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Dutch gas prices break yet another record, cabinet calls for higher wages

Gaelle Salem
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Dutch gas prices break yet another record, cabinet calls for higher wages

On Tuesday, gas prices in the Netherlands reached an all-time high, testing the limits of millions of Dutchies’ wallets. Luckily, the cabinet is seeking a solution: it’s time to raise salaries.

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine rages on, gas prices continue to soar mainly due to high demand, low supply, and a boiling hot summer period.

Just last week, the gas indicator jumped from €200 to €230 per megawatt/h (MWh) — stripping Dutchies of their cash yet again. 😬

READ MORE | Hoera! The Netherlands officially has the highest gas prices in the entire EU

High demand, short supply

The scorching weather conditions we’ve all been facing this past week have been a major contributing factor to the increase in gas prices, writes NU.

How? The heat and drought cause lower river levels in the lowlands, and this makes transporting raw materials, such as coal, more difficult. 

As a result, power plants across Europe have been evidently affected. A few French stations have closed down for maintenance, and the supply of electricity from Norwegian hydropower is also at stake.

All this leads to a greater demand for gas and a dwindling supply. Luckily, the cabinet is well up-to-date on the current situation and has hopes for a solution that could potentially help many Dutchies. 

The solution in question

The cabinet has expressed its concerns for Dutch folks who are struggling to muddle through with the sky-high inflation rate and energy prices. 🔥

And according to NOS, they plan to give solace to those affected by requesting that companies increase their employees’ wages as soon as possible.

READ MORE | Inflation in the Netherlands jumps to almost 12%: here’s what you’ll pay more for

“These are exceptional times that call for exceptional measures. We can only solve this with each other, so also with the employers. There is room to increase the salaries”, Minister Van Gennip of Social Affairs says in a cabinet meeting.

In the meantime, the ministers call on those in danger of financial difficulty to contact the municipality or the energy company for help and payment arrangements. We’re looking forward to being number 562 in the queue. 🙄

What do you think about the cabinet’s solution to the soaring inflation rate? Tell us in the comments below!

3 weird Dutch food ‘things’ that will make you cry/laugh

Abuzer van Leeuwen 🇳🇱
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3 weird Dutch food ‘things’ that will make you cry/laugh

Since we’ve run out of puns to make on the Dutch weather, it’s time to tackle some other gems of the lovely culture here in the lowlands: our f-ed up culinary traditions!

Sure we all like a stroopwafel, or some cheese, one by one. But not at the same time. Anyways, here are 3 things Dutch people do with food, that might make you puke! (Consider yourself warned).

Oh, and if you tried any of these, let us know! (if you’re still alive, that is).

1. Urker fish pie: too disgusting to be true

Ah, the Urker Vistaart, sounds like a wholesome tradition, right? But wait a minute, aren’t fish and pie an unholy combination? And is this actually really a thing?

Weeell, three Dutch high school students once made up a recipe and posted it on Wikipedia in 2009, coining the term “Urker fish pie”. Fast forward a few years later, when 2 Dutch celebrity chefs actually set out to make the thing.

Needless to say, it was going to be disgusting. It had sauerkraut, sausage and mackerel in it. And luckily, it was later exposed for the hoax that it was.

2. Frikandel-speciaal-pannekoek: too much of a good thing?

We have no idea where this one came from, but we all know the Dutch like to throw anything on a pancake. This, however, is something else:

The surprising (or perhaps, sad) thing is, that this terrifying creature has spread to all corners of our tiny kingdom. It’s certainly not for everyone, but to be fair, the frikandel-speciaal-pannekoek is probably the only thing in this article normal people might enjoy.

3. Herring ice cream: for the brave soul

It’s oldie, but it stays good/disgusting. It might sound too bad to be true, but unfortunately, the herring ice cream was a real thing. The monstrosity could be enjoyed/disgusted at an Ice-Cream parlor in Rotterdam, but it’s unclear if the flavour is still available. Pitty.

Have you tried these weird Dutch food creations? Do you know of any other ones? Tell us in the comments below!

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in July 2017, and was fully updated in August 2022, for your reading pleasure.

It’s official: these three Dutch universities are among the top 100 in the world!

Gaelle Salem
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It’s official: these three Dutch universities are among the top 100 in the world!

The ballots are in! Shanghai Ranking has published their 2022 list of the best universities in the world — and three Dutch toppers claimed a spot in the top 100! 🤩

The universities are ranked based on the number of articles researchers publish in scientific journals and the number of researchers who are often cited by other scientists.

