Last night, a group of 100 to 150 teenagers brought chaos on the streets of Helmond.
The youngsters threw fireworks and stones and police had to intervene, with 6 people being arrested, reports RTL Nieuws.
The mayor of Helmond declared an emergency order. What this means is that no one is allowed to be on the streets of the area in question until 6 AM, unless they have an urgent reason.
The problems started yesterday evening after there was a call on social media to participate in boxing matches on the streets.
Around 10 PM, the atmosphere became tense after which arrests were made. Five people were arrested for being violent and another was arrested for carrying a knife.
The police on the scene tried to respectfully make the teenagers disperse but to no avail. To resolve the situation, police dogs and the Police Mobile Unit (ME) was deployed.
Eventually, the group drifted apart and the police remained on the streets to maintain order.
Police baton stolen in Dordrecht
Another incident occurred last night in Dordrecht between some youngsters and the police. An officer was forced to pull out his firearm after the youngsters stole his baton. The incident occurred after the officer approached the young men about a noise disturbance. The whereabouts of the man who took the baton are currently unknown.
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From July 1, there will no longer be any limit on the number of attendees at events and gatherings. People will still need to keep 1.5m from each other.
As the number of infections remain low, and public support for the coronavirus regulations decreases, the government has decided to speed up its plans for reopening the country. On July 1, the plan was to raise the current limit on the number of people at gatherings from 30 to 100. Now, the government has decided to remove the limit on the number of people altogether: with some conditions.
Indoor vs. outdoor events
An unlimited number of people can attend a gathering indoors, so long as their health is checked before they enter, at a so-called triage. There should also be no blockages at the door. If that’s not possible, then the original cap of 100 people remains.
For outdoor events, if there is enough distance and a triage, there will no no limit on the number of attendees. If there isn’t a triage, then the maximum will be set at 250 attendees.
Hospitality and culture sectors welcome the change
Naturally enough, this change has been welcomed with open arms by the hospitality and culture sectors. Cinemas, theatres and churches have only been able to accept 30 people inside for the past weeks, even though many have enough room to safely accommodate more.
Reservations are required for all meetings. This will make it much easier for the government to carry out a trace and contact investigation in the event of an outbreak.
Municipalities will have quite a bit of power over which large events go ahead over the coming weeks: organisers of football matches or concerts can apply for a permit, which is then decided upon at a municipal level. It is expected to take a while for event organisers to demonstrate that they can adhere to the coronavirus regulations.
What large event are you most excited to attend? Let us know in the comments below.
The RIVM has published the latest count of coronavirus cases in the Netherlands for today, June 23.
The newest count reveals an additional 70 cases in the Netherlands. Ever since the outbreak began in February, there’s been a total of 49,722 cases reported throughout the country.
Severe cases of coronavirus lead to three people ending up in the hospital where they are now receiving medical care.
Unfortunately, the virus continues to cause casualties, with five people passing away. The virus has claimed the lives of 6,095 people since the start of the outbreak.
Healthcare workers get applause — but no allowances this year
Normally, healthcare workers who work part-time are entitled to healthcare and rent benefits due to their low pay. Because they’ve been putting in overtime work, some of them may no longer qualify.
Healthcare personnel have expressed their anger and indignation over this, some even considering quitting their jobs. Parliament will debate today a potential solution to their predicament.
Second wave of coronavirus not likely if measures are respected
The first wave of coronavirus in the Netherlands has passed, reports NOS. There are, however, concerns of a second wave emerging.
Frits Rosendaal, who is the head of clinical epidemiology at the Leiden University Medical Centre, considers the fears justified. However, he stated that if the measures continue to be respected, a second wave is not likely.
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If you are anything like me, then one of the things you must have missed during the lockdown is visiting museums ! Although many galleries and museums have gone digital, offering virtual tours of their collections and exhibits, it just doesn’t feel the same.
For sure, ‘visiting’ a museum from the comfort of our homes can come handy in challenging times like the pandemic, but the excitement of waiting in the line to enter, being around fellow art aficionados and admiring a painting up close are priceless moments.
