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How to get a job in the Netherlands during the corona-crisis

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
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How to get a job in the Netherlands during the corona-crisis

It’s happened: you’ve finally arrived in the Netherlands and are looking for an amazing job. But, sometimes life gets in the way. The coronavirus outbreak has severely impacted the availability of jobs in the Netherlands. So how can you make yourself stand out for what’s left? 

First off, don’t panic. While the economy has taken an overall hit, some industries are flourishing with increased demand. The e-commerce, pharmaceutical, logistics, video conferencing, and entertainment sectors are all seeing their business increase, and need people to fill all types of jobs.

Meanwhile, for many companies, life is going on — at home. Hiring hasn’t necessarily been frozen, so finding a job is still very possible.

Even if you’re holding out for your dream career, now is a better time than ever to start working towards improving your resume. With social distancing expected to continue for a long time, even companies that aren’t hiring now could be in the future.

So how can you snag a sweet job and start kissing a regular paycheck? We’ve teamed up with Undutchables, the pros when it comes to employment for expats in the Netherlands. Using their specialist guidance, we’ve got the down and dirty on how to max out your resume and find yourself with a sweet job in the Netherlands during the coronavirus crisis.

How to upskill in a downturn

A full-time job takes up eight hours a day, seven days a week. Imagine if you could put all that time into improving yourself. Well, when you don’t have a job you can — and you should.

Yep, whether you’ve been laid off, had your hours cut, or just graduated, now is the time to turn work-time into you-time. And no, we don’t mean binge-watching How I Met Your Mother all day. Here are some concrete things you can do to upskill and impress a potential employer!

Follow online courses

Welcome to the digital revolution. In the past, if you wanted to upskill you needed to take night classes, correspondence courses, or quit your job and go to university. Now, you can just jump online and find a course for what you’re interested in — and many of them are free.

There are several major websites where you can give your skills a bump. Online MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses) providers like Udemy or Coursera are goldmines of short and long courses run by real experts and universities. There’s even one to learn Dutch from the University of Groningen if you want to impress a potential employer with your language skills.

Whether you want to become a spreadsheet-wizard, a Google Ad-sense pro, or learn a touch of programming — think about what skill-set will make your resume stand out to employers and have a look online for a free online course. You’ll be amazed at what’s available!

Review your resume

Take a squiz at that piece of paper you hand out to every potential employer. Unless you’re some kind of resume-writing wizard, we’re sure you can find ways to update it — and we don’t mean just the font 😉. If you’re not sure what to do with it, there are heaps of resources online!

When in doubt, have a friend or family member critique. Tell them not to hold back — a good resume should list your skills and experience, be engaging enough to read, but short enough to get the message across. And remember, research shows your resume only has 6-10 seconds to make an impression on a recruiter, so make those seconds count! Consider nabbing yourself a great resume coach if you need a hand.

Get social

Is your LinkedIn looking a little dusty? Your social media profiles are a window into your life, so reconsider what you want potential employers to see. Now is a great time to brush up on those LinkedIn skills, write a few ultra-impressive notes (we know you can do it!) and even pump up your connections — you never know, it may lead to a job offer!

While you’re at it, make sure your personal social media profiles are set to private, to ensure you work and personal life are kept separate.

READ MORE: Undutchables: Presenting yourself on social media

Create or update your personal brand

Who do you look up to in your field of work? How would you describe them? How do they portray themselves? Now turn those questions back onto yourself. How you present yourself to the world is a form of your own personal branding. Inspect your branding: how does it make you feel?

A break from work can be a great time to take your personal branding for a service. Think about how you want people in your career-path to see you. Make sure everything reflects this. If you have a website, make sure it reflects your brand. If it doesn’t, it’s time to start fresh. Once you have your brand, get it out there by deploying it over your social media channels.

TIP: Undutchables has a number of online meetings and webinars that can enlighten you on the finer parts of landing a Dutch job. Check ’em out!

Finding jobs to apply for

Your resume is maxed out and your cover letter is sparkling. Now all you need is a job to apply for! Of course, in the middle of a pandemic isn’t the most ideal time to be job-hunting. However, as we said, there are some industries exploding and others that are managing to carry on. So how do you find them?

This requires some re-evaluations of your skills. Maybe you’ve previously worked in one industry now experiencing a downturn — but your skills are easily transferrable to an industry experiencing an upturn.

