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King and Queen of the Netherlands broke social distancing rules while in Greece

Vlad Moca-Grama
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King and Queen of the Netherlands broke social distancing rules while in Greece

A photo has emerged of the King and Queen of the Netherlands next to another man while vacationing in Greece, not adhering to the 1.5-metre social distancing rule. 

The royal couple is currently in Greece, enjoying their summer holidays. The photo was taken on the island of Milos, in a restaurant, reports RTL Nieuws.

RTL Nieuws investigated the issue and found the restaurant where the photo was taken. An employee from the restaurant has confirmed that the royal couple went there last week and that the other man in the photo is one of the owners.

According to the photographer, the photo was meant for a private album and that it was simply a mistake that the King and the Queen disrespected social distancing measures.

No response from the government Information Service

RTL Nieuws has repeatedly tried to contact the Rijksvoorlichtingsdienst (Government Information Service) for an official statement to no avail. According to reporter on the Royal House, Sander Paulus, “It seems as if they are well aware of the measures to be taken. He has a face mask in his hand in the photo, yet in a moment of inattention they have allowed themselves to be captured in a way that is at least can be called clumsy.”

He continued by saying that “you could call it an innocent holiday snapshot. But at a time when Prime Minister Mark Rutte repeatedly reminds the Dutch people of compliance with the corona measures and the importance thereof, you cannot but conclude that the King is making a slip here.”

Is it understandable that the King and Queen slipped or should they have been more careful with the situation? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Feature Image: 12019/Pixabay 

That time a Dutch football team signed a contract with an 18-month-old

Ailish Lalor
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That time a Dutch football team signed a contract with an 18-month-old

It’s not often we bring you a story from 2011 in 2020, but this time we just had to. Long, long ago, a Dutch football team signed an 18-month-old baby. No, we’re not kidding.

Then just over one year old, Baerke van der Meij was signed by Dutch football team VVV Venlo after his YouTube rise to fame. His father, Jorg van der Meij, uploaded an extremely cute video of Baerke kicking three balls in a row into his toy chest.

The signing was, of course, symbolic, but it is said that the legendary Baerke celebrated with a sippy-cup of orange juice after the deed was done.

Football runs in the Van der Meij bloodlines, it would seem. Baerke’s grandfather, Jan van der Meij, also played for VVV Venlo between 1958-60 and 1964-65. In the club’s undoubtedly rigorous selection process, that was important.

“One can speak of a right-footed player with a very good kick technique, perseverance and, importantly, football genes of grandfather Jan van der Meij,” a spokesperson for the club said at the time.

As Baerke is still too young to play professionally, the mystery of whether he has inherited his grandfather’s talent remains unsolved.

Feature Video: tyughjbnmw/YouTube

Improved treatment for coronavirus patients should reduce mortality by 30%

Ailish Lalor
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Improved treatment for coronavirus patients should reduce mortality by 30%

Due to improvements in treatment practices, coronavirus patients who are hospitalised should be 30% less likely to be admitted to the ICU, and 30% less likely to die if they do need intensive care.

Six months after coronavirus arrived in the Netherlands, medical professionals have been able to put together a treatment plan for the virus that can reduce the severity of the illness, and its mortality rate.

When the virus first arrived, a standardised treatment plan was a long way away. “We read a lot about what happened in China, but it is different when you have real patients in front of you. It could happen that you read something in the trade journals in the evening that you had to apply immediately in the morning,” said Annelies Verbon, chairman of the Dutch association for internist infectiologists, to NOS.

What kinds of treatment do coronavirus patients get in the Netherlands?

Part of the new treatment is virus inhibitors. This isn’t necessary if you have a mild form of the virus, but “hospital patients who belong to a high-risk group or require supplemental oxygen can now receive the virus inhibitor remdesivir. Probably some of the patients will not need artificial respiration and some can go home a few days earlier,” says Verbon.

Some changes have also been made to how patients are treated once they enter the ICU. At the beginning of the crisis, coronavirus was understood to be similar to pneumonia, so doctors placed patients on their bellies when they were put on respirators (as this is known to clear fluid from the lungs faster). Now, we know that coronavirus is much more than pneumonia. Blood clots are also understood to be a major part of the disease, so patients are given blood thinners as a matter of course.

Another treatment will be the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone. Some coronavirus patients’ immune systems overreact to the virus, causing more damage than good, and that’s where this drug will come in handy. In a British study, it reduced the mortality rates of ventilator patients by 30%.

