The annual chaos of the Dutch New Year was as much as you could expect. New Years Eve is a purge of the regularity and systemic routine that the Netherlands engages in year-round. It’s an evening where people let their hair down, and run wild.
How many illegal fireworks is too many? How does 57,969 kilos sound? That’s how many were seized by police in 2019, with 13,145 kilos seized in the past week alone.
Almost every Dutch New Year results in tragedy that could be avoided, and this year was no exception. Smoke inhalation killed a 39-year-old man and his 4-year-old son while trapped in an elevator. The mother and daughter of the family survived, with serious injuries. The fire was caused by fireworks discharged by a 12 and 13-year-old boy.
The Dutch Association of Insurers estimates that at least 15 million euros in damages occurred as the Netherlands rang in the new decade. Car fires are responsible for the majority of that figure, with 33 cars burnt in The Hague alone.
Huge amounts of illegal fireworks seized
A crackdown on illegal fireworks this year meant police officers carried out inspections of cars and properties. In a search of three hundred cars in Zwolle, one car was found with three thousand pyrotechnics in the vehicle.
The result was almost 1500 kilos more than in 2018, when agents seized 56,525 kilos.
Agents had one of their biggest successes when they found 1680 kilos of illegal fireworks in a garage in Bleiswijk in November. It included 30,000 Cobras,
How were the New Year celebrations where you were? Let us know in the comments below!
Run out of funds? No need to be glum in the Netherlands, here are a few free things to enjoy for free in January
2020 has arrived and as with every new year a collective ‘new year, new me’ sentiment arises. Many of us have overindulged on good food and good wine over the festive period, stretched (or dare I say burst) our budgets on social soirees and further splurged on gifts for all your nearest and dearest (yourself included, naturally).
After a month of unreputable extravagance, it is quite right that we see the New Year as a chance to reset, rein it in a little and let our bank accounts, as well as bodies, recover!
However, before you lock yourself in your house with a salad, self-imposed shopping ban and bottle of no-alcohol, no-calorie, no-fun wine; check out the fun stuff below that is happening in this bleak month for absolutely free! That’s right, you needn’t spend a cent! So get your calendar ready and take note of a few cool events that the Netherlands has to offer.
When: November 28, 2019 – January 19, 2020 Where: Amsterdam
Christmas and New Year celebrations have passed and all decorations are slowly to be taken down from homes and street alike. For some, it feels downright odd to still take joy from a Santa light post-Christmas and the poor fellow is quickly packed back into his box for the following festive period.
If you are still wanting to be dazzled by some lights in the dark evening, you can still catch a glimpse of some of the fantastic light installations placed along the Illuminade walking route until the 19th January.
There is an opportunity to hire a guide for a wander down the brightly lit way, however, you can also enjoy a leisurely stroll for free and take time to admire the works of almost 70 international artists who have contributed to the Amsterdam Light Festival.
The annual Blues and Jazz week in Leiden will be all around the city for the 40th anniversary. During these seven days, expect good music to help you shake those winter blues! You can visit an eclectic mix of concerts in the “Jazz Quarter”, surrounding the Hooglandsekerk and leading past the Nieuwe Rijn, Nieuwstraat and Kaasmarkt.
The highlight of the event? It is the Bar Crawl on Wednesday! More than 30 cafes all over the inner city will be participating in this fun event. We say, don’t miss it!
You can find all about the routes and the location here!
National Tulip Day
When: January 18, 2020 Where: Dam Square, Amsterdam
Now what would the Netherlands be, without its bright and beautiful tulip?! Since 2012 the unofficial flower of Netherlands has been given its own day; Nationale Tulpendag.
Usually taking place on the third Saturday of the month, the day kickstarts the beginning of the Tulip season. To celebrate, a huge pop-up Tulip garden is created in Dam Square. Complete with over 200, 000 tulips, visitors can also witness some traditionally dressed folk tending to the garden too.
Here you can take some snazzy pics for Instagram, witness a bit of colour in the often grey January days and in the afternoon (if you queue) pick your bunch of Tulips to take home- for free!
Chinese New Year – Den Haag – 9th Feb 2019
When: January 25, 10:00am – 6:00pm Where: Den Haag
For the 18th year, Den Haag will host an all-day festival to welcome the year of the rat with parades, fashion shows and some fireworks (organized!). The Chinees Nieuwjaar seeks to sweep out the old and make way for the good luck that the new year has to offer. Festivities will be held in the Town Hall and Chinatown and is free to all visitors!
Alright, technically this one isn’t free, but it is insanely good value and perfect for an injection of injection of culture into your New Year! The International Film Festival Rotterdam brings movies and events from all over the world for kids and adults alike.