A useful exercise can be taking the time to reflect on what your ideal job would be. Jot this down on one side of a page. On the other side of the page, write your skills. Then, try and make the links!

If you’re finding it hard to identify potential jobs, it may be time to speak with a recruitment consultant. A dedicated expat recruitment centre (like Undutchables) can take the time to identify your skills, and match you up with opportunities in the Netherlands that are ideal for you!

TIP: gather intel on company culture

A dramatic shift in how companies work is the perfect time to see how a business treats its employees. You only deserve the best, so check out social media and news reports to see if your potential employer has been mentioned.

Are they letting their employees work from home? Are they shedding jobs? Allowing extra time off? These are all clues as to how you may be treated in the future.

Sharpen those writing skills

Writing skills are always relevant — and even more so when the working world has gone remote. Whether you want to brush up on your written communication, or just make sure your cover letter shines, there’s always room to improve.

Look to online writing tools like Grammarly to avoid obvious mistakes, practice writing, or join a business writing MOOC. If you’re good, but want to go all the way to greatness and talk about the Netherlands on the way, consider becoming a contributor to DutchReview!

Prepare for a different type of interview

Instead of wiping your sweaty palms on a waiting room chair, you’ll now virtually wipe them while patiently waiting to be accepted for a video interview. But, don’t rest too easy just yet. Even though the interview may be digital, the same rules as a face-to-face interview still apply — with some minor adjustments:

  • Be on time (those digital waiting rooms are a blessing)
  • Make sure to prepare accordingly — research the company, think about what you want to know, plan how your skills will relate to their business.
  • Dress smartly — and please wear pants.
  • Choose a quiet space with no distractions or interruptions
  • Keep eye contact with your interviewer

TIP: eye contact is key

To make efficient eye contact in a virtual job interview, look and speak at your camera, not the person on the screen. A slight lowering of the eyes is easily seen on video calls. If you’re struggling, tape a photo of someone next to your camera!
Get more video interview preparation tips with Undutchables!

Get ready for online work

You never know when you’ll be asked to start, so make sure your home office is ready before you begin. We understand Dutch homes can be tiny, but try to choose a section of your house that is dedicated solely for work — avoid the bed and couch like a plague.

Your workspace should be quiet, and a little secluded. Natural sunlight can go a long way in getting you through a long workday. Choose a comfortable chair that you can sit in for hours on end, and set up a workspace that rivals a company’s office space.

If you’ll be working from your own laptop, consider investing in a second screen. These can run under €100 but make a whole lot of difference. Same goes for a wireless keyboard and mouse.

Know when to ask for help

During tricky times it can be incredibly helpful to turn to the experts when trying to get a job in the Netherlands. Undutchables are the leading recruitment agency for expats in the Netherlands. Whether you’ve just graduated or are an executive, Undutchables has the leads, tips, and information to successfully find a job in the Netherlands.

Do you have a top tip to get a job in the Netherlands during the coronavirus crisis? Let us know it in the comments below!

Feature Image: Julia M Cameron/Pexels
Editor’s Note: this article was originally published in April 2020, but was fully updated in January 2021 for your reading pleasure. 

Thousands of stones glow blue in monument for Dutch Holocaust victims

Freya Sawbridge
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Thousands of stones glow blue in monument for Dutch Holocaust victims

Back in January, a new monument, designed by Daan Roosegaarde, was unveiled in Rotterdam. It comprises 104,000 stones (one for each Dutch Holocaust victim) that look like regular rocks during the day but illuminate at night under a special UV light. It is truly spectacular. 

The artist’s intentions

Daan Roosegaarde has completed many interesting projects such as building houses out of recycled space waste but he knew this monument was a special request. “It is an honour to be asked” he says. He put his thinking cap on immediately and started researching possible ideas.

Roosegaarde did a lot of independent research for the monument as well as interviewing relatives of Holocaust victims to gauge their feelings and desires. He “visited the Holocaust monuments in Berlin, and of course that of Jan Wolkers in Amsterdam – for example, I saw all those stones on the glass plate. It is a well-known tradition that Jews lay stones on a grave, to show that they have been there” Trouw reports. 

