The rain is pouring, the wind is blustering, and the jackets are back out — that’s right folks, Dutch summer has arrived.
This year’s false starts to summer have been particularly cruel. We’ve been subjected to some kind of mind game by the weather gods, with our hopes raised by a week of sunshine — immediately followed by a week of clouds and downpour. Rinse and repeat.
So is this week different? Ahhhh.
Today: dreary with a chance of sun
If there’s nothing you like better than going into Albert Heijn, walking out, and getting absolutely drenched in a surprise rain shower — good news!
There are some scattered showers today, particularly in the east of the country, says Buienradar’s Leander de Wit. However, in the west, we will be graced with a small dose of sunshine (and that valuable Vitamin D that comes with it).
Hold onto your hats though, because southwest winds will be blowing. A code yellow has been issued by the KNMI for heavy winds of up to 80 kilometres an hour at sea.
Tomorrow: sun with a chance of dreariness
“This will be the best day of the week,” says De Wit. Feeling hopeful? Don’t. We’ll be seeing some regular sunshine, but there will still be scattered showers in the north and northeast. And a potential thunderstorm is also on the cards.
The temperature will only get up to 18 degrees in the afternoon. “Four degrees too cold for the time of year,” says De Wit.
Wednesday: the worst day of the week
No sun, and a whole lot of rain — that’s the forecast for hump day this week. “It will be a really dreary day for that matter. The wind also picks up a bit. It will not get warmer than 18 degrees.”
Will next week be a fresh start?
If you’re craving sunshine, you might just get it this week. “This week is miserable. Towards Friday there are weather models that are slowly hinting at the construction of a high-pressure area,” says De Wit.
In non-meteorologist terms that means we could have far less rain — and maybe even a completely dry weekend.v “Next week could, therefore, be a better week with higher temperatures.”
How are you dealing with the recent Dutch weather? Tell us in the comments below!
By 2024 or 2025, gender identity will be removed from Dutch national identity cards.
The Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Ingrid van Engelshoven, announced this decision in a letter to the House of Representatives, reports NOS.
This is part of a broader plan laid down by the Ministry, which, among other things, includes limiting unnecessary gender registration.
According to Van Engelshoven, research into the costs and benefits of the change revealed that there will be no adverse practical effects to organizations that check identity cards. Employees for the army or the police force need to be instructed on the matter, and the Netherlands will need to let other EU countries know of the change.
The indication of gender will be removed around 2024/2025, as Dutch identity cards will change around that time regardless. Gender identity will remain however on Dutch passports due to EU regulation.
In another letter last year to the House of Representatives, the Minister said that “citizens can shape their own identity and propagate it in complete freedom and security”. Limiting unnecessary gender registration is an “important step” in this process.
The Netherlands is not the first EU country which does not have gender on their national ID. Germany made a similar step some years ago.
While Dutch culture itself is already quite difficult to understand sometimes, Dutch student culture can be even more niche. The elusive ’21-dinner’ is no exception to this.
Ever wanted all the embarrassing stories from your high school time, and all the worst stories from your university time recounted all in one evening? In front of your parents, siblings and friends? Well, then you’ve come to the right place in the Netherlands! Here, we like to celebrate the transition to adulthood with a lovely tradition called a ’21-dinner’, featuring all of the above.
You definitely can’t have a successful 21 dinner without champagne. Image: Pexels/Pixabay
Admittedly, the 21-dinner tradition is a fairly new concept in the Netherlands. If you were to ask an older generation of Dutchies what a 21-dinner was, they would probably stare at you blankly. But among students, the tradition (can it be called that already?) is becoming increasingly popular.
If you live in a student town, have student friends, or have children that are currently studying in the Netherlands, the chance is high that you’ll encounter one of these dinners sooner or later. Since we’re always ahead of the curve here at the DutchReview, here’s an explanation of this popularizing tradition.
Origins of an elusive tradition
Firstly, as you might have guessed by the name, the 21-dinner is supposed to be a celebration for your 21st birthday. According to Stielstra, who writes about the tradition in De Volkskrant, 21 is the new 18, and the 21-dinner tradition marks the turning point to adulthood. It’s a metaphorical bridge between your old and new life, and, laments Stielstra, hopefully, the turning point for when your children finally become financially independent.
The origins of the 21-dinner are as unclear as the tradition itself. Some believe it came from the US, while others insist it’s been in Dutch culture for hundreds of years. More commonly, it’s thought that the dinner originated from Dutch student associations.
