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 the past Wilders carefully positioned himself as pro-LGBT (essentially “deport the intolerant Muslims who hate our gays”). Quite different from far right elsewhere. But now he seems to be following Trump/Orban and radicalizing towards something more like “gays are weird and gross and alien to us”
December 2, 2025 at 6:54 AM
In the past Wilders carefully positioned himself as pro-LGBT (essentially “deport the intolerant Muslims who hate our gays”). Quite different from far right elsewhere. But now he seems to be following Trump/Orban and radicalizing towards something more like “gays are weird and gross and alien to us”
This is a lovely compilation of wolves in the Veluwe.
A few years ago Dutch wolves were practically non-existent; now there are wild packs in more than a dozen locations, with nearly 50 cubs born this spring alone.
Everyone seems to be annoyed about it but I think it’s wonderful
A few years ago Dutch wolves were practically non-existent; now there are wild packs in more than a dozen locations, with nearly 50 cubs born this spring alone.
Everyone seems to be annoyed about it but I think it’s wonderful
Nogal wat opnames in voorraad dus maar een compilatie gemaakt. Beelden van de ZW Veluwe roedel.
November 30, 2025 at 10:17 AM
This is a lovely compilation of wolves in the Veluwe.
A few years ago Dutch wolves were practically non-existent; now there are wild packs in more than a dozen locations, with nearly 50 cubs born this spring alone.
Everyone seems to be annoyed about it but I think it’s wonderful
A few years ago Dutch wolves were practically non-existent; now there are wild packs in more than a dozen locations, with nearly 50 cubs born this spring alone.
Everyone seems to be annoyed about it but I think it’s wonderful
You can feel the ground shifting slightly, as people slowly begin to realize that this horror won’t go on forever, and that when it stops, the people who enabled it might find themselves in deep trouble
Dimon on why JPMorgan Chase is not funding WH Ballroom:
We have an issue, which is anything we do, since we do a lot of contracts with governments here and around the world, we have to be very careful how anything is perceived, and also how the next DOJ is going to deal with it.
We have an issue, which is anything we do, since we do a lot of contracts with governments here and around the world, we have to be very careful how anything is perceived, and also how the next DOJ is going to deal with it.
November 29, 2025 at 9:51 PM
You can feel the ground shifting slightly, as people slowly begin to realize that this horror won’t go on forever, and that when it stops, the people who enabled it might find themselves in deep trouble
Kept the job, but never allowed within six feet of the diary again
😱😂 I'm curious what the outcome was? Did you get a second chance?
November 28, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Kept the job, but never allowed within six feet of the diary again
The EU is an alliance of like-minded liberal democracies with a common defence and security policy aimed at opposing totalitarianism.
Hungary should not be a member any more.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Hungary should not be a member any more.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Hungary's Orban defies EU partners and meets Putin again in Moscow
Russia's leader praised what he called Orban's "balanced position on the situation in Ukraine".
www.bbc.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:28 PM
The EU is an alliance of like-minded liberal democracies with a common defence and security policy aimed at opposing totalitarianism.
Hungary should not be a member any more.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Hungary should not be a member any more.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Ben Coates
The stuff about a staffer leaking the budget reminds me of my best fuck up at work.
Straight out of uni. Working for a member of the House of Lords. Day 1. Forgot to write a meeting in the diary. Didn’t seem important. Only realized when they called to ask where my boss was.
The meeting was with...
Straight out of uni. Working for a member of the House of Lords. Day 1. Forgot to write a meeting in the diary. Didn’t seem important. Only realized when they called to ask where my boss was.
The meeting was with...
queen elizabeth wearing a blue coat and hat with feathers
ALT: queen elizabeth wearing a blue coat and hat with feathers
media.tenor.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:04 AM
The stuff about a staffer leaking the budget reminds me of my best fuck up at work.
Straight out of uni. Working for a member of the House of Lords. Day 1. Forgot to write a meeting in the diary. Didn’t seem important. Only realized when they called to ask where my boss was.
The meeting was with...
Straight out of uni. Working for a member of the House of Lords. Day 1. Forgot to write a meeting in the diary. Didn’t seem important. Only realized when they called to ask where my boss was.
The meeting was with...
Reposted by Ben Coates
De ondermijning van de rechtstaat en het bedreigen van lokale bestuurders werd geïnitieerd door de fractievoorzitter van de op dat moment grootste coalitiepartij en een van de PVV-ministers in het kabinet.
Wie nu nog durft te beweren dat Wilders geen fascist is die der rechtstaat ondermijnt, is dom.
Wie nu nog durft te beweren dat Wilders geen fascist is die der rechtstaat ondermijnt, is dom.
Burgemeester Venlo bedreigd na lastercampagne Wilders en Faber (PVV)
Burgemeester Venlo bedreigd na lastercampagne Wilders en Faber (PVV) - Joop - BNNVARA
Burgemeester wordt al maanden beveiligd.
www.bnnvara.nl
November 28, 2025 at 11:46 AM
De ondermijning van de rechtstaat en het bedreigen van lokale bestuurders werd geïnitieerd door de fractievoorzitter van de op dat moment grootste coalitiepartij en een van de PVV-ministers in het kabinet.
