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What it’s really like to be an expat in the Netherlands: a Twitter thread

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
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6
What it’s really like to be an expat in the Netherlands: a Twitter thread

What’s it really like to be an expat in the Netherlands? Are you welcomed with open arms to the land of the tall, or shunned for being different?

Despite the Dutch’s typically overwhelmingly liberal and tolerant attitudes (to drugs, sexual orientation, and religion to name a few), attitudes towards foreigners can sometimes leave much to be desired.

With huge amounts of people moving to Holland, life for expats must be pretty good, right? Well, maybe not. How the Dutch are Different author Ben Coates once caused a Twitter-storm when he answered that question based on his own experiences.

Spoiler alert: he was brave enough. In fact, he unleashed the beast of just what it’s like to live as a foreigner in the Netherlands, from his perspective — as a foreigner living in the Netherlands. Can’t argue with experience, right?

Coates started off with a few compliments. In management speak that’s called a “feedback sandwich.” In normal-talk, we call that “I like you — buuuuuut.”

And here’s the but.

Ouch! That’s a mighty big ‘but’, and we cannot lie. We know that living in the Netherlands isn’t all tulips, bikes and sunshine (the last one for sure), but Coates does bring up a pretty solid point about how the Dutch act:

Wait a second, this is a white male criticising his host country that he’s so fortunate to live in! Get out the pitchforks, the permanent markers and the angry…oh, he knows it. Good on ya Ben!

Keyboard warriors are the worst. There’s something about hiding behind the mass of technology that is the internet that lets people think they can say whatever they want — with no consequences.

He’s definitely got a point. Without going into the expat versus immigrant debate (because that’s a whole other can of worms), we already know that Dutch directness can get pretty unpleasant sometimes.

For Coates, a recognised expert on living in the Netherlands as a foreigner, he says the attackers are not limited to a minority, which is particularly concerning.

According to Coates, Dutchies tend to measure the behaviour of all foreigners by the actions of just a few. Coates argues that most expats in the Netherlands actually do attempt to integrate themselves into Dutch culture.

Obviously, as a bunch of expats running a website targeted towards expats we could be a little biased in supporting Coates — but, we think he does make a valid point.

So did he unleash the full dragon of Dutch Directness? Or did Dutchie’s come to him with open arms, tears in their eyes, and say “Het spijt me”? Well, a lot of both to be honest.

On the one hand, quite a few Dutchies and ex-pats came out of the woodwork to agree with Coates. It opened up lines of communication, and a lot of Dutchie’s actually came out in support of Coates.

Some other expats also joined in with some examples of xenophobia they experienced while living in the Netherlands.

But, this is Twitter, and of course, some Dutchie’s didn’t quite agree with Coates’s thoughts on his new country.

And, of course some people took it a little too far (although perhaps helped prove Coates’s point along the way? (P.S. Language warning for the screenshots in the following Tweet)

As expats, it’s always concerning for us to hear that our own are being mistreated; and we’ve been subjected to the wrath of Dutch directness once or twice before.

What’s it really like to be an expat in the Netherlands? We’ve asked our readers

We opened up the question to our own Facebook group (get over here and join if you haven’t already!) and thankfully none of our members had experienced much hate.

“They treat me like one of their own,” said Marie, who says she’s made herself at home in the Netherlands. “Frustrations? When they hear a *hint* of an accent they switch to English. This happens me less where I live and more in De Randstad.”

Switching to English is one of the more common woes among group members. However, many reported only good things.

“I love it. Feels like home most of the days,” said Liana. “Dutch people: super sweet, honest and kind. They are the best.”

Whew! While Ben Coates’s experiences are certainly not limited just to him, it’s a relief to know that it’s primarily keyboard warriors who are giving the Dutch a bad name.

What have been your experiences of living in the Netherlands as an expat? Have you found Dutch people to be welcoming, or downright standoffish? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below! 

Feature Image: Ben Coates/Twitter
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in December 2019, and was fully updated in November 2020 for your reading pleasure. 

