Home Blog Page 378

Makeover time! Amsterdam’s Dam Square Palace is getting a new look

Juni Moltubak
-
0
Makeover time! Amsterdam’s Dam Square Palace is getting a new look

Get the cleaning brushes out! One of Amsterdam’s most famous monuments is to undergo renovations in 2023. And, the work is said to be done by 2026.

The brush-up is intended to preserve the building’s 17th-century glory, and to ensure that visitors and spectators can enjoy the palace for many centuries to come, writes AT5.

It’s not yet known how much the renovations will cost, but the expenses will be covered by the regular government restoration budget.

People are noticing discrepancies in the Dutch government’s financial priorities. 🤔

What to expect from the renovations

The roof of the Dam Square Palace will get a well-deserved makeover since the rest of the exterior was given an overhaul more than ten years ago.

This time around, architect Hans Vlaardingerbroek will focus on the statutes, roof panels, and the famous dome of the building. 🏰

READ MORE | 12 World Heritage Sites in the Netherlands: the country’s best monuments

But the palace’s new look doesn’t end with a simple cleanse. As part of the work to recreate the 17th-century glamour of the exterior, the renovation team will add shiny new gold leaves to the corners of the building. 🍁

Don’t worry, you can still visit the palace

Still want to visit the palace? No worries! Sure, the facade might look a little different for a while, but tourists and other visitors can still enter the building just like always.

READ MORE | What to do when it’s raining: the ultimate guide to Amsterdam indoors

The national monument in the centre of the Dutch capital is one of the most popular things to do in Amsterdam, and it’s not about to lose out on the 300,000 visitors it receives a year!

So you can rest assured that you’ll still be able to enjoy the palace in the years to come.

What do you think about the move to renovate the Royal Palace? Tell us in the comments below!

Thanks, Schiphol! KLM flights will be getting even more expensive

Liana Risseeuw 🇱🇰
-
2
Thanks, Schiphol! KLM flights will be getting even more expensive

KLM, the Netherlands’ flag carrier, has been plagued by various problems in recent months. The airline is currently passing this cost onto customers, by making tickets more expensive.

Air France-KLM has been hit hard by everyone’s least favourite villain (Schiphol) — to the tune of millions.

This is a burden that we, the passengers, will likely have to cover, says RTL Nieuws.

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

KLM’s wallet is taking a hit — so ours should, too (apparently)

Issues at Schiphol cost KLM a whopping €175 million, reported the NOS.

This figure comprises €30 million in passenger compensations and €145 million in lost revenue.

All of this, in addition to fuel prices that are pitching skyward faster than any plane leaving Schiphol, means more costs for customers to cover.

But wait…didn’t KLM make a PROFIT this year?

The airline did indeed make a profit — of €460 million. Turnover was half a billion euros higher than in 2019, at €8.1 billion.

READ MORE | KLM sees soaring profits as airport chaos reigns on

Top executive Ben Smith even told the NOS that the company benefited from a “strong demand”. Flights were well-filled, with 88% of seats usually sold.

In fact, Air France-KLM is actually making more profit per euro than it did in pre-coronavirus times.

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

Only emission-free cars allowed to be sold in the Netherlands from 2035

Juni Moltubak
-
1
Only emission-free cars allowed to be sold in the Netherlands from 2035

All cars sold in the European Union will have to run on either hydrogen or electricity by 2035, as fossil-fuel-driven vehicles were banned by EU member states yesterday evening.

The new law is part of the EU’s “Fit for 55” package and will drastically change the market in the world’s largest trading bloc.

This will likely make electric driving cheaper and more accessible than it currently is, writes NU.nl.

An urgent matter

The transportation industry is often referred to as the most pollutive sector there is, and action to curb the dangerous effects of climate change is therefore urgently needed.

When the law was proposed a year ago, it was seen as highly controversial, and the move to finalise the legislation this week was, somewhat surprising.

READ MORE | 9 surprisingly unsustainable Dutch habits 

But, according to the European Commission, switching to zero-emission cars will be relatively straightforward.

That’s because the technology for electrifying cars is well-established and common in most countries across the globe.

It’s not all straight roads ahead

Naturally, not everyone’s happy about the new EU regulation, so there are bound to be some bumps in the road towards green transportation.

At the moment, prices and access to electric charging stations play a central role in a consumer’s choice of vehicle.

Therefore, the EU must get to work at expanding the network of charging infrastructure, if they want to make the transition to non-polluting vehicles as comfortable as possible for its consumers.

