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The best helper? Piet and Sinterklaas stop a robbery in Dutch town

Gaelle Salem
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The best helper? Piet and Sinterklaas stop a robbery in Dutch town

Two people dressed as Sinterklaas and Piet caught a shoplifter outside of the residential boulevard in Almelo on Sunday afternoon. 🎅

The perpetrator tried to steal two jigsaws worth €400 from a hardware store — when the security alarms went off, the thief took off with the stolen items in hand.

He was, at last, unsuccessful in his attempt to shoplift as none other than jolly Sint-Nicolaas and his side-kick caught him in a wild chase, writes NU.nl.

Translation: “I’m going to pieces, Sinterklaas and his helpers in Almelo apprehend a thief. 😭😭“

A Christmas-themed catch

Sinterklaas was standing in front of the hardware store with Piet, busy entertaining a crowd of kids, when the two saw the thief running out of the shop. 

They immediately ran after him — and by doing this, the perpetrator dropped his stolen items in fear. 

He then hid in another store on the boulevard but was soon found by Piet, who put him in a headlock until the police arrived. He was then arrested and put in custody, pending further investigation. 

READ MORE | When does Sinterklaas arrive in the Netherlands? The 2022 city guide

Truly a scene that you don’t see every day — the police expressed their gratitude to Sinterklaas and Piet for their help. “It is special to get a civilian arrest from Sinterklaas”, a spokesperson for the police tells NU.nl.

We think it’s safe to say that this thief won’t be getting any candy canes or chocolates in his Christmas stocking this year. 🧦 

What do you think about Sinterklaas and his helper’s latest heroic catch? Tell us in the comments below!

Featured Image: Erik Bro/Wikimedia Commons/CC3.0

Wet weather: rain and clouds expected throughout the Netherlands

Juni Moltubak
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Wet weather: rain and clouds expected throughout the Netherlands

The traditional Dutch weather is upon us again, after a weekend filled with hopes of snow. Considering what the rest of the week will look like, our only advice is to stay prepared for anything.

Brace yourself for the wind, jump between the puddles, or enjoy some November sun — this week has got it all.

Rainy days

Tuesday starts off with quite a few showers all over the country, reports Weerplaza.

Although Wednesday morning is expected to start dry, you’re better off packing an umbrella anyways. More rain is likely to hit us in the afternoon, along with some strong southwesterly wind.

These two days will not be too cold, though, with temperatures between 6 and 9 degrees Celsius.

Windy and warm

Ok, “warm” might be an exaggeration, but the temperatures later in the week will be surprisingly high, staying around the 10-11 degree mark.

Yet, if this news inspired you to start planning a beach day, you might want to hold your horses. Thursday will arrive with another blast of strong wind, and the day will end with (you guessed it) more rain.

Weekend wonder

Friday will give those living east in the Netherlands some rain, while the rest of us will be blessed with more of that famous Dutch weather uncertainty.

Jumping from clear spells to rain showers, with mild temperatures up to 11 degrees, we’re not sure what to make of these predictions.

Still, Saturday and Sunday will remain relatively dry, setting the scene for some (hopefully) more Christmasy weather next week.

How are you coping with the crazy Dutch weather? Tell us in the comments below!

Amsterdam scores last place for environment — Rotterdam most unhealthy city in the Netherlands

Heather Slevin
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Amsterdam scores last place for environment — Rotterdam most unhealthy city in the Netherlands

Trying to figure out which Dutch city will help you cultivate that health-focused lifestyle? Well, the results are in — Groningen scores as the healthiest city in all of the Netherlands two years in a row.

25 Dutch cities were surveyed by consultancy and engineering organisation, Arcadis, to discover with was the healthiest city in terms of access to green areas, bicycle friendliness and combating heat stress, reports Het Parool.

And, the winners (and the losers!) have all been laid bare. 👀

Winner winner, chicken dinner

This is the second time in two years that Groningen has placed at the top of this list, a city clearly invested in providing lots of open, green spaces for its residents.

A major issue facing big cities nowadays is the increase in heat stress due to climate change. In order to combat this, cities are advised to have more green spaces and make economic use of building materials, such as avoiding the use of bricks in construction.

