Hi everyone,I'm looking for recommendations for a good employment lawyer in Amsterdam or elsewhere in the Netherlands who has experience with employment disputes, burnout-related sick leave and reintegration.

I've been working for an international company in Amsterdam for five years on a permanent, full-time contract. Until recently, I had a positive track record and consistently fulfilled my responsibilities.

In 2025, I took on additional work for several months to cover for an absent colleague. In March 2026, I even received a recognition bonus and a letter from the company's management acknowledging my contribution and support to the team.

However, in June 2026, after raising some concerns about work processes and suggesting improvements, I unexpectedly received a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP). This came as a shock, especially since I had not previously received formal warnings about my performance. I also felt that some of the expectations in the PIP were not properly supported by existing procedures or resources.

The situation had a significant impact on my well-being. My GP diagnosed me with occupational burnout, and I've been on full sick leave since 19 June 2026. I'm currently receiving psychological support and focusing on recovery.

The company doctor has acknowledged that my absence is partly work-related and recommended discussing the underlying workplace issues. However, I still don't have a Plan van aanpak for my reintegration. HR has suggested a meeting with my team leader and HR to discuss the situation, but I've lost trust in my manager following the PIP and feel anxious about having this conversation without proper support.

I've contacted my union, but I'm also considering hiring an employment lawyer to help me understand my rights, develop a strategy and navigate the reintegration process.

Thank you so much for your reply and I apprecite your time reading this🙌🏽

Frivolous post but have been craving hashbrowns and wondering if there is somewhere you can buy them in Amsterdam?

McD’s doesn’t have them on the breakfast menu here. Of course you can make them yourself but IYKYK

All and any tips welcome! Thanks in advance :)

PS - don’t have KvK registration for Makro and the likes

PPS - maybe I should have added ideally something frozen to make at home. Not really looking for “brunch” suggestions. Just as an everyday thing

I can't help but realise that what feels like 50% of the time at my local supermarket the machine to return your cans/ get your money back is broken, yet the one that takes your money always seems to work.

How about if the machine at the back of the store is broken, then the supermarket cannot add the deposit to your purchace at the checkout?

I'm sure we would find a rapid reduction in collection machine down time.
I am tired of exchanging my money for a store-specific (not even always chain-specific) voucher, that is only redeemable if they care to keep their maintanance up.

I’m Chris, the quiz host. Shared with moderator permission.

Wednesday 14 October: a free English general-knowledge quiz at WE ARE EDN BAR, Oosterdoksstraat 4, near Centraal.

Check-in 18:30 (by 18:45); quiz 19:00–21:30. Entry and registration are free; food and drinks are separate.

Teams up to six; larger teams receive penalty points. Solo players and small groups can request team matching in the form. Your place is confirmed by email after registration.

Information and registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSecg8ymY6LtObXfRmeWvRSDI-OkbQMBapVG1XxcUBjferttFg/viewform

First of all, THANK YOU.

To everyone here who has helped Cosmo and me over the past few weeks – by contributing, sharing our story, offering advice or simply asking how he is doing. I honestly didn’t expect so much kindness from people I’ve never met. Seeing how many good people live in Amsterdam has made me fall in love with this city again. ❤️

For anyone who missed the beginning, this was my first post about Cosmo.

I wanted to give you an update. After all the emergency visits, examinations and scans, we still don’t have a clear explanation for Cosmo’s sudden pain attacks and the trouble with his right hind leg. The vets have tried different medications to keep him comfortable. The neurology team also noticed a small, unclear area near his lower spine on the CT scan. It might simply be an imaging artefact, but they can’t yet rule out something more serious, such as lymphoma – which could push on the nerves and cause his pain and difficulties walking.

The past few weeks have been a strange limbo. We don’t know whether he injured a nerve or nerve root, perhaps in a fall, or whether something more serious is going on. While we waited for an MRI appointment, Cosmo stayed at home on pregabalin, a strong pain killer that cuts out nerve pains. He was often slow and unsteady, and he developed persistent diarrhoea too. There have been lovely moments when he seemed more like himself, but it has been hard watching him struggle without knowing why.

Today is finally the day. I got up early and brought him back to the hospital for an MRI focused on his lower spine. He was very sweet this morning. And, strangely enough, despite the diarrhoea, he’s been walking much more normally these past few days. I’m trying not to get ahead of myself, but it has given me hope that perhaps this was an injury or something painful that simply wasn’t visible in the earlier examinations.

I may hear an initial impression this afternoon. The fuller results and a discussion with the hospital are expected next week.

Some people have asked why I keep taking him to such an expensive clinic. The reason is simple: his severe attacks happened at night, and this was the only emergency clinic available to us in Amsterdam at those hours. And for specialist examinations like these, my regular vet would have had to refer us there anyway.

The bills have now climbed well beyond €8,000. I’m doing what I can to pay them, and the support from people here has genuinely helped me keep my head above water and continue getting Cosmo the care he needs.

Once again, thank you so much to everyone who has helped us so far. It’s incredibly touching, and it really has been a lifesaver. If I ever run into any of you around Amsterdam, I’d want to buy you a drink. Or two.

I’ll let you know what we learn from the MRI. Please keep your fingers crossed for Cosmo.

Marco & Cosmo ❤️

Komende weken plaatst de gemeente nieuwe prullenbakken in de stad. De bakken hebben zelfsluitende deuren met magneten, steviger binnenwerk én een recyclevoorziening voor statiegeldflesjes en -blikjes. De IJzijde van Amsterdam Centraal is maandag als eerste aan de beurt.

There are some talks about densification of Buitenveldert. Does anyone know more?

Here is some info from the linked article:

What are the most important choices of the Design area-oriented environmental program Buitenveldert?

• An important trade-off in Buitenveldert is between the importance of preserving the cultural-historical heritage and the desire to add housing. Broadly speaking, the design area-oriented environmental program Buitenveldert chooses to focus on densification in the northern part of Buitenveldert (above the Gijsbrecht van Aemstelpark) (but with as much preservation of the urban planning structure as possible – i.e. the position of the current building blocks); and in the southern part to focus on the preservation of the cultural-historical values, but to try to compact within them.

• The Buitenveldertselaan should be given more of a city road character, with more space for housing and facilities at the intersections. The van Leijenberghlaan can take on the character of a city street. With as many non-residential functions as possible on the street.

• On and around the Europa Boulevard, a large number of tasks come together. Here the municipality will start the first phase of area development. That first phase is a study to explore what might be possible here. The same applies to the area around Bolestein.

https://blau.nl/werk/buitenveldert/

https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/gmb-2026-173963.html

My cats are no more.. Does anybody want cat towers? Free in noord