNMI (the Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute), we can expect relatively dry and sunny weather over the next few days.

The week starts off sunny, dry, and cool

Both today and tomorrow are expected to have frequent blasts of sunshine between the odd period of cloud cover.

Temperatures will hover around 6 to 7 degrees Celsius during the day, and drop to just below zero during the night.

Even though today promises to remain dry throughout, tomorrow night could bring the eastern part of the country some light rain. 🌧️

Wednesday will be the sunniest day this week

Whilst Wednesday may be known for her dark humour on the Netflix show of the same name, this week’s Wednesday will bring nothing but sun, sun, and more sun.

You’ll definitely want to grab the sunblock, but you may want to layer up as well, as the maximum temperature will only go up to 7 degrees Celsius.

Less sun during the latter half of the week

Thursday and Friday are expected to see less sunshine, with cloudier weather creeping into the picture.

The temperature is set to grudgingly climb to 8 degrees Celsius during the day, but will remain above freezing during the night.

Cloudy weather predicted for Saturday and Sunday

As all good things (unfortunately) have to come to an end, we’ll be waving doei to our lovely, sunny week with a very cloudy weekend. 🌥️

Packing an umbrella or putting on a parka will be on the cards as well, as the forecast also predicts some light rain.

What do you think of this week’s blast of sunny weather? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

Rare phenomenon: Northern Lights visible from parts of the Netherlands this morning

Francesca Burbano
-
0
Rare phenomenon: Northern Lights visible from parts of the Netherlands this morning

Sky-gazers were treated to a unique show of colour in the Netherlands on Sunday night, with the Northern lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, being visible in parts of the country. 

People in Drenthe, Groningen, Gelderland, and Friesland, among others, caught a glimpse of the special aurora, reports the NOS. 

The odds of seeing the northern lights this far south are rare. According to weather woman Harma Boer, this is extraordinary as “the best chance to see the northern lights is mainly at high latitudes, but sometimes you can also observe it in the Netherlands,” she stated to RTV Noord. 

Aurora Borealis: how she comes to be

The Aurora Borealis is a natural and spectacular light display that causes streaks of colours to “dance” in the sky, often in shades of green and purple. 

The phenomenon is caused by atoms and molecules in our atmosphere colliding with particles from the sun at extremely high speeds. The result? The Earth’s magnetic field redirects them to the North and South Pole, creating the wavy patterns of coloured light. 

While usually the Northern Lights are best seen in high-altitude regions closer to the Arctic, such as Scandinavia, they can be seen with the naked eye for a few days each year in the Netherlands. 👀

The best conditions to view the lights are away from any light pollution when the sky is dark and clear of any clouds. 

Taking it to Twitter

Those lucky enough to spot this magical sight in the Netherlands shared videos and photos on Twitter. 

Did you spot the Northern Lights in the Netherlands last night? Tell us in the comments below!

E-bikes made up more than half all bicycle sales in the Netherlands last year

Mihály Droppa
-
0
E-bikes made up more than half all bicycle sales in the Netherlands last year

More and more Dutchies are turning their traditional fiets to an electric one. 

2023 set a new record for e-bike sales in the Netherlands! No less than 57% of the 855,000 newly sold bicycles were electric. However, they accounted for almost 80% of profit made on bike sales.  

More than half of the newly sold bikes had the same sort of electric features back in 2021, but this tendency is about to rise even more, RTL Nieuws reports. 

The Dutchies are at the forefront

 Over the past 10 years, the popularity of E-bikes has been researched by Gfk, commissioned by RAI Vereniging and BOVAG. 

According to them, you’re most likely to find an e-bike in the Netherlands compared to other European countries. However, they are also becoming increasingly popular in other European countries as well. 

READ MORE: Slow down! The municipality of Amsterdam pushes for a bike speed limit

The popularity of e-bikes is causing an increase in the average selling price of bicycles. 

The average cost of a new bicycle among Dutch people last year was € 1,772, up nearly 9% from the previous year. The increased number is also due to the generally increased cost.

Are you thinking of switching to an E-bike, or are you good with your good old fiets? Tell us in the comments!

1...321322323...739Page 322 of 739