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Planning to do the civic integration? You’ll only need A2 level Dutch (for now)

Lyna Meyrer 🇱🇺
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Planning to do the civic integration? You’ll only need A2 level Dutch (for now)

Good news for everyone who has been struggling with their Nederlands: The Dutch level requirement for inburgering (civic integration) will stay at A2! 🇳🇱

An increase of the language requirement to B1 has been in the talks for a while now. However, the Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst (Immigration and Naturalisation Service, IND for short), has announced that this increase will likely not occur in 2023. Hoera!

This is dependent on your visa type, whether you’re obliged to integrate (or doing it voluntarily) and the dates of your integration, so if you’re in doubt, it’s best to check with your local municipality.

Relief for hopeful Dutch residents

Some of us currently living in the Netherlands may need to be awarded a civic integration diploma in order to naturalise or secure permanent residency in the beautiful kingdom of low countries.

READ MORE | Here’s how to smash the Dutch integration exam, stress-free

As part of this civic integration exam, participants must demonstrate their Dutch skills by taking a language test. The minimum requirement? That they can speak at least A2 Dutch. 

So, what does this mean?

The IND’s announcement simply means that for those required to jump through the hoops of the Dutch integration process, the language requirement for the exam will not change (at least for now)! 

READ MORE | The best tips to learn Dutch: my experience of grasping the language

So, for the time being, instead of being bumped up to the more complex B1 level, the language requirement for civic integration will remain at A2. 🥳 

@dutchreview

when youre trying your hardest to practise, but they keep going off script… #learningdutch #fyp #dutchreview

♬ original sound – Uyen Ninh

We all know that learning Dutch is not exactly makkelijk (easy), so this announcement sure comes as a relief to many! 😅

What do you think about the language requirement for civic integration? Let us know in the comments!

Morocco fans cause chaos throughout the Netherlands after World Cup win

Mihály Droppa
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Morocco fans cause chaos throughout the Netherlands after World Cup win

After Morocco won against Spain (3-1 in penalties) in yesterday’s World Cup match, the supporters went a bit too far with their celebration — and fireworks. 🎆

Hundreds of fans were celebrating in the bigger cities of the Netherlands like Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam, but things turned grim when the riot police intervened, the NOS reports. 

What? Where?

In The Hague, fans celebrating in the streets were asked to go home, to which they didn’t listen. At some point, a motorist also tried to drive into a group of officers, but luckily there was no injury, and they kept driving. 

In Rotterdam, the epicentre was at Kruisplein, near the Central Station, where more than 30 people were arrested. The square had to be evacuated, and the police asked others to avoid the city centre. 

READ MORE: Dutch cities riot after Morocco’s World Cup win over Belgium

The police also had to take action in Amsterdam-West at the Mercatorplein, where ten people were arrested after an emergency order was issued. 

The usually peaceful and friendly Utrecht and Amersfoort also experienced some chaos last night. The football supporters started throwing fireworks at the police, among other things — such as bicycles. 🙈 

Not only in the Netherlands

In several Belgian cities, such as Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent and Kortrijk, the police also had to intervene. 

In Brussels, tear gas and water cannons were used at the South Station. 

Follow DutchReview on Facebook for more information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

This innovative Dutch ‘Tree Cocoon’ could help reforest the planet

Eva Gabriella
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This innovative Dutch ‘Tree Cocoon’ could help reforest the planet

The Dutch have done it again! Amsterdam-based Land Life Company has invented a “Tree Cocoon” in its newest scheme to plant more trees and we are just as pro-plant as you are.

The “Tree Cocoon” is a doughnut-shaped carton made up of recycled cardboard and packed with nutrients, fungi and a three-month water supply in a design that helps trees to grow in even the harshest climates. 

The survival rate of these seedlings has risen from 10% with a normal tree to a flourishing 80-95% in the case of a Tree Cocoon-planted seedling.

How does it work?

