A Dutch artist decided to remove his art exhibition from Purmerend’s town hall last Friday, following public criticism due to (shock and horror!) breasts in some of his artwork.
The municipality initially only wanted to remove some of the offending artworks, reports RTL Nieuws, but the artist decided to take them all down in protest.
Keep “abreast” of the issue
Jeroen Hermkens, an Utrecht-based artist, created 14 lithographs and four drawings depicting breasts.
These were for an art exhibition titled “proud women from Beemster”, to celebrate a municipal merger between the towns of Beemster and Purmerend. On display since November 7, Hermkens’ pieces were to hang in the town hall till December 10.
However, the breasts on display apparently ruffled more than a few feathers, with visitors to the town hall finding the drawings and lithographs offensive.
Has political correctness gone too far?
Hermkens’ answer to RTL Nieuws was a definitive yes.
The artworks had already been on display earlier this year, at a special exhibition called “Ode aan de Beemstervrouw” (Ode to the Beemster woman), with no ensuing hysterics.
The artist also noted that the municipality’s decisions about which artworks to remove were arbitrary.
As such, he decided to remove all of his art pieces himself, rather than have them removed for him.
What do you think of the removal of these drawings and lithographs? Tell us all about it in the comments below!
The Dutch football fan nicknamed “tit man” got kicked out of the stadium this Monday. The reason? His “OneLove” armband, which is designed to focus on inclusion and anti-discrimination in this year’s World Cup.
The man was also deprived of his large, inflatable breasts — his signature prop giving him the creative nickname.
“Not allowed”
The supporter was partying on the grounds of the arena where the Netherlands had just played against Senegal, in Monday’s match.
The man was then stopped by a police officer, ordering him to take the OneLove band off, according to Hart van Nederland. The OneLove band is a symbol used during this year’s edition of the World cup to protest Qatar’s discrimination against LGBTQ+ people.
According to “the tit man”, the officer simply stated the band was “not allowed”, without elaborating on the reasons why.
Het enige dat ik hier niet aan snap is
Waarom nodig je als Qatar zijnde de Tietenman uit als hij niet de Tietenman mag zijn
Translation: Bunch of clowns. Shame on the Netherlands for these types of figures, but fits perfectly with the Dutch national team. It’s the only thing I don’t understand. As Qatar, why do you invite the Titman if he can’t be the Titman? That’s his whole thing?
Relatively safe for supporters
The fan was ensured that the inflatable breasts were acceptable props for the game.
However, the supporter was ordered to remove the OneLove band, and the inflatable breasts, as being caused by the individual officer’s personal opinion.
Same-sex relationships can result in prison sentences in Qatar, and players and supporters have marked their dismay by wearing the OneLove armbands during the World Cup.
Additionally, the living and working conditions of the thousands of migrant workers used to build the World Cup infrastructure have been described as nothing less than modern-day slavery.
While the Dutch housing crisis is far from over, prices started to go down after what seemed like an eternity of price hikes.
Compared to September, the price index of owner-occupied dwellings fell by 0.5% in the previous month. Considering the current housing situation, this seems like a good reason to pop open some champagne! 🍾
Far from normal
In the previous month, the owner-occupied dwellings were 7.8% more expensive on average than a year ago, according to the Statistics Netherlands (CBS) and The Netherlands’ Cadastre, Land Registry and Mapping Agency.
After several big protests, now there is some hope for better housing. Image: Depositphotos
Dutch housing prices reached their lowest point in June 2013 and followed an upward trend until August 2022, RTL Nieuws reports. Compared to 2013, prices were 96.6% higher this September. 🥲 But it’s now the third month in a row that Dutch house prices have fallen.
It becomes increasingly difficult for people to pay their rent in bigger cities, and it is almost impossible to find a place as an international student.
Rising mortgage rates, in particular, make it incredibly challenging to buy or rent a house in the Netherlands. Because of this, 8% fewer homes changed hands in October compared to a year earlier.
How does the housing crisis affect you? Tell us in the comments!