Public transport cuts 10% of scheduled trips

Emily Burger
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0
Public transport cuts 10% of scheduled trips

The coronavirus has put severe pressure on the public transport companies in the Netherlands. As a result, OV-NL has announced that they will be cutting 10% of the existing time table.

The number of people travelling dropped tremendously this year, hitting the finances of OV-NL hard, reports RTL Nieuws. During the first wave, 80-90% of passengers had disappeared, and currently 35-40% are staying away from public transport.

“We get 1.5 billion in compensation from the government, but we are still making a loss of 500 million euros,” chairman of OV-NL Pedro Peters says. “Corona makes it a worthless year. We have to compensate for that by cutting our timetable.”

Where will there be cuts?

The effect on timetables around the country will not be the same in all places. “How much less public transport there is differs per province. But nationally it is on average 10 percent less,” Peters explained. This will include busses, trams and trains.

For example, the bus from Nieuw-Vennep to the heart of Amsterdam via Schiphol currently runs 12 times an hour. This will be cut to eight. The metro on the North/South line in Amsterdam will run six times an hour instead of eight.

Regardless of how the corona pandemic goes, OV-NL will maintain these cuts until at least July 1, 2020 in order to recover financially.

What does this mean for travellers?

Peters emphasised that only the frequency of public transport will be decreased, and no routes will be cut except for a few night busses which have already been cancelled for some time. But of course, a lower frequcency means passengers may have “to wait longer for their train or bus on some routes,” says Peters.

Public Safety

Peters expressed that travellers generally behave well and follow the corona measures whilst using public transport. “There is a small group of people who ruin it for the rest. Every now and then there are incidents with, for example, travelers who do not want to wear a mouth mask.”

Conductors and Boas are especially strict with the mouth mask rule, which has been mandatory on public transport since June. “Every week we hand out hundreds of fines for people who don’t wear face masks.” The fine for not wearing a mask on public transport is €95.

Will the cuts in public transport affect you? And how will this impact corona safety? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

Image: Maurits90/Wikimedia Commons/CC1.0

Dutch research finds we’re far better at producing COVID-19 antibodies than expected

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
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0
Dutch research finds we’re far better at producing COVID-19 antibodies than expected

Good news on the coronavirus front: research from the RIVM has found our body’s defence system against the virus is better than we thought. Antibodies are stronger and last longer than earlier studies found. 

The research found that six months after infection, antibodies can still be found in the blood of over 90 percent of people infected with COVID-19. That’s also promising for the development of a vaccine.

In the study, the RIVM studied blood samples of more than 6,500 people. While previous studies from blood bank Sanquin found that antibodies decreased quickly, this new research is far more positive.

Different antibodies

The Sanquin study looked at a type of antibody which is the body’s first line of defence against coronavirus. While this antibody does decrease quickly, it’s replaced by other antibodies that provide more protection in the long term, explains researcher Fiona van der Klis of the RIVM.

“We see that the antibody that provides long-term protection remains present for a long time and is actually getting stronger,” she told AD.

Overall, 4.9 percent of the study’s participants were found to have antibodies in their blood — although that number has likely increased now because the blood was drawn in September and October, prior to the second wave’s peak.

However, the study did find major regional differences in who has antibodies. Participants in the North Netherlands had fewer antibodies than those in North Brabant, Limburg, and large cities.

In the study, around 10 percent of young adults (aged 20-35) had antibodies, by the far the most of any age group. Meanwhile, children under 15 had the least.

Researcher Van der Klis says that could be because children have a more active immune system that can respond quickly and adequately to the virus. “But we don’t know exactly how that works.”

Extinction Rebellion to protest Black Friday throughout the Netherlands today

Sarah Fuchs
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Extinction Rebellion to protest Black Friday throughout the Netherlands today

Today, the environmental movement Extinction Rebellion will rebel against Black Friday in Amsterdam city center. Their message is clear: don’t buy, but refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, and rebel.

Extinction Rebellion is the world’s fastest-growing non-violent climate movement. The movement was established in the UK in 2018 but has since spread to 73 countries with 1,138 local groups.

Their goal is to persuade the governments worldwide to act on the climate and ecological emergency.

