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6 FREE Things To Do in September in the Netherlands

Emma Brown
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6 FREE Things To Do in September in the Netherlands

Want some free things to do in September in the Netherlands? Are you depressed that the summer is nearly over? Or maybe all of those summer festivals and beers on the beach in this gorgeous weather has bled you dry of money?

Never fear, loyal DutchReviewers! Not only is September due to be a sunny month, but there are plenty of free events for you to attend too. If a beautiful mish-mash of cultures, kiting, boating, cheese and the royal family is your thing, then you’re in luck.

There’s no need to cry about how summer is basically over because here are 6 amazing free things to do in September in the Netherlands!

#1 Embassy Festival

When: Friday 6th 2019 – Saturday 7th September 2019

Where: Lange Voorhout in The Hague.

Are you lusting to travel to other countries? Why not bring the other countries to you?! Set against the illustrious backdrop of the supremely international city Den Haag is the annual Embassy Festival. This two-day event brings together over 70 different countries for a gathering of tantalising food, a myriad of music, and traditional dance.

Image: Alina-Krasieva (supplied)

Almost 60,000 people attended the free festival last year, tickling their tastebuds from food from across the globe, being caught up in South African dance parties, and browsing the international market.

Even better? It’s kid friendly? If you’re ready to take the plunge into this sea of culture and unity and head out on a cultural exploration, then take a look at their full program to plan your day.

#2 International Kite Festival Scheveningen

When: Saturday 28th 2019 – Sunday 29th September 2019

Where: Scheveningen Beach

The International Kite Festival in Scheveningen is back for its 41st year! If you know Dutch beaches well (or the Netherlands in general), then you’ll know that there is no shortage of wind. Therefore, this is the perfect location to see some incredible kites floating around the shore.

Kite enthusiasts and kite builders will literally gather from all corners of the earth to showcase their work and you will see a variety of different cool shapes and colours. Some of them will be some of the biggest kites ever flown in the world. You then have the opportunity to attend kite workshops.

You’ll be flying high at Vliegerfeest! Image: Supplied

At night, there is a light show, so it’s literally a whole day of this incredible free event. Don’t be fooled though, it’s not a kids event and we won’t judge you for going. 😉 It’s a perfect event for young and old. See you there!

This years themes: Top sports, history, nature, culture, science, art, technology and science fiction.

#3 See the King at Prinsjesdag

When: Tuesday 17th September 2019

Where: Between the Noordeinde Palace to the Ridderzaa

Prince’s Day is held every year on the 3rd Tuesday of September. This is the day where the King conducts his speech about what the government policy will be for the next year. It’s definitely one of the most important days for Dutch politics (apart from election day of course). In order to conduct his speech, the King rides in his Golden/Glass Carriage, from the Noordeinde Palace to the Ridderzaal and then back again.

A golden carriage right out of Cinderella. Image: Minister-president Rutte on Flickr. CC2.0.

For anybody who loves a royal visit, this is the perfect opportunity for you to see the Golden/Glass Carriage. People gather at the palace and all along the whole route in order to see this amazing ceremonious occasion. It’s well worth a watch!

#4 World Port Days

When: Friday 6th September 2019 — Sunday 8th September 2019

Where: Rotterdam – Maas River

Rotterdam doesn’t take celebrating being the biggest port in the whole of Europe lightly. Annually, in the first weekend of September, Rotterdam celebrates its port over a whole weekend. During this weekend members of the public can see for themselves how the port runs, with behind-the-scenes tours and activities. These include excursions, seminars, demonstrations and naval activities.

Rotterdam will be lit up with giant boats and fireworks. Image: Krzysztof Belczyński on Flickr. CC2.0.

There are also shows and performances along with a spectacular firework display and then a DJ on the Saturday night. So be sure to attend this celebration, as it’s going to be a big one!

#5 Heritage Days (Open Monumentendag)

When:  – Sunday 15th September 2019

Where: All over the Netherlands!

Heritage days are celebrated all over Europe, but for the Netherlands, which is jam-packed with amazing historical sites, it’s an incredible weekend for us all. Around 4,000 historical buildings open up to the public during this period. There will be different activities, guided tours, music and more. Best of all, during this period, you are free to enter – so you can learn so much about the Netherlands and Dutch heritage, free of charge!

