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Your Dutch grocery haul is now over 11% more expensive than last year

Lea Shamaa 🇺🇸🇱🇧
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Your Dutch grocery haul is now over 11% more expensive than last year

Living in the Netherlands has never been considered cheap. Now, with rising inflation, groceries have become 11.2% more costly than in 2021.

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), the average Dutch person already spends 11% of their earnings on food.

As groceries consist of a large part of people’s spending, the increased prices will impact consumers hard, reports RTL Nieuws.

Increased prices

So which products are we talking about exactly? The biggest contenders for the highest price increases are meat, fish, and dairy — so, basically the Dutch’s favourite foods.

Buying meat has become 16% more expensive, whereas fish now costs 11% more and dairy 14%. Now, that’s duuuuuur! (expensive!)

READ MORE | Inflation in the Netherlands rises to nearly 12% in record time

Frank Notten — economist at CBS — tells RTL Nieuws that “the fact that food prices are now rising so fast indicates that inflation is becoming widely visible in the economy”. In other words, inflation is going to start hurting real bad, and soon.

High costs linked to energy

In 2021, gas prices became eight times more expensive than the previous year. However, in 2022, the situation has worsened as the Netherlands attempts to cut its ties with Russian gas due to recent escalations with Ukraine.

There are two main energy-related reasons that explain why food costs have risen so much in the past year.

First, it’s linked to the energy used in the production of food. And then, transporting food supplies to the supermarkets also requires energy, like Diesel or petrol.

There’s no sugar coating it, things are rough. For now, at least we can say that the increase in food cuts in the Netherlands is somewhat lower than the average in the European Union.

How have you been dealing with inflation this year? Tell us your experiences in the comments below!

Orangemen’s Day: when the Northern-Irish celebrate a Dutchie

Lea Shamaa 🇺🇸🇱🇧
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Orangemen’s Day: when the Northern-Irish celebrate a Dutchie

Each year, the Northern-Irish protestants parade through the streets to celebrate King William III of Orange. But who is he exactly and what did he do to make them so happy? 🤔

King William was born the sovereign Prince of Orange in the Netherlands and became King of England, Ireland, and Scotland from 1689 until his death in 1702.

July 12 marks the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 where Irish Protestants celebrate and commemorate King William III of Orange’s victory over the Catholic King James II.

While he was formally known as King William II in Scotland, others took a liking to him, calling him “King Billy” in both Ireland and Scotland.

King William and Protestantism

King William’s commitment to protecting Protestantism gave him his reputation as the champion of the Protestant faith.

In 1688, King William and his wife (and cousin 😬), Queen Mary II, were invited to England by the seven English nobles (the Immortal Seven) to defend Protestantism and take the throne of England.

READ MORE | Why does the Netherlands love orange? The full explainer

The Battle of the Boyne

The Battle of the Boyne erupted as a result of King James’ attempt to regain the throne after King William’s reign began the year prior in 1689.

The battle took place between the Williamites and Jacobites on July 1, 1690, when the Dutch King William III of Orange led the Williamite forces to victory.

Not-so-fun fact: In total, 2,250 soldiers were either wounded or lost their lives in the battle.

As King James II failed to get his crown back, the battle ended in William III’s favour. This ensured a legacy of protestant ascendancy in Ireland to the modern-day.

Today, the Battle of the Boyne is seen as a pivotal moment for Protestantism in Ireland, which owes its thanks to King William III of Orange and the Williamites.

The Twelfth

Orangemen’s Day, also known as “The Twelfth” is a public holiday in Ulster, one of the four Irish provinces, between Northern Ireland and the Republic.

It’s celebrated with large parades by the Orange Order and Ulster loyalist marching bands, bonfires, and streets decorated with British flags and buntings. 🎊

Controversial commemorations

However, these celebrations don’t come free of controversy. The Twelfth is no stranger to violence between Ulster Protestants and Catholics, especially in times of political pressure.

While Catholic Irish nationalists deem it as a supremacist and sectarian parade, Ulster Protestants find it an important part of their culture.

With burning flags and marches through Catholic neighbourhoods, the celebrations are quite confronting for the Northern-Irish Catholic community. However, in recent years, celebrations have become more peaceful.

Do you celebrate Orangemen’s Day? Tell us your experiences in the comments below!

One in three Dutch men think women should work less after having a baby (excuse us?) 

Gaelle Salem
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One in three Dutch men think women should work less after having a baby (excuse us?) 

