Following talks yesterday with the other coalition nations, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten made it clear: unless attacks stop, there will be no Dutch military aid in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Al Jazeera, Jetten is not alone: none of the 35 countries in the UK-led coalition is willing to enter the Strait unless reciprocal attacks stop.
The talks seem to have yielded little tangible action, but there is a strong consensus among coalition nations that while the war still rages, sending aid is out of the question.
Unsafe conditions
Jetten’s stance is, ultimately, unsurprising.
Just two weeks ago, he gave a statement saying, “At the moment, any mission in the Strait of Hormuz will need an ease in tensions in the region,” reports NU.nl.
However, he’s also indicated that aid is not impossible — it’s just a matter of timing.
Assistance in restoring the safety of the Strait once attacks have stopped, for instance, is still very much on the table.
The Dutch navy could be sent in to help clear sea mines from the passage once things have calmed down, according to NOS.
For now, however, the Dutch military is staying put.
Trump’s requests rejected
In a speech at the White House last night, Trump said the war would last a few more weeks, reports the BBC.
As energy prices continue to soar globally, it’s become increasingly difficult for the American president (whose campaign promise was, by the way, “no more wars”) to justify the attacks in Iran.
Despite his continued requests for aid, Trump has been unable to convince the coalition countries that their aid would make a major difference in the Strait.
One thing is clear: the Dutch aren’t rushing into a war they didn’t start.
What do you think of Jetten’s statement? Let us know in the comments!
So you want to learn Dutch, and you want to learn it fast? It won’t be easy, but it’s doable with the right tools.
Let’s be real: Dutch is a difficult language. So, if you want to learn it fast, you must do it right. And what do you need to learn a language the right way?
A good course, a knowledgeable teacher, and an effective approach.
That’s where Talencoach comes in, with a Dutch course that will have you speaking Nederlands with confidence in just seven days.
A Dutch school that’s different
Like many other Dutch schools, Talencoach is located in beautiful Amsterdam, but that’s where the similarities end.
Talencoach is a unique Dutch school offering a special course that will accelerate your language learning like never before. The course in question? Dutch Brainwash!
Albert keeps his classes small so that each student gets the attention they need. Image: Talencoach
With his intensive course, Albert Both, founder of Talencoach, set out to “teach languages in a whole different way”. Let’s talk about how it works. 👇
The Brainwash Method: What is it, and why does it work?
We’re glad you asked! Talencoach’s Dutch Brainwash is a unique method that teaches you to talk (in Dutch) about anything you want.
You experience full immersion for 7 days
First things first, Dutch Brainwash gives you the unique opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the Dutch language.
Sitting in front of the computer for hours at a time? Reading boring books? Learning long lists of vocab? Nee dankjewel. 🙅
Talk Dutch — non-stop. Image: Freepik
Rather than studying, Albert stresses the importance of learning by doing. He quickly gets you talking about the things that matter to you — for six hours a day and for a week straight!
With multiple courses scheduled throughout the year, you can find a week that suits you and get your Nederlands going.
You gain an understanding ofthe language’s building blocks
Now you may be wondering: “Hé? How will I speak about things I like… in a language I don’t know?”
Easy! You will learn how the language works first. Like in any other language, Dutch sentences are built in a certain way, and once you understand these most essential building blocks, you’ll be able to speak much more freely.
Think of it like playing with LEGOs! Soon enough, you’ll be able to build your own world (and by that, we mean sentences in Dutch!).
You grow your confidence and become unstoppable
A barrier that many language learners struggle to overcome is the move from theory to practice.
Sure, you may know the theory behind the different werkwoordstijden (verb tenses), but do you feel comfortable using them in practice?
Dutch Brainwash prepares you for the real world. Image: Freepik
Unfortunately, insecurities often get the best of us and prevent us from using our Dutch when we can. That’s why it’s crucial to build your confidence and overcome that inner block!
“Once people get out of their comfort zone, great things can happen”, Albert tells us.
By making the Dutch learning process fun, he teaches students to let go of their inhibitions — and to feel confident enough to speak about anything and everything.
After the course? Just keep the momentum going!