Another key part of the updated treatment plans is personalisation: the virus affects patients in very different ways, and different treatment options need to be provided.

It’s not yet clear exactly what difference these new treatments will make, but most practitioners are estimating between 30% and 40% fewer patients needing to be admitted to an ICU, and between 35% and 25% fewer deaths. However, Verbon still says that people should avoid being infected if at all possible, of course.

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

Feature Image: DutchReview/Canva

Organised bike theft: low penalties and risks make for lucrative trade

Emily Burger
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Organised bike theft: low penalties and risks make for lucrative trade

It’s no secret that one of the most widespread crimes in the Netherlands is bike theft, which has increasingly shifted to organised gang robberies and break-ins. They target bikes worth thousands of euros, and often get away with it.

The penalties for bike theft are low, and the chance of getting caught is pretty slim. Only about 1% of stolen bikes are recovered by police, reports RTL Nieuws, making the crime incredibly attractive for those looking to make easy money.

If you are caught stealing a bike, they’ll slap a pretty hefty fine on you, which can be up to €20,500 depending on the value of the bike. If the theft was a break-in, the culprit may also have to pay damages. But considering that these gangs can make €15,000 a pop, and over €100,000 when they raid shops, if they’re only caught 1% of the time this fine hardly off-putting.

Read more | 7 Things that will get you fined while cycling in the Netherlands

The damage

Although the number of victims has decreased from 560,000 (2017) to 466,000 (2019), the financial damage remains pretty much the same at €600 million annually. This is because gangs now target top-of-the-range bikes worth about €4000 to €15,000 each, which are also light-weight, making it easy to carry several of them away at once.

These gangs break into bike stores, bike sheds and homes, and are armed for cutting through bike chains. They then sell the parts or entire bikes abroad.

In extreme cases, civilians are targeted while with their bikes — a crime known as bike-jacking. However, this is still quite rare and tends to only occur with the most expensive bikes.

What you can do

If you have an e-bike or racer bike, be warned, these gangs are after bikes like yours. But there are ways for you to make your bike as inconvenient as possible to steal.

Jos Kuppens of Bureau Beke emphasizes the importance of having two locks, and securing your bike indoors if possible. You cannot assume your bike will be safe in a shed or front garden, so even on private property, make sure your bike is firmly secured. For the most expensive bikes, he recommends getting a GPS tracker for your bike.

Read more | What to do if your bike is stolen in the Netherlands.

Have you had a bike stolen before? Do you think the Netherlands should have higher penalties for bike theft? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Feature Image: Maarten van den Heuvel/Pexels

Last week’s heatwave claimed 400 extra lives

Brin Andrews
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Last week’s heatwave claimed 400 extra lives

Last week, an estimated 400 more people died than the previous week in the Netherlands. The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) says the heatwave is responsible for the sudden rise in fatalities.

An estimated 3,100 people died in the Netherlands during last week’s brutal heatwave — 400 more than the previous week. The 13-day heatwave included nine tropical days, where temperatures reached above 30 degrees.

Deaths not related to coronavirus

For the previous 13 weeks, the mortality rate had been relatively low in the Netherlands. Prior to that, during the height of the corona epidemic, the CBS estimates that nearly nine thousand people more than average died.

During the week of the heatwave, only 16 deaths related to COVID-19 were recorded.

Mortality rate often climbs with temperature

The higher mortality rate last week is similar to that of 2019’s heatwaves in July and August. During the first heatwave, which brought record-breaking temperatures to the Netherlands, there were also an additional 400 deaths.

Previous research from Statistics Netherlands and NIDI show that it is not uncommon to have increased mortality rates during periods of extreme temperature. In 2006, during the longest heatwave recorded in the last hundred years in the Netherlands (16 days), an estimated 1,000 people more than average died.

Elderly most affected

The majority of lives claimed by the heatwave were in people over the age of 80. The same was seen in 2019’s heatwave.

The statistics are based on 85% of obituaries and will be updated with more extensive research on August 28.

Follow DutchReview on Facebook for more news in the Netherlands.

Feature Image: PXHere

Police and demonstrators clash in The Hague after corona protest

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
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Police and demonstrators clash in The Hague after corona protest

A protest against coronavirus measures in The Hague this afternoon has led to the closure of the Lower House and the Binnenhof. 

Between 100 and 200 people arrived at the demonstration, shouting “we are the Netherlands” and “away with the emergency law!” However, things quickly turned violent as police and demonstrators clashed.