Tickets for the 49th edition of International Film Festival Rotterdam will begin on Friday 17 January 2020 at 20:00 hrs, so get in quick for first pick!
What a way to start the new year – thirteen people, including some children, have been hospitalised after being injured in a fire at an apartment complex in the Wateringse Veld district of The Hague.
The apartment complex was invaded by heavy smoke when multiple cars were found on fire in a parking canopy. The thirteen injuries range from smoke inhalation to cuts on glass, but all of the injured are expected to be able to return home by today.
Dozens of panicked people evacuated the fire, in a situation described as ‘hectic’ by a spokesperson. “On the safe side, we are getting people from homes using aerial platforms and ladders,” said the spokesperson to RTL Nieuws.
Multiple cars were discovered on fire, releasing smoke that travelled up through the building and into the apartments. Thankfully, the fire has since been extinguished, and residents were given the all-clear to sleep at home last night.
It is currently unknown what caused the car fires. Investigators say it could have been a technical malfunction, but also haven’t ruled out fireworks. Further investigations are ongoing.
Watch the dramatic scenes as firefighters attempt to contain the fire:
Tragedy shocked Arnhem when a fire killed a 39-year-old man and his 4-year-old son. It also seriously injured the 36-year-old mother and 8-year-old daughter. NOS reports that the police have reason to believe that the fire was caused by fireworks.
The fire started in the stairwell of a twelve-story building in Gelderseplein at 1 am, cutting off electricity. Omroep Gelderland reports the building had no emergency exit, the family was trapped in the elevator when it broke out. It was full of smoke when they finally broke them out, the victims had already lost consciousness.
Eric Angenent, van woningcorporatie Vivare is verdrietig en woest tegelijkertijd. “Er zijn hier 2 mensen van een gezin omgekomen.. Het maakt me pislink als er daadwerkelijk vuurwerk in de portiek is afgestoken. Het moet nu maar eens afgelopen zijn met consumenten vuurwerk.” pic.twitter.com/7YMSKZ8Y1B
The fire is said to have been brought under control in a quick manner but left the elevator and the stairwell damaged. Residents were asked to return to their homes after even though there was bad smoke and soot in the building.
According to NOS, the housing association, Salvage foundation, and the municipality are analysing to see if the apartments are still livable. They are currently making an emergency staircase so that a tragedy like this can be easily avoided the next time.
Update: Police arrest two boys (12 and 13-years-old)
The security camera picked up that the fire was caused by fireworks. They might be charged with “arson with a fatal outcome”, reports NOS.
De politie in Arnhem heeft twee tieners (12 en 13) aangehouden voor de flatbrand, afgelopen nacht. Bij die brand kwamen een 4-jarige jongen en zijn 36-jarige vader om het leven. pic.twitter.com/69HgNHzfGn
The Netherlands is still under thick fog and it looks like it isn’t going anywhere. KNMI has issued a code yellow warning for the same. It has reduced visibility so much that there was a huge chain crash in Friesland. One person was killed and 19 people were injured.
It’s going to be grey and the clouds are going to stick around but I think we’re all already used to this. If you are disappointed then just remember that there is nothing more typical than grey Dutch weather.
KNMI also issued a code red around midnight in Drenthe, Groningen and Friesland when visibility was as low as 10 metres in a lot of places. But things have improved since then. The code red has been changed to code yellow at around 4 am, so you might just be in the clear.
⚠️ | Ga niet de weg op als dat niet hoeft. Op veel plaatsen komt dichte #mist voor. Moet je toch de weg op? Pas dan je rijstijl aan. pic.twitter.com/7gY2L3sAR6
— Rijkswaterstaat Verkeersinformatie (@RWSverkeersinfo) December 31, 2019
If you’re anywhere but Zeeland, know that visibility is less than 200 meters. Try to stay off the roads, and enjoy this new year’s day indoors because it’s bad out there. However, KNMI believes it is going to get better as the day progresses.
Wondering what type of health insurance you need in the Netherlands in 2021? Don’t worry, we have the answers to all your questions about Dutch healthcare!
Who said living life on the edge is a good thing? Definitely not the Dutch! If you’re someone who prefers to be safe rather than sorry, we’re certain you already have all the insurances possible.
If you’re not — well, sorry to break it to you, but it is mandatory to have Dutch health insurance when you’re living and working here. The Health Insurance Act declares that everyone should have access to affordable healthcare for whatever ailments you may have.
