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Make Holland great again!

Abuzer van Leeuwen 🇳🇱
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Make Holland great again!

With a fellow orange man across the pond trying to make his country great again, we, at DutchReview, are poised to tell you the story on how to make Holland great again!

Every now and then an idea comes by that shows the full potential of Dutch imagination. Different times when Dutch visionaries weren’t held back by typical Dutch modesty in the megalomaniac dreams they had. Times when the Afsluitdijk, the Delta Works and Flevoland were created. Or even better, when the Dutch set out to conquer the rest of the world (okay, this definitely caused much worse times for other people.)

When a post only needs three sentences to break out a delicious crazy-ass picture of Wilders in a VOC outfit then you know we are are up to GREATNESS (or utter ridiculousness, depends if you catch the sarcasm).

What we like most here at DutchReview is that these projects show how things can be changed which seem unchangeable. The fact that the Zuiderzee had been there for centuries didn’t seem to bother Cornelis Lely, godfather of the Zuiderzee works. So let’s dam this water, create a new province and completely change the map of the Netherlands.

We think this kind of ideas need more attention, whether they’re actually realized or not. That’s why we’re introducing the hashtag #MakeHollandGreatAgain to collect all these projects!

Now no time to waste, time to kick-off with megalomanic plan number one:

Make Holland Great Again With: The Dutch mountain

Before you came here you probably knew about the weed, tulips, rain and this:

dutch countryside
Basic image of people when they think of the Dutch scenery

This country here is a flatter than flat country with the exception of Maastricht and it’s surroundings – which we didn’t even want in the Netherlands in the first place. Sadly our flatness prevents us from going on a ski-vacation in the Netherlands or organising a cycling event with a decent mountain (no, the ‘Vaalse heuvel’  is not a proper mountain you Limburgians).

Since we just couldn’t stand the stupid Swiss with their mountains and cheese-fondues (should have been a Dutch invention as well) people immediately jumped on the band wagon of the Dutch Mountain idea by journalist Thijs Zonneveld.

Yes, that image is correct! The idea was for a 2000 meter mountain right there in the middle of the Netherlands. Besides being downright awesome, it would also serve as a much needed ski-ing and mountain-biking area.

Thankfully, instead of just building it when Thijs launched the idea, some people felt it was necessary to do some calculations as to whether it was actually possible to build. Turns out that we would have experienced a mid-Holland implosion due to the ridiculous weight of the thing. Besides which, the whole thing was going to cost like 7 jillion gulden (yes, GULDEN, we’re not gonna make Holland great again with the stupid euro).

Scientists said the whole thing might be a better idea to build it off the coast, but even then it would be unfeasible. So with this information Thijs Zonneveld and the rest of the Netherlands had to put the plans for a decent mountain in the koelkast.

Make Holland Great Again With: New Islands

This a small country with some dirty spots and we Dutch people just connived a plan to solve both. Just northeast of Amsterdam, the Netherlands has come up with the ingenious solution of building a string of new islands while at the same time cleaning up the polluted lake.

They’ve called it the Marker Wadden (after the Wadden islands that lie just off the country’s northern coast) and these new islands are being created while you are reading this Napoleonic-complex-filled-article.

The new four square kilometre site will not only mean more landmass for the Dutch (#MakeHollandGreatAgain!) but it will also mean a severe improvement for the sea life and bio-state of the Markermeer. Once created, the island on itself will ‘collect’ more land from the sediment and sand and such.

The Markermeer’s history as a lake is a relatively short one. Until 1932 it was part of the Zuiderzee, a shallow, brackish bay feeding straight into the North Sea, albeit partly sheltered by a string of islands.

Then in 1932 the Afsluitdijk was constructed and the Zuiderzee was renamed as the Ijsselmeer on account it being not a sea anymore. Back then they really knew how to make Holland great because after that the Dutch created Flevoland, the 12th province of our country – which can shamefully proclaim to have some of the ugliest cities of the Netherlands.

Make Holland Great Again With: Schiphol in the Sea

Every true Dutchmen loves Schiphol. From the moment when one lands at our national airport and sees the cheesy cheese shops, the murderous Dutch efficiency with luggage-transferring and the swarms of shady illegal-cab drivers at the entrance a Dutchman knows he’s thuis.

