Another week, a new round of coronavirus numbers and news! Stay inside and keep warm with us while we update you on the latest coronavirus stories and figures from the RIVM.
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Spending so much time at home in isolation can be challenging. For most of us, this is our first experience of being indoors for such a long time, not to mention missing our usual restaurants, theatres, and friends. But there are some great ways to beat home isolation.
Especially for those of us who are usually energetic people, finding some daily activities to do in order to burn off that excess energy, or at least to do something that is useful for yourself, is crucial to keeping semi-sane, as we demonstrate here:
On a serious note, we don’t condone excessive productivity or trying to obsessively better yourself in this period of time. We understand that going through a global pandemic is stressful. Still, we decided to make a list of potential activities you can do at home to help you throughout these coming months.
Spending so much time at home might reveal those little corners in your house that haven’t gotten the attention they deserve. Or maybe you can rearrange your living space in a way that is more fitting for you. Working from home when your home is messy can be difficult.
Why not do some clearing out? You can declutter your living space of things you don’t need and give those corners the love they deserve. After you have thrown away all unnecessary stuff, you can just fill your space with plants; make yourself a living jungle. All that greenery will surely help with your mental wellbeing (and no, we’re not talking about weed — this time).
Obviously, one of the main activities you will be doing at home is working. This is where some cleaning comes into play because minimising the clutter around you will allow you to focus more on the task at hand. This especially applies to your desk.
Besides, when setting up your home work station, make sure it’s somewhere where you can sit comfortably and can access some light (so you can photosynthesise like one of your new plants). And just like you would in an office, if you’re working for eight hours, don’t forget to take a moment every hour just to stand up and stretch a bit.
We know, we know, doing finances can be a bit of a chore. But considering you’re staying at home anyway, you might as well take the time to consider your finances and whether you’re banking on the right bank (see what we did there).
On a serious note, it’s important to get your finances straight, keep track of spending and maybe even save up some money in these uncertain financial times.
Being an expat in the Netherlands can be a complicated ordeal, but thankfully, you do have some great options. If you’re looking for an expat-friendly bank option, check out bunq, which has great customer support in several languages as well as the option to have a Green Card that plants a tree for every 100 euros spent — perfect for those of you who are eco-conscious.
Alternatively, you can check out N26, which has great options when it comes to tracking your spending, so you know when it’s time to pump the brakes on your new takeaway habit. Both banks are digital, so a sign-up is very easy through their apps — you can do it from home.
Watching TV shows and films might be slightly escapist, but hey, no judgement! This seems to be an ideal season for being indoors, grabbing some popcorn and watching those series you’ve had eternally “saved to your list”.
There’s quite a variety of options when it comes to streaming services in the Netherlands. Of course, there’s the classic Netflix, which will come at 7.99 euros a month for one screen. You could also consider the Dutch-bred Netflix called Videoland, which will be slightly more expensive, at 8.99 euros a month.
Whatever you choose, don’t guilt-trip yourself for indulging in some TV. Just remember to incorporate plenty of other activities into your day too. You can find more details of streaming services in the Netherlands here.
If you want to be extra safe during this time and avoid all travel outside, your best option is to order your groceries online.
Many of the main grocery chains, such as Albert Heijn, Jumbo, Coop and Dirk offer great options for ordering your groceries straight to your home, for a fee of around 6 euros.
Do take into consideration that the waiting lists can be quite long — up to two weeks out. It’s best to check around midnight or early in the morning to see if any additional slots have opened up.
For Albert Heijn, you have the option of purchasing their Bezorgbundel, which will give you a dedicated slot every week if you pay for six months or a year. It will also open more slots in general for you to order groceries from AH.
One of the advantages of shopping for groceries online, besides not having to go outside that often, is that you are supporting the store pickers and the delivery riders. The disadvantage is really just a logistic one, namely that you need to plan your groceries up to two weeks in advance.
Especially now when you are working at home, you might have noticed that unless you take initiative, you could be sitting down for eight hours working and then spending the rest of the day also sitting down.
That’s why it’s very important that you move your body to ensure that you continue to stay healthy and fresh, rather than becoming a couch potato. And we get it, the couch can be awfully enticing these days, especially with all the streaming services mentioned above.
Nevertheless, as you don’t want to amplify the back problems you (probably) already have, there are enough online resources to get you going. We definitely recommend doing some yoga, as it will help with stretching and ease off that tension in the muscles. Why not even try a 30-day challenge while you’re at it?
Of course, this is just one potential workout you can do. You could also go for a run (but be warned, you might still risk infection even if you keep your distance). Overall, it’s best to work out, whatever that entails, in the confinement of your home.
