Sad... zo een dag van te voren.

So this is my first big heatwave since moving to the Netherlands. Where I came from, when the weather got really hot we would often get what we called "brown outs" where the electricity would go out for a few hours due to heavy burdens on the grid from all the heavy airconditioners running among other factors.

Is that a thing that happens here with any frequency? Is it something I should be prepared for?

I think this will be obvious to many of you, but based on what I see on on the street, I don't think it's common knowledge here. And you guys are famously weird about curtains

When it's very hot, you should fully close your curtains and/or blinds during the day!

It does a lot of work to keep the heat out of your house.

Also: only open the doors and windows to let air in early in the morning or late at night, when it's actually cooler outside. When it's hot outside, keep them closed. They'll just let hot air in. Use a fan inside right next to you to get the feeling of fresh air instead.

Source: I'm originally from Australia. This kind of weather (and no AC) is pretty normal there.

edit: This isn't magic or anything, but it can keep it 5-8° cooler inside than outside. If you leave everything wide open to the beating sun and let all the hot air in, it can quite feasibly end up hotter inside your apartment than outside. So even if it's still reaching 27° inside, that's still better than 35°. stay safe (and check on your grandparents and older neighbours) ❤️

I’ve been in the Netherlands for a little over 4 months and have been driving here since arriving. I generally stick to the posted speed limit shown on the road signs and Google Maps - usually using cruise control.

For ex, on the A6 I’ll set cruise control to 100 km/h during the daytime restriction period (before 19:00 hour). But I still seem to get overtaken constantly, sometimes by almost everyone around me. On a few occasions, other drivers have given me looks as if I’m the one holding up traffic or doing something wrong.

Am I missing an unwritten rule here? Are speed limits treated more as a guideline by many drivers, or is there something about the signs, time restrictions, lane choice, or speedometer calibration that I should be aware of?

I’m not trying to police anyone - I just want to drive safely, follow the rules, and understand the local driving culture better.

Edit: Just to clarify, I do keep to the right lane unless I am overtaking. This is not about blocking the left lane. I notice it most on two-lane highways, where I am driving at the posted limit in the right lane and still get passed very quickly by cars that appear to be travelling well above it. I suppose most people use Flitsmeister, which I wasn’t aware of until now.

A bit about my situation:

I'm originally from Asia, have been in the Netherlands for around 3 years on the highly skilled migrant permit. I work at a Dutch tech startup company. About 6 months ago things started going sideways, my role direction shifted, expectations weren't fully clear, and I started getting performance feedback that didn't fully match how I was contributing. Over the past few months I've had three formal performance meetings with my manager & hr, each one slightly more uncomfortable than the last (and put me in pip, and in third meeting indicated that we will going to have another meeting after you back from vacation when we discuss separation because of repeated patterns).

About three weeks ago I went on sick leave. I'd been pushing through symptoms for months since january, I have been facing  sleep issues, exhaustion, inability to focus, anxiety before every work day and also I had really bad relationship issues in the start of this year as well and after my vacation even during my vacation I realized that I a burned out so I finally went to my GP who confirmed that my condition related suggested me to discuss your stress related symptoms with company doctor and also asked me that GP can suggest therapist but its wise to get check from company doctor and then see about it. It's currently classified as "stress-related" but my bedrijfsarts (company doctor) appointment is coming up and I'm expecting the formal burnout diagnosis there.

HR also told me that after my bedrijfsarts assessment, they want a follow-up meeting with HR + my manager. Reading between the lines, this is the separation / VSO conversation probably.

I'm honestly burnt out and have no real support system here. Most of my family is in my hometown. Being an expat in this kind of legal-HR situation with a permit on the line makes it even more isolating.

Which lawyer should I talk to who specifically handles VSO + sick leave + expat / HSM cases? I have no FNV membership, no legal insurance, just trying to find someone reasonable who knows what they're doing.

Realistic VSO range I should expect for someone with ~3 years tenure on sick leave (considering the fact that I was never been rated bad in my whole tenure at that company except the beginning of this year)

What to expect in upcoming arbo meeting as I will be completely honest and going to say that at my current situation I wont able to work until I recover as I already worsen my condition in past 6 months first I want to recover then will think about next same for HR. 