We’ve stacked this article with useful tips so that you can be happy with the health insurance provider you sign up for. If you’re wondering why Dutch health insurance is mandatory, what to do if you have overdue payments or if you are so riddled with questions that you don’t know where to begin, then read on!
But if you want to get ahead of us and find an insurance provider because you’ve already done your research, then visit Zorgwijzer – the only health insurance comparison website in English in the Netherlands. We teamed up with them to bring you all the do’s and don’ts when it comes to selecting your health insurance in the Netherlands.
Is having Dutch health insurance mandatory?
When you first move to the Netherlands, one of the first things you have to do is get out Dutch health insurance policy. Everyone who is working and residing in the Netherlands has to have one, and you risk getting a fine if you wait too long.
You will come under the Health Insurance Act (ZVW) and the Long-Term Care Act (Wlz) which is designed to work on social solidarity. This means that once you sign up for an insurance policy and start paying towards your monthly premiums you are helping to create a pool of financial resources not just for yourself, but everyone else who has signed up too.
Health insurance is compulsory in the Netherlands. Image: Karolina Grabowska/Pexels.
Don’t worry, no one’s getting freebies here — everyone pays for what they need, and they only get what they signed up for. For example, the basic, compulsory Dutch health insurance packages cover maternity care.
Although part of the population may not require maternity care themselves, social solidarity means the women will receive the care they need, without necessarily having to pay extra.
You have to sign up for an insurance policy within four months of your arrival for non-EU nationals, and within one year for EU nationals. However, there are exceptions for who needs to have mandatory health insurance. You are required to get an income-related premium only if you’re receiving your monthly wages from a Dutch employer, or if you receive any benefits from the state.
Is Dutch healthcare insurance free?
Nope, sadly it is not. Although the law requires you to take out mandatory insurance, it is not regulated so that it is free of cost. You have to pay monthly premiums towards your healthcare costs where basic things like visiting a GP, basic prescription pills, etc are covered (but more on that later).
So how much will I be paying as a monthly premium for my Dutch health insurance?
You have to make room in your budget for Dutch health insurance. Image: Bruno Glätsch/Pixabay
If you were to take out the mandatory basic Dutch health insurance without any supplementary insurances, then you are looking at costs of around 100 euros a month. The cost varies according to the own-risk fee or deductibles you set up (i.e., putting up a part of the medical costs yourself but we’ll get to that), your income, and your place of residence.
Although it is not one of the cheapest monthly premiums available, the Dutch government wants to make sure everyone gets access to quality healthcare. So there are some ways to reduce it — like increasing your deductible or even applying for a health insurance allowance.
Zorgwijzer is a great place for you to compare different health insurance policies and find one which fits you best. They also have a quick guide on the steps you need to take in order to get the mandatory Dutch health insurance.
But if you want to first determine if you are required to have mandatory Dutch health insurance, read on!
I already have insurance coverage from home/international insurance/EHIC card, should I get healthcare insurance in the Netherlands?
If you are an EU-national who is working and living in the Netherlands, but your employer happens to be based in your home country, you are allowed to be insured there. However, you need to have an A1 certificate. You get this by applying for an S1 or E106 form with the insurance company who is providing you with the insurance coverage.
You can also remain insured in your home country or with international insurance if you are staying in the Netherlands for a short period of time, and your insurance policy covers you here.
Do I need Dutch health insurance if I am working in the Netherlands but live abroad?
Different rules apply for you if you have a job in the Netherlands, but are registered as living in another country, say Belgium or Germany. In that case, you still have to have Dutch health insurance but will have to request to be exempt from paying health insurance in your country of residence. Contact your health insurance provider for more accurate information and the extent of your coverage.
This will change if you have a job with a Dutch employer but don’t worry, we touch upon that here as well!
I am an international student. Should I have Dutch health insurance?
The Netherlands is a popular destination to pursue higher education. It attracts students from all over the world (guilty, as charged) as it provides for an attractive alternative to the expensive degrees in the US and the UK.
If you’re here on a student visa, or if you plan to only study without working then you are not obligated to be insured by Dutch health insurance.
However, the Netherlands can be expensive, and it would only be natural for a lot of you to look for other opportunities to make some cash on the side. So if you do manage to get a part-time job (there are ways to do that even if you are on a study visa) which pays you a minimum wage, you have to be insured from the first day of your work contract.
A lot of the times, however, you are also required to do an internship as part of your studies. If this internship pays you a minimum wage, you (unfortunately) have to get Dutch health insurance. But if you’re paid less than that, you don’t have to worry about that!
You always need to check if you need the mandatory Dutch health insurance in the Netherlands. It depends on whether you’re working, studying or doing both.
