The Dutch railway operator, the NS, are eager to use WiFi to help passengers find a free seat in advance aboard a train. So no more pushing and shoving trying to nab the only free seat? It’s a yes from us! But it needs to be cleared with Dutch Data Protection Authority amidst concerns over privacy.
The current seat seeker
The NS already has a seat seeker but it is flawed. Udo Oelen, the Director of Privacy at NS, explains “In the most modern train there would be a sensor in every seat, so that you can see for each seat where there is room. But the current NS trains do not have those sensors. ”
WiFi will enhance the seat seeker’s capability
The NS want to track the WiFi signals from mobile phones to assess what carriages people are in and how full they are. They can then determine how many free seats are available in each compartment.
Oelen states “It is important for us to make this information available so that people can better divide themselves on the train and the chance of getting a seat increases. For safety, too, it is better if crowds of people spread on the train. ”
Decision is yet to be finalised amidst privacy concerns
The location of travellers will be found via the mac address, which is unique on every mobile device. But this mac address also contains personal data which could breach the privacy law.
Oelen says the viability of such an app needs to be confirmed with the Dutch Data Protection Authority.
He tells Trouw “We realise that it is a charged issue when it comes to privacy.”
How do Dutch Railways overcome this privacy issue?
Oelen explains that Dutch Railways want to utilise the mac address in a sensor but no actually register the information from the mac address. He ensures “The Dutch Railways do not want to follow anyone, but only know how busy it will ultimately be in such a train.”
What do you think about this idea? Useful? Or are you concerned about privacy? Let us know in the comments.
The Dutch Lower House has decided that three museums in Amsterdam will be free to the public one day a month. The decision was made in order to improve the museums’ accessibility to members of the public who have lower incomes.
The three museums in question are the Rijksmuseum, the National Maritime Museum (Het Scheepvaartmuseum) and the Van Gogh Museum. The decision to make them free for one day a month was supported by all Dutch political parties except the PVV and VVD (no surprises there).
The proposal was discussed last Tuesday in the Lower House, with D66 MP Salima Belhaj and Labour Party leader Lodewijk Asscher taking the lead in advocating for it. According to the Labour Party, the (very high) admissions prices of most Dutch museums puts people off from visiting them- particularly those with less cash to spare. To Asscher, national collections should be accessible to, well, the whole nation.
It’s not yet clear when the free day programme will begin, nor which day of the week the government will choose to make free.
What do you think of this idea? What other museums should be made free one day a month? Let us know in the comments below.
Ahhh the weekend just been was glorious – crisp autumn days with the sun warming us ever so slightly. Are we in store for more of these lovely days? Well, sort of. There will be a mixture of clouds, showers and sun.
Monday – get outside while you can!
Dense fog covers the southern part of the Netherlands this morning. Warnings have been released to be weary of slippery roads which may have frosted over, Weerplaza reports.
But the good news is the sun will peep through for most of the day. This will warm temperatures up to between five degrees inland and eight degrees on the coast. Enjoy it while you can!
By this evening however, the mercury drops to freezing and light rain may fall.
This varied but moderate weather is forecasted to continue for Tuesday and Wednesday as well. The highlight is that not much rain will fall (which I think we are owed given we’ve had a lot of it lately).
So you can finally get cracking on that running you’ve wanted to do (the weather cannot be used as an excuse this week!)
The rest of the week
As the weekend draws nearer, the inevitable rain starts to become more likely (but we can’t complain if we’ve had a rainless week!)
Police have confirmed three people have been injured after a stabbing incident in the centre of The Hague earlier today.
UPDATE 23:48 – The three young stabbing victims have now been released from hospital, police confirm.
“I am very shocked by the news that a stab incident took place tonight in which children have been the victims,” said Deputy Mayor Boudewijn Revis. “On a night when so many people do shopping in one of our busiest shopping streets, something so terrible happens.”
UPDATE 22:53 – All three stabbing victims were minors, The Hague Police have said. Families have been notified.
De slachtoffers van het steekincident aan de #Grotemarktstraat zijn alledrie minderjarig. Er is contact met hun familie @PolJanHen
UPDATE 22:38 – A witness has described to NOS the moments immediately after the stabbing. “I saw two girls screaming and running away. A man fled. He jumped very athletically over benches to get away. He looked like a cheetah. People were trying to get away. but that didn’t work. I was shocked.”
UPDATE 22:36 – Police have retracted an earlier issued description of the suspect, but confirm the suspect is still evading police.
UPDATE 22:31 – There is still no word of the condition of the victims. Police have confirmed three people have been transferred to hospital. The suspect remains on the loose.