In a press release published by Extinction Rebellion Netherlands earlier this week, the reasoning behind this Friday’s action is the destruction and CO2 emissions caused by mass consumption of consumer goods and clothing.

According to their statement, roughly 200 million kilos of textile are thrown away in the Netherlands every year.

What is expected today?

The Facebook events advertise guerrilla repair and knitting workshops, education booths on fast fashion, street theatre, and a “toxic systems rave.” The events will start at 11 AM on Spui in Amsterdam and continue throughout the day.

Planning to rebel?

Just bring your circus outfits (obviously), old clothes in need of a repair, and your facemask.

Throughout the Netherlands

While the spotlight will probably be on Amsterdam, protests are also planned in Almere, Castricum, Enschede, Eindhoven, Haarlem, Nijmegen, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and Wageningen. Their goal is universal: end Black Friday.

What do you think of Extinction Rebellion’s efforts? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

Feature Image: Markus Spiske/Unsplash

7 amazing buildings coming to Amsterdam in the near future

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
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2
7 amazing buildings coming to Amsterdam in the near future

With so many people attracted to this wonderful city, Amsterdam is constantly under pressure to expand. For this reason, we can look forward to seven amazing new buildings joining our skyline.

There are massive numbers of people in the city, with 71-million people passing through Schiphol in 2018. With eye-catching hotel buildings, eco-friendly rooftop bars and an increase in the number of residential buildings, these are industrious times for Amsterdam.

(While coronavirus has put a temporary dampener on that, we have no doubts it’s only a matter of time before the masses return!)

Soon Amsterdam will have a veritable buffet of contemporary buildings and eye-candy to add to its skyline. Let’s take a look!

2Amsterdam

sustainability, BREEAM, 2Amsterdam, Buildings, Construction
Photo:©Provast

Amsterdam’s Twin Towers: these two former office blocks are the very definition of same-same, but different. The almost identical tops and the matching glass facades link the buildings together, despite the two towers having different purposes.

The revitalized buildings of 2Amsterdam will boast a semi-public garden, public lobbies, flexible workspaces, premium-quality office space, top restaurants and a four-star hotel with a sky bar. Fancy!

Projected Opening: Q2, 2021

HAUT On The Amstel

sustainability, architecture, buildings, Amsterdam, apartments, Amazing, Future
HAUT shows that sustainability can also be beautiful and comfortable. Photo: Zwartlicht

Reach for the skies is the motto of HAUT. This unique-looking building will soon become the highest wooden residential tower in the Netherlands, standing at 73 metres tall.

This tower is even more jaw-dropping when you find out how exclusive it is. Forget about shoebox apartments: at HAUT each level only has a maximum of three homes, ranging from 100 to 225 square metres.

Of course, one of the things that is turning us absolutely green with envy is the location: Haut is perched on the Marina, overlooking water views that stretch three ways.

Projected Opening: Mid-2021

De Drie Koningen (The Three Kings)

Drie-koningen-buildings-amsterdam
One, two, and three examples of why architecture doesn’t need to be completely new. Image: ©Elephant/Supplied

Three big silos went to the market — and then became completely transformed. De Drie Koningen is an ambitious redevelopment of a former sewage treatment plant into a unique, public space.

The new version will include a children’s play area, wellness, event space and one-room hotel, food lab, brewpub, catering, office spaces and three public roof terraces.

Not enough in love with this development yet? We’ll make it even better — the three silos are named after the three kings: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. How cool is that?!

Projected Opening: Late 2020

Suitsupply in Kop Zuidas

 Dressing well is a stepping stone to new heights — at least, that’s what we think was going through the heads of Danish architectural firm BIG | Bjarke Ingels Group when they designed men’s clothing retailer Suitsupply’s newest head office.

This building made our list because of the totally unique design. Staggered roofs form a staircase down the side of the building, with each “step” a stunning green roof terrace. The building is 58 metres high, and has 16,000 square metres of office space, and room for catering, a photo studio, a flagship store, and parking.

You may not be able to venture to one of these beautiful roof terraces, but if you really want to bask in the beauty you’ll be able to head to the front green area, which is entirely publically accessible.

