Due to fears over the increased risk of blood clots, the Netherlands will not be giving anyone the AstraZeneca vaccine until at least March 28.
Nearly 43,000 GGD appointments have already been cancelled. The coronavirus vaccine was being used to immunise healthcare workers, adults aged 60-64, people with down’s syndrome, and morbidly obese people.
Risk of blood clots
The vaccine has been paused because there have been signs of clot formation (thrombosis) and a reduction of platelets in adults under 50. The Medicines Authority (MEB) advised the Dutch Ministry of Health to temporarily stop the use of the vaccine.
However, the ministry says there have been no cases of thrombosis in connection with the vaccine in the Netherlands, according to the NOS.
People who have received the AstraZeneca vaccine in the Netherlands are being advised to contact their doctor immediately if they develop blue spots on their skin or any other unexpected side effects.
De Jonge: vaccine is safe but taking precautions
Outgoing Minister of Health, Hugo de Jonge, stresses that the vaccine is safe but he tells the NOS that “as a precaution, the pause button must now be pressed.”
He adds that “the crucial question is whether it concerns complaints that occur after vaccination or due to vaccination. I think it is very important that the reports are properly investigated.”
Yesterday, AstraZeneca said that there is no increased risk of blood clots in those that have received the vaccine. It came to this conclusion from the data of over 17 million vaccines administered in the UK and the EU.
The European Medicine Agency (EMA) has also said that there are no indications of a link between the vaccine and cases of thrombosis.
What do you think of this development? Let us know in the comments!
This time last year, lockdown began and the sun came out to tease us all. Lucky for us lockdown goblins, we won’t be experiencing any weather FOMO this March. In fact, it looks like this month’s forecast will encourage us all to stay inside.
Not only is it set to be a cold, wet and miserable week in the Netherlands, according to Buienradar, there’s even a chance of snow again!
Cool and cloudy
The next few days will be cool and cloudy, according to Reinier van den Berg of Buienradar. Dutch weather will put on its typical outfit of grey clouds, little sunshine and the all important piece — rain.
Temperatures will linger between a thrilling 1-8 degrees until Friday, meaning that it’s time to put away any fantasies of finally wearing all those summer clothes you ordered online.
Snow? In March?
However, it seems the Dutch weather may have one more trick up its sleeve for us — snow. That’s right, there’s a chance that the Netherlands will see snowy showers return this Friday as the temperatures drop to between -1 and 6 degrees.
This cool weather is set to stick around for the weekend with temperatures going down to -2 on Saturday before returning to a balmy 0 degrees on Sunday.
Not like last year
Van Den Berg explains that last March’s warm weather was actually a bit of an anomaly — quite fitting really. According to the weather charts, Van Den Berg doesn’t see many sunny days insight for us this year.
That’s fine. We don’t care anyway, really.
Do you want the snow to return? Or were your hoping for a March like we had last year? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
If you can’t pass times at museums, restaurants, cafés and such in Tilburg, fear not — in times of coronavirus closures you can still explore the best natural gift of all: the outdoors, of which Tilburg has plenty to offer.
Just because life is a little different for the time being doesn’t mean it’s all bad. So we teamed up with our friends at Ticket to Tilburg to help you make that lemonade for when life gives you lemons.
Because what’s left to do in the corona era? It’s exploring the outdoors! Of course, you should do this only alone or with your quarantine buddy. Wash your hands before and after. Keep 1.5 meters distance from everybody else, and stay inside if you feel even the hint of a cough, cold or fever. Of course, make sure to follow all of the latest measures and take all the recommended precautions.
Why we love Tilburg
Tilburg is a student-friendly city that houses a booming cultural scene, many hidden gems, and you may even be familiar with things to do in Tilburg seeing as we can’t get enough. The city also just so happens to be in one of the greenest areas of the Netherlands — perfect for all you nature fiends out there.
With activities galore, Stadsbos013 has you covered for fun things to do with the kids. From mini-golf to a child’s farm, ice cream, flowers, hot air balloons, a 16 kilometre cycling route, and walking routes, you’re good to go.
