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How to get a Dutch mortgage as a Brit, freelancer, and more

Abuzer van Leeuwen 🇳🇱
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How to get a Dutch mortgage as a Brit, freelancer, and more

Divorced? A freelancer? British? Not everyone has 10 years of payslips behind them. Here’s how you can get a mortgage in the Netherlands even when your situation classifies as “challenging.”

Tired of renting a house in the Netherlands for a gazillion euros and that mortgage-in-the-Netherlands-life is looking pretty sweet? In a 10/10 world, you would just pay a million euros cash for a snazzy Dutch home — but, like us, you probably don’t have that sort of money sitting in your bank account.

In a 9/10 world, you and your significant other would both have an indefinite contract, no debts or car payments to pay off, a Dutch passport, and an unending amount of financial wisdom to smoothly dance through the process of obtaining a mortgage in the Netherlands.

But you’re reading this article, so that’s obviously not you! That’s why we’re dedicating this space to those with challenging career statuses, migration issues, or passport concerns. 

Getting a mortgage as a Brit after Brexit

What if you’re British and you’re trying to buy a house in the Netherlands in this post-Brexit world?

Numerous Brits and UK companies are jumping across the North Sea into a Dutch life, many of them also interested in buying a Dutch house (we guess we’re still cheap compared to London?). 

But as with many of Brexit’s consequences, buying a house abroad also just got a tad bit more interesting. 

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How will Brexit affect applying for a mortgage in the Netherlands? Image: Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels

On December 31, 2020, the British people lost their EU citizenship overnight, some EU banks took the liberty of recognising a transition period and decided to still define UK citizens as EU citizens.

However, some banks didn’t do anything and said “we are going to treat you as a non-EU citizen.” 

Why does this matter? Essentially, some banks don’t provide 100% mortgages to non-EU citizens, and this now includes Brits.

But if you’re a Brit in the Netherlands, don’t panic yet — with the help of a good mortgage advisor who knows all the banks and their requirements, they know which banks will still give 100% mortgages to British citizens. Just make sure you’ve applied for your Dutch residence permit first! 

TIP: On your residence permit (ID card) it must include: Residence Document Withdrawal Agreement Art. 18. for you to be eligible to get a mortgage for 100% of the purchase price. 

Now what happens if you’re not an EU-citizen, but are married to a Dutchie who is an EU-citizen?

Getting a mortgage as a “nationally mixed” couple

So you’ve moved to the Netherlands for love? Perhaps you’ve found the one, or perhaps you just want to be with a person who shamelessly puts hagelslag on their boterhammen. 

If you’re an EU-citizen, good news: you’re basically Dutch in the bank’s eyes. However, if a member of your couple is not an EU-citizen, the amount you can get for your mortgage could be impacted. Here’s how:

When the EU citizen earns the most money

If the EU partner is also the partner with the highest income, there will be no consequences for your mortgage. The higher income is taken into account for 100% and the second income for 90% — just the same as with a Dutch/Dutch couple.

When the non-EU citizen earns the most money

Here’s where it gets tricky: if the non-EU citizen of the relationship also earns the most money, suddenly the entire mortgage is treated as a non-EU citizen mortgage. But don’t fret! This just means you’ll have more paperwork to fill out because the banks have to do their client due diligence. 

Ultimately, all this information is considered on a case-by-case basis by banks. A good mortgage advisor can help you with this to make sure you can secure your mortgage.

If the non-EU citizen gets paid in a currency other than euros that can also affect your borrowing potential — but more on that below 😉.

Good to know: Currently a partner’s income (a.k.a the person making less) counts for only 90%. However, mortgage advisors predict that next year it will raise to 100%!
It used to be even less than 90% before 2021 so if you had your last mortgage calculation a few years ago you may want to have it checked again!

Getting a Dutch mortgage when you’re paid in a foreign currency

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How does applying for a mortgage work when you are earning a foreign currency?Image: LinkedIn Sales Solutions/Unsplash

What happens if your employer doesn’t pay you in euros? Can you still get a mortgage in the Netherlands then?

This is definitely possible, the only thing is that the amount you earn does not fully contribute toward the amount you can borrow.

