Home Blog Page 712

Five things you should know before finding a cleaner in the Netherlands

Freya Sawbridge
-
2
Five things you should know before finding a cleaner in the Netherlands

#1 Decide what you need to be cleaned

Be clear about what you want cleaned. Does your entire attic need rearranging or do you just want a quick (and cheap) scrub of your bathroom every now and then?

Then decide how you want your place cleaned. Some people will vacuum and sweep their floors but others think mopping will suffice. I know some people whose main rule is that floors should be the last thing cleaned because dust will inevitable end up on the ground when you clean the other furniture. Do you want bleach to be used in your toilet? Or only eco-products? (some people use coca-cola and swear by it!).

Whatever you want, make a list of your priorities and desires and discuss these openly with the cleaner before you get a collab going.  Bare in mind that cleaners usually charge by the hour so doing the whole house will (obviously) cost more than just some designated rooms.

#2 How will you pay your cleaner?

Lots of cleaners want to be paid off the records (we would advise against this because you could get into trouble with the tax office in the Netherlands). Paying your cleaner officially is better of course, but more of an administrative hassle as well.

It might be best to find a company with a secure payment system. Many online companies will require you to easily pay via debit or credit card or of course IDEAL (which the Dutch love). This is all traceable and secure.

Tipping is always a nice thing to do, tipping in the Netherlands is especially swanky. Companies such as Helpling however make clear on their website that if you wish to tip your cleaner by cash then go ahead!

#3 Make sure your cleaner is trustworthy

You could find someone through word of mouth which is often a reliable way but there is no insurance if something goes wrong.

Another way to find a cleaner is going to Facebook and try and find a cleaner but there are lots of scams to dodge so it is important to be weary. I am sure you want your cleaner to be to treat your home the way you would treat it, so it takes finding the right person to do that and just because your friend liked a cleaner doesn’t guarantee you always will. Finding a cleaner through a Facebook page is also an option. The cleaner may also have their own Facebook page with reviews which at least gives you an indication of the quality of the cleaning.

You could trial cleaners that you have been recommended through word of mouth but this does take effort and time (unless you hit the jackpot and find a superb cleaner first time – lucky you!).

Verified agencies are the safer and easier option as they usually perform quality control. A company such as Helpling has an automated reference check to make sure they are qualified for the job and have prior experience. On top of this, each candidate must make a criminal record check application and submit it to the agency to prove they’re not going to steal your clothing.

This saves you a whole load of hassle that many of us do not have time for these days.

#4 Why not jump all the hassles and hire someone through a registered website?

A quick Google search of “house cleaning (your city name)” will instantly generate many companies that offer cleaning services in your city. This can be overwhelming but there are many websites which can help you out with finding a cleaner in the Netherlands.

A leading one is Helpling, which is a concise database that advertises a variety of cleaners with different capabilities and skills. It is essentially a helpful mediator between an individual demand and supply. The website is extremely easy to use. You enter your postcode and the website will generate all the cleaners available in your area. You then type in the dates you would like your house to be cleaned and how often. You can easily scan the cleaners’ profiles and assess each of their strengths and find someone suitable for your personal needs. You then fire off a request and wait for a response behind your laptop.

Of course, the world isn’t perfect, it might cost you a euro extra per cleaning session and you still have to see who walks into your home. But normally I would prefer this to crawling my way to weird FB-groups and all.

A company like Helpling also keeps track of the reviews of the cleaners and intervenes if a cleaner is under performing. This means you don’t have to handle any awkward confrontation! Yipee! 

#5 Make sure you hire a cleaner who is on board with your schedule, lifestyle and habits

Outsourcing household tasks can make your life a lot easier. With all the online platforms that now exist, you can hire someone for almost anything and everything. Good cleaners are in demand, so having an online platform with a timetable to book your cleaner in advance helps organise your life.

cleaner in the netherlands
Pictured: not us, not you, this doesn’t really happen you know (source: pixabay)

What’s more, is that most people rely on cleaners to get their house ready for a special event such as a birthday bash. If you have only built up rapport with one cleaner and they cancel, this can leave you in the lurch. Cleaning platforms can give you an assurance that a replacement cleaner will be found if your regular cleaner cannot make it on one of the days.