A study showed that one-third of men and one in five women in the Netherlands believe that women should work less when they have young children, reports Eenvandaag. 

This opinion is especially unanimous for people over 75 and even youngsters between the ages of 18 and 25 — surprisingly. 

And why do they think this? Well, they believe it’s because women just have that special connection with a child that men apparently can’t have, so obviously, women should work less! 🤔

How much do people agree with this?

No need to worry if you’re a man though, the statistics showed that less than 1% think that men should be the ones who work less as opposed to women.

One participant of the study begs to differ. They shared that BOTH a man and woman should not have to work less — and why should they? There are childcare services for a reason! However, only 9% of people in the study agree with this opinion. 

Alternatively, 45% of men and 58% of women believe that both partners should work less if they have children.

Who does care and responsibility for the child fall under? 

In spite of thinking that women should be the ones to stay at home, 86% of respondents believe that men and women bear equal responsibility for the care and upbringing of children. 

And this isn’t the least bit surprising. We’re not living in the 18th century anymore where women have to take care of the children and men have to be the breadwinner of the household. 

However, many participants still feel that the choice of who will work less isn’t made lightly. 

They went on to share that it’s almost impossible to divide the tasks of caring for the children fairly and that ultimately it’s the mother who ends up taking care of the child most of the time.

“If women have months of leave and a man a few weeks at a lower salary, then as a mother you automatically receive a lot of care tasks. That will remain the case later on. Something should change about that”, says one participant.

Inderdaad! Do you agree or disagree that women should work less when they have children? Tell us in the comments below! 👇

This supermoon is coming to the NL and it’s a stargazer’s dream!

Juni Moltubak
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This supermoon is coming to the NL and it’s a stargazer’s dream!

The second supermoon of the summer will pop up and show its big beautiful face this Wednesday night. And the warm weather here in the Netherlands makes for great stargazing conditions! 

There’s nothing like a long, romantic, nighttime walk under a clear sky. This week will offer a great view of a moon that appears 7% larger and 14% brighter than usual! 🌝

That’s because the moon is full, and it’s quite a bit closer to the earth than it typically is — in other words, it’s a supermoon! 😍

When can we view this magnificent wonder? 

Here in the Netherlands, we’ve been blessed with wonderful summer weather lately. That means that the sky is pretty clear, and most clouds dissolve quickly enough. 

This, in combination with pretty warm weather too, means the conditions are optimal for viewing the supermoon that will occur on July 13th. Specifically, Wednesday night is the prime time to do a late-night stroll!

By late, we mean late. From the Dutch corner of the world, the moon will be up between 10:30 PM and 4:21 AM. So, take a power nap in the afternoon, and get ready for a beautiful night! 

What’s the deal with grains, strawberries, and beavers?

Full moons have different names, depending on the time of the year they occur. That’s why Wednesday’s supermoon is called the “super grain moon” — it’s time for the first grains of the year to be harvested! 🌾

The first supermoon of this summer was called the “strawberry moon,” as you might imagine because it was the start of the strawberry season. 🍓

Other fun full moon names are the “full beaver moon”, the “full worm moon”, and the “full wolf moon” — what’s your favourite? We’re liking the sound of a worm moon. 

Will you stay up to see the supermoon this week? Tell us in the comments below!

Dutch PM Rutte visits Kyiv to show support for Ukraine

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
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Dutch PM Rutte visits Kyiv to show support for Ukraine

Today, Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands wants to show his support for the people of Ukraine and Zelenskyy’s government. As a result, he has found himself in Kyiv, surrounded by rubble.

Why? As part of his visit, Rutte was brought to some of the worst-affected suburbs of the city: Borodyanka, Butsha and Irpin.

It is his first time visiting the country since the beginning of Russia’s war on Ukraine. In May, the Dutch minister of foreign affairs met with Zelenskyy.

And now, so will Rutte. This afternoon, both the Dutch PM and the president of Ukraine will meet to host a press conference.

Dutch support for Ukraine

During this, they will discuss Dutch support for Ukraine, which certainly exists.

From masses of people singing in Dam Square and the Dutch government’s condemnation of the actions of Russia, to the setting up of numerous charities to support Ukraine, the Netherlands has not been shy to show support for the country.

READ MORE | Dutch cabinet supplies two fighter jets to back Ukraine, willing to do more

This support has also come in the form of weapons, with the Dutch providing €172.2 million worth of military equipment to Ukraine.

Included in this delivery, are fighter jets and Howitzers, with the Netherlands announcing that three more of the huge military weapons will be delivered to Ukraine.

