A Jewish woman reported a man wearing a Nazi uniform while he walked through the streets of Scheveningen last Saturday.
The woman was drinking coffee on a terrace in Scheveningen when she saw a group of men arrive. They removed a package from their bag reading “German uniform Second World War.”
One man unwrapped the package and put on the uniform in the middle of the street, while the others stood around giggling.
“We have to draw a line and show that this is punishable,” says the woman to RTL Nieuws.
“Worrying and serious”
She confronted the men about what they were doing. The woman asked why he was wearing the outfit, to which he responded: “I’m going to have a nice day.”
One of the other men in the group said: “We think it’s funny and the outfit suits him well.” The others laughed along.
She was outraged that the man wore a Nazi uniform, she tells RTL Nieuws. “Men seem to feel confident enough to do this on the street rather than in their own backyard. They think this is acceptable behaviour.”
She finds it “worrying and serious” that the far-right extremism dares to manifest so openly in the streets, especially in broad daylight.
Death anniversary of Hitler
The woman emphasises that it wasn’t a coincidence that this happened on Saturday, April 30 — Adolf Hitler’s death anniversary.
Within far-right circles, this day is considered a celebration.
The police confirmed she filed a complaint about the man yesterday. The report was submitted to the Public Prosecution Service, which will investigate whether the man committed a criminal offence.
“If they determine that, we will investigate further,” said a spokesperson for The Hague police. “We don’t know exactly when that decision will be made.”
Schiphol is planning to limit the number of flights during busy periods at the airport. What’s more, the airport wants to pay its staff better to attract more security and baggage personnel.
Schiphol CEO Dick Benschop even apologised to travellers for the chaos and wait times at the airport. 😟
May holiday mess
Schiphol experienced an extremely chaotic week due to staff shortages and large crowds of travellers, says the NOS.
Passengers waited hours in lines and Schiphol even asked airlines to cancel flights. “Not the level of quality you can expect from Schiphol,” said Benschop. Next week, the airport plans to consult the sector about limiting flights for the first time. 🛬
The airport made a tight flight schedule seven weeks before the holiday season. However, an unexpected strike caused chaos during the first weekend, more passengers arrived than expected, and there were 10% less security staff, due to the flu and coronavirus. 😷
Claiming responsibility
Schiphol is legally obliged to make sure the basic facilities around the airport function properly. This includes air traffic control, security, and baggage handling says aviation lawyer Jochem Croon.
“Even if the airport outsources that task to someone else, that does not release it from legal responsibility and liability.”
Many security guards, for example, work under subcontractors. Yet Schiphol cannot pass these responsibilities to them.
Financial damages
Schiphol also receives money from airline companies to handle baggage and security. For each departing passenger, companies pay around €30. Schiphol also receives tens of euros per flight depending on the size of the aircraft.
These airline companies are claiming millions in damages over the cancelled and delayed flights.
All hands on deck
Crowds are expected to return next weekend as well. “It’s going to be all hands on deck now”, says Benschop. Flights are also being moved to Rotterdam The Hague Airport and Eindhoven.
“It is clear to us the summer has to be different,” according to Benschop. To avoid the same chaos in summer, Schiphol will continue to recruit staff, despite the tight labour market. “We will have to make sure that we are an attractive place.”
Schiphol also wants to look into higher wages in consultation with trade unions and subcontractors.
What do you think of the situation at Schiphol? Tell us your thoughts in the comments. 👇
TUI, the Dutch travel company, will soon offer six night trains to several European cities by the end of the month, reports AD. 🚆
TUI will provide night trains departing from the Netherlands to the cities of Copenhagen, Prague, Vienna, Venice, Milan, and Florence.
Soon, you’ll be able to enjoy a good night’s sleep while travelling between these destinations thanks to the sleeping compartments on these night trains. 💤
Full disclosure: this article is not sponsored by TUI but if they would like to buy us some cheese for the DutchReview machine or — or cough cough — give us a train ride, we’d certainly be on board. 😉
When and where?
You can catch a night train from the Netherlands either at Amsterdam or Utrecht central station. So sit back and enjoy the ride from there! 🚉
The trains will depart from the Netherlands between 4:30 PM and 8:00 PM and arrive straight at the city destination the next morning between 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM.
Tip: Each trip lasts five days and four nights, in which the first and last days are spent on the night trains.
More sustainable travels
In 2019, TUI already announced its ban on flights between the Netherlands and Paris since less polluting alternatives exist for these short trips.