Essentially, the “Tree Cocoon” is an irrigation system made up of cardboard.

The seedlings soak up about 10 gallons of water in three months compared with the usual 400 gallons. Due to its intricate design, the drip system allows the sapling to absorb water and nutrients as needed, avoiding water-loss. 

However, not just water is saved, but money too: one Tree Cocoon is approximately €10  instead of around €70 for a traditionally-grown drip-irrigated tree. 

Wood you be mine?

The Land Life Company has one mission: to restore.

READ MORE | 17 ways that make the Dutch sustainability super-heroes.

By helping to reforest the world’s two-billion hectares of degraded land through a unique innovative technique, tree-growing and tech have wed. Let’s all wish them a long and fruitful marriage. Gefeliciteered!

Photo-of-tree-cocoon-planting
Using this Tree Cocoon seedlings have an 80% higher chance of surviving. Image: Land Life Company

OK, Bloomer

For those who are still adjusting to the technological revolution by peering over your glasses to look at a screen and only tapping your phone with your pointy finger — you won’t believe that satellites, drones, and GPS drilling are all used to increase the survival of these sensitive saplings.

READ MORE | 7 innovative Dutch projects for a sustainable future.

And I know what you may be thinking. But won’t the cardboard ruin the soil? No worries! The Tree Cocoon container biodegrades over time. Greta won’t be raising her eyebrow at this one.

You grow, girl

Who’s in favour of a greener planet? Say ‘aye’! 

The Dutch have shown time and time again that no mountain is too high to climb when it comes to sustainability! 

What do you think of this new Dutch innovation? Let us know in the comments below.

Dutch Queen Máxima cheers for Oranje in Netherlands-Argentina showdown despite Argentinian roots

Francesca Burbano
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Dutch Queen Máxima cheers for Oranje in Netherlands-Argentina showdown despite Argentinian roots

Dutch Queen Máxima will be cheering for the Netherlands this Friday when the Netherlands takes on Argentina in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Qatar, despite the queen’s Argentinian upbringing. 

A spokesperson for the Dutch Government Information Service (RVD) has confirmed the queen will ditch her home country in favour of the Netherlands. Let’s go Oranje! 🧡

The Argentinian-born wife of King Willem-Alexander was congratulated last Thursday at the Meet the World event when Argentina beat Poland. After a thank you, she encouraged everyone to “cheer on” the Netherlands. Talk about royal loyalties! 

READ MORE | Queen Máxima of the Netherlands: how an Argentinian became a Dutch royal

Allegiance to the Netherlands

It is not the first time since Máxima became queen that the two countries have faced each other. In Brazil in 2014, both teams drew 0-0 in the semi-finals before Argentina triumphed 4-2 in penalties. 

At that event, the queen was seen at the stadium with her husband, wearing an orange scarf around her neck. RVD gave NOS a similar statement at that time when asked who the queen was rooting for, “Queen Máxima is Dutch and is therefore cheering for the Netherlands.” 

READ MORE | Dutch cabinet will go to Qatar for World Cup, and the king might too

It is unclear whether Queen Máxima and her husband will be supporting the Netherlands in person in Qatar this year, given the controversy surrounding Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 World Cup.

How are we feeling about the game Friday? Could Máxima’s support be the lucky charm we need? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Dutch cities may soon have the power to say ‘nee’ to fast food restaurants

Lyna Meyrer 🇱🇺
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Dutch cities may soon have the power to say ‘nee’ to fast food restaurants

Despite being among the healthiest countries in the world, even the Dutch are battling obesity! In an attempt to fight the ever-growing epidemic, the Dutch cabinet is ready to take action.

How? By giving fast food restaurants the finger. More specifically, sources from The Hague tell AD that a large plan to tackle the spread of fast food restaurants is expected to be approved by the Council of Ministers later this week.

By refusing to allow more fast food restaurants to set up shop in their cities, the hope is that municipalities will combat an unhealthy lifestyle. 

