Home Blog Page 345

Snow, ice, and frozen canals: giddy up folks, winter is about to hit HARD

Grab those skates, because the Netherlands will be icing up over the next few days! Cold, clear weather is expected for much of the country, with ice growth from Wednesday. ⛸️

Frost inland is enough to turn the country into a winter wonderland for skating enthusiasts — and we can expect to see moderate frost as early as tonight, reports RTL Nieuws.

Expect cold, clear days from tonight

Unlike today, which is likely to be grey and full of cloud cover, tonight could see clearer, colder weather roll in from the south.

Temperatures can be expected to average around an icy -3 degrees Celsius, though these figures could grow a bit colder in the north-east of the country, says Buienrader meteorologist Leander de Wit.

However, if you live in the north, you can expect the weather to remain cloudy and only a few degrees below freezing.

Get those skates ready for Wednesday!

If the weather remains clear on Tuesday night, the ice may be thick enough for skaters to take to the ice on Wednesday morning.

Translation: Attention skating enthusiasts! It’s going to freeze hard next week 🥶 After a few nights of moderate frost, skating towards next weekend will most likely even be possible ⛸️ But how can that be done safely? And where is the chance of ice skating the greatest?

According to Weer.nl, the ice could be 12 to 16 centimetres thick in the morning. This means that a small group of people could skate on shallow water, but is not thick enough for skating over deeper bodies of water.

Ice growth could also continue into Thursday and Friday, as nighttime temperatures are predicted to be moderately freezing.

It’s not just you, the weather really is that cold

If you’re feeling the cold stab you like a knife, irrespective of how many layers you’ve got on, you’re definitely not alone! 🥶

READ MORE | How to survive the Dutch winter: weather, clothing, and more

Buienrader meteorologists say that temperatures actually haven’t been this cold in over a decade — and they aren’t done plummeting, as Wednesday may even see a low of -10 degrees Celsius!

As such, the frost growth and the chance of (finally!) whipping out those skates in early December are unseasonable for this time of year.

Will you be taking to the ice when things freeze over? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

Grab your skates! Canals in the Netherlands could freeze as temps dip

Hol’ up: the time might be coming to strap yourself into your skates and glide (gracefully) across the frozen canals of the lowlands — at least, some of them.

Extremely low temperatures are forecast for the next few days, dropping to -5 degrees on Monday and Tuesday. The result? We may actually see some ice skating before Christmas! 

Did someone say ice skating? 

It seems like Santa has come early for some. Meteorologist Magdel Erasmus of Buienradar predicts the chance to ice-skate on shallow waters early into next week. 

On Monday and Tuesday, the possibility of snow and ice will most likely occur in the Northern provinces, namely, in Amsterdam.

Pro-tip: stay away from thin ice! ❄️

READ MORE | Natural ice skating in the Netherlands: where to go and what to bring

With the ice, comes the cold

We’re sorry to be the bearer of bad news if you’re one of those who suffers from the cold, but winter has happened upon us like a kick to our chattering teeth. 🥶

READ MORE | How to survive the Dutch winter: weather, clothing, and more

A significant drop in temperatures is being felt all throughout the Netherlands today, and it looks like the pogonip (yes, this is a word, meaning “dense winter fog”) isn’t going to clear up anytime soon.

And an ice-cold snow shower

In this current energy crisis, you may have heard of the many benefits of a cold shower. But, what happens when you can’t turn the cold tap off?

There’s a high chance of wintry showers on Sunday. Snow and hail are expected to descend upon our homes and noses, especially in the north of the Netherlands. 🌨️

Put on your mittens

We don’t know about you, but we’ll be making the most of this period and taking ourselves to our local canal to experience all the frozen Netherlands has to offer.

READ MORE | 7 winter escapes from the Netherlands by train

Or, you know, cosy up with a nice, warm cup of Chocomel (hot chocolate). You do you. 😉

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

Apparently the Dutch have an award for the worst slogans, and we’ve got them

We thought we saw it all when it comes to weird things the Dutch do. Well, it turns out the Dutch have an award for the worst advertising slogans — and the results are in! 

