If you’re planning on going from The Hague to lovely Leiden this week, you better double-check those train times.
The rails will be empty between October 27 and October 30, but thankfully there will be alternatives.
If you’re headed to The Hague for work or maybe to Leiden for a Halloween party, you’ll have to go by bus from Thursday till Sunday this week.
Another alternative, if you’re a die-hard train traveller, is to go via Gouda or Woerden, writes Omroep West.
If this news triggered bad memories from the train strikes earlier this fall, you can safely relax. According to the NS travel planner, it can look like the disturbances are because of maintenance and not long-term disagreements.
The travel planner also estimates that the route between The Hague and Leiden will take you about 45 minutes longer than usual on said dates, so it seems some of us will have to get up uncomfortably early.
The changes will affect both Den Haag Central Station, and Holland Spoor station.
Will your daily commute be changed by the disturbance on the rails? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Real estate company Funda’s bungle over displaying a house full of swastikas has — understandably — set the internet aflame.
Known as the “Nazi house”, Funda’s unfortunate addition is located down the Glaslaan in Groningen’s Stadskanaal area, reports RTL Nieuws. Priced at €329,000, the detached house (and built-in tattoo shop) was put up for sale last Friday.
As with most virtual housing advertisements, you could scroll through several pictures of the house’s interior.
And let’s just say the phrase “Nazi house” is definitely no exaggeration.
Racists are bad interior decorators (apparently)
Funda users who innocently decided to scroll through the house were met with some truly shocking interior decoration.
The symbol of the NSDAP (Hitler’s Nazi party) — a swastika hiding under an overblown golden eagle — sat above the dining table.
A tiny flag with a swastika sat on the nightstand in the bedroom, looking especially ridiculous next to a blue stuffed hippo.
Elsewhere, the words “Jedem das Seine” were hung above a doorframe. This was a phrase wrought by the Nazis on the main gate of the Buchenwald concentration camp — and is currently parroted by neo-Nazis.
To add poor taste to…well, poor taste, a few gaudy gold skulls were also stuck around the sign.
How did Funda mess up this badly?
Funda owner Herman Boekelo told RTL Nieuws that the swastikas had been noticed during the initial visit to assess the property. (Well, yeah — they’re pretty hard to miss! 🙄)
The real estate company had assumed that the house would be cleared of racist paraphernalia before the photographer arrived to document the interior.
If you were mourning balmy summer days, perhaps you’re in luck for one last chance at a warm picnic outside. Temperatures in the Netherlands are actually set to rise again. 👀
Second summer, anyone? Better swap out those infinity scarves and pumpkin spice lattes for swimsuits and suncream because we’re expecting temperatures as high as 21 degrees (!) over the next few days, reports Buienradar.
Warmest in the southeast
The southeast of the Netherlands will get nice and toasty (and not the firelit kind), with temperatures ranging between 15 to 21 degrees over the weekend. And yes, this includes lots of sun and minimal rain.
Tonight and tomorrow night will be mild, as temperatures drop to 12 degrees. There will be very few clouds in the sky, so if you missed the recent meteor showers, now is your second chance to watch and enjoy! 🌠
Rain in the north
However, on Saturday, some rain is to be expected in the west and north, (it is the Netherlands, after all), so get those yellow raincoats back out of the closet. 🌧
Plus, some wind will be in the air, especially along the coast today and Saturday. Better hold on to those hats! 🌬
The weather here in the Netherlands is being very nice to us in this fossil gas crisis. Looks like October will be the 6th warmest ever, with an average temperature that's over 2⁰C (3.6F) higher than the already warmed 1991-2020 average. pic.twitter.com/LIEZx990j9
That being said, with the lowest temperatures reaching a mild 12 degrees at night across the country, that big puffer jacket you just bought is likely to be overkill. 🧥🥵
However, a light rain jacket will help. It looks like from Sunday, there will be some dense fog along the north. Add in some occasional showers, and your trusty umbrella is going to be needed from time to time.
In spite of some precipitation, however, this warmer weather looks like it’s here to stick around with high temperatures due to last into next week. Not so much the cold October we were expecting!
Suspiciously warm for October
This warmer weather is quite unusual for the winter months, but as temperatures rise each year, it’s no real surprise.
Eight of the warmest years in recorded history have occurred since 2000. Between 1900 to 2005, the temperature in the Netherlands rose by 1.7 degrees per year.
