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Rotterdammers are the best non-native English speakers in the world

DutchReview Crew
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Rotterdammers are the best non-native English speakers in the world

According to the EF English Proficiency Index, Rotterdam is the most adept at speaking English as a second language in, *drum roll*, the whole world! Rotterdam scores high at 71.68, Amsterdam is not too far behind at 71.35, and The Hague at 71.27. 

If you’re thinking that with these scores, the Netherlands was ranked as the best country for English where it’s not the native language, then you’re absolutely right. I mean, it does take only common sense to figure that out, but still!

What is the EF English Proficiency Index?

The results from this survey were derived from the EF SET: an online English test for reading and listening. So anyone with an internet connection was free to take the test. A total of 2.3 million people in 100 countries participated and took the online test.

But should we celebrate about these results? As they say themselves in the report, “test-taking population represented in this Index is self-selected and not guaranteed to be representative”. Therefore, the sampling bias would skew the scores depending on how many people are actually motivated to take these tests. Also, as their method of data collection is solely through an online test, it naturally excludes anyone without an internet connection, i.e., poorer people and anyone who is unable to access the internet. Not everyone in the world is online, and not everyone is online to take English tests.

How are those Rotterdammers so damn good at English?

Okay, the survey seems to be kind of designed to give the developed world a very easy pat on the back, but there’s no denying that the Dutchies are good at speaking English. Sure the Dutchies start learning English from a very young age, and they barely ever dub things into Dutch, but what makes Rotterdam so special?

The education institute believes that Rotterdammers have the Maas to thank for it. Thanks to the river that runs through the city, Rotterdam has been an important port city for centuries. It also attracts international companies that have English as their official language and boasts of universities like Erasmus University Rotterdam offering multiple programs in English.

Additionally, it seems that the province of South Holland has the best English speakers in the Netherlands, and the poorest being Drenthe.

What do you make of these results? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: herry wibisono/Pixabay

Unsurprisingly rainy week ahead for the Netherlands

Ailish Lalor
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Unsurprisingly rainy week ahead for the Netherlands

Exciting times! The Netherlands will have a mostly rain-filled week, in contrast to that one time in 1990 that the sun peeked through the clouds.

Rain, rain, go away

Today you can expect a very grey sky, with a couple of clear spells. These won’t last long, however, because it’s the Netherlands (and also there’s quite a bit of humidity in the air, and not much wind to move it along). The north of the country will experience the most rain today. As we’ve already seen, there was some drizzle this morning during the rush hour, which caused delays. You can expect the same again during the evening rush today.

Tomorrow will be rainy, but when you least expect it

Wednesday will be changeable, by which we mean there will be more rain, but it will come at the worst possible moment in your day. There shouldn’t be a lot of wind, so that’s something, but there will also not be a lot of sun. Basically, it’ll be grey, and a little colder than the start of the week, with afternoon temperatures between 9 and 11 degrees. Even though this sounds very grim and dull, there are ways to enjoy the Dutch winter weather. Most of them involve staying inside, but still.

Colder weekend in store

From Thursday onwards, your hands will go numb when you bike, so remember your gloves, or prepare to hold back tears as you cycle into work. The temperature will gradually go down as the week comes to an end, with the highest possible temperature this weekend coming in at a balmy, tropical, desert-like 8 degrees. Nighttimes will hit about 2 degrees. And, uh, there’ll still be rain.

Excited about the weather ahead of you this week? Or want to chat to us in the comments below about how tragic it all is? Go ahead, let it all *pour* out. 

Feature image: Pexels/Pixabay

190 traffic jams in the Netherlands today at the peak of rush hour

Kavana Desai
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190 traffic jams in the Netherlands today at the peak of rush hour

If you’ve been stuck in a traffic jam all morning, then you’re not the only one (as you can probably make out because you’re gridlocked by vehicles all around you). At the peak of rush hour, there were at least 190 traffic jams in the Netherlands, reports NU.nl.

All of these traffic jams would total up to 870 kilometers in distance: that’s a lot of vehicles driving bumper-to-bumper in this tiny country. Well, at least you have an excuse as to why you’re late. Or you could be a friend to the environment and give public transport a shot.

Why do we have so many traffic jams in the Netherlands today?

