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!
As petrol prices batter wallets across the Netherlands, the cabinet plans to make public transport a lot cheaper with an unlimited public transport pass.
For a €49 fee, you could travel freely on all buses, trams, trains, and metros throughout the Netherlands.
However, there’s a catch: the so-called “Nederlands Ticket” would be valid for unlimited travel during off-peak hours for three consecutive months this summer.
According to NOS, the minority cabinet quite likes the idea. Come summer, life could be an OV-dream.
Here’s how it works
The logic is simple: expensive petrol? We don’t need it anymore.
Jesse Klaver of GroenLinks-PvdA argues that cheaper public transport eases the pressure on household budgets and helps reduce the demand for fuel.
“Cheaper public transport is good for people’s wallets and helps with the energy crisis. We want public transport to be a good and affordable alternative to the car,” Klaver tells NOS.
However, the question remains: If most commuters use cars to get to work, how does it help that the Nederlands Ticket only works outside rush hour?
Klaver asserts that’s not a problem for most, since commuters already receive a travel expense allowance from their employer. The target audience is anyone making discretionary trips, such as family visits or day trips.
For those travellers, Klaver says the pass would cut monthly costs by around 60%.
Where did this idea come from?
Germany has operated a similar scheme since the war in Ukraine began, so the Netherlands wouldn’t exactly be reinventing the wheel.
Klaver estimates the cost of the discounted travel pass at €118 million, which is only a fraction of the nearly €1 billion energy crisis package the cabinet announced earlier this week.
Today, parliament is holding a major debate on the cabinet’s response to the energy crisis stemming from the war in West Asia. With the minority cabinet needing opposition support to get measures through, GroenLinks-PvdA’s plan appears to have real traction.
Klaver tells NOS, “I have high hopes that we will get it done.”
Would a €49 unlimited off-peak travel pass change how you get around this summer? Let us know in the comments below.
Soon, the whole country comes together to celebrate King’s Day. However, not all Dutch people are fans of the monarchy.
During the Prinsjesdag celebrations of 2022, some Dutchies decided to flip off the king, and you may be wondering: can they actually do that? 👀
Technically, nee. The Dutch are not as egalitarian as we think they are.
During that Prinsjesdag, a few thousand demonstrators came to The Hague and gave the royal family a piece of their minds. Some protestors yelled “coward!” at King Willem-Alexander.
What happened to these protestors?
Although insulting the king was decriminalised in 2020, you still can’t get away with it. This is because it’s now being treated the same way as insulting any other public servant — and yep, that’s a crime.
Right after the new laws came into force, a man was sentenced to public service for calling Queen Maxima “the daughter of a murderer,” referring to her dad’s position in the Argentinian junta.
Now, the royal family is only protected by general defamation laws, which are much lesser crimes than the previous “insulting the king” allegation that could get you up to five years in prison.
Back to our protestors: It would be the question of whether calling someone a “coward” counts as defamation. Moreover, it is difficult to identify specific perpetrators amid a large crowd.
However, if someone is caught defaming the Dutch royal family, they could be fined as much as a few thousand euros — and may even have to do community service.
Why do people do it?
Many people are upset with the current government, which hasn’t been able to solve the country’s inflation crisis, and they want King Willem-Alexander to take action.
According to the protestors, the king — as the formal head of the government — is a coward for not sacking Prime Minister Rutte amid a cost of living crisis.
While constitutionally, the king could or would never be able to do this (with the little kingdom still being a democracy and all), apparently, this wasn’t their concern.
“The king is at the head of the government. He could have sent the ministers home because things are going wrong in this country. The fact that he does not do that makes him a coward,” a protester in The Hague told RTL Nieuws.
What do you think about the protestors’ demonstration? Tell us in the comments below!
