Chaos is once again a synonym for Schiphol here in the Netherlands, as wages go back to normal after the unusually busy summer season.
For a few months, exhausted airport employees have been granted some extra cash, to keep Schiphol from breaking down completely — €5.25 extra per hour, to be exact.
Translation: “What does the responsible minister do when the situation at Schiphol gets completely out of hand?”“Minister Harbers visits cycling day: ‘Important that the elderly are helped with tips’.”
Flights cancelled
That Schiphol staff, and security personnel, in particular, are jumping ship means more chaos at the busiest Dutch airport.
The summer rush seems to linger, and there are simply not enough people (willing to be) working in order to make sure all passengers leave the ground safely, and on time.
"Staffing levels at security today are lower than what Schiphol had requested of the security companies." A weak and sad excuse for incompetent Schiphol management.
Yesterday between 4 PM and 11 PM, Schiphol ordered multiple airlines to cancel their flights on short notice.
Transavia airlines were among the companies highly annoyed about the airport’s handling of the situation, as they had to cancel flights for passengers with only a few hours’ notice.
Not all airlines followed Schiphol’s request, however, and many flights still left the ground last night. This led to long lines, and chaos reminding us of those sweet summer months.
New day, new Schiphol?
After a disastrous day yesterday, with up to 10,000 travellers affected, RTL Nieuws reports that today should be better. They do not go into detail on how exactly the situation has improved since yesterday, however.
After an eternity of commuting chaos in the Netherlands, the NS and trade unions have finally agreed to increase staff wages by 9.5% in 18 months. As a result, all train strikes have officially been cancelled. Hoera! 🥳
In addition to the wage hike, NS staff will also be getting an extra payment of €1,000 in December 2022 and July 2023.
They’ll also no longer have to be reachable outside working hours and can have two guaranteed vacation days from 2023.
In the future, the labour agreement plans to tackle the high workload experienced by the staff by limiting night and weekend shifts.
A negotiation result has been reached for a new collective agreement for the period from July 2022 to January 2024. With the achievement of this result, the unions have let it be known that the strikes announced for next Tuesday and Thursday will be suspended. ^MD
The president-director of the NS, Bert Groenewegen, expressed his enthusiasm about the agreement, stating that such a proposal would help with the rising living costs.
However, the agreement is only the first stepping stone to greener pastures for NS staff. It does not account for work pressure, job satisfaction, and staff shortages.
Members of the trade unions all chimed in on the topic, stating that, for now, they’re satisfied with the consensus as it creates a better work-life balance for the NS staff.
“We cannot solve everything in the collective labour agreement, and we cannot immediately magically remove the staff shortage, but it is good that we have now made a number of agreements”, Jerry Piqué of the CNV trade union tells the NOS.
“In our opinion, there is not much more that can be done. The NS had to come from far; the negotiations were tough. We are happy with it because we do not strike for pleasure. And it is also great for travellers that the strikes are now over”, Henri Janssen of the FNV trade union tells the NOS.
Lengthy train strikes finally paid off
Strikes were still planned on Tuesday and Thursday for the coming week, but with this agreement, we can officially say sayonara to biking (or hiking) to work and school.
According to the NS, they’re still not sure how the labour agreement will affect train ticket prices.
“We will look at that later this year. There is one moment when we can increase the prices: that is January 1, and that is subject to rules. Moreover, the unions still have to present the result to their members”, the NS tells the NOS.
What do you think about the labour agreement for the NS staff? Tell us in the comments below! 👇
After a nice and sunny, albeit only 20-degree, day in most parts of the country, Wednesday will bring a cold front.
First autumn weekend
Everyone knows the weekend starts on Friday, but this week, Thursday jumps the gun and joins in on the weekend weather too.
After about 18 degrees on Thursday, we step down to the 16-degree mark from Friday onwards. A rather strong wind from the great sea is also to be expected, although RTL Nieuws reports that a real autumn storm is not yet on the agenda.
The weekend will also get sprinkled with some showers, true Dutch style, but the sun won’t leave us completely just yet.
In other words: get out a cosy sweater and your favourite infinity scarf, brew some delicious pumpkin-spiced latte, and start gathering inspo for your Halloween costume. Autumn seems to (finally) be upon us.
Are you ready to say doei to summer, or do you wish it would stay around for a bit longer? Tell us in the comments below!