Make holland great again
Who doesn’t choke up when they see the giant Heineken cans? Such beauty (source: wikipedia/CC)

Every decade or so the Dutch decide that one Schiphol just won’t do, and the grand plan of Schiphol in the Sea is reintroduced again.

The plan would literaly put an airport on the sea, and to be fair it does have certain advantages. No one will be bothered by the noisy overflying airplanes and the North Sea is considerably less densely populated than the rest of this small country.

In 2007 construction companies Haskoning and Van Oord, came up with such a plan once again (totally not because they want to make money) and they proposed rotating, floating landing strips.

The Ministry of Transport had already concluded in 2003 that a second national airport was hellacrazy and mucho expensive, after Schiphol and the TU-Delft originally came up with the idea of Schiphol at sea in 1997.

The parameters under which the plan is reintroduced are always the same. Schiphol is getting too small for our ambitions, and the plans always come when economic tide is at its highest in the Netherlands and we’ve got money to burn. And the reason why this doesn’t happen is the same as well: just too expensive when our economy isn’t flourishing anymore. The last plan was introduced more than a decade ago, so we should be seeing the latest iteration of the plan soon.

Well at least we might have a new touristic attraction:

Nonetheless, the Schiphol in the Sea plan is a great example on how to make Holland great again in the future!

Of course the Dutch don’t always succeed at everything they do – in fact sometimes they downright fail. What do you think of these plans to #MakeHollandGreatAgain? Got any suggestions? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: Public Domain/Wikipedia
Originally published 24th October 2016. Updated September 2019.

Fine Arts, Modern Art, Rembrandt and Renovated: The Lakenhal Museum in Leiden

Freya Sawbridge
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Fine Arts, Modern Art, Rembrandt and Renovated: The Lakenhal Museum in Leiden

What the Rijksmuseum is to Amsterdam is what Museum de Lakenhal is to Leiden. Museum De Lakenhal is the visual arts, history and crafts museum of the city of Leiden. It is a understated yet striking building that faces the Oude Singel, a beautiful canal in the heart of Leiden – just a minute or two from the DutchReview office. Located in a gorgeous national monument and reopened to the public by King Willem-Alexander in June 2019 after undergoing years of renovation; you can understand that we really needed and wanted to share what a visit to the Lakenhal is like.

What’s there to see at the Lakenhal in Leiden?

The museum has something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re interested in renaissance art, Rembrandt, contemporary sculptures or pretty buildings – it has it all! It’s a pretty special place to visit as it highlights Leiden’s rich history and has many enticing displays a range of art. Some of the more coveted pieces of art such as The Last Judgment, which tower over you as you stand beneath it, are awe-inspiring and worth a visit in and of themselves!

The Last Judgment by Lucas van Leyden. Photography by Ronald Tilleman

So, do you want to know about this fascinating building and the art it boasts? Then read on to learn all about the renovation of Museum de Lakenhal and the artistic decisions.

The museum building is interesting in and of itself

The old museum 

Having to learn about the history of a building may be akin to grandparents who begin a story with “back in MY day…” and proceed to explain how much has changed since they were young (and things were so much better). But if we get over the initial eye-roll there can be so much valuable information to learn.

The building was constructed in 1640 by the famous architect Arent van ‘s-Gravesande and was used as the Leiden cloth administration hall for many years. The fabric was exported all over the world and gained Leiden international success during the Dutch Golden Age. Many debates were had and decisions contested; it must have been a lively affair indeed!

At the end of 2009, Leiden found funding and began building a new part of the museum which faces onto the Lammermarktplein. The key focus of this renovation was to create unity within the building by linking the new and original architecture. The original front of the building is still completely intact which is pretty amazing. The inside has changed over time.

Outside of the museum. Photographer – HCVA
Painting of original building and photo of building after renovation. Photo by Abuzer van Leeuwen

The Renovation of De Lakenhal: A perfect mix of classic design and new construction

The Lakenhal of 2019 is a prime example of a renovation of an old classy building done right. One minute you’re walking through rooms built 300-400 years ago and the next you are entering an exhibition room that was opened in 2019. The difference is noticeable but blended tastefully together.

The beautiful new entry of De Lakenhal where our journey starts. (Source: LM/ Karin Borghouts)

Museum De Lakenhal boasts a range of both old and contemporary art. Flitting between old and new art makes history recognisable in the here and now and certainly gives pause for thought.

