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Operation Portunus: police conduct huge cocaine raids in Zeeland

Vlad Moca-Grama
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Operation Portunus: police conduct huge cocaine raids in Zeeland

The Netherlands is no stranger to drugs, and that’s not just because weed is (somewhat) legal. 

Many other drugs find their way from abroad to the Netherlands, as part of the international drug trade. In the province of Zeeland, 30 police raids were conducted as part of a broader investigation of the cocaine trade, reports NU.

Operation Portunus

The operation has been dubbed “Operation Portunus” and 400 police offers were deployed during the task. The police confirmed that it was an exceptional situation due to the large-scale of the operation.

A spokesperson from the police told NU that “Today (Wednesday, ed.), We are mainly looking for information about and evidence from criminal networks involved in the importation of cocaine and its facilitation. It is highly organized crime. Because we do not want to take risks, we have the arrest teams deployed.”

The raids have since been completed, and searches will continue throughout the province of Zeeland. The towns targeted in the searches are Heinkenszand, Middelburg, Nieuwdorp and Goes. The port in Vlissingen is also a point of search for the police.

The police consider Operation Portunus as the first step in a broader collective action taken in order to better understand criminal links in ports and how to undermine them.

If you have any information about criminal activities in port areas, you can contact the Dutch police to give them leads that can help with the situation.

Follow DutchReview on Facebook for the latest news in the Netherlands.

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What does nightlife in the Netherlands look like in corona times?

DutchReview Crew
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What does nightlife in the Netherlands look like in corona times?

Today, July 1, brings another round of coronavirus rules being relaxed to the Netherlands. But as most of society returns to something resembling normality, the question remains: what does nightlife look like in the corona times?

From bars to nightclubs to casinos, we’re taking you through all the things you can (and can’t) do to have a fun evening right now in the Netherlands. We do also recommend just sleeping sometimes, but we’re hoping you already know how to do that, even in the corona times.

Cafes, bars and restaurants are open

Back on June 1, cafes, restaurants, bars and terraces were able to reopen to customers. Since then, they’ve been filled every day, with people making up for lost time drinking and catching up with their friends. Heading to your local square or even beach club in the evening, soaking up those rays of sunshine (or huddling underneath an umbrella as it rains, more realistically) is the perfect way to spend your evenings these days. It’s a good idea to phone ahead to reserve a spot: this makes it easier for the bar to offer you a guaranteed spot. Spaces are a bit more limited right now than usual, as the 1.5m distance has to be observed, so if the place you want to go is popular, reserving is definitely advisable.

Are nightclubs open yet?

Now, one thing that hasn’t been allowed to reopen yet are nightclubs and discos, usually a crucial part of the nightlife of a city. However, it makes sense, with coronavirus still being present in the Netherlands. The 1.5m distance still needs to be observed everywhere in the Netherlands (with some exceptions, where a face mask is required instead). Anyone who has been to a nightclub knows that a 1.5m distance would be pretty impossible to observe there, so for now, be your own DJ and have a dance in your bedroom (preferably with headphones, so you don’t displease your neighbours).

Today, nightclub and discotheque owners submitted a petition to Parliament, asking for permission to reopen on August 1. In the latest press conference, Prime Minister Rutte said that they would have to wait at least until September 1, when their case would be reconsidered. But according to NOS, nightclub owners are worried that they will go out of business if they have to wait that long.

Festivals and events: coming soon

Larger gatherings of people are also allowed from July 1, but that doesn’t mean that your favourite festival will be happening tomorrow already. There are quite some regulations still in place.

For indoor gatherings, the number of attendees is unlimited so long as people are asked about their health before they enter (at what is called a triage), there isn’t any blockage at the entrance, and the 1.5m distance can be observed. If a triage is not possible, the limit remains at 100 people. For outdoor activities, the number of attendees is unlimited so long as there is sufficient space and a triage can be provided. If not, the limit is set at 250 people.

Municipalities will have the last say on whether a large event, like a concert or a festival, can go ahead, based on whether they think the event organisers will be able to respect the coronavirus regulations. You can realistically expect these types of events to take place from late August onwards, all going well.

Casinos, coffee shops and chilling out at home

Casinos also opened on July 1, two months ahead of what was originally projected by the government: they will also, of course, be observing the 1.5m distance rule. (But if you’re not yet feeling confident about going out into a potentially crowded spot, then here’s a list of Dutch online casinos with iDeal enabled)

Coffee shops are open for takeaway at the moment, but not yet for sitting in: this is also due to be reconsidered on September 1.

One of the things you have probably already noticed about the coronavirus times is that people have different levels of comfort. Some people might be totally happy to meet up with you in a crowded bar or casino, whereas some of your other friends might not be quite ready to do something like that yet: they might even be in a risk group. But just because you’re not fully comfortable going out doesn’t mean you have to completely miss out on nightlife in the Netherlands- it just might look a little different.

