This website has been translated using an AI program Especially nice because it is the best excuse to plunge into a waterhole right after work Although little beats jumping into the Amstel from a boat If you still don't think that's quite right check out these swimming pools (nearby) in Amsterdam A list that started because of the nicest of the bunch: the Noorderparkbad after which the in all its bourgeoisness always cozy Amstelbad and also the Brediusbad had to get a mention These are the tips for outdoor swimming pools in Amsterdam and surroundings A combination of two addresses that actually have nothing to do with each other but they do have something to do with each other since in both cases you have to make some arrangements before you can take a dip in one of the outdoor pools on top of the roof terraces of the yoga studio respectively and the members only hotel in the center of Amsterdam There you immediately have your answer to the question 'what should we do then?' The swimming pool is certainly great fun for the little ones (but what swimming pool isn't) There are deep pools and shallow pools and pools for swimming laps you can get a croquette and hang out on the sunbathing lawn the staff is always friendly and surprisingly enough In short: an outdoor pool as an outdoor pool should be Tip: rent a boat and sail to Ouderkerk aan de Amstel There you have it: a perfect holiday in your own city/country photo via nicolewalczak3 The swimming party starts on the bike and continues on the ferry to North which – surprise – is located in the middle of the Noorderpark The sustainable successor to the Floraparkbad Nice baths for the little ones and one for the lap swimmers among us (not us) Treading water? At the neighbors of Pompet they serve a mitrailette (sausage on bread with fries on the side) and you deserve it Things can change at Bernie's in Zandvoort: sometimes we are treated with great respect and sometimes we don't seem to be worth a wink that was also the case when Bernie's was still George: it must be due to the zip code the concept and the looks are and remain great: a swimming pool Great for those who can't choose between the beach or the swimming pool (because yes those appear to be two completely different population groups) Also nice: Bernie's Beach Club is located slightly outside the paved Zandvoort paths which means that many day guests visit the beach hangout unable to find A lovely swimming pool and perfect for a splash after a day of toiling in the scorching heat The bath has been around since 1882 and is a monumental picture On Saturdays you can go between 07:00 and 09:30 swim naked and if you want privileges you can become 'friends of the Houtvaart': the swimming pool is kept as beautiful as it is now by volunteers the text on the site: “De Houtvaart does not have a tanning studio or jet-stream hot tub it does have a real lawn with a paddling pool and real sun The heating of the water is largely done with the help of solar collectors It is the last place in Haarlem where you can swim in the morning and hear the birds chirping when the sun rises.” Image via instagram It is one of the largest swimming pools in the Netherlands and especially when it is quiet (read: come early) We think the white tiled swimming pool is a photogenic picture anyway but we can also mention it here in particular because of the entire area: the Sloterpark and the Sloterstrand - in fact everything at the Sloterplas is a so-called up coming outdoor party in Amsterdam with beautiful catering and sunny hangouts How many times can you call something a favorite Because the Westerpark and the Spaarndammerbuurt certainly fall into that category Kudos for the beautiful picture of Jeroen Lok that we found via instagram We rarely find it so peaceful at the Brediusbad but fortunately the outdoor pool does not often burst at the seams either Go early and you could be alone in the world Please note: it is not a very versatile bath just a large tub full of refreshing water on a scorching hot day in the city The Mirandabad in Amsterdam's Rivierenbuurt is also a good place for warm days and green lawns for sunbathing and reading a book You can kick a ball around (and then cool off again) plus there are special children's pools and playgrounds for the little ones Food and drinks are available at various kiosks Activities and events are regularly organized Also easily accessible by public transport if it is really too hot to transport six kids in a cargo bike Particularly positive points for the presence of the Grote Groen Hidden and yet just right there on the Jan van Galenstraat but you won't feel anything with your hole in the fresh water the outdoor pool is open at least until 18:00 PM Photo via instagram even if you don't believe everything that's in the newspaper In 2016 they compiled a list of the most beautiful and nicest swimming pools in the world There were - of course we may say - the floating pool in the Spree in Berlin an art deco-style swimming pool in London and the swimming pool on the coast of Sydney The family pool is an outdoor play area for big (and not least because the Flevopark itself is such a party.  our writer follows the flow of the artist’s inspiration taking in sights that would have been familiar to the Old Master The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. For visitors in search of scenic walking routes the province of North Holland is perhaps not an obvious choice The landscape is famously as flat as the local pancakes and picturesque mountains forests and waterfalls are in short supply The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. Head into the countryside south of Amsterdam and you can find lovely walking routes amid a quintessentially Dutch landscape of green fields also offer an opportunity to follow in famous footsteps Rembrandt van Rijn lived for much of his life close to the river was fond of walking its banks and produced some beautiful pictures here With Amsterdam about to celebrate its 750th birthday in June it’s a good moment to see the city from another angle along the waterway which gave the city its name My walk in Rembrandt’s footsteps begins in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, a small town a few miles south of Amsterdam. Ouderkerk isn’t big but it’s exceedingly pleasant; a warren of narrow brick streets cradled by the river, with a tall church tower standing at the centre like an upturned drawing pin. I don’t linger long but take a moment to see the Beth Haim Jewish cemetery where dozens of old gravestones tilt in the soft grass streets are filled with diggers piling sandbags Quicksand) – a reminder that much of the area I’ll be walking through was reclaimed from the water over many centuries I walk north along a narrow gravel footpath that tracks the Amstel like a handrail with birds flitting in and out of the tall rushes on the riverbank and rowers skimming across the water like skittery insects the Amstel itself is as tranquil as a mill pond – in a land without hills you can barely tell many waterways are moving Rembrandt statue and De Riekermolen windmill Photograph: Robert vant Hoenderdaal/AlamyAs I walk north the Amstel is at first lined with terrace houses but the landscape soon opens out with raised riverbanks offering views across the emerald fields beyond During Amsterdam’s Golden Age in the 17th century many of the city’s wealthy merchants owned weekend homes here most of the older homes have been replaced by modern mansions but there’s still one magnificent 18th-century creation left I take a photo and resolve that if my little book on Amsterdam turns out to be a bestseller I see a view that hasn’t changed much since Rembrandt etched it in 1641: a rumpled meadow and a small boat on the riverContinuing north engraved with the words Terminus Proscriptionis which any criminal banned from the city would be forbidden to pass may have been lucky to have avoided being banished himself there’s a pretty windmill next to a big statue of Rembrandt kneeling on the grass in hat and cape now hanging so Six appears to be keeping a watchful eye on the river featured trips and local tips for your next break as well as the latest deals from Guardian Holidays The interior is largely a modern reconstruction but it’s hard not to feel a shiver of excitement when you see the sunlit studio where he painted some of history’s most famous art The museum closes and I decamp to the Sluyswacht a pub just across the street in a little lockkeeper’s cottage which looks as if it’s been lifted from the pages of a fairytale This place is not quite as old as Rembrandt – it was built 26 years after he died – but it is surely one of most picturesque pubs in Europe drink a pilsje of beer and eat a plate of cheese The Invention of Amsterdam, A History of Europe’s Greatest City in Ten Walks by Ben Coates is published by Scribe UK (£12.99). To support the Guardian and the Observer buy a copy at guardianbookshop.com The annual rankings for the best oliebollen in the Netherlands have been released by Oliebollentestonline.nl highlighting the top vendors of this traditional Dutch New Year’s treat secured the top position with a score of 9.5 earning recognition for its high-quality oliebollen and consistency Bakkerij Olink in Spakenburg followed closely with a score of 9.4 while Bakkerij Hartog from Ouderkerk aan de Amstel earned third place with a 9.2 These bakeries have been praised for maintaining traditional preparation methods while ensuring the freshness and taste of their products Rob and Gonny Spronk, the husband-and-wife team running an oliebollen stand on Museumplein in Amsterdam Known for their dedication to producing fresh “A good oliebol should be accessible to everyone,” said Gonny Spronk in an interview with Het Parool Although the couple has introduced variations such as the "Dubai bol," featuring pistachio and chocolate filling their classic oliebollen remain the most popular among customers Gonny emphasized their commitment to quality preparing all ingredients in-house and baking to meet high demand during the season “We want every customer to leave satisfied,” she added The vendor at the lowest-ranked stand, located in Koudekerke, seemed unfazed by the poor rating. Claudia, the owner, told Omroep Zeeland, “A 1 “I didn’t even know this test existed.” Despite the low score noting that she doesn’t take the rankings too seriously Food that comes from farm to fork is made with love Each season there is a different dish on your plate because they grow all the vegetables themselves (so you eat what is on the table) the About us-Amstel Farm is located on the river (you'll never guess) the Amstel in Ouderkerk and is not (yet) accessible by car If you live nearby you can of course also walk or cycle to the farm And if you don't believe our blue eyes yet, know that Over-Amstel Farm an initiative of the owners of the South African Babylonstoren one of South Africa's most iconic (and beautiful) addresses The farm was built in 1894 and completely renovated into a beautiful and modern farm you can now eat the seasonal dishes of Chef Herb In the open kitchen with restaurant you can have breakfast All the products that are on your plate here there is also a cheese factory where they make their own cheese De Over-Amstel Farm is owned by the same owners as Babylonstoren, a wine farm and guesthouse just outside Kaapstad Perhaps that partly explains why things are already going so smoothly because that is not self-evident for a place that (according to them) is still testing They have already achieved the goal of paying tribute to the Duivendrechtse polder If the atmosphere and the food remain as good as they are now This is a dinner they organize with a theme that fits each season During this dinner you can choose a matching (non-alcoholic) wine arrangement (yes It starts in Ouderkerk where you get on the boat and sail over the Amstel towards the About - Amstel Farm After a twenty minute boat ride you will receive a welcome drink upon arrival You will take a seat at the set table and while you are enjoying your dinner they will tell you more about the farm and how they work here If you visit the over-Amstel Farm still want to stretch you can stay the night as the icing on the cake Wake up with a view of the Amstel and the Duivendrechtse polder and then hop out of bed and join the à la carte breakfast in the restaurant You can stay in the room: “Rose of the fields” of “Apple from orange” Are you coming to spend the night with your loved one because you can also slide the beds apart if you prefer the B&Bs were the front house of the farm These rooms have also been adapted into two comfortable rooms each with its own unique interior and a nod to the history of the farm Each room has a pair of boots that you can wear to explore the terrain Then warm up with a cup of coffee or tea from your own minibar The farm is open every Friday through Sunday from 9:00 AM to 17:00 PM About – Amstel Farm They've got centuries-old architecture Published: Oct 19, 2024written by Gabriel Kirellos When we speak about the Netherlands, Amsterdam is usually the first city that comes to people’s minds. However, there’s much more to the Dutch country than its capital. And the best thing is that, on top of being steeped in history, the Netherlands is a small country on the European continent which makes it very convenient and easy to explore And what could be better than exploring some of the most historic Dutch small towns all located within a short distance from the City of Canals You’ll find out below that nothing beats such a “polder-perfect” journey If you want to learn about traditional Dutch life then this quaint village is the place to be in the Netherlands Located only about seven and a half miles north of Amsterdam Broek in Waterland boasts around 2,700 residents it’s just a 15-minute short drive away from the Dutch capital The highlights of this peaceful escape are its beautifully preserved wooden houses as well as its charming Wealthy Amsterdam merchants and seafarers started flocking to Broek in Waterland during the 17th and 18th centuries the village itself dates back to the 12th century When visiting Broek in Waterland, you’ll have the chance to marvel at the historic centerpiece of the town, Saint Nicholas Church While this landmark was built before the year 1400 it was destroyed during the Eighty Years’ War the Protestant church was later rebuilt in 1628 Broek in Waterland is also famous for its idyllic setting as well as its cleanliness so you’ll enjoy visiting it if you want to experience the Dutch countryside This small historic Dutch town is also located on the Northern side of the country just around ten miles northeast of Amsterdam Monnickendam dates back to the 14th century when it was founded by monks and its name actually translates to “Monk’s dam.” During its early