Projected Opening: Late 2020

IJbaan Cable Cars

The future is bright for an industrious Amsterdam Image: Image: Plompmozes/UNstudio

A cable car stretching across the IJ river could soon be a possibility. While people living on the opposite side of the river currently rely on an overworked ferry system, the IJbaan would ease this congestion.

The plan is for a 1,500 metre long cable car to stretch the distance. Three slender towers will be built by the IJbaan Foundation — a grassroots initiative led by Bas Dekker and Willem Wessels, designed by UNstudio.

Even better, the journey will be quick, and won’t forget those stunning views! The ride will take a maximum of 37 passengers on 4.6 minutes to make the trip, running at 21.6 kilometres an hour. We think this one is sure to be a favourite for the tourists in Amsterdam.

Projected Opening: 2025

Booking.com HQ

Amazing new buildings in Amsterdam, Booking.com HQ Photo: ©UNStudio

If you haven’t heard of Booking.com, you may have been living under a rock. The travel website is in the process of making a jaw-dropping home base.

Some spaces will be partially open and available to the public (take advantage of them!), for example, the rooftop terrace will be a cool spot for meetings or hang-outs in summer.

Fun fact: the amount of steel that will be used for the construction of the campus is equivalent to half of the Eiffel Tower!

Projected Opening: 2021

Oosterdokseiland

innovation, buildings in Amsterdam, Amazing Buildings, Cool Buildings, Industry, Construction, ODE, Osterdokseisland, Amsterdam
Photo: ©UNStudio

Alright, so maybe it’s not a building, maybe it’s many buildings. There’s not a lot of empty land left in Amsterdam, but Oosterdokseiland is making the most of it — across 225,000 square metres!

This collection of buildings is a hub that will effortlessly blend corporate and social functions. In addition to the Booking.com headquarters above, Oosterdokseiland will play host to TomTom, Vodafone, restaurants, terraces, and a 4-star Hilton Hotel. Oh, and did we mention the super-leuk apartments?

P.S. Oosterdokseiland even has a live stream of the construction taking place (if you’re into that).

 

What do you think of all the buildings soon to be in Amsterdam? Are you a fan of new buildings or old buildings? Leave a comment below!

Thieves are dressing up as delivery men in the Netherlands: here’s what to watch out for

Brin Andrews
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1
Thieves are dressing up as delivery men in the Netherlands: here’s what to watch out for

Several attacks and robberies under the guise of parcel delivery service have taken place this year in the Netherlands. Postal companies offer advice on how to protect yourself.

The number of parcels being delivered these days is tremendous, particularly with the holidays fast approaching. For criminals, this window of opportunity is easily being exploited, according to RTL Nieuws.

Fred van Leer, a TV stylist, was attacked last week in this very manner, by two men who said they had a package for him.

A similar incident occurred in February when a 61-year-old woman was brutally assaulted at her home in Ridderkerk, deceived by a person claiming to be with PostNL.

Again in April in Rijswijk, a resident was detained and robbed by a man posing as a DHL delivery person and his accomplices.

“A uniform is not enough”

Crime journalist Mick van Wely says, “You can hardly arm yourself against this kind of robbery.” He says that the criminals plan the robbery and “it never happens haphazardly.”

Van Wely is cautious when opening the door for deliveries at his own home. He says you can ask the delivery person to leave the package at the door because “When you open the door, you are already too late.”

“A uniform is not enough. Ask for an order form, identification, ask at home if something has been ordered. If you know all that you can open the door,” says Van Wely.

Postal companies advise

PostNL recommends using track and trace. “We indicate when we will deliver a parcel to you. That is is the best way to know that you are dealing with a parcel deliverer,” a spokesperson for the company tells RTL.

“In addition, it is good to know that we will never ask consumers to make a payment at the door,” the PostNL spokesperson adds.

A DHL spokesperson emphasises to be alert and pay attention to who is at the door, particularly if it isn’t your neighbourhood’s regular delivery person, adding the advice: “As a consumer, you can always ask for an ID, every DHL deliverer has it with them.”

Do you take precautions when opening the door for deliveries? Tell us in the comments below!

