Two-thirds of Dutch want smoking ban

AMSTERDAM – Almost two-thirds (62 percent) of the Dutch support a smoking ban in bars, restaurants and nightclubs. 53 percent say this kind of measure should be introduced soon. This emerged from a survey by TNS NIPO, commissioned by RTL Nieuws. Dutch catering industry businesses agreed some time ago that they would take voluntary measures to tackle the problem of smoking, but in practice little has actually been done. The new government wants to make efforts to ensure a smoking ban is in place by 2011. Several European countries including Italy and Ireland already have such a ban. More than a quarter of those asked (29 percent) thinks there should be no restrictions on smoking in bars, restaurants and nightclubs.//Copyright:Expatica + ANP 2007

Dutch children are the happiest

Children in the Netherlands have the best quality of life of all the 21 OECD countries, according to a Unicef report out on Wednesday. The survey asked young people such things as how often they ate the main meal of the day with their family and if they considered their peers to be ‘kind and helpful’. It also looked how likely children were to do sport, drink alcohol and take drugs. Despite the Netherlands’s liberal reputation, the birth rate for Dutch teenagers is the lowest in Europe and they are no more less likely to take drugs or get drunk than many of their foreign counterparts. Dutch children and teenagers also gave themselves the highest rating of all 21 countries in terms of how satisfied they were with life. The report said there was no strong relationship between a country’s wealth and child well-being. The Czech Republic, for example, ranks higher than much wealthier European nations, including France. Trailing at the bottom of the list is the UK, with the US just one place above. Gerrit Breeusma, Professor of Development Psychology at the University of Groningen told the Independent newspaper that the child-friendly attitudes of the Dutch stretched back centuries. ‘Children have always played a very important role and even more so now because family relationships are more liberal and communicative than ever before here,' he said.// Dutchnews.nl

More Student Flats in Amsterdam

AMSTERDAM — Amsterdam plans to build 7,600 new student flats by 2010, the municipality informed ANP Friday. The number corresponds to the estimated shortage of student housing in the city. A recent study showed that students and young working people have very different housing needs. The housing project for working young people will be presented in the upcoming months. Approximately one third of the new student flats will be in the so called “container houses”. The rest will be more traditional flats with shared bathroom and kitchen. Stricter regulations will also be introduced to prevent former students from occupying the housing reserved exclusively for students. Everyone who has graduated or dropped out will have to move out.//Copyright Expatica+ ANP 2007

Constitution should list Dutch as official language

AMSTERDAM - The position of Dutch as the language of government and culture as well as of everyday business should be anchored in the constitution. The government should promote the simple and careful use of the Netherlands’ native tongue. The draft coalition accord includes this idea. The Christian Democrat CDA and the ChristenUnie have long wanted to give the Dutch language a stronger anchoring in the constitution. The parties are concerned about the spread of English, also at schools where more and more bilingual education is being offered.// Expatica & ANP 2007

Tilburg University compensates cost of living

On 1 January Tilburg University expanded the Options Model for its international employees. In addition to residence permit fees, which already qualified for compensation, international staff can now also be partially reimbursed for visits to their home country and higher living expenses in the Netherlands. To help pay for such "extraterritorial expenses", employees can use the money in their Facilities Account. Every year all employees who have a contract for 20 percent of fulltime or more receive a sum of money from the university, which they can use for facilities such as reimbursement of commuting expenses, a bicycle, an Internet connection at home, or a sports card. For 2007 the amount has been set at 220 euro. Through the Options Model employees can also exchange part of their gross income or vacation days to receive a tax-free reimbursement. [EvC]/Univers of Tilburg University

