Multiple arrests were made following demonstrations in Amsterdam against the Israeli President’s visit to the opening of the National Holocaust Museum.

President Isaac Herzog, who has controversially claimed that “the entire nation” of Gaza is responsible for Hamas’ October 7 terror attack, attended the opening ceremony of Amsterdam’s National Holocaust Museum yesterday.

As you can imagine, it wasn’t a quiet affair.

Hundreds of demonstrators

Nearly 1,000 demonstrators awaited Herzog’s arrival, and demonstrations took place in multiple locations, including outside the museum’s doors.

And they made their presence known.

As the opening ceremony took place, boos, whistles, and the shouting of slogans could be heard.

As the Israeli president and King Willem-Alexander entered and exited the museum, they were met with more booing.

Stones thrown and arrests made

While the police have described the protests as going “well and peacefully”, not everyone stuck to just booing.

According to RTL Nieuws, stones were also thrown, and police vans were climbed and attacked.

As a result, riot police were deployed, and they made 13 arrests. The demonstrations were disbanded shortly afterwards.

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The Netherlands is known for many things: windmills, canals, and oh yeah, ASML. Now, the world-renowned company has hinted at moving its operations elsewhere — but why?

Let’s just say, it’s not as simple as the company wanting to “find itself.”

The main reason: ASML needs more staff

You’d think that with such a huge population in such a small surface area, the tech giant would have no problem finding sufficient staff for its operations, but it’s not that simple.

The company requires highly skilled technical employees to keep its wheels turning, and they can’t all be sourced among the Dutch.

READ MORE | 13 companies in the Netherlands that hire internationals in 2024

In fact, according to ASML CEO Peter Wennink, 60% of its employees come from abroad. However, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for ASML to find such international employees.

Why? According to the NOS, one reason is due to a change in the way international workers are taxed in the Netherlands.

The 30% ruling is on the way out

One huge benefit of working as a skilled international in the Netherlands used to be the 30% ruling.

As part of this ruling, highly skilled highly skilled and eligible expats could receive 30% of their income tax-free for five years.

READ MORE | 7 innovative Dutch projects for a sustainable future

However, as of 2024, this has changed. Instead, the amount has been reduced to 30% for the first 20 months, 20% for the following 20 months, and then 10% for the final 20 months.

In turn this means that fewer highly skilled internationals are encouraged to work in the Netherlands for companies like ASML.

However, it’s not just high taxes that are leading to problems for ASML.

Remember the housing crisis?

The struggle to find housing in the Netherlands is very real in 2024, and ASML employees are not immune to it.

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

In fact, employees have been struggling so much to find housing that ASML has resorted to buying up housing and getting involved in housing construction projects to try and ease the crisis faced by its employees.

The result? ASML aren’t impressed

While ASML hasn’t outright announced that it will be leaving the Netherlands. It has been dropping some worrying hints.

In January, Winnink made a worrying remark:

“You see all kinds of movements that make it more difficult for internationally operating companies that need international talent, for example, to do business in the Netherlands.”

As a result, sources in The Hague tell RTL Nieuws that the outgoing cabinet has sprung into action.

A plan to prevent the company’s departure is being drawn up under the code name Beethoven.

This doesn’t mean a complete departure

However, these hints don’t mean that there will be a complete departure of ASML from the Netherlands.

Jos Versteeg, analyst at InsingerGilissen tells RTL Nieuws that the company upping shop and leaving is “very unlikely.”

That being said, Jim Tehupuring, investment expert at 1 Vermogensbeheer, tells RTL Nieuws that he does see at least part of the company shifting to another country.

He just doesn’t know “whether that is 30% or 70%.”

Regardless of what the company decides to do, there is one thing we can be sure of: any move will take time. Years in fact, according to Tehupuring.

What do you think of ASML’s hints? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

LeydenJar, a Dutch manufacturer developing batteries that can store huge amounts of energy, has announced that it will open its first factory in Eindhoven. 

