A police officer is facing rape charges for assaulting a teenager in the backseat of a car at the McDonald’s parking lot in Nieuwegein.
The allegations were reported by the crime program Het Misdaadbureau on NPO Radio 1 on Wednesday. The Public Prosecution Service later confirmed the incident, reports AD.
The 45-year-old suspect, identified as Walco B, is expected to appear in court on June 9.
Told the victim he was a police officer
According to the radio program, WB met the victim at a cafe in IJsselstein about six months ago. She was aged between 16 and 18.
The girl was drunk, so WB offered to drop her off at home. Outside working hours, WB reportedly told the victim that he was a police officer.
Along with an unidentified co-suspect, the two men instead drove the teenager to a McDonald’s car park in Nieuwegein. The assault took place in the back seat of the car.
According to prosecutors, the men allegedly continued despite her protests that she wanted to go home.
The girl later filed a report that triggered a criminal investigation.
The consequences
The two men were detained for approximately three months. However, the suspects roam free while awaiting their trial in June.
The Openbaar Ministerie confirmed to Het Misdaadbureau that one of the two suspects was employed by the Central Netherlands Police at the time, which is a police unit patrolling the entire province of Utrecht.
According to the NOS, Walco B has since been dismissed. However, he can appeal the dismissal.
Colleagues told Het Misdaadbureau that they were shocked by the allegations. Somehow, Walco had built a reputation within the unit as a tenacious investigator.
Do you think it’s fair for this police officer to roam free until his trial? Tell us in the comments.
In the latest data disaster for yet another Dutch company, Rituals user information, including email addresses, phone numbers, names, and more, has been stolen.
As reported by AD, the company released information about the incident on Wednesday, though the exact number of customers impacted remains unclear.
For an internationally established business (spanning 33 countries), the scale of the leak could be substantial.
Who is affected?
Rituals has confirmed that the affected customer data originates in Europe and the UK, AD says.
According to the Rituals website, “the situation is now contained,” and the company has taken measures to further protect user details.
They also confirm that passwords and payment details were not leaked.
In the meantime, customers are being warned to look out for phishing emails, calls, or text messages, and to remain “extra vigilant,” reports NOS.
Add it to the list…
Rituals is just the latest company to be hit with a data breach: from Odido to Booking.com and BasicFit, these thefts appear to be commonplace nowadays.
The worst of these incidents, the Odido breach, has led to the release of over six million Dutch people’s personal information to the darkest corner of the web.
While cybercriminals may seem like they’re on a rampage, there’s no evidence that these attacks are connected, reports NOS.
For now, the only thing these breaches have in common is that your data keeps ending up somewhere it shouldn’t.
Have you been impacted by the latest leaks? Let us know in the comments!
After you’ve fought your way through the Dutch housing market and somehow sweet-talked a viewing out of a landlord with 200 other applicants, the last thing you need is to spend €500 getting your stuff from one apartment to another.
Yet that’s exactly where most people end up — paying a fortune, or begging every friend they have for help and owing them all dinner forever.
Moving as an expat is wildly overcomplicated for no reason
If you’re an expat or recent arrival, the traditional moving company model just doesn’t make sense for you.
You’re not moving a four-bedroom house full of heirlooms. You’ve got a mattress, a few boxes, and a lamp that probably won’t survive anyway. Yet most moving companies charge as if everyone’s relocating an entire household!
When you only have a carload of stuff, big moving companies don’t make sense! Image: Mihai Tulbure
That means €350 to €800-plus for full-service moves with large crews and a price tag that assumes you’ve got a proper Dutch salary to match.
This is the awkward moving gap so many students and expats fall into: too much stuff to carry yourself, not enough to justify a full moving company.
That’s why founder Mihai Tulbure created MoverMate, a moving service built specifically for this middle ground.
MoverMate was born out of personal experience
MoverMate has humble beginnings. Unlike many big moving companies, it didn’t start in a boardroom. It began with a smart student at the University of Twente who owned a van.
After a few dozen rounds of helping friends stuck in that same transport gap move between rooms and apartments, he thought: Why isn’t there a proper service for this?
That insight grew into a reliable van-and-driver operation built for student and city life. And now, you can use it too!
What you actually get — and what you save
MoverMate keeps it simple: a van, a professional driver, and an hourly rate of €49. Fuel is calculated separately, but most local moves come in between €110 and €140 total.
Keep it simple (and affordable) with MoverMate! Image: Mihai Tulbure
Compare that to traditional movers charging €80 to €120 per hour with a minimum of three or four hours, and you’re looking at savings of up to a whopping 40%.
The service covers 24+ cities across the Netherlands — Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Eindhoven, Leiden, Delft, and more — with intercity moves typically wrapping up within half a day.
