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Relaxation in Corona Rules Netherlands:Ikea Can Open, Museums Won’t!!!

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As per the new guidelines which are to be made public, the Government of Netherlands is giving some Relaxation in Covid-19 Rules in the Netherlands.

Corona Rules Netherlands: Latest news states that some of the current Coronavirus rules in the Netherlands will be relaxed at Friday night’s press conference have hit the Dutch cultural sector hard.

The government is all set to announce that shops can reopen by appointment but that museums, Cinemas and Theaters must remain shut in these tough pandemic times.

But the cultural sector finds it incomprehensible, since they feel that by following proper protocols they would be able to avoid the spread of the disease as they have been doing from the last 5 closures, since 2020.

Corona Rules Netherlands: Appeal for Relaxation in Covid-19 Rules for Cultural Sector

Museums, which will now be entering into their fifth enforced closure since 2020, have maintained throughout the crisis their protocols provided an adequate safeguard against infection among visitors to protect them from the virus.

“Now that shops can open their doors we take it that cultural venues can too. Our members are looking forward to receiving visitors again”

a spokesman from museum umbrella organisation Museumvereniging told news agency. The comment, he said, was an appeal to politicians to do some changes in the rules for museums rather than a call to museum directors to open their doors at will, as various owners of cafes and restaurants have announced that they will.

Former director of the Amsterdam Rijksmuseum Wim Pijbes said he supported the statement.

“It cannot be that Ikea can open and museums not”

Ann de Meester of the Frans Hals museum in Haarlem called for ‘a secular prayer’ to be sent up for ‘the freshly baked government to have the wisdom to declare the cultural sector a safe zone’. They are confident that they can follow the Covid-19 protocols and thus are demanding for some Relaxation in Covid-19 Rules in the Netherlands for cultural sector also.

Although, in case of museums also not all museums are waiting for the government to officially announce the continued closures but have found ways of circumventing the lockdown by offering exhibitions, workshops and lectures online, Thanks to the Digital Era!!!

Corona Rules Netherlands
Corona Rules Netherlands

Theatres

Theatre organisation VSCD said in a statement on its website,

“No matter what the government decides the time has come for a long-term strategy instead of ‘a yo yo policy”.

The organisation wants a clear connection between the level of risk of infection and the measures that would go with it. ‘Only then can theatre makers and producers anticipate on the actions they to need to take.’ The blow is doubly felt, a spokesman for the organisation said, because eager theatre goers have become wary and ticket sales have been plummeting. He said the sector would be asking for compensation for loss of venue from the government of the Netherlands during the lockdown and for as long as the coronavirus crisis lasts.

Cinemas

Cinemas, which ended “a historically bad year” in which just 14 million people saw a film at a film theatre, are “proven safe places” said Boris van der Ham, who chairs the sector’s umbrella organisation. He has urged new junior culture minister Gunay Uslu to strike a blow for the sector since it is proven as a safe place. Van der Ham said

“Come on Gunay Uslu, don’t put the culture sector at the back of the queue again.”

Every representative is trying to uplift their respective sectors in these Covid-19 times and thus need some Relaxation in Covid-19 Rules in the Netherlands keeping in mind to avoid the spread of the disease.

Mask Up Netherlands!!!

Read about Covid-19 Important Travel Update | Netherlands makes Testing Mandatory for Third-Country Travellers

Massive Protests against Covid-19 Regulations: Cafes and Bars Open Doors Despite Getting Closure Orders

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Government of the Netherlands has decided to keep the doors of Cafes and Bars in the Netherlands closed as the Covid-19 situation is not getting better any soon.

In response to the government’s decision the owners of these cafes and the people who gather here have started Massive Protests against Covid-19 Regulations enforced in the nation.

People of the Netherlands are truly fun-loving!! Researches state that 25% of the Covid cases everyday come up due to contact in crowded areas.

Despite knowing the facts that these crowded places play a prominent role in the spread of the disease, people want to visit these places or maybe they just need to take break from staying at home. These are actually the testing times for all Dutchies!!!

Let’s see What these Massive Protests against Covid-19 Regulations are all about

Saturday’s Massive Protests against Covid-19 Regulations by dozens of bar and cafe owners, who opened in defiance of the government’s closure orders, passed off without problems

Dirk Beljaarts, director of hospitality industry lobby group KHN, told television talk show Nieuwsuur that there will be

“more protests in the days to come”

Beljaarts described the public support for Saturday’s Massive Protests against Covid-19 Regulations as ‘heartwarming’, adding that if opening cafes was ‘so life-threatening’, mayors would have acted to close them down. 

