Living outside of the Randstad brings with it many advantages. Lower housing prices, less noise, less light- and air pollution — and in general, a more peaceful life.

When people talk about awesome places to live in the Netherlands, they often focus only on the big four: Utrecht, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague.

No shade to any of these places, they’re great — but they’re not for everyone.

That’s why we wanted to broaden the discussion and bring you seven amazing places to live that are not in the Randstad.

What exactly is the Randstad?

First, let’s clarify what the Randstad actually is and why Dutchies have such strong feelings about it.

The Randstad is basically the four largest cities in the Netherlands: Rotterdam, Utrecht, Amsterdam, The Hague, and the smaller areas and cities that surround them.

Often, cities and areas outside of the Randstad are ignored in national discussions, in the media, and in government policy.

Within the Randstad, there’s the perception that the rest of the country is filled with conservative, cow-loving bumpkins — which just ain’t true.

READ MORE | 5 reasons the Netherlands is the best place to live for expat families

Now that the term has been explained let’s move on to what you’re really here for — the seven places we’d recommend to live outside of the Randstad.

1. Groningen: a student city well beyond the Randstad

Groningen is a beautiful small city in the north of the Netherlands. It’s a student city, which means it feels young, vibrant, and full of life. Farmer’s markets and traditional Dutch architecture abound.

Housing isn’t super cheap here, mostly because of the demand students put on the market, but it’s still reasonable compared to Amsterdam.

You can expect to pay around €200,000 to buy an apartment and between €300,000 to €500,000 for a family home.

Because it’s quite a popular city, Groningen has excellent transport links to the rest of the country, and in particular to the Randstad.

READ MORE | Where to live as an international in the Netherlands: the complete guide

You can get to Amsterdam within two hours, and a train departs at least every half hour in that direction.

So, if you need to commute or you just want to check out the rest of the country, rest assured that doing so via public transport will be no problem.

And the cost of living? According to Numbeo, it’s a whole lot cheaper than in Amsterdam: a meal at an inexpensive restaurant will cost you €15 or so, a cappuccino €3, and one kilogram of potatoes (the most important purchase if you’re hoping to integrate) about €1.

2. Amersfoort: outside the Randstad but close to Amsterdam

If you’re looking for a city outside of the Randstad that still has a short commute to Amsterdam, then Amersfoort is your city.

Taking the train to Amsterdam from Amersfoort takes just over half an hour, and the trains go every 30 minutes, if not more often.

Amersfoort is also a really beautiful city. It has the famous Koppelpoort that has been around since medieval times and attracts lots of tourists every year.

Now, because of its proximity to Amsterdam, Amersfoort is not the cheapest when it comes to housing.

Buying a traditional Dutch home can cost anywhere from €350,000 to €650,000 — but that could well be worth it if you work in the Randstad and are craving that quieter vibe.

It’s also slightly more expensive than Groningen in terms of the cost of living. That kilo of potatoes will cost you an extra €0.20, and a refreshing domestic biertje an extra euro.

3. Eindhoven: your modern city outside the Randstad

If you’re craving a more modern, artistic city, then Eindhoven is your best bet. It’s home to the world-famous Eindhoven Design Academy and hosts Dutch Design Week each year.

Not to mention that it has an airport, so if you need to travel abroad frequently, then it’s the perfect place.

In terms of housing, an apartment in the centre will cost you anywhere from €240,000 to €445,000, and family homes are usually priced at around €330,000.

When you consider how close Eindhoven is to the Randstad (you can get to Amsterdam in an hour and fifteen minutes and The Hague in an hour and a half), this price could be absolutely worth it.

READ MORE | 7 Dutch cities to move to right now (recommended by mortgage experts)

The cost of living is pretty much exactly the same as Amersfoort, but cappuccinos are a whole cent cheaper. So, the answer to all your financial problems is obvious.

4. Tilburg: a city of art outside the Randstad

Tilburg is an often-forgotten city of the Netherlands, but that’s an injustice we’re working hard to correct at DutchReview.

With beginnings as the wool capital of the Netherlands, Tilburg has recently become home to lots of tech and chemical companies, so if those are your industries, Tilburg could be the place for you.

It also has its own liqueur, Schrobbelèr, and has made a name for itself as a city filled with modern art and festivals.

We’re not the only ones obsessed with Tilburg: housing prices have been steadily increasing there each year as more and more people realise that its simple commute to the Randstad (only an hour to The Hague) makes it the perfect city to settle down in.

The average house price is now just under €300,000. However, the cost of living in Tilburg is quite low: only €12 for an inexpensive dinner, and the all-important sack of potatoes is down to €1.07. Thank goodness.

5. Maastricht: a cosy city centre outside the Randstad

If you want to experience Germany without living in Germany, then Maastricht is the place for you.

Just kidding, but if you do work in Germany or Belgium or often need to travel to either, Maastricht could be a great option.

It’s also a really beautiful city, with a cosy city centre filled with small shops and restaurants.

Housing pries are reasonable: an apartment will cost you about €160,000, and a family home around €300,000.

Maastricht is the city that’s furthest away from the Randstad on this list.

It’s almost three hours on the train to The Hague, so commuting from there to the Randstad would be a bit difficult every day.

However, the cosiness of the city centre and its closeness to Germany and Belgium could well be worth the trek for you — and the potatoes are not that expensive: €0.96 a kilo.

6. Leeuwarden: traditional Dutch architecture outside the Randstad

Leeuwarden is also quite a hike to the Randstad: you’re looking at two hours and 40 minutes to The Hague and just over two hours to Amsterdam.

However, this city has a lot to offer for you Randstad-fleeing people.

It has beautiful and traditional Dutch architecture: canals, tall houses, and church spires. You’ll find cosy cafes with outdoor seating along the canals in summer.

In terms of the cost of living, it’s similar to Amersfoort or Eindhoven: dinner at an inexpensive restaurant for €15 and potatoes for €0.97 —but of course, we’re all wondering about the big question: housing.

READ MORE | 7 reasons why living in the Netherlands will change your life

Well, in Leeuwarden and its immediate vicinity, you can get an apartment for €140,000 and a family home for €230,000.

7. Zwolle: the star of the cities outside the Randstad

Only an hour away from Amsterdam, Zwolle is perfect for someone who wants to live in a peaceful place yet work in a bustling metropolis.

Regular trains make this an easy commute. The city is typically Dutch: canals, beautiful red-brick houses, and church spires abound — but what’s really spectacular about Zwolle is the view from the air.

From there, you can see the star-shaped outline of the city, which is surrounded by a moat — historically, for protection.

It’s expensive in terms of housing: the price for an apartment in the centre can be anywhere from €330,000 to a baffling €550,000.

The cost of living is, again, much the same as Leeuwarden or Eindhoven.

However, given its closeness to the Randstad (and, ok, the star shape we’re obsessed with), Zwolle seems like the perfect place to live.

What do you think of our selection? Tell us in the comments below!

What an exciting time! Are you becoming a father soon, or hoping for it in the near future?

Here’s our guide to paternity leave (vaderschapsverlof) in the Netherlands: what your rights are, how much time you get, and whether it’s paid or not.

Paternity leave in the Netherlands: the basics

First things first, how much time off can you take?

Well, in the Netherlands, paternity leave (or partner leave, both of which are referred to by the Dutch government as geboorteverlof) is weirdly short. New fathers generally only receive one week of paternity leave after their partner gives birth.

If that seems a bit hectic, you can, also request additional birth leave on top of the existing paternity leave you’re entitled to. In order to do so, you’ll have to:

• take out paternity leave
• decide what date you want your leave to start
• know how many whole weeks you’ll need
• have a plan about how many weeks you’d like to spread this leave (eg: paternity leave every day for a few consecutive weeks, or a few days of paternity leave each week spread over several weeks)

As such, even though you need to start taking this time off within six months of the baby’s birth, it doesn’t need to be right after they are born. You could, for example, decide to take your five weeks of leave after the maternity carer leaves.

