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Gouda is on the NYT’s 2022 list of destinations to visit

Farah Al Mazouni 🇸🇾 🇺🇸
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Gouda is on the NYT’s 2022 list of destinations to visit

The New York Times published their annual list of destinations to visit and Gouda has clinched a spot — that’s the city, although their cheese is a journey’s end too.

Tucked right between Rotterdam and Utrecht, just to the west of the Netherlands, lies a city that blessed the world with its famous cheese.

The New York Times pinpointed the beloved small town of Gouda as part of their 52 Places for a Changed World travel list: a roundup of destinations where visitors can play a role in the solution towards problems such as over-tourism and climate change.

Why Gouda?

We know Gouda is awesome, after all, we mention Gouda in almost every cheese article (and stroopwafels guide) on DutchReview — but why did the New York Times choose it out of all Dutch cities?

Due to an over-tourism concern in the Netherlands, Gouda was chosen as an ideal city to encourage sustainable travel away from overcrowded clichés, sorry Amsterdam. 😔

Gouda, therefore, stands for a car-free, historic and charming destination with its bicycle routes and endless cheese possibilities. It all makes sense.

It’s the cheese, too

Gouda’s cheese, which has been produced in the city since 1184 and is on the world’s 10 most popular kinds of cheese, played a large role in the NYT’s selection as well.

After all, the city is notorious for its Thursdays’ cheese market between April and September, where crowds assemble around Gouda’s cheese girls and boys in their traditional outfits for some cheese-filled action and stalls.

During the market, Gouda’s cheese boys unload and weigh cheese barrels on the original scales in their 1688 Weighing House, now that’s a sight to see. 🧀

Did you visit Gouda previously? Is the town on your travel bucket list? Tell us in the comments below!

Feature Image: shinylion/Depositphotos

One dead, one injured: three shootings in Amsterdam in one day

Nicole Ogden 🇹🇭 🇺🇸
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One dead, one injured: three shootings in Amsterdam in one day

Yesterday, three shootings took place in Amsterdam. One of them proved to be fatal for a 16-year-old boy. In another one, a 22-year-old man was injured.

The shooting of the 16-year-old took place at his father’s house in Amsterdam-Zuidoost. Police arrived on the scene at around 7 PM where they found the victim still alive. Unfortunately, it was too late and emergency services could no longer save him, reports the NOS.

Authorities have arrested two boys around the same age as the victim. It is, however, unclear whether they’re being treated as suspects. Witnesses have claimed that the two boys were friends of the victim. Furthermore, an insider for Het Parool reported that the perpetrator may have fled the scene.

Shootings in Nieuw-West and Noord

Another shooting took place earlier in the day at 12 PM in Amsterdam Nieuw-West. Thankfully, no one was injured.

The third shooting happened in Amsterdam-Noord, injuring a 22-year-old man. Police say that he is awake and can speak. 🙏🏼

“Third shooting in Amsterdam today. This time, a 22-year-old man was injured in the Mastbos and was taken to hospital,” reads the tweet.

Follow DutchReview on Facebook for the latest news and updates.

Feature Image: cakifoto/Depositphotos

Dutch cultural sector wants to take the government to court for COVID-19 measures

Katrien Nivera 🇵🇭
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Dutch cultural sector wants to take the government to court for COVID-19 measures

The Dutch cultural and creative sector taskforce plans to bring the Dutch government to court because of the remaining coronavirus measures.

Retail, sports, and education have reopened but the cultural and catering sectors remain closed — apparently, the main reason for the lawsuit, reports RTL Nieuws.

Protecting culture

More than 100 cultural organisations affiliate themselves with the cultural and creative sector task force, says the organisation’s chairman, Jan Zoet.

The task force is investigating whether pursuing this lawsuit is possible and promising for the cultural sector. The OMT advised keeping cultural and catering sectors out of the relaxation measures and Zoet believes this can no longer be justified.

Many people agree. As this tweet ironically points out, the crazy thing about Omicron is that it’s apparently safer (less infectious) to be in IKEA than it is to be in the Rijksmuseum.

There are 85,000 shops versus 450 museums — so why can’t the latter be opened, especially if people are constantly on the move in museums and other cultural institutions? 🤨

Successes in Belgium

Last year, the League of Human Rights in Belgium initiated proceedings with the Belgian government and the court ordered them to end coronavirus measures within 30 days. The result? The catering industry successfully reopened, unlike the Netherlands.

Perhaps the Dutch cultural sector can take some advice from their Belgian counterpart.