Naturally, the moment museums opened their doors again to visitors, I booked my tickets stat!
If you would like to visit a museum soon, but are still hesitant about it, let me share with you my experiences from visiting the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam and the Escher in Het Paleis in The Hague. And who knows… Maybe by the end of this article you might be convinced to book your tickets too!
What to do before going to a museum in the Netherlands during coronavirus
For both museums (as with every other museum in the Netherlands) I needed to book my ticket online, in advance, selecting a specific time slot to visit. For the Van Gogh – as it was my first time ever visiting it – I thought it would be better to go on a Monday.
Why Monday? First, it would be less crowded (the sight of Amsterdam on a Monday morning, sans tourists, during the coronavirus, is one-of-a-lifetime experience!), and secondly, I would be able to spend as many minutes as I wanted in front of the ‘Sunflowers’ painting, undisturbed (spoiler alert: this is exactly what happened!). On the contrary, I planned my visit to the Escher on a Saturday at 1600 (which was a wrong decision… More about it later on!).
Museum visits during corona times in the Netherlands
For the Van Gogh museum, the time mentioned on my ticket was 11:45 AM. However, I was able to enter earlier (at 11:20 AM) as it wasn’t as busy. At the Escher, I was able to start my visit more or less on time, delayed by a couple of minutes.
Per the Dutch government’s measures, both museums were equipped with hand sanitisers at the very entrance, and especially at the Van Gogh, even before entering it. Stickers indicating the 1.5 metres distance were on the floor as well as signs specifying how many people can be present per room. Particularly at the Escher, in some of its smaller rooms, there were signs suggesting that a maximum of 2 people were allowed inside.
At the Van Gogh Museum. Image: Dimitra Karatza/Supplied.
Not only the Van Gogh but also the Escher had employees surveying the floors, making sure the instructed distance and measures were followed – a detail that made me feel safe in both museums.
However, I noticed a minor difference in organisation when it comes to the two museums. The Van Gogh time-slot system worked perfectly, allowing inside a specific number of visitors. This way, you felt comfortable wandering around the museum whilst being able to take your time and enjoy the paintings.
At the Van Gogh Museum. Image: Dimitra Karatza/Supplied.
Similarly, the Escher also provided specific time-slots to choose from. However, there was a point when at the same time, more than 6 people were together in a room (either parties of four or two). Now, this is understandable – the Escher is a rather smaller museum than the Van Gogh, so it was expected that it would get crowded. However, I would have enjoyed my visit there way more if the time-slot arrangement was better planned.
At the Escher Museum. Image: Dimitra Karatza/Supplied.
Tip for your visit at the Escher museum: I made the ‘mistake’ of going there at 1600, since I was under (the wrong impression) that it is a small museum. Undoubtedly, it isn’t as big as the Rijksmuseum, but an hour is definitely not enough for it (it closes at 1700). So, when booking your ticket, pick a time earlier than the one you were originally thinking of!
So, should you go to a museum in the Netherlands during the corona times?
Both museums had a rather festive atmosphere, welcoming visitors back after the long pause! Friendly employees were close by (but not too close) throughout your visit for any questions you may have, ensuring the distancing measures were actually followed.
Am I going to keep visiting museums during the coronavirus? The short answer is yes. The long answer… Well… next time I will definitely make sure I have my mask with me. You never know if you are going to be too close to another museum visitor.
Have you been to a museum since they reopened? Let us know how your experience was in the comments below.
5,500 unaccompanied children live in overcrowded camps. Appalling living conditions and growing tensions have been widely reported.
Child Refugees
News of the desperate conditions of refugee camps in Greece has become part of any reporting about the migrant crisis in Europe. There is no proper accommodation and health-care, or enough food and water for everyone. The dangers related to the poor infrastructure of Greek refugee camps increased due to the threat of Covid-19, and security is a big issue. Camps built for 5,000 people host up to 20,000, in an increasingly hostile environment, marked by attacks by members of the local community displeased with the influx of refugees.
