Have you ever tried looking for temporary work in the Netherlands through an employment agency but just seemed like it was too hard? It may not have been you or your CV but the agency itself. According to a recent investigation by Store Support, 40% of the agencies agree to not send temporary workers if they’re not Dutch. And we aren’t talking purely about nationality here – Dutch nationals with foreign backgrounds are also excluded.
The agencies sampled are not affiliated with the General Employment Agency (ABU) and the Dutch Association of Employment and Temporary Employment Agencies (NBBU), the largescale private companies that are associations of these types of agencies. But they’re far from innocent themselves. Although they require their members to follow an anti-discrimination policy, earlier investigations revealed that 13% of ABU members and 26% of NBBU members also follow such discriminatory practices, reports NU.nl.
Photo credits: amtec_photos/flickr
Discrimination in the Netherlands: the investigations do not stop here
In light of these recent revelations, the government would like to carry out further investigations to bring these discriminatory policies under check. State Secretary for Social Affairs Tamara van Ark told nu.nl that she believes that these numbers show everyone that there is still a long way to go. She would also like to bring other gatekeepers of employment like recruitment agencies, online platforms and so on under scrutiny as well.
So far, DutchReview has covered multiple instances where racism and discrimination in the Netherlands have taken the forefront in the news cycle in the last year. For example, discrimination based surnames seem to be just one form. Results show that the job applications from someone who has a Dutch-sounding surname are 9% more likely to be opened, as opposed to a job application from someone who has a non-Dutch sounding surname.
Did you have everything prepared – from the CV to the interview – but still got rejected? Do you think factors other than work experience came into play when you got rejected? Do have any experiences with facing discrimination in the job market in the Netherlands? Let us know in the comments below!
A United States flag that was used in the original D-Day invasion will soon be returned to its roots in North America. The move comes three years after a Dutch art collector purchased the artefact for almost half-a-million euros.
The US flag flailed in the wind from its position on the stern of the ship Landing Craft Control 60 on D-Day, over 75 years ago. Now, Rotterdam art collector Bert Kreuk will return the flag to the US after purchasing it at a Dallas auction in 2016. Pretty generous, right?
Why is the Netherlands gifting the flag back to the US?
Kreuk always had this intention for the flag, according to NOS, and wanted to make it available for everyone at a North American museum. Kreuk will relinquish his hold on the flag to President Donald Trump during a special ceremony at the White House.
We’re not sure why Kreuk would purchase the flag in the US for some serious moolah, only to gift it back three years later – it’s not particularly Dutch after all. But, we hope the flag enjoyed its overseas veterans holiday.
Onze Koning heeft President #Trump uitgenodigd naar Nederland te komen. Om te herdenken én zodat eigenaar Bert Kreuk de #DDay vlag terug kan geven aan het Amerikaanse volk. Vandaag al in @telegraaf Het hele verhaal vrijdag om 20.25 bij #WNL op @NPO2 in De reis van de D Day vlag pic.twitter.com/W7Tb8GD5aM
Once returned, the flag will then be displayed in all its red-and-white striped glory at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. We can already hear the opening notes of ‘Star-spangled Banner’ playing.
The Dutch are heading to the White House
However, it’s not quite the way Kreuk intended to hand over the prized possession. Kreuk actually wanted Trump to come to the Netherlands and collect it – but, that got shut down by Trump pretty quick.
Thankfully, Kreuk won’t be the only Dutchie at the White House that day. He’ll also be joined by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who’ll be making only his second visit to Donald Trump’s home.
Rutte will be present in the land of the eagles on a trade mission to Boston, but will make a detour to Washington DC to meet with the US President and perhaps repair the stressed relationship after Trump complained about Dutch NATO defence spending, and asked for help defending against Iran in the oil-region the Strait of Hormuz.
What happened last time Rutte and Trump met?
The last meeting the two leaders had didn’t go quite as planned – in fact, Rutte enjoyed international media attention after interrupting Trump with a flat-out ‘No’ when Trump started to get a little too, well, Trump.
Regardless, it’s a pretty generous offer from our good-old art collector Kreuk – let’s just hope Trump doesn’t mistake the gift as a white flag, because the Dutch aren’t known for rolling over.
But, we can brush the latest tensions and petty politics of today aside. The Netherlands will never forget their liberation by the US during WWII, and continues to honour and thank the country for it today.
What do you think of the donation of the US flag? Generous motion? Or does it belong in Europe?
Source feat pic: U.S. Embassy The Hague on Flickr. Public Domain.
The Dutch public transport company NS is making headlines again this week after introducing a particularly innovative solution to checking their buildings: drones! NS has permission to make professional flights on the inside of stations and other buildings after two test flights were successfully completed in Utrecht last month.