Kavana from DutchReview admiring the art. Photograph by Freya Sawbridge

A café and museum shop were also built during the renovation so having a gander in the shop or getting a bite to eat is a nice way to break up the experience. Lectures and other events are also intended to take place in the new auditorium which seats 120 people.

The Leiden connection of De Lakenhal

Museum De Lakenhal more or less only displays art that has a connection to Leiden. This involves paintings of Leiden, artists who were born or taught in Leiden and artwork that tells a story about Leiden. For many museums in the world this would normally be a limiting factor to their awesomeness, but not in Leiden – which has been culturally buzzing for 400 years and is the birthplace of somebody like Rembrandt (and yes, they do have some Rembrandts at the Lakenhal).

With this in mind, from the extensive collection of around 23,000 objects, art was chosen on the basis of the following seven key themes:

1.The Siege and Relief of Leiden
2. Leiden as the birthplace of the Golden Age
3. Leiden University City
4. Devotion in the Middle Ages
5. Renaissance
6. Seven centuries of Leiden cloth
7. Collectors in the 18th centuries modern age

In the renewed museum, visitors come face to face throughout the building with current works of art from Leiden or international artists. So there is modern and contemporary art including but not limited to artists like Marlene Dumas, Atelier van Lieshout, Erwin Olaf and Eric van der Schalie.

DutchReview crew admiring the ‘spectacles pedlar’ by Rembrandt. Photograph by Abuzer van Leeuwen

The dedicated modern art section should not to be overlooked

With loads of terrific pieces from some of the finest Dutch masters on display it’s easy to forget that De Lakenhal is more than just that. The museum is home to many modern art pieces and often puts these on display. The curators make an effort to pair modern art with old art to emphasise the fluidity between past and present. Such as the following photo:

The sculpture of the man propping up the wooden cross is entitled “preparations” by artist Roy Villevove and is among the collection of 16th-century religious triptychs by Lucas van Leyden and Cornelis Engebrechtsz. It is quite a bold (and some would even say controversial) placement but nonetheless intriguing.

Here’s King Willem Alexander checking out a couture dress made with Leiden fabric. Photograph by Monique Shaw

The dress pictured above was commissioned by fashion designer Edwin Oudshoorn. He was challenged to create a brand new fabric based on old crafts and new techniques. Oudshoorn was inspired by the elegant collection of Amphora pottery. The dress is accented with Swarovski diamonds and detailed with beads, raffia, sequins, tulle and colourful prints.

The dress is based in the Nieuw Leids Laken which aims to bring the textile industry back to life and educate people about the booming trade of a bygone era in Leiden.

The Free Leiden Art Tour

Each year on the last weekend of September, the museum hosts a Leiden Art Tour. For the 25th time, people will be privy to behind the scenes art and professional artists at work. This tour is free to the public and will take you on a journey of the museum, galleries, artist’s initiatives and is punctuated with fun activities and unique exhibitions along the way.

Worthwhile temporary exhibitions

The ‘Museum in Transition’ room

From 2016 to 2019, Karin Borghouts, who specialises in photographing architectural locations and interiors, documented the rebuilding process at Museum De Lakenhal with her camera. This room is unique and the photographs of rubble, deteriorating walls and demolition are really detailed and intriguing.

Karin strolled through the museum on countless occasions, trying to capture powerful moments of demolition. Whilst doing so she rediscovered historical details and the building chaos, as well as more unassuming details.

This exhibition will be displayed until September 29, 2019 (hurry!)

Photos of the museum in transition. Photograph by Karin Borghouts
Capturing the demolition. Photograph by Karin Borghouts

The young Rembrandt exhibition

The Young Rembrandt “Rising Star” exhibition will open on November 2, 2019. This exhibition showcases the wonderful work of Rembrandt he produced between 1624 and 1634. The spectacular, rapid development of that talent can be read from work to work in those first ten years. He never opted for paths that have already been explored and he was always searching for new insights and possibilities. He was a true explorer and innovator. In the first ten years, Rembrandt laid the foundation for his later work. That foundation led to Rembrandt’s great fame and greatly contributed to the character of Dutch painting in the 17th century.