Tilburg University: Law starts top class

Next academic year, the Faculty of Law will start a top class for the better bachelor's students. In addition to the standard study programme, the top-class students will take classes with extra depth. The top-class formula, which focuses attention on motivation and inspiration, is unique in Tilburg University, and means extra work for both students and teachers. Although the top class has some elements in common with the university-wide honours programme, it distinguishes itself by focusing on the legal field. It also aims to bridge the different areas covered by the Law programmes. This makes the top class a logical breeding ground for the faculty's research master's, according to Dean Philip Eijlander. "But it is certainly not a strict condition." The top class starts in the second bachelor's year and admits only the very best first-year students. These students need to be among the top ten per cent of their year and need to attain a certain average in credits and final grades. According to Eijlander, about thirty Law students meet these requirements each year. High demands will be made on the top-class candidates, such as compulsory preparation and attendance. After completing the programme, the students will receive a 'bachelor's with honours'. In spite of the lack of compensation in time and money, a number of excellent professors have promised to participate in the top class. "We certainly want to compensate this somehow, but it is also a matter of enthusiasm." According to Eijlander, both teachers and students have plenty of that. "During a discussion with fraction Vrijspraak, many students said that they would like to have participated themselves. It is important to them that the top class doesn't become a separate class, but a leading group, which can pull other students along." [SD/transl.YV]//Univers of Tilburg University

Nyenrode Business University: International MBA

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Nyenrode's International MBA, Nyenrode offers no less than 25 scholarships for the 2007/2008 program. The scholarships, each worth at least 10.000 euro, will be offered to outstanding International MBA candidates. In addition to financial support, the winners will be assigned an experienced manager as a personal coach for the duration of their MBA studies, starting next October. Please read the procedure before you apply to a scholarship. Note that each scholarship has its own specific conditions.>>>

Holland third nicest place to live, says poll

The Netherlands is the third most pleasant country to live in after France and Australia according to a survey of 193 countries by internet magazine International Living. Criteria measured included the cost of living, tax levels, climate, opportunities for growing markets, safety, infrastructure and pollution. Holland scored high in most categories but did particularly well when it came to personal freedom and healthcare//Dutchnews.nl

Holland: Spammer fined 75,000 euro

AMSTERDAM – Telecom market regulator Opta imposed a 75,000-euro fine on a Dutch spammer. The man sent at least 9 billion e-mails containing advertising material and earned at least US $ 52,000 in the process. Opta tracked the man down after a tip from US software company Microsoft. The man, a resident of Noord-Holland, rented computers in the US to send the spam. The e-mails included advertisements for Viagra and pornographic websites. This is the highest fine Opta has ever imposed on a spammer. The regulator says that it was an aggravating factor that the man used the computers of innocent people to send the spam. Sending unsolicited e-mail to private persons has been banned since 19 May 2004. Opta is currently aiming to nail another four spammers. The Noord-Holland resident was the 13th person to be fined for sending spam.// Copyright Expatica + ANP 2007

Ik wil mijn fiets berijden - I Want to Ride My Bicycle

Fiets (bicycles) are a very common sight in Holland. They are a popular mode of transport and it is estimated that there are more than 16 million of them in the country. This number may or may not include the mangled, rusting, one-wheeled, non-roadworthy bicycles found chained to lamp posts, bridges or sunk at the bottom of the canals around the country. Even if it does there are still a lot of them in use every day. Some bicycles look like rusty old frames that have been handed down through the family generation after generation. In most of these cases the locks seem to cost more than the bikes themselves, and there is no need for a bell since the squeaking of the wheels is enough to give any pedestrian a fair warning. Some Dutch people like to paint or decorate their old bikes as well. When visiting Amsterdam it is usually guaranteed that you will see at least one bicycle chained to a bridge somewhere that has been decorated with plastic flowers or painted with bright circular patterns to make them more unique. Another reason for this could be to turn away bicycle thieves. Unfortunately, Holland has a big problem with bicycle theft. It’s not unusual to see a shifty-looking junkie walking around with a stolen bike asking, “Fiets kopen?” ("Buy a bike?"). If they are able to sell it to someone for 10 or 15 euros it does not take long for that person to then lose the same bicycle to another junkie later. It’s a perpetual cycle (no pun intended). It is said that having your bike stolen makes you a true Dutch person and it is a rite of passage for all expatriates. I have not had my bike stolen yet, but I did have it taken away once when the authorities thought it had been dumped (I got it back though). Despite the risk of theft there are some more modern-looking bicycles around (as well as the old), but the one thing you will hardly ever see is a mountain bike. This might be because you will hardly ever see any mountains, hills, valleys, declines or inclines in Holland and using a mountain bike for speed bumps would be over-excessive. Holland is a very flat country but this is also part of what makes it a very good place for cycling. There is over 4,500 miles of cycle path throughout the country and a surprising amount of tourists mistake them for footpaths. This intrusion of territory (as they see it) is not always met with understanding by some cyclists. Some will leave it until the last possible second to ring their bell to let pedestrians (victims) know of their stealthy approach. When this happens, the best thing to do is to pick a direction and jump, because you won’t have any time to look around and judge the right direction to dodge anyway>>>