Although we’re enjoying the warm weather (is anyone a fan of frosty autumn mornings?), let’s not forget what’s caused this increase in temperature.
What do you think of the high temperatures? Tell us your thoughts in a comment below!
Students living at the Uithof in Utrecht will have to pay five times more for rising energy costs next year — and while all households in the Netherlands are counting on an energy allowance, those in the Uithof can’t. 💰
Students at the Uithof now pay about €25 per month for energy bills, and this is expected to increase by fivefold to €125 per month in 2023.
To make matters worse, they can’t rely on the government or municipality’s support this time.
It’s petition time
Naturally, they’ve started a petition. “As poor students, we don’t get any compensation or discount. A petition feels like the only way to hold the municipality accountable”, Jelmer Witteveen, one of the initiators of the petition, tells AD.
Students at the Uithof are in for a costly surprise. Image: Depositphotos
Why the intense price hike?
The buildings on the Uithof are heated by a gas-fired heat network from Utrecht University — and before the Russo-Ukrainian War took effect, the university purchased gas in Ukraine.
This contract will expire on January 1, 2023 — and because of this, residents of the Uithof will see a significant increase in energy bills of about €100 per month.
To give you a better picture, that’s a quarter of the rent costs a student typically pays. 🤦
This new Dutch energy subsidy that’s set to help folks battle the upcoming price hikes only applies to those with an energy contract.
Since woners in the Uithof don’t have their own pacts, they’ll be excluded from the subsidy and its sweet benefits. 😢
There’s a bright side… and its name is special assistance
The municipality of Utrecht indicated that students who run into money troubles can claim compensation from the special social assistance scheme — but it only applies to those who truly need it.
“The special assistance is really intended as a last safety net and requires customisation. It differs per person whether or not you can claim it,” a spokesperson for the municipality, Marieke Ruijgrok, tells AD.
That being said, she calls on all students to report to the municipality if they need the scheme. From then, officials will determine if they’re entitled to it.
What do you think about this situation? Tell us in the comments below! 👇
A water taxi carrying seven people, and a speedboat containing 27 people collided this morning in the Schuitengat channel of the Wadden sea.
The accident happened only a few hundred metres away from the coast, close to the Wadden island Terschelling. At least one of the two boats involved is “as good as sunk”, writes the NOS.
What we know so far
So far, two people are injured, with one being rushed to hospital. A further two people are still missing after the collision, which led to several passengers ending up in the water, writes AD Nieuws.
Search efforts are being complicated by the debris. Several salvage boats, ambulances, and a helicopter are searching for the remaining missing passengers, one of whom might possibly be a child.
In everything from fashion to industrial design, Dutch design has been characterised by both minimalism and unconventionality. Join us in counting down to Dutch Design Week 2023 with a look at what Dutch design has been — and what we expect it to become.
To do this, let’s talk about what’s old, what’s new, and what’s moving on the design scene of the lowlands.
Aftellen (count down)to Dutch Design Week 2023
The best way to understand Dutch design is to experience it — with your eyes, ears, hands, and feet. And what better way to do this than attending the biggest design event in northern Europe?
Few art happenings can be compared to the Dutch Design Week. Image: Dutch Design Week
In 2022, the Dutch Design week in Eindhoven covered a baffling 100 unique locations, and hosted talents from all across the country to explore the theme of “Get Set.”
Last year’s edition of Design Week was focused on “moving from preparation to action.” It was all about creating a shift in mentality and outlook — preparing for the future in more ways than one.
In other words, it’s no wonder the week was be crowded with youngsters and undiscovered talents.
Dutch Design Week is the perfect place to discover young talent. Image: Dutch Design Week
However, before we can delve head-first into the world of contemporary design, let’s take a trip down memory lane and refresh our knowledge about the history of Dutch design.
The historie (history)of Dutch design
Although the term “Dutch design” was only properly coined in the 1990s, Dutch design has a rich history, reaching back decades, if not centuries. The experimental and down-to-earth Dutchies have influenced the design world from the Netherlands in a wide range of ways.
The vroege (early)beginnings: Dutch design in the early 20th century
Some might argue that the roots of Dutch design go back way further than the 20th century — that Dutch design is part of the very soul of society in the Netherlands.
The Art Nouveau movement
Still, the most characteristic Dutch design influences originate in the late 19th century, in the context of the international Art Nouveau movement.