The UK’s Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8, 2022. The Dutch Royal Family gave their condolences to her family and the British Nation.
Queen Elizabeth II was put under medical supervision due to health concerns during the afternoon of September 8. Her family rushed to be by her side at Balmoral Castle, where she stayed during the summer months. She also recently received new British Prime Minister Liz Truss on September 6.
After celebrating 70 years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth was the longest-reigning monarch in Britain’s history. In light of her passing, the Dutch Royal Family reflect on her life and offer condolences to her family members.
“We commemorate Queen Elizabeth II with deep respect and great affection,” says King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima, and Princess Beatrix, the NU reports.
“Tough and wise, she put her long life at the service of the British people. We feel strongly connected to the United Kingdom and the Royal Family and share in their grief.”
Queen Elizabeth visits Rotterdam. Image: Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons
Her family grieves
King Charles, formally Prince Charles, also shared his grief. As the son of Queen Elizabeth, not only is he losing a monarch core to the history of Britain, he is losing his mother. “This is one of the saddest moments that I and my family have experienced. We mourn our beloved queen and mother,” he says in a post on Twitter.
Across the world, people from all nations have expressed sadness over the Queen’s death. Even here in the Netherlands, people have offered well-wishes to the people of the British nation.
Leaders of State reflect
Prime Minister Mark Rutte reflected on the Queen and her demeanour. He says, “However high the waves of history may have been, Queen Elizabeth combined a sense of duty and steadfastness with lightness and humour. She impressed everyone who met her with the characterful interpretation of her difficult task.”
The newly-appointed British Prime Minister, Liz Truss, also reflected on the queen’s death. “We have all been upended by the death of Queen Elizabeth. Our country has grown and blossomed under her. She was the rock on which the modern United Kingdom was built,” says Truss in a televised speech on Thursday evening.
Well, folks — it looks like it’s time to book a cab.
Keeping the promise they made on Wednesday, the NS now reports that no trains are set to run through most of the country.
The little engine that couldn’t
The railway operator pledged to cancel all trains if the regional trade union strikes continued.
The strikes are set to affect a large region where employees and trains would travel through. And, as the regional strikes went ahead as planned, the NS decided to cancel most trains set to run today.
Don’t cancel that flight just yet!
To keep Schiphol running, trains will still run the Utrecht Centraal-Amsterdam Zuid-Schiphol Airport route.
Tomorrow, 9 September, there will be limited to no trains to and from Schiphol due to a NS (Dutch railways) strike. Schiphol will be accessible via the Utrecht Central – Amsterdam South – Schiphol Airport route. Check https://t.co/OXsqyKlqOm for more information. pic.twitter.com/aOoFTDkToL
Trains will run four times an hour in both directions — up until 8 PM. After 8 PM, there’ll be two trains an hour, and only one train after midnight.
Offer not accepted
The NS was in talks with trade unions yesterday about negotiating higher pay for employees, but no agreement has been reached, as of today.
Talking to NOS, the executive of trade union FNV, Henri Janssen, pointed out that there was a large discrepancy between the NS’ proposal and trade union demands.
A glimmer of hope?
Wage discussions are set to continue into the weekend, and there is hope that an agreement may be made.
This would come as welcome news to everyone affected, especially if the strikes set for Tuesday and Thursday next week move forward
So, what are your thoughts on the latest setback the NS has in store for us? Tell us in the comments below!
The cabinet has presented a new action plan to solve (at least a part of) the housing crisis. How? They plan to build 60,000 additional affordable homes for students to live in while studying in the Netherlands.
The National Student Housing Action Plan is the knight in shining armour in this case.
The plan cooperates with existing housing associations and educational institutions, and according to NOS, it will even include input from private investors and students to solve the problem.
It may sound a bit unreal for now, but we would certainly love to see it!
So, what will this plan look like?
The goal is to execute the plan over the next eight years — so it’s not going to solve the whole problem by tomorrow (obviously).
The cabinet will take a number of steps to achieve this.
Firstly, they are hoping to build 37,500 more flex homes between 2022 and 2024. Secondly, they plan to invest €37 million in an incentive scheme for housing for special groups — under which student housing is also covered.
In a press release by the government, Minister De Jonge for Housing and Spatial Planning also commented on the action plan:
“Every student should be given the opportunity to move into a room. It is a special moment to leave the parental home and step towards independence,” he says.