Further advice when it comes to finding a cleaner in the Netherlands? Well, be nice and have a proper talk with them first, I mean – you want to be on the same page with the person who is going to have unfettered access to your house, right? And you don’t want to be ashamed if someone has to pick up your bra when cleaning your crib.

So there you go, we hope we’ve convinced you that finding a cleaner is the way to go. We want you to thrive, not just survive in the Netherlands! Taking the mundane task of cleaning your apartment is a way to free up extra time and do more of what you enjoy!

Also, who wants a discount? In true DutchReview style, we have a discount code for you (we Dutch people sure do love a kortingscode). Enter ‘Dutchreview10’ at the checkout!

Any other tips for finding a cleaner in the Netherlands? Feel welcome to share them in the comments!

Ex-Footballer Fernando Ricksen passes away aged 43

Ailish Lalor
-
1
Ex-Footballer Fernando Ricksen passes away aged 43

Fernando Ricksen, former Rangers and Dutch footballer, has passed away aged 43 years old. He had been living with motor neurone disease for about five years.

Rangers fans express their grief

Rangers FC were deeply saddened by the death of Ricksen, tweeting to express their sympathies to Ricksen’s family. “Our thoughts are with his wife Veronica, his daughter Isabella, and all his family and friends,” the club stated.

Ricksen’s football career

The Limburgian ex-footballer played for Fortuna Sittard, AZ, the Glasgow Rangers, and FC Zenit Saint-Petersburg, among others, between 1993 and 2013. He played twelve international matches for the Netherlands between 2000 and 2003, but it was during his time in Glasgow that he was at his peak as a footballer. In 2008 he won the European League with the top club in Russia. 

Throughout his career, Ricksen struggled with alcohol addiction, and had his time in Russia cut shot due to a doping ban because of his cocaine usage, according to NOS. 

Ricksen and Motor Neurone Disease

Ricksen rose to public attention in 2013, after he did a performance at De Wereld Draait Door on October 30. During the broadcast, he revealed that he was struggling with motor neurone disease.  A few months earlier he had said goodbye to his first love as a football player, Fortuna Sittard. 

Motor neurone disease is a neurodegenerative disease that progressively affects motor neurons, which control voluntary movement in the body. Currently, there are no cures for the disease. 

His last months

He spent the last months of his life in Scotland, where he was cared for in a hospice. He was not ashamed to be seen in the hospice, welcoming many vistors during his time there. He told RTL news in February, via a voice computer, that he was not expecting pity.

Ricksen was not afraid of death, he said. “I am often asked that question. But I always think that is such a weird question. Doesn’t everyone die anyway? Of course, the chance that I will go earlier is greater, but in the end we all have a turn.”

He worked to raise money for research on motor neurone disease through the Fernando Ricksen Foundation.

As a tribute, a statue of Ricksen has been standing in he Fortuna Sittard stadium since January 2018. The footballer called it “the greatest tribute a person could get”. 

 

Feature image: fc-zenit.ru/wikipedia 

Confused Dutch climate: First frost of the year recorded but it will be 25 degrees this weekend

Kavana Desai
-
0
Confused Dutch climate: First frost of the year recorded but it will be 25 degrees this weekend
Feeling the winter coming on? The first frost of the season was noticed in North Brabant and Limburg, with the temperature recorded at -0.9 degrees, reports Weerplaza. Last year, it was recorded at the beginning of September. However, on average, it is recorded somewhere around September 15, so we’re well on schedule!

 

The recording of the first frost does not mean that we will have to whip out our winter coats and stash our fall jackets somewhere at the back of the closet with our summer wear. The temperatures are set to rise to 15 – 18 degrees this afternoon around the country.

 

Will there be frost tonight?

There might be frost again tonight in some parts of Brabant and Limburg, so make sure to keep those windows closed to not let any draught in!

