Home Blog Page 407

Dutch farmers block highways by setting fire to manure and hay bales

Gaelle Salem
-
4
Dutch farmers block highways by setting fire to manure and hay bales

In today’s episode of the Dutch farmers’ protest, highways have been blocked across the Netherlands due to the stacks of hay and animal faeces that were dumped and set on fire on the roads. 

Farmers have taken to the streets once again with their tractors as they partially or completely block various highway entrances and exits. 😬

Rijkswaterstaat reported dozens of blockades across the country. This is going to be a massive pain for them to clean up.

Which highways are blocked?

Farmers have placed stacks of burned hay bales, car tires, and other waste along these highway roads:

  • A1 at Bathmen,
  • A12 at Bunnik,
  • A28 near Harderwijk,
  • A30 at Ede,
  • A35 at Hengelo,
  • and A50 at Apeldoorn.

In particular, the A28 highway is closed at a number of points: Lankhorst, Staphorst, and ‘t Harde. The A1 and A50 at Apeldoorn are also closed at the Beekbergen junction.

There are also demonstrations taking place on various N-roads between Hoogeveen and Ommen, as well as between Harderwijk and Barneveld. So, it’s safe to say you can probably expect traffic in these regions. 😒

“We’re sorry for the inconvenience”

The Dutch police shared that they will not be taking charge of this situation. Instead, it’s up to Rijkswaterstaat to clear the highways.

READ MORE | Rioting Dutch farmers storm to minister’s house, destroy police car, and set off fireworks

“This can lead to very dangerous situations. Not just burning hay bales, but everything on the road that drivers have to swerve for”, a spokesperson for Rijkswaterstaat told the NOS.

In addition, a reporter from RTV Utrecht shared that you can’t find any more farmers standing idly by their beautiful burnt creations on highway roads.

However, this rubble can still be seen across the country’s roads with signs that say, “sorry for the inconvenience, Rutte IV is driving us to despair.”

What do you think about the farmers’ actions this time? Tell us in the comments below!👇

Man earning €3,800 fined half a million euros after switching jobs to competitor company

Lea Shamaa 🇺🇸🇱🇧
-
0
Man earning €3,800 fined half a million euros after switching jobs to competitor company

An employee in the Netherlands found himself in a pretty rough spot after breaching his previous company’s contract and being faced with a €500,000 fine.

The man was found guilty of violating his non-competition, relationship, and confidentiality clause from his previous employment contract.

The fine he received amounts to about 131 times more than what he makes. That’s some Dutch bureaucracy for you!

Either way, the Dutch court found the fine to be reasonable because the man had clearly overstepped his boundaries, writes RTL Nieuws.

Old business associates

The employee had been working at the Leiden trading company West Coast Supply since 2017 and moved to the Amsterdam trading company Van Caem Klerks Group (VCKG) in the summer of 2020.

He had used sensitive company information from his previous employer and reached out to previous business associates for the Amsterdam competitor.

How did his previous company find out about all this? His previous boss accidentally received the messages proving the man was approaching the associates in favour of their competitor. Whoops? 😬

Why half a million?

While the employee’s previous contract wields a maximum of one million euros in fines, the judge found it reasonable to have him pay half that amount. Still, €500,000 is no small change for someone who earns €3,800 per month, but the seriousness of the breach justifies the fine, according to the judge.

Also, the employee didn’t let his being caught stop him. He continued to work for the competitor under a pseudonym via a self-employed construction.

However, Van Caem, the competitor company, promised to pay the fines for the man. So, it’s possible that he can still make it out of this situation completely unharmed.

Yay, we guess?

What do you think about this man’s case? Tell us in the comments below!

Dutch fraternity calls women “cum buckets” in a speech

Gaelle Salem
-
4
Dutch fraternity calls women “cum buckets” in a speech

On Sunday evening, the largest student association in the Netherlands, Amsterdam Corps, gave extremely sexist speeches during a dinner in honour of a lustrum celebration. 

The men of the association thought it was a good idea to ask a very dangerous question: “What’s the worst possible thing you can call a woman?” 

The answer? A whore. “Women are nothing and nothing more than a whore.” 🤨

This was just one of the many misogynistic statements made yesterday during that infamous dinner.

A so-called gentlemen’s dinner

During the dinner, several male members went beyond their limits while giving speeches. Women were called “sperm buckets”, and it was said “to break women’s necks” or “put their dicks in.”

READ MORE | Patriarchy in disguise — the myth of gender equality in the Netherlands

Hundreds of members were gobsmacked to hear such appalling things being said aloud — including the head of the Amsterdam student body, Heleen Vos.

