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Schiphol introduces sanitation stations to disinfect passengers’ luggage

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
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Schiphol introduces sanitation stations to disinfect passengers’ luggage

Schiphol Airport has added sanitising stations to the many measures that the airport is taking to control the outbreak of coronavirus. Included in these stations is UV-C light, which is said to kill coronavirus.   

In addition to the implementation of testing zones and social distancing measures, Schiphol airport has introduced areas in the airport for passengers to disinfect their belongings.

The airport’s website describes the sanitising stations as spaces in which people can find all they need to disinfect their luggage as well as other belongings such as their phones. The stations can be found in the Schiphol Lounge 2 and between Arrival Halls 3 and 4. They are meant to be accessible for arriving, departing and transferring passengers.

UV-C light to disinfect passenger’s belongings

Each station consists of four sections. These sections come fitted with sustainable hand gel made from Dutch tulip bulbs that could not be cultivated as well as disinfectant wipes and hand cream.

In addition to this, the stations offer the use of UV-C light to disinfect passengers belongings. A sanitising host will be present to help passengers with the UV-C light, which has been successfully used to kill previous coronaviruses.

Enabling safe travel

Schiphol Airport has said it is doing all it can to ensure safe travel through its halls. This follows last month’s reports of a worrying number of passengers who were found to have tested positive for coronavirus after travelling into the Netherlands.

The airport has said they wish to encourage passengers to sanitise and have even constructed the sections in such a way that they appeal to children.

However, given recent lockdown measures, such as the decision to deem Spain and regions of France as code Orange, perhaps traffic through Schiphol Airport will drop.

Feature Image: JESHOOTS.com/Unsplash

 

Marieke Lucas Rijneveld becomes the first Dutch winner of the International Booker Prize

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
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Marieke Lucas Rijneveld becomes the first Dutch winner of the International Booker Prize

Marieke Lucas Rijneveld, author of The Discomfort of Evening, has succeeded in becoming the first Dutch author to win the International Booker Prize. 

Never before has a Dutch author managed to make it off the short-list for the prestigious literary prize. They 29-year-old author has said they are “as proud as a cow with seven udders.”

Previous Dutch nominees to make the short list include Tommy Wieringa in 2019 for Murrat Idrissi’s Death, and Harry Mulisch in 2007, who was nominated for his work in its entirety. However, Rijneveld has made history in the Dutch literary scene, becoming the first Dutch author to win the award.

The discomfort of an evening

Originally written in Dutch as De avond is ongemak, Rijneveld’s debut novel is about a 10-year-old girl called Jas who struggles with life in Noord-Brabandt. Following the death of Jas’ brother in a tragic accident, her family must work through the devastation together. The novel touches on significant elements of rural Dutch life such as religion, grief and sexuality.

Translator also rewarded

Rijneveld’s novel was praised by the judges for its poetic tone and delicate rendering of everyday Dutch rural life. This was something that was preserved in the translation of the novel from Dutch to English (all novels nominated for the International Booker Prize are read and judged in English) and thankfully the work of Rijneveld’s translator will also be recognised.

Rijneveld’s translator, Michele Hutchison, will also be awarded for her skillful translation of The Discomfort of an Evening into English. The two prize-winners will share the €55,000 award. Rijneveld has told the radio programme Nieuws and Co that they are happy Hutchison’s work is recognised by the prize givers, “You do it together, which is why I think it is so great that the prize is for both the writer and the translator.”

What next?

Having made history, Rijneveld’s next move will be to continue writing. In fact, Rijneveld remained distant from the translation process due to the fact that they did not want to linger in the world of The Discomfort of an Evening for too long. They feared that it would affect the writing of their next novel. Good news for us bookworms— international and Dutch alike!

How involved are you in the Dutch literary scene? Will you be reading this promising novel? Let us know in the comments below!

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Car fires on the rise in The Hague

Emily Burger
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Car fires on the rise in The Hague

Car fires have been increasing in the Netherlands over the past year, but especially in The Hague. Dutch insurers call this dangerous trend “worrying”.

Overall, car fires in the Netherlands have increased by 12%, but in The Hague by 31% according to the Dutch Association of Insurers. The suburb of Rijswijk had 70% more car fires than the year before, and Voorburg had almost double.

In some cases, the fires have spread to surrounding cars and injured passengers, and in general the fires cause public distress and disturbance. The association advises people to park their cars in a visible area or near street lamps. Neighborhood Whatsapp groups and CCTV cameras can also be helpful for watching suspicious behavior.

The culprits

The association believes most of the car fires are intentionally lit for three main reasons. Firstly, and most concerning, criminals covering their tracks. “There are also people who set their car on fire in order to earn insurance money,” said a spokesperson. “And then of course you still have vandalism.”

In The Hague, the fires seem to be predominantly lit as vandalism. At the end of last year, youth rioters ditched their bonfires and turned to lighting cars instead. Three youths were arrested for the fires but were released due to a lack of evidence.

