What’s the newest trend, you ask? Well, climate activists have the answers; glueing oneself to walls (and now tables!)
Following the footsteps of two activists who recently threw a can of soup a Vincent Van Gogh painting, and then proceeded to glue themselves to the wall of the museum, climate activist Jelle de Graaf glued himself to the table of the popular Dutch program, Jinek, reports RTL Nieuws.
People are dying, Beau
During the show, the environmental activist, who is from Extinction Rebellion, climbed onto the table and glued the palms of his hands to the wood.
Once safely and securely glued to the table, he began to speak about his cause. “I’m stuck here on a live program, and I’m going to talk about the climate and the ecological crisis,” De Graaf said.
Translation: Activist Jelle de Graaf sticks to #jinek.
Extinction Rebellion is a cause that hopes to prevent further climate change, or at least, garner the attention of those important enough to do something about it.
De Graaf accuses the RTL show of not fulfilling its duty of reporting honestly about the climate crisis.
His planned course of action? To glue himself to the table, of course!
And, much like in the words of our beloved Kim Kardashian when she lost her diamond earring, de Graaf said; “People are dying, and you’re talking about Donald Duck.”
Glue slid right off
The good news for the Jinek program is that once De Graaf was escorted off the set (while still stuck to the table), his glue quickly dislodged, and he was able to jump right off the prop.
Once off the set, Beau asked audience members what they thought of his stunt, one viewer saying, “this is necessary to keep the conversation going. Having a conversation at the table is possible, but I think people will remember the content less.”
But why bother?
In the same way that it feels ridiculous to throw soup at a painting in the hopes of spreading the word about fossil fuel issues, it feels doubly ridiculous to glue oneself to a table on a tv show and then talk about climate change.
Hoe het afliep met vastgelijmde Jelle bij #Jinek#Beau (tijdens de reclame).
Translation: How it ended with glued Jelle at #Jinek #Beau (during the commercial). The glue wasn’t that strong… 😬
But, the major thing that actions such as these do is get a conversation going.
We’ll be loling about de Graaf’s Donald the Duck comment for the next few days — but it’s also true. Real people are being affected by the climate change crisis.
By making a bit of a fool of himself on national television, now Dutch (and international) people across the country will be talking about his stunt, debating whether it was a good decision or not, and finally, thinking about the cause that he was protesting for.
At the end of the day, all media is good media, as they say! 😉
What do you think of de Graaf’s activism? Tell us your thoughts in a comment below! 👇
On Monday, trains at Amsterdam Sloterdijk were the victims, with several trains being pelted with bricks (yes, bricks.)
The reason? Who knows
The police have been notified about the total of eight damaged trains, and ProRail has promised to conduct extra surveillance in order to track down the perpetrator(s).
While the NS can’t pinpoint whether this is simply a new hobby for some very bored people, or an angry protest from some very angry commuters, one thing is for certain:
The act is “perilously dangerous, frightening for the train driver, and it also confuses the train service,” ProRail director John Voppen tells NU.nl.
Whatever the reason, it must be important for the stone-throwers. If caught, the perpetrator(s) will have to cover the costs for the eight damaged trains.
But in the capital (and in the surrounding areas), The Amsterdam Transport Region is the one who determines the price per kilometre — and they want to make some changes.
On average, the rates in and around Amsterdam will become 8.5% more expensive. It might not sound a lot, but if your daily (let’s say €10) travel expenses are a euro more expensive (€10.85), at some point, you will recognize it.
Problem solved?
Remote workplaces are on the rise; fewer people are commuting to their workplaces daily. Most of Amsterdam is famous for being easily reachable by bike if you can manage without public transport.
Voila! The (white?) carriage! Image: Depositphotos
What if, because of the high prices, fewer people will choose public transport in their daily travels? Is it possible to sustain the current system?
They hope the current measures will help the staff shortage issue, and Amsterdammers will still choose public transport over cars.
‘Travellers will be somewhat compensated for the ever-increasing costs and will be positive about public transport. With this, we want to keep public transport attractive for the traveller as an alternative to the car‘, writes Transport Region in their new report.
Are you planning to use public transport in Amsterdam, or is it time to switch to your bike completely?