The Dutch are using their creative brain-power to create innovative (and sometimes fun!) solutions to save the climate. 💪🏽🌱
It might surprise some to hear that the Netherlands actually lags behind a bit when compared to similar countries’ climate efforts — ending up as number 6 on World Population Review’s ranking of the world’s most sustainable states. 😅
But hey, just because they aren’t number 1 doesn’t mean they aren’t improving! The Dutch ranking on this list has improved by leaps and bounds, up from 11th in 2024.
That’s not surprising given the amount of Dutch green innovation! Here are 16 of the best Dutch ideas to secure a greener future.
1. Send residents an “Energy Box” to make houses more sustainable
The Dutch municipality of Eindhoven decided that a sustainable lifestyle should be accessible to everyone — regardless of the size of their wallet. 💰
On top of that, they realised that energy poverty is a massive (growing!) European problem, resulting in local households struggling financially because of high energy bills.
That’s why they’ve joined the European “Energy Box” initiative. The idea is simple: it’s a box containing tons of smart products designed to make energy-saving easier and more accessible.
The box contains tools like draft strips, radiator foil, and general tips and tricks for optimising a household’s energy usage. 🤑
2. Save the bees, one bus stop at a time
We’ve all heard it — save the bees! Yeah okay, but how??
It’s no secret that bees are incredibly important to our ecosystem, but it’s not always easy to understand how we can help save the cute little buzzers.
Therefore, Rotterdam and Utrecht have turned regular bus stops into flowery green ones — which the bees LOVE!
That means all products (partially) made of plastic that are not sturdy enough to be cleaned and reused cannot be marketed or used anymore. 🍽
So convenient, but so bad for the environment… Image: Depositphotos
4. Make solar power super attractive
Sure, the sun might have gotten a bit of a bad rep in the global warming context, but why not use it to our advantage?
Despite being a land very much dominated by rain and clouds, the Netherlands is also riding the solar power wave (not the Lorde version, the other one). 🌞
Among the many measures implemented across the country is a handy solar panel subsidy, making saving the planet even sexier than it already was. 💅🏽
But there are also tons of other cool solar ideas popping up everywhere, from parking lots to bus stations, and more — all powered by the sun!
5. Adapt housing to fit the future
You know that saying “everything starts at home”? Well, there is absolutely no shortage of green housing solutions in this (rather overpopulated) country!
For example, in Amersfoort, the municipality has established a sustainable housing loan — specifically intended to help people update their houses to more sustainable standards. 🏚
Does the word “loan” immediately make you go “ugh boring, can’t be bothered understanding such complicated stuff” (maybe it’s just me)? Don’t worry! Just ask the municipality’s dedicated sustainable energy counter — easy peasy. 💁🏽♀️🤙🏽
6. Revolutionise the entire food system (at least a bit)
Living up to the Dutch reputation of being innovative and hip, Foodvalley in Wageningen focuses on connecting companies and other establishments across the world in their efforts to develop sustainable and healthy food solutions.
It’s time to think new about our food production system. Image: Depositphotos
The many market failures of today’s globalised food system have inspired this Dutch organisation to coach and mentor sustainable food entrepreneurs, and offer funding and working facilities. 💕
This is probably not the first time you hear about rooftop farming or urban agriculture. But did you know that one of the biggest open-air roof farms in Europe is located in our very own Rotterdam?
Wonderfully green, just above our heads! Image: Depositphotos
Yep. Across 1000m², DakAkker grows fruits, veggies, and flowers — yay for the bees! 🌷
They also make an effort to educate people about what they’re doing, for example, by inviting school kids to learn about urban agriculture and sustainability. 👩🏽🔬
8. Make schools green (while teaching the kids too)
Speaking of kids, it’s never too early to start learning about sustainability (as we’re all painfully aware of, we’re running out of time).
That’s why the municipality of The Hague encourages schools to teach all things green and provides handy overviews of how schools can easily become more sustainable.
Education is a key part of securing a green future. Image: Depositphotos
For example, in addition to the mentioned solar panel subsidy, schools (and other institutions and organisations) can get extra cash to build green roofs on their buildings!
They can also get help measuring their C02 footprint, and heaps of other sustainability-focused initiatives.