A spokesperson from ANWB also said that we should expect hectic mornings because November is said to be a busy month.

Today’s traffic jams are said to have been caused by the rain, drizzle, and fog decreasing the visibility on the roads. In addition, because of the shorter days in winter, it is still dark when people leave their homes.

Which roads should you avoid this morning?

Take significant delays into account if you’re driving on any of the provincial roads new The Hague and Rotterdam, reports NU.nl. There are minor traffic jams around on A4, A13, A16 and the A20 of around 10 kilometers.

Avoid A4 at Hoofddrop as it has a traffic jam of at least 20 kilometers because of an accident. There was also an accident on the A15 between Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht and Sliedrecht-Wes.

So be prepared DutchReviewers! Take delays into account so that you’re never late for work. Have you been stuck in a traffic jam all morning? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: Holger Schué/Pixabay 

Heineken’s Charlene de Carvalho is the richest Dutchie in the Netherlands

DutchReview Crew
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Heineken’s Charlene de Carvalho is the richest Dutchie in the Netherlands

Quote 500 has just released its annual list of the richest Dutchies in the Netherlands. Heineken’s Charlene de Carvalho remains the richest with a whooping capital of 14.2 billion euros! Gotta love [hate] your wealth hoarders. 

According to NOS, Heineken had a growing turnover and “[added] 1.5 billion euros to its assets this year”. To be on this Quote 500 list, you have to be born into wealth.

The rich are just getting richer

What a world we live in when the rich are just getting richer! According to NU.nl, there are a total of 37 billionaires in the Netherlands: a record high number for this country, and six more than last year. This year, they have even set the lower limit higher where, if you have to make it onto the list, the person needs to have 88 million euros in assets.

It was also found that the combined wealth of the 500 of the richest Dutchies has increased by at least 10% (to 179.8 billion euros) as compared to last year.

Who else made it onto the Quote 500 list?

The top three is rounded off with Frits Goldschmeding (capital of 4.4 billion euros), founder of Randstad Holding; and Gérita and Inge Wessels (combined capital of 3.6 billion euros), daughters of Dik Wessels, owners of the largest construction company in the Netherlands.

DJ Tiësto also made it on there but he is only a meagre millionaire with a capital of 160 million euros. Princess Mabel van Oranje-Nassau with capital worth 290 million euros also made it onto the list.

Quote 500 has also named the richest families to be Brenninkmeijer, owners of C&A (22.5 billion euros), Van der Vorm family of the HAL investment fund (8.5 million euros) and the De Rijcke family of Kruidvat (2.2 billion euros).

What would you even do with that much money? End poverty, maybe? Stop exploiting workers, perhaps? Invest in minimizing climate change? Just a few suggestions. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: Mehran B/Pixabay 

Up in flames: Dutch church destroyed after blaze burns building, collapses spire

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
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Up in flames: Dutch church destroyed after blaze burns building, collapses spire

A fiery blaze has ripped through the Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Geboortekerk (Church of Our Lady) in South Holland, causing the steeple to collapse. Houses and schools in the surrounding areas have been evacuated away from the smoke and danger.

The church, which has stood in the village of Hoogmade since 1877, reportedly began burning around 12:40 this afternoon. Around three hours after the initial blaze broke out, the spire of the church fell to the ground.

The fire brigade has had to give up on attempting to save any parts of the church, and have instead concentrated their efforts on preventing the spread of fire to neighbouring houses and buildings.

How did the Hoogmade church fire begin?

RTL Nieuws reports that the fire began after some repair work required old paint to be burned. It is unknown how the fire got out of hand so quickly and with a devastating effect.

How has the community responded?

The Hoogmade community is in shock at today’s events. One resident, who lives nearby the church, told RTL Nieuws they think the fire will be a blow to many residents. “It is a special church, especially because of its towers. They tower above the village.”

Local restaurant owner, Sandra Sierat, told NOS fire will be a major blow for the area. “It is very radical for the entire community. The church is very important for everyone, it is a Roman Catholic village.”

Residents of Hoogmade received an emergency message this afternoon from NL Alert. It advised residents to keep doors and windows closed due to the large amounts of smoke pouring out of the burning church.