What will this plan look like? 

It’s easy enough to say that the cabinet has a plan — but what would this actually mean in practice? If approved, the cabinet plans to tackle the problem in three steps:

  • The cabinet will provide a legal basis to ban the establishment of new fast food restaurants.
  • Municipalities will be given the choice to decide how many fast food restaurants they tolerate.
  • In the future, steps may be taken to reduce the number of existing fast food restaurants.

Guess it’s time to say doei to our dreams of a Chick-fil-A in the Netherlands … 🍔 

But hey, health is wealth, right?

Biking is not enough

While you may shed a tear for your beloved Dominos, this plan could be exactly what we need. 

Yes, the dutch are healthy, but they also love an occasional stop at the snackbar! The spread of fast food chains, especially burger, pizza, and döner restaurants, has long been a growing issue in the Netherlands. 

READ MORE | Snackbars in the Netherlands: the ultimate guide 

With many fast food joints close to schools and universities, the government is especially concerned about all us young people, who remain most susceptible to a greasy bite on the go.

No more ads targeted towards children

And it’s not just us teens and twenty-somethings that the Dutch government is trying to protect. 

To ensure that our future generations are set up for success, the Dutch cabinet also wants to ban marketing strategies specifically targeted towards children. 

In practice, this would mean that all the lekker sweets that are named after famous cartoon characters may disappear from the shelves of Dutch supermarkets soon. 

What do you think of the Dutch cabinet’s plans? Let us know in the comments below!

Dutch emergency numbers you should know in the Netherlands

Emma Brown
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Dutch emergency numbers you should know in the Netherlands

So you’re in the Netherlands and you come across an emergency! What shall you do? Here is a list of all of the Dutch emergency numbers you need to know if you get into a bit of a crisis.

First off, if you happen to be in an international location (or have an international phone number) but need to get in touch with Dutch emergency services, remember to dial +31 first. Of course, some calls are subject to small charges.

Police

  • For emergencies dial: 112
  • For non-emergencies dial: 0900 8844
  • To report a crime anonymously: dial 0800 7000

Fire Service

  • For emergencies dial: 112
  • For non-emergencies call the police first
picture-of-a-person-contacting-emergency-services-through-phone
It can be handy to save these numbers! Image: Depositphotos

Health Service

  • For emergencies dial 112 or visit your local A&E (accident and emergency department)

For Centrale Huisartsenpost/an emergency doctor’s service out-of-hours, call this helpline and they will sort it out for you:

  • For Amsterdam dial: 088 003 0600
  • For Rotterdam dial: 010 466 9573 (Central, North), 010 290 9888 (South), 010 279 9262 (East)
  • For Utrecht dial: 0900 450 1450
  • For The Hague dial: 070 346 9669
  • For Eindhoven, Helmond, Geldrop dial: 0900 8861
  • For other locations dial: 0900 1515

READ MORE | Don’t speak Dutch? You can now use this app in case of an emergency

Other emergency numbers

  • For Dierenambulance/Animal Emergencies dial: 0900 0245
  • For Kustwacht/Coastguard dial: 0900 0111
  • For Alcoholics Anonymous dial: 020 625 6057
  • For Sexual Abuse hotline dial: 0900 899 8411
  • For SOS helpline dial: 0900 0767
  • For ChildLine dial: 0800 0432
  • For a discrimination helpline dial: 0900 235 4354
  • For residency issues dial: 088 0430 430

Dental Emergencies

Click here for a list of places to contact for dental emergencies throughout the whole of the Netherlands.

Utility Emergencies

  • If it’s an emergency that will seriously affect you and the people around you dial: 112
  • For power leaks and gas problems dial: 0800 9009
  • Call your local gementee if there is a water emergency that involves sewage, if otherwise call your water provider

Government emergencies

Sirens sound at midday, every first Monday of the month — this is a test. Any other time, this is a national emergency. Subscribe to the alert service, so the government can alert you on your mobile if there is an emergency.

