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Winter is here! The first official ice day hits the Netherlands

Mihály Droppa
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Winter is here! The first official ice day hits the Netherlands

It’s time to grab those skates and enjoy the ice and cry over the energy bills — the winter is officially here! ❄️

Yesterday was the first ice day in De Bilt, with the highest temperature rising to a mere -1.4 degrees.

This is earlier than average for this time of year; usually, the hardcore winter only comes to the Netherlands after Christmas, around December 27, according to NU.nl.

READ MORE | Ice-skating rinks in the Netherlands: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, and beyond

Freezing temperatures in the next days

We’re looking at frost, ice, and bone-chilling air! The temperature rises slightly on Wednesday morning, but it will stay below zero. 🥶

While the weather is perfect for ice skating, only the northwestern coastal area has a chance of having some snow. The northern part of the Netherlands will be sunny, with stronger winds. 

While the center of the country will be even cooler with many veil clouds. Most of the country will remain dry, so we won’t use our sled on the nonexisting Dutch hills. 

It’s time to ice skate! 

In the Netherlands, it’s pretty rare when the weather freezes for more than 24 hours. On average, there are only about six ice days per year, so if you are into skating, your chance to shine is near! 🥶⛸️

READ MORE: Ice-skating rinks in the Netherlands: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, and beyond

In the past years, there were fewer and fewer days when people could enjoy a really cold winter.

Last year, the country didn’t get warmer than -0.6 degrees for seven days in a row, while in the previous few years, there were no ice days at all. 

Are you planning to ice skate this year? Tell us in the comments! 

Make a wish! See the largest meteor shower of the year in the Netherlands

Francesca Burbano
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Make a wish! See the largest meteor shower of the year in the Netherlands

Calling all stargazers and astronomy lovers! On December 14, the biggest meteor shower of the year, also known as the Geminids meteor shower, will peak in the skies over the Netherlands. ✨

The shower is set to reach its highest point on Wednesday night and will be visible until early Thursday morning. 

Up to 150 meteors are expected to be visible per hour, although weather conditions and the moonlight will make it trickier to spot them, reports NU.nl.

The Geminids explained

If you’re not sure what the Geminids are or what they mean, we’re here to explain! 🙋

The Geminids meteor shower coincides with the Gemini constellation, highlighting the annual astronomical calendar, which comes every December. December really is a special month!

Between 3 AM and 4 AM on the morning of December 14, you’ll be able to watch the meteor shower at its peak, being able to see around 120 meteors per hour! 😲 

Since not everyone wants to wake up so early, you should be able to spot a few showers during the day and during the weekend as well. 

How to see them

Here are some tips to get you prepared to see such beauty! Your best chance of catching glimpses of the shower is to try to head out of the city and find somewhere that doesn’t have much light pollution, such as a national park or sky areas. 

The golden rule is this: the less light pollution around you, the more likely you’ll see the shooting stars. 

READ MORE | Light Pollution in the Netherlands is Significantly Decreasing

This is what you are looking out for: meteors tend to be bold, white, and, more than anything, they’re quick. 

You won’t need any binoculars or telescopes, but experts suggest setting aside at least an hour of stargazing to get your eyes used to the darkness. 

Patience is key when spotting the meteors: watch the night sky for 15-20 minutes for a chance to catch them. 

Who is heading out of the city this year to see the meteor shower? Let us know in the comments below!

Report finds institutional racism at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Lyna Meyrer 🇱🇺
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Report finds institutional racism at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs

A study among employees at the Dutch Department of Foreign Affairs has uncovered a “serious and worrisome” degree of racism and discrimination — both in the ministry itself, and at embassies and diplomatic posts abroad.

After an investigation commissioned by the Governing Council (the main decision-making body of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, formed by the department’s highest officials), the ministry has now apologized and expressed regret for the racist working environment, reports the NOS. 

From aggressive to subtle racism

The results of the investigation are shocking, revealing that bicultural employees and locally hired employees of colour experience various forms of racism.

This institutional racism would show through verbal abuse, derogatory encounters, cultural racism, racist jokes, accusations and suspicions.

Several employees have reported overt racism. Many have witnessed or experienced incidents where people have been referred to as “monkeys,” “negroes,” and “Black Piet” — because of their skin colour. 

READ MORE | 20% of young Dutch people still think Zwarte Piet is A-OK

Both Black employees and white bicultural employees often feel ignored and treated as a ‘cultural other.’

Executives not taking action

Respondents to the investigation by the Governing Council indicate that executives seem to take little to no corrective action when they hear about such incidents of racism.

