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NS launches its very own shop with items made from leftover materials

Liana Risseeuw 🇱🇰
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NS launches its very own shop with items made from leftover materials

Environmentalism strikes a win, as the Dutch rail company announced that it will open a pop-up store for upcycled products made from NS materials.

According to a recent press release, this sustainability initiative is due to the NS wanting to repurpose old materials that are still usable in order to give them a second life.

When and where?

The pop-up store will open its doors from February 6 to 11 (Monday to Saturday), at the NS Upcycle Shop in Rotterdam Centraal. 🚆

The store will be open from 8 AM to 8 PM from Tuesday to Friday, and from 10 AM to 6 PM on Saturday.

Unable to visit the store in person? Geen stress! You can also order products online on the NS Upcycle Shop.

What’s available?

Stationery abounds, such as notebooks with covers made from old information boards. The same information boards have also been upcycled into funky coasters.

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Proving that environmentally friendly products can be both stylish and useful! Image: NS

Meanwhile, repurposed upholstery has also been crafted into a range of sneakers, espadrilles, bags, laptop/tablet covers, and much, much more.

The NS website proudly states that these have all been made by hand in the Netherlands and that some products (such as slippers) are even made with vegan wool. Stylish and environmentally friendly? We’re impressed! 👀

Will you be checking out the NS Upcycle Shop? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

Mandatory sustainability courses, vegetarian meals, and reduced travel: Dutch university tackles climate change

Francesca Burbano
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Mandatory sustainability courses, vegetarian meals, and reduced travel: Dutch university tackles climate change

Erasmus University in Rotterdam (EUR) is making huge changes for staff and students in an effort to reduce its climate footprint. 

The university has a plan: reducing its emissions, reconsidering its ties with polluting companies, reducing travel by staff and students, implementing plant-based food, and having students receive mandatory sustainable education.

Cutting those ties

EUR announced its sustainability plans in a press release on the university’s website on Monday. In the release, EUR declared that it would end relationships with organisations that have a major impact on climate and ecosystems. 

READ MORE | How do the Dutch feel about climate change?

This isn’t the first time climate warnings have been brought to the university’s attention. In November of 2022, a dozen climate protesters occupied a building at the University and demanded that the university end its ties to the fossil fuel industry. 

Go green! 

Among other things, the university wants to reduce travel by staff and students in order to be energy–positive. Already for one year, employees have had to take the train for international trips within 700 kilometres.

That’s it? Not quite. EUR wants to implement sustainable education for all courses at the university so that students are educated on the seriousness of the climate emergency at hand. 

Translation: Erasmus University Rotterdam recognises the climate and ecological emergency. In doing so, we @erasmusuni endorse the need for urgent and coordinated action to combat the consequences of climate change and the destruction of ecosystems. 

The meals that the university provides will also be cutting down on meat and dairy products and soon will only be vegetarian. From 2030, vegan food should be ‘the norm’ at the university. 🌱

Our thoughts? You go, EUR, we hope more Dutch universities follow! 👊

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

So Dutch: International bike-smuggling ring squashed, leaders get 5 years

Liana Risseeuw 🇱🇰
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So Dutch: International bike-smuggling ring squashed, leaders get 5 years

Proving that the Netherlands doesn’t monkey around when it comes to theft of their beloved fietsen (bikes), leaders of an international bike-smuggling ring now face jail time.

The two main men behind the operation will get a total of five years in prison, whilst a third will do two and a half years, according to the NOS.

Stealing bikes and transporting them to Poland

Although bike theft is as common as bitterballen in the Netherlands, these thieves took things to another level.

The Poland natives involved in the smuggling ring would nab Dutch bikes and then ship them all the way to their home country for some work. 👀

Using garage boxes owned by prime suspect Krzystof R, the men would then replace the frame numbers with fakes.

Some of the brands that were taken on an unwilling journey across Europe include Jan Jansen, Gazelle, and Sparta.

“This is a criminal organisation,” says prosecutor

Despite the defendant’s lawyer, Otto Bondam, branding the penalty too “heavy”, the Dutch authorities were unimpressed.