Image: Daan Roosegaarde/Studio Roosegaarde

Should be about the past as much as the future

The committee for the monument emphasised the importance of not only commemorating the Holocaust victims but looking forward and making future generations appreciate their freedom. They also explained “and it also had to be not just about the Randstad, but about the entire country. After all, throughout the Second World War Jews, Sinti and Roma were deported across all provinces.”

The Levenslicht monument

This display is made up of 104,000 stones and filled with a special ink. When a UV light is shone on the monument, each stone glows and emanates a blue light.

Source: Daan Roosegaarde/Studio Roosegaarde

The team worked hard to develop technology that would allow this. “You have to see it to understand. You keep staring at it” Roosegaarde explains. He continues “Light means life to me. And communication. It provides a language to bring people together, in this case to commemorate together. Hence Levenslicht.”

Source: Daan Roosegaarde/Studio Roosegaarde

Interested to read more history? Check this detailed article about the Hunger Winter or read about Liberation Day in the Netherlands which celebrates end of the Nazi occupation in the Netherlands. 

Feature image: Daan Roosegaarde/Studio Roosegaarde

Netflix’s profit soars as they shift millions through Netherlands and avoid tax obligations

Freya Sawbridge
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Netflix’s profit soars as they shift millions through Netherlands and avoid tax obligations

Some people are defensive when you point out the Netherlands is a tax haven but it is nonetheless true and each year hundreds of companies take advantage of this. Netflix is one of these companies who moved between 294 and 385 million euros in profit through the Netherlands in 2018 and bypassed more or less all their international tax obligations. 

Is this illegal?

Nope. Netflix, as well as other companies such as Google and Amazon set up various offices in different countries, which form a complex infrastructure and allows them to abuse legal loopholes and avoid paying tax. What Netflix does is not illegal, because Dutch laws allows it.

Last year, the European Parliament said outright that the Netherlands is a tax haven. PvdA MEP, Paul Tang, responded at the time “So far, everyone has kept far from it, but the parliament now says there are tax havens in the EU” and continued “The bad role that the Netherlands plays in tax evasion is now being looked at, and the Netherlands should be concerned about that.”

Taxwatch calls Netflix out

Taxwatch, a new tank that investigates companies movements, wants Netflix to own up to what they do. Director of Taxwatch, George Turner, wants to know what happens to the money that is shifted around “But where exactly the money goes is a mystery” NOS reports. 

Netflix has not yet responded to Taxwatch’s accusations but a spokesperson for the streaming service commented “Ultimately, it is up to governments to determine the rules when it comes to taxes – and in all countries where we operate, Netflix acts in accordance with these rules.”

What do you think about this? Immoral or okay because it is legal? Let us know in the comments below. 

Feature image: Jade87/Pixabay

Iranian female taekwondo medallist possibly to train in The Netherlands

Maria Rita Reis
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Iranian female taekwondo medallist possibly to train in The Netherlands

The only Iranian female athlete to win an Olympic medal has defected and placed a request to train with a taekwondo instructor in Eindhoven

Kimia Alizadeh, 21, announced her decision to defect on an Instagram post accompanied by a picture of herself at the 2016 Rio Olympics. On the post since translated by CNN, she lists the reasons for defecting as “hypocrisy, lies, injustice and flattery” and being used as a “tool.”

The young bronze medallist goes on to say: “They took me wherever they wanted, whatever they said, I wore. Every sentence they ordered, I repeated. (…) My troubled spirit does not fit into your dirty economic channels and tight political lobbies,” she continued. “I have no other wish except for taekwondo, security and a happy and healthy life.”

