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Children under 12 could qualify for euthanasia in the Netherlands

Lea Shamaa 🇺🇸🇱🇧
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Children under 12 could qualify for euthanasia in the Netherlands

Children under 12 who are subjected to unbearable living conditions could be allowed euthanasia under a new proposal from Dutch Minister for Health Ernst Kuipers.

The children in question can choose to be euthanised if there is zero possibility of recovery and are expected to “die in the foreseeable future”, reports RTL Nieuws.

The doctor must consult with another independent doctor and discuss the full diagnosis and prognosis of the child.

The children’s parents must both agree to go along with the lethal process. However, parental consent is not enough if the child doesn’t want to end his life.

Minister Kuipers also explains that: “In a legal sense, the child does not have to agree to the termination of life. However, the doctor must make an effort to contact the child in a way that suits the child’s comprehension level.”

Political sensitivity

Euthanasia is a sensitive topic in politics since it deals with heavy matters regarding life or death scenarios.

With no legal protocols for children aged between 1 and 12, parents are faced with two options: wait for their child to pass on or keep relieving their pain with palliative sedation.

The current Euthanasia Act only applies to children aged 12 and older since they are considered old enough to fully understand the matter of their situation, says de Volkskrant.

Euthanasia in the Netherlands

Euthanasia of people over 12 years old has been decriminalised in the Netherlands since 2002. The Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide Act states that physicians cannot be punished for euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide provided due care is taken.

Due care includes the patient’s request, the level of suffering, the information provided to the patient, the absence of reasonable alternatives, consultation by another physician, and more. Each case also must go through a separate review committee.

In 2016 there were 6,091 cases of euthanasia in the Netherlands.

Next steps

For now, children under 12 are considered as lacking the ability to completely oversee and reason with their situation.

Minister Kuipers submitted a draft scheme about the sensitive proposition to the House of Representatives to gather advice about the matter from other relevant parties.

Kuipers must wait until October to further inform the House of Representatives about the proposition and determine if or when the regulation will come into effect.

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Hoera! UvA and Utrecht University rank among top 100 scientific universities worldwide

Gaelle Salem
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Hoera! UvA and Utrecht University rank among top 100 scientific universities worldwide

Science students across the Netherlands can drop the pipettes and high-five. Both Amsterdam University (UvA) and Utrecht University have ranked in the top 100 best scientific universities in the world. 🔬

CWTS Leiden Ranking 2022, bases its findings on the scientific performance of over 1,300 major universities worldwide — and the Dutch are amongst the cream of the crop. 🤩

READ MORE | These 7 Dutch universities ranked in Times’ Top 100

University of Utrecht comes out on top

One of Europe’s leading research universities, Utrecht University ranked at number 80 this year among the top 100 scientific universities!

The Biomedical and Health Sciences field has released the highest number of publications with a whopping 5,406. 🤯

However, the university actually scored lower compared to last year’s ranking, where they placed at an impressive 55. That being said, the University of Utrecht can now wear the crown as the best scientific university in the Netherlands — hoera!  

University of Amsterdam a close second

The University of Amsterdam isn’t just one of the world’s most beloved and cherished Dutch universities. No. 

It also holds a grand place in the top 100 scientific universities, placing 90 this year! Yay for Amsterdammers — specifically the nerdy ones! 🥳

Clearly a crowd favourite when it comes to scientific fields, UvA’s Biomedical and Health Sciences faculty also holds the highest number of publications with 5,438.

The Dutch institution also jumped back a few places in the ranks this year compared to last year, when it ranked number 73.

More Dutch universities to make the top 100

Aside from the two high-ranked Dutch scientific universities, there were some that didn’t quite make it into the top 100 this year — but we believe they’re still worth a good mention! 

An oldie but a goldie, the University of Groningen isn’t far behind, placing 111 this year.

READ MORE | Studying in the Netherlands: the ultimate guide

Leiden also ranked at 146, earning a global reputation not just as one of the top 100 universities in the world, but also as a strong contender for scientific research and discovery as well!