Generally, if you join a student association you get a jaarclub (year club), essentially a group of friends that joined the association at the same time as you. (Legend has it) that the original 21-dinner was supposed to be for members of your jaarclub to meet your old high school friends. While some of these original elements can still be seen, it’s taken a liberalizing turn from here.
So what are the essential elements?
Setting: your parent’s house (with your parents and siblings as the, sometimes unenthusiastic, caterers)
Guests: old friends from your hometown and new university friends
From these two main ingredients, it’s kind of free for all. Usually, there’s a ‘roast and toast’, meaning emotional speeches and embarrassing stories are recounted by all. Following this, there’s poems, scrapbooks, pictures, quizzes, songs, or essentially anything to glorify (or embarrass) the happy birthday boy or girl. It’s not a normal birthday, so every gift should be more personalized, nostalgic, emotional, or embarrassing. Definitely leave your generic bouquet of flowers at home.
Since jaarclubs are usually single-gender, 21-dinners used to be (and sometimes still are) with friends just from the gender of the organizer. As people outside of student association started adopting the tradition though, every gender can now be invited (yay).
Get creative!
Beyond that, you can get creative with a theme, dress code, and food. Usually, it’s supposed to be a fancy dress occasion. Although you might scandalise the original 21-dinner founders, again any liberties can be taken. Some people spend thousands of euros. An article written in the student newspaper DUB reported that “for some people, it feels like a wedding day, really an occasion to look back on”.
At the end of the night (in true student tradition), you go out in your old hometown with all guests. It’s a night of nostalgia, so visit all your old haunts!
The essential idea is unique, even if the practice can be different. A bridge between your old life and your new one. The aim is to share your different experiences with all those most important to you. It’s the thought that counts for this tradition, and how exactly you carry it out is up to you.
Have you attended a Dutch 21-dinner? Let us know your experiences in the comments below!
Farmers have travelled to The Hague to protest new cattle feed regulations introduced by the Ministry of Agriculture. The protests have so far not led to a change in regulations, but are expected to continue today.
Minister of Agriculture, Carola Schouten, introduced a measure allowing less protein in livestock feed. This measure aims to lower nitrogen emissions produced by cows, and thus allow agricultural projects close to nature reservations to continue. Because of nitrogen restrictions, these projects were stopped last year.
Mandatory measures
Schouten wants to make the new measures mandatory, something that has sparked widespread outrage with Dutch farmers. Farmer groups such as the Farmers Defence Force (FDF) have called the new measure “disastrous”, and claim that it will have a negative impact on the health of their cows. They have suggested that the measure should be optional for the time being.
Schouten has contested that the new measure will negatively impact the health of livestock. Although she had initially aimed to come to a compromise with the farmers, they reportedly walked away from the negotiation table.
Protest in The Hague
To protest the measure, FDF asked farmers from all over the country to travel to The Hague. At around 20:30 last night there were around 30 tractors at the Binnenhof, reports RTL Nieuws. Police and military have closed parts of the city centre, and have asked farmers to leave their tractors behind and come on foot. The protests are expected to continue today.
De Volkskrant reports similar protests in other places in the Netherlands. In Groningen and Maastricht farmers in tractors gathered in front of municipal buildings. Police also barred the way for several tractors that tried to drive on the A2 and N280.
Results of the protests
As a compromise, parliament voted at 3:30 this morning for a reconsideration of the measures. The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) will examine if alternative proposals given by the farmers are feasible. However, according to Schouten “we don’t have the time.” The minister wants the new measure to go in starting beginning September, no exceptions.
Prime-Minister Mark Rutte stated in an interview for an Italian magazine that “Italy must learn to save itself”given the coronavirus outbreak and financial aid to overcome the economic crisis, reports NOS.
The coronavirus outbreak has divided the European Union when it comes to how financial aid should be distributed to hard-hit Southern European countries. The Netherlands and Italy have been in conflict over the issue for some months now, with Italy accusing the Dutch state of not showing solidarity.
Interview for Italian magazine
Prime-Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, has recently conducted an interview with a magazine of the largest Italian newspaper, Corriere della Sera.
According to Rutte, he understands how difficult the situation was for Italy. “The impact of the pandemic has been huge on Italy, both in terms of human lives and economic damage. We understand and therefore we must help Italy.”