The Oude Warande: an old but gold walking route
The Oude Warande is a 5.3 kilometre walking route in a baroque, star-shaped path that happens to be one of the best-preserved ones in the Netherlands. At the centre of the ‘star’ is a Grotto, a special meeting point that houses a glass pavilion. This ‘invisible’ structure was designed by the Australian artist, Callum Morton. Eight of the star’s ‘rays’ are mirrored in this glass structure.
If you keep walking past the grotto and onto the paths, you can also find a number of exotic trees, which is nice if you’ve got a thing for plants, such as we do.
And, if you’re looking for some nice running spots in the Netherlands, the Oude Warande is perfect.
By Evelien Oerlemans/Merktilburg
During spring and autumn, the area is often used to display sculptures and art. As of now, the Lustwarande exposition is on display and, as we all know, art is good for the soul too.
The Lustwarande. Image: Gert-Jan van Rooij/Merktilburg
If you enjoy Dutch music, maybe you’ve heard of the song ‘Neem je steeds mijn hart weer mee’ by Dutch singer Guus Meeuws. One of the lines goes like this: “I know a bench in the Wandelbos where the world stands still.” Well, luckily the Wandelbos is a real place, friends.
A walking route of 4.7 kilometres, the Wandelbos is known by many locals. Here, you can find extraordinary trees, such as giant redwoods.
The route is also super kid-friendly: somewhere in the area is a kids farm home to a pony, donkey, goats, deer, llamas, chickens, it goes on. A little further along the trail is also a playground, which makes the trail perfect for a family excursion.
While journeying along this path you might encounter a serene lake overlooked by trees that reflect upon the water when the sun is nice — if that’s not photogenic enough for you, we don’t know what is.
In this area of Stadsbos013, you may see some wildlife too — such as the Siberian ground squirrel that has made its way from the old zoo in Tilburg to the park and if you peek closely enough into the pond, you can see pool frogs, salamanders, dragonflies water plants and some exotic birds.
On weekends, Rugby matches are also held in the area, making it the perfect place to spend a lazy Saturday or Sunday.
Time to meet the Spoorpark!
And while we’re describing parks and tranquil places, might as well tell you about the Spoorpark, which opened last year.
Image: merktilburg
The park is built upon an old railroad yard, and has been dubbed the Central Park of Tilburg. There are plenty of activities to do here for kids and adults alike (though they may not all be open given coronavirus, but good to keep in mind anyways for when things die down a bit).
The regal Moerenburg (and its surroundings)
The Moerenburg landscape park, also referred to as the ‘Royal Landscape’ or ‘gateway to the Green Forest’ can be found at the outskirts of Tilburg.
Here, you can take a walk, sail even, check out some of the cafes, sunbathe by the Rauwbraken beach or just ogle at some of the drop-dead gorgeous spots.
Source: merktilburg
Moerenburg walking route
If you take a trip along this 5.6 kilometre route you’ll be able to check out open meadows, ponds, farms, and perhaps even spot some rare plants and animals.
The route is actually named after one of the first stone houses in Tilburg, built around 1320, which you’ll encounter at the beginning of the route.
In general, you’re in for a real treat if you decide to make a trip to some of Tilburg’s nature sites — there’s plenty to choose from. Really, all you have to do is pick a path and you can’t go wrong.
Tilburg has much to offer in terms of nature, making it the perfect place to for a weekend getaway and well, in these times, practice isolation. All these paths are great for hiking, picnics and quality time with the fam. They are also utterly photogenic, so family photo, here you come.
And we’re DUTCHreview so there’s also a cycling route
You can also take a longer route of 19.4 kilometres if you’re down for a bike ride through the vicinity of Moerenburg.
But regardless of whether you choose to bike or to walk, you might stumble across a couple must-see spots in the area (which can go on your to-feast-at-list when this pandemic is over).
Cafe Zomerlust has a hundred different beers on offer, a lekker lunch menu with vegan options galore, a perfect stop after your walk/run/bike ride.
