The anti-vax campaign has spread worldwide over the past years, with some parents believing vaccines to be unsafe for children. This has turned out, unsurprisingly, to be a dangerous idea, with some places experiencing measles outbreak due to unvaccinated children.
To take action against the irresponsible anti-vax campaign, some governments around the world have started to implement policies to either make vaccines obligatory or other measures regarding the implementation of vaccination. The Netherlands might pass this afternoon a proposal, specifying that daycare centres have the right to refuse unvaccinated children.
Proposal for daycare centres coming from D66
It is the political party D66 that has decided to push for this proposal in Parliament, reports NOS. The proposal initially did not garner political support, but D66 has made some amends. One of them is that children who are allergic to vaccines are exempt from the proposal, therefore they can still go to daycare centres unvaccinated.
As of the changes in the proposal, the PvdA is in favour, alongside the VVD and the PVV, thus garnering majority support in Parliament.
Not everyone fully supports the proposal. Some doctors have stated that there is a risk if unvaccinated children go to daycare centres which have no regulation on obligatory vaccination.
Obligatory vaccination to be implemented only if vaccination rates continue to fall
Two of the state secretaries in the Netherlands, the Van Ark (Social Affairs) and Blokhuis (Public Health), stated back in last October that they do not want yet to implement obligatory vaccination.
They are following advice given by the Vermeij committee, which considers that obligatory vaccination should be implemented only if the vaccination rate continues to go down.
Last October, the vaccination rate in the Netherlands was at 90.2 percent. The vaccination rate for measles was at 92.9 percent. The World Health Organization recommends a vaccination rate of 95 percent to avoid any risks.
Should obligatory vaccination be implemented in the Netherlands? Let us know in the comments.
If a minor in Rotterdam is found with a knife for a second time, a fine of 2,500 euros will be imposed on the parents, the mayor of Rotterdam, Ahmed Aboutaleb told Radio Rijnmond yesterday evening.
Knife violence has also prompted the mayors of Nissewaard and Ridderkerk to call for a complete national ban of minors carrying knives as there have been stabbing incidents involving minors in both municipalities.
In Spijkenisse, Nissewaard, for instance, a 13-year-old was arrested for stabbing a 14-year-old, which resulted in serious injuries.
A national ban on knives?
The Dutch minister of security and justice, Ferdinand Grapperhaus, opposes the idea of a national ban.
Aboutaleb sees both perspectives. “Because what is a knife? A potato peeler? And is it no longer allowed during scouting?” he remarks. On the other hand, he sees the danger of knife violence.
For this reason, the municipality of Rotterdam has decided to impose this “penalty payment” if youth has been caught with a knife twice. Penalty fines are municipal competences and therefore do not require national politics.
What causes knife violence amongst youth?
According to the mayor, employees of the municipality of Rotterdam are currently researching knife violence in London. The mayor notes that knife violence has its origins there, where it has been problematic for a while now. He states that knife violence is “associated with drill music” which glorifies knives and rivalry. Furthermore, it makes these adolescents feel more powerful.
Given the recent incidents and the new fine in Rotterdam, it appears as if there is a need to regulate knife violence among youth, as it could easily spiral out of control.
Should knives among youth be completely banned? Let us know in the comments!
Despite their oppressive and dark winters, constant windy and rainy weather and 5-minute train delays, the Dutch seem to be quite happy with their lives, as a study by the Central Bureau of Statistics concludes.
According to the study, nine out of 10 Dutchies who are aged 15 or older reported to be happy. The Netherlands has consistently been popping up as the top country in happiness surveys for a while, yet this happiness is dependent on several factors, RTL reports.
Non-Western migrants are less happier
This might not come as a surprise, but Dutchies born in the Netherlands seem to be happier than migrants from non-Western countries. We assume this might have to do with exposing yourself to a very different culture (things like culture shock) and not knowing the language which leads to a degree of alienation, and, in case the migrants come from a place with better weather, the wetness and coldness of this place. The CBS study states that compared to 1997, the gap between Dutchies and non-Western migrants has become smaller when it comes to happiness. It’s not specified, however, what exactly qualifies as a non-Western migrant, because odds are that different groups (Eastern Europeans, non-European migrants) probably have different levels of happiness in the Netherlands.