UPDATE 22:05 – The Hague Police have confirmed the perpetrator is still on the run. The news comes despite rumours that the stabber had been arrested earlier. According to RTL Nieuws there have been two arrests, but neither were the suspect.
Wij zijn nog steeds op zoek naar de dader van het steekincident #GroteMarktstraat. Heeft u informatie neem dan contact op met de opsporingstiplijn via 0800-6070 of anoniem via M 0800-7000. @PolJanHen
UPDATE 21:29 – According to NOS, two young women were stabbed outside the Hudson’s Bay department store, before entering the store in a panic.
UPDATE 21:22 – Police have confirmed three people were injured in the attack. They’re appealing for witnesses or people who may have photos or video footage.
Bij het steekincident aan de #GroteMarktstraat zijn er drie personen gewond geraakt. Heeft u iets gezien van dit incident, of hebt u camerabeelden of ander beeldmateriaal? Meld dit dan via 0900-8844.
Details of the incident are not known, although unconfirmed reports say that the stabbing occurred inside Hudson’s Bay department store on the Grote Markstraat.
DutchReview videographer Ivaylo Kirov is currently at the scene. According to Kirov, there is a large police presence, while the street remains cordoned off. Bystanders are unaware of what has happened.
RTL Nieuws reports that the perpetrator initially escaped but has since been arrested.
A cooking teacher from Wellant MBO Amsterdam has been poisoned by a student. In retaliation for a mobile phone ban, the student added detergent into the teacher’s cup of tea.
The teacher only knew of the student’s act when her tongue began tingling. She had to immediately seek medical attention, RTL Nieuws reports.
According to reports from the school, the student poisoned the teacher impulsively after the teacher told the student not to use their mobile phone.
A spokesperson from Wellant MBO has responded to the matter, saying that the school is ‘very shocked.’
“The student is very sorry. As school management, we were immediately informed and investigated the case. We are taking measures against the pupil,” the spokesperson said.
The student, a minor, is now being transferred to a different school (and hopefully won’t be taking any cooking classes anytime soon).
The teacher, on the other hand? The school won’t say much, except that she is at home and is being treated.
What a cooking class! What’s the worst thing a student did to a teacher at your school? Tell us your story in the comments below!
The American shopping day has made its way to the Netherlands, but more and more businesses are choosing not to participate.
Although consumers are expecting Black Friday deals from businesses more often in the Netherlands, plenty of businesses are opting out. There are two main reasons for this: the business might be concerned about the environment, which the overconsumption perpetuated by Black Friday does little to improve; or the business might not be making enough, or any, money from the day. This is especially the case for smaller businesses.
Small businesses often can’t afford to give discounts
Smaller companies typically have smaller profit margins than larger companies, who may well be able to afford to give consumers a discount one day a year. But for small businesses, giving a Black Friday discount can easily fully wipe out their profit on an item.
For some entrepreneurs, the discount can even come out of their own pocket, NOS reports. But because more retailers in the Netherlands are participating, there’s lots of pressure for all companies to do so from consumers.
Consumerism and the environment
Black Friday is also a concern for businesses that are trying to make the world a better place. Consumerism is a huge problem for the environment: the more we buy, the more products are produced, and inevitably, the more things are thrown away.
And consumers are increasingly aware of this too, says Henk Hofstede, an expert on retail banking at ABN AMRO. “[Consumers] increasingly want transparency and a good origin of products. Marketing expressions such as Black Friday must fit in with that. And consumers love bargains, but there are plenty of people who think it’s a marketing party.”
Will you be participating in Black Friday? What do you think about it? Let us know in the comments below.
It is indeed. It’s also that time of year to try and figure out what the hell you’re going to buy for everybody. Well, DutchReview has come to the rescue for this one. We bring you Stroopwafel liquor – the ultimate stocking filler. Or if you’re anything like me – just the perfect present to treat yourself with. 😉
Stroopwafel Liquor…EXISTS?
This is not a drill! Yes, Stroopwafel liquor exists. Yes, it may just be the best thing to ever exist. Yes, we have already mentioned it on DutchReview when we found out. Yes, you all went mad about it. Now we’re here to tell you a little more about this little piece of heaven. The crew here at DutchReview gave it a try for the first time and this may just be our new favourite thing.
So, what is Stroopwafel Liquor?
Stroopwafel liquor is a caramel-cookie flavoured drink, which mimics the flavour of our much loved Dutch snack, Stroopwafels. It’s actually a century-old recipe created by the Emiel van Meer’s craft-bakery located in Gouda in the 1850s. With something that traditional, it’s gonna be good!
