“We Brits will sacrifice a lot for a little sunshine”

By Michelle Tuyp  As lockdown restrictions in the Netherlands are starting to ease, the restrictions in the UK still strictly remain. The 25-year old Tom McCann lives in Birmingham and is experiencing a difficult time during the lockdown. He is not able to operate as an arts and youth worker anymore and he is not allowed to see his friends and family. “We were so … Continue reading “We Brits will sacrifice a lot for a little sunshine”

“Will people still dare to come after this?”

Corona’s impact on local businesses is different from what you think  Text & photo’s by Amy Steur The Dutch idyllic fishing village Volendam would normally be overrun with tourists, but closed borders are keeping them away. This is a problem for entrepreneurs. Fish Shop De Haven (The Harbour) is allowed to remain open in times of corona, but Photography Studio Experience Volendam, a place where … Continue reading “Will people still dare to come after this?”

„To survive, you must think economically”

Freelance foreign reporter Kerstin Schweighöfer (60) on how journalism changed.

By Viktor Sarkezi

Kerstin Schweighöfer became a freelance foreign correspondent for German-speaking media like Deutschlandfunk, FOCUS and Der Standard when she moved to the Netherlands in 1990. In her 30-year-career she reported on catastrophes, war crime trials in The Hague and art exhibitions.

Continue reading “„To survive, you must think economically””

“I do not care about payment and working hours, what is important to me is the meaningful task of journalism”

Vegard Velle (49) is a journalist, author and editor in chief for a newly founded newspaper in Norway called VårtOslo. He is an ambitious idealist whose main goal is to give good quality journalism to the local residents of Oslo. Continue reading ““I do not care about payment and working hours, what is important to me is the meaningful task of journalism””

‘Journalism brings countries together’

27-year-old Lisa Muller, born and raised in Amsterdam, has just started a minor in International Journalism. Currently, she works as a junior marketeer, but her passion for writing has led her to enrol in this minor. “I like my job as a junior marketeer. It’s a completely different side of communications compared to journalism. I like a bit of a challenge, and the fact that … Continue reading ‘Journalism brings countries together’

“The best stories are found on the streets”

Written by Esmee Bakker Nick Davies, a British investigative journalist, says nowadays reporters produce more stories than in the 1980’s. He also states they have less time for outside reporting and are under economic pressure. Connie Vertegaal (52) has been a reporter for the Noordhollands Dagblad for almost thirty years now. How did she experience these changes?   Q: “How did you see journalism change … Continue reading “The best stories are found on the streets”

Sex, drugs and scientology

By: Sam van Royen SCIENTOLOGY CHURCH – 10:30 AM – AMSTERDAM ‘Hi, I’m here to meet Robert Kruijt.’ The lady at the reception looked up from her paper and looked at me curiously. ‘Does he know you’re coming?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Okay, I’ll give him a call. Please write your details here.’ I filled in the logbook and saw two other names – it wasn’t very busy. … Continue reading Sex, drugs and scientology