READ MORE | The Netherlands is home to the most electric car charging points in all of Europe

And, of course, the producers of fossil fuel-driven cars are not cheering about this either.

But, an exception will ensure that manufacturers producing a relatively small number of vehicles a year will be granted one extra year to turn their production around. 😉

What do you think of the EU’s move towards clean vehicles? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Lost at sea: man adrift on a buoy for days rescued by Urk fishermen

Gaelle Salem
-
0
Lost at sea: man adrift on a buoy for days rescued by Urk fishermen

On Thursday morning, fishermen from the Dutch town of Urk rescued a man who was sitting on a buoy in the Channel — he had likely been there for days.

The man went to sea to go kayaking from England on October 15, when his kayak capsized. From then on, he climbed onto a buoy and fought like hell to survive. 🛟

“He said he scraped mussels from the buoy and also ate seaweed and crabs to stay alive”, skipper of fishing cutter Madeleine, Teunis de Boer, told RD.

view-of-dutch-town-urk-seafront-fishing-boats-and-houses-clear-skies
The magical fishing village of Urk, where the fishermen set sail for England. Image: Depositphotos

A young man’s survival story

The fishing boat sailed into the Channel between France and England at around 11 AM, when the crew suddenly saw a young man in swimming trunks, writes NU.nl.

“I was filling in my electronic logbook and looking for the buoy that marks the bank. I thought: you’re not serious”, Teunis told RD.

READ MORE | How the fate of 17 Dutch sailors changed history

In an effort to let the man know the fishermen saw him, the skipper honked the boat’s horn. “I was afraid he would float away if he jumped into the water. So I turned the cutter so that it would float towards us.”

The young man, who had been holding on to the tiny buoy for days on end, subsisting on mussels, seaweed, and crabs, was completely exhausted by the time they pulled him from the water.

A successful rescue

The fishing crew warmed him up and gave him some food and water. They immediately called the French coast guard, after which the man was taken to a hospital by helicopter.

READ MORE | Swimming hazards at beaches, lakes, and canals in the Netherlands

In parting words, the young man expressed his gratitude to the fishermen for rescuing him.

What do you think about this survival story? Tell us in the comments below! 👇

Girl with the Pearl Earring vandalised by climate protesters

Heather Slevin
-
3
Girl with the Pearl Earring vandalised by climate protesters

‘Girl with the Pearl Earring’ is now the third culprit of attacks by climate change protestors, joining Van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’ and Monet’s ‘Les Meules’. 

The painting by Johannes Vermeer, a Dutch painter who lived during the Dutch Golden Age, was smeared Thursday afternoon in the Mauritshuis in The Hague, reports the NOS.

One protestor was recorded glueing his head to the painting, while another activist threw a can of what appears to be canned tomatoes onto the painting. 

Just Stop Oil strikes again

Just Stop Oil is a UK-based activism group who are against the production of fossil fuels. 

Three activists from the group were arrested after the attack, and the museum is now closed. 

As for us, we just hope Vermeer’s painting is safe, but it’s unclear as of now whether or not the painting was protected by glass like the previous culprits of these attacks. 

Translation: BREAK – Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer smeared in #Mauritshuis

 

This attack comes less than two weeks after two activists were also recorded throwing tomato soup at Van Gogh’s famous painting, ‘Sunflowers’ in the National Gallery in London, United Kingdom. 

Why bother throwing stuff at famous paintings?

The biggest question now brewing in people’s minds; why would you want to ruin such iconic, beautiful paintings from our past?

The good news for us art enjoyers is that the paintings so far have been encased behind glass, so the most damage that has been caused by activists has been to the frame only. Basically; the paintings are generally safe. 

READ MORE | Climate activist glues himself to the table during popular Dutch TV show

But, the message behind this seemingly odd action is a simple one; Just Stop Oil wants to prevent the UK from investing in any more new licenses for the production of fossil fuels. 

And, their way of garnering support; trashing famous paintings in the hopes of grabbing people’s attention.

What do you think of the activist’s methods? Tell us your thoughts in a comment below!

Take it from a former thief: this is how you can prevent your bike from being stolen

Mihály Droppa
-
2
Take it from a former thief: this is how you can prevent your bike from being stolen

If you’ve ever lived in the Netherlands, you know it’s best not to have a deep connection with your bike, because sooner or later, your beloved fiets will change owner. 

And by change, we mean become someone else’s property through a bit of light thievery. But what can you do to prevent your bike from being stolen? 

