THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Snow, ice and freezing temperatures hit parts of Europe on Tuesday, causing treacherous traffic conditions that left at least five people dead in France and forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights from one of the continent’s busiest airports.
Authorities in the Landes region of southwestern France reported three dead in accidents, and at least two more people were reportedly killed in the Île-de-France region around Paris, where authorities ordered trucks off the road as snowfall caused huge traffic jams on Monday.
Paris awoke Tuesday to a blanket of snow on its famous rooftops and sites, and children whose schools couldn’t hold classes delighted in an unexpected day off. Air travelers were less happy, as heavy snowfall forced the closure of six airports in the north and west of France.
Dutch weather woes
As snow fell across the Netherlands, Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport reported that some 400 flights were grounded as crews worked to clear runways and de-ice planes waiting to depart. Hundreds of flights were also canceled Monday in Amsterdam and more snow was forecast for the rest of the week.
Just getting to and from the airport outside the Dutch capital was a struggle with frozen points and an early morning software glitch throwing the Netherlands’ rail system into turmoil.
Limited rail services resumed later in the morning but routes around Amsterdam remained largely closed because of the icy conditions, national railway company NS said on its website. It urged commuters to “only travel if it’s absolutely necessary.”
Commuters forced to drive to work also faced time-consuming journeys as a combination of the snow and ice snarled traffic on some highways.
Thijs Rademakers, an 18-year-old student, decided to ride his bike rather than wait for public transport.
“It was tough, very slippery,” he said in the eastern city of Arnhem. “Many people fall. Luckily, I didn’t.”
Rome’s wet weather limits numbers at pope’s Epiphany blessing
In Rome, weeks of rain that have swollen the Tiber River over its banks again muted Pope Leo XIV’s Christmas-time celebrations. St. Peter’s Square was only partially full Tuesday as a few thousand people crowded under colorful umbrellas to hear Leo deliver his Epiphany blessing from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Rome has been soaked by steady rains since before Christmas, and Mayor Roberto Gualtieri issued an ordinance for Tuesday limiting public access to parks and other areas at risk for falling trees and flooding.
Farther north, snow dusted Bologna and gave skiers in the Dolomites reason to cheer, though freezing temperatures are forecast for much of the north and central part of the peninsula over the coming days.
Temperatures plummet in Britain
A cold snap sent the temperature in northern parts of Britain down to minus 12.5 degrees Celsius (9.5 Fahrenheit) overnight, as snow disrupted rail, road and air travel and closed hundreds of schools.
Horse races and soccer matches have been called off because of snow and frost, a power failure caused by ice closed Glasgow’s subway and Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport was closed for a time on Monday.
Up to 15 centimeters (6 inches) of snow was forecast Tuesday for northern Scotland, where some people have already been snowed in by previous falls. Northeast Scotland lawmaker Andrew Bowie said the situation was “critical,” and called for soldiers to be sent in to clear snow and get food and medical supplies to stranded people.
Icy Balkans
Both heavy snow and heavy rain swept through Balkan countries, swelling rivers and creating problems in traffic and disruptions in power and water supplies. A woman died in Bosnia’s capital Sarajevo on Monday after a snow-covered tree branch fell on her head. In neighboring Serbia, some western municipalities introduced emergency measures due to bad weather.
Authorities in Serbia warned drivers to be very careful as many set off toward skiing resorts or elsewhere for Orthodox Christmas on Wednesday and the upcoming weekend. Black ice stopped cars and forced drivers to park on the side on their way to Mount Bjelasnica above Sarajevo on Tuesday morning.
Heavy wind and stormy seas battered the Adriatic coastline in Croatia and Montenegro. Video footage showed the sea sweeping through holiday cottages at Ada Bojana in southern Montenegro during a storm.
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Associated Press writers across Europe contributed to this report.
It didn’t exactly take dogged detective work for an art sleuth in Amsterdam to solve a canine conundrum dating back to the Dutch Golden Age.
Anne Lenders, a curator at the city’s landmark Rijksmuseum, said Tuesday that it was more or less by accident that she discovered that the barking dog in Rembrandt van Rijn’s famous “Night Watch” is a near-identical copy of one that features in a 1619 pen and ink drawing by fellow Dutch artist Adriaen van de Venne.
“I wasn’t looking for this; it was really unexpected,” Lenders said in the glass room where “Night Watch” is undergoing extensive restoration.
An art restorer points at the image of a dog in Rembrandt’s Night Watch at Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum, Netherlands, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025.
Peter Dejong / AP
She was visiting an exhibition at the Zeeuws Museum in the southern Netherlands when her eye fell on a picture of a dog by Van de Venne that was printed in a book by the poet Jacob Cats. The original drawing – which turned out to be part of the Rijksmuseum’s own vast collection – was also on display.
Using her phone to compare the two images side by side, the 39-year-old Dutchwoman saw “striking similarities” between van de Venne’s dog and the canine depicted in Rembrandt’s 1642 masterpiece.
“The resemblance is so strong that at the very first moment I thought he (Rembrandt) must have used this,” she added.
That’s when the research started: a comparison of Van de Venne’s and Rembrandt’s dogs; their pose, even the collar they wear.
“The head turns in exact the same angle with the mouth slightly opened. … Both dogs have long hair and ears that hang vertical,” said Lenders.
Detail of the 17th century drawing by Dutch artist Adriaen van de Venne which inspired Rembrandt when painting a dog in the Night Watch, is shown on an easel at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025.
Peter Dejong / AP
In the “Night Watch,” the dog adds tension to a dark corner of the crowded composition, crouching and apparently barking near a drummer called Jacob Jorisz and just behind one of the iconic 1642 painting’s main characters, Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburch.