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

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in January 2022, and was fully updated in December 2022 for your reading pleasure.

Dutch brand pulls cups showing “smiling Anne Frank” off the shelves

Heather Slevin
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Dutch brand pulls cups showing “smiling Anne Frank” off the shelves

Crockery brand Blond Amsterdam missed the mark with a collection of items plastered with Anne Frank’s face in an effort to make a “positive reminder of Dutch scenes and heroes.”

What could be more Dutch than windmills, cheese, clogs, and… Anne Frank?

Blond Amsterdam decided the image of the young heroine was appropriate to decorate a new collection of crockery, and people are not happy about it, reports the NOS.

Shows “little sympathy,” says Anne Frank House

Aron Vrieler of the Israel Information and Documentation Center (CIDI), says they were “dumbfounded” by the company’s choice of illustration. Blond Amsterdam was told to “remove those cups from the shelves”.

The Anne Frank House also spoke out after the incident, saying that the crockery store’s choice to create such an item shows “little empathy.”

But, Blond Amsterdam addressed concerns and announced in a written statement that they would remove the Anne Frank illustrated items from sales.

“That is why we want to let you know that this article will not return to our collection.”

They have also gone a step further to rectify their actions and lack of sympathy for the historical figure. All profits from the sale of the crockery will be donated.

Twitter has its say

People took to Twitter to comment on Blond Amsterdam’s lack of foresight.

Translation: BLOND AMSTERDAM DUTCH GLORY
The Dutchman sometimes has a short fuse
But this picture of Anne Frank Quickly caused a justified whine Blonde Amsterdam turned out to be a very stupid blonde here
The mugs are now quickly taken back
That will improve the value
Translation: ‘Blond Amsterdam removes crockery with smiling Anne Frank from the collection after criticism.’
Translation: Anne Frank on kitschy crockery from Blond Amsterdam, it’s really true 😮. Fun fact: the Frank family applied for Dutch citizenship in 1939 but did not receive it.

So, if you were in the market for some Anne Frank-themed kitchen items, helaas pindakaas, because the products are being recalled.

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

NS launches new speedy Intercity train, chops half an hour off a trip to Belgium

Liana Risseeuw 🇱🇰
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NS launches new speedy Intercity train, chops half an hour off a trip to Belgium

Dying to get to Belgium, but can’t stand the travel time? The NS’ new Intercity will have you speeding there in 2024!

Travel time between the Netherlands and Belgium will be slashed by 30 minutes with the new trains, says the latest press release from the NS.

Get to Brussels faster than before

NS and Belgium’s rail carrier SNCB announced their intentions to get passengers to Brussels faster in 2024.

At a whopping 200 kilometres per hour (km/h), the NS’ new Intercity train is 40km/h speedier than its current ones, which have a top speed of 160km/h.

READ MORE | Belgian Christmas markets anyone? NS International announces 75% off train tickets

The NS is hopeful that it will shave time off the current journey to Brussels, which stands at 2.52 hours.

Sneak a peek at the new Intercity trains

Although the rail connection to Belgium will only see these trains rolling down the tracks in 2024, you may be able to catch a glimpse of one of them on the tracks right now!

From December 4, the NS and train manufacturer Alstom will conduct tests on this new locomotive throughout the Netherlands and Belgium.

Are you looking forward to booking tickets aboard the NS’ new Intercity? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

Dutch PM Rutte and US’s Biden went head-to-head in a tweet-off (and the Dutch won)

Mihály Droppa
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Dutch PM Rutte and US’s Biden went head-to-head in a tweet-off (and the Dutch won)

After the Dutch team successfully won their knock-out match against the American team in the FIFA World Cup, the Dutch leader had a witty comeback to the US president on Twitter.

The Dutch football team was flying high this weekend after their 3-1 victory against the United States on Friday in Qatar. 