Nevertheless, he points out that financial aid must be followed by reforms so that Italy makes itself resilient for crises in the future. “I think it is admirable what Prime Minister Conte has done so far. The measures he has taken to make Italy more productive and competitive. Unpopular measures have also been taken, and that is a good start. Because it is crucial that is able to respond to a crisis on his own.”
Premier Rutte gaf een interview aan een Italiaanse magazine. Een diplomatiek en helder gesprek. Maar hij zei ook: “Italië moet zichzelf leren redden.” En ik weet niet of die kwoot hier zo lekker gaat vallen. https://t.co/v5pKzYpJlc
Italy has agreed to the proposal coming from the European Commission of providing 500 billion euros of the 750 billion euros in aid, while the rest would come in the form of loans. Italy would receive 170 billion euros of that proposal.
According to Rutte, Italy can count on the Netherlands’s help, but not in the form of free money. In his vision, the EU Recovery Fund for the coronavirus crisis would be only in the form of loans. “Loans are also help.”
Rutte is seen as the main leader of four European countries who only want to provide aid in certain conditions. That has lead to him being called by the magazine as the “super strict doctor” by the Italian magazine.
Do you think Mark Rutte is being too strict about the financial aid, and that he should demonstrate more solidarity with other European countries? Let us know in the comments!
Police have released pictures of “the corona spitter”. In April, the man was accused of spitting on a shopkeeper in an Albert Heijn in Amsterdam. So far he has not been located.
There have been multiple incidents of people purposefully spitting or coughing on others since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Offenders can be imprisoned for these offences in the Netherlands.
Unwillingness to follow regulations
The incident in Amsterdam was prompted by a customer’s unwillingness to follow Albert Heijn coronavirus measures, reports the police. As per supermarket regulations, each person entering the store needs to take a shopping basket. The customer in question reacted angrily when a member of staff insisted on this rule. He then spat on the worker and reportedly said that he wished she would get coronavirus.
Recognisable camera footage
The police were able to get camera footage of the man in question. As per regulations, the footage was kept anonymous for a week, giving the accused time to report to the police. Recognisable footage of the man has now been released. According to the police, releasing such footage is “necessary in this case”.
Similar incidents elsewhere
This case follows a series of similar incidents worldwide. In the worst case, a British woman contacted coronavirus and died after being spat on by a COVID-19 positive man reports RTL.
In the Netherlands, incidents of spitting and coughing have so far led to jail sentences between four and seven weeks. The judge in the most recent case in Eindhoven attested that “the accused exploited a crisis situation.” Besides this, spitting on others is dangerous and anti-social according to the judge.
Police in the Amsterdam case made similar statements. Police representative Marijke Stop stated that the action was, “unhygienic and derogatory, especially in corona times.” It is expected that the man will get weeks of jail time if found.
Just in case you didn’t already find it hard enough to locate your bicycle in the Netherlands, The Hague has posed a new challenge — by opening up the second-largest bicycle garage in the world.
The Koningin Julianaplein fietsenstalling in The Hague Central Station officially opened its doors yesterday, creating 7000 new spots to store your trusty fiets. Covering 8,000 square metres, it is approximately 8000 times larger than how my apartment feels after three months of working at home.
The opening is in line with The Hague’s goal of becoming a real cycling city, to promote health, cleanliness, and ease. The new parking spaces have been in high demand, says Magdalena Piotrowska, NS director of the South Region.
“Nearly half of our travellers come to the station by bicycle,” she says. “In recent years there was not enough parking space at this station. That is why we are very happy with this beautiful, spacious storage facility.”
The amount of space in the new garage is approximately the size of one-and-a-half football fields — and can fit about 8000 bikes total. In addition to the 7000 general spaces, there are 700 new OV-bikes, and space for non-standard bikes like cargo bikes and bikes with child seats.
So how do you find your bike when it’s one in 8000? Luckily, the planners thought of that. A QR code system tells you where to find your bike. If you’re really lost, don’t stress — parking is free for 24-hours, so you can take your time 😉.
Would you use this biking garage? Tell us in the comments below!
On Wednesday the Dutch parliament went into a debate about institutional racism in the Netherlands. The debate consisted of arguments and insults- and resulted in very few concrete measures.
Racism has been high on the agenda in the Netherlands in the last months. Following the death of George Floyd, thousands gathered in protest of racism everywhere in the Netherlands.
Spurred by this national momentum, political parties D66, PvDA and GroenLinks scheduled a parliamentary debate. This time, the debate would result in concrete measures against institutional racism, they promised.