Three pieces at Lakenhal the DutchReview Crew enjoyed

We were lucky enough to get a private tour of the fantastic new museum. Here were three of DutchReview’s favourite pieces of art

How a newspaper is made

This giant stained glass piece of art illustrates the stages of producing a newspaper. This was particularly pertinent to us at DutchReview! I think we sat here for a long time.. It is definitely worthwhile to check it out

DutchReview crew gazing at this wonderful stained glass art. Photograph by Abuzer van Leeuwen

Seven centuries of Leiden cloth

On permanent display in the museum is the old inspection room where the cloth would be scrutinised and inspectors in the Cloth Hall would make sure that real pigments were used to dye the cloth. Nicole Roepers, curator of contemporary art at the museum, told Leidsch Dagblad “there was sometimes cheating with charcoal, for example, but when the fabric was cooked, the cheaters fell through the basket. The industry also brought child labor and environmental pollution”

In this room is a wonderful sculpture by Atelier Van Lieshout that represents the interworkings between man and machine and pays tribute to the arduous working conditions people endured in Leiden’s cloth making industry.

Seven Centuries of Leiden Cloth by Atelier Van Lieshout

Oil paintings by Jan Wolkers

Jan Hendrik Wolkers was a Dutch author, sculptor and painter. He is sometimes referred to as one of the “Great Four” writers of post-World War II Dutch literature. His vibrant paintings, constructed from small paintstrokes hang just beneath the stairwell in Museum de Lakenhal. Wolkers was inspired by the colours of nature on Texel. It is hard to capture the detail of the paint strokes but Wolker’s pieces are very impressive!

So what are you waiting for? Head along to this fantastic museum and come out as an art pro! It is open from Tuesday to Sunday 10am – 5pm and welcomes anyone and everyone whether you’re from Leiden, Europe or another country!

Have you already got your Museum de Lakenhal fix? Do not fear!  Leiden has 13 other great museums to visit and so many delicious cafes and bars you can ponder all art knowledge once you’re done.

Eye Filmmuseum: an unmissable experience for every movie-lover

Abuzer van Leeuwen 🇳🇱
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Eye Filmmuseum: an unmissable experience for every movie-lover

There’s a big chance that you’ve already seen Eye Filmmuseum, it’s that eye-catching building right across the river IJ north of Amsterdam. Over 700,000 people per year visit the architectural highlight, but surprisingly there are still some people who have not paid a visit to the iconic building.

The Eye Filmmuseum is a stunning ferry ride from Amsterdam Central Station. Image: Abuzer van Leeuwen

Is it a movie-theater? A movie museum? A bar? What’s happening there and should I visit?The answers to those questions are: yes, yes, yes, tons of stuff and here are six reasons why you should definitely take the time to visit Eye Filmmuseum.

#1 It begins with a sweet ferry ride

For the regular Dutch folk who have to make the trip everyday it can be a bit of a nuisance, but if you’re new in a town it’s always a great experience to hitch a fare on a free ferry. Exit the Central Station, walk up to the river and take any of the two ferries on the right (do not take the farthest left one, that take you to the NDSM-werf).

It’s free, you can take your bike, and it only takes 3 minutes. That’s just enough time to get your mind prepared for some mesmerising movie experiences.

#2 Eye’s Architecture is awesome

You’ve got to admit that the architecture of Eye Filmmuseum is really something. It’s only been open since 2012, but it already feels its been there forever. The building was conceived by a Vienna based firm called Delugan Meissl Associated Architects and it perfectly dances that fine line between impressing, imposing and inviting.

 

On the inside it’s equally impressive with loads of great use of glass, wood and cinema-references. Check out their view of the IJ, not only is it very nice but they also did a play on the black bars of the movies. See?

Like something out of a movie. Image: Abuzer van Leeuwen

And all that nice architecture really plays well with those kick-ass exhibitions they have going on.

#3 Eye Filmmuseum has awesome exhibitions

Being home to the museum of the moving picture, Eye can almost always boast having 2 exhibitions going on at the same time: a permanent one and a temporary one.

The permanent one has a whole bunch of nice features. There was one set where you can have yourself star in a few short films thanks to the movie-magic that is the green screen. What makes it really special is that Eye will, without significant cost or effort, mail you a link to the movie. Free souvenir!

Here’s a pic, the movie was too embarrassing for me to share:

Fancy being a movie star? Image: Abuzer van Leeuwen

Or chill in one of the mini-cinema Pods and watch a movie from the EYE’s fantastic collection (their curating is really classy). I can really recommend some of the Haanstra movies on the better old days in the Netherlands.

I also watched a movie of Rotterdam before the bombing in 1940, really breathtaking. It would have been easy to spend a day at this museum (if you’re a student with nothing to do I would highly recommend it!)