What part of nightlife did you miss the most during the corona times? Let us know in the comments below.

Feature Image: ELEVATE/Pexels

GroenLinks and D66 propose dedicating 2023 to remembering the history of slavery

Ailish Lalor
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GroenLinks and D66 propose dedicating 2023 to remembering the history of slavery

Today is Keti Koti, the day on which the Netherlands celebrates the abolition of slavery. Party leaders from GroenLinks and D66 have proposed that 2023 be dedicated to remembering the history of slavery in the Netherlands.

The Netherlands was one of the last countries in Europe to abolish slavery. Officially, slavery was abolished by the Netherlands on July 1, 1863, but in practice it continued for a further ten years. Slave labour was still carried out on plantations until 1873 under “special oversight” by the state.

That means that it will be 150 years since slavery was abolished in 2023. GroenLinks and D66 would like to see a year of commemoration in that year: they have suggested exhibitions, performances, debates and more attention in education and media as ways to do it.

“We can use that year to provide additional information and dialogue on the black page of slavery history,” said Rob Jetten, the chairman of the D66 group. “But also about how it affects our society in the field of racism.” For Jesse Klaver, the leader of GroenLinks, the year would be about recognising the history and moving forward together.

Today, there will be a debate in the House of Representatives on racism, which is when the two parties are planning to announce their proposal for 2023. Also today, the annual commemoration of the abolition of slavery will take place in the Oosterpark in Amsterdam. Because of coronavirus, no members of the public will be present.

Would you support a year dedicated to remembering the Netherlands’ history of slavery? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Feature Image: Francisco Anzola/Wikimedia Commons. Image is of Elmina Castle in Ghana, which the Dutch seized from the Portuguese in 1637 and used as a (slave) trading post until 1814. 

From July 1, changes to work, parental leave and minimum wages

Vlad Moca-Grama
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From July 1, changes to work, parental leave and minimum wages

From today, July 1, certain adjustments will be made to parental leave, minimum wages and more, NU reports.

Parental leave will be extended considerably, for another five weeks. For the time period, employees will receive a benefit from the UWW, representing 70% of their salaries, while their employers will have no wage costs.

To use this new scheme, an employee needs to already have taken off a week within the first four weeks since the child was born. The leave also needs to be taken within the first six months after birth and needs to be requested from the employer one month in advance, unless premature birth occurs.

Cigarettes are now out of sight in supermarkets

Cigarettes and rolling tobacco will no longer be allowed in sight in supermarkets. Initially, this measure was supposed to be implemented on January 1, but the chains requested more time and the measure was postponed until July 1.

Individual subsidy for people who buy electric cars

Another measure implemented is a subsidy for people who purchase or lease electric cars, part of the government’s attempt to a green transition. In order to qualify for the subsidy, the car needs to have a driving range of at least 120 kilometres, and a price between €12,000 and €45,000. A subsidy of €2,000 is available for used electric cars, while €4,000 is available for a new electric car.

Minimum wage raise and AOW pension rise

The minimum wage in the Netherlands is adjusted two times per year. From today, anyone over 21 years old will earn 1,680 euros gross per month, an increase of 27 euros since the raise on January 1.

This amount applies for full-time employment, however, there is no legally established guideline for that. Full-time could mean anything ranging from 36 hours a week to 40.

Pensioners will also receive a higher pension. The new net amount they will receive is 1,201.42 euros per month.

Have any of these new measures impacted you positively? Let us know in the comments!

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The EU opens its borders to 14 non-EU countries today

Ailish Lalor
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The EU opens its borders to 14 non-EU countries today

Today, the European Union is opening its borders to a number of non-EU countries. After weeks of negotiations, an agreement between member states has been reached.

EU citizens may now travel to fourteen countries: Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay and South Korea. Citizens of those countries may also travel to the EU. China is also on this list, but it’s not yet clear if they will allow EU citizens to enter the country. Morocco may also not let EU citizens in yet, as it plans on opening its borders only on July 10.

Travellers from the US will be banned for the time being. The EU holds that the virus is insufficiently under control there. The list of “allowed” countries will be reviewed and updated every two weeks on the basis of the latest coronavirus figures.

Disagreement among member states

Coming up with this list took quite a while, as the EU was split into two camps: those who wanted to let in as many people as possible, and those who were more hesitant about the whole thing. Greece, Spain and Italy were in the former camps, as their tourism industries are still suffering. Poland, Denmark and Austria were among the more hesitant countries, raising questions about whether the figures non-EU countries were releasing could be trusted.

There is, of course, no independent international body checking the figures that countries release: the WHO just collects them. In the end, according to a diplomat who spoke to NOS, it just comes down to trust.