A few things to keep in mind:
MoverMate is transport-focused. The driver loads and unloads; packing and disassembly are on you. For most studio moves, that’s a non-issue.
Preparation saves you money. The clock starts when the driver arrives — boxes by the door mean fast loading, which means a lower bill.
There’s same-day availability. Last-minute move? MoverMate often has slots the same day or next.
The process is entirely English-friendly. Booking, communication, and the move itself — no Dutch-language websites required.
For students, expats, and anyone who’s done the maths on a studio move and quietly wept, MoverMate is the option that should have existed all along.
Just message +31648852148 with your pickup address, destination, date, and a brief description of what needs to be moved. You can also book via the MoverMate contact page.
Have you ever paid way too much to move to the Netherlands? Tell us your moving horror stories in the comments.
The end of a relationship is never easy. However, it can be especially difficult when there are children involved — and you’re in a foreign country.
That said, you can rest easy knowing that multiple legal procedures are in place in the Netherlands to ensure that this transition is as seamless as possible for your children.
To find out more, we turned to Sophie Vermeule from GMW lawyers. Sophie has experience in complex international divorce cases, approaching each with knowledge, detail, and an understanding of the complex emotions involved.
Here’s what you need to know about children during divorces and separations in the Netherlands, straight from the expert.
Separating in the Netherlands with children: a step-by-step breakdown
Sophie walked us through the steps parents will need to take for their children during a separation.
1. Determine if the children fall under Dutch jurisdiction
One question that always arises when tackling legal matters is jurisdiction. This means whether the court has the legal power to make rulings over your case.
Jurisdiction is especially important when internationals are involved. However, when it comes to your children, things are actually very simple.
“In principle, it can be assumed that when the children reside in the Netherlands, a Dutch court is authorised to make decisions regarding their care and upbringing,” Sophie explains.
There are several steps you must take in the divorce process if your child falls under Dutch jurisdiction. Image: Freepik
Put simply, regardless of whether your separation or divorce falls under Dutch jurisdiction, if your children live in the Netherlands, they will fall under the Dutch legal system.
“For example, the Dutch court will determine a care and contact arrangement,” Sophie explains.
The best approach is for parents to draw up a parenting plan in mutual consultation, in which they agree on topics such as the care and contact arrangement (indicating when the child will be with each parent).
“In cases where parents are unable to reach an agreement on the parenting plan, they have the option to seek a decision from the Dutch court. The Dutch court will then (for example) establish a care and contact arrangement,” Sophie adds.
If the Dutch court does have jurisdiction over your children, you can rest easy knowing that their welfare is paramount.
“Children have priority in the Netherlands in case of divorce or separation,” Sophie tells us.
In general, the court establishes its jurisdiction over children at the time of the petition.
However, Sophie tells us that when children move abroad during ongoing proceedings, the Dutch court may lose jurisdiction. In this case, parents would not need to prepare a parenting plan.
We were never married. Does this change things?
Whether you and your ex were legally married or just cohabiting, the process regarding children is treated the same in the Netherlands.
“In principle, there is no difference between a divorce and separation when it comes to the children,” says Sophie. “Parents generally have to make agreements regarding visitation and child support.”
2. Specify who has parental authority
First of all, you may be wondering what parental authority even is, good question!
As soon as you and your partner become legal parents in the Netherlands, you automatically share joint parental authority over your biological children.
Parental authority means that you are responsible for raising and caring for these children until they are at least 18 years old.
“Since January 1st, 2023, unmarried and unregistered partners automatically obtain joint parental authority with the mother when the child is legally recognised,” Sophie tells us.
What about same-sex parents?
In the Netherlands, when two women are married, or in a registered partnership, they have made use of an unknown donor, and one gives birth, the partner automatically shares joint parental authority.
If the mothers conceive with a known donor, only the birth mother of the child will automatically become the legal parent and will have parental authority over the child. The donor will not (automatically) be the legal parent, nor will the donor have parental authority. The co-mother can obtain parental authority if she acknowledges the child herself at the registry.
If two men are married or in a registered partnership, they will only obtain joint parental authority after a court decision. However, if two men adopt a child, they automatically both obtain parental authority.
Parental authority is not the same as visitation, Sophie explains.
“Parental authority is not linked to the right to visitation. A parent without parental authority also has the right to have contact with the child.”
Both parents will have the right to visitation, unless it goes against the child’s best interest.
Visitation can be negotiated between the parents if things remain amicable.
Sometimes it’s difficult for things to remain amicable. Image: Freepik
However, if an agreement can’t be reached, even with the help of a mediator, the Dutch courts will step in and consider each parent’s role in the children’s upbringing to reach a decision.
For example, say you and your partner lived together with the children you had together before you broke up; however, you never married.
