The Netherlands: Facts And Figures About Higher Education In The Netherlands

The Erasmus University in Rotterdam

A student born in what is called the "European Space" which includes the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles pays a standard fee per annum, valid at every Dutch Institution of higher learning, of 1.835 euro plus a 500 euro educational material fee (books etc) p/a  The level of the annual fee is set by the government on a yearly basis.

Financial Student Aid in the Netherlands is a mix of Government grants and loans which amount to a total of euro 960.87 p/a if the student lives outside the parental home, or euro 765.80 if the student lives at home. University students who can show proof of enrollment in a certified institution of higher learning are also eligible for a free public transport and railway pass valid for the academic year they are enrolled in.

Students have to show proof of academic progress on a yearly basis in order to qualify for the continuation of grants, loans, etc.

Insurance: Every Dutch citizen who reaches the age of 18 years (including students) has to be enrolled in the national health insurance program with a basic minimum fee of 87 euro per month. Students of parents who earn less than the minimum established yearly income can apply for additional grants in support of their children's education.

There are also various opportunities for Dutch Nationals to study abroad. For additional information: http://www.fulbright.nl/, http://www.wilweg.nl/, http://www.wilweg.nl/financiering/beursopener

Almere-Digest

The Netherlands: Dutch Minister Of Finance Dijselbloem Optimistic About Dutch Economic Recovery

Next year there will absolutely be economic growth said Dutch Treasury Secretary Jeroen Dijsselbloem (PvdA) Monday during a party meeting in Amsterdam. '

"But the annual explosive growth rate we had in the 1990s will  not return anymore, and  I don't want this either, because it was not sustainable growth" said Dijselbloem '

The Dutch Office For Economic Policy Analysis (CPB)  reported last week that the Dutch economy will grow by 0.75 percent in 2014, but in that estimate the new austerity package of EUR 6 billion was not included.

It is generally assumed that the new austerity measures and tax increases will slow down the economic recovery said  Dijselbloem , but he reckoned that  the Netherlands will still show some growth next year.

Dijselbloem  also said one of the major difficulties at the moment for the Dutch economy was the depressed housing market.  He said it was not his intention to give any advice or make an appeal for people to spend money, but said he considered this to be an excellent time to buy a home with interest rates at rock bottom before interest rates go up again.

Almere-Digest

Social networking in the Netherlands popular - by Alexandra Gowling

Social networks are very popular in the Netherlands, with on average 85 per cent of the Dutch internet audience (10 million people) using one of them in recent months.

Of the various networks available, Facebook is the most popular, with just over half of the whole Dutch population using the world’s biggest social network. Second most popular is LinkedIn, with just under half that audience, followed closely by Twitter.

The Dutch social network Hyves is most popular with older users, with two-thirds of their users over 35, while half of Tumblr’s users are under 35. More people in the 45 to 55 age bracket use Twitter and LinkedIn, while the largest age group, surprisingly perhaps, for Facebook users are the over 55s.

According to Facebook Benelux, 6,1 million Dutch people log on to their accounts every day, which is unsurprising as the Dutch use the internet almost more than anyone else in Europe.

People in the Netherlands are also using smartphones more and more, as seen in the 77 per cent of Facebook users who check their account on their smartphone or tablet. Of these six million users, 4,6 million log in every day.

Read more: Social networking in the Netherlands | Dutch News

Netherlands: If Elections Were Held Today Coalition Government Would Suffer Smashing Defeat - Says Polster

According to Dutch pollster Maurice de Hond the Dutch government coalition parties VVD (Conservative) and PvdA (Labor) would, if elections were held today, together get only 34 seats, 21 for the VVD and 13 for the PvdA.  A loss of 45 seats compared to last years election

The PVV ( Party for Freedom) of anti-Islam and anti-immigration Geert Wilders, who as his opponents say is better know for his "one liner's" rather than his political realism would double it's membership base in the Dutch parliament from 15 to 30 seats and become the biggest party in the parliament.

Almere-Digest

Dementia - the Netherlands: Dementia on the rise in Almere as population ages

Dementia in the Netherlands newest and most modern city of Almere is on the rise reports the local newspaper Almere Vandaag.

With the average population age increasing, the number of dementia patients has also increased dramatically in this city of 195.771 inhabitants. There were some 1411 new cases reported for 2013. The number is expected to rise to 5440 by 2030.

Almere-Digest

Architecture - The Netherlands - Almere: The Green Cathedral A Touristic Gem - by RM

The Green Cathedral seen from the outside

There is a local architectural curiosity called the Green Cathedral in Almere which is a replica of the Rheims Cathedral in France and worth your visit if you are in the neighborhood..

Where it is different from the real Cathedral is that it is an outline of the Rheims Cathedral defined by trees.

Inside the Green Cathedral

Quite a spectacular view, specially once you walk into the tree enclosed area. It probably can also best be seen when flying overhead. De Groene Kathedraal (The Green Cathedral), was designed by Dutch artist Marinus Boezem and replaces the stone and glass of the one in Rheims with poplar trees and sky.

About 20 years after it was started the artwork was "completed" in 1996 and is expected to reach its full height in 2015.

Unfortunately the Green Cathedral in Almere is not easy to find by outsiders because directions to the Green Cathedral are limited and not strategically located. The weathered billboard in front of the Green Cathedral is also unreadable.

Regardless of these shortcomings, the Green Cathedral certainly is a Dutch architectural and artistic gem.

Almere-Digest 

The Netherlands - Almere - "we are suffering a dangerous case of Dutch self confidenc disease " by RM

Dutch disease can be described as the economic condition that arises when a vast amount of wealth, resulting from external factors, flows into a country. Usually these windfall revenues create high inflation and sustain a currency priced beyond its competitive value. It drives up production costs and leaves the output of the economy uncompetitive. Capital invested in the economy becomes unproductive and the productivity of labour declines.

In the 1960's, North Sea oil and gas was the easy and irresistible challenge for the Netherlands to quickly create great financial prosperity. But unfortunately without the steadying hand of government, using policy measures to maintain the competitive viability of the overall economy, the boon soon became a monumental bust.

Basically everyone in the Netherlands is somehow still living in this 60's fantasy-world  and living beyond their means including to having a cocky attitude about it.  .

The Netherland's experience demonstrates that the Dutch disease is a condition that has to be met with policies to maintain the competitiveness of the whole economy if  you don't want the good fortune of a sudden increase in externally generated revenues to become a costly bubble to an economy. Today, we find municipal governments in the Netherlands not really seriously looking at what makes their city attractive to foreign investors in order to create new investments and jobs, but instead most seem to be haggling among  themselves about political, internal and trivial administrative matters.

Instead organizations like the World Trade Center and the Chambers of Commerce and Tourist organizations should become an integral part of strategies which increase interest, investment and employment for the local community.  Obviously it can not be a one man show, but must be a joint effort of people, organizations and corporations, which have a common and personal interest to increase the exposure of their city in order to create wealth.

It's a big world out there and you need to blow your own horn.  Just putting out a brochure (often only in Dutch) does not get investors too excited.

No one will come to your area if you can't get out of your comfort-zone and start putting in some "sweat and tears" to make it happen .

Almere-Digest