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Over 45,000 Dutchies have signed up for a trial holiday to Gran Canaria — despite only 180 places available

Chloe Lovatt 🇬🇧
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Over 45,000 Dutchies have signed up for a trial holiday to Gran Canaria — despite only 180 places available

It’s clear that here in the Netherlands, people are ready for a holiday. So much so that an upcoming trial vacation to Gran Canaria received almost 45,000 applications within two hours of opening. 

In May, the trial will go ahead where a lucky 180 travellers from the Netherlands will get to soak up some sun in the name of science.

Registration for the trip opened at 10 AM this morning, where the travel companies were overrun by applicants. Corendon received 25,000 applications for the trial and TUI received another 20,000. But if you’re not an early riser, never fear. Applications continue to flood in, and are open until Wednesday evening, according to RTL Nieuws.

Other trial trips from the Netherlands

This test holiday is part of a series of trials supported by the Dutch government. As well as testing for large events, trial holidays have been going ahead to see how we can travel safely in the future. This trip to Gran Canaria is the second trial holiday going ahead. Last month, another set of lucky Dutchies got the chance to go to Rhodes.

As for everyone else, the Dutch government advises that we stay put until at least May 15. Prime Minister Rutte and Health Minister De Jonge will give a press conference tomorrow evening with updated coronavirus measures and advice.

Will you be signing up for the trial holiday to Gran Canaria? Let us know in the comments below! 

Feature Image: Reiseuhu/Unsplash

10,000 people will gather for this King’s Day event; now 300,000 people are petitioning against it

Jana Vondráčková 🇨🇿
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10,000 people will gather for this King’s Day event; now 300,000 people are petitioning against it

As the excitement about King’s Day grows stronger, so do the concerns about the upcoming trial coronavirus events in the Netherlands. In Breda, these escalated into a petition against a King’s Day party which is planned to take place on April 24. 

The petition against 538 Oranjedag — an event that is organised by Radio 538 to celebrate King’s Day — was initiated by the employees of the Amphia hospital in Breda. 

According to the petitioners, the event is “a slap in the face of the healthcare providers in the hospital 400 meters away.” As of this morning, the petition had more than 300,000 digital signatures. 

The petitioners are calling to cancel this “ill-considered pseudo-experiment.” The hospital already had to scale down its regular care due to the pandemic, reports the NOS. 

Another reason for concern is the potential run-up to the emergency room. “It’s a party, so people drink, or maybe use other substances,” says a spokesperson.

Voices of hospitality

Healthcare providers and concerned patients are not the only ones who are baffled by the fact that the event is being organised at this time when hospitals are overflowing with coronavirus patients. Restaurant and bar owners also feel “stabbed in the back.” 

“The fact that this event can take place at a stone’s throw away from the catering industry, which as a sector is not allowed to do anything, is very stinging,” says the vice-chairman of the Breda department of Koninklijke Horeca Nederland, Johan de Vos. 

Decision is up to Breda

Radio 538, the organizer of this event, understands that the healthcare system is currently under immense pressure. However, if the government backs the event, Radio 538 will be “honoured to carry it out in a responsible manner,” says a spokesperson. 

Tonight, the municipality of Breda will be discussing whether the event gets a green light. Paul Depla, the city’s mayor, wants to carefully consider all the advice and perspectives before making a decision.

Over a million interested people

The interest in the event was immense, with more than one million people trying to get one of the 10,000 available tickets. Some tickets were offered for over 15,000 euros. The last tickets were also auctioned for charity. 

Government to continue with trial events 

Despite the criticism surrounding Oranjedag in Breda, the Dutch cabinet wants to continue with the so-called field lab events, reports NU.nl. 

The government emphasizes that these events are not just ordinary parties. They serve as a way to find out how we can organize large gatherings safely again, reports the NOS. More trial events are planned in the coming weeks.

How do you feel about the events in Breda? Which side do you stand on? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: Apdency/Wikimedia Commons/CC1.0

The bees are back in town: record number of bees counted in Netherlands

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
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The bees are back in town: record number of bees counted in Netherlands

This weekend, 10,000 Dutchies stood outside for 30 minutes and counted the number of bees they saw. The result? A record number of buzzy boys were out and about. 

The counting was part of the National Bee Census (yes this is a thing), an initiative started by the Naturalis museum and Natuur & Milieu. This year marks the fourth year that the census was held — and the Netherlands’ bee population has experienced a baby bee boom.