On Friday, the government said shops, universities and fitness centres could reopen, but that bars, cafes and the cultural sector must remain shut because of the surge in coronavirus cases.

On Saturday, however, cafes and restaurants all over the country opened their doors for a time in Massive Protests against Covid-19 Regulations, in several places with the tacit approval of local officials.

Valkenburg and Venlo in Limburg

Cafés opened and council officials did not intervene, local broadcaster1 Limburg reported.

Hylke van der Werf, from café Thús in Drachten, told Omrop Fryslan he only got the keys to his premises two years ago. ‘We’ve been closed more than we have been open,’ he said. ‘We’re opening now for a little bit. We don’t want to ask for financial help, we want to earn it ourselves.’

In Utrecht

Café owner Gijs Werschkull said he was opening his cafes for the day because the sector had been extremely hard hit by the closures. ‘I hope the mayor sees this as a Massive Protests against Covid-19 Regulations,’ he told RTV Utrecht.

“We have had a lot of support from our customers.”

Mayor Sharon Dijksma reportedly turned down his invitation to lunch but said she would be pressing the government to rethink its decision and to be generous in its compensation to the sector.

Council wardens in Utrecht handed out four verbal and two written warnings to owners who opened their cafes and bars despite the closure orders.

Along with the restrictions on Cafes and Bars, museums in the Netherlands also have to wait for them to open as government has no plans to open museums also in the near future.

Massive Protests against Covid-19 Regulations

The government is all set to announce that shops can reopen by appointment but that museums, cinemas and theatres must remain shut in these tough pandemic times.

But the cultural sector finds it incomprehensible, since they feel that by following proper protocols they would be able to avoid the spread of the disease as they have been doing from the last 5 closures, since 2020.

Theatre organisation VSCD said in a statement on its website that a spokesman from museum umbrella organisation Museumvereniging told news agency,

“Now that shops can open their doors we take it that cultural venues can too. Our members are looking forward to receiving visitors again”

The comment, he said, was an appeal to politicians to do some changes in the rules for museums rather than a call to museum directors to open their doors at will, as various owners of cafes and restaurants have announced that they will. So, there’s going to be more and more protests from each sector.

For more Information on what is going to happen to museums, Checkout Relaxation in Covid-19 Rules in the Netherlands | Ikea Can Open, Museums Won’t!!!

Covid-19 Important Travel Update | Netherlands makes Testing Mandatory for Third-Country Travellers

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With the Covid-19 outbreak globally, the Government of the Netherlands is trying to take all the necessary steps to curb the rising number of cases in the country and here are some Covid-19 Important Travel Update.

In the latest press release the Dutch authorities have announced new entry rules in the nation for third-country nationals, following the national lockdown imposed due to the Omicron virus variant earlier this week. 

Covid-19 Important Travel Update

According to a press release issued by the government’s official website, starting from December 22, arrivals from third countries, regardless of their vaccination status, must present a pre-departure test and a negative Covid-19 report, Reports says about Covid-19 Important Travel Update

“All travellers from the age of 12 years from outside the EU/Schengen need to provide a negative COVID-19 test result for travel to the Netherlands. This needs to be a NAAT/PCR test with the sample taken a maximum of 48 hours before departure or an antigen test with the sample taken a maximum of 24 hours before departure. This includes travellers with proof of vaccination or recovery,” the press release announces.

Covid-19 Important Travel Update

Furthermore, arrivals with a vaccination or recovery certificate reaching the Netherlands from very high-risk areas are required to quarantine for ten days upon arrival, with the possibility to end the isolation time on the fifth day, provided they present a negative test result.

These Covid-19 Important Travel Update apply to arrivals from the countries below, which make up for the very high-risk list, but without a variant of concern:

  • Afghanistan
  • Anguilla
  • Barbados
  • Cayman Islands
  • Dominica
  • Georgia
  • Haiti
  • Jordan
  • Mauritius
  • Montenegro
  • Serbia
  • Somalia
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • United Kingdom
  • Venezuela

In addition, arrivals from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe are also subject to stringent rules, as these countries represent very high-risk countries with a virus variant concern.

