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Firecrackers thrown at Dutch police and firefighters: here’s what went down on NYE

Jana Vondrรกฤkovรก ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ
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Firecrackers thrown at Dutch police and firefighters: here’s what went down on NYE

Dutch media report that New Year’s Eve was relatively calm in the lowlands this year, but what does this translate to in practice?

The riot police were called to several locations โ€” primarily because other officers and emergency workers were pelted with firecrackers and other objects, according to the NOS.

In Groningen, the riot police had to give a helping hand to firefighters in action as the rioters were throwing firecrackers at them while they were just, you know, putting out fires. ๐Ÿ™‚

A similar thing happened in Rotterdam, where the firefighters had to withdraw for a moment from extinguishing a fire in a school building due to the unrest.

In the capital, thousands gathered at the Dam Square for New Year’s celebrations. Police were called to disperse the crowd โ€” but also here, they were pelted with firecrackers. In Amsterdam Nieuw-West, people were even throwing stones at police officers.

Unrest across the country

It wasn’t just the big cities that experienced unrest, however. In the village of Bovensmilde in Drenthe, rioters resorted to using heavy fireworks and throwing stones. ๐Ÿงจ

In Friesland, the riot police had to intervene at four different locations. They were forced to use tear gas in the village of Buurdaard, where a large group of people threw heavy fireworks at the police and wouldn’t respond to repeated requests by the police to leave. The situation still wasn’t resolved at 5 AM. ๐Ÿ˜ง

In another Frisian village โ€” Tzummarum โ€” rioters were throwing firecrackers and bottles. One officer was injured because an object hit his head.

The south of the Netherlands wasn’t more peaceful than this. In Arnemuiden, Zeeland, the police arrested a number of people after they set things on fire and caused other destruction.

More emergency calls

Dutch emergency services received around 4,600 phone calls last night. This is 10 percent more than on New Year’s Eve of 2020, reports RTL Nieuws.

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

Image: PhotographerFromAmsterdam/Depositphotos

New Years Eve unrest: thousands gathered at Dam Square

Nicole Ogden ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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New Years Eve unrest: thousands gathered at Dam Square

Between 3,000-4,000 people gathered in Dam Square last night to celebrate the start of a new year, and the Dutch were having fun the only way they know how โ€” by causing unrest and pissing off the police.

Officers were called to Dam Square after midnight to send people away from Amsterdam’s city centre, reports the NOS.

However, instead of leaving peacefully, some people set off firecrackers and even threw them at the politie. ๐Ÿ˜ฑ

Several people refused to leave and the police took action against those people through the use of their batons.

Eventually peaceful

However, at around 00:30 AM, most people had already left and by 1 AM, the party was basically over.

READ MORE | Dutch Quirk #92: Be weirdly pyromaniacal about fireworks

In the end though, the police haven’t reported any arrests from the gathering.

Feature Image: Foto-VDW/Depositphotos

Alas! The Rutte IV cabinet is almost complete

Katrien Nivera ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Alas! The Rutte IV cabinet is almost complete

While you might have thought the Dutch cabinet formation process was finished, the official Rutte IV cabinet has not been fully announced yet.

The list of 29 ministers will be announced this Sunday but sources from The Hague have already confirmed some of their names and positions in this new cabinet, reports the NOS. ๐Ÿ˜ฑ

Old and new faces

To give you a little recap, Rutte IV is a coalition between VVD (Rutte’s party), Democrats 66 (Sigrid Kaag), Christian Democratic Appeal (Wopke Hoekstra), and ChristenUnie (Gert-Jan Segers).

Many familiar members will return including Kaag, Hoekstra, De Jonge (the current health minister in the Netherlands), and Rutte, of course.

A familiar team

While some names and positions have yet to be confirmed, rumour has it the most important posts will be handed to those who have already enjoyed powerful positions…

For example, while Hugo de Jonge will be stepping down from his position as Minister for Health, he is expected to step into an equally important role as the new Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning. Will he keep the beard for this role? Who knows!

Wopke Hoekstra is expected to make the leap from the Minister of Finance to Minister of Foreign Affairs. Sigrid Kaag will then take on Hoekstra’s former role, becoming Minsiter of Finance.

While it’s not surprising that things are looking very similar for Rutte’s fifth cabinet, some are certainly a bit annoyed by this reshuffle โ€” especially considering the cabinet has spoken of a “new” governing culture.