Turns out healthy people with a love life are happier
Surprise! People with a partner report to be happier (92 percent) than those who are alone (80 percent). Being healthy also seems to be an indicator of happiness. Those who report being in good health are happier (94 percent) than those who are of ill health (58 percent).
It seems like trust in institutions is another indicator of Dutch happiness. Another important factor is contact with family and with friends. Those who do not interact with friends and family are reportedly less happy (65 percent) than those who do (90 percent).
Personality traits play a role in happiness
The study reports that certain personality traits are more conductive to happiness. Dutch people who are emotionally stable and extroverted are on average happier. Being selfless, caring and honest also seem to be personality traits that lead to higher degree of happiness.
Does age and gender influence happiness?
It seems that, at least for Dutch people, there is no major difference in happiness between men and women. Age seems not to be a factor either, which contradicts an earlier American study on happiness, which found the least happy age to be 47.2 years old.
Education leads to higher happiness
Finally, another factor that impacts happiness is the level of education. Highly-educated Dutch people report being happy (93 percent) compared to those Dutchies with lower levels of education (85 percent).
For the purpose of this study, 11,000 Dutchies were selected for research. The data was used from the Social Cohesion and Welfare study that belongs to the Central Bureau of Statistics.
Do you think the Dutchies are as happy as they claim to be? Let us know in the comments.
In this day and age the term ‘multitasking’ is apparently the new norm. And George Barratt-Jones’s creation, the Cyclo-Knitter is only proof of this phenomenon. Not only do you get your exercise in while waiting for your train, but you end up knitting a scarf at the same time.
“I decided on making waiting for your train in the winter more enjoyable,” he writes.
So what exactly is the Cyclo-Knitter?
His invention is essentially a bike-powered loom and if you peddle for five minutes, you’ll create scarf.
Imagine that. Exercising and knitting at the same time. In the end, you get a free scarf “that you can decide to keep yourself or give to someone who needs it more,” he continues. “It’s all about spreading joy and making those boring moments more fun.”
Barratt-Jones started the project off as an assignment for the Design Academy of Eindhoven, where he studied.
In addition to the Cyclo-Knitter, Barratt-Jones has also created a number of other inventions such as the Keep Moving Bench that throws people off if they’ve been sitting too long, and Hot Hands, a public hand-warmer for cold weather.
For more information about the Cyclo-Knitter, Barratt-Jones or any of these other inventions, check out georgious.nl.
What do you think of this invention? Let us know in the comments below.
After two consecutive storms in a row, it seems like the weather is not getting any calmer.
Storm Ellen is on the horizon and might make landfall this coming weekend.
Storm Dennis was relatively weaker than storm Ciara
Storm Dennis, which made landfall yesterday, was not as strong as Storm Ciara. Nevertheless, tiles were blown off rooftops, and in some areas, entire roofs came off. Some trains were also cancelled, and road traffic also went through difficulties, reports RTL.
How will the weather be like this week?
For today, the weather will be rainy and drizzling in some areas, with the occasional streaks of sunlight. The wind will blow with speeds of up to 80 kilometres an hour. Yellow code was announced from 11 AM everywhere except the Walden area.
Winds continue throughout the week
Unfortunately, the wind will not falter throughout the week. Martijn Dorrestein, a meteorologist from Buienradar, says that almost every day we can expect a wind force ranging from 3 to 7, coming from the southwest.
There will be a temperature drop on Wednesday, with the average being 8 degrees Celsius, with the possibility of a wee bit of sunshine. In classic Dutch fashion, Thursday and Friday remain unpredictable, with strong wind, as well as sunshine and rain.
Storm Ellen next Sunday
For the third time in a row, a storm will arrive during Sunday, bringing with it winds of up to 75 to 100 kilometres an hour. Mr Dorrestein has said that this is a special event that does not occur frequently. For now, it’s hard to pinpoint if these storms have been the result of human-induced climate change, but we wouldn’t be surprised if it did!
