In the coming years, growth of the Schiphol airport will be limited, partly due to the coronavirus crisis, but the aim is also to make it more environmentally friendly and to focus on pre-existing issues.  

Originally, the aim was to increase the amount of flights to 540,000 (woah!) in the coming year, but it is likely that the numbers will remain at their current quantities, 500,000.

The cabinet will confirm this decision on Friday, according to NOS. But nonetheless, now is the time to improve existing problems such as noise and sustainability— and this is what the cabinet aims to do.

Less flights

Before coronavirus hit the world, Schiphol airport was approaching half a million flights annually. But coronavirus has meant that people are increasingly reluctant to fly.

With 90% of the aviation industry worldwide currently unemployed, we may not return to regular flying amounts till 2030, NOS states.

Remember airports? Me neither. Here is a map showing the largest airports in Europe by passenger count (2019 data). Source: https://t.co/seUj69h2Ad pic.twitter.com/0BTK37pQkP

— Simon Kuestenmacher (@simongerman600) May 6, 2020

The cabinet would like to return to 500,000 flights per year over the coming years, and once the corona crisis resolves itself, possibly more (but note that flying is pretty bad for the environment, so if it’s unnecessary for the coming time, why do it?).

Good for KLM

The Netherlands is KLM’s home base, so to speak. So if Schiphol recovers from the coronavirus crisis and begins to grow, and if KLM recovers too, then any excess space made by the airport could be taken up by them instead of foreign airlines.

All about the environment

It is possible for Schiphol to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the environment. This can firstly be done by encouraging people to use air travel only when necessary. For instance, flights don’t actually need to fly between Schiphol and Brussels, to Berlin, or even to London, now that the EuroStar between Amsterdam and London and Rotterdam and London exists.

These are fairly short flights, and utilise the same take-off emissions as flights to Asia and the US. Talk about waste. Instead, the use of trains could be prioritised instead of air travel.

BREAKING: #ClimateAction at Airport Schiphol! Greenpeace activists cycle on airport runway demanding climate conditions for bailout. Check out the livestream: https://t.co/TYvhuwzJAW #AirFranceKLM #BailOutPeopleNotCorporations pic.twitter.com/TWrMZ29RA9

— Greenpeace NL (@GreenpeaceNL) May 14, 2020

Additionally, at one point there were ideas of moving the airport to the North Sea in order to create more space. Given the current situation, that idea’s definitely been tabled.

Likely for the best, since that area is absolutely necessary to create a large wind farm.  The wind farm would enable the transport of electricity to other North Sea neighbours such as the UK, Denmark, Germany, Belgium and Norway.

A glimpse into Utopia

The coronavirus has shown us how different the world could be if we pay a little more attention to our everyday energy consumptions. In Delhi, for instance, the air, less heavy with pollution, now replicates air from the 1980’s. Elsewhere similar trends follow.

Coronavirus has shown us a world in which people do not interfere with the environment. And it’s a good one. Here’s hoping that once life returns to what it was pre-corona, our planet continues to flourish the way it has during corona.

Are you planning on flying anytime soon? Let us know in the comments.

Feature Image: Abuzer van Leeuwen/Supplied

The Netherlands is currently undergoing a transition period in which the coronavirus measures are being eased.

One of the major steps was the opening of primary schools on May 11. However, these past few days, 55,000 children continued to stay at home, reports RTL Nieuws.

Children staying at home in 90% of schools

A poll by the General Association of School Leaders (AVS) confirms this. According to the poll, in 90% of schools in the Netherlands, children remained home out of concerns over the coronavirus. However, this number varied from school to school. For example, in some schools, 10% of students did not come at all. In other schools, only one child stayed at home.

School directors surveyed in the poll confirmed that the children who stayed at home were mostly ones with medical conditions that cause them to be at greater health risk if they come into contact with the coronavirus.

Some teachers stayed at home too

In half of the schools polled, some teachers also stayed at home. Petra van Haren, the chair of AVS, said that “at five percent of the schools, there were not enough teachers to bring all classes to the school”. 

Another interesting aspect is that in 21% of schools, face masks were used, as this was not part of the initial recommendations for opening-up the schools, indicating that concerns over coronavirus in schools are quite high.