“I find this shocking and hurtful. I strongly disagree with these events personally, and as a rector of the association, I regret that Amsterdam Corps has once again been cast in a negative light”, Heleen Vos tells RTL Nieuws.

In addition, dozens of women from the association wrote a letter to the board protesting the men’s awful behaviour. “We are done with this sexism”, they shared.

We can already hear the men plead in defence by saying, “it’s just a joke.” No need to get pressed over it if it’s just a joke, right? 🤔

READ MORE | Being a feminist in the Netherlands: surprisingly, it’s a challenge

Well, in a country that’s known to be progressive, liberal, and full of strong and independent feminists — sirs, you have all just made one fat mistake.

Not the first time

Members of the association are fed up because this isn’t the first time that an event hosted by Amsterdam Corps has led to a lot of commotion. 

Last year, students were humiliated, kicked, and badly beaten up during a hazing that took place in Amsterdam.

Luckily, the capital city heard their cries, and the association was finally called out for its transgressive behaviour.

READ MORE | Dutch sororities and fraternities: yep, they exist (and are echt bizarre)

The punishment? Educational institutions in Amsterdam took away the board members’ administrative rights for the academic year, and those involved in the abuses were also suspended.

As a predominantly female office here at Dutch Review, all we can really say is, men of Amsterdam Corps, DO BETTER! 😡

What are your thoughts on the things said by the men of Amsterdam Corps? Tell us in the comments below! 👇

Dutch universities warn internationals not to come if they can’t find a room

Juni Moltubak
-
3
Dutch universities warn internationals not to come if they can’t find a room

Finding housing as a student is always hard(-er than it should be), but now several Dutch universities are outright telling their students not to come to the Netherlands if they don’t have a room yet. 🤔

International students, in particular, are now being warned against coming to the lowlands — there’s just not enough space! 

Now it’s official 

Just a few days ago, the Amsterdam-based student union ASVA warned international students against coming to the Dutch capital if they don’t have a roof over their heads. 🏠

READ MORE | Starting life as a student in the Netherlands: 7 things you need (to know)

Now, the same message has been sent out from basically all the main universities in the Netherlands, writes the NOS.

From Maastricht and Eindhoven to Leiden, Utrecht, Nijmegen, and Groningen: everyone’s alerting these incoming students of possible homelessness if they come to the Netherlands. 

Internationals are the worst hit 

More and more students are hearing about the low tuition fees and the high-quality education available in the Netherlands.

Naturally, this makes more and more internationals (as many as 56% of the student base in Maastricht actually) want to come here. 🤷‍♂️

This isn’t surprising — it’s great being a student in the land of bikes and beers. 🚲🍻

READ MORE | The student housing nightmare: a tale of discrimination, fraud and protest

However, internationals are far more dependent on finding housing on time and thus run a bigger risk of having to live in tents, in expensive hotels, or in random strangers’ living rooms. 

Dutch students can (usually) stay in the safe (and free) house of their parents or immediate family and can therefore withstand the housing crisis just a little easier than others. 

More internationals are coming 

The amount of international students in the Netherlands has been rising sharply over the past few years, a trend that has increased the pressure on the housing situation. 

Is it likely that the trend will slow down? We wouldn’t think so unless it somehow becomes significantly worse to study in the Netherlands. Until then, Dutchies simply have to figure out a way to deal with the masses… 

Can you think of a way to handle the pressure on Dutch student housing? Tell us in the comments below!

Donald Trump expresses support for Dutch farmers against “climate tyranny”

Lea Shamaa 🇺🇸🇱🇧
-
3
Donald Trump expresses support for Dutch farmers against “climate tyranny”

In a two-hour speech, Trump expressed his support for Dutch farmers and particularly appreciated their resistance to the climate crisis. Classic. 🙄

The ex-American president presented his thoughts to a crowd of young conservatives in Tampa, Florida. This is what he had to say:

“At the moment, Dutch farmers are bravely resisting the climate tyranny of the Dutch government, which wants to cut their production rigorously despite increasing food shortages.”

When referencing the Dutch farmers again, he pointed out their “peaceful” protests. Who’s going to tell him about the minister’s house riot and the ambulance roadblocks? 🤔

READ MORE | Tensions rising: shots fired at farmers’ protests in the Netherlands

The political game

While you may be thinking: “Why does Trump even care about the Dutch farmers?” they’re actually the perfect demographic to reference for his (mainly) rural American audience.

Marieke de Vries — correspondent for the NOS — explains that Trump is using the Dutch farmer situation to gain the sentiment of rural Americans, who also fear that they’ll have to change lifestyles too due to the climate crisis.

