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Huge meteor shower set to grace the Netherlands this week: here’s how to see it

Juni Moltubak
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Huge meteor shower set to grace the Netherlands this week: here’s how to see it

The magnificent Leonid meteor shower is already upon us in the Netherlands, reaching its peak on November 17 and 18. Grab a blanket, leave the city centre, and get ready for a beautiful night!

If you manage to stay up past midnight on these dark November days, the sky above the Netherlands will soon become a stargazer’s dream.

What is a meteor shower?

In short: a meteor shower is an astronomical event, where Earth passes through the tail of dust and debris from a meteor. When the dusty tail reacts with our atmosphere, it creates flashes of light in the night sky.

For us humans on Earth, this occurrence creates an experience best described as “a bunch of shooting stars at the same time”.

How to spot the Leonid meteor shower

Although the meteor shower gets its name from the Leo cancellation, you do not necessarily have to locate the lion in the sky to spot the meteors, writes the BBC.

The peak nights for seeing the meteors are Thursday, 17 and Friday, 18 November. So, as long as the Dutch weather permits, you can look towards any corner of the sky, and expect to see meteors shooting around above you.

In the Netherlands, you’re likely to be able to spot up to 10 meteors an hour, at the shower’s peak. 🤯

Unfortunately, the moon conditions are not the best, as the moon is currently quite bright, meaning it might distract from the less shiny meteors.

Still, as long as the Dutch rain clouds take a break for the next two nights, we should be set to observe one of the highlights of the astronomical calendar.

Tips for the perfect night

Although you might be lucky enough to spot a few shooting stars from your window, the chances of this happening are not the highest.

Here are some tips to ensure you have the perfect conditions to view the astronomical wonder:

  • Head out after midnight. In the Netherlands, the meteor shower is at its best between midnight and sunrise.
  • Get out of the city. Light pollution is your worst enemy on this occasion, so head to a national park or a beach near you for the best views.
  • Dress appropriately. The Dutch November weather is no joke, so make sure you’re warm and cosy.
  • Be patient. Meteors don’t like feeling pressured, so give them some time, and you’ll soon see that they come out.

Will you spot the meteor shower this week? Tell us about your plans and top tips in the comments below!

Equality? Nuh-uh. Men still earn more than women in the Netherlands

Mihály Droppa
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Equality? Nuh-uh. Men still earn more than women in the Netherlands

If you thought that the Netherlands, a country known for its open-mindedness, doesn’t face any inequality anymore, we have some bad news for you!

While the gender pay gap is smaller than in many other countries, women still make significantly less than men. 

According to a new study by CBS, women make an average of €2 less per hour in the Netherlands. That’s equivalent to making about 6% less than men at the end of the day. 

The business path slopes towards men

In the private sector, women still earn €5 less per hour or 19% less than men with similar jobs, age, experience and level of education, writes RTL Nieuws.

READ MORE: Woot woot: Dutch women opened even more businesses

But, the business sector has the most visible differences. Since 2008, there has not been much change in the Netherlands for that career field. 

While women have moved up by €1 per hour, the difference in pay with male managers is still almost 20%.

Is there any hope?

Well… we sure hope so! 

While the current situation is far from perfect, there have been some improvements in the past years. For instance, today’s average 6% pay difference was up to 8% in 2018. 

And, to keep your hopes up, in 2008, female managers employed by the government earned €3 less per hour than their male colleagues.

Today, the most recent figures from Statistics Netherlands show that there is no longer any wage difference between male and female managers employed by the government.


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

Heather Slevin
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Having a baby in the Netherlands is about to get €30,000 more expensive

Planning on having a kid in the Netherlands? Well, you’d better hurry it up and pop one out quickly – because from January 2025, it’s going to cost you €30,000 more.

The abolition of the income-related combination tax credit (IACK) on December 31, 2024, will result in new parents losing the equivalent of €30,000 in tax benefits from January 2025 onwards, reports AD.

READ MORE | 8 things to know about having a child in the Netherlands

Say goodbye to your little friend…

New Year’s Day in 2025 is going to be a painful one for family wallets, as the abolition of IACK will come into place on January 1.

The IACK was established for parents working and living in the Netherlands who were caring for a child under 12.

This means that parents pay less in income tax and national insurance contributions, with the most credit being attributed to parents with the lowest income.

Now, an agreement within the coalition government in the Netherlands has decided that this tax credit will be cut.

newborn-baby-swaddled-in-fabric
Oh, so cute. Until you remember, the little guy is costing you 30 grand. 😒 Image: Unsplash

Why? Because the Dutch cabinet plans to make childcare costs so cheap, to the point that it is almost free. This would make the IACK irrelevant.

