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!
Trump fell for, and shared, an obviously fake story about Obama still receiving millions in “royalties from Obamacare”.
And the name of the satirical website he saw it on? the Dunning-Kruger-Times
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
And the name of the satirical website he saw it on? the Dunning-Kruger-Times
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Trump shares false claim Obama earned $40m in ‘royalties’ from Obamacare
US president promoted fictional claim from satirical website that has been debunked repeatedly since 2017
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Trump fell for, and shared, an obviously fake story about Obama still receiving millions in “royalties from Obamacare”.
And the name of the satirical website he saw it on? the Dunning-Kruger-Times
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
And the name of the satirical website he saw it on? the Dunning-Kruger-Times
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
A German AfD politician who is so extreme he was banned from running for mayor of Ludwigshafen was welcomed as a guest at the White House.
While he was there, congressional republicans called for the US to take in Germans “seeking asylum from political persecution”
While he was there, congressional republicans called for the US to take in Germans “seeking asylum from political persecution”
November 10, 2025 at 8:07 PM
A German AfD politician who is so extreme he was banned from running for mayor of Ludwigshafen was welcomed as a guest at the White House.
While he was there, congressional republicans called for the US to take in Germans “seeking asylum from political persecution”
While he was there, congressional republicans called for the US to take in Germans “seeking asylum from political persecution”
Chaos on Amsterdam’s A10 ring motorway yesterday when a young labradoodle escaped in heavy traffic. He was eventually caught when a police dog was brought to the site and he came over to say hello.
November 10, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Chaos on Amsterdam’s A10 ring motorway yesterday when a young labradoodle escaped in heavy traffic. He was eventually caught when a police dog was brought to the site and he came over to say hello.
The good news: the UK’s new “one in, one out” migration scheme is working!
The bad news: it’s just the same one guy going back and forwards across the channel
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
The bad news: it’s just the same one guy going back and forwards across the channel
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Second man deported under ‘one in, one out’ scheme returns to UK on small boat
Person was detected as one of the 94 migrants who had been removed from Britain under UK-France treaty
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:38 PM
The good news: the UK’s new “one in, one out” migration scheme is working!
The bad news: it’s just the same one guy going back and forwards across the channel
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
The bad news: it’s just the same one guy going back and forwards across the channel
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
I talked about this last week with a Dutch business owner living a couple of miles from the German border.
“We used to go back and forward constantly, for work or to do shopping. Now there’s a permanent traffic jam, at least 30 minutes each way, every day. Always a hassle”
“We used to go back and forward constantly, for work or to do shopping. Now there’s a permanent traffic jam, at least 30 minutes each way, every day. Always a hassle”
Border checks with Germany and Belgium extended until mid-2026 www.dutchnews.nl?p=259767
Border checks with Germany and Belgium extended until mid-2026
www.dutchnews.nl
November 10, 2025 at 3:26 PM
I talked about this last week with a Dutch business owner living a couple of miles from the German border.
“We used to go back and forward constantly, for work or to do shopping. Now there’s a permanent traffic jam, at least 30 minutes each way, every day. Always a hassle”
“We used to go back and forward constantly, for work or to do shopping. Now there’s a permanent traffic jam, at least 30 minutes each way, every day. Always a hassle”
A baker in Amsterdam, 1979
November 10, 2025 at 10:35 AM
A baker in Amsterdam, 1979
Even if you’ve been a hundred times before, the Mauritshuis still has the power to astonish.
Is there any other museum of its (smallish) size which packs more world-famous pieces in?
Is there any other museum of its (smallish) size which packs more world-famous pieces in?
November 7, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Even if you’ve been a hundred times before, the Mauritshuis still has the power to astonish.
Is there any other museum of its (smallish) size which packs more world-famous pieces in?
Is there any other museum of its (smallish) size which packs more world-famous pieces in?
I’ve never been a “fuck capitalism” kind of guy, but…
November 7, 2025 at 8:25 AM
I’ve never been a “fuck capitalism” kind of guy, but…
It feels like the Democratic Party leadership would literally rather see the US descend into fascism than risk being seen as a bit left wing
Asked if he voted for Cuomo or Mamdani, Chuck Schumer replies: "Look, I voted, and I look forward to working with the next mayor to help New York City."
November 7, 2025 at 7:52 AM
It feels like the Democratic Party leadership would literally rather see the US descend into fascism than risk being seen as a bit left wing
Reposted by Ben Coates
If you haven’t read Ben’s thread yet, uh, yeah, you should do that.
Can I tell my NYC mayor story again today? Ok, fine.
November 6, 2025 at 3:08 PM
If you haven’t read Ben’s thread yet, uh, yeah, you should do that.
The Hague
1710 / 2025
1710 / 2025
November 6, 2025 at 1:58 PM
The Hague
1710 / 2025
1710 / 2025
Wow here he is! Kampala’s sixtieth most popular rapper
NYT now also mentions it. They even have proof: youtu.be/VJEolOumdqY?...
Askari
YouTube video by Young Cardamom & HAB - Topic
youtu.be
November 6, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Wow here he is! Kampala’s sixtieth most popular rapper
Reposted by Ben Coates
A polite reminder - if you are interested in the Netherlands, in how a small country got so rich and built an empire, in how its politics have been upended in the last few years and what challenges it faces in the future -then you might enjoy a book about its capital!
www.amazon.nl/-/en/Ben-Coa...
www.amazon.nl/-/en/Ben-Coa...
October 30, 2025 at 6:09 PM
A polite reminder - if you are interested in the Netherlands, in how a small country got so rich and built an empire, in how its politics have been upended in the last few years and what challenges it faces in the future -then you might enjoy a book about its capital!
www.amazon.nl/-/en/Ben-Coa...
www.amazon.nl/-/en/Ben-Coa...
