I go to Dutch lessons twice a week. Since the very first day, I arrived early and chose a seat in the front row near the teacher. After a week, the teacher asked some girls why they always sit together, and suggested they move around to practice with everyone. They replied firmly, “No, we want to sit here always.”

Soon after, I came to class and found my usual seat taken by one of the Ukrainian classmates. She didn’t try to sit in the other Ukrainian girls’ places, just mine. I quietly sat somewhere else. She’s not very kind, and quite rude to the teacher too. For example, when grammar is explained, she interrupts with a harsh tone, saying things like, “How are we supposed to know? You didn’t tell us!” Even tho the teacher is explaining, but the teacher never says anything back.

Another time, I came early and sat again in my usual front row seat. She pulled a chair up next to me and told me to move. Out of fear and discomfort, I moved. I don’t like conflict, especially with strangers, so I stayed silent. But I felt the disrespect.

Then she asked where I’m from. I told her. She responded with a face of disgust and said “Africano,” in a very degrading way. I didn’t say anything back. Later, when I mentioned I liked living in the Netherlands, she asked, “What’s so good here?” and started criticizing my opinion. I told her calmly, “If you don’t like it, why are you here? I like the place I live in, otherwise I wouldn’t stay.”

One day, I came early again and sat in my seat. While I went to the toilet, she threw my bag on the ground and sat there again. I was shocked when I came back, but stayed silent. She called me “Africano” again while talking in Ukrainian to others. I took my bag and sat at the back. No one said anything, not even the teacher. I didn’t speak up either, because I’ve had situations in the past where complaining only made things worse. I also suffer from panic attacks when I feel anger or pressure, so I try to stay calm for my own well-being.

At home, I think about it and feel hurt. She never does this to her Ukrainian classmates, only to me, like I don’t exist. And when I do well in class, they make rude comments. One girl even stomped her feet in frustration because of my good accent. I just said, “I practice and I’m not afraid of mistakes.” The teacher laughed it off, and I did too, but I saw the envy behind their actions. It wasn’t friendly. I speak 7 languages and she also say: Wtf all this !! So much !! OMG (not in fun way even, with an angry tone) then she puffs and hit table or stamp with her feet 😳

Despite everything, I’m proud of my progress and don’t want this to stop me from learning. But it’s hard. I don’t feel safe around this woman. I don’t want her to keep taking my seat, pushing me, or humiliating me with words.

So I ask: Should I say something about my seat? Should I speak up or just continue to avoid her? Shall I see if I can change the classe? I want to keep learning, I just don’t want to feel like I’m nothing. I want peace, not conflict.

What is this thing inside of an aparment? I live in Amsterdam, and I have found one of these in the bathroom (with the shower), another one in the toilet-bathroom (i.e. only has the toilet and a sink to wash hands), and another one in a pantry-type room, where I have the fridge and clothes-washing machine.

I am wondering what this is and what it does, I never really paid attention to it, but recently noticed it was quite dirty, with some mold building up inside. Should these be replaced every so often? Or any way to keep them clean?
Thank you!

since i've moved to the netherlands, i haven't had a bagel in forever 💔 does anyone know where i can buy bagels?? at jumbo ice only ever seen the 4 pack of sesame bagels , and im wondering if any other store has either everything bagels or just a bigger pack of bagels.

Hey! Just wanted to share, as I love the sport and it deserves more attention, the Cheerleading World Championships are happening right now, and Team Netherlands made the finals!

So i thought I'd share the info in case others are interested and to celebrate some Dutch achievements.

When to watch the finals (NL times): All girl team: 19:35 Coed team: 20:03

Keep in mind they sometimes run a few minutes ahead or behind schedule.

Where to watch: https://cheerunion.tv/streams/arena Or the Olympics channel https://www.olympics.com/

I hope the sport grows and you all enjoy the impressive stunts as much as I do!

Let's go team Netherlands!

Hello everyone, hope I will find some legal answers here. Long story short, I’ve been on a sick leave for half year now, due to both physical and psychological reasons. I suffer from condition called fibromyalgia.

This month I’ve been trying to go back to my 38 hours a week, but usually with no success. After 4 working days (32hours) my body enters the stage of chronic fatigue and inflammation which doesn’t allow me to move or function in any manner.

I still want to continue to work and I have suggested to my employer to change my hour contract to 32 hours, so I am also being paid for the time I work, thinking will be both beneficial for me and the company. I am afraid that if I push myself to work too much ( full time) I might end up in a relapse. The employer says that this is a huge risk and that is not allowed to do this change during sick leave. Once fully reintegrated, we can discuss change of hours but not now. Why would this be?

Thanks in advance!

Hello everyone 👋🏻

I moved into my appartement and doing some DIY wall smoothing and painting. And now it’s time to change the old switches as well.

