The warm weather combined with very little wind is a rare phenomenon in itself in the Netherlands. But now, nature has added some extra magic to our summer evenings — we’re talking about sea sparkle!
Sea sparkle, which can now be seen all along beaches in the southern part of the country, is a natural phenomenon that makes tiny single-celled organisms light up in beautiful blue colours at night. Sounds magical right? Well, a very specific science is behind it!
Perfect conditions
Under other meteorological circumstances, sea sparkle would sit at the bottom of the sea. However, warm weather makes the organisms multiply excessively and when the sea is calm, they float to the surface.
And then — magic happens! Once the weather conditions are right (as they have been in the Netherlands this past week), sea sparkle lights up at night when the waves move. ✨
It’s lit!
This process is known as bioluminescence — a chemical reaction that, instead of converting energy into heat, turns it into light. In other words, when the waves move due to a nice summer breeze (or because you eagerly wave your hands around in the water to see the phenomenon), the sea lights up!
Aside from sea sparkle, some jellyfish, frogs, fish, insects, and mushrooms can also light up with bioluminescence. Cool hè?
Where can you see it?
The sea sparkle is expected to remain visible along almost the entirety of the Dutch coastline, provided that the weather stays the same. Currently, it is most visible in South Holland, reports Omroep West. People have already flocked to the beach to see this amazing natural phenomenon.
Despite having a €4.6 billion profit in 2019, the Dutch-owned travel agency Booking.com received €65 million as part of the NOW scheme to help businesses survive during the pandemic.
The €65 million state aid came with almost no conditions. Now, the Dutch parliament regrets its hasty help.
€28 million in bonuses
Last week, Booking.com revealed its intention to pay €28 million in shares and cash bonuses to its three top executives — after having fired thousands of regular employees 🤨. This came to light in Booking.com’s “Notice of Annual Stockholders’ Meeting” which addressed the issues discussed at today’s stockholders’ meeting.
In total, Booking.com has received €100 million in aid during the coronavirus pandemic from the U.S. (where the holding company is located) and the Netherlands. The €65 million from the NOW scheme was meant to help compensate staff wages but instead, Booking.com tweaked their remuneration rules for executives (excuse us?!).
According to the NRC, Booking.com explains that the executives’ paychecks are largely dependent on the company’s financial performance. So when profits took a hit in 2020 their incomes also dropped.
Booking.com sees the new remuneration rules as necessary to avoid losing valuable talent. They worry that, without bonuses, executives will leave Booking.com for tech companies not affected by the coronavirus crisis, reports the NRC.
Growing scandal
The decision to award bonuses to top executives while the world is struggling with a global pandemic has sparked anger in the Dutch parliament and among the Dutch.
A debate in the parliament yesterday had politicians swearing over the misuse of state aid, reports NU.nl. The outgoing Minister for Social Affairs, Wouter Koolmees “cursed a bit” when reading about the bonuses but emphasises that, legally, there’s nothing to about it.
However, the more leftist parties in the government are outraged and argue that something should be done about the abuse of state resources.
Bart van Kent from the SP (Socialist Party) wants Booking.com to be banned from future government programs and has been advocating for Booking.com to repay the money.
“Money back now!” Bart van Kent putting up posters by Booking.com’s office.
Thierry Aartsen from the VVD (People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy) called the Booking.com executives “vultures,” while Gijs van Dijk from PvdA (Labour Party) described the new remuneration rules as “immoral”.
Gert-Jan Segers from CU (Christian Union) also took to Twitter after the rules were revealed last week. He calls Booking.com’s actions “shameless” and quotes the Timothy verse “For the love of money is the root of all evil.”
In het jaar dat Booking ruim 100 miljoen euro aan staatssteun kreeg, keert de top zichzelf ruim 28 miljoen uit. Schaamteloos.
Het is wat de apostel Paulus 2000 jaar geleden al schreef aan Timotheüs: ‘Geldzucht is de wortel van alle kwaad.’https://t.co/3KK2bIYjzt
Since there were no conditions attached to the €65 million at the time, the Dutch government can’t do much about the misuse. New conditions that forbid using government aid to pay bonuses have later been added to the NOW scheme but Koolmees says the government should not enact rules retroactively, reports NL Times.