What does this mean? Let’s break it down:

Emily lives in Amsterdam, but works remotely for a London marketing firm. She earns £100,000 (GBP) per year which, converted at today’s rate, equals about €117,000 (EUR).

But, the bank doesn’t know what exchange rates will do in the future. So, to be safe, they say that they’ll only take into account 90% of Emily’s income, which is €105,000. This number is what the bank will use to calculate Emily’s borrowing capacity.

While the bank accepts 90% of the income now, that number is rumoured to reduce to 85%, or 80%.

The good news is that this is all only the case if you’re about to make a certain amount with — say for example — a new job. If you have earned your income in a different currency before you came to the Netherlands then there is no diminished percentage. 

This is because the bank can see that you’ve already made that amount in the past, so the bank can be confident of your earning potential.

Does the bank look at your old job? An old job is taken into account if the new job doesn’t offer a permanent position or the new employer doesn’t provide the letter of intent. In that case, you can flex the income based on the past earnings.

Oh and by the way, this is a percentage applicable to all currencies: no advantages for dollars over pounds, friends!

What happens with your mortgage situation when you get divorced?

A happily married couple bought an apartment in Amsterdam three years ago, but COVID-19 came. After a year of working/living/doing everything in the same abode, they decide they’re done and file for divorce. Happy freedom! 

But not quite: they’re still left with the real-world implications of that split-up and whether they can buy a new house afterwards. 

If you want to buy a new house after a separation, you need to first settle all the business you have with your ex-partner. It’s plausible that one person is staying in the house, and one wants to go. The bank will want to see, eventually, if the person that wants to stay can afford the mortgage. 

On top of this, the person that is leaving can say “we bought this apartment three years ago for €400,000, but now it is worth €450,000. I want my share of the profit.”

This must be compensated by the person who is staying in the house. This can be financed by the bank, but that depends on whether the person who is staying can afford the additional amount or not.

Once the business of separation is settled, your mortgage advisor can go to the bank and discharge you as a mortgage debtor of the loan and as the owner of the house — meaning you are no longer responsible for the payment of the mortgage. 

Now, comes the fun part: it’s time to go to your mortgage advisor and see what you can buy! Your mortgage advisor will discuss your needs, and calculate how much money you can borrow based on your financial situation. Once that’s sorted, it’s time to get on with your new single life!

READ MORE | After buying a house in the Netherlands – the ultimate aftersale guide for expats

Freelancing: Can you get a mortgage as a ZZP’er?

Yes you can! It’s certainly possible to obtain a mortgage in the Netherlands as a freelancer. But this is a grown-up world so you know it isn’t all “rozengeur en maneschijn” (all fun and games).

Getting a mortgage is possible, but you need to show a little bit more paperwork which all depends on your unique situation: 

ZZP’er in the Netherlands for at least three years

If you’ve been freelancing for three years, it’s easy: just show your last three years of income to the bank!

ZZP’er in the Netherlands for less than three years

If you’ve been a freelancer for less than three years, don’t stress — you can still qualify for a mortgage! There are a few extra steps to go through, but buying a Dutch home is far from impossible. 

Here are just a few ways that you may be eligible to get a mortgage as a more recent Dutch ZZP’er:

Employees who switched to being a ZZP’er

Were you employed at a Dutch company, then made the switch to being a ZZP’er in the same line of work? Great! Your mortgage advisor can use the same income that you earned when you were employed. This acts as a track record of employment.

ZZP’ers with foreign income

For those who have a short history in the Netherlands but had the same line of work in a different country with a different currency, your bank can use the foreign income earned abroad as an “income history.”

ZZP’er with future prospects

If you’re a ZZP’er that used to do one career, but now has moved on to a different career, you’ll need to show at least one year of income, plus your future prospects. 

Photo-of-freelance-worker-sitting-at-desk-with-computers
Can you apply for a mortgage in the Netherlands if you are a freelancer? Image: Per Loov/Unsplash

For example, if you have a big assignment for the next six months that will guarantee you a good income, the bank may be willing to take this into account.

Ultimately, your mortgage advisor is there to argue a case for you. That means that even if a company is currently in the red, a mortgage advisor can still sometimes show why it’s a good idea to go ahead with an application. 