According to RTL Nieuws, the prize for the worst slogan, also known as ‘De Blauwe Tegel’, is being handed over to Het Kruispunt this year, a care centre for people with pelvic problems. 🏥

Their winning (worst) slogan? “Maak van uw kruis geen punt, kom naar Het Kruispunt.”

Meaning: “Don’t make your cross a point, come to The Crossroads.” — 🤦

It’s important to note kruis has a double meaning and also means crotch, so this slogan is enjoying a nice play on words.

How does it work?

Every year, the worst company or advertising slogan is chosen through the platform SlechteSlogans.nl. This year marks the 11th time that the Election of the Worst Slogan is taking place — yes, people have actually been interested in this for 11 years.  

READ MORE| Even more odd Dutch quirks (Yes! Time for more weird stuff Dutch people do)

Between December 1-8, 2022, Dutchies were able to rank the worst of the 10 nominated slogans chosen by the jury of SlechteSlogans.

Not cringing hard enough at the winning slogan? Don’t worry, there’s plenty more where that came from.

The worst of the worst

Het Kruispunt wasn’t the only business to have some fun in the marketing department this year. In fact, quite a few Dutch businesses decided it was time to raise some eyebrows. 

Going for silver, the slogan from Myscosan, which specialises in the effective treatment and prevention of fungal nail and athlete’s foot (🥴) makes it to second place with: 

“Voetschimmel? Steek je middelteen op!”

Meaning: “Foot fungus? Raise your middle toe!” 

… 😑. Swearing with your middle toe? Now, that would be impressive.

Last but certainly not least, third place goes to the fish speciality store Van Vis, which boasts the slogan:

“Er vis er een jarig hoera hoera!”

Meaning: “A fish’s birthday hoera hoera!” How… original? 🐟

Listen, guys, it’s 2022, and we know Dutch humour can be very dry, sarcastic, and even sassy. Let’s just call these slogans for what they are — diamonds of the Dutch post-humour era. 

What do you think about this year’s worst slogans, funny or flops? Tell us in the comment below! 

Dutch Quirk #107: Eat food from a wall vending machine

Yes. You read that right. The Dutch have taken the concept of street food to a whoooole new level. Wall vending machines contain an array of classic Dutch fast food at your beck and call — and Nederlanders love ’em.

The idea is definitely questionable, to say the least. Imagine this — you’re wandeling (walking) down bustling streets filled with the strong aromas and chattering crowds that could conjure the scene of a traditional street market. 

Yet instead, you come face to face with a wall vending machine selling everything from kaassoufflés to kip krokets

READ MORE | Dutch cities may soon have the power to say ‘nee’ to fast food restaurants.

Now, we know the Dutch love their traditions and this one is, definitely, no different. It also seems to adhere to the frugal and impatient nature of the Dutch. But WHY?

What is it?

There are several renditions of the whole hole-in-the-wall doodah but the one that’s stuck the longest is FEBO.

READ MORE | The Dutch food dream: 13 unmissable dishes in the Netherlands.

FEBO is a franchise fast-food restaurant (if you can even call it that) that was founded in 1941. It’s notable for an automatic format that allows you to purchase frites and frikandellen from a locker-like hole in the wall without a second’s hesitation.

The Dutch baker-turned-entrepreneur, Johan de Borst (1919-2008), named his creation after a street in Amsterdam. Ferdinand Bolstraat = FE + BO. Get it? 😉

Today, almost every Dutch city is decorated with at least one much-beloved and frequently used FEBO vending machine.

Why do they do it?

We don’t know why the Dutch do a lot of things. We’ve also learnt not to ask questions where they are not due, in case a bitterballen gets flung at our heads.

READ MORE | 3 weird Dutch food ‘things’ that will make you cry/laugh

Our guess? Perhaps, because FEBOs kroketten’s are just tooo darn good! 

Why is it quirky? 

Around the world food automats closed down when fast-food joints, such as McDonalds, started opening up. However, the Netherlands enjoyed its food walls so much that they couldn’t part ways. 🤤

READ MORE | These are 7 Dutch foods you need to try before you die.

As a result, the wall vendors became a typically Dutch sight. Glowing, inviting lights of the wall vendors await you at every corner shopping street, luring you in like flies to 💩.

Or a truly scrumptious frikandel, depending on how you see it. 

Should you join in? 