Starting to see the pattern here? As Trump praises the farmers for their rejection of the nitrogen policies and incites rebellion against the “climate fanatics”, he’s simply playing the political game. 🤷‍♀️

It’s crucial for Mr Trump to deny climate change claims because he wants to side with his conservative fan base, who also happen to live in areas where coal or oil is extracted.

How do you feel about what Trump had to say about Dutch farmers? Tell us in the comments below!

McDonald’s introduces smoking ban on terraces, now can the rest of the Netherlands finally follow?

Juni Moltubak
-
0
McDonald’s introduces smoking ban on terraces, now can the rest of the Netherlands finally follow?

McDonald’s has become the first fast food chain in the Netherlands to ban smoking in their outside areas. 🤯

Yep, now you can enjoy your burger, WITHOUT a side of secondhand smoke forcing its way into your lungs!

The move follows a nationwide law safeguarding employees’ right to a smoke-free work environment in enclosed areas.

The restaurant chain is somewhat alone in their efforts though, as smoking is still allowed on most Dutch terraces. 🚬

Family- and worker friendly 

Although the ban is inspired by maintaining the health of their employees, McDonald’s also had other reasons behind their decision, writes RTL Nieuws. 

The chain’s new efforts are also in line with their image as a family-friendly establishment. They aim for a more welcoming and safe atmosphere, and argue that the smoking ban is an important step towards that.

Quite a few people will be affected by the restaurant’s decision to ban smoking, since more than 20% of all adults in the Netherlands are identified as regular smokers.

READ MORE | Mixed reactions to smoking ban at train stations

The ban was co-developed by the organisation Smoke-Free Generation, who have provided McDonald’s with pavement tiles indicating that the area is smoke free.

The tiles are to be used outside the 200 (out of 258) restaurants in the Netherlands that have a terrace area — sounds like quite the job! 💪

Where’s the rest?

“Wait a minute,” we hear you say, “isn’t smoking already banned on restaurant terraces?!” Nope, not just yet.

The Netherlands is an innovative, forward-looking, and progressive country in most areas, but smoking rules are still moving embarrassingly slowly.

READ MORE | Train station smoking columns to be converted to E-bike charging points

Although McDonald’s has a long way to go when it comes to both health and environmental standards, we welcome their efforts to take care of public health — one baby step at a time. 

What do you think about McDonald’s smoking ban? Tell us in the comments below!

If everyone in the world went vegan it would solve world hunger: Dutch research

Juni Moltubak
-
0
If everyone in the world went vegan it would solve world hunger: Dutch research

New research from Wageningen University reflects what vegans have been saying for ages: if we just eat the plants ourselves, nobody would go hungry!

Did you know that roughly half of all farmland is used to grow plants for animal feed? 

A vegan diet requires almost 30% less land than meat diets, and eating predominantly plant-based is famously more healthy than the traditional meat-based diet. 

So, we can save the poor from starving, and the rich from eating unhealthy food, if we all just go vegan! 🌱

The more efficient option 

Using land and resources to produce food for animals so that humans eventually can eat those animals is without a doubt an inefficient system. The new research claims the key to ending world hunger lies here. 

READ MORE | Dutch supermarket Albert Heijn continues to extend vegan product range

According to the Dutch study, vegan diets require about 0.12 hectares of land per person per year. In comparison, a meat-based needs 0.17 hectares per person per year. 🤔

In addition, it’s far more resource-intensive to produce enough veggies and plant protein for livestock than it is to do the same for humans. We just eat way less than those big cows! 🐄

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

In other words, if we stopped feeding livestock so we can eventually eat it, and use the space to grow food for humans instead, we can make real social change.

The more sustainable option 

In addition to the added resource efficiency, the Wageningen research also points out that there is an important sustainability aspect to the vegan diet. 

READ MORE | These two Dutch cities rank in the top 10 for vegans in Europe

Of course, less livestock means fewer emissions, but it also means less natural disturbance. 

With less farmland exploited for unnecessary food production, we can focus more on restoring nature, planting carbon-capturing forests, and increasing overall biodiversity.

It’s no secret that agriculture is among the absolute worst industries from a sustainability perspective. 

Pair that with the fact that less meat is super beneficial for human (and animal) health, and you’ve got yourself a good reason to try out veganism!

Do you think this plan could work? Tell us in the comments below!

First vaccines given against monkeypox in the Netherlands

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
-
0
First vaccines given against monkeypox in the Netherlands

The first monkeypox vaccines will be given to high-risk populations in the Netherlands today.

After the virus triggered people worldwide with the threat of another pandemic, monkeypox has slowly crept through the country.

So far, 712 people in the Netherlands have been infected with the type of smallpox virus. However, as of today, vaccines are available to slow the spread.

High-risk people

The majority of infections have so far occurred between men who have had intimate contact with other men.