Not everything is the same

But for those of you who aren’t particularly fond of this coalition, there are still some changes to this cabinet. ๐ŸŽ‰

The cabinet will have more VVD women than men in Rutte IV, many of whom were members of parliament โ€” certainly a nice addition. ๐Ÿ˜Œ

Rutte IV will also welcome a very young minister โ€” at 31 years old, Maarten van Ooijen will be appointed as the State Secretary for Youth and Prevention.

Of course, nothing is set in stone yet โ€” just brace yourselves for something… very familiar.

What do you think of the leaked minister positions? Tell us your thoughts in the comments. ๐Ÿ’ญ

Feature Image: European People’s Party/Wikimedia Commons/CC2.0

Their last day as a Dutch company: an ode and goodbye to Shell

Farah Al Mazouni ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡พ ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Their last day as a Dutch company: an ode and goodbye to Shell

That’s it โ€” today, the Netherlands bids Shell adieu on their last official day as Royal Dutch Shell according to their “simplification” plans.

Shell sure made it a simple and easy transition, like the breath of fresh air you get after slamming the door shut behind someone annoying. Adios, and happy new year. ๐ŸŽ‰

And with the company moving their head office from The Hague to London today, and having their first board meeting in the UK as they plan for their new name: Shell plc โ€” it’s a big day for them too.

Our goodbye gift? From DutchReview, this news piece in celebration of their last day as a Dutch probl โ€” we mean company. But others such as GroenLinks can’t just let them leave like that either.

Nu.nl reports that an additional tax assessment for companies that leave the Netherlands for a country without dividend tax (like the UK) is being considered.

Their reasons, our pleasure

As Shell becomes fully British on paper today, let’s look into why. The Anglo-Dutch Shell was apparently suffering under different tax rules, which contributed to their decision in leaving.

According to Shell CEO, Ben van Beurden, the company never had an intention to be administratively present in two countries as it was a temporary construction in 2005 with the assumption that Dutch tax rules be adjusted. Nice try. ๐Ÿ˜

READ MORE | Shell taken to court for insufficient action against climate change

This move is more symbolic (and for tax purposes). The Hague office will continue to exist โ€” just no longer as the head office โ€” and other Shell activities will also remain in the Netherlands.

Nevertheless, we’re happy that Shell’s name is no longer Dutch associated so we’re hereby officially locking the door on Shell once and for all. Bye Felicia. ๐Ÿ‘‹

Follow DutchReview on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news from the Netherlands!

Feature Image: huettenhoelscher/Depositphotos

Say what? The Dutch fireworks ban will not be imposed this NYE

Sarah O'Leary ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช
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Say what? The Dutch fireworks ban will not be imposed this NYE

Another New Year’s Eve, another supposed fireworks ban โ€” but will the Netherlands really experience a BOOM-less end to 2021?

Well if the Dutch BOAs have anything to do with it, no. Why? Because they won’t have anything to do with it.

BOAs can be thought of as Dutch police who patrol the streets of the Netherlands and make sure everyone is sticking to the outdoor public rules.

Usually, this involves ensuring that no one is setting off fireworks in the middle of the street around this time of year. ๐Ÿ’ฅ

More important things to worry about

However, this year, BOAs will be far too busy making sure that people stick to coronavirus rules โ€” meaning the stomping out of fireworks will have to wait.

READ MORE | Dutch Quirk #92: Be weirdly pyromaniacal about fireworks

With the Netherlands in a nationwide lockdown, many people will be a bit stuck for how to celebrate this year. As a result, BOAs will likely be breaking up large gatherings.

And with a lack of employees, Chairman of the BOA ACP Trade Union, Richard Gerrits, explains to the NOS that “we will enforce what is most important at the moment, namely the coronavirus rules.”

And you know what, fair enough. There are worse things than fireworks โ€” but for the love of Oliebollen, try not to make anyone’s job harder this year, it’s been a long one. ๐Ÿ™„

How will you be celebrating New Year’s Eve this year? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Feature Image: Designecologist/Pexels

Kidnapped! Lego statue of Andrรฉ Hazes now missing from Dam square

Farah Al Mazouni ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡พ ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Kidnapped! Lego statue of Andrรฉ Hazes now missing from Dam square

Missing โ€” have you seen this Lego figure? The statue of late Dutch artist Andrรฉ Hazes vanished from Dam Square overnight between Monday and Tuesday.

If you’ve ever been to Dam Square, or even seen pictures of the place, you can imagine how unlikely this whole thing seems. Logging an extra-large, vandal-proof Lego figure across this ever-busy spot isn’t just your casual decision.

The popular statue, which was created by Dutch street artist Frankey and placed in the heart of Amsterdam in Summer 2020 went through previous defacing attempts โ€” but for it to get kidnapped is just another level of cruel.

