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Long-stays in Amsterdam: hotels you can call home

Brin Andrews
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Long-stays in Amsterdam: hotels you can call home

More and more, hotels and hostels in Amsterdam are offering their guests long-stay options at lower rates. It’s great news for anyone who’s moving house, on a temporary work assignment, or having a nice long holiday.

Seeing as many of our dear readers often fit into those very categories, we wanted to find out more. So we learned all about this new shift toward more affordable temporary housing, and we’re excited — we think you will be too.

Long-stays: a new trend in Amsterdam

Anyone who has lived in Amsterdam has experienced the challenging house-hunting and moving process. Finding the right home in the right neighbourhood at the right price can be an overwhelming and drawn-out process, not to mention the chore of the physical move itself.

In fact, moving house is frequently listed as one the top most stressful experiences a person can go through in life, right up there with divorce and the death of a loved one. It’s hard! 

One thing that can make a world of difference is having a comfortable place to stay while you’re getting the details sorted. This is where long-stay hotel options and short-stay apartments in Amsterdam can be your golden ticket. 

What to look for in long-stay accommodation in Amsterdam

While you’re shopping around for the right short-term home, there are just a few important questions you’ll want to ask yourself. 

  • Location
    • Do you want to be centrally located, close to public transportation, near the neighbourhood where you hope to live, or a new part of the city you want to explore?
  • Affordability 
    • What’s your budget? Would you rather spend a bit more for your creature comforts, or is it more important to save money and live simply?
  • Amenities
    • Will you need parking? Are you hoping for a gym? Do you want to fully unpack into a closet or are you comfortable living out of a suitcase? Think about what you can and can’t live without for a month or two.

The beautiful thing is that this isn’t your long-term home, so there’s no need to agonize over the details. If you find a place that ticks these boxes, you should be all set. Just go with your gut and don’t look back.

The best long-stay options in Amsterdam

With help from our friends at a few wonderful extended-stay accommodations, we’re excited to bring you a handful of local options that we absolutely adore, with a little something for everyone.

Aparthotel Adagio

The Aparthotel Adagio Amsterdam City South is located Amstelveen, not far from the Amsterdamse Bos and Amstel Park. The quiet, safe little neighbourhood is easily accessible by public transportation and it’s just a quick tram ride from Amsterdam Zuidas (the main business district). Parking your car is easy too (a rare find).

The beautiful four-star Aparthotel Adagio is an excellent choice for business travellers or people moving to the city who want to experience a home away from home. Solo travellers can enjoy the roomy 52-square metre Superior Studio, while the whopping 123-square metre two-bedroom apartments comfortably sleep a family of four (and include a gorgeous top-floor terrace).

Each apartment has a fully-equipped kitchen and separate living area, which is ideal for long-stays. A few more great perks include free use of fitness facilities, smart TV, laundry facilities, and weekly housekeeping.

Rates

  • Long-stays benefit from a discount of up to 40% off regular rates.
  • Prices start from €89 per night for a studio apartment, based on a minimum stay of 28 nights.

How to book

Head over to Aparthotel Adagio Amsterdam City South to take advantage of these great offers!

ClinkNOORD Hostel

ClinkNOORD Hostel is an excellent, budget-friendly option for folks new to the city. The fantastic location in hip Amsterdam Noord gives you easy access to all the city centre has to offer, without the hustle and bustle of it.

Many great restaurants, cafes, bars, and museums are within close walking distance, and a free, five-minute ferry takes you right to Amsterdam Centraal. 

Room choices range from a basic dorm with a shared bathroom to a private “Ultimate Study Suite,” perfect for people working or studying from home. A large, shared kitchen allows you to cook all your favourite meals, and an on-site cafe and bar mean there’s delicious hot food and cool refreshing drinks available when you feel more like taking it easy.

Another big bonus: if you stay for three months, ClinkNOORD will even help you register in the Netherlands.

Long-stay rates

  • Four-person dorms at ClinkNOORD start at €340 per month and private rooms begin at €750 per month.
  • Long-stay guests also receive 50% off all food and 15% off drinks, as well as a range of exclusive local discounts.

How to book

Head over to ClinkNOORD’s website!

Zoku

Whether you’re in Amsterdam for business, home, or holiday, Zoku’s ultra-chic lofts are an incredible option. For people new to the city, the convenient location in the heart of Amsterdam is great for getting oriented, and the inviting social spaces make it easy to build new connections.