That’s why the first vaccination invitations will go directly to this group, and transgender people. Sex workers also made the list. In total, about 32,000 people will be eligible.

Luckily, the government is not spying on people to see who they’re having sex with (but what a job that would be).

Instead, the invites will be sent to men who have been tested for HIV, have a high risk of STIs, or who are known to sexual health clinics.

An entirely un-new vaccine

“But how did they cook up a vaccine so fast, and won’t it control the minds of everyone who takes it?” Ah, the terrible sound of conspiracy theorists.

No stress, team: the vaccine used is Imvanex, and is already in use against smallpox. According to the GGD (Municipal Health Department), it is already known that the drug is safe.

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

Schiphol ranked 4th-worst airport globally for delays this summer (surprise, surprise)

Lea Shamaa 🇺🇸🇱🇧
-
1
Schiphol ranked 4th-worst airport globally for delays this summer (surprise, surprise)

After months of disruptions, Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport has been ranked among the worst five airports in the world for delays.

It joins seven other European airports in the world’s top 10 worst airports with the most delayed flights this summer, according to CNN Travel.

Of course, it’s not like our expectations were high: Schiphol has been suffering from mismanagement, staff shortages, lost luggage, and overcrowding in recent months. 🤷‍♀️

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

Earlier this month, a separate study ranked Schiphol airport eighth worst in Europe for overall time performance in July.

Cancellations, much?

Schiphol airport isn’t doing too well in the cancellations department either.

With 3.9% of all aircraft being cancelled this summer, Schiphol still managed to place last in the 10 worst airports for cancellations. Maybe it’s time for us to #Cancel Schiphol. 🤨

While the talk has mostly been focused on European airports, those in Eastern Asia are also going through it.

China’s Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport saw a cancellation rate of 7.9%, and in Indonesia’s Hatta International Airport, 6.2% of all aircraft were cancelled this summer.

Airports with the most summer delays globally

  1. Toronto Pearson International Airport (Canada): 52.5%
  2. Frankfurt Airport (Germany): 45.4%
  3. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (France): 43.2%
  4. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (Netherlands): 41.5%
  5. London Gatwick Airport (United Kingdom): 41.1%
  6. Heathrow Airport (United Kingdom): 40.5%
  7. Munich Airport (Germany): 40.4%
  8. Athens International Airport (Greece): 37.9%
  9. Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (Australia): 34.2%
  10. Orlando International Airport (United States): 33.4%

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

International students warned not to come to Amsterdam: 10,000 rooms short

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
-
0
International students warned not to come to Amsterdam: 10,000 rooms short

In the latest episode of the Dutch housing crisis, students from abroad are being told to avoid Amsterdam — or they’ll risk homelessness and exploitation.

The call comes from the Dutch student union ASVA, which says 4,720 international students registered for just 2,416 available rooms at Universiteit van Amsterdam (UvA).

That leaves 2,304 students competing to find alternative accommodation, adding to a shortage of 6,600 last year. 🤯

“Our mailbox is full of questions from desperate students, who we cannot even refer to a hostel,” ASVA board member Job Vermaas told AT5.

“If this continues, we will have a shortage of 10,000 rooms in September, which is really unsustainable.”

The UvA agrees that the current situation is concerning. “We also discourage international students from coming to Amsterdam if they have not yet found a room in mid-August,” said a spokesperson.

The lowdown on the Dutch student housing crisis

Student housing has been an issue in major Dutch cities for years. There has been shortage after shortage reported, students who have been forced to live in ‘tent cities’, other students left homeless, and projections that 50,000 students could be lacking a home in the next two years.

The ultra-competitive environment has also made housing scams rampant. Government programs have had little success in easing the pressure. The Netherlands has been in crisis mode for so long that the crisis has become the norm.

Compete or go home

Now the student union is calling on the university to intervene and only offer as many spots for English-language education as there are rooms available.

However, the UvA says that’s not an option, with a spokesperson telling AT5, “the courses are also popular among many Dutch students.”

Instead, the university wants to implement numerus fixus for international students, a strategy that limits spots in a program and offers them to students via a selection process.

Okay, you might be saying, “isn’t that how all universities work?” but the answer is no.

Numerus fixus is pretty standard for many countries, but in the Netherlands, it’s only used for studies in high demand, like medicine, physiotherapy, or computer science.

READ MORE | University of Amsterdam concerned by the rise in international students

The UvA submitted a bill to the minister to implement numerus fixus for international students two years ago. However, with the switch of the Dutch cabinet after the 2021 general election, the decision has been delayed.

Have you struggled to find housing in Amsterdam? Tell us your story in the comments below!

1...406407408...760Page 407 of 760