9. Make it (even) easier to bike everywhere
The Netherlands is, famously, the land of bikes. But there’s always room for improvement!
The municipality of Rotterdam, for example, has admitted their shortcomings and is now really going hard on making the city more bikeable. 🚲
The land of bikes is always trying to improve. Image: Depositphotos
One way they’re achieving this is by tweaking the traffic lights to turn green more often for cyclists — and they stay green for longer too! Very sneaky but so smart and simple.
In many places, the municipality also finances and organises biking lessons for people of all ages, and they help struggling Rotterdammers pay for their bikes — what a Dutch initiative!
10. Put electric car charging points everywhere
“But what if I’m really, really super-dependent on a car to survive” we hear you say. Fear not, for the Netherlands wants to make it easy peasy to have an electric car too! 🚗
Just try not to end up in the canal! Image: Depositphotos
In Amersfoort, they’ve decided that you should never have to walk further than 200-250 metres from your home to find an electric charging point.
That way, it’ll get harder and harder to argue that driving electric is too much of a hassle, and more people might end up changing their ways (vroom-vroom!). 💨
11. Help companies “greenify” by changing business laws
Sometimes, people just need an extra little push from above to implement more sustainable practices.
The municipality in the Hague gets it — so they’ve enacted a so-called “energy saving obligation” for all companies that consume above a certain amount of energy (50,000 kWh of electricity, or 25,000 cubic meters of gas) a year.
The obligation requires companies to comply with a series of energy-saving measures and regularly report back to the municipality on their efforts and progress.
That’s one way of greenifying society — you can even get fined if you don’t comply! 👮🏽♀️
More and more Dutch companies will also have to be more open about what they are doing to be more sustainable.
Initiatives such as the Corporate Sustainability Report Directive are pushing to make it so that up to 50,000 companies across the EU will have to meet csrd disclosure requirements, meaning that Dutch companies will have to spill the tea on what they’re actually doing to help the environment.
12. Ban cars in different parts of Dutch cities
So-called milieuzones (low-emission zones) exist in 15 Dutch municipalities and are designed to improve the air quality of the cities.
In practice, it means that trucks, coaches, and sometimes diesel cars are banned in certain parts of each city. 🚫
Plus, as of 1 January 2025, the first 18 municipalities and Schiphol have introduced a zero-emissiezone (an area where only fully emission-free vans and lorries are permitted to drive).
Who doesn’t prefer biking to driving anyways? Image: Depositphotos
Where people are allowed to drive all depends on their vehicle’s “emission standard”. If you want to be up to date on where you and your car belong, you can check out this neat overview. 🗺
13. Establish circular economy practices
An entrepreneur hub in an old swimming pool? Yeah, sounds about right. The Netherlands is full of entrepreneurship hubs (like PLNT — the home of DutchReview!), and BlueCity in Rotterdam is one specifically focused on sustainability.
BlueCity brings together lots of people interested in a circular economy to exchange ideas, inspiration, and expertise.
With more than 40 circular entrepreneurs, lots of events, the so-called BlueCity Lab, and tons of other things going on, BlueCity is like Disneyland for any sustainability geek. 🌱
14. Make furniture out of reclaimed plastic
Have you ever heard of plastic soup? Although it might sound like it, it’s not a children’s toy. It’s billions of kilos of plastic that are polluting and disturbing the ecology of our oceans.
Plastic Whale is trying to tackle this issue by cleaning the seas, and using what they find to make new things — like furniture! 🪑
Among their other initiatives is an annual canal clean-up in Amsterdam, which mobilises thousands of people. 💪🏽
15. Catch all that dirty plastic
At the age of just 16, Dutch Boyan Slat started the Ocean Cleanup. They developed a new, super-effective plastic-catcher, to clean up the world’s oceans and rivers. 🌊
Now that’s a big boat. Image: The Ocean Cleanup/Supplied
With a team of over 150 people, plus tons of volunteers, this Dutch startup is definitely making a difference in fighting plastic pollution. It really makes you think about what you achieved at 16, doesn’t it?