Amsterdam Royal Palace is one of the attractions open over the Heritage Days. Image: Hcmholme [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
The difficult part is then deciding where to go, as most municipalities participate, so in each place, there will be tons of different sites open to the public (look out for the Open Monuments Day flag outside). Make sure you get down there early too, as thousands of people participate every year. Check your municipalities website for more information on what they will be holding on this weekend. This cultural event is not one to be missed.

#6 Alkmaar cheese market

When: Now – 27th September 2019

Where: Alkmaar, of course! On the Waagplein.

Yes, it’s time! The cheese markets are making a come back. This cheese market is on every Friday from 10am – 1pm (and every Tuesday evening in July and August from 7pm – 9pm). Cheese markets are a traditional Dutch experience, with lots of different Dutch cheeses layering the streets and cheese hauling carriers.

Something smells cheesy. Dguendel [CC BY 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
This includes witnessing cheese maids walking around the market and traders trading their cheeses. There also have a variety of programs and performances on. This cheese-market tradition is said to have gone on since the 1500’s. So if you’re after a traditional asf experience, head to Alkmaar at the end of this month! One of my favourites out of all of the free things to do in September in the Netherlands.

So there you have it: our 5 free things to do in September in the Netherlands. Stay tuned for our next instalment next month!

What will you be doing this month? Let us know in the comments! If you want more of this, don’t forget to join our Facebook group… you know you wanna.

13 Years Old, 2 Metres Tall: Dutch Teen’s Operation to Make Him Shorter

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
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13 Years Old, 2 Metres Tall: Dutch Teen’s Operation to Make Him Shorter

A Dutch teenager has undergone an operation in Veldhoven after his height became a tall order to overcome. Yannick Pinas stood at 2.15 metres tall despite only just breaking into his teenage years. After the operation, he dropped 7 centimetres (where did they go? Can I have them?).

The tall 13-year-old knew he was short-changed in the height department when his towering stature started making it impossible for him to complete everyday tasks – like going through doors without stooping, flying on airplanes, or going on a long car ride. Now, thanks to his operation, he’ll stand 7 centimetres shorter.

The now 2.08 meter-tall teen had an operation on his growth discs just above the knee and in his feet. Despite sounding like a dramatic last resort, the operation lasted only an hour – and he could go home the very next day. Now he can go through a standard 2.11 door without putting his posture (or brain cells) at risk.

It’s unsurprising that this teen was headed for big heights – his father stands at 1.98 metres and his mother is above average at 1.78. His mother says that his nine-year-old sister may need a similar operation later in life as she is growing fast with no sign of slowing down.

Read More: Why are Dutch people so tall?

 

Growing Number of Height Operations

Yannick’s situation is not entirely unique. However, the Máxima Medical Center in Veldhoven is one of just a few hospitals where pediatric orthopedics can perform the procedure.

Regardless, the number of height operations have increased five-fold in less than four years, from 28 in 2015 to 151 last year. This has ended the previous method of treatment which involved utilising hormones to inhibit growth after it was discovered to cause infertility in girls.

Why stop growing?

There are a lot of advantages to being tall, like not having to pluck the low-hanging fruit or being really, really, really close to the basketball hoop. In fact, being tall is not harmful to a person’s health at all.

However, it can affect a person’s comfort when all other furniture is designed for shorter people, have social ramifications, and limit shopping options and job prospects.

Are you really tall, really small, or somewhere in between? What do you think of the tall people in the Netherlands? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: Patrick Fore on Unsplash

Dutch Media Companies Plan to Work Together to Compete Against Netflix

Kavana Desai
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Dutch Media Companies Plan to Work Together to Compete Against Netflix

Dutch media companies are in talks about joining forces to make one joint platform for all video and audio streaming in the Netherlands. According to AD.nl,  an agreement is in the works. There has been increasing pressure on them as their ratings are falling, and their advertising revenues are coming up dry. The culprit? Services like Netflix.

What can we expect from this streaming service?