Against this backdrop, a more humane approach was sought to the plight of the 5,000 unaccompanied minors living in slum-like conditions on the Greek mainland and islands. To care for and assist the children, the Greek government asked last October for members of the European Union (EU) to take 2,500 child refugees. So far, Germany, France, Luxemburg, Portugal, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Lithuania and Ireland, as well as Norway and Switzerland have agreed to take in 1,600 in total. Most of the children come from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Syria. Therefore, in their vast majority, the product of long conflicts and miserable circumstances.
The fragmented Dutch stance
In the Netherlands, a ‘Coalition of the Willing’ was formed after an appeal to the municipalities lead by the VluchtelingenWerkNederland, Defence for Children and Stichting Vluchteling. Following the appeal, one-third of Dutch municipalities, representing over 9 million people, declared themselves in favour of bringing 500 child refugees to the Netherlands. Large cities like Amsterdam, Arnhem and Utrecht have offered to take in children, but cannot move forward unless the national government changes its stance.
At the governmental level, the debate rages between two factions: one that wants to show compassion towards the children, and another that feels it would be an encouragement for parents to send their children to Europe and favours sending money to Greece. Since April public pressure has been mounting with protests taking place around the country calling for the acceptance of Greece’s call for help. Over 100 Dutch politicians, celebrities and local authorities have signed an open letter asking the Dutch government to revert its position.
The lessons of Covid-19
When Covid-19 hit, the web was flooded with videos of people hoarding food and fighting over toilet paper. As much as a global pandemic is scary and invites unconventional behaviour, it is safe to say that war and hunger are more petrifying. It is a universal truth that the overwhelming majority of parents love their children, and in normal circumstances would never send them on a potentially life-threatening journey. However, as Covid-19 has made us all aware, new realities that scape our control are a great catalyst for last resource solutions.
How about you? Do you favour the Netherlands taking in the child refugees or assisting Greece by other means? Tell us in the comments!
Since the start of the coronavirus, many healthcare professionals have put in significant overtime. Because of this, many of them may lose the allowance they would have normally gotten — and won’t be compensated for it.
If you earn under a certain amount in the Netherlands, you qualify for zorg- or huurtoeslag, healthcare or rent allowances. Healthcare personnel that work part-time, or in sectors that have a low salary usually qualify (and have a real need) for this extra allowance. The extra salary healthcare personnel made from coronavirus overtime means that some now no longer qualify for the allowances they normally get, reports De Telegraaf. In some cases, this means that they may actually earn less overall this year than in other years.
A letter to parliament from the state secretary Alexandra van Huffelen stated that the cabinet won’t make an exception for these workers. Instead, Van Huffelen’s letter kindly encourages the health personnel to speak with their employers for solutions. They were also warned that if they don’t declare their higher income in time, they may have to pay back the allowances they already got this year.
Solutions, such as temporarily increasing the income threshold for allowances, or determining your allowance based on the income of 2019 were apparently too expensive or difficult to be worth considering.
The tax authorities have also stated that it is “impossible” to take the current exceptional circumstances into account. According to them, it would be difficult to see whether the extra income is due to extra hours or other reasons.
The final straw
This latest announcement is the final straw for some healthcare personnel. Research conducted by NU’91, an independent organization for healthcare professionals, shows that healthcare workers have had enough. The research shows that healthcare personnel don’t feel respected by the public or the state. Some are considering quitting their job in outrage.
They have a right to be angry, says the chair of NU’91, Stella Salden. “The pandemic showed how essential healthcare workers are in the Netherlands. Politicians made promises to recognize this, but now that the time has come to follow up, suddenly it’s not possible anymore,” says Salden.
SP leader Lilian Marijnisssen stated that “healthcare personnel worked overtime this entire crisis, and now parliament is punishing them for it.”
After widespread outrage, parliament is debating the matter today. According to opposition parties, healthcare workers deserve “more than just applause”.