This one is probably one of the most important ones. Don’t forget to reach out to your friends. Whether calling them by phone, texting or video-calling, keeping contact with your loved ones will certainly help your state of mind and theirs as well!
And if you fatigue of the usual conversations, there are still plenty of options for a virtual connection. You can try Houseparty, a social app in which you can play interactive games with your friends.
Or you could make up a profile for an online game like chess and geek out with your friends over strategies. Or just play video games if that’s your cup of tea.
This sums up our list of potential activities you can do during the quarantine. And of course, if you just wanna take a day off and be a full-on couch potato, there’s no shame in that. Just take care of your mental wellbeing and try to develop a healthy routine for these strange and trying days.
What other activities have been helping you these days? Let us know in the comments!
Feature Image: Andrew Neel/Pexels
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in April 2020 and was fully updated in December 2020 for your reading pleasure.
Yesterday, 7,134 new daily coronavirus cases were reported by the RIVM. Over the past week, that number has risen sharply. On December 1, the number of daily cases was 4,056 — a 76% rise in new daily infections in just one week.
In the past six days, 36,600 new positive tests were registered — a figure that already exceeds the previous week’s new cases, reports NU.
From November 25 to December 1, the RIVM reported 33,949 positive coronavirus tests.
This afternoon, the RIVM will give its weekly coronavirus update. Today’s figures are expected to contribute to a weekly sum high enough to arguably be considered the “third wave”.
This month's coronavirus figures in the Netherlands:
1st December: 4,056 new infections
2nd December: 4,924
3rd December: 5,632
4th December: 5,921
5th December: 6,577
6th December: 6,814
7th December: 7,134At what point are we allowed to start talking about a third wave? pic.twitter.com/n2SRmIE1D0
— Ben Coates (@bencoates1) December 7, 2020
With the increase in new cases, it’s no surprise that hospitals admissions haven’t slowed either. Ernst Kuipers, chairman of the National Network of Acute Care (LNAZ), says they likely won’t any time soon.
Hospitals are now treating 1,660 coronavirus patients, a total that Kuipers expects to increase in the coming weeks. He doesn’t see much sense in relaxing the measures for Christmas. “I am wary of any form of relaxation when you consider the large number of infections and the influx into hospitals.”
The RIVM explains that the number of new positive tests could perhaps correlate with the new availability of testing for people without complaints.
Since December 1, anyone who receives a notification from the GGD or CoronaMelder app that they’ve been in contact with a person infected with the virus can receive a test.
What do you make of the increase in coronavirus cases? Would you consider this to be a third wave? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
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After a third day in a row of rocketing coronavirus numbers, the Dutch government is reluctant to loosen restrictions too much ahead of the Christmas holidays. Group sizes may be expanded slightly in tonight’s press conference but it seems we can’t hope for much more than that.
In their last press conference, Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Health Minister Hugo de Jonge explained that if numbers went down enough, they might be able to consider opening things up for Christmas. But with the numbers as they are, a source has confirmed to NU.nl that “maybe the group size will be expanded a bit, that’s all there is to it.”
Rutte explained that if infections had dropped to around 3,000 a day, cabinet would have been able to consider looser restrictions, but just yesterday the RIVM reported 7,134 positive tests. As a result, Rutte has already concluded that the Netherlands will not be opening up for Christmas.
This month’s coronavirus figures in the Netherlands:
1st December: 4,056 new infections
2nd December: 4,924
3rd December: 5,632
4th December: 5,921
5th December: 6,577
6th December: 6,814
7th December: 7,134At what point are we allowed to start talking about a third wave? pic.twitter.com/n2SRmIE1D0
— Ben Coates (@bencoates1) December 7, 2020
As the decline in corona numbers appears to have halted, Rutte and De Jonge will have to consider carefully how to deal with the Christmas holidays. When Minister De Jonge first announced the partial lockdown he expressed that it would likely only last until mid-January.
However, De Jonge has recently said that with the numbers as they are, loosening measures in mid-January is unlikely. “You have to assume that it will really take longer.”
In the meantime, an outline is being planned as to what numbers will equate to removing certain restrictions. This is proving to be quite difficult and there are no concrete decisions on this yet.
Although vaccinations are promised to start in the early months of 2021, suppressing the virus during this time will still be heavily dependant on the public sticking to the measures.
Tonight’s press conference is expected to explain that there is no room for relaxation, and that Christmas must be celebrated with caution in order to not initiate a third wave of the coronavirus in the Netherlands.