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با سلام آغاز کنم، با خداحافظی یا تسلیت؟ سلام مردم مظلوم ایران، خداحافظ مردم نجیب ایران، تسلیت به شما مردم همیشه داغدار ایران. شما مرا چقدر می‌شناسید؟ فقط آنطور که در مسابقات، در تلویزیون، یا در حضور مقامات دیده‌اید. اجازه دهید حالا آزادانه، هویت سانسور شده‌ام را معرفی کنم. می‌گویند کیمیا پس از این چیزی نخواهد شد. خودم از این هم فراتر می‌روم و می‌گویم قبل از این هم چیزی نبوده‌ام: «من کیمیا علیزاده، نه تاریخسازم، نه قهرمانم، نه پرچمدار کاروان ایران» من یکی از میلیون‌ها زن سرکوب شده در ایرانم که سال‌هاست هر طور خواستند بازی‌ام دادند. هر کجا خواستند بردند. هر چه گفتند پوشیدم. هر جمله‌ای دستور دادند تکرار کردم. هر زمان صلاح دیدند، مصادره‌ام کردند. مدال‌هایم را پای حجاب اجباری گذاشتند و به مدیریت و درایت خودشان نسبت دادند. من برایشان مهم نبودم. هیچکداممان برایشان مهم نیستیم، ما ابزاریم. فقط آن مدال‌های فلزی اهمیت دارد تا به هر قیمتی که خودشان نرخ گذاشتند از ما بخرند و بهره‌برداری سیاسی کنند، اما همزمان برای تحقیرت، می‌گویند: فضیلت زن این نیست که پاهایش را دراز کند! من صبح‌ها هم از خواب بیدار می‌شوم پاهایم ناخودآگاه مثل پنکه می‌چرخد و به در و دیوار می‌گیرد. آنوقت چگونه می‌توانستم مترسکی باشم که می‌خواستند از من بسازند؟ در برنامه زنده تلویزیون، سوال‌هایی پرسیدند که دقیقاً بخاطر همان سوال دعوتم کرده بودند. حالا که نیستم می‌گویند تن به ذلت داده‌ام. آقای ساعی! من آمدم تا مثل شما نباشم و در مسیری که شما پیش رفتید قدم برندارم. من در صورت تقلید بخشی از رفتارهای شما، بیش از شما می‌توانستم به ثروت و قدرت برسم. من به اینها پشت کردم. من یک انسانم و می‌خواهم بر مدار انسانیت باقی بمانم. در ذهن‌های مردسالار و زن‌ستیزتان، همیشه فکر می‌کردید کیمیا زن است و زبان ندارد! روح آزرده من در کانال‌های آلوده اقتصادی و لابی‌های تنگ سیاسی شما نمی‌گنجد. من جز تکواندو، امنیت و زندگی شاد و سالم درخواست دیگری از دنیا ندارم. مردم نازنین و داغدار ایران، من نمی‌خواستم از پله‌های ترقی که بر پایه فساد و دروغ بنا شده بالا بروم. کسی به اروپا دعوتم نکرده و در باغ سبز به رویم باز نشده. اما رنج و سختی غربت را بجان می‌خرم چون نمی‌خواستم پای سفره ریاکاری، دروغ، بی عدالتی و چاپلوسی بنشینم. این تصمیم از کسب طلای المپیک هم سخت‌تر است، اما هر کجا باشم فرزند ایران زمین باقی می‌مانم. پشت به دلگرمی شما می‌دهم و جز اعتماد شما در راه سختی که قدم گذاشته‌ام، خواسته دیگری ندارم.

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Resstlement in The Netherlands?

The details of her resettlement are still not clear, as Ms. Alizadeh did not specify where she has asked for asylum. However, a semi-official Iranian news outlet, ISNA, reported that the athlete has moved to The Netherlands and will not represent Iran in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

A spokesman for the Netherlands’ migration minister said that the office would not comment on individual asylum applications. However, sources quoted by the Dutch Broadcast Foundation, NOS, say that from Monday 13th, there wasn’t a formal application from her.

A taekwondo trainer in Eindhoven, Mimoun El Boujjoufi, told NOS that Ms. Alizadeh placed a request a month ago to train with him. “She was on holiday in Europe but decided not to return to Iran with her partner,” Mr. El Boujjoufi said. “Of course she is welcome with us. We know her qualities. She is an asset to taekwondo in the Netherlands,” he continued.

Photos circulating on social media taken in Eindhoven appear to show Ms. Alizadeh and her fiancé, Hamed Madanchi, taking part in a memorial service for the victims of the Tehran plane crash. They were taken by Jaleh Yekta, an Iranian photographer based in Eindhoven, and show the medallist in front of offerings, candles and pictures of those who lost their lives in the crash.

A troubled time for Iran

Ms. Alizadeh’s defection comes at a particularly delicate time for the Iranian regime. Only a few days ago the Iranian government accepted guilt for unintentionaly shooting down a civilian passenger plane flying over Tehran, killing 176 people. The plane crash resulted in days of protests, with witnesses claiming that live ammunition had been fired against them. On a regional and global scale, Iran is in the middle of a crisis brought by the American drone strike that killed their army commander, Qassim Suleimani.