Equipped with a newfound confidence and an understanding of how Dutch works, you are now ready to take on the world!
But besides being able to use Dutch in your day-to-day life, Talencoach also offers all the necessary resources for you to keep practising your Dutch. The very best part? They’re all free.
Once the course is completed, all Brainwash graduates are put into a Facebook group where they can continue sharing their experiences, ask questions, and learn from each other. 🤝
Once you’re done? You keep the momentum going! Image: Depositphotos
But of course, Albert also wants to keep in touch with you personally. That’s why he holds free Dutch Fluency Momentum Sessions in which you can practise your speaking skills by talking to other graduates.
Looking for another intense, immersive program? Dat kan, with Talencoach’s Dutch Mastery classes!
Dutch Mastery is like the next level of Dutch Brainwash, where you dive even deeper into the Dutch language. Some things you’ll learn here include:
How to play with time dimensions
Invisible words (words that exist in Dutch but not in English)
New advanced ways of expanding your vocabulary
Advanced constructions and advanced vocabulary
What do former students have to say?
Because we wouldn’t promote something without actually doing our research first, we personally reached out to two of Albert’s “Brainwash graduates” — and the proof is in the pudding.
Here’s what they had to say. 👇
What do Albert’s students have to say about their experience with Dutch Brainwash? Image: Talencoach/Supplied
David from New York, who has been studying Dutch for a few years with private lessons and intensive courses, was impressed with how much he could still gain from Dutch Brainwash:
“My Dutch was already pretty good, but [thanks to Dutch Brainswash] I shed my self-consciousness and now speak with greater ease and freedom.”
He adds, “There is so much laughter in the classes as Albert inspires us to express ourselves spontaneously and without fear of making mistakes. It’s liberating.”
Chloe, another former student, says, “Dutch Brainwash is the only course [I have] taken that takes a complicated language and makes it simple. It was the fourth school I’d enrolled in since arriving in the Netherlands, and I wish it had been the first.”
Now that’s what we love to see! ⚡️
Ready to level up?
Are you ready to take your Dutch to the next level? Super!
You can check Albert’s schedule to see upcoming Dutch Brainwash courses. They run for seven days and have a maximum of eight students enrolled in each course.
Got any further questions? Geen probleem, Albert will happily answer them!
We’ve no doubt all heard about tourist traps in the Netherlands and Amsterdam, and many of us have probably even been to them.
What begins as a way for a country to teach people about their culture ends up being overrun with irritating tourists, overcrowded spaces, and selfie sticks ruining your ‘original’ photo.
We’ve compiled a list of some of the biggest tourist spots in the Netherlands with advice on whether we think they’re worth a visit or if there is a better alternative (for your sanity, wallet, and the country)! 😉
This post might have affiliate links that help us write the articles you love, at no extra cost to you. Read our statement.
1. The Heineken Experience
The Netherlands is home to one of the world’s best-selling beers — Heineken!
This museum (and prior Heineken factory) will tell you about the history of the beer and the brewing methods, and give you a chance to draw your own beer!
Helaas, the drinks aren’t cheap. Image: Dreamstime
The tour costs €25, but this price does include two free beers at the end of the tour. Sign me up! 😎
Is the Heineken Experience worthwhile?
Perhaps. It can definitely be fun to do with friends, but it is certainly not cheap.
Many other breweries offer tours in Amsterdam, such as House of Bols (€20 per person) and Brouwerij de Prael. That means you can easily find a cheaper brewery tour that offers a more intimate experience.
If you want a lasting experience, you could even go for the Brew Bus Craft Brewery Tour, which lets you visit three (yes, three) microbreweries with a biertje from each. Lekker!
Roambit makes staying connected while exploring the Netherlands completely hassle-free. Simply choose a data package that suits your trip — and you’re ready to go before you’ve even landed. Use code DUTCH10 for 10% off your first purchase.
Tulip season begins in spring, which spans March, April and May in the Netherlands.
During these months, thousands of tourists flock to Keukenhof to see the blooming flowers.
Whilst it is beautiful (it’s tulips, after all), it’s also a tourist trap as it costs a whopping €21 for entry. That’s some expensive tulips (but not as expensive as when a single bulb of Semper Augustus cost an astonishing €2,819 in 1633).