Do you want the cultural sector and catering industry to reopen in the Netherlands? Tell us what you think in the comment below. 👇

Image: PhotographerFromAmsterdam/Depositphotos

Press conference: shops can open! But no bars or cinemas yet

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
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Press conference: shops can open! But no bars or cinemas yet

After nearly a month of being in a hard lockdown, Prime Minister Rutte and his new Minister for Health, Ernst Kuipers took to the podium — and to be honest, no one really knew what was coming.

With the Netherlands counting the highest number of weekly coronavirus infections ever recorded, the cabinet had good reason to keep the country in lockdown.

However, there are also many who were calling for it to end — these include psychological experts and business owners. So what did the cabinet decide to do?

Well, unfortunately, not too much. Rutte explained that at the moment, the risk of reopening life completely in the Netherlands is simply too high. As a result, some pleas will have to go unanswered until January 25, when the measures will be reconsidered again.

Kuipers’ first press conference

Ernst Kuipers was quick to hit the floor (and with graphics in tow). He mainly spoke of the alarming rate of infections in other countries, accompanied by a variety of graphs shown on a screen — which is a new and welcome feature to press conferences.

He discussed the danger of a society coming to a standstill due to high infections, and the need to go into quarantine but also showed graphs of depressed adolescents in the country.

However, all hope is not lost, he also explained that there will be some minor relaxations to the current lockdown. Let’s get into it. 👇

Non-essential shops and businesses

Let’s start with what will change. This past week has seen a number of acts of rebellion within the retail sector. What started as a handful of shops reopening in spite of the lockdown, turned into quite a few.

And these businesses’ decisions were backed by many, including even the mayors of certain municipalities. Thankfully, the Dutch cabinet can offer a bit of hope to business owners.

As of tomorrow, non-essential shops may reopen their doors until 5 PM — and you won’t be needing to make an appointment either. 💪

Contact professions and music schools may also open again under these restricted opening hours — so yes, you can at least fix your quarantine hair.

Sports

The OMT also advised the cabinet to make sport available to young people again and this is a plea that the cabinet has heard. Physical education in secondary schools will be allowed again and indoor and outdoor exercise is allowed again until 5 PM. So yes, gyms will open their doors again and we’re all out of excuses to not go.

Sports competitions may also take place once again, however no audience is allowed. You must also show your CoronaPass (now called a CBT) before sporting if you are over 18 years old.

And it’s not just sports that will be enjoyed again but also music, drama and dance. 🎶

“Horeca” (Catering sector)

However, cafés, restaurants, cinemas and theatres will have to wait at least another 10 days before they may open their doors once more. This is because the cabinet fears that reopening these establishments during these record-breaking infection numbers may lead to even more infections.

On January 25, the Dutch cabinet will reconsider whether a trip to the cinema or your favourite restaurant will be possible once again. 🤞

Education

This week, the Dutch Association for Psychiatry sent an open letter to the Outbreak Management Team asking them to consider reopening higher education. The association pointed to a worrying increase in mental illness amongst students of third-level education.

READ MORE | The OMT advises Dutch cabinet to relax measures for education, sports, and retail

HBOs, MBOs and Universities will reopen their doors this upcoming Monday — so students can breathe a sigh of relief.

Changes to quarantine rules

Got an infected housemate? Well, you no longer have to go into a 10-day quarantine if you have had coronavirus in 2022/received your booster shot over a week ago.

Medical face masks

Another thing that we can expect to change in the coming days was our face masks. The OMT has advised that the Dutch cabinet bring in a medical face mask mandate.

The cabinet has taken this on.. kind of. As they are now asking you to swap your super basic mask in for at least a Type II medical face mask. But it’s also still “The mouth cap obligation and the advice is being expanded. No more cloth face masks.” so yes, hopefully more clarity on this in the upcoming days.

Follow DutchReview on Facebook for the latest coronavirus news and updates in the Netherlands.

Bad news for criminals: new Dutch DNA analysis will catch ’em quicker

Cara Räker 🇩🇪
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Bad news for criminals: new Dutch DNA analysis will catch ’em quicker

Each year, the Dutch Forensic Institute (NFI) investigates over 50,000 DNA samples to help solve criminal cases. Now, new techniques are on the market that can connect a DNA sample to a suspect in a mere three days!

Before, the process of analysing DNA samples would sometimes take weeks, reports nu.nl. Of course, the chances of catching a criminal become slimmer the more time passes after a crime.

“It’s not that the questions asked during investigations have changed, but with the new techniques we can answer them much better,” says Titija Sijen, head of Team Research of the Biological traces division at the NFI.

