In fact, it’s not just garbage collectors that are affected, but ALL municipal workers — amassing a total of 190,000 people. 🎉
The burning question is, of course: “What’s the increase?”
An monthly increase of €240 plus 2%
All municipal employees will see an increase in their salaries of €240 per month, plus an extra 2% on top of that. What does that mean in practice?
As Marieke Manschot from the FNV has told the NOS, “at the bottom in the lowest scale, this means almost a 16% wage increase. All in all, this means an average pay increase of 9% for all employees.” 📈
Over the past few weeks, the Netherlands has realized how indispensable municipal cleaners really are. Image: Depositphotos
As of May 1, municipal workers that work from home will also receive an extra €3.00 compensation per day for hybrid working.
Lastly, in addition to higher salaries, all civil servants will be given an extra holiday this year. Then, starting in 2024, May 5, will be a fixed holiday for all civil servants.
Since the deal has not been finalised just yet, the new deal won’t go into effect until April 6 (at the earliest).
But luckily, the new agreement will take effect retroactively from January 2, 2023 — so all municipal workers will be given their increased salary for the months from this date.💪
So, striking pays off?
By the looks of it, it can! Though regional transport workers and hospital employees are still fighting for higher salaries, the garbage collection strikes have shown that striking can have its desired effect.
“The men and women of the municipal cleaning services and enforcement have shown in recent weeks that they are indispensable for the Netherlands,” says Juan Schot from the CNV.
What do you think about the new collective agreement for municipal workers? Tell us in the comments!
The municipality of Amsterdam is hoping to participate in a cannabis cultivation legalisation trial. As part of this, a district in the capital will make it legal for coffeeshops to grow cannabis on a trial basis.
The municipality is already investigating which district can participate, and Mayor Femke Halsema has informed the government of this. The municipality aims to designate a district in May, Het Parool reports.
The front/back door twist
As you probably already know, there are already plenty of coffeeshops that sell soft drugs like marijuana to their customers in Amsterdam.
This means it’s legal to buy and sell pre-rolled joints at the “front door.” However, in the Netherlands, coffeeshops are actually prohibited from receiving their merchandise at the back door.
So you can buy it and sell it, but we don’t want to know how it got there! 👀
Why not cultivate?
You might think that this system doesn’t make any sense, and you would be completely right. The goal of participating in the cannabis cultivation legalisation trial is to find a legal way for coffeeshops to receive and sell their products.
A few problems to overcome
Initially, in order for the trial to proceed, all coffee shops in the municipality of Amsterdam had to agree to the experiment’s rules.
This is how the magic happens! Image: Unsplash
However, in the city of Amsterdam, this was deemed unfeasible. Instead, the municipality suggested that a district would be more suitable in terms of scale and population.
Amsterdam now plans to discuss possible participation with the districts and the coffeeshop industry.
Currently, discussions are ongoing with the Ministry of Justice and Security, and the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport about “further elaboration” — whatever that may entail. 👀
What do you think of the cultivation legalisation trial? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
If you have a flight booked for a vacation in May, Schiphol says to wait a minute. Why? The Easter holidays will see a slight change at the airport.
Schiphol has announced restrictions once again, this time to limit the number of departing passengers during the April and May holiday period.
As a result, passenger numbers will be slashed by 5%, reports NU.nl.
So, what’s the plan?
According to Schiphol, this new measure will apply from the end of March to mid-May. Travellers are warned: the airport’s busiest hours will be in the morning from 6 AM to 1 PM. So perhaps avoid booking that early-bird flight!
By setting a passenger limit, the airport hopes to reduce the risk of “unacceptable delays for travellers at check-in, security check, and passport control,” reports a spokesperson for Schiphol.
I love waking up to an e-mail where KLM tells me they’ve cancelled my flight from Amsterdam to Copenhagen. I mean they’ve found a new one, but now I have 10 hours to kill in Schiphol airport lol
Additionally, the number of seats that can be booked will be limited. Wait, what?
Yep. This means that airlines will either restrict the number of seats they can sell, or they will have to move flights to other airports, choose to fly with fewer full aircraft or even cancel flights. (Cue flashbacks to last year’s chaos.)
Not the first time — but hopefully, the last
Schiphol hasn’t had the best of luck in the past. At the beginning of February, the airport announced another possible limitation of the number of daily travellers due to staff shortage.
Last year, the airport faced huge delays as passenger numbers doubled in 2022 due to people wanting to travel again after the coronavirus. This was also a result of staff shortages, mismanagement, and flight cancellations.
This time around, however, the airport has seen an improvement compared to last year. Chairman Marnix Fruitema, BARIN (board of airline representatives in The Netherlands) stated that a maximum of five thousand fewer seats sold per day would be “reasonably manageable.”