Do you think these storms will happen more often? Let us know in the comments.
After Storm Dennis this weekend, the Netherlands is experiencing uncommonly warm weather for February: so much so that we’re getting spring temperatures, even though the astronomical spring only begins on 20 March.
First spring temperature recorded on Sunday in De Bilt
For the first time this year, the thermometer in De Bilt hit 15 degrees on Sunday. 15 degrees is used as the official measure of spring weather. But this temperature, already very mild, was not the hottest recorded in the Netherlands over the weekend.
Yesterday, in the Limburg Arcen, 18.3 degrees was measured. This broke the temperature record for 16 February by a whole degree. The record for the same date in De Bilt, 13.3 degrees, was already broken the night before.
Not unusual for February to be warmer than average
It’s not completely unusual for February to be warmer than average- this often happens if there is a storm, according to weatherman Gerrit Hiemstra in an interview with NOS. And we’ve seen our fair share of storms over the past two weeks, with Storm Ciara last week, and Storm Dennis this weekend.
… but we’re hitting spring temperatures a whole month early this year
However, this February will be four degrees warmer than usual as a whole, and we should not expect colder weather for the next two weeks at least. The average date for the first spring temperature is 16 March- which, as you can see, we’re hitting a whole month early this year.
The aftermath of Storm Dennis
Storm Dennis hit the Netherlands this weekend, but generally left behind only light damage. In Middelburg the Koorkerk and a building near the monumental Stadsschuur were damaged and on Texel the facade of a house in Den Burg collapsed during the storm. Some flights into Schiphol were cancelled, mostly coming out of the UK.
These temperatures are not good news
Although you might feel tempted to celebrate this warm weather- after all, any improvement on Dutch weather is worth celebrating- it’s worth bearing in mind the elephant in the room, climate change. A warmer climate means, among other things, rising sea levels, which is bad news for this flat country.
What was your experience of Storm Dennis? Let us know in the comments below.
The Euromast: one of the most iconic Rotterdam highlights. Also, so ingrained into the Rotterdam skyline, that it just wouldn’t be the same without it. I finally ventured up there to check the view and tell you if it’s worth it (spoiler: yes!)
What is the Euromast?
The Euromast is a ‘mast’ 185m above ground – making it the tallest building in the Netherlands. It’s located in the modern and vibrant city, which is Rotterdam (the best city of course). Its current main purpose is to serve as an observation tower (which makes perfect sense, considering it’s the tallest in the Netherlands). It was constructed in 1960 and was built to mark the first ‘Floriade’, which was the international flower and garden exhibition.
The Euromast was named – ‘euro’ purely because Rotterdam was at the heart of the European Economic Area, and ‘mast’ because it is a word that is widely understood in many different languages.
Pretty mindblowing pic of the Euromast in 1960
The Euromast was never always this tall though. In the sixties, it stood at 101m tall. At this point, it was by the far the vocal point of the Rotterdam skyline, but as Rotterdam became more modernised, the other architecture soon caught up. One of these was the Erasmus MC building, which stole the top spot for the tallest building. The Euromast wasn’t going to let anyone else have a piece of the pie. In 1970, a ‘space tower’ (the euroscoop) was added, taking the height of the Euromast to what it is today (185m). The Euromast then regained its status of being the tallest building in Rotterdam and the Netherlands. It’s also part of the World Federation of Great Towers, joining the likes of the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building – impressive!
So, what makes the Euromast so worthy of a visit?
Since this time, the Euromast has undergone a lot of changes. The restaurants have been revamped, a hotel, an additional tower, and many other features have been added. Therefore, the Euromast is unique in so many different ways.
For a start, you get to reach the highest point in the Netherlands (which is already pretty cool in itself). You get to the top of the first tower via an elevator which takes you 4m per second (in 30 seconds you are taken 100m up)! Then you’re already impressed by what you see. You have the freedom to wander around and take lots of pictures (your Instagram is going to blow up).
Then, when you’re already satisfied with the view, you have the opportunity to go up the ‘Euroscoop.’