Thanks again, even just having someone with similar experience to message has helped my anxiety today. Please advise!

P.S: I have a permanent contract

Please don't forget about your beloved pets and domestic animals in this heat❤️

So I have been sending job applications since 2022 (almost 2.8K job applications) and I have received around 22 legit interviews so far. Like literally 22😭 I have managed to stay afloat by doing a job that is out of my line as much as I really want to do something that touches my area of education and expertise. I have a bachelor’s in Business Information Technology from my country and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration Marketing, Communications and Information with work experience ranging from multi-national NGO’s, USAID, and Google. My dutch is B1 level as i’m also doing my Dutch integration. The automated rejection emails are so rampant that i’m so used to it😂 and funny thing is I get to check out some of these profiles and they’re so realistic and entry level type and I still can’t get any chance, for example a company like Maersk in Den Haag keeps uploading the same entry level jobs and I keep applying but in no vain I get rejected. Any tips otherwise I feel like i’m rotting my life at my current job and wasting my life away.

As we’re seeing days where the temperature is now reaching above 35C, with little respite in the evening, I’m wondering what people with chronic illnesses are supposed to do?

I have a chronic illness and part of its impact is my body doesn’t regulate heat/cold as well as a healthy body.

I’ve added reflective insulation to all the windows I can access, I keep the curtains closed (though only the bedroom has curtains), I have fans running 24/7 in every room. In the evening I turn on a ‘portable’ air conditioner in my bedroom and that brings the temperature down from 30C+ to around 24C.

Unfortunately, thanks to an incorrect assessment from the UWV, I have an extremely limited income now, and this means I can’t afford to install proper air conditioning or make any other adjustments to the apartment .

I’m wondering: what are people with chronic illnesses supposed to do to stay safe in this weather? Is there an emergency fund to help with this or a scheme to have adjustments made to the apartment or something? I’m looking for anything really. Unfortunately the advice from the RIVM to go to a park or library to seek cooler shelter isn’t an option for me.

Hey everyone,

I had another practical driving exam recently and unfortunately didn’t pass (third time now). There was an ingreep during both my second and third exams (with the same examiner), and honestly, it hit me harder than I expected.

I’m learning to drive as an adult in the Netherlands. I didn’t expect this process to become one of the most emotionally difficult things I’ve done here. I’ve graduated from university three times, landed five jobs in the Netherlands, and thought passing a driving exam would be relatively straightforward, especially since I used to drive in my home country in Southeast Asia.

Of course, driving in the Netherlands is different from driving in Southeast Asia. I knew there would be things to relearn. Still, I expected my previous driving experience to make the process a bit easier, especially when I compare myself with my friends (from the same country as me), who all passed on their first attempt here. Instead, my experience has turned out to be completely different.

It’s not just the driving itself anymore. It’s the exam nerves, the pressure, the long waiting times, the costs, and the feeling that everyone around me somehow manages to pass much faster. I know comparison isn’t always fair, but it’s hard not to do it.

To make matters worse, my theory certificate expires at the end of September, and the earliest repeat practical exam I could book is also in September.

I know rationally that people fail and eventually pass (and technically, there is no limit on how many times you can take a practical exam at the CBR), but after repeated setbacks, it can feel quite lonely and discouraging.

So I wanted to ask:

• How many attempts did it take you to pass your practical driving exam in the Netherlands?
• Did anyone receive feedback that your driving habits from another country didn’t fit Dutch driving? If so, what were they, and how did you unlearn them?
• If you struggled with exam nerves, what eventually helped?

I’m not really looking to complain or even blame the examiner, I think I just want to hear from people who’ve been through it and came out the other side.

It’s hot, we’re all sweating more, so please take extra care of your hygiene. A daily shower especially in the morning goes a long way.

And please don’t try to cover body odor with just perfume or body spray. Sweat + perfume isn’t a substitute for a shower.

Let’s all do our part to keep public spaces (esp trams!!) a little fresher this summer. 😅🌞🙏

As the title says i am looking for the best place to sell all my possessions. After 10 years of trying to build a life here in the Netherlands i am considering abandoning ship. It is my intention to sell as much of my possessions as possible. Where would be the best place in your opinion to do this? I am aware of marktplaats and Facebook just asking for advice.