It’s clear from the parliamentary debate yesterday that almost all parties believe least some of the €65 million should be paid back. Meanwhile, Koolmees has promised to discuss the handling of state aid with Booking.com.
What are your thoughts on the Booking.com scandal? Tell us in the comments below!
Whether you want to discover something new in the Netherlands, find mummies without travelling to Egypt, or simply spice up your summer stay-cation, Mummiekelder — located in the province of Friesland — is the solution.
Friesland is what usually comes to mind when one thinks of the Elfstedentocht. Located up north in this tiny land, it is the only Dutch province that is officially tweetaalig (bilingual). Friesland has a rich heritage and tales of valour against the Vikings but its rustic countryside hosts more than just photogenic scenery. There is also a Halloween-worthy tidbit, buried in a Frisian village. So, let’s indulge in a little flashback.
Background story
Back in the 15th century when people were God-fearing (or at least more religious than they are now), a rich family called the Waltas lived and owned several properties in and around the village of Wiuwerd, Friesland. In 1609, wishing to be even closer to God, they decided to build a crypt under Nicolaaskerk (Nicholas Church), which would later become their final resting place. As time went on, the aristocratic family and their wealth deteriorated.
A few decades later, spreading the cult of Christianity, the French Pietist Jean de Labadie and his pupils settled down in Wiuwerd and parts of Middelburg. After Labadie’s death, the Labadists stayed on and set up a community of about two hundred people in the Walta Castle, practicing crafts, farming, milling, teaching in communal schools, and printing religious books.
History and mystery
Fast forward to 1765 — a bunch of carpenters was summoned to Nicolaaskerk to work on wood carvings when one of them stepped into the underground vault. What he saw was scary as death — in the crypt lay corpses. Although dead and buried long back, the seven corpses looked like they had just perished and were still dressed in their best! Were they the undead?! The frightened carpenters ran for their life.
In an age when nobody is even remotely scared of Dracula and his cronies and where vampire romances are, in fact, bestsellers, the discovery of these mummies is still a mystery. How could this Mummiekelder (Mummy cellar) house three-centuries-old corpses in a pristine condition when they were never embalmed? There are many rumours.
Those with a scientific background attribute it to perfect climatic conditions in the cellar, high humidity, and continuous airflow. However, none of these factors have actually been proven to be the reasons why the bodies were preserved so effectively.
Not all of these natural mummies that were originally found still exist today though. Two were taken to the former University of Franeker where they decomposed and were then returned in boxes. One was apparently stolen and taken to America, and there are wild stories about what French soldiers did to another corpse during the war.
Where are they today?
What is left are the bodies of a teenaged girl who succumbed to tuberculosis, an old lady who died a natural death, a goldsmith, a man killed by a jaw abscess (thank God for present-day antibiotics), and, of course, several stories to crank up the spook factor on dark and stormy nights! Curious? Here’s a little sneak peek into the crypt.
If you wish to see these mummies in person, hurry to Nicoolaskerk, or head over to Mummiekelder first for more details. Tours are conducted between April and October.
Have you heard about the Mummiekelder before? Let us know in the comments below!
Move out of the way NS, Arriva is stepping up its game. The transport company has just submitted a request to the Dutch government for night trains running to the Randstad from Groningen and Maastricht.
As the world is gearing itself for the prospect of summer holidays, Dutch rail companies aren’t missing a beat. Schiphol will be the main destination, to cater for the jet setters. The Maastricht train will arrive at the airport at 3:30 AM, leaving just enough time to catch an early morning flight.
Arriva wants these night trains to be running by 2023, beginning with one of each service per week, reports the NRC.
The director of Arriva Netherlands, Anne Hettinga, told the NCR this move will help them compete with the top transport player, NS. “We are gnawing at the monopoly position of NS forever,” he says. He adds that he doesn’t believe the Dutch government is doing enough to regulate the railway market.
Would hop on a night train from Groningen? Let us know in the comments!
Since corona hit our shores, I became painfully aware of our small expatriate family’s isolation, without extended family or life-long friends to physically rely on. The reality check was that no matter how solid our family is, life can unexpectedly pile stress onto any family, testing relationships and mental well-being.
While there was something special about our tiny family bubble and more quality time spent with my little boy, balancing homeworking, homeschooling, and social isolation overwhelmed me at times.
