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Half of the Dutch adult population say “no” to another shot of vaccine

Gaelle Salem
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Half of the Dutch adult population say “no” to another shot of vaccine

A survey by I&O Research showed that about half of the adult Dutch population find it unnecessary to get another coronavirus booster. 💉

According to Marjolein van Egmond, professor of immunology at Amsterdam UMC, a new wave of the pandemic is very likely to take shape in the Netherlands this autumn.

To better protect people against it, healthcare workers are preparing to dole out a new round of Pfizer and Moderna shots.

However, not every Dutch person wants it, and this is especially apparent amongst the younger crowd.

As cases rise, the Dutch government wants to implement old measures — and people are not happy.

Youngsters are most reluctant

36.1% of adult Dutch folks have not yet been boosted, and researchers expect that this number won’t get the repeat shot either. 

Of those who have been boosted in the past, 17% say they see no need to get the shot again, while 67% say they do. Meanwhile, 6% have already been vaccinated with the new booster.

READ MORE | Test yourself, we’ll check the poop: Dutch adopt a new approach to coronavirus

It’s clear that age plays a big role in the decision to go for another shot. The willingness to get jabbed again is lowest amongst young people (aged 18 to 34), with less than 32% saying they won’t go for another shot, and 44% stating they will.

In terms of the middle-aged crowd (aged 35 to 49), 22% will most probably not get the next booster.

Freedom of choice prevails

It’s becoming more common for people to deny a second and third shot. 

“You often hear people say: ‘I think it’s enough. But it doesn’t work that way in biology. The virus is still there, the immune system is decreasing, and a repeat shot is to refresh that defence”, van Egmond tells the NOS.

READ MORE | Patients in this Dutch hospital will now be treated by…Artificial Intelligence?

The number of people who believe the vaccine should be of free choice has also gone up tremendously.

In December 2021, 49% of the Dutch population wanted the vaccine to be optional. Now, a whopping 71% share this opinion.

READ MORE | Hundreds of thousands of Dutch pets may have found forever homes during the pandemic

Next to that, van Egmond believes that certain age groups should think seriously about getting another booster. “In the elderly and those in poor health, it could be the difference between going to the hospital or not”, she tells the NOS.

Will you be getting the next jab? Tell us why or why not in the comments below!

September winds are hitting the Netherlands: is the summer season really over?

Mihály Droppa
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September winds are hitting the Netherlands: is the summer season really over?

Last Sunday was one of the coldest September 19 in the Netherlands. Ever. 🥶

Yesterday was a surprisingly cold day. In the eastern part of the Netherlands, in Enschede, temperatures already went down to a whopping 12.1 degrees – according to RTL Nieuws.

New record

The old record from 1962 was 13.5 degrees, so the Netherlands just made a new achievement overnight! Hooray – we guess?

Mid-September temperatures in the Netherlands usually find themselves around 18-20 degrees, so if we are up for some complaining, the weather is a perfect topic for it! 

The local weather is notorious for providing us with four seasons in just one day, but it has been showing off its spontaneity a little bit too much in the last few days.

The second half of September starts with cool and showery weather, so the question is, will the autumn weather continues like this, or will we have another late summer?

Child-playing-in-the-rain-with-an-umbrella-and-rain-boots
Rain can be fun as well! Image: Freepik

Wind by the sea 

According to Weeronline, the recent turn in the weather is because of a strong northwest wind that brings fresh cold air and showers from the North Sea into the country.

But there is no need to panic! Winds are coming and leaving, and it looks like we won’t need to wait until next spring to enjoy some sunshine. 

No need to pack your shorts yet!

The second part of September looks sunnier, and we might even have late summer weather in October! 

There is a good chance that we will lose the fresh northerly flow next week. As a result, the temperature will slowly rise toward 20 degrees by then. 

It will also become drier and sunnier. The nights and mornings will remain cool, so we will probably have to take an extra layer of clothing for the evenings.

Would you like some late summer this year, or are you ready to have your Pumpkin spice latte? Tell us in the comments below!

Leave those bags; Schiphol cancels more flights due to security shortage

Heather Slevin
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Leave those bags; Schiphol cancels more flights due to security shortage

Schiphol continues to prove that no matter how bad things can get, they can always get worse, as 42 flights were just cancelled due to a security staff shortage.

After Schiphol recently announced their plans to cut down the number of flights by 18%, it looks like the reduced capacity is already being put into effect, reports NU.nl. 

On Monday, major airline KLM will cancel over 40 flights departing from Schiphol due to a lack of security personnel. 

Already, 22 flights were cancelled on Sunday, though KLM was the only airline to scrap flights from departing. 

So much for booking ahead — looks like you’ll be camping overnight. 🏕

Schiphol? Cancelled.

