Ben Coates
@bencoates1.bsky.social
Author - 'THE INVENTION OF AMSTERDAM' out now! (https://amzn.to/2QJx3bh). Writer, aid worker, speechwriter, recovering Tory. Columnist @ADnl; articles NYT, Telegraph, New Statesman, Groene Amsterdammer etc. Buy my new book, it’s good!
Reposted by Ben Coates
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February 11, 2026 at 1:48 PM
the local council seems to have voted through the plan thinking it would use energy equivalent to maximum 5,000 households, when it’s actually 200,000
"We didn't have this fully in mind," says D66 council member Sanne de Wilde
Just an extraordinary story
How many other places have done the same?
"We didn't have this fully in mind," says D66 council member Sanne de Wilde
Just an extraordinary story
How many other places have done the same?
February 11, 2026 at 1:09 PM
the local council seems to have voted through the plan thinking it would use energy equivalent to maximum 5,000 households, when it’s actually 200,000
"We didn't have this fully in mind," says D66 council member Sanne de Wilde
Just an extraordinary story
How many other places have done the same?
"We didn't have this fully in mind," says D66 council member Sanne de Wilde
Just an extraordinary story
How many other places have done the same?
Yeah maybe. I have had four beers and am reading it in a pub, so probably not the best judge
February 10, 2026 at 9:46 PM
Yeah maybe. I have had four beers and am reading it in a pub, so probably not the best judge
from AN Wilson’s book on London, which is excellent
February 10, 2026 at 8:23 PM
from AN Wilson’s book on London, which is excellent
Ik vermoed dat een minister van Volkshuisvesting niet veel invloed zal hebben op het defensiebeleid, ook niet in de ministerraad, dus misschien is dat niet de reden waarom ze de baan heeft gekregen. Maar ja, natuurlijk ben ik waarschijnlijk dom en snap ik niet hoe iets werkt.
February 10, 2026 at 7:34 PM
Ik vermoed dat een minister van Volkshuisvesting niet veel invloed zal hebben op het defensiebeleid, ook niet in de ministerraad, dus misschien is dat niet de reden waarom ze de baan heeft gekregen. Maar ja, natuurlijk ben ik waarschijnlijk dom en snap ik niet hoe iets werkt.
(Context for the confused: his Dutch fiancée won a gold at the Olympics)
February 10, 2026 at 2:45 PM
(Context for the confused: his Dutch fiancée won a gold at the Olympics)
Leuke theorie, maar kan een minister van Volkshuisvesting echt veel invloed hebben op Defensie? Ze zullen elkaar zelden zien. Ontwikkelingssamenwerking is voor haar logischer dan wonen
February 10, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Leuke theorie, maar kan een minister van Volkshuisvesting echt veel invloed hebben op Defensie? Ze zullen elkaar zelden zien. Ontwikkelingssamenwerking is voor haar logischer dan wonen
Old habits die hard!
February 10, 2026 at 12:56 PM
Old habits die hard!
February 10, 2026 at 12:17 PM
Proportion of adults with a job who work from home:
Finland 22%
Germany 13%
Netherlands 13%
Spain 7%
Poland 5%
Greece 2%
(UK figure was about 5% but pre-Covid)
Finland 22%
Germany 13%
Netherlands 13%
Spain 7%
Poland 5%
Greece 2%
(UK figure was about 5% but pre-Covid)
February 10, 2026 at 12:15 PM
Proportion of adults with a job who work from home:
Finland 22%
Germany 13%
Netherlands 13%
Spain 7%
Poland 5%
Greece 2%
(UK figure was about 5% but pre-Covid)
Finland 22%
Germany 13%
Netherlands 13%
Spain 7%
Poland 5%
Greece 2%
(UK figure was about 5% but pre-Covid)
Yes, very true. The proportion of Dutch workers who work part time is extraordinary, and pushes their number down. But it remains mildly amusing to tell Dutch people they are the laziest workers in Europe.
February 10, 2026 at 12:07 PM
Yes, very true. The proportion of Dutch workers who work part time is extraordinary, and pushes their number down. But it remains mildly amusing to tell Dutch people they are the laziest workers in Europe.
Lazy Dutch need to become more like hardworking Greeks or Italians 🙂
February 10, 2026 at 10:41 AM
Lazy Dutch need to become more like hardworking Greeks or Italians 🙂
It’s almost as if they never had any real principles at all
a man with long hair and a beard is making a funny face with the word grifft written on his face .
ALT: a man with long hair and a beard is making a funny face with the word grifft written on his face .
media.tenor.com
February 10, 2026 at 9:54 AM
It’s almost as if they never had any real principles at all
My point is not that he’s done great - but that if someone in his position has been unable to make a go of it, I don’t see how Streeting or Burnham or even Farage would do much better. The problems are structural
February 10, 2026 at 8:08 AM
My point is not that he’s done great - but that if someone in his position has been unable to make a go of it, I don’t see how Streeting or Burnham or even Farage would do much better. The problems are structural
I agree his politicial tactics have been dubious - too worried about losing votes to the right rather than wrecking his base. But I’m not sure his biggest problem is delivery - dealt a terrible hand, he has made an ok start at (for example) fixing the NHS, despite global turmoil
February 10, 2026 at 8:08 AM
I agree his politicial tactics have been dubious - too worried about losing votes to the right rather than wrecking his base. But I’m not sure his biggest problem is delivery - dealt a terrible hand, he has made an ok start at (for example) fixing the NHS, despite global turmoil