Another reason for the delay in deciding on this list was the specific wishes that different countries had: France, for example, wanted an exception to be made for French-speaking countries, and Bulgaria made a strong case for Turkey, which was ultimately rejected as it does not have the virus sufficiently under control.

Are you planning on visiting a non-EU country this summer? Let us know in the comments below.

Feature Image: hpgreusen/Pixabay

Coronavirus update: 57 new cases on last day of RIVM’s daily updates

Ailish Lalor
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Coronavirus update: 57 new cases on last day of RIVM’s daily updates

The RIVM has published the latest count of coronavirus cases in the Netherlands for today, June 30.

Since the last count, three people have been hospitalized and six have died.

A total of 6,113 people have passed away from the virus in the Netherlands since the pandemic began.

After almost a month of testing being available to anyone with symptoms, a further 57 people have been diagnosed with coronavirus. This brings the total number of cases to 50,273.

From July 1, RIVM will switch to weekly reporting of coronavirus-related deaths, infections, and hospitalisations.

How will the Dutch greet each other after corona?

On Wednesday the current coronavirus measures will be loosened. Does this mean we can embrace our old greeting habits again? One of the main measures to fight the coronavirus is the famous 1.5 meter distance. This includes no touching, no shaking hands and definitely no three kisses! While alternatives such as the elbow shake, an awkward wave, or a foot bump were introduced, none have been taken up with much enthusiasm by the Dutch population.

How coronavirus has changed Dutch attitudes to government and society

The quarterly report by the Social and Cultural Planning Office (SCP) on Dutch attitudes to society, politics and the economy has been released: and coronavirus has had a massive impact on all three. You might expect that after the chaotic, unprecedented few months we’ve had in the Netherlands, that Dutch people would be feeling a bit distrustful of the world around them. In fact, the opposite is true: as the corona crisis winds down (hopefully for good) Dutch people are feeling far more positive about society and politics than they did before.

You can follow DutchReview on Facebook for more updates on coronavirus in the Netherlands. 

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How will the Dutch greet each other after coronavirus?

Annabelle Willeme
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How will the Dutch greet each other after coronavirus?

On Wednesday the current coronavirus measures will be loosened. Does this mean we can embrace our old greeting habits again?

One of the main measures to fight the coronavirus is the famous 1.5 meter distance. This includes no touching, no shaking hands and definitely no three kisses! While alternatives such as the elbow shake, an awkward wave, or a foot bump were introduced, none have been taken up with much enthusiasm by the Dutch population.

Relaxing of coronavirus measures

On Wednesday the coronavirus measures will be changed again. People under the age of 18 will no longer have to keep 1.5 meter distance, and adults can gather outside in larger groups.

So, if social meetings can take place again, how do we greet one another? EditieNL carried out research about the Dutch knuffelgedrag, or hugging behaviour. They found that 21% of interviewees want to go back to hugging friends and family. “It’s human nature to want physical contact. We haven’t been allowed to hug for months, and that’s very difficult for humans,” says etiquette specialist Anne-Marie van Leggelo.

The end of kissing?

Despite this, shaking hands, kissing and hugging carry the risk of infecting one another with the coronavirus. The traditional three Dutch kisses especially would increase this risk. According to the Volkskrant, the three kisses was already lowering in popularity, and the coronavirus was its kiss of death, so to speak.

The three kisses were seen as something for the older generation reports the Volkskrant. The younger generation preferred one kiss or a handshake. “We already thought it was a little too much, and now Dutch people are used to not kissing three times anymore. I don’t think it will come back” says Leggelo.

What the new way of greeting will be at the end of this crisis remains to be seen. As of now, the 1.5 meter rule still counts for adults, so alternative ways of greeting are necessary at least for the time being.

What do you think the new method of greeting should be? Tell us in the comments below!

Feature Image: fauxels/Pexels

Weather forecast: a return to the true Dutch summer

Vlad Moca-Grama
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Weather forecast: a return to the true Dutch summer

We’ve had so much sunshine over the past three months that we forgot for a moment that we’re living in the Netherlands.

Well, the Netherlands hasn’t forgotten what it’s really all about. After last week’s heatwave, the weather has done its classic Dutch turnaround and plunged straight into typical greyness, reports Weerplaza.

So, what can we expect from this week’s weather forecast?

Grey, grey and more grey

Today will be a cloudy day throughout the country, despite a bit of sunshine that will tease us in the afternoon before quickly disappearing again. The temperature will range from 18 to 22 degrees Celsius, which is not that bad, unless compared to the heatwave last week. It will rain for a while later in the evening in the south of the country, and the rain will carry on into tomorrow morning.

Overall, besides the rain tomorrow morning, the rest of the day will remain relatively dry, but filled with clouds.

