It’s the day after King’s Day, and unless you live under a rock, you probably had some sort of celebration the previous night/day.  It’s historic, it’s orange, there are crowds and crowds of people, and the traditional flea markets (vrijmakten) span across the sidewalks and parks. So much fun. So much Dutch. So much booze. Still partying the day after. Image: Depositphotos As with all good things, King’s Day eventually comes to end (boooh!), and there are some things we just don’t like about the big party’s aftermath. 1. The hangover Yesterday, it was all fun and games, but now you are ..read more

Dutch toilets have been making a splash in a recent Reddit thread, where an exasperated expat questioned their infamous “poo shelf“. Which, as the Dutchies hilariously pointed out, saves you from splash. As an international, it’s quite taboo (or should we say, ta-“poo”) when you first encounter the strange Dutch toilet design with its flat area and small hole. My husband is Dutch and the first time I saw their toilets I thought I’d gone to the other type of coffee shop by mistake. Wtf is this. Why is there a shelf?! Why is it backwards?!? pic.twitter.com/ubWIxyoegK — Asphodel Denning (@Azzy ..read more

Are you an international who loves working in Amsterdam? Or would you like to become one? Well, you’re not the only one! In fact, Amsterdam ranks second in the list of most attractive cities for potential expats in the WORLD. According to a recent study conducted by the Boston Consulting Group, The Network, and The Stepstone, more than 150,000 professionals from 188 countries were surveyed to find out where they would like to work if they ever needed to move abroad. London dominates the top ten According to Business Insider Nederland, London has once again been named the most attractive city ..read more

When we think about airport security, we imagine chaos: you walk through the machine and — BEEP — you forgot some keys in your pocket. You walk again — BEEP — maybe it’s your hair tie!? BEEP — some stranger is patting you down. It’s stressful, you’re sweating, and a lovely long queue of people is forming behind you. However, if there’s one thing Schiphol Airport doesn’t like, it’s queues. Especially given all the drama over the past few years. With the May holidays quickly approaching, the airport is bracing itself for a wave of up to 80,000 travellers per day, according to Nu.nl. While it d ..read more

It’s the difference between wearing your orange shorts or digging out an orange scarf, hat and gloves. Well, good news! King’s Day will feel the warmest it has in a while. The freezing weather recently makes it hard to believe Saturday’s royal celebrations will be anything more than a mass of shivering crowds turning blue, not orange. READ MORE | The NS just announced its King’s Day timetable: Here’s what you should know But while it certainly doesn’t feel like spring just yet, come Saturday it will be a lot warmer, reports Weeronline. King’s Day brings the rays… Don’t let the festivities go ..read more

Everyone loves a good party, but King’s Day in Amsterdam is the biggest of them all! So, what’s happening in the Dutch capital on April 27? Amsterdam is going to have its own festivities, so here’s what you should know if you’re planning on celebrating in the Dutch capital. What is King’s Day? King’s Day celebrates the current ruling monarch’s birthday. In this case, the entire Netherlands throws a huge birthday party for King Willem-Alexander, whose birthday is on April 27. READ MORE | 8 things you should know about King’s Day in the Netherlands So, given the chance to let loose, the Nethe ..read more

The salty whiff of warm fries from the Golden Arches is legendary — and now McDonald’s is asking you to smell its walls to prove it. Strolling around the streets of Utrecht and Leiden recently, passersby could smell a series of blank red and yellow billboards before seeing them, Food & Wine shares. READ MORE | Dutch Quirk #106: Go to the snackbar after a night of drinking That’s because the fast-food giants teased the Dutch public by diffusing the famous scent of their much-loved snack in an advertising experiment asking them to follow their noses. The idea for aromatic billboards was c ..read more

Think you’re lucky to find a space outside to enjoy your beer on a sunny day in Amsterdam? Now, it’s even more of a luxury, as the terrace tax is doubling for some bars and restaurants. Tax rates vary across the capital, reaching as high as €170 per square metre in the centre, the NOS reports. Catering entrepreneurs will be hit by the HUGE increase in one blow to make up for the time the terrace tax was temporarily removed during the coronavirus pandemic. READ MORE | Dutch Quirk #115: Sit on terraces year-round Since the terraces are on public, municipal land, Alderman Hester Van Buren believ ..read more

From travelling to work to grocery shopping and going to terrasjes, it’s essential to have a bike when you’re living in the Netherlands. The Netherlands prides itself on having built its society on reclaimed land and bicycle paths, so it’s no surprise that Dutch people may be a bit attached to their beloved bikes. So much so that they’re not willing to get rid of their bike — even if it’s barely holding together. What is it? Everyone knows at least one Dutch person whose bicycle chain has fallen down more times than they’ve sent Tikkies. Maybe their tyres squeak, or they don’t have working l ..read more

If you’re thinking of buying a house in the Netherlands as an international, the first question that probably pops into your mind is: “Am I even eligible for a Dutch mortgage?” Put simply: it depends! Who are you? Are you living in the Netherlands? What is your work situation? Do you have debt? Are you stressed? (Yes, it’s a real question!) Rustig aan (Take it easy!). Let’s run through all the requirements and establish once and for all whether you’re eligible for a mortgage in the Netherlands. In a rush? Jump to your situation below! What are the requirements for buying a house in the Ne ..read more