Zoku is all about comfort, style, and convenience. The aparthotel offers intelligently designed spaces that you can personalise to your own tastes — even to the degree of selecting your favourite artwork for the walls.

The home-office hybrid lofts offer a relaxed environment for all your work-from-home needs. The lovely apartments are large enough to entertain guests and equipped with all the amenities you could hope for. You can prepare meals in your own kitchen, or enjoy delicious food and drinks with a view from Zoku’s Living Kitchen.

Rates

  • Extended-stay rates with a one-week minimum start at €84 per night.

How to book

Get this deal on Zoku’s website.

Wittenberg Aparthotel

The historic Wittenberg is a lovely boutique aparthotel located in the Plantage neighbourhood, a peaceful area just east of the city centre. This dreamy, quiet location is conveniently close to all the action in Amsterdam and has easy metro access. 

Wittenberg’s modern, fully-furnished apartments will have you feeling at home right away. A full kitchen, washing machine, and Apple TV are just a few of the amenities that make your life easier. With apartments ranging from studio size to three-bedroom, it’s a great choice for individuals, couples, and families. 

Working professionals are in luck; some apartments have a separate office, where you can close the door and get right down to work. For those who prefer to get down to business outside the home, a welcoming community working space is available, espresso and all.

Rates

  • Apartments begin at €85 per night, with a minimum stay of seven nights.
  • Plus, plenty of partnerships with local businesses means you’ll get discounts around the neighbourhood.

How to book

You can score a room at Wittenberg on their website!
Coronavirus note: Each of the accommodations listed is taking precautions to ensure a COVID-19-safe atmosphere. They maintain the highest standards of cleanliness, appropriate social distancing measures, and have reduced occupancy.

Why opt for extended-stay accommodations? 

Settling into a temporary home while you’re transitioning to your permanent home is all about making your life easier, particularly if you’re moving from abroad. It alleviates the pressure of rushing into an apartment you don’t really love, just because you need something fast.

Now that more hotels are meeting this need, there are more affordable options for a range of budgets. There’s no sense in paying a high nightly rate at a hotel, wishfully thinking you’ll luck out and find your dream home right away. It’s much less stressful to take comfort in a short-term landing pad while you grapple with the reality of Amsterdam’s difficult housing market. 

Plus, throw in this year’s coronavirus pandemic, and moving has an extra layer of complexity. You may have a slower time finding available real estate agents or properties, viewings may be complicated due to social distancing measures, and if you’re working from home, good luck managing all the live-in moving distractions. 

But while it may be extra challenging to move during this time, it may also be necessary. That’s when long-stay accommodations are key, especially in a city like Amsterdam. You’ll have a peaceful little oasis, separate from the relocation drama.

Short-stay, long-stay, extended-stay — what’s the difference?

Strangely, the terms “short-stay” or “long-stay,” are generally referring to the same thing. The difference tends to be in the business that’s offering it. For example, an apartment complex may refer to a one-month stay with the term “short-stay” to differentiate from the longer leases they normally offer.

Conversely, a hotel will probably describe a stay that’s longer than a week with the term “long-stay” or “extended-stay” because their guests typically only come for a quick visit. There’s no hard rule — the businesses are simply using terms that will make the most sense to their audience. 

Good to know when moving to Amsterdam 

When moving to Amsterdam, it’s a good idea to hope for the best while you plan for the worst — it can be tricky. But there’s a lot you can do to make it easier on yourself — like getting to know the city from a long-stay hotel before having to sign a long-term lease. 

If you’re planning to stay in Amsterdam for an extended period, you may be interested in choosing the right neighbourhood, how to get a mortgage, and how to register in the Netherlands.

Have you stayed at an extended-stay hotel, or do you plan to? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!

Feature Image: Burst/Pexels 

Netherlands announces first coronavirus vaccinations begin January 8: here’s who is first

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
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Netherlands announces first coronavirus vaccinations begin January 8: here’s who is first

The first Dutch coronavirus vaccination will be administered on Friday, January 8, according to a parliamentary letter from Minister of Health Hugo de Jonge. 

However, the long-awaited vaccination process will only begin if the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine is approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) next week.

Employees of nursing homes, carers for the disabled, community nurses and Social Support Act workers will be the first to be invited to receive the vaccination. They’ll receive an invitation and can then make an appointment by telephone. Later, appointments will be able to be made online.