years the town became a significant port for fishing and shipbuilding visitors enjoy coming to Monnickendam for its picturesque beauty and well-preserved architecture The 17th-century Weigh House (De Waag) should be at the top of your list when in Monnickendam which is a bell tower housing the Netherlands’ oldest playable carillon Don’t forget to head to the 14th-century Protestant church in town which was later restored after it was damaged in the Eighty Years’ War Monnickendam also hosts the annual Monnickendammer Visgaden which is an event that celebrates the historic fishing industry of the town you can experience traditional fish smoking and other local crafts Located on the northern side of the Netherlands this historic town is famous for its star-shaped fortifications These are considered among the best-preserved in Europe Naarden’s defenses are surrounded by formidable walls and a moat which is a unique site to behold and witness with your own eyes 16th-century military architecture If you want to learn in more detail about the role of Naarden in Dutch military strategy, then you’ve got to head to the Netherlands Fortress Museum or Nederlands Vestingmuseum, where you will get plenty of knowledge about the town’s rich history. After all, it’s not only in Amsterdam where you can find noteworthy museums Another amazing thing to do in Naarden is to try the boat tours around the fortifications Many of the buildings of the town date back to the 15th so you’ll be enjoying sights dating back to hundreds of years ago Make sure to visit the Grote of Sint-Vituskerk This historic church is worth the visit only for its iconic painted wooden ceiling You can also take in a panoramic view of Naarden and its star-shaped layout from atop the church’s tower When you stroll through the historic center of this picturesque Dutch town and charming squares that tell stories of the past of Edam The latter was a key hub for trade in the past That’s because ships were able to dock at its ports which allowed the town to grow as a trading center The canal-side homes and their grand facades are an iconic example of the wealth that once flowed through the northern Dutch historic town The name Edam is synonymous with its world-famous cheese The traditional cheese market of the town still draws visitors to this day during the months of July and August It goes without saying that one of the top places that you should add to your bucket list in Edam is the Edam Cheese Museum where you can learn more about the town’s dairy legacy It’s easy for you to get to Edam as it’s reachable with an easy 30-minute bus drive from the Dutch capital Muiderslot, a centuries-old castle, is the main highlight of this historic fortified town located east of Amsterdam. The castle was built in 1285 by Count Floris V and is considered one of the Netherlands’ best-preserved medieval castles Muiderslot also had a major role in protecting the Dutch capital particularly during the Dutch Waterline defenses you can tour the castle (which you should do) and have the chance to marvel at its beautifully restored interiors and gardens Another amazing thing to do in Muiden is to take a boat trip to Pampus Island The latter is a historic quarantine station for ships traveling to Amsterdam Pampus Island once served as a place where vessels were held before they could enter the city’s main port It’s also worth seeing the Great Sea Lock or Groote Zeesluis when you’re in Muiden This sea lock connects Muiden to the IJmeer river so this is where you can watch boats passing on the waterways This is a system of fortifications that was built to protect the Dutch capital This one was a former island in the Zuiderzee so it was separated from the mainland until a causeway was built in 1957 This was when it got connected to the rest of the Dutch nation The interesting thing about Marken is its car-free center filled with traditional wooden houses and clogs displayed outside The town really resembles something from a storybook Due to the fact that this historic Dutch town was isolated for centuries and because of its unique geography its distinct culture has been preserved to this day This includes the traditional clothing as well as the architecture of Marken One of the essential things you need to do in town is to head to the Marker Museum to learn about the history and lifestyle of the village The Paard van Marken lighthouse is another landmark worth witnessing It’s a symbol of Marken’s maritime history You can easily access this town by bus from Amsterdam and it’s the perfect escape if you’re looking to explore Dutch history and charm It’s just a short 15-minute ride from Amsterdam and boasts scenic canals Museum Weesp is housed in the 18th-century town hall and offers you a glimpse into early Iron Age settlements in town as well as Weesp’s contributions to Dutch porcelain and jenever production The Wispe Brewery is also a unique attraction that’s worth visiting This one is set in a historic church and allows you to taste locally brewed beers and dive into the brewing tradition of Weesp On top of the scenic canals and bridges that run through the town make sure to also explore the Ossenmarkt Fortress The Dutch town is located southeast of Amsterdam and became known for its trade and defense It’s actually one of the Netherlands’ fortress towns Weesp also played a major role as part of the Dutch Waterline a defense system that could flood surrounding areas to protect the nation’s major cities This charming Dutch village is home to around 8,000 residents and it’s located in the Green Heart of the Netherlands Abcoude is based just southeast of Amsterdam With a history dating back more than 900 years the town was first mentioned in records from 1085 It was first a modest village with a major focus on fishing and architecture What makes Abcoude so unique is its location at the confluence of the Angstel A must-see historical site in the village is the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Defense Line of Amsterdam which is open to visitors only from May to September It’s the perfect place to learn about the Netherlands’ historical defense system Add to your must-visit list also the 17th-century church tower as well as the old town hall Ouderkerk aan de Amstel offers a tranquil slice of Dutch countryside living It’s located just around seven miles south of Amsterdam You can reach the village from Amsterdam in just 40 minutes by cycling where you can enjoy riding past waterfront homes and open fields or you can opt for a quick 20-minute drive The charming Dutch village is located along the Amstel River so it’s the perfect escape if you want riverside terraces Ouderkerk aan de Amstel is also full of historic churches and it’s famous for housing the Netherlands’ oldest Jewish cemetery (Beth Haim) If you’re looking for some outdoor relaxation where you can enjoy a swim then Ouderkerkerplas lake is located just near the town Ouderkerk aan de Amstel was first mentioned in 1308 and its historical significance stems from its close proximity to Amsterdam 14th-century Volendam has transformed into a popular tourist destination with its colorful wooden fishermen’s houses that serve nowadays as restaurants and photography studios where visitors can dress in national Dutch costumes The fishing village is located about 13 miles north of Amsterdam and is nestled along the shores of the Markermeer the town served as the harbor for the nearby town of Edam it developed into a bustling fishing community Make sure to visit the Volendams Museum to learn about the village’s cultural heritage hit the local eateries for some delish smoked eel and seafood During festivals and special events in this town you’ll have the chance to witness residents dressed in traditional Dutch attire It’s easy to reach Volendam by bus or bike from Amsterdam and the village is usually included in guided tours along with Zaanse Schans and other must-see charming Dutch villages Gabriel is a travel writer and editor with 5 years of experience having authored more than 400 articles on historic sites from medieval castles in France to ancient temples in Asia offering readers in-depth cultural insights With personal travels to over 35 countries he combines firsthand exploration with historical research Gabi is a digital nomad traveling across Europe throughout 2024-25 to bring authentic storytelling to his followers By submitting the above I agree to the privacy policy and terms of use of JTA.org The discovery of the country’s oldest slave’s grave lying among his Portugal-born owners has turned the site into a tense but symbolic meeting point OUDERKERK AAN DE AMSTEL, Netherlands (JTA) — Each year on the last Wednesday of June dozens of people arrive by boat at the Jewish cemetery of this picturesque town near Amsterdam to commemorate their ancestors The visitors are almost all Black; none are Jewish recite Christian prayers and observe rites of Winti a traditional Afro-Surinamese faith that combines pagan and Catholic traditions The rites involve blessing water and sprinkling it on the graves For the past decade they’ve been coming to Beth Haim the oldest Jewish cemetery in the Netherlands because of the discovery here in 2002 of Holland’s earliest known grave of a former slave he died in 1629 and was brought here from Portugal by his Jewish masters Named “Elieser Day” in his memory, the new pilgrimage is centered around the former slave’s gravestone inside the 406-year-old Beth Haim cemetery, a 10-acre swath of swampy meadow About 26,000 headstones and human remains lie submerged under the mud – an unfortunate result of how Sephardic headstones which are traditionally placed horizontally have fared over the centuries in the soft Dutch soil In a post-colonial society that is still burdened by its complicity both in the Holocaust and the slave trade Elieser’s grave has emerged as a multifaceted symbol of emancipation and a unique meeting place for the kingdom’s oldest ethnic minorities In 2013, a statue for Elieser was erected outside the Jewish cemetery by Opo Kondreman an organization that aims to preserve the heritage of Netherlanders from the former Dutch colony of Suriname in South America It is also a lightning rod for occasional controversy. In June, amid a debate on racism following the slaying of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the statue was vandalized with the letters “WLM,” a possible acronym for White Lives Matter Black and Jewish leaders disagreed over whether Elieser’s grave represents the horrors of slavery or the possibilities for tolerance the grave is a substitute for the graves of ancestors who were forced into slavery and whose burial place is unknown “My knowledge of my family doesn’t go further back than my great-grandparents,” Berrenstein a 51-year-old father of three who was born in Suriname and works as a house painter “For me and for many others in the Black community Elieser’s grave is as close as we can get to them.” The Jewish cemetery in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel the historian who discovered the gravestone Elieser’s life story also reflects his acceptance as an equal and integration into the Jewish Portuguese family that owned him de Pina’s family must have paid extra to have him buried alongside them in a prestigious plot “It’s revealing that the Belmonte family didn’t object to having Elieser buried alongside them,” Hagoort said Slavery never existed officially in the Netherlands so Elieser’s legal status was somewhat vague: The authorities did not classify him as belonging to the de Pinas “He attended the funeral of the wife of his master and contributed to that occasion six stuivers,” a Dutch coin of the era That act suggests that Elieser was on or near equal footing with the family that owned him back in Portugal In recent years, caretakers have exposed and excavated only a handful of “culturally significant” headstones from the mud, according to Geke Beek, the Jewish community’s caretaker of Beth Haim. (A drought in 2018 exposed the outline of many headstones buried under Beth Haim’s thick coat of grass.) in search of his grave and armed with a cemetery record and a probe rod Hagoort and the late Rabbi Hans Rodrigues Pereira found a black stone slab that appeared to be blank the inscription erased by time and the elements that’s what I thought,” she recalled at the time poured it over the stone and the [Portuguese-language] text revealed itself: ‘The grave of the good servant Elieser.'” In recent years, institutions and leaders of Dutch Jewry have openly debated for the first time the issue of Dutch Jewish complicity in slavery, including in the so-called Jewish Savannah the Jewish Savannah had 40 Jewish-owned plantations with at least 5,000 slaves and a Jewish community of several hundred that was destroyed in a slave uprising in 1832 Nearly all of those Jews immigrated to Holland bringing their accumulated wealth with them Dutch Jews were behind the sale of some 15,000 slaves a historian at the University of Pittsburgh Jews controlled about 17% of the Caribbean trade in Dutch colonies Slave auctions were deliberately not scheduled on Jewish holidays there a historian at the College of William & Mary Sergio Berrenstein stands next to the grave of Elieser and his master at the entrance to the Jewish cemetery in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel These facts and others were on display in a 2015 exhibition on the subject by the Jewish Cultural Quarter of Amsterdam and served as the basis for a 2014 book by Lody van de Kamp Elieser’s owners did not come from South America but straight from Portugal from where they and thousands of other Jews fled in the 16th century to escape the Inquisition for the more tolerant Netherlands The discovery of Elieser’s grave also made headlines and reached Perez Jong Loy “Elieser is a symbol for how he ended up here against his will, dragged here by hook or by crook,” Jong Loy, Opo Kondreman’s founder, told the RTVA broadcaster during ceremonies in 2016 The pilgrimage required some adjustments on all sides “In principle it’s not allowed to say prayers that are not Jewish inside the cemetery and it’s also not allowed to play music,” she told JTA But an exception was made during Elieser Day Some of the visitors lay small stones on Elieser’s grave “It’s about respecting another person’s belief,” the Opo Kondreman activist said the late leader of the Dutch Portuguese Jewish community focused on the shared heritage of Blacks and Jews in the Netherlands during a speech that he delivered on Elieser Day Citing Elieser’s integration into the community Coronel said his grave “is also a sign of freedom.” He said the very existence of a Jewish cemetery in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel owed to the refusal of authorities in 17th-century Amsterdam to allow Jews to bury their dead within the city limits Coronel added that many in the small town also resisted the plan for Beth Haim “We were both victims of the slave trade,” Coronel said discriminated against.” He also spoke about the Jews’  liberation from slavery in Exodus But this attempt to highlight kinship provoked a rebuke from Nana Abrewa, a Winti priestess who often focuses in sermons and poems on the Jews’ perceived complicity in the slave trade “Moses freed the Jewish slaves, but then the Jews were the cruelest slave owners in Suriname. We’ve learned to forgive, but Susanna du Plessis cut off both breasts of the prettiest woman there, Alida. We can never forget this but we’ve learned to forgive,” Abrewa told Coronel in front of reporters. (Du Plessis, a notoriously cruel 18th century slave owner was not Jewish but of French Huguenot ancestry.) Berrenstein said he appreciates that both Jews and Blacks have been persecuted But he does not feel a greater affinity to Jewish people than “other whites who do not understand what it means to be Black to always be suspect of some crime just because of how they look,” he said Does Elieser’s grave symbolize anything for Beth Haim Her institution understands that his grave is an important site for the Black community and facilitates their commemorations there Elieser is just another Jewish person who’s buried here.” JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent I accept the Privacy Policy The Riekermolen is located south of the beautiful and green Amstelpark It stands on the west side of the Amstel River It's one of the easy-to-access windmills in Amsterdam What's great about this windmill is the surroundings and the Riekermolen is the best stop for a picnic From May to September between 12:00 pm - 7:00 pm the windmill is operational.  