What is actually in it?
All that really matters is that it contains caramel-y goodness and a splash of alcohol to warm the heart. No – really, that’s what it is.
Does it actually taste like stroopwafels?
A valid question. I’ve tried many different things in the past that claim to taste like something and it tastes nothing alike, but not on this occasion. It really does taste like stroopwafels. It’s sweet exactly like our favourite snack, but it doesn’t burn at the end like a lot of liquors do.
How strong is this Stroopwafel Liquor (the very important question)?
The very important question – it’s stronger than I first thought. It’s 14.7%, which ain’t bad at all. The even more important question: Can you drink the whole bottle to yourself and still be okay? Well, the 1L bottle has 14.7 units, the equivalent of 6 pints of Heineken (6 half L drinks), so it’s definitely more than a nightcap. It’s so delicious and subtle though, that it certainly would creep up on you. Best to let grandma only have one at Christmas.
Can you buy different sizes?
Yes, they are available in miniatures (50ml), small (350ml), regular (700ml) and large (1L), so you can really buy it for any occasion.
Where can I buy Stroopwafel Liquor?
Stroopwafelworld is currently selling this taste of heaven – at a decent price too. They currently have a sale on their 1-litre bottle, from 19 euros down to just 16 euros. Literally the perfect gift for your loved ones…or yourself. Why buy 50ml, when you can buy 1L?
But no, if you’re after something a bit smaller, they sell smaller bottles and also taster bottles, which is perfect if you only want a small glass.
The miniatures are also perfect if you’re looking for that little bit extra to put in the stocking this year (P.S. not for kids though guys). You can also get a Christmas box for it, so they’ll be no need for that annoying wrapping that we all hate.
For more info, prices, orders, the lot, head over to their website. They have plenty of other stroopwafel products too (they aren’t called stroopwafelworld for nothing). Not in the Netherlands? Nee worries, you can even get things shipped worldwide!
What do you think of this Stroopwafel liquor? Have you ever tried it? Let us know in the comments!
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in November 2018 and has been updated in November 2019 for your reading pleasure.
What if I told you that there was a time travel ship docked in Rotterdam that would take you back to the glamorous Sinatra-era days of the fifties and sixties (with WIFI of course). Well, you probably/hopefully wouldn’t believe me because such a thing doesn’t exist, but what does exist is a gorgeous steamer docked in the up-and coming neighbourhood of Katendrecht. Join me for a cruise on everything that the SS Rotterdam has to offer!
What is the ss Rotterdam and where is it?
The ss Rotterdam is a cruise ship from the golden days of the ‘Holland-America’ line. After a life of sea voyages and renovations, it is now in use as a swanky hotel, restaurant and meeting place. It’s permanently docked at Katendrecht in Rotterdam, which is an up-and coming neighbourhood and certainly worthy of a visit by itself if you’ve never been there.
If you don’t have the time for a proper dinner or staying a night on board the ship, you’ll be happy to know that it’s open for drinks at its rear deck as well – which has slowly but surely gained status as an Instagram hotspot.
Image: Abuzer Van Leeuwen
The history of the ss Rotterdam
The ss Rotterdam was built in Rotterdam itself in 1959, and was the fifth ship by this name to sail for the famed Holland-America Line. If you’re thinking – “hey, I read about this before, DutchReview!” – then it was probably in this article about the equally iconic Hotel New York.
Image: Abuzer Van Leeuwen
Back in the sixties and seventies, the ship saw it all and then some. People dressed up every night to dine like royalty while the ship steamed up to New York. Once ashore in the Big Apple it would host the great entertainers of that era, with even the voice himself, Frank Sinatra, singing on the ss Rotterdam.
All over the ship you’ll find these amazing pictures of that bygone era. Image: Abuzer Van Leeuwen
If you go on a tour through the ship the veteran tour guide has some truly rich stories about their past times when they worked aboard the ship.
It experienced the last decade of the transatlantic line and cruise ship service between Rotterdam and New York. Then the ship sailed a bit into a period of, well, less extravagant times, and its future didn’t look too much like smooth sailing water (sorry for all the seafaring puns, there will be more though). Lucky for us it has been completely renovated in the style envisioned by the builders, that style we now all love.
Here’s the Captain’s cabin:
Staying a night on the ss Rotterdam
You’ll be happy to learn that booking a night on board the SS Rotterdam is actually pretty affordable. When I checked you could even get one under 100 euros per night. The reason for this fair pricing is, well it’s on a renovated ship, so yes there’s a lot of swag but be aware that the windows are a bit small and the rooms are snuggly – if you’re a sucker for high ceilings then this might not be for you… and perhaps staying there for weeks on end would also be a bit too much for the claustrophobic among us.