One of Gerrit Rietveld’s most famous pieces from the Nieuwe Kunst era. Image: Depositphotos
The Dutch twist on the international wave was termed Nieuwe Kunst (new art) and established its focus on geometry, and sturdy handcraft.
Colonial influences
The early 20th-century Dutch design was also heavily influenced by (alternatively, appropriated from) indigenous cultures in the Netherlands’ colonies across the globe at the time.
Examples include, but are not limited to, the Indonesian Batik technique, which influenced much of the characteristic two-dimensionality of Dutch design.
The introduction of De Stijl
In the early 20th century, the new art wave of the Netherlands was driven forward and moved in a different direction from the intricate Art Deco stand. This was thanks to Theo van Doesburg’s establishment of De Stijl.
De Stijl was a movement characterised by abstraction and geometrical shapes, with a strong preference for clean-cut, primary colours.
This clear-cut, geometrical expression is renown around the world to this day. Image: Depositphotos
To this day, Mondrian’s simple, structured square compositions are recognisable across the world as beacons of Dutch design and artistic innovation.
Still going sterk (strong): Dutch design in the mid to late 20th century
Dutch design continued into the 20th century by embracing modernism, with the core foundation that art should serve society, and contribute to a better world through architecture, fashion, and graphic design.
With the industrial influences of the 20th century at its core, the Dutch aimed at producing simple, practical, and functional designs — good designs of high quality.
Dutch design is humble, down-to-earth, and innovative. Image: Dutch Design Week
It was all about rejecting the unnecessary and embracing the rationalised economic simplicity that, to a large extent, came to define the world in the mid-20th century.
Further, Dutch mid-century design was, naturally, dominated by the notion of building back a society after the war. This was exemplified by movements such as the Stichting Goed Wonen (Good Living Foundation), aiming to improve the standard of living in the Netherlands through good design.
It’s not clear if these 1970’s houses in Rotterdam make for better or more complicated living, but hey, they look cool. Image: Depositphotos.
Dutch interior design of this era resembled that of Scandinavian artists’, with its clean lines and simplistic focus. Still, one distinct difference could be found in that the Dutch embraced industrial materials like steel and laminated wood.
At the same time, the Scandinavians, to a larger extent, stayed close to natural materials like wool and leather.
In the later decades of the 1900s, Dutch design was, among other things, associated with the controversial futuristic architecture of Rem Koolhaas, whose complex and deconstructivist approach gained great international recognition.
What’s changing in contemporary Dutch design?
We can’t talk about contemporary Dutch design without mentioning the Droog (dry) design influence of the 1990s.
The Droog Café in Amsterdam — can you tell Dutch designers are behind it? Image: Ernie Buts/WikimediaCommons/CC4.0
Droog and numerous other designers and groups base their work on the quintessentially dry, blunt Dutch humour, and simple, down-to-earth Dutch way of living.
Sustainability hits the scene
And why are we talking about the past? This typical Dutch impulse of simplicity and high-quality handcraft has recently gained a touch of sustainability and anti-commercialisation.
In general, reusing old materials has been a key characteristic of the newer waves of Dutch design, cultivating a certain sense of equality and non-elitism.
From a green city project in Almere, the Netherlands. Image: Depositphotos
One Dutch artist whose sustainability-focused designs have received much attention is Daan Roosegaarde, with installations like the “smog-free tower” in Rotterdam and the “smart highway” in 2014.
Similarly, albeit more recently, the Floriade Expo in the Netherlands showcased the possibilities related to Dutch design in horticulture — covering everything from biobased material to nature-themed technological installations.
Even at Dutch design week
If you’re interested in exploring more of what’s moving in the world of contemporary Dutch design, few places are more suited to do so than the yearly massive gathering at Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven.
This exhibition from the 2021 edition of Dutch Design Week caught a few eyes. Image: Dutch Design Week
Key areas of 2022 included sustainable product design, the future of cities, and designing societies around inclusivity and well-being.
There were tonnes of creative examples of these themes in the countless exhibitions at DDW, such as Tony Sloof’s “Paved in Gold” project, exploring the increasing scarcity of precious metals in the world.
Last year’s edition of Dutch Design Week set the standard high for cool exhibitions. We can’t wait for this year’s week! Image: Dutch Design Week
Another exhibition worthy of a mention is Stichting Art-East+Art-West and NARADA Foundation’s hyper-relevant “(HOME)Land. Ukraine”, shedding light on the concept of home, in light of the Russian war against Ukraine this year.