16. Play with kites and generate energy at the same time
Wind and kites are destined to be BFFs, so naturally, it was only a matter of time before kites were to be connected to renewable energy too. 🪁
Two birds with one stone, play and make the world greener! Image: Depositphotos
Kitepower is an innovative Dutch start-up in the Airborne Wind Energy field. And guess what, it deploys 90% less material than a regular wind turbine, with the potential to be twice as effective. Een kite voor mij please!
Do you have any Dutch initiatives to add to our list? Tell us in the comments!
Following another wild King’s Day in 2025, Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema announced significant changes to the restrictions and rules for this outrageously orange celebration.
Don’t worry, you’ll still be able to party it up come April 27. But thanks to the new rules, courtesy of Halsema, a few things will be changing.
So here’s what to expect!
Don’t rock the boat
First of all, the 12+1 rule, which denotes that a maximum of 12 people plus a skipper are allowed on a party boat, will be much more strictly enforced, reports Het Parool.
Anyone caught breaking the rule faces a fine: the gemeente has set penalties at €160 for private skippers aged 16 and over, and €800 for commercial operators.
And hey, maybe that’s a good thing. No more sardine-style packed parties, and more room to dance!
Expect party police (the good kind?)
In addition, there’ll be more rigorous street enforcement.
Illegal alcohol sales and street parties will receive an additional crackdown as well. Anyone violating the new rules or caught hosting illegal parties could face steep fines.
So, your neighbor DJing out of his window? He might have to pack things up. These rules are in place to avoid overcrowding and dangerous situations in the city centre.
Festivals outside the city centre will also be allowed to run longer to avoid densely packed streets, which create the most unsafe conditions.
These will be permitted to run until 10 PM, according to the gemeente. The party must go on!
Look out for special emergency services (Amsterdam style!)
In true Dutch fashion, there will also be additional emergency services on bikes. This fiets-ambulance is actually ingenious — it allows help to get where it needs to go faster and with greater agility.
According to AT5, Westerstraat and Noordermarkt are set to become official event venues from 2027. Whether the streets will be fully closed off has not yet been decided. In the meantime, private supervisors will already be deployed there this year.
This area, called Jordaan, is a neighbourhood that desperately needs change and better management on the craziest day of the year.
Reactions and reasoning
Plenty of residents are overjoyed at the stricter measures, as King’s Day has become more of a hassle than a celebration for city-centre dwellers.
A cow that broke loose from a Groningen slaughterhouse on Monday triggered a major police operation, halted traffic on the A7, and took five bullets to bring down before a vet cut its throat on the spot.
The animal escaped from Kroon Vlees, a meat processing facility on the Gotenburgerweg in the Euvelgunne industrial area.
According to Sikkom, who covered the incident, the transporter who brought the cow to the facility said a gate had not been properly closed.
A motorway standstill
Officers spent over an hour trying to capture the animal as it ran across junctions and through traffic along the Kieler Bocht, a road running parallel to the A7.
When those attempts failed, the force made the call to shoot the cow to prevent an accident. Traffic on the A7 was temporarily halted while a marksman climbed onto a patrol car and opened fire.
It took five shots to finally bring the animal down.
Footage of the incident (which NOS notes can be distressing to watch) shows the cow remaining on its feet and bleeding after the initial rounds before eventually collapsing. A second officer then fired a point-blank shot to the head, after which the carotid artery was cut.
A grim kind of practicality
The vet on the scene told Sikkom it was classified as a noodslachting (emergency slaughter): “If I can get there within a minute, I can cut the throat, and the meat can still be sold,” he said.
Officers confirmed to RTV Noord that multiple capture attempts had failed before the situation turned dangerous alongside the ring road.
Severing the artery, they said, was also done to spare the animal unnecessary suffering.
What do you make of how this was handled? Let us know in the comments.
