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Roaming in the EU: How to avoid surprise charges on your Dutch SIM

Liana Risseeuw 🇱🇰
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Roaming in the EU: How to avoid surprise charges on your Dutch SIM

While data roaming can be a sneaky holiday-budget killer, these handy tips and tricks will help you navigate roaming in Europe like a boss. 💪

Let’s set the scene: you open Google Maps to find your way down the maze of quaint canals and… boom, you get a notification that you’re being charged €50 for out-of-bundle data costs.

Oeps, it looks like you may have forgotten to activate your data roaming.

What is data roaming, and how does it work?

In short, data roaming is the process of connecting to a network outside of your home country (or the country in which your mobile data provider is located).

Instead of using your regular data provider’s network, your mobile “roams” by connecting to local networks in the country you’re visiting. However, let op: while super convenient, roaming fees are usually quite a bit higher than your usual mobile data charges.

On the other hand, if you’ve got a Dutch or other European SIM card and you’re travelling around the EU, you’re in luck!

Thanks to the EU’s “roam like at home” policy, you’ll be charged domestic prices for all the calls you make, messages you send, and data you use.

Travelling around the EU and need a reliable mobile data connection? Look no further than Simyo, with its range of affordable and expat-friendly SIM plans.

Even better: with all of these coming in eSIM form, you can even get connected while you’re on the road!

Sign up with Simyo

Where EU data roaming applies (and where it doesn’t)

Before you rush off to buy a European SIM card, it’s important to zoom in on the fine print.

Most EU mobile data operators keep a watchful eye on how much time you spend abroad, versus at home.

If, over a four-month period, you’ve spent more time abroad than “at home” (i.e. in your mobile carrier’s country) and used a significant amount of roaming data, then you’ll be served a warning about extra data charges.

You’ll then have two weeks to adjust your usage and avoid extra charges. Still roaming? Helaas, your mobile bills will get considerably more expensive. 😬

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No one likes to see that they have been charged while roaming in the EU. Image: Depositphotos

Even if you don’t spend more time abroad than you do “at home”, EU roaming laws have some tricky grey areas. In particular, the “roam like at home” policy only applies to terrestrial (i.e. land-based) mobile networks.

READ MORE | Making international calls from the Netherlands: The best providers in 2026

That means that if you’re sailing around the Mediterranean on a cruise liner, don’t be surprised if you incur some shocking out-of-bundle costs. This is because your cellular service might be provided through other networks that aren’t subject to the EU’s data policy, like your ship’s satellite connection.

So, should your vacation take you away from the mainland, it’s better to rely on onboard Wi-Fi and turn your mobile data off.

5 tips to avoid unexpected data roaming costs in the EU

While the EU’s “roam like at home” policy is super handy for your wallet, there are ways to make those mobile data charges even more budget-friendly. 👇

1. Make sure you have a Dutch SIM card

When it comes to slashing data costs, the best option is getting a Dutch SIM card.

Not only will you get access to the EU’s “roam like at home” services, but if you’re moving to the Netherlands, it’ll make the process much smoother. Whether you’re ordering food from a Dutch delivery service or signing up for essential services like a GP, a local mobile number is often preferred.

READ MORE | The best prepaid SIMs for internationals and tourists in the Netherlands

However, short-term visitors and tourists needn’t feel left out, either. Prepaid SIMs are sold at a variety of locations, from airports to supermarkets, and you don’t need a Dutch bank account or BSN (citizen service number) to buy one.

Prefer buying a prepaid SIM online? Dat kan! Simyo’s handy mobile app lets you sign up for a Dutch SIM card within minutes, with eSIM options available for their award-winning prepaid data plans.

2. Check your provider’s roaming limits

Also, make sure to keep an eye out for SMS alerts from your provider. Most carriers will notify you when you’ve used up 80% and 100% of your data to prevent you from incurring pricey out-of-bundle costs.

On the off-chance that your provider doesn’t send you one of these messages, you can also track your mobile data usage in your phone’s settings.

3. Set a data usage cap, if you can

Between sun, surf, and sangrias, even the most cautious mobile user might underestimate their data usage while on holiday.

Depending on your provider, this might incur costs of €50 (or more!) before you’re finally cut off from their cellular services.

If you’re baulking at the thought of paying such a huge sum on top of your existing data costs, there’s a simple solution: opting for a data cap.

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A holiday is always better when you don’t have roaming charges. Image: Freepik

As its name suggests, this is a hard cap on your data usage, ensuring that your mobile data shuts off as soon as your data limit has been reached, avoiding hefty out-of-bundle costs.

4. Use Wi-Fi whenever possible

Most hotels, cafés, and public transport services in popular European travel destinations offer free Wi-Fi, and it’s an absolute lifesaver.

With free public Wi-Fi, you needn’t rely on your mobile connection to download data-heavy content like maps, Netflix episodes, or playlists. This saves you a big chunk of your data allowance — or some major cash, if you’re using your non-EU provider’s roaming services.

Good to know: While free Wi-Fi comes with its own share of challenges (*cough* hackers *cough*), a lot of these can be mitigated by a good VPN.