Genuine, neighbourly support could alleviate this pressure, which is why I found the idea of Buurtgezinnen so appealing.
What is Buurtgezinnen?
Buurtgezinnen is a social, community initiative in the Netherlands based on the idea that it takes a village to raise a child. Their motto, “opvoeden doen we samen,” translates into “we educate together.”
Families who feel overwhelmed for whatever reason are matched and supported by another neighbourhood family who has the current means to do so. It can be likened to respite care, where children receive extra attention and parents get a break, but it is organised on a community basis, outside of the formal social service care system.
With the guidance of the local Buurtgezinnen coordinator, the two families agree on what this support will look like and how often.
Who started it and why?
Leontine Bibo, the founder of Buurtgezinnen, believes that this social initiative, community support raising their children together, can often deescalate a stressed family situation, preventing it from worsening and even imploding.
The past year has added to the stress of family life for many. Image: Ketut Subiyanto/Pexels
According to Leontine, Buurtgezinnen can contribute to children growing up safely and happily in their own homes without being moved into foster care. Leontine is an experienced crisis foster care parent, mother, grandmother, and entrepreneur. She has a passion for the well-being of children growing up within their own family.
Benefits of this initiative
An internal research study (2018) showed remarkable positive effects for both parents and children.
Top six benefits for children
an expansion of their own world and development
feeling happier
more social contact
increased confidence
better school achievement
a decrease in behavioural problems
Top six benefits for parents
respite and less parental stress
an extended local network
a more positive outlook
increased confidence
an extension and development of their own parenting skills
community participation
An external study done in 2020 supported many of these findings and highlighted the benefits also gained by the support family. This study suggested that there could be an even stronger focus on primary prevention, helping families with less severe problems who feel overwhelmed and socially isolated.
Where can you take part?
Many municipalities welcome Buurtgezinnen, viewing it as a preventative initiative. Currently, they work closely with more than 80 local municipalities across the Netherlands.
Unfortunately, a family can only access their services if they are registered with and live in a municipality endorsing Buurtgezinnen.
Who can take part?
Both support families and request families have diverse backgrounds, with varying skills and different issues. Buurtgezinnen requires all participating families to be open and honest with their matched family, collaborate closely with the Buurtgezinnen coordinator, and adhere to the house rules and family agreements.
Vraaggezinnen (Request Families)
Families requesting support can be any family, with children of any age, feeling overwhelmed by their daily parental stress and struggles; the severity and the issues differ from one family to the next. This family may have no network of neighbours, extended family, or friends whom they can turn to in time of need, which can often be the case when you’re an international family.
Real-life examples of families supported through this initiative range from single-parent families to families with teenagers, families with children who have health or behaviour challenges, and refugee families.
Sometimes more professional help is needed as the issues are too severe for another family’s support. The Buurtgezinnen coordinator will assess each situation, but examples, where this initiative may not be the best choice, are:
serious addiction or psychiatric challenges
an unsafe situation requiring child protection measures
severe intellectual disability of either child or parents
too significant a language barrier preventing any communication
when embittered divorce procedures and custody battles are active
Steungezinnen (Support Families)
The types of support families are diverse. It could be a family with children, grandparents, or adults without children. However, the support family must have experience raising children — and enough time to offer. This timeframe is agreed upon between the two families, but it ranges from a half to one day per week.
Safe support will be found within your community. Image: Jordan Rowland/Unsplash
The safety of the children is paramount, and the support family needs to show a VOG (Certificate of Good Behaviour). The Ministry of Security and Justice issues a VOG for a person who has no criminal convictions or issues with the law.
In an interview, founder Leontine said that there are no ideal families. Still, it is expected that a support family loves and respects children, genuinely wants to support a neighbour, and does not judge another parent’s values, approach, decisions, or behaviour.
There is an online competency test to see if you are suitable.
A Step-by-Step Process
There are a number of steps involved in becoming a participant of Buurtgezinnen:
Register via the website as a support or a request family.
The local Buurtgezinnen coordinator meets with the request family to discuss what support they need.
Together, they write up a support profile.
The coordinator then searches for a suitable local support family.
The coordinator matches two families in the same municipality.
The coordinator guides the two families during a meeting to agree on the time, support, and house rules.