The statue’s placement commemorated Dutch folk singer and actor Andrรฉ Hazes on his birthday. The Amsterdam-based artist passed away in 2004, leaving behind a notable musical history.

Missing Lego report

All the evidence point to a kidnapping. The kidnapper even left a note that says: “Corona threw a spanner in the works. Andrรฉ now has time for another performance,” reports the NOS.

But the owner of the statue, catering entrepreneur Won Yip, along with Andrรฉ’s widow Rachel have faith that the figure will be placed back on Dam Square โ€”and therefore didn’t file an official report with the police.

“I believe in the good of people. So to start with, give him a can of beer every fifteen minutes and then I assume that the statue will be replaced after New Years,” says Yip.

Have you seen the Lego statue of Andrรฉ Hazes in Dam Square previously? Do you think it’ll be placed back? Tell us in the comments!

Feature Image: ingus.kruklitis.gmail.com/Depositphotos

New Year in the Netherlands? Not for Americans, Dutch government says

Christine Stein Hededam ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ฐ
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New Year in the Netherlands? Not for Americans, Dutch government says

The number of infections in the US has skyrocketed and in response, the Netherlands is now tightening travel restrictions for people arriving from across the pond.

With the US reaching more than 440,000 positive tests in one day, the Dutch government has now labelled it a very high-risk area โ€” and no wonder.

But what does that mean if you were planning on entering the Netherlands from the US?

Cancel the NYE plans, quarantine instead

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has changed the travel advice for people arriving from the US. Starting today, all travellers are under a quarantine obligation โ€” also if you’re fully vaccinated.

The label ‘very high-risk area’ namely comes with a 10-day quarantine.

However, while it won’t get you ready in time to party into the new year, the quarantine can be ended after five days with a negative coronavirus test from the GGD.

Additionally, a negative test also remains mandatory for travellers arriving from the States.

How does the new travel advice affect you? Tell us in the comments below!

Image: MiraMstock/Depositphotos

Whoa! The Dutch sent โ‚ฌ4.2 billion in Tikkie transactions this year

Farah Al Mazouni ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡พ ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Whoa! The Dutch sent โ‚ฌ4.2 billion in Tikkie transactions this year

Tikkie’s parent bank, ABN AMRO, has revealed that more than 100 million Tikkies were sent in 2021 โ€” which makes up for an โ‚ฌ800 million increase to 2020’s record number.

Tikkie, an online payment app that the Dutch use to send and request any amounts of money (even in cents) has gained even more popularity this year.

As the bank explains it, the transactions and use of Tikkie in the Netherlands is no longer restricted to paying your friends back for the coffee or your coworker for the fresh broodjes they picked up for lunch.

“Tikkie is now also widely used for business too,” explains Tikkie’s Moreno Kensmil to RTL Nieuws.

READ MORE | Tikkie etiquette: the doโ€™s and donโ€™ts of asking for money in the Netherlands

Although Tikkies are still mostly used to settle food and grocery payments, these days you can also see them utilized in businesses or to purchase merchandise at markets โ€” an expansion from the original concept.

On June 28, the app saw more than almost 471,000 transactions โ€” the busiest day of the year. The reason?

Well, it could be the coronavirus restrictions that were relaxed that weekend. Or, perhaps it was that the Dutch national football team played a big game the day before, and people were paying all those bets. ๐Ÿคทโ€โ™€๏ธ

READ MORE | 10,000 Tikkie payments for under two euro made each day in the Netherlands

Business transactions

Last year alone, the amount of business paid Tikkies grew by 70%, reaching 400 million euros. 

Today, about 20,000 companies use Tikkie for various purposes โ€” so the next time you’re low on cash anywhere and realized that you forgot that PIN card, just utter the magic words and see how many Tikkie users you have around you!

Follow DutchReview on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news from the Netherlands!

Feature Image: Canva/DutchReview

Dutchies keep going to Belgium despite pleas to stop; trains full

Samantha Dixon ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ
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Dutchies keep going to Belgium despite pleas to stop; trains full

Belgium is pleading with Dutchies to stop coming to Belgium, and the Dutch train service NS has chimed in.

Sick of coronavirus restrictions in the Netherlands? Just go to Belgium instead! (We’re kidding, for god’s sake please don’t.)

However, because Belgium’s shops, cafes, and restaurants remain open, stacks of Dutch people are taking the opportunity to visit their southern neighbours. And it’s causing, um โ€” problems.