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

Feature Image: SuSanA Secretariat/Wikimedia Commons

The European Commission is working on a plan for European countries to reopen their borders this summer. The hope is that some tourism will be able to take place, NU.nl reports.

When the coronavirus crisis began, European countries shut their borders to one another in a rather haphazard way, deciding individually when they would do so. The European Commission is hoping that, by coming up with guidelines for the process, they can make the reopening of borders a little more organised.

Countries may open to other countries with a similar risk profile

They are doing this by allowing countries to reopen to other countries with a similar risk profile. Data from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is used to decide this. Countries must reopen to all countries with a similar risk profile, and cannot work on individual agreements with each other, as France and Great Britain seem to have been doing.

Greece and Portugal hope to reopen for tourists

For countries like Portugal and Greece, who have not been hit badly by the coronavirus crisis so far, and which rely on tourism for a significant proportion of their GDP, there is a clear incentive to reopen for tourism. For other countries which have been harder hit, a holiday at home is the plan.

Do you expect to be able to go on holiday this year? Let us know your predictions in the comments below.

Feature Image: Carlos Andres Rivera Castillo/Pexels

The Dutch infection count is continuing to fall, according to the latest figures from RIVM. In the past 24-hours a further 227 people have tested positive to the virus as the Netherlands continues its ascent towards 45,000.

In the same time period, a further 52 people have died. To date, coronavirus is confirmed to have claimed the lives of a total 5,562 people.

Meanwhile, 52 people were admitted to hospital from the virus in the past day.

Here’s what to expect if you go to a restaurant in the Netherlands after June 1

Hotels, restaurants and cafes are set to open up after June 1. But of course, coronavirus is still widespread across the country and there will be conditions attached. Here are a few: entry into a restaurant will only be permitted if you have a reservation. Additionally, before entering you’ll be asked some questions to detect whether you are experiencing coronavirus symptoms.

Consumers with cancelled travel plans must be able to choose a refund, European Commission says

The coronavirus crisis has had a huge impact on the tourism sector in Europe, and across the world. The question the European Commission is dealing with now is whether to support the tourism industry, or the rights of consumers. For obvious reasons, giving customers a voucher for a future trip is much better for tourism industries financially. However, legally, customers must be given a choice between a voucher and a full refund.

Coronavirus has slammed the economy: will consumers pay the price?

A gradual loosening of the coronavirus measures was announced last week. With strict limitations placed on businesses,  the economy is anything but returning to “normal.” Consumers may have to bear the brunt of some of these restrictions once things begin to open up.

Luckily, public transport also shouldn’t be raising their prices (we can only assume it’s because it’s crazy expensive already.) Furthermore, museums or amusement parks are not expected to start charging more for tickets even if they make losses.

Coronavirus crisis has caused an increase in psychological complaints, study shows

There has been an increase in the number of complaints from patients with a serious psychiatric problem during the coronavirus crisis in the Netherlands. This is due to several factors. First of all, many patients have not been able to access face to face help from a care provider for several months. Accordingly, it’s no surprise that 38% feel that there is not enough help available to them.

40% of patients are experiencing more psychological complaints than usual, but for some people, the coronavirus crisis has actually been good for their mental health. This is largely down to the removal of some stress factors, such as more rest, less social pressure, and less stress to get work done.

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

Feature Image: DutchReview/Canva

Since Monday, five surfers have been found dead at at Scheveningen. Their cause of death is still being investigated; however, it is possible that a thick layer of sea foam played a role. 

The Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) is currently investigating the incidents, RTL Nieuws reports. 

According to NIOZ researcher Katja Philippart, what they want to know is whether excess algae was present in the water near the area, or whether it was excess wind. This is because, if it was the algae that played a role, this can be reported so that dangerous incidents in the future can be prevented.

Excess algae combined with wind

According to RTL Nieuws, the combination of dead algae and heavy winds created a thick, dangerous layer of sea foam.

It is likely this that caused even more dangerous circumstances for surfers.

For more news, follow DutchReview on Facebook. 

Feature Image: Abuzer Van Leeuwen/Supplied

There has been an increase in the number of complaints from patients with a serious psychiatric problem during the coronavirus crisis in the Netherlands.

