Heat Wave week 32

Week 32

Just another reminder to myself that I'm writing this for my kids.

I'm trying to learn the VHF Licence stuff - in Dutch, even though I might well follow an English version.

I found this somewhere during the week, referring to being able to remember things.

I often write things down as they occur to me....

Force yourself to recall by writing your own summaries/bullet points

Writing down what you learn every now and then has proven to be a great way to cement new knowledge in your mind.

Every time you learn something new, read a chapter of your favourite book or listen to something life-changing, take a quick second to jot down what you remember.

Heat Wave

A heat wave over here is declared with 3 consecutive days over 25°C

We're up to about 5 now.

(Friday) 7th of August was the hottest August day on record for the Netherlands.

20°C at 0700hrs this morning, as I was walking the dogs - and 1 cat! Tassie tags along every morning. 

Janny is a member of a " Boating in Friesland" Facebook group - she said that a lot of people had to take their dogs home because they weren't coping with the heat.

We have the boat in Wijnjewoude, but as there is no shade, I've been finding things to do at home.

We have 9 kids this weekend - they have been going to the local outdoor swimming pool - and throughly enjoying themselves!

Carona News

DOKKUM - In recent weeks, the corona virus has mainly affected the Randstad and the west of Noord-Brabant, but an outbreak has also developed far beyond. In Dokkum, North Frisian, at least fourteen people were infected by one visitor at a home party.

According to the Frisian GGD (Health Authority), the virus has mainly spread "on a terrace in the open air." Most infected people are young people who knew each other. They (14 people) have been quarantined to prevent them from spreading the virus further. The GGD in Friesland thinks that most of those involved "have now been identified and tested."


According to the regional health service, the Dokkumer outbreak shows that it is important to keep enough distance from each other in the open air as well.

The Prime Minister and the Health Minister gave another Press Conference during the week - they felt it necessary due to their concern that the number of cases was rising again. The PM particularly urged young people to "take it seriously". After the press conference there was an immediate increase in the number of people registering to be tested.

Fake Boating Licences

There has been a huge increase in the number of people taking to the water this year (rather than going abroad).

A number of websites have been discovered offering fake boating licences...

If you live in an English-speaking country (other than USA), you will spell it licence when you use it as a noun and license when you use it as a verb.

So, the Google Translate (below) is using the USA version - ie. both versions use license (it didn't feel right to me).

But what about those sailing certificates again? In the Netherlands, the Small Vessels License is compulsory for, among other things, motor boats that can sail faster than 20 km / h and for ships longer than 15 meters. To obtain the Small Vessels License you take a theory exam at the CBR. For the exam you can follow an (online) course or learn yourself. With the Dutch Small Vessels License you may also sail in various other countries with a vessel that requires a navigation license. So renting a jet ski or speed boat on holiday is usually not a problem after showing your license with the international ICC on the back. Conversely, skippers from these countries are also allowed to sail in the Netherlands with a ship subject to a certificate. Which sailing certificates are recognized in the Netherlands is stated in the inland navigation regulations (inland navigation law, decision and regulation). Only these foreign navigation certificates mentioned in the Dutch regulations are therefore recognized in the Netherlands. There are therefore also foreign 'certificates' that are not listed in the Dutch rules and are therefore not recognized in the Netherlands.

It has also been formally agreed between the countries that the countries will only issue their national boat license to residents or people who have the nationality of that country. So if you live as a Dutch citizen in, for example, Spain, you can get your navigation license in Spain. But if you go back to live in the Netherlands, a problem may arise. Not all countries have a navigation license that is valid for life, just like the Netherlands. So if you want to renew your foreign boating license and you no longer live in Spain, you can no longer renew in Spain, but in the Netherlands you cannot exchange your Spanish boating license for a Dutch Small Boating License and you still have to take an exam in the Netherlands. You can extend a Dutch navigation license in the Netherlands if you now live in Spain. Complicated? The reason is that although the various certificates are mutually recognized, the requirements in the countries can still differ. For example, some countries do not have tidal water or do have a practical exam. In this way they want to prevent everyone from taking exams in the country with the least stringent requirements. A logical thought, except that in a country you usually have to take an exam in the local language and that it is quite a bit to learn Spanish before you take an exam in Spain. Then taking an exam in the Netherlands is often a bit easier. Yet there are indeed Germans and English who have taken their exams in Dutch in the Netherlands and have passed.

 (I passed mine in 2012 - feeling quite pleased with myself that I had done it in another language!) 

After all, the Netherlands has always been 'fairly flexible' in providing navigation certificates. Many Belgians therefore chose to take exams in the Netherlands. It is true that the exam was a bit more difficult than the then exam for the Belgian Steering Certificate, but in the Netherlands we had a VDU exam before, it was only theory and you could take an exam almost every day.

