Dutch photographer Chas Gerretsen’s work is currently featured in three recent books and an exhibition at the Nederlands Fotomuseum in Rotterdam. In this interview, he discusses his experiences as a photojournalist during the Vietnam War and as a photographer on the set of the infamous 1979 film Apocalypse Now. If you spend an afternoon chatting with Dutch photographer Chas Gerretsen you might find yourself longing to quit your day job, grab a camera, and head out into the furthest reaches... More >

With house prices reaching record levels again in 2021, and interest rates remaining extremely low, the housing market will remain challenging in 2022. Here is a round-up of the latest news. New rules Several new pieces of legislation come into effect in 2022 which you should know about if you are planning to buy a home. For example, the government has brought in new rules to stop investors from buying up to a certain price (such as an official value... More >

What better way to pass the winter than brushing up your knowledge of all things Dutch? Tuesday marks 25 years since the last Elfstedentocht took place, the gruelling 200 kilometre skating race held over natural ice between the 11 cities of Friesland. But you can also travel the famous route by bike, by boat, on horseback, on foot… however you like. Here’s what you need to know about the towns en route. Lesson 28: the 11 cities of the Elfstedentocht... More >

Why not start 2022 by brushing up your expertise in all things Dutch, with DutchNews.nl’s very own inburgering course? Here’s a round up of the lessons so far. Lesson 1: An introduction to Dutch history Being the well organised folk that they are, the Dutch have drawn up a list of 50 key events and periods which shaped the country and made the Netherlands what it is today. This mighty list is known as the Canon of Dutch history and... More >

What could be better on a wintry day than to curl up with a good read? Here’s some of this year’s most popular features that you might have missed. Selfies in cemeteries: dark tourism in the Netherlands Dark tourists on a quest for the Netherlands’ nastiest narratives raises ethical questions about the commodification of some of the country’s most solemn sites. But condemning the practice without considering its context, say some, misses the point. Read on Seven famous Dutch riots... More >

Health insurance costs can be quite steep in the Netherlands but luckily, there are a lot of things you can do to save money. Here are the four most effective ways of cutting your health insurance bills. 1 Compare and switch to a cheaper plan This may sound straightforward, but the best way to save money is to switch to a cheaper health insurance plan. With over 40 insurance companies and over 200 policies, chances are high there is a... More >

Our favourite bars and cafes are all closed at 5pm because of coronavirus, so where else to hang out but the supermarket. The DutchNews.nl inburgering course guides has the lowdown. Lesson 27: Supermarkets Foreigners always complain about Dutch supermarkets – not enough choice, too many queues, no-one to pack up your groceries etc etc – so here are some tips to survive them. 1 Colours Colours are important: Albert Heijn is blue, Dirk is red, Jumbo is yellow and Plus... More >

This article started out as six reasons to be cheerful, rose to nine, then 10 and now, thanks to the new lockdown, is back down to seven again. Omicron may have put paid to a lot of traditional winter holiday fun, but here is a list of things which you can still do to bring a little Christmas cheer into your life. Drink! Are booze shops essential? We think so. Baby, it’s cold outside, as Dean Martin sang, which means... More >

As the pandemic has shown us, sometimes one year is significantly better than another financially. If your income has been affected by coronavirus, for better or for worse, remember this when you come to do your next tax returns. If you have income that has varied considerably over the past few years, there’s a Dutch tax ruling that might help you even things out. ‘Middeling’ – which means averaging – looks at three consecutive tax years to find your average... More >

As if the Dutch political landscape wasn’t enough of a hutspot, the election last March added four new ingredients to the parliamentary pot-pourri, taking the total number of parties to 17. Perhaps the most unexpected newcomer was the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB), led by former agriculture journalist Caroline van der Plas. BBB was founded two years earlier and only appeared on pollsters’ radar near the end of the election campaign: the poll of polls run by Leiden University political scientist Tom... More >

The employment law experts at GMW lawyers share insights on your rights in the workplace regarding coronavirus vaccination, and when it is worth contacting a lawyer. The rules surrounding coronavirus change frequently. GMW lawyers is pleased to share some clear answers to the most frequently asked questions about Dutch employment law and coronavirus vaccination. The following is a general advice on your rights in the Netherlands and is correct at the time of writing (26 November 2021). Can my employer... More >

Elizabeth Stuart, queen of Bohemia, arrived in The Hague in April 1621 after a perilous five-month journey across Germany. Her husband, Frederick V, had fled his kingdom in Prague the previous November after his army was defeated at the Battle of White Mountain. Elizabeth sought refuge in Brandenburg, where she gave birth to her fifth child, Maurice, in January. The choice of name was no accident: three months later Frederick accepted an invitation from his cousin and Calvinist ally, Maurice,... More >

From houseboats to floating farms, when space gets tight, the Dutch turn to their ample waterways. The latest example: the Roboat—or robotic boat—an autonomous, electric vessel that works as a water taxi, waste collection system, bridge, and even a floating stage. Lauren Comiteau took a ride on a prototype of one of the new vehicles in Amsterdam’s city centre to see what it’s all about. From the basin of Marineterrein Amsterdam, where the Roboat’s creators demonstrate how she moves, the... More >

You’ve only got a month left to decide whether or not to stick with your current health insurance provider. Maybe you you can’t be bothered, or think there is no point? So here are the answers to some of the most common questions people have when deciding whether or not to make the switch. Is there any point in comparing health insurance prices? Yes there is. The difference between different policies can be far more than a euro or two.... More >