Recent studies have shown that road casualties among cyclists will grow in the upcoming years if no new measures are taken by the Dutch government.
Cycling in the Netherlands has become a more popular pastime in recent years. In fact, over the period of 2010 to 2019, the number of bicycle kilometres increased by 10%.
As more Dutchies and internationals roam the bike paths, accidents are bound to happen. Fortunately, Dutch Minister Harbers of Infrastructure and Water Management concocted a plan to prevent more casualties.
In a press release issued by the Ministry for Infrastructure and Water Management, Harbers will invest a baffling €50 million to improve bicycle safety for the groups that are more prone to casualties.
This refers particularly to the elderly, single-vehicle crashes, sports and school environments, and traffic on the cycle path.
Accident-prone
Older people love biking in this flat country just as much as the rest of us, but they do pose a greater risk of being seriously injured on the bike path. They contribute highly to the number of cycling casualties, hence why it’s important to offer them extra protection.
Similarly, it’s also common to see children in the Netherlands grow up on bikes. For the Dutch, it’s never too early to get their kids out on the wheels. 🚲
Their size makes them extra vulnerable to cycling injuries. In truth, about 1 in 5 cyclists who visited an emergency room after an accident were younger than 17 years.
Next to that, in 2019, more than 80% of serious bicycle crashes involved a motor vehicle, ergo why major steps need to be taken in that area as well.
Better cycling infrastructure is underway
Bike paths are getting busier as more people find pleasure in cycling in the Netherlands. Naturally, with different vehicles driving at varying speeds, accidents tend to happen.
— 21st Century City @urbanthoughts11@masto.ai (@urbanthoughts11) February 23, 2020
Apparently not wide enough.
To prevent this, the Dutch cabinet announced that they would invest another €780 million into building more and wider cycle routes across the country, where there is little to no crossing involved. 🤩
Despite predictions, positivity remains
A SWOV study published today showed that halving the number of road casualties for cyclists by 2030 will be nearly impossible. Still, Harbers remains optimistic that his plan will help to reduce the number of road casualties for cyclists.
“A great increase in the number of cycling casualties is predicted for the coming years. I think it is important to reverse that trend. After all, cycling is healthy, cheap, and easy.”
“That is why I am now focusing more on the safety of cyclists. Together we already do a lot on road safety, but with this amount, we are doing a shovel on top of that”, says minister Harbers.
What do you think about Harbers’ plan? Tell us in the comments below! 👇
The Netherlands is one of the most sustainable countries in the world, with one of the best waste management systems in Europe. Here’s how the Dutch go from litter to glitter, from wreck to tech, from waste to replaced. ♻️
I sometimes wonder why the colour of the Netherlands is orange, when a lot of what they do is painted green. From crazy renewable energy projects to citizen-led initiatives against food waste, the Dutch are famous for their Go-Green attitude.
A clear example is waste separation in The Netherlands. Waste separation is part of a bigger Dutch commitment to have top-notch waste management policies, and pro-environmental citizens.
So, how does waste separation in The Netherlands work exactly? Well, there are a lot of layers and levels to examine, so let’s get to it!
How do they do it?
So, how do the Dutch do it? Is it all policy and government? Or do the citizens play a role in this? Definitely both, but household waste separation in The Netherlands is definitely a strong starting point.
Dutchies are very keen on separating their waste, and municipalities encourage people to do so. Every city has different rulings, knowing the system of your city can save you from getting a fine, and lets you be part of the solution!
National and international commitment: the Dutch leading the way
Sometimes the ‘green priority’ of the Netherlands is put in the hot seat. Other times, it’s put in the spotlight as the gold standard.
A 2012 report by the European Commission graded 27 EU countries on different aspects of European waste management legislation. “Waste generated, waste collection, waste recycling and recovery and landfill creation”, were some of the criteria analyzed.
They take recycling so seriously they say it twice. Image: Depositphotos
Something also worth taking a look at, which goes beyond the scope and focus of this article, is how The Netherlands prioritizes following the ‘waste management hierarchy‘.