To make matters worse, executives reportedly take part in racist behaviour. 

Some executives apparently referred to specific cultures as “lazy snails” and “criminals.”

Former employees come forward

Nori Spauwen, the former diversity and inclusion coordinator at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, came forward saying that she is not surprised by the investigation’s findings.

READ MORE | Mark Rutte, sociological jargon isn’t real, but institutional racism is

During her time at the Ministry, Spauwen heard concerning stories about people experiencing racism on a daily basis, she tells the NOS’s Nieuwsuur. 

Translation: “I had people at my desk daily with very harrowing stories.” This says @NoriSpauwen, who worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a diversity coordinator. “There is a culture of fear. Few people dare to step forward.”

A hopeless undertaking?

Spauwen said she felt hopeless while at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as though tackling racism was impossible. “The power is concentrated in a small group of people,” she states in the interview with Nieuwsuur.

That is why she decided to give up her position.  

Spauwen hopes that, now that the Ministry’s “culture of fear” has made headlines around the globe, change may now be on the horizon, as people are held accountable for their behaviour. 

Want the latest Dutch news to come zooming through the internet to your inbox? Dat kan! Subscribe to DutchReview’s weekly roundup 📮

No public screenings of Morocco’s semi-final match in The Hague or Amsterdam due to riots

Eva Gabriella
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No public screenings of Morocco’s semi-final match in The Hague or Amsterdam due to riots

Morocco will be the first African country to participate in the semi-finals of the World Cup, and some rowdy fans of the “Lions of the Atlas” are causing uproar! 🦁

The Moroccan national team made history in the global tournament since Morocco’s win against Spain on December 6, resulting in large-scale celebrations breaking out across the country.

Since then, Morocco beat Portugal 1 – 0 on December 10 when Portugal was the favourite to win. It’s no wonder Morocco is in such high spirits!

With that being said, the celebrations have become increasingly out of control, prompting The Hague and Amsterdam to stop public screenings of the match to avoid more public disturbance.

What began with fans taking to the streets with flags and torches turned nightmarish when instigators pelted fireworks at the politie. 

The calm before the score

It’s important to acknowledge that not every fan is causing chaos. 

“Troublemakers use the crowd of football players as a cover”, ruining the enjoyment of those who aren’t rioting, a spokesperson of The Hague tells NU.nl.

READ MORE | Dutch cities riot after Morocco’s world cup win over Belgium

The safety measures have been put in place in the best interest of “ordinary fans (who) would also become vulnerable to fireworks and misconduct”, says a spokesperson for mayor Femke Halsema.

Guarding the yard

The Hague and Amsterdam will take additional security measures when Morocco plays against France on December 14, such as additional powers for the police. 

The police will be, particularly,  “extra visibly present” in Schilderswijk, a neighbourhood with many Moroccan residents in The Hague.

Water cannons have not been posted, nor has there been a decision about tear gas as “it is a serious means of violence that may only be used with the mayor’s permission if the police see no other option,” asserts a spokesperson for the municipality.

What do you think about these measures? Tell us in the comments below.

Applications postponed for STAP budget to tighten rules

Heather Slevin
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Applications postponed for STAP budget to tighten rules

If you were hoping to apply for STAP in January 2023, your luck is out, as applications have been momentarily paused to ensure the budget is being used properly.

The Dutch cabinet has paused applications for STAP until February 28, 2023, due to concerns that the budget is being misused, reports RTL Nieuws.

Skills training or a two-day tour of Antwerp?

The STAP budget is a government-funded scheme designed to cover the costs of labour training for EU and Dutch citizens up to €1,000.

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

However, Ministers Karien Van Gennip of Social Affairs and Employment and Dennis Wiersma of Education, have concerns about the strictness of the rules for the subsidy. Namely, all courses listed under the budget fit into their rules.

As much as we’d all love to attend that jam-making course, all the training under STAP must be useful for the person’s employability.

Translation: Hey, #stapbudget and fraud. Who could have dreamed that? Free money for everyone.

The tightening of rules also comes after RTL Nieuws discovered that one could take a two-day ‘discovery of yourself’ course in Amsterdam, Antwerp or Paris under STAP.

Perhaps not the most useful course in terms of retraining, but we’d sure love to discover ourselves in Paris for free. 😍

STAP could be used to retrain employees for labour shortages

The government does checks to ensure that all courses that qualify for STAP are of good, educational quality.

They are also looking into whether the subsidy could be used to retain people for areas of the labour market where there are shortages.

For example, the question has been raised if the scheme could be used to train people in healthcare or education. 👩‍⚕️

The budget has already been used by 200,000 Dutch and EU citizens since it launched in March 2022, — the government expects more success next year.