READ MORE | Rewarded for taking the vaccine, or punished for not? Here’s what the Dutch think

Preparations underway

The vaccinations will be administered at three GGD locations no later than Monday, January 11. From Monday, January 18, there will be 25 central locations in the Netherlands that can administer the vaccine.

The BioNTech/Pfizer requires two separate injections, given three weeks apart. From the start, vaccinations will be given seven days a week across extended opening hours.

The first half a million doses of the vaccine are expected to be delivered this year.

READ NEXT | Dutch cabinet expects nearly 22 million vaccines in the first half of 2021

Netherlands falls behind

The Netherlands has been criticised for its slow vaccine process, particularly compared to neighbours like Germany. However, De Jonge says that a careful, safe, and responsible rollout was a priority.

“Ultimately, the highest possible vaccination coverage is our goal. We will only achieve this if people have confidence in the vaccine and in the vaccination process,” said De Jonge.

Are you planning on taking the vaccine when it is available? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Feature Image: Daniel Schludi/Unsplash

Macron tests positive, Rutte will not go into quarantine following meeting at EU Summit

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
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2
Macron tests positive, Rutte will not go into quarantine following meeting at EU Summit

A spokesperson for Rutte has confirmed that the prime minister will not be going into quarantine after French president, Emmanuel Macron’s, positive test for coronavirus.

Whilst Macron and Rutte came into contact at last week’s EU Summit on Thursday, the French president was not contagious at this point, a spokesperson for Rutte has said. For this reason, it will not be necessary for Rutte to quarantine.

Macron is now in quarantine with his wife but he feels well enough to continue working. Rutte took to Twitter to wish the French president a speedy recovery.

Other leaders in quarantine

According to RTL Nieuws, other EU leaders will be quarantining following interactions with the French president.

The Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has decided to go into quarantine following his presence at the EU Summit. The decision was made “as a precaution.”

A person is believed to be contagious with coronavirus approximately 48 to 72 hours before symptoms show.

How do you feel about the Prime Minister’s decision not to quarantine? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below! 

Feature Image: Alexandros Michailidis/Shutterstock.com

Rewarded for taking the vaccine, or punished for not? Here’s what the Dutch think

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
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2
Rewarded for taking the vaccine, or punished for not? Here’s what the Dutch think

You have a goal: you must increase the number of people taking the COVID-19 vaccination. 

Your policy options:
a) people who choose not be vaccinated should have restrictions placed upon them,
b) people who choose to be vaccinated are rewarded with access to more public areas,
c) a balance between ‘a’ and ‘b’

What would you choose?

Of 1,640 Dutch people who took part in a study by TU Delft, RIVM, Erasmus University Rotterdam and Maastricht University, the majority leaned towards options (out of a total nine) that focused on reward over punishment.

Vaccination certificates could be key

Almost three-quarters of the participants were in favour of utilising vaccination certificates to earn access to shops, nursing homes and public transport when there is an outbreak in an area.

“That would mean that in the event of an outbreak in Amsterdam, the pubs could remain open, but only for people with a vaccination certificate,” says researcher Niek Mouter.

Importantly, the participants said that the freedoms for vaccinated people should only take place once everyone has had the opportunity to be vaccinated. Mouter says this will be “Probably sometime in the summer.”

Vaccine confidence

Of the participants in the study, 44 percent said they will definitely take the vaccine, and more than a quarter probably will.

This would be just enough to get coronavirus under control — around 70 percent of the Dutch population must be vaccinated before that happens.

Epidemiologist and behavioral expert Esther Metting told the NOS that the government needs to provide vaccination evidence to convince people to take the jab.

“It must first be clear how effective the vaccine is, to avoid false security of the evidence. Until then, the use of rapid tests may be more reliable.”

Self-imposed restrictions

Of those who said that they are unlikely to take the vaccine, half say that they are in favour of restrictions against unvaccinated people anyway. Mouter calls this remarkable.

“They choose a policy option that limits themselves. Despite the fact that they themselves may suffer from it, they think it is important that the economy can continue to run.”

Which option would you choose? Tell us why in the comments below!

