Car parking rules in the Netherlands are crucial to understand before you hit the road. This comprehensive guide provides valuable information on parking regulations, fees, and restrictions applicable throughout the country. Whether you’re planning to park in city centers, residential areas, or parking garages, knowing the rules will help you avoid fines and ensure a smooth parking experience.

Key Points:

1. Paid Parking Zones in the Netherlands: Learn about the designated paid parking zones in cities across the Netherlands. Find out when and where you need to pay for parking, and how to navigate the fees and restrictions associated with these areas.
2. Parking Meters and Pay-and-Display Machines: Discover how to use parking meters and pay-and-display machines to pay for parking in the Netherlands. From accepted payment methods to obtaining parking tickets or receipts, understand the process for hassle-free parking.
3. Parking Disc (Parkeerschijf) Requirements: Understand the use of parking discs in certain areas of the Netherlands. Learn how to set the parking disc correctly and the importance of adhering to the indicated time limits to avoid fines.
4. Disabled Parking Facilities: Get insights into disabled parking in the Netherlands. Discover the requirements for using designated parking spaces and learn how to display your disabled parking permit (GPK) correctly.
5. Convenient Parking Garages: Explore the availability of parking garages and multi-story parking facilities in various Dutch cities. Understand the hourly rates, entry procedures, and payment methods for stress-free parking.
6. No-Parking Zones and Yellow Lines: Learn about no-parking zones marked by yellow lines across the Netherlands. Understand the importance of adhering to these restrictions and avoiding parking violations. Familiarize yourself with traffic signs that indicate prohibited parking areas.
7. Residential Permit Parking: Find out about residential permit parking and the requirements for obtaining permits in certain areas. Get insights into visitor parking restrictions and the importance of adhering to local regulations.

Amsterdam underground car parking

Conclusion: By familiarizing yourself with the car parking rules in the Netherlands, you can navigate the streets with confidence. Stay informed about the various regulations, fees, and restrictions to ensure a seamless parking experience while avoiding fines and violations. Remember to pay attention to local signage and specific rules in each area you plan to park.

CBS leading data show that inflation values, which entered a downward trend at the beginning of this year, started to rise again in April and May.

The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) announced the leading inflation data for May. Accordingly, inflation increased compared to April, especially since there was no expected decrease in energy prices. According to CBS data, tobacco and tobacco products and food and beverage prices increased the most in May. Industrial products have also been raised.

Inflation reached 6.1 percent last month, according to CBS leading data. Annual inflation, which was 4.4 percent in March, unexpectedly rose to 5.2 percent in April. The highest inflation rate in the last year was 14.5 percent in September last year.

The average price increase of products in supermarkets was 13.2 percent in April and 12.8 percent in May. The prices of industrial goods, which increased by 8.3 percent in April, increased by 8.9 percent in May.

Energy, including fuel, experienced a price decrease of over 22 percent in April, while a decrease of 18.5 percent was experienced in May. Prices in the services sector, on the other hand, became 6.1 percent more expensive after a 6 percent price increase a month ago.

A study conducted with adults in the Netherlands revealed that those with memory and concentration problems increased after corona.

More adults with memory and concentration problems have had to see their family doctor this year, according to a large-scale study by the RIVM and the Netherlands Institute for Health Research (Nivel) on the effects of the corona pandemic.

In the first quarter of 2023, there was an increase in the number of applicants to family physicians due to cognitive problems, especially between the ages of 45-74. That number is 40 percent more than adults seeking help with similar problems at the beginning of 2019.

In the statement made about the research, it was stated that under normal conditions, people in this age group applied to their family physicians much less because of this disease, but the situation changed after the pandemic.

‘Accelerated aging’
Michel Duckers, professor of crisis, safety and health in Groningen and head of the research group for the RIVM and Nivel, said the developments were alarming.

“We still don’t know much about the long-term effects, but the impression is starting to form that the pandemic could lead to significant ‘accelerated aging’,” Dückers said. said.

According to the results of the research, only people over the age of 45 do not experience cognitive decline. 31 percent of people aged 25 to 44 refer more to their family doctor because of memory problems. This rate is 18 percent for people aged 75 and over. On the other hand, the number of people who apply to a doctor is lower in young people (under 25 years old).

Although the increase in cognitive problems has not been officially proven to be due to corona, researchers think that more information is available about the consequences of the corona pandemic, and this result is in line with the picture. How the Corona virus causes all these problems is still not completely understood.

