Time to bundle up with those warm earmuffs and winter gloves as true winter weather descends on the Netherlands.
Following a blanketing of snow in parts of the country overnight, the KNMI has issued a Code Orange warning for several Dutch provinces, including Utrecht, Gelderland, North Brabant, and Limburg.
Forecasts show that the snow could fall up to five to eight centimetres per hour.
Drivers, be careful!
Due to winter showers and freezing wet roads, there is a high chance of slipperiness Friday morning making it a good idea to keep an eye out. 👀
Heavy snowfall can cause considerable damage and dangerous situations for drivers.
Drivers who have to hit the roads today are warned to drive carefully and keep a safe following distance. 🚗
Let there be snow! Get ready for wintry showers because snow is forecasted to fall across all regions tonight and well into tomorrow.☃️
This morning, our neighbours in the south of the country woke up to a healthy dose of slush and wet snow.
If you’re green with envy, we have some good news! Weeronline reports that winter showers of snow and hail will spread across the country today and continue throughout tomorrow.
In not-so-good news, the KNMI has issued a code yellow for slipperiness throughout the country because of winter showers and the freezing of wet roads.
When and where?
Over the course of the day, the rest of the Netherlands will slowly follow suit as a mixture of sun and clouds turn into wintry showers.
A blend of rain and hail will turn to snow as the evening gets cooler. Specifically, snow will fall in the southern regions tonight and gradually move inland towards east Brabant and Limburg tomorrow.
Northern provinces are also expected to receive a winter shower, so no one is left out!
Helaas! The snow isn’t here to stay. Temperatures across the country will remain above freezing, though, which means the snow will melt before we’ve had the chance to put on our snow boots. 🥲
Car chaos
While a snowy morning view is cute at first, reality hits hard. With the current and coming snow, the Netherlands is set to see a bit of slush-filled chaos — especially on its roads.
RTL Nieuws reports that this morning’s rush hour was the busiest it’s been since 2019. The roads were already busy due to the regional transport strikes, but the traffic worsened due to the slippery conditions.
If you’re considering braving the winter weather, we advise watching where you step — and maybe skipping that car commute!
How will you be spending these wintry days? Tell us in the comments below!
Inflation and rising energy costs are putting many people in a critical situation, but the municipality of Amsterdam has decided to step up for its residents.
In an effort to help the capital’s poorest households through the energy crisis, and to prevent them from enduring further debt and cold nights, Amsterdam has come up with a plan.
Due to unaffordable energy costs, more than 700 Amsterdam households no longer have energy contracts, and every week about 20 more households are added to this number, writes the NOS. 📈
The municipality of Amsterdam will now intervene to prevent such contract terminations and offer targeted help to those that need it the most.
The Netherlands I just got a letter from my energy supplier telling me bc of increase of taxes from 9% to 21% and other things I am going to pay €150 monthly. In August I paid 88€ per month. We had 5 cold days in December windchill -8C mainly along the coast.
“This vulnerable and poorly visible group comes into the picture thanks to the exchange of information between the municipality and Liander (Amsterdam’s energy grid operator),” Marjolein Moorman of the city council tells AT5/NH News.
Intervention at a critical moment
How it works is simple. When a contract threatens to be dissolved by the energy company, Liander will notify the municipality of Amsterdam, which can then help its citizens out.
A debt counsellor from the municipality will contact the affected households and help them negotiate a new energy contract. They will also be helped with the prevention of further debt, if necessary. 🙏
After a three-month trial period, the results will be evaluated.
This agreement between the Dutch capital and Liander is the first of its kind. Never before has the Netherlands seen a cooperation between municipality and energy provider to tackle debt problems.
Thank you, Amsterdam. 🧡
What do you think about Amsterdam’s initiative to help those in need tackle the energy crisis? Tell us in the comments!
Are your knees quaking at the thought of the energy bill you’re expecting this year? Well, there might be a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness, in the form of government compensation worth around €1,600! 💸
According to a new press release, this plan devised by the Ministry of Economic Affairs aims to accommodate people that do not already benefit from the price cap.
