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!
Shopping for gifts this weekend?
You know what to do 👇
You know what to do 👇
A nice review of my new book from @dutchnewsnl.bsky.social
“Coates joins a Keti Koti parade, smokes weed, visits synagogues and revisits the site of the Bijlmermeer plane crash… he is a warm and witty guide, and it is easy to feel you are out walking with him”
www.dutchnews.nl/2025/11/the-...
“Coates joins a Keti Koti parade, smokes weed, visits synagogues and revisits the site of the Bijlmermeer plane crash… he is a warm and witty guide, and it is easy to feel you are out walking with him”
www.dutchnews.nl/2025/11/the-...
November 22, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Shopping for gifts this weekend?
You know what to do 👇
You know what to do 👇
Reposted by Ben Coates
A nice review of my new book from @dutchnewsnl.bsky.social
“Coates joins a Keti Koti parade, smokes weed, visits synagogues and revisits the site of the Bijlmermeer plane crash… he is a warm and witty guide, and it is easy to feel you are out walking with him”
www.dutchnews.nl/2025/11/the-...
“Coates joins a Keti Koti parade, smokes weed, visits synagogues and revisits the site of the Bijlmermeer plane crash… he is a warm and witty guide, and it is easy to feel you are out walking with him”
www.dutchnews.nl/2025/11/the-...
November 21, 2025 at 7:15 AM
A nice review of my new book from @dutchnewsnl.bsky.social
“Coates joins a Keti Koti parade, smokes weed, visits synagogues and revisits the site of the Bijlmermeer plane crash… he is a warm and witty guide, and it is easy to feel you are out walking with him”
www.dutchnews.nl/2025/11/the-...
“Coates joins a Keti Koti parade, smokes weed, visits synagogues and revisits the site of the Bijlmermeer plane crash… he is a warm and witty guide, and it is easy to feel you are out walking with him”
www.dutchnews.nl/2025/11/the-...
@johnbloorprint.bsky.social
You blocked me for a polite answer to your question?
You blocked me for a polite answer to your question?
Someones Touchy Today Amelia Jones GIF
ALT: Someones Touchy Today Amelia Jones GIF
media.tenor.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:35 PM
@johnbloorprint.bsky.social
You blocked me for a polite answer to your question?
You blocked me for a polite answer to your question?
Incredible not just that this happened, but that it’s not even a second or third tier news story, let alone something Farage will actually be held accountable for. Doesn’t make the top 15 stories on either the BBC or the Guardian! Filed under “Wales”.
November 21, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Incredible not just that this happened, but that it’s not even a second or third tier news story, let alone something Farage will actually be held accountable for. Doesn’t make the top 15 stories on either the BBC or the Guardian! Filed under “Wales”.
Particularly wild that this is happening while the PM is literally the country’s former top intelligence official!
The Netherlands talks a big game about tech sovereignty, but is now about to allow the domestic cloud provider that underpins its national digital identity system and several other critical government services to be sold off to a new American owner.
Incomprehensible.
nos.nl/artikel/2591...
Incomprehensible.
nos.nl/artikel/2591...
Zorgen in de Tweede Kamer over Amerikaanse overname van DigiD-partner
Het van oorsprong Nederlandse cloud-bedrijf Solvinity komt mogelijk in Amerikaanse handen.
nos.nl
November 21, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Particularly wild that this is happening while the PM is literally the country’s former top intelligence official!
Reposted by Ben Coates
The Netherlands talks a big game about tech sovereignty, but is now about to allow the domestic cloud provider that underpins its national digital identity system and several other critical government services to be sold off to a new American owner.
Incomprehensible.
nos.nl/artikel/2591...
Incomprehensible.
nos.nl/artikel/2591...
Zorgen in de Tweede Kamer over Amerikaanse overname van DigiD-partner
Het van oorsprong Nederlandse cloud-bedrijf Solvinity komt mogelijk in Amerikaanse handen.
nos.nl
November 21, 2025 at 11:52 AM
The Netherlands talks a big game about tech sovereignty, but is now about to allow the domestic cloud provider that underpins its national digital identity system and several other critical government services to be sold off to a new American owner.
Incomprehensible.
nos.nl/artikel/2591...
Incomprehensible.
nos.nl/artikel/2591...
