Sexting is at an all-time high in the Netherlands, presumably as single people try to find their RIVM-recommended sex buddy. Can’t be disobeying a direct order from the government, can we?
A survey by VPNGidsnl has shown that 44% of women are spending more time on sexting during the coronavirus crisis, and 50% or men are doing the same. Let’s all just take a moment of silence for the women suffering from that particular gender imbalance.
The sending of sexual pictures is actually what is on the rise, while sexting, in general, has remained pretty constant over the past weeks. According to the survey by VPNGidsnl, this is because sending sexual pictures is viewed as “the next best thing” when social distancing makes physical contact pretty impossible.
How has coronavirus affected sex in the Netherlands?
A couple of weeks ago, the RIVM recommended that single people find a cuddle buddy or a sex buddy to take comfort in during these hard times. This statement aroused (sorry, we had to) many different types of responses: primarily “Is there somewhere I can sign up for this?”.
Most Dutchies are quite responsible sexters- and somehow, that doesn’t even feel surprising to us. More than half of Dutchies do not send pictures in which they are recognisable.
30% of the men who do send recognisable images say they do not worry about their privacy, because they trust the recipient of their messages. One in three women does send recognisable photos when they trust the recipient.
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Air France-KLM CEO, Ben Smith, has decided that now is the perfect time to take a €798,000 bonus, NOS reports. Yes, we’re talking about the same airline that was awarded a bail out by two European governments very recently.
The airline industry has been suffering over the past months of the corona crisis: no one can travel for pleasure, so planes have spent a lot of time on the ground. That means no money for the airline industry.
Air France-KLM has been hard hit by the pandemic, just like other airlines, and has needed the governments of France and the Netherlands to bail it out. France will provide €7 billion to prop up the airline, and the Netherlands will give between €2 and €4 billion.
Why is Smith getting this bonus?
The way Smith is justifying this bonus is as follows: it’s for his work in 2019, when the airline performed well. Also, being a true paragon of virtue, he did not take a short-term bonus earlier this year when the crisis started. He has also taken a 25% pay cut like all KLM staff for as long as the airline can’t fly. What a sacrifice, to take a temporary 25% pay cut to get a €798,000 bonus.
Because the Netherlands is a shareholder in Air France-KLM, it also had a vote on whether Smith could get this bonus. Finance Minister Wopke Hoekstra says the Netherlands voted against the bonus. “As we have always said: we are in a crisis and a lot of tax money is needed to get companies and employees through this crisis. Therefore, this is not the time for bonuses for directors of companies we have to support.”
Unfortunately, as the Netherlands only has a 14% stake in the company, it was overruled. The majority of the shareholders of Air France-KLM voted in favour of giving Smith the bonus.
And that’s it for your daily reason to become a socialist! You can follow DutchReview on Facebook for more updates on coronavirus in the Netherlands.
The RIVM has published the latest count of coronavirus cases in the Netherlands for today, 26 May.
While the country prepares to slowly reopen, the coronavirus nevertheless remains a concern.
The new count reveals that there are 133 new cases in the Netherlands. Ever since the outbreak began in February, there’s been a total of 45,578 cases throughout the country.
Severe cases of coronavirus lead to 10 people ending up in the hospital, who are now receiving care in intensive care units.
Unfortunately, the virus has also claimed the lived of 26 people since the last count. Overall, the virus has caused the death of 5,856 people in the Netherlands.
A quarter of prospective international students say “nee” to online classes in the Netherlands
Facing financial insecurity, as well as uncertainty over travel restrictions, 35% of students who took part in a survey expressed doubt over coming to the Netherlands next academic year to study. Online classes are another factor in their indecision, as they cannot provide the same quality education as going to a physical classroom.
20 Dutch children have serious coronavirus-related illness
It seems that the illness is a combination of two different diseases: the rare Kawasaki syndrome, and Toxic Shock Syndrome. It’s believed the illness is caused by the child’s immune system overreacting to the coronavirus.
The disease is present in other countries as well, where it has caused casualties. Thankfully, in the Netherlands, none of the children has died, but it is not known yet how their recovery is going.
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Coronavirus is a global health emergency: primarily physical at the beginning, but mental health problems are now on the rise as people struggle with self-isolation and worries about the future.
Recently, more and more alarming reports have surfaced about what the corona crisis and lockdown does to our mental health. The spread of the coronavirus currently has major consequences for daily life in the Netherlands. COVID-19 makes the body sick, and when combined with the lockdown, it can sometimes also affect the mind. In the past few weeks, mental health complaints have increased, and treatment has also become almost impossible due to the lockdown.