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

Heatwave alert! Temperatures of 40 degrees could hit the Netherlands 

Gaelle Salem
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Heatwave alert! Temperatures of 40 degrees could hit the Netherlands 

It’s time to ditch the jeans and start carrying emergency ijslollies in your bags. One weather model predicts the Netherlands may become mind-blowingly hot, reaching 40 degrees in the coming days. 😳

We’re all yearning to enjoy the delightful Dutch summer weather as much as we can before the dreadful winter rain hits us again. But a stonking 40 degrees? Now that’s just too much. 🥵

A mind-blowing prediction

Luckily, the chances of these extreme temperatures reaching us are minimal at the moment.

However, the prediction still has meteorologists shook. Why? Because it’s an extremely rare thing for weather models in the Netherlands to even show temperatures exceeding 40 degrees.

Reinier van den Berg of Buienradar took to Twitter with the shocking prediction.

Translation: At the moment, this is still extremely uncertain. But the fact that a good weather model calculates this… Until 2019 you never saw 40-somethings in calculations for our country. Now we do, this beats everything. Again, the chances of this happening are minimal.

What can we expect for this week?

That being said, things are definitely about to get heet in here. Starting this week, the sun will gain more ground with up to 30-degree temperatures coming in hot on Tuesday and Wednesday, reports RTL Nieuws. 

READ MORE | Best beaches in the Netherlands: the ultimate guide to Dutch beaches

You can expect the next few days to be filled with hot and dry air with long periods of sun throughout the daytime. ☀️

We’ll likely see the temperatures going above 30 degrees by next weekend, especially on Sunday and possibly Monday. 

How likely is it to reach 40 degrees or more?

It’s too early to tell with certainty if this extreme tropical heat will reach the Netherlands in the coming week. 🤔

However, the main calculations show that the average lies between 30 and 35 degrees (!!), which seems to be a more realistic picture for meteorologists at the moment. Are you sweating already? 

How will you manage if the Netherlands reaches 40 degrees? Tell us in the comments below!

Dutch supermarket Albert Heijn launches limited edition merch and we’re. here. for. it.

Lea Shamaa 🇺🇸🇱🇧
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Dutch supermarket Albert Heijn launches limited edition merch and we’re. here. for. it.

In the Netherlands, the local Albert Heijn is usually a great place to do your groceries — but what can it offer to your summer closet? 👀👕

Albert Heijn has come through with a new clothing line for the summer, where customers can buy fun pieces that scream “THIS IS FROM A SUPERMARKET”.

The limited-edition collection became available on July 4 at all Albert Heijn locations as well as on their website.

While you may be thinking: “Why would I ever buy supermarket merch?”, we’ll rebuttal and say that they’re not that bad and actually kind of stylish.

Yeah, okay. So maybe they’re a tad bit flashy. But these outfits are perfect for standing out on your day at the beach or at a festival: “Look! It’s The Heijn Guy!” Now, that’s a nickname.

What’s in the collection?

The clothing line consists of a Hawaii shirt, jog shorts, socks, a sweater and a fisherman’s hat, all covered with one of the oldest unchanged logos of AH in the Netherlands.

If you aren’t convinced yet, the entire collection is made with BCI (Better Cotton Initiative) cotton, which is part of a bigger initiative to make cotton cultivation more sustainable.

READ MORE | American man loves Albert Heijn so much he tattoos logo on his face

The items in the clothing line offer a price range of between €2.99 to €11.99 and are fit to make an entire outfit from head to toe.

It’s time to tell the world where you love to run your daily errands! We hope Jumbo doesn’t see this. 👀

Will you be getting anything from Albert Heijn’s summer clothing line? Tell us in the comments below!

Employees in the Netherlands may soon be able to ‘Work Where You Want’

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
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Employees in the Netherlands may soon be able to ‘Work Where You Want’

For those of us with an office job, life after lockdowns has been a bit of an adjustment. Don’t feel like seeing your colleagues’ lovely faces every day? Well, soon, you may actually be able to work where you want.

Why? The Dutch House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer) has passed the legislative proposal to ‘Work Where You Want’ (‘Werken Waar Je Wilt‘), SER reports.

What is ‘Werken Waar Je Wilt’?

‘Work Where You Want’ is an initiative put forward by Senna Maatoug of GroenLinks and Steven van Weyenberg of D66.

Under this initiative, employees in the Netherlands can submit a request to work from home to their employer. The employer must then seriously weigh up just how badly they need their employee in the office.