Following another current crisis, the Yksi Expo’s somewhat confronting “Rethinking plastic” exhibition took us by storm with its innovative and fun plastic solutions.
Much like the Dutch approach to life, Dutch Design Week is about innovation, function, and good design for good living. And, of course, it’s sprinkled with that down-to-earth, dry, humourous Dutchness that has become so recognisable across the globe.
In other words, at Dutch Design Week this year, you can expect to explore the traditional core tenets of Dutch design, combined with a forward-looking eye at the future.
What do you like the most about Dutch design? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Craving some yoga in The Hague but have no idea what it means when your teacher says de berg? Then an English-language class is just what you need!
If you have been feeling somewhat foggy and without energy, this is the perfect opportunity to get your groove back; yoga may just be the answer.
Here’s where you can happily dust off your mat. We’ve rounded up four of our favourite yoga studios in The Hague that have geen probleem teaching in English.
Many yoga lessons are taking place in parks around The Hague. Image: Pexels
Balanzs has three studios in The Hague and boasts that they welcome everyone from beginners to super-experienced yogis. That’s why you can attend a very soft class of Yin Yoga or a gentle flow, but you can also rise up to the challenge and give your all in a Rocket Yoga class.
The studio teaches 20 styles in total, and once they get to reopen, you can also enjoy massages and beauty treatments, (you deserve them!).
Website: Balanzs Socials: Instagram Addresses: Veenkade 22, 2513 EG, Laan van Meerdervoort 96C, 2517 AR, and Laan van Nieuw Oost-Indië 90, 2593 BX, Den Haag
2. Yoga Corner
Okay, while this studio technically isn’t located in The Hague, it’s close enough for your bike ride to and from to serve as a warmup/cool down.
The newest studio on our list, Yoga Corner said namaste to its first students in August 2022. That means you’ll be part of a growing community, get to know your fellow yogis, and have a bigger say in the development of the studio than in some of the more established ones.
With small class sizes, Yoga Corner aims to facilitate your personal yoga journey (whether you’re a complete beginner or advanced practitioner) and serve as a space where you can reconnect with yourself and others.
With a handful of different styles, classes scheduled every day, and a seven-day free trial, we’re all but ready to roll out our mats.
My Yoga studio teaches a special kind of practice. It consists of a series of 26 yoga poses and two breathing exercises over 90 minutes at 40 degrees Celsius.
Stretch it out in a language you understand. Image: Unsplash
This combination of Western knowledge (anatomy) and Eastern knowledge (asanas and pranayama) has proved effective in strengthening the five systems our bodies have: muscular, hormonal, circulatory, respiratory and nervous. You can access their recorded lessons or attend live via Zoom.
Website:My Yoga Address: Prins Hendrikplein 2, 2518 JA
4. Delight Yoga
There is no better location for a yoga studio than opposite the Peace Palace, and Delight Yoga has it. The studio offers three beautiful spaces to practice Yoga Nidra, Ashtanga Mysore or even Kids Yoga (because the little ones also deserve some self-care!), plus an area where you can relax having some coffee.
To top it all off, you can find multiple workshops that range from meditation to healing mantra concerts. They also currently offer online lessons and some outdoor practices (Paleistuin).
If you live closer to the beach, then this is your studio. Yoga Seads is within walking distance from Scheveningen, the heart of The Hague’s coast. They intend to guide you through the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of your yoga journey.
Here you will find more traditional yoga styles (such as iyengar), as well as more modern practices (like Yoga-Pilates fusion), without forgetting important stages of life (Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga).
The classes are taught both in Dutch and in English, so if you do not understand Dutch, just let them know beforehand. Classes are recorded live and available to replay (in case you cannot make it on time), with additional outdoor lessons happening at Westbroekpark.
Website: Yogaseads Address: Maaswijkstraat 24D, 2586 CD
Whether you’re a flexible, flipping yogi or a total beginner, these English-speaking yoga studios in The Hague are the perfect opportunity to practice. Remember, yoga is for everybody.
Have you practised at any of these yoga studios in The Hague? Got one to add to the list? Share it with us in the comments below!
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in May 2021, but was fully updated in October 2022 for your reading pleasure.
NS announces fewer trains running during off-peak hours and fewer intercity trains overall, starting from November 7.
Our old friend, the NS (of the continuous train strike fame), will be cutting even more trains next month, reports NU.nl.