The young innovators shared plans to begin production in 2026, as they continue to create the world’s most energy-dense battery.

LeydenJar’s super-chargers might be small, but they’re extremely powerful!

What does LeydenJar do?

LeydenJar started in solar technology, before a failing project proved more hopeful in the battery world. 

READ MORE | 7 innovative Dutch projects for a sustainable future

Now they are focused on their greater, greener vision: the “battery of the future” — a battery that holds twice the amount of energy and can be recharged in just 5 minutes. 

Better battery life means longer driving ranges, shorter charging times, and vastly increased functionality for all electrical goods. Fully charged phone in just a few minutes? Ja, please!

Speedy, superior AND sustainable

LeydenJar’s new Eindhoven home, the PlantOne factory, will produce enough power to fuel four million smartphones annually. So, how are they contributing to a greener future? 

Well, their flagship anodes (a part of the battery) are made of pure silicon (AKA one of the most useful elements to humankind) instead of conventional graphite-based batteries.

This means they can store up to 70% more energy.

READ MORE | 13 forward-thinking things Dutch people do

Higher energy density and thinner designs are the key here — and a single charge lasts much longer.

Even better, the climate change impact of LeydenJar’s production is decreased by up to 85% when compared to regular batteries.

With its new Eindhoven factory, LeydenJar will continue its mission to reduce society’s greenhouse gas emissions, working towards the EU goal of being net zero by 2050.

Do you currently own an electric or hybrid vehicle in the Netherlands? Tell us in the comments below!

Ahh, the monthly Dutch air raid sirens… They might befuddle newcomers to the Netherlands, but those who’ve been here for a while no longer bat an eye at its shrill noonday calls.

However, according to a letter to the House of Representatives by outgoing Justice and Security Minister Dilan Yesilgöz, these monthly alarms will soon be on their way out.

NL Alerts will take over

As reported by the NOS, the Netherlands’ 4,200 alarm poles can currently only be heard by around 75% of the population.

People in rural areas and those close to the country’s borders, for example, have a particularly hard time receiving the sirens’ alerts.

In contrast, NL-Alerts (government notifications sent straight to mobile devices) reached a whopping 92% of the Dutch populace during its last testing phase.

READ MORE | Monthly alarm sirens in the Netherlands: what you need to know

Minister Yesilgöz intends to replace most sirens with NL-Alerts by the end of next year, though some alarm poles will still remain in high-risk areas.

What do you think of the impending switch to NL-Alerts? Tell us all your thoughts in the comments below!

Do you enjoy travelling from the Netherlands to other countries across Europe? Or are you a home bird who frequently visits family? Well, your wallet is about to suffer.

Specifically, if your journey involves a plane and your destination is within the EU.

According to research by RTL Nieuws, plane tickets to European destinations will increase by tens of euros in the next two years.

One expert says an increase is “inevitable.”

But why?

This inevitable price increase all boils down to something called the ETS, which stands for the Emissions Trading System.

As part of this system, the rights to emit green gasses are traded among the big polluters. The idea is that big polluters must buy their right to… well, pollute.

In the aviation industry, many of these rights are free — however, that’s all set to change in 2026, and airlines are going to have to start coughing up the cash themselves.

And where will this money come from? The price of your plane ticket, of course!

READ MORE | REVIEW: We slept our way from Amsterdam to Berlin on the new European Sleeper train

As Paul Peeters, lecturer in sustainable transport for tourism at the Breda University of Applied Sciences, tells RTL Nieuws:

“It is obvious that this will be passed on directly, with the small margins in aviation, they cannot absorb this.”

Flying outside of the EU? You’re in the clear

While the ETS system is in place to try and discourage companies and consumers from polluting, Peeters fears it may have the opposite effect.

Why? Primarily because the ETS system does not apply to inter-continental flights.