Feature Image: Ronald De Jong/Twitter

Sex discrimination in the Dutch workplace is still a thing: study

Francine Zauner
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Sex discrimination in the Dutch workplace is still a thing: study

Sex discrimination in the workplace is still a regular occurrence, but who would have guessed that this would still be a problem in the progressive Netherlands? It’s 2019, after all! Keep reading to see how sexism manifests itself in the Dutch workplace.

Lacking a Y chromosome? You may be out of luck in the workplace with recent statistics showing that when looking for staff, recruiters approach women far less often than men. According to Financieele Dagblad (FD), this is the case even with staff shortages in many sectors and strain on the labour market.

Intelligence Group carried out a survey that found 43 per cent of men were approached at least once a quarter. Meanwhile, only 31 per cent of women were approached at least once in the same timeframe.

The only conclusion Robert van Veggel, director for recruitment company Steens & Partners in Zuid- and Oost-Nederland, said he could reach is that women want to work part-time more often and are therefore not as sought-after as individuals searching for full-time positions.

Women are too modest about their skill set

Researcher Geert-Jan Wassdorp does not believe in this argument because it cannot be deduced from the profiles in advance. Instead, he thinks that perhaps women are too modest about their talents whilst men tend to over-exaggerate their achievements. 

The FD carried out a study through an agency that keeps track of how often people are approached for a job (unemployed, employed and students). All work branches hired more men in general. This was the case even with healthcare, which employs a lot of female staff.

What will happen to companies that continue to discriminate?

In October, State Secretary of Social Affairs, Tamara van Ark, presented a bill to crack down on discrimination on the labour market. This will result in companies being fined if they are caught discriminating potential employees. Furthermore, the reason for the fine will be made public.

Although times are changing with employers discriminating much less than in 2015, there is still a long way to go. Moreover, individuals with a migration background still have less chance of being called to an interview.

Is joking around a clever thing to do in the workplace?

Interestingly, office banter works only in favour of men. According to Harvard Business Review, when men inject humour into a business presentation, they are viewed as individuals with a higher status within the organisation. People think that they are more capable leaders and performers.

However, this backfires on women. When they added humour to the exact same presentation, they were viewed as less capable leaders. 

So watch out ladies, men may not be able to deal with your sense of humour!

Have you faced discrimination in the workplace? Has it been due to sexism or anything else? Tell us about your experiences in the comments below!

Feature Image: Free-Photos/Pixabay

Will it go ahead? Teachers’ strike on Wednesday in chaos

Ailish Lalor
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Will it go ahead? Teachers’ strike on Wednesday in chaos

Will the teachers strike on Wednesday or not? After the major teachers’ union, Algemene Onderwijsbond (AOb), called off the strike last week, it seemed not. Now, however, they have reversed their decision, reports NOS. 

A teachers’ strike is planned on Wednesday this week. Teachers are calling for more investment in the education system: something the government seemed to have acquiesced to. They agreed to spend an extra 460 million euro on education last week, after which AOb decided to call off the strike. Most of its members were not happy with that decision, however.

So, we can all look forward to another protest this Wednesday: why are the Dutch protesting so much lately?

So, why are the teachers striking?

There are several problems with the government’s solution, but the most important is that it would be a once-off investment by the government. It sounds like a lot of money, but what teachers are calling for is increased and continual investment in education. So, when AOb called off the strike, a significant number of teachers joined another union that was in favour of the strike, Leraren in Actie, which is a relatively small union. Around 600 extra members joined over the weekend, according to chairman of the union Peter Althuizen.

Translation: I still don’t understand why primary school teachers aren’t striking for two weeks. 10 days of looking after their darlings will be difficult for many parents. You don’t need tractors for that. Cut it off with love. 

On Sunday, AOb decided to go back on their decision to call off the strike following the concerns their members raised. So, depending on what individual schools and teachers decide, the strike will most likely go ahead in most parts of the Netherlands this Wednesday. Part of the reason for the uncertainty is the timing of AOb’s change of mind: as it all happened over the weekend, schools can only be consulted today. Parents will only know for sure this evening.

Will you be affected by this strike? Or are you a striking teacher? Let us know in the comments below. 

Feature image: Teresa Gubern/Supplied. 