If you’re ever feeling lazy and the McDonald’s queue is too long. We’d suggest that you take yourself down to a traditional Dutch vending machine. 

You may be disappointed, but at least you’ll have unlocked (and easily retrieved) a new experience!  

What do you think of this Dutch quirk? Have you experienced it? Tell us in the comments below!

Guess who’s back? Formula 1 will return to Zandvoort in 2024 and 2025

You might have heard of reigning Formula 1 world champion, Max Verstappen. Well, the racing driver won’t be leaving his home circuit anytime soon. Formula 1 will be taking place in Zandvoort for the foreseeable future!

Yes, you read that right. Formula 1 will, once again, be held in the beautiful Dutch seaside town of Zandvoort — not only in 2023 but in 2024 and 2025 too. 

This will make the Netherlands the first country, ever, to host the Grand Prix for five consecutive years.

New contract, same location

Originally, the Dutch Grand Prix agreed to a three-year contract term but after some thorough discussions, the FOM has extended the event to occur in the Netherlands for another two years. But why?

A fan favourite

The Netherlands has become among the fan favourites due to its incredible energy, similar to Las Vegas, Monaco, and São Paulo.

READ MORE | Orange fever: could Verstappen boost Dutch performance in F1?

Boasting fantastic organisation, entertainment, and sustainability efforts, the Dutch Grand Prix has been a complete sell-out for the past two years!

The orange sea behind the stands left fans in awe, attracting international attention to a town with only 17,000 inhabitants.

READ MORE | Hoera! F1 Champion Max Verstappen receives royal honour.

“The Dutch Grand Prix has quickly established itself on the calendar as a fan favourite and brings incredible energy and a great experience every year”, Formula 1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali tells the NOS.

And we can’t forget the successes of Verstappen! 🎊 Next year, former Formula 2 champion, Nyck de Vries will join the grid and, along with him, many more Dutch superfans.

A tight race on and off the track

“This was not an easy decision,” Robert van Overdijk, the director of the Dutch Grand Prix, tells RTLnieuws. “Rising costs and economic uncertainty are a concern, as is competition from other countries and large cities.”

Last year’s races were also not without problems. During the 2022 races, controversies emerged concerning fan behaviour. These included reports of women being harassed by Formula 1 attendees.

READ MORE | Progress takes a pit-stop as women face harassment at the Dutch Grand Prix.

Let’s just hope that this time around, there will be fewer bumps in the road. 🤞

What do you think about this decision? Tell us in the comments below.

A Christmas Carol: Seasonal festivities through dance in the Hague

The cosy warmth of a feel-good Christmas story, the magical twinkle of fairy lights, and the festive melodies of seasonal jingles are just a few things that’ll have you enveloped in a blanket of Yuletide cheer. 🎄

Combine all of the above, and you’ve got an incredible performance of ‘A Christmas Carol‘ by De Dutch Don’t Dance Division in The Hague!

Treat yourself to a ballet this Christmas

Innovative dance troupe De Dutch Don’t Dance Division brushes the dust off Charles Dickens’ seasonal classic ‘A Christmas Carol’ and treats you to a celebration of seasonal cheer and dance.

Laugh, cry, and bask in the wonder of the season as Dickens’ characters leap off the page to twirl you back to 1843 in this special Hague version of the story you know and love.

a-christmas-carol-in-the-hague
Image: Supplied/Amare Theatre

You’ll scoff at the antics of penny-pinching Ebenezer Scrooge, feel Tiny Tim tug at your heartstrings, and cower at the foreboding presence of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come — but, above all, this Christmas classic will move you deeply.

‘A Christmas Carol’ as you’ve never seen it before

Initially adapted for ballet in 1992 by composer Carl Davies, the cheery score is brought to life by the full Residentie Orchestra and the vocal mastery of eight talented singers.

Intertwined with traditional English Christmas carols, it carries you on a musical adventure as it weaves and winds its way through this magical tale of redemption.

Meanwhile, inspired choreographers Rinus Sprong and Thom Stuart work tirelessly to bring this ballet back with a bang after their sold-out run in 2019 (and dare we say, it looks like they succeeded!)

Their vision is masterfully executed by De Dutch Don’t Dance Division’s skilled troupe (all 80 of them!). Ranging in age from 4 to 65, they prove that age is just a number when it comes to talent.