TIP: As a freelancer, it helps if your business is registered here at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KVK) and not abroad

Ready to buy a house in the Netherlands in a non-standard situation?

There may be some conditions or extra paperwork involved when you’re not a standard mortgage applicant, but you may be surprised at how possible it is for you to get that mortgage!

Want to know more about getting a mortgage in the Netherlands? Check out how buying a house could actually save you money (I know, but it’s true, read it!), buying a house in the Netherlands during coronavirus, or our 10 step guide to buying a place and getting a mortgage.

Are you looking to buy a house in 2021? Think your chances for a mortgage have changed in this year? Tell us in the comments below!

King’s Day in coronatimes: what can we expect?

Ailish Lalor
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King’s Day in coronatimes: what can we expect?

On Tuesday, April 27, the Netherlands will be celebrating King’s Day: but very differently than usual. Social distancing rules lockdown and curfew will make the usual open air concerts, parades and street markets impossible. So what will King’s Day look like this year?

First things first: most of us know that King’s Day is called Koningsdag in Dutch, but last year it became punnily known as Woningsdag (house day). While I’m sure many of us would have been happy to see the back of this pun, it looks like this year will be our very own Woningsdag 2.0. Meaning, you guessed it, the majority of activities will be taking place indoors and online yet again.

In accordance with the current coronavirus restrictions, if you’re looking to get blackout drunk (as is tradition for many) then it will have to happen inside your own household with a maximum of one guest.

Take a festive stroll

Of course, you don’t have to spend the entire day indoors, you can always take a nice festive walk, hike, or even a stroll around the town! However, it’s best not to linger in public parks — if they aren’t already closed — as your 1.5-meter bubble will probably get popped.

Fear not, you can still enjoy the Vondelpark — not in person — but online! This year, a number of young Amsterdammers will perform various musical acts throughout the park. It sounds extremely wholesome so if you’re looking for some extra serotonin this King’s Day, then book yourself some tickets!

The royal family in Eindhoven

The royal family will spend the king’s birthday in Eindhoven this year. More specifically at the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven.

The visit will be streamed between 11 AM and 1 PM on NPO 1 and there will be a number of digital events that people can watch via koningsdageindhoven.nl — including a talk with the princesses!

Digital clothing markets

Normally, on King’s Day, people will line the streets selling their wares — but because of social distancing, of course, this year that won’t be possible. Like last year, this year will see the usual clothing markets move online.

If you’re looking to get rid of some items of clothing that, for example, no longer fit you due to those extra few pounds of quarantine weight (which are very much needed, food is our one constant comfort during these trying times!) then you can head online and join the King’s Day Flea Market on Marktplaats.

Online platforms such as Nextdoor will also be offering a digital dress market for those of us living in Amsterdam!

At least you can still satisfy your desire for random stuff other people don’t want (we’re all breathing a sigh of relief right now).

What are your King’s Day plans? Let us know in the comments below.

Feature Image: Annabiasoli/Pixabay

Tickets for a time slot in Primark stores snapped up and resold online for up to €25

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
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Tickets for a time slot in Primark stores snapped up and resold online for up to €25

Trying to get yourself an appointment for a peruse around Primark? You may have found that it’s nearly impossible. People are starting to book appointments for the popular store in order to resell them online. 

If you were hoping to go for a shop around Primark this weekend you’ll have to try again in a few weeks. All available time slots in Primarks across the Netherlands are fully booked for the coming weeks.

In particular, booking appointments for Primarks in Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, Zaandam, Almere, Hoofddorp, Eindhoven, Utrecht, Zoetermeer and Hilversum will prove to be impossible, RTL Nieuws reports.

Why is this? Sellers are booking appointments in bulk with the hope of selling them on for some mula. Unfortunately, it’s working.

Resold on social media

The treasured appointments are in high demand with many posting in Facebook groups looking for time slots. Sellers post in different groups or even on Marktplaats, where their tickets are quickly sold.

According to a study by RTL Nieuws, a special Facebook group has even been set up specifically for the sale of the appointments.

