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Dutch ‘virus truth’ leader released but has to stay off social media

Cara Rรคker ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช
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Dutch ‘virus truth’ leader released but has to stay off social media

Willem Engel, the Dutch face of the anti-coronavirus measures movement, has been released from prison after his arrest earlier this month.

Engel was temporarily locked up for incitement. Specifically, Engel was accused of spreading medical misinformation and calls for revolt against standing coronavirus measures on social media. ๐Ÿ˜ท

For now, Engel is free but the court in Rotterdam has decided that he must not post on his social media channels, reports the NOS.

Arrested for incitement

Engel was arrested in Rotterdam on March 16. The charge? At least 7 social media posts were calling for revolt against the Dutch government and standing coronavirus measures, says the Public Prosecution Service (OM).

For example, Engel asked his followers to take pictures of healthcare workers that give out the coronavirus vaccine. Self-evidently without consent.

“These messages have incited other people to be edged on or commit criminal acts,” states the OM.

And it wasn’t just the OM who wanted to see Engel arrested. The call to arrest Willem Engel was based on a petition signed by 22,000 Dutch citizens in January this year.

What do you think about Willem Engel being set free? Tell us in the comments!

Feature Image: Vocast/Wikimedia Commons/CC3.0

Zelensky pushes Netherlands to send weapons, stop buying Russian gas, and cut all ties

Cara Rรคker ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช
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Zelensky pushes Netherlands to send weapons, stop buying Russian gas, and cut all ties

At 10:25 AM this morning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the Dutch parliament for more support against Russia.

In his video-conferenced address, Zelensky appealed to Dutch history to underline the importance of ending the ongoing war against the Russian aggressor in Ukraine, reports the NOS.

The Ukrainian president is also demanding more support. To succeed against the Putin regime, the Netherlands must cut all trade ties with Russia, deliver more arms, and help Ukraine join the European Union, according to Zelensky.

Appeal to Dutch History

Zelensky draws a parallel between the Eighty Years’ War that freed the Netherlands from Spanish occupation and led the country to independence.

“The Netherlands is celebrating its 450th anniversary of the end of tyranny, and this is how the path towards a united Europe began.,” said Zelensky.

Translation: #Zelensky refers to the taking of Den Briel on April 1, 1572, by the watergeuzen [Dutch rebels] at the beginning of the revolt against the Spanish.

The Ukrainian president also reminded the Dutch parliament that WWII must be prevented at all costs but history tends to repeat itself.

He says: “The Second World War began with an attack on only a few countries. Then, bombs were dropped on London and Rotterdam.”

The most recent historical reference was to the aeroplane MH17, which was shot down by Russian missiles over Ukraine in 2014 and killed 196 Dutch passengers. “This offence has not been forgiven. Those who have given the order must be held accountable,” says Zelensky.

Zelensky’s demands

The Ukrainian president also made concrete demands for the Dutch government to help his country against the Russian invasion.

For one, the Netherlands must cut all ties to Russia. Especially the boycotting of Russian oil and gas is important, says Zelensky. Otherwise, the Netherlands is directly funding the Putin regime in its attack on Ukraine.

READ MORE | The Netherlands aims to be independent of Russian gas: how would it work?

Instead, the Dutch government should opt for stronger sanctions. Also to prevent the war from spreading beyond Ukraine into Europe.

Another demand is that the Netherlands should send even more weapons to Ukraine. “You [the Dutch government] are leaders in the support of us, but we need more weapons to defeat the occupier.”

What do you think about these demands Zelensky has for the Dutch government? Tell us in the comments!

Feature Image: Wiki Commons/Public Domain

Code yellow for most of Netherlands due to incoming freeze and more snowfall

Katrien Nivera ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Code yellow for most of Netherlands due to incoming freeze and more snowfall

The forecast really was right! After several strange weather predictions, near-freezing temperatures and snowfall have struck the Netherlands in late March. โ„๏ธ ๐Ÿ˜ณ

The Royal Dutch Weather Institute (KNMI) has even issued a code yellow warning across most of the Netherlands due to current and incoming snowfall, reports the NOS. ๐ŸŸก

You may be looking out your window and wondering: why? The KNMI expects temperatures to drop below zero in the later afternoon and evening โ€” making for some less than ideal outdoor conditions.

The code yellow will remain in effect until Friday afternoon.