However, at the same time, a major housing shortage greets the entirety of the Netherlands, and cities must also build more homes and provide infrastructure for residents. 🤷‍♂️

No points for Amsterdam’s environment

Oh Amsterdam, our beloved Amsterdam, wherefore art thou at the bottom of the list?

Performing worst of all cities in terms of environmental friendliness and outdoor space, Amsterdam ranks at number 18 out of 25.

Despite this, Amsterdam has ranked the highest in terms of mobility. So, though the Dutch capital may not have many places to enjoy the greenery, you can still risk yourself on the cut-throat cycle lanes. 🚴‍♀️😱

In fact, the four major cities (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht) have all made less progress than other cities on the list. This is most likely due to bad air quality (probably because of all those people, and cars).

According to Acardis, many cities had more urgency in pushing for green areas due to people walking more, but now that people are again working from the office, this urgency seems to have disappeared.

The healthiest Dutch cities ranked

So, without further ado, here are the Netherlands’ healthiest (and not-so-healthy) cities!

1Groningen
2Emmen
3Apeldoorn
4Nijmegen
5Maastricht
6Almere
6Haarlemmermeer
6Den Bosch
7Amersfoort
8Haarlem
9Enschede
10Breda
11Arnhem
12Eindhoven
12Leiden
13Leeuwarden
14Utrecht
15Terneuzen
16Zoetermeer
16Zwolle
16The Hague
17Tilburg
18Amsterdam
19Zaanstad
20Rotterdam

Does your city rank on this list? If so, where? Tell us in a comment below! 👇

Orange fever? Traffic jams expected in the Netherlands as Dutch team plays in World Cup

Mihály Droppa
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Orange fever? Traffic jams expected in the Netherlands as Dutch team plays in World Cup

After many criticisms of Qatar’s ongoing human rights violations, the World Cup officially started this weekend, and the Netherlands is ready to watch its national team play.

Heavy traffic jams are expected later this afternoon as the Dutch team will play against Senegal at the World Cup. 

While the interest for this year’s games is significantly smaller than usual, you might notice some extra traffic on the roads, according to RTL Nieuws.

The game starts at 5 PM, in the midst of rush hour, so this will be a “perfect match” for those racing to get home along with everyone else. We can expect the same on Friday, as the Dutch team will play against Ecuador at 5 PM.

On both days, the biggest crowds are expected between 3.30 PM and 4.30 PM.

Less interest 

Only a third of the Dutchies have an interest in the championship this year, which is half as much as 30 years ago, Het Parool writes. This low number can be attributed to the many human rights and corruption criticisms in Qatar.

Dutch_football_supporters
Usually, the Dutchies are quite into their team! Image: Dmitrij Nejmyrok/Wikimedia Commons/CC3.0

Speaking of the biggest Dutch football fans: one out of seven people in the Netherlands who normally watch the games says they will skip it this year. 🤯

Who is watching?

On behalf of the cabinet, Minister Conny Helder (Sport) will be present at the last group match of the Dutch team. It’s still uncertain, but King Willem-Alexander may travel as well. 

Several governments and independent NGOs called to boycott this year’s World Cup. But, most Dutch press will also cover the games because they claim it’s a journalistic duty to report on major events.

The big Dutch media organisations will continue to write about the dark sides of the event in Qatar.

No Orange washing 

Even for those who aren’t big on football, it’s recognisable that companies are making fewer commercials and campaigns this year. The usual “orange fever” probably won’t be as strong as usual. 

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

In Amsterdam, watching the matches outdoors will be a bit more difficult this time around. While fans will probably opt to watch it indoors due to the cold, Amsterdammers don’t have a choice.

Unfortunately, it won’t be possible for those in the Dutch capital to enjoy the game outside at all due to municipality regulations. 

Are you planning to watch the championship this year? Tell us in the comments!

Featured Image: Pixabay & Depositphotos

People dressed as Zwarte Piet attack Amnesty demonstrators in Dutch town

Liana Risseeuw 🇱🇰
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People dressed as Zwarte Piet attack Amnesty demonstrators in Dutch town

“It’s a children’s party”, cried Zwarte Pieten defenders, as Piet cosplayers doused protesters’ cars in fuel and brutally attacked them.