Who might these people be, you ask? Those with block heating!
Hoera, for households with block heating
Although much needed, the energy cap implemented last year wasn’t appropriate for households with shared gas and electrical connections (block heating).
The present plan, however, says that households sharing a connection for gas and electricity will now receive compensation.
Het kabinet werkt met spoed aan een regeling om ook huishoudens met blokaansluiting te helpen met de hoge energieprijzen. De overheid deelt nu een indicatie van de tegemoetkoming, zodat woningcorporaties hier rekening mee kunnen houden.
— Ministerie van Economische Zaken en Klimaat (@MinisterieEZK) January 18, 2023
Translation: The cabinet is urgently working on a scheme to also help households with a block connection with high energy costs. The government is now sharing an indication of the allowance, so that housing organisations can take this into account.
Although the exact amount of compensation and the scheme for implementation are still being ironed out, it appears that residents can’t apply for this grant themselves.
Instead, landlords, housing institutions, and owners will need to apply for them.
Proposed compensation for the first half of 2023
The allowance provided will be as close to the price ceiling as possible, and the amounts for the first half of the year are as follows:
€786.45 for self-contained housing units with block gas/heat
€351.13 for self-contained units with block electricity
€329.28 for independent housing units with block gas/heat
€147.63 for independent housing units with block electricity
Housing with both block heating and electricity will have the amounts added.
Proposed compensation for the second half of 2023
Due to fluctuations in energy costs, figures for compensation have been divided into two sections.
The following are the government figures if energy prices decrease during the latter half of the year.
€276.76 for self-contained housing units with block gas/heat
€183.92 for self-contained units with block electricity
€116.18 for independent housing units with block gas/heat
€77.33 for independent housing units with block electricity
However, if the energy prices continue at their present rate, compensation is likely to amount to similar figures as those in the first half of 2023.
What do you think of the government’s new energy compensation? Tell us all about it in the comments below!
Yesterday afternoon several students of the Amsterdam International Community School ran back to the school building after a man wielding a knife tried to rob them.
On Wednesday around 1:30 PM the three underage students reported to the school’s staff that a young man tried to rob them close to the school.
Later, another student fell victim to the perpetrator, reporting that he had been robbed of personal property by the man, Het Parool reports.
On the run
The Amsterdam-Zuidoost police were involved immediately, however, they were unable to find the suspect.
While they combed out the neighbourhood, a spokesperson told Het Parool that the students were not injured during the robbery, but were greatly shocked.
Suspect is a young man
According to the attacked students, the man was only between 16 and 20 years old, and was wearing a thick dark quilted coat.
The students of the AmsterdamInternational Community School said that after the incident, he fled toward Dolingadreef.
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article stated that this event occurred at International School Amsterdam. However, the event occurred at Amsterdam International Community School.
We have some wheelie good news for you! Prorail and the municipality of Amsterdam are about to open a bike shed for a casual 8,800 more bikes to rest their wheels at Amsterdam Centraal.
Het Parool reports that the innovative underwater bike shed will open soon — and any Amsterdammers will agree that this news can be greeted with a hoera!
The new space should help to fix the absolute chaos that is the station’s outdoor bike parking.
Get your wheels churning
Ok, how soon are we talking? On January 26, Amsterdam Centraal’s underwater bike shed will officially open its doors to bikes of all shapes, states, and sizes.
In a country where there are more bikes than there are people, more efforts need to be made to accommodate them, and Prorail and Amsterdam’s municipality have done just that. 🚲
How does it work?
For 24 hours, cyclists can park their bikes for free, but for each day after that, your spot will cost a mere €1.35 per day.
The bike shed lies under the tracks and directly connects to the passenger tunnel to ensure a smooth and practical journey.
Its design will be sleek and modern, says Prorail, with enough space to prevent the eyesore of looking at a flood of rusty bicycles.