Travellers coming from countries with a virus variant that have tested positive for Coronavirus and people who live with them and all other contacts must self-quarantine for ten days.

Moreover, the Dutch authorities remind travellers to provide the declaration form, regardless of their quarantine obligation.

As the country has entered a lockdown designated to minimise the spread of the virus variant over the end of the year holidays, all gyms, public spaces, bars and other leisure activity facilities have closed until the lockdown ends.

In addition, no more than two guests will be permitted at homes, with this limit being stretched out to four during Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

“A lockdown is drastic, especially with the holidays just around the corner. But we must act as a precaution; the risks and uncertainties with the new Omicron variant are too great,” the Dutch Minister of Health Hugo de Jonge said.

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) data, 151 positive cases with the Omicron variant have been detected in the Netherlands until now. Furthermore, the World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics show that 99,949 positive cases with COVID-19 have been registered in the country in the last week, in addition to 357 fatalities caused by the virus.

Along with this Covid-19 Important Travel Update, government has made Covid Vaccine Booster Shots Mandatory for Travelling Netherlands from February 2022.

The commission also explained,

On November 17, 2021, the Commission adopted standard rules on how to encode a booster dose in the EU Digital COVID Certificate: a booster following a two-dose vaccine will be reflected as 3/3 in the certificate, and a booster following a single-dose vaccine will be reflected as 2/2,” .

Read more about Travel Rules in the Netherlands | Covid-19 Important Travel Rules in the Netherlands: Covid Vaccine Booster Shots Mandatory for Travelling Netherlands from February 2022

Top 5 Credit Card Companies in the Netherlands

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Credit Cards in the Netherlands

Credit Cards

A credit card is a thin rectangular piece of plastic or metal issues for the financial Institutions, a payment card issued to the user (also known as the Cardholder), that lets you borrow funds from the desired limit to pay for your purchases. Credit card charges are made against the line of credit instead of the account holder’s deposit.

credit card
Credit Card

Most payments in the Netherlands are done with Cash or Internet banking transactions. Credit Cards in the Netherlands are mainly used for Travel, International hotels, and Car rental bookings. Also, booking flight tickets and online purchases with a Credit Card gives more consumer protection in the Netherlands as compared to other mediums.

In the Netherlands, Credit Cards use the Chip and Pin System where you have to enter the pin for making payments in retail outlets and the contactless payment option is also there for transactions under €50.

Although Credit Cards aren’t in wide use in the Netherlands, Master card and Visa cards are widely accepted in the whole Netherlands’ retail shops. Including widely accepted Master Card and Visa cards, we have come up with the Top ongoing Credit Card Companies that are working in the Netherlands.

(Note – American Express Cards and Government-issued Cards are the only Credit Cards that are in range and use in the Netherlands and below mentioned are the types of AMEX cards.)

American Express Cards

American Express cards are active in the Netherlands but not as much as the Master cards and Visa cards are but, AMEX provides many in-house reward programs with the earned coins which becomes more flexible under the partnership with Travel and Airline agencies. You can transfer your membership Reward Points to your chosen program.

Credit card business creditcards
American Express Business Gold Card

American Express Business Cards

If you have a running business and want to have a Credit Card, then American Express Business Cards will be the best choice. Here, two types of cards are issued to you which will be free for the 1st year. Only you need to show the number to the Dutch Chamber of Commerce and must have 1 year of registered Business.

What are the Benefits of American Express Business Gold Cards?

  • Take advantage of a payment term of up to 50 calendar days.
  • There will be no (cash) payments during the month, only one monthly payment.
  • There is no predetermined spending limit.
  • Your purchasing power changes based on your profile, current spending habits, and payment history.
  • Each calendar year, the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these two categories earns 4X points (1X point per dollar thereafter).
  • Purchase plane tickets directly from the airlines.

ABN Amro Credit Card

ABN Amro Credit Cards are the government cards issued by the Government with very good banking and Expat services. The best thing about the ABN Amro Credit Cards is that they provide credit card statements on paper every month and also you can check the transactions online or through your pin.

ABN AMRO Credit Card Local 

  • Mastercard and Visa Card
  • Costs: € 1.70 per month
  • Cash advance: 4% per withdrawal
  • Exchange rate mark-up: 2%
  • Purchase guarantee: 180 days
  • Spending limit: Up to € 5,000
  • Payment term: 21 days

A Gold card costs € 3.60 per month and includes a 365-day purchasing guarantee.