This windmill has been grinding pigments for traditional paints for more than 200 years This is one of the very few intact windmills built by the Knights of St A stunning Art Nouveau cinema in the heart of Budapest Inside Cork's Kent station stands its country's longest-serving postbox Believed to be the largest Spanish sculpture affixed to a housing block The last place in Bahrain where you can get a custom-made dhow A replica of a Dutch windmill in honor of those who settled in the region from the Netherlands long-forgotten advertising character lingers on this Sainsbury’s balcony railings Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker A 12-year-old girl from Ouderkerk aan de Amstel was killed in a collision with a microcar on a bike path in Amstelveen on Wednesday the girl and two other children around the same age were cycling on the bike path on Oranjebaan at around 4:30 p.m First responders tried to resuscitate the seriously injured girl on the bike path The other hurt child fell during the collision and sustained minor injuries The driver of the microcar was taken to a police station for questioning The bike path was cordoned off for hours while the police investigated They asked for witnesses and anyone with relevant dashcam footage to come forward From its roots as a small fishing village to becoming a major port in the Golden Age Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most vibrant capital cities the city has become a model for modern urban living with its extensive bike paths and its well-connected airport at Schiphol serves as an excellent gateway to the rest of Europe is Delta’s station manager at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport has been living in Amsterdam for the last 28 years “I love spending time in such an authentic city Amsterdam is a very welcoming and cosmopolitan place with English spoken by pretty much everyone It's a beautiful place with winding narrow passageways cobblestone streets and 17th century homes spread along its canals It comprises 90 islands joined by 1,200 bridges making it a great place to explore by foot the city center is small and very manageable by foot.” One of the city’s most picturesque neighborhoods is the De Jordaan these days the cobbled streets and traditional houses make it among the most desirable places to live and it is worth getting lost in for a couple of hours to explore the maze of narrow lanes offering a rewarding shopping experience and while it might not sound too promising the site is home to a bustling array of exciting bars "As well as providing a home for a bunch of creative industries it’s a must-visit for coffee-lovers too with a number of cafes roasting their own special blends." “Another particular favorite place to visit is one of the many of the independent craft breweries," Nugent added "Among the most intriguing is the Brouwerij ’t IJ – an award-winning hop-house sited under the picture-postcard De Gooyer windmill It has a large outdoor terrace and a 30-minute guided tour which gives visitors a chance to sample the goods A visit to Amsterdam would not be complete without a tour of the city’s canals Originally dug in the 17th century to keep the sea at bay the watery thoroughfares now have UNESCO protected status One of the best times to visit is after sunset when the bridges are lit up with fairy lights There are many different ways to sail the canals hop off circuits to nighttime candle-lit cruises The city is also famous for its bicycling culture and it sometimes feels there are more bikes than people and the relatively flat geography makes it easy to root out some hidden gems further away from the center a 12th century village crammed full of history Amsterdam is also a great starting point to explore the rest of Europe and beyond Delta operates some 19 daily flights and partner KLM offers an extensive network from Schiphol Airport It provides convenient connections to numerous destinations throughout Europe and beyond The joint venture between Delta and KLM offers seamless travel and SkyMiles members earn and use miles when flying with KLM and Delta Medallion Members enjoy benefits like priority services The airport itself is a single terminal building which means it is easy for customers to transfer between flights The airport has recruited more than 850 new security officers and has invested in additional measures to support smooth customer transit It is now handling customers at the same rate it was before the pandemic with security wait times generally under 10 minutes Delta and KLM have been working with Schiphol to further improve the customer experience ready for the summer Passengers on flights from Amsterdam to other international destinations in the Schengen area can now cut the time it takes to clear security by booking their time slot in advance helping them get to their gate in plenty of time In co-operation with our partners Air France and KLM we offer more than 250 daily departures to over 100 cities across Europe Africa and India including popular destinations such as Prague can rightly be labelled The Gateway to Europe and beyond Delta flies to the Dutch city from several U.S locations including Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Detroit (DTW), Minneapolis/St Paul (MSP), New York (JFK), Orlando (MCO), Portland (PDX), Salt Lake City (SLC) and Seattle/Tacoma (SEA) Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) is a significant international hub and Delta’s most-served airport in Europe Simon Hatcher and Willem StoopMen's & Women's Crew Compete at the U23 World Championships7/11/2021 9:14:00 AM | Men's Crew The statue titled “Elieser” at the Beth Haim Jewish cemetery near Amsterdam AMSTERDAM (JTA) — A statue that is seen as commemorating the suffering of slaves was vandalized inside a Jewish cemetery near the Dutch capital Orange paint was splashed on the statue titled “Elieser” on Wednesday at the Beth Haim Portuguese cemetery in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel the oldest Jewish burial site in the Netherlands possibly an acronym for “white lives matter,” were written in orange Police are looking for two white men in their 20s with short hair who were seen near the statue shortly before the incident The statue is of “the good slave Elieser,” who is believed to have been brought over to the Netherlands in 1610 by his Jewish master Elieser was converted to Judaism at some point and buried in 1629 alongside some of the richest and most prominent members of the Portuguese Jewish community of the time He became part and parcel of the de Pina family one of several slaves buried at the cemetery made his grave an icon for Dutch people with origins in Suriname a former colony in South America where many slaves from Africa had worked In 2015, a statue of Elieser was inaugurated at the Jewish cemetery with help from the Opo Kondreman organization which commemorates the victims of the trans-Atlantic slave trade The post Anti-slavery statue defaced in Amsterdam-area Jewish cemetery appeared first on Jewish Telegraphic Agency I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward American Jews need independent news they can trust At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S rising antisemitism and polarized discourse This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on See our full guidelines for more information, and this guide for detail about canonical URLs subject line “republish,” with any questions or to let us know what stories you’re picking up Copyright © 2025 The Forward Association HAMDEN, Conn.  – Quinnipiac field hockey head coach Becca Main has announced that freshman Simone Bindels (Ouderkerk aan de Amstel Netherlands) will join the Bobcats for the Spring 2014 season after transferring from Robert Morris University Bindels will be eligible to play for the Bobcats immediately "We have been given the wonderful opportunity to welcome a transfer player from our former conference opponent "We are enthusiastic about her tactical skills and her personality Robert Morris dropped field hockey after last season Not only are we happy to help one of their players resume their playing career but we feel Simone will be a strong addition to our backfield elite throw and transfer abilities that we feel will be vital to our program's future success." Bindels started all 19 of Robert Morris' game for the 2013 season including a 3-3 mark in the MAAC standings Bindels assisted on four Colonials' goals and also had one of the team's five defensive saves for the year Bindels set-up RMU's only goal in a 1-0 win against Ball State on Sept 6 and also had a career-best two assists in a 5-1 win against UMass Lowell on Sept Her fourth assist of the year came against Ohio University in a 5-2 win on Sept "Our team is looking forward to working with a player that hails from one of the hotbed countries in the world for field hockey "We anticipate Simone becoming a strong contributor as a defender in her first semester as a Bobcat." Bindels attended Ignatius College in Amstelveen which played at the highest level of competition in the Netherlands She was also a 2012 champion for Tennis Club Ouderkerk Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Thanks for visiting These insider tips reveal the best of the Dutch capital from a tulip museum to date night on a canal terrace Amsterdam will celebrate its milestone 750th anniversary with a year of commemorative events Here’s what else not to miss on your next visit to the Dutch capital Forgo the packed, open-air tour boats and opt for a salonboot, or salon boat—handsome wooden vessels with cozy cabins—to experience Amsterdam’s 60 miles of UNESCO-protected canals (grachten). “Amsterdam is a city built based on canals,” explains Eva van Dijk, co-founder of Amsterdam Odyssey “Canals were the first roads of the settlement Everything was about shipping and sailing.” Exploring via the water lets visitors get “to the source Some luxury hotels offer private boats for guests van Dijk advises choosing tours with a skipper and separate guide Dutch favorites like poffertjes (small pancakes) and bitterballen (meat- or veggie-based fried snacks) are essential for first-time visitors But don’t miss tucking into Indonesian cuisine which literally means “rice table” and refers to a mouthwatering array of meat and vegetable dishes “I would recommend everyone to try a rijsttafel not only because you get to taste so many delicious dishes from Indonesia in one go but also to experience the history behind it between Indonesia and the Netherlands.” Visitors can get around Amsterdam by bike on dedicated paths like this one near Moco Museum—but be aware of cycling rules.Photograph by Chris Hill, Nat Geo Image CollectionCycle in Amsterdam safelyIf cruising along Amsterdam’s canals via two wheels is on your travel bucket list, Ruud van Es, co-founder of Het Amsterdams Fietscollege offers sound advice: Focus on cycling safely instead of sightseeing we laugh a lot about the behavior of tourists on bikes,” says van Es van Es recommends visitors explore quieter neighborhoods such as Spaarndammerbuurt ride right onto a free ferry from Amsterdam Central Station) and always look over your shoulder before making any moves near the village of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel thanks to sandy beaches and a shallow shoreline “If you really take the time and just look around you will discover amazing plants and animals,” she says “Don't assume that because it's a city housed in an adorably off-kilter building from 1695 that once served as the lockmaster’s home But if it’s raining, you can’t go wrong with a brown bar like In ’t Aepjen or Café Hoppe So named for their tobacco-stained ceilings many with original features like wooden beams and barrels in Dutch; Heineken is always a good pick) and toast to gezelligheid which roughly translates to a vibe of coziness and conviviality (For more tips on what to do in Amsterdam, see our Explorer’s Guide.) celebrate special events and holidays together’ September 26 Sheetal Shah originally moved to the Netherlands with her husband while she was finishing her PhD and pregnant with their second child an organisation that helps the victims of human trafficking I was born and brought up in Mumbai and I moved to the Netherlands 12 years ago as a trailing spouse My husband was working at ABN Amro and then he joined their global team and was soon to be a mother to a second son I thought we would come to the Netherlands This is a very interesting question because this has been a journey for me I moved here as an expat but I’m very often referred to as an immigrant as well until I prove otherwise and have a discussion about it I have a classroom full of international students and my identity is very much international as well I feel that I have an ‘outside-in’ perspective and I have an ‘inside-out’ perspective when I’m here in the Netherlands I think we’ll be here until the children go to university because both of them are in secondary school I wouldn’t want to uproot them at this stage my