So you’ve made the decision to move to Rotterdam— the city with the biggest port in Europe, mind-blowing architecture, and overall the coolest place in the Netherlands (no, we’re not trying to sell it to you).
The neighbourhoods of this multifaceted city have something for everyone — whether you’re looking for a lively hip area or a quiet place with charming canals. So, where is the best place to snag yourself a home in Rotterdam?
Is living in the West the best?
The “west” refers to one of the most diverse areas of Rotterdam. Consisting of multiple smaller districts of diverse characters, the west is a popular place for young internationals to live.
Which Rotterdam neighbourhoods should you consider? Let’s talk about it. Image: Depositphotos
The Erasmus Medical Centre and the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences are both located here, and the lively neighbourhood is well-connected with public transport.
Nieuwe Binnenweg — the neighbourhood’s main street, which runs from the centrally located Westersingel all the way to Delfshaven — offers countless restaurants, cafés, bakeries, concept stores, barber shops, and more.
Museumpark, on the other hand, is where you’ll find many of Rotterdam’s popular museums, such as Boijmans Van Beuningen, Kunsthal, or Het Nieuwe Instituut. Housing prices range from very cheap to very expensive, and sometimes the expensive one can be just a block away from the cheap option.
Delfshaven: the historic neighbourhood
If your heart desires typical Dutch architecture, charming canals, and quaint little streets, then Delfshaven is the neighbourhood for you.
Want to live close to the charming canals of Delfshaven? Image: Unsplash
The area used to be a separate municipality until 1886, serving as the harbour for the nearby city of Delft. This is also where the name Delfshaven (“Port of Delft”) comes from. Spared in the German bombing of 1940, the neighbourhood has managed to retain the charm of traditional Dutch architecture.
Delfshaven residents get to enjoy their own food market, which takes place every Thursday and Saturday at Markt Visserijplein. Housing in the area varies quite a bit, but you may be able to snatch an apartment with access to a rooftop terrace and enjoy the views of the nearby Euromast.
Centrum: living in the city centre
Rotterdam is sometimes called the city without a heart. Why? Almost the entire historic city centre was destroyed in the German bombing on May 14, 1940. While the event definitely left its scar, it also gave Rotterdam’s city centre the opportunity to be reborn as a thriving hotspot with incredible architecture.
The hustle and bustle of Rotterdam’s city centre. Image: Unsplash
Whether you’re looking for cafés, bars, restaurants, clubs, or fashion stores, you’ll find it here. The city centre is also home to most of Rotterdam’s famous landmarks, such as the Markthal, Cube Houses, the Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk, and Witte Huis.
If you wish to live close to Rotterdam’s nightlife and arts and culture, you can base yourself near the famous Witte de Withstraat.
The housing options range from modern residential complexes to incredible high-rise buildings with luxurious apartments, to apartments in quieter residential areas.
The city centre is the best place to live if you want to experience what Rotterdam’s restored heart brimming with activity has to offer. However, it is also (unsurprisingly) one of the priciest neighbourhoods to live in.
Kralingen-Crooswijk: living in the best location
If you want to live in one of Rotterdam’s best-located neighbourhoods, you should definitely consider Kralingen. It’s situated right between the city centre and the main campus of Erasmus University, which makes it the perfect location for students and young professionals working for the university.
Kralingse Bos is a popular nature escape for the residents of Kralingen. Image: Unsplash
The most notable feature of this neighbourhood is undoubtedly the Kralingse Bos and Kralingse Plas — a place where Rotterdammers come to soak up some sunshine, enjoy a swim or a sail, or just savour a walk around the lake with some breathtaking views of the city.
Being home to many high-class residents, the housing prices in Kralingen are in the higher range.
Crooswijk is the less posh of the two. A place where you can still hear the ‘authentic’ Rotterdam accent, the neighbourhood has many faces.
With its affordable rental prices and central location, Crooswijk is a great choice for your first home in Rotterdam.
Going Noord?
If you want to live right beside the central station, but not really in the city centre itself, Rotterdam Noord is probably the best option for you. Starting right at the back side of the train station, this neighbourhood is great for people who work outside of the city.