Amsterdam Centraal is getting some very cool bike facilities BTWs. An underwater bike garage is being built for 4,000 bikes on the IJ side and opens next year. pic.twitter.com/vHv5vmhGFP
Pack your bags! Schiphol’s interim CEO, Ruud Sondag, has announced the end of the airport’s passenger restrictions.
Currently, the airport is fighting long waiting queues by allowing only 50,000 passengers to travel through the airport each day — a limit that will be lifted by the end of March, as the NOS writes. ✈️
After Schiphol CEO Dick Benschop resigned last September, Ruud Sondag has taken the reins, and expects the airport to be functioning at its full potential come March 26th. 💪
Thank you, @Schiphol for whatever you’ve done to make getting through your airport so fast again. It’s so relaxing now…like years ago. Love #AMS again! Keep up the great work! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/W5N6S6VkfO
With higher pay and better hours, Schiphol has started to attract staff to fill the empty spots of a whopping 850 security guards.
“Since November, the shortage has halved,” a Schiphol spokesperson tells the NOS, and “another 285 security guards are in the process of getting their education.” 👮♀️
New year, new Schiphol
The new staff, combined with technological improvements, will allow Schiphol to lift its current restrictions. 🚫
“Starting March 26, we will build up from 50,000 to 71,000 departing travellers a day,” Sondag says, “in a more comfortable travel environment than the past year.”
But this goal cannot be achieved without following some guidelines.
Travellers must do their part
To make security checks faster, Schiphol expects commitment, not only from its own staff, but also from passengers.
From now on, they will ask passengers travelling together to share a hand luggage tray at security control (side-eyes our overdramatic hand luggage).
They will also hire additional staff to help passengers with their luggage, and use social media to show people how to best to pack their bags. #influencer. 🛄
Will you be booking a trip from Schiphol this summer? Tell us in the comments!
An intern at Kindergarden childcare in Amsterdam has been fired for posting questionable TikToks with the children at the daycare.
Director of the childcare, Nicole Krabbenborg, stresses that they were not nude images or sexual offences but that they were “unacceptable and inappropriate,” reports RTL Nieuws.
What were the videos?
Imagine scrolling through TikTok one day and seeing your child pointing the middle finger at his fellow playmate.
It’s no surprise the parents were upset after they witnessed a combination of other alarming videos.
In one video, a child falls over after the intern throws a ball at them. And in another, the intern shows the children a photo of two men kissing and asks them what’s happening to elicit their responses.
Apparently, one Dutch solution to the shortage of space in daycare is to put the children in tiny outdoor jails. pic.twitter.com/BL31hudLXG
There was another supervisor present, but they were unaware of the videos and police are now investigating criminal behaviour. But for now, “the intern is not a suspect.”
Consequences
All of the videos have since been removed and the kindergarten is taking the matter seriously.
“This is behaviour that we will not tolerate in any form,” says Krabbenborg, “it is absolutely unacceptable.”
The fired intern may be unable to complete her education but that doesn’t change the fact that the videos were taken over by other users. The crisis team, police, and supervisor have been involved to deal with the situation as best they can.
What do you think of this intern’s actions? Tell us in the comments below!
During his latest visit to the White House, Rutte agreed to deliver Patriot missiles to Ukraine.
In doing so, he will be joining forces with the US and Germany in supplying Ukraine’s war effort with an air defence system.
According to the NOS, Rutte dubbed this alliance “crucial at this stage of the war”, as Russia’s success in Ukraine would pose a major security risk to the Netherlands.
The Netherlands will aid Ukraine’s air defence
Rutte and Deputy Prime Minister Wopke Hoekstra posed supporting Ukraine with a better air defence system, in the form of Patriot missiles.
These Patriot missiles are said to have a range of 60 kilometres. They are also capable of taking down enemy helicopters and missiles up to 20 kilometres in the air.
As such, they make a powerful addition to any military’s firepower.