Institutional racism
Among other things, they hoped to tackle discrimination in the job market, get a national coordinator against racism, ban ethnic profiling, and get the Dutch government to apologise for its history of slavery, reports De Volkskrant. Unfortunately, the debate did not go this way. Political parties pushed their own agenda, threw accusations, and insulted one another.
Azarkan from Denk accused PvDA leader Asscher of racism. In response, Asscher angrily argued that Denk itself took part in ethnic profiling.
PVV leader Wilders exclaimed that racism doesn’t exist in the Netherlands in the first place. He cited research that showed that 95 per cent of Dutch people don’t have a problem being friends with those of another skin colour.
Leftist hysteria
According to Wilders, all the protests following the death of Goerge Floyd are a sign of ‘leftist hysteria’. “Despite the presence of scum called Akwasi, the Netherlands is a tolerant country”, says Wilders. GroenLinks leader Klaver responded that it was a disgrace that Wilders said this.
A drunk cucumber
The debate lost all respect when the parliament members started insulting one another. Azarkan called an argument made by Asscher a ‘cheap chat trick’. Klaver called Wilders an ‘idiot’, and Wilders retaliated by calling Klaver a ‘political hooligan’, whose party members support communist mass murderers. The pinnacle of them all was Azarkan, who called SP leader Marijnissen ‘a drunk cucumber’.
No to an apology for slavery
Despite what was aimed for beforehand, there were very little concrete measures made by the end of the debate. While Rutte had earlier acknowledged institutional racism in the country, he now said that making apologies for the Dutch slavery history would unnecessarily polarize the country. Besides this, “the question is if you can hold people today responsible for past. Neither the victims nor the perpetrators are alive anymore”, says Rutte.
In response, Klaver said that “you can only move forward if you acknowledge your past”. Coalition parties D66 and ChristenUnie will continue to ask for this apology from the government they reported.
The suggestion by GroenLinks and D66 to turn 2023 into a remembrance year for the Dutch slavery history was met with more agreement. In 2023 it will have been 150 years since the end of Dutch slavery in Suriname. A remembrance year for this was a “good idea” according to Rutte.
What did you think of Wednesday’s parliamentary debate? Let us know in the comments below!
Dutch companies TomTom and Heineken have joined an international advertising boycott against Facebook.
As one of the biggest social media outlets in the world, Facebook has a great responsibility to prevent the spread of fake news, hate speech and racism on its platform.
However, the company has been criticised for failing to address these issues. In response, companies around the world have started an international advertising boycott on Facebook, in the hopes that they will take heed of that and take action against the many problems the platform has.
Heineken stated that their boycott is based on concern over the “harmful content on social media.” Meanwhile, TomTom made their choice “in response to the critical discussions about inciting hatred and division on social platforms”. Heineken will pause their advertisement on the platform for the month of July, while TomTom has no end date yet to their boycott, reports NOS.
The campaign started mid-June by US civil rights movements and has gained traction worldwide. So far, 241 companies are participating in the boycott.
More companies to join
The World Federation of Advertisers, of which Heineken and TomTom are members, conducted an internal survey about the boycott. 58 out of 112 member companies responded to the survey, and a third of them reported they are planning or considering to join the boycott.
Two other Dutch companies that are part of the Federation expressed doubts, namely Shell and FrieslandCampina. Shell says that it is best to talk to Facebook in order to find a solution. FrieslandCampina wishes to take a critical look at the situation, and will first conduct an internal consultation before making a choice.
Do you think more companies should join the boycott against Facebook? Let us know in the comments!
You might be having a bad day, but it’s certainly not as bad as the captain of this vessel.
NOS reports that a ship with containers hit the Willemsbrug in Rotterdam, causing several containers to fall into the water.
Hans Mossleman, an eyewitness from a nearby restaurant, reported that “I just wanted to grab my phone when I heard a familiar sound”. According to him “I have lived in the area for some time and this happens every three to four years.” He managed to film the incident on his phone.
According to the police, three containers were lost, and the incident is currently being investigated in order to determine its cause.
The ship was sailing under a German flag, and it’s currently located on the North Island in Rotterdam. The Willemsbrug has also been damaged by the crash, according to the regional news channel Rijnmond. As of yet, it is unknown what the containers had inside of them.
Have you ever done a whoopsie that is worse than this ship’s crash? Let us know in the comments!
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