plan would be to work in the field in any country with a great opportunity I consider myself an international psychologist I do think that bringing together what I love doing which is my work in the field of human trafficking and using it with my background in psychology I would be able to add value to these projects in different parts of the world I try to get by at least at the farmer’s market in Dutch I find myself infusing my English now with Dutch words and a Dutch accent I learned Dutch as part of an expat relocation programme and I took lessons I think that I learned a lot as well by speaking to people in the village where I live it took me a while to understand what is Dutch food I’ve learned that it’s not just only bitterballen What I love about Dutch food now is the cheese and all the breads that you can get I absolutely love that and miss it when I’m out of the country for long periods of time There’s one type of cheese that I like in particular. I buy it from Clara Maria It’s absolutely my favourite and it’s great for anyone who loves a tinge of spice in their cheese You can buy it as a relatively young cheese or a slightly mature cheese I absolutely love that cheese and even travel with it It’s a great present for our friends all over the world There have been some moments that have defined my Dutchness One is to make appointments and ask people to respect my schedule Going back to India on our annual holiday means that our schedule is completely taken over by friends and family So we’re going from one point in Mumbai to the next to meet someone else Insisting that everyone respect the schedule and telling them that this is the time I’ve allocated for each gathering is really being Dutch but it’s not usually acceptable in Indian culture it’s a tradition when you open a present to do so right in front of the person who gives it it’s more polite to say ‘thank you’ and open it afterwards and not express if you like it So all these cultural nuances really define my Dutchness now and I’m also more direct While Dutch directness is often criticised in my conversations I have now started being more direct instead of more diplomatic like I would have been in the past Which three Dutch people (dead or alive) would you most like to meet Anne Frank: She’s the first one I would pick I don’t know if you can call her Dutch since she was born in Germany and she was stateless while she was here in the Netherlands The reason why I choose her is because I work with an organisation called Bridge 2 Hope We work with men and women who are the survivors of human trafficking as were so many Jewish people during the Holocaust she was able to express that experience so beautifully in her words I wish I could meet her to learn more about her and her motivations for writing about all of these difficult experiences and trauma Vincent van Gogh: This is based on my background as a psychologist so I would love to meet him I had the opportunity to visit the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam recently and see the Van Gogh in Japan exhibition I spend time in the section when he was hospitalised and he did all those paintings towards the end before he died I would love to meet him so I could work with him he could have been better helped with his pathology than he was during his time You can see his pain in his strokes and the melancholy in these artworks Geert Wilders: I work with people who are marginalised and it’s my belief that we stereotype people because we don’t know them well enough That ignorance can very easily become hate So I wish I could meet him and discuss the long lasting implications of what he is doing to a country that otherwise has been very different than what he believes it to be The fear he has been able to instill in people is an unfortunate but clever strategy I would want to help him understand what the world would look like if there were many more people like him and what has happened in the past when people have been able to exploit such hate What’s your top tourist tip? I would take them to Ouderkerk aan de Amstel. It’s a little village outside of Amsterdam and it has everything the Dutch love and love to do. It has the river Amstel, and it has a beautiful bakery called Bakker Out that’s over a hundred years old and makes the best speculaas I think it wins an award every year around Sinterklaas and Christmas taste cheese at the beautiful cheese farms and experience being Dutch in the way they like to spend their free time I’d suggest that they avoid all the touristy things on TripAdvisor and just choose a Dutch village to visit instead Tell us something surprising you’ve found out about the Netherlands What really surprised me about the Netherlands is family values Asian countries and southern European countries are the ones that are family-oriented What I’ve seen in a lot of Dutch families is a concept of having dinners together or celebrating special events and holidays together they had three generations of family celebrating New Year’s Eve together Based on my travels and experiences in Mumbai and elsewhere this is a night when young people go out and party with their friends I thought that family values wasn’t an important aspect of life here but it really is it amazes me that the influence of this small country is so huge I see Dutch researchers all over the world and the impact that they’ve been able to make If you had just 24 hours left in the Netherlands I would like to just buy my favourite bread sit with my Farmer’s Flame cheese and a glass of good red wine and sit along on the Amstel river near my home I would spend my day reflecting back on the last twelve or thirteen years that I was in the Netherlands and what a journey that was Sheetal Shah was talking to Brandon Hartley We could not provide the Dutch News service without the generous support of our readers Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days We could not provide this service without you Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey Images: PAL Sporting Goods (unless otherwise noted) the food and travel writer spends her time freelancing for publications all around the globe Here are a few of her favorite things about the Venice of the North Follow Cecily’s story on Twitter and Facebook When someone comes to visit me, the first place I take them is Café Papeneiland the establishment has sat at the intersection of Prinsengracht and Brouwersgracht Early summer is the best time to visit my city because the warmer weather fills Amsterdam with an expectant buzz My city’s best museum is the FOAM photography museum because it’s small enough to be manageable but attracts some really big names If there’s one thing you should know about getting around my city it’s that while you have to try riding a bike at least once Distances are short and you’ll want to keep stopping to admire the view The best place to spend time outdoors in my city is undoubtedly on the water. There are numerous rondvaart boat tours, but for a slower, more intimate experience, let Coen van den Akker guide you around Amsterdam in a kayak My city really knows how to celebrate New Year’s Eve because the streets become a cacophonous fireworks free-for-all You can tell if someone is from my city if they are fearless on two wheels and never come to a complete standstill Both can be reached by bus or bicycle from Amsterdam search for #amsterdam on Facebook and Twitter Many smaller venues don’t have websites and advertise their events via social media When I’m feeling cash-strapped, I go to the Stadsarchief (the Amsterdam city archives) Housed in an ornate white-and-brown brick building designed by Karel de Bazel it often has free exhibitions on the ground floor To escape the crowds, I cycle along the river to the village of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel If my city were a celebrity it’d be Sophia Loren because its allure hasn’t faded with age The most random thing about my city is the multistory parking lot that’s exclusively for bicycles found next to Central Station Paradiso, located in a converted church, is the best place to see live music, but if you’re in the mood to dance, check out Club Up an intimate venue with an eclectic lineup and clientele and a brothel to coexist on the same square could only happen in my city In the summer you should pack a picnic and find a spot in one of Amsterdam’s many parks In the fall you should explore the city’s world-class museums. Don’t miss the Rijksmuseum library a quiet corner in this vast complex that wouldn’t look out of place in a Harry Potter movie was delayed by a dispute with the Fietsersbond (the Dutch cyclists’ union) over the popular bicycle path that runs through the middle of the building The cyclists won and the museum’s east and west wings are now joined by an underground passageway If you have kids (or are a kid at heart), you won’t want to miss the NEMO science museum Most of the exhibits are designed to be touched—and the green The best book about my city is The Book of Revelation and sex—arguably Amsterdam’s trademarks—in one dark In 140 characters or less, the world should heart my city because small really is beautiful. Where else can you find looks, charm, and well over 1,200 bridges in such close proximity? I still haven’t mastered the neighborhood’s jumble of narrow streets."},"type":"p","style":{}},{"id":"html36","cntnt":{"mrkup":"In 140 characters or less the world should heart my city because small really is beautiful cannibale royale","lg":"https://assets-cdn.nationalgeographic.com/natgeo/static/default.NG.logo.dark.jpg","pblshr":"National Geographic","abt":"Food","sclDsc":"Born and raised in the U.K. Cecily Layzell hopped the pond to Amsterdam a decade ago and has been keeping it continental ever since When she’s not scoping out the latest restaurant and bars in the Dutch capital for her website ",{"type":"a","content":["Eat Amsterdam"],"attrs":{"title":"Eat Amsterdam site","href":"http://www.eat-amsterdam.com","target":"_blank"}}," the first place I take them is "]},{"type":"a","content":["Café"," ","Papeneiland"],"attrs":{"title":"Cafe Papeneiland site","href":"http://www.papeneiland.nl/en/","target":"_blank"}}," the establishment has sat at the intersection of"," ","Prinsengracht and Brouwersgracht and cycling becomes a pleasure again."]},{"type":"p","content":["There aren’t many places to get high—vertically but ",{"type":"b","content":["you can see my city best from"]}," the ",{"type":"a","content":["Zuiderkerkstoren"],"attrs":{"title":"Zuiderkerkstoren site","href":"http://www.westertorenamsterdam.com/?page=openingstijden-en-prijzen-2&lastpage=Zuiderkerkstoren","target":"_blank"}},"."," ","Climb the 70-meter church tower whose carillon bells chime every 15 minutes for views of the ",{"type":"a","content":["Jewish Quarter"],"attrs":{"title":"National Geographic Travel site - 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Yotam Ottolenghi","href":"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yotam_Ottolenghi","target":"_blank"}}," And the canal-side setting is stunning."]}],{"type":"inline","content":{"name":"Ad","props":{"ad":{"type":"fitt-article-inline-box","className":"fitt-article-inline-box"},"className":"natgeo-ad","placeholders":{"compact":{"size":[300,250]},"regular":{"size":[300,250]}},"initSelf":true},"context":{},"config":{"gridDisplayMode":"none"}}},[{"type":"p","content":[{"type":"b","content":["If there’s one thing you should know about getting around my city it’s"]}," that while you have to try riding a bike at least once Distances are short and you’ll want to keep stopping to admire the view."]},{"type":"p","content":[{"type":"b","content":["The best place to spend time outdoors in my city is"]}," undoubtedly on the water There are numerous ",{"type":"i","content":["rondvaart "]},"boat tours even at red lights."]},{"type":"p","content":[{"type":"b","content":["For a fancy night out I"]}," drink cocktails at ",{"type":"a","content":["Bar Oldenhof"],"attrs":{"title":"Bar Oldenhof site","href":"http://www.bar-oldenhof.com/","target":"_blank"}}," said to be the country’s first crowd-funded bar then order the tasting plates—which might include smoked eel you can visit"]}," the old fishing villages of ",{"type":"a","content":["Monnickendam"],"attrs":{"title":"Wikipedia site - Monnickendam","href":"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monnickendam","target":"_blank"}}," and ",{"type":"a","content":["Broek in Waterland"],"attrs":{"title":"Waterland - Broek in Waterland","href":"http://www.onswaterland.nl/over-waterland/broek-in-waterland/","target":"_blank"}}," Both can be reached by bus or bicycle from Amsterdam."]},{"type":"p","content":[{"type":"b","content":["My city is known for being"]}," rude ",{"type":"b","content":["but it’s really"]}," just to-the-point and try not to take it personally."]},{"type":"p","content":[{"type":"b","content":["The best outdoor market in my city is"]}," the ",{"type":"a","content":["Saturday organic market on Noordermarkt"],"attrs":{"title":"I Am Amsterdam - Noordermarkt organic market","href":"http://www.iamsterdam.com/en-GB/Ndtrc/Boerenmarkt%20Noordermarkt%20Amsterdam","target":"_blank"}}," but it’s a great place to pick up regional produce and you can usually “try before you buy.” In the winter warm up after a visit with hot chocolate and apple pie in ",{"type":"a","content":["Winkel 43"],"attrs":{"title":"Winkel 43","href":"http://www.winkel43.nl/","target":"_blank"}},"."]},{"type":"p","content":[{"type":"a","content":["Bakers ","&"," Roasters"],"attrs":{"title":"Bakers & Roasters site","href":"http://bakersandroasters.com/","target":"_blank"}}," which blends Kiwi flavor and Brazilian color ",{"type":"b","content":["is my favorite place to grab breakfast"]}," and the recently opened meat mecca ",{"type":"a","content":["Cannibale Royale"],"attrs":{"title":"Facebook site - Cannibale Royale","href":"https://www.facebook.com/CannibaleRoyale","target":"_blank"}}," ",{"type":"b","content":["is the spot for late-night eats."]}]},{"type":"p","content":[{"type":"b","content":["To find out what’s going on at night and on the weekends read"]}," ",{"type":"a","content":[{"type":"i","content":["A Mag"]}],"attrs":{"title":"I Am Amsterdam site - A Mag","href":"http://www.iamsterdam.com/en-GB/experience/plan-your-trip/products/publications/a-mag","target":"_blank"}},{"type":"i","content":[" "]},"an English-language magazine that’s available around town and online or ",{"type":"a","content":["Overdose.am"],"attrs":{"title":"Overdose.am","href":"http://www.overdose.am/","target":"_blank"}}," hasn’t made it to the final of the national championships ",{"type":"b","content":["my city’s biggest sports event is "]},"the ",{"type":"a","content":["Amsterdam Marathon"],"attrs":{"title":"Amsterdam Marathon site","href":"http://www.tcsamsterdammarathon.nl/en/","target":"_blank"}}," ",{"type":"b","content":["Watch it"]}," along a course that starts and finishes at the ",{"type":"a","content":["Olympic Stadium"],"attrs":{"title":"Olympic Stadium site","href":"http://www.olympischstadion.nl/","target":"_blank"}}," flowing by"," ","the ",{"type":"a","content":["Rijksmuseum"],"attrs":{"title":"Rijksmuseum site","href":"https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en","target":"_blank"}}," and the River Amstel along the way."]