5. Turn off your mobile data when it’s not needed

It’s super annoying, but even when you’re not actively scrolling on your mobile phone, your device might be happily munching through your data allowance.

The culprits are often sneaky background processes, such as app refreshes, auto-updates, and even location services. If you think you’ve turned them all off, another one might pop up on your data usage graph to say “hoi”.

In most cases, the easiest option is just to switch off your mobile data when you’re not using it.

Have you travelled around the EU with a Dutch or foreign SIM card? Share your experiences in the comments below!

Tax season chaos: Dutch civil servants’ strike to hit DUO and Belastingdienst

DutchReview Crew
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Tax season chaos: Dutch civil servants’ strike to hit DUO and Belastingdienst

This coming Tuesday (March 3), civil servants across the Netherlands will strike for 24 hours, protesting a pay freeze that is leaving more than 165,000 government workers worse off. 

If you need to call the tax office or deal with DUO, plan ahead.

The action is the latest escalation in a collective bargaining dispute (cao-conflict) that has been simmering for months. 

Earlier protests have already seen customs officers at Schiphol Airport take action, and civil servants in the east of the country have previously gone on strike. 

Tuesday’s nationwide walkout is the next step — and it’s a big one.

Which government services will be affected?

Two agencies that internationals regularly rely on will take a direct hit.

DUO — the agency that handles student loans and education benefits — will be less accessible or potentially unreachable on Tuesday. 

Although the Belastingdienst (tax office) will still keep its helpline running, waiting times are expected to be longer than usual. You can check current wait times on the Belastingdienst’s website during the day.

The timing is particularly awkward: the tax filing season (aangifteperiode) opens this Sunday, March 1, meaning the phones were already going to be busy. 

If you have an in-person appointment at a tax office, it may be cancelled — in which case you’ll be offered the option to reschedule or switch to a phone or video call instead.

Why are they striking?

This year, civil servants will receive no pay rise and no inflation correction — meaning that in real terms, every government worker is taking home less than before. 

For context, the previous cao — which covered July 2024 through to the end of 2025 — gave civil servants an 8.5% pay rise, an extra €50 per month, and a one-time inflation compensation payment. 

The current freeze, however, means all of that momentum has come to a halt.

Trade union FNV argues this is simply unacceptable for the people who keep the country functioning. 

Speaking with NU.nl, FNV official Marcelle Buitendam puts it plainly: “Civil servants are the people who keep the Netherlands running every day.”

After all, these are the people who ensure safe roads, guard prisons, control borders, and process benefits, allowances, and permits — and this is what they get in return. 

Buitendam (along with the rest of the strikers) is calling on the new cabinet to come forward with a proper wage offer, and has warned that if the government remains unyielding, further action will follow.

What should you do?

If you were planning to call the Belastingdienst on Tuesday, it’s worth trying before or after the strike day. 

Keep an eye on the tax office website for live waiting time updates if you do call. If you have an appointment that gets cancelled, expect to hear from them about rescheduling options.

Do you think the government should be offering civil servants a pay rise? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

I lived in a former Dutch prison: here’s what it was like

Eva Gabriella
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I lived in a former Dutch prison: here’s what it was like

One innovative response to the housing crisis hitting students in Amsterdam was to convert a former prison into student living quarters.

Yes, you read that right. I was an inmate of the Bijlmerbajes as a first-year university student — and no, I did not commit a crime.

Unless you can count being a homeless international student in the Netherlands as a violation of Dutch law (some people seem to think it is).

Here’s my first-hand experience of living in a former Dutch prison. 

What are the Bijlmerbajes?

Built in 1978, Bijlmerbajes was a six-tower, 14-story prison complex that loomed high in east Amsterdam, close to the Amsterdam Amstel railway station.

In its heyday, Bijlmerbajes housed around 700 prisoners, including many psychiatric patients. 

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Bijlmerbajes from the train station. Image: Eriksw/Wikimedia Commons/CC3.0

The prison started out with a reputation of being a “humane” prison system with no bars on the windows or barbed wire on the fences — where the goal was rehabilitation rather than detention.

Except, the Bijlmerbajes had to scrap their plans of being a “humane” prison and ended up placing bars and barbed wires around the facility after prisoners kept trying to escape.

READ MORE | Dutch prisoners hold key to their own cell

Around the year 2016, the Dutch government began shutting down prisons due to the lack of prisoners in the country. In turn, the Bijmerbajes shut its doors to prisoners for the last time.

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The view from our cells wasn’t half-bad. Image: Supplied/zlmn

When one door shuts, another opens. After the inmates were removed, asylum seekers and international students took their place to aid them in adjusting to the Dutch way of life.

(What a funny way to do so, but I suppose beggars can’t be choosers.)

How did I, an innocent international student, end up living in a former Dutch prison? 

The summer of 2017 rolled around and, alongside thousands of eager students who moved to Amsterdam ready to experience the “best days of their lives,” I began my search for a roof over my head. 