Ultimately, you’re entitled to five weeks of paternity leave (vaderschapsverlof), for which you get 70% of your regular pay. However, you could even get full pay if your employer is willing to supplement it.

Other options for taking paternity leave in the Netherlands: paid holiday leave

There are other options for fathers and partners who want more than five weeks’ leave. Some will arrange with their employer to take paid holiday leave after the child is born.

Of course, that’s also not likely to be a lot of time, but in combination with the five weeks at 70% of your regular pay, it might be enough to make the difference.

Some companies extend paternity leave in the Netherlands

Despite government regulations being pretty minimal in terms of what they require companies to provide, there is a growing trend in the country that provides new fathers with greater assistance.

More and more individual companies in the Netherlands are deciding to give their employees extended leave when they become parents.

For example, ING offers fathers one month of paid leave, and the possibility to take three months’ worth of unpaid leave to support their partners.

After paternity leave in the Netherlands: parental leave

What about after paternity leave is over? Well, then you can take parental leave (ouderschapsverlof).

Some conditions apply, such as:

• you’re the official parent of your child
• you’re the adoptive/foster parent of your child, and they live at the same address as you according to the BRP (Personal Record Database)
• your child is under 8 years old

Since August 2, 2022, employees in the Netherlands have been entitled to 9 weeks of partially paid parental leave.

This entails that parents will be paid up to 70% of their daily wage, under the condition that they take this leave 9 weeks into the first year of their child’s life.

Some employers will cover part of the salary the parent would have earned without that leave, but they are not obligated to do so under Dutch labour law.

On the bright side, at least you have an excuse for not helping them with maths homework.

Paternity leave in the Netherlands as a self-employed person

What happens if you’re self-employed?

While maternity-leave takers who are self-employed have the right to paid leave, their partners are completely out of luck.

There is no provision for leave for self-employed dads in the Netherlands, unless you have staff working for you.

That means that you will need to have your own savings if you want to take any leave at all to be with your partner and new baby.

Paternity leave in the Netherlands: why most men don’t take it

In 2019, we wrote about the ways workplace culture can interfere with men taking paternity leave and spending time with their families. It turns out that very few men actually apply for paternity leave.

Rutgers hypothesised that the reason behind this was pure societal expectation: women are expected to take leave when they give birth, but men are not — which makes it all the more difficult for those who want to take leave to do so.

There is a big ‘take it or leave it’ culture among potential paternity leave takers, and some men are also afraid to ask their bosses for fear of being seen as awkward.

What are your experiences with the Dutch paternity leave system? Tell us in the comments below! 

What are the best places to get vegan food in The Hague? In honour of vegans everywhere, we’re presenting you with our six favourite vegan cafes and restaurants in the beautiful city of The Hague.

Having lived in The Hague for over three years, I know my way around the vegan scene.

Each of these cafes will please both the consummate vegan and the carnivorous-but-curious: from fresh, exciting salads (they do exist, I promise) to traditional baked goods to mock meats, they’ll have everything your heart desires.

In a rush? Skip ahead!

• 1. Veggies on Fire: fancy vegan dinner in The Hague
• 2. Maoz Vegan: vegan fast food in The Hague
• 3. Plenty: vegan breakfast food in The Hague
• 4. FOAM: aesthetically pleasing vegan food in The Hague
• 5. Quench: vegan food and drinks in The Hague
• 6. Conscious Kitchen: community-style vegan food in The Hague

1. Veggies on Fire: fancy vegan dinner in The Hague

Veggies on Fire is perfect for when you want to celebrate something with a really special meal. It opens in the evenings, so it’s very much a dinner place, and reservations are recommended (though I have managed to eat there without one as well).

The servings are super generous, which is awesome, and contain a real variety of foods. Their desserts are delicious as well.

I also love it because it’s out of the centre of the city, on Beeklaan, but easily accessible by tram (or bike, if you want to work up an appetite beforehand).

2. Maoz Vegan: vegan fast food in The Hague

If you want fast food, Maoz is the place to be. It’s mostly a falafel shop, selling fries, wraps, bowls and salads.

Located right on Plein, where a lot of people go for a drink in the evening in The Hague, it’s the perfect place to stop off to grab something quick and delicious.

My personal favourite is the falafel pita with mounds of Maoz’s delicious garlic mayo — plus fries. They have some incredible spicy sauces as well, along with pickled chilis for the brave among us.

3. Plenty: vegan breakfast food in The Hague

Let me say it clearly: I’m OBSESSED with Plenty.

Freshly baked croissants, cinnamon rolls, soda bread (so crunchy! so chewy!) and chocolate cake galore — this is the place to come for a vegan baked treat or, even better, breakfast (and then brunch and then lunch and then afternoon tea).

The decor is also mind-blowingly good — think Scandinavian hipster with salt lamps and a postcard on each table that you can write while you wait for your food.

Please, if you do one thing with your life, it should be to eat here.

4. FOAM: aesthetically pleasing vegan food in The Hague

FOAM is so good, I can’t even explain it to you. It’s a fully vegan brunch/lunch place, also in Noordeinde.

It has a beautiful back garden with trailing climber plants, and inside the cafe you can see glass jars filled with spices and pickles.

All the food is made right in front of you — there’s no separation between the kitchen and the restaurant.

FOAM also always has incredible homemade baked goods, which I can never resist taking with me for later.

5. Quench: vegan food and drinks in The Hague

I have such a soft spot for Quench, because it was the first place I found vegan croissants at in The Hague.

Other cafes have them now too (as I’ve mentioned above), but I can still remember the bliss of crunchy, flakey goodness I experienced there.

Quench, as the name suggests, actually specialises in drinks. It’s really like walking into Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, but for vegan beverages (alcoholic or not).

They also do an amazing selection of homemade bagels.

6. Conscious Kitchen: community-style vegan food in The Hague

The Conscious Kitchen is an incredible place. Located on Witte de Withstraat in The Hague, it opens every Thursday evening to feed people with food that would have otherwise been thrown away from the Haagse Markt.

Everything is vegan, and you pay what you think the meal is worth — most people pay about eight euros.

READ MORE | If everyone in the world went vegan it would solve world hunger: Dutch research

The food is collected, prepared and served by volunteers. It’s an amazing way to get to know people in your local community, as well, as many people come alone and are in the mood to chat.

Are you going to eat at any of these places soon? Or do you know any other vegan hotspots in The Hague? Let us know in the comments below. 

A lot of the time, it’s not entirely clear what the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) was, what it did, and whether we should be proud or ashamed of it.

The VOC (Dutch East India Company) is crucial in Dutch history. If you’ve lived in the Netherlands for a while, chances are you’ll have heard of it.

Let’s take a deep dive into the world of the VOC. For over 200 years, the VOC brought the Netherlands international power and wealth while exploiting local populations, creating colonies, and trading in human beings.

READ MORE | Dutch history hacked: 2500 years of Dutch life in 7 minutes (VIDEO INSIDE)

The story of the VOC is complicated, and this is not an exhaustive history of it (if you want that, there are plenty of books to choose from). This article offers a primer on the VOC: a less-than-casual introduction. Enjoy!

How did the VOC begin?

The VOC was established in 1602 with the goal to trade with Mughal India, where most of Europe’s cotton and silk originated. Quickly, the Dutch government gave it a 21-year monopoly on the spice trade with South Asian countries, and the company took off from there.

READ MORE | Myths about Dutch history and the truth behind them

Sounds nice and simple, but the VOC soon became the first conglomerate company: a fancy way of saying they did many different things (like shipbuilding, slave trading, and colonisation) under the same company name.

What was the VOC?