Should I get Dutch health insurance if I am self-employed?
So you’ve decided to take the plunge and become your own boss. Apart from arranging things with the Chamber of Commerce (being a freelancer in the Netherlands has a lot more steps to that), you also have to arrange your health insurance. It might be different for when you are a student or when you were in contractual employment. For this, you will have to start a Wlz assessment with the SVB. They will advise you and determine if you will need to take out mandatory Dutch health insurance.
However, the way you pay your health insurance will be different to how people with full-time or part-time employment will have to pay. While their health insurance is directly debited from their salary, yours will be through the income taxes you will be paying to the government.
Is my European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from my home country valid in the Netherlands?
But what do you do if you only have an EHIC and you get hurt in the Netherlands? If you indeed have one, then don’t worry — you’re covered in the Netherlands. But remember, this is only if you are staying here for a short period and not receiving an income from a Dutch employer.
So all exchange students who are EU-nationals, travellers, or even if you’re just an international EU student who has health insurance your home country and an EHIC card in the Netherlands, don’t worry about the validity of the card! It only becomes null and void if you start working and receive at least a Dutch minimum wage.
Basic health care insurance in the Netherlands. What does the basic package cover?
Okay, now that we have covered if you need to have Dutch health insurance or not, let’s start talking about what you will be signing up for.
If you are legally required to get Dutch health insurance, you will get a compulsory basic package.
The basic Dutch health insurance package is quite extensive.
As mentioned earlier, generally, it will cost around 100 euros a month, with a set amount on your “own risk-fee” or deductibles. The prices vary according to how much you set this deductible to be.
What are deductibles in the Dutch health care system?
Wait, what? I pay a monthly premium and some own-risk fee? What are these deductibles and why should I pay them?
Yep, that’s the catch here: although the basic package can be pretty extensive for anyone who would not require a specialist’s treatment and care, you still have to put up some of the costs for some of the services. These are known as deductibles, and they cover your excess for the whole year.
If you’re generally a very healthy person who would not need to visit the doctor a lot, then you can voluntarily set your excess to a higher amount. The higher your excess own-risk fee, the lower your monthly health insurance premium. But make sure you do have the excess stashed away somewhere just in case, though.
The deductibles can be set at €385, €485, €585, €685, €785, and €885. Your monthly and yearly medical bills and insurance premiums will depend on which deductible you pick.
But there are a few services which you can utilise as part of your monthly premiums and don’t have to incur any extra charges.
Visiting your GP
Maternity care
Healthcare for anyone younger than 18
But what do you do if you indeed have a prolonged illness that would require a specialist’s treatment? On top of your basic package, you can pick and choose your supplementary packages — whether it be for mental illnesses, dental, chronic illnesses, etc.
I have a mental illness, what type of insurance should I get in the Netherlands?
There is a lot of debate about mental healthcare in the Netherlands. If you’re otherwise sound and don’t live with any severe mental conditions, sticking to only the basic package would be fine. It covers some basic primary and secondary mental health care.
As soon as you discuss a treatment plan with your doctor, the cost is estimated for the whole treatment. Therefore, you will not be charged per hour because it’s hard to determine when a person has been cured of a mental illness. Instead, you will be charged for the whole treatment. You don’t have to worry about this bill if you have your insurance in place.
But if you are living with something a lot more complex where you will need to be in intensive therapy, treatments or care, your insurance policy may not cover all of your medical expenses. You will have to read the fine print and go through your policy documents or approach your insurer’s customer service before starting the treatment plan. If not, you might have to take out additional insurance.
If you will require hospitalization, your insurance should cover the first three years you’re there. After that, it will be your call to make.
For everything you need to know, see our extensive guide on mental healthcare in the Netherlands. And remember to always get help. If you or anyone you know is suffering from a mental illness, get help before it’s too late.
Suicide prevention Netherlands: 0900 – 0113
Samaritans: 0602 222 88
I need to go to the dentist, will my health insurance in the Netherlands cover it?
As mentioned earlier, your basic insurance in the Netherlands covers your dental costs only if you’re under the age of 18 or in the case of an emergency. For regular, non-emergency treatments, you will have to take out additional insurance or aanvullende verrzekering.
But when you’re signing up for one, make sure to read that fine print, because not everything is fully covered. You will find packages that cover only a part of the bill or might have a cap on the number of treatments you can have. Sometimes they cover only the most basic things like consultations with your dentist, quick and small treatments, and the like.
To know everything about getting dental insurance, we have made a handy guide for you to inform yourselves about dental insurance in the Netherlands.
