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Number of Dutch tattoo parlours double during the pandemic

Nicole Ogden 🇹🇭 🇺🇸
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Number of Dutch tattoo parlours double during the pandemic

Tattoos have grown increasingly popular recently, and it’s showing in the fact that the number of tattoo parlours has doubled in the past seven years.

There are now 1,658 tattoo parlours in the Netherlands, reports the NOS.

But why is getting inked such a popular phenomenon these days? Tattoos are becoming more accepted in Dutch society, and people from all walks of life are doing it now!

“Nowadays, it is no longer just the twenties who want to get a tattoo; teenagers or forties just as well. Even young people come to get a tattoo together with their grandfather or grandmother,” Linda Berserik, owner of Tattoo Garden, told the NOS.

“I noticed that tattoos are becoming more and more accepted. I see pilots, city officials, police officers, and even lawyers,” Berserik continues.

Ladies love the ink

This general acceptance of tattoos actually began decades ago, according to Henri Beunders, professor of Developments in Public Opinion at Erasmus University Rotterdam.

Beunders says that around 1.5 million Dutch people now have a tattoo and that 60% of those tattoos on young adults belong to women! 💁🏻‍♀️

Tattoos became mainstream as a result of the feminist and activist movements of the 60s and 70s. Further, activist singers like Janis Joplin and Joan Baez, who sported flower tattoos and other designs, inspired many young women to take control of their own bodies.

Blame it on Beckham

In the 80s, the wave of “anti-authority groups” was on the rise, such as the heavy metal and hip-hop scene. Here, many people were seen sporting tattoos and art on their bodies. Additionally, MTV and football player David Beckham helped to normalise the ideas of tattoos and made them cool. 😎

Nowadays, many rappers and athletes are seen with art on their bodies. 👀

Home tattoo artists

A lot of tattoo artists benefit from the age of social media, where they can showcase their artwork to the world. Further, it’s easier these days to get non-professional tattooing equipment on Ali Express or Martkplaats — for good or worse.

This has led to some people becoming novice tattoo artists, who operate out of the gaze of the government. These people may do it as a side income and usually lack a permit from the GGD.

Unfortunately, the self-taught tattooists may cause inflammation and scarring in their clients, says Bekman of Painted Flesh in Coevorden.

So if you have tattoos, or are thinking of getting one, the Netherlands is generally open and tolerant. Jeej! 🙌🏼

What do you think about the number of tattoo parlours doubling in recent years? Tell us in the comments below!

Feature Image: KostyaKlimenko/Depositphotos

Triple record: Dutch petrol prices at their highest since 2014

Katrien Nivera 🇵🇭
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Triple record: Dutch petrol prices at their highest since 2014

Calling attention to all the car, motorcycle, and moped users! The suggested selling price of a litre of petrol has risen to €2,15.

This is the third time petrol prices break the record in one week, reports UnitedConsumers to NU.nl.

Busy bees

Since more people are back on the road, prices are increasing due to the high demand for oil and petrol.

However, it’s not just eased coronavirus measures that are influencing Dutch petrol prices. Russian oil and gas exports might be affected by the escalation of the conflict on the Ukrainian border (for example through economic sanctions), which is shaking up the petrol market in the Netherlands.

These factors have caused Dutch petrol prices to reach their highest point since 2014 — yikes. 😅 The price for a litre of diesel has stabilised at €1,84.

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Featured Image: mary_smn/Depositphotos

Dutch publisher of the book on Anne Frank’s traitor apologises after criticism

Cara Räker 🇩🇪
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Dutch publisher of the book on Anne Frank’s traitor apologises after criticism

It’s been two weeks since groundbreaking research on the traitor of Anne Frank made the news.

Ambo Anthos, the Dutch publisher of the book The Betrayal of Anne Frank: A Cold Case Investigation — which is based on this research — now feels called to apologise for not having been more critical.

Gaps in research

Since 2017, a research team has attempted to solve the cold case of Anne Frank: who gave the address of her hiding place on the Prinsengracht to the Nazi occupiers?

Then, beginning this month, a breakthrough. 🕵️ The researchers publish a book that states with 85% certainty that the traitor was the Jewish notary Arnold van den Bergh.

But immediately after, critics spotted gaps in the researcher, causing Ambo Anthos to apologise for not having been more nuanced when publishing the book.