READ MORE | Netherlands ranked the seventh-best country for remote working, study finds

Unless they have a ‘reasonable and fair’ justification for making you come in every day, your employer has to grant you the right to work from home more often.

However, in turn, the employer also has the right to weigh in on how your hybrid working model should look — so no, you can’t bid your colleagues and that awful coffee machine farewell for good, you still have to show face every once in a while. 🙄

Yet to pass through the senate

Don’t go investing in that snazzy home office setup just yet, however.

While the House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer) has passed the bill, it must now be passed in the Senate (Eerste Kamer) before it can come into force.

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

The Netherlands is the first EU country to get this cool new car tech

Cara Räker 🇩🇪
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The Netherlands is the first EU country to get this cool new car tech

Wrong-way drivers, obstacles on the road, or ambulances nearing at full speed…none of these traffic hazards will be an issue anymore with Safety Priority Services (SPS). 🚨

SPS is an innovative warning system that is currently being developed by six different manufacturers and supported by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, says NU.nl.

This stunning tech innovation can be built into cars and navigation systems to help warn drivers about traffic hazards ahead! The best part? The Dutch will get it first. 😎

How will it work?

At the moment, manufacturers ANWB, Be-Mobile, Hyundai, Inrix, Kia, and TomTom are looking to develop SPS — and integrate it into their car and navigation systems.

SPS aims to warn users about potentially dangerous situations ranging from wrong-way drivers to accidents or obstacles blocking the road. However, other potential traffic disruptions such as hail storms or approaching ambulance and police cars are also taken into account.

The idea is that the six manufacturers as well as its users will feed the SPS with information about what’s happening on the road.

Still in the early stages

The SPS is still in development and is not expected to hit the international market before 2025. At the moment, test runs are only being made in the Netherlands.

The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure says that the SPS trials are a way of preparing for new EU-wide traffic and safety legislation that’ll come into effect in 2025.

Would you use a warning system such as SPS? Tell us in the comments below!

The Netherlands to vaccinate risk group against monkeypox virus

Christine Stein Hededam 🇩🇰
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The Netherlands to vaccinate risk group against monkeypox virus

The Dutch cabinet is initiating a vaccination programme for monkeypox. Yesterday, the Minister of Health, Ernst Kuipers, announced that risk groups will be invited to receive their first shot as soon as possible.

Starting out, the cabinet is focusing on people from the HIV-PrEP target group in Amsterdam. That means that around 2,000 people are currently eligible for the first round of monkeypox vaccinations, writes the NOS.

Meanwhile, the cabinet is preparing to roll out vaccinations for a larger risk group of about 32,000 people.

As of yet, only 402 people have been diagnosed with monkeypox in the Netherlands. The symptoms and course of the virus tend to be mild and, so far, no one has needed medical care as a result of monkeypox.

Why are people from the HIV-PrEP target group at risk of monkeypox?

PrEP is a preventive drug that reduces the chances of getting HIV from sex or injection drug use. Experts have advised the Dutch government to vaccinate this group first as cases of monkeypox in Europe have been more common amongst related individuals.

The government is starting the vaccination campaign in Amsterdam as monkeypox cases have been concentrated there and because a large percentage of the HIV-PrEP target group lives there.

People will be offered two jabs with four weeks in between injections. The vaccine that the GGD will use is a so-called ‘off-label vaccine’. This means that it was not specifically made to prevent monkeypox but nonetheless is effective in preventing the spread of the virus.

Concerns about Amsterdam Pride

Earlier this week, the former director of the RIVM, Roel Coutinho, questioned whether it is a good idea to continue with the preparations for Pride. He said, “I think you have to realise that events like this carry extra risk. And that’s not what you want.”

According to Henry de Vries, Principal Investigator and Professor of skin infections and STDs at the University of Amsterdam, there is no reason to cancel the Pride. 🏳️‍🌈

While Pride is set to take place at the end of this month, “sex takes place all year round,” he says. Amen to that!

Moreover, De Vries highlights that Pride hasn’t led to an increase in STD infections in the past. Hence, there’s no reason why it should lead to a spike in monkeypox infections either.

“It’s much better to use these kinds of events to inform people about this outbreak. How to recognise it and what to do about it. That is much more effective than saying: this is not happening and we have contained the outbreak. It doesn’t work that way,” he elaborates.

What do you think about the Netherlands vaccinating against monkeypox? Tell us in the comments!

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