The discovery is the latest in a series of revelations to emerge during a yearslong project to reexamine the 379.5 by 453.5-centimeter (149.4 by 178.5-inch) canvas using modern techniques. “Operation Night Watch” began in 2019 with an extensive study of the painting and is continuing with restoration work that is likely to take years to complete.
“The Night Watch is Rembrandt’s most famous painting and we always think that it was created out of nothing, out of his genius,” Taco Dibbits, the director of the Rijksmuseum, told Agence France-Presse. “But Rembrandt, like the great Italian masters Michelangelo and Raphael, used works of art by artists before him to make his own compositions.”
One thing the Rijksmuseum couldn’t figure out was exactly what kind of dog it is, with expert opinions divided between a French or a Dutch breed. Most likely, the two artists used a little poetic license.
“We will never have a conclusion on which breed it is,” Dibbits said. “But it’s definitely very much loved.”
While Dibbits credited “well informed luck” for the find, he said such discovery could only have happened with the help of “Operation Night Watch”, a large-scale public restoration project launched in 2019.
“You would say, well, the painting is so famous, everything has already been discovered,” he said,
“But of course you always with art discover new things and that’s why Rembrandt is such a great artist.”
A Delta Air Lines flight from the Netherlands to Minnesota turned around after takeoff this week.
“As nothing is more important than safety at Delta, DL161 returned to Amsterdam shortly after departure following a potential mechanical issue with the pneumatic system,” the airline told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. There were 280 customers on the Sept. 8 flight, which was traveling from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.
Pneumatic systems are those that use “pressurized air to move something,” according to the National Air and Space Museum.
“On aircraft, lots of different parts of the aircraft can be moved with pneumatic components or hydraulic components…” its website reads. “Some parts that use pneumatics or hydraulics are the ailerons, the elevators, the rudder and the flaps.”
The flight made a safe landing in Amsterdam and maintenance is evaluating the plane’s condition, Delta added. “We apologize to our customers for the delay in their travel plans,” the airline said.
The flight is not the only one to backtrack after takeoff in recent months.
A United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai diverted to San Francisco after a pilot forgot his passport in March. Another United flight from Lagos, Nigeria to Washington, D.C. returned to its departure point in January after four passengers and two flight attendants were injured after unexpected movement.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
Police say five people were hospitalized and 62 were arrested after antisemitic rioters “actively sought out Israeli supporters to attack and assault them” following a Europa League match between Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dutch side Ajax in Amsterdam Thursday night.
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The Delta flight to Amsterdam diverted to NYC after it was found that a portion of the on-board food was spoiled.
NEW YORK CITY — Delta Airlines says a flight from Detroit to Amsterdam had to divert to JFK Airport early Wednesday morning after passengers were served spoiled food.
Delta Flight 136 was en route from Detroit to The Netherlands when some of the in-flight meal service was discovered to have been spoiled.
The flight with 277 customers onboard, landed safely at around 4 a.m.
Medical crews were at the airport to treat any sick passengers and crew members. It is not yet known how many people consumed the food.
Delta is investigating how the food was spoiled.
They released a statement saying: “Delta flight 126 from Detroit to Amsterdam diverted to New York’s JFK early Wednesday morning after it was discovered that a portion of the in-flight meal service was spoiled. Medical crews were on-site to meet the aircraft and treat any affected passengers and crew members. Delta teams will immediately work to gather information into how this incident occurred. This is not the service Delta is known for and we sincerely apologize to our customers for the inconvenience and delay in their travels.”
The Delta flight to Amsterdam diverted to NYC after it was found that a portion of the on-board food was spoiled.
NEW YORK CITY — Delta Airlines says a flight from Detroit to Amsterdam had to divert to JFK Airport early Wednesday morning because a portion of the in-flight meal service was spoiled.
The flight, DL136, DTW-AMS, A330 with 277 customers onboard, landed safely at around 4 a.m.
Medical crews were at the airport to treat any sick passengers and crew members. It is not yet known how many people consumed the food.
Delta is investigating how the food was spoiled.
They released a statement saying: “Delta flight 126 from Detroit to Amsterdam diverted to New York’s JFK early Wednesday morning after it was discovered that a portion of the in-flight meal service was spoiled.
Medical crews were on-site to meet the aircraft and treat any affected passengers and crew members. Delta teams will immediately work to gather information into how this incident occurred. This is not the service Delta is known for and we sincerely apologize to our customers for the inconvenience and delay in their travels.”
Long gone are the days when venture capital was flowing into fintech startups with bold ideas — and little to show in terms of business metrics and fundamentals.
Bloomberg | Getty Images
AMSTERDAM — The financial technology industry is embracing a new normal — with some industry executives and investors believing the sector has reached a “bottom.”
Executives and investors at the Money20/20 event in Amsterdam last week told CNBC that valuations have corrected from unsustainable highs from the industry’s heyday in 2020 and 2021.
Long gone are the days when venture capital was flowing into startups with bold ideas and little to show in terms of business metrics and fundamentals.
Iana Dimitrova, CEO of embedded finance startup OpenPayd, told CNBC in an interview at the firm’s booth that the market has “recalibrated.”
Embedded finance refers to the trend of technology companies selling financial services software to other companies — even if those companies don’t offer financial products themselves.
“Value is now ascribed to businesses that manage to prove there is a solid use case, solid business model,” Dimitrova told CNBC.
“That is recognised by the market, because three, four years ago, that was not necessarily the case anymore, with crazy ideas of domination and hundreds of millions of dollars in VC funding.”
Iana Dimitrova, CEO of OpenPayd, talking onstage at Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal.
Horacio Villalobos | Getty Images
“I think the market is now more sensible,” she added.
Around the show floor of the RAI conference venue last week, banks, payment companies and big technology firms showed off their wares, hoping to reignite conversations with prospective clients after a tough few years for the sector.
Many attendees CNBC spoke with mentioned that the conference hall was a lot lighter in terms of conferencegoers and the pitter-patter of delegates flocking to various stands and booths around the RAI.