This is basically a circular dome, with seats all the way around, which spins slowly as you ascend up the tower to 185m. This may sound scary, but trust me, it’s really not. As you are spinning around merrily, you are greeted with a voice over the speakers telling you all about the history of the Euromast and Rotterdam. Important and interesting sites are pointed out to you and you come away knowing almost everything you need to know about Rotterdam.
The Euroscoop 360 experience really hit it off when it came to the sickest views of Rotterdam
Cool, huh? For me this was an absolute top-notch experience. So what else is there to do at the Euromast.
Three top things to do at the Euromast:
Enjoy the view
We need to talk about this a bit more just because the view from the Euromast is spectacular. No matter the season or the weather, the view will always blow you away. You have two choices of either sticking to the main platform, where you can walk around at almost 100m up or going up with the Euroscoop. The best bit? You don’t have to pay extra to go higher up, like a lot of other similar attractions out there do. On a clear day, you can see as far as places such as The Hague, Moerdijk and Antwerp. The thing about the Euromast is, even if the weather isn’t that great, Rotterdam still looks amazing from above.
Eat delicious food
There are two places to eat at the Euromast. Firstly is the Deli on the ground floor, where you can find a selection of delicious pastries, snacks and coffee. It’s free entry too!
The second is the main restaurant on the first platform. You are guaranteed that this will be the best restaurant-view that you will have in the whole of the Netherlands! You can dine for lunch, for dinner, go for high wine or high tea (literally ‘high’). All of this, whilst looking down at the beautiful Rotterdam skyline. You’d think that you’d be out of pocket by dining at a place like this, however the prices are really good and the food is great too. For example, their chief can surprise you with their choice of a 3-course meal and it’s only €36,50pp. That’s an amazing deal, especially with the view!
They also served ‘Old Rotterdammer’ cheesecubes – How can you say no to that?
We were there at lunch-time, so we opted for the Euromast clubsandwich. We weren’t disappointed:
For those that have been there a few years back, the restaurant has been completely revamped a year ago (quite an improvement) and all in all it’s quite the dining experience up there.
Sleep amongst the stars
Just when you thought the Euromast had it all, you realize that it reallydoes have it all. On the platform just above the restaurant are two luxury hotel rooms, equipped with all the essentials such as champagne (definitely the biggest essential), a Jacuzzi or rain shower, a minibar and an amazing view of the city (basically the Euromast IS your balcony). A delicious breakfast is also included in your stay (and you can have it served to your room)! What more could you want.
From euromast.nl – this one goes on my bucketlist
That’s not all – there are many other things to enjoy at the Euromast. These include extreme things like abseiling and zip-lining. An adrenaline junkie, or looking for a cool present for someone to love? These are your go-to!
I bought this as a present for someone… look how high it is!Go and enjoy the Museumpark right next to it on a sunny day
As you can see, the Euromast is more than just a pretty view (which is good enough already). There is lots to do there, so if you’re stuck for something cool and fun to do if you are in Rotterdam, then the Euromast is worth a visit.
Living in another country can be an amazing but challenging experience. Living in a country during a global pandemic? That’s more challenging than ever. You may be battling loneliness, homesickness, and concerns over navigating a health crisis in a foreign country.
If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, you’re not alone. In 2015, the Dutch statistics bureau CBS estimated there were up to 75,000 expats in the Netherlands. While we’re lucky enough that in the Netherlands many Dutch people speak English to remove the language barrier, that only goes halfway to easing our worries.
Here are the most commons concerns from an international and how we can handle them.
Concern: should I go back home?
Should I leave everything and go back or should I stay put? Will I be able to come back to the Netherlands later? Will I unknowingly carry the disease back to my family?
If your country is one of the few lucky ones who have managed to get the virus under control, it might be worth considering going back home — provided the borders of your home country are open. Keep in mind that you may have to face quarantine restrictions upon your arrival and that traveling (especially through crowded places) is not entirely risk-free.
The solution
Well, we don’t have one. This is a personal decision highly impacted by your personal situation and the situation in your home country. Here are some questions you can ask yourself when considering whether to go back home or stay:
Will my country allow me back in?