In the early 1600s, the VOC became the first company listed on the stock exchange. Along with its worldwide reach and transnational employees, this is among the reasons the VOC was a forerunner of modern-day multinational corporations.

The VOC had powers that a corporation today would (hopefully) never have: it could wage war, take and execute prisoners, coin money, negotiate treaties, and establish colonies. And so it did.

As much as modern-day corporations like Google and Shell have way too much power, the VOC was on a whole different, scary level.

Where did the VOC operate?

The VOC started operating in India and South Asia in general. Over the next century, it expanded its operations to Mauritius, South Africa, Indonesia, Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Not all of these locations were the sites of permanent settlements or even permanent trading posts: but listing them all here gives us a sense of how massive this company was.

READ MORE | Tale as old as time: the Netherlands and India’s surprising relationship

How did such a transnational company work in the age before instant communication? It was, in fact, far more than a company — it was also a war machine.

What was happening in the Netherlands when the VOC was in operation?

The VOC was ostensibly founded after a Dutch ship returned from South East Asia filled with very profitable spices in 1596. What was going on in the Netherlands that would have made this massive company worth investing in?

Basically, the Netherlands was under threat. It had just declared its independence from Spain in 1581, forming the Dutch Republic. Quite an ambitious move, considering that the Spanish had the force of half of Europe behind them at the time.

READ MORE | India and the Netherlands in the Age of Rembrandt: exhibition at CSMVS in Mumbai

Given this vulnerability, you can see the advantages of drawing wealth from outside the tiny Dutch Republic and using it to shore up the newly established country against foreign control (while, of course, controlling other countries — but we’re not talking about morality or even ideological consistency here).

The VOC created the shareholding system (and also global capitalism)

The VOC is considered the first modern multinational company and first made use of many of the features we associate with modern corporations: think shareholders, corporate identity, legal personhood, etc.

This collection of innovations meant that the VOC could mobilise wealth in a way that only monarchies could before, giving it unprecedented power.

READ MORE | The Dutch East India Company was richer than Apple, Google, and Facebook combined

When it comes to acquiring this wealth, the VOC was also innovative. It formed Amsterdam as the financial capital of the contemporary world, by allowing public members to invest in the company (rather than in things the company was doing).

The VOC and war

Of course, a massive company like the VOC attracts attention – and because of its dominance in international trade, that attention was mainly negative.

It got into conflict with the British East India Company for obvious reasons: they were both going for the same thing.

Because of the weird space that the VOC occupied — part company, part state — its trade objectives often aligned with military goals.

For example, in 1667, when the Treaty of Breda was signed, ending the war with Britain, the VOC acquired sole control over the nutmeg trade.

READ MORE | The Dutch ship that disguised itself as an island during World War II

Wars also played a role in the colonisation of different areas. In South Africa, a prolonged, low-level conflict with the local Khoikhoi population eventually resulted in the Khoikhoi society breaking down and expanding European settlements in the area.

There were also three wars between the VOC and the Javanese in Indonesia, and in 1641, they took control of Malacca from the Portuguese.

The VOC and colonisation

One of the problems with the VOC is that people in the Netherlands aren’t sure what it was. A business? A force for colonisation? A slave-trading enterprise? A force for bureaucracy in the world? The truth is that it was all these things and more.

The Dutch East Indies: what did the VOC do?

Colonisation in the Dutch East Indies is an intriguing topic because when you boil it down, “true” colonisation of the area only began once the VOC failed financially and was nationalised in an attempt to save it.

Territories that had belonged to the VOC became part of the Dutch Republic’s territory — but this doesn’t mean we don’t consider the colonisation that was taking place before the nationalisation process.

For example, the VOC grew cash crops in Jakarta in the early seventeenth century (then known as Batavia by the Dutch).

This was a clear move from trading spices to growing crops. That way, they could also profit from land that was not theirs. The VOC also took over the surrounding territory to safeguard these crops, increasing their power in the area.

By the late seventeenth century, the VOC had become deeply embroiled in the internal politics of Jakarta, despite their initial intentions not to get involved in domestic affairs.

They encouraged divisions between the different kingdoms in the Indonesian archipelago (again, you’ve undoubtedly heard of the phrase ‘divide and conquer’ before) and took part in two wars against the kings of Mataram and Banten.

After the VOC collapsed in 1800, the trading posts and colonies in the Indonesian archipelago became nationalised as the Dutch East Indies.

How the VOC colonised South Africa

In the Cape, colonisation took place over almost two centuries.

First, Dutch settlers in South Africa were outnumbered by the local Khoikhoi population — for context, there were 200 Europeans and about 20,000 Khoikhoi. So the Khoikhoi initially didn’t have much of a problem with that.

the Cape acted much more as a trading hub than a colony. Slowly, though, the VOC’s plans for expansion became apparent: their transportation of slaves to the colony was just one symptom of their plans to settle a large colony of Europeans there.

READ MORE | The Dutch and South Africa: more than just Apartheid and Boers

In the 1660s, conflicts broke out between the Khoikhoi and the Dutch, and the Dutch burghers expanded their farms outwards. But in 1713, 90% of the Khoikhoi were killed by smallpox.

By the end of the eighteenth century, Khoikhoi society had disintegrated, and 20,000 Europeans were living in the Cape. In 1795, the British ceded the territory when Napoleon invaded the Netherlands during the Napoleonic Wars.

At the end of the wars, the Netherlands formally handed over the Cape Colony to the British, whose colony it remained a part of until 1931.

The VOC and slavery

The VOC also took part in slavery and slave trading during its two hundred years of activity. It exploited workers in the East Indies, sometimes engaging in slavery from its inception.

However, its use of slaves picked up when it took control of the Cape in South Africa.

READ MORE | The life of the slaves in the Dutch colonies

After realising that the backbreaking work of settling would need to be done by slaves, the VOC deliberated over enslaving the local Khoikhoi population, even though it vastly outnumbered them.

When they determined that if they annoyed this group, they could easily be kicked out, they decided instead on importing slaves from Mauritius and the Dutch East Indies.

VOC slavery in the Cape

For much of the seventeenth century, the number of slaves in the Cape remained low — about one thousand at a time. Slaves mostly were taken from Ceylon, Madagascar and Malaya.

READ MORE | 7 things the Dutch don’t talk about, but should

Because the population was mostly male, it was constantly renewed with new slaves. In the eighteenth century, this number jumped to about 17,000 as the international slave trade increased.

Most of the slaves in the Cape came from either East Africa or the VOC’s territories in the Dutch East Indies.

VOC slavery in the Dutch East Indies

Slavery was also part of how the VOC operated in the Dutch East Indies, but the story there is more complicated.

In their operations in South Africa, the VOC specifically transported slaves from other regions to exploit while building their colony. The VOC mainly used local slaves or slaves from the area in Asia.

On top of that, some of these slaves would have been already enslaved by their local community.

But the presence of the VOC heightened the demand for slave labour, so just because slave labour was part of life in some Asian countries before their existence, the VOC is not absolved of guilt.

How the Dutch East India Company ended

Given that the VOC was so big, you would imagine that its end would have been quite catastrophic to the status of the Netherlands worldwide.

You might also wonder what happened to this company to make it collapse in 1800 — after all, controlling a lot of the spice trade gives a company a fairly hefty advantage.

Methodology problems in the VOC

There were many problems with the VOC’s operation in Asia — some of which did work in its favour in the beginning. However, as time progressed into the eighteenth century, cracks began to show in the VOC’s commercial prowess.

In contrast, the British East India Company would trade directly between Europe and, for example, China. One problem was that it brought all the goods it traded between Asia and Europe first to its trading posts in Asia to be sorted or stored.

This meant that other companies were making faster journeys and providing fresher goods.

READ MORE | 7 amazing facts about the Netherlands (that you may not know!)

