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Dutch churches expected to receive up to 10,000 status holders and asylum-seekers

Heather Slevin
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Dutch churches expected to receive up to 10,000 status holders and asylum-seekers

Finally, the Netherlands can offer relief to asylum-seekers as up to 10,000 extra spaces are made to host people. Where? In churches and holiday homes!  

The initiative, run by Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PKN), will offer temporary housing to status holders, aka asylum-seekers with residence permits, reports the NOS.

100 places promised

As of now, 10 different municipalities promised to receive status holders. 

With so many extra spaces, the Dutch government hopes it will speed up the flow of the 17,000 status holders currently awaiting housing. 

Municipalities in the Netherlands are faced with a huge influx of status holders; they are expected to house 20,000 people before January 1st, 2023. 

READ MORE | Amsterdam to shelter a thousand asylum seekers on cruise ship

But, hopefully, the extra spaces in churches and empty homes will lessen the strain on local municipalities — and provide some much-needed hope to asylum-seekers who have been left waiting for housing for so long! 🏡

Reception places decreasing

However, despite the extra 10,000 spots for status-holders, the number of reception places in the Netherlands is on the decrease. 

Despite agreements made with regions, there are 1,250 reception places fewer than before. This is mostly due to expiring contracts between the government and municipalities for crisis shelters to house people. 

READ MORE | Asylum seekers left sleeping on plastic chairs in Ter Apel

This leaves a lot of people in limbo as they wait for somewhere to stay. 😞

Many contracts expired on October 1st, so, while the Dutch government attempts to find more reception areas, their solution remains — churches! ⛪

Other municipalities can host more

Yet, it’s not all bad news; there are over 11,000 reception places in the Netherlands to receive asylum-seekers. Areas such as Amsterdam receive up to 3,000 status holders. 

Amsterdam alderman Rutger Groot Wassink has another idea to overcome the need for housing for status-holders; increasing the number of asylum-seekers in smaller municipalities. “If we can do that with other municipalities, we’ll be out quickly.”

What do you think of the Netherlands opening up its churches? Tell us in the comments below!

Burglar tries to steal from Dutch-Chinese restaurant; gets stuck in elevator overnight

Mihály Droppa
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Burglar tries to steal from Dutch-Chinese restaurant; gets stuck in elevator overnight

A Dutch village called Velp experienced one of the most bizarre crime stories on Saturday. And, yes, we’re including that one time a man pooped on a Dutch woman’s front porch. 🤦‍♀️

A man was already finishing up his burglary of the Blue Lotus restaurant when he got his foot stuck in the freight elevator – NU.nl reports. 

The next morning the staff found him waiting there, in need of rescue — we are indeed very curious about what he had to say at that moment!

Using our imagination, it probably went something like: “Um, I was just trying to find your bathroom”. We hope we’re wrong, or else that really would’ve been a sticky situation!

READ MORE | Chinese food in the Netherlands: Dutch-Chinese food 101

One step at a time

While the burglar allegedly came through the back of the restaurant alone, he came out with the police and rescue team.

Eventually, the fire brigade managed to save the man who was glued to the elevator for hours on end!

Upon his immediate arrest, he was taken to the hospital for a physical examination.

Eventually, the police will interrogate him about what exactly he was trying to steal: a pack of spring rolls? Or perhaps, a box of dumplings? 🤔

What do you think of this story? Tell us in the comments below!

This Dutch supermarket wants to be the most sustainable: here’s how

Heather Slevin
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This Dutch supermarket wants to be the most sustainable: here’s how

Dutch supermarket giant, Albert Heijn, say it’s going hard on sustainability in an attempt to encourage shoppers to make more environmentally-friendly shopping choices. 

From meat replacements to plastic-free shopping options, everyone’s favourite, cheapest, most dominant Dutch supermarket claims they’re bringing the goods for a greener future, reports NU.nl. 

Bad news for meat eaters

The carnivores among us may want to cover their ears because it looks like Albert Heijn is on a mission to cut down on the meat options they stock. 

The supermarket is pushing meat-free substitutes in an effort to encourage shoppers to make more sustainable purchases. 