How does it work?

Sander Kneppers, program manager for innovation and technology at the NFI, outlines the process of DNA analysis from start to finish.

The first step is to extract the DNA sample from, for instance, hairs or pieces of fabrics. Then, the DNA gets replicated to make it more visible and easier to work with. After the DNA has been extracted and identified, it now needs to be interpreted.

This is where the process tended to slow down significantly. While before, it was specialists who were responsible for the analysis, interpretation, and comparison of DNA samples with potential suspects registered in the DNA databank. This process has now been automated, leading to quicker results.

And if there’s a match in the DNA-databank with a registered person, a report is automatically sent out to the police and relevant institutions. Handig!

Progress also in DNA analysis

There are also new techniques, improving the outcomes of DNA analysis. What does that mean? “In the coming years, we will be able to determine more physical characteristics: think of freckles, early balding in man or hair structure,” says Sijen.

Researchers can already determine the geographical origins of a person. This technique is used to, for example, find the parents of an abandoned baby or who a criminal in a certain case could look like.

Well, we hope this gives will everyone just another incentive to stay on the legal side of things! 🤓

What do you think about this new process to catch more criminals? Tell us in the comments!

Feature Image: Louis Reed/Unsplash

New Chinese ‘supermarket’ opens four branches in the Netherlands

Katrien Nivera 🇵🇭
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New Chinese ‘supermarket’ opens four branches in the Netherlands

Shoppers in the Netherlands, your choices for groceries has increased again! The Chinese ‘supermarket’ Ochama already has two branches open but more locations are in the works.

This new supermarket comes with a twist — instead of picking up each grocery item yourself in a shopping market, your groceries come to a collection point via robots, reports RTL Nieuws.

To try this service, you must become a member (for free), order your goods online, and provide the QR code you’re given in an Ochama location to receive your bundle of groceries.

Choice aplenty

You can do your daily household shopping at Ochama — from regular perishable goods like tomatoes and kiwis — but you can also go there for non-food like cleaning supplies and clothes. 🧼

At the moment, 7,000 different products are available. However, Ochama has plans to keep expanding their selection.

While the ‘supermarket’ relies on being a pick-up point for groceries, it will also deliver your shopping if you live too far from a pick-up point. 🚛 The Rotterdam and Leiden locations are already open. The stores in Utrecht and Diemen (near Amsterdam) will open their doors soon.

Something the Dutch have been waiting for?

Is a ‘supermarket’ like Ochama something that the Dutchies have been waiting for? Experts’ opinions on this differ.

Some have expressed concerns about the large amount of data that Ochama receives from your shopping habits, making it easier for them to target offers to customers.

Others are unsure about the automated collection system. Retail expert Hans van Tellingen, for example, points out that while “that may be successful in Asia, we like human contact.”

Others, on the other hand, emphasise the ease of pick-up points. Supermarket expert Erik Hemmes says that time is valuable for the Dutch and stores like Ochama are accessible in particular to busy working parents.

In any case, Mark den Butter, the chief of operations of Ochama, tells RTL Nieuws that they have big ambitions for the company — but has not elaborated further.

Will you try shopping at Ochama? Tell us in the comments!

Image: Kevin Goei/Supplied

Dutch King sends mixed messages about controversial Golden Carriage

Nicole Ogden 🇹🇭 🇺🇸
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Dutch King sends mixed messages about controversial Golden Carriage

King Willem-Alexander is in hot water again due to a video wherein he gave mixed messages about the Golden Carriage, which depicts racist imagery.

Every year, the King rides the Golden Carriage on Prinsjesdag (Budget Day). However, the carriage is the subject of great debate and many find its slave panel to be racist and offensive.

He has just announced in a video that the vehicle will no longer be used “for official occasions”, according to the NOS.

However, the King also said, “Only if we take this road to reconciliation together, the Golden Coach can drive again on Prinsjesdag.” This is confusing, to say the least.

Dutch colonial past

He has also said in the past that the panel is part of the “Dutch cultural heritage” and should not be removed. 😐

However, some people like Mitchell Esajas, co-founder of The Black Archives, believes that continuing to use the carriage is wrong.

“I had a strange taste in my mouth when I heard that. As far as I’m concerned, it should be moved permanently to the future Slavery Museum,” Esajas told the NOS.

For now, the carriage remains at the Amsterdam Museum.