Unfortunately, the demand for the appointments has led to sellers asking for as high as €25 for a ticket — and people are paying it. One seller even went so far as to say “think of it as a festival ticket.”

Trouble booking new appointments

Every night at 12AM, Primark adds new time slots to its website. The slots are filled very quickly and the website often crashes.

One hopeful shopper tells RTL Nieuws that she has been trying to find a shopping appointment for two weeks. “I often don’t even visit the website at night because it crashes,” she says.

Will you be trying to visit Primark anytime soon? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Feature Image: Jonathan Kemper/Unsplash.

This coronavirus scream test could replace nose swabs

Jana Vondráčková 🇨🇿
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This coronavirus scream test could replace nose swabs

Has the pandemic left you in despair and in need of a good scream? You just cannot stand those unpleasant nose swabs that feel like somebody’s poking your brain? Then this may be just what you need to hear.

Airlocked steel cabins, invented by the Dutch entrepreneur Peter van Wees, can find out whether you have coronavirus just by having you enter and shout or sing. Sounds like the perfect way to let your anger and frustration out, no?

An independent study found that these so-called “QuBAs” give the same result as a standard PCR test in nearly 95% of cases. This is a very high score, according to the RIVM.

More pleasant AND reliable?

The inventor says he’s “heppie de peppie” but not surprised. He thinks that the booths could be even more reliable than PCR tests, reports Trouw.  

“Test subjects with a positive QuBA result but a negative PCR test emailed me days later to say they were infected anyway,” he adds. 

The booths would be ideal for festivals, airports, or medium-sized cities. While one cabin costs 150,000 euros, in the long term, it could actually be cheaper than the many individual speed tests which are done at the moment. 

However, it is still too early to use QuBas for non-commercial testing at the GGDs. What happens next is now up to the Dutch Ministry of Health.

What do you think? Would you like to see these screaming booths instead of nose swabs? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels

How international cuisine is changing Dutch tastebuds

Ahmer Ashraf
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How international cuisine is changing Dutch tastebuds

The Dutch have a strange relationship with food. It’s a constant struggle with eating well, in terms of nutrition, but also in terms of taste. The average Dutch kitchen is stocked with bread, and more bread. There’s milk, cheese and lots of cold cuts too. Potatoes are, of course, in abundance.

All this food goes well with a couple of hours of biking every day, but it doesn’t really go well with a food connoisseur.

In fact, you don’t have to be a food connoisseur to be disappointed with the Dutch offering: you just have to like ‘good’ food. Like my friend says, it is practical for the Dutch to grab a quick bite and sure, sometimes it is.

But, I refuse to have bread three times a day.

Why not good food?

In the culture that I was raised and in the places I have travelled, good food is an essential part of life. It brings vibrancy and warmth, gets people together and is a labour of time and love.

Dutch fries are great and so are the croquettes, but sadly, deep-fried goodness isn’t enough to sustain your daily diet. Considering the Netherlands is one of the global suppliers of food, I would argue it’s essential to make food tempting, flavourful and a highlight of your stay in the Netherlands. I don’t know if I have the vote of the locals on this or not.

The Dutch relationship to food

When you spend some time in the Netherlands and you get to eat and mingle with the locals, you realize that food is not considered the topmost priority. Yes, an occasional stamppot is good, and some pizzas are ordered in after a night brimming with beer, but that is about it.

I firmly believe if all Dutch people were sent to prison or hospitalised they wouldn’t even struggle with the food offered to them. In fact, they would be delighted — more so because it will be free. They don’t really care about the taste (this is a massive generalisation on my part, but it’s the truth!) and they love freebies (who doesn’t), so double whammy!

I read online that it is truly ironic that despite being the largest traders in spice, Dutch food has anything but that. I have a different theory about this: when the Dutch started trading in spices, they were weighed in gold or were extremely expensive. You can’t expect them to make something that is just so expensive a part of their regular diet. The Dutch are not particularly famed for their willingness to spend money.

Food in the future

On a serious note, the Dutch relationship with food is ever-evolving. In recent decades, thanks to a massive influx of expats, the palate is tilting towards more flavourful food than ever before. There has been an increase in the number of new eateries offering a wide array of tastes and flavours from all parts of the world: think Lebanese, Turkish, Mediterranean, Asian, the list goes on.

