According to research by the Lung Fund, at least dozens of Dutch people have been forced to move due to poor air quality. The research was about people who became so ill due to dirty air that their quality of life was negatively impacted.
In a survey of 220 participants, 55 responded that they had moved to a different area to escape air pollution. The survey was distributed to 1000 people with lung disease and 220 of them responded. In addition, a dozen “air refugees” self reported via social media. More than a hundred respondents also said that they would like to move house immediately, but lacked the financial or practical means to do so.
The numbers are just the tip of the iceberg
“We are really shocked by these numbers,” says director Michael Rutgers of the Lung Fund. “Behind these figures are stories of desperate people who struggle daily with the effects of air pollution. We never expected that there would be so many air refugees in the Netherlands.” He also says that this is likely the tip of the iceberg in terms of air refugees- if this many people replied within a week, there are probably many more silently suffering.
What causes air pollution?
So what causes this pollution? A lot of things, not just traffic. Industry, intensive livestock farming, biomass plants and wood-burning stoves also pollute the air in the Netherlands. Exposure to particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ozone can cause and aggravate chronic bronchitis, asthma, lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases, among other illnesses. Every year, at least 11,000 Dutch people die prematurely due to air pollution. In the cases of one in five Dutch children with asthma, their diagnosis is related to air pollution from traffic.
“Our air simply needs to be cleaner”
Air pollution in the Netherlands has been recognised as a problem by the Remkes Commission, which recently released a report which suggested closing down polluting farms near nature reserves and lowering the speed on regional and national roads. The government is due to respond to these recommendations today. The Lung Fund has backed up these recommendations: “It cannot and should not be the case that people have to move in the Netherlands because of unhealthy air. Or even worse: would love to, but don’t have the means. Our air simply needs to be cleaner.”
Do you live in an area with bad air pollution? Are you considering moving because of it? Let us know in the comments below.
The supermarket chain Jumbo is recalling dozens of types of prepackaged meat. Yet another reason for vegetarians and vegans to feel good about their life choices.
The production location of supplier Offerman in Aalsmeer, one of the company’s three locations, may be contaminated with the listeria bacteria, reports NOS. The supplier informed their customers, including Jumbo and Aldi, about this themselves. The recall campaign includes pre-packaged chicken fillet, ham and bacon. Aldi are only recalling four products, while Jumbo recalls 135.
Customers can get money back
Customers are asked to return the recalled products to the supermarket, and will get their money back if they do. According to Jumbo, all the products currently on their shelves are safe to consume. On Thursday evening, Jumbo published a list of affected products, which you can read here.
Offerman closes factory temporarily
Offerman has also informed its wholesale customers, such as Bidfood, Sligro and Versunie, who will quickly inform their customers about the products that might be contaminated. Offerman has also stopped the packaging and cutting of meats at its factory in Aalsmeer, with its other factories to pick up the slack.
What is listeria?
The bacteria- listeria- can cause a food infection. The chances of this happening are low, but the consequences can be serious, especially for pregnant women- infection can lead to miscarriages or premature birth.
Have you been affected by this recall? Or are you one of our smug vegetarians? Let us know in the comments below.
Feature image: Open Grid Scheduler/Grid Engine Follow/Flickr
The police have arrested a man suspected of murdering lawyer Derk Wiersum. The man has not yet been identified by police.
He was charged on Tuesday in a house, but the arrest was delayed until today by police. The house has been searched by agents, according to NOS.
Last week it became clear that the perpetrator had fled the scene of the crime in a white delivery van. The van has now been found- it is an Opel Combo with forged licence plates. It has been seized by police.
We hebben een verdachte weten aan te houden voor de moord op advocaat Derk Wiersum. Ook de witte bestelauto waarnaar uitgekeken werd, is in beslag genomen.https://t.co/IOOSjK2b4spic.twitter.com/9gGi38SBZJ
The police say that more people will be arrested as the case progresses. For now they have a large investigation team working 24 hours a day on the case.
The Dutch government has announced that there will be an amendment to the regulations governing working holiday visas for young people from New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Hong Kong, South Korea and Canada in the Netherlands.
Last year, the Dutch government introduced a requirement which limited work to three months per employer- meaning that when a person from any of the countries listed above was in the Netherlands on a working holiday visa, they could not work the same job for more than three months. Of course, this was quite the inconvenience. But now the requirement has been lifted.