Your dental costs are not covered in your Dutch health insurance. Image: Michal Jarmoluk/Pixabay
What else does the supplementary insurance cover in the Netherlands?
The supplementary insurance or the aanvullende verrzekering is what you will need if the basic insurance package doesn’t cover everything you need. It will cover some necessary things which may not be useful for a lot of people. This includes and is not limited to dental care (as mentioned above), physiotherapy, homoeopathic treatments and, glasses and contact lenses.
Not all supplementary insurances in the Netherlands are the same: they may differ on the coverage. So be sure to know what you want and need.
If I don’t get Dutch health insurance, what happens then?
So you have arrived in the Netherlands and you’ve been busy relocating, exploring and just settling into Dutch life. Getting health insurance has completely skipped your mind and your deadline’s up. You will then receive a letter from the CAK and a new deadline will be set for within three months.
If you are still being scatter-brained and don’t have insurance by then, you will be issued a fine of 402.24 euros. You will then have six months before your next fine will be due. If you still haven’t signed up, you will have to pay another fine of the same amount. And even then if you don’t sign up within nine months of the first letter you received, then CAK will take the liberty of registering you with an insurer.
The insurance will be backdated to your date of arrival and you will have to pay for all those months, so, really, it is not worth being that disorganised.
Alright, I have my Dutch insurance. Can I go to the hospital as I please?
So how can you actually use it? Can you go to the hospital as you like, or do you have to go through different channels? Who should you approach first? The Dutch love their protocols, so you must be wondering what the protocol for going to the hospital in the Netherlands is.
If you’re in a medical emergency in the Netherlands
In case you are in an emergency, you have to call the emergency number 112. It’s a toll-free number which puts you through to either the ambulance, the fire brigade or the police. Tell the first-responders where to pick you up, and they will take you to the nearest hospital. If you have basic Dutch health insurance, you need not worry about the bills. All policies cover emergency medical situations, including the ambulance ride to the hospital.
If you don’t, unfortunately, you’ll have to gather the finances to pay the hefty bills yourself. So it’s always better to be safe rather than sorry, eh?
If it’s a non-emergency medical situation
If it’s a non-emergency situation, you will have to go to your GP first. It will generally cost you a whole lot more if you do not have a referral letter from them. Or in better situations, they might be able to treat you themselves. But if you do need a specialist’s care, a letter from your GP will cover the consultation charges (but not the treatment).
Take out your Dutch health insurance before you go to the doctor in the Netherlands. Image: Darko Stojanovic/Pixabay
I have gotten hurt abroad and need to go to the doctor, will my Dutch health insurance cover it?
If you’re travelling within the EU/EEA (including Switzerland) and you have Dutch health insurance, then don’t worry about getting hurt or soliciting medical services. You enjoy the same level of health care as the people who live there. Depending on your insurance provider’s reimbursement policy, it could be easy or hard for you.
But the good thing is, you can apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with your health insurance provider for free. It is basically proof to show that you are insured in an EU country. Carry this around with you when you travel and get your reimbursements faster.
However, do check with your insurance provider of what kinds of treatments are reimbursed. Your policy may cover only some services and costs, but not all of them. In that case, you will have to have extra travel insurance. Additionally, if the healthcare costs are higher than how much it would be in the Netherlands, you may have to pay the difference. Check the Dutch government’s website for the latest information for this, or check Zorgwijzer where they tell you how much of it might be covered.
I don’t qualify for the basic package, what are my other options?
If you don’t qualify for Dutch health insurance, then you still have a lot of different options available to you.
I have been a non-EU, master’s student in the Netherlands for a while. I came here on a study visa which had stringent rules on what kind of jobs I can have and under what conditions (even if it was an internship). So I did not qualify for the basic Dutch health insurance package. My university referred me to a private one where I paid 40 euros a month. So it was much less than what I would have paid if I was eligible.
You could do what I did, or you could also stick to the insurance you have in your home country (make sure it covers you in the Netherlands!) or international insurance.
I received a letter from my health insurer because my premium is overdue. What now?
Sometimes, things can get difficult financially, and you might risk not paying your health insurance for a bit. We have one piece of advice for you: DON’T DO IT. There are always options like getting healthcare subsidies or reducing your deductibles.
But if you do find yourself in this situation, you may have to pay a higher premium. Your health insurance provider will track you down (it’s not that hard, they have your address) and send you a letter if you are behind two months worth of payments. You can arrange a payment plan with them.
If you’re overdue by four months of payments, they will send you a final warning to arrange a payment plan. If you don’t do this in time, you can also go to the municipality for debt counselling.
