The Dutch story of Shrek is coming alive in front of our eyes: the furry, albeit, scary wolf is trying to build a friendship with the Dutchies — and they’re reaching for some interesting weapons.
Wolves in Gelderland are ready to take their relationship with humankind to the next level — but it looks like we are not there yet.
And how do the Dutch plan on communicating this to Mr Wolf? A paintball gunfight!
The goal is simple: make the wolf hate us enough to never come closer again than 30 metres, the NOS reports.
Too close to home
A tame wolf was recently seen next to a family in the Hoge Veluwe, and the internet went crazy.
We all know that after we put a fence around a forest and call it a National park, it belongs to humans, so it is time to inform the wolf about this as well.
The Dutch Shrek with the family. Image: Depositphotos
The decision to have a one-sided paintball fight was made last week:
“We are dealing with a wolf who is too tame. So we have to scare him off,” a spokesperson tells Omroep Gelderland. (The paintballs sound ideal for that, indeed! 🙃)
Not everyone is into paint guns
Park director Van Voorst tot Voorst of De Hoge Veluwe National Park is not so happy with the idea, he would rather just see the tame wolves captured or killed.
“They want to scare the animals, so they don’t attack people. It’s a fake solution [so they don’t have to say]: shoot the wolf,” says Van Voorst tot Voorst.
The Faunabescherming claims the park management has willfully caused wolves to get tame, which would also explain why the park management would prefer capturing or shooting the wolves (and not with paint): the park management would just want to get rid of the wolves.
Creating tame wolves would be the first step leading to capturing or killing. The park management has denied these allegations.
The National Park says they have zero interest in tame wolves — but we have to admit, paintballs sound a bit nicer than the alternative.
What do you think of this method? Tell us in the comments!
As of yesterday, Wouter Koolmees was appointed as the NS’s new bossman — and (get this), he wants to kick off his days on the job doing the work of a train conductor! 🚂
Koolmees, who was previously Minister of Social Affairs, will remain CEO of the Dutch railway company for the next four years.
In an effort to learn, first-hand, what his struggling employees experience on a daily basis, he’ll receive schooling to be a train conductor, writes RTL Nieuws.
Wouter Koolmees D66 is nog niet eens officieel begonnen bij de NS of de treinen komen massaal stil te staan. Net zo als bij Schiphol wordt dit door ons kabinet bewust gecreëerd. Chaos, chaos en nog eens chaos is wat D66 creëert in opdracht van het WEF En dit is nog maar het begin
Translation: Wouter Koolmees D66 has not even officially started at the NS when the trains come to a standstill en masse. Just like at Schiphol, this is consciously created by our cabinet. Chaos, chaos, and more chaos are what D66 creates on behalf of the WEF, and this is just the beginning.
Koolmees might’ve won the title as the NS’s new CEO, but not every customer is happy about it.
NS employees don’t feel heard
In light of the many (and we mean MANY) problems that the NS has been facing lately, the company uses fewer and shorter trains.
As a result, people in the Netherlands are boarding more jam-packed intercities and sprinters, with little room to sit and stand.
One particular cause of this is the fact that NS employees feel as though they’re not being listened to, ergo coming to a solution for the train crisis grows more difficult.
Luckily, the new CEO plans to tackle this issue. “That is a serious signal, which I have to work with”, Koolmees told Op1 last night.
A step towards a solution to train failures
NS announced that they plan to deploy office workers on trains as assistant conductors, and in the evenings, bring in private security guards to ease the work of the conductors.
By doing so, they hope to prevent more train failures.
In addition, the NS recently made more train cutbacks on 22 intercity and 20 sprinter routes across the lowlands.
Alas, woners will continue to face restricted train timetables, as the NS plans to start operating even fewer trains on a number of routes from next week onwards.
What do you think about NS’s new CEO starting as a train conductor? Tell us in the comments below! 👇
So, you’re planning on renting a property in the Netherlands and using a Dutch rental agency? First things first, welcome to the Netherlands! Also, welcome to the wonderful world of renting.
In order to make sure you’re on the right track, we have compiled a list of things you need to know when using a Dutch rental agency so that you don’t get caught out by any of those scams out there!
