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Yesterday evening, during a national press conference, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, announced an extension of the Coronavirus measures currently in place. These measures will now be in force through 28 April 2020, an extension of an additional 3 weeks past the former date of 6 April 2020.
Continue reading “Coronavirus Measures Update”
These are strange times for us all, but especially, perhaps, for those who are new residents in the Northern Netherlands. In this time of face-to-face social distancing, new residents may feel particularly disconnected as they may be far from their home countries and not yet rooted in the Netherlands society and culture. Even long-term residents may find the adjustment to living smaller and more contained a challenge.
Continue reading “Coronavirus Measures and Connect International”
You may have heard about it from colleagues, or via the news, but here is a full break down of the new speed limit that will come into effect in March.
From mid-March 2020 new road rules will come into effect on Dutch motorways where currently the speed limit is 120 or 130 kilometres per hour. On these roads, between the hours of 6am and 7pm, a new reduced maximum speed limit of 100 kilometre per hour will be in effect.
Continue reading “Step on the brakes! Reduced speed limits!”
It is official. On January 31st 2020 the UK left the EU. There is a transition period from February 1st 2020 up to and including December 31st 2020. During this transition period you can continue to live, work and study in the Netherlands, however after the transition period you will need a residence document in order to stay in the Netherlands.
Continue reading “Brexit and your right of residence”
Connect International organises various events and activities every month to give international residents a sense of community, to help them better understand the Dutch culture, to find their way in their daily lives in the northern Netherlands and simply to have fun. So come and try out some of the Connect International clubs and events.
Continue reading “Enjoy 2020 with Connect International”
The Dutch speak, it is claimed, the best English in the world. Among the main reasons for such high degree of English speakers in the Netherlands are the country’s small size, dependency on international trade and the use of subtitles for foreign languages on TV rather than audio dubbing. Furthermore, English is (alongside Dutch, of course) an official language of the municipality of Amsterdam.
Continue reading “Improve your English”
The Netherlands and Belgium have recorded their highest ever temperatures today. The Dutch meteorological service, KNMI, said the temperature reached 39.1C (102F) at Gilze-Rijen airbase near the southern city of Tilburg on Wednesday afternoon, exceeding the previous high of 38.6C set in August 1944. City records in Amsterdam and Brussels are also expected to fall. Cities are particularly vulnerable in heatwaves because of a phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect, in which concrete buildings and asphalt roads absorb heat during the day and emit it again at night, preventing the city from cooling. KNMI has issued a code orange extreme temperature warning for everywhere except the off shore Wadden Islands and implemented its “national heat emergency” plan, while Belgium has taken the unprecedented step of placing the entire country on a code red warning.
Continue reading “Code Orange”
From 1 July 2019 it will be illegal in the Netherlands to hold your mobile phone in your hand while cycling, so be warned!
Calling, texting, WhatsApp, navigation, playing Pokémon Go, listening to music or just holding your phone in your hand to check the time will land you a €90 fine.
Continue reading “Don’t text and cycle!”
If you are new to the North of the Netherlands and are feeling a bit out of your depth below is a list of some useful websites where you can gain additional information (generally in English).
Connect International has worked for over 20 years with the international community in the North of the Netherlands. Our ultimate goal is to help internationals coming to live in the provinces of Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe to feel at home as quickly as possible.
Continue reading “Useful links and information for newcomers”
There are almost 360 species of wild bees in the Netherlands, with half of all bee species being listed as endangered. ‘Nederland Zoemt Bijentelling’ is a national action to count the number of bees on the weekend 13 – 14 April 2019.
Continue reading “National Bee Count 13 – 14 April”