But seriously, consider making the effort to apply for subsidies before you find yourself in this situation.
Can I get a healthcare allowance?
If you cannot afford to pay for the mandatory basic health insurance in the Netherlands, then don’t worry. The government has a healthcare allowance or zorgtoeslag for people in such a situation.
You get paid a certain amount of money every month, which you can then use to pay for your health insurance. You are also allowed to apply for one with your tax partner! You are eligible if:
You are 18-years-old or older and are eligible for compulsory Dutch health insurance.
Your (combined) income is low
You are an EU-national, or a citizen of Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland or Switzerland
If you’re a non-EU national, you need to have a valid residence or work permit.
We have a more extensive guide on getting your subsidy in place so that you don’t get into debt, so make sure to check everything you need to know about healthcare allowance in the Netherlands! Or check Zorgwijzer — they have a quick and updated guide in getting healthcare allowance in the Netherlands.
I’m not happy with my insurance provider, how can I change it?
Do you find that the health insurance provider you have chosen is not sufficient enough for you? Things change and your needs might also change with that — whether you’re moving from a job, the possible high premiums, and so on. For whatever reason, if you want to change your insurance provider, it’s a pretty straightforward procedure.
In practice, you are signing up for a contract of a year and therefore are allowed to change providers only once a year. You should cancel it before January 1 of the next year, and take out new insurance before February 1. You will then be insured starting from January 1. For example for this year, cancel your insurance before January 1, 2020, and sign up for a new one before February 1, 2020.
Many of the insurance providers also make it easy where they provide a transfer service – this means that if you sign up with them before December 31, they will cancel your old insurance for you.
Is there a place I can compare insurances?
Since you can change it only once a year, you want to be damned sure that you’re signing up for the right one. So make sure you know exactly what you need, how much coverage is optimum, how much of a deductible is cost-effective and if it is affordable for you.
So make sure you compare the insurance policies with a close eye! The only website available in the Netherlands in English to compare multiple insurances is Zorgwijzer. They give you all the latest prices and has an excellent feedback loop with extensive reviews from people. One place for you to know which health insurance in the Netherlands is the way to go!
Easily compare different Dutch health insurances in the Netherlands on Zorgwijzer. Image: Screenshot/zorgwijzer
You can pick the insurance policies that you want to compare, and you will get a side-by-side view of the rating, hospital coverage, pharmacies, physiotherapists, and the extent of your coverage. All you have to do is click on the policies you want to compare, and voila! You have all the relevant information you need.
Find out the best Dutch health insurance with zorgwijzer! Image: screenshot/zorgwijzer
Feature Image: Zhen Hu/Unsplash
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in December 2019, and was fully updated in January 2021 for your reading pleasure.
Buienradar has warned that a thick fog settling over the Netherlands means a view of dazzling fireworks to welcome the new decade could be completely blocked by the rare weather event.
“I deliberately did not buy flares, because you may only see some glowing,” Martijn Dorrestein of Buienradar told RTL Nieuws. “The visibility can be less than 10 to 50 meters.”
Road users have also been warned by the travellers association ANWB to avoid driving tonight unless absolutely necessary. Visibility could drop to around 10 metres in some parts of the country, and drivers are warned their fog lights won’t do any good.
“Look at where you are and whether the situation there is so bad. You may actually be on the road and no longer see where you are. We really want to warn about that,” a spokesperson for the ANWB told RTL Nieuws. “Stay inside in those situations and take it into account that you have to stay in that place.”
The north-east and the north, in particular, must take into account low visibility. But even in the south, according to the KNMI, fog is certainly not excluded.
The fog is expected to worsen in the afternoon and evening:
Martijn Dorrestein of Buienradar says that road users can easily become disoriented in the rare fog. “There is already very thick fog, but the smoke and soot particles from the fireworks make the fog thicker. In some parts of the country you may not even be able to see the other side of the street.”
The ANWB has warned that conditions are similar to New Year’s Eve’s of 1993 and 2008 when visibility was so poor, drivers got disoriented. Eight people died on the 1993 evening due to foggy and slippery conditions, and around one hundred were injured.
Stay home if you can folks, or plan a sleepover – this fog is going to be intense! What are your plans for New Year’s Eve in the Netherlands?
Another year has come and gone, and it’s been a shocker. From shootings, stabbings, and more protests than you can shake a stick at (which, people did – a lot).
We saw the death of a royal, the largest traffic jam in Dutch history, and the mercury smash the 40 degrees mark for the first time. Kim Kardashian weighed in the Zwarte Piet debate (we still don’t know why), and we watched anxiously as news of a potential plane hijacking turned out to be a false alarm.