New regulations
The new regulations do not set any limit for the amount of time someone on a working holiday visa can stay with one employer. The one thing they do say is that work should be “incidental” to the primary purpose of the stay in the Netherlands, which is defined as cultural exchange. What this means in practice is that the work the person on the visa does needs to be fitting to the short-term nature of the visa itself: it only lasts a year. Cultural exchange refers, basically, to New Zealanders, Australians and Canadians getting a better understanding of Dutch culture, and vice versa.
What is a working holiday visa?
A working holiday visa is available to people aged 18 to 31 from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Korea (there is a cap of 100 people per year for South Korea, but the other countries have an unlimited number of visas to give out). The applicant should not do highly skilled work when they’re abroad- again, the idea is learning more about the Netherlands as a country. They also need to prove that they can leave the country again, and they may only take advantage of this opportunity once in their lives.
What do you think of this change? Have you ever done a working holiday? Let us know in the comments below.
When I first moved to the Netherlands I was struck by how many cats there are here. Coming from Australia (where the rate of dog-ownership is higher than the rate of cat-ownership) it seemed to me that the Dutch really loved their cats. I’ve since realised that probably since the country is so small and densely populated – most people live in apartments – it’s just easier for people to have a cat if they want a pet.
But, I do also think that Dutch people are generally just big fans of cats (this is especially apparent in my boyfriend’s family). This may be why there are some great cat-themed attractions in Amsterdam.
If you are living in the Netherlands or even just visiting, and looking to get a fix of some feline companionship, then these three attractions are the perfect way to spend some time with cats.
#1 De Poezenboot
Where: Singel 38G, 1015 AB Amsterdam, Netherlands Timings: Open everyday from 1 pm to 3 pm, and closed on Sunday and Wednesday Entrance fee: Free
Located a short stroll from Amsterdam Centraal Station is De Poezenboot, translation: “The Catboat”! This is a shelter for cats situated on a converted house-boat on canal Singel 38-G.
This is the only animal sanctuary that actually floats and is home to some 17 or so permanent cat residents as well as temporary residents that are then re-homed. The permanent residents are made up of cats that were either born outside or lived on the streets for a long time and are never going to be ‘normal’ house-cats.
They are often quite afraid of humans and won’t allow anyone to pick them up but sometimes they can be sweet and allow you to pat them. Mostly if they do not want to be bothered they will simply walk away; there are two that may ‘hit’ you if patted when they don’t want it, but the Catboat has signs that warn you who to watch out for!
They have a good life on the boat, interacting with other cats, watching birds and being cared for by volunteers.
Image: Supplied
De Poezenboot is a non-profit organisation, so it runs entirely on donations. Taking in and caring for abandoned and stray cats is no cheap feat, and all cats they receive are also health-checked, vaccinated, neutered or spayed and micro-chipped before they are re-homed or permanently settled on the boat.
Image: Supplied
For more information on the Catboat, its resident cats and even merchandise you can purchase (and support needy kitties!) visit the website here.
#2 Katten Kabinet
Where: Herengracht 497, 1017 BT Amsterdam, Netherlands Timings: Open from Monday to Friday from 10 am to 5 pm, and 12 pm to 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday Entrance fee: 7 euros
Image: Supplied
After you have visited some cats on a boat, why not walk further into the city (past the floating flower market) to see the Katten Kabinet, a museum devoted entirely to art featuring cats?
Housed in a lovely old canal house, the museum features a large collection of paintings, sculptures, photos, prints, fans, crockery, furniture and all sorts of other items featuring cats as the artistic muse.
The building itself is gorgeous, with a lovely old piano, beautiful chandeliers and stunning restored 17th-century art-work on the ceiling (the only art that doesn’t include a cat!). Some of my favourite pieces included a lucky cat pinball machine and a costume from the musical ‘Cats’.
Image: Supplied
There are also some real-life resident cats, who often walk about on top of the furniture and displays! The Katten Kabinet shop features lots of postcards, posters and other souvenirs featuring artworks of cats (in case you want to keep some cat reminders with you). If you would like more information (and a virtual tour!) check out the website here.
#3 Kopjes Cat Café
Where: Marco Polostraat 211, 1057 WK Amsterdam, Netherlands Timings: Open from Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 7 pm, and closed on Monday and Tuesday Entrance fee: 3 euros
What better way to end your day of ‘cat-sightseeing’ than with a coffee, some cake and a visit with the cats of Amsterdam’s cat café ‘Kopjes’?! ‘Cat Cafés’ originated in Taiwan and became very popular in Japan before the idea spread to the Western World.