If you had plans to run into the King in Amsterdam, that won’t be possible.King Willem-Alexander turns 59 on April 27, and this year, Koningsdag celebrations are heading northward, to Dokkum, Friesland.
“Dokkum deserves to welcome the head of state and his family,” the King’s Commissioner in Friesland told NOS.
The province of Friesland has never hosted Koningsdag during Willem-Alexander’s reign. The royal family was last in the area back in 2008, when it was still Queen’s Day, so it’s about time!
Dokkum, who?
Dokkum is a small city surrounded by 52 villages, which together make up the municipality of Noardeast-Fryslân.
In Frisian, King’s Day goes by a different name: Keningsdei.
Don’t be fooled, though. The northernmost province of the Netherlands is pulling out all the stops for the King’s birthday.
The royal bus will arrive escorted by eight Friesian horses, and more than 80 ships will be anchored in the city’s canals to serve as floating stages for performances.
Elfstedentocht nostalgia
No celebration in Friesland is complete without a reference to Elfstedentocht, the legendary ice-skating race through eleven Frisian cities that hasn’t been held since 1997.
A teenage Willem-Alexander even took part in the 1986 edition, skating under the alias WA van Buren.
During their visit, the royal family will receive a stamp card to collect stamps at each location on the route, recreating the rules of the race.
In a celebration of culture, two other distinctly Frisian sports will also feature: kaatsen (a traditional ball game) and fierljeppen (pole vaulting over a body of water, which is exactly as chaotic as it sounds).
Foar de safolste kear dit jier hat junior Germ Terpstra fierder ljept as elkenien. Dizze kear die er dat op de Nasjonale Fierljep Manifestaasje op It Heidenskip, wêrby't ek de topljeppers út Hollân oanwêzich wiene. Yn de finale ljepte Terpstra mei syn twadde sprong nei 21,45 meter. Dat is in nij skânsrekôr foar junioaren.
Beyond local sports, the visit covers a lot of ground.
At De Zijl, Dokkum’s central square, the Wadden Islands will be in the spotlight. Farmers, fishers, and chefs from Texel, Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland, and Schiermonnikoog will be showcasing produce from the region.
Music school Opus 3 from Dokkum will perform alongside the foundation Méér Muziek in de Klas (More Music in the Classroom), of which Queen Máxima is the honorary chair.
At the Bolwerk, another public square, more than 2,000 students will gather, carrying ribbons inscribed with a message for the world, and bid the royal family goodbye with a song in Fries.
Will you skip Amsterdam’s chaos and celebrate King’s Day in Friesland? Let us know in the comments.
The telecom provider Odido is facing a class action lawsuit over a data breach that exposed the personal details of over six million Dutch residents. Starting today, affected customers may join the claim for free.
The first mass claim against Odido is being brought on by a privacy foundation called Consumers United in Court (CUIC). The plaintiff previously pursued antivirus company Avast for allegedly selling user data without consent.
CUIC demands compensation of €500 per victim from the defendant, reports AD.
However, an expert warns that the proceedings may well last up to two years. So don’t count on Odido’s payout to pay your energy bills.
What happened in the Odido breach?
In early February, hackers broke into Odido’s system by tricking customer service staff with phishing emails and fake phone calls posing as the company’s IT department.
Despite multiple warnings from Salesforce (Odido’s customer relationship management platform) to be wary of prank callers, the juvenile ploy enabled hackers to bypass two-factor authentication and access Odido’s customer database.
The stolen data included names, home addresses, phone numbers, bank details, and ID numbers for both current and former customers.
Odido refused to pay the ransom demanded by the hacking group ShinyHunters, which then published this data on the dark web.
What does CUIC want from Odido?
Aside from paying for damages, CUIC wants Odido to issue a formal message to all current and former customers whose data was leaked. Further, CUIC requests that the defendant fully account for how the breach happened.
Hilde Laffeber, CUIC’s communications expert, believes that victims of the leak could fall prey to phishing attacks.