Jonny, a former bike thief, has some heel handig (very handy) tips!

A former bike thief, you say? 

Yep, Jonny was once homeless. Now, he is doing organised tours across the less postcard-perfect parts of the Netherlands.

As part of the tour, called Just a cup of coffee, he is selling one of the homeless newspapers called Riepe — he also took a moment to share his experiences as a former thief with Sikkom. 

So how much this pro tip will cost me? 

We have great news for you! Nothing. Jonny says that the best way to protect your beloved bike is to make sure to place your lock next to the valve. 

He explains that this makes it more difficult to steal your bike because the thief risks breaking the valve — and no one wants a broken bike. 

READ MORE: Guide to buying your first bicycle in the Netherlands (from a bike expert)

This makes sense when you consider the classic techniques of bike thieves in the Netherlands.

“They break down the stand, put it between wheel and lock and break it open. Even expensive locks [will eventually] pop open. [It takes only] one to ten minutes,” Jonny tells Sikkom.

stolen-bike-netherlands
You don’t want to end up like this. Image: Unsplash

Of course, no ultimate method would work all the time, if you have the coolest bike in town, but by having your lock right next to the valve on your wheel, this process becomes much more difficult for thieves — meaning your bike is safe!(er). 

Sounds great, right? You don’t need to upgrade your lock or take your bike up to your apartment on your tiny narrow Dutch staircase.

How do you protect your fiets from getting stolen? Tell us your tips in the comments!

Half of Dutchies believe in at least one conspiracy theory — and 97% of the far-right

Liana Risseeuw 🇱🇰
-
0
Half of Dutchies believe in at least one conspiracy theory — and 97% of the far-right

Nee hoor, that’s not a typo! The far right overwhelmingly support alternative truths, with the FVD making up the bulk of believers in conspiracy theories.

The infamous Donald Trump may have publicised the concept of “alternative facts”, but conspiracy theories have been lurking in the shadows for millennia.

Just this week, Hart van Nederland reported that populist party FVD leader Thierry Baudet announced his coming out — as a complotdenker (conspiracy thinker).

Follow the leader, says the FVD

To no one’s surprise, it is FVD supporters that are most open to alternative facts.

A whopping 94% of these voters say that one or more existing conspiracy theory is likely to be true.

About 45% of them believe that the September 11 attacks were faked, and 83% claim that the media is in cahoots with the government.

Translation:
Weatherman: “In the night from Saturday to Sunday we switch to winter time. Don’t forget to turn back your clock!”
Conspiracy theorist: “The TYRANNIC GOVERNMENT puts a GREAT RESET on my watch 😡 #Irejectit” *bangs on sliding door of Albert Heijn an hour before opening time*

Surely some of them believe the moon landing was faked, we hear you ask. Oh, ja — 23% think that NASA was playing a cheeky hoax on all of us.

(Oh, we do love those funny pranksters at NASA!)

Education and spirituality play major roles

There seems to be a relationship between the level of education one receives, and how open they are to conspiracy theories.

About 79% of those with no education, or only primary school education, seem to believe in the possibility of alternative facts.

Similarly, people that are more spiritually inclined are about 60% more likely to drink at the tap of conspiracy theories.

As does our good friend social media

The widespread reach of social media has helped users find groups of like-minded people.

However, this has also resulted in echo chambers being formed, where (according to Hart van Nederland) people become “convinced of their own rightness”.

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

Almost 200,000 new inhabitants call the Netherlands their home in eight months

Heather Slevin
-
0
Almost 200,000 new inhabitants call the Netherlands their home in eight months

The number of new inhabitants in the Netherlands has doubled since 2021, causing the Dutch population to skyrocket. 

Since the beginning of 2022, 191,000 new inhabitants have made the Netherlands their home, according to figures published by the Central Bureau of Statistics.

Dutch population reaches what now?

At the start of October, the Dutch population had risen to an astounding 17.8 million. 

Yep, you heard that right; 17.8 million. That’s a lot of people, and, in true Dutch style, there’s due to be a lot of bikes to go along with them. 

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

During the first three months of 2022 alone, a massive 318,000 people came to the Netherlands. 

Not even a third of these new immigrants would fit in the biggest Dutch stadium, which holds a meagre 54,000 people. 

However, though the Netherlands greeted more than a quarter of a million new faces in the past nine months, due to emigration from the country as well as deaths, the population has grown by 191,000. 

No more pandemic babies

The coronavirus baby boom saw more babies born in 2021 than the Netherlands had seen in ten years. 