Strictly speaking, there is no alternative, so it is an easy day activity. But, if you catch a train out into the Dutch countryside and cycle around, you are bound to come across equally beautiful fields as tulips are grown across the whole country.
Or just watch this YouTube video instead. It’s almost the same, right?
3. Giethoorn
Despite being a relatively small town, Giethoorn has become a popular tourist spot due to its reputation as the ‘Dutch Venice’ and receives around 800,000 tourists annually.
It is quaint and looks like something out of Lord of the Rings, with trees spilling over onto the canals and thatched houses tucked behind rose bushes. 😮
If this doesn’t scream Bilbo Baggins’ residence, ‘Bag End’, then what does? Image: Depositphotos
Is Giethoorn worthwhile?
Giethoorn is nice, but it’s stuffed with tourists. Instead, head to Elburg, a wee town that is aiming to be the first grid city in the Netherlands.
4. Canal boat tours in Amsterdam
A myriad of companies provide canal boat tours of Amsterdam, offering you a chance to see the sights from a unique perspective.
These companies are expensive and force you to listen to trite commentary blaring through a speaker while on the tour.
The boats waiting to take you on a lovely canal cruise of Amsterdam. Image: Depositphotos
Are canal boat rides in Amsterdam worth it?
If you don’t have much time, then jump on one of these cruises just so you can see the city from down below.
However, with a little more effort, you can rent a self-drive boat for a whole day or hire a private boat with a skipper for more autonomy and better bang for your buck.
They cost anywhere from €10 to €50 per hour, but if you split this between a few friends, it is very affordable.
What’s more, if you head to a lesser-known city, such as Delft (which is also a gorgeous small town), you can rent a self-driving boat for as little as €25 per hour! The canal tours will be just as beautiful, but more intimate.
5. Scheveningen beach
One of the most popular beaches in the Netherlands, Scheveningen is a district situated on the coast of The Hague.
It’s incredibly popular (especially during the summer!), with loads of events that are hosted along the waterfront. But is it…nice? Good question.
Though the pier at Scheveningen can get busy, it sure is pretty to look at! Image: Depositphotos
I grew up in New Zealand, so when it comes to pristine beaches, I am truly spoiled. But that begs the question: is Scheveningen actually crap, or am I just biased? 🤔
If there is a designated reason for you going (an event or a nice café, maybe?), then sure. Otherwise, I wouldn’t recommend that someone visit the beach in and of itself.
Want to stay connected while enjoying touristy as well as off-the-beaten-path activities? With an eSIM for the Netherlands from Roambit, you can get connected faster than you can say stroopwafel. Use the code DUTCH10 for 10% off your first purchase.
Enjoy feeling the sand between your toes? Then mudflat walking will be a leuk experience that will give you the chance to explore and dip your toe in!
6. Red Light District
It’s what springs to everyone’s mind when they think of Amsterdam. The district was created way back in the 1300s for sailors to avail themselves after many months at sea.
However, you could just as easily be disappointed (like many fantasies). There is a reason people say expectations are resentments in the making.
Is the Red Light District worth it?
Yes, because it is one-of-a-kind, an intriguing place to walk around, and good for a one-off visit.
It’s even better if you take the chance to learn about the history of the district on a tour. But please be respectful, and please do not gawk at any of the patrons — or photograph them without consent.
7. Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum is arguably the most famous building in the Netherlands.
Images of it are splayed all over Dutch tourism magazines, and the museum is mentioned as a must-do on many “what to do in the Netherlands?” lists.
Ah, the architectural beauty that is the Rijksmuseum. Image: Dreamstime
Is the Rijksmuseum a tourist trap?
No, especially if you’re interested in art that focuses on the Dutch nation and its history (Rembrandt’s The Night Watch is on permanent display here).
But there are so many museums (with cheaper entry and no waiting lines) that offer an equally valuable art experience.
For example, a mere 40-minute train ride from Amsterdam is the beautiful town of Leiden. This city boasts 14 diverse museums that promise to pique the varied interests of everyone in your travelling group.