Set in the Hague’s picturesque new Amare Theatre, this winter ballet is sure to delight all the children in the audience — as well as awaken the wide-eyed inner child in every adult that’s longing for the magic of Christmas morning. 🎁

This enchanting ballet runs from December 25 to 29 (just in time for Christmas gifts for your loved ones! 😉), and tickets are nearly gone — so be sure to buy yours before they run out!

Will you be rushing to the Amare Theatre to indulge in this Christmas classic? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

Sorry guys, another train strike is coming to the Netherlands

Adjust your travel plans! Another train strike will soon be taking place in the Netherlands — this time by the staff of Arriva, the train carrier that mostly operates in the north of the country.

Why? Negotiations for wage increases by the collective labour agreement have come to a halt — and staff members are not happy. 🚏

Your Arriva train won’t be arriving

Arriva’s operators and conductors will be striking on December 15, 16, and 19 in Groningen, Friesland and parts of Drenthe and Overijssel. Let’s break it down for you: 

  • The strike will start Thursday, December 15 in Friesland. 
  • They will continue on December 16, this time in Groningen
  • The final strike will take place on Monday, December 19, affecting the provinces of Drenthe and Overijssel.

READ MORE | The NS is changing its trains: here’s what you need to know

What does that mean? While the exact implications for the timetables will depend on how many employees decide to participate in the strike, it can be expected that there will be fewer or no trains in the affected areas on these days. 🚅

But…why?

As the NOS reports, the strikes were announced on Thursday by trade unions FNV, CNV, and VVMC. 

The unions are pushing Arriva and other regional train companies to offer their staff a 10% wage increase, while also reducing their workload. But employers seem to have different ideas: they are only willing to offer a 5% raise — which the unions say is far too little.

READ MORE | Nursing homes are getting NS ‘train compartments’ for dementia patients and we can’t cope

Head of the FNV, Edwin Kuiper, has emphasised that staff are not satisfied and that their willingness to take action is high. 

After the success of the NS workers’ strikes, whose wages were increased by 9.5%, Kuiper believes that Arriva staff want to follow in their footsteps.

What do you think about Arriva’s plan to strike for higher wages? Let us know!

Dutch Princess Amalia turns 19! Buuut she still can’t leave the house

Hiep hiep hoera! Princess Amalia celebrated turning 19 yesterday…from home. How celebratory. 😕

That’s right, the Dutch princess couldn’t hit the clubs of Amsterdam to party due to ongoing threats to her well-being. 

As a consequence of the threats, Amalia had to celebrate in a more private manner with her family at home, reports RTL Nieuws.

Trapped in a castle

Earlier this year, Amalia started her studies of Politics, Psychology, Law, and Economics at the University of Amsterdam. 

While this should have been a time to move into student housing, make new friends, and get used to your typical university life, the threats against the princess changed that.

Instead, she is still living at home and cannot leave her house. 

READ MORE | Dutch Princess Amalia forced to stay at home due to outside threat

Queen Máxima reported that she’s proud of her daughter for handling her situation with strength; nevertheless, it hasn’t been easy on her. 

“The threats have had enormous consequences for her life.” Máxima stated. “[Amalia] hasn’t left her house, which means that she cannot have a normal student life like others.” 

The princess has been dealing with the threats by focusing on what she loves: riding her horse, Mojito, her studies, and making music. 

Talk about dealing with a tough situation in a strong and royal manner! 👑

A positive future?

In October, Prime Minister Mark Rutte, announced that the princess’s security has increased and, while he cannot comment on details, he stated that “Everyone who is working on it is doing their utmost to make sure Amalia is safe.” 

While the princess doesn’t plan to ascend the throne anytime soon, she does want to perform her official royal duties during her studies. In the meantime, she will be focusing on successfully completing her studies and making time for her hobbies. 👩‍🎓 

What do you think about the princess’s situation? Tell us in the comments below!

‘Queen Elizabeth’ and ‘Wordle’: here’s what Dutchies were Googling this year

The biggest Google searches in the Netherlands for 2022 have been released and it’s offering us a front-row seat to the mind of a Dutchie. 

You might think that your Google searches are more private than your diary, but let’s get real and accept that Google knows all.