Audio, video and news broadcasts will be available in one place. Each person will be able to tune into their favourite regional radio shows or update themselves on the happenings in the world from their trusted news sources. All the big names are signing up, including NPO, RTL, Talpa, NOS, and De Persgroep, so be rest assured that you’re going to have quite a big pool to choose from.

Image by Vidmir Raic from Pixabay

However, it is still unclear how this service will be set up. They’re still deciding how to generate revenue through it – whether it would be through ads or through subscription programs. AD.nl reports that “research shows that Dutch people are willing to take out two subscriptions”. With this new streaming service, the Dutch media companies hope that the second subscription would be the Dutch one (because let’s face it, everyone already has a Netflix subscription).

When will it be launched?

That is difficult to say. Each of the media corporations has been looking out for their personal interest and so it has been difficult to even reach this stage. Previous, similar video services haven’t been quite as successful because individual media companies have their own subscription programs. Going forward from here will also be difficult, reports AD.nl. However, there is a chance that the government will be stepping in if they won’t be able to come to an agreement. Arie Slob, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education and Media, will be presenting their “cooperation agenda” in the Lower House soon.

What do you make of this? Do you think a Dutch streaming service will be successful? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image by Vidmir Raic from Pixabay

The Embassy Festival in The Hague Will Take You To 67 Countries in Two Days

Veronika Licheva
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The Embassy Festival in The Hague Will Take You To 67 Countries in Two Days

Are you ready to properly send away the summer with the Embassy Festival in The Hague? During this amazing two-day festival you can enjoy the countries across the world, without leaving the Netherlands!

This international festival on the 6th and 7th of September offers you a cultural, culinary and musical voyage of discovery and shows us that culture connects people and that togetherness and amazement go hand in hand. (yes, it’s just like DutchReview, but with fewer gifs and actual drinks and people)

Embassy Festival in the Hague
The Embassy Festival in The Hague will be an explosion of culture. Image: Alina Krasieva

Here is everything you need to know about these two days of cultural awesomeness. Oh, and even better? It’s all free!

What is the Embassy Festival in The Hague?

So, what’s it all about? The Embassy Festival celebrates the cultural diversity of The Hague. Considering 1/3 of the people living in the Hague have foreign roots, it’s the perfect place to host a festival which will celebrate people from all over the world. There’s no better way to celebrate our differences and bring us together than through an international festival, right? Last year around 60,000 people agreed!

Each embassy (for participating countries see the end of the article) will showcase their cultural richness by putting on activities and performances in relation to that country, with a lot of the program involving global music. This jam-packed event will, therefore, help to bring us all together – and we will learn something about other countries on the way too.

This year nearly 70 countries (or embassies if you will) will be participating in this exciting event, making the Embassy Festival of 2019 bigger than ever. So if you already live in The Hague – get out of the house! And if you don’t live there – jump on a train and go, go, go! Because there is nothing better than ending the summer at a colourful cultural festival in The Hague.

So what’s on the itinerary? Check out some highlights below!

Embassy Festival in The Hague – September 6th, Friday

Time: 5 pm – 11 pm

Place: Lange Voorhout

Program: International music performances on Opening Night Stage and Container Stage

Opening night at the Embassy Festival starts at 5 pm at the Lange Voorhout. This year marks the 7th edition of this festival, so it’s set to be a diverse and colourful program. On the Container Stage the Reog Ponorogo Street Parade from Indonesia will give a preview of their Saturday performance, with incredible costumes and “a lot of noise.” What a way to kick off!

Embassy Festival in the Hague
Over 60,000 people flocked to the Embassy Festival in the Hague last year. Image: Wouter Vellekoop

Later in the evening, you can get a taste of Down Under, when True Vibenation hit the Opening Night Stage will a huge variety of instruments with big bass, beats, horns, and the sounds of ‘Afro Bounce’ – we don’t know what that is, but it sounds awesome!

If you’re getting a growl in the belly in the meantime, there will be stacks of delicious food and drinks to take your tastebuds on a trip around the world!