},{"type":"p","content":[{"type":"b","content":["When I’m feeling cash-strapped I"]}," go to the ",{"type":"a","content":["Stadsarchief"],"attrs":{"title":"Stadsarchief site","href":"http://stadsarchief.amsterdam.nl/","target":"_blank"}}," (the Amsterdam city archives) it often has free exhibitions on the ground floor."]},{"type":"p","content":[{"type":"b","content":["To escape the crowds often including endive—",{"type":"b","content":["and"]}," ",{"type":"a","content":[{"type":"i","content":["jenever"]}],"attrs":{"title":"Holland site - Jenever","href":"http://www.holland.com/us/tourism/article/traditional-dutch-drinks-jenever.htm","target":"_blank"}}," (Dutch gin) ",{"type":"b","content":["is my city’s signature drink Sample them at"]}," ",{"type":"a","content":["Greetje restaurant"],"attrs":{"title":"Greetje Restaurant site","href":"http://www.restaurantgreetje.nl/","target":"_blank"}}," ",{"type":"b","content":["and"]}," ",{"type":"a","content":["Wynand Fockink"],"attrs":{"title":"Wynand Fockink site","href":"http://www.wynand-fockink.nl/","target":"_blank"}}," tasting room respectively."]}],{"type":"inline","content":{"name":"Ad","props":{"ad":{"type":"fitt-article-inline-box","className":"fitt-article-inline-box"},"className":"natgeo-ad","placeholders":{"compact":{"size":[300,250]},"regular":{"size":[300,250]}},"initSelf":true},"context":{},"config":{"gridDisplayMode":"none"}}},[{"type":"p","content":["The modern ",{"type":"b","content":["is the best place to see live music"]}," ",{"type":"b","content":["but if you’re in the mood to dance check out"]}," ",{"type":"a","content":["Club Up"],"attrs":{"title":"Club Up site","href":"http://clubup.nl/","target":"_blank"}}," an intimate venue with an eclectic lineup and clientele."]},{"type":"p","content":["Permitting a church and a brothel to coexist on the same square ",{"type":"b","content":["could only happen in my city."]}]},{"type":"p","content":[{"type":"b","content":["In the spring you should "]},"see the cherry blossoms in tiny ",{"type":"a","content":["Wertheimpark"],"attrs":{"title":"Wertheimpark site","href":"http://www.deplantageamsterdam.nl/parken","target":"_blank"}}," and the people-watching is fantastic."]},{"type":"p","content":[{"type":"b","content":["In the fall you should"]}," explore the city’s world-class museums Don’t miss the ",{"type":"a","content":["Rijksmuseum library"],"attrs":{"title":"Rijksmuseum site","href":"http://library.rijksmuseum.nl/","target":"_blank"}}," a quiet corner in this vast complex that wouldn’t look out of place in a Harry Potter",{"type":"i","content":[" "]},"movie."," ",{"type":"b","content":["Fun fact:"]}," ","Refurbishment of the museum was delayed by a dispute with the Fietsersbond (the"," ","Dutch cyclists’ union) over the popular bicycle path that runs through the middle of the building and sip mulled wine."]},{"type":"p","content":[{"type":"b","content":["If you have kids (or are a kid at heart) you won’t want to miss"]}," ","the"," ",{"type":"a","content":["NEMO science museum"],"attrs":{"title":"NEMO site","href":"http://www.e-nemo.nl/en/","target":"_blank"}},"."," ","Most of the exhibits are designed to be touched—and the green too."]},{"type":"p","content":[{"type":"b","content":["The best book about my city is"]}," ",{"type":"i","content":[{"type":"a","content":["The Book of Revelation"],"attrs":{"title":"GoodReads site - 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The Jordaan","href":"http://www.iamsterdam.com/en-GB/living/about-amsterdam/amsterdam-city-districts/stadsdeel-centrum/jordaan","target":"_blank"}}," I still haven’t mastered the neighborhood’s jumble of narrow streets."]},{"type":"p","content":[{"type":"b","content":["In 140 characters or less the world should heart my city because "]},"small really is beautiful and well over 1,200 bridges in such close proximity?"]}]],"blockquote":{"disableQuotationMark":true,"simple":true},"dateline":null,"datelineSeparator":"—","wordCount":1344,"className":"PrismArticleBody DoubleColumn"},"config":{"gridDisplayMode":"none"},"usesArticleObject":true}],"endComponents":[{"name":"ContentPromoGrid","props":{"cards":[{"type":"floating","headline":"Can a human outrun a horse Contestants run during the Pyramids Half Marathon at the Giza Pyramids scenic spot in Giza Credit: Ahmed Gomaa/Xinhua/Alamy Live News","crdt":"Photograph by Xinhua forming part of the Bodleian Library.","ttl":"Oxford Radcliffe camera","rchDsc":{"markup":"The Radcliffe Camera is one of the university's most famous medieval sandstone buildings It takes place at all levels and both inside and outside the lines Corné Groenendijk stressed the importance of the Ajax Training Academy "An important core value of Ajax is: we bring talent to the fore It is incredibly important that we do that not only with players In our endeavour to train at Champions League level we are constantly looking to improve our own values." "This is precisely why events like this are very valuable," Groenendijk continued "People who choose to be influenced by our teachers over a long period of time We are proud of that and also gives us very good hope and vision for the future that we will always be able to train our own new people." Putting things into practice Perhaps Mauro Turkenburg will be one of them While participants of the 1* Ajax Education Program are introduced to the club's organisation and working methods at introductory level the Ouderkerk aan de Amstel resident has already completed two 2* Ajax Education Programmes  In the online 2* Ajax Education Program - Deepening Training Pillars course Mauro gained more knowledge about the three pillars central to training talent He took the basic knowledge gained during the 2* Ajax Education Program - Training Cruyff Quality - Maximum Ball Control This training consisted of six practical sessions at sports complex de Toekomst  While trainer/coaches made football content trainable on the pitch video analysts followed the 2* Ajax Education Program at the same time - The Analysis Cycle Led by video analyst of Ajax U16 Tijs Logchies and of Ajax U17 Erik Jagers they were introduced to what aspects a video analyst has to deal with in a working week The day of the season finale was also the last practice session of both courses Opportunities for talent  Apart from receiving a nice certificate which looks good on his trainer CV the Ajax Training has already made an impact on other fronts "The head youth coach of Roda '23 has seen me at work here and there is a good chance I will now become head coach of the U16 there It's nice that I got that from this at a Partner Club of Ajax I certainly hope for a continuation at Ajax I was actually supposed to go to America with the Camps & Clinics The importance of partner clubs Turkenburg already mentioned them Not only to have support in Amsterdam and its surroundings but also to raise the level of training content to a higher level Ajax hopes to get talents in even sharper focus and eventually delivered at the highest possible level Ajax started a process with partners RKVV Westlandia Koninklijke HFC and AVV Zeeburgia to recruit talent together in terms of (goalkeeper) coaches A good number followed various Ajax training courses through this route and were therefore in attendance on May 7  The lines of communication are very short which is why there was also an opportunity for people from the Partner Clubs who are not yet training to attend various knowledge sessions on Sunday Video Analysis and Goalkeeper Training workshops that you could register for participants in the Youth Scouting Workshop were tasked with assessing players during a demonstration training session That session - in which youth teams from Kon HFC and SV Hoofddorp appeared on the pitch - was led by participants from the 2* Ajax Education Program.'Training heart beats faster' Caspar Dekker enjoyed it from the sidelines like his colleagues in the same position at the other Partner clubs "This does make my training heart beat faster who found himself surrounded by about 50 or so clubmates which already makes the number large and in addition to that we have five trainers who have participated in the training courses this year We also included some interested parties for next season." I Dekker is very appreciative of the content of the curriculum "You have so many standard courses in the Netherlands to become a football coach but there's never a majpr difference in the approach Ajax does this with the principles of Johan Cruijff He is the icon of Dutch football and therefore also our icon Sharing the Ajax philosophy During the demonstration training the former pro is also involved in the 2* Ajax Education Program "It is also about sharing the idea of Ajax there might be a nice trainer we can use at our partner clubs the Ajax Football School or even the Ajax Youth Academy.'' Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news You are receiving this pop-up because this is the first time you are visiting our site You are using software which is blocking our advertisements (adblocker) we are relying on revenues from our banners So please disable your adblocker and reload the page to continue using this site.Thanks ADQ and Safe Haven Solutions have commenced a project to construct a high-tech greenhouse at ADQ's cutting-edge AgTech Park in KEZAD The automated 10-hectare facility will leverage advanced agriculture technology to increase sustainable food production in the UAE Designed with sustainability considerations the greenhouse facility will operate with an efficient cooling system that reduces its carbon and water footprint enabling the year-round cultivation of tomatoes and cucumbers in a carbon-neutral the project will enter the commercial stage and double the growing area of crops to 20 hectares Consumers will benefit from high-quality local produce that remains fresh for longer due to a shorter supply chain The project's scalability aims to minimize food waste by aligning production with local market demand Safe Haven Solutions' horticulture experts will collaborate with local researchers and agronomists to encourage the development of technology that is ideally adapted to the local climate and growing conditions while training facilities will enable knowledge transfer to Emirati talent to nurture the next generation of specialized growers said: "Our partnership with Safe Haven Solutions expands on our mission to increase Abu Dhabi's sustainable agricultural footprint By driving investments in AgTech solutions we are strengthening the UAE's ability to grow more produce domestically AgTech Park is rapidly emerging as a hub of large-scale We look forward to Safe Haven Solutions bringing their deep expertise in operating high-tech greenhouses to this project to cultivate homegrown fresh vegetables for communities across the nation." commented: "We welcome Safe Haven Solutions to KEZAD in support of the continued development of the transformative AgTech Park Our robust infrastructure and flexible spaces provide ideal facilities for our partners to tailor projects and facilitate the production and distribution of food staples for the benefit of the nation's expanding agriculture sector." added: "Sustainable agriculture is of paramount importance as we strive to strengthen food security and limit our impact on the environment will help strengthen the foundation of the UAE's agriculture sector as it accelerates towards securing year-round access to nutritious food that feeds a growing nation." With the UAE's historically high dependency on imports of produce and the country's annual consumption of fruits and vegetables projected to increase by 18 percent between 2019 and 2026 strengthening the agricultural self-sufficiency in this field is high on the public agenda ADQ's collaboration with Safe Haven Solutions represents another project launched within the AgTech Park in KEZAD ADQ commenced the operational phase of the Park with the launch of a vertical farming project in partnership with ZERO a high-impact technology company headquartered in Italy For more information:ADQ Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates,P.O. Box 164adq.ae Safe Haven Solutions+31 20 820 5200 P.O. BOX 361190 AA Ouderkerk aan de AmstelThe Netherlands www.safehavensolutions.nl/ FreshPublishers © 2005-2025 HortiDaily.com the new ECOBAR Amsterdam did not open in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel and nooooooooo it loosely inspired by Spanish cuisine The restaurant does not belong to Ron Blaauw: the two young men who run the business 'only' receive the much-appreciated 'support' from the chef (he 'does' the menu) At Eerste Sweelinckstraat 10 in the Amsterdamse Pijp on the spot where De Badcuyp was until recently but about three times before Escobar celebrated his 1rd month anniversary This 'find something' is threefold: first of all we think the former Badcuyp is very nicely painted and we love all the corners and differences in level in the store - you can easily crawl into it Although we sat at the bar 3 out of 2 times Number two: the place is large and cozy (kudos to the friendly staff) which means that you can usually still get a seat (at the bar) (we're not big on making reservations) Number 3 of course goes to the food: big thumbs up And so Escobar is our favorite tapas/pinxos place in the city Update June '18: Escobar is 1 year old and the company is celebrating it in style to say the least: they are treating a lucky winner to a return ticket to Colombia A ticket worth €1000 plus €500 pocket money The winner will be announced via Facebook on June 29 The 47th TCS Amsterdam Marathon will take place on Sunday As runners gear up for the potentially rainy day residents should brace for traffic disruptions The Amsterdam Marathon ranks among the largest marathons in Europe and stands as the premier marathon in the Netherlands Another 20,000 people will participate in the half-marathon with 5,000 others trying to complete an eight-kilometer course instead on Sunday at the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam-Zuid Runner will notably do two laps in the Vondelpark run under the Rijksmuseum and alongside the Stadhouderskade and follow the Amstel up to the town of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel temperatures at the start of the marathon are expected to hover around 8 degrees Temperatures are not expected to exceed 11 degrees that day Motorists are advised to remove their vehicles from the marathon route by 11:00 p.m. on Saturday. Parked vehicles will receive a fine and will possibly be towed, the municipality warned. 