As we’ve explained above, in the Netherlands, your marital status won’t play a major role when it comes to your children.
Case in point: parental authority.
GMW lawyers are the experts when it comes to dealing with international families and separation. You can contact them to speak with someone about your unique situation.
As long as your children live in the Netherlands, you and your partner will be obligated under the Zorgvuldige Scheiding Act to draw up a Parenting Plan (ouderschapsplan).
“In the Parenting Plan, parents make agreements about the division of care, how often information is shared, how important matters regarding the children are decided upon and about child support,” Sophie tells us.
You should sit down with your partner and draw up a parenting plan if you are getting divorced in the Netherlands. Image: Freepik
Parents are legally obliged to draw up a parenting plan during a divorce (or termination of a registered partnership) when they were cohabitating, and both have parental authority.
However, Sophie explains that it is highly recommended that a parenting plan also be drawn up if the parents are not cohabitating.
And yes, it can be about as difficult as it sounds, which is why there are mediators who specialise in helping parents draw up these parenting plans.
4. Involve your child in the process
Anyone who lives in the Netherlands knows that the Dutch believe in raising children to be confident and independent.
This makes it no surprise that the Dutch court will not only encourage you but also require you to include your child in the process of separating, in a way that is appropriate for the child’s age.
It’s always good to speak with your children about the Dutch divorce process and what this means for them. Image: Depositphotos
As Sophie explains, “In the parenting plan, it should also be included how the children are involved in the drafting of the parenting plan.”
Of course, if your child is three years old and would much rather shove crayons up their nose, they’re not going to be expected to do much.
“This naturally depends on the children’s age,” Sophie says.
Again, some parents may find this aspect of the separation difficult, which is why a mediator can advise you on the best way to approach this.
5. Determine who pays child support
Who pays child support when separating in the Netherlands will be determined as part of the Parenting Plan.
“As a general rule, the parent with whom the children do not reside primarily pays child support to the other parent,” explains Sophie.
A mediator can help you determine who should pay child support. Image: Freepik
The two of you will make these decisions together, but what if you and your ex aren’t seeing eye to eye?
“If the parents are unable to reach an agreement, they can bring this issue to court. The judge will then determine the amount of child support.”
When finances and children are involved, it’s sometimes best to have an objective person at the table, which is why many people in the Netherlands hire a mediator to help negotiate the terms of child support.
Splitting from your ex is never easy, especially when you’re trying to share a life with your children.
However, if there’s one thing the Netherlands does well, it’s look out for your kids during this turbulent time.
Sophie says it like a true lawyer: “In short, there are sufficient safeguards in place in the Netherlands to protect the interests of children during divorce.”
And ultimately, that’s what you both want.
Do you need a lawyer when separating with kids in the Netherlands? GMW lawyers are the experts. To speak with someone about your circumstances, get in touch.
Have you experienced a separation with kids in the Netherlands? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!
Anyone who has lived in the Netherlands for more than a month knows that buying groceries here can be expensive.
If you’re ballin’ on a budget, getting things from your local Albert Heijn can feel like a splurge, even with all the nice deals you can get with your trusty bonus card.
Whether you’re a frugal student, held back by soaring inflation, or simply trying to pinch pennies where you can, you’re probably wondering: What are some cheaper alternatives that won’t have you spending half of your monthly budget on groceries?
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The cheapest supermarkets in the Netherlands
In the time since I first moved to the Netherlands, I’ve uncovered many cheaper alternatives to that inviting blue Albert Heijn sign that greets most internationals once they’ve set foot here.
If you have a Nettorama near you, you’re in luck — even though their presentation isn’t the best, they have a great selection of products at rock-bottom prices.
This place calls itself a “brand discounter” and sells many well-known brands for a fraction of their normal price (often if you buy in bulk).
If you’re looking for affordable groceries, you can’t go wrong with Dirk! With well over a hundred stores around the country, you can probably find one close to you.
It also has some great promotions, and it’s not uncommon to find food products for as low as €1 from their house brand. Plus, pro tip: Dirk also has great bread (we confirm this from DutchReview’s daily lunch experiences).
Aldi is a classic when it comes to cheap supermarkets, with weekly promotions that shave even more off your grocery bill.
What I really like about Aldi is that it’s great for covering all your basics, ike bread, pasta, cheese, and general household items. While it might not be fancy, it puts food on the table.
Lidl is essentially Aldi’s slightly more expensive sister, with a very similar layout, a comparable price range, and the same no-nonsense approach to shopping.
I’ve found that Lidl usually has a wider range of products and generally better quality, especially if you’re looking for fresh fruits and vegetables.
If you’re looking for high-quality products and items that budget supermarkets may not carry, Jumbo is a more affordable alternative to Albert Heijn.