Feature Image: Artem Podrez/Pexels

Dutch man gets dragged out of supermarket for not wearing a mask

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
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Dutch man gets dragged out of supermarket for not wearing a mask

A Dutch man had to be dragged out of a supermarket in Den Helder for refusing to wear a mask and refusing to leave the store. After deciding to sit down on the floor in protest, a security guard had to drag the man out by his legs. 

The incident occured in the Vomar supermarket branch and was recorded by bystanders in the shop. In the video, the man can be seen lying flat on his back as a security man drags him out of the entrance to the store.

The man can be heard shouting “I just want my groceries!” One supermarket employee has to eventually help the security guard to drag the man out the door.

Aggressive

A spokesperson for FBS Security has told the NOS that the events as seen in the video do not tell the complete story. “The customer was asked if he wanted to put on a face mask, but he refused. Then he became aggressive. When the security guard spoke to him about this, he was spat in his face.”

The spokesperson said that the action was necessary given that the safety of other people in the store was being put at risk.

A fine

The security company claims that the security guard called the police to the supermarket once things got out of hand. However, a spokesperson for the police was unable to confirm to the NOS whether police were dispatched to the store.

As a result, it is also unknown whether or not the man was fined for not abiding by coronavirus measures. As of December 1, it is required that people in the Netherlands wear a mask in indoor public spaces.

Controversial

Following the release of the video on social media, the response from the public has been a mixed bag. According to the spokesperson for FBS Security, the guard has received a lot of hate for his actions in the store.

“Such a load of misery has come over him. He has been threatened several times. Again, what you see does not deserve a beauty prize, but at some point you have to intervene.”

In a statement, the Vomar supermarket condemned the security guards actions, saying they were inappropriate and that measures will be taken against the guard.

At the same time, the statement acknowledged that the customer had “misbehaved.”

Shocked by reactions

The security firm stands by the security guards decision to drag the man from the store, saying “it’s not nice what you see, but the situation got so out of hand that the security guard had to intervene.”

The guard himself is said to be shocked by the reactions of the public to his actions and is considering taking action against the man.

What do you think of the security guard’s actions? Do you think they were justified? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Feature Image: De Kapitein/Youtube.

Cycling culture in the Netherlands: to bike or not to bike

Laura Corrigan
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Cycling culture in the Netherlands: to bike or not to bike

To cycle or not to cycle? That is the question. Well, not really. Certainly not for most people in the Netherlands, the world’s most bike-friendly country. And yet somehow it took me two weeks of living here to actually get a bike.

Cycling culture in the Netherlands

While there were always bicycles available they weren’t always within my budget (#studentlife). Not only was life without a bike the ultimate workout, but all the time spent walking also gave me plenty of time to contemplate the pros and cons of bike-life. It also allowed me to really get to grips with the great wheels vs feet debate.

photo-of-dutch-bike-with-cheese-and-clogs
Cycling culture in the Netherlands: will you cycle or not? Image: Thomas Bormaans/Unsplash

The pros of cycling in the Netherlands

  • Everyone else has a bicycle. 
  • People STARE at you wondering how such a peasant came to be when you are walking and not cycling. 
  • Who doesn’t want to be part of that innately Dutch cycling-everywhere thing? 
  • Tote bags are fun when holding free t-shirts, pens and leaflets about all the activities you’ll never sign up for. The fun quickly disappears when these are replaced by (deep breath now) a laptop, charger, notebooks, water, pens, folders, a shopping bag, umbrella, spare jacket, etc. You’ll soon be dreaming of a bike with a basket! 
  • Riding on the back (or front) of someone’s bike is a great way to make friends.  
  • Cycling is simply just faster than walking.  
  • The wind in your hair, cityscapes flashing by – what’s not to adore? 
Moving to the Netherlands to reunite with family
Cycling in the Netherlands is definitely an adjustment. Image: 3194556/Pixabay