Still, loads of class and vintage details in any room at the ss Rotterdam. Image: Abuzer Van Leeuwen
Nonetheless, the rooms come with endless amounts of atmosphere and were beautifully renovated, so perfect for staying for a weekend or midweek break.
Fine dining at the ss Rotterdam
There are actually a few spots on the ss Rotterdam to get your fix when it comes to food and beverages. There’s the Lido, which is the regular area for your breakfast and casual dinner. There’s the Ocean bar for your cocktail needs on the weekend, and there’s also the Captain’s lounge for all your other drinking desires.
And then there’s the Lido Terrace (aka the Deck) which comes with all that swag you could possibly want for your insta photo:
Needs more clouds and less of me in the morning. Image: DutchReview
Dinner at the ss Rotterdam’s Club Room
But for that real fancy feeling onboard a ship you’ll have to reserve a table at the Club Room. It was easily the fanciest dinner I ever enjoyed in Rotterdam and has all that splendour of a bygone era we all miss from series such as Mad Men.
There’s jazz playing, the staff knows their stuff and can recommend some excellent wines and the service is of a non-Dutch level (which is good).
But of course, you want to know about the food. Dining at the Club Room is not a fast experience, the chef and his staff take their time to get you some very refined dishes. There’s the option to go a la carte, but perhaps you should just go with the flow and order a 4 to 7 (!!) course menu.
Image: ss Rotterdam/SuppliedImage: ss Rotterdam/Supplied
Because I can promise you, every dish is a little trip for all the senses. They look pretty, are creative and taste like a special night out is supposed to taste. Also, just look at this dessert:
Image: ss Rotterdam/Supplied
Pro-tip: have them pair your wines with your dishes, we tasted some excellent and original stuff that night, they know their wines.
The Swag of the ss Rotterdam
But in the end, the decisive reason why you should want to visit or stay overnight at the ss Rotterdam is that this ship has plenty of sauce. It’s not just that it’s a ship (but it surely makes it better) that’s docked in the quintessential port town of Rotterdam – talk about immersion. But the ship is just loaded with artsy details and gorgeous art-deco interior design decisions.
Image: Abuzer Van LeeuwenImage: Abuzer Van LeeuwenImage: Abuzer Van Leeuwen
From the bars to the staircases, from the dining areas to the old captain’s bridge: it’s either super nautical or has loads of charm and character. Especially when going on a guided tour by one of the ship’s veterans or when you’re going for dinner at the Club Room you can almost taste the vintage years, the Sinatra era, the many journeys the ship made to New York. It’s the closest thing you can get to feeling as though you’re part of Mad Men in Rotterdam or the Netherlands for that matter. (P.S: If you know of more venues like this one, please comment because we love them here at DutchReview!)
Grab a bike and explore the neighbourhood
The ss Rotterdam is docked in Katendrecht – an area which has seen a huge transformation over the past few years. Katendrecht was once Rotterdam’s gritty and dirty neighbourhood – the home for sailors and the red light district. Now it’s the perfect spot to grab a bite to eat or have a beer overlooking the Maas river while still retaining loads of the charm from the old days.
Image: Abuzer Van Leeuwen
All of this is best discovered by bike, which you can conveniently rent from the ship. Besides getting the quintessential Dutch experience of cycling you also get to see more in less time while still being chill.
Image: Abuzer Van Leeuwen
Katendrecht is not far from the the ‘Kop van Zuid’ and the centre of Rotterdam, and sports all that great Rotterdam architecture that we love, minus the crazy inner-city rental prices and tourism that you get in Amsterdam. There’s also lots to do in and around Katendrecht, which means you’re close to foodie hotspots like the Fenix Food Factory and the Foodhallen and also some of Rotterdam’s highlights – such as Hotel New York and the Erasmus bridge.
Or even better, take the Watertaxi from the ss Rotterdam
Last tip is the best one! If you ever wanted to feel like James Bond, the SS Rotterdam has its own station for the Watertaxi. These yellow speedy boats take you to almost everywhere the water goes in Rotterdam and it’s such a cool way to go from A to B.
Can’t beat these views. Image: Abuzer Van Leeuwen
What makes coming and going from the SS Rotterdam with a watertaxi such a special experience is that, well, it’s a boat that arrives at another bigger boat! Splendid views and it’s your own little adventure – and frankly the quickest way in many cases for moving around town.