Let’s hope that our Easter holidays will go through. 🐣
What do you think about Schiphol wanting to limit passengers? Tell us in the comments below!
Congratulations! You got into your study course, and now you’re looking for student housing in the Netherlands. So, what are the next steps, and is finding student accommodation in Holland really as challenging as it seems?
In true Dutch fashion, we’re going to be direct with you: Yes, finding student housing in the Netherlands can be a nightmare. But if you’ve done your preparations (and we’ll tell you which 😉), then you’ll be well on your way to living your best student life in the Netherlands.
Know what you want
The first step to finding student housing in the Netherlands is plan, plan, plan! This is important as it makes the search for your perfect student room a whole lot easier. You’ll need to ask yourself questions such as:
How many people am I willing to share a house with? And do I even want to share a house?
What is my budget?
Do I mind having a shared bathroom, or do I only want a private one?
Are all my utility bills included?
Is the house close to the university and if not, is it easily accessible via public transport?
Is the area is safe?
Is the student house close to a supermarket?
Do I want to share with only boys/girls or mixed?
Do you want a short-term or long-term contract?
We could go on and on but you get the idea!
Note: When looking, remember that unfurnished literally means unfurnished! This means that light fixtures and flooring may not be present. Semi-furnished includes the light fixtures, flooring, curtains, and some basic appliances. Furnished means that it has everything you may need.
Once you’ve got your head around that, you need to get your search on ASAP. We recommend that you start looking for student housing in the Netherlands at least three months in advance. Unfortunately, your home isn’t going to magically appear out of thin air. Het spijt me! (Sorry!) 😪
Don’t have high expectations
It’s important that you don’t hold high expectations when it comes to student housing in the Netherlands. Of course, some landlords get away with students living in a literal hell, which is completely unacceptable (please report them!), but you still need to remain realistic. 😞
Prepare for your space to be limited, yet as long as it’s not drenched in mould or infested with bugs, you might want to go for it: Your choices are also going to be incredibly limited.
Of course, if your choice will result in you wanting to escape your room every five seconds because you hate it that much, then go with your gut and find something that suits you better! Your experience of studying in the Netherlands should be a good one!
I actually had a box room at university (the picture is a panoramic shot so makes it look MUCH bigger than it was), but I decorated it to s**t and made it homely and cosy. So anything is possible! Image: Emma Brown/Supplied.
Search online to find a place
Of course, you don’t have to look online exclusively, but that’s what we do these days, and it’s quick and easy. There are plenty of ways to find student housing in the Netherlands, and the internet is your friend! 💻
Some good places for finding student housing online include:
Facebook groups
Your university housing office (for short-term contracts)
Kamernet (rooms, studios, and apartments in all of the Netherlands)
These are generally the most popular — but a quick Google search will bring up even more! But you still need to be wary of scammers, no matter how you find your house. Now let’s go through the pros and cons of each one, so you’re prepared. 💪🏼
Facebook groups
Pros: So many to go around that you won’t have any problems finding a suitable one (hey, even DutchReview has one 😉). We recommend checking student groups from your university, as many will advertise their apartment there when they move out or when they looking for a new roommate! You can also connect directly to whoever is advertising the housing vacancy, or they can contact you.
Cons: You’re rarely in touch with a landlord, so you then have to scout out and ask the landlord. You can be scammed easily via Facebook through fake accounts.
Through your university housing office
Pros: It’s the safest method if the accommodation is provided by the university itself because you’re sure to be free of scammers (just make sure it’s actually from the university site). You’ll know who to contact, and you can usually keep in contact fairly easily.
Cons: This can sometimes be the more expensive option. It’s usually only for first-years, and the contracts only last one year. If you want university housing, you need to apply as early as possible, or you will likely not get it!
Studentenwoningweb
Pros: It’s purely for student accommodation so it’s perfect for a house search. You can create a personal profile, so it makes things faster.
Cons: You have to pay money to register — it’s not that much, of course, but it’s still money. Note that Studentenwoningweb specialises in the Amsterdam, Diemen, and Haarlem areas before getting too deep into your search! You’re still not completely free from scams.
Kamernet
Pros: It’s free and easy to use! It’s also easy to plan viewings and contact people.
Cons: You have to pay to go premium if you want to apply to many viewings. There is quite a high scam rate, so be critical when searching.