However, the abolition of this tax credit happens quite literally overnight. Any parent living in the Netherlands whose child is born before December 31, 2024, will still receive the almost €30,000 credit.

But, a child born a minute past twelve will no longer be eligible for that. 🤔

Even the Dutch cabinet is surprised

The abruptness, and seeming unfairness, of this sudden changeover and loss of tax credit, is surprising, even to Members of Parliament.

Dutch MP Henk Nijboer says to AD, “This creates huge differences between parents. This makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.”

READ MORE | The ultimate guide to applying for child benefits in the Netherlands

State Secretary Marnix van Rij says, “as a cabinet, we adhere to the coalition agreement.” So, even though parents of children born in 2025 will miss out on this rather significant tax cut, the government intends to keep the strict cut-off as it is.

Plus, if the government were to slowly phase back on the IACK, it would cost them a grand sum of €1.7 billion per year, which isn’t exactly nickels and dimes.

What do you think of the sudden change? Tell us your thoughts in a comment below! 👇

We’re Prague-bound! New overnight train could bring you from Amsterdam by spring 2023

Heather Slevin
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We’re Prague-bound! New overnight train could bring you from Amsterdam by spring 2023

Ever wanted to visit the Czech Republic but have been put off by the lack of direct options? Well, European Sleeper hopes to have an answer to this by next spring.

The train company hopes to have an overnight train up and running for passengers as soon as possible, reports Treinreiziger.nl.

From €70-90 for a one-way ticket, the 12-hour overnight journey seems well worth it. Take a week off work, and set foot into the captivating capital! 😍

Original start date: April 2022

Initiator Chris Engelsman told Treinreisiger.nl back in 2021 that they had hoped to get the train ready for use by April 2022. But, this initial schedule was delayed, and now the train faces a start time of Spring 2023.

The main problems seem to be due to a lack of carriages. With such a huge demand, the train must have enough carriages to carry all the passengers. Previously, carriages were obtained from Russia, but the war in Ukraine has made this an impossibility.

The European Sleeper is trying to find ways to solve this problem, and is currently looking into the option of converting current carriages to make them suitable for the overnight journey. 😴

Track works between Berlin and Prague

Another issue standing in the way of the launch of the new train line is the fact that there will be track maintenance on the line between Berlin and Prague.

READ MORE | From Zurich to Amsterdam: the Netherlands welcomes another night train

This means that there will be some time next year when there will only be one track available for travel. A solution to this could be to reroute trains through Berlin or Dresden, but this depends on whether doing that is profitable or not.

Overnight train to France also in the works

European Sleeper also wants to run an overnight train to the South of France — or even Barcelona!

However, the main issue with organising an overnight train to the South of France is that passenger trains with locomotives cannot pass the border between Belgium and France.

To tackle that problem and get to the south of the country, a total of three locomotives would be needed to travel between Belgium and the south.

Will you be boarding the overnight train to Prague? Or, do you have other plans? 😎 Tell us in the comments below!

Not funny anymore: Dutch cabinet to ban laughing gas starting January 1

Liana Risseeuw 🇱🇰
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Not funny anymore: Dutch cabinet to ban laughing gas starting January 1

It’s no laughing matter — the Dutch government plans to ban nitrous oxide from January 1, 2023. 🎈

This means that it will soon be illegal to sell or own nitrous oxide, reports RTL Nieuws.

Safety was a major concern with nitrous oxide usage

The decision to ban laughing gas was jointly announced by State Secretary for Health, Welfare, and Sport, Maarten Van Ooijen, and Minister of Justice and Security, Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius.

In a press release from the government, Secretary Van Ooijen stressed the enormous health risks of recreational nitrous oxide use.

Translation: The recreational use of nitrous oxide has enormous health risks. That is why, together with Minister @DilanYesilgoz, I will ensure that the possession, purchase and sale of nitrous oxide are banned from January 1 2023.

Meanwhile, Minister Yeşilgöz-Zegerius touched on the enforcement aspect of the decision — that it would help the police take immediate action. In the future, this could likely prevent fatal road accidents.

Travel isn’t the only thing that gets delayed!

The decision to ban laughing gas actually came two years later than expected (must’ve taken an NS train to get there 🤷🏻‍♀️).

This was due to various delays in the parliament, which involved the need to prove adequate reasons for the ban and provide more information about prevention.

However, events during recent years have given authorities cause for concern.

READ MORE | Man drives car into canal, ends up doing laughing gas on its roof

In 2021 alone, there were nearly 595 road accidents involving nitrous oxide. Of these, 116 resulted in serious injuries, according to the NOS.