Premiums

Although the increase in fires certainly won’t lower insurance premiums, the association clarified that this should not increase premiums either. Regardless, the social impact is worrying.

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Faster train journeys to Berlin and Brussels by 2024 (by half an hour, but still)

Ailish Lalor
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Faster train journeys to Berlin and Brussels by 2024 (by half an hour, but still)

The NS is planning to speed up the journey times from the Netherlands to Berlin and Brussels by 2024. 

For both journeys, running extra trains on the routes will shave off about half an hour of travel time. Currently, the train journey to Berlin takes 6 hours and 20 minutes, and getting to Brussels by train takes just under three hours.

The incoming CEO of the NS, Marjan Rintel, wants to take advantage of the global slowdown of travel due to coronavirus by shifting people from planes to trains. “We are doing the same with the start of the direct connection to London this autumn and the night train to Munich, Innsbruck and Vienna in December.”

In order to do this, significant changes need to be made to the route to Berlin, she says. “In the east it is not time for a step, but for a jump.” There needs to be a substantial update to the track between Utrecht and Arnhem, for a start. However, political will still needs to be there for improvements to the route to take place.

The reduction of travel time by 30 minutes between the Netherlands and Berlin will be made possible by eliminating the locomotive switch at the border, and not stopping at Minden and Stendal. The journey to Brussels will be made more efficient because the new trains that will be added by 2024 are able to travel above 200 km/h for some of the route. Some stops on the journey may also be eliminated.

Train travel is growing in popularity, so it makes sense for the NS to work on improving its international connections. In 2019, the amount of passengers travelling to Brussels by train increased by 14%, and to Berlin by 20%.

Which international train journey do you wish was faster? Let us know in the comments below.

Feature Image: jonasreichard/Pixabay

Four people have been reinfected with coronavirus in the Netherlands

Ailish Lalor
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Four people have been reinfected with coronavirus in the Netherlands

Four people in the Netherlands have been reinfected with coronavirus for a second time. 

On Tuesday, the first confirmed reinfection in the Netherlands was announced, following similar cases in Hong Kong and Belgium. Now, the RIVM has confirmed that so far, four patients have experienced reinfection in the Netherlands alone.

All four patients are over sixty. The first person with a confirmed reinfection already had a compromised immune system. For three out of the four affected people, there was a few months between infections. For one, there was only a few days between infections– yes, you read that right. One patient recovered from coronavirus, and only a few days later got reinfected.

For all four patients, it was shown that the second infection had a slightly different virus “blueprint” than the first. Proving this is necessary for a reinfection to be confirmed.

These people are likely exceptions, says virologist Marion Koopmans, who works for the OMT and is an advisor to the WHO. On Tuesday, she told RTL Nieuws that most people who get coronavirus do produce antibodies which protect them from reinfection, at least for several months. So although these cases seem worrying, Koopmans is not yet concerned.

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

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More corona testing a no-go as laboratories overwhelmed

Ailish Lalor
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More corona testing a no-go as laboratories overwhelmed

The Netherlands cannot currently expand its coronavirus testing facilities because of a laboratory backlog. The backlog should be fixed within a week, luckily.

The GGD was planning to expand its opening times and to open new testing locations this week, as the number of people wanting to get tested for coronavirus has been increasing rapidly– by 40% just last week. Last week there were 140,432 coronavirus tests taken in the Netherlands.

However, the Ministry of Health has asked the GGDs to put a pause on expanding testing until the backlog in the laboratories is fixed. That’s going to be problematic, even in the short term. In Amsterdam, for example, almost all testing facilities are already full for today and Friday, NOS reports. Expanding test capacity soon is crucial, if everyone who needs a test is to be offered one.

Another part of the problem is that the GGDs are increasingly seeing people without complaints asking to be tested. “The number of test requests is now increasing so much, even from people who have no complaints, that the current capacity is under pressure. That is why we now say again: only get tested in case of complaints,” says a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health.

The hope is to have the laboratory backlog problem fixed by this weekend, or at least next week. Then the GGDs will be able to expand their opening hours and test locations. The expansion will be particularly important over the coming winter months, when the number of people with respiratory complaints is expected to increase.

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

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The NS introduces cheaper day tickets for young people

Ailish Lalor
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The NS introduces cheaper day tickets for young people

The NS is introducing a new day ticket deal for people between 12 and 18 years of age. Young people will be able to travel anywhere in the Netherlands for €7.50 from September 1.

The deal won’t be valid during rush hours, but will be available in the weekends. The ticket will be available to buy in the NS app, and doesn’t require an OV chip card to work.

Although the benefits for young people are pretty obvious, the NS also thinks it will pay off for the rail company – 71% of young people have said they would take the train more often if prices were cheaper. Furthermore, 57% of parents say they would take their families out by train more often if cheaper tickets were available.

The idea is to make travel more accessible to the youth, who often fall, in a very expensive manner, between the cracks of the transport system, according to NS director Tjalling Smit. “Young people like to travel independently. In addition, they prefer to go to the city or to the family for a day. The tickets for a train ticket are quickly on the high side for them. For children up to 12 years old, the train is free if they travel with someone and often for students as well. Young people up to and including 18 fall in between.”

