The annual Dutch Film Festival in Utrecht, which culminates in country's most prestigious film awards, is making a big drive to attract an international audience this year, by subtitling many of the film screenings, including several box office hits. Here’s what you should know about the upcoming festival and a selection of what's on offer. 1 The Nederlands Film Festival is a Dutch institution and has been around since 1981. Cocking a snook at Amsterdam, Utrecht has traditionally been the venue for the film fest. This year the dates to save are September 27 to October 5. 2 The film festival is taking the English speaking contingent seriously: there are over 50 subtitled film screenings – including a number of blockbusters, prize-winning documentaries and festival premieres. Here’s the complete programme. 3 One of the must-sees is De Bankier van het Verzet (The resistance banker, 2018) directed by Joram Lürsen, which follows a long tradition of Dutch wartime films, such as Paul Verhoeven’s Zwartboek and Fons Rademaker’s De Aanslag. It tells the true story of resistance hero Walraven van Hall who financed the resistance by ‘robbing’ the central bank with the approval of the Dutch government in exile. The film is the Netherlands' entry for next year’s Oscars for best foreign film. 4 Talking of statues, the film festival’s ultimate prize is a Gouden Kalf, or Golden Calf. ‘Berlin has bears, Venice has lions. Why don’t we have calves,’ said film director Wim Verstappen, perhaps half-jokingly, when pondering a suitable prize. It is actually a charming statue, made by sculptor Theo Mackaay. 4 People who live in Amsterdam will have already had the opportunity to see a subtitled version of Wild Amsterdam (directed by Mark Verkerk), about the wild creatures living in the capital. But for those who have not this is a rare treat. Keep an eye out for the wily yet dignified herons who stalk the fish stalls on Dappermarkt come five o’clock. 5 Among the festival premieres is My Foolish Heart, a fanciful account of a detective who while investigating the circumstances of jazz musician Chet Baker’s death in Amsterdam in 1988 embarks on a personal journey as well. Directed by Rolf van Eijk. 6 The Dutch are good at documentary making and Hoop & Heimwee (Hope & Homesickness, directed by Eline Flipse) promises to live up to that reputation. It tells the timely story of Polish migrant workers in the villages of the Noordoostpolder, their hopes, aspirations and life in a frequently hostile environment. 7 Apart from films, documentaries and tv programmes, the festival also organises talks in English about a variety of subjects, such as virtual reality and other new technologies while the Brave New World Sessions present new interactive work. There is also a programme for film industry professionals. 8 And for those who are mastering Dutch or are already fluent, here’s one we did earlier. More >
Podcast: The King's Belgian Horses Edition
In this week's podcast we bring you the latest news on the tragic accident in Brabant that cost four young children their lives. As it was budget day we also analyse the government's financial plans, including controversial measures on the dividend tax and the 30% ruling, as well as who wore the best hats and how government statisticians and Belgian horses made up the numbers. And while Dick Lawyer returned to the field for a last hurrah, a group of hot air balloonists got into hot water with a disgruntled farmer. Top story Town in shock after four children die when train hits electric wagon News Finance minister says budget will make Netherlands 'stronger, safer and more prosperous' Government rules out transition period for 30% ruling as expats plan legal challenge Dijkhoff's 'punishment by postcode' plan condemned on all sides Farmer denies holding hot air balloonists hostage on his land Sport Advocaat returns to FC Utrecht to settle unfinished business... More >
What the tax reforms will mean to you
On Tuesday, the government published its 2019 spending plans, which include several changes to the tax system likely to have an impact on expats. In particular, we now know the government will not introduce a transition period for people claiming the 30% ruling. The government plans to introduce a number of changes to the tax system this year, although some measures will not come into effect until 2020 or later. Here’s a quick overview of the proposed changes. These will need to be ratified by the parliament and senate before they come into effect. 1 30% ruling Plan: This is the most awkward one for many expats. The maximum term of the 30%-ruling will decrease to five years and there will be no transition period. When will the change take effect: 1 January 2019 What does it mean to you: If you have already had the 30%-ruling for more than five years, the ruling will stop on January 1, 2019. For others the ruling will cease once your five years is up. It is important... More >
Down with purchasing power predictions!