Kopjes (meaning ‘cups’) is Amsterdam’s only cat café and opened in 2015 after an online crowd-funding campaign. It is home to eight cats (3 males and 5 females) which you can visit (you need to book ahead of time) to have a cuddle, play and some cat-time.
The café also offers hot and cold drinks, cakes, sandwiches and breakfast food. You don’t have to eat or drink; the entrance fee is 3 euros to simply spend some time with the cats in the cosy café; but who could turn down that divine looking red velvet cake?!
The set-up for the cats is designed completely for their well-being and there are rules for entry in order to make sure the cats don’t become stressed out. But with all those toys, cosy nooks, cat-shelves, a ‘cats-only’ area and plenty of love, the characters at this café seem like pretty contented cats! If you are looking to drop in for a cuddle with a purring friend then have a look at their website here.
There you have it, your guide to the best spots for cat-lovers to visit while in Amsterdam! Make sure you comment if there are any other great spots for cat-lovers to visit that I may not know about!
36 young climate activists set sail from Amsterdam yesterday, headed for the global climate conference in Chile. Joining Greta Thunberg in the no-fly movement, they are working on ways to make travel more sustainable.
The activists are from all across Europe, but ‘Sail to the COP’ is a Dutch initiative, created by four Dutch climate activists, demanding a radical shift within the travel industry. Currently, the aviation industry is “the most polluting and fastest growing form of transport”, according to co-founder Jeppe Bijker. ‘Sail to the COP’ is hoping to address this problem on an international stage.
At sea for seven weeks
Sailing aboard the Regina Maris, the activists will be at sea for about seven weeks. They will sail to Rio de Janeiro, and from there take the bus to Chile. There will also be a captain and a five-member trained crew aboard the ship. During the seven week long journey, the activists will form a think tank to brainstorm ways to make travelling more environmentally friendly.
The team of 36 young activists sailing to the COP. Image: Sail to the COP
Making travel sustainable
Their aim is to level the playing field, making travelling by sea, train, bus or bike more appealing to people, in comparison to flying. In the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the aviation industry was exempted from environmental regulation, and has remained so ever since. It is also exempted from carbon taxes, while the more sustainable forms of transportation (like trains and buses) are not.
Do you have any ideas which would make travel more sustainable? And what do you think of this initiative? Let us know in the comments below.
The US will be putting a 25 percent import tax on a range of European foodstuffs, including Dutch cheese. This is a result of the illegal subsidy given by the EU to Airbus, and possibly Trump’s plan to take over the world with spray cheese.
According to an announcement by American trade envoy Robert Lighthizer, pork, cheese and butter from the Netherlands can expect to be taxed at 25 percent whenever they enter the US. Pears and mussels, from the Netherlands and other European countries, will be subject to the same tax.
Why would Donald ban cheese?
Our personal theory at DutchReview is that Donald Trump is gradually banning all cheeses, except for American spray cheese. Which is also definitely what his hair is made from (you heard it here first).
The resemblance is clear. Image: Mike Mozart/Flickr
Gouda and Edam are exempt
Moving on: this tax will not actually be as big of a deal for the Netherlands as you might expect, because Edam and Gouda cheese are exempt. The vast majority of cheese exports from the Netherlands to the US are of Gouda, according to nu.nl. In an earlier publication by the US, these cheeses were specifically listed on the goods to be taxed.
French wine and Scottish whiskey will also be taxed
In addition, the US also is also introducing taxes of 25 percent on French wine, Spanish olive oil and Scottish whiskey, among others. This follows the WTO approving the import duty of 25 percent on Wednesday. This will amount to 7.5 billion dollars of European goods.
Why would anyone do this?
The reason for this tax (apart from Donald’s plan to make spray cheese the official symbol of the US) is to respond to the illegal subsidy granted by the EU to Airbus, the aircraft manufacturer. According to the WTO, taxing cheese is an appropriate response.
Have you ever tried spray cheese? And do you think an American cheese smuggling industry is about to take off? Let us know in the comments below!
The demand for student housing in the Netherlands will continue to increase, according to the annual report from the National Student Housing Monitor, published on Thursday by Kenniscentrum Studentenhuisvesting (Kences).
The increase in demand is mainly a result of an influx of international students. An additional 14,900 students will be living away from home over the next four years- but this isn’t because Dutch students are leaving home more often. On the contrary, 12,600 fewer Dutch students will be living outside the family home over the same period. The increase is purely due to an increase in international students in the Netherlands, says NRC.