The Dutch travel company wants to make its holiday trips more sustainable. One way to do that is by offering more trips via train — and we’re definitely fans!
Will you be trying out these night trains? If so, what’s your next stop? Tell us in the comments below!
With many sanctions against Russian resources due to the war in Ukraine, the Netherlands seems to fall short when it comes to Russian oil.
Eight tankers holding Russian oil are currently heading towards the Port of Rotterdam where they are expected to sail in without any problem, reports the NOS.
The Ukrainian embassy has called to refuse these tankers but a spokesperson for the Port of Rotterdam Authority explained that as long as the ships aren’t subject to any sanctions, they’re allowed to enter the port.
Even though it has legally entered the port, the port employees refuse to officially request it to dock. This is to show solidarity with Ukraine but also with their Swedish colleagues, who have also previously refused the ship in Stockholm.
The decision of the crew members has also been supported by the municipality of Amsterdam and FNV Havens — trade union for port workers.
Why not boycott Russian ships?
According to FNV Havens, boycotting all Russian ships or ships with Russian cargo isn’t legally possible as the union fears many lawsuit losses against ship owners, reports the NOS.
While the union doesn’t act legally, it still encourages individual dock workers to report as conscientious objectors. This allows them to refuse ships from docking due to moral principles.
On top of this, Russian oil is considered important for the Netherlands as it is used in abundance. In fact, 25% of imported oil products came from Russia by the end of 2021.
According to the NOS, a boycott would reduce imports and have negative economic consequences for the Netherlands — solidarity has its limits for the Dutch.
What do you think about the Dutch reaction to Russian oil? Tell us in the comments below!
In a shocking turn, the Netherlands scored exceptionally badly in the yearly global press freedom ranking.
The lowlands ranked 28th in the world, dropping all the way from 6th place in 2021 by 22 spots.
Dropping a rank
In 2013, 2014, and 2016, the press freedom organisation Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) ranked the Netherlands in second place, reports RTL Nieuws.
Since 2018, the country fell one place each year, ending up in 6th place in 2021. This year, they didn’t even make it to the top 20.
“This has never happened before,” says Free Press Unlimited, a Dutch NGO. The Netherlands never faced such a rapid decline in press freedom.
However, it doesn’t actually come as a surprise.
Physical attacks against journalists
The Netherlands has never ranked so low in press freedom, so why now?
Over the last year, several journalists were physically attacked. One camera crew in Utrecht was ambushed and robbed, while churchgoers attacked journalists in Urk and Krimpen aan den IJssel.
Something must be done
The director of Free Press Unlimited believes something must be done about the situation in the Netherlands.
“The Netherlands has always been a forerunner and champion of press freedom worldwide. To maintain this position, the freedom of the press and the safety of journalists must be high on the agenda.”
Reporters Sans Frontières showed that the state of press freedom around the world overall is declining.
What do you think of the press freedom situation in the Netherlands? Tell us in the comments. 💭
So, you’re one of the few people who want to have a car in the Netherlands.Good on you! But there are a couple of things you should know.
When you’re first getting a car, you may be shocked at the lack of information there is on having a car in the Netherlands. Especially because there’s a lot to consider, including:
Driving licences — obtaining and exchanging
How to buy a car in the Netherlands — registration and insurance
Selling a car in the Netherlands
Importing a car in the Netherlands
It can be confusing to start your car-purchasing journey, so this is everything you need to know about having a car in the Netherlands.
Driving licence
Let’s get started on having the most important piece of documentation you’ll need. Without a valid driving licence, you can kiss goodbye to having a car in the Netherlands. You can’t drive legally until the age of 18 — if you’re 17, you’re out of luck for now. So, what are the first steps of having a car in the Netherlands?
I don’t have a driving licence
Welcome to the world of driving a car! We can imagine wanting to learn to drive in another country may seem even scarier but there are ample driving instructors in the Netherlands.
A language barrier won’t be an issue too! Plenty of driving schools around the Netherlands offer complete lessons and exams in English.
The perils of having a car in the Netherlands: finding a place to park. Image: Pixabay
If you want driving instructors, just a simple Google search will do the trick and show you instructors in your area. You’ll notice that because you searched in English, many international driving schools will pop up.
It’s worth comparing the prices and looking at their website/Facebook for reviews. Once you’ve booked your lessons with someone, they help you with all you need to pass your test.