Amnesty International, a human rights organisation, joined forces with Kick Out Zwarte Piet (KOZP) on Saturday to protest against the Sinterklaas entry into Staphorst, in the northeast of the Netherlands.

It was at the entrance to Staphorst that these protesters were attacked by a hostile mob in Pieten cosplay, reports the NOS.

What the Dutch is a Zwarte Piet?

When Sinterklaas visits a city, he is accompanied by Zwarte Pieten, which are usually (white) Dutch people wearing blackface, afro wigs, and over-lined red lips.

READ MORE | Zwarte Piet: the full guide to the Netherlands’ most controversial tradition

These Pieten have become rather controversial in recent years, and some cities (such as Amsterdam) have even gone so far as to cut funding for parades that contain them, citing racism as a big reason why.

Protesters were attacked

Both KOZP and Amnesty International had planned a demonstration in the village of Staphorst, as its Sinterklaas celebrations were still accompanied by Zwarte Pieten.

However, before the protesters could enter the village, they were surrounded by dozens of rioters, some of whom were dressed up as Pieten.

Armed with eggs and fireworks, the rioters and cosplayers initially attempted to drive the protesters away.

B-b-but think of the children!

Cosplayers shouted things like “get out!” and “it’s a children’s party!” as they violently threw eggs and fireworks at protesters, whilst dousing their cars with fuel.

Translation: Let’s leave aside the fact that Zwarte Piet is racist for a moment. Surely this is going way too far, people! If these are your supporters attacking peaceful citizens, it’s time you asked yourself out loud, am I on the right side of history?

Not satisfied with just driving off the anti-Pieten protesters, confused cosplayers also used a tractor to pen a car in, so that the mob could continue the attack for half an hour.

The mayor of Staphorst was finally forced to ban the demonstration out of safety concerns.

A police investigation has been launched

The Overijssel Police published a press release on Saturday, which details that they have launched an investigation into the Staphorst riots.

Both international treaties and Dutch law uphold the right to make peaceful demonstrations, and any hindrances count as an offence.

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

Featured Image: René Cortin/WikimediaCommons/CC4.0

This week in the Netherlands: rain, high temperatures, and… snow?!

Heather Slevin
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This week in the Netherlands: rain, high temperatures, and… snow?!

Didn’t catch a glimpse of Mr. Frost last week? Well, we hope you’re enjoying the cold temperatures, because if you didn’t see snow last weekend, you just might see it this week.

In the North-East of the Netherlands, temperatures are due to be icy and cold, with chances of snow in some areas. In the South, temperatures are set to rise, and, along with the warmer weather, is due a whole bucket-load of more rain, reports NU.nl.

Clattering teeth, lots of blankets, and 3cm of snow

A Code Yellow has been issued for areas in the North-East due to dropping temperatures. In the provinces of Groningen, Flevoland, Overijssel, Friesland, and Drenthe, the warning will be in place until 9 AM today.

While, in Utrecht, there are warnings of thick fog until 12 PM today. And, yesterday, a weather warning was issued due to the chance of snowfall. Parts of the Netherlands in the North and East got up to 3cm of snow. ❄

But, other provinces in the North and East of the Netherlands are due to beat out this snow; areas such as Trente can expect up to 7cm of snowfall during this week — so grab those woolly jumpers and hot cups of Chocomel, because it’s going to be a cold one for those in the northeast. 🥶

Rising temperatures and a whole lot a’ rain

The one thing our dear Netherlands is known for is the endless, sprinkling rain. So while in the South of the Netherlands, the colder air is to be expelled by an incoming, warmer wind from France, bringing temperatures up to 10 degrees Celcius — but you’re going to need that trusty umbrella.

Today, the morning will be sunny and brisk, but showers are due to hit in the afternoon, the rain sticking around like an unwanted guest in the evening.

These showers are due to last all week, and, unlike a guest that has shown up uninvited, there’s no way to kindly suggest that they go back to their own home. 👋

people-walking-in-rain-in-amsterdam
It’s set to be rainy in the Netherlands this week, so gear up with your ponchos and umbrellas. Image: Depositphotos

On Tuesday, temperatures in the South will be between 8 and 11 degrees. On Wednesday, temperatures will rise to a slightly warmer 12 degrees, and the rain will continue. 🌧

If you’re planning on taking a water-logged picnic this week, Thursday may be the best day to do it as the rain is to ease until nighttime, with the temperature rising to an estimated 10 degrees.