Embassy Festival in The Hague – September 7th,

Saturday

Time: 12 pm – 8 pm

Place: Lange Voorhout

Program: International Market, Classical Stage, Contemporary Stage, Container Stage, Creative Arena, Kids Compound

On Saturday, the festival will start off much earlier at 12 pm  to max out the time to enjoy the many activities throughout the day. You can enjoy various stages, such as the Classical stage, Contemporary stage, Creative Arena (world-mix of dance, music and theatre), a Container Stage (program includes acts from the cultural institutions) and a Kids Compound.

On the contemporary stage, there will be a wide variety of international artists, including hip-hop, soul, funk, urban extraordinaire A Mili, the tantalising movement of traditional Armenian folk singers and dancers Abovian Youth Ensemble, and some beautiful ferocity from Chinese KungFu and Classical Music. Don’t forget to delve into the Irish spirit of the folkband Harmony Glen and feel your feet involuntarily tap-tap-tap along!

Embassy Festival in The Hague – International Market

Also on the Saturday and connecting the paths to the different stages, there will be an International Market. Visitors will be able to try foods and drinks from all the corners of the world. Keen to eat some Maple Bacon cupcakes or authentic Maple Syrup from Canada? How about a Bosnian and Herzegovinian cheese pie, “Sirnica”, or the delicious “Ćevapi”? Maybe indulging in some exotic tropical fruit from Malaysia, or stuffing yourself with some street food is more your style. And that’s just a short taste test of just some of the 44 countries participating in the International Market.

Which Countries Will be Represented at the Embassy Festival in The Hague?

(because let’s face it, you want to check if your country is represented)

*takes a deep breath*…

Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Ireland, India, Israel, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sint Maarten, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Yemen *gulps in air*.

For more information about the presence of these countries at the Embassy Festival, their website has a really good and informative page about the countries.

What do people think about The Embassy Festival in the Hague?

It’s an undoubtedly popular event – because who doesn’t love a cultural explosion and harmony of the people? Rawan Sulaiman, Head of Mission State of Palestine loves sharing a taste of Palestine with people all over the world.

“It is heart-warming to see people learning about and experiencing other cultures by exploring the lovely colours, rich flavours and traditional customs of different countries,” he said. “The Embassy Festival is a brilliant means to celebrate diversity, difference and tolerance in The Hague, the city of justice and peace.”

Embassy Festival in the Hague
67 different countries will be represented in 2019. Image: Wouter Vellekoop

Philip from El Salvador agrees after coming every year to meet other friends from his home country. “We live all over the Netherlands, so it’s a great day to get together and enjoy our culture, the food and the music,” he said, adding that he knows of other groups that do the same.

WHEN: Friday, 6th September from 5 pm – 11 pm and Saturday, September 7th from 12 pm – 8 pm

WHERE: Lange Voorhout, Den Haag

For all the information you could ever desire to check out the Embassy Festival’s Website.

Will you be going to this year’s Embassy Festival in The Hague? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: Alina Krasieva.
Original super article by Veronica Licheva, 2018, updated with some fabulous 2019 festival information by Samantha Dixon. 

Food Valley in the Netherlands: the specialists working to end the food crisis

Kavana Desai
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Food Valley in the Netherlands: the specialists working to end the food crisis

When I say a “primary agrifood ecosystem” what comes to your mind? Drawing a blank? So was I! Food Valley in the university town of Wageningen is exactly that. It is a small place which is working towards providing “food-related solutions” for a growing population and the ongoing climate crisis. 

This place is the brainchild of a collaboration between different large companies, knowledge institutions, the government, and educational and research institutions including the Wageningen University of Research (WUR). The 8000 scientists and 1800 agrifood companies have a “global” ambition to feed 11 billion people using sustainable and energy cutting solutions to grow food that is going to taste absolutely delicious.

What has the Food Valley in the Netherlands been working on?

The Food Valley in the Netherlands has a lot of innovative projects they are currently working on, with 127 in their bag to boast off. With a 65% success rate, they have been able to achieve new heights in sustainable food production. Here are my picks for the most interesting and game-changing ones.

Expanding insect-based cuisine beyond the niche

The most interesting project I found on their website is the work of Arnold van Huis, an entomologist working to make it normal to consume insects. According to Wired UK, “2000 species of insects are consumed as sustainable food worldwide”. It is a staple delicacy in many parts of Africa and Asia, and he wants the rest of the world to catch up.