At one point all the rooms might start to look the same, but keep searching and you’ll find something! Image: Depositphotos
Avoid getting scammed (if you can)
We at DutchReview are not unfamiliar with the horrible experience of housing scams in the Netherlands. So here are some top tips to avoid it:
If they can’t meet you, they probably aren’t real
No, seriously. Of course, some landlords do rent away from home (I never met my landlord beforehand, as he lived in Ireland and he’s legitimate), but if they can’t provide any sort of meeting AT ALL, then it’s fishy. 🙄
For instance, I went through his agency, they showed me around the apartment, they had the keys, they had ID, and they had proof. If this landlord is providing nothing for you to see beforehand and offers empty promises, then avoid them like the plague. 🏃🏼♀️
Do not sign your contract until you’ve seen the property (AND READ IT TOO)
I’m sorry, but pictures just won’t cut it in this situation. You need to see the property in the flesh and not just the outside but the inside too. Like I said earlier, make sure they have the keys and show you around. Only once you’ve done that, you should sign the contract, NEVER before! 🙅🏼♀️
Never secure the house with a deposit — a deposit is not for that!
I’ve come across this a fair few times, and this is not what a deposit is meant for. They are more likely to scam you if you do this or claim that the deposit never arrived in their bank account.
When paying for an actual deposit, it should never amount to more than one month’s rent, and if they ask for it in cash, then decline and make sure it’s transferred from bank to bank (not sites like money transfer or PayPal).
All in all, if things look far too perfect (did someone say a penthouse suite at a cheap price?!), then it’s probably a con. I nearly got conned on Airbnb, so never again (I reported it, and he was removed)! 🙏🏼
Budget, budget, budget!
Now you’re a student, you need to weigh up price vs. convenience, and even then, you should probably go for the price (all that booze isn’t going to pay for itself). 😉
Your student housing in the Netherlands might not be fully furnished, and even if it was, it might need a few fairy lights to make it homely. If you want to furnish your house cheaply, then stick to Action and Kringloops, they’re a godsend!
Soon, it will be possible to travel from Rotterdam to Berlin in about 1.5 hours without any stops or CO2 emissions!
Since 2017, the Hardt Hyperloop startup company, founded in Delft, has been developing a hyperloop system for Europe, and the first one will open in our beloved Rotterdam.
Hyper what?
The co-founder of Hardt Hyperloop, Tim Houter, described the hyperloop to the Port of Rotterdam.
“The hyperloop allows people and goods to be transported through a low-pressure air tube by a vacuum train. The means of transport is magnetically driven.”
Hyperloop is a fast and eco-friendly way to travel across Europe, consuming less time and energy than current methods.
Are you ready?
Are you excited to get vacuumed into a tunnel that can take you hundreds of kilometres away in two hours? Well, you don’t need to wait long for that experience
In their brand new office in Rotterdam at the Science Tower in M4H, they have also opened an Experience Centre, where you can have the whole adventure.
“That was an incredible moment. We were so honoured. In the experience centre, we familiarise visitors with the hyperloop at a glance.
We plan to open the experience centre to the public a few times a year.” — said Houter to Port of Rotterdam.
Kadans is excited to welcome Hardt Hyperloop to Rotterdam Science Tower. The move will enable the tech company to further realise its growth ambitions and the realisation of the hyperloop.
The Hyperloop project is supported by multiple organizations. They received support from the Dutch government, and the European Commission also pledged a large investment last year.
“We are receiving support at more and more levels. From local to regional and national to global.“ — said Houter.
Are you ready for the Hyperloop experience? Tell us in the comments!
It can’t get any cuter than this: Nimis, a local Amsterdam cat, is going viral on TikTok, and for good reason.
Nimis goes under the name “Police Cat” thanks to the shiny lifejacket he always wears. He lives on a houseboat and wears a yellow life jacket for safety.
The cat has been gaining followers and fans from all over the world, reports RTL Nieuws. And, he’s paws-itively adorable! 🐈⬛
Nimis’ owner, Lydia Faber, started making videos of her cat and posted them on TikTok as a fun way to communicate with and entertain her young nieces. The videos, however, quickly went viral, with one of them being viewed more than 1.4 million times.
Nimis has been living on a houseboat since he was just a kitten. With the canal walls being so high, it can be dangerous for the cat to fall into the water, as he won’t be able to get out.
Faber took the necessary measures and gave Nimis his very own lifejacket for safety. No risk for cat-astrophe here! 🐱
“It’s basically a life jacket to ensure he doesn’t drown,” reported Faber. Because the lifejacket is so bright, neighbours started to refer to him as the neighbourhood’s police officer.
Faber decided to then make it official by adding a police badge to his jacket, making him a true local hero.
Nimis is a growing star with more than 42,000 followers. “It’s crazy. It’s crazy! I never expected that, of course. It was just for fun,” stated Faber. He gets recognised by many people on the street, wanting to take a picture of him.
The TikTok videos show him in his police uniform, patrolling the Amsterdam canals, climbing trees, and getting into mischief.
When he’s not guarding Amsterdam, you’ll often find Nimis posing with colleagues from the Amsterdam police.
As of TODAY, all 68 Arriva trains in the Dutch provinces of Groningen and Friesland will run on plant-based Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). 🌱
The new fuel, also called biodiesel, is a residual product that can be gained from frying fat, for example.