READ MORE | 5 things to do when your bike has been stolen in the Netherlands

According to the prosecutor, the fact that the suspects took bike trafficking to the international stage makes this different from ordinary theft.

Oh, well… points for dedication?

This isn’t the first time that the main suspect has landed in hot water for his bike-napping skills.

Krzystof R and his chief accomplice Arkadiusz M were first nabbed in 2017 when Dutch authorities first picked up the trail of their two-wheeled shenanigans.

After being released the first time, they were arrested again in February 2021.

Whilst we’re all sure to breathe a sigh of relief that our bikes likely won’t be making any inter-Europe trips without us, we’re still going to be wary of all the quick-fingered cycle thieves that call the Netherlands home. 😉

What do you think of the authorities’ takedown of a bike-smuggling ring? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

Good boys: Dutch dogs and rescue team sent to Turkey to find survivors

Lyna Meyrer 🇱🇺
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Good boys: Dutch dogs and rescue team sent to Turkey to find survivors

The Dutch Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team has arrived in Turkey to help recover victims of the Kahramanmaras earthquake, which hit Turkey and Syria on Monday. 

The team of 65 people, including research and medical personnel, is joined by eight brave pups, eager to look for survivors. 

Along with its people and rescue dogs, the team is bringing 15 tons of rescue tools and materials, such as communication equipment, tents, food, and water.

From Eindhoven to Adana

As the NOS reports, the rescue team flew out from Eindhoven Airport last evening, and landed safely in Adana, the south of Turkey, at around 1 AM local time.

Translation: “Our people have now landed and the second plane with equipment is shortly behind. The mood is good, a bit tired after an exciting day.”

The dogs that the USAR works with come from the national police force, and are specially trained to track down survivors by seeking out human scent. The breeds used for this type of work are mostly German and Dutch Shepherds, and Belgian Malinois. 

The rescue team hopes to get to work as soon as possible: “The sooner we get to work, the more likely we are to be able to save people,” says logistics specialist Michael Berger.

Kahramanmaras earthquake

Two devastating earthquakes ripped through Turkey and Syria on Monday — one at 4 AM and one at 1 PM local time (Turkey). They both had a powerful magnitude of 7.8 and 7.5 on the Richter scale.

Thousands of buildings collapsed as a consequence of the disaster, and as of Tuesday morning, more than 4,300 people have been reported dead. Many more are injured, missing, or without a home.

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TU Delft students unveil super efficient (and stylish) hydrogen-powered car

Eva Gabriella
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TU Delft students unveil super efficient (and stylish) hydrogen-powered car

The future has arrived! On May 2, Eco-Runner Team Delft will unveil their new hydrogen car, so keep your eyes on the road for its sleek and modern design. 🚗

In an effort to fight the ongoing environmental crisis, the team of Delft students has invented the new hydrogen car, pushing the energy economy towards a more sustainable future, reports RTL Nieuws.

The new model is sturdier and is expected to push technical limits, making it the most efficient hydrogen car in the world. 🤯

What does it do?

The hydrogen car works similarly to an electric car, except it runs on hydrogen instead of a battery. Simple as that (well, not really).

The hydrogen combines with oxygen in the car’s fuel cell, which releases electrical energy that powers the electric motors.

READ MORE | This “affordable” solar-powered Dutch car just hit the market, and it looks promising af

All that’s left at the end of it is water as a waste product. Geweldig! 

A new world record?

The Eco-Runner XII is en route to being a recording-breaking and award-winning environmentally friendly car. 

For the last two years, previous models of the car have won world records for driving the furthest distance on hydrogen fuel.

This year, Eco-Runner Team Delfts’ goal is set to break the record again for driving the furthest distance without refuelling. Success!

What do you this of this environmentally friendly machine? Tell us in the comments below!

Schiphol may put cap on number of daily travellers (AGAIN) due to staff shortage

Lyna Meyrer 🇱🇺
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Schiphol may put cap on number of daily travellers (AGAIN) due to staff shortage

Due to a lack of new employees, Schiphol airport may find itself forced to limit the number of travellers departing from the airport in the May holidays and over the summer.

