r/Netherlands

I hear all these horror stories about Urk and it got me thinking: "Is it really that bad?"

Can I as a Spaniard visit Urk, stay in a hotel, go to a nightclub and have an enjoyable time, or should I expect the worst?

It was last week Wednesday about 6 pm, one hour before the eclips . I was trying to get the train to Amsterdam ( Sloterdijk ), transfer from the train Zandvoort aan zee at station Haarlem.

The train rolled too far in front and all travelers needed to run, there was just one minute left to take that train and I needed to take that train. I was just in time, still don’t know what happened but suddenly I came down between the train and the platform.

I was stuck between the train and the platform, I was deep in it and in shock. A couple of seconds looked like an hour.
Didn’t know how much time left in that minute and I was really panicking.

I couldn’t haul myself onto the platform anymore. And then suddenly arms were there to haul me upwards from that scary situation thinking this was my very last minute in life.

I want to thank so so so very much that gentleman and other people who did resqued me.
It was a traumatic experience but thank God I am alive and I know my body will be recovered too.

From the bottom of my heart thank to that wonderful gentleman and all the sweet people who did resqued me!! I thank all of you for the rest of my life!! I hope you will see this!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻♥️♥️♥️♥️

For those following this mystery the last few days, police in both Amsterdam and Vancouver are looking into whether an Amsterdam man who lost the ability to communicate three years ago is the same person as a man who went missing in Vancouver over 30 years ago.

Dutch police said earlier this week that an unknown man was hospitalized in Amsterdam in 2023 and has lost almost all ability to communicate since suffering a brain injury. His nicknames include "Lucky," "John," and "Chris the Canadian." His resemblance to John Russel Kenny, missing since 1993, was brought to the attention of police in both countries.

We’re newer to The Netherlands and are in our first rental. This hasn’t been mentioned to us by neighbours or the landlord at all.

Some random guy has, twice now, come and cleaned our windows. We’re on the ground level so can easily clean them ourselves. This is a well known scam back in Australia so I paid no real mind to it.

Today he came to the door demanding payment. He explained he’s done it for free twice and now needs payment and will take cash. I asked him why and for what. I let him know I’ve never asked for the windows to be cleaned, we’ve not reached out to anyone to have them be cleaned. Like it’s all well and good for you to clean them but until I ask it’s not from my pocket. The conversation went back and forth. He showed me a list of ‘confirmed addresses’ with ours on it. However I too can make lists.

Is this a scam or is this more the expectation? Surely if it was required by landlord and the building they would pay. I figure I can just actually enquire about their services should this be necessary.

hei, so i see posts here everyday about people struggling to find a rental. but nobody talks about the owner side of things.

i own a apartment (bank financed) and was thinking, if i get a short term work opportunity abroad, can i just rent it out? sounds simple, maar het is echt niet zo simpel.

For starters, standard temporary contracts are gone since 2024. if i want to rent out my own place while away, i need a 'diplomatenclausule' basically a contract saying I am coming back on this date beforehand and the huurder has to leave when i return.

Also, bank needs written permission too. they can say no, raise interest rate, or demand full repayment if i rent without asking. and also the property shifts to box 3 so i lose my hypotheekrenteaftrek for that period.

has anyone actually done this? rented out their koopwoning while working abroad temporarily? curious what the real experience looks like because on paper there's a route but in practice i honestly have no idea.

Hello me and my wife are traveling to the Netherlands the beginning of December. We are American and it’s our first time internationally traveling. I am just looking for places to eat/drink, Tips on traveling in the Netherlands, activities that would be fun, laws that I might need to look out for, towns to visit. Basically anything really, we are going for 7 nights and the only activity we have planned is a concert. I love pastry’s/bakeries so what’s your favorite place? As far as where we will sleeping I am looking for suggestions on towns to look at near or atleast sorta near Amsterdam? I also hear they have Christmas markets during the time and we would love to check out that kind of stuff. Basically anything really helps and I appreciate anything anyone can provide.

I used to randomly go to the supermarket whenever my wife needed something. The problem is that I’d go in for one item and somehow come out with at least five. So I’m realizing that this is probably not the best strategy for our budget.

I’m thinking of switching to a weekly grocery order, mainly for the basics: school snacks, breakfast, lunch, household essentials, etc. I started comparing prices using Picnic and AH Online, and I noticed something interesting: they seem to be roughly the same overall, but some products are significantly cheaper on one platform while other products are cheaper on the other. Discounts also seem to change quite a bit.