Everything works the same
Prior to the switch to vegetable oil, Arriva’s trains had been running on regular Diesel (when they weren’t on strike, that is 😉). But in comparison to the latter, HVO causes 90% fewer CO2 emissions. 📉
As the NOS reports, Arriva had been testing the fuel for the past two years, on two of its trains. The results? “Everything works the same with HVO as it does with Diesel,” a spokesperson told ANP news.
Luckily, no new trains were needed for the switch. 🚄
More green plans in the making
While this certainly is a step towards sustainable travel, the switch to vegetable oil is not enough for Arriva; they’ve got bigger plans.
At the end of 2022, the train carrier and the province of Groningen signed a contract for four hydrogen trains. These must be up and running on the route by 2027.
Besides this, a number of trials of battery trains are also ongoing in the region.
What do you think about Arriva’s fuel switch? Let us know in the comments!
Trade unions CNV and FNV warn that these strikes will not be the last of them since there has yet to be a collective labour agreement, reports the NOS.
Where and when?
Did you think Wednesday and Friday would be the only days of a strike? Nope, not on the regional transport workers’ watch.
The public transport in the Netherlands is going on a strike next week which im totally cool with like hell you get underpaid its valid. but at least show which busses still drive on the apps i need to get to my first day at my internship tmmr plsss 😭😭😭
Therefore, we suggest keeping your eyes peeled on 9292 to know whether you’ll be one of the unlucky commuters on those days.
Trouble on and off the tracks
Regional transport workers aren’t the only ones on strike. Over the last few weeks, garbage collectors in and around Utrecht and Amsterdam have stopped working for the same reasons.
The FNV wants to increase wages to line up with the inflation and stressful work conditions that are being felt all throughout the country.
On behalf of the Association of Public Transport Employers, chairman Fred Kagie explained that the money is just not enough to support these demands. 🙄
What do you think of the regional transport strikes? Tell us in the comments below!
Sigrid Kaag, leader of political party D66, was faced with several dozen protestors carrying flames and sirens when she arrived at a political talk show in Diepenheim.
Kaag was campaigning in the eastern part of the Netherlands for the upcoming Provincial Council elections when she arrived in Diepenheim, Overijssel, RTL Nieuws reports.
A toasty treat
Previously, the demonstrators, AKA “Strijders Twente”, distributed leaflets urging Diepenheim residents to give a “warm welcome” to the Dutch politician.
Nederland anno 2023. Wat een kansloos gebeuren dit. Dieptriest. 🤦🏼♂️
Translation: “The Netherlands in 2023. What a hopeless event this is. Very sad. 🤦🏼♂️”
Upon arrival, Kaag was met by a group of people with tractors who shouted at her: “You are not for the Netherlands!”
Despite the sirens going off, Kaag spoke with the protesters for a while, although it was difficult, as reported by her campaign manager and MP, Hanneke van der Werf.
After about ten minutes, the meeting between the demonstrators and Kaag ended. When she left at around 8 PM, the protesters were no longer present.
Not the first time
Kaag has been threatened multiple times, including an incident last year where Max van den B., was convicted on appeal for threatening her at her home.
Kaag has been under security for some time due to serious threats. The party would not modify its election campaign due to the Sunday event.
What do you think of the fired-up demonstrators? Tell us in the comments below!
Rats, pigeons, and seagulls will be happy; trash cans are about to overflow in Amsterdam.
The strike is on as city cleaning staff, including garbage collectors, will stop working for seven days from today morning in Amsterdam, reports NU.nl.
Garbage collectors are on strike all week to enforce a 12% wage increase over a period of one year.
Due to rising costs and inflation, the trade union, FNV, also demands inflation compensation in next year’s collective labour agreement.
What’s to come
The municipality warns of the mess ahead of us. No household waste, such as residual and organic waste, glass, paper/cardboard, or textiles, will be collected. 🫣
Watch out for trash-stealing seagulls! 🐦 Image: Depositphotos
In addition, the streets will also not get swept. Other cities in the Netherlands, including Utrecht, Rotterdam, and The Hague, gave us a preview of the garbage-swarming streets with their one-week strike last week.
Be prepared
The municipality in Amsterdam calls on citizens to keep their waste indoors as much as possible during the strike and to not put garbage bags or containers out on the road.
The municipality made a statement to Het Parool, saying that this “ensures that the streets remain free, that it does not become unsafe and that we do not suffer from vermin.”
On the other hand, daily markets will be cleaned at the end of the day. During the strike, supervision and enforcement employees will be on the street, but will not issue tickets to offenders.
Coming up next: municipal officials in Maastricht and Den Bosch will strike on from Wednesday, which could cause serious problems with the mess made after Carnival.
What do you think about this strike? Tell us in the comments below!