This was an advantage for the VOC at the beginning of its trading journey because it had had a better understanding of Asia commercially in a centralised place than its competitors did.

The Dutch East India Company staff

Another problem was its staff. The VOC was, frankly put, a terrible employer (like many modern-day multinational companies): it offered low wages.

Not only that, but it also forbade its staff to engage in private trading, meaning they had no opportunity to increase their wages legally.

READ MORE | Lessons about Dutch colonisation should be mandatory, committee finds

Of course, many of them did: the VOC suffered huge amounts of corruption among its employees, mostly because making the journey to Asia wouldn’t have been financially worth it for them without this extra income.

The financial bounty had to be good because we’re talking about a fairly dangerous time for travelling the world. War, illnesses, malnutrition, and some nice venereal diseases killed plenty of VOC staff.

The VOC did not understand maths

Finally, there was a mathematical problem: the VOC paid its shareholders dividends over the profits they made from 1730 onwards.

Let’s say that again: the VOC decided to pay its shareholders more than it made. We are not businesspeople, but this is unequivocally a bad idea.

What this meant in practice was that the VOC did not have enough liquidity to finance its operations for the last seventy years it was active — it relied on short terms loans to do so. Eventually, things would have to change.

The VOC and war

And they did, but not in the way the VOC might have hoped. In 1780, the fourth Anglo-Dutch War began, and half of the VOC’s fleet was destroyed.

The war weakened the VOC’s control of the Asian trading posts. The VOC was a complete financial mess after the war. As was the Dutch Republic, which didn’t exist for almost thirty years after the Anglo-Dutch War ended.

READ MORE | Photo report: the Netherlands at war, 1940-1945

From 1799, the VOC’s contract was not renewed, and it ceased to exist. After the Congress of Vienna in 1814, some of the Netherlands’ territories in Asia were returned to it, and these became colonies of the Netherlands.

Reception in Dutch society now

The VOC was a huge part of how the Dutch Republic functioned for almost two hundred years. Today, it affects the national image of the Netherlands, what we have in our museums, and what lines the national coffers.

The “VOC mentality”

As we move into an era where colonialism is (happily) viewed as a negative thing, the image of the VOC in the Netherlands has become complicated and fraught with conflict.

In 2006, the then-prime minister Jan Pieter Balkenende coined the term “VOC mentality” in a speech about Dutch commercial thinking and innovation.

READ MORE | The Dutch and their monarchy, a two-sided coin

Many people were offended by this association of the VOC with purely positive characteristics, without acknowledging the harm it caused over its two centuries of operation.

Dutch colonialism in society

In general, the Netherlands’ colonial history has received much attention over the last decade. From the annual Zwarte Piet debates to the Mauritshuis’ decision to take down its colonial founder’s bust, the country is (very) slowly coming to terms with its past.

READ MORE | Decolonising Dutch museums: stolen heritage to be returned?

Museums have begun returning stolen objects to their countries of origin. Universities have started the complicated process of decolonising their curricula, and the Amsterdam Museum has decided to drop the phrase “Golden Age” from its permanent exhibition texts. The relatives of colonial victims in Indonesia will be heard in court.

The Dutch Golden Age: fool’s gold

Part of the reason this reckoning is taking so long is that for a lot of Dutch people, the VOC’s trading prowess coincided with, and in part caused, the “Golden Age” of the Dutch Republic to occur.

This was a time when a very small country held superpower status over much of the world and fended off its much larger and better-equipped enemies in Spain by controlling other parts of the world.

READ MORE | The Amsterdam Museum drops “Golden Age”; Rijksmuseum will retain it

And in a world where global power is still glamorised and coveted, it is understandable (if not excusable) that many people want to hold on to the memory of the VOC nostalgically.

List for further reading

• Dutch Colonialism, Migration and Cultural Heritage – Gert Oostindie
• Dutch South Africa: Early Settlers at the Cape – John Hunt
• Four hundred years on: the public commemoration of the founding of the VOC in 2022 – Leonard Blussé
• The VOC and the exchange – Henk den Heijer et al.
• Batavia: Een koloniale samenleving in de 17de eeuw – Hendrik Niemeijer

What did you already know about the VOC? Let us know in the comments below!

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in December 2019 and was fully updated in December 2023 for your reading pleasure

Ugh, wintertime. It makes everyone want to escape their current lives, whether by resolving to be a better person or by physically travelling away from their usual abodes.

Well, you can do both! Travel by train to minimise your impact on the planet and explore some gorgeous European cities. We have chosen seven winter escapes from the Netherlands by train that you can enjoy.

READ MORE | 5 best German cities for a weekend escape from the Netherlands

Travel to Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, and the Czech Republic: all in under a day.

Why is it better to travel by train?

We all want to explore new places, but air travel has a massive impact on the climate because of the number of greenhouse gases emitted.

Especially within Europe, train travel is usually convenient, fast, and relaxing, so it’s time to ditch the planes and get on trains.

The most convenient way to book European trains is either through the NS’s international website or through Rail Europe.

You could also purchase an Interrail pass if you’re planning on travelling for an extended period of time.

READ MORE | Night trains to Venice, Prague, Milan, Verona (and more!) coming to the Netherlands

As a more flexible but more expensive option, you can also buy tickets as you go. The prices listed are based on your booking a month in advance, so they’ll be more expensive if you book for tomorrow, for example.

1. Gent

We recently visited the beautiful city of Gent, and we were blown away. One of our writers describes Gent as a more relaxed and accessible Bruges, with a stunning mix of old and new architecture dotting the city centre.

And honestly, with that travel time from Amsterdam, how could you not take the trip? Short trips like this one are pretty inexcusable to take by plane — in fact, flying would probably take you longer than taking the train where Gent is concerned.

2. Strasbourg

Had enough of one international city of peace and justice? Well, leave The Hague, and head for Strasbourg!

Home of the European Parliament, you can get your fill of politics here no problem. But Strasbourg is also a really beautiful city: it has two UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Cathedral of Notre-Dame (not the burnt Parisian one) and the Imperial, or German Quarter.

There are lots of beautiful parks to enjoy as well, and the French-German cultural blend remains evident to this day.

The train trip will take you through Paris, so although it is a short trip, it could be worth breaking up with a day of exploring the French capital.

It’s the perfect option if you want to go somewhere just for the weekend.

3. Luxembourg

If you want to get the essence of Western Europe, then you cannot miss Luxembourg. The country has a deep sense of culture and history and lies in the middle of the continent (they speak English, Luxembourgish, French, AND German!)

The Fortress of Luxembourg is a must-see: it was known as the Gibraltar of the North until it was rendered unfit for military use in 1867.

Luxembourg has a great wine-and-dine scene, which is perfect for those winter months when you want to take the chill out of your bones with a delicious meal.

The trip has one change at Bruxelles-Midi. If you leave early enough, you could be in Luxembourg by mid-afternoon.

4. Zurich

There’s a lot more to Zurich than just an expensive financial centre, which is why we’re recommending it as one of our top winter destinations by train.

You simply cannot escape the beautiful nature in Switzerland. Zurich is a lakeside city with the beautiful River Limmat running through the Old City.

There are some gorgeous hiking trails up each of the small mountains that surround the city, so bundle up and get out there. And in winter, you can never go wrong with a museum (which Zurich has plenty of!).

The train journey is a neat eight hours and usually includes two changes: one in Frankfurt and one in Basel, Switzerland.

Eight hours is short enough that you shouldn’t need to split the journey, but if you do want to, then Frankfurt is a great spot to take a break.

5. Vienna

If you’re craving some high-quality architecture, Vienna is the place to go. You can’t come here and not gobble up the like Schönbrunn or Hofburg Palace, where new architectural styles were added on as each new ruler tried to show off.

And then there’s the coffeehouse culture: eat some delicious cake and sip some coffee as you watch the world go by.