Like many international students, countless doors were shut firmly in my face. I always seemed to be about number 100 in the queue for rooms, and on top of that, I also didn’t fit the categorisation of “Dutch speaking only”.

When I was starting to lose all hope, feeling defeated and lost, out of the blue, an email popped up in my inbox.

I clicked it in desperation, crossing my fingers that I hadn’t left it too late, hoping that there was still a spot for me to fill. 

READ MORE | Why is there a housing shortage in the Netherlands? The Dutch housing crisis explained

“Now that sounds interesting,” I thought to myself. A hall of residence type accommodation, lots of students piled on top of each other, no privacy, but lots of fun. 

Little did we know just what was in store for us.

Sentenced to five months in prison

Upon signing my lease, I discovered I would be confined to a 10m2 cell with a doorless ensuite toilet and windows with bars on them. Yes, bars. 

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What we were confronted with when we entered our cells. Image: Eva Lakeman/DutchReview

For just €550 per month, including gas, water, and electricity, I would also share two showers and a kitchen with eight other innocent inmates — a bargain for Amsterdam prices.

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The tunnel we walked through to get to each of our prison cells. Image: Rijksvastgoedbedrijf/Wikimedia Commons/CC3.0

What is it like living in a former prison? 

Upon arrival, I was confronted by the 14-storey taunting towers above me, a nervous wreck after moving 10,000 kilometres from my childhood bedroom.

Like inmates, the check-in staff had us line up to be given our keys and instructions for our stay. Thankfully, we could skip the strip search. 😉

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The prison blocks tower above. Image: Supplied/zlmn

But nothing was going to put me off. I was determined that living in prison would be an experience like no other I would have in my life, and I felt adrenalised by the prospect that I would be living like a con.

When I look back on the time I served within the walls of Bijlmerbajes, I have many memories that won’t leave me — even if I wanted them to. To name a few…

🚨 Daily fire alarms

Almost every other night, the fire alarms would begin to shriek at 2 AM. The smoke from someone’s joint or someone’s burnt leftovers (the former probably influencing the latter) would set them off.

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A comment left by a resident online. Image: Screenshot/Bilmerbaje’s Facebook group

Surely the smokers were able to open a window? Nope, those were all glued shut — they couldn’t be opened even an inch.

To begin with, for each alarm, we would all dutifully scramble around in the dark, bleary-eyed and head out of our cells to determine whether we should go downstairs in case of a fire.

READ MORE | 11 creative solutions to the Dutch student housing crisis that makes us say “Why didn’t we think of that?”

Eventually, we grew accustomed to the mind-numbing racket and dealt with it. It was an odd lullaby, but it was all part of living at the Bijlmerbajes.

🛠️ Broken lifts

At least three times a week, the lifts taking us to our cells would mysteriously and suddenly halt, leaving us to ascend 12 flights of stairs on foot. 

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A Facebook comment left by a resident assistant. Image: Screenshot/Bilmerbaje’s Facebook group

This was actually for the best; each elevator trip up and down consisted of a nerve-wracking series of curious and frightening creaks. 

READ MORE | 5 things you didn’t know about the Dutch student housing crisis  

The fear created in our souls by each of these trips was only compounded by the etchings on the elevator’s walls, scratched mirrors, and flickering light.

👮‍♀️ Prison warden 

Smoking inside the prison was technically banned.

Instead, the smokers were supposed to make their way to the bottom floor, where there was a courtyard surrounded by high concrete walls.

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The courtyard was surrounded by high concrete walls. Image: Corne Bastiaansen/Wikimedia Commons/CC3.0

In the beginning, the smokers dutifully made their way downstairs.

However, after a few months, laziness got the better of them, and they began smoking in the stairwell where the windows opened.

If the smokers were caught, the prison wardens, who called themselves resident assistants, would slap the smokers with a hefty €30 fine. 

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Bad inmates meant the rest of us lost courtyard privileges. Image: Screenshot/Bilmerbaje’s Facebook group

It became a kind of cat-and-mouse chase between the two. The smokers had their ears pricked just quick enough to race away from the wardens, who would slink up the stairs silently.

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No more courtyard for the smokers. Image: Eva Gabriella/DutchReview

🚿 Freezing showers

I know what you’re thinking: “I hope you didn’t drop the soap!”

 

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A comment left by the Resident Assistant on Bijlmerbaje’s Facebook Group. Image: Bilmerbaje’s Facebook group/Screenshot

Thankfully, the Bijlmerbajes showers were made into cubicles, so we weren’t welcomed by any sorry sights when we entered. 

On the other hand, the cubicle walls didn’t reach the floor, so you could tell which one of your fellow inmates was in there by the look of their feet.

And that didn’t stop some of them from striking up a conversation on the other side of the wall as you tried to bury your squeals caused by the freezing water gushing from the ceiling hole.

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Freezing water is coming from a hole in the ceiling. Image: Eva Gabriella/DutchReview

Finally freed

By the end of the five months, I felt sad to leave. I had formed lasting friendships made stronger by such a bizarre experience.