There’s also Arbie’s Beachhouse, decorated with beach chairs for you sunbathers out there. There’s also a play area so your kids stay busy while you soak up the sun.
Once things are back to normal, there’s plenty of other stuff you can do in the city culture-wise.
Regardless of which path you choose, make sure to head over to Ticket to Tilburg for details about hitting this green city.
Stepping through Tilburg
There is another way to get around Tilburg: taking a city step. A fun way to get around the city, this e-scooter is not allowed on the roads anywhere in the Netherlands, except in the southern city of Tilburg (what a wild city). It is a “special moped” where you have two brakes and stand upright to ride it.
You can take a tour of Tilburg with these steps (see what we did there). If you want to know what is covered in this very cool tour and how much it is, we have all the information on taking the e-steps around Tilburg.
Don’t you just want to step onto these steps? Image: Merk Tilburg.
And if you are totally new to Tilburg, check out our video! At the end, we check out the Oude Warande and there are some beautiful drone shots of Tilburgs impressive nature.
Have you visited Tilburg? What’s your favourite outdoorsy thing to do in the area? Do you have other tips for walking and cycling routes in and around Tilburg? Let us know in the comments!
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in May 2020, but was fully updated in March 2021 to bring you the most up to date information.
Feature Image: Evelien Oerlemans/merktilburg.nl
The Dutch elections are underway, voting already having started yesterday for some Dutch citizens. You may be familiar with VVD and PVV, but there have been some more obscure political parties in Dutch history. Everyone’s gotta have their say in a democracy right?
What will strike many expats is how fractured Dutch politics is and how many parties there are. Right now, no less than thirteen parties will make up the Tweede Kamer (Dutch Parliament). Forming what we call a “coalition”, a group of like-minded parties which together hold a two-third majority, is often quite a task. This balkanization does have the upside that makes polarisation more difficult, as many voters will find their niche.
And some niches there have been! Here are some rather remarkable parties from Dutch political past, present, and maybe even future:
Rapaille Partij
As long as there has been free expression, there have been people who used it to mock it. The Rabble Party was founded in 1921 by artists and anarchists and is considered to be the first Dutch “anti-party”. To show their disdain for universal suffrage, they elected a famous homeless man from Amsterdam as their lijsttrekker (the first party member to receive a seat in parliament).
To the rabble’s credit, they did have some valid points. There was little value in letting the masses vote when most of them couldn’t even read and had few ways of informing themselves about politics. The party actually obtained two seats in the city council after the 1921 elections but died a quiet death not long afterwards. Kind of sad for a party that literally had “free drinks” as their number one priority.
Back when ballots weren’t 40 pages long. Image: Rapaille Partij/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain
Vrije Seks Partij
Not much to explain here. The Free Sex Party (VSP) probably went for the lowest common denominator and thought: everybody likes sex, so why not turn it into a political spear point? Jokes aside, the actual policy issues of this short-lived party were, among others: free condoms and birth control pills for everyone, more nudist communities, and free sex for prisoners (what, what…?). The party took one failed shot at the city council in 1970 and then disappeared.
Partij voor de Liefde
The phrase “Party for Love” will summon up images of either an XTC fuelled street rave, or that ominous torture institute from George Orwell’s 1984. Still, someone thought it would be a grand idea to found a political party with this name. The PVD has…opinions and policies, I guess? We’re not sure, but one of the most recent updates on their nostalgically poorly designed website warns of no less than the coming “End of the World”.
Kommunistische Eenheidsbeweging Nederland
What can a simple comrade do for the glorious movement in his or her glorious country? Well, if rumours are to be believed, women can help the Communist Unity Movement of the Netherlands (KEN) by always being topless during meetings. Also, living together in small communities and having all your sexual relationships determined for you by the party committee. Unsurprisingly, the police finally raided their headquarters in Rotterdam in 1985 on suspicion of even more dubious affairs.
