The Netherlands is known for being one of the best places to go if you want to study abroad. But could this be about to change?Universities in the Netherlands are asking politicians to limit the number of foreign students.
This academic year, more than 340,000 people have enrolled in Dutch universities. This is about a 4% increase from 2020 to 2021. Included in this number are around 80,000 people who would be coming from abroad, reports the NOS.
Demands for higher education
President Duisenberg of the Universities of the Netherlands (UNL) says there is a high demand for higher education worldwide, putting pressure on universities and the Dutch system is feeling it.
Lecture halls become fuller, universities need more space for teaching and the workload of university professors increases โ all the while, funding for universities has not grown to compensate for this.
Beginning with those outside the EU
Duisenberg claims the Netherlands is a special case because โ unlike other countries โ the country doesn’t have a maximum on accepting foreign students for higher education.
The plan? Universities want politicians to start limiting the number of foreign students, starting with those from outside the EU.
Separating Dutch and English programmes
Many studies have Dutch and English versions of the same programme. Duisenberg suggests letting students have completely open and guaranteed access to the Dutch version of the programme. English programmes would then have a fixed number of enrolments.
As a result, university programmes would have to be more selective of students who can join their English programmes.
Should universities have a cap on how many internationalstudents can enrol for university in the Netherlands? Tell us what you think in the comments!
No thanks to the coronavirus, the Dutch Railways (NS) and Dutch traffic control ProRail are going through a wave of staff shortages. The result? There’ll be fewer trains untilFebruary 21.
Citing coronavirus infections and employees on sick leave due to quarantine measures, the two agencies warn that there will be fewer train traffic between 07:00 and 15:00 on certain routes.
According to the the NOS, the affected routes are:
Alphen aan den Rijn – Houten,
Eindhoven – Amsterdam,
The Hague – Amersfoort,
Rotterdam – Arnhem,
Let op!
But fear not travellers, entire routes will not be scrapped. In spite of staff shortages, 85% of train routes will continue as normal.
To simplify, on NS routes, four trains will run per hour on routes that would usually have six trains per hour.ย On routes of four trains per hour, the number of trains will be reduced to two.
Travellers are urged to plan ahead through the NS planner to avoid any disruption.
Will your train route be affected by these delays? Tell us in the comments!
Sick of showing a QR code when you’re out and about? You’re not alone. In recent days, more than 450,000 people signed a petition to abolish the use of the corona pass in the Netherlands โ and the number of supporters is rising.
Echt? Yes! Another petition with the same goal received more than 385,000 signatures last Sunday, rounding that total number of supporters up to around 800,000 people. So how did this all begin?
Mona Keijzer of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) wrote a manifesto under the name Undistributed Open which argues against the use of the corona pass in HORECA, the cultural sector, airports, and more, reports the AD.
Cross-party support
The corona pass has been a controversial topic since its introduction during the pandemic, so it’s no surprise that people have strong opinions โ and they’re uniting as a result.
Many politicians supported the petitions including Thierry Baudet from the Forum for Democracy (FvD) and Farid Azarkan from Think.
Many petitioners argue that the corona pass is less useful because the omicron variant is dominant in Europe. Petitioners believe that using the corona pass to enter venues doesn’t help stop the spread of the coronavirus. The resulting argument? It shouldn’t be used at all.
A breach of fundamental rights
Others say that the corona pass is a breach of freedom and privacy and shouldn’t be part of Dutch society, says RTL Nieuws.
Endorsers of the petition believe 1G, 2G, and 3G measures exclude and isolate unvaccinated citizens and increase polarisation among society.
Mona Keijzer hopes the government will reconsider the measures and remove the measures altogether.
What do you think of the petitions against the corona pass? Tell us in the comments. ๐
According to an official statement by Ajax, Marc Overmars has sent a “series of inappropriate messages” to “several female colleagues over an extended period of time.”
Overmars has taken the decision to leave his position as sports director at football club Ajax on his own accord, stating that he is ashamed after being confronted with his own behaviour.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t realize that I was crossing the line with this, but that was made clear to me in recent days,” claims Overmars. “Certainly for someone in my position, this behaviour is unacceptable.”
Director of Football Affairs Marc Overmars will leave Ajax with immediate effect. He made this decision after discussions in recent days with the Supervisory Board and CEO Edwin van der Sar and communicated his intentions to them.
Overmars is a former football player who has been under contract with Ajax, Arsenal, and Barcelona. In 2012, he took to the position as football director at Ajax and is generally credited with rebuilding the club’s success.