The US is opposed to the NL selling chip machines to China
During their talks, Biden also addressed Dutch manufacturer ASML selling chip machines to China.
The US is not keen on China having access to such high-tech machinery. During the White House talks, Biden was not at all shy about making the Netherlands aware of this fact.
However, China is one of ASML’s biggest customers and sales easily run into the billions. This leads to considerable restraint on the Dutch side about cutting ties.
Although Rutte did not go into detail about what he and Biden discussed on the subject, he dubbed it “intensive”. Despite this, he stressed that the supply of chips would not be compromised.
What do you think of the Netherlands’ decision to supply Ukraine with Patriot missiles? Tell us all about it in the comments below!
Working in the Netherlands can be great — but if you’re French or have worked in France, it can also be a bit of a culture shock. 😬
From lunch habits to workers’ rights, here are our 11 favourite differences between France and the Netherlands when it comes to all things work-related.
1. The Dutch workplace isn’t hierarchical
The office building of your Dutch job might be more vertical than horizontal (hello, weirdly skinny Amsterdam houses), but the hierarchy of Dutch workers has the same characteristics as the landscape of the Netherlands: as flat as a pancake.
The Dutch workplace is all about efficiency — no time for hierarchy. Image: Depositphotos
Unlike the formal top-down structure that dominates French office culture, the Dutch like to ditch their image of being organised and systematic. Why have a clear, hierarchical workplace ladder when you can keep things flat and chill?
Now, that doesn’t mean nobody’s in charge in the Netherlands. It just means they’re all kind of in charge. And it works wonderfully. Usually.
2. The French love to kiss-kiss to say hello
Ok, before you say anything about those weirdos in the south of the Netherlands, let’s get one thing straight: it’s not nearly as common to kiss people as a greeting here in the lowlands as it is in France.
In France, it’s a common and un-romantic gesture to greet your coworkers with a kiss or two (or three) — a mere handshake won’t cut it.
In the Netherlands, on the other hand, we dare you to try walking into your office and giving your boss a kiss. Okay, don’t — you might end up looking for a new job.
3. The Dutch don’t have a “right to disconnect” (they just do it anyway)
France is one of the few countries in the world that has codified the right to chill. The “right to disconnect” is a law in France (as well as many other European countries) that protects workers against having to receive or reply to work-related emails, calls, and messages outside of official working hours.
It’s a phenomenal system that helps employees escape the dangers of being overworked and relieves the pressure of going above and beyond what you’re supposed to do, simply because your boss tells you to.
Nice, right? Well, the Dutch have said nee bedankt (no thanks), and have not yet implemented a similar law. Thankfully, the Netherlands has a great work-life balance, so it’s not common to send or reply to work-related messages outside working hours anyways.
4. The French take lunch seriously
Look, we love broodje met kaas and a good handful of hagelslag on our krentenbollenjust as much as the next person. But for lunch? We’ve got to admit, the French just do it better.
While a worker’s lunch break in France is seen as an opportunity to sit down with a big, hot meal (and perhaps a cheeky glass of wine) to have a long, philosophical conversation with their coworkers, the Dutch workplace looks a little different.
In the Netherlands, lunch is not something you make a fuss about. Just pull out the two slices of bread you’ve kept in your backpack since you left for work, and enjoy how the cheese between them is somehow both sweaty and dry at the same time.
Bonus points if you consume your “meal” while still sitting in front of your computer. The French would never — it’s actually against the law to eat lunch at your desk in France!
5. The Dutch start work earlier
With their famous “right to disconnect”, it’s probably no surprise that the French typically start their work day ever so slightly later than the Dutch.
In France, it’s not uncommon to get to work sometime between 9 and 10 AM, while the Dutch generally tend to arrive before the clock strikes 9.
Frenchies, get ready to start work early. Image: Freepik
The late start might be because of the French rule stating that workers have the right to at least 11 consecutive hours of rest between each work day.
Considering the French habit of staying at work until after 6 PM (a Dutch dinner is already finished at this point), it’s no wonder they’re not interested in a 7 AM start.
