The University of Groningen is again offering a free online course to learn Dutch. The course is for anyone who wants to learn Dutch. You can join if you speak English but not yet Dutch.
Want to fit in in the Netherlands? Then you have to cycle, says Afghan journalist Ghulamullah Habib. At any time of day, you see people cycling: from young to old, male or female, rich or poor. His 2 compatriots, Sayed Sadaqat and Taib Afghan, also see this: "It is surprising, but everyone cycles here."
Sinterklaas is a big celebration for children in the Netherlands. From 16 November to 5 December, people celebrate that the made-up character Sinterklaas is in the country. During this party people give each other presents. Read all about the Sinterklaas celebration here!
On 11 November, the Netherlands celebrates 2 special traditions. In the north and middle of the Netherlands, children celebrate Saint Martin, with lanterns and songs. In the south and east of the country, November 11 marks the start of the carnival season, a colourful celebration full of music and fun. In this article you can read how these feasts are celebrated.
The Dutch government wants to give fewer refugees asylum and send them back to their countries of origin more quickly. The government also wants to declare some areas in Syria safe, so refugees from those areas can eventually return. But this cannot happen overnight.
Asylum Minister Marjolein Faber wanted to declare an "asylum crisis" to quickly introduce strict asylum rules. The government has now decided not to do so as there was not enough support for it. However, other strict asylum rules have been leaked.
Do you have the right to work, but cannot get a job because you do not have a citizen service number (BSN) yet? Then you are not the only one. This is a common occurrence. Currently, 18,000 refugees are still waiting for their BSN.
Winter time begins on the night of Saturday, 26 October to Sunday, 27 October 2024. Then the clock in the Netherlands will go back 1 hour. This will allow you to sleep longer that weekend. In this article you will find everything you need to know about winter time.