“To be able to make this choice, sufficient student housing is needed. That is why we are joining forces with various parties to offer 60,000 extra affordable student housing over the next eight years.”
There have been many demonstrations because of the housing crisis in the Netherlands. Image: Depositphotos
A growing problem
Student Housing has become a big problem in the Netherlands in recent years.
It affects both Dutch students, who are trying to move out from their parents when they go to university, and international students trying to move to the Netherlands.
The issue is partly caused by Dutch tuition fees. EU students enjoy the same tuition fee rates as the local students, which means that for many of them, it is far cheaper to study here.
Let’s not forget that good ol’ Brexit has also had a considerable impact; many internationals who were planning to study in the UK are now coming to the Netherlands instead.
Fewer internationals
Another solution to the problem would be if there would be simply fewer international students in the country — and some institutions are thinking this way.
This morning, the NRC even called for the government to block international students from coming to the Netherlands.
While the proposed plan may not solve the entire housing crisis, it’s definitely an improvement if students don’t need to sleep in garages or in those cosy tents in the park.
The Cabinet and the parties hope these steps will help the problem faced by agrowing number of international students in the Netherlands. Who knows? Maybe, in the end, students won’t need to write their first essays for uni under a bridge. It would be remarkable indeed!
What do you think about the new action plan? Let us know in the comments!
Buying a house will now cost you 14.5% more than it did last year, and nearly DOUBLE the prices of nine years ago.
Nope, that’s not a typo. 😭
According to research compiled by CBS, the Central Bureau of Statistics, existing owner-occupied houses are now 99% more expensive than they were in 2013. Wat vreselijk! 😱
Building castles in the air
Since the lull in prices of July 2013, costs of existing houses have been on a steady upward trek — with January of this year ringing in a 21.1% increase.
Aspiring homeowners will definitely need to put the brakes on those “New Year, New Home” goals.
This is alarming news for Dutchies that already have to contend with record high inflation, and a loss of purchasing power due to slowly-rising wages being unable to match the skyrocketing inflation rate.
A house is not a home
The Land Registry recorded 22.2% fewer residential purchases in the first seven months of 2022 than in the same period of the previous year. 🧐
And this July alone, only 16,417 residential purchases were made — nearly 14% fewer than in July 2021.
The hesitancy to pull the trigger on a house is understandable, but given the rising prices of rent (hello, paying €700 for a cardboard box, anyone?), wallet-friendly housing options may be off the market for the foreseeable future.
What are your opinions on the current Dutch housing market? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
Scared of spiders? Be careful, the Netherlands has yet another breed to be wary of (and no, we’re not talking about seniors on e-bikes.)
If you’re looking for some more bad news to distract from the other bad news (housing crisis, inflation, war), well, buckle up.
The number of venomous false wolf spiders, otherwise known as zoropsidae, has increased tenfold in the last five years, reports the NOS.
Venom, wolf, and spider — a great combination
These spiders, often confused with the wolf spider, are venomous creatures, and, while not outwardly aggressive, have the capability to attack in self-defence.
Meaning that you definitely shouldn’t do anything to spook these critters — such as innocently minding your own business in close proximity to them.
Jaws? Spiders have jaws??
False wolf spiders have strong jaws and are able to pierce the skin with their teeth, injecting venom into the blood.
This bite, while painful, is not much different to the sting of a wasp or bee, but can be dangerous to those who are allergic.
Spider expert Andrea Dekkers explains to AD, “It can be severe if you are allergic, but for most people, a bite is not dangerous.”
Keep your hands and feet away — a rolled-up magazine is about to become your new best friend.
Wolf Spiders versus False Wolf Spiders
Our fuzzy little foe is actually playing dress-up. False wolf spiders can be easily misidentified as wolf spiders. The wolf spider is larger than the zoropsidae, and they are almost never found near homes.
However, it can be intimidating not to be able to note the difference, especially when you’ve just found a creepy-crawly hiding under your lovely bed.
The wolf spider lives in burrows in the ground, whereas the false wolf spider lives in its own webs, and, unfortunately, that means you can find the brown fellows in the corner of your house.
Spotted a web? We all have! It’s just a question of who it belongs to. Image: Unsplash
Another major difference to note is the difference in eyes — wolf spiders have eight eyes, which include four small eyes lower down on the face, two large eyes above looking forward and two large eyes looking upward.