“The mere fear that something like this could happen is already damage,” she tells RTL Z.
On one hand, CUIC blames Odido for its negligence. Laffeber claims, “Far too much data was stored for far too long a period. The sheer volume of data stolen alone shows that the data was not properly protected.”
On the other hand, a mass claims expert at Leiden University, Bonne van Hattum, thinks the case is more complicated than CUIC makes it seem.
She tells AD, “You have to be able to demonstrate that stakeholders suffered damage due to the actions of a party.”
How do you join the case?
Anyone who was a customer of Odido, Ben, T-Mobile, or Tele2 can sign up on CUIC’s website to join the lawsuit. You don’t need to know for certain whether your data was included in the breach.
While joining is completely free, a portion goes to the company financing the litigation if a payout is made. The exact share will depend on how long the case runs and what’s ultimately awarded.
Is it worth it, you ask? Van Hattum believes so.
The expert tells AD, “CUIC has most likely conducted thorough research into the feasibility. Otherwise, no financier would be interested.”
Were you caught up in the Odido breach? Are you planning to join the claim? Let us know in the comments.
NS train conductors in the Netherlands will start wearing body cameras on Tuesday, in a move aimed at tackling persistent aggression and violence on Dutch trains.
State Secretary Annet Bertram handed the first two cameras to NS workers at The Hague Central Station on Tuesday morning, calling it “an important step” towards making public transport safer, reports Hart van Nederland.
A 2024–2025 trial with 120 volunteer head conductors and service staff found the cameras helped calm tensions during incidents and produced footage usable as evidence in criminal cases.
The previous cabinet set aside €12 million for the rollout at Prinsjesdag (Budget Day) last year, as part of a broader safety package for public transport.
How do the bodycams work?
Train staff can switch the camera on when a situation appears likely to become dangerous, or when they suspect a criminal offence is being committed.
Footage can be reviewed by the conductor or authorised NS personnel, and police or judicial authorities can request recordings for investigations.
Everything is automatically deleted after 28 days, according to Nu.nl.
NS security employees — around 700 BOA’s (buitengewoon opsporingsambtenaren, special enforcement officers) — have worn bodycams since 2018, and this rollout extends that same function to conductors.
Why now?
In April 2024, a female conductor was beaten, kicked, and pushed down the stairs of a train by a group of youths. The attack prompted public transport across Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague to halt for three minutes in solidarity.
The incident was far from isolated: NS recorded over 1,000 instances of threats and assaults against train staff in 2023 alone.
The goal is for all 3,500 chief conductors to be equipped by the end of 2026. Each must first complete a one-day training course on when the cameras can legally be switched on.
In the meantime, other resources are available, too. If you’ve ever felt uneasy on a Dutch train, here’s how to get help via WhatsApp.
Do you think bodycams will make a difference on Dutch trains? Let us know in the comments below.
It’s that time of the year again. It’s one of the holidays the Netherlands is best known for. We celebrate our dying monarchy by congratulating our king and drinking ’til we drop.
To warm up to the Dutch partying ways, we share eight things you should know before King’s Day. 🇳🇱
1. King’s Day celebrates the ruling Dutch monarch
If you’ve just moved to the Netherlands, it’s good to know that this is a national holiday. This might be a strange concept to expats and internationals, but it means you most likely get the day off to sit in the sun, drink and be merry.
Thanks for being born, King Willem-Alexander! 👑 As suggested by the oh-so-subtle name, King’s Day is King Willem-Alexander’s birthday. It’s a bit of an adjustment for everyone since it used to be called Queen’s Day for decades.
Thanks for the day off, King Willy. Image: Depositphotos
Before that, we used to celebrate the birthday of the former queen and Willem-Alexander’s mother, Beatrix. But now she has retired, we’ve switched things up and put the onus on King’s Day.
After Queen Juliana’s rule, whose birthday was April 30, ended in 1980, Queen Beatrix decided to keep celebrations around that time of year. Coincidentally, April 27 is actually King Willem Alexander’s birthday. Gefeliciteerd!