Are we surprised? Yes, actually — because back in January, Schiphol’s CEO Ruud Sondag had announced the end of passenger restrictions. So, what has changed?

Hundreds of employees needed

While Schiphol has done its part to fight staff shortages by hiring new security guards, the ball now lies in the court of the handling companies — who are lacking hundreds of employees. 

The handling staff, employed by airlines or handling companies at Schiphol, are responsible for tasks such as cleaning aeroplanes and baggage handling. 🛄

It’s up to these parties to come up with a solution, says Schiphol, who has given the companies involved an ultimatum. 

“If the problem is not solved within a few weeks, [we] will have to intervene again,” said CEO Ruud Sondag in an interview — by putting a cap on the number of daily travellers. 

A structural deficit

To deal with Schiphol’s high number of yearly passengers, the handling companies must increase their number of workers, ASAP. 

As the NOS reports, low wages and moderate working conditions are creating a structural deficit of 300 to 500 workers and making it more attractive for existing staff to leave in the upcoming months. 

But due to tight budgets, the airlines and handling companies are not willing to pay higher salaries. 

READ MORE | Chaos at Schiphol: why the biggest Dutch airport is struggling so much 

Sondag highlights the fact that “the package of employment conditions for [handling staff] is simply not attractive enough,” especially when, after wage increase, “a security guard now earns €17 per hour, a handler only €12.”

What do you think about Schiphol limiting the number of daily travellers? Tell us in the comments!

Dutch regional public transport to not operate this week; here’s what we know

Mihály Droppa
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Dutch regional public transport to not operate this week; here’s what we know

Time to find other ways to explore and commute in the Netherlands than the regional public transport, at least for this week.

From today onwards, regional public transport staff from Arriva, Keolis, and Qbuzz will strike for five days straight.

While the affected areas aren’t known yet, it’s expected that fewer to zero buses will run outside the major cities. This also includes trains operated by companies other than NS.

The twist in the coming strike is that you never know which bus is about to depart, and which one will decide to strike instead. Fun, right?

Will be felt in Limburg, Twente and the Achterhoek

If you live in one of these three regions, it’s quite likely that the strike will have an effect on your coming week, as the employee’s union FNV reports. 

But, since the CNV union also plans to join the strike, there is a good chance that it will have an impact on smaller towns in the rest of the Netherlands in general.

Plan last minute

According to a spokesperson from transport company Keolis, employees should not be asked in advance whether or not they are going to strike, NU.nl reports.

“That’s why we advise travellers to see what is possible just before their trip. Of course, we find this very annoying.”

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These buses will remain empty. Image: Depositphotos

So for now, if you plan to use regional transport, the best thing that you can do is to simply plan your trip right before you leave home. 

This way you can see where you need to find alternative ways to arrive at your destination, and it will even give some extra excitement factor for your usual commute. Yeyy! 🥳

Guess what! No agreement 

The main cause behind the strike is that there is still no answer to the proposal made by CNV‘s (Christian National Union) trade union employees.

READ MORE: Maps of the Netherlands: 9 maps to understand the Dutch landscape

The FNV (Workers’ union) spoke in a press release yesterday, saying that it takes “great willingness to strike.”

“Engineers, conductors and drivers of regional lines […] are on strike,” they add.

What alternative methods are you thinking of instead of the regional public transport for this week? Tell us in the comments!

Clear blue skies: The Netherlands will see plenty of sun this week

Liana Risseeuw 🇱🇰
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Clear blue skies: The Netherlands will see plenty of sun this week

Been missing some gorgeous, sunny weather? Well, we don’t know about “gorgeous” (it’s still winter, after all!), but sunny weather is definitely on its way. 🌞

In fact, according to Buienrader meteorologist Leander de Wit, we can expect completely different weather from the overcast greyness we’ve had so far.

Here comes the sun, doo-doo, doo-doo 🎶

Did someone say sun? Talking to RTL Nieuws, de Wit said that coastal regions can definitely expect quite a bit of it over the following days, with moderate temperatures of 5 to 6 degrees Celsius.