Feature image: Terbipics/Pixabay

Illegal brothel: two Utrecht men stand trial, accused of trafficking underage boys

Emily Burger
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0
Illegal brothel: two Utrecht men stand trial, accused of trafficking underage boys

Two men in Utrecht are on trial for human trafficking, exploitation and the abuse of young men, including seven underaged boys. They are suspected of running an illegal brothel from their flat in Overvecht, reports NOS.

Investigations began in 2017 and 2018 when police were tipped off about what seemed to be illegal prostitution taking place at the apartments of Nicolaus L. (60) and Romeo A. (65), just a few miles apart from one another.

When police searched the flats, the suspicions were confirmed. Computers containing large files on hundreds of boys, including photos, information of their age, weight and private details, were discovered in the apartments.

Recruiting the minors

The boys and young men, who often had mental disabilities or came from broken families, were contacted by Romeo A. and Nico L. via WhatsApp or Bullchat. The two men would then have sex with the boys as trial dates. If the trial date was successful, then A. and L. would then arrange customers, payment, and website prostitution profiles for the boys on Boys4U.

Men between 45 and 75 years old would usually pay 150 for a date of two hours, 20% of which went to A. and L., reports RTV Utrecht. They also made videos of the boys.

“Trust in intercourse between adults”

Eleven of the young men have filed a report, seven of which were minors, and their statements will be used by the Public Prosecution Service in the lawsuit. However, the two men have denied recruiting boys for prostitution or exploitation.

According to Nico L. there were indeed men having dates at the apartment regularly, but he was not aware that any of them were underage. But L. did admit to having sex with some of the young men as trial dates.

Romeo A. claims that he was trying to help the young men, whom he says he did not know where minors. Riks Ozinga, who follows the case for RTV Utrecht, Tweeted that Romeo A. had said it was all about “trust in intercourse between adults” and that safety, health and taking precautions were paramount. Romeo A. says he wanted to guide the young men to becoming escorts in a safe manner, which is what they wanted.

Court rule in January

The trial will take place over the next three days, during which a psychological examination of Romeo A. will be revealed, compensations for the young men will be discussed, and the suspects will have their last chance to make a statement. However, with the holidays coming up, the court will only make a final ruling on January 14.

Follow Dutchreview on Facebook for more news.

Image: DutchReview/Canva

Government to consider bringing in a corona app with a “test passport”

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
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0
Government to consider bringing in a corona app with a “test passport”

The Ministry of Health is considering bringing in a new corona app that will help people to book a coronavirus test. The app would then act as a “test passport” for anyone who needs to prove that they have tested negative. 

When asked whether the app would also be used to certify that a person has been vaccinated, the Ministry for Health has not confirmed, telling the NOS, “your questions are premature, all options are still open.”

Commercial testing

At the moment, anyone who requires proof of a negative coronavirus test — for instance, when travelling abroad — is asked to go to a commercial tester.

However, as testing capacity is expected to hugely increase within the coming months, this app may allow users to both book a test and receive a digital certificate stating whether they are negative.

In this way, it would act as a “test passport” for anyone who needs to travel and prove that they have recently tested negative.

The third of its kind

This would be the third coronavirus app to come to the Netherlands. At the moment, the public is making use of the CoronaMelder app, which notifies users when they have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus.

A second app is also expected to arrive within the next few months. The app will help the GGD with contact tracing; those who test positive will be able to enter in their recent contacts.

Not officially announced but help is wanted

While the app has not been officially announced yet, the government has confirmed to the NOS that it is being considered.

An appeal has also been launched by the government, asking that companies lend their staff to the app-developing project. They ask that companies loan their employees to the project free of charge for approximately two months.

This way, the app may become more readily available as no tendering procedure (the process through which work is contracted) is needed.

Would you make use of this app? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Feature Image: StockSnap/Pixabay

OPINION: I grew up in the rape capital of the world. Here’s why the Leiden rape sentence wasn’t enough

Kathryn van den Berg
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0
OPINION: I grew up in the rape capital of the world. Here’s why the Leiden rape sentence wasn’t enough

Having spent all 23 years of my life in South Africa — often dubbed the world’s rape capital — reading that the Leiden man who raped and assaulted students was slapped with only a four-year sentence is devastating.