As a result, the number of passengers allowed to depart daily from the airport has been reduced by 9,250 until the end of October. 

It’s like a super, super unlucky lottery – will you be one of 9,250? Only time will tell.

And, unsurprisingly, passengers are. not. happy. 😡

Security guard shortage

The current disruptions at the Dutch airport are highly linked to a security guard shortage. In order to appease unhappy workers over the summer, Schiphol instigated a higher wage – an extra €5.25 per hour. 

But, as this temporary pay disappears, security guards have begun looking for work elsewhere, or not turning up at all. 😬

READ MORE | BREAKING: Schiphol CEO quits from position after recent airport drama

Not a great sign, lads, if the only thing keeping your staff around is higher pay. Has Schiphol considered, perhaps, providing both a good wage and good working conditions?

However, none of this is a major surprise to us, seeing as Schiphol ranked as the fourth-worst airport for delays during the summer. Maybe they can beat that record this Autumn? 😘

What do you think of the cancellations? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Say Watt? NS to start renting out e-bikes at the end of September

Juni Moltubak
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Say Watt? NS to start renting out e-bikes at the end of September

The national Dutch railway service has had regular bikes in their repertoire for years, and now they’re set to advance to e-bikes at a small selection of stations.

The addition is for now in the trial stage, where four stations will be equipped with 30 e-bikes, for one year, writes RTL Nieuws.

The trial will start at the end of September 2022, so you might find yourself zooming through the dunes/city landscape before you know it!

It’s perfect if you need to travel faster, or further (110km on eco mode, to be exact) than you would with a regular bike. 🚲

It’s also a great green alternative to public transport or private motoring. And let’s be honest, it’s way more comfortable than struggling with a regular bike, or sitting trapped inside a sweaty bus. 😅

Translation: “An interesting question is to what extent the e-bike will become a competitor for public transport. Is the public transport ebike an alternative to the bus to and from the station?”

Where, when, how??

The bikes will definitely be available at the Driebergen-Zeist station, but the remaining three stations included in the trial are not known yet.

READ MORE | ‘Kijk uit!’ Amsterdam residents feel unsafe around speedy e-bikes on cycle paths

As opposed to the comfortable €4.15 for a normal bike, the e-bikes are going to be a touch more expensive, though.

For €10, you can live the e-bike lifestyle for 24 hours. But after three days, a €5 surcharge per day will be added to your bill. 💸

Important details: return, batteries, and GPS tracking

The main difference between the regular bike service and the new e-bikes is that the latter cannot be returned to a station other than the one they were rented from.

Further, it is important to note that customers cannot charge their own batteries. NS promises, however, that the e-bikes will always be fully charged — so you won’t find yourself stranded in the middle of the Dutch countryside, powerless.

READ MORE | 5 things to do when your bike has been stolen in the Netherlands

Finally, the e-bikes will be equipped with individual GPS trackers, to make sure none go missing.

If you think the thought of being tracked wherever you go sounds a bit creepy, the NS spies can comfort you with the fact that personal information and GPS information will be kept separate.

What do you think about the new e-bike system? Unnecessary laziness or a welcome relief? Tell us in the comments below!

Even in Amsterdam: homophobes shoot gel gun at people sitting on gay bar’s terrace

Mihály Droppa
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Even in Amsterdam: homophobes shoot gel gun at people sitting on gay bar’s terrace

A group of young men were having terrace drinks at Prik, a central Amsterdam gay pub, when a car stopped and started shooting at them with a gel blaster. 

On Monday at 10:15 PM, the car stopped in front of the gay bar and started shooting at the people having drinks on the terrace – AD reports. The perpetrator was also screaming anti-gay slurs at them while shooting with the toy gun. 

One of the guests sitting on the terrace had to be taken to hospital for an eye injury. Mayor Halsema, Amsterdam’s mayor, also admits that there are too many anti-LGBTI+ incidents in the Dutch capital. 

READ MORE | The Netherlands drops to 13th place for LGBTQIA+ policies in Europe

You might think that hate crimes like this would never happen in Amsterdam, where pride flags flood the city streets and buildings, but unfortunately, it does. 

The injured guest, from Israel, will be treated for his eye back in his home country. Unfortunately, it’s not yet sure whether or not his vision will cure.

Amsterdam’s mayor called the incident a “cultural problem,” and she is shocked that this gun can be sold as a toy. 

Nothing new at Prik

The pub’s co-owner, Van Eck, said to AD that the customers are used to the aggression. “When we are on the terrace all day, we notice that people often shout at our guests. We were quite shocked at first, but many of our regular guests said they got used to it.”

READ MORE | Anti-LGBT+ preacher Steven Anderson banned from the Netherlands

Amsterdam is considered one of the world’s most prominent “gay capital”, with plenty of programs for the LGBTI+ community.