Many of the most productive conversations, some attendees CNBC spoke with say, actually happened on the fringes of the event — at bars, restaurants and even boat parties held around Amsterdam once the day on the show floor was over.
In 2021, global fintech funding reached an all-time peak of $238.9 billion, according to KPMG. Companies such as Block, Affirm, Klarna, and Revolut had hit seismically high multibillion-dollar valuations.
But by 2022, investment levels sank sharply and fintechs globally raised just $164.1 billion. In 2023, funding sank even further to $113.7 billion, a five-year low.
That’s despite the massive growth of many companies.
The bruising impact of higher interest rates means that, for even the hottest and fastest-growing players, funding is either hard to come by — or being offered at a lower prices than before.
Nium, the Singaporean payments unicorn, said in an announcement Wednesday that its valuation had fallen to $1.4 billion in a new $50 million funding round.
Prajit Nanu, CEO of Nium, told CNBC that investors have at times been too distracted with artificial intelligence to pay attention to innovative products and growth stories happening in the world of fintech.
“Investors are now in the AI mindset,” he told CNBC. “Like, whatever it costs. I want in on AI. They’re going to burn a lot of money.”
Nanu added that the trend mimics the “craziness” fintech saw in terms of frothy valuations in 2020 and 2021.
Today, he believes we have now reached a “bottom” when it comes to fintech market values.
“I believe that this is the lowest end of the fintech cycle,” Nanu said, adding that “this is the right time to make it in fintech.”
Consolidation will be key moving forward, Nanu said, adding that Nium is eyeing several startups for acquisition opportunities.
OpenPayd’s Dimitrova said she isn’t considering tapping external investors for fundraising at the moment.
But, she said, if OpenPayd were to look to accelerate its annual recurring revenue past the $100 million mark, venture capital investment would come more firmly under consideration.
Crypto also made something of a comeback in terms of hype and interest at this year’s event.
Dotted around the RAI venue were stands from some of the industry’s major players. Ripple, Fireblocks, Token8 and BVNK, a crypto-focused payments firm, all had a big presence with notable booths around.
CoinW, a crypto exchange endorsed by Italian soccer star Andrea Pirlo, had advertising flowing through a bridge connecting two of the main halls of the conference.
Fintech execs and investors CNBC spoke with at this year’s edition of Money20/20 said they’re finally seeing a real use case for cryptocurrencies after years of bulls touting them as the future of finance.
Despite the huge promise of AI around changing how we manage our money, for instance, “there’s no new AI for moving money,” according to James Black, partner at VC firm IVP — in other words, AI isn’t changing the infrastructure behind payments.
However, stablecoins, tokens that match the value of real-world assets like the U.S. dollar, he said, are changing the game.
“We’ve seen the crypto wave, and I do think that stablecoins is the next wave of crypto that will gain more mass adoption,” Black said.
“If you think about the most exciting payment rails, you have real-time payments — I think that’s exciting, too. And it fits in with stablecoins.”
Charles McManus, CEO of ClearBank, speaks at the Innovate Finance Global Summit in April 2023.
Chris Ratcliffe | Bloomberg | Getty Images
ClearBank, the U.K. cloud-based clearing bank, is working on launching a stablecoin underpinned by the British pound that it is expecting to receive a provisional blessing from the Bank of England soon.
Emma Hagen, chief risk and compliance officer and incoming U.K. CEO of ClearBank, and Charles McManus, the firm’s global CEO, told CNBC at its booth at Money20/20 that the stablecoin it’s working on would be sufficiently backed by a matching number of reserves.
“We’re in the early days as we learn with our partners,” Hagen told CNBC. “It’s about doing it in a way that gives people that trust and safety that there is going to be practical issuance.”
ClearBank is also working with other crypto companies on offering the ability to earn high yield on uninvested cash, McManus said.
He declined to disclose the identity of which firm, or firms, ClearBank was in talks with.
Raman Bhatia, incoming chief executive officer of Starling. Bhatia moved over from OVO Energy Ltd., where he was CEO.
Zed Jameson | Bloomberg | Getty Images
AMSTERDAM — Digital bank Starling will not re-apply for a European Union banking license and instead pursue international expansion through its software business, the incoming CEO said, in a diverging approach to overseas growth from some of its rivals.
Starling is among the U.K.’s breed of so-called “neobanks” — digital-only banks that usually have no branches. It started life in 2014, has racked up 4 million customers and was last officially valued at £2.5 billion ($3.2 billion).
The digital bank, which is backed by Goldman Sachs, has traditional offered banking services, like current accounts and more recently lending. Starling’s customers are mainly in the U.K. The company sought to expand abroad by applying for an Irish banking license, which would have given the bank access to the European Union market. Starling withdrew that application in 2022.
Raman Bhatia outlined the company’s international expansion plans on Wednesday, in his first public remarks since his appointment as CEO in March, taking over from founder Anne Boden.
Bhatia said that the company has no plans to re-apply for the EU banking license to push into new countries. Instead, international expansion will be driven by Engine, a software platform that Starling sells to other companies, so they can set up their own digital banks.
“I am very bullish about this approach around internationalization of what is the best of Starling, the proprietary tech versus market by market, idiosyncratic regulatory regime, capital requirements, and building trust and brand extension, which is unproven for any plan,” Bhatia said during a fireside chat at the Money 2020 conference moderated by CNBC.
He described opportunities in places like Thailand and the Middle East as “immense.”
Engine is a unique model amongst neobanks, which have tended to pore over consumer-focused apps and services. Starling is betting it can sell the technology to other banks.
Salt Bank in Romania and AMP in Australia are Starling’s first Engine customers.
Bhatia said he’d like the “double down” on the Engine strategy and capture market share in the enterprise software space.