And again, on Friday, we’re going to see more showers and temperatures between 10 and 14 degrees during the day.

Has there been snowfall in your province? Tell us in a comment below! 👇

It’s official! Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most festive Christmas cities

Heather Slevin
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It’s official! Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most festive Christmas cities

Grab some pepernoten, draft those letters to Sinterklaas, and pop a bottle of Chocomel because we’re celebrating. Why? Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most festive cities!

Amsterdam, home to what feels like a billion canals and endless rain, has ranked among the top 20 most festive Christmas cities in Europe according to a report by Holidu.

And are we surprised? Nee. 🎅

Christmas markets, hashtags, and google searches

Holidu, a booking portal for holiday rentals, put all the figures together to find out which European city really has the best Christmas vibes.

By gathering data such as the number of Instagram hashtags, Global Search Volume, the number of Christmas markets, as well as how many snow days that city can expect during December, they have compiled an epic list of the 20 best Christmassy cities Europe has to offer.

And, Amsterdam, the embodiment of gezellig — which is perhaps the most Christmassy feeling ever — has ranked at number 18. ❄️

people-ice-skating-outside-the-rijksmuseum
Go ice-skating in Amsterdam to feel those delightful Christmas vibes. Image: Depositphotos

With five jam-packed Christmas markets and three hopeful days of snow, Amsterdam is the city to be for those sparkly fairy lights, festive ice rinks, and steaming cups of hot Chocomel.

Vrolijk kerstfeest! (Merry Christmas!)

Europe’s most festive cities

If you plan on leaving the Netherlands for the festive season, you should at least be aiming for somewhere that offers similar vibes.

The ranking of Europe’s most festive cities has shown us exactly which cities we should add to our holiday getaways. Here are the top five most festive Christmas cities in Europe:

  • 1. Berlin ranked right at the top of this list, with an epic 80 Christmas markets in the city during the festive season. Berlin also has an average eight days of snow during December, so pack those thick winter coats and gloves! 🧤
  • 2. Vienna, the capital of Austria, a country known for its snowy ski slopes, had an average of 5,800 monthly searches about the festive season.
  • 3. Prague, in the Czech Republic, has an expected 10 days of snow in December, making it a brilliant city for bundling up and shopping the markets.
  • 4. Munich landed in at number four on the list, making Germany one of Europe’s most festive countries in Europe.
  • 5. Copenhagen in Denmark ranked at number five. With seven Christmas markets to attend during the season, Copenhagen is another great city for those Christmas vibes.

Germany saw three cities reach the top twenty on the list; Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg. Other major cities were Paris, Milan, and Dublin — the latter lost to Amsterdam by just one.

Where will you be headed for cosy Christmas markets? Tell us in a comment below! 👇

BREAKING: Eight Dutchmen sentenced for murder in Mallorca

Heather Slevin
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BREAKING: Eight Dutchmen sentenced for murder in Mallorca

Eight Dutchmen have been sentenced for the murder of Carlo Heuvelman in Mallorca in July 2021. The harshest sentence handed down was a maximum of seven years in prison.

Sanil B., accused of attempted manslaughter, has been sentenced to serve a seven-year sentence after the court in Lelystad determined him guilty, reports the NOS.

The rest of the suspects have received lighter sentences — and people are not impressed.

What happened?

Carlo Heuvelman was murdered by a group of nine Dutchmen in the summer of 2021. The gang of young men was rioting for hours before the attack, which ultimately led to Heavelman’s untimely death.

Now, eight of the nine suspects have been sentenced to serve prison terms, with one suspect being acquitted of all charges.

People are not impressed

Translation: Carlo Heuvelman only enjoyed 27 years of his life before he was kicked to death during his vacation. In 7 years, Sanil B. will also be 27 and free to enjoy the rest of his life. Where is the justice in that?

Sanil B., was accused of kicking Heavelman in the head and causing his death after Heavelman’s DNA was found on his shoes.

Other suspects, such as Hein B. and Mees T, will serve 30-month terms after being accused of unnecessary violence.

So, what was the verdict?