This means that higher ticket prices for flights within the EU may just encourage people to fly to Morocco instead of Malaga — which is a longer and more polluting flight.

What do you think of the ETS system? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Eating a lot of cheese is a well-known Dutch daily habit, but did you know you could win global titles for it?

Well, the Netherlands just did! New research by Mintel lists the top 10 cheese-loving nations across the world — and the Dutch have won the crown.

Crunching the nom-bers

So how exactly do you quantify a nation’s love of cheese? The research considered factors such as cheese imports, production and general interest. 

The stats were gathered using the UN Comtrade, Cheese.com (yes, it’s a real site), and Google search data. 

Each country then received a score out of 100 — and the Netherlands really sliced up the competition, beating the likes of France and even the US!

So, who else did the Netherlands beat? Check out the rankings below:

The Dutch go above and brie-yond

As you can see, the Dutch won by a long shot, and the whopping score of 76.8 is even more impressive when you consider the relatively small Dutch population of 17 million. 

This doesn’t stop the Netherlands from scoring big elsewhere in the cheese leagues — they also made the most Google searches for ‘cheese’ per capita in the whole world.

READ MORE | Let’s talk cheesy: cheese tourism in the Netherlands

And once they’re done staring at cheese on their computer screens, it’s time for the Dutch to import some. The research found that per Dutchie, an average of more than 3.1kg and $14 worth of cheese is imported annually. 

However, the biggest importer globally is actually France, spending $374 million on cheese every year. A good investment, we believe!

READ MORE | Dutch cheese varieties: the comprehensive (and cheesy) guide

We already knew the Dutch loved cheese so edam much. Now they have the official title to prove it.  

What’s your favourite Dutch cheese? Tell us in the comments below!

As anyone who’s used the Dutch rail system in the past year knows, the steep ticket prices feel like the NS adding insult to injury — especially after countless delays and stranded trains.

However, with the NS reporting a €191 million loss for 2023 (as reported by the NOS), the rail carrier is left scrambling to find a solution to its current nosedive into the red.

And that solution? Hike up ticket prices even further.

But why!?

Though a comparatively smaller loss than a year earlier, the rail company has already been forced to increase the prices of most train tickets.

Unfortunately, this price hike hasn’t been sufficient to battle inflation and the growing costs plaguing the company.

As reported by the NOS, this means that a much larger rate increase will be on the cards for 2025 — amounting to more than 10%.

READ MORE | Public transport in the Netherlands: the complete guide

However, that 10% could well be a conservative estimate. According to NS CEO Wouter Koolmees, there could actually be “a double price increase for tickets”, AD reports

Ageing infrastructure and delayed deliveries

Another thorn in the NS’ side appears to have been the Netherlands’ own ageing rail infrastructure.

For example, NS CEO Koolmees pointed to defective viaducts along the HSL (high-speed railway line), growing subsidence along the Zeeland line, and the work that needed to be carried out near Rotterdam and Schiphol.

READ MORE | Train etiquette on Dutch trains: 8 things you’ll always see

In addition to this, the delayed delivery of new ICNGs (Intercity Nieuwe Generatie trains) due to issues along the HSL also impacted the NS’ rail plans.

Staff shortages are also currently being dealt with

The NS is certainly no stranger to the resulting chaos from staff shortages, having previously been forced to cancel trains due to staffing issues in 2022.

Although recruiting staff is still an ongoing issue, AD reports that around 3,715 new employees were hired — of which 1,006 are to become new train conductors and drivers.

It’s hoped that this surge in new recruits will allow the NS to run a smoother timetable over the coming period with far fewer delays.

What do you think of a possible price hike in NS train tickets? Tell us all your thoughts in the comments below!

Feeling lonely? Forget Tinder or Hinge. Perhaps it’s time to get yourself a holographic partner. Who knows, perhaps you’ll get married! The Dutch certainly won’t mind, it seems.

In fact, the Netherlands is about to become the first country in the world where a wedding ceremony will take place between a human and a hologram.

