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!
In 2019 Trump’s former Russia adviser Fiona Hill testified to the intelligence committee that there had been moves towards a secret agreement where Trump would take Venezuelan and in exchange Russia would be given free reign to take Ukraine
impeachmentpapers.dp.la/Text/body13_...
impeachmentpapers.dp.la/Text/body13_...
January 3, 2026 at 6:43 PM
In 2019 Trump’s former Russia adviser Fiona Hill testified to the intelligence committee that there had been moves towards a secret agreement where Trump would take Venezuelan and in exchange Russia would be given free reign to take Ukraine
impeachmentpapers.dp.la/Text/body13_...
impeachmentpapers.dp.la/Text/body13_...
day 3 of 2026 and Le Pen is already doing a better job of defending the international order than Starmer, Rutte, von der Leyen, Kallas and Schoof put together
January 3, 2026 at 6:30 PM
day 3 of 2026 and Le Pen is already doing a better job of defending the international order than Starmer, Rutte, von der Leyen, Kallas and Schoof put together
Reposted by Ben Coates
I’m not sure the world has ever seen a leader who was simultaneously so cruel and so terribly, terribly dumb
Trump posts footage of the Maduro raid set to "Fortunate Son" -- a protest song about the Vietnam War draft
January 3, 2026 at 4:58 PM
I’m not sure the world has ever seen a leader who was simultaneously so cruel and so terribly, terribly dumb
Reposted by Ben Coates
in other news, the Groene Hart is looking lovely today
January 3, 2026 at 11:09 AM
in other news, the Groene Hart is looking lovely today
Reposted by Ben Coates
It's an absolute disgrace. You have to ask yourself: what do they think the point is of all this tiptoeing?
Everyone can see the US is turning on Europe anyway. So don't be deferential. Stand for what you pretend to stand for.
Everyone can see the US is turning on Europe anyway. So don't be deferential. Stand for what you pretend to stand for.
January 3, 2026 at 4:03 PM
It's an absolute disgrace. You have to ask yourself: what do they think the point is of all this tiptoeing?
Everyone can see the US is turning on Europe anyway. So don't be deferential. Stand for what you pretend to stand for.
Everyone can see the US is turning on Europe anyway. So don't be deferential. Stand for what you pretend to stand for.
Trump’s fun new war is adjacent to 🇳🇱 territory in the Caribbean. In a normal competent world you’d assume the Dutch pm was notified in advance, evacuation plans in place, extra military assets deployed etc.
but we do not have a normal sane government- either in the US or NL
bsky.app/profile/domo...
but we do not have a normal sane government- either in the US or NL
bsky.app/profile/domo...
De bommen vallen op amper 200 km van ons land. De oversteek van Venezuela naar naaste buur 'Koninkrijk der Nederlanden' bedraagt maar 25km. Het wordt eens tijd dat we onze koppen uit het zand gaan halen. Waar is de premier?
January 3, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Trump’s fun new war is adjacent to 🇳🇱 territory in the Caribbean. In a normal competent world you’d assume the Dutch pm was notified in advance, evacuation plans in place, extra military assets deployed etc.
but we do not have a normal sane government- either in the US or NL
bsky.app/profile/domo...
but we do not have a normal sane government- either in the US or NL
bsky.app/profile/domo...
As a staunch European I honestly find it humiliating, how EU leaders talk endlessly about strategic autonomy and bold defence and democratic values and then when the moment comes to actually stand up for those things, they always - always! - react like a kitten in a thunderstorm
I have spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and our Ambassador in Caracas. The EU is closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela.
The EU has repeatedly stated that Mr Maduro lacks legitimacy and has defended a peaceful transition. (1/2)
The EU has repeatedly stated that Mr Maduro lacks legitimacy and has defended a peaceful transition. (1/2)
January 3, 2026 at 1:09 PM
As a staunch European I honestly find it humiliating, how EU leaders talk endlessly about strategic autonomy and bold defence and democratic values and then when the moment comes to actually stand up for those things, they always - always! - react like a kitten in a thunderstorm
in other news, the Groene Hart is looking lovely today
January 3, 2026 at 11:09 AM
in other news, the Groene Hart is looking lovely today
Reposted by Ben Coates
A defining moment for Europe. If it endorses/fails to condemn this flagrant breach of international law, it will have surrendered its core justification for opposing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
JUST IN: Trump says the U.S. has captured Maduro and his wife and flown them out of the country.
January 3, 2026 at 10:17 AM
A defining moment for Europe. If it endorses/fails to condemn this flagrant breach of international law, it will have surrendered its core justification for opposing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Xi currently looking at Taiwan like my dog looks at a barbecue
Trump’s action has freed up world powers to do whatever they want. International law no longer counts. Only strength.
January 3, 2026 at 10:03 AM
Xi currently looking at Taiwan like my dog looks at a barbecue
Brits: I can only cycle to work in June and July, my hands get too cold the rest of the time
Dutch:
Dutch:
January 3, 2026 at 8:53 AM
Brits: I can only cycle to work in June and July, my hands get too cold the rest of the time
Dutch:
Dutch:
Reposted by Ben Coates
My column this week, on how Covid accelerated working from home, killed off Zwarte Piet - and helped turn the Dutch public against fireworks at last
www.ad.nl/gouda/consum...
www.ad.nl/gouda/consum...