I have an EU/EFTA driving licence
So you’ve passed your dreaded test and you hold a licence from an EU country. This bit is easy! You don’t have to do anything. You’re all set as long as you have an ID or passport and driving licence to prove you can drive.
Make sure you’ve got the right licence for the Netherlands! Image: Depositphotos
You can drive on this licence for 10 years (or whenever your current one runs out). After these 10 years (or if your other one runs out), you need to switch to a Dutch licence.
I have a driving licence from outside the EU
In some cases, you can exchange your non-EU licence for a Dutch one. This must happen within six months of registration to the Netherlands. How do I exchange, you ask?
You need to make an appointment with your local stadhuis (city hall) to get up-to-date proof of residency. You can send your licence, recent passport photo, and Certificate of Medical Fitness to the Driving Test Organisation. They will then sort the exchange for you.
But in other cases, you may have to retake your theory and practical exam before being granted a Dutch licence. You can find out which situation applies to you on the RDW website.
Buying a car in the Netherlands
Like everything else here, having a car in the Netherlands is expensive. To buy (an expensive) car, you turn up at a car dealership or to an individual selling the car and buy it from them.
Make sure that your car suits your needs
Another thing: make sure you buy a car suited to your needs. I bought a little city car — a Ford KA and then drove around the whole of Europe in it and almost killed the thing.
Don’t do that. Like always, you have to ensure the APK is all okay and the car is safe to drive. You should ask for all of the documents for your new car.
Registering your car
Are you ready to drive your new car? Make sure you get everything properly registered before driving off into the sunset! You need to register your car in your name. And sadly, this isn’t as simple as just calling someone up and them doing it for you in many cases.
Registering your car is just as important as registering a move to a different house. Image: Unsplash
If you have a Dutch identification card, you can go to your local post office with all your documents and identification, and they do it for you. You need to go to an RDW inspection station if you don’t. Either the person selling to you needs to come with you, or they must give you the car documents.
Luckily, my nice car dealer drove me to the RDW with my gemeente documents (must be no more than three months old), car documents, passport, and driving licence, and I was all registered.
Obtaining car insurance
Now I promise you, this one is easy. All you have to do is find an insurance company that you want to insure with, call them up, and they will insure your car to drive. There are a few comparison sites in English online.
Get that car insurance before any major problems happen! Image: Depositphotos
It’s also worth asking your car dealership (if you bought a car from them) to get you a deal. Mine rang up a company and got us a better deal than anywhere else. It also saved us the hassle of a language barrier on the phone.
Once that’s all set, you’ll be billed monthly for your insurance, and anybody can drive your car with your permission (it’s the car that’s insured, not the person, like in some countries). Insurance isn’t cheap, and it also can go up if the company experiences a lot of claims that year.
Selling a car in the Netherlands
Before we begin, DO NOT run your car to the ground and then try to sell it — it won’t work. You will lose so much value. So, take that advice if you don’t want to lose any money.
Sometimes, having a car in the Netherlands becomes way too expensive, so selling it can be the best option in the long run. Image: Pixabay
Remember what we said earlier about registering a car at a post office or RDW — this applies here too. If someone buys a car from you, they need to register it in their name (vehicle registration card and ownership code). Either go with them or provide them with the documents. There are some ways that you can sell a car in the Netherlands.
Selling to a car dealership
Going to a car dealership is the easiest way to sell your car. However, that comes at a cost. If you sell to a car dealership, you will not be able to sell it for as much as you’d like or as much as you’d get elsewhere.
You can find car dealerships pretty easily around the Netherlands. Image: Depositphotos
This is the place to sell if you want to get rid of your car. It’s a quick and easy transaction of bringing your car and documents, exchanging the money, and getting the car off your hands. As an alternative, you can sell it to them for money off a new car from them.
Selling your car privately
This involves selling to friends or family or leaving your car outside your house with a big te koop sign in your window. This is a popular method of selling a car, as it involves minimal effort, and you can get the price you are after easier (try not to rip your mates off, though, yeah?).
Selling your car online
One way of selling your car online is in an auction or within a general sale. Sites such as Marktplaats give you the platform to sell your car however you want. This is through an advert asking for the price you want or an auction (people bid for it).
This method can be risky, as you may not get a very good deal for your car, but on the other hand, you could get a great deal, depending on the demand.
An online platform can make selling your car a little more convenient. Image: Unsplash
Another way of selling your car online is through an RDW-licenced buying site for cars. All you have to do is enter the information about the car, and it’s all processed for you if you both accept the offer — this includes the transferring of registration details (no need to do it to an RDW station). This makes it so much faster to sell your car.