It’s almost the end of the year, so it’s time to look back on the hottest search results of 2022 in the Netherlands. 

“Ukraine” topped the list

It’s probably not surprising for anyone that Dutch people spent a good portion of the year informing themselves about the latest invasion. One of the most popular searches was the war in Ukraine, according to RTL Nieuws.

protest-in-support-of-ukraine-in-amsterdam
Peace protest in Amsterdam Image: Depositphotos

Sex scandals and pop culture icons

The Voice scandal was one of the hottest search topics this year.

Confused and need a refresher? The original Dutch version of the popular red-chaired TV show was plagued with widespread allegations of sexual abuse of contestants

As a result, the alleged perpetrators and their relatives were among some of the most Googled this year. Show band leader and first to be accused, Jeroen Rietbergen, topped the list, and his ex-girlfriend, TV host Linda de Mol, was second.

Dutch rapper and The Voice judge, Ali B, was also subject to accusations, scoring him a place in the top 10. 

READ MORE: RTL suspends The Voice of Holland after sexual misconduct allegations

Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth’s death was the eighth most-searched phrase this year. 

Are you still watching? 

Streaming services also had a good year when it came to curious Dutchies. After the launch of HBO Max in the Netherlands and their huge social media campaign, Dutchies took to their keyboards to sign up.

READ MORE: Video streaming services in the Netherlands: the complete guide 

Meanwhile, Scandinavian-drama streamer Viaplay was the third most popular Google word in 2022 — apparently, those Dutchies can’t get enough of Norwegian films?

streaming-services-netherlands-netflix
The king-pin of Dutch streaming services is Netflix. Image: Netflix

Let’s get ‘appy

Puzzle game Wordle was one of the popular apps of 2022 in the Netherlands, probably because we were all playing it while our flights and trains were delayed. 👀

But cast your minds back, dear readers, to January 2022 when COVID-19 regulations were in full swing. At the time, people in the Netherlands turned out in force to Google Testen Voor Toegang, the Dutch system to test before entering clubs, festivals, or events.

After that fun and crowded night, what was the next logical step? Search the quarantine rules of the Netherlands. That’s right, “Quarantaineregels” was the 10th most searched phrase in the Netherlands in 2022 (probably while the hungover partiers were holding their positive rapid test). 

We have a question

On top of these results, Nederlanders were curious about, well, a lot. Some of the top questions of the year included: 

  • What is Pentecost? 
  • What is a hermaphrodite? 
  • What is an oligarch? 
  • What is an NFT? 
  • What is Salmonella? 

The top 10 most-searched Google terms in 2022

#Search
1Ukraine
2Jeroen Rietbergen
3Viaplay
4Ali B
5Testen voor Toegang
6Jeffrey Dahmer
7Wordle
8Queen Elizabeth
9HBO Max
10Quarantaineregels

What do you think was your most Googled word this year? Tell us in the comments! 

Dutch man found with 190 pounds of stolen FISH in his trunk (Why? Who knows)

0

Yes, that right! In the fishiest case of the year, an officer found over 200 bags of frozen seafood in the back of a man’s car; no one can understand why. 😳

A local community officer in Staphorst, near Zwolle, stopped the man after his car was swerving around the road (we won’t dare to say fishtailing).

In the boot of the driver’s car lay a school of motionless fish, specifically, 190 packs of salmon and 40 bags of shrimp. 

READ MORE | Dutch police thought they’d found a body — turns out it was a sex doll.

We totally get that the inflatie (inflation) is causing all kinds of concerns. However, this just seems sooo unso-fish-ticated! 🐟

Any-fin is possible (until you get caught)

“I soon thought: there is a smell to this,” joked the community police officer, Jimmy Van Oijen who found it, to Editie NL.

It turned out that the bags of fish had been stolen from several Lidl stores across Straphorst.

READ MORE | The ultimate guide to the cheapest supermarkets in the Netherlands.

The fishkeeper apparently had no method to his madness and is currently in custody after being arrested for theft.

What now?

There is an ongoing investigation to determine if he actually committed the theft as well as an ongoing fish-hunt to figure out which Lidl branches are missing their fish.

What do you think about the stolen fish? Tell us in the comments below.