Belgium has never been so popular

First up, traffic to the Belgian city of Antwerp is becoming jammed and parking inside the city centre virtually impossible. In the parking garages is a sea of yellow Dutch license plates, reports the NOS.

Now, NS is warning travellers not to take the train to Antwerp and Brussels. The massive amount of travellers make keeping distance impossible. The urgent call not to travel to Belgium is in place until at least Sunday evening.

(Public service announcement: the need to buy a new pair of Nikes is not worth getting coronavirus.)

Not the time

Governor Cathy Berx of Antwerp is not amused by the Dutch visitors.

“The measures are absolutely necessary to reduce the pressure on healthcare,” she told the NOS. “Then it is a pity that those measures are circumvented by crossing the border and doing what is not allowed in their own country.” 

She says that while the Dutch are always welcome, “now is really not the time.”

What do you think of Dutch residents flocking to Belgium? Tell us in the comments below!

Feature Image: Creativemarc/Depositphotos

These things are changing in 2022 (and they’ll affect you)

Cara Rรคker ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช
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These things are changing in 2022 (and they’ll affect you)

We see in your future…great luck. ๐Ÿ”ฎโœจ Well, or at least changes.

The Dutch government has huge plans for 2022, reports RTL Nieuws, with a whole raft of changes planned โ€” including a lot for your wallet!

Here are the ones you should know about.

๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿ’ป โ‚ฌ2 tax-free for working from home

From January onwards, your employer can give you โ‚ฌ2 per workday to cover any additional costs which arise from working at home. We’re talking electricity, gas etc. And all that tax-free!

Is there a catch? Well, sort of. While your employer can offer you this financial relief, they are not legally obliged to do it. Looks like you just have to ask very nicely.

๐Ÿค New Civic Integration Act

The Dutch government has decided to make the long road to becoming a real Dutch citizen a little bit different! From January 1, there are three new ways towards becoming a real Dutchie:

  • The ‘B1 route’ allows you to learn Dutch over a course of three years next to doing paid or unpaid work.
  • The ‘education route’ allows you to study next to your inburgering so you can hit the ground running.
  • The ‘self-reliance’ route is an alternative to the first two.

Finally, the government continues to say that people who become required to integrate from 2022 will need to reach a B1 Dutch level to do their integration exams โ€” but the date that this will take place is indefinitely delayed.

๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿซ โ‚ฌ1,000 for professional training

Good news for those having to pay for extra education or professional training to get or keep a job. From January 1 it is no longer possible to subtract these extra training costs from your yearly taxes (belastingen).

Instead, you can apply for financial aid, called STAP-budget, from March onwards. STAP stands for Stimulering Arbeitsmarkt Positie (Stimulating Jobmarket Placements). Per year, a person is eligible for โ‚ฌ1,000.

๐Ÿ‘ต๐Ÿป Retirement age increases

In 2021, you could still retire at the proud age of 66 and four months. With the new year, the retirement age rises to 66 years and seven months.

๐Ÿผ Extended paid parental leave

Good news for all the new mom’s and dad’s out there. From August 2022 onwards, paid parental leave has been extended to nine weeks.

This is on top of the already existing 16 weeks off for new mothers, and six weeks off for new fathers. We love it!

โšก๏ธ Reduced energy prices

Because gas and energy prices have been on the rise in 2021, the Dutch government has decided to reduce the energy tax in the new year.

Independent from your energy usage, you’re eligible for a tax benefit that rises from โ‚ฌ560 to โ‚ฌ825.

Of course, with the whopping energy prices, you still have to turn off the lights when you leave a room to avoid a nasty surprise at the end of the month. ๐Ÿ˜‰

๐Ÿ’ต Minimum wage on the rise

So here is a tricky one. Starting on January 11, the minimum wage goes up 24 euros to a total of โ‚ฌ1725 per month for low-income Nederlanders.

Another increase of โ‚ฌ17 is scheduled for July.

But with inflation increasing prices for…well, everything… this is just a minor relief.

๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘ฆ Child allowance increases

More money for the children! From January 1, parents of children aged 12 to 17 will receive โ‚ฌ329.56 per quarter from the Dutch government. This is an increase from the โ‚ฌ321.24 of the previous year.

๐Ÿšญ Bad news for smokers

Do you want to hear the goof or the bad news first? Good news? Okay, prices for cigarettes won’t increase in 2022 as of yet!

But from January 1 onwards, you won’t be able to purchase them in the horeca anymore. That means bye-bye to cigarette sales in bars, restaurants and cafรฉs.

Do any of these financial changes apply to you? Tell us in the comments!

Feature Image: NewAfrica/Depositphotos

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