Things were different in the 70s. Image: Dirk Spijkeres/Unsplash
Partij voor Naastenliefde, Vrijheid en Diversiteit
The Party for Neighbourly Love, Freedom, and Diversity (PnNVD) is quite a mouth-full, so it was more commonly known as ‘The Pedo Party’. In all fairness, that’s a fitting name for a party that aimed to lower the age of consent to twelve, and even spoke about eventually abolishing it altogether. Yes, that means removing all legal barriers to having sex with underage teens, but the PvNVD claimed that it’s all fine as long as it’s consensual.
Attempts to legally ban the party were unsuccessful. The PvNVD disbanded in 2010, whether this was because of the many death threats that the members received is not sure. Either way, good riddance.
So there you have it: a shortlist of some of the weirdest political parties the Low Lands have yet produced. And we even did it without making jokes about Geert Wilders.
Know of any other obscure Dutch parties? Let us know in the comments!
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in March 2017, and was fully updated in March 2021 for your reading pleasure.
Feature Image: Eugen Nosko/Wikimeadia Commons/CC3.0
Enjoy cooking Dutch food? Then you are in for a real adventure with the first part of our daring Dutch recipes to try at home!
Stamppot, hutspot and erwtensoep… They may all be delicious but cooking the same dish every day can get pretty boring. If you’re looking to spice up your knowledge of Dutch cuisine, your inner chef will surely enjoy these daring Dutch recipes.
Some of these recipes belong to the olden days and some of them are still eaten in every part of the Netherlands today. If you’re for a challenge, then continue reading.
1. Filet Américain
Mmm…Some raw meat on bread is just what you need. Image: Takeaway/Wikimedia Commons/CC3.0
Filet Américain is a Dutch raw beef spread that Dutchies often eat on bread for lunch or as a light snack. You can eat this delicacy on its own or combine it with some raw onions and/or boiled egg. Be warned though, no matter how tasty it is, young, elderly, or pregnant women are not advised to indulge in this dish.
The recipe for Filet Américain
Half a kilo Sirloin steak
1 tablespoon of capers
4 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
A couple of dill pickles, medium-sized
Half a red onion, diced
3 tablespoons of mayonnaise
Salt and black pepper to taste
First, start by rubbing the steak on both sides with the Worcestershire sauce and let it sit for a short while. Then cut it into small pieces and place it in a food processor with the capers, pickles, diced onion, mayonnaise, and salt and pepper. If you wish, you can add other spices such as paprika, garlic powder, chilli powder, or some mustard.
Grind everything till it’s a thick smooth paste and refrigerate for an hour or two before eating. Finally, you are ready to smear this goodness everywhere you see fit.
2. Bakleverworst
Bakleverworst is a true Dutch delicatesy. Image: Ksenia Chernaya/Pexels
You must have heard of pâté, which is cooked spreadable meat and a tasty treat for many people around the world. Being innovative and restless by nature, Dutch have decided to take good ol’ pate to a whole new level: frying it before eating. Get ready to truly make use of your creativity in the kitchen.
The recipe for Bakleverworst
Pork liver (around 1 kg)
Shoulder meat (preferably pork, around 1 kg)
1 medium onion
1 cube of vegetable stock
250 grams of flour
Salt and pepper to taste
Start by cutting all the meat into small pieces and then let them simmer in the vegetable stock for about half an hour. With the food processor, grind the meat and add the onion, flour, and spices before grinding for another minute or two.
Divide the meat mixture you have into two chunks and by using a plastic film, wrap them into a shape of a sausage. Set aside.
In a pot, bring some water to a boil and throw the wrapped sausages to cook for about an hour. Don’t forget to make sure that your plastic film is waterproof and wrapped around the meat mixture nicely and tightly. After boiling, let the sausages cool off before putting them in the fridge or freezer overnight.
The next day, unwrap the meat mixture and cover it with flour before frying in a pan. Eat it sliced, on a piece of buttered bread. Eet smakkelijk!
3. Bierpap
Finally, a warm drink that combines my two favourite things — beer and milk. Image: Stokpic/Pexels
Okay, it starts with the word bier, so it must be something alcoholic, right? Correct! But there’s a catch. Bierpap (literally translated to beer porridge) is a comforting, belly-warming drink usually enjoyed before bedtime. It has dark beer, it has milk and it’s warm! What could be better?