5 free things to do in November in the Netherlands

Veronika Licheva
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5 free things to do in November in the Netherlands

Are you a bit low on cash after the Halloween festivities and looking for free things to do in November? Here are 5 events across the Netherlands that will help you save up some money for Christmas (because nothing says winter holidays like consumerism!)

Leiden International Film Festival

Best bang for your buck: Leiden International Film Festival. Image: Coen Bastiaanssen

When: October 31 – November 10
Where: Leiden

Leiden International Film Festival, AKA LIFF, is coming back for its 14th edition this year. Once again, Leiden will host some of the most incredible film premieres and parties in the Netherlands. The festival features big blockbuster hits, both old and new, but also serves as a platform for lesser-known films.

While we do know that this awesome event is not for free, it is extremely cheap for everything you are getting. From incredible American Indie films to premiers of exciting films in Leiden, this isn’t one you’ll want to miss. Find out more about Leiden International Film Festival for all the details!

GLOW Eindhoven

GLOW Eindhoven is spectacular, and totally free! Image: GLOW Eindhoven

When: November 9 – November 16
Where: Eindhoven

GLOW Eindhoven is an extraordinary festival, where for one week only Eindhoven is transformed into one giant spectacle of light. The GLOW light art festival is an annual event in Eindhoven with light constructions by artists from all over the world!

All you have to do is take a stroll through the city’s streets and enjoy the beautiful lights. What’s even more exciting is the fact that a new theme is chosen for GLOW each year. So even if it’s not your first time, there will be a lot of new things to see. This year’s theme is Living Colours.

TEDxAmsterdam Women Talent Night

When: November 8
Where: Hyatt Regency Amsterdam

Ever wondered how TED speakers get on the big stage? Through TEDx Talent Nights! Tickets are completely free for this one night event that encourages you to discover brand new ideas from the latest thinkers, game changers, local heroes and rebels.

All talks fall under the TEDx themes of Technology, Entertainment, Design, Global issues, Business, Art & Music, Science or Sustainability and it’s sure to be a thought-provoking evening. Tickets are limited so grab them soon!

Sint-Maarten/St. Martin’s Day

Sint Maarten is the closest thing the Dutch have to Halloween! Image: Flickr/Stephan Kiessling

When: November 11
Where: Various locations around the Netherlands.

While this may not be the event you expected, it is the event you MUST know about! After all, you do not want to feel like a jerk that made a ton of children cry, right? So here’s what Sint-Maarten is.

Every year, on the evening of the 11th of November, Dutch kids tour the neighbourhood with their hand-crafted lanterns. They move from door to door and sing songs, in return for candy or fruit. Some people compare Sint Maarten to Halloween in the United States. It’s not celebrated all over the Netherlands, but if you’re near Noord-Holland Groningen, Drenthe, Friesland, Brabant and Limburg you may be in luck!

If you have children yourself, you might want to join in on the celebrations and go around with other families around your neighbourhood (although the schools sometimes take care of planning). If you don’t have children, then make sure you stock up on some candy! While it may not be your traditional event of going out, this Dutch celebration is very cute and wholesome.

Sinterklaas

Sintklaas’s arrival will see candy rain from the sky! Image: Sander van der Wel/Wikimedia Commons

When: November 16 – December 5
Where: Apeldoorn

The national arrival of Sinterklaas to the Netherlands this year is on the 16th of November in Apeldoorn. As per usual, he is expected to arrive from Spain on his massive steamboat, carrying presents for all the Dutch children.

There will also be a lot of waving, smiling, and a ton of happy and excited children (and maybe some protests, but that’s for another topic). So if you have little ones of your own, (or you’re just feeling young at heart), you can go greet Sinterklaas yourself!

If you can’t make it to Apeldoorn, never fear! Sinterklaas makes a point of visiting most cities before pakjesavond.

So there you have it! 5 exciting free things to do in November in the Netherlands. Which event are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below!

DutchReview’s best of the best: October 2019

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
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DutchReview’s best of the best: October 2019

What a month for the Netherlands! We had protesters all over the show, shutting down roads and getting into fights. But despite all the breaking news, we still managed to delve deep into some of the things that make the Netherlands, Dutch!