The cons of cycling in the Netherlands

  • We had feet before bicycles, right? Relish in the superiority of your own independence and self-sufficiency. 
  • Google Maps is very often more of a hindrance than a help. Now imagine trying to navigate it while cycling. 
  • You know for sure you can always walk. You might think you can always cycle but think again. Traffic lights, pedestrians, bicycles, more bicycles, hand signals, cobbled streets, the triangles on the road indicating whose has the right-of-way – it’s a minefield! 
  • Finding your bike. No further explanation required. A picture speaks a thousand words, and this one is saying ‘Bike, Bike, Bike, Bike, Bike’… 
  • The hassle of locking your bike, chaining it to something secure just to redo it all later. 
  • Losing the keys for the locks and chains – leaving you with no other option than to carry your bike home. Like a FOOL. 
  • De Fietsstewards. They wear bright yellow jackets and stand outside your local supermarkets. Real-life personifications of fear. I’m sure they’re lovely people, but when you see them it means you can’t just park your bike willy-nilly, anywhere you like. No, no, the bike stewards are armed with saddle cover and stickers, ready to mark you as a #FietsHeld if you park correctly and a #FietsAso if not. 
  • The constant paranoia that your bike could become one of the 311 stolen every day. 
  • More paranoia – is this bike you bought through Facebook a stolen bike? What if the original owner steals it back? What if this cheap as chips bike just falls to pieces as I’m cycling? 
  • Cycling while intoxicated – is this even legal?
Girl_bike_netherlands
Image: Pexels/Pixabay

Having lived both as a pedestrian and as a cyclist, I can now say that I stand firmly on the #bikelife side of this debate. Yes, they can be a pain but let’s be real here, life with a bike is simply better.

Do you cycle? Let us know in the comments!

Feature Image: Thomas Bormaans/Unsplash

Editor’s Note: This article was originally written in February 2019 and was fully updated in December 2020 for your reading pleasure.

Dutch designer to introduce an “Urban Sun” that can kill coronavirus particles

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
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Dutch designer to introduce an “Urban Sun” that can kill coronavirus particles

Dutch Designer Daan Roosegaarde, has been working with a team of technicians and experts to create a lighting installation that can kill harmful bacteria and virus particles in the air — coronavirus included.

The light, named the “Urban Sun”, may then be installed in public spaces where people could meet each other in a virus-free environment.

The designer and his team have been working on the creation of the “Urban Sun” for almost a year now and hopes to unveil the first of its kind in January 2021.

Roosegaarde has become quite well known due to a number of previous projects such as the studio’s initiative to recycle space waste and its light installation to commemorate victims of the holocaust.

UV-C light

The “Urban Sun” installation will emit a specific light called UV-C light in the wavelength of 222nm. This is a wavelength that is not dangerous for humans, however, studies have found that this type of light can kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses in the air.

A slightly higher wavelength of UV-C light is currently used as a disinfectant for objects and rooms however, this is too dangerous for humans and therefore cannot be used in public spaces with people.

With Roosegarde’s design, a lower wavelength means that the light will be safe to use in spaces where people gather.

Safe environment

“Our Urban Sun inspires safer social encounters, and makes public spaces cleaner from the coronavirus to bring human well-being” Studio Roosegaarde writes on their website.

The studio has not announced when exactly the instillation will become available or where it will be first installed although the promotion video suggests that it may be used in both indoor and outdoor public spaces.

Are you excited about the “Urban Sun”? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! 

Feature Image: Studio Roosegaarde/Press release.

The Dutch’s most Googled questions of 2020

Kathryn van den Berg
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The Dutch’s most Googled questions of 2020

Having spent more time indoors in response to the coronavirus measures, the Dutch, like the rest of the world, have naturally had some extra time on their hands. It is no surprise, then, that certain Google searches, questions and trends have dominated the internet during this bizarre year.

While 80% of Dutch Google searches were coronavirus-related, more specialised questions like “wat is een lockdown” also featured strongly, according to the Google trends’ “Year in Search 2020” release.

In an attempt to expand their worldview, learn something new or satisfy their curiosity, the Dutch also spent time asking Google less pandemic-related questions.

Below is a countdown of the 10 questions most asked by the Dutch from Google’s ‘Year in Search 2020’ results.

Waarom werd George Floyd gearresteerd?

Why was George Floyd arrested?

For two weeks at the end of May 2020, international interest in the arrest and subsequent death of George Floyd in America captured Dutch attention. Those living in Utrecht had a particularly strong interest in this news as data shows that this region asked about Floyd the most. 

Waarom worden nertsen gefokt?

photo-of-minks-most-Googled-questions-Dutch-2020
Good question. Image: Jo Anne McArthur/Unsplash.

Why are minks bred?

At the same time as interest in George Floyd captivated (mostly Utrecht) Dutch, regions like Limburg were more engrossed in the breeding of minks.

While the interest is understandable (what with minks being cute, dark-coloured semi-aquatic mammals with sweet faces), the popularity of this search is a rather strange leap from concerns of the unrest in America happening at the same time.