What do you think about the King’s Golden Carriage? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Feature Image: Minister-president Rutte/Wikimedia Commons/CC2.0

The OMT advises Dutch cabinet to relax measures for education, sports, and retail

Katrien Nivera 🇵🇭
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1
The OMT advises Dutch cabinet to relax measures for education, sports, and retail

After pleas from shopkeepers and municipalities alike, the Outbreak Management Team (OMT) sees the possibility to relax measures for education, sports, and retail in what seems like a much-needed comeback for these sectors.

In the meantime, the cultural and catering industries will have to wait a bit longer, reports NU.nl.

A change of heart

The cabinet, RIVM experts, and the OMT are discussing the coronavirus situation, but a decision has not been made regarding the reopening of these sectors. The first press conference with the new Dutch cabinet will give the final word tomorrow.

The hard lockdown is set to end on Saturday, January 15, and due to the advice of the OMT, university and MBO students may get the chance for physical lessons again. There is also a chance that shopping and hairdresser appointments may return.

However, the cabinet wants to give business owners some leeway and “take things in small steps” to work on a proper reopening.

Hope for the future?

Although the omicron variant’s infection peak is still expected to hit the Netherlands, this seems like a big turn of events for the cabinet and OMT to consider relaxing restrictions. Despite the rate of coronavirus infections, many business owners have announced their reopening regardless of restrictions given the economic circumstances of these businesses.

On a brighter note, Belgian virologist Marc van Ranst has told Het Parool that the omicron variant is more similar to the flu. And there are other studies showing significantly fewer hospitalisations.

What do you think of the relaxation of restrictions for education, sports, and shops? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!

Feature Image: RODNAE Productions/Pexels

Climate action or you’re going to court: Milieudefensie tells Dutch companies

Cara Räker 🇩🇪
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Climate action or you’re going to court: Milieudefensie tells Dutch companies

The Dutch environmental organisation Milieudefensie (Friends of the Earth Netherlands) has called on 29 businesses to come up with a concrete plan on how to reduce their CO2 emissions by 45% before 2030. 🌍

They have until April 15 to deliver their plan — and if they fail to do so, Milieudefensie says they will take it all to court. The environmental organisation has won a huge case against Shell earlier this year, so they’re not messing around.

What kind of plan?

Milieudefensie demands that the plan will outline concrete climate action on how to cut back CO2 emissions in the next eight years. They are required to state how much CO2 they emit now, to which level they want to reduce it and how they’re going to do that.

Donald Pols, director of Milieudefensie, tells the NOS that CO2 emissions will have to be reduced significantly within the next eight years to lastingly avert a climate catastrophe. This is why they started the campaign.

Who’s on the hitlist?

Milieudefensie targets some of the 29 biggest companies in the Netherlands. There are those who contribute directly to CO2 emissions, such as the Dutch airline KLM, and Schiphol Airport.

But the environmental organisation also has its eyes on companies who contribute to climate change more indirectly. For example, Dutch banks Rabobank and ING will have to reevaluate how much of their funding goes towards the burning of fossil fuels.

Shell paved the way

That this demand is something to take seriously became evident earlier this year when Milieudefensie won a landmark case against Dutch-British multinational Shell. Shell was forced to commit to cut back its CO2 emissions by 50% in the next couple of years.

Milieudefensie was backed by the international Paris agreement, as well as six other environmental organisations including Greenpeace and FossilvrijNL. So far, 17,000 Dutch citizens supported the cause with a petition.

Holding companies responsible for their climate impact yay or nay? Tell us what you think in the comments!

Feature Image: PantherMediaSeller/Depositphotos

Why the Netherlands isn’t underwater (VIDEO INSIDE)

Farah Al Mazouni 🇸🇾 🇺🇸
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Why the Netherlands isn’t underwater (VIDEO INSIDE)

It’s miraculous how these flat lowlands have managed to withstand becoming an Atlantis. If you’re wondering how, we have a video for you.

Floods make up for a big part of Dutch history, after all, the majority of the country is below sea level, goes through hardcore rain seasons, and (no thanks to climate change) is facing a rise in sea levels.

However, as with flood-prone areas (or country in this case), preventative solutions are planned. In the Netherland’s case, it comes as state of the art flood management systems that ought to keep the country nice, dry, and on the opposite side of sinking.

Aside from their world-renowned water engineering skills, which clearly show through The Delta Works, Dutchies are so innovative that they’ve even explored floating homes as part of their future at some point.

But enough with words, we present to you this Ted-Ed video that nicely sums up how the Netherlands managed to stay above water in less than 6 minutes! Happy watching. 🍿

Did this video miss any key point of the Netherland’s approach against floods? Tell us in the comments below!

Feature Image: Vishal/Unsplash

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