They also carry their own house brand (Jumbo), which offers your everyday essentials at a more accessible price than those by popular brands.
Alternatives to big-chain supermarkets in the Netherlands
Okay, so we’ve covered the most popular supermarket chains here in the Netherlands, but what about off-brand, smaller shops and stores?
Family-run or small grocery stores in the Netherlands
Your socialist leanings might lead you to avoid big chains, which pollute the environment and give questionable pay to their employees. Or you just want a cheaper alternative.
Small family-owned businesses are a fair and great choice.
Almost every Dutch city has a local Asian supermarket. Image: Depositphotos
They can be much cheaper than regular supermarkets, with some local stores being in the same price range as budget supermarkets like Aldi.
Because the Netherlands is such a multicultural country, the advantage of going to local stores is that you can find a wide range of food from other cultures.
For example, you can go to Indian, Asian or Surinamese stores to get more flavour than you’ll find in all Dutch stamppotcombined.
Heck, if you are looking for cheap alcohol, then a Polish store will definitely do the job.
Farmers’ markets in the Netherlands
Another great alternative to supermarkets is going to a farmers’ market. You can get a kilo of veggies for as little as €1, but the only problem is using them all up before they go bad. Fresh produce at a great price, what’s not to love?
So when you’re at a farmers’ market, don’t go overboard because odds are you might commit some food waste if you over-buy.
These local markets usually have very cheap, fresh produce! Image: Depositphotos
There is a good variety of farmers’ markets in the Netherlands. Some lean towards more organic and eco-branded offerings, while others resemble butchers and greengrocers.
We strongly recommend the Haagse Markt in The Hague, which is one of the largest outdoor markets in Europe. It not only sells food, but you can also find clothes, electronics, and a range of household items.
No matter what you’re shopping for, it’s almost guaranteed that you can save some money by not going to AH. So, find your nearest cheap store, and let the savings begin. 💸
Do you have any other recommendations for those who want to get groceries for cheap? Tell us in the comments below!
Picture this: you’re strolling down a beautiful Dutch street when someone with zero spatial awareness bumps into you. Congratulations! You’ve found yourself an international!
Here’s how to spot them with laser-like precision:
1. They tend to stand out with their fashion choices
The first clue as to whether someone is an international is that their backpacks look like they’re preparing for an apocalypse.
These bags could fit an entire wardrobe, a first aid kit, and possibly a five-person tent.
Completing the look is the quintessential oversized puffer jacket, leaving only the eyes visible, and a pair of hiking boots. Because, of course, you never know when you’ll encounter a mountain in the Netherlands.
2. They avoid the top bike rack like the plague
If you spot someone staring at the top bike rack like a mountain they have to hike, they’re definitely an international.
Rumour has it that getting a bike up here is harder than getting a Dutch passport. Image: Depositphotos
While the Dutch have gracefully mastered this art, the rest of us have yet to figure out how to simply ride a bike, let alone park it 5 feet up in the air. 🚲
3. They’ll enter through anything but the correct tram doors
In Amsterdam specifically, you’ll know someone’s an international if they are confidently trying to squeeze through the wrong tram doors.
For those unaware (and let’s face it, that’s quite a few of you), Amsterdam’s trams have designated entry and exit doors marked with stickers.
People often try to force open the incorrect doors, only to get yelled at by the grumpy tram conductor over the loudspeakers for everyone to hear.
In their defence, the stickers on the doors are pretty much microscopic.
4. They use Google Maps in the most uncool manner
Another surefire way to spot an international is if you see someone struggling to navigate the streets.
Internationals clutch at their phones, trying to figure out which identical-looking street they’re meant to take to reach the ollibollen stand. 🗺
Honestly, we can’t blame them; Dutch streets can be confusing. Image: Depositphotos
They’ll stop in their tracks, staring at their phone, oblivious to the fact that they’ve nearly been hit by a speedy bike — three times.
Spoiler alert: They don’t find it despite risking their life in the process.
5. They have no sixth sense for bikes
Building on that last point, whether they’re glued to their phones or not, internationals stroll onto bike paths without a care in the world, blissfully unaware of the impending near-death experience.
See someone casually strolling on a bike lane without a hint of fear on their face? Odds are, you’ve just spotted an international. 😬
Who would want to pay €10 for a little biertje? Internationals… that’s who.
7. They will always, inevitably, without a doubt, be defeated by the rain
Most Dutch people treat rain like it’s an inconvenience. Internationals? They’ll have a full-on breakdown.
They frantically look through their bags, desperately pulling out every waterproof accessory they own, looking completely dishevelled.
The inverted umbrella, the Dutch classic.Image: Depositphotos
Meanwhile, the Dutch will gracefully flip up the snug hood of their sweater, effortlessly protecting their perfectly smooth, frizz-free hair that seems immune to rain.