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

But, with no more lockdowns and people finally back in the office (😉), the number of babies born so far in 2022 has dropped to 127,000. 

Even so, we can’t help but think about all those diapers, tiny baby shoes, and prams. 👶

But who are these new inhabitants?

Ukrainian asylum seekers made up one-third of the immigrant population, many of whom came earlier this year at the beginning of the Russian invasion.

Lots of these refugees settled in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Almere.

More immigrants also came from India, Turkey, Syria, and Afghanistan.  

Stay up to date with all the news in the Netherlands by following DutchReview on Facebook.

New Call of Duty game vividly recreates Amsterdam streets — but not everyone is happy

Gaelle Salem
-
1
New Call of Duty game vividly recreates Amsterdam streets — but not everyone is happy

The new Call of Duty game features our dreamy capital city in a totally lifelike manner, but there’s just one problem: the storyline involves shooting up the Conservatorium Hotel, and its owners are not happy. 😬

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II will officially be released on October 28 (aka, tomorrow), but many impatient fans have already pre-ordered the single-player campaign of the game.

After one fan uploaded a brief video to show off the game’s impressive graphics and vivid depiction of Amsterdam, the game’s mission spread like wildfire on the internet. 🎮

One particular part of the video showed the Conservatorium Hotel in Amsterdam being destroyed by guns. The only problem? The videogame makers failed to consult the hotel’s manager first. 

The game’s mission and its controversy

The storyline follows the hero or heroine wandering around the Dutch capital and its canals, where non-playable characters can be seen sitting on terrasjes drinking Groeneveld Lager. 🍺

Gamers make their way into an alley in Amsterdam’s Red Light District, where a shooting spree begins, and troopers take out a group of terrorists and drug criminals.

READ MORE | ImmunoWars: the Dutch-made card game that’s making infections fun

Once they reach the cultural heart of the city, the Conservatorium Hotel is then shown being shot to pieces by heavily armed commandos. 

As a result, a large hole forms in front of the building’s facade, where a burning car and abandoned fire trucks can also be seen.

The Conservatorium Hotel responds with dismay

After the luxurious building’s untimely destruction in the game was brought to the attention of the hotel manager, they publicly stated that they plan to take necessary steps to ensure the hotel’s name remains intact.

READ MORE | 4 ways the Netherlands is an underrated gamer’s paradise

‘We have taken note of the fact that the Conservatorium Hotel is undesirably the scene of the new Call of Duty. More generally, we don’t support games that seem to encourage the use of violence.”

“The game in no way reflects our core values​​, and we regret our apparent and unwanted involvement. The hotel is still considering possible steps,” hotel manager, Roy Tomassen, tells De Volkskrant.

What do you think about the Conservatorium Hotel’s response? Tell us in the comments below! 👇

This independent Russian news channel has made Amsterdam its new home

Juni Moltubak
-
0
This independent Russian news channel has made Amsterdam its new home

Following the increased risk that independent news broadcasters face in Russia, many journalists have sought safer conditions elsewhere. Now, the Russian TV channel “TV Rain” has settled in (rainy) Amsterdam.

As Putin’s regime in Russia started prosecuting journalists opposing his war of aggression against Ukraine, freedom of speech and press has dwindled rapidly.

For a while already, but increasingly so after the invasion, the term “independent journalism” has become synonymous with “anti-Russia propaganda” in Putin’s regime.

For TV Rain, this meant being blocked completely by the Russian state as part of an attempt to silence all opposition.

A popular alternative

The independent broadcaster has grown in popularity since its establishment more than 10 years ago, writes the NOS.

TV Rain provides a unique source of independent journalism for Russians in and outside of Russia, with the main goal of showing viewers what is really happening in Ukraine.

READ MORE | Dutch Foreign Minister pledges continuous support for Ukraine in meeting with Zelensky

With more than 3 million subscribers on YouTube, and a few million visitors every day, the platform has gained traction as the situation in Russia and Ukraine has worsened.

Times are changing

The new location also means new practices for the Russian broadcaster, who has had to change their main sources of information ever since the invasion of Ukraine.

READ MORE | The Netherlands wants to ban Russians from getting tourist visas

TV Rain has always been an independent actor in Russia, but the changed circumstances have forced the broadcaster to rely on anonymous journalists and informants to report on the Kremlin’s movements.

Despite significantly reduced access to information, TV Rain hopes its new base in Amsterdam will make for safer working conditions for its staff.

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

1...377378379...760Page 378 of 760