The store claims it doesn’t necessarily want to discourage people from eating meat, but rather provide them with more non-meat options. 

READ MORE | Visible climate action: Haarlem to ban meat in public advertisements

Less plastic, less waste

Albert Heijn also wants to encourage more customers to bring their own packaging.

That means you must remember not just your bags but also your Tupperware containers, or else you might end up attempting to carry pasta home in your hands. 🙃

Scholte op Reimer says they want to encourage shoppers to adopt more sustainable behaviours, tempting them into more ‘green’ behaviours. 

READ MORE | Albert Heijn finally says “doeg” to plastic bags for fruit and veg — this time for real

However, in terms of the influence on the climate, Scholte op Reimer states that packaging and transport play only a small role, “The biggest impact is in the product itself.”

Alright, Albert Heijn, talk to us when you’ve stopped unnecessarily wrapping cucumbers in plastic. 🥒

Falling behind on Paris Agreement

But, amongst all the plans to encourage shoppers to make more sustainable choices, it looks like Albert Heijn is missing its own goals. 

The Paris Agreement is a collective of goals set by the United Nations to limit climate change globally. Under this agreement, countries, the Netherlands included, pledged to decrease their greenhouse gas emissions by 45% before 2030. 

Person-places-a-plastic-bottle-into-the-deposit-machine-at-a-supermarket
The Netherlands already has a successful bottle return scheme. Image: Statiegeld Nederland

Albert Hijn is falling behind on this promise, with the store likely to cut down by only 15% by 2030. 

If they don’t meet these goals, the store faces court action. “A lawsuit can also damage the image of Albert Heijn,” says Scholte op Reimer. 

Well, while Albert Heijn tries to attempt to make some sustainable changes, we’ll be clutching our frikandel in desperation. 🌭😭

What do you think of these sustainability measures? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below! 👇

Meat-free! McPlant stays on menu at McDonald’s due to popular demand

Juni Moltubak
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Meat-free! McPlant stays on menu at McDonald’s due to popular demand

The main plant-based alternative at McDonald’s will stay on the fast-food chain’s menu for the foreseeable future — thanks to the high demand for vegan and vegetarian options in the Netherlands!

Veganism is not exactly the first thing that comes to mind when you think of chains like McDonald’s and Burger King. Still, fast-food restaurants across the world are adapting their menus to cater to as many people as possible, writes NU.nl.

Growing trend

There’s no getting around the fact that the vegetarian wave is here to stay. Being vegan or vegetarian has quickly gone from being fringe and has entered the mainstream.

McDonald’s seems to have understood this fact after the popularity of their vegan burger went through the roof.

It probably helped that the burger was based on the famous, juicy, fan-favourite Beyond Meat — a remarkably “realistic” meat substitute. 🍔

Nobody’s perfect

Well, we say vegan, but vegan folks might want to think twice before embracing the McPlant too enthusiastically.

Firstly, the plant-based alternative is frequently in contact with the meat-based products and areas of the kitchen, during the preparation of meals at McDonald’s. So, if that grosses you out, you should probably go somewhere else for your late-night deep-fried snack.

Secondly, although McDonald’s plant-based initiative has gained praise for moving with the times, the chain has also been accused of so-called greenwashing.

There’s just no getting around the fact that fast-food chains like McDonald’s contribute greatly to the many environmental issues connected to the meat industry.

In other words, if you’re vegan for environmental reasons, you might want to reconsider your choice of restaurant — despite the lovely green marketing around the McPlant burger.

What do you think about McDonald’s choice to make the McPlant a permanent part of their menu? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Indian summer’s here (finally): great weather expected this week

Liana Risseeuw 🇱🇰
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Indian summer’s here (finally): great weather expected this week

Temperatures are set to be relatively high next week (but not as high as a tourist in Amsterdam, unfortunately), reports Weerplaza.

Many areas can even expect an Indian summer — a far cry from the bland, wet greyness we’ve been experiencing.

Today’s temperature is going to be around 16 to 19 degrees Celsius, with not much wind (well, for the Netherlands anyway). 