8. They bike with an unnecessary amount of caution
If you see someone cycling like life is a cautious dress rehearsal — slow, wary and with a helmet — you can bet they’re an international.
Internationals will order pints instead of a sequence of tiny beers to decorate the table, and can you blame us?
10. They lack a natural instinct to navigate crowds
Internationals have yet to learn how to tactfully manoeuvre crowds, often walking at a snail’s pace.
Stuck behind someone? Probably an international. Image: Depositphotos
We understand the need to take your time to familiarise yourself with the streets, but we would all benefit from a faster pace in the narrow Dutch streets.
11. They shudder at the thought of drop (liquorice)
Hand an international some dropand watch the disgust wash across their face.
Dutchies are somehow able to munch on this snack as if their taste buds are made of steel. The rest of us? We’ll pass.
12. They love to wave at boats passing by
Spot someone waving at passing boats? That’s definitely some international energy.
I guess it makes them feel like royalty. 👑 Image: Depositphotos
This habit isn’t limited to boats; it extends to the streets, too.
Internationals are quite friendly to strangers — and honestly, it’s kinda cute!
13. They’re pretty obnoxious in silent train compartments
If you can’t spot an international, you may still be able to hear them, specifically in the silent compartments of trains.
While they may blissfully chat away in the silent train compartments, these are practically sacred ground for the Dutch, and they take their role as silence enforcers very seriously, especially when it comes to internationals.
While the internationals do the talking, the Dutchies do the shushing.
14. They actually… smile at you on the street
If someone flashes a smile at you as they walk past, guess what? They’re not Dutch.
Dutch people haven’t gotten the memo about smiling at passersby like the rest of us.
15. They write for some silly online publication
Want to know the ultimate giveaway that someone’s an international? They work at DutchReview.
Sure, they’re easy to spot now. But once these internationals survive their first winter and develop a taste for haring, they’ll slowly evolve into Dutchies, blending more seamlessly into Dutch society.
Do you agree with this list? What else would you add to it? Tell us in the comments below.
The humble Dutch fries. In a nation known for fierce and unadulterated debates, the Dutch will disregard standard social manners in the spirit of the argument.
Is Zwarte Piet racist or a nod to Dutch heritage? Does the government interfere too much or too little? And is wearing the burka a religious right or a national threat?
But above all these issues, there is one Dutch debate that rages supreme. The ultimate argument has divided families, split up relationships, and caused wars among friends. The debate that divides the nation: friet versus patat.
Two sides of the same coin
“We have to come up with a third, alternative word for fries (patat) or fries (friet),” tweeted Amsterdammer Mark Traa in 2019. “Otherwise, we as a country really can’t go further.”
But what makes these Dutch fries so differently delicious? Where did delicious Dutch fries come from? Out of the thousands of choices, which sauce do you choose? What the hell are war fries? And why can the Dutch not agree on a name?
We’re asking the real questions here at DutchReview, and delving into the ultimate guide to Dutch fries. Grab some frietpatat popcorn, settle in, and enjoy the wild ride of Dutch fries.
Dutch fries are not slim, like the very American French fries — instead, they are broad, strong, and a little chunky. They’re not served in a pesky small container but an ingenious cardboard cone contraption sometimes adorned with the crown jewel: sauce holders.
Dutch fries are never submitted to a freezer’s cold blasts; instead, they are cut and served the same day. They are plunged into boiling oil a minimum of two times, resulting in a crispy outer fry and fluffy inner fry.
And finally, for the thick and chunky Dutch fries, one squirt of sauce is not enough.
For reasons unbeknownst to the masses, the sauce can only be heaped on top, saturating the top layer into a saucy mess and neglecting the bottom layer to be distraughtly sauceless. More on sauce later.
Where did Dutch fries come from?
No one knows exactly who introduced this golden goodness to the world. There are a lot of ongoing arguments about whether the French or the Belgians created fries in the first place.
One of the rumours is that French fries came about when American soldiers visited Europe during WWI. They were astonished by the delicious fries, heard the language spoken near them and wrote home to their sweethearts about the “French fries.”
However, the Americans were, in fact, in French-speaking Belgium. So french fries? Pffff! More like Belgian fries. The fries spread to Belgium’s neighbours, resulting in the delicious Dutch fries we enjoy today.
So is it ‘friet’ or ‘patat’?
The great Dutch fries debate rears its ugly head once again. It’s divided a nation — literally. The English version of this debate would literally be “fries or chips”. You can see why it’s so important to know the answer.
The Dutch website patatoffriet.nl (yes, there is a whole website dedicated to it) says that the majority of the Dutch tend to order patat. However, those from Brabant, Limburg, and Belgium would instead order friets.