  • Sanil B: 7 years imprisonment
  • Hein B: 30 months imprisonment
  • Mees T: 30 months imprisonment
  • Daan S: 30 months in prison, 6 of which are suspended, alongside probation and TBS
  • Kaan B: 30 months imprisonment
  • Lukas U: 18 months imprisonment
  • Stan F: 12 months imprisonment
  • Lars H: 150 hours of community service and a suspended prison sentence of 2 months

Lower terms than originally demanded

Sanil B., Hein B., and Mees T., all seem to have gotten off lucky. In October this year, the Dutch Public Prosecution Service (OM), had demanded the men serve much longer terms.

Sanil B. was subject to serving a ten-year-long prison term, while the other two main suspects were to serve up to eight years in prison.

However, because the court could not prove that they were directly responsible for Heavelman’s death, they will serve much shorter terms.

As for the other suspects, they have all been handed down heavier punishments than were originally demanded.

Follow DutchReview on Facebook for the latest news and updates.

These Dutch train stations will soon Tikkie you money when you hand in bottles

Gaelle Salem
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These Dutch train stations will soon Tikkie you money when you hand in bottles

It’s time to wave goodbye to awkward receipts. Soon, you’ll be able to deposit your bottles at five of the largest NS stations in the country, and get paid back via Tikkie! 

Before the end of the year, five of the largest NS stations will offer bottle deposit machines, namely Utrecht, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Eindhoven.

Rather than giving you receipts to collect your cash like in supermarkets, you’ll receive the amount directly onto your account by using Tikkie. If you prefer, you can also donate the money to The Plastic Soup Foundation.

A what??

Tikkie is an online system that allows you to send people payment requests via WhatsApp. If someone owes you money, you enter the amount into the Tikkie app and share it with your debtor.

Translation: In Dutch, we don’t say ‘you are a really good friend’, but ‘I’ll send you a Tikkie for that stroopwafel we shared’, and I think that’s really beautiful.

A bit of monetary motivation

Before the bottle deposit machines were introduced, tens of millions of bottles wound-up in the trash at train stations every year. 

Many people often buy bottled beverages at train stations and end up throwing them away rather than depositing them for cash because it’s just more convenient that way — especially if you’re running for the train.

READ MORE | Dutch Quirk #7: Send a Tikkie for virtually nothing

“There is a €0.15 deposit on every small bottle, yet people still throw them away easily. It is a hassle to take it with you on a trip and eventually hand it in at the supermarket or another point of sale”, a spokesperson for NS tells NU.nl.

READ MORE | Tikkie etiquette: the do’s and don’ts of asking for money in the Netherlands

Hence this new initiative! In time, the idea is to have collection points for both bottles and cans at 50 train stations across the Netherlands.

What do you think about NS stations using Tikkie? Tell us in the comments below! 👇

Not to brag but the Dutch just ranked as the best non-native English speakers (yet again!)

Liana Risseeuw 🇱🇰
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Not to brag but the Dutch just ranked as the best non-native English speakers (yet again!)

If you thought Dutchies’ superpower was riding bikes like absolute pros… just wait until you hear them speaking English!

The Dutch have once again rocketed to the very top of the EF English Proficiency Index, with the highest English proficiency rates out of the whopping 111 countries tested. 🚀

Amsterdam is the city with the best non-native English skills (again!)

Beating English-speaking heavyweights Copenhagen (#2) and Stockholm (#3), Amsterdam has nabbed the crown as the best non-native English-speaking city. 👑

And this isn’t the first time the city has bested the rest, oh nee!

READ MORE | Why are the Dutch so good at speaking English?

The EF uses a points system to rank countries from “Very High Proficiency” to “Very Low Proficiency”, with data collected from 2.1 million people in 111 countries.

Amsterdam, at 673 points, actually ranks a whole 10 points higher than last year, where the city also dominated the list.

What other countries have serious English skills?

Although DutchReview is thrilled that the Netherlands is once again ruling the charts, it’s interesting to see what other countries have shot to the top.

So, without further ado — let’s get to the results!

EF EPI 2022 rankings:

1Netherlands
2Singapore
3Austria
4Norway
5Denmark
6Belgium
7Sweden
8Finland
9Portugal
10Germany
11Croatia
12South Africa
13Poland

Where did your country rank on the list? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

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