Before we start, finding a place to rent in the Netherlands is hard work. The country, in general, has a shortage of houses, especially concentrated in the bigger cities, so sometimes, the minute you find a place to rent, it has gone before you’ve refreshed your webpage.
It’s important to be on the ball and ready for a lot of disappointments along the way. However, it’s good to know that the rights of tenants are taken seriously in the Netherlands.
It’s hard for the landlord to even get rid of a tenant without getting the courts involved (not so good for the landlords, though 😬).
Rest assured that you’re safe, as long as you remember these seven things to know when renting a property in the Netherlands and using a Dutch rental agency. Let’s get started…
What can I expect when I rent in the Netherlands?
How does it work? What is the etiquette, what do you need? Say no more.
What can you expect when renting an apartment in the Netherlands? Image: Pexels
Rental cost and property type
When renting a property in the Netherlands, rent costs vary substantially throughout the Netherlands. You could be paying as little as €200, or over €5500 per month.
As usual, the centre of big cities is often the most expensive and the outskirts or other small cities tend to be cheaper. So, be prepared to pay if you want to live that city lifestyle!
Many places are self-contained flats and are usually unfurnished. If it’s listed as “bald” or “shell”, this means that even flooring and light fittings are not included. Please make sure to check this before you decide to rent somewhere, or else it’s going to be costly.
Also, note that most places won’t let you rent unless you earn a certain amount, and some even require that your employer is the guarantor.
You’ll almost always need a valid ID, like a passport, employment contract or study proof, residency details, and your BSN. So there are no secrets about your personal and financial life here.
Duration of a rental property in the Netherlands
You’ll find that most rental properties in the Netherlands are a minimum of 12 months. It’s possible to find a place with a shorter contract, although this is usually by sub-letting someone else’s property.
This is rare, though, so be prepared to sign for 12 months. Make sure you can do this and can afford it! If you’re after much shorter tenancies, prepare to pay more and take more risks.
It’s important to know that in Amsterdam, unless you have a special license, it’s illegal to rent somewhere for less than six months. Please be aware of this if you’re trying to find somewhere to live in the Dutch capital.
Note: If you find a property and decide you want to leave, make sure you give your landlord one month’s notice. You can ask for a “break clause” to shorten this in instances such as losing your job. Even after the 12-month period, if you don’t let the landlord know that you are moving out within this period, the contract could be renewed automatically.
What are the normal rental agency fees in the Netherlands?
Whether you agree or not, Dutch rental agency fees are normally a bit of a con. They aren’t 100% legal or illegal, though, unless it’s a sleutelgeld — we’ll get onto that in a minute. Agency fees can range from under €50 (rare) to hundreds of euros.
A lot of fees are taken in the form of one month’s rent or more. The truth is, the agency fee is a bit of a grey area. There have been a record number of people trying to claim the fee back, especially if you found the property yourself, most contact has been via the landlord, and the agency hasn’t really done much.
Hiring an agent to find a place to rent can be costly, but it can also be worth it! Image: Depositphotos
Basically… don’t pay more than a month’s rent, and even then, that is extortionately high. I paid a few hundred for €710 rent. If you have any doubts that the fee is unfair, please take it to a tribunal. Remember, you have many rights, don’t let them fob you off!
What is in my rental contract?
Of course, rental contracts vary, but at the very least, your contract should contain this basic information:
Your name
The address of the property
The landlord or estate agent’s details
The rental cost (per month, per quarter or per year)
The duration of your rent
The notice period
Any service cost or utility costs, if applicable. If you are paying for your utilities, by law, the landlord has to show you how much you have used to see if you are due for reimbursement or owe the landlord money, once a year at least.
Note: Your contract for renting something in the Netherlands should easily be available in English.
The deposit
Your contract will also usually detail the deposit you should pay. The deposit is normally one month’s rent upfront. This is used to protect the landlord if you trash the place or don’t pay your rent.
Make sure you take photos of any damages that were present before you arrived, so you don’t get wrongly charged for them. Your deposit should never be paid in cash and never consist of more than three months’ rent.
Rules and regulations for renting in the Netherlands
Before you sign any contract, you should be aware of the rules and regulations in place to protect you when renting a property in the Netherlands.
Technically, to have a verbal tenancy agreement in the Netherlands is completely legitimate. However, that’s definitely not advisable due to the difficulties in proving the tenancy agreements between you and the landlord. Take a witness or better still, have a written contract instead.