The company has to inspect hundreds of structures, including stations, parking garages, bridges and offices for damages such as rust each year. The work was previously completed by erecting cranes and scaffolding, all which cost time and big stacks of cash.
So how did they come with this solution?
One NS employee illustrated that brilliant Dutch innovative spirit with a brainwave: drones.
Image: NS
“It is a lot less hassle to fly with a drone. You can do such a flight at quiet moments, which means less nuisance for travellers,” NS spokesperson Erik Kroeze told NOS.
While there is only one drone available now, two more are on the way. So far NS has two staff members licenced to fly the sky beasts.
Could travellers end up on YouTube?
Of course, it’s all been supremely well-organised. Not only have NS received permission from the government for outside areas, with inside permission on the way, but the company has already addressed privacy concerns.
“We explore the terrain in advance, turn off the flying area and indicate with signs that recordings are being made,” NS drone pilot Remco Bunder explained.
“If during the flight it appears that there are people on the recordings, these recordings will be deleted or the people will be watched. The images are then stored in a well-protected environment.”
Will there be any benefits for travelers?
Let’s be honest – nothing huge. No longer needing huge cranes or scaffolding could reduce delays, but it’s unlikely the cash savings will get passed on to the consumer. We can dream though, right?
What do you think of drones being used? Innovation? Or technological invasion?
On Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 July 2019 the Pieterskwartier in Leiden will be transformed to depict a typical seventeenth-century scene in honour of Rembrandt’s birthday on 15 July. The event will be complete with a myriad of actors, historical artifacts and music from that era.
Some towns in the Netherlands really have that historical vibe to it and Leiden surely has it and does it in style. But why does this classy student city feel the need to transport itself back to it’s Rembrandt days? Well, turns out Rembrandt is born and raised in Leiden!
Is Rembrandt really from Leiden and not Amsterdam?
Rembrandt van Rijn, notably known as the artist of the The Night Watch , is contrary to popular belief, from Leiden and not Amsterdam. Unlike many artists of his time, he was not born into a family of artists or craftsmen. His father was a miller and his mother was a baker.
Molen de Put, one of the best things to see for free in Leiden – close to the house where Rembrandt was born in Leiden
Aged 14, he enrolled at the University of Leiden although his passion for painting meant he took up an apprenticeship with Jacob van Swanenburgh instead. He spent three years sharpening his skill under Swanenburgh’s guidance.
His contributions to art came in a period of great wealth and cultural progression, namely the Dutch Golden Age. Which will make the upcoming Leiden days an even more interesting display of local time travel.
You can still see the buildings from Rembrandt his days, this is where he went to school!
Unlike Van Gogh, Rembrandt achieved international fame during his lifetime and his talent was revered. In 1624, he opened a studio in Leiden and taught many aspiring artists such as Gerrit Dou. In addition to creating his own art and teaching, he was also a successful art collector and dealer.
He is now hailed as one of the greatest artists in the world.
So the Rembrandt days in Leiden.. what will be happening there?
Live paintings, tableaux vivants, theatre shows and a myriad of music performances are sure the event a lively and interesting experience for all. It helps too, that the architecture and look and feel of Leiden is virtually unchanged, I mean look at this beautiful stuff here:
‘Het gerecht’ (source: Leiden Marketing)
It’s not the whole of Leiden that will be transformed, just the area around the Pieterskerk (aptly called the Pieters quarter).
The ‘Pieterskerk’
William Cook, in an article about Leiden, wrote that the city “is so compact, you’re bound to end up where you started off from, eventually. It’s a working city, not a theme park, but it still feels connected to its past. You feel far closer to the Golden Age here than you do in Amsterdam.”
And just to transport you completely back into time, here’s a 3D rendition of the house where Rembrandt was born.
Hundreds of Leiden residents have willingly volunteered and helped make the event possible by donating props, sewing costumes and acting and directing plays and building set designs.
After the fun-filled day events, the hospitality industry takes over the celebrations in the evening. One of the organisers said “Rembrandt will be found all over the city”. Check out the Facebook page for more info and such on the weekend.
More Rembrant in Leiden: The Rembrandt Experience
The Young Rembrandt Studio is the perfect starting point for our tour through Rembrandt’s Leiden.
Located at the Langebrug (that street which runs parallel to the Breestraat) in a cozy classic Dutch house is the (free of charge!) Young Rembrandt Studio. Langebrug 89 is also the location where Rembrandt actually learned the art of painting from his tutor Jacob van Swanenburgh. Inside you’ll find tons of Rembrandt paraphernalia. They’ve got portraits, posters, mugs and also free brochures and maps of Leiden and Rembrandt’s history in Leiden.
architectuur
The Young Rembrandt Studio is a short but epic piece of storytelling on Rembrandt and his contemporaries in Leiden. In a room which takes you back to the Dutch golden age, a ‘video mapping’ will unfold telling you all about the young Rembrandt and the town he was born and raised in.