Geopolitics meddling in Sports

Ms. Alizadeh is not the first Iranian athlete to defect. Four months ago one of Iran’s judo greats, Saeid Mollaei, defected to Germany. Mr. Mollaei was caught in Iran’s geopolitics during last year’s judo World Championships. At the time, Iranian officials pressured him to avoid by any means necessary a match in the final against an Israeli rival. Due to political reasons, Iranian athletes are forbidden to compete against Israelis.

If Kimia Alizadeh, an accomplished and talented athlete, has chosen The Netherlands as her new training ground, let’s warmly welcome another expat into our growing community!

Feature image: Mohammad Hassanzadeh/Wikimedia Commons

Flu season is underway in the Netherlands

Ailish Lalor
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Flu season is underway in the Netherlands

Today, the healthcare institute Nivel announced that for the first time this winter, the “flu epidemic level” of 58 people out of 100,000 people has been exceeded, RTL Nieuws reports. 

Nivel reports that the current rate of reported flu cases is 79 out of 100,000, well above the  “flu epidemic level”. If the rate of reported flu cases stays above 58 out of 100,000 for two weeks in a row, then medical professionals will define it as a “flu wave”.

Most people who have the flu don’t go to the doctor

These figures do take into account the fact that most people who have the flu will not go to the doctor- Nivel estimates that for each person who goes to the doctor with the flu, eight more will stay at home.

Probably not an epidemic

Janneke Hendriks, spokesperson for Nivel, says that there is every possibility that the number of people with the flu will drop again next week, and emphasises that we are not currently experiencing an epidemic.

The ways the flu is transmitted

Although any sane person would want to avoid the flu, it is notoriously hard to prevent if you are around other people with it. People are usually contagious before they start showing symptoms, and the flu germs can be transmitted through sneezing, coughing, touching hands or objects.

How to prevent flu (there is no real way, sorry)

Some things that might help with transmission rates are ventilating rooms and, of course, regularly washing your hands (which Dutch people don’t do, so it’s hardly surprising that so many people have the flu at the moment). If you’re part of a vulnerable group, get yourself a flu shot.

Have you got the flu yet this year? Got any tips for getting rid of it? Let us know in the comments below. 

Feature image: Kelly Sikkema/Unsplash. 

We need more dogs and cats donating blood

Kavana Desai
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We need more dogs and cats donating blood

Dog-lovers and cat-lovers, hear us! Your favourite companions need donors. Veterinarians and the national animal blood bank (yes, the Netherlands has one of those) are sounding an urgent alarm for more dogs and cats to donate blood. So not only humans but animals need to start donating blood too!

There is an increasing number of pets who need transfusions as more people are becoming aware about the benefits of blood transfusions. “On average, we perform one and sometimes two transfusions a week. A few years ago, blood transfusions were another big exception: at most once or twice a year. We then used the blood of dogs or cats from our own staff,” says vet Marc Maas from the Evidensia Hospital in Waalwijk.

How does a doggo and catto blood transfusion happen?

According to RTL Nieuws, blood transfusions help save a lot of lives. If an animal has lost a serious amount of blood, then a blood transfusion will save their life. To qualify for a blood donation, dogs have to be at least 22 kg, while a cat must be 4 kg. They have to be at least a year old.

If you have a pet, know that it’ll take only five to seven minutes, so it won’t be so bad for them. Blood is taken by laying a dog on its side. A little bit of blood is taken from the front leg or from the neck vein. A half a litre is taken. Cats rarely ever let that much be taken from them, and therefore is lesser.

Not enough animal blood donors in the Netherlands

The problem with animal blood donation is that not enough people know about its benefits and the need for it. Right now, they raise awareness through social media, dog shows and approaching pet owners directly. They call them four to six times in a year.

Blood also has a low shelf life where it can’t be stored for a long time. If a hospital sees more than the average transfusions, then it might be out of stock. Having back up stock is always better than not having any. To tackle this problem, they are also creating a “pool” of regular donors who can be reached for emergency blood donation.