THIS is the chilling moment a British tourist was ruthlessly stabbed in front of his girlfriend by a drug dealer in Amsterdam.
The couple were standing outside a pub in the city’s popular Red Light District when they were approached by the dealer but refused to buy anything from the man before all hell broke loose.
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The moment a drug dealer in Amsterdam is believed to brandish a knife before stabbing a Brit touristCredit: youtube politie amsterdam
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The moment the dealer is pushed by the Brit’s girlfriend before it all kicks offCredit: youtube politie amsterdam
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The moment the Brit is believed to have collapsed to the floor after being stabbedCredit: youtube politie amsterdam
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The attack is thought to have happened after the couple refused to buy drugs off the knifeman as they spoke in the busy Red Light DistrictCredit: youtube politie amsterdam
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The attacker was seen running away from the couple after the horrific assaultCredit: youtube politie amsterdam
Amsterdam police released the harrowing footage of the stabbing that took place back in March to help identify the attacker.
The police labelled the incident a “very intense and violent case” as they try to hunt down the young thug.
Police confirmed the Brit was hospitalised after the ambush and spent several days in hospital.
Footage shows the man in all black holding a water bottle in his hand as he approaches the couple and speaks with them for some time on the street of Korte Niezel.
The Brit was stood with his girlfriend on March 23, when they claim they were asked by the dealer if they wanted to buy any drugs off him.
After being rejected, the dealer turns aggressive with some heated words appearing to be exchanged.
Seconds later, the woman pushes the man out of the way as onlookers walk past as the dealer swings back at the woman.
The victim’s injuries are significant. He spent several days in hospital where he had to undergo surgery
Police statement
The Brit quickly gets in the middle of the pair to protect his partner before the attacker brandishes a knife and savagely stabs the man as he collapses on the pavement.
A policewoman speaks over the clip saying: “A dealer offers a bunch of drugs but the couple is not happy about this and an altercation ensues.
“The woman pushes the dealer away but then things go wrong as the dealer pulls out the knife and stabs him (the British man) as the victim collapses.”
After the brutal assault, the attacker quickly fled the busy streets as CCTV footage captured him running away as he disappeared into bustling crowds in the Red Light District.
Horror as two girls stabbed in knife rampage in France as school locked down
The policewoman continued: “The victim’s injuries are significant. He spent several days in hospital where he had to undergo surgery shortly after the incident.”
Police are now asking for any information on the man who stabbed the Brit.
A 24-year-old Belgian national, known as Nongo B, was convicted of stabbing Danny to death and is now serving 14 years behind bars.
The Leeds Beckett University student was found with 30 stab wounds following the brutal attack in the early hours of June 1, 2022.
Nongo B was captured in security footage walking along the canals with Danny on May 31 before his death.
The body of the 22-year-old was found on the Singel the following day and despite the efforts of the emergency workers to revive him, Danny was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officials say the attacker dragged Danny’s body to the side of the road in a bid to get rid of evidence before fleeing the scene.
Investigators revealed they discovered Nongo had ingested a large quantity of drugs when he was arrested.
An estimated 22 million tourists rock up to Amsterdam each day, according to Mayor Femke Halsema last year.
With reports saying over one million Brits flock to the liberal city annually to experience a few days of sex, drugs, booze and partying for many.
A BRITISH footballer has been hailed as a “massive asset on the pitch” in emotional tributes after he died on a trip to Amsterdam.
Charlie Batcup, 30, from Swansea, played for Pontlliw FC and was described by friends as the “heartbeat” of the club.
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Charlie Batcup, 30, died while on a trip to AmsterdamCredit: Facebook
The Welsh footballer was a lifelong player at the club, who following his death said he had enriched the lives of all their players and club members.
Charlie died while he was travelling in the Netherlands, and the Foreign Office said they were supporting the family of a British man.
Pontlliw FC paid tribute to their player on Sunday and said: “Pontlliw FC is heartbroken and devastated to announce that our player, club man and dear friend Charlie Batcup has tragically passed away.
“Charlie was a huge part of the club in a way that words cannot describe and his passing has left a huge void in our club which we will never be able to replace”.
They added that he was a “massive asset on the pitch” and in every team he played in.
“We are struggling to imagine an away day, social event, or even a Saturday afternoon without Charlie’s presence and he will always be in our thoughts now and forever.
Also taking to social media to share a heartfelt tribute to the late football player, was Charlie’s brother, Josh Batcup.
On Facebook, Josh shared a series of photos from when the pair were young boys, to them as adults watching a game of football.
He wrote: “I can’t quite believe I’m writing this but my Brother Charlie has tragically passed away.
“You were the heartbeat of Pontlliw Football club and village. There will be an emptiness in many people’s lives now you’re gone”.
He went on to describe his brother as “simply an amazing person”, “so well loved by everyone”, and “kind”.
“You are my only brother and the thought of you not being around anymore is unbearable,” Josh added.
“Life as I’ve always known it will never again be the same without you in it and not a day will go by when I won’t think about you.
“I love you so so much Charl, I just wish I could tell you this in person one more time.
“Rest in peace little bro, I will miss you immensely for the rest of my life”.
An Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in the Netherlands and are in contact with the local authorities.”
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The Welsh football player from Swansea was a member of Pontlliw FCCredit: Facebook
Steve McQueen bridges the past horrors of Nazi-era Amsterdam with a threatening present-day extremism in the trailer for Occupied City, a four-hour documentary from the 12 Years a Slave helmer inspired by a book by his wife, Dutch filmmaker Bianca Stigter.
The teaser trailer, which A24 dropped on Tuesday (below), remains tightly focused on modern-day Amsterdam as McQueen’s camera captures in his adopted city locals walking, jogging, skating, dancing, getting married and otherwise going about their everyday lives.