Before Juliana’s rule, Queen’s Day was held on Queen Wilhelmina’s birthday on August 31, the holiday originating in her younger years when she was still a Princess.
The day was given the apt title: Princess’ Day. Looking at a photo of her from back in the day, it becomes clear why — who doesn’t want to throw that sexy little minx a party? 💃
2. You can celebrate King’s Day everywhere in the Netherlands
So you have something orange, you’ve been saving up your beer, and you’re ready to go all out on King’s Day.
We know there will be something happening everywhere in the country, but what events should be on your radar? Don’t worry; there are plenty of places you can check out!
It’s the biggest party of the year! Image: Depositphotos
Amsterdam is by far the most popular city to celebrate King’s Day — and it’s no surprise. Over a million visitors come to the city to haggle and drink beer.
No public transport, cars, or taxis are allowed in the city on that day, so a bike or a boat are your best friends. 🚤 Just remember, there are some important changes coming to Amsterdam’s celebrations this year.
People are having a blast on the canal in Amsterdam during King’s Day. Image: Pixabay
You can find plenty of street performances and music around different neighbourhoods, particularly the Jordaan and Amsterdam Zuid. Leidseplein, Rembrandtplein, and the Jordaan are a must-see if you’re into the party scenes. 🍾
Celebrating King’s Day in The Hague
Although smaller and less chaotic than Amsterdam, The Hague throws a lively celebration for King’s Day.
They celebrate Koningsnacht (King’s Night) the night before King’s Day with lots of drinking and music, especially with the free, open-air festival they host in the city centre. 🎊
You can also check out markets and parties around Statenkwartier and Noordeinde. The Hague also sets up a huge kermis (fair) in Malieveld with plenty of fun rides, attractions, and games to play. 🎠
Celebrating King’s Day in Rotterdam
Rotterdam is a little more subtle than the other cities. You can relax on a terrace far away from all the noise and chaos (or nearby if that’s your thing, too).
You can also check out plenty of markets and parties along Coolsingel, the Binnerotte, and Stadhuisplein.
Celebrating King’s Day in Utrecht
Utrecht is best known for its massive King’s Day flea market, which runs for 24 hours beginning on April 26. 🛍
You can catch kids’ markets (flea markets for children to sell their things) around Park Lepelenburg and Nijntje Pleintje, and even more partying around Domplein, Lucasbolwerk, Mariaplaats, Neude, and Jankerkshof.
3. The Dutch Royal family visit one lucky city each year
Since Beatrix started the tradition, the royals have gone out on the town and celebrated with “the people”. So you, too, can catch a glimpse of the King and Queen. 🤴🏼👸🏼
Every year, the royals go to a different region to show how connected they are to the commoner. They usually play silly games, enjoying old Dutch traditions involving clogs and swamp monster re-enactments (oh, how I’d wish that were true).
Since 2013, the day before King’s Day is a national sports day for kids! It’s called the ‘Koningsspelen’ (King’s games). Image: Depositphotos
They make small talk with the locals and do the rounds of kissing babies. 💋
Want to catch a glimpse of the royals this year? The royal family will visit Dokkum for King’s Day 2026. This will be the first time the royal family has celebrated King’s Day in Friesland in 18 years.
The whole town will be celebrating the event with live music and bands around the city, speeches, plenty of street parties, and house parties.
If you’re not feeling the loud parties, you can still enjoy a cup of tea or coffee on a terrace. ☕️
4. Dutchies have plenty of fun traditions
It isn’t King’s Day in the Netherlands without a special set of traditions. Dutchies will sell old belongings, music, and entertainment for a little extra cash! 💶
It’s such a popular thing to do, in fact, young children even take part in it too — many kids like to set up fun party games for people to play for a small fee. Spijkerpoepen, koekhappen, and tombola might sound like nonsense, but they’re very near and dear to the heart.
Nail poops?