Its character changed immensely in the past ten years, transformed from a predominantly working-class neighbourhood to a design paradise. Hofbogen — a former railway viaduct which now houses many small businesses — is a prime example of this transformation.
Oude Noorden: the artsy neighbourhood
Oude Noorden is known for its artistic community and vibrant shopping areas. Zwart Janstraat — the neighbourhood’s main artery — is where you’ll find all kinds of shops run by people of various nationalities and backgrounds.
Oude Noorden has lively areas but also more quiet corners. Image: Jana Vondráčková/Supplied
The lively Noordplein hosts a variety of markets, festivals, and concerts. If you want to enjoy some peace and quiet, you can stroll along the canal that separates Oude Noorden from Crooswijk.
Blijdorp
When most people hear this name, they immediately think of the Blijdorp Zoo, which is located on the west side of the neighbourhood.
Being right past the central station, Blijdorp offers quick access to almost any area of Rotterdam. It is a green and spacious neighbourhood where many families live. Popular areas to get some fresh air include the Vroesenpark and the Roel Langerakpark.
Feijenoord: the neighbourhood in the south
Rotterdam Zuid, and the neighbourhood of Feijenoord, which makes up a large part of it, hasn’t always had the best reputation as a place to live.
The south of Rotterdam offers modern skyscrapers but also more laid-back areas. Image: Unsplash
However, this area has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, and is now home to a melting pot of different cultures. Only about a third of the inhabitants are Dutch natives and non-western immigrants make up more than 50%.
The contrast between the glam of Kop van Zuid and the typically working-class and more colourful districts further down south is immense, but that also means that there’s a place for everyone.
Noordereiland: the neighbourhood on the river
Situated in the middle of the river Maas, the neighbourhood of Noordereiland is often overlooked. This is despite its unique location — Noordereiland is connected both to the city centre via Willemsbrug and to Rotterdam Zuid via De Hef. Both of these bridges are rather impressive architectural works.
Largely unaffected by the bombing of 1940, the area also features some older architecture. No matter which direction you look, you’re in for some amazing views.
However, be aware that the public transport options to and from the island are still a bit limited and not ideal for a daily commute (at least compared to the rest of the city). Housing prices are also more on the expensive side.
Kop van Zuid: the hip neighbourhood
Looking to live in a place where you’ll find most of Rotterdam’s epic high-rise buildings? Kop van Zuid it is. An old abandoned shipping area turned into a hip and trendy neighbourhood, Kop van Zuid houses Rotterdam’s famous skyscrapers, such as De Rotterdam and Montevideo.
Located right on the other side of the Erasmus Bridge, this place is ideal for younger residents.
The impressive high-rise buildings of Kop van Zuid. Image: Unsplash
It offers a rich cultural life, with places like the Luxor theatre, the arthouse film theatre Lantarenvenster, and the Nederlands Fotomuseum.
The neighbourhood also had a role to play in Dutch history, as it used to be the departure point of the Holland-America line. Hotel New York — the line’s former headquarters — is Rotterdam’s most famous hotel.
Considering all this, it probably won’t surprise you that the rental prices here are quite high — but the incredible views you can get may be worth the bucks. 😉
Katendrecht: the neighbourhood on the rise
If you cross the Rijnhaven bridge (Rijnhavenbrug) from Kop van Zuid, you’ll find yourself in the neighbourhood of Katendrecht. Formerly a harbour, the rapidly evolving area is now a gentrified paradise. The Fenix Food Factory — a place no foodie should miss — is located here.
Katendrecht is an up-and-coming neighbourhood. Image: Joris/Wikimedia Commons/CC3.0
Charlois & IJsselmonde
Charlois and IJsselmonde are two neighbourhoods in the south of Rotterdam, located to the west (Charlois) and east (IJsselmonde) of Feijenoord. Nicknamed “green gardens of Rotterdam”, IJsselmonde offers residential neighbourhoods, as well as exciting urban nature. The area is friendly and safe, which makes it ideal for families.