Make sure to thoroughly read the rental contract as many details can often be overlooked. Image: Depositphotos
Make sure that you try and get a written contract with both your and your landlord’s signature on it. With your contract, you should have another estate agent guide, telling you all you need to know about the property and rules and regulations.
Please make sure you read them! It may say “no pets”, and then you don’t realise and get a pet, you could be in trouble and forced to pay a fee to deep clean the property afterwards.
It’s also worth messaging the landlord if you want something. For example, my tenancy says I can’t have pets, and I can’t decorate the walls. I kindly asked my landlord after a year of being a good tenant, and he agreed that I could.
So although they are rules, if you ask nicely, they can be amended. (Make sure you keep the proof of agreement after, though!)
What’s a key fee, aka sleutelgeld?
In order not to be totally ripped off by your landlord, there are regulations in place to protect you. Your landlord can not charge you for something if you are not getting anything in return for paying it. It’s illegal if they do.
You should never have to pay for access to your rented place. Image: Pixabay
One such illegal fee that they may charge is a fee to receive your keys or access to your property. This is called a sleutelgeld. It basically gives you nothing and is a con.
If you get charged a fee for something, and you aren’t getting a service for it (e.g. estate agent fee), then don’t pay it!
What’s a rent ceiling?
The Netherlands has regulations to limit changes in the price of rent if it’s not “liberalised”. This means that it is subject to a “ceiling” price. Meaning, that if a place is liberalised, you are able to make negotiations with your landlord because it’s private.
With public housing, this is different. This has a ceiling price and matches the quality of the housing. You can find out the maximum rent for your house through the Dutch government’s website. However, it’s only available in Dutch (hello, google translate 💁).
How can I spot a fraudulent rental?
Sadly, in the real world, this does happen when renting a property in the Netherlands. The safest bet is to stick to actual official agencies. If you do decide to find your housing outside of an agency (a route many take), watch out for these signs:
They are “out of the country”, so cannot meet, but you must still pay them either a fee or deposit upfront
You can’t register at the address you want to rent
They want you to pay all of your deposit in cash
They won’t show you the property you are willing to rent in person (they’ll only show pictures)
Generally making excuses for things, being indecisive about the contract and not being willing to meet
I nearly got caught out (Kamernet experience)
I personally nearly got caught out on a site calledKamernet, which is where you can advertise that you’re looking for an apartment/room, and then the owners can get in touch with you.
I’m not wanting to drag their name through the mud because they did resolve my query about a fraudulent landlord, but just be wary that some fraudulent rentals can slip through the net, even on a good site.
Make sure to be vigilant when looking for a rental property in the Netherlands. Image: Pexels
I had placed an advert saying I wanted an apartment in Rotterdam, and then randomly, one evening, I had an email from someone saying that he had an apartment for rent which was a decent price.
He apparently didn’t live in the Netherlands, and couldn’t sort the contract at first, so he suggested that we can rent it for the first two months on Airbnb until he was back.
I had read online about a similar scam, so when I was in the area, I rang the doorbell of the flat. There was a woman living there, who told me that it was not up for rent and that she had loads of people asking about it.
So we nearly lost out on two months’ rent with nothing to show for it. I reported the landlord, and they removed it from the site as soon as possible. So be careful, folks!
How do I resolve disputes about renting in the Netherlands?
Have you got a complaint, and nothing has been done? I’m sorry it has come to that. Firstly, you need to bring it up with your landlord/Dutch rental agency.
If that doesn’t work, you can file a dispute, and they can be brought before the Huurcommissie (Rent Tribunal).
Costs for this are only €25 for a person wanting to take them to the tribunal and significantly more for a company. The Huurcommissie’s job is to handle these complaints, and they can vary from poor maintenance, unknown charges or unfair rental cost and more.
This is mainly used for people who have social housing, however, others can apply to use the service.
If this service isn’t for you, then you can get a lawyer to sort it out for you. Prices vary for this service, so it’s worth weighing the pros and cons before going down this route.
Tenants have many rights in the Netherlands, so rest assured that it’s probably going to be sorted (and sorted well).
Have any more personal tips about using a rental agency that you want to share with us? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in March 2018, and was fully updated in November 2022 for your reading pleasure.