The recipe for Bierpap
2 cups of milk
2 tablespoons of flour
Sugar to taste
A small bottle of preferred dark beer
Pour milk into a pan and bring to a boil. Mix in the flour and stir until it’s dissolved and the milk starts to thicken. Add the sugar and then turn the stove off. Now simply add half a bottle (or more if you wish) of the dark beer and enjoy. We recommend serving this warming drink in mugs.
Have you tried any of these recipes? How do you like them? Tell us in the comments below!
Feature Image: Hannah Busing/Unsplash
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in November 2017, and was fully updated in March 2021 for your reading pleasure.
We know the Dutch pull no punches when it comes to talking about sex. But for some people, a children’s TV programme showing naked bodies is a step too far.
The educational show Gewoon Bloot (Simply Naked) presents nude adults answering children’s questions. Even though it hasn’t been aired yet in the Netherlands, the trailer has already received considerable backlash.
Everyone is normal
The programme follows a set format: naked adults answer questions posed by children about body confidence and how to feel comfortable in their own skin. A topic many adults could do with a refresher on. 🤔
The show’s presenter, Edson da Graca, told the Guardian: “The aim is to teach children that each and every body is different and that not all bodies are perfect.”
Thankfully, the boundaries of the children in the programme were taken into consideration every step of the way. A spokesperson for the public-service broadcaster NTR assured that the show was very carefully produced. “During the program, there were extensive discussions with children about what was going to happen and they were able to indicate how they felt during the program,” she told the NOS.
A lot of the media attention surrounding the show is centred on the children participating. All participants had consent from their parents, as well as being asked if they were okay with what was going to happen. For some, this was still not enough.
Backlash
Despite the well-meaning ethos of the show, it’s unconventional nature has received some criticism. Naturally, everyone has rushed to their keyboards and taken the debate to Twitter.
Politicians have even weighed in on the debate, the show receiving criticism from both sides of the political divide. The leader of the Dutch political party Denk, Tunahan Kuzu, took to Twitter, calling the show “crazy, crazy, we have to stop this.” In the video, he urges his followers to write to the NPO — the Dutch Foundation for Public Broadcasting — calling for the show to be cancelled.
Unsurprisingly, right-wing politicians have also spoken out about their disdain for the programme. The SGP (Reformed Political Party) called it “completely unnecessary”, and FvD (Forum for Democracy) leader, Thierry Baudethas, said the programme “comes close to promoting paedophilia.” That’s quite a leap! 😳
Despite the backlash, NTR does not intend to withdraw the programme. The first episode of Gewoon Bloot will air on March 21 on NTR.
What do you think of this radical show? Let us know in the comments below!
The OV chipkaart issuer Translink announced the introduction of a new public transport payment system.
If you’ve been enjoying the perks of having a personal OV chipkaartin the Netherlands, you may be sad to find out that the days of this piece of plastic are coming to an end, but happy to see that something better is coming to replace it.
The new system replacing OV chipkaart— OVpay — will allow travellers to use their debit cards and smartphones for public transport. The system is to be introduced next year, reports RTL Nieuws.
Work in progress
OVpay is currently being tested on city buses in Lelystad. Once all the bugs are fixed, the rest of the country can follow.
According to the spokesperson for Translink, Gerbrant Corbee, “60,000 gates and card readers will already be adapted this year for OVpay.”
Public transport companies are investing 100 million euros in the transition to offer customers more convenience.
“OVpay is a more modern solution that offers travelers easy, fast and safe public transport,” says the chairman of the umbrella organisation OV-NL (Openbaar Vervoer Nederland) Pedro Peters.
Are you sad to see the good old OV chipkaart go or are you looking forward to this new system? Tell us in the comments below!
The Dutch Ministry for Health, Welfare and Sport is now working on plans to build 100 additional test streets throughout the Netherlands. Unlike GGD test locations, these streets will be used by people who want to attend large scale events.