Increase from last year

Last year, roughly 10,000 people also took part in the census. The difference this time around is seen in the number of bees counted.

This time last year, 130,000 bees were counted. This year, that number stands at over 190,000 — and the counting hasn’t even stopped yet! Participants can submit their results until 8PM tonight.

The honey bee was the most counted bee with almost 50,000 sightings. Following behind are the red mason bee and the earth bumblebee (both spotted about 12,000 times.)

Becoming more bee conscious

Bee expert Koos Biesmeijer of Naturalis, tells ANP that this increase may be partly explained by a growing consciousness towards bees in the Netherlands.

READ MORE| Bee-ing happy: how the Netherlands keeps its buzz

“Not only have municipalities improved their mowing policy, many garden owners have also paid more attention to a natural and bee-rich garden.”

It looks like we’re starting off this week with some good news folks! What are your thoughts on these findings? Tell us in the comments below! 

Feature Image: Mandy Henry/Unsplash

Dutch cabinet may ditch curfew on April 28

Chloe Lovatt 🇬🇧
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Dutch cabinet may ditch curfew on April 28

After another confusing week of news about the easing of coronavirus measures, the Dutch government is feeling more positive about the road to recovery. Yesterday, the cabinet discussed the possibility of easing some measures in the Netherlands as of the end of April.

Finally some good news! Insiders in the Hague have reported that the cabinet feels more confident about the first step of their opening plan, according to RTL Nieuws.

This step includes abolishing curfew and making plans to open terraces and shops. Also from April 28, the Dutch cabinet may up the number of visitors allowed in your home from one to two people. (Woohoo! 🎉 )

Previously, the Dutch cabinet promised that the avondklok will be the first measure to go, and people are eager to see the back of it.

Even with the curfew pushed back an hour, many have been finding ways of being out past curfew without getting fined. Last week, it came out that there were a number of Whatsapp groups offering “insurance” against the curfew fine.

Current state of affairs is looking good

“Given the current state of affairs, it is now expected that the curfew can be abolished. The other three measures can be relaxed but under a number of conditions,” says RTL Nieuws political reporter, Fons Lambie.

Lambie warns that “this is the current state of affairs, it is still subject to change, so it is not final yet.” Yesterday, the Security Council of Mayors was consulted on these decisions.

However, the Dutch cabinet has the final say and whether or not easing can begin on April 28 will be decided on Tuesday. Mark Rutte and Hugo de Jonge will hold another press conference tomorrow evening to announce the cabinet’s decisions.

What do you think about the cabinet’s road to recovery? Do you think they will stick to it? Let us know in the comments!

Feature Image: Connor Houtman/Unsplash

In the Netherlands, a low-stimulus “psycholance” cares for urgent mental health patients

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
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In the Netherlands, a low-stimulus “psycholance” cares for urgent mental health patients

The Netherlands has been pioneering an innovative approach to help people who are in need of acute mental health support. A so-called “psycholance” collects patients quietly when they urgently need help. 

Mental health patients are often transported by police or ambulance, an experience that can be overly stimulating. With the use of a psycholance, patients can feel more at ease.

“When neighbors or loved ones are concerned about a person with mental health problems, 112 [the Dutch emergency number] is often called,” regional nurse Jeannet Scholten said in an interview with RTL Nieuws.

Less stigma, less stress

“We don’t want to transport people like this in a police car or ambulance. That can sometimes have an escalating effect,” Scholten explains. “A psycholance is low in stimulus, for example, it has a soothing poster and no bells and whistles.”

A police car or ambulance implies “that person is dangerous,” while a psycholance more says “that person needs help,” she continues.

Read more | Take care: five ways to cope with the mental impact of lockdown in the Netherlands

Police or ambulance staff often need to respond to mental health calls. “For the police these people are not the priority, and neither are they for a normal ambulance,” says Scholten. In comparison, a psycholance is staffed by mental health professionals, specifically trained to help people experiencing a mental health problem.

A growing program

Henk van Dijk, of the National Police and leader of the program “Personen met verward gedrag” (Persons with confused behaviour) is pleased with the program. He says the responsibility to care for urgent mental health patients often falls to the police, but the police aren’t social workers. His priority is better care for the people suffering. “That’s what we do it for.”