Every year, thousands of visitors come every year to the city to experience the accepting and colourful city. It is very sad that crimes like these can still happen here.

What do you think about this harsh incident? Tell us in the comments below!

No more excuses: Dutch landlords can now insulate homes with new subsidy

Liana Risseeuw 🇱🇰
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No more excuses: Dutch landlords can now insulate homes with new subsidy

Sick of waking up on a winter’s morning and being half-frozen? Well, we have good news! All private landlords in the Netherlands will now have access to a €150 million subsidy scheme for the maintenance of rental housing.

According to NU.nl, this means that landlords all over the country can now start properly insulating their properties at a much cheaper price — and we all know they love cutting costs (and the odd corner…or six.)

Money, money, money!

The decision announced yesterday by the minister of Housing and Spatial Planning, Hugo de Jonge, will make €6,000 available per rental property.

READ MORE | 10 dang smart ways to save on energy costs in the Netherlands

This subsidy can be spent on insulation, a more sustainable ventilation system, or energy measures to cut down living costs. Given the soaring energy costs, this will no doubt make people’s wallets much happier! 💰

Insulation in name only?

A report by Woonbond (the national association to represent tenants), uncovered a distressing flaw in the construction of many Dutch houses: single-glazed windows.

Woonbond director, Zeno Winkels, explained that inefficient window designs lead to a lot of heat leaking out of houses.

This results in higher thermostats, in an attempt for tenants to keep warm — and sky-high energy costs for all of us! 📈

The association aims to have single-glazed windows classified as a defect, which would entitle tenants to rent reductions until the problem is fixed. Yes, please!

Translation: Energy bills are getting higher. And everyone should participate in becoming more sustainable. That’s why all private landlords are also eligible for a subsidy to make them more sustainable. 🌱

De Jonge disagrees: sustainability is key

Woonbond’s aim doesn’t strike a chord with De Jonge, who wants the emphasis to be on sustainable housing.

The Cabinet intends to roll out a points system for housing, where sustainable housing would score highly. Landlords of these properties could then charge higher rent (that’ll get their attention) for better functioning energy systems (as if we need even higher rent prices 👀).

What are your thoughts on the new subsidy, and the focus on sustainability? Tell us in the comments below!

Turbulence ahead! Schiphol plans to cancel even more flights in the fall

Heather Slevin
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Turbulence ahead! Schiphol plans to cancel even more flights in the fall

No rest for the wicked; following a summer of cancelled flights at Schiphol Airport, passengers can expect even more cancellations this Autumn. 🙄

Due to a lack of staff at Schiphol Airport, there are restrictions being put in place to reduce the number of flights by a whopping 18%, reports RTL Nieuws. 

This also means that, until at least October 31, an average of 9,250 passengers will have their trips ruined every. Single. Day, for the next coming weeks, writes the NOS.

Security guards find jobs elsewhere

Schiphol offered a summer bonus of an extra €5.25 per hour for staff, but as the summer period ends, the bonus disappeared. This leaves Schiphol in a bit of a sticky situation as security guards start to look for work elsewhere. 🤷‍♂️

Marnix Fruitema, chairman of BARIN, the association of airlines active in the Netherlands, tells RTL Nieuws, “The problems this week were the result of dozens of security guards not showing up for work.”

READ MORE | Good news! Schiphol is planning on building a new terminal

As it is, security companies are unable to provide the number of guards that the airport needs to run smoothly. 

That’s not really news to us, seeing as Schiphol has become notorious for neglecting working conditions amongst employees. 😬

With loads of staff planning on leaving, it’s no surprise Schiphol has had to take such restrictive measures to (somewhat) ensure ease of travel for passengers.  

Passengers have been forgotten

Sunweb CEO Mattijs ten Brink, who wants to avoid leaving travellers disappointed by ruined trips, says that Schiphol has forgotten to care about their everyday passengers;

“It was about the financial and economic picture. It is also the shareholders and politicians who have charted Schiphol’s course.”

people-queuing-in-an-airport
With more flight cancellations this fall, expect lots of queues and overwhelmed staff. Image: Depositphotos

For those who have been looking forward to their getaways, looks like it’s another round of bad luck! 😞

Dick Benschop leaves

The news about more cancelled flights comes just after CEO Dick Benschop announced his plans to leave his position at Schiphol. Benschop will remain head of the airport until a suitable replacement is found for him.

Maybe a new CEO will remember to care for its passengers! 👀

What do you think of the recent flight cancellations? Tell us in the comments below!

Travelling by bus? Not today, bus drivers strike across the Netherlands

Juni Moltubak
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Travelling by bus? Not today, bus drivers strike across the Netherlands

Bus drivers belonging to the Dutch union FNV are not yet satisfied with their working conditions and are striking today, all over the Netherlands.