Charlois is the more edgy neighbourhood of the two. While Oud-Charlois has a village-like centre and some historic buildings, the neighbouring Carnisse is more metropolitan, making it a popular place for singles and two-person households. When the locals need to stretch their legs, they like to head to the popular Zuiderpark.
Prins Alexander: the family-friendly neighbourhood
Prins Alexander neighbourhood, which is spread over eight districts, stretches all the way to the Zevenhuizerplas (Zevenhuizer Lake). You’ll find villas, family houses, but also modern apartment buildings.
Prins Alexander is very family-friendly and many of the public spaces are designed with children in mind. The close proximity of the Rotterdam Alexander station to Erasmus University also makes it a great choice for students. The lively boulevard at the Nesselande beach is definitely a highlight.
Overschie
Formerly an independent village, Overschie merged with Rotterdam during WWII. While the neighbourhood may not be the best in terms of public transport connections, it does have one of the lowest crime rates in Rotterdam.
What you’ll find here is for example, the famous Van Nelle Factory — a prime example of the architectural International Style and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Hilegersberg-Schiebroek: the affluent neighbourhood
If you’re looking to live in one of the wealthiest areas of Rotterdam, then you may consider basing yourself in Hillegersberg-Schiebroek.
Family houses in the Hillegersberg-Schiebroek neighbourhood. Image: Jana Vondráčková/Supplied
A place with green residential areas and a village-like charm, untouched by the bombs of WWII, the neighbourhood is located close to the Lage Bergse Bos and the Bergse Plassen — the perfect place to go to stretch your legs and get some fresh air.
Have you lived in any of these neighbourhoods? What was your experience? Let us know in the comments below!
Just when you thought summer was out faster than Liz Truss, Dutch autumn weather pulls a 180 and promises record-breaking warm temperatures ahead! ☀️
This week is likely to have sunny and dry weather for many parts of the country, says NOS.
Based on these projections, it could potentially break previously set autumn temperature records.
The week at a glance
Although hotter autumn temperatures were already predicted, this week offers a significant increase in temperatures — to summer values!
Wednesday is likely to hit 19 degrees Celcius, with Thursday being even warmer at 21 degrees Celcius.
Good morning all, this is the weather that we used to call "Groot hemel met wolken weer" the typical Dutch skies from 17th century seascapes pic.twitter.com/EHXxYOZfNw
Friday, however, promises to be the warmest day of the week, with temperatures hovering at a very summer-like 22 degrees Celsius. Perfect for some drinks and tapas on a terras (at least while it lasts!) 🍹
Record-breaking weather on the horizon
Speaking to NOS, weather forecaster Gerrit Hiemstra dubbed the predictions “truly exceptional.”
Late October temperatures are usually never so high (something we know only too well ☔️), but there is a low-pressure area still supplying warm air from Southern Europe.
This supply of warm air could see this week’s temperatures breaking records made in 2006, where it was a whopping 22.1 degrees in De Bilt.
The culprit? Climate change
However, Hiemstra warns that this heat may not be as exceptional 10 or 20 years in the future.
Get out those eclipse glasses, and don’t look directly at the sun! The Netherlands is about to experience a partial eclipse later this morning.
The eclipse is set to begin at exactly 11:08 AM this morning, so if you’re sitting in an important meeting and feel like Godzilla has just stood in front of the sun, don’t panic.
Spooky vibes — but not too spooky
In fact, it won’t be too terrifying. From the Netherlands, about 22% of the sun will be covered, making it look more like someone just taken a bite out of the star, reports the NOS.
Sounds like the perfect warm-up to the spooky season. 😲
Peaks at 12 PM
The peak of the eclipse will occur at 12:05 PM. If you look closely, you should see that the left upper edge of the sun will be totally covered by the moon. 🌑
This is the first time there has been a partial eclipse since last summer. Usually, when there is a partial eclipse in some parts of the world, there will be a total eclipse somewhere else, though this is not the case this time around.
In fact, we’ll actually be waiting a good while before we see this phenomenon again!
The next time there will be a partial eclipse in the Netherlands will be in March 2025 — so get yourself out into the streets today and have a look before it’s too late! 🔭
Eclipse glasses available in certain places
You’ve got a casual pair of eclipse glasses, right? Well, if not, some places, such as the Utrecht Museum and Sonnenborgh observatory, will have glasses available for visitors to watch and enjoy the eclipse.