As a woman in South Africa, being catcalled relentlessly and being approached continuously by men lurking in shadows made hyperawareness not only a necessity, but a habit.

I remember walking to the gym with my sister and trying to conceal pepper spray under my sleeve in case of an attack. Horror stories from friends, peers, and on the news made me feel like none of the preventative measures I was taking were strong enough.

Living in fear

In a survey conducted by the South African Medical Research Council, approximately one in four men who participated admitted to committing rape. The World Population Review published rape statistics by country in 2020, and (no surprise here), South Africa has the recorded highest rate of rape in the world, with 132.4 incidents per 100,000 people. And these are just the incidents that were reported.

These numbers are not an accurate reflection of the severity of the rape crisis in my home country. Ineffective government schemes, overt racial tension, and heightened reality of gender-based violence are just some of the reasons why growing up in South Africa was so hostile. Looking over my shoulder while walking to class at university, or changing plans to arrive safely, were daily occurrences.

These are just some of the attitudes South African women have adopted to try to maintain a semblance of safety: my pepper spray and taser gun, hyper-anxiety and general mistrust of any man on the street are the realities of all South African women. We are bound together by the real threat of becoming another report to add to our country’s high statistic ranking.

The Netherlands fallacy

The constant threat of rape and sexual assault is, naturally, the main reason for me having immigrated to the Netherlands. I thought I’d left the news headlines of the mishandling of rape behind me, but I was clearly wrong.

The fear that women in Leiden experience, and will continue to experience, because of this man is an all too familiar feeling. That I — a native of the world’s rape capital — can relate to this climate of insecurity in Leiden is shocking.

A flag reading “Stop Violence Against Women” flies at Leiden University. Image: Sarah O’Leary

Not only is the sentence of just four years unjust, but how is punishment for rape quantifiable to begin with? How many years will it take the three young women in Leiden, who were subjected to such an act against their will, to recover from this?

Soft punishment

I am not a naïve idealist: I know that crimes of sexual assault and gender-based violence occur in even the safest and most egalitarian societies. I am scathing, though, in my criticism of this conviction.

While a part of me thinks “at least he got caught and is going to jail,” this optimistic view shatters against the handling of this story. That the rapist will be “subject to some restrictions” upon being released from prison is a slap in the face for the victims. By allowing the criminal to remain unnamed, this crime becomes an anonymous one.

Where I’m from, victim-blaming, a corrupt system and the sheer number of reports make South Africa a rapists’ paradise. That the “plus side” of this Leiden sentence is that this individual was simply sentenced is horrific.

Is the bar of justice set that low in this, seemingly progressive, country?

What do you think of the sentence? Tell us your opinion in the comments below. 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of DutchReview.

Feature Image: Eric Ward/Unsplash

A 2020 Thanksgiving in the Netherlands

Brin Andrews
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0
A 2020 Thanksgiving in the Netherlands

Many Americans residing in the Netherlands will be spending this Thanksgiving away from home and family, and that can be tough. But in the spirit of giving thanks, let’s focus on the positives.

Dutch people do celebrate Thanksgiving, in their own way. It’s actually not so different than in the US — an excuse to get together with family and friends for a big meal. But if you’re an American, you can still celebrate like a true Yankee (a derivative of the Dutch Jan Kees, of course). Here are a few ideas for spending this Thanksgiving in the Netherlands:

Go on a scavenger hunt for all the American staples

Turkey, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie — preparing these classic Thanksgiving dishes is absolutely possible, although it will require some extra shopping around. 

A few supplies surprisingly easily found in most grocery stores are stuffing mix, green bean casserole ingredients, and cranberries (although the sauce you’ll have to make yourself).

On the other hand, some basic items like corn syrup (pecan pie) and cocoa powder (countless desserts) can be challenging, though some international stores do stock them. You may find that with certain ingredients like these it’s easiest (and less costly) to turn to an online search or simply change your recipe.