But those visuals are overlaid by narrator Melanie Hyam recalling the murders, suicides, resistance and betrayals that convulsed Amsterdam’s Jewish community in the early 1940s as the occupying German’s noose steadily closed around the neck of their embattled community.
That combination of McQueen’s elegant portrait of Amsterdam today and a matter-of-fact narration written by Stigter, author of the book Atlas of an Occupied City (Amsterdam 1940-1945), which inspired the documentary, connects the 1940s and now as the Holocaust serves to foreshadow growing extremism today.
“In 1942, the deportations began,” the viewer hears Hyam recount at one point in the trailer as McQueen shows a young child running in front of the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, happily scattering a flock of seagulls on the ground.
McQueen’s fresh documentary approach to occupied Amsterdam during the first half of the 1940s has the narration never commenting directly on his visuals, but instead indirectly hinting at ghosts from the past.
The trailer at times features present-day police in Amsterdam moving on horseback, in helicopters or armored trucks to disperse crowds, including those protesting COVID-era crackdowns.
Occupied City, which bowed in Cannes and played at Telluride and the New York Film Festival, will open in theaters on Dec. 25.
It’s been a big year for Nicky Romero, but the biggest is yet to come. The Dutch superstar recently announced his first ever open-to-close solo show “Nightvision”, taking place December 2 at AFAS Live in Amsterdam. The show will take place one day after the release of Nicky’s forthcoming Nightvision EP, which will feature previously released singles like “Give In”, “Mahoya”, and his latest release with TELYKAST and Linney, “Desire.”
We recently got the chance to sit down and chat with Nick regarding all things “Nightvision”, how his production has evolved over the years, changes in the music industry over the past decade, and
Hey Nicky! Thanks for chatting with us as always. Tell us about your 2023? Give us some highlights and tell us what stood out to you this year.
“What’s stood out for me? I think, well, the best is yet to happen, other than all the great festivals, which I’m extremely lucky to play. But, we’re going to do my first solo concert in December, which is the first one in my entire career. December 2 at the AFAS Live in Amsterdam, so that’s going to be something that’s super special and I think I’m going to do things I’ve never done before. So, that’s why I’m saying it’s too early to give the highlight, because I think this is going to be the highlight of my career and not just this year.
But, if I had to name anything else, I feel like we’ve developed quite a cool sound, like a new sound. For example, ‘Techtronic,’ that was one of the first ones off the EP that kind of did really, really well, which was a new sound that not everybody, but some quite big names started to play. And, I feel like that record is the perfect blend of tech house, but still like almost a big room vibe. I just feel like it’s peak time tech-house, and that is the new sound that I tried to develop and over that, I tried to develop something else, which is the ‘Nightvision’ EP, that kind of has like a similar vibe to it.
But, I’m still learning, and I’m still trying to find gaps in the industry, here and there. I think that a big achievement for us was that ‘Techtronic’ tapped into something that wasn’t there yet.”
You’re most recent single “Desire” with TelyKast x Linney is the latest single off of your upcoming Nightvision EP. Tell us what we can expect with the full EP and what new phase of your production does Nightvision represent.
“So, it’s funny you bring that up because, ‘Desire’ for example, is quite similar production and musically to songs like ‘Legacy’, for example, which are super old records. Where the first breakdown is kind of like straight, and the second drop is more melodic and more based on chords. And that was the same with ‘Legacy’, the first drop was kind of a straight drop and then the second drop became more melodic.
Same with ‘Like Home’ for example, now ‘Like Home’ has the instrumental straight parts in the middle. So, I tried to bring the balance between like a straight drop that has one note for example, one bass note. When you make it melodic, it comes alive, it brings a certain emotion. That’s what I’m trying to do with the ‘Nightvision’ EP, where records are normally designed to get the crowd going, I try to get that energy and also make a combination with my fundamentals as a progressive house producer. We have chords, changing basslines, that’s what I try and do, and ‘Desire’ was one of the first records, also ‘Mahoya’ to bring that element, but I’m still developing it, it feels like we’re on a good track right now.”
Tell us about your upcoming open to close Nightvision show. How long are you going to play for and what will make this show so special?
“Oh, well, I just came from a big meeting about how we are going to develop that show, and what am I going to play, and it’s interesting to give you a few sneak peeks. We’ve been thinking about should we play third party music, should I play records from someone else, or should I make it strictly only Nicky Romero? Either originals, remixes, collaborations, or where I took part as a producer. Records with David Guetta and Rhianna for example, like ‘Right Now’ or Sia with ‘Bang my Head’, or with Britney and Will.I.am.
Am I going to take those elements into the show, because you want to reach a bigger audience. It’s not only the extreme fans who know everything from A-to-Z, it’s also going to be people that are going to the zoo the day after. You’re going to have a wide span of people that want to see that show. So, I’m trying to narrow down, what do I want to show them, what do I want them to experience? And, it’s also the storytelling of Nicky Romero, the artist over the last 14 years. So, that is something that we’re trying to find out with ‘Nightvision’ that I’m still developing.
I think we have a really good blueprint now for what we’re going to do. It’s going to be only our own music, and also some remixes, edits and tracks I co-produced and try to bring that together. And, the craziest part about this, how many artists and DJs do you see, actually like, play physical instruments? I’m going to be playing piano, I’m going to be playing drum pads. Basically, I’m trying to show the world that DJs don’t necessarily only press play, and I’m trying to show them this is how a record comes about.
Like, I can play every record I’ve ever made, I can play it for you right here on the keyboard. And, every song that I hear, I can play it in a second, because you’ve trained your ear so much. And, I’m trying to, not only for myself, but for all of my colleagues in the industry, to teach people that what we’re doing is nothing different from what a pop musician is different, just wrapped in a different wrap. ‘Nightvision’ is going to be the embodiment of that all including visuals that you’ve probably never seen.