Do you think parliament should do more for healthcare personnel? Let us know in the comments below!
The RIVM has published the latest count of coronavirus cases in the Netherlands for today, June 22.
The latest count reveals an additional 69 cases of coronavirus in the country. Ever since the outbreak began back in February, there’s been a total of 49,658 cases.
Severe cases of coronavirus have lead to 2 people ending up in the hospital, where they are now receiving medical care.
For the first time in a long while, the virus has caused no deaths. Overall, 6,090 people have passed away from the coronavirus.
400 people arrested at protest against coronavirus rules on Sunday
Around four hundred people were arrested yesterday at the demonstration against the coronavirus rules on the Malieveld in The Hague. Over 2000 people were at the protest itself, and after they did not obey the 1.5m rule, they were ordered to disperse. In the end, police used a water cannon to get them to move on.
Protest tomorrow on Malieveld by hospitality workers
People who work in the hospitality and event management industries are planning a protest tomorrow on the Malieveld in The Hague at 4:00 PM. So far, 700 people have clicked the “Going” button on the Facebook event for the protest, NOS reports. They are protesting against the current coronavirus rules they need to obey, arguing that the rules are too strict. They are also asking for more financial support from the government.
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Summer is officially here! This Saturday marked the start of summer, and with it, we can expect some high temperatures.
This week we’ll really be feeling hot temperatures, according to to the forecast by Buienradar.
Today will be quite a sunny day, despite some low clouds from time to time. The wind blows from the west and it is weak to moderate.
In the afternoon, the temperature will range from 19 degrees Celsius on the coast to 25 degrees in the east.
Tuesday will be a really sunny day. How sunny, you may ask? Well, the solar power will be at 7. What this means is that unprotected skin can burn within 10 minutes. Crispy! Needless to say, protect yourself with some sunscreen if you don’t fancy getting toasted. Temperatures will range from 21 degrees in the north-western coast to 27 degrees in Limburg. The afternoon will bring with it some much-needed cool breezes.
High temperatures from Wednesday onwards
Starting this Wednesday, the temperatures will pick up more and more, reaching 30 degrees Celsius and above. The odds of a nation-wide heatwave are low, but there are chances that instead we’ll get regional heatwaves.
A drought seems likely too, as there haven’t been enough downpours in the past few weeks. Whatever the case, 2020 seems to be on track to be in the top 5% of the driest years on record.
Have you stocked up on sunscreen? Let us know in the comments!
Do you feel at home in the Netherlands? Are you settled and cannot ever imagine leaving? Is it something you are successfully working on, fully committed to a life here?
Alternatively, do you live with one foot out of the door, unable to develop strong, stable roots? Are you living a somewhat temporary existence until you figure out why you are here and what you are doing with your life?
My intention for this article is not to depress you, but instead to encourage a better understanding of the process of settling, and hopefully, afterwards, to hear some of your own experiences.
Whether you feel at home or not, my simple question is this: why?
The sometimes lonely road of an expat
If you feel settled then great, but it is an inescapable fact that being an expat can be incredibly lonely, even if you are surrounded by people that mean a lot to you. My current theory is that this boils down to two things: language and culture (ok, it often does).
The latter I’ll address in a bit, but first, let’s talk about language. Sometimes it feels a bit like a situation where you want to play football with your friends but you only have a tennis racket. Or you have a ball, but it is as flat as a pannenkoek. If a language is in any way an underdeveloped skill (or still a work-in-progress) then you can often find yourself saying what you can, not what you want.
In short, you are unable to express yourself.
This is obvious for everyone learning Dutch, as you may want to engage in deeper conversations or ones more meaningful than, essentially, speaking like a child. It is frustrating and difficult, but an unavoidable part of the process of language acquisition.
Likewise with English for non-native speakers, a group I have the utmost respect for (why would you not want to give up after reading: though through tough thought?).
It can be something as low-key as there being a sentiment best expressed in your primary language that loses its edge somewhat when translated into English. Or it can be more complicated: engaging with other non-native English speakers relies heavily on you being of similar levels of language competency and experience.