Han University: MSc Eu Logistics,Transport & Distribution

This masters programme is a 12 month full-time postgraduate programme. It consists of two study semesters and three months in which you write your thesis. Students who successfully complete all modules of the programme will be awarded a MSc European Transport and Logistics. In consultation with industry, the programme has been designed to equip students with both the theoretical and practical skills necessary to accept a job in the field of transport, logistics and distribution in an international environment. Students will gain insight and experience into how logistics connects with every aspect of business at every geographical level. The programme is aimed at international students, ensuring an international learning environment. Teaching is shared by three institutions: Arnhem Business School, Molde College (Norway) and the University of Westminster (United Kingdom). The first semester is spent at the University of Westminster. Students can choose to spend the second semester at either one of the three institutions. Cost of programme for non EU-sitizens - 9000 euro. We recommend that students also budget for approximately 600 euro per month living expenses – accommodation, food, local transport, entertainment and learning materials. To apply for the MSc-programme you must have finished at least a bachelor programme in Transport and Logistics or in related subjects at tertiary level and have a certificate Ielts with a score 7/ Toefl I-based - 95.

Superwoman from Holland

The world’s oldest woman who died two years ago aged 115 had the physical and mental condition of a 60 to 80-year-old, according to doctors who have examined the body. Let’s celebrate this wonderful achievement, the Americans would have said. Let’s get bogged down in an ethical dispute about whether the medical details should have been published, is what the Dutch authorities are doing. Dutch woman Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper, who partly attributed her longevity to consuming herrings and an odd glass of gin, had no furring of the arteries and her brain was in a condition normally associated with woman 40 years her junior. Doctors say this was not due to gin but to genes. The findings were published on the website of a scientific magazine. Understandably, neurologists and pathologists at the hospital that examined the body were eagers to share the information. What is more, Hendrikje’s family did not object to the publication. Ah, but the bosses at the hospital, UMCG in Groningen, have a duty to protect the privacy of patients past and present. They were disgusted at the publication and are now considering what action to take against the main culprit, a neurologist who led the research team. Clearly one has to be very careful with how one deals with patient privacy. But surely on this occasion one should be proud and open. Hendrikje, one imagines, would have certainly raised her glass and said “cheers”.//Dutchnews.nl

Erasmus students striving for recognition

In 2006, only half of Erasmus students received full recognition for their studies abroad, suggesting the much-touted European Higher Education Area is far from ready. After the Commission officially celebrated '20 years of Erasmus ' in December 2006, the Erasmus Student Network (ESN ) launched the Erasmus days around Europe on 18 January 2007. On this occasion, the students urged the Commission to do more to improve the recognition of studies abroad, pointing to the fact that in 2006 only half of the Erasmus students received full recognition for their studies in their home countries. They also called on the Commission to provide better financial support for students, in particular for students from disadvantaged backgrounds and those from eastern and central Europe. Opening the event, Commission Vice President Margot Wallstrom encouraged Erasmus students to act as 'the ambassadors of Europe'. "You who have benefited from Europe can do something for Europe in return, telling your friends and colleagues about the EU's achievements and sharing your enthusiasm for what it means to be a European," she said. Education Commissioner Jan Figel previously highlighted the leading role of the Erasmus programme as a driver for modernising Europe's higher-education systems. Erasmus is the Commission's higher education programme. It aims to encourage transnational co-operation between universities and this way reinforce the European dimension of higher education, boost student mobility and improve the academic recognition of studies and qualifications acquired throughout the EU. // EurActiv

TU Delft: a student of Industrurial Design program tells...