Although it may be contributed to the worrying contraction of coronavirus in a North Brabant mink farm, which in turn led to a 2021 ban on mink farming in the Netherlands. 

Waarom zijn luiaards traag?

Why are sloths slow?

Again with the animal infatuation! Although delight in the phenomena of a sloth’s movements is a fair concern for many animal-lovers, this frequently asked question dominated Gelderland and North Holland’s Google searches from April 5-11. Unusual, indeed.

Waarom speelt Ajax met rouwband?

Why is Ajax playing with a mourning band?

Something happened between the 18th and 24th of October with the much-loved and successful Dutch Football club, AFC Ajax. The footballers wore mourning bands around their arms in the game in respect and reflection of the death of Dutch association football coach, Tonny Bruins Slot.

Bruins Slot, who had been suffering from health problems, died on November 1 2020 at the age 73. This explains the AFC Ajax team wearing mourning bands during their game on November 3 against FC Midtjylland in the Champions League.

Waarom zijn er zoveel (COVID-19) doden in Italië?

Why are there so many (COVID-19) deaths in Italy?

In March, interest in the coronavirus-related deaths in Italy was a concern to many Dutch, mostly because of the early lockdown measures in Italy. 

According to WHO statistics, the Coronavirus deaths in Italy increased by more than nine times in ten days, from 366 on March 8 to more than 5,400 on March. No wonder the Dutch were concerned, scary stuff indeed!

Waarom is de lucht blauw?

A very wholesome question. Image: Skitterphoto/Pexels

Why is the Sky blue?

Ah, the familiar question asked by children everywhere!

North Brabant had a particularly strong investment in this answer, and trends show that this search has dominated google (and continues to do so) since January! 

Waarom heet het coronavirus?

Why is it called Coronavirus?

Fair question indeed and at number four on the Dutch’s most Googled questions. This question ruled the web in March 2020, particularly in North Holland and Overijssel. According to the CDC, in COVID-19, ‘CO’ stands for ‘corona,’ ‘VI’ for ‘virus,’ and ‘D’ for the disease. 

Waarom hangt de vlag uit vandaag?

Why is the flag flying today?

This question was asked the most during the 12 – 18 of April. This could be in preparation for the celebration of the upcoming birthday of His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, who was born on April 27 1967. 

Waarom hamsteren we WC-papier?

Why [do people] hoard toilet paper?

As the runner-up to the most searched question in the Netherlands on google in 2020, this question is a very valid one! From March 8 – 14, the Dutch (and indeed, the whole world!) must have been very curious as to why toilet paper was going out of stock so quickly. The choice of hoarding toilet paper, as opposed to food and perishables, remains a peculiar one!

Waarom zijn cornflakes uitgevonden?

photo-of-cornflakes-most-Googled-questions-Netherlands-2020
Cornflakes??? Image: Calum Lewis/Unsplash

Why were cornflakes invented?

You have to love the Dutch! If the result of the most Googled question in 2020 didn’t make you laugh, what will?! 

In the midst of an international pandemic, political and economic uncertainty and unprecedented government-mandated lockdowns, the Dutch were obviously very concerned with the reason for the existence of cornflakes. Towards the end of 2020, interest in the pandemic must have been wavering, because most of the country decided to ask Google about cornflakes, of all things! 

So there you go: the most Googled questions in 2020 are bound to cheer you up and restore your faith in the ever-surprising Dutch nation.

Were you surprised by any of these questions? What would you add to the list? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below! 

Feature Image: Javier Mazzeo/Unsplash

Leiden students trailblaze the medical world with their new disease test

Emily Burger
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Leiden students trailblaze the medical world with their new disease test

A group of Leiden University students, our very own neighbours here at PLNT, just won an award for their new disease detection system! 

The detection kit, inspired by the coronavirus pandemic, can be adapted to test for multiple respiratory diseases. Should their design go into mass production, a base kit could be on standby world-wide if another pandemic were to ever break out (but don’t get any ideas 2021). This would completely change the way we deal with future pandemics on a global scale.

Well done neighbours for winning the iGem (International Genetically Engineered Machine) award! This is an international competition, originating from MIT, for students who use synthetic biology to create new products and services in the environmental and health spheres.

READ MORE ︱PLNT Leiden — the spot for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (and DutchReviews’ homebase!)