Check this video of the Young Rembrandt Studio out:
Or check out the augmented reality app that brings the history of Leiden city to life:
So if you’re making the trip to Leiden, what else can you see while you’re here?
The spectacle salesmen to be seen at the Lakenhal in Leiden
Need more tips for Leiden? Check out the museums of Leiden while you’re here. Such as the grand museum of Antiquities and the ‘Museum Volkenkunde’. If you need more suggestions on Leiden, why not ask our friends at Visit Leiden? They’ll gladly help you plan a trip to the ‘sleutelstad’ and assist you all the questions you may have.
Are you going to the Rembrandt days in Leiden? Feel welcome to share tips and pre-fun in the comments (or tag #dutchreview if you’re shooting nice pics of Leiden for Insta)
The Netherlands and the United States may butt heads again next week, when Prime Minister Rutte fronts the White House for his second-ever meeting with Donald Trump. The last time the two leaders met was last year.
The undoubtedly awkward handshake is scheduled to take place on July 18th, reports the NOS, however the agenda for the meeting remains to be known (although we’re predicting some #TrumpTweets will clue us in soon).
At this stage, we also don’t know who swiped right on the meeting first.
President Donald Trump just welcomed the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, to the White House. pic.twitter.com/7DrS8JV5tT
What will happen when Trump meets with Rutte again?
We’re expecting some possible points of conflict. The Dutch cabinet announced on Monday that after an American request they may send a frigate to the Strait of Hormuz, which is under possible threat from Iran. The U.S. has also previously voiced their frustration that the Netherlands fails to meet the NATO standard for defence spending.
Meanwhile, while the Netherlands is historically a staunch ally of the United States, the relationship has become strained since – you guessed it – Trump took office. The US’s trade policy, withdrawal from the nuclear deal with Iran, and shunning of the Paris climate agreement have all caused tensions to rise further.
It’s convenient meeting time for Rutte who will already be in the country on a three-day trade mission to Boston.
How did the last Rutte vs. Trump meeting go?
Last time the two leaders met, Rutte became our hero after he shut down the American president with some famous Dutch Directness, interrupting him with a firm “No” after Trump proposed it was a good thing that there was no positive solution for the trade-dispute between the EU and the US, a pretty touchy topic at the time.
Rutte also successfully combatted Trumps infamous handshake, managed to be mistaken by a famous U.S. media outlet as the Danish Prime Minister, and forgot how long the United States had been a country. Nobody’s perfect, right?
However, Trump is yet to respond to the invitation – we’re hoping the King won’t end up being ghosted by the U.S. President. Trump may be distracted by some new conquests – such as inviting right-wing social media personalities and propagandists to the White House.
"Two meme creators who have been favored by Trump and his staff, who use the online handles mad_liberals and CarpeDonktum, had a 20-minute Oval Office meeting with the president July 3. " https://t.co/B5ttCM5fcu
The move is being widely criticised, with the invites forming a social media summit – despite featuring no representation from Facebook – or even Trump’s favourite outlet, Twitter.
What do you think of the Dutch/United States relationship? Have any expectations for the next meeting? Share your thoughts in the comment below!
Unsure what to do this weekend? Why not to be spontaneous and book tickets to WOO HAH near Tilbur! Why? Well…
It’s a festival
In the Netherlands countryside
During summer
Need I say more?
WOO HAH! Festival is happening this weekend from 12 to 14 July at the Beekse Bergen near Tilburg. For three days, the outdoor venue transforms into an epic hip-hop getaway with over 30,000 visitors a day and over 60 live acts.
Who you should see at Woo Hah
The headliners this year feature Stormzy and Travis Scott. Stormzy’s epic Glastonbury performance bodes well for WooHah and Travis Scott is renowned for putting on a powerful show.
What if I am being dragged along but hate the music?
No worries! There are ample places on the beach or in the forest where festival-goers, who are already fed up with it, can retreat.
How to get to the festival?
The closest station to the festival site is Tilburg Central Station and shuttle buses run to and from here to the festival site.
If you’re travelling back to another city in the Netherlands, bear in mind that the festival finishes at 3am each night and trains will no longer be running at this time. Visit NS to plan your journey accordingly.
If you want a balanced weekend then you can cycle to the festival and park your bike on the racks provided at the entrance to the festival.
Where to stay?
Camp WOO HAH! is sold out for this year but there are accommodation options in Eindhoven or Tilburg. Check hostels or AirBnB!
Tickets
Weekend tickets excluding camping = €134
Friday day ticket = €53,90
Saturday day ticket = €75,90
Sunday day ticket = Sold out
Additional tickets for parking and shuttle busses can be bought through the WOOHAH! website here: https://woohahfestival.com/
What else happens in Tilburg?