Reposted by Ben Coates
This is an incredible thread, I highly recommend taking a moment and following it!
Can I tell my NYC mayor story again today? Ok, fine.
November 6, 2025 at 12:21 AM
This is an incredible thread, I highly recommend taking a moment and following it!
Reposted by Ben Coates
🧵 Worth it, if only for the last line.
Can I tell my NYC mayor story again today? Ok, fine.
November 5, 2025 at 11:47 AM
🧵 Worth it, if only for the last line.
Reposted by Ben Coates
Even if you twig what this is about, the last post is still worth it
Can I tell my NYC mayor story again today? Ok, fine.
November 5, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Even if you twig what this is about, the last post is still worth it
Reposted by Ben Coates
Dit is een goed verhaal! Wel helemaal lezen tot het eind.
Can I tell my NYC mayor story again today? Ok, fine.
November 5, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Dit is een goed verhaal! Wel helemaal lezen tot het eind.
Reposted by Ben Coates
Wat. Een. Verhaal!!!
About nine years ago I lived for a year in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, doing some work as a speechwriter and writing a book about the river Rhine (obviously)
November 5, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Wat. Een. Verhaal!!!
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
Fact of the day:
Frans Timmermans is one year older than Tom Cruise
Caroline van der Plas is the same age as Pamela Anderson
Frans Timmermans is one year older than Tom Cruise
Caroline van der Plas is the same age as Pamela Anderson
November 4, 2025 at 6:46 AM
Fact of the day:
Frans Timmermans is one year older than Tom Cruise
Caroline van der Plas is the same age as Pamela Anderson
Frans Timmermans is one year older than Tom Cruise
Caroline van der Plas is the same age as Pamela Anderson
Reposted by Ben Coates
ICYMI:
After counting overseas votes, D66 (Jetten) and PVV (Wilders) finished on 26 seats each.
It was thought overseas votes might push D66 to 27 but this didn’t happen, so they’re tied.
But Jetten got 28k votes more than Wilders, so gets 1st shot at forming a coalition
nos.nl/collectie/14...
After counting overseas votes, D66 (Jetten) and PVV (Wilders) finished on 26 seats each.
It was thought overseas votes might push D66 to 27 but this didn’t happen, so they’re tied.
But Jetten got 28k votes more than Wilders, so gets 1st shot at forming a coalition
nos.nl/collectie/14...
ANP-prognose: D66 blijft na tellen briefstemmen grootste, maar blijft op 26 zetels
Er waren ruim 135.000 stembiljetten aan kiezers in het buitenland verstrekt.
nos.nl
November 4, 2025 at 8:30 AM
ICYMI:
After counting overseas votes, D66 (Jetten) and PVV (Wilders) finished on 26 seats each.
It was thought overseas votes might push D66 to 27 but this didn’t happen, so they’re tied.
But Jetten got 28k votes more than Wilders, so gets 1st shot at forming a coalition
nos.nl/collectie/14...
After counting overseas votes, D66 (Jetten) and PVV (Wilders) finished on 26 seats each.
It was thought overseas votes might push D66 to 27 but this didn’t happen, so they’re tied.
But Jetten got 28k votes more than Wilders, so gets 1st shot at forming a coalition
nos.nl/collectie/14...
It makes no difference to me who wins, but it is extremely nice to see someone running for high office on a platform which is unashamedly pro-diversity and immigration, unafraid of challenging Trump and Musk head on, and relentlessly upbeat about the future
Cities thrive not on fear but empathy, on cooperation not division.
That's the NYC we know and love. It has found expression in this movement. And it is rising up at the ballot box today.
Polls close at 9pm: zohranfornyc.com/vote
That's the NYC we know and love. It has found expression in this movement. And it is rising up at the ballot box today.
Polls close at 9pm: zohranfornyc.com/vote
November 4, 2025 at 6:11 PM
It makes no difference to me who wins, but it is extremely nice to see someone running for high office on a platform which is unashamedly pro-diversity and immigration, unafraid of challenging Trump and Musk head on, and relentlessly upbeat about the future
Reposted by Ben Coates
It still blows my mind that in 2025 I am raising my family in a place (Gouda) where the mayor comes from a party (SGP) which says women should not be allowed to run for public office
a man wearing a head scarf and a white shirt is sitting in front of a tv screen that says channels on it
ALT: a man wearing a head scarf and a white shirt is sitting in front of a tv screen that says channels on it
media.tenor.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:09 AM
It still blows my mind that in 2025 I am raising my family in a place (Gouda) where the mayor comes from a party (SGP) which says women should not be allowed to run for public office
There’s many things going wrong with the world, but the bikeification of Antwerp (and Paris, and to a lesser extent Brussels) since Covid has been a wonder to behold
“The city isn’t quite at Copenhagen or Amsterdam levels, but it’s closing in. Over 40 percent of locals commute by bike — about ten times the rate of a typical North American city — and you feel it immediately.” Via @momentummag.bsky.social
Antwerp has come a long way since I worked there in 2019.
Antwerp has come a long way since I worked there in 2019.
Antwerp is an Effortlessly Cool City Toured Best by Bicycle
It’s no wonder Antwerp now ranks among the top ten most bicycle-friendly cities in the world, according to the Copenhagenize Index.
momentummag.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:13 PM
There’s many things going wrong with the world, but the bikeification of Antwerp (and Paris, and to a lesser extent Brussels) since Covid has been a wonder to behold
<extremely quiet voice, staring at the floor>
I don’t have any strong opinion about Dick Cheney
I don’t have any strong opinion about Dick Cheney
November 4, 2025 at 2:38 PM
<extremely quiet voice, staring at the floor>
I don’t have any strong opinion about Dick Cheney
I don’t have any strong opinion about Dick Cheney