 

However, during the day, the sun will be shining through. There is a very low chance of rain in the country, except for a few showers in north and west. You can enjoy the sunshine today and tomorrow with temperatures not reaching a toasty level, but still pleasant enough to layer up with only thin clothes.

 

Weather this week

The weather is set to be dry throughout the week. You can also look forward to some of the last summer days with temperatures reaching 20 – 25 degrees during the day. However, they will drop to 4 – 8 degrees in the night, reports Weeronline. So, go out in your best summer wear, but don’t forget a warm jacket and scarf for the night. You’ll need it!

You don’t have to worry about frost though. Weerplaza says there is a very small chance of that happening this week.

Can you feel the fall leaving us and winter coming on? Any tips for us who come from particularly warm countries? You know we’ll need them. Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: ArtTower/Pixabay 

 

Lawyer of key witness Nabil B. shot dead at Amsterdam Zuid

Kavana Desai
-
1
Lawyer of key witness Nabil B. shot dead at Amsterdam Zuid

A lawyer, Derk Wiersum, was shot in Buitenveldert in Amsterdam this morning. He was representing the key witness, Nabil B. in the ongoing large liquidation case, Marengo. Earlier, B.’s brother was also shot, and the rest of the family is now in hiding, reports NOS.

The shooting happened at around 7:30 am this morning on the Imstenrade in the Buitenveldert district. An ambulance and a trauma team by helicopter were dispatched to try and resuscitate the victim, but the attempts were in vain.

The shooter fled on foot and hasn’t been seen since. A person living in the neighbourhood said that they heard multiple shots being fired. The police are looking for a man between the ages of 16 and 20 years old. He was dressed in black with a hood on.

The main suspects are the Netherlands’ most wanted criminals: Ridouan Taghi and Said Razzouki. Statements by Nabil B. has linked Taghi to eight murders, two attempted murders, and two assassinations.

Feature Image: DPP Law/Flicker

The end of Zwarte Piet? No more Black Pete for Sinterklaas’ arrival in Apeldoorn

Freya Sawbridge
-
4
The end of Zwarte Piet? No more Black Pete for Sinterklaas’ arrival in Apeldoorn

The traditional black faced Zwarte Piet won’t be present at the Apeldoorn parade of Sinterklaas this year and only subtle ‘soot Pete’s’ will be present. 

This announcement was made earlier today by the NTR who are responsible for organising the arrival of Sinterklaas, which takes place in Apeldoorn on Saturday November 16, and producing the Sinterklaas journal,

No more Zwarte Piet! Reflecting modern times?

Last year, the Sinterklaas parade in many cities caused national backlash as many people protested the occasion. The Netherlands remains heavily divided on the tradition. 

In 2018, the NTR announced that no original – totally black – Pieten would be allowed. Despite this, people still turned up wearing black paint on their faces. This sparked confusion and has people wondering whether people will disobey orders this year as well? A spokesperson for the NTR has said “Not this year anymore. The step we have now taken is the result of a gradual development that took a few years”, RTL reports. 

NTR introduced the soot wipe in 2014 and has been trying to phase out “Zwarte Piet” ever since.

Is this decision infringing on a long-standing tradition or merely adapting to modern times and reflecting the wishes of the people? There are many conflicting opinions on twitter on the matter:

Many people believe that blackface is merely a part of the history and shouldn’t be interfered with:

Others voice their support for the decision:

And one man is simply fed up with the ongoing debate:

Spokesperson for KOZP celebrates ‘historic day’

Jerry Afriyie, who belongs to the Kick Out Zwarte Piet group, has said “this is a day that many black people in this country have been waiting for. I think this has been very difficult for the NTR to make this decision, it takes courage to make the decision.”

“I can only applaud this and I hope that everyone will embrace it. But even if there are aggressive reactions, I hope that they will continue and that they will not be stopped”, RTL reports. 

Well, just 2 more months till Sinterklaas arrives, it’s almost Autumn – yes, it’s time for the annual Zwarte Pieten debate!

