Travel Archives - DutchNews.nl

Dutch destinations: go on an adventure in Arnhem

Cinema legend Audrey Hepburn once called Arnhem home and the city is perhaps best known for its famous bridge. However, the capital of Gelderland has more than that to offer visitors in search of a weekend trek that’s a bit off the beaten path. First things first: a trip to the John Frostbrug might not be worth the effort. A walk along the Nederrijn river in Arnhem will lead you past a few cafes, several interesting street art murals, and... More >

Airbnb stays double in Europe during first half of 2022

More than twice as many tourists stayed in Airbnb-style accommodation in the first half of 2022 compared with last year, according to new figures compiled by Eurostat. Tourists spent around 199 million nights in repurposed homes via sites such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia Group or Tripadvisor in the EU – an increase of 138% on the first half of 2021. The statistics service will now publish monthly figures, highlighting the busiest spots in Europe. North Holland had 283,170 tourist overnights... More >

Dutch destinations: Drift down into Delfshaven

There’s plenty of history stuffed into this district in Rotterdam that’s seemingly locked in time. Journey back through the centuries while you attempt to get a hole-in-one or a high-score on a Stranger Things pinball machine. Delfshaven packs plenty of history into a few streets. Located in Rotterdam, this district was once its own municipality. It initially sprung to life as a port for nearby Delft in 1389 because the largely landlocked town to the north lacked a significant waterway.... More >

Increase in railway near-misses prompts new safety campaign

The number of near-misses on railway tracks and crossings increased last year, RTL Nieuws reports. Last year, railway manager ProRail recorded 153 near-misses, a rise of more than 10% a year. There were 206 accidents on the track last year, compared with 195 in 2020. It has started a campaign to warn young people about risky behaviour near rail tracks, with the help of short clips by TikTok influencers. ProRail blames unsafe behaviour from the travelling public for the recent... More >

Train strike goes ahead, limited service to Schiphol airport

Talks over pay and conditions between unions and train operator NS have broken down again and strike action on Friday is going ahead, causing heavier traffic and deserted train stations. A new offer by NS was rejected yesterday, prompting the train operator to suspend services on Friday across the country for safety reasons. Access by train to Schiphol will be possible via the Utrecht Centraal- Amsterdam Zuid-Schiphol airport route. There will be four trains every hour to and from the... More >

Unions and NS in talks but rail strike still on for Friday

The planned rail strike will go ahead on Friday despite renewed talks about pay and conditions with rail operator NS, union FNV has said. The latest offer by the rail operator, which includes a 5% pay rise and a one off bonus but no assurances about inflation compensation ‘is a start’, the FNV said, and a reason to start up negotiations again. The new offer came after a letter to the unions in which NS admitted it had not considered... More >

Going off grid in Wapenveld to a life without wifi

To mark the occasion of my wife’s retirement our daughters awarded us a two night stay in an off-grid eco hut in the Zwolse Bos where we could stare at trees and mentally flagellate ourselves over our combined 135 years worth of emissions. We do our bit for the planet – we’ve scaled down on steak, car use, travel programmes, and scaled up on Greta Thunberg – but to call us eco-warriors would be a gross ecozaggeration. In my 20s... More >

Strike action in south and east of Netherlands; international trains drop stops

Train services have resumed in the middle and north of the Netherlands after two days of strike chaos, however in the south and east personnel are now striking. The protests are part of a five-day action from three staff unions in an attempt to demand better pay and conditions. NS has warned that there may be some delays across the country. Travellers in the south and east are advised to use other transport as replacement buses will not be running.... More >

Train strike in north Holland on Monday

Trains have been cancelled in most of North Holland due to a strike. Staff unions FNV Spoor, VVMC and CNV have called a strike in the north and western regions of the country over better collective contracts. No replacement buses are running, although the NS says that night trains will continue. On Tuesday there will be a strike in the middle of the Netherlands and on Wednesday, in the eastern and southern regions. Travellers are advised to seek alternate transport. More >