But don’t give up on the elusive canned pumpkin — it may not be commonly stocked on the shelves of many supermarkets, but international stores do tend to carry it around this time of year.

If it’s a turkey you’re after, many butchers are hip with the holiday and stock up on birds. A few great options around Amsterdam are: 

There are many more so check with the butcher nearest you. Turkeys can cost a pretty penny, but if you’re one of the many committed to this tradition, you’ll want to get in quickly as they do tend to sell out. People often preorder way in advance.

For tofurky lovers, get ready for a fun DIY project because the odds of finding that in any freezer around here are slim to none. (But if you do, please let us know).

Have a sleepover at Kimpton de Wit in Amsterdam

If you’re not all about home-cooking, 2020 isn’t really your year. However, there is one excellent option that still allows you to eat outdoors and have a little holiday at the same time. 

At Kimpton de Witt and Celia Amsterdam (the restaurant of the hotel), you can celebrate Thanksgiving in the form of a staycation — great for anyone who wants to get out and still be able to usher in the festive season (in Amsterdam, but hey, trying our best here this year).

At this lovely hotel, you’ll experience what they call a “Californian escape” and spend a night in a beautiful room with your sweetheart, or perhaps your best friend. There’s a wine station that opens at 5:00 PM (till 8) and the evening offers a delicious feast from the new restaurant, Celia, located in the hotel. 

Thanksgiving-turkey
Just a little turkey teaser for what’s in store. Image: Kimpton de Wit

Dinner will be an assortment of both small and large plates for sharing. Your culinary adventure begins with roasted ushi pumpkin and red pepper soup and smoked duck breast with black truffle. As the main course, you’ll be served the classic roasted turkey with thyme and mustard. And to answer your question, yes, there will be pumpkin pie!

Availability: from 26 to 28 November 2020 (so more than 1 night available, but make haste);

Price: € 219 for an overnight stay + Thanksgiving dinner for two people, including parking (so you can travel covid-safe) and breakfast.

Reservations can be made via this page or by calling 020 620 0500.

Participate in Giving Tuesday

Keep up the spirit of generosity by participating in Giving Tuesday. It’s described as as a global generosity movement, and it’s all about inspiring others to do good. 

On December 1, after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you can turn the focus on others by making a contribution to an organisation that’s working for a good cause. The are many Dutch organisations participating in the movement, so you can make contributions that have a direct impact on your own community. 

You can also donate to many organisations working on international development and aid projects. The givingtuesday.nl website makes it easy to look through all the incredible campaigns and find individuals and organisations doing work that matches your own altruistic objectives. 

Monetary donations are always welcome, but for those strapped for cash, there are other ways to participate. Donations of things like coats, blankets, your time, and skills can also make a big difference. So can sharing your story on social media with a #unselfie or #givingtuesday.

Learn about the Dutch-American Thanksgiving connection

The Netherlands does have an actual historical link to the American holiday, believe it or not. A not-so-widely known fact is that the English pilgrims who travelled to the United States on the Mayflower had a nice long stopover in Leiden before making their journey to America. 

The pilgrims had fled religious persecution in England and settled in Leiden, which was the second-biggest city in the Netherlands at the time. They took up jobs in the booming textile industry and spent about 12 years attempting to assimilate while still maintaining their religious beliefs. That proved increasingly difficult so eventually the youngest and fittest set sail for the New World. These pilgrims were, of course, responsible for the first Thanksgiving.

For your holiday reading pleasure, take a look at either of these delightful historical articles on the topic: 

The pilgrims in Leiden: Where were the pilgrims before they sailed to America?

Leiden was key to the origins of Thanksgiving

So while you won’t find a lineup of events or parades, or be able to turkey-hop among large family gatherings, a 2020 Thanksgiving can still be a celebration — a very small, sterile, socially-distanced celebration. And since it looks like other upcoming holidays will have a similar vibe this year, check out our tips for finding some cheer through the end of the year.

Do you have plans to celebrate Thanksgiving? Any other suggestions you can offer for a socially-distanced holiday? Tell us in the comments below!

Feature Image: Karolina Grabowska/Pexels 

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