ABN AMRO Credit Card Overseas

  • Free cash withdrawal in euros
  • 4% (minus € 4.50) + 2% exchange rate surcharge per withdrawal in foreign currency
  • Euro payments: Payment in Euros is free, however if you do Payment in foreign currency there is a 2% exchange rate surcharge each payment

ASN Credit Card

Ethical Bank (ASN) offers branded Visa Credit Cards that are issued by ICS where, each time you use the ASN card, there will be the automatic donation of 0.25% to a sustainable or humanity project which makes it a good sign to be the choice among different Government Credit Cards.

ING Credit Card

ING provides free bank accounts to students, children (up to the age of 12), and teenagers (up to 18 years old). In addition, for a nominal cost, you may personalize your own debit card with a variety of distinctive designs.

ING, on the other hand, imposes rather hefty fees for overdrafts and foreign cash withdrawals.

ING Credit Card Local

  • Mastercard
  • Costs: € 1.55 per month
  • Cash advance: 4% and a minimum of € 4.50 per withdrawal
  • Exchange rate mark-up: 2%
  • Purchase guarantee: 180 days
  • Spending limit: Up to € 5,000
  • Payment term: fixed date

A platinum card costs € 52.20 p.a. with a purchase guarantee of 365 days and a spending limit of up to € 20,000. A student credit card costs € 13.80 p.a. with a spending limit of up to € 1,000

ING Credit Card Overseas

Credit card

The credit card

  • Cash withdrawals in euros are subject to a 4% fee (minimum of € 4.50) each transaction.
  • Cash withdrawal in foreign currency: 4% (minus € 4.50) + 2% exchange rate fee per withdrawal
  • Euro payments: Payment in Euros is free, however if you do Payment in foreign currency there is a 2% exchange rate surcharge each payment.

Visa and Mastercard

Unlike other, Visa and Master Cards don’t provide Credit cards but go through member financial institutions. Both companies act as the middlemen between the person, the bank, and the retailer by handling the transactions on the Credit, Debit and Prepaid Cards. Visa and Master cards are the two biggest processing networks worldwide that provide bumper offers and rewards for payments.

Master Card

The Netherlands is a Cash country where Dutch people majorly use Cash or Online Transactions to make payments. They are less friendly for Credit Cards and only in some parts or for online portals and retails shopping, Credit Cards are in use as they are less in debt score.

How to Register in Municipality in the Netherlands

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How to Register in Municipality in the Netherlands

An information for all the expats living in the Netherlands  who don’t know How to Register in Municipality in the Netherlands. If you are staying, or planning to stay in the Netherlands for more than four months then you need to register in the municipality (gemeente) where you are living.

Whether you’re a Dutch citizen or an international, everyone living in the Netherlands is required to be registered at their home address. Being registered allows the municipal persons to better handle emergency situations, to track the size of the Dutch population, to keep track of all citizens and to allocate the right municipal taxes to each household.

So, let’s see How to Register in Municipality in the Netherlands?

Receiving BSN number from Municipality Netherlands

One of the most important reasons to register is that you will then receive your BSN number which you need for all your administrative work in the Netherlands. This includes opening a bank account, receiving your salary, visiting a doctor, getting health insurance and applying for benefits.

Learn How, where and when can you get a Citizen Service Number With Simple Steps?

How to Register in Municipality Netherlands | Address Registration Netherlands

Most gemeenten require you to register within five days of your arrival in the Netherlands. If you don’t have a fixed address when you arrive then you should register as soon as your rental contract is finalised.

If you are doubtful about anything then it is wise to contact your gemeente to check the best approach for you. To register, you will need to make an appointment. Call your local town hall and ask for an appointment for “registration from abroad”. You will usually receive confirmation by post or email which will also list the documents you need to bring with you.

Gemeente (town hall) contact details

Below are the contact details of the main gemeenten in the Netherlands. For more visit the municipalities & city councils in the Netherlands page.

Amsterdam

  • Call 14 020 or 020 255 29 09 (8am-6pm, Monday to Friday)
  • See Amsterdam’s page on registration

Utrecht

Nijmegen

Eindhoven

Rotterdam

The Hague

Groningen

If you have EU citizenship or a valid residence permit and all necessary documents then you will usually be registered within five working days.