Importing a car to the Netherlands
Bringing your car to the Netherlands isn’t cheap — but sometimes necessary. The whole process can be costly, so make sure you need to take it over before you commit. If you are registered in the Netherlands, you are completely within your rights to bring your car from your home country.
This is because you have to register and obtain a Dutch licence plate, which you can also do through the RDW. You cannot drive your car in the Netherlands on foreign plates.
Importing a car from an EU/EFTA country
One of the benefits of being in the EU is the freedom of goods. This also applies to your car. If your car comes from an EU/EFTA country, you can drive your car in the Netherlands for six months.
After that period, you have to register and obtain a Dutch licence plate. However, you can still be subject to a lot of tax on your car. You may also need your car checked by RDW before they issue you with a Dutch licence plate.
Importing your car might save you some purchase costs in the Netherlands — but importing has its own costs to keep in mind too. Image: Depositphotos
If you bring your car, you must have lived in another EU country for at least 12 months prior and had your car for at least six months. It’s important to know that you cannot sell your car for one year after arriving in the Netherlands.
It’s all part and parcel of having a car in the Netherlands. This is to stop people from going to Germany and buying cheaper cars (We can’t blame them, cars are expensive here).
Importing a car from outside the EU
If you are importing your car from outside the EU, your car needs to be checked by the RDW before they issue a Dutch licence plate.
These checks include meeting the criteria for noise, environment, and safety. These checks can be costly if your car needs to be referred for a special inspection upwards of €1,000 (yikes!).
Avoiding BPM tax
One of the downsides of having a car in the Netherlands is the tax! You are subject to VAT, BPM (private motor vehicle and motorcycle tax), and import duty tax when importing your car. However, you can easily avoid paying BPM tax if this is the first car you take with you to the Netherlands.
If you can prove that your car is ‘personal removal goods,’ you are exempt. This means that your car is essentially part of the furniture. It is not illegal to do this, and it’s not considered lying to the tax office either, as, in theory, it is considered the removal of goods.
Again, you need to have been living abroad for at least 12 months prior and had your car for at least six months. When you fill out your registration form, don’t forget to state that it is a removal good! You could be saving yourself upwards of €4,500 by doing this.
Parking your car in the Netherlands
If you’re planning on having a car in the Netherlands, another expense you will need to consider is paying for parking.
Especially if you live in the Amsterdam area, those costs seem to rise every year, as the city moves more towards public transport. But, if you have your own house with parking attached, this may not be an issue for you.
Happy driving! I promise you it is not as complicated as it sounds, and once you’re all set, you be well on your way to enjoying your new Dutch beauty, along with all the fun road trips that come with having a car in the Netherlands.
Got any extra tips for us about having a car in the Netherlands? Drop them in the comments below!
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in February 2018, and was fully updated for your reading pleasure in April 2022.
Growing a little tired of the overcast weather? Then you’ll love this report!
The sun is finally breaking through the clouds and today is supposed to be the most beautiful day of the week with plenty of sunshine, reports Weerplaza. ☀
While the north of the country may still see some clouds, the rest can enjoy clear skies with temperatures between 16 and 19 degrees.
What about after Monday?
We already said Monday would be the nicest day of the week. Does this mean the rest won’t be as good?
Well, yes and no. On Tuesday, the wind will pick up speed again and it might get a little colder.
However, it will remain dry and the sun will occasionally break through the clouds — and those are the moments we desperately hang on to. 🙏
Liberation Day weather
As for Liberation Day, we know a winter jacket won’t be needed. Temperatures are expected to reach between 15 and 18 degrees (and possibly even twenties in the southeast of the lowlands).
Meteorologists are expecting the sun to struggle to liberate itself from the clouds however the weather is likely to be overcast and there’s even a chance of rain (but we hope not).
Twenty degrees in the second half of May
What’s more important though, is what happens after Liberation Day. According to Weerplaza, things will most likely start changing for the better again — and we can look forward to warmer weather. 😎
After May 10, average temperatures between 15 and 20 degrees will be the norm and we may even experience temps higher than 20 degrees on warm afternoons. Biertje on a terrace every single day, anyone? 🙆♀️
Will you be making the most of the beautiful weather? Let us know in the comments!
Throughout April, Dutch employers were asked to reportif they employed Ukrainian refugees to the Dutch Employee Insurance Agency (UWV).