You can now see that along with Turkish cuisine, like doner, which has been popular for some time here, there are many options available for the foodie to choose from. You can now get decent Thai food at various places, and the concept of food halls (foodhallen) has definitely broadened the horizons.

A walk down Markthal (the famous food hall in the centre of Rotterdam) or a visit to the Foodhallen in Amsterdam or The Hague offers diverse options from around the world. You can now see an accentuated flavour of the Middle East, India and the far east but also more regional cuisines like Scandinavian making it to the mainstream. There has been an increase in people coming from all over the world, and that is getting reflected in the local cuisine.

The Dutch take on international food

The most exciting part is that the global cuisine is expressing itself in local terms. The Dutch love their bread and these flavours from all over the world are using the popularity of the bread to their advantage.

There is now a broodje (sandwich) available in almost every cuisine. These broodjes are not only well-received but have also changed the local palate significantly. The Dutch are going from cold sandwiches with limited flavour options (a slice of cheese and cold cuts), to an international affair.

Vietnamese broodjes (such as the one you can grab from Mama Hongs in Rotterdam), Lebanese wraps (The Lebanese Sajeria in Amsterdam does particularly good ones), or Roti wraps (Rottiedam in Rotterdam) are popular among the international community and the locals alike.

If this continues, the reputation of the Netherlands will soon change from a boring food destination to a rather exciting one. Kudos to the people who are continuing with their passion for food in this bumpy terrain.

What’s your opinion on Dutch cuisine? Have you seen a change in the works? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Feature Image: Kaboompics.com/Pexels
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in February 2020, but was fully updated in April 2021 for your reading pleasure. 

The 5 stages of learning Dutch

Henry Stokes
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The 5 stages of learning Dutch

It was only after I moved to the Netherlands that I started learning Dutch. Before that, I knew only a few words and phrases. So as you can imagine, the move was not an easy one. A smarter man would have come more prepared. Then again, where would be the adventure in that?

I found that the development of my Dutch coincided (more or less) with how well I was doing here. Through the learning process, I picked up on the five key stages in speaking Dutch. It can be a steep learning curve, sometimes you may feel out of your depth or have no clue what’s going on.

For instance, due to the requirements of a job interview, I once needed to listen to interview questions in Dutch, but was allowed to respond in English. While it may be difficult, just keep going. You’ll be helped along your way, because people do appreciate when someone speaks decent Dutch … even if not perfect.

READ MORE | How to learn Dutch: the ultimate guide (by people who learned!)

1. “Een Beetje” 

This is where it all starts. Anyone moving to the Netherlands has been through this stage. Fresh off the train or plane, you may be able to ask directions or have the grocery exchange. You’ll probably also make use of the expression; “Ik kan een beetje nederlands spreken.” Usually this will be accompanied by the other person repeating “beetje” with a laugh.

READ MORE | 11 Dutch songs to learn the language (and culture!) 

But let’s be honest with ourselves; this isn’t speaking Dutch. At this stage you’ll usually be greeted by the other person speaking Dutch very fast, knowing you can’t understand. It’s a little bit of a troll, but it’s probably justified. To get through this stage; get some more exposure to Dutch language books to understand sentence construction.

2. “Ik probeer”

You’re trying. You’ll speak the sentence but stumble across a word. Alternatively, you could miss one word the Dutch speaker says, and suddenly the whole sentence doesn’t make sense. Typical lost in translation moment. But you are trying. The Dutch speaker will probably look confused for a moment, then switch to English. It can be a disheartening/conceal don’t feel type moment, but you’re getting brownie points for trying.

READ MORE| The struggles of learning Dutch

To get past this stage, keep practicing the conversations you know to get more comfortable. For example, keeping having the grocery or directions conversations in Dutch. You might learn some new vocabulary. The worst thing to do is get comfortable speaking English, because it may become routine. It’s best to push yourself out of your comfort zone, and just give it a try.