Since the virus made its way into the Netherlands, it has sparked fear, guilt, anxiety and depression. While the number of cases and deaths may be reducing everyday, psychologists predict that the end of the pandemic may be the beginning of a mental health crisis in the Netherlands.
Negative effects of the pandemic on the mind
For people with a mental illness, the corona crisis has had a major impact on them. Many appointments in mental health care have been canceled or converted to phone/video calls. In many cases, the affected people desperately need therapy to keep their heads above water. According to a survey done by MIND in the Netherlands: half of the respondents indicated that they have trouble sleeping and also suffer from, for example, anxiety, depression, panic attacks, etc. Some spoke of having vivid dreams, often coronavirus related. A third are not sure how to get through the crisis.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
It is also evident that healthcare workers suffer mentally while on the frontlines of the corona crisis. They have to deal with a huge influx of patients, work long days and experience, firsthand, the fear and pain in the eyes of their critically ill patients, all without good PPE (in a lot of cases). The reality of this whole situation is that healthcare workers may end up suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. PTSD is the psychological stress that develops after a person has been exposed to a traumatic event. In situations (like Italy), where healthcare workers saw so much death, and even had to make the decision on which critically ill patients would receive treatment, and which ones would be left to die, they may be overwhelmed with feelings of guilt and shame, which in turn can cause psychological complaints, including PTSD. The question remains: how much damage has this caused, and how can our healthcare workers be helped?
Post-traumatic Growth in the Netherlands
Coronavirus times advice. Image: Nick Fewings/Unsplash
No matter how traumatic certain events may be, they can sometimes lead to positive changes in people’s lives. The term ‘post-traumatic growth’ describes this phenomenon. During traumatic times like these, a lot of people can start thinking about what is truly important in life and become more guided by these values. For example, they may decide that they no longer want to take life’s simplest pleasures for granted, may feel more gratitude for the life they have or become more aware of their surroundings and everyone in it. Many people also experience a stronger connection in relationships and friendships, and some may even stop fighting amongst themselves and choose to make peace, do good and enjoy life.
Since the beginning of the lockdown in the Netherlands, we have seen true resilience from a lot of people; those who help the elderly with doing groceries, entertained their neighbours from their balconies, and others who are doing all they can to make the best of the situation, etc. The pandemic and lockdown will definitely leave a huge dent on our mental health, but so far, it has also led to post traumatic growth. One can only hope that when all this ends, there is more post-traumatic growth than post-traumatic stress.
For now, social distancing is still as important as ever. There is still no cure or a vaccine and it is of paramount importance that we continue to be there for one another. The pandemic might end up not leaving too great a burden on our collective mental healths if we all support one another through these crazy times. For all who do their best to keep the most essential parts of the Netherlands running, for the soothing music coming from the balconies, and every other help offered — big or small — we say a big thank you. These crazy times seem to have unlocked some kind of universal sense of what’s really important in life, and I hope that when all this is over, we can come out of it with more love and affection for one another.
Coronavirus information and help lines
Do you have any questions about the coronavirus? Then you can call the public information number 0800-1351 (available daily from 08:00 to 22:00).
Red Cross helpline for mental care
The Red Cross has opened a telephone helpline for people who are in isolation or quarantine. You can call 070-4455 888 (available from Monday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm).
On those days when you feel alone and need a listening ear, please call 070-4455 888 for a listening ear, some advice or just to discuss available options for extra help. And if you are concerned about someone who is vulnerable and may need help coping with the lockdown, you can also call the helpline. The Red Cross can then send a volunteer to support them.
Psychological help during the coronavirus lockdown
For people who may experience psychological problems such as anxiety, gloomy days, or stress, it can sometimes get worse if they already have mental problems. Talking about how you feel definitely helps. If you would like to talk about your concerns or problems, you can call MIND Korrelatie: 0900 1450, (15 cents per minute, every working day between 9am and 10pm). In addition, on Wijzijnmind you will find many options for support during these corona times: tips, contact with fellow sufferers, welcome distractions, and a livestream from the MIND Digital Living Room every afternoon. Please take advantage of this, if you think you may need it.
We’ve been hearing the term, “the new normal” a lot. There are some who think that this so-called new normal is but a “temporary anomaly”. The terms, “1.5 m society” and “the new normal” are only for these corona times. Humans are social beings and for those who suffer mental illnesses in our communities, social contact can be a way to help them keep their heads above water. Unfortunately, that isn’t very possible right now. We must all understand that these coronavirus measures are certainly essential, but yes, they are not normal. They are a “temporary abnormal” that is necessary until a treatment and/or vaccine is available. So while we are social distancing, wearing our masks and no longer shaking hands or giving hugs, we should not forget the importance of looking out for one another.