The Spanish artist, Alicia Framis, is currently preparing to marry her hologram boyfriend, AILex, in a ceremony that will take place on the roof of the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum in Rotterdam.

But…why?

The ceremony is all part of a ‘performance’ by the Spanish artist.

According to Euronews, with this project, she hopes to reflect on the relationships between humans, AI, and contemporary art.

Framis writes on her website:

“Love and sex with robots and holograms are an inevitable reality. They make great companions and are capable of expressing empathy. Just as telephones saved us from loneliness and filled the void in our lives, holograms as interactive presences in our homes can take it even further.”

AILex was created by Framis using a profile of people she knows. She also decided that he should be a Dutchman!

READ MORE | 7 innovative Dutch projects for a sustainable future

“I want this man to be Dutch because most of my boyfriends were Dutch, but this time, it’s a romantic relationship between a woman and artificial intelligence.”

In a series of videos and images shared on her Instagram, Framis shares her interactions with her hologram partner.

To be fair, if he wasn’t see-through, I would have been fooled into thinking AILex was a real man.

By marrying her holographic boyfriend, Framis hopes “to explore the practical and ethical issues concerning humans in close relationship with AI.”

What do you think of Framis’ mission? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

If you’ve gotten used to next-day delivery on your mail and packages, we might have some bad news for you.

PostNL, the mail and e-commerce giant based in the Netherlands, wants to start delivering mail less often. Why? Because they have a shortage of workers and fewer people are sending mail, reports the AD.

Herna Verhagen, CEO of PostNL, urges a change in postal laws so that mail can be delivered within two or three days of being sent rather than the usual one-day delivery rule, with the exception of urgent mail.

A steady decline

The amount of mail sent has been on the decline for the last 20 years, yet mail is still legally only allowed to take one day to be delivered. A general labour shortage has also made it difficult to fill vacancies and keep up operations.

As a result, letters are more frequently being delivered too late — and about one in five items arrived after the expected delivery time in 2023.

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So, Verhagen is calling on Dutch politicians to find a solution for these developments.

And it seems like there’s precedent to change the legally expected delivery time. Many European countries have less frequent post deliveries, and 79% of PostNL customers say they’re okay with receiving mail after only two or three days.

How often do you use PostNL? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!

Now that’s a shocking headline — but you can shut that jaw and drop those eyebrows because it’s a fact. If you’re living in the Netherlands, you’re going to see your purchasing power increase in 2024.

Yep, while residents of the Netherlands have seen their purchasing power drop over the past few years, the tides are changing.

According to the Dutch Central Planning Bureau (CPB), our purchasing power is set to increase by 2.7% in 2024.

Here’s why.

Wages are going up, inflation is going down

Firstly, Dutch wages are receiving a much-needed boost this year, with the minimum wage increasing.

However, it’s not just people who receive minimum wage who will see a boost in their income. Many workers in the Netherlands are expected to see some better figures on their paychecks.

READ MORE | Salaries in the Netherlands: the ultimate guide to Dutch wages

Not only that, but certain benefits are higher in 2024. (Huurtoeslag, we’re looking at you. )

You can also expect to enjoy more bang for your buck, because inflation is continuing to drop this year. The CPB forecasts that it will sit pretty at around 2.9%.

So what do all these changes mean? Well, what they boil down to is that your purchasing power just had a gentle — but noticeable — nudge in the right direction.

We’re still not back to pre-coronavirus power

Not to rain on your parade, but it is worth noting that while this increase is great, we still haven’t returned to a pre-pandemic level of purchasing power.

READ MORE | The cost of living in the Netherlands in 2024

However, we’re not far off! This year, our wallets will only be 0.5% less effective than they were before our world was rocked by rona — and y’know what? We’ll take it.

Want the latest Dutch news to come zooming through the internet to your inbox? Dat kan! Subscribe to DutchReview’s weekly roundup