Mild disruptions around the country

More snow will fall in the middle and the east of the country, and the Dutch traveller’s association (ANWB) warns of particularly slippery conditions around Utrecht and Gelderland. ๐Ÿฅถ

As of 8:30 AM, the ANWB has also reported a whopping 140 traffic jams across the country, totalling more than 800 kilometres. With possible snow and slippery highways, the traffic jams may worsen throughout the day. ๐Ÿšฆ

Weather quirks

Yep, despite a surprisingly sunny and warm March, it seems the weather has reverted itself back to wintertime.

Wet snow fell across the Hague while other cities like Wageningen and De Bilt had blankets of snow. ๐ŸŒจ

Translation: “Snow in Wageningen that even stays on the grass. And on March 31. More snow likely today and this evening.”

Other cities like Amsterdam and Leiden experienced rain instead. We suppose this is a little more like The Netherlands in late March. ๐Ÿ˜ฌ

Are you experiencing any bizarre weather where you live? Tell us your experiences in the comments! ๐Ÿ’ญ

Baby, it’s cold outside: the Netherlands is expecting snow after its sunny streakย 

Lea Shamaa ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡ง
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Baby, it’s cold outside: the Netherlands is expecting snow after its sunny streakย 

Thinking about enjoying some nice terrace weather in the upcoming days? Think again! The Netherlands is about to see snow, lots of rain and cold air. Lekker goor? ๐Ÿ˜ฃ 

The sky is going to get a whole lot greyer in the Netherlands with long periods of rain and layers of snow, reports Weerenradar. ๐Ÿ’ฆ

Meteorologists forecast that this rain will come from the North sea and seep into many regions of the Benelux. The rainfall will most likely turn into sleet or dry snow in some parts of the Netherlands. โ„๏ธ

Where can we expect snow?

There is a high chance that you will be waking up to a thick white layer of snow on Friday morning if you live in Southern Holland, below cities such as The Hague or Emmen, reports NU. โ˜ƒ๏ธ

If you want to experience some fun snow activities, make sure not to start too late because it will begin to soften on Friday afternoon! That is unless you live in Brabant and Limburg, where it’s expected to last longer.

How cold are we talking? 

Temperatures will fall to freezing levels on Thursday night, April 1 which will continue throughout the entire weekend. Time to get that winter coat back out of the storage closet! ๐Ÿฅถ

READ MORE | The Ultimate Guide to the Weather in the Netherlands

Daytime in the Netherlands will see maximum temperatures sitting at around 6 degrees Celsius while the night will experience freezing temperatures nearing 0 degrees Celsius.ย 

Will the flowers be okay? 

The predictions of certain weather models show an accumulation of 10 centimetres of snow. Nature can’t be too happy about this because the weight of the heavy snow could potentially cause a lot of damage to flower fields, gardens and forests. 

With De Keukenhof opening its doors again, let’s hope that these flowers can withstand a few days of wintry weather! ๐ŸŒท

If the snow does arrive on Friday, will you be participating in any wintry activities? Tell us in the comments! 

17 Russian diplomats asked to leave the Netherlands due to espionage

Cara Rรคker ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช
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17 Russian diplomats asked to leave the Netherlands due to espionage

The Dutch Foreign Ministry has ordered 17 Russian diplomats stationed in the Netherlands to leave the country within the next two weeks.

The charge? Espionage for the aggressive Putin regime, according to investigations by two Dutch intelligence agencies. ๐Ÿ˜ณ

Protecting the Netherlands

“These people have ‘diplomat’ written on their business card, while they do something else entirely,” Dutch foreign minister Wopke Hoekstra tells the NOS.

The decision was also made against the backdrop of ever-increasing aggression of Russia against Ukraine, says Hoekstra. “We have made this decision for the sake of the safety of the Netherlands.”

Russian diplomats as a security risk

The exact nature of intelligence gathered by the Russian diplomats is not clear. But the Netherlands is not the only country taking such a step.

According to the NOS, Belgium has expelled 12 Russian diplomats, Ireland has expelled four and the Czech Republic one.

With 17 Russian diplomats expelled from the Netherlands, there are still 58 remaining to keep up a dialogue between the two countries.

What do you think about this decision to make Russian diplomats leave the Netherlands? Tell us in the comments!

Feature Image: Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain

Dutch cabinet wants people to eat less meat: considers taxing it

Sarah O'Leary ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช
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Dutch cabinet wants people to eat less meat: considers taxing it

Considering reducing your meat consumption for ethical reasons? Good for you. Considering reducing it for financial reasons? Also understandable.

In fact, the Dutch government hopes that more people will make this decision.

How? By introducing a tax on meat in the Netherlands. ๐Ÿฅฉ The cabinet is currently looking into whether or not such a tax is enforceable, the NOS reports.