800 signs have been placed throughout the city to warn drivers about it. © 2012-2025, NL Times, All rights reserved. Basic cookies:Scope Business Media anonymizes the data of people who visit our site. As a result, managementscope.nl manages hardly any personal data of our website visitors. We are allowed to collect select data points that can in no way be linked to you as a person. Necessary cookies include all data points that Scope Business Media is allowed to place without the explicit permission of the visitor. This only concerns fully anonymized data that is necessary for the functioning of the site. Other cookies, when choosing 'complete':The option 'Other cookies' includes cookies for which we require explicit permission from you. This includes, for example, our marketing cookies, which we also fully anonymize. However, these cookies are essential for Scope Business Media to ensure that managementscope.nl can continue to exist as a site. The city’s best restaurants were French and Italian most world cuisines were under-represented and the Dutch restaurants were not much to write home about Amsterdam is punching well above its weight on the gastronomic stage For a city of less than a million inhabitants, restaurants here are demonstrating real creativity – whether by reinventing Dutch cuisine, putting the Netherlands’ Indonesian and Surinamese colonial roots in the spotlight, or showcasing top chefs from countries across the globe you can find everything from Japanese ramen to Peruvian ceviche – and of a quality you’d expect from a city five times the size While there are several Michelin-star restaurants in the city Amsterdam does casual fine dining particularly well: high-quality ingredients at a decent price point and without pretension If the service is good and you’re eating a full meal most locals just round up to the nearest euro or two Culture Trip covers a selection of Amsterdam’s best restaurants spanning fine dining The brainchild of culinary trio Guillaume de Beer, Johanneke van Iwaarden and Freek van Noortwijk, Breda opened in 2015 on the picturesque Singel canal and was an immediate hit In a light and airy yet intimate restaurant you can expect a fixed menu starting at three courses at lunchtime for €32.50 (£28) up to “de hele mikmak” (the whole shebang) at dinnertime for €86.50 (£75) Dietary requirements are of course catered for too – many of which are organic and unfiltered wines but with frequent nods to their southern Dutch roots (Breda is named after a city in the southern province of Noord-Brabant by the same name) © Jussi Puikkonen / Alamy Worst, confusingly, means sausage in Dutch. And at this small wine bar where seating is squeezed into every nook and cranny, sausages are the order of the day – served every which way. Think venison sausage, lobster sausage, blood sausage and even chocolate sausage for dessert. Worst also does excellent platters of French cheeses and charcuterie their wine cellar is spectacular – order a different (half) glass with every dish and you won’t be disappointed Worst switches its usual menu for a brunch menu: still fantastic but (perhaps surprisingly) import PrebidBidService from "/v1/js/PrebidBidService.js"; import AmazonBidService from "/v1/js/AmazonBidService.js"; window.addEventListener('intersecting',async (e) => { const element = document.querySelector('[data-id="in_article_1"]'); const slot = element.getAttribute('id'); if(e.detail.slotName !== slot) { return; } let promises = []; if(window.canRunPrebid) { const prebidService = new PrebidBidService(); promises.push(prebidService.requestPrebidBids(null [slot])); } if(window.canRunAmazon) { const amazonService = new AmazonBidService(); promises.push(amazonService.fetchBids(null [slot])); } if(promises?.length) { await Promise.all(promises).then(() => { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); }); } else { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); } }); Become a Culture Tripper Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy and the kitchen has gone from strength to strength Daalder doesn’t offer an à la carte menu – only a three- or four-course menu at lunchtime for €37.50-€45 (£33-39) and a five- or seven-course menu in the evening for €69-€89 (£60-77) Chef Huwaë uses local ingredients and international influences to create dishes that surprise and delight at every turn And because of the relaxed nature of the venue there’s none of the pressure or pretension that often accompanies fine dining elsewhere Floreyn is also close to many of the city’s main attractions and museums chef Ron Blaauw has opened a second location – Ron Gastrobar Indonesia Downtown – in the centre of town A typical rijsttafel will cost you around €30-40 (£26-35) per person and is well worth it © Wiskerke / Alamy While almost all restaurants nowadays are trying to be more sustainable by sourcing their ingredients locally and only when in season, De Kas was arguably the first. Housed in an enormous greenhouse in the Frankendael Park De Kas (which actually means ‘greenhouse’ in Dutch) sources the majority of its produce from its own grounds – whether under glass or in the gardens with meat and fish playing only a supporting role Dishes are small and light (but you get plenty of them) and diners are encouraged to take a walk around the venue to see where their food is coming from it’s also a great location to cater for a large group Lunch costs between €35 (£30) and €45 (£39) depending on whether you choose three or four dishes while dinner comes to €57 (£49) for five dishes and €65 (£56) for six dishes Try the roti: a typical Surinamese flatbread that you use to mop up a hearty meat curry with potatoes green beans and hard-boiled eggs for €7-10 (£36-9) The saoto soep is also not to be missed: a comforting soup A bargain at only €4 (£3) for a small serving and €6 (£5) for a large A foodie favourite, The Lobby Fizeaustraat makes this list because of its all-day concept and large outdoor terrace. In the morning, pop in for a coffee and eggs benedict for breakfast, or come a little later for classics like steak tartare and Caesar salad made the way they should be The terrace and the bar both make a beautiful backdrop for an early-evening cocktail while the restaurant is so large inside that you might even get away without making a dinner reservation (The Lobby Fizeaustraat’s location helps with that you’re away from the tourist crowds.) In the evening the six-course Chef’s Menu is on offer until 9pm for €68.50 (£59) but unlike many of Amsterdam’s other top restaurants there are plenty of à la carte dishes as well – meaning that if you just want to pop in for a main course and a glass of wine See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Summer Guides & Tips Beat the Crowds with these Alternative Summer Destinations Art 6 Highlights of Amsterdam's Stedelijk Museum See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in July Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in November See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in September See & Do Lesser-Known Summer Destinations to Visit in Europe Guides & Tips The Most Naturally Beautiful Destinations in the Netherlands Guides & Tips This Is Europe's Ultimate Road Trip Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in December US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd Siobhan Wall is the author of Quiet Amsterdam Groene.nl gebruikt cookies om het websitegebruik geanonimiseerd te analyseren en noodzakelijke functionaliteiten zoals inloggen mogelijk te maken. 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Meer informatie is beschikbaar in onze privacy- en cookieverklaring De totstandkoming van het energieakkoord hing deze zomer aan een zijden draadje De onderhandelaars scheerden langs de rand van de afgrond Boeman Henk Kamp ontpopte zich als reddende engel hoge gang in het ministerie van Economische Zaken ligt een zaal die zijn bijnaam ontleent aan de gestoffeerde panelen aan de muren: de blauwe zaal verzamelt zich hier een groep onderhandelaars onder wie minister Henk Kamp van Economische Zaken voorzitter van de werkgeversvereniging vno-ncw voorzitter van het voornaamste Nederlandse polderinstituut Ze passeren een serie bronzen beelden in de gang gaan door een antechambre met kersenhouten wanden en nemen plaats aan de ringvormige overlegtafel Onder zijn leiding wordt al een half jaar gepraat over een energieakkoord milieubeweging en overheid om overeenstemming te bereiken over het energiebeleid voor de komende tien jaar Het is een uniek polderproces geweest: nog nooit waren zoveel verschillende partijen betrokken en nog nooit was de milieubeweging zo’n serieuze machtsfactor Talloze hobbels zijn er genomen en overeenstemming over de grote lijnen – meer windmolens investeringen in energiebesparing – is eindelijk in zicht Als de minister nu meewerkt en met financiering over de brug komt Binnen een paar minuten helpt hij de aanwezigen uit de droom: hij veegt alle cruciale plannen van tafel De onderhandelaars luisteren stomverbaasd naar zijn standpunten; dit hadden ze niet zien aankomen Het ‘Nederlandse antwoord op klimaatverandering’ lijkt verder weg dan ooit ‘Ik denk dat we ons moeten afvragen of we nu nog tot een akkoord kunnen komen’ zegt Wiebe Draijer vlak voordat hij de vergadering schorst In een oude werkplaats tegenover paleis Soestdijk Er zijn vertegenwoordigers van de overheid Collectieve irritatie heeft ze bij elkaar gebracht vaart een zwabberkoers als het gaat om de verduurzaming van de energiehuishouding In de afgelopen tien jaar zijn er drie verschillende subsidiestelsels voor groene energie versleten Bedrijven kunnen niet met zekerheid investeren duurzame initiatieven komen moeizaam van de grond en de overheid wordt continu bestookt door belangengroepen die het beleid willen beïnvloeden Niemand gelooft nog dat Nederland het Europese doel van veertien procent duurzame energieproductie in 2020 zal halen Initiatiefnemer van de bijeenkomst is Nederland Krijgt Nieuwe Energie (nkne) een organisatie die is opgericht om ‘de transitie naar schone betaalbare en betrouwbare energie’ te versnellen Boegbeelden zijn zkh prins Carlos de Bourbon de Parme – zoon van prinses Irene en net als zijn moeder geëngageerd natuurliefhebber – en Marco Witschge een maatschappelijk verantwoord ondernemer met goede contacten in de politiek en een vurige wens om verandering teweeg te brengen Het tweetal probeert al sinds 2010 sleutelspelers in de energiesector dichter bij elkaar te brengen Ze hebben duurzame voorlopers en politieke mastodonten bijeengebracht Herman Wijffels en Ed Nijpels houden een toespraak De ontmoeting in Soestdijk markeert een ommekeer en niet alleen omdat alle relevante partijen in de energiewereld samen biologische broodjes eten Het idee van een ‘Nationaal Energietransitie Akkoord’ komt voor het eerst ter sprake in de beste traditie van de overlegeconomie proberen de tegengestelde belangen op één lijn te krijgen Niet via vrijblijvende convenanten of via overheidsingrepen maar door middel van onderhandelingen tussen de betrokkenen zelf Het voorstel verspreidt zich als een lopend vuur ‘Je zag dat allerlei mensen in beweging kwamen’ directeur van de invloedrijke Stichting Natuur Milieu ‘Want iedereen was het erover eens dat er iets moest gebeuren en dat de politiek de antwoorden niet had.’ Een energieakkoord is echter tijdens Rutte I Maar het kabinet is nog niet gevallen of de milieuorganisaties grijpen hun kans Marco Witschge van nkne spreekt met d66-partijgenoot en op dat moment vertrekkend ser-voorzitter Alexander Rinnooy Kan Die regelt een kennismaking met zijn opvolger Korte tijd later scharen de politieke partijen zich achter het energieakkoord die al tien jaar met zichzelf in de clinch ligt omdat gevestigde belangen en vernieuwers met elkaar botsen Daarmee staat de polder voor een ongekende uitdaging ‘Op het terrein van duurzaamheid van onze energievoorziening blijven we achter We moeten een inhaalslag ensceneren die uiteindelijk leidt tot een concurrentievoordeel voor het bedrijfsleven.’ In zijn aanvaardingsspeech als ser-voorzitter maakt Wiebe Draijer zijn bedoelingen direct duidelijk Met een succesvol energieakkoord kan hij laten zien dat zijn geplaagde polderclub toch wel wat kan presteren een bescheiden en tegelijk zelfverzekerde blik en een ontwapenende vriendelijkheid zei ooit in een interview over zichzelf dat hij in principe ‘alle problemen kan oplossen’ De oud-McKinsey-partner gaat voortvarend aan de slag Als Diederik Samsom (pvda) en Mark Rutte (vvd) in september het regeerakkoord presenteren zijn de belangrijkste partijen – milieubeweging werkgevers en overheid – bij de ser al in gesprek over het energieakkoord Ze spreken een mediacode af: niemand mag iets zeggen over de inhoud van de gesprekken en alleen de ser communiceert over het proces De kaders uit het regeerakkoord zijn leidend: zestien procent duurzame energieopwekking in 2020 twee procent boven de Europese doelstelling en dat mag geen extra geld kosten boven op de drie miljard euro subsidie voor groene energie die jaarlijks wordt opgehoest door burgers en bedrijven hoofd van de afdeling energie van Stichting Natuur Milieu en een van de invloedrijkste groene lobbyisten van het land trekt tijdens de vooronderhandelingen in november 2012 het initiatief naar zich toe alsof hij op ieder moment klaar is om een examen af te leggen of een marathon te rennen wil zo veel mogelijk ‘groene’ posities aan de onderhandeltafel van de ser Het levert hem een eerste clash op met vno-ncw ‘Je zag ze constant manoeuvreren om zo veel mogelijk nieuwe gesprekspartners buiten boord te houden’ herinnert Wit zich in een achtergrondgesprek vno laat zich erop voorstaan het hele bedrijfsleven te vertegenwoordigen een alternatieve werkgeversvereniging voor groene bedrijven Maar door de harde lijn van Wit en door de vernieuwingsdrift van Draijer die juist meer organisaties bij het proces wil betrekken moet vno uiteindelijk accepteren dat niet alleen Natuur Milieu en De Groene Zaak gaan meepraten Milieudefensie en De Duurzame Energiekoepel (duurzame energiebedrijven) In totaal schuiven bijna tachtig onderhandelaars aan verdeeld over vier overlegtafels met elk hun eigen onderwerpen en doelstellingen Bijna alles wat met energie te maken heeft komt ter sprake: van de verduurzaming van transport tot de isolatie van huizen van lokale energieopwekking tot investeringen in clean tech Gedurende de onderhandelingen houden wij continu contact met de betrokkenen in een poging de ondoorgrondelijke polder eens goed te belichten Hoe functioneert het poldermodel als het onderwerp zo complex en veelomvattend is ‘Het proces is nu naar de andere kant van de maan’ zegt Draijer in maart in een