8. Anne Frank House
Anytime you walk near Westerkerk in Amsterdam, you will come across hordes of people lining up for the Anne Frank House.
This building is a biographical museum and home to the secret annexe, where diarist Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis during WWII.
You must reserve your place online, and tickets cost €16.50 for an adult.
Tourists waiting in long lines to experience the Anne Frank House. Image: Depositphotos
Is the Anne Frank Museum worthwhile?
Yes. The ability to walk through such a historical place is incredibly moving.
I would recommend reading her diary before going, as it makes the experience more personal and will add depth to what you see and read.
That’s right, we are ending on a bang — the Venustempel sex museum in Amsterdam! It is the oldest sex museum in the world and is situated on the outskirts of Amsterdam’s famous Red Light District.
The entry of the Venustempel Sex Museum. Image: Depositphotos
For as little as €10, you can enter a world that traverses the history and culture of sex with an extensive collection of erotic pictures, paintings, recordings, photographs and more.
Should you visit the Venustempel Sex Museum in Amsterdam?
This extensive collection was gathered by the museum’s owners throughout the years and is now on permanent display.
There is no alternative in the Netherlands, and if you’re not too prudish, then it is worth the money for an afternoon of giggles and learning.
Did you visit and still want more? Amsterdam also has a 5D porn cinema available for you!
So there you go — a list of some of the biggest tourist traps and whether they are worthwhile or not.
Have you been to any? Do you disagree with what’s said in this list? Let us know in the comments below!
Don’t listen to Dutch food haters! The Netherlands is full of good food — you just have to know where to find it. 😉
Sure, this country might be more famous for its mills than its meals, but its culinary potential shouldn’t be underestimated.
With the right guidance, Dutch cities can offer a feast for both your taste buds and your eyes. 😋
How do we know? Because we joined the Rotterdam BiteMe food tour to find out for ourselves!
Tasting and sightseeing at once
You haven’t had good Dutch fries until you’ve had GOOD Dutch fries from Rotterdam’s best friet spot. 😉 Image: Beatrice Scali/DutchReview
BiteMe food tours provide walking culinary and touristic itineraries in Rotterdam, Delft, The Hague, and Den Bosch, taking you to all the must-see and must-eat spots of each city.
Their tours feel like taking a walk with a passionate local who is eager to show you all their favourite places — except that they move at your pace, and only tell you about the spots you’re truly interested in.
That’s right, the tours are self-guided! Or, technically, guided by a very special helper: the super intuitive BiteMe App.
Take your taste buds on a journey
Yep, this crunchy delight is part of the tour. 😋 Image: Beatrice Scali/DutchReview
The tour we chose, the Rotterdam tour, lasts about four hours and features six culinary stops and many more cultural ones. It begins at Rotterdam Centraal, with a recommended start time between 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM.
At each stop along the way, you are handed a delicious bite of a dish representing Rotterdam.
Perfectly capturing the city’s multicultural vibe, the bites include both Dutch classics and favourites from all over the world. Together, the bites add up to the equivalent of a full meal, keeping your belly as busy as your feet.
To give the liver some work, the last stop also includes an (alcoholic) drink. 🍸
👀 Hoera! The Rotterdam tour is vegetarian- and halal-friendly, and can accommodate allergies and other dietary needs.
Discover Rotterdam’s most iconic spots
Do you know the story behind Rotterdam’s quirkiest houses? Image: Depositphotos
While food is the protagonist, Rotterdam’s BiteMe food tour is also a great way of getting to know the beautiful port city.
Featuring a mix of iconic landmarks and lesser-known gems, the tour is guaranteed to take up space in your phone’s gallery, too (and not just in your stomach). 📸
Remember those interesting-looking cube houses you’ve seen on postcards? Well, get ready for the BiteMe App to spill the beans about them.
But the tour features more than just the classics: for example, you’ll also learn about this real-life giant. 👇🤯
He’s not called “the giant of Rotterdam” for nothing 🤯 Image: Beatrice Scali/DutchReview
How do I sign up?
Ready to embark on your culinary journey through Rotterdam? Signing up for the BiteMe food tour is super easy.