Post-pandemic cases are higher than flu
One possible explanation for this situation is that the measures taken against Covid-19 may have led to a rapid regression of people who initially had memory and concentration problems.

According to research leader Dückers, this may also be due to some people experiencing “long-term Covid” following a Covid-19 infection. The professor pointed out several studies that showed that memory and concentration problems are very common in the case of “long Covid”, and noted that other infectious diseases such as flu can also cause such symptoms.

In addition, experts draw attention to multiple scientific studies that indicate that long-term memory and concentration problems after Covid-19 infection are more common than after flu.

The Minister of Finance is preparing a new draft law in the Netherlands to ease access to ATMs and to remove the surcharge when withdrawing or depositing cash.

Finance Minister Sigrid Kaag announced that he is working on a bill that will make cash withdrawals and deposits free. The new legislation concerns individual persons. The law will also include the article on the protection of the number of ATMs in the Netherlands.

The law, which Minister Kaag is working on, will replace existing non-binding agreements with Dutch banks. The Minister states that existing agreements are implemented on a voluntary basis, but this must be determined by law.

Withdrawing or depositing cash should be free
According to the Finance Minister, recent research shows that 1 in 13 people depend on cash for their life. Minister Kaag stated that the additional fees charged by banks every time money is withdrawn negatively affect this vulnerable group and said, “Access to money is very important. Not everyone can find their way around digital payments. Cash must remain accessible, available and affordable to them.’ made a statement.

Stating that no additional fees should be paid not only when withdrawing money, but also when depositing money, the Minister stated that the new legislation will apply to personal accounts, and that business account holders will continue to pay additional fees, provided that they are not more than what they have already paid.

ATMs must be accessible
Thanks to the new law, not only will cash withdrawals and deposits be free, but also the number of ATMs will increase.

As it is known, in the Netherlands, large banks such as ABN AMRO, ING and Rabobank have closed their ATMs in many points on the grounds that their transaction volume has decreased. Instead, yellow ATMs called Geldmaat took their place in the streets.
Minister Kaag wants to prevent more ATMs from disappearing from the streets by law. In this way, everyone will be able to reach an ATM within 5 kilometers.

Tilburg municipality will provide a certain amount of cash each month to 150 families who have received social assistance for two years from next year.

Replicating the pilot project carried out by the municipality of Zaanstad, the municipality of Tilburg decided to provide 150 euros in cash each month to 150 families receiving social allowances next year. The aid will be in the form of a grant and families will be able to spend this aid as they wish.

Tilburg Mayor Esmah Lahlah told Omroep Brabant, “We want to support our citizens in the best way possible so that they can minimize their stress.” made a statement.

Stating that they started this project for trial purposes, the Mayor said that they will examine what effect the additional income will have on families and children.
By law, municipalities cannot directly regulate a person’s income policy. That’s why the Tilburg municipality will deliver the aid to families through an independent foundation fighting poverty called Kansfonds.

Within the scope of the project, researcher Mirre Stallen from Amsterdam Hogeschool will follow both the families concerned and the families who receive social assistance but do not benefit from this assistance, and compare the results.

In the project, which will be carried out for two years, families will be able to spend their 150 euros as they wish. At the end of two years, the monthly grant amount will be gradually reduced until it is reset.

The number of overweight youth among young people in the Netherlands has increased alarmingly in recent years. 7 percent of teenagers are obese.

The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) announced that the weight problem is increasing among young people. According to CBS, 15 percent of children aged 2-25 were overweight in 2014, while that rate has increased to 17 percent by 2022. Among young adults aged 18-25, the proportion of overweight people increased from 21 percent in 2014 to 25 percent in 2022. The proportion of obese youth has remained stable since 2014.

CBS notes that weight problems in children and teens are linked to parental origin and educational level. According to the data; The obesity rate in children under the age of 12 is 3 times higher in families with vocationally trained parents than in families with parents with university or HBO education. On the other hand, overweight problem is more common in children with at least one obese parent.

24 percent of young people aged 2-25 years of origin from non-European countries are overweight, compared to 15 percent of young people of Dutch descent. The rate of overweight among boys and girls is almost the same.

According to CBS, a large proportion of overweight teens don’t get enough exercise. Only 29 percent of young people aged 12-18 who are overweight act according to the guidelines recommended by the Health Board. The Board recommends at least one hour of “moderate-intensity activity” each day, such as cycling and walking, for children up to 12 years old.