Documents required to register for BSN

When making your appointment to register you will be told the exact documents you need to provide. The necessary documents usually include:

  • Your valid passport or ID card (not a driving licence).
  • Your residence permit (if applicable, either a sticker in your passport, a plastic ID card or letter from IND).
  • Your rental contract.
  • A certified copy of your birth certificate.
  • Your foreign marriage certificate, certificate of registered partnership or divorce 

Note that town halls only accept official documents in Dutch, English, French or German, so you may need to get an official translation for other languages. Some documents, such as your birth certificate, may also require proof of authenticity (legalisatie) such as an apostille, which you will need to get before leaving your home country.

Penalties for not registering

Remaining unregistered or registering at the wrong address is not permitted. As of June 1, 2015 the Amsterdam gemeente has introduced fines of up to 325 euros for people who fail to register at the correct address, to notify the municipality of their change of address on time or to present all relevant documents.

Registering for a short term | Temporary Registration Netherlands

If you are staying in the Netherlands for less than four months but you are working or studying, you will need a BSN number. If this is the case, you can register as a non-resident (RNI) with the Personal Records Database (BRP) at one of the following 19 RNI-municipalities. Once you are registered, you will be given your BSN number.

Changing address

If you are not registering for the first time and you are just changing address within the Netherlands then you can register your new address on the websites of most gemeenten using your DigiD code, or at the town hall in your new town or neighbourhood.

How to Register in Municipality in the Netherlands

Registering using a correspondence address

You can register under a correspondence address, In case you don’t have a home address (yet). This address is temporary and an administrative address only. For instance, the address of a family member or a colleague. 

The correspondence address must be a recognised address in the BRP; you cannot use a P.O. box or a non-residential address (i.e. someone must be living at the address) as your correspondence address. Also, you must have a written declaration of consent from the person who is living at said address correspondence address.

To register under a correspondence address, you need to go to the municipality where the address is situated. Check the municipality’s website for the necessary forms and other requirements. 

How to Deregister from Municipality

About one month before departing from the Netherlands, expats need to de-register at their local town hall, and this is free of charge.

Hope you got clarity on How to Register in Municipality in the Netherlands. Comment if you found the post on How to Register in Municipality in the Netherlands useful:)

Beware of the Scams in the Netherlands, Checkout, Scam Alert!! Phishing calls for BSN number in the Netherlands.

Important Role of YouTube Proxies for Hassle Free Experience

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Important Role of YouTube Proxies

You might have noticed that numerous YouTube videos are restricted or unavailable for various countries. However, you can use tools like YouTube Proxies, which will help you view those restricted or blocked videos in your country by changing your IP address and location. Read to get a clear idea about the Important Role of YouTube Proxies for Hassle Free Experience.

What’s a Proxy Server?

A proxy server acts as a gateway between you and the internet. It’s an intermediary server separating end users from the websites they browse. Proxy servers provide varying levels of functionality, security, and privacy depending on your use case, needs, or company policy.

Why We Use YouTube Proxies?

As discussed above, YouTube Proxies can bypass the restrictions and allow you to watch videos not available in your country. But, this is not the only reason for using a YouTube Proxy. These tools help you hide your identity and pair with automated softwares to scrape YouTube, which will help you generate more views and subscribers for your channel. A rotating proxy tool will keep on rotating new IP addresses after your old ones get blocked; this will keep your web scraping work on without getting any restrictions.

Important Role of YouTube Proxies

Websites That Provide YouTube Proxies

Here are some of the YouTube Proxies in the market that are reliable and easy-to-use:

Now We have got an ida about YouTube Proxies. Let’s get going to understand the Important Role of YouTube Proxies

Important Role of YouTube Proxies for Hassle Free Experience

Sometimes you need to use YouTube Proxies to increase your viewing experience and privacy. The below-discussed points on Important Role of YouTube Proxies for Hassle Free Experience will help you learn more about proxies.

  • Privacy Management  

As Google is the parent company of YouTube, YouTube can access all the data collected by Google from your browsing history on Chrome and various other methods. This leads to viewers getting targeted YouTube ads while watching content on the platform. Proxies are designed to encrypt and protect your data by hiding your IP address and preventing websites from collecting data, leading to blocking ads.

  • Avoiding Institutional Restrictions

Various educational institutions and companies put restrictions on YouTube videos to increase productivity. Using YouTube Proxies will allow you to access the restricted content from your workplace or school by changing your IP address and geographic location.