Why a tax on meat?

The reasoning behind the investigation comes down to a little concept called the “Wheel of five.” No, this is not some mystical tale but a political goal, if you will.

The concept is simple: people in the Netherlands need to eat according to the “Wheel of five,” meaning they need to eat a balanced amount of meat and vegetables.

READ MORE | Bye-bye sugar addiction: price of soft drinks to rise in the Netherlands

The only problem is that at the moment, many people in the Netherlands eat about 60% meat and 40% veggies. ๐Ÿ™… ๐Ÿฅฆ

The hope is that the government can appeal to the Dutch’s thriftiness and encourage people to put down the meat package if it costs more.

Healthy or restrictive

However, some politicians argue that a tax on meat will only mean that meat is less accessible to those who earn less than others.

Thomas Van Campen of the VVD took to Twitter to say that the party does not see a tax on meat as a viable option in the Netherlands, saying “The VVD wants to look into other possible options because groceries must remain affordable for everyone.”

What do you think of a meat tax? Tell us in the comments below!

Sick of plastic: Netherlands to ban single-use plastic cups and meal wrapping

Lea Shamaa ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡ง
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Sick of plastic: Netherlands to ban single-use plastic cups and meal wrapping

Tired of ordering meals and receiving them wrapped to the brim in plastic packaging? Well, you’re in luck because the Netherlands plans to ban disposable plastic cups and plastic meal wrapping from 2024. โœจ

This ban will mainly be seenย in the hospitality industry, at festivals and in the workplace, reports NU. So, maybe it’s already time to stop normalising single use of plastic! ๐Ÿ˜‰

If you love a good takeaway, youโ€™ll be quick to see the effects of this ban. Regulations on take-away items will likely become stricter due to their heavy usage of plastic wrapping.ย 

Already regulated

The Netherlands has already taken certain measures against the use of plastic items by adding fees to items like plastic bags and big plastic bottles. ๐Ÿฅค

READ MORE | Albert Heijn and ALDI say โ€œno more plastic bagsโ€ for fruit and veg (finally!)

In recent years, the goal to reduce plastic waste and street littering still remains a high priority for the Dutch government. For example, In July 2020, the Netherlands began adding deposits (statiegeld) to mini plastic bottles in supermarkets and grocery stores.ย 

Charges on coffee cups

Vivianne Heijnen, Minister for the Environment, explained how 19,000,000 single-use plastic cups and food wrapping are thrown away each day in the Netherlands. ๐Ÿคฏ

Enjoy a good olโ€™ takeaway coffee and walk? Now, plastic disposable cups and meal packaging will come at a higher price! To put it simply, the plastic packaging on snacks or drinks will also come with an extra charge โ€” meaning your cup of endorphins is going to cost you slightly more. โ˜•๏ธ

Where to go from here? 

While it feels nice to say goodbye to single-use plastic, it’s possible that you feel worried about how you’re going to get your meals and coffee on a day-to-day basis.ย 

READ MORE | 11 ways to live waste-free in the Netherlands

But have no fear! There are many alternatives to single-use plastic items. Have a look at tupperwares, reusable containers, personal foodboxes and reusable tableware. 

How do you feel about these new rules on reducing plastic waste? Tell us in the comments!

Weekly update: the last one ever (yes, you’ve read that right)

Cara Rรคker ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช
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Weekly update: the last one ever (yes, you’ve read that right)

This is it then, our dearest reader. Almost two years ago, we’ve started these coronavirus weekly updates. Now it looks like life is returning back to normal in the Netherlands for the foreseeable future. ๐Ÿฅณ

So, for the last time, here it goes.

Weekly numbers

The RIVM has reported its weekly coronavirus figures from March 22 to March 29. While the number of hospitalisations went down slightly, reported deaths increased these past seven days.

The RIVM has reported 222,366 new coronavirus infections in the Netherlands as of last week. This represents a stark drop compared to last weekโ€™s report of 313,318 infections.

The percentage of positive tests also went down slightly with 65.4% of people testing positive compared to 66.2% from the week before.

Deaths

The number of patients who have died from coronavirus-related complications went up slightly. This week, 104 people passed away compared to 95 people the previous week.

Hospitalisations

Both the number of admissions to the nursing ward and the number of admissions in the ICU decreased. The past week saw 1,353 new admissions to the nursing ward and 118 new patients in the ICU.

The previous week, there were 1,696 patients and 129 patients respectively.

Post-pandemic life in the Netherlands

Since last Wednesday, March 23, the Dutch government has officially said goodbye to the last remaining coronavirus restrictions. Since then, life has pretty much gone back to normal here in the Netherlands.