Chingrit thot (Thai script: จิ้งหรีดทอด) are deep-fried crickets. The crickets used in Thailand can be either Gryllus bimaculatus or, as shown in the image, Acheta domesticus. Photo credits: Takeaway [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Of course, if it hasn’t been a part of your diet at all, and when the general consensus that exists around insects does not help, it is hard to imagine having insects for dinner. But bear with me on this. For every cricket that is reared to be eaten, you only need 1.7 kg of feed to sustain them. However, a cow would need anywhere between 7 to 10 kg of feed. And have you heard of greenhouse gases? Insects are also proven to emit a significantly lesser amount than cattle and livestock. But that’s not all: they can even provide the same protein value as cattle!

It’s a bird! No, it’s a cow! Nope, it’s fake meat

Speaking of cattle and meat, wouldn’t it be great if you could find a way to enjoy eating meat substitutes with the added pleasure of forgetting that it is actually fake? Imagine feeling good about yourself knowing that you’re not one of the people feeding into the system that is responsible for the burning of the Amazon forests (although the burning has a lot to do with corruption and greed as well, that’s a discussion for another day)? Food Valley in the Netherlands has come up with a meat substitute that looks, tastes, and sizzles like the real thing.

I have to feign some enthusiasm here because I grew up as a vegetarian, and never got accustomed to meat. But from what I’ve heard from my meat-loving peers is that their cravings are never quenched unless it’s the real thing. Food Valley might have managed to overcome this through “shear cell technology“, where soy and gluten are pulled and weaved together to create fibrous strands.

Image by Mittmac from Pixabay

What else have they been working on?

What else do they have in store for us? Well, they have engineered energy cutting ways to use LED lights instead of sodium lights, genome mapping and breeding techniques to grow disease and drought-resistant plants, a carrot derivative that fights respiratory problems, egg-white replacers, algae, vanilla, and so much more. Phew, that’s quite a few innovative projects they have going on there!

If you want to know more about their products and where you can get them, check out their website!

Have you recently decided to give meat and even dairy? What have your struggles been like? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image by Mittmac from Pixabay

Best Of DutchReview: Most Popular Articles of August 2019

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
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Best Of DutchReview: Most Popular Articles of August 2019

Whew, what a month DutchReviewers! We know that with all our really ridiculously good-looking content, it can be hard to stay up to date.

But thankfully, we’ve made it easy for you, by bringing you the crème de la crème of the articles our readers were most fond of over August 2019. What was your fave?

 

 

#1 How Did the Netherlands Manage to Become the First Country to Have No Stray Dogs?

There are over 2 million stray dogs around the world, but the Netherlands ain’t got one. That’s right! So how did this country claim the crown to be the first to have no stray dogs? (Hint: it wasn’t euthanasia, thank god/dog)!

 

 

#2 Not Always the Best: Here’s 7 Times the Dutch Suffered a HUGE Fail

Ja, ja, ja, we get it! The Dutch are super-tall, innovative as hell, and speak English better than we do. Need a morale-boost? Let’s look back on some of the times the Dutch stuffed things up.

 

 

 

#3 57,000 People Want to Sit on a Dutch Beach to Watch Brexit Unfold Across the Water

What makes Brexit just a little bit better? Not living in Britain of course! Tens of thousands of people are keen on heading to the beach, sipping a beer, and watching Britain self-destruct. Wanna come?

 

 

#4 We Asked Readers About their Experiences With the Infamous Dutch Directness

Ever felt the stinging pain that comes from someone being totally, brutally honest? These DutchReviewers sure have. We asked our readers for their worst experiences with the infamous Dutch Directness – and they delivered!

 

 

refugee girl reconnects with man#5 Twitter Reconnects Woman With Man Who Gifted Her a Bike When She Was a Refugee Child

For your monthly dose of heartwarming, tales let’s take a walk through the past when a young refugee girl from Iraq was given a bike by a kind Dutchie. Fast-forward 24 years later and the power of Twitter reconnects them! We’re not crying, you’re crying.