Can I get a flight there? Take into account layovers in other countries and flight cancellations.
Will I be safer there than here?
Do I feel comfortable doing a full quarantine on arrival if necessary?
Will my mental health be better there?
Can my mental health cope with potentially stressful travel situations?
What are the benefits of being home?
What are the benefits of staying in the Netherlands?
Am I okay potentially not being able to return to the Netherlands for an extended period of time?
— Dr Erik Messamore (@ErikMessamoreMD) April 2, 2020
Concern: culture shock and language barrier
It takes enough energy to get to know your new country when the world is “normal,” but now you have to learn about it in a period of crisis. Jeez…you were just starting to learn the language, make friends and get used to borrelen and haring, and then this happens.
Thanks to social distancing measures, there aren’t many opportunities to meet new people at the moment, but it can increase feelings of loneliness. On top of that, maybe you don’t understand enough Dutch to read the news, or even follow instructions in the supermarket.
The solution
There are some things you can do to make this situation a little better: or at least understand what’s happening.
Firstly, follow DutchReview for updates and news — we’re continuing to publish all the latest updates in English.
Secondly, if you’re feeling a little lost in the supermarket, you can read specific supermarkets’ regulation signs using Google translate on your phone. Just open the app, select the camera, and take a picture — you’ll receive a full translation that’s normally pretty accurate.
Finally, use this as an opportunity to keep working on your Dutch skills.
Concern: self-isolating when you live alone
Staying alone in a lockdown can be one of the most difficult parts of this process. While you used to be able to get nuggets of conversation from your workplace, coffee shop, or even while parking your fiets, suddenly there’s nothing.
Take advantage of this time. When there’s no pandemic, we’re so busy with other stuff that we forget to check-in with ourselves and explore the things we like to do.
You may think you know yourself well because you’ve been in the same body since you were a child. Well, let me tell you something: from a cellular point of view, you are a completely different person every 10 years.
The solution
Take this time to learn more about yourself. Take up a new hobby — start drawing, sewing, playing an instrument, cooking, building Lego, decorating a room, playing a game online, or exercising: you never know what will stick!
Image: DutchReview
Doing some physical activity will make your brain chemicals happy, and since you’re alone, there is no shame in learning a new dance or sport in your bedroom with YouTube videos. No one will judge you for learning the basics of samba, belly dance, or pole dance. Who knows, maybe those moves will pay off in the future!
Plan a routine and stick to it. You can plan your working hours, the physical activity sessions, and even your menu for the week. It is important to make plans for the short term these days and following it will make you feel like an achiever!
Concern: family and friends in your home country
This is one of my biggest fears. How is my family? When will I be able to see them again?
The solution
Find ways to connect. The best way to deal with these fears is to talk with your friends and family more often. Even if there is a large time difference, it is worthwhile to have just a short chat!
Maybe this won’t heal all your worries but at least you will be taking advantage of this time to connect with the ones who are important to you. I am sure they are also worried about you, and in difficult times communication is the best tool you can use to ease the anxiety.
Concern: the Dutch health system
Expats have very strong opinions about the Dutch health system — in fact, we joke a lot about how paracetamol is the cure for everything in the Netherlands. I felt worried when news of coronavirus started to appear over whether it would help, or whether my basic health insurance was enough to cover a hospital stay.
The solution
Luckily, the Dutch system was right this time. Because coronavirus is a viral infection, using Paracetamol to relieve symptoms in mild cases is recommended. For serious cases, hospitals have all the necessary equipment.
If you’re worried that as an international you’ll be treated as a second-class citizen, think again. Every Dutch doctor takes the same oath: to save lives regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, etc.
If you’re worried about insurance, just give your provider a call or check on the website. I did it and now I am more relaxed about it. Even if you don’t have insurance, hospitals will still take care of you — they’ll just try to collect the bill later.
Concern: post-pandemic consequences
What will happen next? What will the economy end up in the Netherlands or in my home country? Should I start looking for a new job? Should I start sending money to my country or trying to save it just in case?
