Low Country Lowdown

On today's Lowdown, the last one of Season 2, the D66 and the CDA political parties have been tasked with drafting the blueprint for a new government, a fragile starting point that excludes major players and leaves the country staring at two messy, uncertain coalition paths.

Our second segment discusses a stark new investigation that reveals collapsing maternity-care access in poorer neighbourhoods, where infant mortality is higher and commercial providers are pulling out.

After running through a handful of other headlines, we get to the Holland Hotline, where our international guest gets to ask their most pressing question about Dutch society.

Our guest Ned wonders what the Dutch think of the anglicization of the Netherlands in general and their language in particular.

Dutch news
Who cares?
You do.

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Follow us on Instagram! @lowdown.nl
Email us for inquiries and tips: [email protected]
Host: Allart van der Woude
Guest: Ned
Production: Daniel da Costa & Allart van der Woude
Music: David Coehorst & Andrés Aracena @davidcoehorst1000 @undres.a
Graphic Design: Linus Bonduelle @studio.lieneman
Social Media: Marguerite Nolan @margueritennolan

www.lowdown.nl

Today on Lowdown, two quiet policy shifts with big consequences: the Dutch caretaker government has scrapped long-promised protections for low-paid migrant workers and, at the same time, approved new public insurance coverage for costly weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro.

We dig into what these choices expose about who really benefits from Dutch policy--from exploited workers to those at the front of the health queue--and what it all says about power and inequality in the Netherlands today.

After running through a handful of other headlines, we get to the Holland Hotline, where our international guest gets to ask their most pressing question about Dutch society.

After Mamdani's win in New York, our guest Kristo is curious about the Dutch welfare system.

Dutch news
Who cares?
You do.

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Follow us on Instagram! @lowdown.nl
Email us for inquiries and tips: [email protected]
Host: Allart van der Woude
Guest: Kristo
Production: Daniel da Costa & Allart van der Woude
Music: David Coehorst & Andrés Aracena @davidcoehorst1000 @undres.a
Graphic Design: Linus Bonduelle @studio.lieneman
Social Media: Marguerite Nolan @margueritennolan

www.lowdown.nl

The election results are in, and they’ve shaken up Dutch politics. Under Rob Jetten’s leadership, the center-left D66 surged from 9 to 26 seats, overtaking Geert Wilders’ PVV to become the largest party in parliament. Wilders’ PVV saw a dramatic drop, slipping from 37 to 26 seats, just a few thousand votes shy of D66.

But beneath the headlines, the broader story is one of shifting ground: a continued normalization and entrenchment of the (far) right across the political landscape. For parties to the left of D66, the night proved to be a historic defeat.

In this episode, we unpack what drove these results by running you through the six most important points, from campaign strategies to voter behavior, and what challenges lie ahead in forming a new cabinet after one of the most consequential elections in recent memory.

Dutch news
Who cares?
You do.

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Follow us on Instagram! @lowdown.nl
Email us for inquiries and tips: [email protected]
Host: Allart van der Woude
Guest: Eleni
Production: Daniel da Costa & Allart van der Woude
Music: David Coehorst & Andrés Aracena @davidcoehorst1000 @undres.a
Graphic Design: Linus Bonduelle @studio.lieneman
Social Media: Marguerite Nolan @margueritennolan

www.lowdown.nl

This week, we're shaking things up a bit: we're doing an extra long special on the October 29th election! We've invited Coen van de Ven, a political reporter, investigative journalist and published author on Dutch politics. Coen has been writing for many different newspapers and magazines for over a decade, and is widely regarded as one of the most knowledgeable journalists on the topic. 

We're starting off with an overview of the fundamentals of Dutch politics:

How does the system work?
What are the pro’s and cons?
Why are there that many parties ?
Why do elections take forever?

Then, we'll dive into the failure of the last cabinet, and talk about what went wrong there and what it might teach us.

Finally, we discuss what's ahead. What are the polls and trends saying, and what should we expect of the elections and the cabinet formation that comes after?

Dutch news
Who cares?
You do.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Follow us on Instagram! @lowdown.nl
Email us for inquiries and tips: [email protected]
Host: Allart van der Woude
Guest: Ned
Production: Daniel da Costa & Allart van der Woude
Music: David Coehorst & Andrés Aracena @davidcoehorst1000 @undres.a
Graphic Design: Linus Bonduelle @studio.lieneman
Social Media: Marguerite Nolan @margueritennolan

www.lowdown.nl

On this week's Lowdown, we'll discuss how Dutch companies keep getting caught in the trade war between China and the US, putting the Dutch economy at risk. Also, we'll talk about yet another round of violent extreme right protests across the country, seemingly part a spiral of violence.

After running through a handful of other headlines, we get to the Holland Hotline, where our international guest gets to ask their most pressing question about Dutch society.

In this episode, Ned's question is about how the 'water boards' (Waterschappen) work.

Dutch news
Who cares?
You do.