Most of us can expect to see some sun, though clouds are to be expected further inland. ⛅️

READ MORE | 7 ways to make the best of autumn in the Netherlands in 2022

“No dog weather on Animal Day”

It seems like meteorologists at Weerplaza served the weather with an extra dose of wit yesterday.

Indeed, tomorrow’s World Animal Day is going to be even more pleasant than today, with temperatures a degree higher. And, thankfully, the Dutch doggos won’t be getting wet this time! 🐕

Areas in the far northwest can expect some rain in the afternoon and evening, but things are likely to clear up before late evening — so you needn’t shelve those going-out plans! 💃🏻

And the warmest day of the week is…

Wednesday! 🥳

Hoping to have tapas on the terras this week? Wednesday’s your friend — with afternoon highs of 18 degrees Celsius in the northwest to 22 degrees Celsius in the south and east of the country.

You may need to pack that brolly as the day progresses, however, as some areas could expect a bit of rain.

Rain, rain, go away

Oh well, we knew it couldn’t last.

The latter half of the week is expected to get a bit cooler, with much stronger wind. Thursday and Friday will be cloudy, with a few brief showers.

READ MORE | 11 must-have closet items to survive the Dutch weather

Temperatures will hover around 17 degrees Celsius, which is still rather mild for this time of year.

What do you think of late summer making a (very!) brief appearance? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

Dutchies dance for 15 hours straight because, boy, do they know how to party

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
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Dutchies dance for 15 hours straight because, boy, do they know how to party

Approximately 1700 Utrechters strapped on their dancing shoes Saturday evening ready for 900 straight minutes of dancing.

And why would they subject themselves to the blisters, spilt drinks, and ringing eardrums? For a birthday party, of course.

Not just any birthday party

The city of Utrecht, affectionally known as the beating heart of The Netherlands, is turning 900 years old — and there’s no better way to celebrate than a 900-minute dance marathon.

The event took place over three popular dance clubs in the city with different styles of music.

Naturally, of the 1700 revellers, only a few hundred were left by 6:00 AM Sunday morning. (We don’t blame the early leavers and would also have been toasty warm in bed by 10:00 in the evening).

Now the only question is: how can this mega dance event be topped?

“I already made a joke that we are going for 901 minutes [next year],” event organiser and dance programmer of De Helling Lévi Smulders told AD.

Would you dance for 900 minutes straight? Tell us in the comments below!

From 2023, Brits will need an ETIAS visa waiver to visit the Netherlands: here’s how it works

Gaelle Salem
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From 2023, Brits will need an ETIAS visa waiver to visit the Netherlands: here’s how it works

The Netherlands has long been a favourite destination for Brits, thanks to its iconic canals and cheese markets. However, come 2023, UK travellers will face a couple more obstacles if they wish to step foot in the country.

Around two million (!) British citizens travel to the Netherlands every year, with roughly half of them visiting Amsterdam. 

But despite the lowlands’ popularity, good ol’ Brexit gave rise to quite a few notable changes for any British traveller in the EU. 

As a result, those looking to cross over to the land of clogs will now need to consider the following:

  • At present, British citizens must have a UK passport that will continue to be valid for at least six months to travel to the Netherlands.
  • UK passports are no longer accepted at the dedicated EU border gates at airport arrivals.
  • Long-term study or work in the Netherlands might only be possible for Brits with the appropriate visa.
  • If UK travellers intend to stay in the Netherlands, they may need to show proof of a return ticket and sufficient funds.

In addition, Brits will soon face the end of fee-free travel. Why? Because the long-awaited ETIAS visa waiver is set to debut in 2023 — and it comes with a small price to pay.

What is an ETIAS visa waiver?

You might be wondering what the heck an ETIAS (European Travel and Authorisation System) visa waiver is. In short, it’s an online security check that grants entry to all European countries in the Schengen Area.

Citizens of all visa-exempt countries (which are outside of the EU) will need to apply for an ETIAS visa waiver.

Whether it be for holidays, transit, or business purposes, the visa waiver will allow any UK traveller to visit the Netherlands for up to 90 days within every 180-day period.

The good news? It’s valid for up to three years from the date of approval or until the date your passport expires, so you won’t have to apply every time you travel.