Look who was also in the pod. Image: Abuzer van Leeuwen

There’s also a bit of a rather hypnotic room where they project all kinds of movies from iconic genres on the walls. This 360 degrees room brings you some of the best classic scenes in an original way, and no worries for the non-Dutch speakers – both English and Dutch are used to explain everything.

Stacks to explore. Image: Abuzer van Leeuwen

Besides all of this there are tons of classic cameras, projectors and devices with names as the phenakistoscope, the praxinoscope and the thaumatrope on display. Try pronouncing those names after going to the bar!

Image: Abuzer van Leeuwen

Eye also has some kind of temporary exhibition going on for 50 weeks of the year. Check their website for their latest and greatest!

EYE filmmuseum Amsterdam
#DutchLife. Image: Abuzer van Leeuwen

#4 You can see a movie

This one is a no-brainer. Eye has 4 in-house cinemas, ranging from a large +300 seater to a classy old-timey movie theater. It’s more appealing than visiting the regular cinema in the city for a variety of reasons. Loads of movies which are screened at EYE are art-house movies or classics, so some movies aren’t to be found anywhere else on the big screens in the city.

A sizeable amount of the (Dutch) movies are also shown with English subtitling, so you can finally see a Dutch movie and catch all the lines! Here’s their schedule, better bookmark it ?

And then there are the different screen sizes for the purists among us. They try to get it all the variables right at Eye, such as that time when they showed Tarantino’s Hateful Eight in the intended 70mm version.

#5 That bar is must-visit

Did I mention already that the building is mostly is free of admission? And that’s a good thing because it has an iconic bar-restaurant with just the best views of the IJ and all it’s river-life passing by.

Dem views though. Image: Abuzer van Leeuwen

During the more sunshiney-periods in the Netherlands their terrace is open for business, perfect for grabbing a beer and just sittin’ on the dock of the bay watching the tide roll away.

#6 The gift shop is to die for

Yes, normally the gift shop is that annoying place where you just end up buying something ridiculous for your mom which is actually made in China. But you will get lucky with the gift shop here because the merchandise that comes with the field of classic movies is just epic. I’ve browsed the shop for a good half an hour, and just so many original and nifty items are sold there. Perfect gifts (for yourself) and for the non-tourist as well can be bought here.

Yes, thats original Return of the Jedi soundtrack on LP there! Image: Abuzer van Leeuwen

More on the opening hours, tickets and all that jazz can be found here.

Have you been already to Eye Filmmuseum? What did you think of it?! Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: Eye Filmmuseum Netherlands/Supplied
This article was originally published in January 2017. We updated it for your reading pleasure in September 2019.

Hudson’s Bay shutting down stores in the Netherlands

Kavana Desai
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Hudson’s Bay shutting down stores in the Netherlands

Canadian department store Hudson’s Bay will be shutting shop in the Netherlands by the end of this year, reports NOS. After having been open for just over two years, they will be closing down all 15 branches in the country.

There have been rumours going around that this would happen for a while now, but they never confirmed it. The 1400 people who work for them in the Netherlands got word this afternoon. “We have also seen retailers in the past who pulled the plug and had themselves declared bankrupt. The employees are then left empty-handed,” said Jacqueline Twerde of the trade union CNV Vakmensen.

But they’re going to do the right thing and make sure the employees get a severance payment. This plan will include people who have been working for them for less than two years where they will get reimbursement. They can apply for other jobs in the coming months. Hudson’s Bay wants to aid them in this by organising a job market for them.

Hudson's Bay in Leiden
Hudson’s Bay in Leiden, the Netherlands. Image: Abuzer van Leeuwan

People already know that things were going downhill for Hudson’s Bay, especially in its European branches. They suffered a major loss of 317 million euros last quarter. 47 million euros of this loss was at its European stores. So people had an inkling that things were not going so well for them. They didn’t reveal how much of this loss was in the Netherlands, but clearly things were bad.

Are you sad to see Hudson’s Bay go? Were you a frequent shopper there or does this not affect you? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: Abuzer van Leeuwan

Dutch railways has got grand plans, extending subway to Schiphol is one of them

Kavana Desai
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Dutch railways has got grand plans, extending subway to Schiphol is one of them

If you’re on the morning commute right now, struggling to stand for the whole journey because there are no more seats available to sit down, then you will definitely appreciate this news. There are long-term plans by the public transport sector to handle the growth of train passengers. 