In 2019, Ajax made it all the way to the semi-finals of the 2019 Champion’s League. Just recently, Overmars had been appointed for another term until 2026.
Supervisory Board chairman Leen Meijaard says: “We upgraded and extended his contract for a reason. But, unfortunately, he has really gone over the line, so continuing as director was not an option, as he recognized himself. It is extremely painful for everyone.”
No further details
As of now, no further details are known regarding the nature of the inappropriate text messages or the number of women affected.
Just last month, another scandal of sexual misconduct against women has shaken the popular TV show The Voice of Holland.
Are you surprised to hear about this sexual misconduct scandal at Ajax? Tell us in the comments!
The Netherlands has a reputation for being a progressive and tolerant country. After all, there is a wealth of coffee shops and legalised prostitution, right? However, it turns out the Dutch society has its fair share of problems too.One problem I wasn’t expecting: a pushback against feminism.
How can this be in a country full of strong and independent Dutch women? Well, maybe that is exactly the problem. Do the Dutch believe that they have achieved a completely equal society, where feminism is no longer necessary?
No need for feminism in the Netherlands?
At first glance, I can see why you might think so. But look a bit closer, and it will reveal worrying statistics.
There is a long way to go not just in terms of policy, but also in breaking down stereotypes that slow down societal change. Talking to other feminists in The Netherlands, I learned that my views are often seen as radical. To be honest, this was news to me.
Getting your Dutch feminist groove on
My first step to mend my broken feminist heart was to dive into the history of feminism in The Netherlands. I wanted to honour those Dutch feminists who came before me. In a book written by two Dutch professors, Rosemarie Buikema and Iris van Der Tuin, there are interesting examples of the evolution of feminism in the Netherlands. Here are just some of them:
Mata Hari: the famous spy during WWI, unapologetic sex symbol and feminist icon.
Hannie Schaft: the kick-ass ‘girl with the red hair’ that fought the Nazis during WWI.
Aletta Jacobs: the first female doctor in the Netherlands that fought for women’s rights.
Yes, feminism existed before Beyonce. Dutch feminist writer, Cecile Goekoop-de Jong, wrote the political fiction book, Hilda van Suylenburg in 1897. It addressed the crucial first-wave questions of how to liberate women. This included campaigning for women to get the vote, as well as economic independence.
Second wave of feminism
The feminist revival of the 1970s brought important developments for women in the Netherlands. This included the creation of fierce feminist activist groups, like the MVM (Man-Vrouw-Maatschappij) and Dolle Mina. They raised important debates around female autonomy at the time. These included the fight for abortion to be legal, free contraception, challenging gender roles, and fighting the gender pay gap (an ongoing struggle).
If you’re interested in learning more about this period, Buikema and Van Der Tuin suggest reading the article “Discontent of Women” (Het Onbehagen bij de Vrouw), written by journalist and professor Joke Smit and published in 1967.
Third wave of feminism
Over the Hill is the 2007 documentary by Dutch filmmaker, Sunny Bergman and daughter of a second-wave feminist activist. After working as a model and soap opera actor, Sunny embarked on a journey to analyse the influence of the beauty industry on women’s relationships with their bodies. A very pertinent analysis in the golden age of make-up, dermatologists, and plastic surgeons.
How have you found attitudes towards feminism in the Netherlands? Is it what you expected Let us know in the comments!
Editorโs Note: This article was originally published in August 2021, and was fully updated in March 2022 for your reading pleasure.
Itโs certainly been a gloomy year, but unlike anywhere else in the world, the Netherlands can look forward to a colourful tulip season โ hoera! ๐ฅณ
What better way to combat the lockdown blues than to feast your eyes on gleeful acres of tulips in a tulip field trip this spring?
So weโre bringing you the ultimate solution: an early-bird deal for a corona-proof private tour of this typisch Dutch phenomenon: hereโs how to cruise the Dutch tulip fields this spring! ๐ท
When are the Dutch tulips in season? You can typically catch the Dutch tulips from the beginning of April until mid-May. Naturally, these times are reliant on Mother Nature, so timing each year can vary.
Kilometres of tulips, what a dreamy view! Image: Renzy/Supplied
Tulip season: a Dutch field day
Tulips, as peaceful as they are, are behind an annual frenzy that attracts internationals and locals alike.