 

 

#6 Dutch Language Out of Stock: Why Employers Are Switching to English Speakers

If you’re an expat struggling to grasp the Dutch language and really want a latte, this article is good news for you. For our favourite Nederlanders who want to preserve their culture, history, and identity through their 1500-year-old language, wellll, maybe it’s not so good.

 

 

#7 In the Netherlands, Rules are Rules (But Only When It’s Convenient)

There exists a bizarre paradox in the Netherlands, where rules are not only plentiful but strict. Yet each Dutchie genuinely believes they’re for someone else. What purpose do they have in Dutch life, and should you be following them?

 

 

There you have it! DutchReview’s 7 Most Popular Articles for August 2019. Which one was your favourite? Did we miss one? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: Bruce Mars on Unsplash

Sorry Maastricht: Rotterdam To Host All the Glitz and Glam of Eurovision 2020!

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
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Sorry Maastricht: Rotterdam To Host All the Glitz and Glam of Eurovision 2020!

Eurovision always guarantees some bangin’ tunes, fantastical costumes, and always a few surprises (does anyone actually know why Australia is in there? And who was that bearded woman?). But what’s even better than watching Eurovision on TV? Hosting it in the Netherlands of course!

It was announced at 12pm today that Rotterdam Ahoy would be hosting the 65th Eurovision Song Contest after a tense competition between the winner and Maastricht for the glory of hosting.

The first Semi-Final will take place on Tuesday 12 May, the second Semi-Final on Thursday 14 May and the Grand Final on Saturday 16 May.

The news came as the MECC convention centre in Maastricht announced that they were not organising the festival for the upcoming year, NOS reports.

Check out the full announcement video below featuring Dutch singer-songwriter and Eurovision 2019 winner Duncan Laurence:

We’re already gathered in front of our TV sets waiting for next year!

Are you already popping the popcorn? Happy it was Rotterdam, or were you praying for Maastricht? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: Martin Fjellanger, EuroVisionary [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Date Announced for Formula 1’s Long-Awaited Return to Dutch Soil

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
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Earlier this year it was decided that after a 35 years of a gaping Formula 1 sized hole in the lowlands, Zaandvoort would see the return of a Grand Prix to the Netherlands in May 2020. Now, the date has been announced. 

The coastal town will play host to the long-awaited return on Sunday May 3rd, 2020, one of a record 22 races held for the car racing competition over the year, RTL Nieuws reports. The circuit will kick off in Australia on March 15th, and continue through before it ends on November 29th in Abu Dhabi.

Zaandvoort joins Vietnam as the new kids on the block, neither previously having hosted an F1 race in the past.

When did this happen?

While the original announcement was made back in May this year, the date of the competition was only announced this week. The Netherlands was successful in securing a three-year contract with the competition, so if you miss out on tickets for 2020 you can always try again the following year.

How do I get tickets?

If you want to see the Dutch Grand Prix, get in line. Over 1 millions fans requested tickets back in July – for just 100,000 available over three days. Huge Dutch drawcards like 21-year-old Max Verstappen have ensured a steady fanbase in the Netherlands.

But, luckily, tickets haven’t actually gone on sale just yet. There’s no publicly-known date for when they will, but you can purchase them from the F1 directly and sign up for an email notification for when they do hit the web.

What’s the cost?

The entire project for 2020 is reportedly worth around 40 million euros, but is sponsored by big Dutch brand names including Heineken, Talpa, PON, Gazelle, Jumbo, and Volker-Wessels.

That’s especially good because the track is reportedly waiting for a much-needed upgrade. It’s expected to cost a whopping 5 to 10 million euros.

Will you be popping in the earplugs and heading to the track in May 2020? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: dronpicr on Flickr. CC2.0.

Increase in International Train Ticket Sales in the Netherlands

Kavana Desai
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0
Increase in International Train Ticket Sales in the Netherlands

Are you looking for ways to reduce your carbon footprint? The Dutchies sure are! More and more people are using the international Dutch trains to travel. Ticket sales for international trains have grown by 13%, with the largest sales growth being the intercity train to Berlin at 19%.