According to freelance journalist and fry-enthusiast Rens van de Plas, who conducted extensive research into the matter by analysing a whopping 153 restaurants’ menu cards, Dutchies say friet almost up to the border of the province of Utrecht.
The map you never knew you needed. Image: Cavit/Wikimedia Commons/CC3.0
But are the Dutch happy to just say “well, that’s okay, you call it your thing and I’ll call it mine”? Of course not! They’re Dutch, and they have to tell everyone their opinion all the time. We guess that’s one reason why we love them.
What should you put on your Dutch fries?
Every Dutch fry store comes with a long bibliography of sauces. You can choose one, or two, or three, or probably all of them if you pay enough (and, you know, wanted all of them for some reason).
The options are endless. Image: Freepik
But if you want to order Dutch fries just like a Dutchie, here are some popular things you can request:
Patat zonder — fries without. Fries, fries, and more fries with zero sauce. Nada, zip, zero.
Patat met — fries with mayonnaise. Easily the most popular with Dutchies, this is fries just with mayonnaise. They don’t even have to say the mayo part — just “fries with”, and that’s all the fry artist needs to know.
Patat pinda — fries with peanut sauce. Thought to be from their Indonesian past. Not recommended for those with peanut allergies.
Patat special — fries special. Dutch fries with mayonnaise, combined with either ketchup or curry sauce and sprinkled with chopped white onion. Also super popular.
Patat oorlog — war fries. Fries with mayonnaise, peanut sauce, and chopped white onion. Only for the very brave or very Dutch.
But when you approach a Dutch fries stall, you may be bewildered by all the options. We’ve translated every one we can think of below for your fry-eating pleasure:
Sauce
Translation
Description
Mosterd
Mustard
Not that popular, but it makes it on the list.
Samuraisaus
Samurai sauce
Spicy sambal and mayonnaise are mixed and given a hell of a cool name.
Andalousesaus
Andalusia sauce
Hailing from Belgium, a sauce of mayonnaise, tomato paste, and capsicum.
Knoflooksaus
Garlic sauce
Banned on date nights if you want to get lucky.
Barbecuesaus
Barbecue sauce
Mmmm! Tangy and sweet. We’ll take ten.
Fritessaus
Fry sauce
A lean, Dutch version of mayonnaise.
Ketchup
Ketchup
We think you know this one.
Tartaarsaus
Tartare sauce
Fishy and British.
Joppiesaus
Joppie sauce
A secret recipe, but a mix of onions and curry powder. Delish! Named after a worker called Joppie.
Groene pepersaus
Green pepper sauce
Sauce, but with green pepper. That’s all.
Vlaamse Mayonaise
Flanders Mayonaise
Mayonnaise with a small amount of lemon and vinegar. Has a bit of a kick to normal mayo.
Curry
Curry
The holy grail of sauce on fries. Highly recommended (by us).
Cocktailsaus
Cocktail sauce
Feeling a little fancy? Have some mayo mixed with ketchup or Worcestershire sauce!
Piccalilly
Pickled sauce
Garlic, capsicum, and cauliflower, pickled in vinegar for a tangy taste.
Chilisaus
Chilli sauce
Prepare wisely for the sweats.
The Dutch do have swarms of sauces to choose from.
Dutch fries today: the debate continues
The great friet debate has been saturating the internet for years. It’s even a topic of discussion on Dutch dating shows:
@npostartnext Zeg jij friet of patat? 🍟 Waar vind je de echte liefde? Het First Dates restaurant opent weer haar deuren voor single gasten die op zoek zijn naar de ware. We zien singles die dromen van een geschikte partner. Leidt een eerste date tot een tweede? En wie vindt de perfecte match? 👁️ Meer zien?! Check 'First Dates' op @npostart! #Firstdates#BNNVARA#NPO3♬ origineel geluid – NPO 3 – NPO Start Next
Meanwhile, a very official survey from the prestigious food-ordering service Thuisbezorgd proves that the Dutch are divided:
Every successful woman fears one thing: “Will pregnancy hurt my career?” In Amelia’s case, a company based in Noordwijk made her feel justified in her fear.
A “lovepat,” she moved from Italy to the Netherlands about five years ago to be with the love of her life and the father of her two boys.
Amelia holds two master’s degrees in European Law and sits just above B2 with her Dutch. Despite approaching the job market through a recruitment agency, things didn’t go so well.
What’s a rite of passage for all internationals in the Netherlands? Complaining. In “Expat experiences,” we reach out to our readers and compile the dirty details of their Dutch horror stories.
A promising start
At the beginning of 2024, she found herself as the assistant contract officer at a prominent company.