The test streets will be used by those who wish to go to events such as concerts, sports competitions or even just a trip to the cinema.
These “party test lanes” will be run by Stichting Open Nederland, a collaboration of Dutch companies. The GGD will not be in charge of these test locations as they must focus on testing those with coronavirus symptoms.
In these “party test lanes,” attendees will undergo a rapid test. For the time being, this service will be free as rapid tests are much cheaper than PCR tests. However, the price may rise to a few euros, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health tells the NOS.
A green tick
During the test, recipients will be given a QR code and the test results will be logged on the new CoronaCheck app. Those attending an event will then show security their QR code (as seen on the app) upon entry.
Security will scan the QR code which will indicate whether or not the person received a green tick (meaning they are negative for coronavirus). This green tick will then act as part of a person’s ticket into an event. In order to receive the tick (or no tick), you must be tested by Stichting Open Nederland.
This system of checking will be tested this weekend at the Back to Life festival in Biddinghuizen.
No DigiD needed
People without a DigiD are currently not able to register on the CoronaCheck app. However, this is expected to change soon.
In order to prevent fraud, your initials and date of birth on your ID will be checked against the information given on your CoronaCheck app while you are at the test street. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health explains that “this prevents someone from entering the green checkmark of his neighbour” for example.
Not until mid-April
While outgoing Minister for Health, Hugo De Jonge, hopes to have certain areas open to the public again by April, the new test streets will not be completed until at least mid-April, the Ministry of Health believes.
The 100 locations will also be spread more widely across the Netherlands, meaning that anyone who wants to get tested may have to travel a bit to find their nearest location.
What do you think of these new test streets? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
More good news for the Dutch vaccination strategy. The European Medicines Agency approved the coronavirus vaccine developed by the Leiden pharmaceutical company Janssen.
This is a promising development — especially in the light of the outgoing Health Minister Hugo de Jonge’s claims that anyone in the Netherlands who wants to be vaccinated will be able to get the first jab by July.
Fourth approved vaccine
The Janssen vaccine is the fourth approved coronavirus vaccine after Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, and AstraZeneca.
Unlike the previous three vaccines, Janssen only requires one dose to provide full vaccination against a serious case of coronavirus. Another one of its advantages is that it can be stored at refrigerator temperature.
Who will get the Janssen vaccine?
People aged between 18 and 60 with no underlying medical conditions will most likely be the ones vaccinated with the Janssen vaccine. People with underlying medical conditions in the same age group may also be eligible.
According to the Medicines Protection Board, the vaccine is 67% effective after two weeks. The effectiveness in preventing a serious case of coronavirus is 85% and the vaccine can be up to 100% effective in preventing coronavirus-related death.
The United States is already using the Janssen vaccine. As for the Netherlands, the outgoing health minister expects the first doses to be available in April. Larger quantities will be delivered in May.
Are you feeling hopeful about the Netherlands’ vaccination strategy in the coming months? Let us know in the comments below!
Batten down the hatches, guys! The gloomy weather of the past few days will culminate today in the first spring storm and it won’t be a nice one. Strong wind is expected across the whole country — so hold tight!
Today, the wind will rush at a speed between 50 and 90 km/h in most parts of the Netherlands, and up to 110 km/h in the north and the west.
Strong gusts of wind can hinder traffic and damage buildings and trees, especially in coastal areas, reports RTL Nieuws. Code yellow applies to the entire country for the day, announced the Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute (KNMI).
Where’s the sunshine
The Dutch weather likes to tease us with a day or two of sun every now and then, but that seems to be over for now. The baffling phenomenon that is the Dutch weather seems to be returning back to its usual (unpleasant) self.
Today’s storm is supposed to peak around noon, according to the Buienradar meteorologist Marc de Jong.
The strength of the wind is expected to decrease later in the afternoon, and will mostly be replaced by rain showers. Alongside this, we can also expect hail and thunderstorms.
How do you feel about the Dutch weather returning to its usual self? Tell us in the comments below!