3. “Wel”

“Maar je kan wel nederlands spreken.” This is what you’ll hear when you’re at the third stage. At this level you can have some conversations, and you will probably get complimented on your Dutch. You’ll also notice people no longer respond to you in English, and speak Dutch (except just a little bit slower). Congratulations! You’ve passed the English default barrier (where people default back to English when you try Dutch).

But in the words of my hero; “Great kid, don’t get cocky.” There are still some words you don’t know, and if you miss one thing you might not understand the whole conversation. To get past this stage, get exposure to Dutch TV and try reading newspaper articles. Also, make sure to ask if you don’t know words. However it may be best to only ask one word per day, otherwise you’ll end up coming across like Peter Griffin.

4. “Heel goed”

You can finally be a part of it. Having one on one conversations with people, and joining in on group conversations. You can also get involved in the Dutch favourite pastime; everyone sitting really close to each other around a room, having lightning-round style conversations for a few hours. There’s still some limitations at this level though. There may be words you may be unfamiliar with, especially with subject specific vocabulary.

READ MORE | The one where the cast of Friends tried to speak Dutch — and failed

As a result, you may be able to have an excellent conversation about careers and travel. However, if the conversation moves to a subject like technology, you’ll have the conversing skills of a gawking fish. In your confusion, you may even look like one too. If conversation goes off the paths familiar to you, you might end up quite lost.

You’ll also probably still mix up “om” and “op“, however you’ll be saved because you know how to use “leuk” and “lekker” appropriately. This is far more important. To help reach the next level, just keep having Dutch conversations daily, and look up any words you don’t know.

5. “Gezellig”

The mythical level. Cozy. Comfortable. Call it what you will, but this is the ultimate stage of belonging. You can comfortably have conversations at a fluent or native level. This level of conversation is key to all things Dutch! By being able to speak Dutch at this level, you’ll open new doors of employment because you can now work in Dutch.

But even more exciting, you’ll now be able to deal with Gemeente in Dutch! That’s right: Bureaucracy in your non-native language. Forms, taxes, contracts and all the other fun things it entails. It could be worse though; foreigners who inherit a Dutch passport are required to deal with this bureaucracy in Dutch from the moment they get here.

Good luck learning Dutch! And remember — Keep at it!

Have you gone through the five phases of learning Dutch? How do you find it? Let us know in the comments below! 

Feature Image: Siora Photography/Unsplash
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in April 2018, and was fully updated in April 2021 for your reading pleasure. 

The Dutch “fish doorbell” in Utrecht has been pressed over 32,000 times

Chloe Lovatt 🇬🇧
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The Dutch “fish doorbell” in Utrecht has been pressed over 32,000 times

Remember the fish doorbell that was launched in Oudegracht Utrecht last month? Turns out it a lot of people have had a go on it. 

Since it’s been installed, viewers all over the world have been watching the fish, the “doorbell” being pressed over 32,000, according to the NOS.

No, this is not an April fools joke. The doorbell works by placing an underwater camera at the Weerdsluis in Utrecht. Viewers notify the lock keeper when they see fish on the screen that are ready to cross. Onlookers “ring the bell” by sending the lock keeper a signal so he can open the lock and let the fish through.

This system was created to help ease fish migration to shallower waters for the summer months. Usually, the lock remains closed during early spring due to the lack of boats passing through. This makes it harder for the fish to migrate and slows down their ability to reproduce.

An unlikely celebrity

As a result of the famous doorbell, the lock keeper, Rashied Saeedi, has become a local celebrity. He tells RTV Utrecht that every day dozens of people come to his house in search of the doorbell. “They want to know where the camera is, whether I have a button to open the door and whether it is not a joke after all.”

Unfortunately, due to the age of the lock, it can’t be opened upon every single request. It is only opened when there is a large amount of fish waiting to cross.

Are you planning on visiting fish doorbell? Let us know in the comments!

Feature Image: mistral family/Pixabay

Deliveries of Janssen vaccine to EU halted over concerns about thrombosis cases

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
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Deliveries of Janssen vaccine to EU halted over concerns about thrombosis cases

The Dutch vaccination strategy has encountered another bump in the road. Rare cases of thrombosis may now also be linked to the Janssen vaccine. As a precautionary measure, the manufacturer has halted all deliveries of the vaccine to Europe. 