Thursday will be a rainy, windy day, with the temperatures not exceeding 20 degrees Celsius. Friday will be a calm day compared to the rest of the week, with intermittent clouds and sunshine.

If you’re hoping the weekend brings with it good weather, well, nope. Saturday will be a variable day with rain and clouds, while Sunday will bring with it a wet start in the morning.

Are you looking forwards to returning to a hot summer or would you rather have the typical Dutch weather? Let us know in the comments!

Feature Image: Free-Photos/Pixabay

76% of Dutch people trust the government: new report shows biggest attitude shift in 12.5 years

Ailish Lalor
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76% of Dutch people trust the government: new report shows biggest attitude shift in 12.5 years

The quarterly report by the Social and Cultural Planning Office (SCP) on Dutch attitudes to society, politics and the economy has been released: and coronavirus has had a massive impact on all three.

You might expect that after the chaotic, unprecedented few months we’ve had in the Netherlands, that Dutch people would be feeling a bit distrustful of the world around them. In fact, the opposite is true: as the corona crisis winds down (hopefully for good) Dutch people are feeling far more positive about society and politics than they did before.

In the past 12.5 years, there has never been such a change in public opinion, the SCP report reveals. According to the SCP, this change is very much connected with the coronavirus crisis.

Dutch people trust political institutions

First of all, how have Dutchies’ opinions changed on politics? 76% said they had confidence in the government: in comparison to January’s figure, 51%, the increase in confidence is striking. The Dutch seem to be generally content with how the crisis has been handled.

In an interview with RTL Nieuws, Paul van Lange, professor of social psychology at VU University Amsterdam, said that this trust in government came down to the transparency it had shown throughout the crisis. “During the press conferences about the coronavirus, for example, Rutte is very open and honest. He acknowledges that he does not have all the information about the coronavirus, but says he has to make a decision. Dutch people appreciate that honesty.”

However, as we have seen over the past two weeks, with protestors gathering to express their displeasure with the 1.5m society, this contentment is beginning to shift. According to Van Lange, particularly young people and entrepreneurs want more relaxations.

Fears about the economy, but the Netherlands is going in the right direction

When it comes to society, Dutch people are also more satisfied than they were before the coronavirus crisis. Dutchies now give society a rating of 6.9, rather than January’s 6.4. 69% now believe that people in general can be trusted, in contrast to last quarter’s 63%. And 47% of people now believe that the Netherlands is going in the right direction, a big increase from 36% last quarter.

However, understandably, Dutchies are not feeling so confident about the economy. A shocking 85% expect the economy to deteriorate, in contrast to 29% before the crisis started. 21% expect their own financial situation to get worse: last quarter this figure was only 14%.

In general, Dutch people see the coronavirus crisis as an opportunity, and as proof of how much society can change, the SCP reports. In the future, Dutch people want an emphasis on togetherness, a sense of community and tolerance, and for the climate crisis to be addressed.

How do you feel about society, politics and the economy in the Netherlands? Let us know in the comments below.

Feature Image: Chait Goli/Unsplash

International train travel in Europe (mostly) allowed again

Vlad Moca-Grama
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International train travel in Europe (mostly) allowed again

The majority of Europe is starting to reopen to tourists, and with that, international train travel is once again becoming a viable option for travel.

A spokesperson from NS told NU that “We are very happy with that (train travel) and no doubt that also applies to many travellers who want to get out by train again. We can’t wait to bring travellers back across the border.”

2020 was supposed to be a special year for train travel. A direct line from Amsterdam to London was planned to open in April and another new connection to Vienna was on the line, giving airlines a run for their money.

Unfortunately, 2020 brought none of that due to the pandemic, at least for now. The direct line to London has been postponed to later in the year, and overall, all major forms of travel been strongly impacted by the crisis.

Situation of international train travel in Europe

Thalys is a train that goes directly to Paris from Amsterdam. Normally, it runs nine trips every day, but now it’s only doing two rides per day. The service will, however, double on July 12, to four rides per day.

The Zon-Thalys on the other hand, which starts in Amsterdam and ends up eight hours later in Marseille will not be running at all this year.

The direct line to London from Amsterdam will hopefully start by the end of the year. A passport control needs to be developed in London in order for it to have a green light on the tracks.

Some lines have resumed their normal scheduling. The international train services to Berlin, Brussels and Frankfurt are running as usual. The intercity to Brussels is running 16 times a day from the Netherlands ever since early June. The high-speed ICE train to Frankfurt and the Intercity connection to Berlin are now running their normal timetable, with eight and seven rides respectively every day.

Are you planning on taking a train instead of a plane for this year’s vacation? Let us know in the comments!

Feature Image: Metrophil/Wikimedia Commons

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