People are hopping on those trains to destinations within 700 km. The holiday season ticket sales showed a record growth for the third time in a row, with 2017 having a growth of 6.4% and 2018 with 13%.

Becoming more environmentally conscious?

Heike Luiten, director of NS International, said that people want to travel in an eco-friendly way and see that trains are the best option for that. Eke Eijgelaar, a researcher for sustainable travel does agree that it plays a role, but he says that there’s no evidence to back up that claim. Flight ticket sales have also been steadily growing, as for example, 2018 saw an increase of 3.3% of people flying from Schiphol to London Heathrow as compared to 2017.

Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay

What would it take to make that switch?

For one thing, they could start by making international travel with trains a whole lot less expensive. Heck, we would give anything to make even domestic travel easier without burning a hole through our pockets! Buying an international train ticket through the Dutch railways is heftier than if you buy it from another country.

They should also make it easier to travel by train internationally where popular tourist destinations can be easily reached. Luiten remarked to RTLNieuws that “the range of international connections has been expanded further.” Some popular tourist destinations can now be easily reached by train, like the aforementioned intercity to Berlin. We also have the new Thalys train that goes directly to Disneyland Paris, the Eurostar to London, and trains that frequently go to Brussels.

train to disneyland paris from the netherlands

But is that enough? Shorter travel times would also influence a lot of travellers’ decision to switch, says Eijgelaar. Imagine having only a weekend to take a holiday and spending most of your time-off just getting to your destination and back – worst holiday ever. But of course, it’s hard to offer trains as an alternative when you want to go far.

The biggest driving factor for me remains reducing my carbon footprint, but my options are limited because my holiday budget is not very extensive. What about you? What would it take for you to make that switch? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image by Flickr/ Frans Berkelaar

Lidl to Sell Fresh Produce at 25 Cents!

Kavana Desai
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0
Lidl to Sell Fresh Produce at 25 Cents!

Good news for anybody looking for their next steal at the supermarket! No, we’re not going to advocate for actually stealing from them, but are going to tell you where you can buy cheap food items: Lidl is going to start running a discount program from today where they are going to be giving away fresh produce for only 25 cents!

The ‘Verspil Mij Niet, Ik Ben Nog Goed‘ trial

Or literally translated to “Don’t Waste Me, I’m Still Good”, this discount program will apply to bread, meat, and fruits and vegetables which weigh up to 2 kg, reports RTLNieuws.

Sounds too good to be true? That’s because it is. Here’s the catch: It’s going to be only a trial run in 20 branches in the Gooi region and around Amersfoort. The fresh produce will be priced at 25 cents only on their last date of expiry. But just imagine being able to buy an avocado for that price at a supermarket and not a farmer’s market!

Supermarkets trying to combat food wastage in the Netherlands

With almost a quarter of the food being wasted every year in the Netherlands, the supermarkets are jumping on the bandwagon to minimise this as much as possible.

Albert Heijn also recently did a similar discount trial where the prices were calculated and then be automatically added to their tag. Obviously, this was a successful campaign where a lot of the customers were happy to be able to buy fresh produce at a very low price.

These campaigns would definitely help in reaching the cabinet’s goal of cutting food wastage by half by 2030.

More supermarkets getting on the ‘Too Good To Go’ app

One of the biggest struggles I have when grocery shopping in the Netherlands is juggling the shopping list, the grocery cart, and the google translate app. Sometimes, it comes up with the weirdest translations, and I end up abandoning my gourmet meal prepping plans. How convenient would it be to select the dish you want to make, and have the ingredients ready for you at the store?

Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay

The Too Good To Go app is for exactly that purpose. They put together ‘meal boxes’ with all the ingredients you would need. All you have to do is order it through their app and pick it up at the store! Lidl is joining other supermarkets like Albert Heijn and Jumbo to get on this amazing app. This way, you buy just what you need, and you can plan your meals ahead of time. This may not be appealing to the more spontaneous foodies amongst us, but we average let’s-eat-food-for-sustenance people certainly would welcome using it.

Are you already using the app? What were your experiences with it? Does it quench your cravings adequately? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image by TeroVesalainen from Pixabay

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