Right behind Leiden, Erasmus University Rotterdam places at 151 in the ranks. It looks like the Netherlands is the place to be if you’re a hopeful scientist in the making!

Are you surprised by any of these rankings? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Dutch farmers set fires, block ambulances, and march on The Hague

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
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Dutch farmers set fires, block ambulances, and march on The Hague

Farmers across the Netherlands have taken to Dutch motorways over the past 24 hours in a series of protests that have led to chaos.

Yesterday, tractors blockaded the A2, A7, A15, A28, A50 and A67 highways, leading to huge delays for travellers, as well as more serious issues for others, the NOS reports.

Ambulances were forced to detour around the tractors prompting angry reactions from bystanders.

One user writes on the NOS’s Facebook page that her family could not make it to an important hospital appointment with her daughter. “Thank you! We have to wait weeks again for an appointment with the pediatric cardiologist.”

Speaking to the NOS, traffic law lawyer Bert Kabel adds that “what they’re doing is life-threatening.”

Arson and further protests

Today, the protests have taken a slightly different form with farmers setting fire to hay bales on the motorways. The majority of the fires have now been put out, however, this is not all that is planned for today.

According to Farmers Defense Force, farmers will protest outside the buildings of the chamber in The Hague today at 12 PM.

The municipality of The Hague has responded by saying that they will take action against any protests that are a danger to people who are visiting or working in the area around the buildings.

“If they do come with vehicles, they will have to park them in such a way that it blocks no through roads for emergency services,” a spokesperson tells the NOS.

Why are Dutch farmers protesting?

The Dutch cabinet has presented a plan that aims to cut down on the amount of nitrogen produced in the Netherlands. In order to achieve this, farmers would have to vastly change their approach to farming and significantly reduce their livestock.

As a result, farmers across the Netherlands banded together in order to protest against the plan.

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Feature Image: Kees Torn/Wikimedia Commons/CC2.0


Whirlwind leaves one person dead and ten injured in Dutch city of Zierikzee

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
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Whirlwind leaves one person dead and ten injured in Dutch city of Zierikzee

This afternoon, a whirlwind left a trail of destruction in the Dutch city of Zierikzee. At least one person has been killed and a further 10 people have been injured.

While one death has been confirmed, the extent of the damage caused by the whirlwind has yet to be determined, the Zeeland Safety Region reports.

Significant damage

So far, the popular destination city of Zierikzee has seen the tiles ripped from the church, tress flattened to the ground, and trampolines pulled out of gardens.

More serious cases of damage include four houses having their roofs blown off and the facade of one home collapsing, the NOS reports.

Stay away

The Zeeland Safety Region has called on people to stay away from the city. Emergency services are currently assessing the damage and an NL Alert has been sent.

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

These 5 Dutch policies may give your wallet an extra hand from July 1

Lea Shamaa 🇺🇸🇱🇧
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0
These 5 Dutch policies may give your wallet an extra hand from July 1

Tired of hearing about rising gas, beer, and grocery prices? Well, we have some good news. These Dutch policies will hopefully give your financial well-being a bit of a boost.

Starting from July onwards, several Dutch policies will come into place and potentially relieve your wallet from its increased spendings:

1. Minimum wage will slightly increase

For those who are 21 years of age and older and work 36 hours a week, your compensation will increase from €11.06 to €11.26 an hour starting next week.

While this is only a small increase of 20 cents, the minimum wage will increase faster within upcoming years and is expected to go up to €13.18 in 2025.

2. Energy taxes are going down

As a result of the sharp increase in energy prices, the VAT rate on electricity, gas, and district heating will decrease from 21% to 9% until the end of 2022.

For a household with average energy consumption, this VAT rate decrease will amount to approximately €140 saved in six months, according to NU.nl.

While this doesn’t count for fuel prices, the excise duty on petrol and diesel was lowered earlier this year.