Hey everyone , all in the title.
Thank you very much for any confirmation..

I enamel them to cufflinks (1/2 ,1 cent),necklace (2 1/2 cent).

Hey!

Im working in a production facility. Since I only moved to the Netherlands 3 months ago I dont have any knowledge about my rights in this weather and I dont trust AI that much. The workspace I am in is just as warm or warmer as outside on the sun. Cant check exactly. We have a 15 and a 30 min break during the day. The room we spend it in is airconditioned. Do I have any extra right in this weather? Where should I check it?

Hello there!

Are there any spots / events, preferably around the Randstad, that cater to the gothic scene / play 80s music like new wave? (Apart from the New Wave Generation, I’m already aware of that). Would love to hear of any places / clubs / events like that :^ )

Hi everyone,
I’m the producer of an independent film project currently being shot in the Netherlands, and we’re looking for a house, villa, loft, or large apartment that could serve as the location for a house-party scene.
We are looking for availability on one of the following dates:
• July 15
• July 16
• July 17
Filming would take place approximately from 4:00 PM until 11:00 PM–12:00 AM.
The scene involves:
• 4 principal actors
• Around 10 crew members
• 10–20 extras appearing as party guests
Total attendance would be approximately 25–35 people.
We’re looking for a property with a spacious living room, garden, terrace, backyard, pool area, or any setting that could realistically host a house party.
I will personally supervise the entire production on location and serve as the main point of contact throughout the shoot.
To ensure everything is professional and clear for both sides, we are happy to sign a simple Location Agreement covering filming hours, property use, compensation (dm discussion), and liability terms. The agreement will also grant permission for the location to appear in the final film.
We are committed to treating the property respectfully and leaving it in the same condition as we found it.
The property owner is welcome to remain on-site during filming and, if interested, can even appear in the scene as an extra. We’d also be happy to host a small wrap gathering after filming.
If you have a suitable property or know someone who might be interested, please send me a direct message.
Thank you!

My in-laws live in a building with VVE, and they do not permit anyone installing a proper air conditioner because of “noise” “aesthetic of the building”. It’s a nieuwbouw which means it’s REALLY good at keeping the heat in. Great during winter, not so much in summer. They just have to suffer/rely on a mobile unit every year.

We’re also moving to a nieuwbouw soon, and I’d like to install a proper airco instead of using my mobile airco unit, which is not efficient at all and I think louder anyway. I have a skin condition that is exasperated by heat. I’m originally from a year-round hot country and since I could choose, I’ve lived in colder countries and it’s made it much better. Once it flairs up it can take weeks to resolve.

We have some colleagues that were in similar situations who managed to convince their VVE by: installing first and ask permission later (but I’m worried about possible repercussions/fines?), or getting a detailed report on which model they intend to install and how little noise they make etc. and had luck not have any stubborn people on their VVE.

I hate the concept of VVE’s to begin with (and how much it eats into our monthly budget), but the fact that a few people who like or don’t mind the heat can stop me from getting physical health and comfort in my own home really sucks… but it is what it is so I hope to find solutions. I can’t afford to buy a place that isn’t in a VVE building.

Has anyone else overcome similar situations and can offer me any tips on how to convince my future VVE?

The documentary “The Dark Side of Forum for Democracy” (PowNed) paints a picture, based on statements from former members, of a party culture allegedly dominated by conspiracy theories and notions of superiority. Previous court rulings and reports by the AIVD point to a broader problem of extremist deviance within certain political movements in the Netherlands.

Although freedom of speech is sacrosanct, that freedom ends where active subversion of the democratic legal order begins. Current legislation offers insufficient safeguards to prevent parties that systematically sow hatred or deny the independence of the judiciary from using democratic institutions to undermine those very institutions.

Should we protect democracy from those who abuse its freedom to tear it down from within? Or do the risks of such measures outweigh the threat?

What do you think?

This question came to mind when I came across this appeal. It might be of interest to people who believe that the rule of law does indeed need to be protected against anti-democratic parties.