A nice review of my new book from @dutchnewsnl.bsky.social
“Coates joins a Keti Koti parade, smokes weed, visits synagogues and revisits the site of the Bijlmermeer plane crash… he is a warm and witty guide, and it is easy to feel you are out walking with him”
www.dutchnews.nl/2025/11/the-...
“Coates joins a Keti Koti parade, smokes weed, visits synagogues and revisits the site of the Bijlmermeer plane crash… he is a warm and witty guide, and it is easy to feel you are out walking with him”
www.dutchnews.nl/2025/11/the-...
November 21, 2025 at 7:15 AM
A nice review of my new book from @dutchnewsnl.bsky.social
“Coates joins a Keti Koti parade, smokes weed, visits synagogues and revisits the site of the Bijlmermeer plane crash… he is a warm and witty guide, and it is easy to feel you are out walking with him”
www.dutchnews.nl/2025/11/the-...
“Coates joins a Keti Koti parade, smokes weed, visits synagogues and revisits the site of the Bijlmermeer plane crash… he is a warm and witty guide, and it is easy to feel you are out walking with him”
www.dutchnews.nl/2025/11/the-...
Reposted by Ben Coates
this thread is unbelievable
November 20, 2025 at 1:34 AM
this thread is unbelievable
Running a government during Covid was almost impossibly difficult.
But I think it’s pretty indisputable that if someone else - Cameron, Sunak, May, Hunt, Stewart, Starmer - had been in Downing Street in 2020-21, tens of thousands of Brits would still be alive
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
But I think it’s pretty indisputable that if someone else - Cameron, Sunak, May, Hunt, Stewart, Starmer - had been in Downing Street in 2020-21, tens of thousands of Brits would still be alive
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Covid lockdown and 20,000 deaths could have been avoided, says damning report
Covid Inquiry report finds Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings presided over ‘toxic and chaotic culture’ at heart of Number 10
www.independent.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Running a government during Covid was almost impossibly difficult.
But I think it’s pretty indisputable that if someone else - Cameron, Sunak, May, Hunt, Stewart, Starmer - had been in Downing Street in 2020-21, tens of thousands of Brits would still be alive
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
But I think it’s pretty indisputable that if someone else - Cameron, Sunak, May, Hunt, Stewart, Starmer - had been in Downing Street in 2020-21, tens of thousands of Brits would still be alive
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
It’s terribly disappointing to see a genocide denier stoop so low ☹️
MIT's famous linguistic professor Noam Chomsky was in regular and close contact with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a review of emails published by the U.S. House Oversight Committee. In the documents, Chomsky described Epstein as a "highly valued friend."
Epstein emails show close connection with MIT's Noam Chomsky
MIT's famous linguistic professor Noam Chomsky was in regular and close contact with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a review of emails published by the U.S. House Oversight Committee. In t...
www.wbur.org
November 20, 2025 at 4:42 PM
It’s terribly disappointing to see a genocide denier stoop so low ☹️
Reposted by Ben Coates
I’m reading (again) about Stalin’s cult of personality but I think even he would have considered this a bit much
November 20, 2025 at 10:13 AM
I’m reading (again) about Stalin’s cult of personality but I think even he would have considered this a bit much
Velen van ons zijn opgegroeid met verhalen over de grootste scheepsrampen uit de geschiedenis. De Titanic. De Lusitania. De Batavia. De Costa Concordia. En deze week is er een nieuwe aan de lijst toe te voegen. De Goudse Pietenbootramp van 2025.
www.ad.nl/gouda/gelukk...
www.ad.nl/gouda/gelukk...
Gelukkig had ons scheepsrampverhaal, in tegenstelling tot de echte Titanic, een happy end
Velen van ons zijn opgegroeid met verhalen over de grootste scheepsrampen uit de geschiedenis. De Titanic. De Lusitania. De Batavia. De Costa Concordia. En deze week is er een nieuwe aan de lijst toe ...
www.ad.nl
November 20, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Velen van ons zijn opgegroeid met verhalen over de grootste scheepsrampen uit de geschiedenis. De Titanic. De Lusitania. De Batavia. De Costa Concordia. En deze week is er een nieuwe aan de lijst toe te voegen. De Goudse Pietenbootramp van 2025.
www.ad.nl/gouda/gelukk...
www.ad.nl/gouda/gelukk...