achtergrondgesprek op zijn kamer bij de ser ‘De onderhandelaars aan tafel moeten er nu uitkomen Maar we zijn ons er met z’n allen van bewust dat we een modderfiguur slaan op het gebied van duurzaamheid Ab van der Touw is een erudiet man met netjes gekamd grijs haar en een groot historisch bewustzijn De van origine historicus en classicus is bij Siemens Nederland opgeklommen tot ceo en aficionado van de Nederlandse polder waaraan besluiten moeten vallen over energiebesparing in de industrie en de grootschalige productie van zestien procent duurzame energie in 2020 Om dit percentage te halen moeten enorme stappen worden gezet in 2012 stond de teller pas op 4,4 procent Naast kleinschalige productie met bijvoorbeeld zonnepanelen zijn een paar grote ‘werkpaarden’ nodig om voldoende groene stroom op te wekken: windenergie en de bijstook van biomassa zoals houtsnippers in kolencentrales Aangezien er al in 2012 duidelijke afspraken over windmolens op land zijn gemaakt spitst de strijd aan tafel 2 zich toe op het bouwen van windparken op zee en de bijstook van biomassa De partijen staan lijnrecht tegenover elkaar: vno en Economische Zaken willen veel biomassa bijstoken en weinig ‘wind op zee’ De groene belangen aan tafel willen het precies andersom: volgens hen levert wind op zee meer economische en milieuvoordelen op dan biomassabijstook en is het op termijn ook goedkoper Wanneer de partijen aan deze belangrijke tafel 2 het eens worden dan pas behoort het energieakkoord tot de mogelijkheden Als hij de groep van twintig onderhandelaars voor het eerst tegenover zich heeft ‘Ik wil van u weten wat uw persoonlijke drive is om hier een succes van te maken’ ‘Als ik zelf naar huis ga in juli en mijn kinderen onder ogen kom Of ik zeg: we zijn erin geslaagd een akkoord te sluiten met perspectief op de lange termijn en daar heb ik mijn bijdrage aan kunnen leveren Een van de onderhandelaars is Frits de Groot teammanager op onder meer het dossier energie bij vno De Groot is een goedlachse man met een schalkse blik en een licht Haags accent Hij werkt al ruim vijftien jaar voor de werkgeversvereniging en straalt de rust uit van iemand die zich nooit op de kast laat jagen De Groot gaat de dagelijkse onderhandelingen doen en vertolkt aan tafel 2 de vno-standpunten die hij bepaalt in overleg met onder anderen Cees Oudshoorn (directeur beleid) en Bernard Wientjes (voorzitter) Oudshoorn en De Groot krijgen hun mandaat weer van de bedrijven die lid zijn van vno – de werkgeversvereniging werkt als een getrapte raket Aan tafel 2 pleit vno vooral voor economische groei en voor een verstandige duurzame energietransitie ‘Je moet ervoor zorgen dat de economie weer gaat draaien’ zegt De Groot in de beginfase in een achtergrondgesprek met De Groene zittend in zijn kamer in de Malietoren (met uitzicht op het dak van EZ aan de overkant) ‘Groei is het belangrijkste.’ De werkgeversvereniging focust daarom op de kosten van het akkoord: het mag geen lastenverzwaringen opleveren de energie-intensieve industrie moet worden ontzien en als de ‘transitie’ goedkoper wordt door die iets te vertragen Immers: burgers en bedrijven zitten niet op dure verduurzaming te wachten vno heeft terdege rekening te houden met energie-intensieve bedrijven zoals staalfabrikant Tata Steel en aluminiumsmelter Aldel in de achterban Zij verwachten dat grote investeringen in duurzame energie de energievoorziening duurder en minder betrouwbaar zullen maken en pleiten daarom voor terughoudendheid ‘Qua omvang zijn de plannen voor wind op zee vergelijkbaar met acht Betuwelijnen’ ‘Daar kun je niet op een vrijdagnamiddag even over besluiten.’ Na een jarenlange lobby zitten ze eindelijk met alle relevante spelers om de tafel: nu kunnen ze directe invloed uitoefenen Ze zetten dan ook alles op alles om deze kans te benutten Al in januari stampen de natuur- en milieuorganisaties de groene werkgevers en de duurzame energiebedrijven een ongehoord samenwerkingsverband uit de grond die tot op dat moment bekend staan om hun onderlinge verdeeldheid realiseren zich dat ze bij de ser alleen succesvol kunnen zijn door samenwerking Ze starten een strategieteam met een goed netwerk en expertise op het gebied van beleid en campaigning met Ron Wit als belangrijkste dagelijkse onderhandelaar bepaalt in overleg met de directeuren van de betrokken organisaties de inzet aan de onderhandelingstafel een geldschieter waar onder meer de Nationale Postcodeloterij achter zit betaalt voor de diensten van een onderhandelexpert Ze spreken af dat ze de onderhandelingstafel niet zullen verlaten zonder akkoord Door het sterke netwerk heeft de groene coalitie directe lijntjes bij EZ De ceo en andere medewerkers van het energiebedrijf Eneco denken op de achtergrond met de groenen mee krijgen leden uit het strategieteam belopdrachten zegt Ron Wit als hij terugblikt op het unieke samenwerkingsverband die normaliter een belangrijke rol spelen in de polder stonden tijdens de onderhandelingen voor het energieakkoord in de schaduw van de groene coalitie Wit: ‘De grote milieuorganisaties en het groene bedrijfsleven hebben nog nooit zo intensief De partijen aan de andere kant van de onderhandelingstafel voelden die kracht.’ Het is dan ook geen wonder dat de groenen de eerste tik uitdelen Boodschap: de onderhandelingen – dan al drie maanden bezig – gaan te langzaam en ‘vno spreekt met twee tongen’ ‘Het is op dit moment de energie-intensieve industrie die de agenda van vno aan tafel grotendeels bepaalt’ zegt een nauw betrokken Greenpeace-campaigner rond dezelfde tijd in een achtergrondgesprek ‘Maar de industrie erkent de opdracht [van zestien procent duurzame energie in 2020] eigenlijk niet Hun boodschap is: energie is al zo duur en het moet niet veel gekker worden in dit land Wij willen een andere houding afdwingen.’ Greenpeace begint een campagne gericht op bedrijven die zich met de ‘Dutch Sustainable Growth Coalition’ als groene voorlopers profileren Unilever en dsm worden nu uitgenodigd om zich publiekelijk uit te spreken voor een stevig akkoord ‘De eensgezindheid die vno pretendeert te hebben in de achterban klopt gewoon niet.’ Daarmee leggen de groenen de vinger op een zere plek Want in de achterban van de werkgeversorganisatie zitten bedrijven die zich hard inzetten voor snelle vergroening maar ook bedrijven die juist belang hebben bij de goedkope De poging om de vno-onderhandelaars via de eigen achterban onder druk te zetten wekt grote irritatie Dit is ‘niet volgens de morele codes die gelden in het onderhandelen’ ‘Je laat elkaars achterban met rust.’ Toch gaat Greenpeace door met de campagne precies zoals in het groene strategieteam is afgesproken ser-voorzitter Draijer wordt zelfs van tevoren ingelicht Hun inschatting dat vno niet zomaar van tafel zal gaan In een brief en een persbericht vragen de werkgevers de overheid een ‘topberaad’ over energie te organiseren ‘met alle relevante stakeholders’ Alsof wij geen relevante stakeholders zijn Ze interpreteren het als een poging om het ser-traject op te blazen en slaan alarm met een eigen persbericht dat moet gaan over schaliegas en de concurrentiepositie van de chemische industrie heeft volgens vno niets te maken met de ser vno-voorman Wientjes moet eraan te pas komen om de groenen gerust te stellen Het incident toont aan hoe licht ontvlambaar de verhoudingen zijn smeedt ondertussen de groene onderhandelaar Ron Wit nieuwe coalities Een belangrijke bondgenoot komt uit onverwachte hoek: Dick Benschop oud-pvda-politicus en nu president-directeur van Shell Nederland een immer olijk lachende man met appelwangetjes en een kapsel met stevige Hij zet in november 2012 al een stap die typerend is voor de olie- en gasgigant: hij laat het consultancybureau McKinsey onderzoeken wat de beste manier is om de Nederlandse energiehuishouding te vergroenen Als het resultaat in januari 2013 op zijn bureau valt bepaalt Benschop de doelstellingen van Shell voor het energieakkoord en begint hij met een serie gesprekken De Shell-baas en milieuman zien elkaar op maandag 22 maart een maatregel uit het lenteakkoord die de winstgevendheid van kolencentrales drukt Nu richten Wit en Benschop hun pijlen opnieuw op de kolencentrales en ze verhogen de inzet: ze willen de oudste Voor de groenen is dat een belangrijk punt vanwege de grote CO2-uitstoot van de oude kolenketels voor Shell gaat het bovendien om economische winst: hoe minder kolen worden verbruikt voor het opwekken van elektriciteit hoe meer gas er nodig is – en toevallig verkoopt Shell dat een manier om groene stroom op te wekken die op steun van EZ en vno kan rekenen omdat het op de korte termijn relatief goedkoop is willen Benschop en Wit juist beperken omdat de milieuwinst daarvan discutabel is en de oude kolencentrales daardoor juist langer open zullen blijven De relevantie van dit monsterverbond is moeilijk te overschatten Terwijl Greenpeace op de voorgrond vecht met vno vormen de groenen op de achtergrond een coalitie met een van de belangrijkste bedrijven binnen vno Benschop spreekt zich binnen de werkgeversvereniging duidelijk uit voor het pakket dat hij heeft besproken met Wit die op zijn beurt begrip toont voor de belangen van Shell Over verplichtende maatregelen op het gebied van energiebesparing in de energie-intensieve industrie maken ze geen afspraken Wit is realistisch genoeg om in te zien dat Shell zelf eigenaar van energie-intensieve raffinaderijen Bovendien: polderen is een spel van geven en nemen De tussenstand half maart: schermutselingen op de voorgrond inhoudelijke verkenningen die zicht bieden op een akkoord op de achtergrond Iedereen heeft elkaars telefoonnummer en er wordt overal in het land afgesproken om te onderzoeken wat de mogelijkheden zijn Iedereen weet nu: bij de ser moet het gebeuren de ambtenaren van het ministerie van EZ zitten bij de ser aan tafel maar voeren tot verbazing van velen ook parallelle gesprekken met de energiebedrijven ser-voorzitter Draijer krijgt er hoofdpijn van want in die aparte gesprekken komen dezelfde onderwerpen aan de orde: de zestien-procentnorm Vanuit het ser-gebouw hoeft hij alleen maar de straat schuin over te steken Binnen zegt hij naar verluidt tegen topambtenaar Mark Dierikx: ‘Het is prima als jullie gesprekken willen voeren maar dan moet je mij niet vragen om een energieakkoord moeten jullie de gesprekken nu stilleggen.’ Het ministerie moest eraan wennen dat de plannen nu echt ‘aan de andere kant van de straat’ gemaakt werden EZ kiest uiteindelijk voor het draagvlak van de ser-partners de gesprekken met de energiebedrijven gaan on hold Achterliggende gedachte: lukt het bij de ser niet dan kan het ministerie alsnog zelf aan de slag om een einde te maken aan het zwabberbeleid Draijer kan nu zijn tweede probleem aanpakken: de polder is vastgelopen Na drie maanden onderhandelen aan vier overlegtafels met tachtig man is nog nergens overeenstemming over bereikt Onderhandelaars beginnen zich nu hardop af te vragen of het op deze manier wel gaat lukken De ser-voorzitter besluit een stille verkenning te organiseren met de twee belangrijkste dagelijkse onderhandelaars van de groene coalitie en de werkgevers: Ron Wit en Frits de Groot Hij nodigt ze op zondag 7 april uit in het Jagershuis in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel De heren dineren in een afgesloten kamertje boven het restaurant en blijven tot diep in de nacht in gesprek Ze worden het eens over de contouren van een mogelijk akkoord De Groot geeft aan dat vno alleen meewerkt als de plannen betaalbaar zijn terwijl Wit nogmaals inzet op het uitschakelen van de oudste kolencentrales Het is de eerste keer dat de werkgevers en de groenen het erover eens zijn dat een akkoord überhaupt mogelijk is De grote onderhandeltafels blijven samenkomen maar de belangrijke onderhandelingen vinden vanaf dit moment plaats in kleine groepen op de kamer van Draijer in het ser-gebouw Een maand na het Jagershuis zet Ron Wit een volgende cruciale stap: hij maakt een één-op-één-afspraak met oud-pvda-milieuminister nu voorman van de branchevereniging van de energiebedrijven in de lobby van het Amrath Hotel aan de Prins Hendrikkade in Amsterdam Alders heeft een totaal verdeelde achterban Hij moet relatief groene energiebedrijven zoals Eneco perspectief bieden op een stevig duurzaam akkoord en tegelijkertijd de schade beperken voor energiebedrijven met (meerdere) kolencentrales Grootste pijnpunt voor die bedrijven is de kolenbelasting die de winstgevendheid van hun nieuwe centrales drukt scheelt dat tot 2020 ieder jaar 190 miljoen euro Daarmee kunnen ze de pijn die ze momenteel lijden – er zijn in de afgelopen tien jaar veel te veel kolen- en gascentrales gebouwd zodat de verkoop van elektriciteit nu amper geld oplevert – verzachten Wit en Alders komen tot een mogelijke deal Als de energiebedrijven vijf oude kolencentrales sluiten en akkoord gaan met een beperking op de bijstook van biomassa gaat de milieubeweging akkoord met het schrappen van de kolenbelasting maar het gesprek ‘heeft in het verdere verloop zeker een rol gespeeld’ Wie verwacht dat na de verschillende vooroverleggen het proces makkelijker loopt Het tegenovergestelde is waar: juist omdat de onderhandelaars weten dat een akkoord mogelijk is Nu gaat het erom de omstandigheden naar je hand te zetten en de buit voor je achterban binnen te halen Tafelvoorzitter Ab van der Touw begint de sessie van tafel 2 met een historische anekdote Vandaag vertelt hij over het bombardement op Rotterdam Dat blijkt symbolische waarde te hebben: tijdens het overleg geeft Frits de Groot aan dat vno het akkoord zal opblazen als er geen lastenverlichting voor de industrie komt Door de Rotterdam-anekdote komt het vno-standpunt bij de groenen bekend te staan als ‘de bom van Frits’ – zo verbaasd zijn de groenen dat de werkgevers bereid zijn om alle geboekte voortgang op te blazen De Groot heeft in het groene kamp vanaf dat moment de bijnaam ‘Frits Bom’ Hij kan daar achteraf hard om lachen en legt het standpunt geduldig uit ‘Wij hebben die dag opnieuw het perspectief van de kosten ingebracht Je kunt blijven praten over doelstellingen maar je moet ook kijken naar de gevolgen voor het bedrijfsleven dat internationaal concurreert.’ De vno-onderhandelaars zien het als hun verantwoordelijkheid om de kosten te beperken De Groot: ‘Akkoorden hebben slechts betekenis als ze tien jaar mee kunnen En dat kunnen ze alleen als ze betaalbaar zijn.’ Een maand later als het kabinet bekendmaakt dat het zes miljard extra gaat bezuinigen zal vno dit verhaal luider en luider verkondigen De boodschap is simpel: als de werkgevers geld wordt ontnomen dat het kabinet eerder heeft toegezegd De werkgevers accepteren geen lastenverzwaringen De groene coalitie laat zich door deze retoriek uit de tent lokken Op 17 mei schuiven de groene directeuren aan in de kamer van Wientjes in de Malietoren over dat energie niet te duur moet worden door het akkoord en vertelt vervolgens over klimaatverandering en dat ook Nederland daar nu naar moet handelen Iets in het optreden van Borren moet indruk hebben gemaakt op Wientjes want een dag later vraagt hij haar mee uit eten Die avond spreken ze af dat Greenpeace noch vno van tafel zal gaan voordat ze echt hebben onderhandeld Het is de polder in optima forma: als je elkaar niet vertrouwt Tot eind mei speelt minister Kamp van EZ een stille hoofdrol: hij stelt namens het kabinet de doelen en de (financiële) kaders en wacht af Tijdens een eerste gesprek op zijn ministerie reageert Kamp op de plannen die bij de ser over tafel gaan Hij blijkt nog geen centimeter af te wijken van het vvd-partijprogramma: biomassa is voorlopig goedkoper en van windmolens op zee is hij nooit fan geweest ‘Al met al is mijn conclusie dat het voor ons de verkeerde kant op gaat’ schrijft Ron Wit na het overleg met Kamp in een mail aan zijn achterban die via-via in onze handen is gekomen ‘Er zit te veel een vvd-sausje over alles.’ De groenen hebben echter goede argumenten aan hun zijde: biomassabijstook levert geen innovatie op en de klimaatvoordelen zijn omstreden Om hout te verbranden in Nederlandse kolencentrales is bovendien subsidie nodig en wordt het milieu elders zwaar belast maar Nederlandse bedrijven kunnen er tenminste aan verdienen Half juni krijgen deze argumenten de overhand bij vno en bij EZ Shell-baas Benschop speelt daarin weer een belangrijke rol Met enkele andere ceo’s spreekt hij zich binnen vno uit tegen biomassa en als hij op 15 juni is uitgenodigd op de vvd-partijraad om te spreken over energie zegt hij in de wandelgangen tegen Kamp: ‘Als je kiest voor wind op zee en een beperking van biomassabijstook krijg je een akkoord dat beter voorsorteert op de toekomstige energiemix dat meer banen oplevert en dat minder kost dan de plannen uit het regeerakkoord Misschien zou Benschop dit ook uit zichzelf gezegd hebben maar Ron Wit heeft hem vlak voor de vvd-partijraad nog even opgebeld om de talking points door te nemen Ook de andere spreker op het vvd-evenement wordt door drie mensen uit het groene strategieteam benaderd met een ‘boodschappenlijstje’ Zo brengen de groenen hun argumenten waar het ertoe doet Eind juni zegt Wientjes in de Volkskrant dat hij intern ‘de blaren op zijn tong praat om de noodzaak van verstandig inzetten op windenergie aan te tonen’ Wat Kamp met de goede raad van Benschop doet houdt de ervaren politicus nog even voor zichzelf Zo ontstaat er een gematigd optimistische sfeer vno heeft met succes gehamerd op kostenbeheersing de groenen hebben hun punt gemaakt over biomassa en wind op zee Ondanks het feit dat het kabinet sinds begin juni discussieert over extra bezuinigingen van zes miljard euro lijkt een akkoord nu mogelijk Op donderdag 27 juni wordt bij vno de hele dag vergaderd over het energieakkoord Belangrijke bedrijven uit de Dutch Sustainable Growth Coalition die gedurende het hele proces zwaar zijn belobbyd door Greenpeace spreken zich luid en duidelijk uit voor een akkoord De groenen zien het als een van hun overwinningen: de energie-agenda van vno wordt niet langer gedomineerd door een defensief smaldeel uit de energie-intensieve industrie De vno-onderhandelaars krijgen een simpele boodschap mee: dit akkoord moet er komen Een dag later in de blauwe zaal lopen de afgevaardigden van de ser vno en de groenen tegen de muur die Henk Kamp heet Geld steken in energiebesparing in de gebouwde omgeving De bijeenkomst komt bekend te staan als ‘het njet van Kamp’ Tijdens de schorsing volgt koortsachtig overleg De ser-voorzitter maakt een rondje langs de verschillende onderhandelaars om te horen of en hoe ze door willen Zijn indruk: de schrik zit er goed in maar het pragmatisme overheerst – iedereen wil verder praten Door de opmerkingen van Kamp is een ‘nieuwe realiteit’ ontstaan Na de schorsing verschuift Kamp de deadline met een week tot 12 juli Hij belooft dat zijn ministerie met een notitie zal komen om duidelijk te maken welke maatregelen wél kunnen De groenen zien de opstelling van Kamp als een coup De dappere polderaars hebben al een half jaar met elkaar zitten praten en door nu met zijn vuist op tafel te slaan zet Kamp alle omstandigheden naar zijn hand Hij zegt ‘njet’ zodat hij zelf het akkoord kan herschrijven Volgens het ministerie is Kamp simpelweg als laatste aan zet Hij heeft de polder gevraagd om een totaalpakket dat geen extra geld zou kosten en dat is niet wat hij krijgt voorgeschoteld Omdat er nog geen finale voorstellen zijn gedaan hebben vvd en pvda ook nog geen politieke overeenstemming bereikt over hún visie op het akkoord – ze zijn veel drukker met de extra bezuinigingen van zes miljard euro De minister heeft domweg nog geen geld en nog geen politiek mandaat om een akkoord te sluiten Door nu het hele proces bijna te laten stranden versterkt Kamp zijn onderhandelingspositie tegenover pvda-minister van Financiën Dijsselbloem die vooralsnog geen extra geld wilde toezeggen maar wiens partij zich niet kan riskeren dat het energieakkoord mislukt met zijn Greenpeace-verleden en zijn groene profiel zwaar beschadigen.) Tegelijkertijd dwingt hij het vvd-smaldeel dat zich verzet tegen grote investeringen in wind op zee in het gareel dan zal nu ook de vvd moeten meewerken aan een politieke deal Het njet van Kamp drijft bovendien het bedrijfsleven en de groene coalitie in elkaars armen Vooral de gretige groenen willen voorkomen dat de onderhandelingen knappen De oplossing ligt nu voor de hand: de groenen werkgevers en energiebedrijven moeten het onderling eens worden Dat geeft ze een sterke positie om een nieuw gesprek met Kamp aan te gaan Als het hele maatschappelijke middenveld er onderling uitkomt Op maandag 1 juli sms’t Greenpeace-directeur Sylvia Borren naar vno-voorman Bernard Wientjes: ‘Ik wil nu uren in je balboekje.’ Wientjes reageert niet maar de volgende ochtend om tien uur gaat Borren samen met Tjerk Wagenaar Nu!’ Even later zitten de groene directeuren om de tafel met Wientjes en in twee uur tijd worden de mogelijke contouren voor een akkoord tussen de groenen en de werkgevers op papier gezet handgeschreven door Wagenaar – het enige stuk dat niet gelekt is komen vier onderhandelaars bij elkaar in het kantoor van Greenpeace in Amsterdam een gerenoveerd pakhuis aan de Piet Heinkade waar in de hal wereldbollen van papier-maché hangen visnetten en spandoeken van acties die Greenpeace heeft gevoerd Ron Wit komt samen met Joris Thijssen van Greenpeace Voor de werkgevers is Frits de Groot aanwezig Hans Alders vertegenwoordigt de energiebedrijven Het is een zonnige dag: vanaf de onderhandelingstafel in de verder verlaten kantine kunnen de mannen naar buiten kijken naar het IJ waar continu bootjes langs varen Gezeten tussen de actievoerdersrekwisieten in de Greenpeace-kantine werken ze samen aan de mogelijke hoofdlijnen van een onderling energieakkoord De belangrijkste EZ-onderhandelaar werkt ondertussen thuis Op maandag volgt een lange finale dag van onderhandelingen bij vno in de Malietoren waarbij ook directeuren van de groene coalitie en de werkgevers aanwezig zijn Op woensdag worden de laatste punten afgetikt In de ‘non-paper’ waarin ze hun overeenstemming vastleggen gaat vno mee met een ambitieus plan voor wind op zee en met een harde beperking van de biomassabijstook In ruil wordt de energie-intensieve industrie door de milieubeweging ontzien en wordt het percentage van zestien procent duurzame energie in 2020 opgeschoven naar 2023 Dit is een cruciale zet: door de investeringen in groene energie over een langere periode uit te smeren realiseren de onderhandelaars tot 2020 cumulatief 1,5 miljard euro lastenverlichting ten opzichte van de plannen uit het regeerakkoord In de notitie van Economische Zaken die op dinsdag wordt rondgestuurd Op alle punten waar EZ met cijfers moet komen Pas in te vullen als Kamp een nieuw mandaat heeft gekregen in het kabinet Dat mandaat komt pas twee dagen voor de allerlaatste deadline de dag dat de finale onderhandelingen voor het akkoord zullen plaatsvinden is er een begrotingsoverleg op de kamer van Dijsselbloem Politiek leiders Samsom van de pvda en Zijlstra van de vvd praten daar met de minister van Financiën over de bezuinigingen van zes miljard euro Kamp gaat naar Dijsselbloems kamer met zijn belangrijkste onderhandelaar die een groot spreadsheet heeft meegenomen met daarin alle relevante getallen In dit overleg krijgt Kamp het mandaat en het budget dat hij nodig heeft om alsnog een akkoord tot stand te brengen De vierhonderd miljoen euro bijvoorbeeld die hij eerder niet kon toezeggen voor energiebesparing in de gebouwde omgeving krijgt hij alsnog Kamp verlaat de kamer van Dijsselbloem en loopt in een rechte lijn door naar de blauwe zaal waar Wiebe Draijer en alle onderhandelaars op hem wachten Draijer heeft de finale onderhandelingen expres verplaatst tot ná het overleg bij Dijsselbloem zodat hij zeker wist dat Kamp een politieke deal kon sluiten De sfeer is een stuk beter dan tijdens de vorige sessie in de blauwe zaal Na de opening van Draijer legt Kamp uit dat hij het akkoord heeft kunnen bespreken in het kabinet en dat hij tot een pakket van maatregelen is gekomen Hij presenteert zijn voorstellen in euro’s Voor het eerst in het hele proces komt EZ met harde cijfers Daarna is ruimte voor vragen en wordt er geschorst Zoals gebruikelijk verspreiden de onderhandelaars zich over de gang Ze eten van het Indisch buffet dat de minister heeft laten komen – spekkoek toe Als de delegaties om half elf ’s avonds de blauwe zaal verlaten Wiebe Draijer moet dansend op vakantie zijn gegaan Half augustus blijkt uit de doorrekeningen dat de duurzame doelen nog steeds niet helemaal worden gehaald vervolgens wordt er stevig heen en weer onderhandeld over aanvullende maatregelen Op 26 augustus zijn de finale onderhandelingen en verandert de blauwe zaal van Kamp in een Poolse landdag met persvoorlichters en onderhandelaars in de vensterbank Bij het Indisch buffet dat opnieuw staat opgediend in de gang voor de blauwe zaal maakt Kamp een praatje met de groene onderhandelaars Daarna wordt er nog een uurtje gesproken en is het klaar Er komt een onafhankelijke commissie bij de ser om erop toe te zien dat alle plannen uit het akkoord daadwerkelijk uitgevoerd worden produceert Nederland in 2020 veertien procent duurzame energie De ambitie uit het regeerakkoord van zestien procent in 2020 wordt naar beneden bijgesteld De politieke partijen zijn tevreden: de vvd krijgt lastenverlichting ten opzichte van het regeerakkoord de pvda krijgt zichtbare duurzaamheid met wind op zee De partijen gingen op cruciale momenten met elkaar in gesprek De onvrede over het zigzagbeleid was zo hoog opgelopen dat iedereen een akkoord wilde En de mensen die elkaar in het begin zo wantrouwden Ab van der Touw merkte dat bij hem aan tafel: ‘Mensen moesten het beeld bijstellen dat ze van de ander hadden Ze ontdekten dat de ander toch niet zo’n onredelijk type was.’ Misschien is dat wel de kern van het energieakkoord: de verschillende belangenbehartigers hebben elkaars taal leren spreken De werkgevers zien de groenen niet langer als hardnekkige idealisten en de groenen zien de werkgevers niet langer als saboteurs van vergroening in de wens om concrete oplossingen te zoeken voor grote uitdagingen Het akkoord staat vol met ‘second best’-oplossingen maar dat wisten alle partijen die zich committeerden aan dit polderproces waarin consensus wordt bereikt door geven en nemen Bij de presentatie worden korte praatjes gehouden Wientjes heeft het over een synthese van ‘de koopman en de dominee’ want de groenen hebben onderling afgesproken dat de retoriek van ‘dit is onvoldoende’ en ‘we houden u in de gaten’ direct weer de boventoon moet voeren Het akkoord is niet voldoende om klimaatverandering te stoppen maar als bijdrage is het van belang voor alle mensen op aarde die te maken hebben met klimaatverandering en voor alle kinderen die recht hebben op een leefbare en schone aarde Als hij tegen het einde van zijn korte speech in de snik schiet buigt Kamp zich naar hem toe en mompelt zachtjes een steunend woord pakt Wientjes de arm van Wagenaar kort vast Dit artikel kwam tot stand met steun van het Fonds Bijzondere Journalistieke Projecten Voor een verantwoording en literatuurlijst, kijk hier In het akkoord zijn grote investeringen in wind op zee vastgelegd: tot 2023 moet er voor 4450 MW aan windvermogen op zee worden bijgebouwd Ter vergelijking: het grootste windmolenpark dat nu in zee staat wekt 120 MW op De kosten van de investeringen zijn geraamd op 13,6 miljard euro tot 2020 Er is een (omstreden) ‘kostenreductiepad’ van veertig procent afgesproken: lukt dat niet en blijft windenergie te duur In het akkoord is afgesproken dat vijf oude kolencentrales zullen sluiten veel grotere kolencentrales die binnenkort in productie gaan kunnen de komende jaren doordraaien zonder hinder van de kolenbelasting Het wegvallen van die kolenbelasting kost de fiscus jaarlijks 190 miljoen euro die wordt gedekt door een verhoging van de energiebelasting vanaf 2016 In 2020 mag er in kolencentrales maximaal twee maal zo veel biomassa bijgestookt worden als in 2012 Het rijk wilde de biomassabijstook aanvankelijk verder verhogen Aan de gebruikte biomassa worden strenge duurzaamheidseisen gesteld De overheid heeft vierhonderd miljoen euro toegezegd voor energiebesparing in de gebouwde omgeving Alles bij elkaar levert het akkoord vijftienduizend banen op Burgers en coöperaties die zelf energie gaan opwekken met bijvoorbeeld zonnepanelen kunnen een beperkt deel van hun investeringen aftrekken van de energiebelasting Per saldo leveren alle maatregelen uit het akkoord gezamenlijk 1,5 miljard euro lastenverlichting op ten opzichte van de plannen uit het regeerakkoord omdat de ambitie van zestien procent duurzame energieproductie in 2020 is afgezwakt De aanspraak op de subsidiepot voor duurzame energie wordt hiermee beperkt Dit levert huishoudens op de energierekening in 2020 een besparing op van in totaal 321 miljoen euro Het is onwaarschijnlijk dat met het energieakkoord alle duurzame doelen gehaald worden Een onafhankelijke borgingscommissie moet erop toezien dat er indien nodig aanvullende maatregelen komen Veel overige plannen in het akkoord vallen onder de noemer ‘vage intentieverklaringen’ Op het gebied van energiebesparing in de energie-intensieve industrie zijn nauwelijks verplichtende maatregelen afgesproken Het principe ‘de vervuiler betaalt’ is daarmee niet toegepast Over de Nederlandse fossiele gasvoorziening – goed voor twaalf miljard euro aan staatsinkomsten in 2013 – rept het akkoord niet Over zaken die politiek onbespreekbaar zijn Heilbron, Mommers, Muntz en De Zeeuw zijn als onderzoeksgroep op het gebied van energie en klimaat actief bij De Onderzoeksredactie een nieuwe non-profit voor onderzoeksjournalistiek waarvan De Groene Amsterdammer partner is De Groene Amsterdammer is sinds 1877 het weekblad voor onafhankelijke Lees en steun De Groene nu 10 weken op proef met korting voor slechts €10 Lees en steun