The latest figures show us that the number of passengers has grown by 4.6%. With growth rate increasing fast, the officials are saying that it will not be possible to extend the timetables and trains from 2027, reports NOS.

According to Roger van Boxtel, the NS chief executive, the Dutch need more trains, and they need them quick! “Now that the rail ceiling is approaching early, we urgently need more capacity to be able to run more trains,” he explained. “NS is, therefore, arguing, together with other transport companies, that the budget for ProRail should be made available sooner to resolve bottlenecks in the infrastructure for 2027.”

Therefore, for these plans, they are asking for 20 billion euros in total to be allocated from 2020 to 2040. According to RTL News (RTLNieuws), this was seen on a wishlist that The Telegraaf  (De Telegraaf). They believe that if these plans are executed well, then train traffic will be running smoothly even after 2030.

What’s on their proposal?

The money will be allocated and budgeted so that it’s spent on getting the rail network in order, maintenance, eliminating bottlenecks, and to make more space available. It might include a sooner introduction of trackless driving into the railway network. Introduction of these trains will mean faster and more frequent international connections, according to a ProRail manager.

They also want to extend the North/South line in Amsterdam to Schiphol. A representative of the airport said that they’re all on board for this plan as this would relieve a lot of the traffic pressure on the train station.

They also want to improve “light rail connections between cities” so that they run at least 12 times per hour. The Utrecht-Arnhem line and bottlenecks like Venlo and Den Bosch will be on their list of tracks to focus on.

What do you make of these plans? Do you think they will indeed get 20 billion euros? Do you think they’re enough to tackle the problem? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

Feature Image: Abuzer van Leeuwan

#TetrisChallenge: these photos of Dutch emergency vehicles’ contents will make your day

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
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#TetrisChallenge: these photos of Dutch emergency vehicles’ contents will make your day

Enter #TetrisChallenge. Emergency vehicles are often objects of mystery, toolboxes on wheels that whizz around the roads with a purpose and an air of mystery: who is making that curious sound? Where is it going? And what could be the emergency? 

Well, we can’t answer any of those questions, but thanks to a craze that has been sweeping Europe of late, we now know exactly what is inside those vehicles, removing just a little bit of the mystery surrounding them.

How? The most visually pleasing, neat, and organized photos you’ve seen all day. Yep, we guarantee you’ll love them, or at least find them somewhat aesthetically pleasing.

What is the #TetrisChallenge?

The #TetrisChallenge first started in Sweden when Swiss police shared a birds-eye view of the contents of a police car, all laid out in the most satisfying way. The resulting photos are reminiscent of a play set purchased in a toy store (is that why we love them so much?), with tiny objects and dolls laid out in a ‘What’s in the Box’ fashion.

The best part? They ‘aint toys. Ladies and gentlemen, please fasten your seatbelts, we’ve scoured the web for the best Dutch #TetrisChallenge images for your viewing comfort.

The Breda police force is credited as the first Dutch team taking part, and we gotta say we wholeheartedly approve:

So well, in fact, that they challenged multiple other emergency outlets to the task. Who’s up for it? Oh yeah, the ROYAL ARMY. BRING IT ON:

From there, the pictures really started flowing in on social media. Fire trucks, ambulances, and sea-rescue teams all began flatlaying like mad. Mad, we say!

Some of the vehicles were really, really tiny:

While others were, well, a little bit bigger:

In the end, everyone wanted to place objects perfectly on the ground, lay on the pavement, and have a photo taken from above. Kids these days!

What is knolling?

Flat lay pictures have been around forever, while Instagram spun them into celebrity-status (where would we be without images of a Macbook, pot plant, and latte taken attractively from above?).

Knolling, however, takes it to a whole new level. In fact, you probably love knolling pictures without even knowing their hilarious name. It’s literally taking objects, arranging them neatly, and then taking a picture from above. Brilliant, but simple.

The concept has actually been around since 1987, but only gained celebrity status from around 2010 onward. There’s a brilliant article on the history in knolling if you wanna know more.

What did you think of these super-organised images? Did they make you feel like everything was right with the world? That you’re in safe hands with the Dutch emergency services? Or are you a cold person with no heart? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: @waBredaTuinzigt/Twitter

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

Freya Sawbridge
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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
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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
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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
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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

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