The apology, says Ambo Anthos in an official statement, goes out to all those who felt attacked by the book. The distribution of more copies has been put on hold until all doubts regarding the theory are convincingly cleared by the researchers, reports the NOS.

Why are critics doubting the research?

There are different reasons why critical voices have raised one or two eyebrows at the blaming of Arnold van den Bergh for the tragic fate of the Franks.

A key aspect of the theory is that Van den Bergh was a member of the Jewish Council (Joodse Raad) that collaborated with the Nazi occupiers to establish a connection with the Jewish community.

As a prominent member, it was argued, Van den Bergh had access to the addresses of Jews in hiding in and around Amsterdam. However, some experts point out that there is no evidence for this.

University professor Bart van der Boom, who is currently writing a book about Jewish Councils, adds: “You’re not in your right mind if you think that the members of the Jewish Council, respectable men, have betrayed 500 to 1000 Jews in hiding.”

The research team has not yet officially responded to all the criticisms.

What do you think about this backlash on the Anne Frank cold case? Tell us in the comments.

Feature Image: Unknown Photographer/Wikimedia Commons/Public domain

Highest number of asylum seekers in the Netherlands since the 2015 refugee crisis

Farah Al Mazouni 🇸🇾 🇺🇸
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Highest number of asylum seekers in the Netherlands since the 2015 refugee crisis

With an 80% increase in new applications compared to 2020, the last two quarters of 2021 recorded a sharp rise in the number of asylum seekers in the Netherlands.

According to Statistics Netherlands, this record hike consists of two elements: the number of people submitting their first asylum application and the number of family members travelling to the Netherlands as part of the family reunification process.

While the number of first applications currently sits at 25,000, over 10,000 family members travelled to the Netherlands as part of the family reunification process last year. This is two and a half times as many as in 2020.

Timeline and numbers

In 2020, the Netherlands saw only 13,720 new asylum applications due to an overall low international travel and coronavirus restrictions which partially closed the Dutch borders.

But things began to change last September when the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) saw the first glimpse of a hike.

This was partly due to the escalating situation in Afghanistan and the evacuation and arrival of Afghans to the Netherlands.

From that point, the number of new asylum applications started increasing once more, creating an overflow at asylum centres. The fourth quarter of 2021 saw the largest number of asylum applications, namely 9,870.

Currently, individuals from Syria form the largest group (34%) of new applicants, followed by Afghans and Turks. Syrians also formed two thirds of asylum-seeking family members coming as part of the family reunification process last year.

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Feature Image: Peter de Ruiter/Flickr

The Netherlands breaks records with world’s largest canal lock

Kathryn van den Berg
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The Netherlands breaks records with world’s largest canal lock

Last Wednesday, King Willem-Alexander officially opened the world’s largest canal lock in IJmuiden. Congrats on getting that one into the history books! 👏🏻

With over 500 metres in length and 70 metres in width, the new zeesluis is designed to allow modern cargo ships to reach the port of Amsterdam — but also acts as a defence against the threat of flooding.

With sea levels steadily rising, the canal lock is a perfect example of the Dutch demonstrating their famous innovativeness in protecting their flat coasts.

What is a canal lock?

Canal locks are watertight basins, called lock chambers, that can lower or raise water levels as required. They are designed to make waterways more easily navigatable or allow ships to access land that is not level.

Boats and vessels can be lowered or elevated by filling or emptying the lock chamber, permitting the vessel to enter and exit the canal.

The new canal lock

The new structure is called the IJmuiden Sea Lock and is located in the small port city of IJmuiden within the port of Amsterdam. The structure is deep enough so that ships no longer have to wait for adequate water levels to enter the canal.

During the ceremony, King Willem-Alexander officially opened the lock with a mouse click, the NOS reports. While no audience was allowed to be present, waiting ships paid their tribute with a tute of their horns before entering the IJmuiden Sea Lock for the first time.

A delayed work in progress

Although a festive opening by the Dutch king took place last week, the structure was initially set to be completed at the end of 2019. The massive project went over the initially planned budget by close to 300 million euros. 😅

In 2018, the then Minister of Infrastructure, Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, decided to increase the project’s budget because of setbacks during the construction. Almost 200 changes and improvements were made to the initial design. Well, better late than never. 🤷‍♀️

Out with the old!

The new canal lock has officially replaced the smaller Noordersluis (Northern lock) that was built in 1929 to connect the North Sea Canal to the port of Amsterdam.