The train trip sometimes only has one stop, at Frankfurt, but others have multiple stops in Munich or Salzburg, for example. Depending on whether you want to split the journey, either option is a great idea.

Overnight trains from Amsterdam to Vienna are also running as of May 2021, so Vienna is literally a sleep away!

6. Copenhagen

Copenhagen is one of my favourite cities (outside the Netherlands, of course), and the train journey takes you through some beautiful countryside and cityscapes.

What can you do in Copenhagen? The first thing I recommend is the Royal Library. Not just for the books but for the architecture too.

There are two parts to this library: the 19th century redbrick side, and the more recent ‘Black Diamond’ extension, glimmering in the sunlight.

Then there is the famous Christiania town, home of hippies and hash-dealers. Breathe it in — the socialism, not the weed. Thank you.

READ MORE | ‘Gezellig’ or ‘hygge’? Here are the real differences between the Netherlands and Denmark

So what does the 11-hour train journey to Copenhagen look like? You’ll have either two or three changes — one for sure in Osnabruck and one in Hamburg. Hamburg would be the perfect place to split the journey, as it’s about halfway through the journey, but the trip is totally doable in a day.

Just make sure you walk around during the changeovers so you don’t get stiff and remain in peak condition to breathe in the socialism.

7. Prague

Prague is well-known for its cheap beer and attracting revellers from far and wide each year.

The Old Town Hall was one of my favourite features. It is adorned with an astronomical clock on its gothic church tower, constructed in 1338. On the ground and second floors, you can find art exhibitions as well as the tourist office. We also loved Charles Bridge.

Built in 1390, the bridge is a major tourist draw so don’t expect much peace and quiet here. It is lined with local artists and a fair few hawkers, but that’s all part of the experience.

The train journey to Prague from Amsterdam will take you an entire day, but you’ll pass through some beautiful areas. You’ll stop in Nuremberg (so if you want to break up the journey into two days, this would be the perfect place to stay).

A final interchange at Schwandorf, and you’ll be over the German border into the Czech Republic. It sounds like a long journey, but bring a couple of good books or a friend, and it’ll fly by.

From luxury fortresses, beautiful architecture, and so much culture, there’s almost too much to choose from when it comes to winter destinations. And, with just how easy it is to hop on a train, you could fill up every weekend of the cold and dreary months with a luxury trip.

Will you be heading off to any European cities by train soon? Let us know your favourite destinations!

This article was originally published in January 2020 and updated in December 2023 for your reading pleasure.

The Hunger Winter took place as World War II was in its final year. Following a German blockade, food supplies to the Netherlands dwindled, and people began to starve.

It was a rare instance of famine in a developed and wealthy country in recent history. Let’s talk about it.

Why was there a Hunger Winter?

If the Dutch had survived the war so far without running into food shortages, why was there a famine in the winter of 1944? There were a couple of reasons.

The obvious and literal cause of the famine was a German blockade enacted in retaliation to a Dutch railway strike that aimed to help the Allied invasion of the country.

The German army blocked water and road routes into the Netherlands and only lifted the water blockade when temperatures had already fallen too low to allow boats to operate in the icy conditions.

At this point in the war, Allied forces had liberated the south of the Netherlands. But as the forces pushed further north, the failure of Operation Market Garden impeded their progress.

READ MORE | The Hague in World War II: Paratroopers, V2 rockets and the British bombing the Bezuidenhout

The Allied forces failed to seize a bridge over the Rhine at Arnhem. They decided to focus on other parts of the liberation process first, including capturing the French ports of Calais, Boulogne and Dunkirk.

Their progress into Germany slowed down at the time because they couldn’t use the port of Antwerp.

How did people survive the Hunger Winter?

Between 18,000 and 22,000 people died during the Hunger Winter, most of whom were older men. When we talk about survival rates, it’s important to remember that it was not just the supply of food hampered by the blockade.

It was also the supply of heating fuel: coal.

So, not only was it a very hungry winter, but it was also a very cold winter for the Netherlands from 1944 to 1945.

READ MORE | The Dutch ship that disguised itself as an island during World War II

The starvation was particularly intense in cities — after all, in the countryside, most people lived around farms. That didn’t mean they didn’t experience food shortages, but the survival rates were much higher outside urban areas. For the Netherlands’ city-living population, times were hard.

So how much food did people consume during the Hunger Winter?

Rations decreased in calorie content over the long winter. In big cities like Amsterdam, adults had to contend with only 1000 calories of food by the end of November 1944 — but that dropped to 580 calories a day by February 1945. Even the black market was empty of food.

People walked long distances to farms to trade anything they had for extra calories. As the winter wore on, tens of thousands of children were sent from cities to the countryside so that they, at least, would get some food.

When it came to heating, people desperately burned furniture and dismantled whole houses to get fuel for their fires.

How did the Hunger Winter end?

The Hunger Winter came to a close in May 1945 when the Allies liberated the Netherlands. However, Allied efforts partially alleviated the starvation of the Dutch population.

Sweden shipped flour, and the Dutch made it into bread to feed the people. The Germans also allowed airdrops of food supplies from the end of April forward.

What were the effects of the Hunger Winter on the Netherlands in the long term?

The Hunger Winter had long-term effects on the health of the Dutch population. Even when the blockade ended and people returned to eating normally, starvation had long-lasting effects on the body.

The Dutch Famine Birth Cohort Study revealed that the children of women who had starved during the Hunger Winter had health problems: including higher rates of diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. One study also showed that the grandchildren of women who had experienced famine were smaller than average at birth.

How is the Hunger Winter remembered in the Netherlands today?

The Hunger Winter is usually remembered in conjunction with the resistance movement during World War II. There is an exhibition on it at the Resistance Museum in Amsterdam, for example. There are also statues commemorating the Hunger Winter.

READ MORE | The 14-year-old assassin who lured Nazis and traitors to their deaths

The Hunger Winter wasn’t the first time people in the Netherlands had experienced starvation — the Siege of Leiden during the Eighty Years’ War was another occasion where food shortages affected the population.

Did we miss anything important about the Hunger Winter? Let us know in the comments below.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in December 2019 and was fully updated in November 2023 for your reading pleasure. 

Ah, The Hague. The international city of peace and justice, the home of many international institutions, and the seat of the Dutch government.

Already falling asleep? Us too! Instead, here are seven things about The Hague that you (probably) don’t know!

1. The Hague is tackling food waste in a big way

Food waste is a huge issue in terms of the environment. Over 88 million tons of food waste are generated in Europe each year. The citizens of The Hague are finding cool ways to deal with this.

For example, the Conscious Kitchen makes delicious vegan dinners each Thursday (and some Sundays) from leftover veggies from the Hague Market.

Meanwhile, Lekkernassuh (Hagenees for “yummy food”) allows you to order a box of veggies from local providers weekly, and they only order the amount people request in advance.

2. The Haagse Bos was used to launch rockets during WWII

During World War II, the Germans used the Haagse Bos (or the Hague forest) as a rocket launching area for their V1 and V2 rockets. The Allies tried to bomb it during the war but accidentally hit the nearby Bezuidenhout district.

The bos has an interesting history in other ways: its name gave rise to the word Holland. It was originally called Die Hout, which changed to Houtland, which, as you can see, could (and did) easily morph into Holland.

The forest also closely escaped being completely cut down in the 19th century during the French Occupation.

READ NEXT | 8 of the greatest forests in the Netherlands for a nature escape

3. Nobody knows if it’s a university city by now

Leiden University says The Hague is The Netherlands’ fastest-growing student city. Before the arrival of Leiden’s The Hague campus in 2010, The Hague was home to The Hague University of Applied Sciences (Haagse Hogeschool).

Each year, more and more students arrive in The Hague — particularly from outside the Netherlands.