We do not necessarily have to endure a mental health crisis after the corona crisis is over. And we can achieve this if we continue to take good care of ourselves and others, now and in the longer term. If hospitals and companies provide their employees with good mental support and care, we can definitely prevent a mental health crisis in the health sector. For now, the focus should be on making sure that we all survive this pandemic with our mental health intact. In addition, an emergency plan must be put in place by the government for mental health care. Some of our brave healthcare workers might need it when all this is over.
What has your experience been of mental health during this coronavirus crisis? Let us know in the comments below.
Prime Minister Rutte’s mother has passed away at the age of 96. Rutte has respected the coronavirus rules and not visited his mother in her nursing home in The Hague.
Mieke Rutte-Dilling passed away on 13 May, but her death was announced yesterday by the RVD. She did not die of coronavirus, though the virus was present in the nursing home where she lived.
When asked if Rutte had indeed not visited his mother before she passed away, Rutte’s office confirmed that he had indeed obeyed all the coronavirus rules and not gone into the nursing home.
Ik ben even stil.
Je krijgt voor de tweede keer in je loopbaan een onmogelijke taak. Moet dealen met onmenselijke kritiek, van zowel volk als politiek én je verliest je moeder.
Via the RVD, Rutte said that he and his family hoped to be able to deal with this loss together soon. He also expressed gratitude. “In addition to the great sorrow and all precious memories, my family and I also have a feeling of gratitude that we were allowed to have her with us for so long.”
Mark Rutte’s mother has died – apparently not from the virus, but she was living in a facility where there had been an outbreak, and had a closed funeral. In the days since, “the Prime Minister simply continued working”. Hard times, which touch us all.https://t.co/SQRVXJHzgS
On 1 June a trial will begin in the Netherlands where some nursing homes will reopen to visitors, to be followed by all nursing homes on 15 June- provided things go well.
Dutch social media has been filled with condolences and messages of appreciation of the Prime Minister’s decision to respect the lockdown. Rutte has also received messages of condolence from other political parties such as PVV, 50PLUS and DENK.
Dutch PM Mark Rutte did not visit his dying mother due to #COVIDー19 restrictions. He understood that he had to adhere to the standards in public life that he himself had set.https://t.co/L5MrGNvmb3
Lots of people, including the Guardian, have drawn parallels between Rutte’s decision not to break the lockdown for personal reasons, and the current British controversy about the actions of Dominic Cummings.
The current coronavirus crisis has caused uncertainty on all fronts.
One of the groups of people that have been deeply impacted by this uncertainty are international students, who are not sure if they will come to study in the Netherlands or not for the coming academic year, reports NOS.
Survey conducted on potential students
The international student organization called Nuffic conducted a survey on 941 potential students from outside the European Union.
While a majority of them expressed a desire to come study in the Netherlands, 35% of them expressed doubts about their final decisions. The main factors in the doubts come in the form of limited financial opportunities as well as uncertainty over travel restrictions.
Over the past decade, the number of international students from outside the EU has been gradually increasing. This current academic year there are more than 25,000 international non-EU students currently studying in the Netherlands.
Research by the Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis shows that international students are a financial asset for the country. Each student brings 96,300 euros to the country, especially if they also stay after their studies to work. If these students no longer come, this will also have an impact on Dutch universities.
Online classes are not an attractive substitute
Dutch universities are already preparing for an academic year held online, at least for the first semester. Some universities are also considering switching their intake moment from September to February.
The international students surveyed do not see online classes as a viable option, however. Only one in 10 students surveyed said they would prefer online teaching.
Murali, a prospective student from India, says he does not see online classes as an effective replacement for physical classes. “I will not enrol at a Dutch university this year for online courses only. I will postpone it until at least 2022.”
He is certainly not alone in this view. 21% of surveyed students from outside the EU said they would prefer to postpone their studies to the Netherlands for at least another year.
Follow DutchReview on Facebook for the latest coronavirus news in the Netherlands.
Twenty children in the Netherlands have contracted a serious illness that appears to be related to COVID-19, NOS reports.
The illness seems to be a combination of two known diseases: the rare Kawasaki syndrome, and Toxic Shock Syndrome. It is thought to be caused by a child’s immune system overreacting to coronavirus, but the link is not fully confirmed yet.
In adults, this heavy-handed response from the immune system is also associated with coronavirus, and can often worsen the course of the disease. In the Netherlands, none of the children with this disease had any underlying health conditions.