This is an exciting day also for children who are off school this week, as they’ll get the chance to peak at the eclipse through a special solar telescope.
A partial eclipse also took place earlier this year! 😍
But, do be sure to use eclipse glasses or binoculars with the image projected onto a piece of paper, as even with a partial eclipse, staring directly at the sun can severely damage your eyes, physicist and observatory volunteer Rianne Plantenga tells the NOS.
And, no, your sunglasses aren’t enough to protect you! 😎
No glasses? No problem.
Another way to watch without damaging your ever-so-important eyes is to watch through a small hole in a piece of cardboard, and project the image of the sun onto a white sheet of paper about two feet behind it.
Will you be watching the eclipse today? Tell us in the comments below! 👇
A total of €380 is promised to every energy customer in the Netherlands in November and December to compensate for soaring energy costs.
However, the system is a bit more complicated than just waiting for Sinterklaas to bring the money.
Merry Christmas?
Whereas Sinterklaas only comes once a year, this compensation is (mostly) coming twice, with one payment of €190 in November and another €190 payment in December.
While the money is paid by the government, it is the energy providers who will distribute the funds — and this is where it gets tricky, according to RTL Nieuws.
The most significant difference is that some providers pay in cash, while others will take the savings off your energy bill.
Further differences occur when clients are behind in paying their bills or when the provider is simply behind schedule.
Curious about when your cash will come in? Here’s the list!
Energy providers paying cash
Hoping to get some funds back in your bank account? You’re in luck if you’re with one of these energy providers.
HEM
HEM is opting for the Christmas instead of the Sinterklaas model: it will pay out the full amount of €380 in one payment to their customers in December.
HEM claims that the government was too late with the process so they couldn’t make the November deadline. There is no statement from HEM on whether the payout will be affected by unpaid bills.
Vattenfall
Vattenfall will pay their customers in cash, but they already announced that the payout will be deducted from any clients who are behind in their bills.
This is the goal! Image: Freepik
Eneco
Eneco will pay out in cash €190 in mid-November and again in mid-December. There is no word yet on how they will approach clients who are behind on their bills, but the company will send all its clients an email later this week with all details.
Companies that will give a discount instead
On the other hand, if you’re with one of the below companies, the compensation amount will be credited to your bill — same, but different, we guess.
Essent
Essent has announced that the compensation will be distributed as a discount on all types of bills: whether it’s your regular monthly payment or older bills that are still unpaid.
Greenchoice
Greenchoice has also said it will give a discount on monthly payments; whether that also extends to previous unpaid bills is yet to be known.
Are you expecting the cash to land in your bank account? Tell us in the comments!
The people of the world have given their ratings, and it looks like Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport is ranking lower than ever before.
Website Vliegveldinfo.nl has compiled Google ratings about the hundred busiest airports in Europe, and Schiphol has found itself in the unsettling rank of 39th place.
Schiphol strikes again
After a summer full of insane chaos at the airport, the largest Dutch airport seems to have only declined in the autumn months.
Now ranked with a solid 4 stars, Schiphol is at the same level as Heathrow Airport in London, Madrid in Spain and Zaventem in Brussels.
Of course, Schiphol’s ranking could be worse. Eindhoven Airport, the second-busiest airport in the Netherlands, has ranked with 3.8 stars and is in 70th place on the rankings.
Beat out by Zurich
Zurich, Athens, and Porto scored the highest out of all the European airports, scoring a total of 4.4 stars each.
And at the bottom? Manchester in the UK with 2.9 stars, Heraklion in Greece with 2.7 stars, and Bordeaux in France, which landed a total of 2.6 stars.
Formerly known as one of the best airports in Europe, major staffing shortages at Schiphol have led to the airport’s ratings dropping.
Recently, one-star reviews have become more and more common, with customers writing things like, “If you like real, deep-seated customer hatred, this is really the place to be.”
So, after my last "QueueCon" experience at Schiphol Airport, and the airport sending out warnings again "today is expected to be a peak day, expect long queues, and arrive at least 4 hours in advance".