Their latest move is not moving
Several routes throughout the country will have fewer trains than usual, due to the NS’ ongoing staff issue.
Being the gift that keeps on giving, the rail company also warns travellers that this is the reason some trains may be cancelled at the last minute. Hoera, wat leuk!
Echt ik haat NS soms echt. Seinstoring tussen Amersfoort Centraal en Utrecht Centraal. Ondertussen staan we al langer dan een 45min stil op Amersfoort Centraal en is er maar 1 trein vertrokken die naast ons stond. Ik wil gwn naar huis en de trein zit steeds voller😓
Translation: I really hate the NS sometimes. Signal failure between Amersfoort Centraal and Utrecht Centraal. Meanwhile, we’ve been standing still at Amersfoort Centraal for over 45 minutes, and only one train that was standing next to us has left. I want to go home, and the train is just getting more full.
This move (or lack thereof!) is in line with further changes that the NS plans to implement come December 11.
The NS is driving politicians up the wall
At a time when even the trains that do run are overcrowded, the rail company’s plans have got them a lot of criticism.
In fact, one party lighting a fire under the NS’ bum is none other than the Tweede Kamer (the Dutch Parliament). 🔥
The rail company was even asked to defend itself during a hearing this Wednesday, where MPs royally let them have it.
Echoing what all of us have been thinking for ages, the MPs asked why the NS couldn’t simply have more wagons on the few trains that run. The rail company dismissed their questions on the basis of security concerns.
Lots of talking, no action
These staff shortages have been an ongoing issue for many months.
Commercial Director, Tjalling Smit, even admitted that the company thought that their staff woes would have been far easier to solve than they turned out to be.
As a result, the NS waited for too long before taking action.
Look, we’re not calling you incompetent, but if the shoe fits…👠
A resolution may be in sight
We’re trying not to be too hopeful (this is the NS we’re talking about), but there could be improvements on the horizon.
The company reported that new employees have been recruited, and are currently being trained.
They expect that the situation will be resolved once these workers are fully trained and can pick up the slack.
What do you think of the NS’ latest “surprise” for us? Tell us all about it in the comments below!
— H.Holland 🇳🇱 Optiefen met het #Wef ! #Nexit ! (@appeltroenen) October 20, 2022
Keep up the good vibes
The Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hoekstra, also defended the cabinet’s decision to go to Qatar.
He claims that the Dutch not going to the World Cup will not lead to any real change in Qatar’s behaviour, and might even damage the constructive dialogue between the countries.
The Dutch parliament made clear earlier this year that no Dutch minister, king, or representative should attend the World Cup.
In other words, the House of Representatives is not too happy about the cabinet’s decision to prioritise football over human rights.
Energy vs. human rights
The Netherlands is one of many countries hit by the current energy crisis, and many extraordinary tactics have been on the table to cope with the situation. The latest, it seems, is that the Dutch king and his cabinet should go to Qatar to watch football.
Yep, the Dutch government has stated that maintaining a good relationship with the oil-dripping nation of Qatar is of great importance for tackling the energy crisis. This concern has not been enough to convince many other European leaders, however.
Rutte has stated that energy concerns are not more important than the human rights violations in Qatar, but critics have pointed out that the optics aren’t great, considering thousands of workers have died during the preparations for the world cup.
What do you think of the Dutch cabinet’s decision to go to Qatar? Tell us in the comments below!
Dutch police have made a saddening discovery in the search for missing 10-year-old, Hebe Zwart, and her supervisor Sanne Bos. A Kia containing two bodies was pulled from the water last night.
The discovery took place at around 1 AM last night after one officer noticed tire tracks leading into the water at the Empel Junction (en route to Hebe’s home). Police later pulled a Kia car containing two bodies from the water.
“We have every reason to believe that it concerns Sanne and Hebe,” a police spokesperson tells the NOS.
On the way home
Hebe and her supervisor went missing this Monday after attending a daytime activity together in Ramdonksveer.
It is believed the car may have gone off the road as the 26-year-old and 10-year-old were on the way back to Hebe’s home in Vught.
Police are now investigating what may have caused the car to end up in the water.
Many involved in the search
Following an Amber Alert that was issued on Tuesday morning, a huge search effort took place. Sniffer dogs, search veterans, and even former soldiers became involved in the search for the pair.
Police had previously searched the Empel Junction on Tuesday evening. Last night, it was decided that a police helicopter would try again, after which the car was spotted “relatively far away” from the initial search location.