I don’t have a lot of charting top 40 hit songs, but I feel like I have a really interesting story to tell. Because, the beginning of EDM as we know it, and how people conceive the word EDM, where it all started from me, I had records from Toolroom, I had Mark Knight emailing me, or Simon of Defected. Carl Cox reached out and played my records for Green Velvet, I was more underground.
Now people see me as a commercial EDM artist. Luckily, I’m one of the artists who got the extremely great opportunity to work with such a wide variety of artists. Calvin Harris, Guetta, Armin, Hardwell, Afrojack, Aviici, unfortunately we don’t have him anymore, which is an extremely big loss for everyone. But, I feel like I’m so blessed, and also the story with Guetta, how many chances he gave me, and still does sometimes. I’m trying to wrap that in a story, it could be like a book that’s converted into a movie or show.”
What’s it been like getting in the studio with Hardwell and Guetta in recent years? Especially since they’ve drastically changed their sounds over the past few years, and it’s reflected on the landscape.
“The last time I did a track with Hardwell was a record called ‘Beta.’ And, I remember that we did that like very hybrid, in terms of like half his plays, and half my plays. And, then it was just important to become number one on Beatport. In the beginning it didn’t really matter how many radio plays, nobody was going to play electronic music on the radio, other than like Guetta’s records which were extremely successful already. But, I was far from his status, and I still am to be honest.
But, we were not focused so much on getting radio airplay, we wanted to have a number one on Beatport, and that was just a way to reach an audience. There was no Instagram or Twitter that were active that much, it was kind of developing at the same time. So, it was just like we need to get a cool record and hope that a lot of DJs are going to play it. And, most important, we need to score high on Beatport. These days, it’s just different, Beatport is still extremely relevant. Actually, I think that it’s at its peak again, since maybe 2012 or 2013, which I’m super happy for because it’s a great platform to get your music from. Also, based on the rights and that people actually pay for the product. So, I’m a really big fan of Beatport.
So, yeah, right now we just want to make a record that makes us happy, we both have our own identity, and I really respect Hardwell. In the beginning, we’ve known each other for such a long time. I even drove him to his shows in his car, just being on the road with him hanging out. And then after that making records and then both developing a career, that wouldn’t have been in my mind ten years ago. But, yeah, that’s why the story is so fun. So, there’s a difference, and right now, it’s just like, oh this track needs to work in both of our live sets, on Ultra, Tomorrowland, or EDC, maybe even something like Lollapalooza or Coachella. How do we create a track which has both of our identities which we’ve developed over the years? So that’s just a different approach.”
This is one of those ones I usually ask, but what do you think of the state of dance music as we begin to close out 2023? Like the sounds, where do you think the sounds are going?
“Well, I feel that dance music, I mean, music in general, but let’s narrow it down to dance music. This is something that Guetta told me in 2014, he gave me so much knowledge of things. He told me this music industry is basically a wave, and a wave comes and it seems huge when you stand in front of it. Sometimes you’re in the water in Hawaii or somewhere in Australia and this wave comes, and it seems humongous when you’re in front of it, and you can’t see anything else but this wave, and you think that this wave is going to be the next big thing and it’s going to flood the entire country.
And, it’s true, sometimes there is a wave that really does that, but in our industry it’s true. There can be one sound so popular that it kind of takes over everything, and everyone is going to make that sound. And, then the next wave is coming and the next wave, and then the trick is how do you jump from wave to wave without losing your identity and how do you stay relevant? How do you stay relevant without losing your roots? Because if you’re jumping too fast people have no clue what they’re listening to or when they’re listening to Nicky Romero. So, how do you keep that brand without losing it, at the same time keeping up with the pace of the dance music industry?
Because, the music industry right now, feels like it’s moving faster than it ever did before. It feels like a record is out today, and it’s out tomorrow. I cannot play a record in my set that is not from the last two weeks, otherwise it feels old. And, this has been taken to an extreme, but, let’s say 10 years ago, I could play a record that was Beatport number one for six months and everybody would still love it. And now, there’s so much music, there’s so much output that a record starts to feel old after two weeks.
How is that going to work out in the future? I have no idea. I think people are going to really pick their own niche boxes with what they like, and the majority consumes everything, but therefore the quality goes down. It’s nothing different than the food industry.”
Do you have any book recommendations? Been streaming anything good lately?
“I love reading and gaining new knowledge. My girlfriend is always like when I’m with you it feels like I brought an encyclopedia with me. You have the knowledge of the entire world, which is a compliment, but at the same time she makes me look like I’m some sort of doctor that is not interested in small stuff. But, I’m like a sponge, kind of just trying to absorb everything in its surroundings.
The book that I’ve been reading lately, it might sound boring, it’s a book by Stephen Hawking, ‘The Answers to the Big Questions’. This is very specific, because I wanted to know about black holes. How do they exist, what does it have to do with gravity? These are kind of the questions that keep me up at night. In terms of series, I’m a little behind on Netflix, but I watched this German series called ‘Dear Child’.”
Thanks Nick, any last words for the fans?
“This is going to sound very far away from the topic, but the situation in the world, it’s really a sad time, and feels like we’re very much living in a sad time that divides us more than all of us want. And without going into details about what and where, I just hope that everybody can find the space to help one another and to find one another. So, that’s a message that I’m trying to spread more and more. We’re living in such a weird and sad time, that I just really hope that people can connect with each other and we can spread some love again and help each other out.”
Make sure to check out the latest from Nicky Romero & TELYKAST x Linney “Desire”, out now on Protocol. Click here to get your tickets for Nicky Romero’s first ever open-to-close show “Nightvision” taking place December 2 at AFAS Live in Amsterdam. Check out the official “Nightvision” trailer and get hyped for the show.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A powerful summer storm lashed the Netherlands and parts of Germany on Wednesday, killing at least two people, blowing trees onto houses and forcing one of Europe’s busiest airports to cancel or delay hundreds of flights.