Have you ever wondered why Dutch people are so comfortable with strangers sneakily peering in through their uncovered street-level windows? Heard about the VOC, but not really sure what it was and think it’s maybe too late to ask? Or, maybe you’re curious about weird Dutch sports, like pole-vaulting over canals with sticks?

Whatever you fancy, we’ve got eight of the best articles from DutchReview this month that you may have missed – or maybe they’re just so good you can’t wait to read them again!

Why don’t the Dutch like to use curtains?

Dutch curtains, girls peeks through blinds

Dutch culture is notoriously open-minded, thanks to its Calvinist history. But how did we go from being open-minded – to leaving all our street-level blinds open? Why is privacy dead in the Netherlands – and why don’t the Dutch care? We’ve got the answers.

What was the VOC? The Dutch East India Company explained

what was the VOC? ship

You’ve probably heard of the VOC, or the Dutch East India Company. But, a lot of the time, it’s not entirely clear what this company was, what it did, and whether we should be proud or ashamed of it. Here’s your quick and digestible history lesson on everything you need to know about the VOC!

The ultimate guide to studying in the Netherlands

Thinking about studying in the Netherlands? Brilliant idea! Here is the ultimate, definitive and absolute guide to studying in the Netherlands, filled with everything from student culture to where our universities sit in the world rankings (spoiler: pretty dang high).

Fierljeppen: the curious Dutch sport you need to know about

Girl fierljeppen in the sky

What has a giant stick, superior upper body strength and can cross a canal in a single bound? A fierljepper, of course! But what are these curious flying Dutchmen? How exactly do you fierljep? And how the hell do you pronounce that…word?

These are the best apps for ordering food in the Netherlands

Now that we’re coming into winter, there are more and more evenings where the thought of crossing the street to the nearest Albert Heijn seems like all too much. Amidst hunger pangs and wiping away drool, we’ve hunted down everything you need to know about ordering food in the Netherlands.

19 questions answered about Dutch health insurance in 2020

Healthcare and health insurance in the Netherlands

Who said living life on the edge is a good thing? Definitely not the Dutch! While the world of having mandatory health insurance in the Netherlands can seem intimidating, we’ve taken your most frequently asked questions, and found out all the answers!

Get a bird’s eye view of the Netherlands in 100 seconds

netherlands aerial shot

What if we told you that you could go through the Netherlands in 100 seconds? Would you believe us? As small as this country is, obviously that’s not possible if you’re not literally standing on a map of the Netherlands. However, thanks to some incredible drone footage you can now experience all the Netherlands has to offer – in less than two minutes of your time.

Protests in the Netherlands: why are the Dutch protesting so much lately?

Protests in the netherlands

Wondering why there have been so many protests in the Netherlands recently? Feeling like this usually peaceful country has gotten a bit hectic? Here’s our guide to everything people have been demonstrating against in the Netherlands recently (and a bit about the past on protests in the Netherlands as well)

What do you think of these eight great articles from DutchReview this month? Think we missed one from the list? Got a great idea for something you want to be covered next month? Let us know in the comments below!

Amsterdam Zuidas begs people to work from home on Friday as the area will be basically impenetrable for 79 hours

Ailish Lalor
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Amsterdam Zuidas begs people to work from home on Friday as the area will be basically impenetrable for 79 hours

Due to the construction of an enormous rooftop for the new passenger tunnel between Amsterdam Zuid station and the A10 south, no trains, trucks or cars will be able to get through Amsterdam Zuidas from Thursday evening to Monday morning.

The city is asking people who usually commute through the area to work from home or take the day off- the situation is predicted to be that bad. There are other routes for cars to get around the blockage- the A5 and A9. However, they are not big enough to deal with the usual 10,000 cars per hour that usually pass through Amsterdam Zuidas each morning.

The closures are necessary because of the scale of the construction work. Both train tracks and roadway have to be removed, and then put back, to make the installation of the passenger tunnel roof possible.

The train tracks will be closed for a slightly shorter amount of time. They will be closed on Friday and Saturday, and will reopen with limited capacity on Sunday. Passengers will be diverted to Amsterdam Centraal, from where they can get to Amsterdam Zuid via the metro.

Will you be inconvenienced by this construction work? Let us know in the comments below. 

Feature image: Paulbe/Wikimedia Commons

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