It was a yearly contract, and given the will of the job gods, it had the possibility of a renewal. (In this economy, getting offered a sturdy contract from the get-go is like a great comet passing the earth every decade.)
Luckily, Amelia’s contract was renewed again until January 2026.
However, sometime in the beginning of 2025, she informed both her manager and the recruitment agency that she was expecting a baby. “Gefeliciteerd,” they said.
What they didn’t mention: Your job is now in danger.
The “motherhood penalty” is one of the biggest reasons behind the pay gap in the Netherlands. Image: Freepik
The rules are clear. Women get three months of (paid) maternity leave after giving birth and nine weeks of (70% paid) parental leave. What kind of contract you have does not matter.
After doing the pregnancy math, Amelia was supposed to return to the workforce in November 2025. She had been on leave since June 2025.
No new contract for you, Mama
A month before the date of rejoining, now with two little boys and a lot of big bills in the house, Amelia reached out to her employer to touch base about her contract.
The manager set up a call for the same day. “We will not be renewing your contract,” they said.
And just like that, with a month’s notice, she was unemployed.
Amelia tells us, “This is obviously a pregnancy discrimination case, but how can I prove that?”
When it comes to companies, indeed, finding solid evidence for discrimination is next to impossible.
What do they claim was the reason?
Dutch courts are decisive: refusing to renew a temporary contract because an employee is pregnant is discrimination. When taken to court, it makes the employee eligible for billijke vergoeding (fair compensation).
However, to dodge blame for outright misogyny, companies can easily cite performance issues as a justification.
Women with children earn less, men with children earn more 🫠 This “motherhood penalty” is one of the key reasons Europe’s gender pay gap still persists. While the Netherlands moves to cut parental leave benefits, I worked with cross-party European colleagues on a report full of concrete recommendations to close the pay gap. Thankfully, it got adopted today with a large majority. Ps. Big thanks to Sophie van Gool who writes about momfluencers, gender equality and who inspires me ⭐
Amelia’s employer claimed she “didn’t make enough improvements” — that’s why her contract wasn’t renewed.
However, the stats paint a worrying picture that suggests Amelia’s concerns could be valid.
According to the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights, a whopping 43% of women in the Netherlands have experienced discrimination due to pregnancy or childbirth that has set back their careers.
Here’s the shocking part: 49% of women on temporary contracts lost their jobs when those contracts expired during or right after pregnancy.
For now, Amelia is back to the job hunt.
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For the first time in the Netherlands, a full regional electricity connection freeze will take effect on July 1, with much of Utrecht no longer accepting any new grid connections.
The freeze, which previously applied only to large consumers, will now affect households, businesses, and sustainability upgrades. An estimated 800,000 people will be affected, reports De Telegraaf.
The situation will be reviewed again in six months.
State Secretary Jo-Annes de Bat confirmed the move after an emergency meeting in The Hague, bringing together network operators, provincial administrators, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy.
Why is this happening?
The Netherlands is in the grip of netcongestie (grid congestion). It’s a two-way problem overloading the grid.
Demand has surged thanks to electric cars, heat pumps, and air conditioning, while solar panels and wind turbines are also pushing energy into the same infrastructure.
That may sound like a good thing (more energy = beneficial, right?), but the network was never designed for this two-way traffic. Without expanding and being reinforced, the grid can’t keep up.
TenneT, the national grid operator, had already raised the alarm in February, warning of a freeze for small consumers if no action was taken.
However, the only real fix is new high-voltage substations. Plans exist near Breukelen and north of Utrecht, but the northern station has no confirmed location yet and may not be ready until 2031, according to NOS.
In the meantime, residents are being urged to avoid running heavy appliances during the evening peak.
Provincial administrator Huib van Essen hopes the freeze is lifted as soon as possible, but was frank that expecting relief within six months is likely wishful thinking.
What the freeze actually means
All new connection requests go onto a general waiting list, with no timeline for resolution. Previously, only large consumers faced that purgatory.
From July 1, everyone does: including households wanting to install a heat pump, switch to induction cooking, or add a charging point.
Thankfully, efforts are being made to ensure the roughly 35,000 homes in already-planned housing projects can still be connected over the coming years, reports NOS.
This is far from guaranteed for anything newer, though. Emergency options such as gas generators are already being floated as stopgaps in some cases, according to De Telegraaf.
The municipality warns that projects across areas such as Leidsche Rijn, Utrecht East, and the Cartesius and Wisselspoor districts face uncertainty over whether grid capacity will materialise in time.
What about the rest of the country?
Flevoland and Gelderland avoided the freeze, but only just.
According to officials, the situation there remains precarious, and a connection stop in those provinces is not definitively off the table.
Utrecht, however, bears the brunt. The municipality’s own impact analysis estimated the annual damage of a full connection freeze at between €75 and €225 million.