Train delayed after woman refused to remove her niqab for identification

Freya Sawbridge
-
0
Train delayed after woman refused to remove her niqab for identification

A train was delayed at Rotterdam Central Station on Monday night when a woman wearing a niqab refused to lift the garments in order to be identified by NS inspectors.

It’s the second reported incident after the burka ban law came into effect on August 1 2019. The first instance was a woman being denied entry onto a public bus.

A police statement said the woman refused to remove her niqab so NS inspectors could not verify whether she was travelling with a legitimate ticket.

What is the burka ban?

The ban requires faces to be visible when in public places like schools, hospitals, public transport and government buildings. Wearers of the niqab and burka are those primarily affected, but also people wearing motorcycle helmets or ski masks.

In the event of a violation, the offender can be charged up to 150 euros.

What happened at Rotterdam Central Station? 

The police offered the woman a choice; for her to either remove her niqab, or be escorted off the train to have her identity verified by a female agent in a private room.

The woman wanted to remain on the train and for the agent to come on board instead but her request was denied.

After much deliberation, the woman showed her face. The train was delayed by twenty minutes.

The police decided not to issue the woman the 150 euro fine for breaching the law.

The ban was originally suggested by Geert Wilders back in 2010 as he believed the burka prevented successful integration of women into the Netherlands. However, since coming into effect it has generated heated debate over freedom and security.

What do you think of the most recent events? Is it the states role to interfere with freedom of religion? Or a necessary security measure? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature image: rmac8oppo/Pixabay 

Music in Tilburg: What’s happening at Poppodium 013 and more!

Kavana Desai
-
0
Music in Tilburg: What’s happening at Poppodium 013 and more!

How do you like to listen to your music? Are you someone who likes to catch-up with the latest releases by your favourite artists on the commute? Do you play the algorithm roulette and let your music apps decide what you’re going to listen to? Or do you have carefully curated playlists? 

Are all of these questions giving you a headache and you just want me to get to the point already?

Alright, alright. I hear ya. Time to stop with the potentially existential-dread-inducing questions and tell you what’s up with the music and concerts in Tilburg! But wait, why Tilburg? (I hope a rhetorical question is okay, though?)

Simply because it is home to one of the best concert halls in the Netherlands, attracting local and international musical talent alike. It is also where the ultimate pop stage, Poppodium 013 is (but more on that later)! There’s a lot happening there in the coming months, so thank us later for giving you this heads up.

The famed 013 hall (Source: merktilburg.nl)

If you’re into jazz, classical music, rock operas, EDM, or anything that falls in between, then read on. Here are where the best concerts in Tilburg are happening!

The concert hall in the spotlight: Poppodium 013

Music in Tilburg is burgeoning, and there are concerts happening every week. If you’re looking to explore the music scene in Tilburg, then you’ll be frequenting Poppodium 013 quite a bit. It is the concert hall in the spotlight not just because most of the notable concerts are happening here. This iconic venue is also a big part of the answer to why the music scene in Tilburg is thriving.

It opened in November 1998 and has since evolved into an icon for the city. The venue’s main hall can house over 3000 visitors, while the smaller one, the Jupiler Hall, has a capacity of 700. This gives all visitors enough space to dance while listening to some amazing tunes. You won’t have someone’s smelly armpit in your face while you want to dance the night away.

013 Poppodium 013 Poppodium Concerten
Entrance at 013. Source: Merktilburg.nl

This venue gives Tilburg the potential and capacity to invite reputed musicians and talent from the country and abroad, and they have an amazing program set for you for the rest of this year. How do you get to the Poppodium 013? Just type in Veemarktstraat 44, 5038 CV Tilburg, Netherlands into google maps (one of the best apps to have as an expat) and do what the navigator tells you to do.

If you’re after the highlights of the best concerts in Tilburg happening there, don’t leave this page just yet!