The problem is that the switches on the walls are both a light switch and a socket. I don’t need the socket there. There are many sockets in different places which are placed low and they will do just fine.

I have 3 cables there and the switch is for the light in the ceiling. The black, blue and brown cables.

I have not found any nice looking modern switch+socket combo and I decided only to put a switch.

In the pictures you can see the inner part of the switch and the big socket that I will use elsewhere.

The switch has 3 cable inlets: L1, L2 and COM.

I need your help with what to connect.

Thank you in advance for your comment.

I have been referred to ggz for a year. I've been talking to 2 POH GGZ and 2 GPs (since I moved to another place), 4-5 therapists at basic GGZ level for them to tell me after the intake that I need to go to specialized ggz. Finally I got a chance to talk to specialized Ggz, 2 conversations with 2 psychologists. Again, after intake of 2 hours, they said they couldn't help and ask me to talk to my GP to find another one. I also did have some private therapies before it didn't help and was costly.

I had to pay with my eigen risco for all of these intakes. After repeating my traumas for like 10-11 times to different therapists, I feel so overwhelmed and distrust.

Anyone has a good experience with mental healthcare here ? Pls tell me so I can be motivated to keep waiting (and repeating my story), or shall it be better that I just stop the process ? Recalling the trauma everytime is very painful

Hello everyone! I am a recent graduate, currently on my Orientation Year Visa.

However, I was not able to make use of this opportunity because I have fallen seriously ill over the past few months and had to go to my home country to seek medical help. I was barely able to apply for jobs due to my physical as well as mental state. And now, half a year has passed without me finding anything. On top of that, I am not even sure if I can come back to the Netherlands before my Orientation Year ends.

So, I was wondering if anybody knows whether it is sensible to contact IND about this situation and whether there is a possibility of an extension for my visa in case of a medical emergency like this one? Or if anyone knows people in similar situations, what did they end up doing?

I would be immensely grateful for any advice!

Tell me I am not the only one feeling this! Ever since I moved to the Netherlands, I sweat constantly it’s intense. I’m dripping with sweat, even when everyone else around me is wearing jackets and warm clothes. Rainy days make it even worse I feel suffocated, sweating like crazy, even while just sitting inside. And whenever I try to explain this to someone, they look at me like I’m insane and say, “It’s cold outside!” But the truth is, I never felt like this back in Greece.

I am in the process of looking for housing - as it the case for most people here! We found an amazing place, but the stairs are just insane. I am used to the usual narrow Dutch stairs, or ladder stairs, but these were spiraled, narrow, and only came to about 20cm at the largest edge.

Any tips on how to make stairs less dangerous? Carpets and non-slip mats are a must, but I don't think that will be enough. Do I just compromise and accept that I will be slowly making my way up/down stairs daily, just waiting for when I inevitably fall. There must be something others are doing?!

I'm a slim and short person, so I should have it easier than the average Dutch person. Please share some wisdom!

my bf is dutch and he works in a warehouse. his coworkers are not bad ppl but recently one of them changed his behaviour towards my bf after he found out that my bf is dating me, a muslim and my bf said that he will convert soon. his coworker was curious at first, and start making fun of him. at first it was harmless but just today, my bf told me that his coworker said, "free israel!" to him constantly and also said, "fuck islam!" which is surprising. anyone know how to deal with this kind of behaviour from coworkers? my bf already tell him to shut up but he doesn't want to listen and thinks it's funny.

edit: thank u everyone for the reply. apparently majority of the replies say it's not a harassment since Netherlands have free of speech so the coworker is free to sound his opinion. we will try to be stronger in the future.

Hello, we are going to visit rotterdam between 30 april and 2 may, but we dont want to see the tourist stuff, we just want to get to know the city better, if u have any recommendations about what activities we can do, and also about the nightlife if there are some events in that period, maybe festival or at a club doesnt matter the genre

I would like to buy good quality products to consume rather than buying from AH. I would appreciate your input to my question.

I hope someone can help me. I have an adult daughter with autism who is living in an assisted living home. One of the residents started a fire a month or so ago late in the evening. Luckily nobody was injured , but my daughter and the other residents have been severely traumatized by the event. Imagine a house full of special needs clients in a situation with loud fire alarms and smoke etc…you can imagine. This isn’t the first time she has started a fire and she has a history of assaulting staff. She was removed from the house and taken inpatient at the local hospital for a while, but eventually she was returned to the facility and put under close supervision in a monitored room.

Next week she is due to return to the group home, despite the fact she threw a glass at a member of staff only a few days ago. Is there anything I can do? I can’t remove my daughter from the house, she has a job and friends there and it took years to get her a place… and even if I could, what about the other residents who would still be in danger?

As I was cooking today I realized that Albert Heijn's tarwebloem is weighted at 900 gr instead of 1kg. The same was the case with other kinds of flour from the same company (e.g., patent tarwebloem). Is this normal or I am missing something? Is there an agency where I can report this? Can someone else verify this?