READ MORE | Dutch cabinet returns coal-fired stations to full capacity to offset Russian gas cuts

3. Child benefits will increase

As of July 1, child benefits will increase by about €20 per child per quarter. Great news for parents in the Netherlands!

The decision to increase child benefits (kinderbijslag) wasn’t supposed to happen so soon but eventually did as a result of this year’s high inflation rates.

Note: The increase in child benefits will only occur after the end of the third quarter (October 1, 2022).

4. Entrepreneurs will be paid faster

Those who are self-employed or own small companies will be paid much earlier when carrying out jobs for large companies.

The payment term will go from sixty to thirty days, guaranteeing entrepreneurs a shorter window to earn their payments.

5. All libraries are free for those under 18

From July 1 onwards, all libraries will officially be free for those under the age of 18 in the Netherlands.

Now, kids who want a quiet place to read or study can do it at any library completely for free. Parents also won’t need to worry about paying any potential costs.

Happy reading, children! 📖

To get a better look at the new laws in the Netherlands, you can check out this overview of the changes in Dutch rules and regulations throughout the second quarter of 2022.

Will any of these Dutch policies help your wallet out? Tell us in the comments below!

The Netherlands may get direct trains between Groningen and the Randstad!

Katrien Nivera 🇵🇭
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The Netherlands may get direct trains between Groningen and the Randstad!

Despite being such a small country, train travel times to the north of the Netherlands can take up to three hours from Amsterdam. But, a plan to make the region more accessible is gaining traction. 👀

The Lelylijn, a proposed high-speed rail connection between Groningen and the Randstad is becoming more popular, says RTL Nieuws.

Lelylijn: the fastest train line

The train line is intended to run from the northern city of Groningen through Friesland and Flevoland towards Randstad cities such as Amsterdam.

READ MORE | What is the Randstad? The complete explainer

With a maximum of 200 kilometres per hour, the Lelylijn would shorten the travel time from Groningen to Amsterdam by 40 minutes. Echt snel!

The proposed railway would also connect to cities Drachten and Emmeloord with new stations.

New residential areas in exchange

The Lelylijn is part of the “Deltaplan for the Netherlands”, intended to make working and living in the north of the country more attractive. The project has been in lobbying for four years but it gained more recognition last year.

In April 2021, the provinces announced they would build 220,000 more homes to combat the housing shortage. In exchange, they wanted a faster rail connection to the Randstad.

The Dutch cabinet set up an organisation with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and the provinces of Friesland, Groningen, and Drenthe to investigate what the Lelylijn should look like.

READ MORE | Provinces in the Netherlands: the easy guide

The Lelylijn would also connect to international train connections such as Belgium, Germany, and Scandinavia.

Not without dispute

Of course, the project comes with a few logistical concerns. It is unclear how the route will run — what type of trains will run, how fast they will run, how often these trains will depart from their respective stations, and who will bear the costs.

The railway is expected to cost between €6 to €9 billion in total, with a provisional subsidy of €3 billion in a coalition agreement with the Dutch government.

There are also environmental and landscape impacts to consider, especially when building the new rail lines across the country.

The House of Representatives Committee on Infrastructure and Water Management will continue to debate large infrastructure projects in hopes the timeline and feasibility of the project will become clearer.

What do you think of the Lelylijn? Would you use it? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!

Roadtrips from the Netherlands to Germany: a guide to your summer getaways

Emma Brown
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Roadtrips from the Netherlands to Germany: a guide to your summer getaways

After a road trip from the Netherlands to Germany because you’re feeling bored of the Netherlands? Of course, you’re not! But we all itch for somewhere new every now and then.

And a road trip to Germany is a perfect way to kick off your summer. Being someone who regularly jumps in the car and explores the neighbouring countries, I will share with you my three favourite places to visit that you can easily drive to in a day.

