The Netherlands

fish underwater

You can ring this 'fish doorbell' to help marine life in the Netherlands

The World's Carol Hills spoke to Anne Nejs, an urban ecologist for the city of Utrecht, who worked on creating the doorbell back in 2021. She says mid-April is the best time of the season to go fish-doorbelling.

You can ring this 'fish doorbell' to help marine life in the Netherlands
Dutch white people in blackface and colorful costumes

In year of Black Lives Matter protest, Dutch people again wrestle with tradition of Black Pete

In year of Black Lives Matter protest, Dutch people again wrestle with tradition of Black Pete
Putin holds his passport in front of an election official

Putin scores victory in 'gameshow'-like vote; Myanmar mine collapse; Ethiopian singer's death sparks protests; Botswana's mysterious elephant die-off

Putin scores victory in 'gameshow'-like vote; Myanmar mine collapse; Ethiopian singer's death sparks protests; Botswana's mysterious elephant die-off
Alongside tulips and windmills, the global image of Amsterdam is one of a city entwined with water.

Amsterdam’s coronavirus recovery plan embraces ‘doughnut economics’ for people and the planet

Amsterdam’s coronavirus recovery plan embraces ‘doughnut economics’ for people and the planet
Cyclist ride in front of a bus shelter with flowers planted on the roof.

A Dutch city is turning bus shelters into bee sanctuaries

A Dutch city is turning bus shelters into bee sanctuaries
Commander Jeff Schoep of the National Socialist Movement, one of the largest white nationalist type groups in the country, speaks during a rally at the state capital in Little Rock, Arkansas,

White nationalism, born in the USA, is now a global terror threat

As more people embrace a xenophobic and anti-immigrant worldview, it is fueling hostility and violence toward those deemed “outsiders” — whether because of their religion, skin color or national origin.

White nationalism, born in the USA, is now a global terror threat
Rie van de Mueren (r) used to be a professional ballroom dancer. She's with Dieuwer Duijf at the Music Salon, which holds dance parties for the elderly in north Amsterdam.

Amsterdam is tackling loneliness one dance party at a time

Public health experts now say loneliness is a growing health threat. Amsterdam is taking the subject seriously.

Amsterdam is tackling loneliness one dance party at a time
At Mountainoak Cheese in rural Ontario, their Gouda is winning awards. The owners support Canada's tariffs on cheese imports.

What turns some law-abiding Canadians into smugglers? The high price of imported cheese.

Canada has tariffs and quotas on imported cheese, which results in higher prices and limited availability. So some Canadians resort to cheese smuggling.

What turns some law-abiding Canadians into smugglers? The high price of imported cheese.
Dolphins

A Dutch nonprofit uses virtual reality to let disabled people 'swim' with dolphins

The Dolphin Swim Club is the realization of a more than two-decade journey by artist Marijke Sjollema, who had her first chance encounter with a dolphin in 1993 while snorkeling off the coast of Mexico.

A Dutch nonprofit uses virtual reality to let disabled people 'swim' with dolphins
A rescue helicopter hovers in the background as an elderly woman and her poodle use an air mattress to float above flood waters from Tropical Storm Harvey while waiting to be rescued from Scarsdale Boulevard in Houston, Texas, U.S.

The Dutch have advice on how Houston can plan for future flooding events

The impacts of Harvey are raising questions about what cities can do to prepare for flooding events. Dale Morris, who directs the Dutch government's water management efforts in the US, offers some advice.

The Dutch have advice on how Houston can plan for future flooding events
"So much rain has fallen," the National Weather Service tweeted about Harvey on Monday, "we've had to update the color charts on our graphics in order to effectively map it."

Harvey may have caught Texas by surprise, but other places have been getting ready for more extreme weather

Climate change is bringing more extreme weather to just about every corner of the globe. Some places are getting ready, some aren't. And the difference isn't just about money.

Harvey may have caught Texas by surprise, but other places have been getting ready for more extreme weather
From the rooftop to the bottle: Joris Hoebe's Hemelswater beer (“Heaven’s water”) is part of a citywide effort to control flooding in Amsterdam.

When life gives you too much rain, make beer with it

Amsterdam has a beer habit. It also has a big flooding problem. Now a local entrepreneur is trying to put the city's thirst for beer to use in reducing its flood risk.

When life gives you too much rain, make beer with it
A simulation of the floating screens to be deployed by Ocean Cleanup to capture small plastic down to 1 cm, up to massive discarded fishing nets.

Two proposals to clean up our oceans of garbage: Will either work?

Marine scientists estimate that over 5 trillion pieces of plastic currently litter the oceans. So is there any way to clean up all that floating mess?

Two proposals to clean up our oceans of garbage: Will either work?
Linawato Sidarto has lived in Amsterdam almost as long as she lived in Indonesia, but she says she doesn't think she'll ever be able to feel Dutch.

First- and second-generation Dutch wonder whether they'll ever be considered locals

Identity, integration and Islam were critical issues in the Dutch spring elections in the Netherlands. At the heart of the debate was who belongs in the Netherlands.

First- and second-generation Dutch wonder whether they'll ever be considered locals
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte greets supporters during campaigning in The Hague, Netherlands on March 14.

The Dutch far-right party of Geert Wilders looks to lose the election — by a lot

According to exit polls, Dutch voters turned out by a whopping 81 percent. And the liberal party of Prime Minister Mark Rutte scooped 31 seats in parliament, the largest showing.

The Dutch far-right party of Geert Wilders looks to lose the election — by a lot