6. The French dress formally
Ok, we’ve already established that the Dutch are (perhaps surprisingly) chill and cool™, a fact that also extends to their typical workplace attire.
We’re not talking extremes, though, so regardless of how relaxed your workplace claims it is, you’re probably best off leaving your crustiest pair of PJs at home.
Still, Dutch workers are generally not expected to wear anything overly formal to work, and sneakers and jeans are usually totally fine (depending on where you work, of course).
In France, the standards are typically a bit higher. You know, blazers, closed-toe shoes, freshly steamed button-ups. The French like to look presentable at work, while the Dutch dress more for convenience and comfort — and cycling.
Jeans are perfectly fine to wear in many Dutch offices. Image: Freepik
7. The Dutch leave work on time
If you’re just going to take one stereotype away from this article, let it be this one: Dutch people are (sometimes painfully) punctual. That means that they do their absolute best to come to work on time (of course), but it doesn’t end there.
In the Netherlands, being punctual is not the same as going above and beyond. What that means is that in addition to getting to work on time, Dutch people will do their absolute best to leave work on time too.
The Netherlands didn’t earn its title as the best country for work/life balance in the world for nothing. Five o’clock is borrel time, no matter what your hard-working, inner perfectionist says.
It’s so difficult to fire someone in France, the French have come up with an interesting solution.
It’s called “putting someone in the closet,” an arrangement where an employer strips responsibilities and tasks from their unwanted worker, making the worker feel useless and irrelevant until they quit in frustration.
It’s not easy to lose your job in the Netherlands — but it’s even harder in France. Image: Freepik
It’s not outright easy to lose your job in the Netherlands, but it’s certainly easier than in France. In NL, you can get sacked if your temporary contract expires, if you don’t pass your probation time, if you’re made redundant, or if you simply don’t have a great performance.
Your employer simply has to ask the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) for permission, and you can be out the door before you can say werkloosheidsuitkering (unemployment benefits).
9. The Dutch hiring process is surprisingly short
The Dutch hiring process typically takes between one and two months, depending on the size of the company and the nature of the job.
So, although internationals tend to be more frustrated than happy with the Dutch hiring process, it is actually faster than that of most other countries.
The French process, for example, can take absolute ages. To be fair, since it’s so tricky to get rid of your employees in France, it’s no surprise that they like to take their sweet time when hiring new folks.
10. French meetings are philosophical and inefficient
As an international working in the Netherlands, you’ll quickly have to adapt to a new work culture and get on board with new expectations for how meetings are run.
Whereas meetings in a Dutch workplace typically are there to make democratic decisions, the purpose of a French meeting tends to be about deliberation rather than decision-making.
While French meetings have their merits, the constant back-and-forth can get tiring. Image: Freepik
As French children learn debating and philosophising in school, it’s no wonder work meetings in France tend to be long and, from a Dutch perspective, inefficient affairs.
So, if you want to get up to speed on the Dutch ways, keep in mind that efficient decision-making is a key component in respecting local business culture.
11. The Dutch love to borrel with their colleagues
Yes, the French are no strangers to a refreshing alcoholic beverage after work. No, it’s in no way as institutionalised as the Dutch borrel tradition.
You might have thought that the Dutch lifestyle was fueled by stroopwafels, biking, and the fresh air of the blossoming tulip fields. But no, the truth is that Dutch people survive on borrel beer.
The best way to curate work relationships in the Netherlands is at a borrel. Image: Depositphotos
They live and breathe borrels. In fact, there is no Dutch workplace with respect for itself that doesn’t host a weekly, or at least monthly, borrel for its employees.
It’s about relaxing, letting loose, and getting your internal beer supply topped up before it’s time to get back to work again. It’s simply crucial to the flow and productivity of the Dutch workforce. French people: take notes.
Although there are bound to be differences (both small and big) when moving to a new place, you can rest assured that the Netherlands is a great place to work as an international.