READ MORE | The 19 biggest differences between Germany and the Netherlands

Depending on where you live in the Netherlands, some of these cities will be closer than others. If you’re in the northeast, head to Hamburg. If you live in the southwest, I recommend Cologne and Dusseldorf. Or if you aren’t fussed about the drive at all like me, and live in the west, then just head to any of them!

Visiting Hamburg

The second biggest city in Germany, the third-largest port in Europe, fascinating history as a Medieval Hanseatic League member, and beautiful architecture — these are just a few reasons why road-tripping from the Netherlands to Hamburg is a must. What are the top spots to explore?

Perfect for drinks or shopping! Image: Pixabay

Walk around the Speicherstadt

This is the warehouse district area in Hamburg, which was once full of activity with working citizens. Although it may not be the same today, it’s still full of activity — but for a different reason. Now, the warehouses are transformed into shops, attractions, restaurants, and apartments. Definitely worth a visit!

Go and see the Hamburg Rathaus and surrounding areas

The town hall (just like in many places in the Netherlands) is a pretty amazing piece of architecture that is worth a look at. It’s free to enter and there are exhibitions inside. You can also pay for a tour.

Go to Planten un Blomen

This park has 47 hectares of beautiful scenery, which includes a botanical garden, lawns, and ponds. It’s the perfect place to go for a little walk away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Discovering Düsseldorf

Düsseldorf is a must-road trip destination if you’re into cities with rich history and mind-blowing architecture. While the city has much to explore, here are three things you should definitely consider doing on your next visit:

The best to go if you’re an architecture lover! Image: Pixabay

Go up the Rine tower

This is the tallest building in Düsseldorf and it’s the perfect place to snap some amazing Instagram shots. It dominates the skyline too, so you can’t miss it! 😊

Walk around Hofgarten

This German public park is beautiful to walk around on a sunny day. It features historic monuments and old city gates. A place you can truly be at one with nature.

Have a drink on one of the terraces

There are plenty of places to eat and drink along the river or in the centre of Düsseldorf, making the city the perfect place to go to if it’s a sunny day. Plus you can admire all of the cool architecture.

Exploring Cologne

Cologne’s close proximity to Maastricht makes it a popular road trip destination for anyone who lives in the south of the Netherlands. The city has many beautiful corners to discover and these things should definitely be a part of your road trip to Cologne itinerary:

Definitely the city of cool. Image: Pixabay

Visit Cologne cathedral

You can’t really miss the cathedral, as it towers over much of the city (it’s the second-highest building in Cologne!). Both the outside and the inside of the cathedral are highly impressive and if you want to go inside you only have to pay a small fee (which, in my opinion, is definitely worth it). You can also climb the south tower to get some pretty cool views over the city.

Go up the KölnTriangle

The KölnTriangle is a modern building providing panoramic views of the entire city. So, if you aren’t too scared of heights and want to experience the city from above, then this is one to go for.

Check out Cologne Old Town

Most of Cologne was destroyed in WWII, so a lot of it is fairly modern. This part of Cologne gives you a taste of what it used to be like — plus it’s just really beautiful.

What’s your favourite place to visit in Germany? What other road trips from the Netherlands to Germany would you recommend? Let us know in the comments below!

Editor’s note: This article was initially published in May 2018 and has been updated in June 2022 for your reading pleasure.

Fewer NS trains this weekend due to more staff shortages

Gaelle Salem
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Fewer NS trains this weekend due to more staff shortages

NS is planning to run fewer trains this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday on a number of routes throughout the Netherlands — and this might just disrupt your weekend plans. 😒

Usually, you’re able to travel reasonably fast and comfortable in the Netherlands with the country’s supertastic transportation system. 🤩

READ MORE | No trains between Amsterdam and London for years (until 2028?!)

However, the national railway operator NS has been facing some major burnouts when it comes to its staff members — and train services are dwindling.

What train lines are we talking about here?

On Friday, NS is planning to run fewer intercity trains running between the following train stations:

  • The Hague Central
  • Utrecht Central
  • Amersfoort Central
  • Rotterdam Central
  • Dordrecht Central

NS has asked people to check whether their train is running on the journey planner, reports NU.nl. (Oh, trusted friend.)