So, which are the best universities in the Netherlands? Let’s hop right in.

Utrecht University stands at the top

Starting off with the reigning champ, Utrecht University is considered the best Dutch university, ranking 54th worldwide! Though, it did drop four places compared to last year. 

Next up, the University of Groningen also scored high on the list this year, ranking in 66th place — which is not at all surprising. The institution is known for being a big shot when it comes to student life! 🤓

Following the top two contenders, Erasmus University in Rotterdam has officially made the top 100 as their ranking jumped by leaps and bounds! They now sit at number 87 on the list. Super impressive! 😮

Unfortunately, Leiden University’s bustling student culture was not enough to bring them into the top 100 this year. 

READ MORE |Studying in the Netherlands: the ultimate guide

In 2021, the beloved Dutch university placed 83rd on the list but is now considered one of the best 150 universities worldwide.

The list of Dutch universities ranking for 2022

The Netherlands has long provided a tolerant home for folks to obtain a great education — hence why so many internationals are looking to study here.

READ MORE | International students forced to drop out of studies due to lack of Dutch housing

Curious to know how other Dutch universities ranked on the list? RTL Nieuws has summarised it nicely for us. Take a look! 👇

UniversityRanking
Utrecht University      54
University of Groningen  66
Erasmus University Rotterdam87
Leiden University101-150
Radboud University Nijmegen101-150
University of Amsterdam101-150
Delft University of Technology151-200
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam151-200
Wageningen University & Research151-200
Maastricht University201-300
Eindhoven University of Technology 301-400
University of Twente 401-500
Tilburg University 601-700

What do you think about these rankings? Tell us in the comments below! 👇

Not just the airport: Schiphol train station has the worst delays in entire country

Juni Moltubak
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Not just the airport: Schiphol train station has the worst delays in entire country

You might’ve thought the limit to the amount of bad transport news in one summer had been reached. But alas, here we are again: Schiphol airport train station is (by far) the worst in the Netherlands when it comes to disruptions.

The causes behind the chaos are manyfold and complex, ensuring the bad mood of every single commuter and traveller.

And let’s face it, are you a true Dutchie if you haven’t experienced some sort of chaos on the way to Schiphol at one point?

Translation: In chaos at #Schiphol, the train master no longer knows and yells to people: “This is not a train! This is not a train!” Now the confusion is complete.

NS response: This is clearly a train. 😉

Good luck heading out of the country

Not only has the main Dutch airport, Schiphol, been an absolute mess this summer, but there’s also a good chance you’ll experience issues even before you get there.

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

The train station belonging to the airport has featured no less than five times in the various rankings of the top 10 worst Dutch stations when it comes to disruptions, writes de Volkskrant.

Between Amsterdam Centraal and Schiphol airport, the amount of train failures have reached a baffling 1,900 in the past 11 years.

In other words: good luck getting out of the country, if you’re dependent on trains and/or planes.

Not just staff shortage

We’ve all heard about the omnipresent Dutch staff shortage nowadays. Cafés are closing, airports are breaking down, and of course, way fewer trains are going than usual.

READ MORE | Scrapping rides: NS continues to cancel trains due to staff shortages

But it’s not just a staff shortage that’s cursing the Dutch railway — the trains are also, well, kind of bad.

The number of flat-out train failures has been increasing for years, and it’s gotten a whole lot worse in 2022.

So far this year, we’re on our way to registering as many as 3,483 disruptions — which might mean we’re headed towards a record year (in a bad way) for train travel.

Have you experienced unusually many train issues this year? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Less Russian dependence and energy consumption? Unusually warm autumn has some benefits

Juni Moltubak
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Less Russian dependence and energy consumption? Unusually warm autumn has some benefits

The coming autumn and winter are expected to create quite the energy crisis. That was until the weather gods promised us a strangely warm cold season.

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to affect energy decisions in Europe, many have feared the approaching winter. But the weather pattern “La Niña” will provide warmer temperatures and reduce energy usage, writes Business Insider.

A break from normal

The so-called “La Niña” is a global phenomenon that can have intense consequences on climate, weather, ecosystems, and economies, according to NOAA.

This season, warm winds and currents will ensure a European October that’s between 1 and 1.5 degrees hotter than usual.

Where Europeans typically start heating up their houses at that very time, this year might be different.

Good news for Russia-opposers

Unusually warm temperatures are not typically good news in this age of climate change destruction.

However, the big trend this year was to move away from Russian oil and gas — a project that’s easier said than done in the cold European winter.