No more facemasks on public transport, no more 1G testing before large indoor events and no more travel restrictions for travellers to the lowlands.

Legally it is also no longer required to isolate anymore when testing positive for the coronavirus! However, it is obviously strongly advised that you quarantine anyway โ€” to keep your friends, family and neighbours healthy and well. ๐Ÿค

Low number of ICU admissions

You’d think that with things heating up here in the Netherlands โ€” huge parties, festivals and no more 1.5-metre distancing rule โ€” coronavirus cases would go through the roof and the hospitals would struggle to keep up.

However, as NU.nl reports, this Monday the number of patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) has dropped to its lowest point since October 2021. ๐Ÿ“‰ This Monday, 135 patients have been recorded to require intensive care related to coronavirus symptoms.

With positive tests also following a downwards trend, it looks like we can finally take a breath this spring! After almost two years, it’s bitterly needed.

Dutch summer 2022 here we come! โ˜€๏ธ

Want the latest Dutch news to come zooming through the internet to your inbox? Dat kan! Subscribe to DutchReview’s weekly roundup ๐Ÿ“ฎ

Many Dutch companies are not disclosing their energy-saving measures

Lea Shamaa ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡ง
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Many Dutch companies are not disclosing their energy-saving measures

While it’s been required by law since 1993, a large proportion of Dutch companies simply arenโ€™t bothered to say whether or not they are taking energy-saving measures. 

Why? Because Dutch companies still aren’t totally complying with reducing their energy consumption even though this obligation has been reinforced throughout recent years.

 So Watt are they thinking? โšก๏ธ

No clear information

While Dutch law requires companies to take all necessary measures to reduce their energy consumption, companies aren’t being clear about whether or not theyโ€™re actually doing this, reports NU. ๐Ÿค”

In 2019, it became mandatory for companies to share details about their compliance with the necessary energy-saving measures. 

However, The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend) holds that one in three companies have yet to complete the form, three years after it became mandatory. 

On the bright side, 60,000 companies have filled out this form. Still, environmental services can’t solely rely on their estimates! It’s quite hard for these services to get the information they need. 

Why is this information not enough? 

The energy companies gather data on electricity and gas use but cannot share it for privacy reasons. This means that environmental services have to rely on the public information put out by the businesses themselves. 

The result? Thereโ€™s a big chance that those who eventually make it on the green-list of energy-saving companies are wrongly put there! 

The Haaglanden Environment Agency’s Jeffrey Kruis reported that around 30 to 40% of companies they are in touch with do not necessarily meet the requirements. ๐Ÿ™„

What will be done about it?

The Dutch cabinet is still on the path to save more energy and plans to apply the measures to many more companies, starting in 2023. 

Hopefully, this means it’s only a matter of time before stricter regulations on energy consumption come and pull these companies out from their hiding! 

Do you think this will help energy consumption in the Netherlands go down? Tell us in the comments! 

Nearing extinction: only 150 garden dormice left in Limburg

Katrien Nivera ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Nearing extinction: only 150 garden dormice left in Limburg

The rare eikelmuis (garden dormouse) is the most endangered rodent in the Netherlands. There are only 100 to 150 of these mice in the south of the Netherlands. ๐Ÿญ

Garden dormice live across Europe but the situation doesn’t look positive in other regions, particularly because of the environment, says RTL Nieuws. ๐Ÿ˜”

What are garden dormice?

The name is a little misleading โ€” garden dormice are actually animals that fall between mice and squirrels (and they usually don’t live in gardens either).

They also happen to look and act more like squirrels, jumping from tree to tree with bushy tails. Schattig! (cute!)

Much like hedgehogs, dormice love heavily vegetated areas and eat insects and invertebrates.

The forests in the Netherlands are often cleaned, taking away insect populations and their space to forage and live. ๐ŸŒณ

A tiny population

These little critters live remotely in the woods so it’s rare to come across them if you’re just going on a quick forest stroll. ๐Ÿšถ๐Ÿป

Limburg has issued a conservation plan to help protect the areas they live in. The ecological system won’t change drastically if the mouse disappears, but ecologists say protecting biodiversity should be a priority in this case. ๐ŸŒฟ

Conservationists plan to improve forest landscapes by leaving vegetation and connecting agricultural spaces to forests.

A Limburg zoo also set up a breeding programme for the animals โ€” so hopefully, the population can grow again. ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿผ

Have you heard of the garden dormouse before? Tell us in the comments!

Featured Image: Arno Laurent/Wikimedia Commons/CC3.0

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