Lidl, famously known for being one of the cheapest supermarkets in the Netherlands, plans to stop stocking fruits and vegetables transported by plane in an effort to be moreeco-friendly. 🌱
Surprisingly enough, while the Netherlands is known for its sustainable projects, the grocery store has become the first in the country to take this step — like a true green queen. 👑
Changing to a greener alternative
According to NU.nl, the majority of Lidl’s produce comes from Dutch soil. However, there are the occasional asparagus tips and legumes that the supermarket brings in from countries abroad.
Now, Lidl wants to push for a more environmentally-conscious attitude by ensuring their fruits and veggies hail entirely from the grounds of the Netherlands, or through other means of transportation, such as by ship. 🚢
From air travel to boat travel
Lidl officially plans to switch to maritime travel altogether when it comes to getting their goods from abroad. This way, they’ll be able to reduce CO2 emissions and their overall footprint by quite a bit.
While transporting by boat does offer a more eco-friendly alternative to air travel, one disadvantage is that importing the goods will be a much slower process.
Nevertheless, Lidl believes that the change of pace won’t affect them too negatively to the point that their customers will see empty shelves on a regular basis. 🛒
Sustainable grocery shopping? Yes, please!
In a time when the inflation rate is at an all-time high, many Dutchies are relying on chintzy supermarkets, like Lidl, to offer some relatively low-priced goods.
That being said, it may be uplifting to hear that the next time we fill up our supermarket baskets at the Lidl, we’ll end up with both inexpensive and eco-friendly groceries. 🛒
What do you think about Lidl’s switch to a greener alternative? Tell us in the comments below!
Twelve IS women, and their 28 children, are due to be brought back to the Netherlands, in order to be tried and arrested upon arrival.
The Dutch cabinet ruled back in May of this year that the women had to be brought to the Netherlands to face prosecution for terrorist crimes, reports the NOS.
The Dutch could lose the right to prosecution
To properly try the women for their crimes, the Netherlands must bring them back to Dutch soil. If they stay in Syria, the Public Prosecution Service loses its right to prosecute.
Minister Yesilgöz of Justice and Security writes in a letter, “With the transfer to the Netherlands, the cabinet aims to prevent these twelve suspects from going unpunished.”
the #netherlands has repatriated 12 dutch women #isis members and their 28 children from camps in northeast-#syria. the women were arrested upon arrival, the kids handed over to child protection authorities. https://t.co/2CFXgM3ouv
The women will also be able to defend themselves in the Dutch court of law once they arrive.
Decision made in May
The decision to bring the women back to the Netherlands was made in May, and the court in Rotterdam ruled that the women must be transported within four months.
Five of the IS women were collected earlier this year as they were accused of organising a terrorist crime. The Netherlands wishes to punish the rest of those who have moved to Syria to support the terrorist organisation.
Back in May, 29 children were due to be transported to the Netherlands, though now figures state that 28 children will be accompanying their mothers. Regardless, the children involved in this case will be put into the care of the Child Protection Board.
Yesilgöz says to De Telegraaf, “In the interest of the security and privacy of those involved and in view of the necessary confidentiality of this type of operations, we cannot make any further announcements about these specific cases.”
The women are on their way to the Netherlands now and are due to be arrested and trialled immediately upon arrival.
Waiting times during autumn were roughly 14 minutes on average, with a max of under half an hour.
However, this came as a result of Schiphol cancelling thousands of flights.
Situatie #Schiphol verbeterd… Tja, zo kun je het ook zeggen. Denk dat het is omdat heel veel vluchten geschrapt zijn, omdat veel mensen uitwijken naar andere luchthavens etc. Er is pas verbetering als de situatie echt kan worden vergeleken met hoe het bijvoorbeeld in 2019 was.
Translation: Situation in #Schiphol improved… Well, you can put it that way. Think it’s because a lot of flights have been cancelled, because many people are moving to other airports, etc. There will only be an improvement if the situation can really be compared to how it was in 2019, for example.
Due to staff shortages, the airport can’t cope with the strain of so many passengers passing through it.
This year saw one million fewer travellers use Schiphol than the previous year, a trend that is likely to continue into the first half of 2023 as well.