So for people in the Netherlands who regularly use Picnic, Flink, AH Online, Jumbo, Crisp, or other grocery delivery apps:

- Which one works best for you?
- Which one do you find cheapest overall?
- Are there any apps/services that are particularly good for weekly family shopping?

Hi All,

hope someone has maybe an idea. We closed the door of our shower in our rented flat in Amsterdam normally and the safety glass broke in a thousand pieces. We did not close it with extra force, just normally, so I assume it was just impurity in the glass or wearing off over time. I think it would not count as 'we caused the damage', in my understanding. However, the landlord answered:

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I would like to refer you to the following provision in your tenancy agreement:

(Glass) Damage – 17. The landlord emphasizes that all damage to or within the rented property is at the tenant’s own expense and risk, in accordance with Article 13 of the General Provisions. The landlord does not take out any (glass) insurance, and in the event of damage, the tenant cannot therefore make a claim under any insurance policy taken out by the landlord. In addition to the obligation under Article 13.7 of the General Provisions to take out adequate contents insurance, the tenant is also required to take out third-party liability insurance (AVP). The tenant is, of course, free to take out any additional insurance policies.

######

Our liability insurance does not cover glass damage. However, I am not sure if this should be a liability case anyways, as we did not 'destroy it'.

Any help would be appreciated. <3

Where I'm from, we learn the lyrics for our national anthem at school. But I have two kids, born here and attending dutch school and they don't know the lyrics. Do kids just Google the lyrics and practice?

Edit to add: I was watching the Hockey World Cup and was actually surprised everyone was singing along. That's when I wondered, because my kids wouldn't be able to sing along. I'm not expecting them to learn the whole thing, lol.

Hi! For 3 weeks I have been trying to get a GP assigned to me, I have been working in Netherlands for a month, and I do have insurance. There is no empty slot for me in Bergen Op Zoom unfortunately.

I am going through an SNRI (venlafaxine) withdrawal now, it's the first day and it is already bad. I have tried during the last 3 weeks:

-Visisting all huispraktijks in person where I can't even pay out of pocket

-Going to a hospital 30 minutes ago

-Going to huisartsenpost 10 minutes ago

-Had a lenghty chat with my insurance provider

Nothing worked, what I have been offered is a perscription for one pill for €50 at huisartsenpost.

What do I do now? Is there nothing I can do within a reasonable timeframe like 48h? I am willing to visit Rotterdam, Amsterdam, whatever. I just need help.

TL;DR

Out of antidepressants, don't have a GP because no slots in my area, hospital doesn't care.

Hi guys, I’m a 36 year old man and I’m about to start adult swimming lessons at a municipal swimming pool in the Netherlands.
Just became a father so exercise has been non existent lately. I’m a little self conscious about my small belly 😅, so I’m wondering what men normally wear for swimming lessons.

Is it completely normal to wear loose swim shorts and swim with a bare chest, or would wearing a fitted rash guard/swim shirt be more appropriate?

I’m also a bit nervous about the language. My Dutch understanding is very basic, and I’m wondering whether swimming instructors generally speak some English or whether the lessons are strictly in Dutch.

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has experience with adult swimming lessons in the Netherlands.

On a sick leave you are protected and cannot be fired (unless you don't try to integrate at all). How can I be sure I am not getting kicked out immediately on the 1st day I'm officially back at work? On one hand, I was reintegrating step by step as advised. On the other hand, I've noticed that my two supervisors barely talk to me and they clearly maintain a distance. It feels like I am already crossed out. I wonder, if I am back, am I protected from "revenge" for being absent for so long? I am genuinly afraid to recall the sickness until I have other job secured.
P.S. My sickness was not work-related and I did not blame anybody for having it.

Hey! I’m currently in the Netherlands and I’d like to bring something back home for my family and friends that we don’t really have in Slovakia.

So far I was thinking about bringing Hertog Jan beer, stroopwafels and Gouda cheese. I’d be happy to hear some recommendations! What Dutch food, drinks, snacks or other things would you recommend bringing home?

Hi. I am currently taking Haloperidol and I only have a Ukrainian prescription. As far as I understand, getting a psychiatric appointment can take a while, as well as I may not find a GP immediately and even if I do, they may not prescribe me such a large dose anyway. I will try to take as much meds with me as possible, however in case it is not enough, can I get Haloperidol with a Ukrainian prescription? Thanks!