The Netherlands has ordered 11.3 million doses of the Janssen (also known as Johnson & Johnson) vaccine. The Janssen vaccine offers sufficient immunity from coronavirus after just one shot, meaning that the country hopes to vaccinate 11.3 million people using this vaccine.

Next Thursday, the country was set to begin distributing 80,000 doses of the vaccine to healthcare workers. Whether or not this will go ahead is uncertain.

Reports of thrombosis in the US

The decision follows reports of low platelet counts and rare cases of thrombosis in women between the age of 18 and 48 in the US. However, the number of cases so far appears to be lower than those reported after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine.

So far, seven million people have received the Janssen vaccine. Out of these, there have been six cases of thrombosis, bringing the risk to less than one in a million. With the AstraZeneca vaccine, this risk is slightly higher, at about one in a hundred thousand.

AstraZeneca in the Netherlands

In the Netherlands, the distribution of AstraZeneca was briefly paused following similar reports. It was then decided that only people over the age of 60 would receive the vaccine as the EMA ruled the “benefits outweigh the risks.”

However, the Netherlands is already experiencing the damaging impact of the doubt over the use of AstraZeneca with 40% of over 60s in the Netherlands saying that they don’t want to receive the vaccine.

Cabinet awaits findings of the experts

The Dutch cabinet has no clear strategy yet concerning the continued distribution of the Janssen vaccine in the Netherlands.

Speaking at last night’s press conference, Minister for Health, Hugo De Jonge, briefly mentioned the vaccine. He said that he was unsure of whether the vaccine will continue to be used in the Netherlands and it must first be determined whether or not it’s safe.

The Dutch cabinet will now await the findings of research carried out by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Medicines Evaluation Board (MEB).

According to the RIVM, vaccinations with the Janssen vaccine will continue next Thursday unless another decision is reached in the meantime.

What are your thoughts on the Dutch vaccination strategy? Let us know in the comments below! 

Feature Image: Janssen.com/Press Release

Hundreds of Dutchies in WhatsApp groups that insure them against curfew fines

Chloe Lovatt 🇬🇧
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Hundreds of Dutchies in WhatsApp groups that insure them against curfew fines

This gives “text me when you get home” a whole new meaning. Hundreds of young people have created WhatsApp groups to “insure” themselves against paying the fine for violating the curfew in the Netherlands. 

Members of the groups are instructed to send a photo of the fine to the group administrator. Providing that the user has already transferred an initiation fee of €10 and is the first of 55 members to claim they have been fined that day, the group admin will transfer over the amount of the fine.

There are at least three of these groups with hundreds of members, reports RTL Nieuws. Not only can you gain financial insurance against the avondklok, but the apps also share “safe” routes home where there are unlikely to be police. A kind of millennial neighbourhood watch.

Ambiguous legal standing

Whether or not these groups are legal is an interesting question. Marit van der Pool specialises in insurance law and tells RTL Nieuws that “contractually, this agreement is not allowed, because you are not allowed to insure intentional actions.”

However, she reminds us that these groups act as a contract and that “the two contracting parties both want this. So nobody is going to say ‘this is not allowed’.”

On the other hand, her colleague Mark Wisse states that you need a licence from De Nederlandsche Bank to offer insurance. It’s unlikely that these groups have this kind of licence.

Decline in support for curfew in the Netherlands

When it comes to public support of coronavirus measures, the curfew is at the bottom of the list. Many question its effectiveness in fighting coronavirus, especially when infection numbers continue to rise.

The administrator of the WhatsApp group tells RTL Nieuws that “I got the idea when I heard in my area that curfew was hard for people,” and that his “impression is that many people find the measure disproportionate and ineffective.”

In last night’s press conference, Mark Rutte announced a plan to abandon curfew after April 28, if the R rate is sufficiently low.

How have you been impacted by the curfew? Let us know in the comments!

Feature Image: Anton/Pexels

Press conference: Dutch cabinet introduces another road map, relaxations pushed back

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
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Press conference: Dutch cabinet introduces another road map, relaxations pushed back

Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Minister for Health Hugo De Jonge have stepped in front of the press once again to address the Dutch government’s ever-changing decisions when it comes to coronavirus restrictions. 