Will you be taking your pet for a blood donation drive? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: Fran__/Pixabay

Dutch mother gives birth in Belgium so husband can call child Feyenoord

Abuzer van Leeuwen 🇳🇱
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Dutch mother gives birth in Belgium so husband can call child Feyenoord

A father has gone to great lengths by encouraging (or making?) his ex-wife give birth in Belgium so that their child could be named Feyenoord, after the professional football club in Rotterdam. 

Why traipse to Belgium you ask? Well the Netherlands doesn’t allow people to name their children Feyenoord but the Dutch neighbour does, RTL news reports. 

Luckily for the Feyenoorder, Belgium is totally okay with naming your kid Feyenoord.

A dedicated Feyenoord fan

The father explains that his oldest son is already a familiar face at Feyenoord. Many of you would recognise him already because he is the little boy in the “Middle Finger Kid” meme.

Brian Feyenoord

Fair enough, his first name isn’t Feyenoord, only his second name. Then you naturally ask yourself: Why do you name a child Feyenoord? The proud father explains:

“Yes, listen. At the time that my oldest son was born, Leonardo played at Feyenoord. And many of the geezers I know gave their sons the name Leonardo. And what happened? The boy will play at 020 in no time (Ajax, ed.). And then yes, you’ve got a son who’s namedouble played at Ajax and yes, that’s not going to happen to me.”

All of this epic story was told on this Dutch radio show:

 

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Geen woorden maar daden nam hij wel heel letterlijk.. ?

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Well, at least there will be one city where he could get free drinks with that name. Heartwarming story once again from the cultiest of Football clubs in Rotterdam.

PS. Please send an email if you want to name your child DutchReview or just DR. Or ever considered Abuzer? Always an interesting topic in any interview.

Also, one for the fans:

Amazon.nl is coming, and that’s not good news for the Dutch high street

Ailish Lalor
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Amazon.nl is coming, and that’s not good news for the Dutch high street

Right now, all you can order from Amazon.nl is ebooks, and nobody wants them (I say, sobbing and hugging my bookcase frantically). But later this year, the website will begin to offer millions of products, all shippable to your home, RTL Nieuws reports.

Today, Amazon.nl opened its doors to retailers in the Netherlands and elsewhere, allowing them to sign up in preparation for the grand opening later this year. At the moment, Dutchies can only buy Amazon products via the German website, which is clearly oppression.

Amazon has had offices in the Netherlands since 2013, which is unsurprising given the country’s status as a tax haven.

Amazon.nl opening in the Netherlands may spell doom for small businesses, and ismost likely bad news for Dutch high street stores.

Amazon is also famous for treating its workers extremely poorly and paying them badly, especially in the US. Perhaps we should have enjoyed e-book-only Amazon.nl while the company’s only offence was to offer books on a screen.

What do you think of this news? Let us know in the comments below.

Feature image: Tobias Dziuba/Pexels

4 ways the Dutch prove they know no limits

DutchReview Crew
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4 ways the Dutch prove they know no limits

On the surface, the Netherlands might seem like nothing more than a neat country with some pretty windmills and cute canals.

But underneath, there’s a nation of people who have a special way of pushing boundaries, whether it comes to innovation, art, or the infamous directness.

Here are four ways the Dutch are truly without limits.

Innovation without limits: how the Dutch play with water

They say that “God created the world, but the Dutch created the Netherlands.” And that’s not just a fun saying; the way the Dutch do water management is literally what keeps a country that is basically below sea level afloat.

Already 2000 years ago, the Dutch started to build the first dikes to reclaim land from the sea and create so-called polders. These endeavours culminated in creating an entire province — Flevoland, the land of which was reclaimed from the sea in the 1950s and 1960s.

Then there is Delta Works, an intricate system of dams, sluices, locks, and storm surge barriers which protect the coastal areas of Zeeland and South Holland from the sea.

traditional-ditch-windmills-by-water-and-flowers
The Netherlands has bodies of water as far as the eye can see. Image: Freepik

But the Dutch “zonder limiet” attitude doesn’t end at civil engineering. With land becoming ever less available in the Netherlands, the Dutch are always finding alternative spaces for their activities — or homes. 

That’s why the country is not only home to Rotterdam’s famous floating houses, but also the world’s first floating farm, a perfect blend of agriculture and cutting-edge environmental design.

Cycling without limits: a biking utopia

With over 35,000 kilometres of dedicated cycling paths, the Netherlands is a country built for bikes. For every person in the lowlands, there are 1.3 bicycles, suggesting that cycling isn’t just a means of transport — it’s a way of life.