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Follow us on Instagram! @lowdown.nl
Email us for inquiries and tips: [email protected]
Host: Allart van der Woude
Guest: Ned
Production: Daniel da Costa & Allart van der Woude
Music: David Coehorst & Andrés Aracena @davidcoehorst1000 @undres.a
Graphic Design: Linus Bonduelle @studio.lieneman
Social Media: Marguerite Nolan @margueritennolan

www.lowdown.nl

On this week's Lowdown, we'll discuss the crisis in the Dutch power grid, an impossible puzzle which is costing billions a year. Then, we'll talk about the Supreme Court its ruling in a years-long legal battle between the state and three human rights NGOs, who demand an export ban on fighter jet parts to Israel.

After running through a handful of other headlines, we get to the Holland Hotline, where our international guest gets to ask their most pressing question about Dutch society.

In this episode, Abhinav's question is about how the 30 percent tax cut ruling for expats works.

Dutch news
Who cares?
You do.

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Follow us on Instagram! @lowdown.nl
Email us for inquiries and tips: [email protected]
Host: Allart van der Woude
Guest: Abhinav
Production: Daniel da Costa & Allart van der Woude
Music: David Coehorst & Andrés Aracena @davidcoehorst1000 @undres.a
Graphic Design: Linus Bonduelle @studio.lieneman
Social Media: Marguerite Nolan @margueritennolan

www.lowdown.nl

On this week's Lowdown, we'll discuss the 2 billion euros in subsidies controversially promised to Tata Steel, who run the largest plant in the country, in order to produce steel more sustainably. Then, we'll talk about the largest pension fund in the Netherlands its decision to divest from Caterpillar, the company that supplies Israel with the bulldozers it uses against civilian targets in the West Bank and Gaza.

After running through a handful of other headlines, we get to the Holland Hotline, where our international guest gets to ask their most pressing question about Dutch society.

In this episode, Kat's question is about why you can rent an apartment with a floor here in the Netherlands.

Dutch news
Who cares?
You do. 

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Follow us on Instagram! @lowdown.nl
Email us for inquiries and tips: [email protected]
Host: Allart van der Woude
Guest: Kat
Production: Daniel da Costa & Allart van der Woude
Music: David Coehorst & Andrés Aracena @davidcoehorst1000 @undres.a
Graphic Design: Linus Bonduelle @studio.lieneman
Social Media: Marguerite Nolan @margueritennolan

www.lowdown.nl

On this week's Lowdown, we'll discuss the massive right-wing riots in the Hague last Saturday and the political right's frantic attempts to disown their own role in the outburst of political violence.

After running through a handful of other headlines, we get to the Holland Hotline, where our international guest gets to ask their most pressing question about Dutch society.

In this episode, Juliette's question is about where all the cigarettes have gone.

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Follow us on Instagram! @lowdown.nl
Email us for inquiries and tips: [email protected]
Host: Allart van der Woude
Guest: Juliette
Production: Daniel da Costa & Allart van der Woude
Music: David Coehorst & Andrés Aracena @davidcoehorst1000 @undres.a
Graphic Design: Linus Bonduelle @studio.lieneman
Social Media: Marguerite Nolan @margueritennolan

www.lowdown.nl

On this week's Lowdown, we'll discuss the latest instalment in the national drama about wolves, as a top court has rejected a new proposal to shoot the animals. Then, we'll talk about the settlement between the Amsterdam police and the parents of Sammy Baker, the German man who was shot to death by police officers - a case which has haunted the police for years.

After running through a handful of other headlines, we get to the Holland Hotline, where our international guest gets to ask their most pressing question about Dutch society.

In this episode, Eleni's question is about why there is so much roadwork being done all the time.

Dutch news
Who cares?
You do.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Follow us on Instagram! @lowdown.nl
Email us for inquiries and tips: [email protected]
Host: Allart van der Woude
Guest: Eleni
Production: Daniel da Costa & Allart van der Woude
Music: David Coehorst & Andrés Aracena @davidcoehorst1000 @undres.a
Graphic Design: Linus Bonduelle @studio.lieneman
Social Media: Marguerite Nolan @margueritennolan

www.lowdown.nl

Howdy! We are back for Season 2 after our summer break!

On this week's Lowdown, we'll discuss the further disintegration of the already collapsed cabinet. Then, we'll talk through the renewed debate in politics and society about the safety of women in the Netherlands. After running through a handful of other headlines, we get to the Holland Hotline, where our international guest gets to ask their most pressing question about Dutch society.

In this episode, Kat's question is about the history of the Frisians.

Dutch news
Who cares?
You do.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Follow us on Instagram! @lowdown.nl
Email us for inquiries and tips: [email protected]
Host: Allart van der Woude
Guest: Kat
Production: Daniel da Costa & Allart van der Woude
Music: David Coehorst & Andrés Aracena @davidcoehorst1000 @undres.a
Graphic Design: Linus Bonduelle @studio.lieneman
Social Media: Marguerite Nolan @margueritennolan

www.lowdown.nl