#1 Nachtcollege

If you feel like revisiting your university house party days, then head on over for the biggest house party of them all – Nachtcollege in Tilburg on September 27. This one has a very interesting story, making it an interesting part of music in Tilburg. It started as an “innocent” student party in Amsterdam, is now the largest house party in the Netherlands! They have different editions around the country, and this time, they’re coming to little ol’ Tilburg. They are going to be turning the Main Hall in the Poppodium into one big lecture hall where there will be a main stage with bands and DJs lined up just for you. The early bird tickets are already sold out, so hurry grab yours soon!

#2 Make It – Jazz Festival

Make It is a festival that launched for the first time in 2018 and is coming back around to treat Tilburg with some smooth Jazz sounds again this year from September 19 – 21. They invite international guests who have been raising the stakes abroad but seem to be unheard of in the Netherlands.

This is their aftermovie for the first day of the festival from last year!

For the Jazz enthusiasts out there, hurry and get your tickets! Just be sure to check the full program before you decide whether you’ll buy day tickets or tickets for the whole festival – they have multiple venues (AMPA Jazz Round, Poppodium 013, Paradox, and Theaters Tilburg) with performances happening simultaneously. Feeling strapped for cash? The be sure to go to their free concerts on Thursday!

#3 Fiesta Macumba

If you love swinging to reggaeton, salsa, or Latin hip hop and are after that perfect night out in the town with some sweet Latin tunes, then this is the place to be on September 27. The Macumba Soundsystem are there to make your hips swing on the dance floor at the Main Hall at Poppodium 013!

#4 Mama Africa

If you love your Afro Beats, Kuduro, Ndombolo, and Azonto, then go into the sweet embrace of Mama Africa. This show has had many editions before in The Hague, Utrecht and Amsterdam, and will soon be sold out for October 5 in Tilburg. Grab your early bird tickets soon before they run out, and enjoy an evening dancing the night away!

Other concerts in Tilburg

Did you really think the list would be done with only 5 events? Think again! The Poppodium 013 has notable international talent like Alice Cooper, Poets of the Fall, and Machine Head coming but as you may have already predicted, they’re all sold out. But fret not, you have other options and not just at this venue!

Go check out the Draaimolen Festival from September 12 – 15, one of the top 50 best music festivals in the Netherlands at the MOB complex. Or how about a session of Bandminton: a battle between two bands happening on September 12 at the Hall of Fame. Find more information on all of these events and more on our Tilburg September highlights! Also check out Factorium, Theaters Tilburg, Paradox, and De Nieuwe Vorst – venues that always have something fun and exciting happening! As I said, music in Tilburg is burgeoning.

But apart from these, culture in Tilburg is vibrant with many museums for you to explore, public art displays to visit, art-house cinemas to disappear into for a couple of hours, and numerous places to shop till you drop and eat till you can’t anymore. There’s so much to see, do, and love about Tilburg that I couldn’t possibly sum it up here. So, check out our article on culture in Tilburg, and I’m sure you can find something to do there!

Before you leave, have you watched the new video we made teaming up with Levi Hildebrand? It’s all about how Tilburg is a frontrunner in revitalising old buildings and finding new purpose for it!

So, when are you booking your tickets for a concert in Tilburg? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: Merktilburg.nl

 

Divers retrieve 2500kg of waste from North Sea after 9 day expedition!

Kavana Desai
-
0
Divers retrieve 2500kg of waste from North Sea after 9 day expedition!

The organisation called Duik de Noordzee Schoon has managed to get 2500 kg of waste from the North Sea, they said in a statement. Their expedition lasted for nine days where they were looking for things that did not belong in the sea – clothes, kitchen utensils, rugs, toys, car parts etc.

They have had around 14 expeditions since they were established in 2011, and have got around 60,000 kg of waste in total from the North Sea. These expeditions can only be carried out by experienced divers because of the extreme conditions they would find themselves in. They are funded by the volunteers themselves, and from other sponsors.

Where did the waste come from?

It wasn’t necessarily waste that was discarded by people with no civic responsibility. A lot of this waste came out of the shipwreck from the MSC Zoe (nearly 500 kg), earlier this year. It is the largest container ship in Europe with a capacity of 19,000 containers. During a particularly terrible storm, 270 of the containers fell off the ship. There might still be 50 containers still out at sea.