Although many things could’ve been improved, like the hot showers, for example, we made the most of our sentences. 

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Doors to our cells were left open for our final exit. Image: Depositphotos

We all had to make the best out of a bad situation, and the fun we had together far outweighed having to walk up 12 flights of stairs daily. 

I’d probably do it once more — but that’d be it.

READ MORE | Take me to… church? 10 types of converted religious buildings in the Netherlands 

Like many, I definitely felt the wrath of the Dutch housing crisis in full force, but living in Bijlmerbajes was a humbling experience I hold dearly.

After all, who can say they spent time behind bars without having a criminal record to their name? 

The Bijlmerbajes today

In 2018, the Bijlmerbajes slid its gates shut for the final time before it was demolished completely.

After housing prisoners, asylum seekers, and international students, the former penitentiary is now being reborn into luscious, architecturally designed gardens and condos.

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A little bit more luscious than when it was student accommodation. Image: Bajeskwartier

The rubble from its demolition is transforming into a green, sustainable neighbourhood with around 1,350 homes, a fresh market, a health centre, and many more facilities. 

By 2026, the Bajeskwartier is expected to be up and running at full steam. But don’t worry — we former Bijlmerbajes residents will hold our memories under lock and key.

Would you spend a night in an abandoned former prison? Tell us in the comments below!

Feature Image: ErikSW/Wikimedia Commons/CC4.0 (Modified) and Eva Gabriella

Dutch police launch urgent search for three missing teenagers

DutchReview Crew
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Dutch police launch urgent search for three missing teenagers

Dutch police are urgently appealing to the public for information after three teenagers went missing from the North Brabant village of Sleeuwijk on Wednesday evening. 

The police say there has been no trace of the trio since they were last seen leaving the village together on foot.

Who is missing?

The group consists of a boy named Jesse and two girls, one of whom is named Zoë. 

The police appeal also described what the missing minors were last wearing. 

Jesse is around 1.60 metres tall with a slim build and brown curly hair. He was last seen wearing a dark jacket, black jeans, and light-coloured shoes. 

Zoë is shorter than Jesse, also of slight build, with short blonde curly hair, and was also dressed in dark clothing when she disappeared.

The second girl, whose name has not been released, was wearing a dark blue hoodie over a white T-shirt, a blue jacket, light blue jeans, and white trainers. 

She was also carrying a black backpack.

No trace since Wednesday

NOS reports that police have classified this as an urgente vermissing — an urgent missing persons case. 

It’s known that at least one of the three comes from Hardinxveld-Giessendam in South Holland, though their current whereabouts remain entirely unknown.

Police shared a late-night appeal on social media Thursday evening, urging anyone with information to call the non-emergency police line on 0900-8844. 

If you spot any of the three teenagers, you’re asked to call 112 immediately.

Have you seen Jesse, Zoë, or their companion? Please don’t hesitate — call 112 if you spot them, or share any tips with police via 0900-8844.

Odido refuses to pay hackers — now, customers’ stolen data is live on the dark web

DutchReview Crew
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Odido refuses to pay hackers — now, customers’ stolen data is live on the dark web

The hacking group responsible for Odido’s recent data breach, known as ShinyHunters, has made good on its threat. The cybercriminal group has published the first batch of stolen customer data on the dark web. 

This is after the telecom provider refused to pay a ransom of over €1 million. More leaks are promised every day for the next sixteen days.

The data was analysed and verified by RTL Nieuws, which first identified ShinyHunters as the group behind the major Odido breach.

What’s actually been published

The first release covers data belonging to around 430,000 individuals and 290,000 companies — including former customers who cut ties with Odido years ago. 

Notably, the dataset also contains information on roughly 700 businesses that were never customers at all, only ever approached as potential clients.

What’s in there, you ask? Oh, only full names, home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, IBANs, and internal customer service notes.

Those notes are particularly sensitive, revealing whether someone receives payment reminders or formal notices, holds a BKR debt registration, has a court-appointed administrator (bewindvoerder). 

Essentially, this data, in combination with the release of financial information, tells criminals which customers are going to be easiest to exploit or scam. 

The 275,000 IBANs are considered especially valuable, as they can be used for a wide range of financial fraud. 

Passport, driver’s licence, and ID card numbers are not included in this first batch — but ShinyHunters has warned that more is coming.

Odido says no to the ransom

Odido has confirmed they have no intention of paying. 

“On the advice of leading cybersecurity advisors and relevant government agencies, Odido has decided not to negotiate with these criminals and not to be blackmailed by them,” the provider said in a statement.

ShinyHunters wasn’t impressed. “Enjoy the daily data leaks in the coming days,” the group told RTL Nieuws. “More sensitive data will appear every day.”

The hackers claim to hold data on more than 10 million current and former customers. This is significantly above Odido’s confirmed figure of 6.2 million. 

What this means for you

Right now, there’s no legal way for Odido customers to check whether their specific data has been included in the leak. 

Given how accessible dark web markets have become, the published data could be misused for months to come — particularly for highly personalised phishing attempts and financial fraud.