There are downsides to this: housing is pretty difficult to find, especially in August and September. But students bring The Hague to life, traditionally a suits-and-skyscrapers city.

4. The Hague has got some awesome vintage stores

Possibly due to more and more fashionable-but-poor students arriving in the city, The Hague has quite a selection of vintage and second-hand stores.

With clothes hailing from the 40s till the 90s, it’ll fulfil all your vintage dreams, with the added advantage of reducing the demand for new clothes.

Our favourites are Vintage Island, located on the beautiful Korte Poten, and Vintage Factory in Noordeinde.

Plus, there’s no better way to explore the city than to wander from shop to shop. Some stores will even have furniture, second-hand books, or records to peruse.

5. Scheveningen isn’t the only beach in The Hague

Everyone has heard of Scheveningen, which is fair enough; it’s a super cute part of the city right by the sea. But there are two other equally gorgeous beaches in The Hague. In my opinion, both are slightly better than Scheveningen for a couple of reasons.

Zuiderstrand is breathtakingly beautiful: as you cycle up to it, you pass dunes covered in wild roses during the summer. It’s also emptier than Scheveningen, even on the hottest days of the year.

Then there’s Kijkduin — much smaller than Scheveningen but with an awesome selection of shops and restaurants lining its shore. And, as the name would suggest, it’s surrounded by gorgeous dunes.

READ NEXT | 20 amazing beaches in the Netherlands: everything you need to know about going to the beach in Holland

6. It has a lot of amazing street art

Street art is probably the last thing you’d expect this city to have.

In the centre, The Hague is perfectly manicured, buttoned up and well-tamed by the municipality. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t amazing murals in other parts of the city to enjoy.

Thanks to investments by Aight, a non-profit that aims to work with students and young people in The Hague to improve social cohesion, there has been a huge increase in street art in recent years.

You can check out their street art tour through Segbroek, one of my favourite neighbourhoods in The Hague.

7. You can watch live hearings in The Hague’s courts

We all know the Hague is known as the International City of Peace and Justice, but did you know that you can watch hearings in both the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC)?

Both are open to the public almost always unless a judge orders a closed hearing.

The best part? You don’t need to register at all! You can arrive at the hearing of your choosing, and if you’re there early enough, you’ll get a spot (it’s first come, first served).

READ NEXT | Moving to The Hague: the ultimate and complete guide for 2020

If you want to see more of The Hague, Kevin Coellner’s pictures are an absolute must! Low on cash? There is plenty in The Hague to see entirely for free!

Did you know these things about The Hague? Let us know in the comments below!

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in September 2019, but was fully updated in November 2023 for your reading pleasure

Looking for a cute Dutch village to visit for a day trip? There are plenty of beautiful little spots worth exploring!

Dutch cities are beautiful, we all know that. But what about the villages? They deserve some love too. Besides, cities can be busy and overcrowded.

So, instead of pushing your way through the bustling streets of Amsterdam yet again, why not take a trip to some of the quiet, tranquil, and quaint places that the Netherlands has to offer?

Not sure where to start? Here’s our guide to 10 authentic Dutch villages you simply have to visit.

In a rush? Jump to a Dutch village below!

• 1. Beesel: the Dutch village of the dragon
• 2. De Rijp: home of the herring
• 3. Naarden: Dutch fort or village?
• 4. Kinderdijk: we’re big fans
• 5. Loosdrecht: let loose and take a vay-cay
• 6. Vinkeveen: for the water nymphs
• 7. Lisse: terrific tulips
• 8. Broek in Waterland: Insta-worthy and hyper-Dutch
• 9. Bronkhorst: a city? Kind of?
• 10. Thorn: from swamp to pomp
• 11. Bourtange: the star of the show (literally)

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1. Beesel: the Dutch village of the dragon

Beesel is a village in Limburg, a province well in the south of the Netherlands. The village was founded in 1275, so it’s been around for quite a while.

Beesel started off as a ship bench, and continued that way for over five hundred years, belonging to Spanish Opper-Gelre until 1713.

The village has plenty of lovely Neolithic architecture as well. Like all good villages, it has a wonderful, cosy atmosphere.

It also has a metre-high dragon adorning its roundabout, which refers to the village’s yearly tradition of staging a spectacle based on the legend of George and the Dragon.

2. De Rijp: home of the herring

De Rijp is in the Alkmaar municipality in North Holland. If you’re excited about the Netherlands’ favourite food (herring) then this is the place to visit!

Historically, De Rijp was surrounded by lakes, so herring fishing was an abundant source of revenue for the area. As the potential birthplace of Holland, De Rijp also has some of the oldest wooden houses in the Netherlands.

READ MORE | What’s the difference between Holland and the Netherlands?

It also has some rather hilarious stained glass windows in its church, which contain imagery, not of God, but the next best thing: herring!

3. Naarden: Dutch fort or village?

Naarden is a village that really needs to be appreciated by air. We mean, just look at that awesome town layout!

The unusual outline of this village is the result of it being a star fort. Its distinctive shape was also important in more modern times.

In World War II, allied bombers would cheer when they passed overhead, knowing they were on their way back to safe territory.

Apart from that, Naarden is also home to the fascinating Dutch Fortress Museum.

4. Kinderdijk: we’re big fans

This village is a UNESCO World Heritage site, so you know it’s going to be good. Kinderdijk is home to the largest collection of old windmills in the Netherlands — 19 in total!

If you’ve been craving some of those mandatory Dutch windmill pictures for your Instagram, this village is simply something you cannot miss.

READ MORE | Best windmill site in the Netherlands: Kinderdijk or Zaanse Schans?

You can buy tickets for a tour of two windmills that have been turned into museums if you fancy getting deep into the history of this beautiful place, or you can just admire these awesome structures from afar.

5. Loosdrecht: let loose and take a vay-cay

This Dutch village is perfect for visiting in the summer months, as it’s most famous for the lakes that surround it — the Loosdrechtse Plassen.

Loosdrecht is actually really two separate villages, Old Loosdrecht and New Loosdrecht.

Old Loosdrecht is mainly made up of beautiful lakeside villas — the area is a favourite haunt of the wealthy. New Loosdrecht, on the other hand, is quite densely populated and a bit less exclusive.

As a tourist, both sides of the village are worth exploring. You can enjoy the lakes by boat or from the shore while you’re there.

6. Vinkeveen: for the water nymphs

If you’re visiting Utrecht, you might as well pop by Vinkeveen, which is another fabulous village that’s as beautiful from above as it is from its pretty streets.

Vinkeveen is famous for its lakes, which you can see in the picture above.

They’re used for swimming, diving, and yachting on approximately three days of the year when the Dutch weather is good.

7. Lisse: terrific tulips

You can pretend all you want, we all know you moved to the Netherlands for the tulips.

Lisse is near Keukenhof, the *cough* somewhat expensive *cough* park where you can see more tulips than you’ll ever need.

When visiting Lisse, not only can you see the beauty of seemingly endless fields of flowers, but also a very cute village! And you can feel all smug about avoiding a tourist trap, as well.

8. Broek in Waterland: Insta-worthy and hyper-Dutch

In our opinion, Broek in Waterland is probably the most spectacular of Dutch villages.

Plus, it’s super close to Amsterdam and has just about the most Dutch name for a village we’ve ever heard!

Its proximity to the capital does mean it gets a bit overrun with tourists, who all understandably want to experience rural Dutchness without travelling too far outside the capital.

Broek in Waterland has actually been a tourist hot spot for generations, acting as a vacation town in the 17th and 18th centuries. Thanks to its monument status, the village is very well preserved.

If you’re looking for something that’ll please your wanderlust and Instagram feed, some of the houses are pastel-coloured or white, making the whole village very aesthetically pleasing.