We’re taking a look back at the events that shaped 2019 for the Netherlands – which one impacted you the most?
The Netherlands was rocked to its core when reports emerged of a shooting in the central city of Utrecht. International media flocked to the scene as news of the terrorist attack that left three dead and nine wounded, while the motive remained unclear for some time.
Farmers weren’t the only ones protesting this year: across the Netherlands people were picking up their pickets and campaigning for a cause. We saw climate protests, an outbreak against the Turkish invasion, and of course, the arrival of Sinterklaas sparked up the good old Zwarte Piet debate.
Speaking of the Zwarte Piet debate, why was reality star Kim Kardashian speaking out against it? No one really knows, but she released a rather emphatic tweet condemning the Dutch tradition, shifting the world’s attention to the Dutch debate.
Image: Harry Pot / Anefo [CC0]Sad news for the Dutch royal family when they announced the passing of 72-year-old Princess Christina in August. The Princess had suffered from bone cancer for several years and passed away in the Noordeinde Palace complex in The Hague.
Full alert at Schiphol and mass police deployment, possible plane hijacking at Dutch airport
Emergency services rushed to Schiphol airport in November for what sources believed was a plane hijacking. The Netherlands waited desperately for news of the boarded plane. The result? Anti-climactic (thankfully). Air Europa confirmed that a pilot mistakenly triggered the hijacking alarm and apologised for the incident on Twitter. Whew!
Who could forget the Dutch summer we sweltered through?! The European heatwave in July resulted in the Netherlands breaking the record for the hottest day ever – twice. The mercury broke the blistering 40-degree mark for the first time on record. The ridiculous temperatures are thought to have contributed to an extra 400 deaths during the month. Let’s hope next year isn’t as extreme!
Noa Pothoven, a young girl from the Netherlands, suffered from sexual violence. She then struggled with depression, anorexia and PTSD due to her trauma and wanted to end her life. International and national media went into a spin reporting that she was euthanised – but, that wasn’t the truth.
Black Friday shoppers in the Hague ran terrified when a man began stabbing people at random. Three minors were sent to the hospital after being wounded in the indiscriminate attack – it was later revealed they had no relationship with the suspect. The attack came just came hours after a stabbing in London in which two people were killed and three injured before police shot dead the suspect.
In perhaps the most bizarre news of 2019, a family was found hiding in a cellar on a remote farm on the Buitenhuizerweg near Ruinerwold, where they were waiting for the end of time. They were only discovered when the 25-year-old son escaped to a nearby village, leading police to search the farm and discover stairs down to the basement behind a cupboard in the living room. Two suspects have since been arrested.
What event will you remember the most from 2019? Let us know in the comments below!
It’s been a hell of a year in the DutchReview office: we’ve been covering some of the weirdest news, and deep-diving into some of the strangest cultural observations of the Dutch.
We celebrated some of the many wins of the Dutch, such as their game-changing innovation in the sustainability sector, their dynamic and original parenting skills, like dropping their kids in the wild with no technology, and how they became the first country with no stray dogs (and no, euthanasia was not a part of it!)
But let’s be realistic: the Dutch ‘aint perfect (or maybe we just want to nurse our own egos?) They can be downright direct, and make some mistakes as well: like the seven mega-fails we dug up the dirt on?.
But, excuse us as we get misty-eyed looking back on 2019 – after another year in the Netherlands, we gotta say we really like it here. Let’s get into 12 of the articles our readersliked the most in 2019!
The World Health Organisation estimates there are around 200 million stray dogs worldwide. However, the Netherlands is no longer contributing to this statistic as this year it became the first country in the world without any stray dogs! Check out how this dog-loving country did it!
Are you looking for things to do in the Netherlands? Want to make the most of your time here and have the ultimate Dutch experience? Warm-up your reading eyes, stretch out your scrolling finger and load up your excitement because we’ve got the ultimate list of things to do in the Netherlands – from uitwaaien to Drielandenpunt. How many have you ticked off?
Twitter exploded in July after the New York Times published an article detailing the “peculiarly Dutch summer rite” of dropping. The practise involves taking children, typically pre-teens, and leaving them in a forested area to make their way back to either their home or campsite. Needless to say, the American’s were…lost. Discover Dutch Droppings!
Ah, you dastardly DutchReviewers! The stats don’t lie, and this article was one our most-clicked. Did a friend suggest during your trip to Amsterdam that you should take some of those famed truffles? They’re probably not talking about the gourmet and ridiculously expensive item for your pasta. Take drugs responsibly kids, here’s what you need to know.