Meanwhile, the false wolf spider has eight equally sized eyes in two rows — excuse us while we shiver.
While it’s good to know the difference, we wish you good luck and courage if you get close enough to tell!
Why the increase?
Sadly, it looks like the false wolf spider is here to stay. Due to rising temperatures, the spiders have made their way from their native Mediterranean areas, finding homes in countries they might not have normally resided.
As temperatures continue to rise, we will see more and more of our eight-legged enemies, ah-hem, friends, over the next few years.
Now’s the time to invest in a bucket-load of bug repellent, and maybe send a thought of well-wishes out to our poor arachnophobic friends.
Have you ever seen a false wolf spider? Leave a comment and tell us about it!
Just as promised — the NS announced that no trains in the Netherlands will run on Friday.
The railway company announced they would cancel all trains if regional strikes continued, and they followed through.
While the strike was initially going to affect the Randstad region (except Utrecht), trains will be at a standstill starting Friday, September 9.
Regional strike plans
The staff unions already confirmed their regional strikes on Tuesday, September 13 (North, South and East regions) and Thursday, September 15 (Central region) would have a “major impact on NS train traffic throughout the country”.
“The actions are regional, but the action area is now larger, and our trains and colleagues run throughout the Netherlands,” says the NS to RTL Nieuws.
Camping with kids might sound like a hectic vacation — but it’s not nearly as chaotic as flying out of a Dutch airport. Camping vacations are becoming increasingly desirable for travellers from the Netherlands. and they’re more kid-friendly than you’d think!
Especially camping in France, which is THE classic holiday for a typical Dutch family — and, yes, there are plenty of ways to accommodate the kids.
Whether you’re munching on baguettes in France or shoving schnitzels in Austria, this is the ultimate holiday guide to going camping with kids.
Why you should go camping with kids
Camping with kids doesn’t have to be all about roughing it up in the middle of nowhere with screaming babies (or partners) and no time for rest and relaxation.
There are a few reasons you might want to consider camping as your next family holiday.
Expensive plane tickets and disorganised airports seem like everything but chill, and it can be hard to fly your whole family out of the Netherlands during the summer months.
Not referring to any airport particular. Nope. Not at all. Image: Depositphotos
When you consider these setbacks, driving to a nearby country like France seems like a no-brainer.
By choosing to roll up the sleeping mats, grab the tent poles, and hop in the car, you get so much more flexibility in planning your trip to and from your destination. Just think of all the places you could stop in between (when the kiddies need to plassen).
Not to mention:
You can take your beloved pet and as many people in your car as you’d like. If you have a camper in the Netherlands, you might even be eligible for tax deductions!
There are no luggage weight or piece limits
And the flexibility doesn’t just end with the journey there and back — you can tailor your camping accommodation wherever you choose to go.
Want to have a pitch in the countryside for three people? Or a rental unit next to the ocean for a family of eight? Easily done!
Doesn’t this cottage seem like the perfect family getaway this summer? Image: Depositphotos
You can even choose to have access to spa & wellness facilities and virtually any place to swim, whether it’s a pool, a river, or the sea.
Most campsites nowadays have special activities for kids of all ages, ranging from creative workshops and crafts to sports and nature exploration. It’s a great way to keep children busy at camp while you get a chance to relax.
Picking a destination for camping with kids
Europe is easy to get around — by car, train, or even bicycle. But choosing a holiday destination can be stressful, especially if you’re thinking about going camping with kids.
There are a few prime countries to pitch your tent, but France is a firm favourite for camping Dutchies.
Camping in France is the essential Dutch holiday. Image: Depositphotos
Why? (Or shall we say, pourquoi?) France is far enough from the Netherlands that you actually get warm and sunny weather in the summertime, but it’s also near enough to drive in a day or two, depending on where you want to camp in the country.
And when travelling with children, this can save you a lot of stress, stops, and strops.
It feels both adventurous and convenient, making it a great place to camp, especially if you haven’t gone before.
Where family memories will be made for a lifetime! Image: Depositphotos
The next step is picking exactly where you want to go and what kind of campsite you want to stay at. There are a few things you should keep in mind:
How many people you’re going to travel with
Whether you want to stay in a rental unit (like a cottage) or a pitch (as in tents and RVs)
What kind of facilities you want at your campsite, e.g. a pool, spa & wellness centres, playgrounds etc.
What surroundings you want to have, e.g. ocean, seaside, countryside, near a city or town, etc.