9. Bronkhorst: a city? Kind of?

Now, Bronkhorst is quite a trek from Amsterdam, but luckily, the public transport system in the Netherlands is really good. And besides, this town (or city) is well worth it.

Although Bronkhorst has only 157 inhabitants, it was granted city rights in 1482. That means it technically has a (somewhat limited) form of self-governance.

It is an absolutely gorgeous village to walk around: quiet streets, cute Dutch architecture, and plenty of greenery. There are also some really nice bike routes in the surroundings of the village.

10. Thorn: from swamp to pomp

Thorn is in Limburg and has a really cool combination of great architecture and fascinating history.

It’s known as the white village, for obvious reasons: all of its typical Dutch brick houses have been whitewashed, which gives it a lovely clean, summery vibe.

Thorn began as a swamp near the Roman road between Maastricht and Nijmegen. Then, in the 10th century, the swamp was drained and a monastery was set up.

In the 13th century, this monastery became a convent. The nuns made wine in there, which is still made and served in the village, though the convent itself closed in the 18th century.

11. Bourtange: the star of the show (literally)

Bourtange is a unique village located in the province of Groningen, all the way up north. It was built between 1580 and 1593, during the Eighty Years’ War.

What is now a popular tourist attraction used to be a part of the glorious fortification on the border between the northern Dutch provinces and Germany.

Over time, people started leaving Bourtange, until the village was completely emptied around 1960.  

READ MORE | A day trip to Bourtange: the tiny village steeped in Dutch history

After some restorations, the fortress now exists as a quaint little village and outdoor museum. Visitors can see things such as the historic Market Square, a candle maker, and various charming shops and restaurants.

Will you be visiting one of these gorgeous Dutch villages soon? Or have you already been to any? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!  

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in October 2019, and was fully updated in October 2023 for your reading pleasure.

It’s the moment we all dread in the Netherlands: having to use the loo when you’re out and about. There’s just one problem: where the heck are the public toilets around here? And why do you have to pay? 

Picture this: you’re relaxing with your friends in the city, wandering from shop to shop — when suddenly you feel it. Your friends notice the flicker of fear in your eyes: you need the loo.

READ MORE | Can the Netherlands be more toilet-friendly?

In any other country, this would be no cause for concern — from Ireland to New Zealand, public toilets are commonplace, free, and relatively clean (most of the time).

But in the Netherlands, things are very different. If you need to go while you’re out of the house, you’re going to have to part with one of three things: your money, your dignity, or your comfort. Actually, you’ll probably have to part with them all.

Why are Dutch toilets so expensive?

As anyone who has lived here for a while can tell you, Dutch toilets are not free of charge. Fees range from 25 cents to a whole euro, depending on city and location.

You might be wondering what all this money goes towards. Well, keep wondering because we have geen idee (no idea). Perhaps it’s just another Dutch quirk, lord knows they have a strange toilet culture in this country.

READ MORE | Dutch Quirk #43: Hang a birthday calendar in their toilet

Presumably, some of the money pays the wages of the omnipresent toiletjuffrouw — the lady who takes your money when you’re entering the toilet (good for her, though. Respect the hustle). 

Other than that, nobody seems to have a good answer as to why train stations, cafés, and restaurants all charge you for using their facilities.

But they’re clean, though, right?

You would think that by paying to use the toilet in the Netherlands, you would be paying for impeccably clean bathrooms, right? Nope!

According to the Dutch Toilet Organisation (yep, it’s a thing), only one in four toilets in the Netherlands is actually clean!

READ MORE | 5 odd things you can find in the Netherlands

In fact (it’s about to get worse), less than 16% of toilets in public areas, like train stations, pass the Dutch Toilet Organisation’s fit-for-purpose test. 

Sneaking into café toilets is an option

Officially, most cafés will ask you for 50 cents if you use their toilets without buying something. However, you can decide to risk your dignity and sneak past the wait staff to the toilet in the back.

Legally, they can’t make you pay, though it is considered pretty rude. But hey, the Dutch are known for their directness — so there’s a limit to how offended they can get.

And nonetheless, in an emergency when you have no change in your pockets, it’s an option — if not the best option.

Toilets are actually pretty important

For most of us, the worst-case scenario is being uncomfortable for an hour or so until we get home to enjoy the luxury of a free, clean, private toilet.

But for people who have incontinence problems, have a health issue that affects their digestive system (like Crohn’s disease), or are pregnant, the lack of accessible public toilets in the Netherlands is a real problem.

As a result, some people don’t even leave their houses, the NOS once reported. How awful!

There’s no denying that the public toilet situation in the Netherlands is, well, . But if you’re out, about, and desperate, there are some apps out there that help you find public toilets, such as HogeNood!

It won’t fix the lack of toilet paper or the horrifying inspection shelf — but at least you’ll be able to uncross your legs for a couple of minutes.

Have you had any horrifying experiences with public toilets in the Netherlands? Let us know in the comments below!
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in September 2019 and was fully updated in August 2023 for your reading pleasure.

The Eighty Years’ War is also known as the Dutch War of Independence. It stretched from 1568 to 1648 as the new Dutch Republic struggled to free itself from its Spanish masters — and they’re a crucial part of Dutch history.

So, we’re here to explain what happened during this war and why it took so extraordinarily long to end.

Now, your natural inclination might be to blame this delay on a stereotype of Spanish people never being on time. But eighty years is rather a long time, even by Spanish standards. So, the story of the Eighty Years’ War is clearly more complex than that.

We’re going to start off by explaining how the Spanish came to control the Netherlands — after all, they hardly came here for the weather. Then, we’ll give a blow-by-blow (or at least decade-by-decade) account of the war.

We’ll end with a summary of the consequences of what was almost a century of unrest. Buckle up, history buffs!

How did the Eighty Years’ War begin? The Spanish in the Netherlands

The Spanish never really invaded the Netherlands: there was no exciting moment of conquest. Through royal marriage, political arrangements, and the sheer lack of nationhood in the 15th and 16th centuries, what we know as the Netherlands today slowly came under the control of the Spanish Empire.

That was fine for a while, but then people became discontent with the Empire for a multitude of reasons in the 16th century.

One reason was religion: in 1555, Philip II took over from his father as sovereign of the Habsburg Netherlands. He was not as liberal about religion as his father and began to actively prosecute Protestants for heresy.

Naturally enough, this wasn’t particularly well received by Dutchies. Noblemen from the Netherlands put together a petition to stop prosecutions, but Philip denied it.

Following some minor rebellions, Philip instituted the Council of Troubles, which arrested 9,000 people and executed 1,000. These people included high-ranking members of Dutch society. Others, like William of Orange, fled abroad to avoid prosecution.

READ MORE | The history of the Dutch national anthem: the Wilhelmus

More minor rebellions ensued, which Philip’s troops generally easily defeated.

However, the king soon doomed himself by imposing much higher taxes on the Netherlands. Mostly to fund an expensive war against the Ottoman Empire, which disenchanted those who had previously been loyal to the Habsburg Empire.

The Eighty Years’ War begins: the Spanish seem set to win

The war truly began on April 1, 1572, when the Geuzen, or Sea Beggars, captured the port of Brill. Other cities and towns in the Netherlands decided to defect to the Orange side.

By July, the only major cities still supporting Philip were Amsterdam and Schoonhoven. This was also the period in which the famous Siege of Leiden took place.

Things ran in Philip’s favour for a couple of years as his troops slowly reclaimed the rebel land. However, by 1576, he had not paid his troops in two years. Quite understandably, several garrisons mutinied and left their posts.

Over the next four years, Philip recaptured all of the southern Netherlands and brought other cities across the country back under the control of the Habsburg empire. 

The Dutch Republic’s troops held firm in some parts of the country, but the fact remained that the Spanish well and truly outnumbered them.