The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute issued its highest-level alert in three provinces as Storm Poly hit the country with heavy rain and powerful winds. One gust, on the coast west of Amsterdam, was recorded at just over 145 kilometers per hour (90 mph), the institute said.
The alert level was scaled back early in the afternoon as the storm headed northeast and weakened.
Vermont is preparing for the next round of storms — and possibly a tornado — as people took advantage of a second day of calm weather to clean up from historic flooding that damaged thousands of homes, businesses and roads, and left some residents stranded.
More than a half-dozen people were rescued as torrential rain deluged central Mississippi and sent water over roads and into homes and businesses.
Even desert residents accustomed to scorching summers are feeling the grip of an extreme heat wave smacking the Southwest this week.
Lethal flooding has simultaneously hit India, Japan, China, Turkey and the U.S. Northeast. Scientists have long warned that more extreme rainfall is expected in a warming world.
Dutch media showed pictures of uprooted trees and wind-blown debris littering streets in Amsterdam, The Hague and the city of Haarlem as the storm barreled through during the normally busy morning rush hour.
A woman was killed in Haarlem when a tree fell on a car, police spokesperson Nina Moers said. In Amsterdam, a tree fell on a houseboat moored in one of the city’s historic canals.
Strong gusts of wind also hit some areas of northwestern Germany. Police said a pedestrian died in Rhede, a municipality near the Netherlands border, after a tree fell on her. Police initially identified the victim as a man.
Videos showed trees scattered across highways, toppled on a row of houses in Haarlem and uprooted onto a tram in The Hague. Amsterdam municipality closed parks as the storm hit the Dutch capital.
Emergency services in North Holland province, which includes the capital Amsterdam, sent a push alert to mobile phones urging people to stay indoors as the storm passed. Traffic authorities also advised motorists to avoid driving, if possible.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, one of Europe’s busiest aviation hubs, said on its website that it expected “very limited air traffic will be possible” into the afternoon, leading to cancellations and delays for incoming and departing flights.
With the wind easing by mid-afternoon, the airport said more planes could take off and land but disruptions would continue.
“Together with airlines, we are trying to get as many travelers as possible to their destinations today,” Schiphol said in a message to passengers.
The national railway company halted all trains in the northern Netherlands.
In Germany, some ferries to islands just off the North Sea coast were canceled, and trees fell on a railway line between the city of Emden and the town of Leer. A line that runs between Hamburg and Sylt, a popular vacation island, was also shut between the towns of Husum and Niebuell.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Appeals court judges in Amsterdam ruled Friday that the Dutch government can order Schiphol Airport, one of Europe’s busiest aviation hubs, to reduce the number of flights from 500,000 per year to 460,000.
The Amsterdam Court of Appeal overturned a lower court that concluded in April the government of the Netherlands did not follow the correct procedure when it told Schiphol last year to cut flights.
The airport, civil aviation organizations and airlines that included Dutch flag carrier KLM challenged the government’s order. Friday’s decision can be appealed to the Dutch Supreme Court.
A powerful summer storm lashing the Netherlands and parts of Germany has killed at least two people and forced one of Europe’s busiest airports to cancel or delay hundreds of flights.
Netherlands forward Quincy Promes has been convicted of stabbing his cousin in the leg and has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.
AMSTERDAM (AP) — An alliance of northern European nations pledged Tuesday to do more to protect critical undersea and offshore infrastructure in the face of shared challenges, including what they alleged was Russian ships conducting mapping that indicated “preparations for possible disruption and, a
In “Occupied City,” a young woman with an even voice narrates Nazi encounters and crimes throughout Amsterdam during World War II.
The Amsterdam appeals court said in a statement Friday that it “attaches considerable weight to the interests of local residents” in the densely populated region where people have complained for years about noise pollution from the airport.
In a written response, Schiphol said it accepted the ruling and hopes for a new aviation traffic order from Dutch authorities “as soon as possible with clear and enforceable environmental limits that provide clarity and perspective for all parties involved.”
The airport said that “the most important thing for us is that Schiphol becomes quieter, cleaner and better.”
KLM said it was “disappointed about the ruling” and studying it.
The carrier said it would “continue to engage with other stakeholders in seeking the best way to reduce the number of people affected by aircraft noise.”
Schiphol already is attempting to address the issue. Earlier this year, the airport announced plans to phase out all flights between midnight and 5 a.m., to ban private jets and the noisiest planes, and to abandon a project for an additional runway.
Mark Rutte said he will not run for a fifth term as the Dutch prime minister.
SOPA Images
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced on Monday that he won’t run for a fifth term in office after handing in the resignation of his cabinet Friday, bringing an end to the country’s fragile four-party coalition government.
Fifty-six-year-old Rutte, who became the country’s longest-serving prime minister in history in August last year, said he plans to leave Dutch politics following elections later in the year.
The leader of the conservative People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) had served as prime minister since 2010.
“In recent days there’s been a lot of speculation about what motivated me. The only answer is the Netherlands,” Rutte said in a speech in parliament, according to Reuters. His comments came ahead of a scheduled no-confidence vote in The Hague on Monday.
“Yesterday morning I made the decision that I will not again be available as leader of the VVD. Once the new cabinet is formed after the elections, I will leave politics.”
Rutte’s announcement comes shortly after he last week said that his four-party coalition government had collapsed over “irreconcilable” differences on immigration policy.
The prime minister and his government will remain in post until a new ruling government is chosen. Opposition lawmakers have called for an immediate election. A fragmented political landscape in the Netherlands means it can take months to form a new government after an election.
The four-party coalition government comprises Rutte’s VVD, the center-right Christian Democratic Appeal party and two centrist parties: the Democrats 66 and the Christian Union.