They have also shared that more information about which train services will be affected will be announced at a later date.

What’s with all the staff shortage?

As of right now, the Dutch railway company has about 1,100 job vacancies available at the company.

And why are people leaving exactly? Well, the outflow of staff is actually due to early retirement. The aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic has also left many absentees and job openings.

So if you’re looking to be a conductor or join the NS staff, be our guest because they’re certainly hiring! 😉

Got any thoughts on this? Or feelings to share (like annoyance)? Let it all out in the comments below! 👇

Wild poopers annoy the sh*t out of Nijmegeners

Juni Moltubak
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Wild poopers annoy the sh*t out of Nijmegeners

Holy sh*t! Nijmegeners are sick of having thousands of people pooping everywhere during the annual Nijmegen Four Days Marches. 💩

After many complaints from locals and municipalities, the organisers of the march Stichting 4Daagse have gone out with tips to avoid pooping in the wild, reports RTL Nieuws. 

What is going on in Nijmegen?  

There’s nothing like a walk in the lovely Dutch nature filled with dunes, canals, and… human sh*t? Needless to say, we get the locals. Nobody wants their favourite trail littered with human faeces. 

And it’s not like there are just a few instances here and there. No, the problem is quite extensive. The Four Days March attracts over 45,000 participants every year — and everyone has to go at some point, right? 🧻

READ MORE | Why are there no public toilets in the Netherlands?

Well, the locals are not particularly happy with the effect this event has on their surroundings. So, naturally, they’ve issued complaints about the situation to the organisers. 

What a sh*t show! 😷 (Sorry, we have to.)

Toilets every 5km

Stichting 4Daagse have promised the poor Nijmegeners that this year will be different and issued a whole campaign to shed light on the issue in response. 

READ MORE | Nijmegen: the oldest city in the Netherlands is also one of the nicest!

For starters, they’re going above and beyond to inform people where they can find actual toilets. There will be toilets every 5km along the route, which should be plenty if you march at a regular walking pace. 🚽

In addition to the facilities set up by the organisation, they even advise people to use bathrooms in private homes along the way or download a special toilet-finding app to their phones. 

Just don’t eat! (Uhm, no??)

There are also less useful tips coming from the Stichting, who advise participants to limit their food and water intake to avoid having to use the bathroom too often (good tip, thanks).

They also understand that emergencies do occur, but the message is still clear: clean up after yourself. 🧼

Will you be taking part in the Nijmegen 4Days March? Tell us how you feel about the toilet situation in the comments below!

These airlines are scrapping flights from Schiphol this summer

Lea Shamaa 🇺🇸🇱🇧
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1
These airlines are scrapping flights from Schiphol this summer

Those travelling either to or from Schiphol airport will have to deal with more cancelled flights and holiday havoc this summer. 🙅

Over the last couple of weeks, Schiphol’s staff shortage and mismanagement have caused the disruption of many summer trips.

Now, airlines such as EasyJet and Transavia must cancel their flights due to restrictions imposed by the airport to prevent overcrowding.

READ MORE | WTF?! Schiphol ranked among top 20 best airports in the world

All cancellations on deck

Between July 7 and August 14, Transavia will cancel 240 flights which will affect more than 13,000 bookings, reports NU.nl.

For 70% of these flights, alternatives have been arranged such as departures from other local airports. However, the remaining 30% still translates to a total of 3,900 cancelled bookings. 🙄

Low-budget airline Easyjet has also started to cancel additional flights. However, official numbers are not yet known, says RTL Nieuws.

TUI flights to continue normally

On the bright side, flights from TUI airlines won’t be cancelled. So you might just be able to catch that TUI flight if Schiphol crowds allow you to board in time!

Most of their flights can still depart from Schiphol, whereas others have been forced to fly from a regional airport.

Has your flight been affected by the Schiphol summer madness? Tell us in the comments below!

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