The Hague Police say that they have arrested several people.

The organiser of the protest, Eldor van Feggelen of Virus Truth (formerly Virus Madness) told RTL Nieuws that the group obtained permission for the demonstration. “I have no idea what exactly happened or why there were arrests,” he said.

Now, police have removed people from the protest areas. A police Mobile Unit has been deployed to stop demonstrators from reaching the shopping area.

Follow DutchReview on Facebook to keep up to date with news in the Netherlands.

Feature Image: Ben Koorengevel/Unsplash

Meet Sam: the stray who walked from Switzerland to the Netherlands

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
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Meet Sam: the stray who walked from Switzerland to the Netherlands

The stray dog Sam was first spotted walking alone in Switzerland back in March. However, catching him required the collaboration of Swiss, German and Dutch specialist teams. By the time he was caught he had made it all the way to the Netherlands. 

Sam’s journey took him from Switzerland to Germany and finally, to a back garden in Callanstoog in Noord-Holland. His owner hasn’t been located, but something tells us Sam is a resolutely independent, very good boy.

A dog on a mission

Sam first entered the Netherlands on July 30 and quickly made his presence known. The proud pup proved to Dutch authorities just how brave he is, having attracted attention after he strayed near and onto national highways throughout the Netherlands.

The Honden Zoekgroep Gelderse Vallei (HZGV) wrote on Facebook that they were expecting Sam. After coordinating with German teams, it became clear that he would be walking into the Netherlands no matter what. “Sam outsmarted everyone and only had one goal and that was walking straight ahead,” they wrote.

Sam became a master at alluding authorities. He never stayed in one place for longer than a day and even managed to escape a pasture in which the HZGV had set up a cage and food.

However, the Netherlands doesn’t stretch on forever and the 2000km straight line that Sam had been walking came to a halt when he reached the north of the Netherlands. The solution to this dilemma was simple for Sam — it was time to take a nap.

A man in Callonstoog found Sam sleeping in his back garden and the HZGV came prepared to catch the master this time.

Where’s your owner?

Sam was taken to an animal shelter and checked for chips or markings but unfortunately has neither. Luckily, Sam has proven that he can make it on his own if needs be.

What do you think of this brave hondje? Tell us in the comments below!

Feature Image: HZGV/ Facebook

Here’s how to travel the world without leaving the Netherlands: the Embassy Festival!

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
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Here’s how to travel the world without leaving the Netherlands: the Embassy Festival!

Itching to hop on a plane, land in a foreign country, delight your tastebuds with exotic flavours and bask in the excitement of an entirely different culture? We know the feeling — and we’ve got a way to fix it (while still remaining entirely corona-safe). 

We love the Netherlands because of its easy access to other countries — but that’s not doing us much good anymore. Luckily, there is a way to get that dose of culture you’re looking for: the Embassy Festival!

The Embassy Festival is a yearly affair. In a ‘normal’ year, thousands of visitors would flock to The Hague and explore the rich culture from different embassies. This year the festival is still going ahead, but in an online format with an insanely delicious-looking goodie box. Exploring different countries from the comfort of our living rooms (and sweatpants?) Where do we sign?!

What can I do at the online Embassy Festival?

How does jumping in the kitchen for a cooking class in traditional Palestinian ‘Makloubeh’ sound? Want to move your body? Explore modern dance at the Polish Embassy. You can even bring our your competitive side with a live pub quiz! Or is devouring taste-testing exceptional Chilean wine more your style? (Ummm, how do you say ‘count me in!’ in Dutch? 😉)

When is the Embassy Festival?

That’s the beauty of an online event. Instead of the fun being limited to a single weekend, content is released in the leadup to the event. Then, it all culminates in the majority of the content being released on the original festival weekend: September 4 & 5. Check out the online programme!

photo-of-two-girls-standing-at-embassyfestival-the-hague
The Embassy Festival in past years has had up to 67 Embassies take part. Image: Aline Krasieva/Embassy Festival

“We truly hope visitors will be surprised and delighted by what we’ve created and that we’ll see lots of photos and videos from our community participating from the comfort of their home,” says Festival Director Carly Dutton. “The Embassy Festival is nothing without its community and we’ve seen and experienced their curiosity, spirit and overwhelming support every year, and we hope that we get to meet them online this year.”

Tell me more about that delicious box!