Spijkerpoepen translates to nail poop, which should already point you to how wacky this game is. You tie a long piece of string around your waist, and dangling at the bottom of the string is a nail.
Your goal is to try to get the nail inside the tiny opening of a beer bottle or similar:
Seems easy enough, right? 😅
Snack central
If you’re into Dutch snacks, koekhappen is for you. Koekhappen translates into the very cute-sounding “biscuit bites”, and it means what you think it does with a little twist.
Someone hangs several pieces of Dutch cookies on a string. Players try to bite a piece of the cookie as quickly as possible with their hands tied behind their backs (and sometimes even blindfolded). The first person to pull the piece of cookie from the string wins the game!
It’s quite the wholesome and family-friendly game, if you ask us. 🍪
Dutchies’ version of bingo
And finally, you’ll probably find many Dutchies playing a game of tombola. A combination of a gift raffle and bingo, it’s a fun game to play to win presents. Especially if you want to sit down and relax during King’s Day. 😌
5. Flea markets dominate King’s Day
King’s Day is also known for the flea markets that descend upon most cities. The ban on free trade is lifted for this holiday. Days, and sometimes weeks, people mark their territory with crayons and tags in advance. 🖍
Curbs, sidewalks, bridges, every patch and centimetre becomes a potential reason for dispute and conflict. We wouldn’t be surprised if some people mark their territory like dogs (the streets certainly smell like it 🤧 ).
Want to get rid of some of your old junk? Put it on display, and you might sell some of it (obviously, depending on how crappy your stuff is).
Half of the Netherlands has fond childhood memories (and trauma) of saving up for that special toy by selling their old stuff during Kongingsdag.
This is also the day you can make some spare change by selling any unwanted items or just providing plain silly entertainment.
It doesn’t matter how, but you can make money. Drunks are easy targets. 🎯
Speaking of alcohol…
6. Drinking beer and passing out is one of the biggest attractions of King’s Day
The Netherlands loves its booze. After decades of smart marketing by Heineken, a product of national pride, we’re all hooked on the foamy, sweet nectar of the gods on King’s Day.
And oh, how we love it.
No beer glass is left full, no mind is left clear. If there’s ever a day to enjoy a drink, it’s this one.
It’s not just the day itself. The night before is half the fun. It’s usually as busy as King’s Day, minus the kids and families.
That means more opportunities to spill your beer, pee your pants, and slur your words. (Don’t we love drunk people?). 😁
7. Everything will be orange
For your safety and sanity, please, for the love of God, wear orange! Yes, the colour of Dutch pride is used for any occasion. Whether it’s the World Cup, the Olympics, or national holidays like Koningsdag.
Wear orange, and you confirm your place as a Dutchie. Whether you were born in the Netherlands or not, it doesn’t matter. Everyone is united in a sea of Orange. 🧡
It’s especially fun when you combine it by shouting some classic phrases at strangers like “Lang leve de Koning” (Long Live the King). Even shouting nonsense will create a ripple of shouting, laughter, and high-fives.
Plenty of brands use the Dutch love of the colour orange to their advantage.
To show their patriotic (highly corporate) streak, you’ll come across orange shaving razors, headphones, grills, Barbies, and lube — all to be purchased in the name of national pride. 🍊
Brands tap into our Dutch sense of belonging to exploit it to the full. And so, the cycle continues.
8. Drink a herstelbiertje to survive the festivities
Unfortunately, you still have to go to work the next day. Not to worry, have a herstelbiertje (recovery beer)! The English call it “hair of the dog”, and according to the Dutch, it’s the best way to get over your hangover in the morning. 😵💫
Just keep drinking so you can never be hungover, simple! And who in their right mind would argue with that? So ignore the desperate cries of your liver and go for that good old Dutch beer! The real breakfast of champions. 🍻
Well, that completes the King’s Day survival kit. Now, have a blast and let’s nostalgically commemorate a time when the monarchy still mattered within our tiny community!
What do you like best about King’s Day? Let us know in the comments.