Readying your application? The next round of applications will open on February 28, 2023, so make sure you’ve got the date down in your books. ✍

Would you use STAP to hone your skills? Tell us in a comment below! 👇

Weather forecast: provinces announce code yellow due to icy conditions

Liana Risseeuw 🇱🇰
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Weather forecast: provinces announce code yellow due to icy conditions

Put on your warmest winter coats and watch where you step because the Netherlands has just plunged into winter, and well…the ice is slippery. 🥶

Due to the freezing temperatures and ice build-up, a weather warning was announced for local slipperiness in several Dutch provinces, reports RTL Nieuws.

Code yellow warning for certain provinces

Noting the icy conditions, the KNMI (Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute) recently announced a code yellow warning. That means there’s a likelihood of dangerous weather, and the public needs to be alert.

This warning applies to the regions of South Holland, Utrecht, Gelderland, Noord-Brabant, Zeeland, and Limburg.

The alert warns the public of potentially hazardous circumstances due to the build-up of ice, which will stay in place until Sunday.

Dense fog expected in the north

Meanwhile, the provinces of Groningen and Drenthe are spared the worst of the ice but are expected to be hit by dense fog.

This fog area is set to expand and affect traffic and many outdoor activities, reports Buienradar.

Temperatures continue to drop but will rise on Thursday

Last night really saw temperatures plummet. The trend continues today as this morning’s fog dissipates into a relatively sunny (and cold!) winter day.

The minimum temperature during the day is expected to drop to around -4 to -10 degrees Celsius (depending on the region), according to KNMI.

However, from Thursday, the temperatures will increase. The KNMI predicts daytime highs of 4 to 6 degrees Celsius on Thursday and Friday. Next Monday, temperatures may jump to as high as 11 degrees Celsius.

What do you think of the Netherlands’ icy slide into winter? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

Amsterdam drops most inner-city speed limits to just 30 km/h from end of 2023

Eva Gabriella
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Amsterdam drops most inner-city speed limits to just 30 km/h from end of 2023

In December 2023, the speed limits placed on 80% of the roads in Amsterdam will be reduced significantly from 50 to 30km per hour.

Several major cities in the Netherlands have rallied against the high number of road fatalities caused each year.  

Currently, there are over 800 accidents that occur on Dutch roads. By reducing speed limits, it’s hoped that the number of road casualties will be reduced and the streets will become a safer place for pedestrians and cyclists, AD reports.

Don’t relax just yet, though! The biggest pests — buses and trams, will still have a maximum speed of 50km per hour. 

Taking action

Former Alderman Egbert de Vries revealed that most road accidents happen on roads where the speed limit is 50km per hour.

READ MORE | Moving mopeds to the road has helped but Amsterdammers still feel unsafe

As a result, Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht sent out an urgent letter to the Dutch cabinet about the hazardous roads.

A year later, action is finally being taken, and we couldn’t be more pleased!

READ MORE | Why driving in the Netherlands is stressful: My experience of living in the Netherlands

The lower speed limits should reduce the braking distance of cars from 27.7 metres to 13.3 metres, limiting the impact of accidents and stopping drivers from using the road like an F1 racing track.

Along with the new speed limit, traffic lights, lines, and signs will be adjusted to sustain the safety of the roads.

What do you think about the new speed limits? Tell us in the comments below.

Amsterdam kids forced to watch ‘The Exorcist’ and other horror films by childcare worker

Francesca Burbano
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Amsterdam kids forced to watch ‘The Exorcist’ and other horror films by childcare worker

A childcare worker forced kids between the ages of seven and nine to watch horror films such as ‘The Exorcist’ and ‘District 9’ during lunch break.

Honestly, this news story belongs deserves a horror movie of its own. Imagine scarring children with terrifying films — on purpose!

Even worse, the worker knew that that was incredibly inappropriate. To cover his tracks, he had the ‘Pink Panther’ ready to take the place of the horror film being shown whenever an adult would come in, reports the NOS. 

Ongoing nightmares 

Some parents who made a statement to the newspaper claimed that their children were extremely afraid while watching the movies and asked the man to turn it off. 

When the man did not do this, they ran to the school corridor and tried to hide. When the children cried, they were humiliated by the man and other staff, the parents say.

READ MORE | Primary schools in the Netherlands: a guide for expat parents

At home, some parents have stated that their children are afraid to go to bed, not fully understanding that what they have watched is not real. Some children are having recurring nightmares and have even started to wet the bed again. 