Even as a native British English speaker, I am aware that I have unconsciously developed an international filter for communication. This is absolutely not meant in a patronising way, but one born out of practicality.
Is it possible to feel at home in a place you struggle to fully express yourself in?
There is an added layer of difficultly to conversations with people who have a different native language than you. Image: Buro Millennial/Pexels.
Engaging with the Dutch culture
Say you confidently swan dived into the great pool of Dutch culture only to find that the water was shallower than what you were hoping for (Hypothetically. Obviously). We all have different tastes, of course, and there are undoubtedly a lot of positives to be found within Dutch culture and this country’s straight-talking inhabitants.
However, for many it may become a question of finding that balance between respecting, engaging with, and understanding the native culture (which are all undoubtedly vital facets) but not at the expense of excessive compromise and just ‘putting up with’ things. We want to gain a stronger connection to our surroundings and the people that fill them in an authentic way, which helps us feel comfortable and most at home.
But stop and think for a second about the people you have in your life here in the Netherlands, and who you have the strongest connection to. Are you of similar cultures? Do you share the same language? Do you have to regularly stop and explain cultural references? What compromises are present?
We are perhaps most logically drawn to those with the same cultural background or nationality (though some of us are simply in no real position to start cherry-picking acquaintances), but I do wonder what effect that has on settling in a country, and, by extension, integration into its wider society.
Wait, there are countries outside of Europe?
Also, a quick mention to non-European expats, as many Europeans are very Eurocentric. To see people struggle for even one morsel of relevant information about your home country (or even the continent) must be, to say the very least, alienating. Hopefully one day the knowledge of life outside of Europe will be far richer than: what Donald Trump is doing + potential holiday destinations.
But it goes without saying that there is, on top of Dutch, an additional layer of having to engage with European culture and the associated mentality that we native Europeans may be unaware of, or that we vastly underestimate. This, obviously, needs to change.
Looking to the future
Arguably the most important is the most difficult. The question ‘do you see yourself still living here in five years’ time?’, for example, is vital: because if you can’t answer it with any real conviction, then what does that say about your connection to the Netherlands?
If you genuinely do not know, maybe pondering the nature of what it is to feel at home may unlock the answer. This, in my mind, is why it is so important to not just highlight this topic but to share our experiences as you never know just how much it may help another expat going through a period of uncertainty or loneliness.
Do you feel at home in the Netherlands? Share your thoughts and experiences below in the comments.
Around four hundred people were arrested yesterday at the demonstration against the coronavirus rules on the Malieveld in The Hague.
The protest was originally banned by Mayor Remkes on Friday, but when protestors turned up on Sunday anyway, he decided to allow a protest until 1:30 PM, provided that the participants kept 1.5m from each other.
The protestors were demonstrating against the coronavirus regulations imposed by the government to reduce the spread of coronavirus. The expected number of protestors was a couple of hundred people, but in reality the demonstrators numbered at least two thousand.
Several different groups of protestors came together: as well as people who were protesting the current regulations, some football hooligans also decided to join in. The protestors gathered on the Malieveld, where they did not respect the 1.5m distance rule. They were then ordered to disperse by the police.
Some protestors did so, but several hundred remained. After the end time of the protest, 1:30 PM, there were still people on the Malieveld. The police then used a water cannon and charges to get the protestors to disperse. It was then that the majority of the arrests took place.
Mayor Remkes: “It was a restless day in The Hague”
Other groups of protestors were arrested throughout the day: eight people were arrested earlier in the day, one of whom was carrying a samurai sword. Five people were arrested near Den Haag Centraal for throwing stones.
“It was a restless day in The Hague today,” Mayor Johan Remkes said in the statement yesterday evening. “This has nothing to do with demonstrating freedom of expression. This group was deliberately committed to disrupting public order. The police intervened on several occasions. I am grateful to the police for their efforts.”
What do you think of this protest? Let us know in the comments below.