The program was first piloted in Amsterdam in 2014. Since then, the Dutch cities of Eindhoven, Rotterdam, and Groningen and the regions of Drenthe and Friesland have also created psycholances for their communities.

What do you think of this approach to mental healthcare in the Netherlands? Tell us in the comments below? 

Feature Image: UMCG Ambulancezorg/Supplied
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in October 2020 and was fully updated in April 2021 for your reading pleasure.

Relaxation of coronavirus measures in the Netherlands may not happen until mid-May

Chloe Lovatt 🇬🇧
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Relaxation of coronavirus measures in the Netherlands may not happen until mid-May

After debating coronavirus measures in the Dutch parliament yesterday, Mark Rutte announced today that we may not see any relaxations in the Netherlands until May. 

There will be a Catshuis meeting next weekend where the infection rate and hospital figures will be reviewed. If the R rate has not dropped enough the opening of terraces and shops may be shifted once again, reports the NOS.

In Tuesday’s press conference, Rutte hinted that measures may be relaxed on April 28. However, since then he has said that this date, as well as the earlier promises of opening on April 21, were always “pencilled in.”

He told the NOS that “we’re really not going to do irresponsible things.” According to Rutte, the Dutch cabinet is reviewing the hospital figures week by week and “if April 28 is not possible, it will be May 3 or 6. Otherwise, the next date will be May 13.”

Are you surprised by this update in the roadmap? Let us know in the comments!

Feature Image: Artem Beliaikin/Pexels

Woops! Dutch webshop mistakenly hands out thousands of €15 vouchers

Jana Vondráčková 🇨🇿
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Woops! Dutch webshop mistakenly hands out thousands of €15 vouchers

The Dutch love saving money and won’t say no to a good deal — so a giant webshop accidentally giving out thousands of vouchers feels like a second (third?) Christmas. 

Now, thousands of fortunate and quick-fingered individuals can save money on their next purchase from Bol.com after the company mistakenly shared a voucher worth €15 online.

While Bol.com never intended to share this voucher with users in the Netherlands, the lucky people who got hold of it can keep it, reports RTL Nieuws. 

“The voucher was only intended for French-speaking Belgians. But due to an error, the ad accidentally came online in the Netherlands,” a spokesperson said. The company hasn’t said whether it was a technical error or a human error.

Thousands of vouchers

The company also won’t disclose how many people managed to get the voucher. However, more than 49,000 have seen the ad according to data from Facebook. 

The voucher was online for hours, Facebook users state. “I saw so many reactions. I wouldn’t be surprised if thousands or tens of thousands of people claimed it,” says Facebook user Deborah.

If you are now madly searching through the social media platform hoping to also save money on your next purchase, we’ll have to disappoint you. Bol.com has already taken the voucher off the internet. Better luck next time!

Were you one of the lucky people who got a €15 voucher on Bol.com? Tell us in the comments below!

Feature Image: Bol.com/Supplied

A holiday to Greece with no quarantine? This may be possible soon

Chloe Lovatt 🇬🇧
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A holiday to Greece with no quarantine? This may be possible soon

Picture it, you’re lounging next to the crystal blue sea of an exotic Greek island. This could be a reality for Dutchies this summer, as Greece wants to remove mandatory quarantine for travellers from the Netherlands. 

In fact, Greece wants to remove quarantine for all arrivals from EU countries. At the moment, anyone coming into the country has to quarantine for one week. This measure could be lifted as soon as next Monday, according to RTL Nieuws. So say hello to a summer of bronzing yourself of the beach!

Who else will get the green light?

Lucky travellers from the UK, Israel, the US, Serbia, and UEA will also soon be allowed to arrive in Greece without having to quarantine. Tourism is a huge source of revenue for Greece and authorities are keen to get the sector back up and running (yes please 🙏 ).

However, it’s not as simple as just hopping on a plane. Travellers have to prove that they have been vaccinated or provide a negative coronavirus test. The Greek authorities also want to start testing travellers on a random basis.

Travel advice from the Dutch government

Even if restrictions are lifted for travellers from the Netherlands, the Dutch government has advised residents not to travel abroad until at least May 15. It has also introduced a mandatory quarantine for travellers arriving in the Netherlands from high-risk countries.

Would you jump on a plane to Greece if there’s no quarantine? Let us know in the comments!