Awesome docking station. Image: Abuzer Van Leeuwen
Have you been to the ss Rotterdam? Share your experiences in the comments! And also, we mean it, recommend us some of that other vintage era experiences of the mid-century!
If you’re planning to take out some cash to splurge on Black Friday today, make sure your chosen ATM actually still exists. ABN AMRO has shut down dozens of its ATMs around the country after a series of heists, otherwise known as ‘plofkraken’.
We personally think that the Dutchies are somewhat to blame for this series of heists, given how absolutely adorable their word for them is. Plofkraken. Who doesn’t want to rob a bank after hearing that word?
(It might be just that I’m a poor student but we’re leaving that aside, ok? Ok.)
Temporary ATM closures
Anyway, leaving aside my aspirations of criminality, ABN AMRO has said that its decision to close dozens of ATM machines around the country is only temporary, while they look for safer locations to house them in. There have been 60 heists this year already on ATM machines, according to NOS, which is a 40 percent increase on last year.
Heists cause damage to the local area
Heists are obviously pretty disruptive when they take place in residential or commercial areas: the thieves usually leave significant damage behind. A recent heist in Zaandam, for example, left the facades of a shop and apartments in need of repair. Obviously, when this happens, residents don’t want the ATM to come back- so ABN AMRO and other banks clearly need to start reconsidering where they place them.
Have you noticed ATMs being shut down near you? Let us know in the comments below.
But along the way we also tested the Ultimate Dutch Sandwich (the verdict? Umm…), headed to a killer English comedy show, and tested out some options other than Netflix for streaming in the Netherlands.
We also checked out some amazing Dutch places to live outsideof the Randstad (yes, they exist!) found out whether it was possible to hike in this ridiculously flat land, and delved into the deeper questions of sex work in the Netherlands.
Whatever you fancy, we’ve got ten 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!
Hobbiton in New Zealand. Source: reginasphotos/Pixabay
Geldrop is a small town located next to Eindhoven in the Dutch province of North Brabant. You may not have heard of it but if you are a Lord of the Rings fan you should have! Why? Because all of the street names in one of the neighbourhoods are named after someone in J.R.R Tolkien’s epic trilogy.
We got bored at our DutchReview office and thought, what could we do to make the day more entertaining? So we conjured up a plan. Why don’t we smush together all the delectable Dutch delicacies we can think of, layer after layer, between perfect white bread and eat it? Afterwards, we can get other nationalities to test out our marvellous creation and see how it compares with their nations food.
When people talk about awesome places to live in the Netherlands, they often focus only on the big four: Utrecht, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague. No shade to any of these places – they’re great – but they’re not for everyone, so we wanted to broaden the discussion and bring you seven amazing places to live that are not in the Randstad.
Escaping reality is an interesting component of the human condition. If you could jump into a book or movie, would you? If so, we have found the solution for you right here at My Escape Club: your key to escape room fun in Amsterdam. You can live out your fantasies and it is perfect for adrenaline junkies.
The Netherlands is renowned for being flat, full of cows, and honestly not that exciting for hikers. Right? Let’s not mention all that rain. But, turns out hiking in the Netherlands is not only possible but offers some pretty stunning outlooks. Let’s look at four of the myths about hiking in the Netherlands and bust them! (Theme music please…)
Cheaper air fares, more money and endless social medias posts and adverts mean more travellers than ever are jet setting to cities that are struggling to cope with their own popularity. Overtourism is becoming an increasing problem, but what is it? How is it affecting Amsterdam? Are we all culprits? How can we counteract overtourism?
Boom Chicago is the place to go in the Netherlands for comedy. It’s the best English improv you’ll see in this country. A couple of weeks ago, we at DutchReview were lucky enough to see one of their fabulous shows and we absolutely loved it. So we wanted to tell you all about the experience- and about Boom Chicago in general!
Got a burning desire to put your feet up, rest your overworked mind, and find out (again) whether Ross and Rachel will ever get together? In this complete guide, we’ve dug up every streaming service in the Netherlands so you can spend more quality time with your TV.
It’s been almost a year since Aisha moved as a lovepat to the Netherlands and, boy, that’s an emotional roller coaster. I figured as I’d spent the previous year living, working and travelling in foreign countries that moving for the one I love would be easy. But, I was wrong. So wrong.
All of us would have heard of it, most of us would have walked by it and some of us might have strolled through it: we are talking about De Wallen in Amsterdam, one of the oldest neigbourhoods in the capital, more commonly known as the Red Light District in Amsterdam.
What do you think of these ten 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!