Wie nu nog durft te beweren dat Wilders geen fascist is die der rechtstaat ondermijnt, is dom.
Wie nu nog durft te beweren dat Wilders geen fascist is die der rechtstaat ondermijnt, is dom.
If there’s one thing we know Jesus hated, it was helping the poor
Kemi Badenoch says welfare spending is unchristian
Kemi Badenoch says welfare spending is unchristian
Kemi Badenoch says welfare spending is unchristian
www.thetimes.com
November 28, 2025 at 11:24 AM
If there’s one thing we know Jesus hated, it was helping the poor
Wild
Leaving the BBB to join D66 is like quitting MAGA to work for Zohran Mamdani.
It’s almost as if these people are just desperate for power and have no solid principles at all
bsky.app/profile/jaap...
Leaving the BBB to join D66 is like quitting MAGA to work for Zohran Mamdani.
It’s almost as if these people are just desperate for power and have no solid principles at all
bsky.app/profile/jaap...
Eerste Kamerlid Griffioen van BBB stapt over naar D66-fractie
www.rtl.nl/nieuws/polit...
www.rtl.nl/nieuws/polit...
Eerste Kamerlid Griffioen van BBB stapt over naar D66-fractie
Arie Griffioen, Eerste Kamerlid voor de BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB), stapt over naar de D66-fractie. Dat laat hij weten in een brief aan de voorzitter van de Eerste Kamer. In de brief schrijft Griffioen ...
www.rtl.nl
November 28, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Wild
Leaving the BBB to join D66 is like quitting MAGA to work for Zohran Mamdani.
It’s almost as if these people are just desperate for power and have no solid principles at all
bsky.app/profile/jaap...
Leaving the BBB to join D66 is like quitting MAGA to work for Zohran Mamdani.
It’s almost as if these people are just desperate for power and have no solid principles at all
bsky.app/profile/jaap...
Reposted by Ben Coates
I missed this the other day but it’s fascinating:
At the Amsterdam Museum, inspection of a painting from 1674 revealed one of the subjects has a tattoo on his wrist - the first ever seen in Dutch painting. Wessel Smits was born when a comet was in the sky, and probably got inked to commemorate it
At the Amsterdam Museum, inspection of a painting from 1674 revealed one of the subjects has a tattoo on his wrist - the first ever seen in Dutch painting. Wessel Smits was born when a comet was in the sky, and probably got inked to commemorate it
November 27, 2025 at 1:55 PM
I missed this the other day but it’s fascinating:
At the Amsterdam Museum, inspection of a painting from 1674 revealed one of the subjects has a tattoo on his wrist - the first ever seen in Dutch painting. Wessel Smits was born when a comet was in the sky, and probably got inked to commemorate it
At the Amsterdam Museum, inspection of a painting from 1674 revealed one of the subjects has a tattoo on his wrist - the first ever seen in Dutch painting. Wessel Smits was born when a comet was in the sky, and probably got inked to commemorate it
Reposted by Ben Coates
At a certain point people may have to realize that although Dick Schoof always talks about being very pro Ukraine, he is not in fact very pro Ukraine
Schoof botst met Kamer over extra geld voor Oekraïne
Schoof botst met Kamer over extra geld voor Oekraïne
DEN HAAG (ANP) - Demissionair minister-president Dick Schoof is donderdagavond in aanvaring gekomen met de Tweede Kamer over extra geld voor Oekraïne. Een meerderheid wil volgend jaar 2 miljard euro e...
nieuws.nl
November 27, 2025 at 7:59 PM
At a certain point people may have to realize that although Dick Schoof always talks about being very pro Ukraine, he is not in fact very pro Ukraine
The stuff about a staffer leaking the budget reminds me of my best fuck up at work.
Straight out of uni. Working for a member of the House of Lords. Day 1. Forgot to write a meeting in the diary. Didn’t seem important. Only realized when they called to ask where my boss was.
The meeting was with...
Straight out of uni. Working for a member of the House of Lords. Day 1. Forgot to write a meeting in the diary. Didn’t seem important. Only realized when they called to ask where my boss was.
The meeting was with...
queen elizabeth wearing a blue coat and hat with feathers
ALT: queen elizabeth wearing a blue coat and hat with feathers
media.tenor.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:04 AM
The stuff about a staffer leaking the budget reminds me of my best fuck up at work.
Straight out of uni. Working for a member of the House of Lords. Day 1. Forgot to write a meeting in the diary. Didn’t seem important. Only realized when they called to ask where my boss was.
The meeting was with...
Straight out of uni. Working for a member of the House of Lords. Day 1. Forgot to write a meeting in the diary. Didn’t seem important. Only realized when they called to ask where my boss was.
The meeting was with...