In fact, stricter measures for the Christmas period are still a possibility, although if cabinet decides to go with this route, the new measures are only expected to be announced in a later press conference.
For now, cabinet is urging people to follow the current measures. Ernst Kuipers, the chairman of the National Acute Care Network (LNAZ), noted that the roads are getting busier.
“I am regularly in traffic jams again. That is a sign that we are going back to work or to the shopping streets”, says Kuipers.
He stressed that while hospitals may be coping now, should the trend increase the health system will be under significant strain in around two weeks. For this reason, he believes loosening restrictions now would be unwise, “no matter how much everyone craves it”.
What do you think of the government’s approach to the Christmas holidays? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Two Polish supermarkets belonging to the Biedronka chain were damaged in separate explosions last night. The first explosion occurred in Aalsmeer and the second was in Heeswijk-Dinther.
At roughly 3 AM last night, the first explosion caused the Aalsmeer supermarket to erupt in flames. The entire shop was burned out, the NOS reports.
In addition to the supermarket, a car went up in flames as well as the apartment located directly above the supermarket, which has now been deemed uninhabitable.
Approximately one hour later, the Heeswijk-Dinther branch of the Polish supermarket chain also suffered an explosion. The facade of the building was blown out and debris was scattered onto the street.
Explosies bij Poolse supermarkten in Heeswijk-Dinther en Aalsmeer https://t.co/noLwzSlkoB via @Telegraaf
— Herman Meijerink (@Boemerang1) December 8, 2020
All residents of the apartment building above the supermarket had to be evacuated. Roughly 20 residents of the apartment building have been told not to return inside their homes for the time being.
The fire department must now ensure that the structural integrity of the entire building has not been affected by the extensive damage to the supermarket.
There have been no reports regarding the cause of the two fires.
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It’s long been known that volunteering in your local community can have a positive impact on you and the community you live in.
Whether you have newly arrived in the Netherlands or have been at home here for longer, by volunteering you can forge links between you and your community, improve your language skills and widen your network.
Volunteer the Hague, NL Cares and Stichting Present are initiatives that help connect willing volunteers with organisations in need.
Volunteer the Hague works to facilitate engagement of internationals with the local community in The Hague and surrounding areas, while NL Cares and Stichting Present have offices in Utrecht, The Hague, Rotterdam and Amsterdam. On the websites of these organisations, local nonprofits can post their vacancies and volunteers can find ways to help.
Last week I spoke with Tetyana Benzeroual, project manager at Volunteer The Hague, to get more insight into volunteering in the Netherlands: what you can do as a volunteer, what volunteering can do for you and how coronavirus has impacted volunteering in the Netherlands.
Tetyana spoke of building a support network in the local community through volunteer activities. This is perhaps especially important for those who have just arrived in the Netherlands. “They need that feeling of belonging somewhere or to something bigger or greater than they are.”
Making real-life connections is valuable and important for all of us, no matter how long we’ve been living in a community.
Volunteering is a practical and rewarding way to connect, or reconnect, with your local community. In fact, we put volunteering at the top of the list in an article on 5 practical ways to be part of your community in the Netherlands.
Alongside the social and health benefits of volunteering, it’s also a great way to boost future career prospects. If you aren’t having much luck on the hunt for a job, why not dedicate some time to a volunteer role?
Often, volunteers already have the skills and expertise organisations need, such as PR or accounting skills. In this way, a volunteer can develop their skillset and add valuable experience to their CV.
And what about the organisations? How do they benefit from the work of volunteers?
Tetyana notes that the organisations looking for volunteers are most often very small, local non-profits who really need support.
Volunteers bring new ways of thinking, creative ideas and a range of useful skills to the organisation.
Even if your Dutch is not yet perfect, there’s no reason to hold back as there are opportunities to volunteer regardless.
Here at DutchReview we’ve got plenty of articles on how to get to grips with Nederlands, and, of course, as a volunteer you will have plenty of opportunities to brush up on language skills while on the job. Fellow volunteers might even be able to help you make sense of Dutch grammar!
It goes without saying that many events have been called off or postponed as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. Nonetheless, there are still many volunteer opportunities out there.
A number of campaigns have been set up to reach those who may be lonely or especially in need of help right now.
Take inspiration from Chilean born Cote Veragua, who has been finding creative ways to spread positivity in Leeuwarden throughout the pandemic.
Have you got a musical talent you’d like to share? Then check out these open air performances, or perhaps you’d rather contribute to this ‘Happy Newsletter’ or use your creativity to write a postcard.
