Wednesday 22 March 2023

DutchNews podcast – The Shoes That Should Be Sterilised Edition – Week 43

DutchNews podcast – The Shoes That Should Be Sterilised Edition – Week 43

In this week’s we give you the lowdown on who’s who in the new Dutch government and find out why the health minister’s shoes made a splash at the swearing-in ceremony. Others to make a splash this week were the protester who disrupted a dolphin show in Japan and the students who came up with a novel way to stop green roofs leaking. In sport, we find out why Max Verstappen is still angry about being pushed off the podium... More >



Chipcard operator launches fast-track refund procedure

Chipcard operator launches fast-track refund procedure

Public transport users will find it easier to reclaim the balance on their OV travelcards from today thanks to a change in the refund procedure. Operator Travelink has introduced online and phone hotlines so that holders of anonymous blue chipcards can arrange for the money to be paid into their bank account. Until now anonymous cards were only refunded if the owner filled in a form. Junior infrastructure minister Sharon Dijksma ordered the company to simplify the system so that passengers were not left out... More >






Schoolchildren urged not to jump level crossings as train services increase

Schoolchildren urged not to jump level crossings as train services increase

Rail network operator ProRail has written to 250 schools located near a main railway line urging pupils not to take chances on level crossings. The number of trains between Amsterdam and Eindhoven has been increased to six per hour on Wednesdays, meaning crossings will be shut more often. ProRail is concerned that children cycling to school in the morning may get frustrated and try to jump over the crossing when the barriers are down. The company has written to schools in towns including Boxtel,... More >




No bridge over busy waters: minister wants tunnel to Amsterdam north

No bridge over busy waters: minister wants tunnel to Amsterdam north

Caretaker infrastructure minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen is maintaining her preference for bicycle and pedestrian tunnels linking Amsterdam with its northern flank, she said in a letter to the city council made public on Thursday. Schultz objects to the bridge links over the IJ waterway which are favoured by the council. Amsterdam municipality is scheduled to debate ‘the jump to the north’ next week, the Parool has reported. The chief drawback to the bridge proposals is that they will have to... More >





Average speed cameras to be placed on high-risk provincial roads

Average speed cameras to be placed on high-risk provincial roads

Average speed cameras are to be introduced on 11 provincial roads in an attempt to cut the rate of accidents and deaths in traffic. The cameras will be placed on N roads with two or four lanes in five provinces – Friesland, Flevoland, Utrecht, Zeeland and Limburg. The stretches of road have been chosen because they have a high accident rate or drivers regularly exceed the speed limit on them. ‘Our experience has found that drivers keep more closely to the speed limit over... More >





DutchNews podcast – The Bus Baby Eagle Edition – Week 21

DutchNews podcast – The Bus Baby Eagle Edition – Week 21

Our latest podcast features the mother in Breda who checked in for one on the bus but checked out for two, why a Dutch-trained American eagle is minding Donald Trump in Brussels, and how a court decided an Iraqi refugee was ‘not gay enough’ to stay in the Netherlands. We also discuss the fall-out from Ajax’s defeat in the Europa League final and whether we’re any closer to a new Dutch government. Top story Work starts on Amsterdam Eurostar terminal News Gay refugee... More >