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!
Not if you’re outside the UK
November 21, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Not if you’re outside the UK
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”.
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-...
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
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
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
November 18, 2025 at 9:16 AM
This morning’s Guardian
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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.
Perhaps we can shave their heads and get their gold teeth too?
November 17, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Perhaps we can shave their heads and get their gold teeth too?
USAID cuts get all the headlines but the Netherlands is inevitably also a case in point. Literally billions cut from the aid budget and hundreds of millions from diplomacy. Embassies scheduled for closure in Cuba, Libya, Burundi, Myanmar. Consulates planned to close in Rio, Antwerp. And no-one cares
November 17, 2025 at 6:48 PM
USAID cuts get all the headlines but the Netherlands is inevitably also a case in point. Literally billions cut from the aid budget and hundreds of millions from diplomacy. Embassies scheduled for closure in Cuba, Libya, Burundi, Myanmar. Consulates planned to close in Rio, Antwerp. And no-one cares
Dick Schoof took part in the Zevenheuvelenloop 15km hill running race today. Not something you’ll see Trump or many others do.
Schoofie is 68 years old and did it in 1hr 15. “Faster than last year, so the premiership has done me good!”
Schoofie is 68 years old and did it in 1hr 15. “Faster than last year, so the premiership has done me good!”
November 16, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Dick Schoof took part in the Zevenheuvelenloop 15km hill running race today. Not something you’ll see Trump or many others do.
Schoofie is 68 years old and did it in 1hr 15. “Faster than last year, so the premiership has done me good!”
Schoofie is 68 years old and did it in 1hr 15. “Faster than last year, so the premiership has done me good!”
Keir Starmer is not that bad
November 16, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Keir Starmer is not that bad
Six years ago the Sinterklaas parade in Gouda was maybe 80% full blackface. Now it’s 0%. The kids haven’t noticed and no-one cares.
November 15, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Six years ago the Sinterklaas parade in Gouda was maybe 80% full blackface. Now it’s 0%. The kids haven’t noticed and no-one cares.
Have a lovely weekend, everyone
November 14, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Have a lovely weekend, everyone
There was a 3.4 magnitude earthquake in Groningen this morning, due to gas extraction.
Wilders was quick to sympathize but forgot to mention he pledged to remove windmills, build gas power stations and speed N.Sea extraction.
JA21, who pledged to drill more in Groningen, have been oddly silent 🤔
Wilders was quick to sympathize but forgot to mention he pledged to remove windmills, build gas power stations and speed N.Sea extraction.
JA21, who pledged to drill more in Groningen, have been oddly silent 🤔
November 14, 2025 at 3:04 PM
There was a 3.4 magnitude earthquake in Groningen this morning, due to gas extraction.
Wilders was quick to sympathize but forgot to mention he pledged to remove windmills, build gas power stations and speed N.Sea extraction.
JA21, who pledged to drill more in Groningen, have been oddly silent 🤔
Wilders was quick to sympathize but forgot to mention he pledged to remove windmills, build gas power stations and speed N.Sea extraction.
JA21, who pledged to drill more in Groningen, have been oddly silent 🤔
I had forgotten that D66/Rob Jetten’s election manifesto included a pledge to make it easier to get euthanasia for mental illness
November 14, 2025 at 11:37 AM
I had forgotten that D66/Rob Jetten’s election manifesto included a pledge to make it easier to get euthanasia for mental illness
My bookshop haul from a quick trip to London. The excess baggage fees were horrendous.
Now time to hide them all before my wife gets home…
Now time to hide them all before my wife gets home…
November 14, 2025 at 7:29 AM
My bookshop haul from a quick trip to London. The excess baggage fees were horrendous.
Now time to hide them all before my wife gets home…
Now time to hide them all before my wife gets home…
A good piece by @lewisgoodall.com on the BBC debacle, and the path out of it
www.newstatesman.com/politics/med...
www.newstatesman.com/politics/med...
November 13, 2025 at 6:14 PM
A good piece by @lewisgoodall.com on the BBC debacle, and the path out of it
www.newstatesman.com/politics/med...
www.newstatesman.com/politics/med...
Summers was actually defending Obama, no?
November 13, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Summers was actually defending Obama, no?