What do you think of Schiphol’s latest move? Tell us all about it in the comments below!
It looks like the bad weather has only just begun, as strong gusts of wind are expected along the Dutch coast, in the Wadden Area and Flevoland.
The yellow warning comes in as wind speeds pick up to a speedy 90 kilometres per hour — that’s enough to blow your socks off for sure, but the strong winds may also interfere with traffic, reports NU.nl.
Hail and thunderstorms, oh my!
There will be some rain showers today as clouds move across the country.
And, good news for thrill seekers: these showers are due to get heavier as the day goes on, with chances of hail and thunderstorms. ⛈
Stay away from the trees folks, but you may be able to catch a flash of lightning tonight, especially if you’re living in a Dutch coastal area!
ICON model contains significant #weather#wetter of type "#Storm" with wind gusts of more than 90 km/h near #DenHelder (#Netherlands) for this noon given in local time. The ICON forecast data predicts wind gusts with 114.99 km/h for 01.11.22 – 12:00 UTC. pic.twitter.com/L1rFAti6wq
While you may need your raincoat, you can ditch that heavy jumper seeing as the temperature is set to rise to between 16 and 17 degrees from today until Wednesday! 🥵
Body-building winds
The strong winds will continue as the week carries on. On Tuesday and Wednesday, strong gusts of wind will sweep up the lowlands, reaching 75 to 90 kilometres per hour.
And, along the Dutch coasts, winds could pick up to nearly 100 kilometres per hour. The wind’s been hitting the gym and is ready to blow your house down. 💪🌬
But, by the end of Wednesday night, those billowing gusts of wind are set to end.
Will you be watching the thunderstorms outside or from the comfort of your living room? Tell us in a comment below! 👇
Did you enjoy the weather in the past few days? We’re glad! Because the autumn temperature is over.
It’s the end of the postcard-perfect, Instagram-picture-shooting-autumn leaves temperatures: November will bring chilly weather to the Netherlands.
In the coming days, temperatures will drop, so it’s time to find your winter coat.
The stereotype of Dutch weather
It looks like the Dutchies will have something to talk about in the following days because the weather will continually change.
“Especially during the morning hours, it is mainly cloudy, and a rain zone is moving northeast over the country. After that, several loose showers will be brought in with a strong south-westerly wind,” writes Roosmarijn Knol on Weerplaza.
Prepare those umbrellas! Image: Depositphotos
According to the meteorologist, this is a typical November. However, with the warm weather of the past weeks, it will be much harder to get used to it.
Record-breaking temperatures
Overall, the Netherlands has had quite a warm year so far. With the temperature of the past few days, 2022 has already become one of the warmest years yet. (Um, yikes!)
The measurements started in 1901; since then, only 2003 and 2018 have been warmer than this year, according to AD.
Energy prices: here we come!
So far, it has been easier to manage without heating and save some money on the crazy expensive energy bills.
Ecstasy can also affect the cardiovascular system, resulting in an increased heart rate and high blood pressure.
And those warm feelings of tenderness and lust? Yeah, they may lead to episodes of hyperthermia — a dangerous increase in body temperature. Heel romantisch, hoor! 🔥
What do you think of the Netherlands’ rising ecstasy usage? Tell us all about it in the comments below!
Thankfully, the international trains will continue as normal to and from the Dutch capital, albeit with some changes to the logistics.
Dutchies and Brits were shaking in their boots this summer, with news breaking about the closing of the international train terminal at Amsterdam Central Station.
However, the international train service is not only now saved, but the trains’ capacities could increase from 250 passengers to 600, writes Het Parool.
It was previously announced that the international terminal could stop until 2028 because building work at the station needed more space. Specifically, the construction workers needed the exact space currently occupied by international train travellers.
Now, the necessary security checks, and other logistics needed for international travel, will take place in the Amstel Passage.
The Amster Passage at Amsterdam Central has, until now, served as a tunnel of shopping opportunities, moving strollers, commuters, and travellers from their transit options to Amsterdam city centre.
Ehen the passage was built, part of the deal was that travellers would not have to check in and out when passing through. This promise is at risk with the new plans for the international terminal.
A look to the future
It is not clear when exactly the move will take place, but you can rest assured that the Eurostar service bringing travellers from London to Amsterdam in just four hours will continue as normal.