During the first week, 550 Ukrainian employees were registered. In the second week, the number rose to 850. By week four, the total of Ukrainian employees in the Netherlands amounted to 4,300, reports NU.nl.
Main areas of employment
The UWV says that about 40% of the refugees found employment through an employment agency. Through these channels, Ukrainians found work in the service sector, including jobs in cleaning, shop assistance, agriculture, and transport.
In general, most Ukrainians found work in the Amsterdam area (12%) and in The Hague.
EU has lowered hurdles
The European Union has introduced special legislation to ease the introduction of Ukrainian refugees into the workforce of their respective host countries.
Usually, employers have to issue a special request if they want to employ a refugee. With the special legislation, Ukrainians can pretty much get to work straight away.
In the Netherlands, it remains a requirement to report the employment of Ukrainian refugees to the UWV.
There are over 40,000 Ukrainian refugees in NL
According to the Dutch government website, there are 47,930 registered Ukrainian refugees in the Netherlands as of April 28.
Looking at that number, it becomes clear that the employment of 4,300 Ukrainians is a start — but there are many more refugees waiting to find their footing in the lowlands.
What do you think about more Ukrainians entering the Dutch workforce? Tell us in the comments below.
Baby driver alert! In Utrecht, an ‘entrepreneurial’ four-year-old boy got into his mother’s car and collided with two parked cars.
The police joked that they found Formula 1’s next Max Verstappen. 🏎
Places to be
An eyewitness called the police after they saw the boy alone on the street. The boy was barefoot in his pyjamas and his parents were nowhere to be seen. Officers took him to the police station in the meantime. 🚔
Not much later, the police received a report of an “abandoned accident” in the Overvecht neighbourhood of Utrecht.
It was reported that a motorist had run away after they rammed into two parked cars — but the plot thickened. The car turned out to be in the name of the child’s mother. 👀
An enterprising child
The woman revealed that her child likely got behind the wheel. This theory was backed by police who said the young boy gestured a collision and a steering movement while in their car. 🚗
It turns out that the child woke up when his father left for work. He took the car keys to go for a spin, which resulted in a collision that damaged two parked cars (and thankfully, nothing else).
The little culprit escaped the scene barefoot in his pyjamas. “Fortunately, this mini-adventure ended well”, concluded the police.
What do you think of this Dutch kid’s rendition of Fast and the Furious? Tell us in the comments below!
As of recent, large crowds have swept through Schiphol airport, overwhelming both travellers and airport staff members.
To combat the confusion and long lines, Schiphol has requested to cancel many of the flights planned for this weekend until 8 May, reports the NOS.
On top of this, Schiphol isn’t accepting any new bookings until the crowds are reduced. It looks like that trip you were planning might just have to wait a while. 🤷🏻♀️
Why is the Dutch airport so crowded?
With May holidays right around the corner, many people have been eager to make the most out of the little vacation, especially after two years of flight restrictions caused by the pandemic.
The airport has admitted that cancelling a week’s worth of flights is bothersome but says it’s necessary if they want to manage the crowds in the right way. 🛫
Last Saturday, KLM baggage staff went on strike as more and more people began filling up the already overcrowded airport.
This escalated the safety risks at the airport because the queues became longer since no one was there to let anyone through check-in.
How have travellers reacted?
For some, travelling can already be stressful on its own, even in a completely empty airport. It’s no surprise that people felt the pressure even more so, with hundreds of other travellers trying to get to their flights as well.
The crowd chaos has rightfully upset many people in the past few days as it has caused long queuing times and difficulty in making the planned flights.
Many people voiced their opinions on Twitter complaining about the airport’s lack of organisation and mismanagement.
@Schiphol yesterday was ridiculous and a case of blatant mismanagement and ignorance. May holiday did not drop from the sky now did it? Then you claim to have only two runways in operation? Which genius did planning for this after two quiet Covid years? I call it incompetence! pic.twitter.com/Qb14q5qTTZ
The travelling drama doesn’t end here. Many airlines are not complying with Schiphol’s cancellation requests. Airlines such as Transavia and TUI, have disagreed with the airport’s measures and don’t really intend to cancel their flights.
Corendon airlines is also very adamant about maintaining all their flights because they believe that travellers should be able to go and enjoy their holiday destinations and return to the Netherlands like any other normal trip.
KLM, however, has announced that it expects to cancel flights — starting today.
What do you think about these recent events at Schiphol airport? Tell us in the comments below?