Unpopular view:
This was a big fuss about nothing and Timmermans should man up
This was a big fuss about nothing and Timmermans should man up
GroenLinks-PvdA doet aangifte tegen twee PVV'ers om AI-afbeeldingen Timmermans #nieuws
GroenLinks-PvdA doet aangifte tegen twee PVV'ers om AI-afbeeldingen Timmermans
GroenLinksPvdA heeft aangifte gedaan tegen PVVers Patrick Crijns en Maikel Boon vanwege het verspreiden van AIafbeeldingen van Frans Timmermans. Dat zegt het Openbaar Ministerie in Den Haag tegen RTL Nieuws. Het gaat volgens de partij om aangifte van belediging, smaad, laster en opruiing. De AIafbeeldingen leidden tot meerdere doodsbedreigingen tegen de toenmalig partijleider van GroenLinksPvdA.
www.rtl.nl
November 19, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Unpopular view:
This was a big fuss about nothing and Timmermans should man up
This was a big fuss about nothing and Timmermans should man up
the Dutch senate last night
November 19, 2025 at 12:09 PM
the Dutch senate last night
Den Bosch, looking a bit grey and rainy but still quite grand
November 19, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Den Bosch, looking a bit grey and rainy but still quite grand
In yesterday’s vote for a new parliamentary speaker, it seems pretty clear that the CDA supported a far right candidate who opposes judicial independence and supports Great Replacement Theory. In that case how, exactly, is a coalition including the CDA automatically treated as “centrist”?
Uiteindelijk won Van Campen met 79 stemmen tegen de 69 van Bosma. In de eerste ronde had Van der Lee 32 stemmen.
Als je ervan uitgaat dat langs partijpolitieke lijnen is gestemd, dan moet D66 voor Van Campen gestemd hebben, en CDA voor Bosma.
De linkse partijen zijn naar Van Campen overgestapt.
Als je ervan uitgaat dat langs partijpolitieke lijnen is gestemd, dan moet D66 voor Van Campen gestemd hebben, en CDA voor Bosma.
De linkse partijen zijn naar Van Campen overgestapt.
November 19, 2025 at 9:28 AM
In yesterday’s vote for a new parliamentary speaker, it seems pretty clear that the CDA supported a far right candidate who opposes judicial independence and supports Great Replacement Theory. In that case how, exactly, is a coalition including the CDA automatically treated as “centrist”?
“The unprecedented step which I hastily took which triggered a minor geopolitical crisis was obviously the right thing to do, which is why I’m reversing it”
The Dutch have handed chipmaker Nexperia back to China following a state visit.
In a statement, economic affairs minister Vincent Karremans said the move was a "show of goodwill."
In a statement, economic affairs minister Vincent Karremans said the move was a "show of goodwill."
November 19, 2025 at 9:20 AM
“The unprecedented step which I hastily took which triggered a minor geopolitical crisis was obviously the right thing to do, which is why I’m reversing it”
If you want to feel old: the new chair of Dutch parliament was born in the 1990s, and is younger than AOC
Thom van Campen (VVD) nieuwe Kamervoorzitter, met 35 jaar de jongste ooit
Thom van Campen (VVD) nieuwe Kamervoorzitter, met 35 jaar de jongste ooit
Met zijn 35 jaar is hij de jongste ooit die voorzittershamer in handen krijgt.
nos.nl
November 18, 2025 at 6:58 PM
If you want to feel old: the new chair of Dutch parliament was born in the 1990s, and is younger than AOC
Reposted by Ben Coates
Is it milk?
A handy guide to measuring like a Brit.
A handy guide to measuring like a Brit.
November 18, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Is it milk?
A handy guide to measuring like a Brit.
A handy guide to measuring like a Brit.
Zundert, 1793
The little house on the left with the wooden fence is the place where Vincent van Gogh was born
The little house on the left with the wooden fence is the place where Vincent van Gogh was born
November 18, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Zundert, 1793
The little house on the left with the wooden fence is the place where Vincent van Gogh was born
The little house on the left with the wooden fence is the place where Vincent van Gogh was born
This morning’s Guardian
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November 18, 2025 at 9:16 AM
This morning’s Guardian
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