The solution
Stop worrying. All these concerns are useless because at the moment because no-one knows what is going to happen. All we know is things will change: the economy, society, and ourselves.
But the best thing we can do is expect the best — and prepare for the worst. Maybe now is not the time to buy a lot or make impactful financial decisions. Try to enjoy it: take a break from thinking or worrying about the future.
At the end of the day, the current situation is unprecedented: we’re all feeling our way through the dark. Remember to reach out to friends, family, or mental health hotlines if you need help.
Meanwhile, remember you are not alone in this crisis. If you are an international or not, there are people just like you are having the same feelings and experiences. The best way to ease those fears is to talk about them with others.
What are your concerns as an expat sitting out the pandemic in the Netherlands? Got any tips on dealing with any concerns? Let us know in the comments below!
Feature Image: Ethan Sykes/Unsplash Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in April 2020, and was fully updated in February 2021 for your reading pleasure.
Let’s be clear: you need to visit Leeuwarden. Amsterdam may be the capital of the Netherlands, Utrecht might be the coolest, and Den Haag might be the second-largest city, but guys, you’re missing out if you think the north doesn’t have anything to offer.
The closest you’ve probably come to the north of the Netherlands is Giethoorn— which becomes so popular with tourists during the summer that it’s almost impossible to wander around those crowded canals.
Look, the other cities are great and all, but there are plenty of places up north that will tickle your fancy too.
I’m here to fly the flag for Friesland. It gets a bad rap from a lot of people, for various reasons, which we’ll go into another time, but if you think we’ve got nothing to offer up here, you’re highly mistaken.
Leading with Leeuwarden
Leeuwarden is Friesland’s capital. Maybe that name rings a bell? It should, because it was the Cultural Capital of Europe a mere two years ago, bringing a wave of incredible acts and festivals to the city throughout the year.
Leeuwarden is well worth a visit. It offers all the charm of larger-scale cities in a smaller, more intimate setting. Its cobbled side streets have gritty stories to tell, it’s overflowing with culture and street art, and its main shopping street sits canal side, along with stacks of cafes, bars and restaurants which offer you the perfect spot for some riveting people watching.
Summer day in Leeuwarden? What a dream. Image: M.M.Minderhoud/Wikimedia Commons/CC1.0
How to get to Leeuwarden
If that’s tickled your fancy, you’ll need to know how to make it to the north in one piece.
Luckily, it’s super easy. From Amsterdam, you’re a mere two-hour train journey away from Leeuwarden’s centre. Once you’ve made the journey, you can hop straight off the train and be in the hustle and bustle within five minutes. From other Dutch cities it’s just as simple.
Of course, taxi services and buses are widely available too, but these could end up making your journey a heck of a lot longer, which means less time to enjoy Leeuwarden!
What can I do there?
Leeuwarden is brimming with fantastic museums, shops, bars and unique experiences that you can’t turn down. You can easily spend an entire day getting lost down the side streets and stumbling upon new areas that just demand to be explored.
Let’s look at four of the best things you can do if you want a quick peak into Leeuwarden’s history and culture:
Fries Museum
Fries as in ‘frees’ not ‘fries’ – sadly not about hot chips, but still a great place to visit in Leeuwarden. Image: Larissa Bakker/Pixabay
If you’re looking to dive into the story of Friesland, you need to head to the Fries Museum, which sits on Wilhelminaplein, just three minutes from the train station.
Although the museum itself is almost 200 years old, it sits in a newly built building, and it’s full of amazing exhibitions that will tell you all you need to know about the north of the Netherlands. You can grab yourself a guided tour (in English, too!) or spend some time taking it all in at your own pace.
It’s not all just about Friesland though. The Fries Museum hosts other exhibits throughout the year, and there’s plenty for kids to see and do — it’s incredibly interactive and can keep you busy for a few hours, especially if the weather isn’t on your side.
De Blokhuispoort
A visit to Leeuwarden isn’t complete without checking out De Blokhuispoort. Image: Frits de Jong/Pixabay
Another incredible place to visit is De Blokhuispoort, an old prison building which is now home to entrepreneurs, shops, restaurants and even a library.