Unknown intentions

It remains unclear why the man showed these kinds of films to kids. It is also uncertain how many times this incident has happened. 

The worker, who supervised children who stayed at school for lunch, had at least two classes of a total of 40 students. When he was discovered, the man was fired on the spot, and the police were informed. 

The man was hired due to a shortage of personnel at the school after being screened and showing work history.

However, while he had done a good screening and even worked in other locations, IIse Boellard, director of De Kleine Reus, stated that “Unfortunately, this isn’t always a guarantee.” 😞

Since the incident, the school has enforced an additional adult watcher when films are being played and introduced resilience training for kids to learn what to do if a similar accident were to occur again. 

What do you think of this incident? Tell us in the comments below! 

Turns out those tacky Amsterdam souvenir shops are often just to launder money

Lyna Meyrer 🇱🇺
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Turns out those tacky Amsterdam souvenir shops are often just to launder money

We’ve all seen them: small shops in Amsterdam that sell tacky keychains, flashy lighters, and all sorts of weed snacks. 

These typische stores leave everyone wondering: “How are these not bankrupt?”

Well, it turns out, in some cases, the answer is criminal activity.

To combat the issue, special control teams are sent to suspicious stores, which are checked for fraud, money laundering, and drug trafficking. 👮‍♂️

Souvenir shops ideal for money laundering

Since many Dutch stores say “nee” to credit cards, tourists visiting souvenir shops often pay in cash. 

READ MORE | Transaction declined: why don’t my bank cards work in the Netherlands?

This makes the tacky tourist traps a vulnerable industry for money laundering since it is easy for owners to mix the money made from actual sales with money from illicit activity.

crowds-of-people-in-amsterdam
Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit Amsterdam every year. Image: Depositphotos

Further suspicious activity

Despite their low number of customers, the souvenir shops don’t seem concerned: As RTL Nieuws reports, one of the Amsterdam shops was open for a mere six days throughout all of October 2022.

At another store, fridges containing bottles of soda and cans of beers were lacking doors — which would inevitably result in extremely high energy bills. 

READ MORE | Amsterdam is banning 167 addresses from becoming tacky tourist shops (thank god!)

While these activities are not illegal, they are highly suspicious and make these kinds of stores more susceptible to checks by Amsterdam’s special control teams.

Billions of euros in criminal money

A single afternoon of checking only three stores shows alarming results. 🚨

As RTL Nieuws’ investigation revealed, the control teams confiscated more than 250 counterfeit items, and handed out fines of around €5000.

They also found employees committing benefit fraud, and signs pointing towards illegal underground banking.

Considering the high number of infractions that were detected in a single afternoon, it is estimated that billions of euros of criminal money flow through a city like Amsterdam — all under the disguise of tulip fridge magnets and weed lollipops.

Stricter legislation

To prevent the issue from becoming an even bigger problem, Femke Halsema, Mayor of Amsterdam, wants the government to introduce heavier inspections and stricter laws.

For example, to limit money laundering opportunities, Halsema suggests limiting cash payments to a maximum of €1000.

What do you think of these findings on Amsterdam’s souvenir shops? Let us know!

Woman who didn’t know she was pregnant gives birth on 11-hour KLM flight

Mihály Droppa
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Woman who didn’t know she was pregnant gives birth on 11-hour KLM flight

An unexpected baby boy was born on a long KLM flight to Amsterdam, and both the mother and the child are well. 

You’d think that this could only happen in movies: Tamara was on a flight from Guayaquil, Ecuador, to Amsterdam last Wednesday when suddenly she felt pain in her belly. 

She went to the toilet where, after two contractions, she held her newborn son in her hands, the NOS reports. 👶🏽

Luckily, two doctors and a nurse happened to be on board and were able to provide medical assistance after Tamara finished giving birth. 

Maximiliano’s first day

Maximiliano was named after one of the doctors who helped his mother deliver him. 🥹

After the flight, he was immediately taken to the Spaarne Gasthuis Haarlem Zuid hospital for further medical examinations with his mum, but luckily they were both found in good health. 

Airlines have a strict policy for heavily pregnant women, to prevent these risky situations.

But, since Tamara had no idea that she was pregnant, she got some help with the first legal steps as well in the hospital obtaining the necessary papers for her newborn. 

Rare moment

Not many people can say that they were born on a plane flying 35,000 feet above the ground. 🛩

READ MORE: Having a baby in the Netherlands is about to get €30,000 more expensive

Usually, a baby born in the air is given the mother’s nationality, but Tamara hasn’t disclosed that information yet. 

What do you think of this incredible story? Tell us in the comments! 

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