On the back of the celebrations, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte also joined the celebration to poke friendly fun at the American’s loss. 

Football or Soccer?  

In the short Twitter video, Biden received the ball from American midfielder Tyler Adam, before throwing shade at the whole European continent by stating, “It’s called soccer. Go USA!” 

After the successful night for the Oranje team, Rutte also responded to the video in a retweet, saying, “Sorry Joe, football won. 😉”

READ MORE: The Dutch are wearing orange at the World Cup and people are confused

The US president responded with “Strictly speaking, shouldn’t it be ‘voetbal’? Kidding aside: congrats to your team and country, Mark. Rematch in New Zealand,” a reference to the upcoming Women’s World Cup next year. 

The USA President’s video already has more than 6 million views, and Rutte’s comment only helped to make it viral. 

The witty Dutch tsunami

The Dutch prime minister was not the only one who took to Twitter for the US-NL showdown.

The USA’s ambassador from the Netherlands, André Haspels, also posted a picture after the match. 

READ MORE: Dutch sports minister leaves during budget debate… to fly to Qatar

He challenged the Netherland’s USA Ambassador, Shefali Razdan Duggal, after Duggal spoke about the wonders of Dutch oliebollen. 🍩

Quick, get to Den Haag for free sweet treats!

With this 3-1 victory, the Dutchies moved into the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Qatar.

What do you think of PM Rutte’s Twitter roast? Tell us in the comments below!

The Netherlands is officially one of the best countries to work abroad! (Except it’s too damn expensive)

Liana Risseeuw 🇱🇰
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The Netherlands is officially one of the best countries to work abroad! (Except it’s too damn expensive)

The Netherlands nabs 4th place in the world rankings for working abroad, with 70% of responders raving about its fabulous work-life balance. However…there’s a catch. (Isn’t there always?)

Expat Insider published its rankings of the best destinations for working abroad, and our humble land of cheese and clogs just rocked up to 4th place. IN. THE. WORLD. (Did we mention that part?) 🥳

Hoera, career options and work-life balance are amazing

Those after-work borrels must be working their magic because a whopping 73% of responders are happy with their working hours — 10% higher than the global average.

The Netherlands not only ranked highly in terms of working hours (7th) but also in the local job market (9th) and job security (12th).

Liberal and connected, but public transport could be better

Dutch directness must also work wonders, as responders view the Netherlands favourably regarding political stability (79%) and freedom of expression (78%).

In addition to this, 94% of expats find it easy and safe to get around by bike or on foot.

However, living in a nation of talented cyclists won’t keep auto-enthusiasts from burning rubber, as 88% are happy with the current car infrastructure.

photo-schiphol-plaza-train-station-ticket-machines
Train cancellations and wait times at Schiphol are enough to strike fear in even the strongest expat. Image: Depositphotos

Unfortunately, the Netherlands falls short in the Travel & Transit category — landing just outside the top 10 at number 11. (We have our good friends, the NS and Schiphol, to thank for that! 🤨)

Healthcare and the housing market were…disappointing

Unsurprisingly, in the Housing subcategory, the Netherlands lands in the bottom five worldwide, at number 49.

About 69% agree that housing is difficult to afford, and 53% think that proper accommodation is just difficult to find (compared with global averages of 43% and 27%, respectively).

Meanwhile, responders were also disappointed by the quality of healthcare (25%, compared to 14% globally) and its lack of affordability (54%).

Yep, you’re preaching to the choir here, housing in the Netherlands can suck.

READ MORE | 7 things that the Dutch kind of suck at

When it comes to personal finance, the Netherlands fumbles

The Netherlands actually scores below average on the personal finance index, coming in at 32nd place in the rankings.

Over 46% of expats find the cost of living too high (compared to 35% globally), though 77% of them felt that their disposable income was enough to live off.

What do you think of the Netherlands’ scores in the rankings? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

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