Thousands of people flock to South Holland each year, heading to the Keukenhof (a.k.a the garden of Europe) to experience 79 acres of this seasonal extravaganza in a tradition that transcended the coronavirus pandemic.
Due to its popularity, this season is usually overcrowded, with sold-out events, and backed up roads full of flower enthusiasts โ not quite the Dutch tulip experience people are hoping for. ๐ฌ
Renzy: corona-proof and up-close tulip 2022 tours
At the end of the day, the goal is to enjoy the famous Dutch flower fields up-close and in a wholesome way. After all, no oneโs there to take pictures only to realize later that thereโs someoneโs head just in the view, right when that #tulips post is locked and loaded.
Thatโs where Renzy swoops in. Their self-guided GPS and audio tours offer a COVID-19 safe field viewing of the lesser-known โ but just as beautiful โ tulip fields near Keukenhof. All the beauty of the Dutch tulips, off the beaten track!
It couldn’t be better than this. Image: Renzy/Supplied
This 120-minute unique and beloved experience within the heart of the flower bulb region is perfect for travellers, couples, friends, families with kids, and even small groups.
With Renzyโs well-planned tour, you can look forward to stopping that vehicle to admire the colours and scents, and finally score some pro shots of tulips and flowers up close.
What vehicle? Great question. ๐
Renzyโs fleet of Tulipmobiles
Meet the Twizies: sustainable, electric vehicles that you get to drive yourself around seas of tulip fields, far away from viruses and tourists with no spatial awareness.
This tiny but mighty tulipmobile is suitable for two people: either two adults, or an adult and a child. Family packages are also available so you can book a couple of Twizies for you and your loved ones.
Tulip surrounded. Image: Renzy/Supplied
Donโt be fooled by the Twiziesโ size, we called them mighty for a reason. ๐ Each of the vehicles will take you on a 20 kilometre fixed GPS ride for about two hours. With plenty of opportunities to take photos along the route, and an added stop at a tulip farm for their daytime tours!
In addition to its GPS capability, the Twizies also come with an audio guide available in your choice of Dutch, English, and German. Youโll get to cruise along while hearing entertaining ins and outs about the area, along with #CoolTulipFacts.
Family packages for merrier tulip trips
Big family? No problem! Start making plans which involve heaps of tulips, because Renzy has your big crowd covered with a family package.
Available for two adults plus two children (aged four to 18 years), the package comes with a special treasure hunt twist for the enjoyment of the family.
A family experience to remember. Image: Renzy/Supplied
I’m in! How can I take a tulip tour through the Dutch fields?
Booking a tulip field tour with Renzy is simple and easy. You can reserve your spot online now for tours between April 1 and May 8, 2022. Those tulip Twizies are limited though, so booking ahead of time is recommended! (Weโre just saying โ they sold out last year.) ๐ฌ
The two-hour tours are available 7 days a week, within the following time slots:
10:00 – 12:00
13:00 – 15:00
16:00 – 18:00
19:00 – 21:00
But do keep in mind, since youโre being handed the keys to an actual car to roam in a field, a few conditions apply:
Drivers must be 21 years or older, with a valid driversโ licence for at least three years.
If youโre not from Europe, North America, South America, or Australia โ an international driverโs licence is needed.*
Deposit an advance payment of โฌ150 per Renault Twizy, in addition to an excess risk payment (eigen risico) of โฌ500 per Twizy.ย
Youโll be operating a vehicle, so no alcohol is allowed.
*Additional cancellation conditions and policies can be found through Renzyโs webpage.
Pricing
Youโll pay a price per Twizy, so itโs very straightforward. For one vehicle (which is suitable for two people) you pay โฌ97.
If youโre going with a friend, thatโs only โฌ48.5 โ prepare your Tikkie. ๐
As for the family package, youโll be booking two Twizies (suitable for two adults and two children) for the price of โฌ145.
Early bird gets the tulip!! DutchReview readers get a 10% discount on Renzy bookings until March 31st for their tour spot in April or May โ score!ย
Just use the code Tulips2022 at checkout for this early bird deal.
In ten days, the Dutch public transport operators are rolling out a nationwide trial that’ll track passengers’ whereabouts via GPS.
Don’t worry, it only concerns 100 travellers who have agreed to install an app that accesses their phone’s GPS. ๐
The goal, you may ask? Making checking in and out of Dutch public transport easier, according to the NOS. ๐
Automatic checkout to avoid fines
If you’re a frequent commuter in the Netherlands, you might recognise the stress of squishing first into the tram, then the train, and maybe even a bus on your way to the office.