Two weeks ago, the Netherlands was set to see restrictions relaxed slightly with terraces and shops expected to reopen and curfew ditched by April 21. However, this weekend a cabinet spokesman announced that the country will not see restrictions relaxed by this date after all.

Dutch hospitals bemused by plans

Part of the reason for the decision to prolong restriction measures is said to be due to continuing pressure on Dutch hospitals.

Rutte began by pointing out the disparity between the world outside of hospital doors where people long for a relaxation of measures, and the world inside Dutch hospitals, where workers and patients continue to struggle.

Last week, the Dutch Association of Hospitals said that it was bemused by the cabinet’s plan to relax measures.

A long and flat peak

The Dutch cabinet planned to ease restrictions once the Netherlands had seen itself through the peak of the third wave. However, in spite of the RIVM’s hopes that the peak would be short-lived, it seems to be more of a sprawling field and less of a short and snappy mountain top.

In the past week, we saw both a hopeful drop in infection numbers, followed by a slight rise once again. Tonight, Rutte said that “once we’re past the peak of the third wave we can start relaxing measures.”

Potential room for relaxation on April 28

The next date that we may see measures relaxed is April 28, however, Rutte strongly emphasised that this is only a possible date. The cabinet will make a decision on whether to go ahead with the relaxation on April 20.

After-school daycare to reopen

However, the ministers did offer one small relaxation. On April 19, after-school daycare will reopen once again.

Less restrictions this summer

The Dutch government hopes to see restrictions eased significantly in time for summer to hit the Netherlands. Minster for Health, Hugo De Jonge, introduced yet another road map in order to detail these hoped relaxations.

Part of this step-by-step plan includes opening up education more, including universities and after school care. Relaxing measures for shops has also been discussed.

What does the Dutch roadmap look like? (For now)

Step 1: get over the peak

Once hospital admissions start to lower, the cabinet will drop the curfew and allow more than two visitors at home. On top of this, terraces and schools will reopen.

Step 2: Two-three weeks later

Two/three weeks after the above relaxations, zoos, pools and sports may see some relaxations. Sports especially will be a focus there

Step 3-4-5: Four-five weeks later

Four to five weeks after this, the Netherlands will see a drastic ease in relaxations for the summer. During which people will be asked to continue to wash their hands and maintain a 1.5-meter distance.

Whilst the roadmap has been offered, De Jonge emphasised that “dates are not certain, and thus not promises.” He also added it’s more of a direction than an actual concrete plan.

All over 60s vaccinated by mid-May

De Jonge also hopes to see all over 60s who want a vaccine, vaccinated by the end of May. This also includes those of all ages who are classified as high-risk.

Speaking on the recent findings concerning thrombosis and the AstraZeneca vaccine, De Jonge explains that the Netherlands needs AstraZeneca in order to see its over 60 population vaccinated.

The cabinet will also consider allowing younger people to receive AstraZeneca if they consent to it. However, they will only consider this once they have vaccinated over 60s so this will all take a few weeks.

Possible side-effects

De Jonge also took a moment to speak on the recent news that the Janssen vaccine has been stalled in the US due to a potential link to thrombosis.

“Vaccination is going as fast as we can, we’re getting more vaccines every day, but sadly AstraZeneca and Janssen are having unexpected side-effects…We also don’t know how everything around Janssen is going to evolve, just too early to say anything” the minister said.

Dutch GPs worried over empty vaccination slots

General practitioners across the Netherlands are concerned about a low turnout for vaccinations, reports RTL Nieuws.

“In my practice, only 30% of the vulnerable group comes to get a vaccine,” says Rotterdam-based GP Matthijs van der Poel, adding that he then has to get rid of the unused vaccines. The turnout for vaccination, however, varies per region, and sometimes even per neighbourhood. Some areas report a turnout of 90%, while other practices experience only 50% of the patients coming to get vaccinated.

De Jonge indicated he still had high hopes for the turnout for vaccinations coming up above 80%.

What are your thoughts on the Dutch cabinet’s handling of the pandemic? Tell us in the comments below! 

Feature Image: Screenshot/Press Conference

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