Besides improving accessibility to the port, the structure intends to offer tide-independent space for vessels. The sea lock is also located nine meters above sea level and protects against flooding and rising tides.

The people choose the name

Dutch authorities sought the public’s opinion on naming the world’s new largest canal lock.

After receiving 5000 entries and name suggestions, including funny ones like De Sluizenmoeder” (the Lock Mother), the municipality of Velsen settled on “Zeesluis” (Sea Lock). (We would have gone for Sluizenmoeder, to be honest.)

What do you think about this record-breaking sea lock? Tell us in the comments!

Feature Image: Rijkswaterstaat, Port of Amsterdam

Storm Corrie makes landfall in the Netherlands

Katrien Nivera 🇵🇭
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Storm Corrie makes landfall in the Netherlands

Hold on to your hats, everyone! The KNMI (Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute) issued a code orange warning for Noord-Holland, Friesland, the Wadden area, and the IJsselmeer.

“Treacherous” winds with speeds up to 120 kilometres per hour are expected in these regions. Code yellow applies to the rest of the country. Both codes offer similar advice for travelling and other precautions, reports the NOS. 🟡

Caution! Winds abound

The KNMI emphasises traffic safety across the whole country. Especially trucks and cars with trailers should be extra careful when driving. 🚛

Dutchies are also advised not to cycle around, as this can be very dangerous on busy roads in high winds (they know where to draw the line when it comes to cycling everywhere). 🚳

Storm effects

With strong storm winds, higher water levels, and chances of rain, the storm surge barrier in Zeeland is likely to close to prevent flooding throughout the country.

Strong winds also affect viaducts and bridges. There will be delays in shipping because bridges cannot operate in high winds. 🌁

The GGD closed many coronavirus testing and vaccination locations in Rotterdam, Purmerend, Vlissingen, and Zaandam as a precaution. People who had appointments in these locations can schedule an appointment at a different location.

Delayed travels

The NS decreased the number of train journeys from Den-Helder to Zaandam because of fallen trees and broken branches on tracks. 🚆

Likewise, KLM cancelled several flights arriving at and departing from Schiphol. The weather prevents them from using all runaways and from doing work on the ground, such as baggage handling.

Why Corrie?

The storm is named after Corrie van Dijk. This 83-year-old woman from Schiedam became the female first meteorologist for the KNMI in 1964.

According to RTL Nieuws, she laughed when she found out the storm was named after her. But she also warns to “take Corrie seriously. Of course, I don’t want anyone to die.”

The storm is supposed to peak between 8 AM and 12 PM. After that, the wind will gradually decrease.

Do you have any stormy weather precautions? Tell us in the comments below. 👇

Feature Image: YAYimage/Depositphotos

Food and drink prices spike just as Dutch lockdown ends

Nicole Ogden 🇹🇭 🇺🇸
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Food and drink prices spike just as Dutch lockdown ends

After months of being closed, HORECA in the Netherlands has finally been able to open its doors again. However, if you want to go out for a bite to eat, it’s going to cost you more than it did before. 🍻

Prices have risen significantly due to inflation and business owners are facing extra costs after repeated lockdowns. As a result, the catering industry is warning that you may notice an increase in prices.

“When you see all those additional costs, I think of 15% to 20%,” Patrick van Zuiden, owner of Hotel & Spa Savarin in Rijswijk, tells NU.nl. Van Zuiden is also the chairman of G4, a large umbrella organisation for restaurants in the Netherlands.

Energy costs are through the roof

Energy prices have similarly increased and many Dutch residents are struggling to pay their energy bills. 📈And for businesses, the energy costs have been astronomical. For example, van Zuiden used to pay €2,500 a month for heating for a hotel swimming pool, but now that price has gone up to €7,500. Wat gek!

“My gas bill has tripled and so has my electricity bill,” says Vincenzo Onnembo, co-owner of nNea restaurant in Amsterdam.

It’s normal… kind of

It’s normal for prices to increase over time, especially in the HORECA sector. However, due to the pandemic, global inflation has increased purchasing prices of basic goods even more and have affected businesses’ ability to make a profit.

So if you’re thinking of going out, make sure to save up a bit and don’t go too crazy on the biertjes. 😉🍻

What do you think of prices increasing in HORECA? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Feature Image: Corepics/Depositphotos

VU Amsterdam halts human rights research following Chinese sponsor controversy

Cara Räker 🇩🇪
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VU Amsterdam halts human rights research following Chinese sponsor controversy

Last week, the Cross Cultural Human Rights Centre of the Vrije Universiteit (VU) in Amsterdam found itself caught amidst a crossfire of press reports critiquing questionable funding by a Chinese University.