  • Better Compatibility With Multiple Web Browsers

All the top YouTube Proxies are optimized for working on all major operating systems like macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS. For every device that is connected to the internet, these proxies can work on them. You can also use add ons or extensions of these YouTube Proxies on your web browsers, so whenever you open YouTube, they will automatically start changing your IP address and block YouTube ads.

These points on Important Role of YouTube Proxies will prove to beneficial to you when using proxies.

Things You Should Consider Before Using Any YouTube Proxy

After going through the benefits of using YouTube Proxies, know about some important things that will allow you to streamline your choice of picking the favourite one from the list of the best YouTube Proxies. 

  • Beware Of Free YouTube Proxies

Has your internet speed slowed down after using a YouTube Proxy? If yes, then you should check whether you are using a free version or paid one. Free YouTube Proxies impose bandwidth restrictions, leading to slow internet speeds, and they are not as secure as paid ones. So, before you choose a YouTube Proxy, always try to go for the paid service.

  • Choose Between Dedicated Or Semi-Dedicated Proxy

YouTube Proxies are categorized into two types: Dedicated and Semi-Dedicated Proxy. Dedicated Proxies are considered the best in the market as they are dedicated to being used by only one user. This will provide higher speed, better security and is easier to use. They are more costly than Semi-Dedicated Proxy services, where the IP address you are using will also be shared with other users, decreasing the internet speed.

  • Opt For Practicality Over Affordability

Various proxy services come with multiple plans and purchase options; you should choose the one proxy service that will benefit you and blend with your usages. It is always advisable to check out various websites for customer reviews and learn about the service providers’ security and privacy policies. Because most proxy service providers offer affordable plans, but their services are not secure to use, they might end up scamming you.

Hope this made you clear about the Important Role of YouTube Proxies, which YouTube Proxies to chose and what Things You Should Consider Before Using Any YouTube Proxy.

Read more: Promote Facebook Page| Advertise Your Business

8 Best Money Saving Apps in the Netherlands to Save That Last Euro

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8 Best Money-Saving Apps in the Netherlands

You want to buy something priced and after seeing the price on it you bemoan about it. Most of us wish we could have save some money in the past, rather than bemoaning about it now. So, these 8 Best Money Saving Apps in the Netherlands will help you save that last euro!!!

The world of automation has spread its roots all over and has made keeping habits easy. In fact, tools these days make it more easy to save. Below are some apps and tools you might consider if you want to boost your savings success.

8 Best Money Saving Apps in the Netherlands to Save That Last Euro

8 Best Money Saving Apps in the Netherlands that would do all the penny-pinching for you

Knab

The best banking application of 2021 is the Mobile Banking App by Knab Bank. This app gives you an entire overview of your bank accounts and puts you in complete control of your finances.

The app sends out different types of notifications depending on the actions taking place in your accounts. And the different accounts can be personalised too. You can name the accounts and decide which ones you would like to see in your overview.

In addition to these features the Knab app allows for easy transfers and can scan QR codes. If you’re in need of assistance, you can chat with their online service desk. And for more insight into your expenses you can track your debits and credits in the digital ledger. It is available on playstore for android users and app store for ios users.

Chime

Chime is a bank and online app with an automatic savings program.The bank rounds up each transaction to the nearest dollar and deposits that money into a savings account. Last I looked they also add a 10% reward to the money you set aside, but the savings account interest rate is currently pretty low compared to what most online banks offer.

Monzo

A lot of banks now have mobile apps that allow you to track your savings as well as your spending habits. Monzo takes it to a higher level. It tracks your spending, sets a budget, and even splits bills with your friends. It alerts you and gives notifications about your spending, organizing it into several categories: from cash withdrawals to bills payment. Then, the app will show a graphic breakdown of all your expenditures. This will help you think about some bad spending habits and change what needs to be changed for you to save money.

Mint

The free app Mint takes a more passive approach to budgeting than YNAB, showing you the balance of each account, your custom budgets, and how much money you’ve spent recently. You can make your own decisions from there. Mint offers some savings tips, but you won’t get the level of guidance that YNAB provides. But hey, it’s free, so you might walk away with a few more bucks in your pocket.

