If you feel that your social life or career need a boost, that you need to take more exercise or that you would simply like to give something back to the community – why not pick up some inspiration at the Feel at Home Fair in The Hague this February? The Feel at Home International Community Fair is a celebration of the uniquely connected and cosmopolitan community of The Hague, providing a warm welcome to newcomers and a friendly meeting... More >

Is your New Year’s resolution to improve your Dutch? Albert Both of Talencoach, AKA Mr Dutch Brainwash, believes you can do it in just seven days. We find out more about an original method which is getting brilliant results. Albert Both never stops smiling and is the antithesis of the strict Dutch teacher. And Talencoach’s premises, to the rear of a monumental building on Amsterdam’s Keizersgracht, is not your typical classroom. On one side, there’s a heap of cuddly toys... More >

With more and more tourists visiting Amsterdam, why not combine your visit to the Dutch capital with some time spend exploring the countryside? Website ThingstodoinAmsterdam.com has lots of suggestions for day trips. One of the best things about Amsterdam, and the Netherlands in general, is its size, which makes it easy to get around. That, combined with great public transport and cycling routes, means day trips from Amsterdam are relaxed and easy. Even The Hague is less than an hour... More >

Feeling the pinch after the holiday break, or are you enjoying your year-end bonus? Here is a round up of the main tax changes for 2020 and how they will affect your finances. 1 Fewer tax brackets From next year, the tax office will only work with two tax brackets (it is currently four). Earnings up to €68,507 will be taxed at 37.35% while earnings over that limit will be taxed at 49.5%. As both rates have come down, a... More >

Mortgage interest rates are still at a record low, so if you have not yet taken the plunge and bought a home in the Netherlands, here are some suggestions of where to go, courtesy of Expat Mortgages. Why Leiden might be the best location for buying a new home Leiden’s sense of community is on full display every October, with a day off for feasting on fish and local stamppot, beer, and partying. This neighbourly spirit, as well as charming... More >

So, if you are nursing a New Year hangover, recovering from an icy dip in the sea or just taking it easy, here is a recap of the best read features on DutchNews.nl in 2019. Rain in the Netherlands has a texture it does not have back home What do you do if you are the Netherlands as a trailing husband while your wife works in a high powered job? Visiting columnist Joe Weeg wrote a personal piece about how... More >

From New Year traditions to trunks, fortresses and tropical rain forests – there is a lot going on to keep you busy this January. Bring in the New Year with a dip It’s mad, it’s cold, and best viewed from the sofa in your toasty living room but if you’re brave you too can be part of the great Dutch tradition that is the Nieuwjaarsduik. Submit your bloated Christmas body to the cleansing effect of an icy cold North Sea... More >

Looking to get divorced, solve problems at work, divide an inheritance, appoint a guardian for your child or deal with defects in your house? Here’s a round-up of what you need to know, courtesy of law firm GMW. Who will take care of your child when you’re gone? Historically, if you wanted to designate a guardian for your child in case something should happen to you, it had to be done by will. Today, a new option is available which... More >

You’ve only got four days to decide whether or not to change health insurer this year, before the switching window closes at the end of December. You may ask yourself: but why should I change my current insurance plan? The answer is simple: you may end up saving a large sum of money. Premiums may only have gone up marginally this year, but there is still a massive €492 gap between the most expensive and the cheapest policy. Find out... More >

When we carried out our readers’ survey in October, two-thirds of you told us that you would be having a weekend away in the Netherlands in the coming year. So here is a round-up of this year’s travel features, to help you on your way. I thought I would hate the Efteling. I was wrong With the holidays upon us, your thoughts may be turning to taking the kids to an amusement park. Deborah Nicholls-Lee was dreading her visit to... More >

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This summer, the Dutch social affairs ministry brought on an unexpected storm with an in-house magazine article on appropriate business dress for hot days: short skirts, it banged home in a tweet, should only be worn without tights if ‘the condition of the legs’ is good enough. Cue a national Twitter and media storm, including a defiant photograph from staff at the ministry of defence featuring all kinds of short skirts, bare legs and footwear in the office. But according... More >

So, you’ve become the proud owner of a car. Here are a few things you need to think about when it comes to making sure it is properly insured. First things first. To take out car insurance in the Netherlands you must be an official resident, you must have a European driving licence and the car licence plate has to be Dutch. In the Netherlands all cars have to have at least a third party liability insurance, which covers damage... More >

One-third of Dutch households are using some sort of smart home technology, to regulate their heating, monitor security and even switch off lights. Intelligent robot vacuums that clean the floor, your children telling the bathroom light to turn itself off and checking who is ringing your doorbell while you are having drinks with the neighbours – smart home technology is seeping into many aspects of our lives. Yet despite the advantages smart home technology offers, research published in September shows... More >

  With an increase in environmental awareness, some pet owners are opting for sustainable pet food – and that’s where insects come in! Several Dutch companies are harvesting grubs to make eco-friendly alternatives for pets, but are insects really worth all the hype? Veganism is surging in popularity at the moment, but what about a plant-based diet for your pet? The meat industry is one of the world’s most polluting and through their meat-based diets, pets contribute to the environmental... More >

It is your worst-case scenario: you bought a property in the Netherlands – but after you signed the purchase agreement, you discovered there are defects. What can you do? What are your rights? Glenn Kerver of GMW lawyers explains what Dutch law means for you in this situation. The essential role of the purchase agreement Under Dutch housing law, the purchase and sale of a residential home (whether house or apartment) must be recorded in a written agreement. This describes... More >

Is it ‘bah humbug’ for you in December or are you Christmas crackers? This month’s round-up of great things to has something for everyone. See the mighty fall The John Adams Institute invited Pulitzer price winning journalist Megan Twohey to  discuss her and fellow New York Times journalist Jodi Kantor’s book She Said which explores the sexual abuse that toppled Harvey Weinstein and the underlying mechanisms which made it possible in the first place. December 3. Website See Sinterklaas! Every... More >

Sinterklaas and Christmas are fast approaching, and what better gift than a book?  Here are our recommendations for the best buys, including some suggestions for those of you whose bookshelves may already be groaning with books about the Netherlands. Order a book marked with an asterisk and you will get a 10% discount, courtesy of Holland Books, if you use this code: DNHB1119 1 New to the Netherlands and still finding your feet? Holland Handbook: the indispensable guide to the... More >