Will you be heading off on a day trip by train soon? Let us know in the comments below.

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New coronavirus support package will offer less support to fewer companies

Ailish Lalor
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New coronavirus support package will offer less support to fewer companies

The government is in the process of putting together a multi-billion euro support package for the economy. This one will continue well into 2021.

Since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis in the Netherlands, the government has implemented two emergency support packages for businesses, as well as support for self-employed people. Businesses have been able to take advantage of the NOW packages, as they are called, if they had lost at least 20% of their turnover, entitling them to 90% of their usual wage bill.

Now, as the coronavirus crisis appears not to be going anywhere, the government has decided to give businesses more certainty about what they can expect over the coming year. The package will come into effect on October 1, and will offer less support to fewer companies, sources in The Hague tell AD. Apparently, the cabinet is close to agreeing the final details of the plan.

Firstly, only companies which have lost 30% of their regular turnover will be eligible for support. Secondly, the plan is to reduce the percentage of the wage bill that the government supports– dropping it first to 80%, then to 70%, and then to 60%. In effect, this will allow companies to lay off staff. In previous NOW packages, companies risked a fine if they laid off staff. This clause will be removed from the long-term support package the cabinet is proposing.

The temporary bridging scheme for self-employed persons (Tozo) will still be in effect– this applies to self-employed people who are earning less than the social assistance level due to corona. Businesses will also still be eligible for the Allowance Fixed Costs (TVL) package if they are not making enough money to pay their fixed costs, though there will be some changes to this package to prevent fraud.

What do you think of this support package? Is it enough to keep the economy going? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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Summer storm Francis peaks during rush hour this morning

Emily Burger
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Summer storm Francis peaks during rush hour this morning

The summer storm that brewed last night over the Netherlands reached its peak early this morning, causing damage across the country. The storm is not expected to die down until this afternoon.

Code yellow has officially been declared over the western regions of the country after wind speeds were recorded over 100km/hr at the pier of IJmuiden last night. Wind force nine, which qualifies the storm as a summer storm, were recorded all along the coast early this morning, reports NOS.

The damage

Around 10pm last night, a woman in The Hague was pinned under a tree after the tremendous winds pushed it over. According to RTL Nieuws, she was freed by a group of bystanders and taken to the hospital by paramedics with minor injuries.

Other damage so far includes trees falling onto cars, falling scaffolding and even the facade of a building that fell into the street in The Hague. More than 40 reports of damage have been recorded in the Rotterdam region, and the storm isn’t over yet.

Rush hour

The number of trains running today will be reduced, as a result of fallen trees on the tracks but also precautionary measures due to the continuing strong winds. Fewer intercity trains will run between Amsterdam and Den Helder, and no trains will run between Boskoop and Gouda this morning. All high-speed trains between Breda and Noorderkempen have been cancelled.

Many of these trains will be replaced by buses, so commuters need to factor in extra travel time today. Additionally, the Western Scheldt ferry has been taken out of service in Zeeland.

Caution until the end

The summer storm is expected to pass around noon today, but strong winds may continue into the afternoon. Only towards the evening will these winds probably dissipate.

Until then, the public is cautioned to stay inside if possible. Driving with a trailer or caravan is not recommended. Trees will most likely continue to fall, so be aware of this.

The last time the Netherlands experienced a summer storm was August 10 last year, which also saw wind speeds over 100km/hr and collapsed the roof of the AZ stadium in Alkmaar.

Follow DutchReview on Facebook for more weather reports.

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Summer storm Francis to hit the Netherlands on Wednesday

Emily Burger
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Summer storm Francis to hit the Netherlands on Wednesday

Summer storm Francis is on its way, and is threatening to be rather strong. When the storm hits the Netherlands on Wednesday, winds will most likely blow weakened trees over. Vacationers and the public in general are warned to be cautious. 

Winds this evening will already be racing at 100km/hr at sea, and will further pick up as the night progresses. Turbulent rain is expected from Wednesday morning, and winds will build into a storm across most areas of the country, says NU.nl.

The storm will approach from a south-western direction, and as it passes over inland regions, winds are expected to be between 75-100km/hr. The south is set to be dryer tomorrow but winds will still be considerably strong. So hold onto your hats and umbrellas!

Falling trees

Keep in mind that many trees have recently been weakened by the drought, and are at danger of being blown over by the storm. In urban areas especially, this could cause some damage.

The Weerplaza weather service is warning vacationers to take extra precautions with their tents and caravans. “Make sure the tent is properly secured with extra guy ropes and caravan owners are advised to secure their awning as well. When departing from the campsite on Wednesday, it is advisable to end the holiday a little earlier. ”

Storm should be over by Thursday

On Wednesday afternoon the winds will already be much weaker, and by Thursday the storm will have pretty much died out. We should see some sun breaking through and less rain on Thursday as well.

Follow DutchReview on Facebook for more news and weather reports.

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