January 2, 2026 at 8:25 AM
My column this week, on how Covid accelerated working from home, killed off Zwarte Piet - and helped turn the Dutch public against fireworks at last
www.ad.nl/gouda/consum...
www.ad.nl/gouda/consum...
Reposted by Ben Coates
Heeft iemand ooit een groepje PVV'ers, TripleB'ers, FvD'ers of JA21'ers het afval van anderen zien opruimen?
January 2, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Heeft iemand ooit een groepje PVV'ers, TripleB'ers, FvD'ers of JA21'ers het afval van anderen zien opruimen?
White working class people carelessly setting off fireworks on their street: an essential Dutch tradition, integral to our values, couldn’t live without it, heroes
Brown teenagers in hoodies chuck fireworks in the street: disgusting scum, a threat to western civilization, send in the army
Brown teenagers in hoodies chuck fireworks in the street: disgusting scum, a threat to western civilization, send in the army
January 2, 2026 at 1:39 PM
White working class people carelessly setting off fireworks on their street: an essential Dutch tradition, integral to our values, couldn’t live without it, heroes
Brown teenagers in hoodies chuck fireworks in the street: disgusting scum, a threat to western civilization, send in the army
Brown teenagers in hoodies chuck fireworks in the street: disgusting scum, a threat to western civilization, send in the army
My column this week, on how Covid accelerated working from home, killed off Zwarte Piet - and helped turn the Dutch public against fireworks at last
www.ad.nl/gouda/consum...
www.ad.nl/gouda/consum...
January 2, 2026 at 8:25 AM
My column this week, on how Covid accelerated working from home, killed off Zwarte Piet - and helped turn the Dutch public against fireworks at last
www.ad.nl/gouda/consum...
www.ad.nl/gouda/consum...
Reposted by Ben Coates
I only hope this was the last time we had to endure this madness.
If you haven’t seen it, it’s hard to express how extreme Dutch New Year’s Eve is. A whole country goes insane.
This was a quiet lane on the edge of Gouda, at 1am. Continuous for hours.
Every urban area in the country is like this (often much better/worse).
It’s a wonder anyone has any fingers left
This was a quiet lane on the edge of Gouda, at 1am. Continuous for hours.
Every urban area in the country is like this (often much better/worse).
It’s a wonder anyone has any fingers left
January 1, 2026 at 3:19 PM
I only hope this was the last time we had to endure this madness.
Reposted by Ben Coates
Can I tell my NYC mayor story again today? Ok, fine.
November 5, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Can I tell my NYC mayor story again today? Ok, fine.
Reposted by Ben Coates
If you haven’t seen it, it’s hard to express how extreme Dutch New Year’s Eve is. A whole country goes insane.
This was a quiet lane on the edge of Gouda, at 1am. Continuous for hours.
Every urban area in the country is like this (often much better/worse).
It’s a wonder anyone has any fingers left
This was a quiet lane on the edge of Gouda, at 1am. Continuous for hours.
Every urban area in the country is like this (often much better/worse).
It’s a wonder anyone has any fingers left
January 1, 2026 at 8:44 AM
If you haven’t seen it, it’s hard to express how extreme Dutch New Year’s Eve is. A whole country goes insane.
This was a quiet lane on the edge of Gouda, at 1am. Continuous for hours.
Every urban area in the country is like this (often much better/worse).
It’s a wonder anyone has any fingers left
This was a quiet lane on the edge of Gouda, at 1am. Continuous for hours.
Every urban area in the country is like this (often much better/worse).
It’s a wonder anyone has any fingers left
Setting off an insane amount of fireworks on your little front driveway has nothing to do with invader gangs; it’s one of the most white working class Dutch things you can think of
January 1, 2026 at 12:36 PM
Setting off an insane amount of fireworks on your little front driveway has nothing to do with invader gangs; it’s one of the most white working class Dutch things you can think of
Reposted by Ben Coates
A few days ago, I called the police to report a group of teenagers pelting a parking enforcement vehicle with fireworks. The car and driver were penned in by this group of kids and it wasn't until police and teachers from the nearby school turned up, that they ran off.
It’s a terrific spectacle - but the costs are appalling. Amsterdam’s lovely Vondelkerk was destroyed. A child killed in Nijmegen and a man in Rotterdam, and another shot by police in Utrecht. Hundreds hospitalized, and dozens of children with eye injuries, including a 5 year old. Madness, really.
January 1, 2026 at 9:57 AM
A few days ago, I called the police to report a group of teenagers pelting a parking enforcement vehicle with fireworks. The car and driver were penned in by this group of kids and it wasn't until police and teachers from the nearby school turned up, that they ran off.
Reposted by Ben Coates
I'm not going to miss the NYE fireworks bonanza at all. A friend of mine was in Poland this year: there were a few fireworks but it was mostly people dancing in the streets. Seems like a lot more fun. Maybe some of the money saved on emergency callouts could be spent on dance classes.
It’s a terrific spectacle - but the costs are appalling. Amsterdam’s lovely Vondelkerk was destroyed. A child killed in Nijmegen and a man in Rotterdam, and another shot by police in Utrecht. Hundreds hospitalized, and dozens of children with eye injuries, including a 5 year old. Madness, really.
January 1, 2026 at 10:14 AM
I'm not going to miss the NYE fireworks bonanza at all. A friend of mine was in Poland this year: there were a few fireworks but it was mostly people dancing in the streets. Seems like a lot more fun. Maybe some of the money saved on emergency callouts could be spent on dance classes.