Aside from the excellent infrastructure, what sets the Dutch approach apart is that cycling is accessible to practically everyone. 

You’ll see toddlers enjoying a daily ride to kindergarten on their parents’ bakfiets and Dutch omas elegantly cruising through the streets of major cities and small towns on their pretty lady bikes.

bakfiets-netherlands-dutch-cycling-culture-two-kids-in-a-bakfiets-in-the-forest
Oh, to be a Dutch child in a bakfiets… Image: Depositphotos

And you know what else has no limits when it comes to cycling in the Netherlands? The creativity with which the Dutch use their two-wheelers.

You’ll see a bakfiets as a small street version of an open-top party bus, a basic bike as a means of transporting the contents of an entire home, or a bicycle as an alternative to ice skates to enjoy a frozen lake.

Dutch directness without limits: love it or hate it

The one thing all expats know has no limits in the Netherlands is Dutch directness. 

Imagine sharing an idea in a meeting only to be told: “That won’t work,” or forgetting your PIN in a supermarket just to hear: “You’re not really having a good day today” from the cashier.

When it comes to the infamous Dutch bluntness, expats generally fall into two camps: those who find it absolutely brutal and those who find it surprisingly refreshing.

Where did this phenomenon come from, you ask? From a belief in transparency and efficiency (yes, this country gets high off efficiency with their strict, to-the-minute agendas).

Why dance around the truth when you can address it head-on (and potentially make a poor expat cry in the process)?

All jokes aside, Dutch directness has benefits to it. It fosters open communication and allows everybody to speak their mind regardless of rank.

And while some people use it as an excuse to be offensive, in most cases, it is not meant to offend. It’s simply an ingrained cultural norm that values clarity over politeness.

Sex without limits: breaking the boundaries

The Netherlands, and particularly Amsterdam, are considered some of the most sex-positive places in the world. After all, it was the first country to legalise same-sex marriage in 2001.

Sex is not taboo in the lowlands, and this is reflected back in the country’s sex education. 

While in some countries, sex ed is about showing kids horrific diseases in an attempt to deter them from doing it altogether, the Netherlands takes a different approach. Here, the emphasis is on the importance of loving relationships — both with yourself and with others.

sex-education-in-the-netherlands-man-opening-condom
Contraception is easily available everywhere in the Netherlands. Image: Depositphotos

What’s more, the Dutchies’ relaxed attitude towards prostitution is world-known, and you’ll find red light districts not just in the capital but also in other cities.

People here are so open (and kinky) that a group of residents from a town in Zeeland had to launch a whole project to stop people from having outdoor sex. 

The only boundaries when it comes to sex in the Netherlands are the ones you (or your neighbours) put in place.

Whether it’s reclaiming land from the sea, designing cities for bikes, or redefining what it means to be honest, Dutch culture thrives on breaking limits. 

What’s your experience with Dutch culture without limits? Let us know in the comments!

As the UK Government ends Erasmus membership, I implore you to make the most of the scheme

Freya Sawbridge
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As the UK Government ends Erasmus membership, I implore you to make the most of the scheme

At Christmas, I played “conversation starter” cards with my family, where you draw a card and answer the question on it (fairly self explanatory). One of the cards read “what was the happiest period of your life?”. I immediately answered “my Erasmus in Norway”. 

Last week, I learnt that the British government voted down an amendment that would continue their membership in the Erasmus scheme. Erasmus is an initiative that allows students in the EU to study at other universities in Europe while receiving a stipend. Such a decision devastates me because I know what an exchange meant for me and millions of other Erasmus alumni.

My Erasmus experience

When I first went to Bergen, a mountainous city on the west coast of Norway, I spent the first seven weeks alone. This is because I skipped the orientation events in the first couple of weeks to travel instead (bad mistake – don’t do it). At the time, I just got on with it and saturated my day with podcasts to curb the loneliness.

Bryggen, the UNESCO heritage site on the harbour in Bergen. Photo: Freya Sawbridge/Supplied

On my eighth-week I heard about a party that was happening downtown and I decided to head there by myself. I reasoned I was already alone 24/7, so what difference would getting rejected from this party make. I walked in uncomfortably, slapped a smile on my face and went and sat next to two German guys. We chatted a little but they were very standoffish with me and I left shortly after. To my surprise, one of them invited me on a hike the following day and as the cliche goes, the rest is history! I was welcomed into their friendship group and the next five months were a blast.