Wander through the prison gates and catch a glimpse of the surroundings for Frisian criminals back in the 18th and 19th centuries. It’s open seven days a week and you can take a guided tour of the old prison each day at 2 PM or 4 PM.
If you fancy seeing what life was like for criminals who had to spend their nights locked up in a cell, you can even stay overnight in Hostel Alibi. This fantastic hostel offers shared or private dorm rooms for single or group travelers and is an amazing experience that you don’t see every day.
Not sure you’re quite ready to spend the night locked in the same room as former criminals (what if ghosts do exist!)? Maybe you’d like to eat your lunch at Proefverlof, where you can dine on locally sourced food within the (revamped) prison walls, or out on the terrace and right on the waterfront. It’s a gorgeous spot to unwind for a moment and take in the laid back attitude of the city.
Fancy a bird’s eye view of the city? For those of you who aren’t afraid of heights, there are two ways you can do this in Leeuwarden.
Take in the views at Achmeatoren…
Whew! You can see all of Leeuwarden from here! Image: Wutsje/Wikimedia Commons/CC3.0
For the highest highs and the most panoramic views of Leeuwarden, head to the Achmeatoren. But beware: this tower isn’t open often. You have to check their website for the open days, and they’re few and far between. Lucky you if you land an open date though, because the view from 115 metres up is stunning, and on a clear day you can even see the Wadden Islands.
…or, at Oldehove
Grand and old, the Oldehove is the Pearl of Leeuwarden. Image: Anniek93/Wikimedia Commons/CC4.0
So there’s a second option if you just manage to miss the opening dates for the Achmeatoren. Head to the Oldehove, known as the Pearl of Leeuwarden. It’s a wonky tower that watches over the city and was built simply because the people of Leeuwarden wanted a tower higher than the Martinitoren in Groningen.
Spoiler alert, the Oldehove is not bigger than the Martinitoren. The unmissable leaning power of this tower meant that all building work had to be ceased in 1532 (just three years after building work actually began), for fear of it toppling over altogether.
From its opening in March, the Oldehove is open daily, but only in the afternoons. You can climb to its peak of 39 metres (tiny in comparison to the Achmeatoren!) and gaze over Leeuwarden in all its glory. There’s even a glass panel for those daredevils amongst you who wish to stare death right in the face.
Once you’ve seen these four incredible sites, you’re more or less inaugurated into Leeuwarden and can spend the rest of the day people watching, canal-side whilst you sip a beer and snack on a portion of bitterballen.
Whilst that’s by no means everything there is to see and do in this charming city, these starter activities are enough to get you into the swing of things. Wander the side roads, see where they take you. I promise there’s something great to see or do around every corner.
Have you had a chance to visit Leeuwarden? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below!
Feature Image: M.M.Minderhoud/Wikimedia Commons/CC1.0 Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in February 2020, and was fully updated in October 2020 for your reading pleasure.
If you thought storm Ciara was the last of it, think again. Brace yourselves, my friends, for Dennis will take the Netherlands by storm (ha!) this weekend. But there’s good news. Storm Dennis brings with it warmer weather.
You can expect heavy gusts of wind, but also very thankfully, higher temperatures. Not sure if that’s a good thing, as spring officially begins in March and an increase in temperature just means that climate change is taking its toll on the world. But after a week of wind, rain and frigid air, warmer weather is definitely welcome.
Temperatures to rise
The storm will be at its heaviest on Sunday, but temperatures in the provinces of Noord-Brabant and Limburg can rise to 16-17 degrees, and elsewhere in the Netherlands temperatures will increase to an average of 14-15 degrees, according to nu.nl. Hello spring.
Meanwhile, wind speed could reach to up to 90 kilometers per hour on the coast, and between 100 and 110 kmph in the northwest of the country.
Dennis is expected to hit hard between Scotland and Iceland, also affecting Ireland and Northern England. So in a way we’re lucky here in the Netherlands.
Would you rather: Storm and warm weather or sun and cold weather? Let us know in the comments!
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