Acorns

The world of investments and returns can be obtuse to a newcomer. Skip the appointments with stock brokers and download Acorns instead. It simplifies the investing process by rounding up every purchase you make to the nearest dollar and automatically investing the change into a diversified portfolio. The service costs $1 per month, but you can cash out your investments at any time. Students with a valid .edu email address can get up to four years of the service for free.

Digit

Digit is an app that helps you meet your saving goals comfortably. It analyses factors such as your bills, spending habit, income, and other personalized saving controls. If you want your debt to be reduced automatically, then Digit is highly recommended.

Squirrel

If you are the type of person who gets excited on a payday, and tends to spend all your money in a week, then Squirrel is a great app for you. It enables you to put your salary into a dedicated account which is then broken down to your monthly expenditures.

It locks savings, commitments, bills payments, savings and other expenditures so you cannot touch them. Once a bill is due, the certain amount is released into your account so that you won’t be able to spend it before the due date of your payment. Therefore, no more overspending for you with this app.

Moneyou

This app allows you to decide for yourself how you use your bank account. Just as with the ASN app you can create personalised accounts for different saving goals. Unfortunately it’s not yet possible to transfer money through direct debit or to pay standing orders. The app also doesn’t use push-notifications, but the app developers state that these features will be added in the future.

Get started with your savings with these 8 Best Money-Saving Apps in the Netherlands!!! Don’t forget to comment if your found it helpful:)

Manage your Finances by reading Expat Finance Management – 5 Things to Aware of and Avoid to Balance Your Expenses With 50-30-20 Rule.

Covid-19 Cases in the Netherlands

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The Netherlands set a new record for the most Covid-19 Cases in the Netherlands diagnosed in a single day. A total of 24,590 people tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus between Tuesday and Wednesday morning, overstepping the previous record set on November 24 by about 800.

The daily infection total was dramatically higher than recent figures, topping Tuesday’s total by nearly 6,000. It pushed the seven-day average up 8 percent to 17,527, based on raw data. That average was 41 percent higher compared to a week ago.

A combination of raw and corrected data put the average slightly lower at 17,478. Preliminary data showed that Covid-19 cases in the Netherlands were high among the children-adult age group between 10 and 49 years of age. This was particularly the case with people in their twenties, who by far represent the most infections per capita than any other demographic.

About 32.7 percent of people tested by the GGD during the seven-day period ending on January 3 received a positive diagnosis for the coronavirus infection. GGD testing rose during that time to an average of 54,400 per day. Testing figures have been back on the rise since December 28.

Covid-19 Cases in the Netherlands
Covid-19 Impact on the World

Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht Showing Steep Increase in Numbers

Amsterdam surpassed a record it set on Tuesday for most infections in a single day among residents of any municipality. Residents of the capital tested positive 2,258 times, up 600 compared to the previous day. That pushed the city’s seven-day average to 1,385, a 76 percent increase in a single week.

The Omicron variant of the coronavirus has been dominant in Amsterdam for over two weeks. It became the dominant strain in the Netherlands a little over a week ago.

The spread of the variant corresponded to a surge of infections in other cities, too. This fast pace of rise in Covid-19 cases in the Netherlands may lead to lack of beds in hospitals and lack of cremation places in the Netherlands. Hope we don’t get to those adverse situations!!!

Rotterdam reported 1,264 new infections on Wednesday, setting a new record there. That was more than double the total reported a week ago. It pushed the city’s seven-day average up to 845, a 60 percent week-to-week increase. An additional 882 infections were found in Utrecht, and 666 more were found in The Hague.

Hospital Admissions Due to Covid-19 Cases in the Netherlands Falls to the lowest of 8-weeks!!!

At the same time, the number of people being treated for Covid-19 cases in the Netherlands in hospitals fell to its lowest point in eight weeks. There were 1,644 patients in hospitals on Wednesday afternoon, 62 fewer than the previous day, after accounting for new admissions, discharges, and deaths. The total was 17 percent lower than a week earlier. A similar decrease would bring the total down to 1,373.

The patient total included 459 in intensive care units, ten of whom were in German hospitals. The ICU tally fell by a net total of 18. The other 1,185 patients were in regular care wards, a net increase of 44.

It was the second consecutive day where an above-average number of new Covid-19 patients were admitted into Dutch hospitals. A total of 160 patients were admitted during the preceding 24 hours, including 13 sent directly to an intensive care unit.