A study by Trimbos and MIND on 600 people with a serious psychiatric problem (such as bipolar disorder, depression, or a personality disorder) has shown that over the past two months of the coronacrisis, most patients have had more complaints than usual.

Why are patients finding this time more difficult than usual?

This is due to several factors. First of all, many patients have not been able to access face to face help from a care provider for several months. This should have improved since mid-April, when the previous directive was relaxed. However, it seems that getting face-to-face appointments is still an issue for people with psychiatric problems.

Consultation with patients about contact seems to help

Accordingly, it’s no surprise that 38% feel that there is not enough help available for them. But the good news is that there appears to be a way to make the situation better: the study also showed that if care providers consulted with patients about what kind of contact they wanted, the patients tended to mostly be satisfied.

Some have had a positive experience during this time

40% of patients are experiencing more psychological complaints than usual, but for some people, the coronavirus crisis has actually been good for their mental health. This is largely down to the removal of some stress factors, such as more rest, less social pressure, and less stress to get work done. However, for others, particularly those with worries about the future and the Netherlands, the crisis has had a negative impact.

How have you been coping with the crisis? Let us know in the comments below.

Feature Image: Andrew Neel/Pexels

The coronavirus crisis has had a huge impact on the tourism sector in Europe, and across the world. The question the European Commission is dealing with now is whether to support the tourism industry, or the rights of consumers.

It has come strongly down on the side of consumers, ruling that people who have booked a holiday before the crisis started should be allowed to get a full refund, and not just a voucher, RTL Nieuws reports. This goes against what many European countries want to happen.

Tourism sector will struggle without support

For obvious reasons, giving customers a voucher for a future trip is much better for tourism industries financially. However, legally, customers must be given a choice between a voucher and a full refund. Many EU countries want to curtail travellers’ rights in this time, in order to support the tourism sectors, but the European Commission has come out firmly against this idea.

Dutch plea to relax consumer regulations denied

At the end of April, the Netherlands, along with eleven other European countries, asked the European Commission for permission to relax the usual consumer protection regulations with regard to airline travel: in short, airlines would be able to offer customers a voucher only, instead of a refund. But customers must be offered a choice according to European rules.

Governments should save their own tourism sectors

The Commission has said that governments themselves should save the tourism sector, and that such a burden should not be put on consumers themselves: many of whom are, after all, dealing with the impact of the coronavirus crisis on their personal lives, as well.

Should customers lose their right to choose between a refund and a voucher to save the tourism sector? Let us know in the comments below.

Feature Image: Magdalena Smolnicka/Pixabay

Hotels, restaurants and cafes are set to open up after June 1. But of course, coronavirus is still widespread across the country and there will be conditions attached. 

The Koninklijke Horeca Nederland is a trade association which has comprised a protocol for the catering industry and how compliance with the coronavirus regulations must be carried out, RTL Nieuws reports.

Here’s what you can expect:

Minimal customers

In order for restaurants to plan accordingly and keep the numbers at a low, you’ll need to make a reservation as spontaneous customers will not be permitted.

Before entering the restaurant, you’ll need to wash your hands or use hand sanitiser in order to disinfect them.

Passing a “test”

Then, you’ll be asked a couple questions before entering, namely whether you have coronavirus symptoms: whether you’ve had a cough, a cold, a fever over 38 degrees, shortness of breath in the past 24 hours. You’ll also be asked if someone you live with has the aforementioned symptoms. The restaurant or cafe can refuse entry if they suspect any complaints.

And finally…

If you do pass this “test,” employees will be able to serve you within 1.5 meters distance, so you don’t need to worry about awkward interactions with waitstaff (at least due to corona).

Other measures to keep in mind

• You can only be seated at a restaurant with a maximum of four other people, unless you belong to a household consisting of more people
• At bars, only 4 people are allowed to sit side by side, unless you’re in a larger household.
• Once guests have left, the areas need to be cleaned thoroughly.

Seems like it might be more stressful than enjoyable to visit a restaurant in corona times.

Do you plan on visiting a restaurant after June 1? Let us know in the comments.  

Feature image: Igor Starkov/Pexels