The entire way, you’re clutching your trusty OV chip card โ ready to check-in and out the various stops on your journey. ๐
However, this is what the potential GPS system aims to eliminate. “If people with GPS forget to check out, the system will eventually do it automatically,” says Gerbrant Corbee from OV-pay.
Travellers participating in the trial simply scan a QR code at the gates. The final cost of the journey is then calculated automatically and transmitted to the individual public transport provider (for example Arriva or the NS).
Moreover, the multiple check-ins and outs are often difficult for people who are not used to taking public transport in the Netherlands, writes the NOS. The GPS system could prevent them from getting fined.
So, will the NS track your phone from now on?
Similar GPS trials were already conducted some years ago in Gelderland. Back then, the State Secretary at the time informed the House of Representatives of the possibility to implement a nationwide GPS system.
However, it was left to the public transport companies to come up with concrete plans.
For now, we’ll have to wait how the upcoming trial turns out. “Later this year we will see if travelling with GPS works well. Only when all goes well will we roll out it more widely,” says Corbee.
Would you let Arriva and NS track your GPS location? Tell us in the comments below!
Phew, a little breather for those 540,000 people in the Netherlands who haven’t gotten their booster prick yet โ the corona pass will not expire today, February 4, but on Tuesday, February 8. ๐ ๐
At least, this is what Dutch Minister of Health Ernst Kuipers has told the Dutch House of Representatives, according to RTL Nieuws.
Adopting EU standards
The idea behind the corona pass expiry is to sync up standards across the European Union. ๐ช๐บ
According to the new corona pass validity rules, individuals who had a coronavirus infection need to get a booster at least 180 days after recovery. You also have to get a booster 270 days (9 months) after the second dose for your coronapass to remain valid.
This is different to previous regulations in the Netherlands, where recovery from the coronavirus sustained your coronapass for a year. Proof of the second vaccination had no expiry date.
Until now!
So, one last time: if you’re in the Netherlands and you have not yet received your third jab your coronavirus pass will be invalid from Tuesday, February 8, onwards!
In the Netherlands, without a valid coronavirus pass, you can’t enter restaurants, cafรฉs, or bars. The same is true for hairdressers, cinemas, or other service providers.
Did you know about these new corona pass validity rules? Tell us in the comments!
Supermarkets in the Netherlands are continuing their battle with suppliers and rival supermarkets to bring in more customers and increase their market share.
In an attempt not to lose their market share, the Dutch supermarkets are currently giving offers to their customers to compete with rival chains for cheaper groceries. Albert Heijn used to be at the top of the leader board, but now Jumbo, Lidl, and Coop/PLUS are proving to be worthy adversaries, reports NU.nl.
“There is a fierce battle between supermarkets and with suppliers, it is really a battlefield at the moment,” supermarket and marketing expert Paul Moers, tells NU.nl.
Meanwhile, the shelves remain empty so suppliers will be more inclined to agree to a lower price point for the supermarkets.
Hopefully, the prices don’t get too crazy so we can still get our daily broodje (bread) fix from the supermarket. ๐๐ผ
What do you think about supermarkets fighting for lower prices? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
The billionaire plans to have a $430 million superyacht built by a company based in South Holland. But it needs to get out of the harbour somehow. ๐
Begone, Bezos!
De Koningshavenbrug, known as De Hef locally, is essentially a national monumental to the city. The thought of taking it apart breaks the hearts of everyone in the city. So naturally, no one is having it. ๐ก
The city’s inhabitants are circulating a Facebook event asking all Rotterdammers to pelt Bezos’ ship with rotten eggs โ should it pass through the temporarily dismantled bridge.
Organisers scheduled the event for June 1, 2022, at 5 PM but no one knows when this hunk of junk is supposed to sail through the city.
Appeals to the municipality
The event’s organiser had some strong (and very valid) things to say about dismantling the bridge: ‘Rotterdam was built from rubble by the people of Rotterdam, and we don’t just take it apart for the phallus symbol of a megalomaniac billionaire. Not without a fight!’ says Pablo Strรถrmann.
Bezos submitted a request to the municipality to temporarily dismantle the bridge, which he will also pay for himself. ๐ฐ It’s great and all that he can pay for this by himself, but that still doesn’t mean anyone wants him or his dumb boat anywhere near the bridges of Rotterdam.
Will you be joining Rotterdammers in their protest against dismantling De Hef? Tell us in the comments! ๐ช๐ป