The French step into the Eighty Years’ War — and don’t really help

In hopes of encouraging the Spanish to back off and enlisting a pretty powerful ally. William of Orange invited the younger brother of the king of France, the Duke of Anjou, to become the constitutional monarch of the Netherlands.

He accepted and had very little influence over the country, experiencing only full support from Brabant (and we all know that doesn’t mean much).

The Dutch Republic seceded officially from the Spanish on 26 July 1581. This didn’t do all that much to change things, except for encouraging a propaganda war in addition to a real war between the two sides. 

The year 1584 was a disaster for Dutchies, as the Spanish general, Parma, reclaimed all of Belgium and most of the southern Netherlands. It got so bad that Orange actually considered accepting the title of Count of Holland and being done with the whole thing.

Then he was assassinated, which put an end to that train of thought, as well as his life.

Losing one of their leaders struck a major blow to the Dutch troops. The States-General decided to send an embassy to France, asking the French king Henri if he would want to become King of the Netherlands as well.

But things were not going well internally in France at the time, so Henri decided that defying the Spanish king would be less than wise. 

The English get involved in the Eighty Years’ War, and are mostly a nuisance as usual

Next, the Dutch turned to the English queen, Elizabeth I, for help. She agreed to make the burgeoning Dutch Republic a protectorate of England and sent thousands of troops there under the eye of Sir Robert Dudley, one of her favourite courtiers.

Dudley came into frequent conflict with the Dutchies he was supposed to be protecting, but his power was limited in subtle ways.

READ MORE | That time the Dutch conquered Britain (ja, we’re serious)

In the early months of 1587, several Dutch ports were bribed by the Spanish and persuaded to defect. This made Dutchies even less fond of Dudley than before— it seemed that he’d failed them.

Later that year, discouraged, Dudley returned home to England. This was the last time that a mixed monarchy was attempted in the Netherlands.

Amsterdam benefits from the Eighty Years’ War

The positive aspect of the loss of the southern provinces was this: the majority of the protestants in this area fled north after the Spanish reclaimed them. This meant that Amsterdam became full of commerce, as skilled workers lined its streets.

Eventually, Amsterdam took over as the major port of Northern Europe— a role that Antwerp had filled before this.

The Twelve Years’ Truce begins: a break in the Eighty Years’ War

In 1609, the Spanish and the Dutch signed a treaty negotiating a truce.

This was a major victory for the Dutchies— not only did they get the Spanish to leave them alone for a while, but they also managed to be recognised by their greatest enemy as a legitimate country. As you can imagine, it was quite an embarrassing situation for the Spanish.

Still, the damage that the war was doing to their economy seemingly made it worth the damage to their reputation. The truce was signed for twelve years.

For a while, this all went well. The Dutch and Spanish avoided each other in international situations.

But soon, as the truce came to an end in 1619, the government in The Hague decided to get involved in a conflict in Prague, choosing a different successor to the current king than who the Spanish wanted.

The theory behind this was that having allies in Prague would put the Netherlands in a stronger position when the truce ended two years later. However, the Dutchies’ chosen king and queen failed in capturing the throne.

Maurice and Petrus mostly accidentally restart the 80 years’ war

Despite all this, the truce could have continued if it wasn’t for a very unfortunate misunderstanding.

Maurice of Nassau, a stadtholder, lied to Petrus Peckius, a negotiator from Brabant, and gave him the impression that Spain would be willing to continue the truce if the Dutch Republic agreed to acknowledge the sovereignty of Spain over the Netherlands.

Peckius then mentioned this proposal to the government in The Hague, who were disgusted with the idea of giving up their hard-won sovereignty.

War did not immediately begin, despite the feelings of insult in The Hague. Maurice continued in his secret negotiations with Spain, without much success but without any more catastrophic failures.

Additionally, the Spanish king died and was succeeded by his son Philip IV, who had to settle on the throne before the war could begin. But the war was bound to start again for one very good reason: the truce had been financially ruinous for Spain and financially beneficial for the Dutch Republic.

Time for economic war: the second phase of the Eighty Years’ War begins

However, Spain did not want to wage a second all-out war on the Dutch Republic. Instead, they attempted to capture a few strategic ports and leave it like that.

This failed — a siege on Bergen-op-Zoom had to be lifted after a few months. So the Spanish switched to economic warfare. We’re not talking about sanctions here, though: we’re talking attacking ships. Dutch ships had to sail in convoys with naval escorts just to trade with other countries.

And, as you know, at this point in history, the Dutch were kings of sea trade, from the VOC to the WIC. The VOC was richer than Apple, Google and Facebook combined, but having their main source of income and power disrupted was a major problem.

The Spanish were also able to shut off Dutch internal waterway connections to Germany, causing the price of dairy to drop dramatically.

But, in doing this, the Spanish also made trading harder for themselves, so the real beneficiaries of the trade war were those European countries that remained neutral.

The Dutch do well, and then they don’t, and then they do again

Maurice of Nassau died, which brought almost immediate improvements to the situation in the Dutch Republic. Among other things, they strengthened and grew their army in preparation for the second act they knew was coming. England also entered the war as their ally.

The war took off again with Frederick Henry, the new Prince of Orange, attacking the southern provinces of the Netherlands.

He also issued a statement, very much against the wishes of some of his advisors, saying that Catholics in the southern Netherlands would be able to continue practising their religion if they joined the Dutch Republic.

This was a very effective move, with many of the southern provinces deciding they really did want to throw off the Spanish yoke of oppression.

Talks ensued with the Spanish in 1632, which did not reach any useful conclusion, and Henry broke them off in 1633. Following victories in their war against Germany, the Spanish made inroads into the southern Netherlands once more.

With any hope of peace with the Spanish fading, Henry decided to consider an alliance with France.

In February 1635, France and the Netherlands signed a treaty to invade the southern Netherlands later that year. What should have been a very effective strategy did not work as planned: the Spanish forces were strong enough to defeat the Dutch attack, after which the French also piped down.

During this attack, the Spanish besieged Schenkenschans, a crucial tactical location for the Dutch Republic. After the Spanish captured it, the Dutchies besieged it themselves and eventually took it back from the Spanish — which was an embarrassing defeat for them.

But then the pro-peace party in the Dutch Republic gained popularity and decided to cut spending on the army. That wasn’t all bad news for the Dutch Republic, though.

The lack of spending on military budgets, combined with increased German demand for foodstuffs, meant there was a bunch of money freed up. Notoriously, some of it was spent on tulip bulbs (0/10 investment, would not recommend).

The Spanish run out of money: the Eighty Years’ War grinds to a halt

Despite its lack of military spending, the Dutch Republic was generally victorious at the end of the 1630s.

The Spanish were left under no illusions that the Dutch navy was the most powerful in the world. And the proxy wars fought by the VOC and WIC against the Spanish had also mostly gone in the Republic’s favour.

Gradually, the war ground to a halt, as the Spanish realised they could no longer afford the expense of a constant conflict.

The Peace of Munster and the end of the Eighty Years’ War

In January 1646, negotiations on a peace treaty officially began as part of the larger Peace of Munster. The treaty was relatively easy to draft, as they pretty much copied the text from the treaty that provided the Twelve Years’ Truce. By June 1648, the peace was official.

What did the Eighty Years’ War accomplish? Well…

Uh, well, not a whole lot, really.

Of course, most importantly, the Dutch Republic was a sovereign state that gained power and influence for the next centuries. Borders resembling the modern-day ones between the Netherlands and Belgium were drawn.

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The VOC and WIC gained power and territory. And the Spaniards lost their reputation as a formidable force in Europe — they had, after all, lost to a ridiculously small country.

Did we miss anything in this tale of the 80 Years’ War? Let us know in the comments below. 

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in November 2019, and was fully updated in August 2023 for your reading pleasure.
Feature image: www.rijksmuseum.nl/Wikimedia Commons/CC4.0