What about businesses?

Manufacturers and wholesalers of nitrous oxide will now be required to obtain exemptions.

One important stipulation is that small ampoules (such as those in whipped cream syringes) are not to be sold to third parties.

Its professional use in medical and technical professions is to remain permitted, however.

What do you think of the government banning laughing gas? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

More houses, more railways: Dutch public transport extends in the Randstad

Heather Slevin
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More houses, more railways: Dutch public transport extends in the Randstad

The Dutch government has allocated a casual couple billion to fund the cost of extending railway and bus services to new towns and estates across the Randstad.

The plans to extend railway lines come after the Dutch cabinet announced the building of 900,000 new homes. More than half of these houses will be built in the Randstad and North Brabant, reports de Volkskrant.

Amsterdam finally gets a win

After years of debate, a decision has finally been made, or as the Dutch say: de Kogel is door de Kerk (the bullet is through the church). ⛪️

Amsterdam will finally see the extension of the North-South metro line. And, the line will soon go all the way to Hoofddorp.

What does that mean? Well, it means there will finally be a direct metro connection between Amsterdam and Schiphol Airport. 🎉

photo-people-in-schiphol-airport-check-in-hall
The new train lines will make it easier for travellers to get from Amsterdam to Schiphol. Image: Depositphotos

NS cancelled your train again? Don’t you worry, schat; the GVB’s got your back! 🚇

Amsterdam Zuid is also to receive extra tracks, with the total cost of all the improvements coming to a whopping €5.4 billion.

Improvements all over the country

In Suikerzijde, a new neighbourhood in the sprawling city of Groningen, there will be a new bus and train station built.

A new bus station in Eindhoven will be built below the train station, which will also get a make-o Well, the tracks are being revamped to accommodate international trains from Antwerp, Aachen and Düsseldorf.

In Overijssel, improvements will also be made to the tracks. Here, they will be electrified, creating a much more efficient train connection to Germany.

80,000 houses to be built on the ‘old line’

Along the railway lines from Leiden, The Hague, Rotterdam and Dordrecht, 80,000 houses will be constructed. By 2040, four new stations will be built to accommodate the thousands of commuters sure to move into these homes. 💼

Not only will there be new stations, but the track will also be widened to allow for more frequent trains to run along the lines. The cost of all this?

€1.56 billion. 😲

Delays? The NS has a degree in those

The new train lines have only just been announced, but there are delays to the plans already. The delays seem to be due to a nitrogen problem with storing current projects.

“We remain committed to accessibility and water safety, because this is not a luxury but a condition for a country where it is pleasant to live and live,” Dutch MPs have said about the issues in a letter to the House.

What do you think about the plans to improve the Dutch railway system? Tell us in the comments below!

First time in two years: number of unfilled vacancies falls in the Netherlands

Juni Moltubak
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First time in two years: number of unfilled vacancies falls in the Netherlands

After two years, the Dutch labour market is seeing more and more vacancies being filled, meaning people are taking up vacant jobs again.

There were 17,000 fewer vacancies in the Netherlands in September, compared to the second quarter of this year, writes the NOS.

In other words, the tightness of the Dutch labour market is loosening up. However, it’s not all good news, as the unemployment rate is also on the rise.

Economical trouble?

The economic instability and uncertainty brought about by both Coronavirus and the Russian war against Ukraine have made for more cautiousness in the labour market overall.

This has been exemplified by the fact that more employees than ever have been dismissed in the past year.

READ MORE | The highest in almost 20 years: Dutch economy records an inflation

In addition to unfilled vacancies, many Dutch businesses have also been hesitant to hire new employees in the past years, due to economic uncertainty.

It is not yet known whether the recent increase in employment means the Dutch economy is still growing.

Not a quick fix

Dutch vacancies might be getting filled up for the first time in two years, but that’s not the whole story.

READ MORE | Unemployment benefit in the Netherlands: what you need to know [2022]

The number of existing jobs is still rising, but unemployment rates are also increasing. And, trade and catering, the two sectors most in need of staff, are still down 128,000 people.

Have you experienced the Dutch labour shortage first-hand? Tell us in the comments below!

​​This is how much more you’ll pay for health insurance next year

Mihály Droppa
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​​This is how much more you’ll pay for health insurance next year

It’s that time of year again: not the festive Christmas cheer we know and love. Instead, the time when our already pricey health insurance will become more expensive. Merry Christmas! 🎄

No matter who your current health insurer is, you’ll probably have to pay more for your premium, with prices increasing from the beginning of next year.

How much? 