The specialness of Erasmus (contrary to what the Erasmus press office might promote) rests on the unrivalled freedom you get. In no other time in your life can you simply wake up and do whatever the hell you want.

Climb a mountain? Sure.
Picnic at the top? Why not!
Skull a bottle of gin and descend the mountain while inebriated? Ah screw it.

The midnight sun on top of Løvstakken mountain in Bergen. Photo: Marcel Gottdang/Supplied

For those who haven’t done exchange, they must grin and bear through the “My ExChaNge ReaLLy ChAnGed Me. I FeEL so ItAlIAn” conversations on their Erasmus friend’s return.

But for those of us who have done exchange, we can laugh and rejoice in the knowledge we have experienced something unique.

Most exchange students will remain close to their exchange friends for life and a 2014 study suggested nearly a third of people who go on a study abroad will meet their future partner. The European Commission estimates that since Erasmus’ inception in 1987, around one million babies are likely to have been born to Erasmus couples. There is a unique comradeship you gain from spending a limited time abroad in a foreign country with strangers. You share a knowledge about the impermanence of the whole experience which in turn, gives you all ammunition to seize every opportunity. Like the time I agreed not to shower for five days because John bet me ten euros I couldn’t. I lasted two days until my friend Sally threw up over me after one too many vodka shots. Or when me and Eliza unhinged our friend’s apartment door and covered the entirety of it in newspaper while he was in class (we had to plan well given most of us attended roughly 3 classes the entire semester). Or when my boyfriend at the time and I set off on a four day hike, only to have a Norwegian come running after us screaming “you can’t walk here, it’s all melting ice! You’ll sink right through! Did you not research?” Well, unless we both had a death wish, we evidently did not research.

Looking out over Aurlandsfjord. Photo: Freya Sawbridge/Supplied

I know many people’s Erasmus experiences don’t always turn out how they expect. It is often not, contrary to their expectations, a whirlwind of heated one-night stands with beautiful Swedes and sangria-soaked evenings. But I also know from the first few weeks spent alone that an Erasmus is worthwhile even if expectations aren’t met because you’ll learn and grow anyway. You’ll learn resilience, independence and gain empathy for those struggling with loneliness. You’ll notice the person standing alone at a party and instead of judging them, you’ll reach out and include them when no one else does.

It’s been four years since I completed my Erasmus and the nostalgia still frequently catches me off guard. When it does, I cry with a mixture of longing and gratitude.

What has the British Government actually voted against?

When debating the Brexit bill last week, the government voted against “New Clause 10”. This clause would have made it mandatory for the government “to seek to negotiate continuing full membership of the EU’s Erasmus+ education and youth programme”.

If they voted for it, then they would have had to debate the terms on which they remained part of the Erasmus+ scheme. But they didn’t.

A spokesman for the Department for Education later said “The government is committed to continuing … the next Erasmus+ programme,” but added the alarming caution, “if it is in our interests to do so.”

Sure, but what has this got to do with the Netherlands?

Well, the entire Erasmus+ scheme, founded in 1987 was named after the well-travelled Dutch philosopher Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam. There is also the Erasmus University in Rotterdam named after him.

But more widely, we need to recognise the value in Erasmus and take advantage of it while it’s still available.

Studying abroad improves a candidates employability. The European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, Androulla Vassiliou, said “The message is clear: if you study or train abroad, you are more likely to increase your job prospects,” the Independent reports. 

The European Commission’s survey of former Erasmus students also shows an Erasmus broadens peoples’ horizons and social links and about 40 percent of Erasmus-goers live and work abroad later in life.

My friend and I sitting on the edge of Trolltunga (“trolls tongue”). Photo: Freya Sawbridge/Supplied

On 31 January, when Britain leaves the EU, I will think how lucky I was to do an Erasmus and if this does turn out to be the end of the Erasmus scheme for Britain, I will mourn for future students who have had the opportunity ripped away from them. For EU students still lucky enough to do an Erasmus, I implore you to do so while you still can. 

Feature image: Standing on Trolltunga (“trolls tongue”) with friends. Freya Sawbridge/Supplied

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