READ MORE | Russia is ramping up hybrid attacks on the Netherlands, warns Dutch intelligence

Stay alert to unexpected calls, texts, or emails that seem to know a lot about you. 

Verify any invoices through your Mijn Odido account and never share passwords or PINs, no matter how convincing the caller sounds. 

Do you think Odido made the right call by refusing to pay? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Dutch architecture you can still see in South Africa today

Emily Burger
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Dutch architecture you can still see in South Africa today

It is possible to spot Dutch architecture in South Africa, thanks to the long and complicated history between these nations.

In many ways, the influence of Dutch colonialism has shaped the multi-cultural demographics of South Africa. It even produced the Afrikaans language.

But what is lesser known is that the Dutch settlers left behind an architectural legacy in South Africa that you can still see today. 🏠

Wine estates with Cape Dutch architecture

South African wine is world-renowned, with the hills and valleys of the Cape providing the perfect landscape and climate for excellent grapes.

Many of these farms were established in the 1600s by retired Dutch East India (VOC) employees — Dutchmen tired of the merchant life and ready to settle down under the warm African sun. ☀️

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A typical Cape Dutch wine estate near Cape Town. Image: Pixabay

This style is known as Cape Dutch architecture, and the Dutch influence can be seen in the facades and roofs of the buildings.

Of course, these are wider than the skinny Amsterdam houses you’ll find in the Netherlands and were painted white to help keep them cool under the boiling heat.

The Dutch fort in Cape Town

The Dutch East India Company built Kasteel de Goede Hoop (Castle of Good Hope) in what is now Cape Town. Built between 1666 and 1679, the castle is the oldest surviving building in South Africa. 

But this was not the first military structure built by the Dutch here.

In 1652, Jan van Riebeeck, commander of the Cape, built Fort de Goede Hoop upon his arrival. As Dutch settlers built the fort with just clay and timber, plans to build Kasteel de Goede Hoop in stone quickly materialised.

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A closer look at the Castle’s striking star-shaped structure. Image: Dreamstime

Notice the star shape of the fort? The triangular bastions are typical of other Dutch forts like Fort Bourtange in Groningen.

READ MORE | 8 carbon copies of the Netherlands across the world

Over the years, the restoration of this site has been deeply controversial. The castle represents colonial powers, which uprooted the Khoekhoe people from their homeland and forced many to become serfs on Dutch farms.

On the other hand, many Afrikaans people see Jan van Riebeeck as the founding father of South Africa.

Dutch-inspired Stellenbosch University

Below is an image of the old administrative building of Stellenbosch University (SU), which should remind you of a certain government building in The Hague. 🤔

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The facade of the faculty of Theology at Stellenbosch University! Image: Depositphotos

In 1679, the Dutch Governor of the Cape Colony, Simon van der Stel, established the town of Stellenbosch. He named it after himself and the bos (forest) that once stood there.

But it was only in 1866 that a secondary school known as Het Stellenbossche Gymnasium was built there. It was transformed into Stellenbosch University much later. 🎓

READ MORE | Culture shock when moving to the Netherlands: from South Africa to Holland

Stellenbosch is the oldest university in South Africa and is consistently one of the highest-ranking universities in Africa.

Fishermen’s cottages in the Eastern Cape

These humble homes along the eastern coastline of the Cape are simpler than the grand wine estates we saw earlier. The natural harbours drew Dutch fishers to the area, who built settlements like Struisbaai.

Struisbaai has the longest beach in the Southern Hemisphere at 14 kilometres long. It was a notoriously hazardous area to sail through, with at least 30 vessels wrecking there since 1673.

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Fishermen’s cottage in South Africa. Image: Pixabay

Today, Struisbaai remains a fishing town mostly untouched by the perils of urbanisation.

READ MORE | Afrikaans and Dutch: the differences and similarities

Looking at the houses, you’ll see echoes of traditional Dutch cottages, but again, painted white for the heat. Thatched roofs also help to keep the interior cool.

Bo-Kaap’s colourful houses

Bo-Kaap (meaning “above the Cape” in Afrikaans) is a residential area in Cape Town with a history of vibrant houses. It sits on a hill overlooking the city centre.

It was formerly known as the Malay Quarter because enslaved people brought from Indonesia and Malaysia by the Dutch lived here. 

A mixture of Cape Dutch and Cape Georgian styles, the houses were originally painted white. But when slavery in the British colonies was abolished in 1833, and ex-slaves were finally permitted to buy property, they painted these houses in every colour of the rainbow to celebrate their freedom.

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Can you see the Dutch influence in these houses? Image: Freepik

Today, Bo-Kaap is the birthplace of Cape Malay culture.

According to the South African Heritage Resources Agency, this is the oldest surviving residential neighbourhood in Cape Town. It was declared a National Heritage Site in 2019.

Whilst South African architecture is certainly unique, the Dutch influence is undeniable. These are just a few of our favourite examples of Dutch architecture in South Africa, but there are many more!