For now, all activity of the research centre has been stopped, reports the NOS. An official statement by the VU, says that research is being conducted regarding the independence of their Chinese sponsors.

Why has the sponsorship been stopped?

The Chinese university that has been sponsoring the VU’s human rights research for years might have influenced the university’s stance towards human rights abuses in China.

Specifically, journalists criticised the website of the research centre, saying it played down the systemic suppression and severe human rights abuses against the Uyghurs in the Xinjiang province.

Dispute over who is to blame

It now looks like no one really knows who is to be held accountable for the year-long, questionable sponsorship.

During a phone call with the NOS, an employee has said that the centre did not choose autonomously to stop all of its activity. Thirty minutes later, the same person allegedly spoke to superiors and took back the statement claiming that it was in fact the VU’s choice to stop the human rights research.

Can you smell that? Something’s fishy. 🤨

What do you think of this story and who is to blame? Tell us in the comments!

Feature Image: PhotographerFromAmsterdam/Depositphotos

Dutch artist creates biodegradable fireworks to spark social change

Christine Stein Hededam 🇩🇰
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Dutch artist creates biodegradable fireworks to spark social change

The social design lab Studio Roosegaarde has done it again. 😍 This time, they’ve combined technology and art into a magical alternative to traditional fireworks — right in time for Chinese New Year.

With SPARK, the Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde (founder of Studio Roosegaarde) aims to transform loud and polluting firework traditions into sustainable celebrations.

The project will be exhibited at The Wellbeing Summit for Social Change in Bilbao-Biscay, Spain this June. 🎆

Like fireflies illumnating the sky

Imagine you’re seeing thousands of fireflies dance across the night’s sky, illuminating the city below — then you have a pretty good picture of the magic SPARK creates.

Inspired by the light of fireflies, the organic fireworks illuminate the sky with thousands of sparks made by biodegradable materials. Caught by the wind, they then move effortlessly across the sky in a beautiful 50 x 30 x 50 metres cloud.

Merge technology and art for a better future

By offering a sustainable alternative for traditional fireworks, which pollute our cities and scare animals, SPARK awakens wonder (we mean, just look at that video!) and opens the door for more environmental celebrations. 🙌

The aim is to celebrate the interconnectedness between humans and nature while rethinking the traditions that bind communities together — like New Year celebrations.

“For many people, the current situation feels restrictive, and traditional fireworks are getting prohibited everywhere. SPARK Bilbao is a place of wonder which triggers reflection and shows a new sustainable alternative of celebrating together,” says Daan Roosegaarde.

What do you think of this Dutch innovation? Tell us in the comments below!

Feature Image: SPARK by Roosegaarde Photography by Roberto Conte/Supplied

Book sales skyrocketed in 2021, but Dutch storeowners are struggling

Katrien Nivera 🇵🇭
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Book sales skyrocketed in 2021, but Dutch storeowners are struggling

Last year, Dutchies bought 43 million books — apparently the highest it’s been in 10 years! Internet sales increased a lot, but the Collective Promotion for the Dutch Book says that physical bookstores were struggling.

Lockdown and mandatory closure of non-essential shops in the first few months of 2021 and right before Christmas had a big impact on sales from local shops.

Despite calls to “buy locally” to support local entrepreneurs, the number of books sold fell by 7%, reports the NOS.

E-books and reading for kids

Despite more internet book purchases, e-book sales actually decreased (there’s something about paper that’s just nicer to read from). So while bookstores sold 3.1 million e-books, they made more money after the prices of e-books increased.

And, just like 2020, children’s books sales grew the fastest of all genres. Many parents rediscovered the importance of reading, especially for children.

Competition with online sellers

Monique van den Kerkhof started a bookshop in Heerlen in 2019. She had quite a few worries, especially with making a profit, but many people were willing to support a local business through their deliveries. 🙌

READ MORE | These are the 8 best international bookstores in the Netherlands

Despite success stories like Monique’s and although the Netherlands has recently reopened again, many booksellers are wondering if they can compete with online sellers if we return to another lockdown.

Where do you prefer to buy your books? Share your recommendations in the comments!

Feature Image: Foto-VDW/Depositphotos

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