What will the requirements for an ETIAS visa waiver be?

Once the ETIAS visa waiver takes shape in 2023, it’s likely that UK passport requirements for Europe will change.

READ NEXT | New visa-waiver requirement to affect travellers to the Netherlands from 2023

With that being said, British citizens will need to meet the following requirements if they wish to enter the Netherlands, or any country in the EU: 

  • A valid passport for at least 3 months from the date of arrival in the Netherlands, and no older than 10 years.
  • An approved ETIAS visa waiver.

How can Brits apply for an ETIAS visa waiver?

Applying for an ETIAS visa waiver is actually pretty simple. Firstly, you’ll need to fill in an online application form with personal information, passport details, and answer a set of health and security-related questions.

Then, a processing fee of around £6 GBP (or €7) will be required for those between the ages of 18 and 70 — and that’s it! The only thing left to do is wait. Most ETIAS visa waiver applications are approved within 24 to 48 hours. 

In some cases, it can take slightly longer, so it’s essential that UK citizens apply at least 72 hours before departing to the Netherlands.

Keep in mind: All the information provided in the form must be accurate. Errors, including spelling mistakes, can lead to a delay in getting the ETIAS visa waiver. Applicants must ensure that they submit the application accurately filled in.

When will Brits need an ETIAS visa waiver to travel to the NL?

While the official launch date is not yet known, the ETIAS visa waiver will probably be necessary to travel from the UK to the Netherlands by November 2023.

Important to know: UK travellers will need an ETIAS visa waiver if they wish to visit any country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This includes several island territories in the Caribbean, namely Aruba, Curaçao, and St. Maarten.

Until then, Brits can enjoy a visa-free voyage to the lowlands for stays of up to 3 months out of every 6 months. In other words, weekend trips to Amsterdam are still in the cards.

Are you among the lucky chaps who will need to apply for an ETIAS visa waiver next year? Tell us in the comments below!

Hugo de Jonge, Dutch Minister of Housing, plans to raise rental protection limit to €1,000

Liana Risseeuw 🇱🇰
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Hugo de Jonge, Dutch Minister of Housing, plans to raise rental protection limit to €1,000

Is your rent still under €1,000? Well, we have good news for you — you may (still) be able to claim rent protection! 👀

The Dutch Minister for Housing, Hugo de Jonge (a familiar face from our never-ending coronavirus lockdown days!) plans to introduce expanded rental protection — to the tune of €1,000. A more detailed plan is set to come out this November.

This decision was announced at a debate in the Tweede Kamer (the parliamentary lower house) yesterday, reports RTL Nieuws.

How does it work?

Rent is based on a system of points — points are added for factors like the size of rooms and whether the property comes with a kitchen, toilet, bath…etc.

Landlords that set rent much higher than the maximum figure it should go for are straying into grey territory. Tenants that calculate a discrepancy can then go to the Huurcommissie (rent commission) and request a reduction. 📉

However, for rents above the rental protection limit, landlords can decide how much they want to charge for their properties.

The current limit for rent protection sits at €763.47, and newer constructions will automatically have the raised rental protection factored in.

For existing buildings, however, rental protection will only kick in when there are new tenants.

This move is aimed at middle-income renters, as they earn too much for social housing and cannot afford the ridiculously expensive properties in the free market.

The two important sides to the debate

De Jonge does note that vital employees — like policemen and nurses — need accommodation in the bigger cities (tough ask, seeing as how we’re in the midst of a housing crisis).

However, he’s also keeping an eagle eye out for housing corporations and investors to fund the construction of more housing.

Translation: In order to protect tenants from absurd rents, mid-rent will now be regulated to around €1,000. By clarifying the limit, investors can continue investing in the construction of new middle-rent housing.

De Jonge says that investors need a return on their initial investment, and hope that this latest move will motivate them to finance new rental accommodation.

It’s not all been smooth sailing

Investors have been hesitant about constructing new rental housing in recent months, due to De Jonge wavering on where to cap the price protection between €1,000 and €1,250.

The uncertainty over the exact value (and worries about their return on investment), led to some property developers protesting the new rental protection plans.