Do you know any more examples of Dutch architecture in South Africa? Tell us in the comments below! 💬

The Netherlands’ controversial new tax law may be scrapped after less than two weeks

Kriti Swarup
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The Netherlands’ controversial new tax law may be scrapped after less than two weeks

Just ten days after the House of Representatives reluctantly approved a new wealth tax on savings, investments, and real estate, the Jetten cabinet is moving to scrap it.

Finance Minister Eelco Heinen has taken matters into his own hands, announcing that the new Box 3 tax system should be amended — before it even reaches the Eerste Kamer (Senate).

According to AD, Heinen claimed that “something simply didn’t go right,” adding that the bill needs some serious adjustments before it can go to the Eerste Kamer.

What exactly is this new law?

At the moment, the Belastingdienst taxes people based on assumed returns from their assets, rather than what they actually earn. This is dubbed “Box 3 income.”

In 2021, the Hoge Raad (Supreme Court) ruled that taxing people on fictitious returns was unlawful.

Since then, the House of Representatives has been scrambling to find a way to tax our capital gains.

READ MORE | Netherlands introduces changes to Box 3 tax: what it means for your money

The new Wet werkelijk rendement box 3 (Act on Actual Box 3 Returns) was designed to fix this, taxing real income rather than an imaginary interest rate of an economy we no longer live in.

But helaas, the fix that was meant to go into effect starting in 2028 is already being questioned.

What’s wrong with it?

Perhaps a better question is, “What’s not wrong with it?”

The heart of the problem remains the same: you are taxed on income that is not yet tangible.

Under the new legislation, investors would owe tax on assets that have risen in value — even if they haven’t sold them yet.

Say you hold €10,000 worth of Bitcoin. The price surges, and your portfolio jumps to €15,000. You haven’t sold a single coin, so that €5,000 gain exists only on paper. Yet under the new policy, you would owe tax on it regardless.

Rich people around the world seem to have a problem with it.

Heinen specifically named the lack of loss offsetting as a legitimate concern. If your shares drop in value the following year, the Belastingdienst won’t give anything back.

The Finance Minister also flagged that it’s almost impossible to convert paper gains into cash. You may end up having to liquidate your entire portfolio just to pay your taxes.

Who else is unhappy?

Aside from backlash from other parties in the coalition, some of whom called Heinen’s move “downright inappropriate,” several investors might be glad that the new policy has already been scrapped.

Prince Constantijn of Orange, who leads TechLeap (a government body that helps Dutch startups grow), also spoke out against the law.

Translation: Prince Constantijn, Techleap’s special envoy, is not pleased with the new box 3 tax. It also affects investors. “You don’t want this,” says Constantijn. “This is shooting yourself in the foot. You should tax at the moment you sell your shares.” #WNLOpZondag #WNL

His concern? Many startups pay staff partly in shares. If those shares increase in value, employees could face a substantial tax bill on money they haven’t yet received.

“This is undesirable,” he said on WNL op Zondag.

The bill did try to address this with an exception for startup shares. But the rules were considered too strict, reports NOS.

“There has been a lot of criticism on the Wet werkelijk rendement,” says a spokesperson for Heinen. “We’re not deaf to that. The bill needs to be amended,” he adds.

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7 of the best scenic bike paths in the Netherlands

Ailish Lalor
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7 of the best scenic bike paths in the Netherlands

With spring right around the corner and sunny weather making a comeback, we all want to spend more time outside. Now is high time to go for a ride along one of the seven most scenic bike paths in the Netherlands.

It’s no secret that the Netherlands is known as the bicycle capital of the world — and cycling is a cherished part of the Dutch way of life.

From the sandy dunes of Scheveningen to the stunning views of Kinderdijk’s windmills, this remarkably flat country holds some of the world’s most beautiful bike paths.

1. Through Scheveningen’s dunes

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Also great for a hike! Image: Freepik

Nothing beats being by the sea on your bike on a sunny day. There’s something indescribably fresh and invigorating about it.

Lots of people hike in these dunes, but there are also lovely bike paths that can take you all the way from Kijkduin to Katwijk.

The most spectacular dunes are around the Zuiderstrand area — they really have an otherworldly feel to them.

READ MORE | 16 unmissable things to do in Scheveningen: A local’s guide

Plus, if you’re interested in getting some serious exercise, the constant up-and-down of biking in the dunes will definitely take care of that.

2. Down the Vecht river

boat-on-the-river-vecht-in-utrecht-on-a-scenic-bike-path-in-the-netherlands
A quintessentially Dutch view. Image: Dreamstime

This scenic bike route will take you from Weesp to Utrecht, though you can of course decide exactly how much of it you want to do yourself.

Along the river Vecht, you’ll see mansions built by merchants from the Dutch Golden Age, lots of dairy farms, and beautiful Dutch nature.

The biking path is very peaceful and you end up biking the last leg by the Old Canal of Utrecht, which is frankly one of the most stunning places in the whole of the Netherlands.