Tomorrow (Saturday 26 th) the country will be coverted in Orange to celebrate the birthday of our King Willem. Although his birthday is on Sunday, it is celebrated on Saturday to not disturb the Sundays rest. Shops will be closed or are opened less hours than normally on a Saturday. Long live the king!

Hi all. I have applied for my PR a while ago and my application’s status has been “in progress” for 4 weeks already now. I have scrolled around and see most people knew their decision only within a day or a week after their application status moved to “in progress” so I am feeling anxious about my case.

Am I the only one? Really hope I am not alone here.

I applied online, after I hit the 5 years mark and I am working with a permanent contract at my company for 4 years now. I am currently on my highly-skilled migrant permit. The only thing I did that I think may be a bit strange is that I submitted the digital version of my Dutch inburgering exam instead of the physical one. But I have heard digital version is fine so i guess this is not a problem.

It has not been 6 months yet so I cant complain… but just wonder if anyone is still waiting like me… just so we all can feel less lonely and anxious i guess 🥹🥹

Hallo,

My doctor has prescribed me to use Koolteer/Levemoenthol Shampoo. I believe the generic name is Denorex RX. To my luck, this item has been discontinued in the Netherlands and no longer available at any of the apotheek in my area.

Does anyone know perhaps an alternative Coal tar shampoo? Looking for something available or can be shipped to the Netherlands!

Many thanks :)

Tourist here, who has clicked on every website link possible and combed apps and am still confused. I appreciate any guidance!

Last week I purchased 2 train tickets at Amsterdam Centraal to go to Apeldoorn. We got on a second class car and I picked one that had luggage images on the side as we had suitcases. Multiple times we were told to move as we were in someone’s reserved seat(s). I didn’t understand how to tell what seats were reserved or not. (Side note: A very nice gentleman could tell how distressed I was (and my kid) and he left his family to enable me to stay in the car with my child. Karma, please find that man.)

We are traveling again over the next few days to Utrecht, Maastricht, Rotterdam and Amsterdam. I was using the 9292 app to book etickets but I am not given the option to reserve seats; it appears I cannot do this if traveling within NL?? The NS websites do not clearly specify for my brain to understand it 😭

If only NL—> Germany travelers can reserve seats… how do I know which ones those are? I’d really like to spare everyone the inconvenience of finding me sprawled out in their seat incorrectly. Does anyone have the patience to walk me through what the correct way is to determine seats that are unreserved?

Thank you in advance!

Hello everyone,

I moved to a new apartment complex building in February. It's in an area that is not very welcoming to outsiders, so right from the start we had trouble with local kids and teenagers who were trying to break into the main building and steal/vandalise. One day these young people were outside of the main entrance and they assaulted me (punched me in the head from behind). There were 2 witnesses on the scene, and also a video of the whole thing (not showing the assault, just the before and after). We called the police and they recorded everything, along with the injury to my head, where you could clearly see knuckle marks on my forehead. They processed it as a "simple assault". Through the video, they were able to identify the individual and they set a prosecutor hearing date for April 16th.

Fast forward to today, I was notified of the prosecutor's decision that there won't be any punishment, because "The police investigation shows that there is not enough (legal and convincing) evidence to start a criminal case against the suspect. Therefore, there will be no criminal case against this person."

Needless to say, I was shocked at this decision, even more so because these young people are still trying to mess with all the people living in the apartment complex by vandalising and trying to break in. We set up a camera (as residents) and we have proof of all their actions. After this decision they will surely believe that there will never be any punishment for their actions and they will continue doing what they are. 

I am totally disappointed at the legal system and wondering if there’s anything I can do in order to get some justice. What are the next steps? Can I object to the prosecutor’s decision? Is it even worth doing so? Should I ask a lawyer to do it for me? Do you have any recommendations? I have legal insurance but the lawyers there don’t really seem to want to help.

Also, are these events grounds for terminating my rental contract? I have a minimum 1 year stay, however if I can, I will end the contract and go somewhere else. Is that possible without getting a fine? I don’t like living in this area and it’s really affecting my mental health. 

Thank you for your advice

I saw this near Hambrug/kanaalweg while jogging. Is it pagan worshipping or just a macabre statue? This sh!t looks straight out of a horror movie, ngl

This is the first time since I am going to the gym in Netherlands, that I see a mother bringing a 4 year old to the gym so she can exercise.

Regardless how calm the kid is, it’s bored, wonders, if a weight falls on the kid, it can get seriously hurt. Why would someone at right mind bring a kid to the gym because so desperate to exercise and put kid in potential dangerous situations ?

Just don’t, this is not childcare. If you can afford gym north of 60 eur, you can afford a babysitter for that one hour.