There they are again: the spending power predictions. Don't you believe them, says economist Mathijs Bouman. Crack open the beer, we’re having a party. Next year spending power is up by 1.5%. For a while it looked as if the meter would get stuck at 1.3% but in an ultimate pre-budget day effort the government cranked it up by means of a number of measures. What these measures are we do not know – I’m guessing it will be something to do with a slight increase of the tax break for the elderly and some extra allowances for people on minimum incomes – but we do know they mean an extra 0.2 % to spend. This is important for people on benefits and pensioners in particular, because the gap between these groups and those in work is in danger of getting larger. The economic upturn means a healthy rise for the latter, and the government undoubtedly had to tug the national duvet quite rigorously to smooth the creases of injustice. But it worked: according to the calculations of the... More >
Who is really Dutch anyway
At least one of your passports may prove that you are Dutch. But who actually gets to be seen and accepted as a Dutch person by society at large? Traci White has been finding out. The 'average Dutch person' seems to be the only voter that Dutch political parties have cared about during elections this year and in 2017, even though no one knows who this imaginary man or woman is. One party’s 'gewone Nederlander' is another party’s 'boze burger'. During a 2017 lecture, Sybrand Buma of CDA said that the so-called 'boze burger' (fed up citizen) is just a normal Dutch person who feels he or she has hit a wall. 'His job has been given to an immigrant or an Eastern European person, his child’s education has become too theoretical and the coarsening of society is projected into his home on television.'Buma said. In a 2018 municipal elections campaign video, Geert Wilders, the leader of the Islamophobic PVV, avowed that Islam is antithetical to Dutch identity, implying that... More >
DutchNews Podcast: Dick Lawyer Returns
On this week’s podcast, we update you on Lili and Howick, further the leaks ahead of Budget Day and discuss the potential changes to the dual nationality law. Dick Lawyer returns and Paul sneaks in a bonus op hef. In the discussion, Molly interviews Gordon about his recently published memoir. All The Time We Thought We Had. Molly's Twitter Thread Top story Government plans leak out ahead of Tuesday’s 2019 budget News Minister changes his mind, Lili and Howick can stay in the Netherlands Dutch funded ‘jihadist’ group in Syria, terror trial may now falter Dutch to publish ‘modernised’ dual nationality plans next spring Dutch singer Glennis Grace makes final of America’s Got Talent Sport FC Utrecht maakt zich op voor komst Advocaat Discussion: Interview with Gordon Darroch All The Time We Thought We Had - Amazon All The Time We Thought We Had - ABC Book Launch (Join us!) More >
It’s back, the ‘I am not a tourist’ Amsterdam expat fair for internationals
Find out everything you want to know about the Dutch expat life, under one roof: on Sunday 7 October 2018, the 16th edition of Amsterdam’s renowned I am not a tourist Expat Fair will shake up the Beurs van Berlage in the heart of Amsterdam. Explore what the Netherlands has to offer, including this year’s highlight sections: 'Jobs for Expats' and 'Houses for Expats'. Every year we give you the chance to take part in engaging and useful workshops, mingle with thousands of fellow internationals and network with companies from across the country in what has become the largest expat-focused event in the Netherlands. And, what’s more, it’s free! Living, working and studying in the Netherlands We have over 125 exhibitors and 40 professional presentations arranged around the themes of relocation, finance, employment, families, healthcare, education, transport, housing and setting up home. Next to that we have an entertaining programme. So whether you have just moved to Holland,... More >
'I obsessively collect supermarket stamps'
Writer and journalist Gordon Darroch was widowed soon after moving to The Hague with his terminally ill wife, Magteld. He talks about the challenges of single parenthood, Jan Steen and the secret of a perfect uitsmijter. How did you end up in the Netherlands? My wife, Magteld, was from Drenthe and like a lot of mixed couples we’d talked idly for years about emigrating, especially once we had children. It became more urgent when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012. The treatment seemed to have been successful, so we pressed ahead with our plans, but then in 2014, a week after we’d sold our house in Glasgow and booked the removal van, she discovered she was terminally ill. By then we were too far down the road to turn back and in any case she wanted to spend her remaining time with her family. She died seven weeks after we crossed the North Sea. How do you describe yourself – an expat, lovepat, immigrant, international? I suppose I’m a lovepat in the sense... More >
Staffing agencies need calling to order
Last week, the Dutch media was full of a new scandal, which they dubbed 'the Polish fraud'. But the expose only covered part of the story, and the real scandal is going unmentioned, says Malgorzata Bos-Karczewska, editor of Polonia.nl. Social affairs minister Wouter Koolmees wants to come down hard on Polish fraudsters, who are claiming unemployment benefit while living back home in Poland. He is, of course, totally justified in doing so, but in essence it is not enough. Why? Because the way temporary employment agencies operate is pushing Polish workers into unemployment and forcing society to foot the bill. Instead of focusing on the symptoms, the minister would do better to eliminate the root cause of this particular ill. The Netherlands is sloppy when it comes to its treatment of other EU country workers. The Poles, so beloved of employers for their capacity for hard work, are ending up on unemployment benefits by the thousands each year at the expense of the taxpayer. Cheap... More >
DutchNews.nl destinations: Den Bosch
Whether you call it Den Bosch or s-Hertogenbosch, the capital of North Brabant is a great place to spend a weekend. Its museums and quirky cafes are truly one of a kind. Here’s Brandon Hartley’s rundown on just a few of the city’s attractions. s-Hertogenbosch means ‘The Duke’s Forest’ in English but learning how to properly pronounce it if that’s your native language could take hours or longer. This is why many people opt to use ‘Den Bosch’, the city’s colloquial and much less tongue-twisty nickname. Once upon a time, Duke Henry I of Brabant and his family owned a large estate in the area. When he was still in his 20s, he decided that a nearby marsh with a few dunes would be a positively fantastic place to start building a city. He established Den Bosch in the late 12th century but it was allegedly all part of a scheme to protect his family’s land holdings from encroachment. The duke envisioned the city as an impenetrable fortress but his efforts all came... More >
Podcast: The Blok's Book of Bigots Edition
The podcast returns after the summer hiatus with news of a foreign minister fighting to stay in his job, two children fighting to stay in the country and students fighting for space on overcrowded university campuses. We also bring you up to speed on the terrorist stabbing at Amsterdam station and ING bank's unprecedented fine for money laundering, plus how Wesley Sneijder's last match as a Dutch international gave a whole new meaning to playing at home. In our discussion we look back at the best stories and ophefs of the long hot summer. Top story Minister under pressure to stop two children being deported to Armenia News Terrorist who stabbed tourists in Amsterdam expected to die, says lawyer ING settles money laundering case for €775 million Foreign minister Stef Blok survives debate sparked by multiculturalism comments Teachers call for public sector workers to strike for better pay Dutch translation of Hitler's Mein Kampf goes on sale Sport Wesley... More >