Extra development needed
Dutch students usually rent housing from private individuals, and have a longer period of time to look for it. For international students, the time frame they have to search in is much shorter, so their need is a bit more pressing. It can be a real nightmare to find student housing! Generally, they find housing through educational institutions and housing associations. “That requires extra development,” says Kences director Paul Tholenaars.
Impact of abolished grant
The student housing scene has been experiencing many changes over the last couple of years, particularly since the basic grant was abolished. The number of students, both international and Dutch, living away from home in the Netherlands has decreased since the grant was taken away- from 56 to 53 percent. During the same time period, the housing costs have risen, by about 10 percent (this number is adjusted for inflation). The good news is that the abolition of the grant has not stopped students from studying, or to change where they study. It seems to purely have affected when they leave home. If you’re a bit lost and confused when it comes to the dynamics of the student scene in Holland, check out our guide to studying in the Netherlands!
High rents stop students from moving out
Of course, the affordability of student housing plays a major role in whether a student can live alone or not. Half of the students living at home say high rents are the reason for staying at home. 16 percent of students have no need to live away from home, and 17 percent want to, but cannot find (affordable) housing. If you’re in search of a cheaper apartment, check out our guide to cheap housing in the Netherlands!
Are you a student? How have you found the housing market in the Netherlands? And should the grant come back? Let us know in the comments below.
According to a study published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Dutch households are wasting less and less food. In 2019, Dutch people are expected to waste 34.3 kilos of food per person, a decrease of 7 kilos since 2016.
Dutch people have wasted less fruit, vegetables, dairy and bread in particular over the last few years. Almost half of discarded food currently is “unavoidable food loss”, like peels, cores and bones. Currently, 9.5 percent of purchased edible food per person per household is wasted. This amounts to about 120 euros worth of food each year- which sounds like a lot. However, back in 2016, this was 145 euros per year. So there’s definitely a massive improvement going on here.
Less drinks wasted, too!
There was also less waste when it comes to drinks. Far fewer liquids such as coffee, tea, milk and soft drinks were flushed down the sink or the toilet. The amount of wasted drink is estimated at 45.5 liters per person: almost 11 litres less than 2016! All that Dutch stinginess has a good side apparently.
130 households surveyed
So how was this information gathered? First of all, 130 households in 13 different municipalities were studied. In addition, over 1000 people were given a survey about food and another 1000 about drink waste.
Minister wants to halve food waste
The Minister for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Carola Schouten, wants to halve food waste. She believes that the extra attention given to food waste has been a major factor in the decrease the survey shows. However, by 2030, she wants to halve food waste (in comparison to the amount wasted in 2015). “It is unjustifiable that food is lost, whether it is in the chain or in people’s homes,” the minister said to nu.nl in an interview. Households are responsible for around 23 to 32 percent of the total waste in the food chain.
Have you been trying to lower the amount of food you’re wasting? And how can we all do better with food waste? Let us know in the comments below.
The College van B&W has proposed 27 measures to decrease car traffic and improve accessibility in Amsterdam- the most striking of which is the introduction of a free OV for children from 2021.
Children under 12 will be able to travel for free on Wednesday afternoons and during the weekend. Alderman for Traffic and Transport, Sharon Dijksma, hopes that by offering people attractive alternatives to car, the city can reduce car traffic, according to NOS. “By allowing children to travel for free by public transport on weekends and on Wednesday afternoons, we hope to be able to entice many more people to use the high-quality public transport network that the city has.”
Other initiatives proposed by the College van B&W include a trial of a night metro, a reduction in the number of parking permits, the removal of around 10,000 parking spots, and an expansion of the number of Park and Rides in the city. Metro stations will also get shareable bikes, like NS stations currently have. By 2030, the city hopes to be emission-free: something that going car free will obviously help with. The city is also prioritising keeping things accessible. The changes proposed are expected to cost 500 to 700 million euros. They will be discussed in the city council next year.
So, if you have a child, get planning all your outings for Wednesday afternoons and the weekends! And if you don’t, get ready to enjoy a far more sustainable and calm city centre in Amsterdam.
Het aantal toeristen in Amsterdam is de laatste jaren geëxplodeerd, wat ten koste gaat van de leefbaarheid van de stad. Deze video is een portret van het contrast tussen chaos en rust. pic.twitter.com/oPWeSQwtS3
What do you think about these measures? Are you looking forward to the night metro, or free public transport for kids under 12? Let us know in the comments below.
