The IDFA documentary film festival takes place in Amsterdam up to November 30. More than 300 films are being screened during the 11 day event, which was first held in 1988. Here is the Parool’s list of 10 documentaries you should not miss. ‘Plaza man’ (Director: Kasper Verkaik) Robert Groder turned 18 the day president Kennedy was shot. He has dedicated his life to finding out the ‘truth’ about what happened that day. His obsession – Groder paints a big... More >

The nights are drawing in, so why not curl up in front of the fire with a good book? Here’s our pick of nine great Dutch novels in an English translation. The selection is a random one from website Netherlands by Numbers and of course there are many, many more.   The Dinner by Herman Koch Novelist Herman Koch’s fifth novel takes place in a well-known Amsterdam restaurant (a thinly disguised De Kas) popular with the upwardly mobile. Two brothers... More >

Dutch company KLM was formed way back in 1919 as one of the world’s first commercial airlines. It was Queen Wilhelmina who gave the fledgling KLM its royal moniker back in September 1919 but it was not until May 1920 when the airline flew its first commercial flight – taking two journalists and a pile of newspapers from Croydon airport in London to the Amsterdam. Commercial services started in 1921 and in 1924 KLM flew its first intercontinental flight between... More >

There are several good reasons why it makes sense to rent out your Dutch home to expats if you have to leave the Netherlands. If, as an expat, you have decided to invest in buying home here in the Netherlands, congratulations! The thought of being relocated to another country should not stop you from taking such an important step. You can, after all, always let out your Dutch property when you leave. Here are some of the key benefits. Flexibility... More >

Speaking more than one language fluently is a great addition your skill set, and it is never too late to get started. Being a multi-lingual adult can be hugely beneficial for both personal and professional endeavours, furthermore it’s never too late to improve one’s language skills! The benefits of early years linguistic development are well documented, however the benefits of learning languages as an adult are also wide ranging. Personal Whether you’re new to the Netherlands and just looking to... More >

It might be years from opening, but you can check out progress on Amsterdam’s new metro in this video. The footage comes from both a drone and bike-riding cameraman who was following the remote-controlled aircraft as it moved through the tunnels. The production is by Studio Mad. More >

A 10-minute film featuring the city of bikes, including cycling tips and an answer to the question ‘is there a method in the madness’. Bicycle Anecdotes from Amsterdam from STREETFILMS on Vimeo. More >

You are bound to have lots of questions when it comes to renting an apartment. Here is a top 10 of things you might not think about, but that you really need to know, compiled by the experts at Perfect Housing. 1. Painting and drilling When moving into a new apartment you will want to make it feel like home. But changing the décor to suit your own tastes is something you should discuss with the owner. You can ask... More >

The Expatriate Archive Centre in The Hague is preserving a global memory of expat lives, writes Molly Quell. Would you like to preserve your memories as an expat while helping academics with research into expatriate issues? The Expatriate Archive Centre is actively looking for new material to add to its collection. Scrapbooks, diaries, even school reports and greetings cards are among the tangible evidence of mobile lives being collated at the centre in The Hague. The EAC has its roots... More >

Up for a challenge? Here are six tips to unlease your leadership potential, by Nyenrode’s Christo Nel. When I was in my mid-20s I had the exceptional privilege of being involved in a nationwide project in which more than 100 CEOs and 2000 managers participated. It is where my lifelong love affair with the phenomenon of leadership and how to grow leaders started. Quite naïvely I was still in search for the formula that defines what makes a good leader,... More >

Heading off on summer holiday? Here’s a list of 10 great Dutch reads in translation to take with you. The Dinner by Herman Koch Novelist Herman Koch’s fifth novel takes place in a well-known Amsterdam restaurant (a thinly disguised De Kas) popular with the upwardly mobile. Two brothers and their wives meet for dinner and as the evening wears on some very unsavoury truths emerge. The narrator  is disillusioned and deeply cynical former teacher Paul. Although he and his wife... More >