There will be a trial period.
After six months, the coordinator, in collaboration with both families, reviews this relationship to see if it is a good match and if the agreement is working for all.
So, if you are keen on becoming a support family or need a bit of extra help for the well-being of your family, why not participate in the Buurtgezinnen community? A bit of community spirit and kindness may help us all along the way in these extraordinary times.
Had you heard of this initiative before? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
The Dutch YouTuber and Eurovision host, Nikkie de Jager, was robbed in August 2020. The chief public prosecutor has now offered a €10,000 reward for any tip that can lead to an arrest in the ongoing investigation.
Nikkie and her fiancé were held at gunpoint in their home during the robbery while the robbers grabbed numerous expensive jewellery pieces and a Louis Vuitton bag. The theft took place in broad daylight. 😱
The robbery of Nikkie and her fiancé is suspected to be part of a larger operation targeting wealthy Dutch people.
The investigation has been ongoing for more than a year with eight arrests in the case so far. The robbers, who are organized in various interconnected groups, used significant violence during the crimes.
Whilst seven of the known robbers are in prison, the police believe several of the perpetrators are still on the loose — so are asking for help to solve the case.
Yesterday, surveillance images from the robberies were shown on the popular tv show Opsporing Verzocht (Investigation Requested). The chief public prosecutor of the Public Prosecution Service in Rotterdam also announced the €10,000 reward for any tip resulting in an arrest.
Part of the reward may also be given for new information about one of the already known suspects. This was clarified in a police news release yesterday.
Nikkie de Jager about her experience
The robbery of Nikkie and her fiancé was not as violent as some of the other attacks. However, Nikkie has been outspoken about the consequences the robbery has had on her mental health.
What do you think of a €10,000 reward? Tell us in the comments below!
Sunshine aside, it seems the Netherlands has something else to celebrate this fine morning! About 54% of Dutch people have coronavirus antibodies in their blood. This number is up from 32% last month, reports RTL Nieuws.
This is the fastest monthly increase in antibody rates that the Netherlands has seen so far according to the national blood bank, Sanquin.
The sudden rise in the number of people with antibodies is thanks to the increasing speed of the vaccine rollout — one million Dutch people were vaccinated in the past week alone!
Increased virus antibodies are especially evident in the elderly (woohoo!) Now, 90% of blood donors over the age of 70 have antibodies in their blood. This number is about 85% for people in their 60s, and 54% among people in their 50s.
But what about young people?
According to Sanquin, more and more young adults in the age group 18-30 years old have antibodies. This increased from 30% last month to over 40% now. This is percentage increase is in part thanks to vaccinations, but also people who have been previously infected with coronavirus and have since recovered.
What are your thoughts on these findings? Tell us in the comments below!
Workers on a farm in Linne, Limburg were found to be working in “dehumanising” conditions. This was determined upon inspection by the municipality and Dutch police.
More than 50 Romanian workers were being employed as asparagus pickers in the municipality of Maasgouw in the Limburg region. Upon inspection, Mayor Strous described their living situation as “degrading.”
According to the NOS, the mayor said that the space they were living in was far too small for the number of people. It was reported that there were no fire detectors, fire escape routes, and the windows were barricaded. At the same time, the room contained gas bottles and burners.
Tweet translation: “Migrant workers found under ‘degrading conditions’ on a Limburg farm, where they are now is unknown.”
Abusive working conditions
Those working on the farm were subjected to abuses of power. According to the mayor, their foreman intimidated both workers and government officials. With the help of interpreter, some of the migrants indicated that they were beaten while working on the farm.
The owner of the farm was instructed by the municipality to house the migrants elsewhere within 48 hours of the inspection. For now, the owner has received a conditional penalty and was told he will have to pay a fine if conditions don’t improve.
Is the municipality responsible?
According to a spokesperson for the municipality, no. “It sounds harsh, but that is a matter for the Aliens Police and the Social Affairs and Employment Inspectorate,” the spokesperson told the NOS.
The Social Affairs and Employment Inspectorate are still investigating the working hours and payment conditions of these workers. Theoretically, these migrants can now work elsewhere in the Netherlands, but their current whereabouts remains unclear.
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The RIVM has released its weekly coronavirus figures from May 26 to June 1. The number of infections has dropped compared to the previous week.