Tourism in the Netherlands has become such a problem that the Dutch Tourism Board took measures to discourage visitors. But, the latest expenditure report shows tourists are spending more than ever in the Netherlands. We’ve comprised a list of some of the biggest tourist spots in the Netherlands and advise whether we think they’re worth a visit or if there is a better alternative (for your sanity, wallet and the country!). See how you can avoid the tourist traps here…
Ahhh the infamous Dutch directness. Is it a stereotype or is it accurate? Should it even be called “directness” or simply, “honesty”? Perhaps even phrased as “no-bullcrap”? This straightforwardness is so valued in Dutch society that there’s even a Dutch word for it: bespreekbaarheid. This translates to “speakability” and means that no topic should be taboo. Unfortunately, the truth can hurt.
When you think of innovation, do the Dutch come to your mind? Here’s seven of the most amazing things the Dutch are doing in the field of sustainable development: from houses made from hemp to solar-powered bus stations – and was that a bee bus station we heard?
What did you learn about yourself when you arrived at the Netherlands? For Magdalena, living in the Netherlands came with a bucketload of surprises. One year on, she’s sharing some of her hilarious observations. Can you relate?
Dutch cities are beautiful, we all know that. But what about the villages? They deserve some love too. Besides, cities can be busy and overcrowded. We wanted to show that there are quiet, tranquil, quaint places in the Netherlands too. And so we decided to give you what you didn’t know you needed: our guide to 10 authentic Dutch villages you simply have to visit.
Before you move to a new country, The Netherlands or otherwise, you are sure to be showered with tips, trick, anecdotes, recommendations and more than a few warnings. When I announced I was moving to the Netherlands, I was told to expect tulips, smokeables, and not to fall in a canal. The actual truth? Well…
The Netherlands has some pretty strange laws at time. In a country sometimes described as overly-beaurocratic, the Netherlands controls some unexpected things, like who can share houses, when fireworks can be used freely, and who can pee in canals (yes, really). Let’s hope 2020 may change some of these weird laws.
Light the fireworks, because what a great year! But hold up – we want to know what you want to read about next year! Drop a comment below if you’ve got a burning idea for a Dutch delight you want to hear about.
Sparks are flying over the availability and use of fireworks with New Year’s Eve fast approaching. Overnight an officer was kicked in the face over a fireworks dispute, pyrotechnics were placed in letterboxes of homes, and an elderly man was beaten for requesting young boys take their fireworks elsewhere.
A 41-year-old Dinteloord man remains under arrest after kicking a supervision officer (BOA) in the face. The suspect allegedly threw an object towards a group of containers. “There was a big blaze and it was accompanied by a huge explosion,” the police said.
While the pair of officers present began fireworks nuisance report for the incident, they asked the suspect for proof of his identity. Instead of handing it over, he allegedly insulted the officials and tried to make a run for it.
The officers pursued the man and a struggle ensued, during which one of the BOAs was kicked in the face and injured. Police officers arrived and came to the aid and handcuffed and arrested the suspect on grounds of mistreatment. The suspect was removed for questioning.
Not an isolated incident
It’s the latest in a series of attacks relating to fireworks. According to RTL Nieuws, a house in Deventer has been targeted twice this year, blowing the letterbox out of the door and rattling the windows.
A house in Sluiskil in Zeeland and another in Roosendaal were also damaged by firework attacks. The occupant of the latter building told Omroep Brabant that she and her husband were lucky after fireworks were stuffed through their letterbox. “My husband locked the door a moment earlier. If it had happened one minute earlier, he would not have been there again.”
Last weekend, a 73-year-old man was beaten up by three young boys after asking them not to use the pyrotechnics near his house because they were upsetting his cats. He has severely bruised ribs after the boys turned on him.
How are these attacks possible?
Fireworks have always been readily accessible in the Netherlands for New Years Eve, a tradition observed by generations. They are sold on just three days of the year: 29th, 30th, and 31st.
For eight hours a year, New Year’s Day at 6:00 pm, until January 1, 2:00 am, fireworks can be lit in Holland. Children as young as twelve years old can make their own explosions of lighter-style fireworks, and adults can light heavier-style pyrotechnics. Individuals are allowed to have up to 25 kilos of fireworks per person.
People lighting fireworks outside of the designated hours risk a fine of 100 euros and confiscation of their other fireworks. If the fireworks are illegal, the fine can be up to 400 euros per item.
Potential ban
Fireworks have been under the microscope in recent years, with some calling for a total ban of the pyrotechnic devices.
Do you think fireworks in the Netherlands should be banned or subject to heavier restrictions? Let us know in the comments below!