Taking their concerns into consideration, De Jonge has now settled for the lower limit of €1,000.

And what does this mean for us?

It remains to be seen how this will affect the rental market — and whether landlords will raise their rents over €1,000 to escape the new cap.

What do you think of this latest move? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

Feature Image: European People’s Party/Wikimedia Commons/CC2.0

High score: inflation rate rises to 17.1% in the Netherlands

Gaelle Salem
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High score: inflation rate rises to 17.1% in the Netherlands

Once again, the Dutch inflation rate is surging at a pace unmatched in over 70 years — rising to 17.1% in September.

Last month, Dutchies dealt with a booming inflation rate of 13.6%, largely fuelled by gas and energy prices. 😩

Now, that number has amplified tremendously, reaching a new high unheard of since the Second World War, writes the NOS.

Energy prices to blame

According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), this month’s inflation rate owes much of its growth to good ol’ energy prices, which spiked by a whopping 114% compared to September 2021.

When calculating inflation, CBS considers the prices of new energy contracts. So, for a good amount of folks, inflation may be lower because they still have permanent or variable energy pacts.

For a while now, the rising cost of living, gas, energy, and goods has been leaving major dents in Dutchies’ wallets.

It almost entirely cancels out any leftover income that the majority of people hope to use just to like…well…enjoy life. 🤷

READ MORE | Cut out the coffee: Dutch health insurance may cost €10 extra per month

At this rate, we may be facing a future of living in communes with shared heating and cooking. 🥴

If you live in the Netherlands, how are you dealing with the soaring inflation rate? Tell us in the comments below! 👇

Guess who’s back, back again: Schiphol plans to cancel thousands of flights until 2023

Heather Slevin
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Guess who’s back, back again: Schiphol plans to cancel thousands of flights until 2023

Whether you’re planning a Halloween getaway, a Christmas visit to friends, or even a Valentine’s Day trip, it looks like your flight out runs the risk of being cancelled last minute. 

Schiphol announces plans to cap the number of passengers departing the airport at 50,000 per week until at least March 2023. 

This comes from reports at NOS that, despite the efforts that have already been made in the airport to lessen the stress on employees, the situation has become ‘hopeless’. 

Looks like, despite the prompt exit of Schiphol CEO, Dick Benschop, the chaos at the major airport continues to reign. 

No hope for Schiphol

CEO of KLM airlines, Marjan Rintel, expresses despair at the situation to the NOS; “KLM has previously said that limiting the number of passengers cannot be a long-term measure, but it now seems that way.”

It seems like Schiphol’s only solution to these issues is to cancel hundreds of flights, while also limiting the number of flight tickets sold to prevent the possibility of cancellation for passengers. 

One can imagine that the employees in the airport are tired of dealing with disappointed travellers. 🥱

If only Schiphol could organise flights the same way they organised emergency exit plans… oh. Wait. 

A slap on the wrist

From the end of 2023, Schiphol will not be allowed to operate any more than 440,000 flights per year. 

This is the first time the number of flights departing the airport has been cut. Seems like a reasonable measure, but it leaves us wondering; just how long is this chaos going to last?

Staff shortages continue

What’s the biggest contributing factor to the chaos at Schiphol?

READ MORE | Chaos at Schiphol: why the biggest Dutch airport is struggling so much

Well, aside from the lack of management, structural problems, bad working conditions, and forgotten bags… what were we talking about, again?

Oh, yes. The staff shortages. 🥴

It comes as absolutely no surprise that Schiphol is struggling to find enough staff to deal with demand. 

The airport temporarily raised wages during the summer months, but as we approach autumn, this wage was taken away, and with it, disappeared many of the security guards. 

Schiphol, it seems, needs to find better ways to entice people in to work for them. 

Joost van Doesburg of the FNV union says; “The rosters need to be better and the pay needs to be increased significantly to attract people. And I doubt whether the problems will be solved by the end of March. So these measures may have to be continued for longer.”

Seems simple, really. Better pay plus better conditions plus better working hours equals a smooth running airport. 

What do you think of the cancellations at Schiphol? Tell us your thoughts in a comment!

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