Over the past week, the RIVM reported 20,608 new infections in the Netherlands. This is a decrease compared to the previous week’s number of 25,255 new infections. This is a drop of 18%, reports the NOS. The percentage of positive tests went down to 9% compared to 10.4% the week before.
Deaths
The number of patients who have died from COVID-19-related complications has gone down. This week 66 people passed away, compared to 96 people the previous week.
Hospitalisations
Hospitalisations, as well as the number of admissions to the ICU, have also decreased. The past week saw 533 new admissions to the nursing ward and 112 new patients in the ICU. The week before, there were 940 and 196 respectively.
Restriction-free autumn
As the number of coronavirus infections is dropping, another set of relaxations is on the way. From June 5, museums, theatres, and cinemas can reopen. You’ll be able to go inside for all your dining and sporting needs, and terraces will have extended opening times. These relaxations will mark the end of lockdown in the Netherlands.
The Dutch Minister for Health, Hugo de Jonge is optimistic. While some basic rules such as wearing a face mask in public spaces or keeping a 1.5-metre distance remain, De Jonge, is hopeful that autumn will be completely restriction-free. He also maintains that anyone in the Netherlands who wants to be vaccinated should be fully vaccinated by the end of August.
Mandatory quarantine replaces flight ban
From today, mandatory quarantine applies to all travellers coming to the Netherlands from a number of very high-risk countries. Breaking this quarantine can result in a fine of Є339. The quarantine requirement replaces the flight ban on flights from India, South Africa, and various South American countries.
Jumping the vaccine queue
Dozens of students in the Netherlands have been able to get an early coronavirus vaccination by pretending they have a high-risk medical condition. According to these students, pretending to have a pre-existing condition was easier than expected. However, despite this cheating of the system, the GGD has said that it isn’t going to change its working methods.
New vaccine appointments
Individuals who refused to get vaccinated with the Astra Zeneca vaccine will soon be able to book an appointment to receive one of the other vaccines, reports RTL Nieuws.
Follow DutchReview on Facebook for the latest news and coronavirus updates.
Previously, the Dutch government strongly advised people to quarantine when entering the Netherlands from abroad. From today, quarantining becomes mandatory — and subject to a fine if broken.
When arriving in the Netherlands from a “very high-risk area,” you have to quarantine for ten days regardless of how you traveled here. However, you can take a test on the fifth day of isolating. If it comes back negative, you are allowed to end your quarantine period — hoera!
Which countries are affected by the quarantine requirement?
The mandatory quarantine only applies to the following list of countries, all of which are categorized as “very high-risk areas” by the Dutch government.
Argentina, Bahrain, Bolivia, Brazil, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, French Guyana, Guyana, India, Lithuania, Maldives, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Seychelles, South Africa, Suriname, Sweden, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
The quarantine requirement replaces the flight ban on flights from India, South Africa, and various South American countries. As of today, no more flight bans apply in the Netherlands.
Note that the quarantine requirement is independent of the colour codes for travel advice. While many of the above countries are classified as orange, quarantining is not required for all countries with an orange travel advisory.
Required documents
To enter the Netherlands from any of the very high-risk areas, you will need to bring a printed, completed, and signed quarantine declaration. It is also necessary to have a negative coronavirus test (a rapid test is not valid) — this requirement still applies to all travellers coming from countries that are not on the list of safe countries with a low risk of COVID-19.
If you are transferring through a very high-risk area when travelling to the Netherlands and you’ve spent more than 12 hours in that area, you also have to quarantine. If you spend less than 12 hours in transfer, the mandatory quarane does not apply — however, you still have to bring a quarantine declaration.
Fine for breaking quarantine
The government means business, which means there are checks on both your quarantine declaration and on whether you stick to the mandatory quarantine. At any point in your journey, you must be able to show your quarantine declaration or you risk getting a fine of €95.
Government officials or public servants with investigative powers, such as BOAs (Municipal enforcement officers) are being employed to check up on whether people adhere to the quarantine requirement.
They can show up at the address you provided on the quarantine declaration or simply call you. People who are supposed to be quarantining and do not open the door or answer the phone can be fined €339. 😱
What are your thoughts on mandatory quarantine? Tell us in the comments below!