All you need to do is reserve a spot by choosing your preferred city and date on the website, indicate any special dietary needs you may have, and pay the €49 fee.
Once booked, you’ll receive an e-mail with more detailed information about your tour, including instructions on how to use the BiteMe App.
Does a self-guided tour sound too lonely for you? Geen probleem, BiteMe Food Tours also offers guided tours, and not just walking ones! Check their website to find out more.
The BiteMe App
While on your tour, the BiteMe App will be your personal guide.
It’s light, fast, and easy to use, integrating a map of the city you’re exploring and insight into each stop.
As you walk around, you’ll be able to locate yourself on the map, getting more and more knowledgeable about Rotterdam (and full of good food) as you go.
The tour’s starting point could not be easier to find. 🗺️ Image: Dreamstime
The app is also your ticket to collect the tour’s bites. As you enter each restaurant, show it to the staff, and they’ll know exactly what you’re there for, what to serve you, what to tell you, what lottery numbers will make you a millionaire…
Okay, maybe the BiteMe App can’t help with everything, but it’s guaranteed to help you spend an unforgettable day out. 🥰
Have you ever explored a new city by taking a food tour? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.
After years of complaints, accidents, and debate, Amsterdam has officially confirmed a fatbike ban in Vondelpark. It takes effect on May 11, and yes, officers will be checking.
What counts as a fatbike, you ask? Well, a fat bike. The ban includes any bike whose tyres are wider than seven centimetres, and comes with pedal assistance.
The kind of chunky electric bike driven by a teenage boy in a black puffer jacket, with three of his friends seated behind him.
Vondelpark is the first location in Amsterdam to get the ban due to the sheer volume of nuisance complaints filed with the city and police, as well as road accidents involving e-bikes.
Meanwhile, traffic alderman Melanie van der Horst tells NOS: “There are playing children, joggers, people who sport, picnic, or walk their dogs. There’s no place for fast, heavy fatbikes.”
What happens if someone rides one?
The two weeks following May 11 will be a grace period: fatbikers will be let off with a warning.
After that, getting caught on a fatbike inside the park will cost you €115. For riders between 12 and 16 years old, the fine is halved to €57.50. The BOAs (municipal enforcement officers) will be in charge of enforcement.
“I didn’t know” will not be a possible excuse, as there will be prohibition signs placed at the park’s entrances, and alternative routes around the park will be signposted for riders.
Fancy a walk? Fatbikers can also dismount and walk through Vondelpark.
Will the ban actually work?
According to NOS, there were 115 accidents involving fatbikes over just three months in 2025.
So natuurlijk, Amsterdam isn’t the first Dutch city to try alienating fatbikes.
Enschede introduced a similar ban in its city centre last month, and the results look promising: the number of fatbikes in the area has dropped noticeably.
Over the coming months, Amsterdam will be watching closely. If the Vondelpark experiment pays off, fat bikes could find themselves unwelcome in a lot more places.
Why did the ban take so long?
The idea for the ban was floated back in November, and the Amsterdam City Council voted in favour in February 2026.
The party changed its mind after some edits to Amsterdam’s local ordinance amendment (removing characterising words such as “intimidation”).
The new law is an amendment to the Algemene Plaatselijke Verordening (general local regulations). The same rulebook that got the beer bikes banned from the city back in 2017.
Are you in favour of banning fatbikes in parts of Amsterdam? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Good news for your weekend plans: temperatures are set to climb sharply over Easter, with Weeronlinepredicting highs of up to 17°C by Saturday.
You’ll need to earn it first, though. Thursday and Good Friday are looking grim before the holiday hits its stride.
First, the bad news: Thursday and Friday
Thursday is grey, grey, grey. Wet spells through the morning, a brief glimpse of sun near the coast in the afternoon, and a high of 10°C. For April, that’s pretty dismal.
Good Friday offers a deceptively bright opening, before the sky closes in and rain pushes in from the west by afternoon. Coastal spots can expect winds of force 7. Highs of 11°C mean it’s wise to bring a jacket.