The Independer published a spreadsheet with the exact numbers, but if you’re with one of the big four insurance companies, you should prepare for an increase between €3.75 and €9.30. 

  • The biggest increase will be at VGZ, where the monthly fee will rise by €9.30, making it €141.95 per month for the basic package. 
  • Menzis increases their basic package premium by €8, so customers will pay €141.25 per month.
  • Zilveren Kruis increases by €7.50, making their basic package €138.95 every month.
  • And the smallest change will be at CZ, where the new premium will cost €138.25 per month after a €3.75 increase. 

Why is it more expensive? 

Yep, inflation sucks and we’re all feeling it. While health insurance premiums rise almost every year, this year it’s wages in the sector rising, which makes the whole healthcare system more costly. Some medicines are also becoming more expensive.

READ MORE: ‘Tis the season for switching Dutch health insurance: 8 things to know

Help, we need a doctor! Our wallets hurt. 🩻

How much extra will you be paying for your health insurance in 2022? Tell us in the comments below!

This Dutch party is pushing for abortion to become an official human right

Heather Slevin
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This Dutch party is pushing for abortion to become an official human right

The D66 (Democrats 66) party has released a new statement advocating for abortion to become an international human right. The document argues that women from countries abroad should be able to get an abortion in the Netherlands for free.

This new statement comes in light of new anti-abortion laws internationally, such as the rollback of Roe V. Wade in the US this summer.

In a new note sent to the government, the Dutch political party wants to implement a number of new measures to help make abortion safer and more accessible to women across the world.

Unsafe abortions are a ‘war against women’

In their new statement, the D66 party outlines the importance of abortion rights for women.

They argue the point that unsafe abortions are preventable, stating that 39,000 women die from complications after unsafe abortions every year. This is something that the WHO (World Health Organisation) defines as “a pandemic that can be prevented.”

In the eyes of the D66 party, these unsafe abortions are a “war against women.” According to the party, abortion is a human right, and the fact that access to abortion has decreased instead of increased in recent years is a cause for concern.

Freedom of every individual — in the Netherlands and beyond

Some European countries, such as Poland or Monaco, make abortion incredibly hard to access. In others, like Andorra, Malta, and San Marino, abortion is strictly banned.

To combat this, D66 wants to make the Netherlands a safe haven for women to secure this right.

Already, over 3,000 women travel to the Netherlands each year to have an abortion, but this comes at a cost. How much? Between €400-1,000.

D66 MP Sjoerd Sjoerdsma wants to reduce this cost entirely by making abortion free to women everywhere. Part of this would include subsiding abortion clinics and investing more money into organisations such as Abortion without Borders and Women on Waves.

Abortion should become a human right internationally

One of D66’s major pushes is for abortion to become a human right.

And, the political party believes the Netherlands can be a leading example for paving the way for internationally legalised abortion.

The Netherlands has always been seen as a very progressive country; from being the first country to legalise same-sex marriage to the protection and rights of sex workers in the Netherlands. The party believes in the same way, the country can also pave the way towards safe, worldwide, abortion.

Stay up to date with all the news in the Netherlands by following DutchReview on Facebook.

Zero trains at Amsterdam Zuid for coming two weeks and slashed at Schiphol

Liana Risseeuw 🇱🇰
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Zero trains at Amsterdam Zuid for coming two weeks and slashed at Schiphol

Are you planning on catching a flight at Schiphol? Well, your commute is about to get a lot more chaotic as the NS axes even more train routes. 🚆

There will be fewer trains to Schiphol Airport and none to Amsterdam Zuid for the next two weeks, reports the NOS.

This is due to maintenance work needing to be carried out on that stretch of railway from November 13 to 26.

Don’t shell out for a cab just yet!

Although rail service will be disrupted, Amsterdam Zuid will still be fully accessible by metro, bus, and tram.

Translation: Attention! Construction work: Sunday 13 to Saturday 26 November 8 AM, to, from, and via Amsterdam Zuid. Plan your trip before departure in the trip planner!

The metro lines 50, 51, and 52 arriving and departing from Amsterdam Zuid are the ones to keep an eye out for (and yes, you can still use your NS train ticket on them!)

A method to the madness

Due to the growing number of travellers, more trains are needed to run the Amsterdam Central to Schiphol Airport route.

This, according to ProRail (the organisation responsible for maintaining and extending the Dutch railway network), means that work needs to be done on the existing rail network.

A stretch of railway tunnel to Schiphol, for example, is outdated and in need of renovation. This means that several “train-free” periods will be necessary to complete this work.

Are you going to be travelling to Schiphol during this time? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

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