At a certain point people may have to realize that although Dick Schoof always talks about being very pro Ukraine, he is not in fact very pro Ukraine
Schoof botst met Kamer over extra geld voor Oekraïne
Schoof botst met Kamer over extra geld voor Oekraïne
DEN HAAG (ANP) - Demissionair minister-president Dick Schoof is donderdagavond in aanvaring gekomen met de Tweede Kamer over extra geld voor Oekraïne. Een meerderheid wil volgend jaar 2 miljard euro e...
nieuws.nl
November 27, 2025 at 7:59 PM
At a certain point people may have to realize that although Dick Schoof always talks about being very pro Ukraine, he is not in fact very pro Ukraine
Reposted by Ben Coates
This is sooo cool! 😎
I missed this the other day but it’s fascinating:
At the Amsterdam Museum, inspection of a painting from 1674 revealed one of the subjects has a tattoo on his wrist - the first ever seen in Dutch painting. Wessel Smits was born when a comet was in the sky, and probably got inked to commemorate it
At the Amsterdam Museum, inspection of a painting from 1674 revealed one of the subjects has a tattoo on his wrist - the first ever seen in Dutch painting. Wessel Smits was born when a comet was in the sky, and probably got inked to commemorate it
November 27, 2025 at 2:14 PM
This is sooo cool! 😎
I missed this the other day but it’s fascinating:
At the Amsterdam Museum, inspection of a painting from 1674 revealed one of the subjects has a tattoo on his wrist - the first ever seen in Dutch painting. Wessel Smits was born when a comet was in the sky, and probably got inked to commemorate it
At the Amsterdam Museum, inspection of a painting from 1674 revealed one of the subjects has a tattoo on his wrist - the first ever seen in Dutch painting. Wessel Smits was born when a comet was in the sky, and probably got inked to commemorate it
November 27, 2025 at 1:55 PM
I missed this the other day but it’s fascinating:
At the Amsterdam Museum, inspection of a painting from 1674 revealed one of the subjects has a tattoo on his wrist - the first ever seen in Dutch painting. Wessel Smits was born when a comet was in the sky, and probably got inked to commemorate it
At the Amsterdam Museum, inspection of a painting from 1674 revealed one of the subjects has a tattoo on his wrist - the first ever seen in Dutch painting. Wessel Smits was born when a comet was in the sky, and probably got inked to commemorate it
I find it hard to express how much I do not want counseling from the messaging app on my phone
November 27, 2025 at 12:30 PM
I find it hard to express how much I do not want counseling from the messaging app on my phone
“There are rock bands that sing in Frisian, but we don’t have a Kneecap unfortunately. We’re a bit jealous of Kneecap.”
- An interesting piece on the fight to keep Europe’s minority languages alive
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
- An interesting piece on the fight to keep Europe’s minority languages alive
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
‘We’re a bit jealous of Kneecap’: how Europe’s minority tongues are facing the digital future | Stephen Burgen
What does it mean to lose a language, and what does it take to save it? Those were the big questions being asked in Barcelona recently, says freelance writer Stephen Burgen
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 10:19 AM
“There are rock bands that sing in Frisian, but we don’t have a Kneecap unfortunately. We’re a bit jealous of Kneecap.”
- An interesting piece on the fight to keep Europe’s minority languages alive
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
- An interesting piece on the fight to keep Europe’s minority languages alive
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Ben Coates
It’s horrifying that in the Netherlands, of all places, it’s now common for mayors and councillors of small towns to need security because of threats to their lives.
In 2024 *almost half* of public officials were threatened with violence. Understandably, many are giving up
nos.nl/artikel/2592...
In 2024 *almost half* of public officials were threatened with violence. Understandably, many are giving up
nos.nl/artikel/2592...
Maatregelen bij woning burgemeester Venlo na online dreiging rond komst azc
Morgen wordt de komst van het azc besproken in een commissievergadering.
nos.nl
November 27, 2025 at 8:15 AM
It’s horrifying that in the Netherlands, of all places, it’s now common for mayors and councillors of small towns to need security because of threats to their lives.
In 2024 *almost half* of public officials were threatened with violence. Understandably, many are giving up
nos.nl/artikel/2592...
In 2024 *almost half* of public officials were threatened with violence. Understandably, many are giving up
nos.nl/artikel/2592...
Reposted by Ben Coates
Think Reeves can chalk this up as a win. A big win actually.
U.K 30 YEAR GILT YIELD DOWN 9.8 BPS TO 5.23%, IN BIGGEST ONE DAY FALL SINCE APRIL
November 26, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Think Reeves can chalk this up as a win. A big win actually.
Incredible photo of the apartment fire in Hong Kong
(Tyrone Siu for Reuters)
(Tyrone Siu for Reuters)
November 26, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Incredible photo of the apartment fire in Hong Kong
(Tyrone Siu for Reuters)
(Tyrone Siu for Reuters)
Whatever else you think of Starmer and Reeves, this is (to quote Joe Biden) a big fucking deal
November 26, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Whatever else you think of Starmer and Reeves, this is (to quote Joe Biden) a big fucking deal