The MSC Zoe is the largest cargo ship in Europe. Photo credits: kees torn/  Wikimedia Commons

They say that upon their discovery of this waste, they believe that if we act fast, we will still be able to retrieve most of the waste. We should not be waiting too long as “disposal becomes virtually impossible because a lot of waste disappears under the sand”.

The rest 2000 kg was of mainly fishing nets discarded at the sea. They also focussed on other shipwrecks that happened between Ameland and Schiermonnikoog.

Don’t you love hearing about people being committed to causes only for the better of the environment, and are not incentivised by any other material gains. What do you make of this? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: Andreas Schau/Pixabay

 

 

Man drives car into a crowd over argument for a few tens of euros

Kavana Desai
-
0
Man drives car into a crowd over argument for a few tens of euros

Everyone loves a good bargain – there’s a certain joy you get for haggling for that discount. Sometimes it’s significant, and other times it’s just a few bucks shaved off. But when you don’t get what is owed to you, it is normal for anyone to lose it. But you would probably not drive a racing car into a crowd and injure four people, or at least I would hope not.

That is exactly what happened at an autocross at Leende in Brabant on Sunday. An argument arose between the organizers of the event and a participant when they cut short the event from three heats to two heats. The man in question, a 21-year-old man, demanded that he get what he paid for. When that was not possible as it was cut short for safety reasons, he drove the car into the crowd.

How much was he haggling for? A few tens of euros! The entry fee is 20 euros for members and 35 euros for everyone else. He tried to make a speedy getaway after driving into the crowd at the award ceremony, but the crowd did not let this happen. RTL News reports that the officers had to step in from the crowd taking matters into their own hands.

The suspect has been arrested, along with his co-driver, a 17-year-old girl. There is still no word on how severe the injuries of the victims are. Due to this incident, the organisation may have to rethink how it will run this event again in the future.

Calling it a massive overreaction would not be enough. What do you make of this? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: Bruno Glätsch/Pixabay

 

 

Good news (?) for Friday the 13th: Warm weekend ahead!

Kavana Desai
-
0
Good news (?) for Friday the 13th: Warm weekend ahead!
Looking forward to some late summer weather and trying not to think of climate change? That’s exactly what you should be doing! Bask under the sunlight and enjoy the warm temperatures of 19-22 degrees today, reports Weeronline, forgetting that these are the effects of climate change. You know, because, everyone else is doing it.
It was cloudy this morning, with a light drizzle that may continue until the afternoon. Sunshine will breakthrough as the day progresses, with the temperatures rising to nearly 22 degrees in some parts of the country. Enjoy a nice sunset before the sun bids adieu at 8 pm. The night will be cool in most parts of the country with the highest being in Zeeland at around 10-13 degrees.

Saturday

You might see some mist and fog in the morning but it will soon clear up as the temperatures rise to 16-19 degrees. The afternoon will be delicious with the temperatures being in the 20s. Enjoy the sunshine while the effects of climate change take its toll – it is a little bit warmer than it usually is this time of the year.

Sunday

The temperatures will continue to stay high, with the sun shining bright and happy that all of us here in the Lowlands try to cope with the rising sea levels. The temperatures will rise to 19-20 degrees in the north, and 21-23 degrees in the rest of the country. The south will have the highest temperatures at around 24-25 degrees.

Next week

Monday is still bearable with brief periods of rain throughout the country. However, it’s going to still stay moderately dry, with temperatures lower at 17-20 degrees. Normal temperatures for the year will cease again from Tuesday (15-18 degrees). It stays dry in most parts of the country except for in the north. We might (try to) enjoy high temperatures by the end of next week as well.

Clearly, I’m more interested in freaking out about climate change but this weekend’s temperatures are not quite as extreme as the heatwaves we have experienced. What about you? How are you going to enjoy this weekend? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: Hans Braxmeier/Pixabay

1...711712713...733Page 712 of 733