Today, in particular, is predicted to gift the coast nearly a full day of sunshine, with barely any cloud cover. ☀️

Regions in the east and southeast, however, will have to exercise some patience, as they may see the occasional burst of sunshine through cloud cover.

These areas will have to wait till Tuesday or Wednesday for uninterrupted sunshine, when the entire country gets a dose of pre-Spring sunniness.

But not for long

By the end of the week, we’re predicted to see less sunshine and a lot more cloud cover.

Tuesday, Friday, and the weekend will still see a bit of sun, but it definitely won’t be the clear weather of the previous days. (We guess the moral of the story is to enjoy it while it lasts. 😉)

Nighttime brings colder weather and frost

In contrast to the pleasant weather expected during the upcoming days, nighttime temperatures may drop to as much as -5 or -6 degrees Celsius.

Up until Thursday, we can also expect light frost (and more moderate frost cover in the east) when the sun goes down.

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

A coach tour through Amsterdam? It’s banned as of 2024

Mihály Droppa
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A coach tour through Amsterdam? It’s banned as of 2024

Starting from next year, coach tour buses — and any other coaches for that matter — will not be allowed to enter the city centre of Amsterdam.

The municipality of Amsterdam feels like there is no longer enough space for coach buses to explore the city, and has decided to react to the residents’ complaints. 

From January 2024, buses heavier than 7.5 tons will have to stop at the outskirts of the city. From there, tourists can take public transport, or a bike, if they’re keen on the real Dutch experience. 🚲

There will be some exceptions

In the Weesperstraat-Valkenburgerstraat-Kattenburgerstraat area, however, it will still be possible to hop on a coach tour bus.

In this circle, visitors will have a chance to see museums like Nemo, the Jewish Historical Museum, and the Hermitage, RTL Nieuws reports. 

READ MORE | The municipality of Amsterdam pushes for a bike speed limit

According to Melanie van der Horst, traffic alderman of Amsterdam, tourists aren’t the only ones using these giant buses to explore the city.

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Maybe it’s time to use public transport instead? 🤔 Image: Freepik

“A lot of visitors come to Amsterdam every year with a coach. These are not only tourists, but also children on a school trip to Artis or the elderly who go to a museum, and we would like to offer space for that,” said Horst to RTL Nieuws. 

Protecting the city

Annoyed residents weren’t the only reason for the new rule, as the heavy vehicles can easily damage the roads, bridges, and quays of the historical city centre.

These buses can also cause congestion in the narrow streets, and make roads more dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians.

What do you think of the new rule? Tell us in the comments below!

Utrecht is filling with rubbish while cleaners strike (and more cities want to join)

Eva Gabriella
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Utrecht is filling with rubbish while cleaners strike (and more cities want to join)

Another day, another strike. Instead of transport workers, from January 31 to February 6, Utrecht’s garbage collectors have launched a week-long strike, to demand higher wages.

And the results aren’t pretty — however, they most certainly are stinky. The city is starting to look like a sea of garbage bags which won’t be cleared for another three days.

Other cities to follow 

Utrechts city cleaners aren’t the only ones dissatisfied with their pay, soon workers in The Hague, Betuwe, Drechtseden, and Emmen will strike, too, reports NU.nl.

The Hague Street Organisation will strike from February 13 for three days. What does this mean? The political capital’s streets will not be kept clean and street maintenance will come to a halt.

It looks like we’re about to have a stinky Valentine’s day. 🤮

Why are they striking? 

Much like many workers throughout the Netherlands, garbage collectors would like an increase in their salary to compensate for the rising energy costs.

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

As a result, there have been ongoing negotiations between trade unions and the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) to talk about increasing workers’ wages.

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

However, nothing has changed so far. Why? It’s a tale as old as time, the two parties can’t come to an agreement, specifically, about how much to increase the wage for 187,000 public servants. 

Let’s hope they’re not squabbling like seagulls over which garbage bags to attack. 

Will you be keeping your garbage bags in this week? Tell us in the comments below!

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