This hierarchy “indicates an order of preference for action to reduce and manage waste from most favourable to least favourable actions.”. Also called the ‘Lansink’s Ladder’ (named after the ex-Dutch politician that proposed it back in the 70s), is visible in Dutch waste management actions.
In short: policies and citizen involvement work together for the least amount of waste in the Netherlands.
Most neighbourhoods have different bins used for different types of waste. Amsterdam has bins in the following categories: glass, paper, plastic packaging and drinks cartons, shoes & textiles, and ‘residual waste’.
Most people separate their waste and place it in the corresponding bins themselves. Some neighbourhoods do not have bins, which means people have to take out their trash for collection on specific days, no earlier than 21:00. Doing it before can result in a fine.
Specific types of waste, like household chemicals/waste (leftover paint, expired medicine and/or used light bulbs), can be taken to places like supermarkets or pharmacies for proper disposal.
Lastly, bulky waste, like kitchen and washing appliances, can be left out in specific locations for pick up, on specific days as well.
Waste separation in the Netherlands: a priority for all, for all the good reasons
I come from a city that has the highest levels of air pollution in Mexico. Some people blame the government, others blame the citizens. Whoever is to blame, the top and the bottom are not working together. The opposite is true in the Netherlands.
Both the authorities and the people seem to be on the same page. The Netherlands didn’t make it to the top of the charts in the waste management scene on policies alone. It starts at the household level, where Mevrouw van der Schaap takes her time to separate paper from glass.
It seems that people know that going green is the right way to go, and the state facilitates this with proper rulings and facilities. While there is always room to improve, it is safe to say that The Netherlands sets a valuable standard for the rest of Europe, and the world.
What do you think of waste separation in The Netherlands? Tell us in the comments below!
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in February 2018, and was fully updated in November 2022, for your reading pleasure.
Two people dressed as Sinterklaas and Piet caught a shoplifter outside of the residential boulevard in Almelo on Sunday afternoon. 🎅
The perpetrator tried to steal two jigsaws worth €400 from a hardware store — when the security alarms went off, the thief took off with the stolen items in hand.
He was, at last, unsuccessful in his attempt to shoplift as none other than jolly Sint-Nicolaas and his side-kick caught him in a wild chase, writes NU.nl.
IK GA STUK niet Sinterklaas en zijn pieten die in Almelo een dief aanhouden😭😭
Translation: “I’m going to pieces, Sinterklaas and his helpers in Almelo apprehend a thief. 😭😭“
A Christmas-themed catch
Sinterklaas was standing in front of the hardware store with Piet, busy entertaining a crowd of kids, when the two saw the thief running out of the shop.
They immediately ran after him — and by doing this, the perpetrator dropped his stolen items in fear.
He then hid in another store on the boulevard but was soon found by Piet, who put him in a headlock until the police arrived. He was then arrested and put in custody, pending further investigation.
Truly a scene that you don’t see every day — the police expressed their gratitude to Sinterklaas and Piet for their help. “It is special to get a civilian arrest from Sinterklaas”, a spokesperson for the police tells NU.nl.
We think it’s safe to say that this thief won’t be getting any candy canes or chocolates in his Christmas stocking this year. 🧦
What do you think about Sinterklaas and his helper’s latest heroic catch? Tell us in the comments below!
The traditional Dutch weather is upon us again, after a weekend filled with hopes of snow. Considering what the rest of the week will look like, our only advice is to stay prepared for anything.
Brace yourself for the wind, jump between the puddles, or enjoy some November sun — this week has got it all.
Rainy days
Tuesday starts off with quite a few showers all over the country, reports Weerplaza.
Although Wednesday morning is expected to start dry, you’re better off packing an umbrella anyways. More rain is likely to hit us in the afternoon, along with some strong southwesterly wind.
These two days will not be too cold, though, with temperatures between 6 and 9 degrees Celsius.