Woohah is only one of many events held in Tilburg. Check out this article about the events for 2019 and if you’re visiting, or check out their recently developed Spoorpark or Doloris while you’re there! All top notch stuff from the sixth city of the Netherlands.
Ever been to the ultra-popular Avocado Show and hoped for another location to open up? Well, get your insta-hustle ready, cuz here we avocadogo (sorry)
When I heard there was an avocado restaurant opening in the Netherlands, I was suspicious. Given the fruit (or is it a vegetable?) is notoriously temperamental, how could an entire restaurant be based around the food?
“We follow the sun” restaurant owner Ron Simpson tells me “meaning we source from over ten avocado plantations.” Most of the buying comes from orchards in South America but also Spain and South Africa. He says there isn’t much waste because they’ve scoured the best quality plantations and they’ve learned how to handle the avocados gently to prevent bruising.
And the restaurant isn’t just busy, it’s booming. Queues are out the door for their established restaurant in De Pijp and Simpson says daily someone will come in with a photo of a dish they’ve seen on social media and say they came to the Netherlands just to try it.
The Avocado Social Media Show
The Avocado Show first opened its doors in March 2017 as the first avocado restaurant in Europe. Even before its first customer, they had a following of over 50,000 fans on social media. “People compare us to Nutella bars but pfftttt” he says and gestures dismissively “we have five top chefs in the kitchen” to deliver consistency and keep the menu seasonal and unique.
The food was interesting and I admired the knowledge and business-ethic behind the venture. However, I can’t say whether I would rush back immediately primarily because I couldn’t be bothered battling crowds of tourists all gushing over the latest avocado trend. But needless to say, this is your spot if you’re into instagrammable places or well, avocado’s.
If you like novelty and pretty meals then check out their Instagram here:
When I gleefully hopped on a plane from Auckland to Amsterdam, I presumptively only packed one jumper. Surely the renowned European summer would see me wallowing in 30C temperatures?
Unfortunately, 16C temperatures have meant I have been thrashing my one and only sweater and wrapping myself in a blanket on the sofa each night whilst guzzling tea.
I could wail but at least I am not living in the eastern parts of the Netherlands as residents awoke to a frost covered landscape there this morning.
Disclaimer: Not an actual photo of the Netherlands in July Source: Pixabay Larisa-K
In Twente, a region in eastern Netherlands, the mercury dropped to -0.7C overnight. Nicolien Kroon from Buienradar explained to RTL:
“During the day the earth is warmed up by the sun. At night the earth radiates that heat again, causing it to cool down again. It cools at a much faster rate when it is not cloudy. In the east it was completely clear last night, making it quite possible cooling down.”
Usually, wind moves the cool temperatures on quite quickly but the stillness has allowed the cold to remain.
Thankfully, the temperatures are forecasted to rise next week.
The Dutch rail company NS is considering building hundreds of houses above the railway lines in Utrecht, Amsterdam Sloterdijk, and The Hague Central Stations.
It’s perhaps not as novel an idea as it seems, given many cities erect buildings above their train tracks such as in New York, Paris and Liverpool.
In 1995 NS was granted the exclusive right to build over railways. Before now, they have not utilised the right because building above train tracks is very costly. However given the rising house prices in the Netherlands, this move is now worth it.
Den Haag HS
The space above rail tracks present significant opportunities to be creative with existing space and unlock different styles of homes that can be built.
However, the homes will need to be resistant against vibrations and block out noise pollution caused by passing trains.
Financially independent
NS plan to use the profits to modernize the train stations and if the venture is successful, it will mean they are no longer wholly reliant on the government for financing.
This is not the only change that is coming NS are organising. Plans are also in the works to phase out the OV chip card.
The Dutch Auschwitz Committee has been given the go ahead to build a monument honouring Dutch Holocaust victims after the plans were challenged in court.
Honouring Dutch Holocaust victims outweighs objections of locals
Local residents from the Weesperstraat area where the monument is to be built argued that the monument is too large, the area cannot handle the expected large number of visitors and unsafe situations could potentially break out.
The court ruled the objections were unfounded and stated the monument is built in an open space and adequate measures will be taken to monitor safety.
Jacques Grishaver, the chairman of the Dutch Auschwitz Committee, is thrilled with the ruling. He commented:
“It was a very long battle with a lot of tension and nerves, but it will be all right. It is terrible that you have to fight such a battle over the memory of 102,000 people, because that is what it comes down to.”
When American architect Peter Eisenman proposed his plans for the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, he received a lot of backlash. Critics protested against the abstract design and lack of written information included within the memorial and others even went as far to say that the nameless concrete slabs were offensive to the people who lost their lives during the Holocaust.
Source: Wikipedia
Eisenman’s intention behind the design was to capture loneliness, powerlessness and despair and bring viewers closer to comprehending the loss.
