Articles

Cheers!

Drinking alcohol is permitted in the Netherlands from the age of 18. Most of the Dutch, both men and women, sometimes drink alcoholic drinks, like beer. Some people only do that at parties or in the weekend, and other people drink 1 or 2 glasses of beer of wine nearly every day.

What does a smoker cost Dutch society?

Every year 20.000 people die in the Netherlands due to smoking. So it's very unhealthy. But not only that. It also costs a lot of money. Money that you would be better off saving for your family, for a nice day out or even smarter: for unexpected bills. Still not convinced? Watch this video:

1588: Dutch independence

For a long time, the Netherlands was part of the Spanish empire. In 1588 the Netherlands became a republic, because it no longer wanted to be a part of Spain.

11 videos that you can't miss

Are you looking for fun and interesting videos on New to the Netherlands? But you don't have enough time to look through the entire website? Here are the 11 most-watched videos especially for you in a handy list.

What are anxiety disorders?

Everyone experiences anxiety. But with anxiety disorders, the fears are unfounded: there is no real danger. It’s very difficult to lead a normal life with an anxiety disorder. The following videos explain what anxiety disorders are, and how they are treated in the Netherlands.

Danny Ghosen: From a refugee of war to being a Dutch journalist

At the age of fifteen, Danny came from Lebanon to the Netherlands. He is now a successful journalist who has worked for various television broadcasters.

From potato to French fries!

In many European countries the potato has been a basic food product since the 16th century. Originally the potato came from South America. In many countries, including the Netherlands and Belgium, the potato is seen as the basis of a meal.

'Do you already have a LinkedIn profile?'

Social media continues to play an ever-greater role in applying for positions. Potential employers search for your name via social media. You can also find jobs via social media.

What brings people to the Netherlands?

The Netherlands is a popular country for migrants from all over the world. Rotterdam is an example of a city where migrants from all over the world can relocate. But how do people live in such a multicultural city and what does that really mean when you are a Rotterdammer? Not everyone agrees about this!

How you can save by using energy-saving light bulbs

Even small lifestyle changes can lead to huge energy savings. Below are some ideas: How much can you save with energy-saving light bulbs?

Did you know that the Netherlands is bilingual?

Language is the key to good communication with the people around you, and people in other countries. It's always an advantage if you speak a second language, but it can be a problem too. As a newcomer, you know that every country has one or more official languages, but every language also has its own dialects.

How you save energy while taking a shower

We use an average of 63 liters of water in a daily 8-minute shower. If you make that 3 minutes shorter, you would save 30 euros per person per year!

There are success stories from immigrants as well!

The integration of those receiving a residency permit to live in the Netherlands has not really been a success story for the most recent decades. Many immigrants find it to be very difficult to start over here and to begin builiding a new life with nothing. But the story of Mardjan Seighali from Iran is a shining example that deserves to be told!

What is the greenhouse effect?

Energy saving is also good for the environment and against global warming. Watch this video: 

How do languages develop?

We learn new words almost every day, because new words are always being created. But words disappear too, because people stop using them. Why is that? How often do languages change, and how do you learn all those new words?

Is your CV up to date?

As a newcomer it is a great challenge to find work in the Netherlands. You likely will not be able to find a job right away. To help you along the way a bit, the editorial team at New to the Netherlands has selected a number of videos which might be able to help you in finding a job. Today: How can I find the right job vacancy?

'The day I became Dutch'

Every year on 15 December we celebrate Naturalization Day in the Netherlands. On this special day newcomers receive an official declaration which states that they have now become a Dutch citizen. With this declaration you can apply for a Dutch passport. Throughout the country these ceremonies are organized. Watch the clip about naturalization and read the personal story of our collegue Kowfurow from Somalia about how he became a Dutch citizen. 

Visit Utrecht, the home of the Dom Tower

The old city of Utrecht is located in the center of the country. The city dates back to the time of the Roman Empire and is the fourth largest-populated city in the Netherlands.

10 Tips to learn Dutch

This program will blow your mind

The successful program Mindf*ck can be seen again tonight on Dutch television. Mindf*ck is a psychological magician program with one amazing feat after another. Each week you will see new scientific experiments and unexplainable illusions from illusionist Victor Mids.