Today, especially in the south, temperatures will rise to 25 degrees. At the weekend, temperatures will hover between 22 and 25 degrees across the country.

According to meteorologists, the southern parts of the country will experience summer heat today. At the weekend, temperatures across the country will hover between 22 and 25 degrees.

In the statement made by the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), it was stated that the temperatures will reach 25 degrees in some places, especially in the south of the country on Wednesday.

Today, in the morning hours, a slightly cloudy weather will prevail in the eastern parts and the islands. By noon, temperatures from north to southeast will be between 18 and 25 degrees. The temperature in the Wadden Islands region will be around 15 degrees.

In the evening, light clouding will be seen in the northern parts, but it will be clear weather in general.

Although there will be cloudiness in the morning hours on Thursday, the sun will show itself more towards noon and the temperatures will be around 22 degrees in places.

Sunny days await us on the weekend. Temperatures are expected to hover between 22 and 25 degrees on Saturday.

The far-right leader of the Netherlands, Geert Wilders, shared on his social media account after Erdogan declared his victory in the second round.

Geert Wilders, one of the famous politicians of the Netherlands, shared on his personal Twitter account after the second round elections.

Wilders, who is the leader of the Freedom Party and is on the agenda with his frequent racist statements, criticized the fact that expatriates living in the Netherlands voted for Erdoğan.
Wilders said, “I hope that all Turks who voted for the Islamofascist Erdogan in the Netherlands will now pack their bags and move to Turkey. Bye!” used the phrase.
Wilders, who had a great reaction in the past with his anti-Turkey and anti-Islam statements, had previously criticized Erdogan harshly.

Ik hoop dat alle Turken in Nederland die op de islamofascist #Erdogan hebben gestemd nu hun koffers pakken en naar Turkije verhuizen. Doeiii!

— Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) May 28, 2023

The number of people defrauded by internet hackers is increasing day by day. ABN Amro warned citizens to take action against these scammers.

Despite daily news about online fraud and warnings from banks, almost a quarter of citizens (23 percent) have not set a card or daily limit on their bank accounts. Experts point out that taking such a security measure can complicate the job of hackers and scammers.

According to a study by Ipsos on behalf of ABN Amro, online crime and fraud are still a major problem facing many citizens.

In the Netherlands, the tendency to protect a computer or mobile phone with extra security software is quite common, although the proportion of those who make some minor changes to protect their bank accounts is low.

Almost 87 percent of computer and smartphone users use a security software on these devices. However, 65 percent use two-step verification for online services such as email, WhatsApp and social media accounts, and 58 percent use the ‘Find My Phone’ feature.

When we look at banking transactions, it is seen that the rates are low. The rate of those who set a limit on their debit card is 65 percent, and the rate of those who set a one-day limit on their bank account is 67 percent.

“Set limit for daily usage and card”
ABN Amro fraud and secure banking project leader Neiske Ritsma told the Telegraaf newspaper that it is a wise method for a person to first set a card and limit for daily use so that bank accounts and cards can be secured.

“Setting a card and daily transaction limit or getting a payment alert can make it harder for internet criminals to get as much money as possible in a short amount of time,” Ritsma said.
Ritsma stated that 72 percent of the citizens are more or less worried about being a victim of online fraud, and that 53 percent of them set both daily usage and card limits, and 80 percent of these people feel more secure.

Ritsma noted that setting a card and daily limit does not restrict the person, on the contrary, it increases their security and that this regulation can always be withdrawn, for example, when a large expenditure is planned.

In Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, 1579 people were detained during a protest organized by environmental activists.

In Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, during a protest organized by environmental activists, police detained 1579 climate activists who called for the cessation of fossil fuel use.
Activists blocked traffic in The Hague, the administrative capital of the Netherlands, by blocking the last section of the A12 main road leading to parliament.

The environmental group called “Extinction Rebellion” organized this action to protest the government’s fossil fuel policy. Demonstrators held a sit-in on the street with banners that read “Stop subsidizing the fossil fuel industry”, “Be nice to the world” and “Don’t be a fossil, stupid”.

After the venue was declared a no-show zone, the police intervened with water cannons and detained those who did not leave the road. Some activists, who were tied to each other, were separated with iron cutting shears.

Den Haag police, in a statement on Twitter, reported that 1,579 people were detained. In addition, information was shared that a police officer was bitten during the detention of an activist and the injured policeman is being treated.

The Extinction Rebellion group, which had closed the last part of the same road six times before, carried out this action last March 12 and hundreds of people were detained at that time.