Windy and warm
Ok, “warm” might be an exaggeration, but the temperatures later in the week will be surprisingly high, staying around the 10-11 degree mark.
Yet, if this news inspired you to start planning a beach day, you might want to hold your horses. Thursday will arrive with another blast of strong wind, and the day will end with (you guessed it) more rain.
Weekend wonder
Friday will give those living east in the Netherlands some rain, while the rest of us will be blessed with more of that famous Dutch weather uncertainty.
Jumping from clear spells to rain showers, with mild temperatures up to 11 degrees, we’re not sure what to make of these predictions.
Still, Saturday and Sunday will remain relatively dry, setting the scene for some (hopefully) more Christmasy weather next week.
How are you coping with the crazy Dutch weather? Tell us in the comments below!
Trying to figure out which Dutch city will help you cultivate that health-focused lifestyle? Well, the results are in — Groningen scores as the healthiest city in all of the Netherlands two years in a row.
25 Dutch cities were surveyed by consultancy and engineering organisation, Arcadis, to discover with was the healthiest city in terms of access to green areas, bicycle friendliness and combating heat stress, reports Het Parool.
And, the winners (and the losers!) have all been laid bare. 👀
Winner winner, chicken dinner
This is the second time in two years that Groningen has placed at the top of this list, a city clearly invested in providing lots of open, green spaces for its residents.
A major issue facing big cities nowadays is the increase in heat stress due to climate change. In order to combat this, cities are advised to have more green spaces and make economic use of building materials, such as avoiding the use of bricks in construction.
However, at the same time, a major housing shortage greets the entirety of the Netherlands, and cities must also build more homes and provide infrastructure for residents. 🤷♂️
No points for Amsterdam’s environment
Oh Amsterdam, our beloved Amsterdam, wherefore art thou at the bottom of the list?
Performing worst of all cities in terms of environmental friendliness and outdoor space, Amsterdam ranks at number 18 out of 25.
Despite this, Amsterdam has ranked the highest in terms of mobility. So, though the Dutch capital may not have many places to enjoy the greenery, you can still risk yourself on the cut-throat cycle lanes. 🚴♀️😱
There is a project in Dutch cities to green the footpaths. You're allowed to remove pavers outside your home and put in gardens, as well as pots. Amsterdam and Rotterdam are in a competition to see which city can plant the most. pic.twitter.com/minwq14MFT
— Margaret Morgan ✒📚 🎬 (@Monocotyledon) June 27, 2022
In fact, the four major cities (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht) have all made less progress than other cities on the list. This is most likely due to bad air quality (probably because of all those people, and cars).
According to Acardis, many cities had more urgency in pushing for green areas due to people walking more, but now that people are again working from the office, this urgency seems to have disappeared.
The healthiest Dutch cities ranked
So, without further ado, here are the Netherlands’ healthiest (and not-so-healthy) cities!
1
Groningen
2
Emmen
3
Apeldoorn
4
Nijmegen
5
Maastricht
6
Almere
6
Haarlemmermeer
6
Den Bosch
7
Amersfoort
8
Haarlem
9
Enschede
10
Breda
11
Arnhem
12
Eindhoven
12
Leiden
13
Leeuwarden
14
Utrecht
15
Terneuzen
16
Zoetermeer
16
Zwolle
16
The Hague
17
Tilburg
18
Amsterdam
19
Zaanstad
20
Rotterdam
Does your city rank on this list? If so, where? Tell us in a comment below! 👇
After many criticisms of Qatar’s ongoing human rights violations, the World Cup officially started this weekend, and the Netherlands is ready to watch its national team play.
Heavy traffic jams are expected later this afternoon as the Dutch team will play against Senegal at the World Cup.
While the interest for this year’s games is significantly smaller than usual, you might notice some extra traffic on the roads, according to RTL Nieuws.
The game starts at 5 PM, in the midst of rush hour, so this will be a “perfect match” for those racing to get home along with everyone else. We can expect the same on Friday, as the Dutch team will play against Ecuador at 5 PM.