It can be a lot to think about when you’re planning a family vacation with the kids. Here are our recommendations for a few different camping getaways.
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: for introducing your kids to nature
Picture this: beautiful caves, quaint villages, scenic waters — a truly relaxing break. Camping on the banks of the Ardèche river awaits you, with vast expanses of nature all around.
You can’t find views like this anywhere else! Image: Depositphotos
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is the perfect destination if you want to introduce your kids to nature.
You can enjoy a day at the spa, paddle along the Ardéche river, or visit the historical city of Annecy and its charming lake. Lakeside and riverside camping is the perfect plan for nature lovers — it’ll be a slice of paradise that your little ones are sure to enjoy.
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur: bring the kids to the coastline
Combine a beach vacation with an exciting camping trip to Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur!
You can enjoy some time camping with kids next to the beautiful, blue coast of the Mediterranean or spend a day rummaging around nature and visiting the hidden creeks.
If the kids are winding up, you can always tire them out by taking advantage of the waterpark as well as plenty of water sports.
There’s plenty of fun to be had at a cool waterpark! Image: Depositphotos
If you want a change of scenery, look no further! You’ll only be a few kilometres away from Saint-Aygulf, on the banks of the Mediterranean in the heart of the French Riviera.
Centre-Val De Loire: chateaus and a fairytale feel for the kids
Experience beautiful French châteaus and five-star camping amongst fairytale-like landscapes. It makes you feel as though you’re in a castle of your own — and those little princes and princesses are sure to love it.
You could also visit the Château de Chambord, the largest château in the Loire Valley, famous, known for its beautiful Renaissance architecture!
Even the little ones will find something to enjoy about these gorgeous châteaux! Image: Depositphotos
The kids would definitely love a camping holiday in Centre-Val De Loire. You can enjoy bike rides through the countryside, visit nearby monuments, or simply indulge in the royal treatment at a comfy campsite.
Tips for camping with kids
So you’ve finally settled on a location with your family, and you’re planning the upcoming trip — now, how do you manage children when you go camping?
Luckily, you’re not the first family to go camping with children. Plenty of people have tried and tested ways to go camping with kids, and this is the wisdom they have to offer.
Don’t overpack — but come prepared
Campers often bring too many of the same types of clothes but don’t pack for the right types of weather. We suggest the opposite.
Instead of packing multiple bathing suits, shorts and t-shirts, bring as little as possible. Then pack for cold, windy, and rainy weather as well.
You can be ready for everything without packing a mountain-load of luggage! Image: Depositphotos
Evenings can be chilly, and sometimes you might be unlucky with the weather. But you can always reuse clothes, and some campsites have facilities to wash them.
Leave the devices at home
Tablets, laptops, and smartphones should be left at home, or at least kept away during your camping trip.
You can immerse yourselves in the radio silence when camping with kids and really get them to appreciate nature and the outdoors.
Plan some family activities beforehand
Research what kind of activities the campsite has for families. Perhaps it’s water sports, hiking, tennis, or another nature activity.
Camping with the kids often involves planning ahead — but it’s worth it! Image: Depositphotos
This is a great way to get your kids involved in planning your vacation. You know exactly what your kids want to do, and you get a chance to spend some quality time together. Sounds like a win-win!
Don’t forget to schedule some time for yourself
In the same way, see what activities your kids can do by themselves to give yourself (and your partner) some time to relax.
It’s important to rest yourself during family vacations, and plenty of campsites have the facilities for just that.
Book a sauna session or a spa day and let kids enjoy an activity by themselves!
Get a chance to relax a little bit during your camping holiday. Image: Depositphotos
Teach your children camping etiquette
Before we finish up, there’s one very important aspect of camping with kids that we have to touch on: camping etiquette.
Being on a campsite means you share a lot of space with other people. It’ll be a great opportunity to teach your kids how to be considerate of people’s space and privacy during a camping trip.
For example, reminding kids to be respectful in common areas and of other people’s privacy, being appreciative of nature, etc.
Etiquette like this is also easily carried over to other parts of life, meaning it’s definitely a worthwhile lesson — and you’ll be spared some sneers from fellow campers.
Read this guide back to front and side to side? Then congrats! You’re ready to go camping with kids, now let’s just hope the kids are ready to go camping with you.
Do you have any tips for camping with kids? Tell us in the comments below!