How does the detection kit work?

The best thing about this test kit is that it’s fast — you can have a positive or negative result for a disease within an hour. All it takes is a simple nasal swab, explained Biomedical Science student Amber Schonk.

But the students’ design can act as a base for all kinds of disease tests. Lucy Chong explained that the kit can be adjusted for diseases which require blood and saliva samples too. But for now, they’re focusing on respiratory diseases which, as we have seen with the coronavirus, spread much quicker.

The fundamental importance of such a base kit is the time it saves us when it comes to containing the virus in the early stages of its spread. Rather than building new test kits from scratch for every new disease that pops up, this on-hand kit can quickly be adjusted to detect new viruses before they spread too far.

A diagram of the device. Image: Leiden University Students/Supplied

The speed of the test comes down to an all-together new way of approaching disease tests. Rather than detecting the antibodies that our bodies produce in reaction to a virus, this kit detects the DNA of the virus itself. Since it can take time for our bodies to react to an infection, by detecting the virus’ DNA instead, this allows for much faster results.

How the coronavirus inspired their project

The Leiden-based students were deciding on projects to pursue around February this year, just as the coronavirus was spreading. Rather than trying to compete with large global companies that would be creating tests for the coronavirus, the students saw a more long-term gap that they could help fill. Seeing that the key to stopping a pandemic in its early stages was speedy testing, they developed an idea that would help better prepare our world for future pandemics.

READ MORE ︱City of knowledge! Why Leiden might just be the smartest city of the Netherlands

What happens next?

Winning this award is certainly not the end of the students’ journey, nor does it guarantee that the project will be realized on a practical level. The team will soon be meeting with experts on diagnostics to improve upon their current model, and are looking into developing the hardware of the device, explained Tim van den Akker. If all goes well, the team hopes to have a physical product ready that can be distributed globally.

What do you make of these students’ achievements? Let us know in the comments below.

Feature Image: Leiden University students/Supplied

The Netherlands falls behind as Germany begins to vaccinate against coronavirus over Christmas

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
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2
The Netherlands falls behind as Germany begins to vaccinate against coronavirus over Christmas

The Netherlands is falling behind in the race to vaccinate when compared with its neighbour, Germany. Whilst Germans will begin to receive their vaccinations the day after Christmas, Dutch residents could be waiting a while longer.

Germany began setting up a coronavirus vaccination plan for its residents back in November with the “National Imf Strategy.” However, in the Netherlands, a vaccination plan — if there is any — will not become available to the public until next week.

Dutch hesitance

When speaking with RTL Nieuws, Hanco Jürgens of the German Institute of the University of Amsterdam described the Dutch approach to the vaccination process as more “hesitant.” He went on to say that the difference in timing between the two countries is quite large.

“It will certainly be in order in the Netherlands by March, when mass vaccinations can really take place. But the difference between Germany and the Netherlands at the moment is really a bit unbelievable.”

Mass vaccination centres

As part of the process of getting ready to roll out coronavirus vaccines, Germany developed a plan back in November with a division of tasks between the sixteen federal states. Part of this plan involved the construction of “sixty centers with cooling systems from which the vaccines will be distributed” Jürgens said.

He does not find the prospect of a similar response by the Netherlands to be promising.”It may also be in order in the Netherlands, but we don’t know. I find that worrisome. Especially when we look at how things went with the test streets, for example.”

De Jonge vs Merkel

Jürgen goes on to compare Health Minister Hugo De Jonge and the German Chancellor Angela Merkel. De Jonge has emphasised the need to be careful when approaching a plan to vaccinate the Netherlands.

“In the Netherlands, Minister Hugo de Jonge of Public Health and the GGDs say that carefulness is more important than haste. But in Germany, care and haste are almost two sides of the same coin.”

Germany in better shape

With so much uncertainty surrounding when and how exactly the Dutch government will begin its process of vaccination against coronavirus, Jürgens admits that the Netherlands does not fair well in comparison to its German neighbours. “Indeed you can say at the moment that the Germans are in better shape than the Dutch.”

Vaccinations for Dutch residents are expected to begin in January with vulnerable groups expected to be the first recipients. However, whether this is actually plausible is uncertain.

How do you feel about the Dutch approach to vaccinations? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below! 

Feature Image: Retha Ferguson/Wikimedia Commons/CC1.0 

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