Schiphol Airport has become, let’s be honest, a bit of a joke in the last few months.
Even Dick Benschop, former CEO, was able to see the chaos he’d caused, and guess what he did? Jumped ship! (or plane 😉)
But why would he quit?
Well, maybe because the airport ranked as the fourth-worst airport for delays this summer. No surprise to us, seeing as over the summer, a grand total of 16,000 bags were left unclaimed due to shortages of bag handling staff.
The same staff, by the way, who reported recently just how terrible conditions are in the baggage basement at Schiphol.
Plus, due to staff shortages (because really, who would want to work in such chaos?), Schiphol has planned to cancel up to 18% of its departing flights through all of autumn.
The flight slashing will continue until March 2023, with the airport capping the number of passengers passing through at 50,000 per week.
Perhaps it’s time to consider taking the train instead? 😬
What do you think of the airport’s rankings? Tell us your thoughts in a comment below!
A 10m² student room in Utrecht with a sale price of nearly €100k has provoked swift outrage at the Dutch housing market. 🤬
The studio was posted last Sunday for an asking price of €92,500, reports AD. However, it was the size and overall crappiness that really sharpened the pitchforks.
The latest real estate “blunder”
As the Netherlands grapples with an ongoing student housing crisis, horrified reactions were almost immediate.
The real kicker? The room is advertised as a studio, but, despite the astronomical price, the lucky student would still have the privilege of sharing a bathroom and toilet with three other “studios.” Classy!
Take a look at the listing — it is a ROOM with a kitchen SINK.
Dit zou verboden moeten worden. 10 m2 een studio noemen en daar bijna 100k voor vragen. Dit krijg je als de @VVD 12 jaar lang huisvesting in de uitverkoop gooit. Schaamteloos! pic.twitter.com/8Xrh8GxvM5
Translation: This should be banned. Calling 10m² a studio and asking almost €100k for it. This is what you get when the VVD throws housing on sale for 12 years. Shameless!
Dutch real estate, however, is no stranger to being on the receiving end of criticism lately, especially after recently posting a listing for a house full of swastikas.
Elite neighbourhood, exorbitant prices
The flat in question is located in the Wittevrouwen neighbourhood and is one of 10 studio apartments on the Oude Kerkstraat.
This is right in Utrecht’s beautiful historic centre where prices are…far less beautiful to look at (let alone spend).
Wittevrouwen is een prachtige wijk in hartje Utrecht. Iedere student was 15 jaar geleden jaloers als een medestudent in Wittevrouwen kon huren. En terecht. Maar dit is echt crazy! En idd VVD beleid dat dit heeft veroorzaakt! Betaalbaar dak boven je hoofd is een mensenrecht.
Translation: Wittevrouwen is a beautiful neighbourhood in the heart of Utrecht. Fifteen years ago, every student was jealous when a fellow student could rent in Wittevrouwen. Rightly so. But this is really crazy! And indeed, VVD policy caused this. An affordable roof over your head is a human right.
However, as politician Femke Merel van Kooten notes in her response to fellow politician Farid Azarkan, this listing is just “crazy”.
What do you think about the asking price of this studio? Tell us all about it in the comments below!
Due to poor performance in the past year, in particular the results of the last quarter, the electronics and medical equipment company and major expat employer Philips has been forced to make major cuts.
Out of the 11,000 Philips employees in the Netherlands, 400 unfortunate souls will have to face the facts of redundancy. Across the world, the number is ten times as high, writes the NOS.
It might sound overly drastic to let 4000 people go, but the truth is, Philips made a baffling €1.3 billion loss in the third quarter this year. That’s the fifth quarter in a row with bad numbers for the tech giant.
So yeah, it’s quite bad.
In their defence, the economy is going pretty terribly, so it’s hardly a surprise that some are struggling. Also, a large chunk of last quarter’s deficit was due to a massive recall situation which cost the company big bucks earlier this year.
All this, in combination with devastating supply issues, has led to the firing of 4000 people around the world, 400 people in the Netherlands, and the resignation of the Philips CEO last week.
Have you experienced the Philips drama? Tell us about it in the comments below!