Easter Saturday is where it turns around
By Saturday, the outlook shifts. A mostly dry, pleasant day is on the cards, with sunshine and cloud trading places throughout. It feels like spring for once: highs of 14°C in the north, 17°C in the south.
Sunday and Monday follow a similar script — partly cloudy with spells of sun, and good enough for outdoor plans. The south peaks around 17°C again, the north around 13°C.
Could 20°C actually happen?
According to Weeronline, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week could see some regions reach 20°C or above for the first warm days of 2026.
The catch, as ever, is that it won’t last, with cooler air and showers forecast to follow. Classic Dutch weather.
Still, a few days of warmth after months of grey is nothing to sniff at. Get the terrasje plans ready.
Are you heading out over the Easter weekend? Let us know in the comments!
The Dutch festival season is officially underway, and it’s kicking off in Brabant: Paaspop returns to Schijndel this Easter weekend, April 3 to 5, with over 350 acts spread across 17 stages.
Now in its fifth decade, Paaspop has grown from a regional Easter gathering into one of Europe’s larger open-air events.
This year’s lineup covers pretty much every genre going — Sean Paul closes Friday on the main Apollo stage, Scooter takes Saturday, and Tom Odell headlines Sunday, with DI-RECT finishing the night off.
Beyond the headliners, the 17 stages each have their own character: heavy rock and tributes at the Thunderbolt, hiphop and R&B at the Roxy, Balkan beats and folk at the Social Club.
Day tickets start at €89 for Friday and €99 for the weekend days.
What else is coming this festival season?
Paaspop is just the first entry on what looks like a busy Dutch summer calendar. Here’s what festivalgoers also have to look forward to:
Pinkpop (June, Landgraaf) — one of the Netherlands’ longest-running festivals, drawing big international acts to the south of the country each year.
Milkshake Festival (July, Amsterdam) — a celebration of LGBTQ+ culture, music, and performance art in Amsterdam’s Westerpark.
Lowlands (August, Biddinghuizen) — the three-day “city within a festival,” with its own currency, newspaper, and a reliably eclectic lineup.
Are you heading to Paaspop this Easter weekend, or saving yourself for later in the summer? Let us know in the comments!
After five years of stashing my money in a bunq Pro account (aside from a short-lived stint with ING), I’m ready to claim: yes, it has a price tag, but yes, that price tag is worth it.
bunq offers plenty of tools for long-term wealth building, like crypto and stocks. But what really won me over are the everyday banking features that make managing money feel surprisingly satisfying.
Here are the features that genuinely changed how I handle my finances.
1. Opening up to 25 bank accounts (with their own IBANs!)
I currently use 21 bank accounts. Each one is dedicated to a specific expense or saving goal: groceries, insurance, flights home, house renovations, and even municipality taxes.
Excessive? Maybe. Effective? Absolutely.
Every weekly, monthly, quarterly, and once-a-year payment is already accounted for before it arrives. Instead of dreading bills, I know the money is already set aside.
Image: DutchReview
The real advantage of bunq Pro is that every account has its own IBAN. In a country powered by direct debits, that matters.
My health insurance pulls from the IBAN for my health insurance account. Municipality taxes come from my tax pot. Everything goes exactly where it should.
You might think it’s hectic to have this many bank accounts, but nope. They’re all sorted into folders, and I even have pictures uploaded for each account — purely for the ✨ aesthetic ✨, of course.
2. Having my salary sorted automatically
If you’re imagining me manually distributing my salary across 21 accounts every month, don’t worry.
With Organise Your Income, bunq recognises my salary the second it lands and automatically divides it just the way I like.
Woosh! My salary is immediately digitally chopped up and distributed into 20 other accounts before I even have a chance to spend it.
Image: DutchReview
Savings for flights to Australia? Check. House fund? Done. Insurance? Covered.
It means my money has a plan before I do anything with it. Total gamechanger. That alone changed how I manage my finances.
3. Manually approving direct debits
The Dutch love direct debits. However, I love control.
With bunq, every direct debit request can ask for approval first. Health insurance, Swapfiets, and internet bills. I receive a notification and decide when the payment goes through. I can even switch the account it comes from.
Prefer things to run automatically? You can simply select “Always accept this direct debit”, and future payments will go through without approval.