The latest political crisis resulted from splits over migration policy.
Rutte has faced pressure from the right wing of his own party to take a tougher stance on immigration, and from the rise of right-wing parties more broadly. He has been trying to limit the scope for immigrant families to reunite in the Netherlands.
Some of the junior coalition partners opposed the measures, insisting that children and parents seeking asylum in the country have the right to be reunited.
Coalition partners of Rutte’s VVD sought to pin the blame of the government’s collapse on the prime minister over the weekend, suggesting he had gone too far with limits on family migration.
Rutte on Friday denied that he was responsible for the cabinet’s collapse and suggested he was open to seeking a fifth term in office, before ultimately scrapping this plan on Monday morning.
Analysts at Dutch lender Rabobank said that the proportional representation political system means the country tends to rely on coalition governments to enact policies.
“The need to build consensus can result in stalemate in key policy areas. This has traditionally been viewed as pretty market friendly as it limits dramatic changes in direction of policy,” analysts at the bank said Monday.
FONDA — An Amsterdam wastewater treatment plant worker has been awarded $191,762 by a jury in state Supreme Court in Montgomery County, which found the city violated state law when officials terminated the man with a medical marijuana license for failing a drug test.
Attorneys for the city argued in court filings that the worker did not disclose his prescription, as required by employee policies, until he was suspended and then fired after failing a drug test in February 2020.
State law recognizes individuals prescribed medical marijuana as having a disability, which makes them members of a protected class safeguarded from employment discrimination.
The case was presented to a jury last week during a five-day trial before Judge Rebecca Slezak. The jury found in favor of Apholz on June 30, according to a press release issued by attorney Kevin Luibrand.
The outcome of the trial was first reported by The Times Union.
Beyond the $191,762 monetary award, Apholz is entitled to reinstatement to his former job at the wastewater treatment plant and recovery of his legal fees from the city based on the decision, according to the release.
“The jury found that senior Amsterdam city officials refused to provide Mr. Apholz an accommodation for his medical condition after he…
The ban comes into effect in popular destinations such as Dam Square, the Damrak, the Nieuwenmarkt, and the Red Light District. (Photo: Shutterstock)
The decision to impose tougher rules for alcohol and cannabis consumption was taken to curb noise disturbances and other disruptions for local residents.
In February, municipal authorities in Amsterdam proposed a ban on public smoking of marijuana. It has now come into effect in certain parts of the city centre. According to reports, those caught smoking weed in public will now risk a 100-euro fine. The decision to impose tougher rules for alcohol and cannabis consumption was taken to curb noise disturbances and other disruptions for local residents. Many articles refer to numerous ‘rowdy tourists’ who are the primary reason for this decision.
The ban comes into effect in popular destinations such as Dam Square, the Damrak, the Nieuwenmarkt, and the Red Light District. The reports further mentioned that outdoor terraces of coffee shops are exempted from the ban. However, if the current rules aren’t effective in reducing “the nuisance” for locals, it will also look into “the possibilities of banning smoking on terraces at coffee shops in the area.”
A report by The Guardian however, mentions the worrisome reaction to this law among local shopkeepers. Many business owners worry that tourists may stop coming all together to this area affecting their business.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A judge ruled Wednesday that the Dutch government cannot order Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, one of Europe’s busiest aviation hubs, to reduce the number of flights from 500,000 per year to 460,000, dealing a blow to efforts to cut emissions and noise pollution.
The ruling came in a summary case brought by airlines and civil aviation organizations led by Dutch carrier KLM that sought to halt the planned cuts unveiled last year.
The decision by a judge in Haarlem, a city close to Schiphol, came a day after the airport announced plans to phase out all flights between midnight and 5 a.m., ban private jets and the noisiest planes, and abandon a project for an additional runway.
The judge ruled that the Dutch government did not follow the correct procedure when it called on Schiphol to reduce flight numbers, a decision that was hailed last year as a breakthrough by environmental groups.
Wednesday’s decision means that Schiphol “may not reduce the maximum number of flights … to 460,000,” the court in Haarlem said in a statement.
In response, KLM said it plans measures that offer “a better alternative for achieving less noise and CO2 while meeting travelers’ need to fly.”
The airline said it would explain its approach in the next phase of the case. “This will investigate whether noise levels can be reduced around Schiphol using methods other than those envisaged by the ministry,” KLM said.
The government ministry responsible for aviation infrastructure said it was studying the ruling and considering its next steps.
The ministry said in a written reaction that it is “striving to find a new balance between the interests of residents and the living environment on the one hand and the economic importance of Schiphol for the Netherlands on the other.”
U.S. carrier Delta Air Lines welcomed the ruling, saying it safeguarded Schiphol’s future.
“Delta believes that it is possible to balance sustainability priorities with passengers’ desire to travel and connect with people across the world — something we have demonstrated through a vigorous commitment to fleet renewal and other practices to help decarbonize our operations and reduce noise,” Peter Carter, Delta’s executive vice president for external affairs, said.
International Air Transport Association Director General Willie Walsh said the judge “understood that the Dutch government violated its obligations in short-cutting processes that would bring scrutiny to its desire to cut flight numbers at Schiphol.”
Environmental organizations, meanwhile, issued a joint statement expressing their disappointment.
“Major polluter KLM is giving a slap in the face to local residents, the climate and the government that saved the company from bankruptcy,” groups including Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth said. “This ruling may cause a delay, but Schiphol will shrink. We are convinced of that. The government has now also started the correct procedures for this.”
The 17th century artist, hailed for his use of light and for the serenity of his painted scenes, was a master of the Dutch Golden Age. For the first time, 28 of Johannes Vermeer’s exquisite paintings – the majority of his life’s work – have been assembled at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam for what’s considered a once-in-a-lifetime show. Correspondent Seth Doane explores the story behind Vermeer’s life and art.
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