Dutch destinations: get the flavour of Flevoland

Host to top-name beach festivals, herds of wild horses and the Floriade garden festival, the Netherlands’ newest province is easing itself onto the tourist map. With a fascinating creation story and acres of lush nature that belie its young age, Flevoland is well worth a visit. The treacherous coastline of the Zuiderzee, with its many hidden sandbanks, was once the world’s largest gravesite for shipwrecks, devastating crops and forcing mass evacuations. When a flood disaster in 1916 claimed 50 lives,... More >

Dutch destinations: Zoom on down to Zierikzee

Zierikzee isn’t the first place that might spring to mind for a getaway in the Netherlands, but this small coastal city is well worth a visit. Here you’ll find 500 listed buildings, museums, a historic harbour, and plenty of cute boutiques and cafes. The history of the community dates back to the 13th century and for hundreds of years it was best known for the Battle of Zierikzee. The 1304 naval clash pitted the forces of King Philip IV of... More >

Extreme heat: from sticky nights to a sticky world situation

After a scorching Tuesday, the Netherlands has now clocked up its 20th tropical night, in which temperatures did not drop below 20 Celsius and passed the 25 degree mark in inner cities, RTL Nieuws reported on Wednesday. The plaknacht, or sticky night, which may well earn itself a place on the word of the year list, will have made sleep impossible for all but those with air conditioning in the bedroom. With more periods of high temperatures on the horizon,... More >

Rotterdam planning crackdown on ‘anti-social’ drivers

The city of Rotterdam is planning to crack down on inconsiderate and dangerous driving behaviour this summer. According to Vincent Karremans, the city’s alderman for mobility, his office has seen too many instances of reckless driving, loitering in and around cars, and noise violations. ‘In recent years, we have already put a lot of effort into tackling traffic antisocial behaviour. We will continue this in the coming years,’ he said in a statement. The city plans to use a series... More >

Dutch destinations: Why not go Wadden Sea island hopping?

If you thought island hopping was something to do in Greece, think again. A tour through the five Dutch Wadden Sea islands is a great way to enjoy them in all their glory. Dutch school children learn the names and order of the Wadden Islands, on the edge of the fauna-rich Wadden Sea using the clue TV Tas (or tv bag) for Texel, Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland and Schiermonnikoog. The islands, with their long sandy beaches, their wide open spaces, quirky... More >

OM investigation into nitrogen figures at Lelystad airport: Dutch media

Public prosecutors are investigating whether or not figures provided on nitrous emissions from the planned passenger hub at Lelystad Airport may have been purposefully incorrect, reports Omroep Flevoland. An opponent of the airport, Leon Adegeest of the Stichting HoogOverijssel, reported 14 people involved in presenting figures regarding the airport’s emissions to the police for alleged criminal activity. Protestors claim that officials in the infrastructure and water ministry, consultancy firms and (former) directors of Lelystad Airport did not correctly declare nitrogen... More >

Going electric could mean cheaper parking from next year

The owners of electric cars and hydrogen-powered cars could pay lower parking fees from 2023 to stimulate clean car use, junior infrastructure minister Vivianne Heijnen said in a briefing to MPs on Thursday. Heijen is going to adapt local legislation to include the measure but it will still be up to local councils to adopt it. Amsterdam is currently the most expensive place to park, charging up to €568 a year in the city centre, while towns like IJsselstein in... More >

Amsterdam to rethink fines for mistakes with holiday rental

Amsterdam city council has pledged to review huge fines handed out to citizens for making innocent mistakes in holiday rentals. At a council meeting attended by two dozen members of the public who run holiday rentals, the new head of housing Zita Pels said that the city would re-think its policy on punitive fines for first-time offenders. In the meantime, she said, contested fines will be frozen while she investigates the legal position around reversing penalties deemed unfair. Around 30... More >

Dutch destinations: music and mummies in Frisian villages

A weekend in a peaceful village seemed like the perfect option when one of our neighbours announced plans for a party. Little did we know that the visit would coincide with Franeker’s Oldies festival. The Oldies Festival, as we soon discovered, is not an event for pensioners, but a music festival focusing on the hits of yore, from the Beatles to Led Zeppelin. It had everything you would expect from a village party – a big stage, a beer tent,... More >