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

In other words, Europe might just be in luck and be able to reduce their gas consumption by quite a bit.

That means both less dependence on Russia and less energy consumption overall — some might say that’s a win-win!

That being said, there is still a lot of uncertainty, and general efforts to cut down on energy consumption are still important.

Which energy-saving measures are you taking this fall? Tell us in the comments below!

Checking in for the train with your bank card or phone? Here’s how you can be one of the first

Katrien Nivera 🇵🇭
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Checking in for the train with your bank card or phone? Here’s how you can be one of the first

Hoping to make train travel “even easier and more flexible,” NS will trial travellers using their bank cards to check in and out.

Travellers will also be able to check in with their digital bank cards on smartphones using Apple Pay and Google Pay.

After making the initial announcement last week, the NS is now on the hunt for the first guinea pigs.

There’s a catch

Of course, this doesn’t mean train tickets and OV chipcards are going away anytime soon.

“We want to offer travellers extra choice to travel easily by train”, says Ivo Steffens, director of commerce for the NS.

inforgraphic-showing-types-of=ov-cards-netherlands-and-benefits
Image: DutchReview

“Checking in and out for the train is just as easy and quick as a contactless payment for your groceries. You don’t have to buy a ticket or load balance, but you can check in immediately and get your train.”

However, there is one catch for avid travellers. During the trial, only full-fare train travel is possible. NS season tickets and other discounts cannot be linked to a debit card (yet).

Become a trial traveller

From August 15 to August 22, NS will recruit “a limited number” of participants for the trials at six stations: Amsterdam Central, Rotterdam Central, The Hague Central, Utrecht Central, Den Bosch, and Delft. Spannend! (Exciting!)

Travellers can only register at these locations from 10 AM to 7 PM through an NS team set up in the stations.

Starting August 29, travellers can travel on all NS routes in the country using their contactless debit or credit card.

While these travellers will be paying the full fare, they do get a bonus: pay for a second-class ticket, and they can travel in first-class. Fancy!

Barriers adjusted

All terminals and gates have new card readers, which now include the contactless payment logo.

Renting a public transport bicycle (OV fiets) or access to a P+R site is not possible with bank cards (yet). After the trial, the NS hopes to make bank card payments and other facilities available to everyone.

Do you want to become a trial traveller for contactless bank card payments? Tell us in the comments!

Tikkie launches new feature, even more ways for Dutchies to get their €2 back

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
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Tikkie launches new feature, even more ways for Dutchies to get their €2 back

Beloved Dutch app, Tikkie, has launched a whole new service, and the Dutch are going wild.

Groupie is the latest feature for the Dutch bank transfer platform and has nothing to do with sleeping with members of a rock band.

Instead, you’ll be invited to a group with other people, everyone can put in their shared expenses, and Groupie will calculate who owes what at the end. Ta-da!

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

How Groupie works

Let’s say you go out for a weekend away with Kees and Marianne. Kees pays the flights (€242), Marianne books the hotel (€374), and you pick up the tab at the restaurants (€279).

Instead of pulling out the calculator after a few biertjes, all the amounts are thrown into Groupie, and it tells everyone exactly what they owe (like in the image below). Genius!

screenshots-of-groupie-on-tikkie-showing-how-it-works
Ka-ching! No more math problems after three cocktails. Image: DutchReview

No account necessary

Naturally, it’s not the first app with this bright idea: Splitwise has been hanging around app stores for years, and (ooh, gossip) Tikkie is accused of copying the idea from another Dutch app, WieBetaaltWat (Who Pays What).

READ NEXT | Doei Tikkie, soon you can transfer money by merely pointing your phone

However, at WieBetaaltWat, users need to make an account — but at Tikkie, they don’t, reports NU.nl.

Now, I don’t have an MBA, but I’m pretty sure that’s an ‘edge in the market’ because, honestly, who has time to keep making new accounts and passwords?

Regardless, Groupie sounds super-handig — until all those Tikkie requests come rolling in, of course.

Will you be a Groupie convert? Tell us in the comments below!

After stabbing, Dutch publisher sends Salman Rushdie’s work in reprint

Juni Moltubak
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After stabbing, Dutch publisher sends Salman Rushdie’s work in reprint

Dutch publisher Pluim will reprint Salman Rushdie’s work this fall following a brutal attack on the world-famous writer at a public speaking event in New York last week.

“It is now important that his work can be read,” wrote Pluim on Facebook, highlighting that their decision to reprint the British-Indian writer’s work was motivated by the attack.