Many organisations are also realising how useful online technology and social media are, meaning there is ample opportunity for tech-savvy volunteers.
So what are you waiting for? Reach out and see where you can offer assistance, there are boundless opportunities to engage with the community, to mobilize yourself for a cause you care about or one that will improve society.
Have you volunteered in the Netherlands before? Tell us about your experience below.
Feature Image: YouXVentures/Unsplash
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in June 2020 and was updated in December 2020 for your reading pleasure.
It is that time of the year when fairy lights twinkle and chocoladeletters enter our shopping baskets. Speaking of chocolate, did you know about its history in the Netherlands? Grab a hot cup (or cold cup, you do you) of Chocomel and gather around children.
As Holland prepares to dress up as winter wonderland, the Dutchies prepare to get all gezillig indoors. The must-haves include pantoffels (if you are Dutch) or fluffy socks (if you aren’t), a hunk of chocolate and warm Chocomel.
Despite being several years older than the legal age for drinking, hot chocolate remains my comfort drink. And now I can wolf down my third cup of chocolate without being judged!
It is amazing how the nondescript cacao bean native to tropical Mesoamerica has made its way into every street in the world. While the word chocolate conjures an image of silky, brown heaven, it wasn’t always the sweet, luscious treat we know today.
The Aztecs and Mayans made a bitter, frothy and spicy drink with it, often laced with hot chili peppers! An idea that probably inspired Lindt and other chocolate makers.
Can you imagine, Switzerland, now the face of luxurious chocolate, once had no idea about its existence?! Come to think of it, the whole of Europe was oblivious to this food of Gods for the longest time. That is until 1500s when the Spanish invaders took back sacks of cacao beans.
There are many theories about how cocoa entered this continent; some say it was a gift, others say Columbus intercepted a ship to sneak a haul of beans, but one thing was for sure — after one taste, Europeans were hungry for it. As other sailors set out to bring home the riches, Spain lost its monopoly over this exotic food.
During the Golden Age, Amsterdam wielding all its power and wealth came in possession of this trade, thereby making chocolate an essential luxury for the Dutch nobles. For a while, chocolate had touched only the lips of aristocrats.
But then, the thrifty Dutch mind worked to cut costs and made this luxury economical. The Van Houten’s, an innovative father-son duo came up with a process rather like a chemical inburgering or ‘Dutching’ of cacao beans. Resulting in the super-rich, extra dark cocoa powder, which has taken the culinary world by storm.
Dutch ingenuity combined with their keen business sense spiraled the port city of Amsterdam into becoming the chocolate capital of continental Europe. And for the longest time, the country minted money through this trade.
Realizing the worth of these exotic cacao fruits, Europeans started to colonize the tropics with Dutch at the forefront, acquiring vast areas of West Indies. In fact, the Dutch were also instrumental in the spread of cacao trees to Asia.
While it is true that the grandeur of the Golden age came at the price of slave lives, Holland today has rebranded itself as the face of sustainability and fair-trading.
Every year something akin to Charlie and the chocolate factory happens in Amsterdam. It is called Chocoa, and is THE event for chocolate lovers, chefs, connoisseurs and traders. Organized in the historic exchange market of Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam, the fair serves to celebrate not only chocolate, but also the faceless farmers who grow them.
So, apart from the microscope, stock market and of course the unnaturally (now natural) orange carrots, the Dutch also owe thanks from the world for making chocolate affordable. The next time you reach for chocolate or hagelslag on korting, think of the Dutch who helped us buy it without burning a hole in our pockets!
Chocolate. Where would we be without it? Did you know about the Dutch’s role in making this delicious dessert? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
Feature Image: Platus/Pixabay.
Following the sudden appearance and disappearance of mysterious metal monoliths in the US, Romania and Colombia, a monolith has been found in the Netherlands.
Walkers in a nature reserve near Oudehorne, Friesland made the surprising discovery on Sunday morning. Unlike the previous monoliths, the structure that has appeared in the Netherlands is not made of a shiny material.
The Dutch organisation for the management of forestries and national reserves, Staatsbosbeheer, tells NU.nl that they have no idea where the construction came from.
Mysterieus monoliet-achtig object duikt op in Fryslân bij Oudehorne https://t.co/OOj2hiWaeM
— Omrop Fryslân NL (@OmropFryslanNL) December 6, 2020
While the appearance of the object is a mystery, a representative for the Staatsbosbeheer tells NU.nl that the arrival of the monolith in the Netherlands is “not a big problem relatively.” The appearance of the object will be extensively examined today.