4. Keeping total control over my bank cards
bunq Pro gives me three physical cards and up to 25 digital ones, each connected to whichever account I choose.
But hey, say I’m running around purchasing things for a DIY project in my bedroom. I just pay everything from my personal account, sit down later, tally it all up, and then make a manual transfer…right?
Nope. With bunq, I just open a card in my bunq app and change the account the card takes money from. Instead of the card taking money from my Daily account, it takes it from my Home account instead. When I’m done? Switch it back in just a few taps.
Image: DutchReview
I can also change my PIN in the app, customise colours and icons in my Apple Wallet, and set everything up exactly how I like it.
With bunq, my cards work for me — not the other way around.
5. “Moving” a payment to another account
If switching your card sounds too involved, bunq has an even easier option: moving payments.
If you pay for something from one account, you can later move that payment to another account with just a few taps.
For example, if I buy a present using my everyday account but realise it should come from my partner’s and my shared gifts account, I simply open the transaction, tap “Move”, and select the correct account.
6. Having Round Up to save money while on the go
Alright, saving is hard — but what if you could save without even realising it?
With Auto Round Up, bunq rounds each purchase up to the nearest €1 or €5 and transfers the difference into a savings account.
Those small amounts add up surprisingly quickly. By rounding up to the nearest euro, I saved almost €200 in five months without noticing it.
7. No hidden foreign currency fees with ZeroFX
Nothing ruins a trip abroad like coming home to dozens of small currency conversion charges.
Luckily, that doesn’t matter when you have bunq Pro. With this account, you pay exactly zero hidden currency conversion fees — AND you receive the real Mastercard exchange rate. That rate is almost the same as the one that you see on Google.
There is a 0.50% markup to cover currency fluctuations, but compared to traditional banks, the difference is noticeable. For anyone who travels frequently, it’s a clear win.
Want to bask in these bank features? bunq has a Dutch banking license, and deposits are protected up to €100,000.
It’s almost that time of year again: King’s Day. 🧡 The day to party, drink, buy and sell random things —and forget even the slightest semblance of worry.
King’s Day is the day when the Dutch celebrate the birthday of King Willem-Alexander. But don’t be fooled, this national holiday is not so much about the birthday of the King.
Instead, it’s much more about wearing orange, drinking stupid amounts of alcohol and roaming the streets of your favourite Dutch city.
New to this favourite of Dutch traditions? Here are some things you can do that’ll catapult you at least ten steps forward in your inburgering (integration) process to become a true Dutchie.
How many orange hats can you count in this picture? Image: Depositphotos
1. Attend Festivals
Well, let’s get one of the most obvious to-dos out of the way, shall we? It doesn’t matter where you are in the Netherlands, there’s always going to be a King’s Day festival within a comfortable travelling distance. (And by ‘comfortable’ I mean an overly packed train and an incessant stream of hour-long delays.)
While almost any venue will be hosting a King’s Day event, it’s the annual festivals that boast the biggest parties. Most festivals focus on music genres like house and techno, but if you’re looking to party the Dutch way, then it’s an ideal way to let loose.
There are dozens of options when it comes to festival choice, so just get your groove on and find a festival in your area!
2. Visit flea markets
Not feeling the festival vibe? Make sure to check out the King’s Day flea markets! It’s the one day of the year that the ban on free trade is lifted, and so everyone sets up their own makeshift shops and begins to haggle mercilessly with everyone else in sight.
Why? Because we’re Dutch and we like a ‘good’ deal. And so, we will shamelessly spend half an hour trying to convince our neighbours to cut 20 cents off the asking price of their third-hand copy of a useless Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban DVD.
So, if you’re in need of some useless old crap or need to get rid of some, the King’s Day flea markets are the place to be.
Most cities will have a number of centres where the newly-christened merchants set up more densely, but it’s not uncommon to see them spread all throughout urban areas.
From homemade treats to second-hand books and hidden treasures — you can really buy anything on King’s Day fleamarkets! Image: Depositphotos
3. Witness royalty
For those wondering what the King actually does on King’s Day, wonder no longer. Each year, the King visits a different city where he parades around with his family, and everyone can come together to celebrate with the monarch himself.