On both days, the biggest crowds are expected between 3.30 PM and 4.30 PM.
Less interest
Only a third of the Dutchies have an interest in the championship this year, which is half as much as 30 years ago, Het Parool writes. This low number can be attributed to the many human rights and corruption criticisms in Qatar.
Usually, the Dutchies are quite into their team! Image: Dmitrij Nejmyrok/Wikimedia Commons/CC3.0
Speaking of the biggest Dutch football fans: one out of seven people in the Netherlands who normally watch the games says they will skip it this year. 🤯
Who is watching?
On behalf of the cabinet, Minister Conny Helder (Sport) will be present at the last group match of the Dutch team. It’s still uncertain, but King Willem-Alexander may travel as well.
Several governments and independent NGOs called to boycott this year’s World Cup. But, most Dutch press will also cover the games because they claim it’s a journalistic duty to report on major events.
The big Dutch media organisations will continue to write about the dark sides of the event in Qatar.
No Orange washing
Even for those who aren’t big on football, it’s recognisable that companies are making fewer commercials and campaigns this year. The usual “orange fever” probably won’t be as strong as usual.
In Amsterdam, watching the matches outdoors will be a bit more difficult this time around. While fans will probably opt to watch it indoors due to the cold, Amsterdammers don’t have a choice.
Unfortunately, it won’t be possible for those in the Dutch capital to enjoy the game outside at all due to municipality regulations.
Are you planning to watch the championship this year? Tell us in the comments!
“It’s a children’s party”, cried Zwarte Pieten defenders, as Piet cosplayers doused protesters’ cars in fuel and brutally attacked them.
Amnesty International, a human rights organisation, joined forces with Kick Out Zwarte Piet (KOZP) on Saturday to protest against the Sinterklaas entry into Staphorst, in the northeast of the Netherlands.
It was at the entrance to Staphorst that these protesters were attacked by a hostile mob in Pieten cosplay, reports the NOS.
What the Dutch is a Zwarte Piet?
When Sinterklaas visits a city, he is accompanied by Zwarte Pieten, which are usually (white) Dutch people wearing blackface, afro wigs, and over-lined red lips.
These Pieten have become rather controversial in recent years, and some cities (such as Amsterdam) have even gone so far as to cut funding for parades that contain them, citing racism as a big reason why.
Protesters were attacked
Both KOZP and Amnesty International had planned a demonstration in the village of Staphorst, as its Sinterklaas celebrations were still accompanied by Zwarte Pieten.
However, before the protesters could enter the village, they were surrounded by dozens of rioters, some of whom were dressed up as Pieten.
Armed with eggs and fireworks, the rioters and cosplayers initially attempted to drive the protesters away.
B-b-but think of the children!
Cosplayers shouted things like “get out!” and “it’s a children’s party!” as they violently threw eggs and fireworks at protesters, whilst dousing their cars with fuel.
Laten we het feit dat zwarte piet racistisch is even buiten beschouwing laten. Dit gaat toch veels te ver, mensen?! Als dit je medestanders zijn die vreedzame burgers aanvallen, dan wordt het tijd dat je jezelf hardop afvraagt, sta ik wel aan de goede kant van de geschiedenis? pic.twitter.com/5dqZ618uMI
Translation: Let’s leave aside the fact that Zwarte Piet is racist for a moment. Surely this is going way too far, people! If these are your supporters attacking peaceful citizens, it’s time you asked yourself out loud, am I on the right side of history?
Not satisfied with just driving off the anti-Pieten protesters, confused cosplayers also used a tractor to pen a car in, so that the mob could continue the attack for half an hour.
The mayor of Staphorst was finally forced to ban the demonstration out of safety concerns.
A police investigation has been launched
The Overijssel Police published a press release on Saturday, which details that they have launched an investigation into the Staphorst riots.
Both international treaties and Dutch law uphold the right to make peaceful demonstrations, and any hindrances count as an offence.
What do you think of this attack? Tell us all about it in the comments below!