Feature Image: Dimitris Mourousiadis/Pexels

Wow! These drone pictures of Leiden are drop dead gorgeous

Abuzer van Leeuwen 🇳🇱
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Wow! These drone pictures of Leiden are drop dead gorgeous

You’ve seen a mind-blowing photo report of Leiden before, and drop-dead a drone compilation of the Netherlands. But we now have a darn good reason to combine the two and bring you this beautiful compilation of drone pictures of Leiden.

We’ve teamed up with the talented Vicent Mullenders to bring you, Leiden like you’ve never seen it before. So sit back and relax as you scroll through these dreamy drone pics of our hometown.

Vincent Mullenders’ awesome drone pictures of Leiden

If you’re a follower of our Facebook page or Instagram then there’s a good chance you’ve already seen some of Vincent’s amazing work. Vincent has been busy taking some jaw-dropping photos of the favourite student town in the Netherlands. But don’t take our word of it – check them out for yourselves!

READ MORE | The magic of Amsterdam: 20 gorgeous photos of the Dutch capital

Now onto the good stuff! Enjoy these majestic drone pictures of Leiden and feel extremely welcome to share them with your friends.

Some fab drone pictures of Leiden’s grand churches

The Burcht on a snowy day. Image: Vincent Mullenders/Supplied

And when it’s springtime. Image: Vincent Mullenders/Supplied

drone pictures of Leiden
Café Barrera! You might recognize this little part from the renowned movie ‘Soldier of Orange’. Image: Vincent Mullenders/Supplied

Stunning drone pictures of Leiden’s canals

The Grand Rapenburg. Image: Vincent Mullenders/Supplied

READ MORE | Raving Rotterdam: Scenes from the Dutch city of cool

One of the many beautiful canals of Leiden, this one is next to the Law faculty. Image: Vincent Mullenders/Supplied

Leiden at night is a real delight

…but the city is gorgeous any time of day

The lovely City hall. Image: Vincent Mullenders/Supplied

Awesome clouds. Image: Vincent Mullenders/Supplied

READ MORE | These photos of The Hague will show you the city like you’ve never seen it before

A windmill wrapped in the national flag. Must be the most Dutch picture ever! Image: Vincent Mullenders/Supplied

The ‘Zijlpoort’ – A review of the Brasserie there is coming up real soon btw! And also, is that UFO or just another drone? Image: Vincent Mullenders/Supplied

READ MORE | “That beach town”: twenty classy pictures of Scheveningen

You’ve gotta love a drone picture of a sunset

That’s it, folks! Hope you enjoyed these awesome drone pictures of Leiden!

Did you enjoy these stunning pics of Leiden? Got any suggestions of where else in the Netherlands deserves a photo report? Let us know in the comments below!

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in June 2017, and was fully updated in April 2021 for your reading pleasure.
Feature Image: Vincent Mullenders/Supplied

Mandatory quarantine for travellers to the Netherlands from May 15

Jana Vondráčková 🇨🇿
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Mandatory quarantine for travellers to the Netherlands from May 15

The Dutch government is introducing a mandatory quarantine for people travelling to the Netherlands from high-risk countries. 

The measure is expected to come into effect as of May 15. The cabinet will make the decision tomorrow, insider sources from The Hague claim. 

The Dutch government already urges travellers coming from high-risk areas to quarantine for 10 days immediately after returning to the Netherlands. Despite those appeals, many travellers don’t self-quarantine. 

A fine of 95 euros

As of May 15, self-quarantine after arrival to the Netherlands from a high-risk country (code orange or code red) will become obligatory and a fine will be charged in the case of violation, reports the NOS. 

The exact amount of the fine is to be determined by the Public Prosecution Service, but it will most likely be €95 — the same fine that applies to other coronavirus offences. 

Shortening quarantine period

Self-isolation should last for 10 days. However, it is possible to get tested for coronavirus on day five. If the test result is negative, the individual can end the quarantine sooner. 

Anyone coming to the Netherlands will have to complete and submit a statement, which indicates where the quarantine period will be spent. The quarantine obligation will apply to travellers arriving by all types of transportation. 

Negative travel advice still applies in the Netherlands until at least May 15. Residents of the Netherlands should not leave the country unless absolutely necessary. 

What do you think about the government’s decision? Tell us in the comments below!

Feature Image: John van Weelden/Unsplash

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