Recently the English Page of the newspaper "Delta.TU Delft" meets Jorge Peregrin, 24, an MSc student in Industrial Design from Valencia, Spain. Jorge originally came to TU Delft as a one-year Erasmus exchange student, but he liked it so much here that he found an internship at Fabrique. But that wasn't enough, so he then decided to pursue another two-year MSc degree. / Beatriz Fernandez Garcia Why did you choose TU Delft? "I heard from some students in Spain that TU Delft was a very good university and Delft a nice town. Also, because Holland's located in heart of Europe, I figured it would allow me to travel a lot to other cities in Germany, Belgium, France and England." Are there any notable differences between TU Delft and your home university, in terms of education, research or the general workings of the university? "There are many big differences, like the way of approaching design, the methodology.... I find it very professional here, but at the same time less spontaneous and less fun." If there were one thing about the TU you could change, what would it be? "I'd try to make people a little bit more spontaneous and the academic program less strict and freer. Here they want you to have too many things at once, and you just don't have time to digest it all. Things go too fast and the person's development can be forgotten. But yet this is also what makes this university dynamic and good: the strictness is also part of that advantage." At TU Delft, do you feel as if you're working at an international university? "Definitely. It's full of people from everywhere with different ways of approaching projects. It's a very nice environment if you want this sort of life, which does more to open your mind and make you more tolerant."

Amsterdam better to live in than do business

Amsterdam only ranks 18th in a new survey of 60 cities in terms of its attractiveness for studying or doing business in; but the Dutch capital ranks sixth in terms of a being a good place to visit or live. Simon Anholt, the man behind the Anholt City Brand Index, said Amsterdam's image was relatively stable. Expensive city branding efforts, such as the 'I Amsterdam' campaign do not do much to improve a city's image, Anholt said. 'Consumers do not change their attitudes to a city quickly'. Overall, Amsterdam was in 11th place. Sydney topped the list, followed by London and Paris.//Dutchnews.nl

Tilburg University students in 1/2 final debate championship

Roel Mehlkopf (24, research master's, finance) and Victor Vlam (22, law) reached the semi-finals of the world debating championships for universities last week, in the category English as a second language. They represented Tilburg University and debating club Cicero at the debating championship, which was held in Vancouver, Canada. In the semi-finals the Tilburg duo had to defend the position that 'jury law is better'. "We were unable, unfortunately, to convince the jury that ten random people off the street are better at reaching a judgment than a number of experts." At the tournament the participants did not receive a statement and their position (for or against) until fifteen minutes before the start of the debate. Subsequently, they spoke for seven minutes. A jury determined the winner of the debate. The world debating championships is the biggest debating competition in the world. A total of 152 universities participated, sending in 336 two-person teams. The International Islamic University of Malaysia won the tournament in the category English as a second language, while the University of Sydney (Australia) won in the category for students with English as a first language.

Leiden University: Courses in English & Tuition fees

When following a Study Abroad or Exchange Programme you can choose from a wide selection of courses offered in various levels of intensity. Choose your Study Abroad in Leiden Option: 1. choose your own combination of courses matching your study programme and background or 2. choose one of the more focussed Study Options, specially tailored for students with particular interests. * Exchange students should note that for some courses, Tuition Fees may apply. Courses in English 2006-2007 • Archaeology (to be updated) • Anthropology • Chinese Language & Culture • Creative & Performing Arts • Dutch Language & Culture • English Language & Culture • History and Art History • Japanese Language & Literature

More foreign firms set up in Amsterdam

86 foreign firms set up offices in Amsterdam last year, creating 892 jobs, the city council said on Friday. In 2005, 73 firms moved to the city, but created more jobs. Of the new firms, 35% came from Asia. Amsterdam is focusing this year on attracting more firms from China.// Dutchnews.nl

Leiden University: One-year Dutch Studies Programme

Students are admitted on the basis of their proficiency in Dutch: • Programme I-A is designed for absolute beginners. • Programme I-B is designed for students with little or basic proficiency in Dutch. (This programme will only be offered if there are a sufficient number of students) • Programme II is designed for students with proficiency in Dutch. What will I learn in these programmes? All programmes consist of classes on various aspects of Dutch language: speaking, listening, reading, vocabulary, writing, and grammar supplemented by lectures on one or more of the following subjects: History of art and the culture and society of the Netherlands, historical and modern Dutch linguistics, literature and history of the Netherlands. How do I compile my programme? Students are advised to compile a programme which is in keeping with their interests. However, students who desire to be awarded the “propedeuse” diploma must take the following first year courses: Dutch Art History, Introduction to Dutch Culture, Introduction to Culture and Society of the Netherlands, Literature in Context and Linguistic Analysis.