The national NS train strikes were just solved, but the FNV still thinks the current labour agreement for bus drivers needs some work, writes RTL Nieuws.

READ MORE | Public transport in the Netherlands: the complete guide

What does it mean for you?

The carriers HMT, RET (tram and metro), and GVB are not participating in the strike, as they are covered by a different labour union, explains travel planning platform 9292.

Disruptions can be expected, however, from the following carriers:

  • Arriva
  • Connexxion
  • Valleilijn
  • Keolis
  • U-OV
  • RET
  • EBS

Currently, it’s not exactly clear which routes will be disrupted, but expect to use your creativity for your morning (and afternoon) commute today. 🚲

Tip: travel planner 9292 gives you up-to-date information about the strikes — also available in English.

Call to save public transport

The strike has been described as the last necessity to save the current state and the future of public transport in the Netherlands.

The union has described their efforts as a means to illustrate that public transport should be seen as a public facility, and should not be exploited solely for profit-making.

At 12 PM today, the strikers are mobilising for a demonstration in The Hague, to emphasise their message to Dutch politicians.

According to RTL Nieuws, the strikers have invited all members of Parliament who have stated public transport as a core issue in their portfolio — it is yet to be seen who dares to show up.

Have you been affected by the bus strike? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!

BREAKING: Schiphol CEO quits from position after recent airport drama

Lea Shamaa 🇺🇸🇱🇧
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BREAKING: Schiphol CEO quits from position after recent airport drama

Dick Benschop, Schiphol’s now previous CEO, will be leaving his position due to recent criticism about mismanagement and chaos at the Dutch airport this year.

He will be leaving his title as CEO as soon as the company finds a successor for him. Unfortunately, they haven’t found one yet, reports the NOS.

While this may come as a surprise to some, others may find that his decision was for the best. After all, Schiphol was ranked the fourth-worst airport for delays during the summer.

Let’s not forget all the thousands of suitcases that were filling up the airport floors. Oh, and the neglect of the baggage handlers trying to manage the department. 🙄

READ MORE | Chaos reignites at Schiphol as workers’ summer wage increase expires

In a recent press release, Benschop explains that “there is a lot of attention, and also criticism, for the way in which Schiphol tackles the problems and for my responsibility as CEO,”

He continues: “I make room on my own initiative to give Schiphol the space to make a new start. I do not want the attention of my person to become an obstacle for Schiphol.”

Want the latest Dutch news to come zooming through the internet to your inbox? Dat kan! Subscribe to DutchReview’s weekly roundup 📮

Breaking records: The Netherlands generates most solar power in Europe

Heather Slevin
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Breaking records: The Netherlands generates most solar power in Europe

As of September 2022, the Netherlands is putting the rest of Europe to shame with its solar power! 

Though we’re nowhere close to the end of the year, the Netherlands has already produced 12.5% more solar energy than was generated in the entirety of 2021, reports Trouw. 

We call that a Dutch home run! ☀️⚾

Good for the wallet, good for the planet

With solar-powered energy making up an estimated 23% of the total electricity production in the Netherlands, this cheaper energy source is attractive in light of recent electricity cost increases. 

READ MORE | Renewable energy in the Netherlands: everything you need to know

As the Dutch government continues to offer grants and tax cuts to residents who chose to install solar panels on their homes to generate energy, it’s no surprise that we’re seeing an increase in the amount of solar energy created. 

About a quarter of Dutch homes have solar panels installed on their roofs, according to Zonneplan. With tax cuts and grant offers, this means a heavier wallet, and the Dutch say ja, aalsjeblieft!

Energy costs in the Netherlands

With the cost of energy increasing what feels almost daily now, the Netherlands is in the midst of an energy crisis. 

As Russia cuts off its energy supply to Europe, the Netherlands is amongst tens of other countries trying to source new ways to provide electricity. With so much pressure being put on electricity companies to provide energy for the population, prices are skyrocketing. 

TIP: If you want to hook up your house with solar panels, you can check out our guide about utilities in the Netherlands and find other smart ways to save on your utility bill as gas and energy prices go up.

An unbelievable amount of power 

The amount of solar energy generated so far this year could power a grand total of 4.7 million homes in the Netherlands. That’s more than half of the number of houses in the entire country! 🏡

As the Netherlands quickly becomes the frontrunner in Europe for the generation of solar power, we can see goals set by the European Parliament quickly met.

The European Parliament plans to double the amount of solar energy generated in 2020 by 2025. The Netherlands, having now beaten its own records for the past year, will no doubt have doubled their energy output by 2025. 

Would you install solar panels on your home? Tell us in the comments! 

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