On average, 151 patients were admitted each of the past seven days, 18 percent fewer than a week ago. That includes 19 patients sent directly to intensive care, a decrease of over a fourth. There is a balance between number of admissions and the number of discharges and that’s the reason for lower numbers in hospitals. So, we can’t say that less admissions means less Covid-19 cases in the Netherlands.

Be aware and get yourself vaccinated @coronatest.nl

Get Jabbed, Stay Home, Stay Safe Netherlands!!!

Covid-19 Cases in the Netherlands
Stay Home, Stay Safe!

Read More: Covid-19 Important Travel Rules in the Netherlands: Covid Vaccine Booster Shots Mandatory for Travelling Netherlands from February 2022

Phishing Calls Netherlands! Spammers Asking For Your BSN Number

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BSN number in the Netherlands

In the past few months, reports have been coming that Dutchies are getting Phishing calls for BSN number in the Netherlands. Let’s dig into the whole story.

Thousands of Dutch people have been receiving calls from Cybercriminals aka Spammers hunting for BSN numbers. Within the Netherlands several students and employees also report these kinds of calls.

They usually call and ask for the BSN number in such a way, “This call is to inform you that legal action is being undertaken on your BSN number. Send your BSN number to…” So, what they do is create a sense of urgency among their targets by using the words like “legal action”, “arrest” etc, so that they believe them and do as said. Unfortunately many have been cheated out of their money.

Phishing Calls Netherlands Spam Calls
Spam Calls

Phishing Calls Netherlands, What do they do with your BSN Number?

The scammers have all the tactics to get their hands on your money. Same is the case here. In this case they are using your BSN  to get all your details pretending to be ‘National Police‘ or the ‘Dutch Supreme Court’.  If you cooperate with the criminals, they may ask you to transfer money to buy off a fraud investigation.

It is also common that the criminals will ask you to install a program on your computer so that they can help you with “remote assistance”.

They’re actually using this to spy on your computer, loot your bank account, and steal passwords and credit card information. And if they will be able to access this kind of sensitive private data it’s often used for identity fraud. So, Be Aware Dutchies!!!

Are you receiving Spam Calls?

What should you do if you get such a suspicious phone call?

If you get such a scam phone call, it’s best to just hang up!! If the person says he or she is really from the bank or police, then ask for a name and call back to the organization yourself and ask to be connected with that person again.

But in general, this important rule applies: a bank, the police or any other government organization will never ask you for payment information or ask you to install software on your computer or phone.

Report strange phone calls

Have you also received a strange phone call? You can help banks to block fake message senders and their fake websites by reporting phishing mail or SMS by sending it as soon as possible to the bank being impersonated.

Stay Alert Netherlands!!!

To know more about The citizen service number (BSN), Checkout our Blog Post on BSN Number Netherlands aka Citizen Service Number: How, where and when can you get a Citizen Service Number With Simple Steps?

Best Affiliate Programs for Beginners in 2022

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Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is popular for a good reason. Almost every popular product and service provider has started their affiliate marketing programs in the last decade, which means there is a lot of room and opportunity for anyone who wants to make a good amount of money from their digital presence.

What is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing is the technique through which you can earn money through commission for promoting others products on your website.

How does Affiliate Marketing Work?

The concept of affiliate marketing is simple, promote others’ business/products/services like a marketeer without getting paid in front-head.

As a marketeer or a party interested in an affiliate program, request an affiliate program approval from the company you want to connect with. Let’s take an example of Amazon; the steps involved in setting up the affiliate program are:

 Best Affiliate Programs
Amazon Affiliate Program
  • Create an affiliate account on Amazon.
  • Once approved, log in to the Affiliate tool of Amazon, and you have access to the Amazon Partner Net tool.
  • Start using the ad codes on your website.
  • With the help of the Product links, you can recommend a product or service by posting it on a blog, social media platform, or website.

Few affiliate programs use either CPC or CPM or both methods to pay the affiliates.

Best Affiliate Programs for Beginners

The common mistake that every beginner makes to generate quick money are posting random content, placing random links at unexpected places within the article or running ads on the affiliate links.

These novice strategies may work for a few days, but in the long haul, you’ll need a plan, extensive research, and the correct content with the right affiliate link on your platform.

Before you jump on the Affiliate registration page, you must go through the Affiliate program policies, check to do and don’t, and compare available affiliate programs in the market.

Based on your service, you should select an affiliate program; not all are for you.