In the past, King Willem-Alexander has visited De Rijp, Amstelveen, Dordrecht, Rotterdam and Tilburg. This year, the Frisian town of Dokkum is the lucky host.
The royal walkthrough begins at the Bonifatiuskapel, with Friesian horses accompanying the group to the start of the route while singer Elske DeWall performs. This will be the first time the royals have celebrated King’s Day in Friesland in 18 years.
The Dutch King and Queen at a King’s Day parade. Image: Depositphotos
4. Drink beer
There’s not much explanation needed for this. While the weather on any Dutch day is excuse enough to resort to beer drinking, King’s Day is truly a special day for the nation’s favourite alcoholic beverage.
It might also just be the most popular thing to do on King’s Day. While public drunkenness is regularly frowned upon, King’s Day makes the practice entirely acceptable, or at least tolerable.
I’m not saying you should start day drinking, but if there’s ever a day for it, King’s Day is that day.
If nothing else, King’s Day is the country’s biggest annual party in the Netherlands — and it wouldn’t be a Dutch party without a bit (read, a lot) of beer.
What other way to truly celebrate without beer drinking? Cheers! Image: Freepik
5. Do nothing
And if you’re not into doing any of the activities above, just do nothing. No one can stop you. It’s King’s Day. No one can force you to work (unless, of course, you’re helping to facilitate the aforementioned activities).
Listen, I know that there are worse things in the world, but let me rant for a second. If you’re a woman in Amsterdam with a full bladder, good luck.
And if you’re a woman with a full bladder on King’s Day, prepare to get swindled.
Ok, let’s set the scene
I’ve just left a friend’s house. There’s a big group of us, I’m four drinks deep, and we have a thirty-minute journey ahead of us.
Naturally, about 10 minutes in, the need to pee hits a few of us.
For the men in the group, the solution was simple — they could saunter up to one of the hundreds of urinals the city had set up for them and relieve themselves.
For those of us without a penis, however, it was a dilemma.
After a few minutes of hunting, we found our oasis in the desert: someone had opened up their garage-turned-art-studio and was offering up their toilet.
But, of course, it was going to cost us €4 per person to use it. €5 if we also bought a drink.
While we made sure to haggle the price down to €4 for both the use of the toilet and the drink, I still felt cheated.
Regardless of whether or not we took a drink, our innocent bathroom break left me faced with a random man holding a €16 Tikkie request (I was paying for four of us).
No penis? We can charge you
When my friend told this man that she thought €4 was too much to be charging to use his toilet, he shrugged and said, “I think it’s reasonable.”
And it could be seen that way. There were many other people offering their toilets for a casual €4, so that seems to have been the average King’s-Day-piss rate.
In fact, I even saw one person charging €6 for the use of their toilet — so we had a good deal, right?
I’m not alone in facing this issue. Women have been calling out cities across the Netherlands for their lack of female-friendly public toilets, Amsterdam specifically.
A win for urination equality — kind of
Thankfully, I’m not the only woman to be slightly pissed by the lack of public spaces for me to, well, piss.
In 2015, one Dutch student, Geerte Piening, was faced with a dilemma that almost every woman in Amsterdam has experienced: she had to pee, but there was no public space open for her to go.
She was left with no option but to squat in an alley and was slapped with a €140 fine as a result.
Instead of coughing up the cash, Piening decided to take her case to the court. After all, what was she supposed to do? Grow a third leg?
Technically, this was the court’s answer to the issue: with the judge ruling that her fine was justified because she should have just gone in a male urinal.
So yes, she just needed to whip out her penis — because how else is a woman meant to use a urinal?
The court’s findings didn’t have the desired effect, with women taking to the streets of Amsterdam to protest by, among other things, urinating en masse.
Women! We’re getting toilets!
While the judge didn’t rule in Piening’s favour, the absolute chaos that followed the ruling has led to a win for women.
In 2024, the city of Amsterdam finally agreed to offer more women-friendly public toilets, announcing that they would invest €4 million in creating more public toilets for those of us who lack a penis.