Of the 20 children with this illness, only 10 have antibodies against coronavirus. However, these tests are not 100% accurate, so generally the whole situation needs more research before anything concrete connections can be drawn.
The disease is present in several countries worldwide, and in France and New York City in the US, children have died from it. In the Netherlands, no children have died from it, but it is also not known from this study how well they have recovered.
Should the government change its plans to fully reopen primary schools on 8 June, or go ahead despite this disease? Let us know in the comments below.
Spring 2020 has been the sunniest spring ever, breaking 2011’s record with a couple of days to spare, NOS reports.
Now, obviously we shouldn’t celebrate this too much: climate change is a thing, and it’s not going to be all fun and games. But honestly, having a bit of sunshine to enjoy (from the comfort of our homes, obviously) has made the whole lockdown experience so much better.
As of yesterday, the Netherlands had enjoyed 712.7 hours of sunshine in the spring period, from 1 March til 1 June. The average amount of sun that the country usually gets in this time period is quite a bit less: 520 hours. Last year, for example, we got 593 hours of sunshine in the same period.
Why has there been such good weather?
The reason we’ve had this gorgeous weather is a combination of a high pressure system and a supply of drier air: both of which have also contributed to this spring being extremely dry, as well as sunny. Only in April did we have a few rainy days, with March and May being unusually dry.
The RIVM has published the latest count of coronavirus cases in the Netherlands for today, May 25.
The Dutch infection count has risen by another 209 cases in the past 24 hours. It brings the Netherlands’ total to 45,445 cases since the original outbreak in March.
The number of hospital admissions continues to drop, with only 8 people considered to be in a serious condition to be hospitalized in the past day. In the same time period, 8 people died as a result of COVID-19. The total Dutch death toll now stands at 5,830.
There is often a delay in the reporting of figures, so these numbers may be adjusted.
Close to the Dutch border, a host threw a private party to celebrate the easing of coronavirus measures. Unfortunately, as the guests did not take any safety precautions, 18 of them got sick with the coronavirus. A further 118 guests now have to enter quarantine. While we might be easing off measures, the threat from the coronavirus is far from over.
It’s been almost two weeks since primary schools partially reopened in the Netherlands. Prior to this, students were unexpectedly homeschooling as part of social-distancing measures.
According to a survey by the General Association of School Leaders (AVS), this hasn’t put the students far behind where they should be. 90% of professors surveyed said that their students’ learning went unaffected, while the rest will receive special attention in order to bring them up-to-date with their learning.
At a slaughterhouse in Groenlo, 22% of the workers got infected with the coronavirus. This signals the poor working and living conditions these workers face, which was a great issue even before the outbreak of the pandemic.
The cramped living conditions for these workers might have been one of the biggest factors in the spread of the virus, as they live in housing owned by the employment agency. The rooms are small and the workers need to share them, as well as other amenities.
In either case, the Netherlands should make more controls at such facilities in order to ensure labour laws are respected and that the living conditions are adequate, to avoid other outbreaks.
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With the coming of summer comes a more unpleasant side-effect, namely mosquito season.
The first peak of mosquitos might come as early as next week, RTL Nieuws reports. That, we think, is just plain rude. The mosquitos are due to arrive just as the Netherlands relaxes coronavirus restrictions on cafes and terraces. Oh, you thought you could enjoy a beer in peace? Not if these buzzy boys have anything to do with it.
So, why now?
In order to develop and thrive, mosquitos need stagnant water. The reason they need the stagnant water is for them to place their eggs in it, so that they may hatch at a later time and come haunt you with their buzzing and blood-sucking attitude.
As it hasn’t rained that much this spring, the mosquitos have also been slow to rear their ugly heads. However, yesterday’s rain provides a great breeding opportunity for these pesky insects.
Checking out the mosquito radar
The easiest way to track the situation of the mosquito season in the Netherlands is by checking out muggenradar.nl.
This website is a radar of mosquito activity throughout the country and you can also make your own reports of mosquito sightings to improve the accuracy of the radar. If you do struggle with them or are at-risk, it’s best to check it out.
Possibility of a longer mosquito season
Arnold van Vliet of Wageningen University says that we should expect a longer mosquito season due to the drought. According to him, when the temperature is higher, several generations of mosquitos can develop and thrive.
The trick to stopping them from growing is throwing out any still water around your house. For example, bowls that you left outside that have water in them are high-breeding grounds for mosquitos. You should also check out for stagnant water in other places, such as under wells.
How do you deal with these pesky insects? Let us know in the comments!