Are you affected by the freeze? Let us know in the comments.
Dutch tulips are famed around the world, and witnessing the fields in bloom is something every person should experience at least once in their lives. But why stop at just looking?
The Tulip Experience Amsterdam offers so much more than just a spectacular view. While surrounded by some of the most beautiful flowers you’ll ever see, you can also learn about the history, production, and science behind the Dutch tulip.
As a family-owned and run business, this quaint tulip experience is unique and personal while still offering unbeatable photo ops.
Yes, you can pick your own tulips
One key aspect that sets Tulip Experience Amsterdam apart is the ability to enter their fields.
While other gardens are also delightful to look at, walking through the actual rows of tulips is usually forbidden.
Here, however, you get to run amongst the colourful flowers, pick your own (at the indoor garden), and snap some killer Insta-pics while you’re at it!
Here’s our founder in the fields! Pretty insta-worthy if you ask us. Image: Jana Vondráčková/DutchReview
You can actually see and walk through an array of the 700 varieties of tulips cultivated by the WAM Pennings growers.
What’s more, you’ll be fully knowledgeable about the magic of the tulip by the time you stand among them.
And it’s not just pretty tulips — you’ll actually learn something
Before you reach the fields, you’ll walk through the museum. Here, you’re taken on a journey through time.
The artefacts, displays, and detailed explanations describe everything from the origins of the flower to the beginnings of the Bloemencorso (Dutch flower parade).
If you purchased the ticket with an audio tour included, you’ll be a tulip expert in no time!
Ready to become a tulip expert? Image: Jana Vondráčková/DutchReview
Trust us — it’s fascinating stuff. Did you know the Dutch ate Tulip bulbs at one point in history?
From flower-adorned swing sets to a gazebo in the middle of tulip heaven, it’s no wonder hundreds of people choose this exact spot to propose to their loved one. Could you possibly ask for better engagement pics?
It’s fun for the whole family
Another heartwarming element to this tulp (tulip) adventure is that you can bring the kids along!
Not only are the fields thrilling to frolic in, but there are games (ever heard of Tulip Twister?), swings, and even scavenger hunts for your little ones to enjoy.
Plus, if you get hungry, coffee and treats are available at De Witte Zwaan (the White Swan), a historic café. Once upon a time, this establishment was a meeting point for tulip growers to trade and sell their bulbs.
There’s more here than you’d expect
Besides the museum, cafe, and fields, there’s also a mini-cinema, farmer’s market, and indoor picking area.
The mini cinema (which is just adorable, by the way) shows real archival footage of how growers used to work the tulip fields before the process became mechanised.
The farmer’s market (tulip-themed, of course) offers all kinds of tulip treats and souvenirs for you to remember the experience by.
Here you can also view an art collection of 9 historic paintings, commissioned as an homage to 75 years of the Bloemencorso.
And finally, the indoor picking area allows you to pick your own tulips and take them home! Adults are allowed 5 flowers, and kids can pick 3.
How one family built a tulip empire (of sorts)
The Tulip Experience Amsterdam is the culmination of a lot of hard work and intuition by the Pennings family.
Everybody has a role — from granddaughter Syvlie, who runs the experience, to great-granddaughters, one of whom designed the scavenger hunt!
Founded by grandfather Wim, WAM Pennings Nursery dates back to 1951. After taking over, Wim’s son, Simon, decided to cater to a new market in addition to the bulb-growing in 2019.
The Pennings family has cultivated 700 varieties of tulips. Image: Jana Vondráčková/DutchReview
After noticing that people would illegally trespass onto the fields just to snap some pictures, Simon Pennings took matters into his own hands.
Together with Sylvia and the rest of the family, they created the Tulip Experience so visitors to the region could legally enter the flower fields without damaging other farmers’ bulbs.
Plus, in addition to the photo opportunities, the family wanted to share how the tulips are grown (with expert testimony) and more details about the flower’s storied history.
I’m in! What should I know?
Conveniently located just a 35-minute drive from Amsterdam (or 40 minutes via public transport), Tulip Experience Amsterdam is situated at Delfweg 37. You’ll be there in no time!
Prices are quite reasonable: you’ll pay €12.50 for standard entry, €15 for entry with audio tour, €6.50 for children ages 3 to 6, and enjoy free entry for younger children!
Plan to spend about an hour to an hour and a half at the experience. There’s lots to see, and it’s the perfect way to spend the afternoon.
The Tulip Experience Amsterdam is open this spring from 19 March to 10 May, daily from 8 AM to 6 PM. Check the website, though, as some days offer longer hours for sunset pictures!
Any other questions? Check out the Tulip Experience FAQ page!
Have you visited the Tulip Experience Amsterdam? Let us know in the comments!