3. From Leiden to The Hague

pieterskerk-square-in-leiden
Cycle from the gorgeous town of Leiden to another beautiful city, The Hague. Image: Lyna Meyrer/Supplied

Now, this might be a familiar daily train commute for many of us, but biking this journey is an entirely different experience. Don’t take the shortest route — instead, take the one that brings you through Vlietland.

Known as the Riviera of the Randstad, this stunning area is filled with nature, lakes, and gorgeous quaint Dutch houses.

READ MORE | 17 unforgettable things to do in Leiden in 2026

It’s a really nice idea to reserve a table at a restaurant at one of our vegan hotspots in The Hague for a delicious meal after your arduous journey.

4. Explore Texel National Park

Texel is an island in the very north of the Netherlands, and its coastline is absolutely beautiful. Biking around it will take you through Texel National Park and lots of beautiful dunes.

This is a biologically diverse landscape that is really best appreciated by bike.

READ MORE | Exploring Dutch islands: a guide to visiting Texel

Plus, if you do want to take a longer bike ride and explore even more of the island, you can always head east from the dunes. This is a particularly lovely bike ride on a hot summer’s day, with the sea breeze keeping you cool.

5. Around Waterland (near Amsterdam)

Colourful-green-wooden-Dutch-houses-and-windmill-with-water-and-grass
Visit the beautiful town of Waterland, near Amsterdam, by bike. Image: Depositphotos

If you’re looking for nice bike paths in the Amsterdam area, the Waterland cycling path is one of the most scenic bike paths in that region.

Again, we’re talking about really quaint Dutch architecture along this route — think colourful wooden houses by the water.

READ MORE | 19 best day trips from Amsterdam: the ultimate travel guide

But this scenic bike route also takes you to the seaside if you follow it through.

You end up at Marken, a historic fishing village, which is only connected to the mainland by a road that was added in 1957.

6. Past the Enkhuizen Dyke

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A beautiful bike ride along the Dutch sea! Image: Snempaa/Wikimedia Commons/CC4.0

A list of scenic bike paths in the Netherlands would not be complete without at least some dyke-and-dam content.

This bike ride up in Lelystad will take you across the sea in a way that is really mind-blowing for those of us new to living in a land created by dykes.

READ MORE | Dutch people turned headwind cycling into a competition — and it’s absolutely hilarious

You cycle away from the main road for most of this path, which only increases the otherworldly sensation of cycling along a thin piece of land in the middle of the sea (well, not quite the middle).

7. Along Kinderdijk’s Windmills

Another Dutch cliché that we simply can’t resist recommending is the bike path by the Kinderdijk windmills. Tourists usually flock here every year.

You can go during the off-season to bike slowly around this historic sight and soak it in without worrying about running over some hapless sight-seer.

READ MORE | 13 intriguing things to do in Kinderdijk in 2026

Honestly, the best description for this area is that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for a reason.

If you want to catch some old windmills in action, there is no better place (come at me, Zaanse Schans!).

Where are your favourite spots to bike in the Netherlands? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Why Dutch people switch to English mid-conversation (and how to stop it)

DutchReview Crew
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Why Dutch people switch to English mid-conversation (and how to stop it)

You were doing so well. “Dus ik dacht dat…” you began confidently, conjugating verbs, forming sentences, thriving. And then, without a single warning, the Dutch person in front of you replies in flawless English.

It’s one of the most universally shared experiences among expats in the Netherlands.

But there’s more going on beneath the surface than impatience or pity. Let’s unpack it!

It’s called code-switching, and it’s completely normal

Linguists call this code-switching: flipping between languages mid-conversation, sometimes even mid-sentence. It’s a well-documented phenomenon in bilingual communities, and it’s actually a sign of high fluency, not rudeness.

When someone speaks two languages well, their brain doesn’t keep them in separate, neatly labelled boxes.

READ MORE | Dutch Quirk #77: Switch to English even if you speak Dutch

Think of it more like two apps running in the background at once. Sometimes the wrong one pops to the front. In the Netherlands, that “wrong” app opens constantly, because the Dutch are extraordinarily good at English.

The Netherlands is basically cheating at English

According to the EF English Proficiency Index, the Netherlands has ranked number 1 in the entire world among non-native English-speaking countries for six consecutive years.

Amsterdam, specifically, scores higher than any other non-native-English-speaking capital city on the planet.

So when a Dutch person switches to English mid-conversation, they’re not making a conscious effort. English is just… there. Fully loaded, always ready, requiring almost zero mental overhead.

For them, switching languages is as effortless as switching tabs. It’s a big part of why the Dutch are so good at English in the first place.

They think they’re being helpful

Here’s where it gets interesting, and slightly ironic.

According to Professor Felix Ameka of Leiden University, Dutch speakers switch to English because they want to be inclusive.

They assume English is the most considerate choice in mixed settings, the linguistic equivalent of holding a door open.

The problem? It often doesn’t land that way. Ameka argues that many migrants and language learners actually experience the switch as exclusion: a signal that their Dutch isn’t welcome in the Dutch community.

The intention is kindness; the effect is the opposite.

Efficiency is basically a Dutch personality trait

There’s also a broader cultural explanation. Dutch communication prioritises directness and efficiency above almost everything else.