When asked by AD, walkers in the area said they believe the construction is simply a New Year’s Eve stunt. It is believed the monoliths are a reference to similar structures that appear and disappear in the film, 2001: A Space Odyssey.
In A Space Odyssey, the structures are built by unseen extra terrestrial creatures and appear and disappear in different regions of the world.
What do you think of the mysterious monoliths? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Feature Image: mikes.nature.photos/Supplied.
Are you dreeeaming of a whiiite Christmas? Well, the best the Dutch can do right now is rain, with chilly weather entering the Netherlands overnight.
It was hoped that Limburg, in the south of the Netherlands, would already receive some snow last night. However, despite Limburgers best attempts at a snow dance, the region just remained wet and cold.
Regardless, the Dutch meteorological institute KNMI has issued a code yellow warning for slipperiness in the Limburg hills.
In the meantime, residents of the rest of the Netherlands will have to cross their fingers and toes that they’ll get more than just those crippling cold winds that whip through their bodies and a frozen bum from sitting on a wet bike seat.
Temperatures across the Netherlands are even chillier than expected at the moment. While the yearly average is normally around seven degrees, the next few days will only be just above freezing. The mercury may even drop below zero overnight.
Today, it’s raining. But you already knew that, because you probably have windows. What we can tell you is that it will keep raining all day long. A lot of rain. Like, a lot.
“There is a disturbance, which drops a huge bowl of rain in the country of about 20 to 30 millimetres,” explains meteorologist Brian Verhoeven of Buienradar to RTL Nieuws.
From tomorrow, it will be dry until Thursday, says Verhoeven. But don’t get your hopes up, because tomorrow will be the only day we can see real sunshine. “For the rest, the weather is usually grey and grey, really the dark days before Christmas.”
Are you hoping for snow this winter? Tell us in the comments below!
Feature Image: Adrianna Calvo/Pexels
When a Rotterdam family’s Sinterklaas gifts were stolen from their front door, the police didn’t just go after the thief; they made a heartwarming gesture and bought new presents for the children.
On Saturday, a Rotterdam man was celebrating Sinterklaas with his family when he received a text from his parents — they had left some gifts at the front door as a surprise for their grandchildren.
But when the father arrived at the door, the presents were gone.
The Rotterdammer hoped perhaps a neighbour had moved the gift inside to keep them safe but camera footage from a local resident showed that the gifts had indeed been stolen.
The man posted about the incident on Twitter, which quickly received an enormous response.
Wil de meneer die geheel “per ongeluk” de #sinterklaas kado’s van mijn kinderen heeft mee genomen vanaf het schulpplein in #Charlois zo vriendelijk zijn om deze weer terug te brengen. Gewoon even kloppen en hard weg rennen. Zoals het hoort op #pakjesavond pic.twitter.com/4XVEXhzdM2
— jas-of-vestje (@JVestje) December 5, 2020
In English, the Tweet reads: “Would the gentleman who completely ‘accidentally’ #sinterklaas took my children’s gifts from Schulpplein in #Charlois be kind enough to bring it back? Just knock and run away. As it should be on #pakjesavond.”
What happened next was “super sweet,” according to the Rotterdammer. The police caught wind of the Tweet and posted a response in classic Sinterklaas rhyme form.
Op 5/12 was in Charlois een feest, totdat er een boef langs is geweest. De deur ging open en wat een pech, de zak en kado’s waren weg. De politie vond dit naar,en zette een zak met kado’s klaar! En ook al hebben wij nieuwe kado’s gekocht, naar de boef wordt natuurlijk gezocht! pic.twitter.com/7UlodJlZEk
— Politie Charlois (@POL_Charlois) December 6, 2020
The (obviously cuter in Dutch) poem reads: “On December 5, Charlois was a party, until a crook came by. The door opened and what bad luck, the bag and presents were gone. The police thought this was unpleasant, and prepared a bag of gifts! And even though we have bought new gifts, the crook is, of course, searched for!”
The police asked the children what they wanted, and arrived at the Rotterdam home with a bag of gifts: Monopoly Cheaters Edition, Scoubidou strings, and an animal quartet, along with three teddy bears.
“We are absolutely not pathetic or needy, so when they told us about this plan, we said it really wasn’t necessary,” the Rotterdammer explained. “But they really wanted to give something. A very sweet gesture and the children are very happy with it too.”
Many on Twitter have been touched by the kindness as well. “Great how you handled this. Thank you very much,” writes one Twitterer. “I am deeply moved,” says another.
What do you think of this holiday gesture? Tell us in the comments below!
Feature Image: Politie