Several works to be available

The Dutch publisher is determined to republish more of Rushdie’s most famous pieces as soon as possible.

Among the expected works are “Midnight Children” and “The Devil’s Verses”, two controversial but highly acclaimed literary pieces.

Living under protection

Rushdie has been in hiding for many years, with a significant amount of security at his disposal. That has been necessary since 1989, when the then supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, issued a Fatwa (a death sentence) on the author.

The Fatwa was issued because the Iranian leadership interpreted Rushdie’s content as being blasphemous.

However, Rushdie’s protection has been somewhat relaxed in the past few years. The consequences of the relaxation became unfortunately clear last Friday, when a man attacked the author with a knife whilst on stage.

Rushdie is no longer on a ventilator but has severed nerves in one arm, damage to his liver, and will likely lose an eye, reports the BBC.

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

Good news! Two Dutch airports to compensate passengers who missed flights

Gaelle Salem
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Good news! Two Dutch airports to compensate passengers who missed flights

Missed your flight due to airport chaos in the Netherlands? You can now claim compensation at both Schiphol and Eindhoven Airport until September 30!

Both Schiphol and Eindhoven Airport are finally showing some of that royal energy we’ve all been hopelessly waiting for. 😌

How? By cooking up schemes to accommodate passengers who missed their flights due to the waiting times at security control.

Schiphol’s plan to compensate travellers

For Schiphol, the scheme concerns folks who arrived at the airport on time between April 23 and August 11 of this year but missed their flights due to the long queues.

You can request compensation for the following costs:

  • Rebooking your flight or for a replacement flight,
  • unused accommodation,
  • alternative transport for those who had to travel to a destination in a different way.

You’re only eligible for compensation if you haven’t already been reimbursed, like through insurance or an airline. 

READ MORE | Over €38 million claimed after summer Schiphol chaos: here’s what you need to do

According to a spokesperson at Schiphol, a baffling 1,500 requests have already been submitted to the bustling airport. It’s not the least bit surprising. 🙄

Eindhoven Airport follows through

Travellers who missed their flight due to long queues can also submit a compensation request at Eindhoven Airport until September 30 — and this includes the same costs covered by the scheme at Schiphol.

At the moment, you’re only able to request compensation for costs incurred between May 23 and August 11. Eindhoven also requires that you were at the airport at least two and a half hours before departure but still missed your flight, reports RTL Nieuws.

Dutch airports make way for improvement

It’s a tough world out there for travellers at the moment, and apparently, the CEO of Schiphol, Dick Benschop, agrees.

“We find it extremely annoying that there are people who have missed their flight due to a long line at security. They had to miss a holiday or part of their holiday, and we sympathize with those people”, he tells NOS.

Fortunately, Schiphol stepped up its game lately by hiring more staff and attracting folks to work there again. It’s about damn time, Schiphol. 🙃

Eindhoven Airport has also been a mess in recent months, with very few employees to attend to travellers. 

Eindhoven was even ranked the worst airport in the Netherlands and the third-worst in all of Europe. We’re hoping this new scheme can revamp their image.

Will you make use of the airports’ compensation schemes? Tell us in the comments below!

Summer storms approach the Netherlands after sunny days

Katrien Nivera 🇵🇭
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Summer storms approach the Netherlands after sunny days

For once, Dutch people are finally going to be excited about rain in the Netherlands.

As most of you have noticed, the Netherlands is in the middle of one of its longest heatwaves this summer. From soaring temperatures to drought, it’s no wonder people want the rain back. 🤔

Thunderstorms and rain

Wouter van Bernebeek, a meteorologist from Weerplaza, expects thunderstorms all week next week — but they’ll be at their worst on Monday and Wednesday.

Showers are also expected on other days of the week, but less severely. The storms will be a huge relief for the dry ground, but watch out — it’s not all positive just yet.

“The rain falls on hard, parched ground in a short time, and then flows away. […] The risk of flooding increases, something we also regularly saw in the second half of August 2020 after that heatwave.” says van Bernebeek.

Warm weather continues

On top of the thunderstorms, the heatwave will continue for a few more days. Van Bernebeek expects temperatures to reach 30 degrees Celsius around many parts of the Netherlands next Monday and Tuesday. ☀️

Temperatures will slightly decrease in most cities on Wednesday, and will drop down to a maximum of 24 degrees Celsius on Thursday. Brrr! 🥶😉

Are you excited about the rain? Tell us what you think in the comments! 👇

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