Hell yeah we will. The highlight is the Embassy Festival Surprise Box. It comes with a minimum of five products from five countries around the world so you can delight and devour the exotic flavours. Will your box be stuffed with traditional Mexican ‘Tortillero De Paja’? Or will it have Rwandan coffee, Chilean olive oil, or wine direct from Azerbaijan? It’s a surprise!

Even better, love tasting wines from around the world? Yep, us too. We’re stoked that they’ve just launched a very special wine box as well.

photo-of-embassy-festival-box-goodies
Delicious temptation, we’ll take 20! Image: Embassy Festival

You’ll also receive an exclusive recipe booklet that will inspire you to throw on an apron and cook traditional delicacies and signature dishes from countries around the world, hand-picked from the participating Embassies. What are you waiting for? Go ahead and order your box. Be quick though — they’re only on sale until August 30!

What is the Embassy Festival normally like?

In non-pandemic times, the Embassy Festival floods the streets of The Hague. It started as just five embassies in 2013 but grew to a massive 67 by 2019. Tens of thousands of visitors converge on Lange Voorhout to dance to international music, chomp on international cuisine, and delve deep into international culture — that’s right, it’s very international.

Each year the festival is free of charge, attracting people from all over the world. Music is poppy, jazzy, folky, and classical and there are theatre, literature, art, and culinary activities from all over the world. All in all, it’s a celebration of culture — and a total blast to go to.

Will you be heading to the Embassy Festival this year? Tell us in the comments below — or jump online to find out more!

Feature Image: Jassir Jonis/Embassy Festival

Housing crisis: permits granted for 15,000 new homes

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
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Housing crisis: permits granted for 15,000 new homes

The housing and construction sector has seen a small victory in 2020 as 15,000 permits for housing have been granted. 

This is a hopeful turn of events for both future home seekers, and construction workers. More housing permits have been granted in the second quarter of 2020 than in the second quarter of 2019.

This follows a push by the senate and House of Representatives in December 2019 to increase the number of housing projects. The parliament approved the Nitrogen Emergency Act, which has led to a steady increase in the number of housing permits.

Mixed opinion

CBS Chief Economist, Peter Hein Van Mulligen, believes this is positive news for the housing economy. Speaking with RTL Nieuws, he has said “It is a welcome break from a downward trend. We are dealing with an enormous tightness in the housing market. The tightness is so great that even the corona crisis is not causing a drop in demand or in house prices.”

However, whilst corona has not caused interest to wane, it has not necessarily aided the housing economy either.

Less houses have been constructed

The lockdown period has had a devastating effect on housing construction, meaning that only 68,000 houses are expected to be built in 2020. This is lower than in 2019, during which 71,000 new houses were built in spite of less permits.

Low consumer confidence

ING economist Maurice van Sante has reported that in addition to fewer new constructions, people are less likely to buy in the current economic climate. ‘The corona crisis is causing rising unemployment and a deteriorated financial position for many consumers. Consumer confidence has been much lower since April and the willingness to buy has also fallen sharply.’

This lack of consumer confidence means that people will therefore be less likely to invest in new homes, and will instead opt for existing builds.

New construction will help

However, Van sante points out that if people are more inclined to invest in existing homes over new builds, this increase in construction will certainly help. An increase in the construction of new builds will help to counteract a housing shortage that will arise from a rush to buy existing buildings.

This means that while less people are interested in new builds now, the construction of new homes is more important now than ever.

The corona crisis has affected many aspects of life in the Netherlands but perhaps for now, we can take these new numbers as indicative of a move towards healing and growth.

Will you be investing in the housing market anytime soon? Let us know what you think in the comments below. 

Feature Image: Life-of-Pix/Pixabay

Man stabbed to death in Eindhoven, local man arrested

Emily Burger
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Man stabbed to death in Eindhoven, local man arrested

Last night a man was killed in front of a cafe in Eindhoven after an alleged argument on the street. Police are uncertain as to whether one or two perpetrators are responsible, but have made an arrest.

Shortly after the victim was stabbed, paramedics were on scene and attempted to resuscitate the man, said Eindhoven police. Sadly, their efforts were in vain. The victim passed away at the scene of the incident, on the Woenselse Markt. He was 28 years old and from Turnhout in Belgium.

Police arrested a suspect last night, a 31 year-old man from Eindhoven, who is currently detained and being questioned. The police of East Brabant are asking for any potential witnesses of the stabbing to call 0900-8844.

Follow DutchReview on Facebook for more news in the Netherlands.

Feature Image: DutchReview/Canva

 

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