What about those fantasy sailing certificates mentioned in the newspaper?. Often these are some kind of real local sailing certificates for which the holder has also had to take a test or sort of exam. And for which a lot of money has often been paid. However, if the navigation license is not listed in the Dutch inland navigation regulations, it is not recognized in the Netherlands and therefore not valid for sailing in the Netherlands with a vessel that is subject to a license. So you are considering a foreign route to obtain your navigation license; then think carefully and read the Dutch rules. A course, books and exam in the Netherlands is always cheaper than the fine you will receive if you go on the water without a small boating license.

More Carona News...( compared with Melbourne???)

Bars, cinemas and museums identified as centres of coronavirus infection are to be closed for two weeks, and testing is to be introduced at Dutch airports for people from high-risk areas in an effort to stop the increase in coronavirus infections in the Netherlands. In addition, freshers’ week activities for new students are to be scaled back sharply, and mayors will be able to impose curfews on cafes and bars, prime minister Mark Rutte told a news conference on Thursday evening. The number of infections in the Netherlands has doubled to 2,588 in the past week, and 601 cases were reported overnight. While this is not a reason for panic, a concerted effort is needed at a local, regional and national level to keep the virus under control, Rutte said. The 1.5 metre rule is being more widely ignored and fewer people are staying at home to work or if they have symptoms, he said. ‘The virus is an uninvited guest at birthday parties.’ The prime minister also spoke directly to youngsters, who are responsible for a growing proportion of new infections. ‘If too many of you ignore the rules, we will all be stuck inside and you will be a danger to your grandparents and vulnerable people,’ Rutte said. ‘Corona is not over, it is no joke and it is moronic to act as if it is.’ Not critical New infections have reached a worrying level, but have not yet reached a critical point, Rutte said. ‘If necessary, local and regional measures can be scaled up nationwide, and the role of local public safety chiefs is crucial in this,’ Rutte said, referring to the experiments with masks in Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Rutte also appealed directly to tourists in Amsterdam to stay away from busy areas. Mayors, he said, can bring in local face mask requirements in an effort to change people’s behaviour. They can also close busy car parks at the beach. 

New powers given to mayors include the ability to introduce curfews on cafes, bars and night shops and to ban supporters from local sports events. These measures can be expanded nationwide if necessary, Rutte said. The government has also introduced tough rules for this years’ freshers’ week events for new students. In the main, Rutte said, they should be organised online. Physical meetings, which may not involve alcohol and must end at 10mp, must be informal, small scale and directly related to the study or to sport. Student associations and fraternities, however, have been banned from organising initiation ceremonies for new prospective members. Regional approach Health minister Hugo de Jonge highlighted the need for regional approaches to combat the virus. The current situation in the Netherlands shows that the situation in Rotterdam requires a different approach to Drenthe, he said. As regards foreign holidays, the minister was scathing about people spending time in high risk countries. ‘People don’t have to travel to an code orange area [such as Barcelona and Croatia],’ he said. ‘If they do, they must stay at home for two weeks and undergo a test if they have symptoms.’ In addition, officials will use airline passenger lists to check that people are staying home as required, he said. Testing at Schiphol will also be introduced for everyone flying in from a risky location, but cannot be made compulsory. De Jonge also confirmed that trials of the controversial government app will begin in Drenthe and Twente on August 12, and the aim is to roll the app out nationwide in September. Both ministers also stressed that it is up to everyone to obey the guidelines to keep the virus under control. ‘I am not a dictator, and we are giving you the facts,’ Rutte said. ‘In the end it is up to us, as adults in an adult democracy. We all have to stick to the rules.’ New measures announced on August 6: Freshers’ week activities are to be held online as much as possible and physical meetings are only permitted to to introduce a sport or an educational programme. Cafes, bars and restaurants must use a reservation system and register the contact details of all guests so they can be traced in case of an outbreak. If there is an outbreak, the local authorities must close the cafe, cinema, museum or amusement park for 14 days. Testing is to be introduced at all Dutch airports for people returning to the Netherlands from high risk areas. In addition, checks based on passenger lists will be introduced to make sure arrivals are staying in quarantine for 14 days. Local public safety boards have been given the power to introduce localised measures. These include the right to impose curfews on cafes and night shops, the introduction of face masks, the closure of shopping centres and parks, the power to ban  large events and  the right to scale up policing. 

Fishing...

We have a few daywork clients on holidays this week, so we went down to the boat to do some fishing - before the heatwave!

One of the clients is a keen (competition) fisherman - he has a trailer full of equipment!

I bought a battery powered sanding machine - to tackle some of the rust spots...

It turned nicely black with the rust treatment - but then it got too hot to paint! ....oh well, next week.

My helper and I managed to do some rotary hoeing (he did the raking!) - then I sent him home early due to the heat (or to give myself a break?)...