If English is the fastest route from A to B, most Dutch people will take it, not out of arrogance, but out of reflex.

That switch is often triggered by tiny signals: a slight hesitation, an accent, a half-second pause while searching for a word. The Dutch brain reads these as cues to “help,” and help it does, whether you wanted it to or not.

It’s not a verdict on your Dutch. It’s a shortcut like eating a broodje kaas for every meal or dropping a fiver in a deposit casino.

How to keep the conversation in Dutch

The good news: most Dutch people will happily stay in Dutch if you just ask. Directly. Which, again, is very on-brand for them.

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There are ways to keep people talking in Dutch. Image: Freepik

Try one of these early in the conversation:

  • “Mag het in het Nederlands? Ik wil oefenen.” (Can we keep it in Dutch? I want to practise.)
  • “Laten we Nederlands praten, alsjeblieft.” (Let’s speak Dutch, please.)
  • “Ik probeer mijn Nederlands te verbeteren.” (I’m trying to improve my Dutch.)

Confidence is key. Dutch culture genuinely respects directness, so a clear, friendly request almost always works.

Another tactic: when they switch to English, just respond in Dutch anyway. That gentle nudge often brings things back without any awkwardness.

You can also ask for clarification instead of a translation. “Kun je dat langzamer zeggen?” (Can you say that more slowly?) keeps the interaction in Dutch while showing you’re engaged.

When switching to English is the right call

There are moments when English genuinely is the better choice. Complex medical conversations, legal documents, or anything where a misunderstanding could have real consequences. In those cases, clarity matters more than practice.

But for a chat at the bakker (bakery) or a casual coffee with a colleague? Push back. Politely, persistently, in Dutch.

You’re not being difficult. You’re doing exactly what Professor Ameka wishes more people would do, and what your Dutch language journey depends on anyway.

Have you ever successfully kept a Dutch person speaking Dutch with you? Or did they outlast you in English? Share your strategy, or your defeat, in the comments below.

Heads up! Everyone in the Netherlands is getting a new debit card

DutchReview Crew
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Heads up! Everyone in the Netherlands is getting a new debit card

Every bank customer in the Netherlands is getting a new debit card. But what exactly is changing, and do you actually need to do anything?

Many internationals will be ecstatic to hear that the baffling debit card system of the Netherlands is being modernised and replaced with a more useful alternative. 

The old Maestro and V PAY cards that Dutch residents have used for years are being phased out, replaced by Debit Mastercard and Visa Debit cards. 

Finally, you’ll be able to pay on international websites without jumping through six or seven hoops! 

So what can the new card do that the old one couldn’t?

The most significant upgrade is that the new cards work far more like the bank cards you might be used to from your home country. 

They can be used anywhere Mastercard or Visa is accepted — which means far fewer awkward moments at foreign checkout counters.

You’ll also be able to pay online using just the card details. Unlike the previous cards, the new ones will have the more globally used style of a 16-digit card number, expiry date, and a CVC or CVV security code. 

READ MORE | Dutch savings accounts: Best interest rates in the Netherlands in February 2026

Previously, online payments in the Netherlands largely depended on iDEAL (which is itself being phased out in favour of Wero). 

The new card also enables deposit payments — useful for things like car rentals — and recurring subscription payments.

Is it the same as a credit card?

Not quite. The key difference is that money comes straight out of your bank account — there’s no credit facility. 

So, if the funds aren’t there, the payment won’t go through (seems logical, right?)

It’s also important to note that the new debit card also doesn’t come with purchase insurance, which credit cards typically offer for 180 days after a purchase. 

READ MORE | The best credit cards for expats in the Netherlands

However, online payments with the new card are covered by a chargeback policy, meaning you can dispute a payment if you don’t receive what you ordered. This is also known as a ‘delivery guarantee.’

This protection doesn’t apply to iDEAL or Wero payments, so it’s actually a step up for shoppers if they use the new card details when paying online.

When will you get yours?

That depends on your bank. As RTL Nieuws reports, smaller banks have moved faster. Triodos Bank and Knab customers already have the new cards, according to the Consumers’ Association.

READ MORE | The best banks in the Netherlands for internationals in 2026

For the big four:

  • ING began replacing expiring cards in November and expects most customers to have the new card by the end of this year, though no exact timeline has been given. For ING customers, the CVC code won’t be printed on the card itself. You’ll need to find it in the ING app.
  • Rabobank has been issuing new cards since 2024 on a natural expiry basis, with no estimate on when the full rollout will complete.
  • ABN AMRO started the transition in mid-2025. The bank estimates it’s currently at just over 10% of customers, based on the five-year card expiry cycle, and is looking into whether it can accelerate the rollout.
  • ASN Bank expects its rollout to be complete by October 1, with roughly 418,000 of its 3 million customers already using the new card. You don’t need to request the upgraded card, it’ll arrive automatically when your current one is up for replacement. 

Happy shopping!

Have you already received your new debit card? Let us know in the comments whether it’s made paying abroad any easier.

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