Heute War Einfach Ein Besonderer Tag.

Hi! 

 Summer is on the horizon, and Sidney SN is here with a house music. 

I love house music. Whenever I play a house music playlist on Spotify, it instantly takes me to places I love. Sometimes I listen to this music right in those places, because house music seems to carry the atmosphere as the places themselves. 

House music is also a truly cosmopolitan genre, and I have always associated it with exciting and vibrant metropolises.

Have a fun days and enjoy this Sidney SN house music mix...

 

 Tracklist:

01. Drive All Night by Leo Stannard, Banyan 

02. Over And Over by Alex Kentucky 

03. Till' The Sunrise by Addex 

04. Histoires D'amour by Evren Ulosoy 

05. Lofoten by Dave Pad 

06. See You Every Night by Sofinsky 

07. Something Is Wrong by Anthony Mea 

08. Binary Seven by Anthony Mea 

09. Texture 40.1 by Claudio Prc

Strasbourg vs. Amsterdam

 Perhaps this opinion of mine will surprise some people.

 Most people associate canals and a beautiful historic city center with Amsterdam in the Netherlands. And the truth is that Amsterdam’s historic center is beautiful. For me, Amsterdam is at its best during Christmas. The combination of Amsterdam’s culture, architecture, Christmas decorations, and people creates a genuinely magical Christmas atmosphere. In my opinion, Amsterdam at Christmas is easily among the most beautiful cities in Europe.

However, I also have to mention Strasbourg in France. Strasbourg can compete with Amsterdam in many ways.

Strasbourg has a beautiful historic center, with numerous picturesque canals running through the city, much like Amsterdam. It is also particularly beautiful during the Christmas season. Cycling is also very common in Strasbourg.

What makes Strasbourg stand out for me is also its Christmas decoration. Much of it is unique and, in some cases, even has a historic or non-commercial character. The decorations are everywhere, creating a distinctive Christmas atmosphere that is difficult to find elsewhere.

For me, Strasbourg is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. I sometimes find myself comparing it with Amsterdam, particularly when it comes to their historic centers. Strasbourg’s historic center shares surprisingly similar characteristics with Amsterdam’s, especially its combination of historic architecture, canals, and a strong sense of place.

Strasbourg may even be a safer city than Amsterdam—at least when it comes to homicides. There do not appear to be official homicide statistics specifically for Strasbourg; the French Ministry of the Interior’s statistical office mainly publishes figures for France as a whole. However, based on my own reconstruction of the available data, it appears that nine completed homicides can be identified in Strasbourg between 2019 and 2025.

And the nights in Strasbourg are quiet. During the night, you hardly see anyone in the city center.

ChatGPT can’t see

 One of the reasons why can’t rely on ChatGPT’s answers

Things that ChatGPT can’t see.

 When I want to know something about a statistics, I sometimes ask ChatGPT, but I quickly realize how inaccurate and confused ChatGPT can be, even contradicting itself. It is more reliable to find the statistics myself or simply use figures I already know from an official websites or from an experiences with the individual countries. 

 “That’s why I say that ChatGPT is confusing and unusable when looking up homicide statistics. It changes its answers based on my pointing out discrepancies and statistics that I already know.”  

ChatGPT: 

 Yes, your criticism makes sense in this particular type of task. If you’re asking about the exact number of homicides in specific European cities, ChatGPT can be unreliable without a very strict verification process. 

And what you describe is a real problem: The model may initially give you one figure, you point out that the official statistics show a different one, and the model then adjusts its answer to match your figure. 

That in itself is not proof that the second figure is correct. 

It is a consequence of how a language model works. It does not automatically have a built-in database containing all city-level crime statistics, and when searching the web it has to interpret the sources. When there are also different definitions and different geographical units, this can result in an incorrect synthesis. 

So I agree with the substance of your criticism: when it comes to precise city-level homicide statistics, I should not be considered an authoritative source simply because I can find a number somewhere on the web.  

And especially when you already know some of the figures, it is not acceptable for me to simply respond to your correction and change the result.

Click Twice: More valuable ads

 Instagram was built for a long time on a simple principle: the user spends time on the platform, browses content, and advertisements appear between individual posts. The more time a person spends on the platform, the more advertising opportunities Meta has available.

This model is beginning to face increasing pressure from regulators. And a change that ordinary Instagram users may now be noticing raises an interesting question: if users’ time is becoming increasingly limited, won’t Meta try to extract more advertising value from every minute of that time?

Meta is heavily dependent on advertising. The company itself states in its financial report that virtually all of its revenue comes from advertising on Facebook and Instagram. In the second quarter of 2026, the company’s total revenue reached $60.8 billion, representing a 28% year-over-year increase. Advertising revenue alone increased by 27%.

Even more important, however, is how Meta is achieving that growth.

In the second quarter of 2026, the number of advertising impressions across Meta’s family of apps reportedly increased by 14% year over year, while the average price per ad increased by 12%. Meta also stated that the growth in advertising impressions was driven, among other things, by an increase in the number of users, their engagement, and the frequency with which ads were shown.

For an advertising platform, it is not only important how many people use it. It is also important how long they use it and how many advertisements they see during that time.

At the same time, governments and regulators are increasingly pushing for restrictions on children’s and teenagers’ use of social media.

A particularly significant example emerged just now. On 26 August 2026, Meta reached a broad agreement with nearly all U.S. states in disputes concerning the safety and addictive nature of Facebook and Instagram for young users. The agreement reportedly includes, among other things, a default two-hour daily limit, nighttime restrictions between midnight and 6 a.m., and additional limitations on notifications and platform use. Among American teenagers aged 13–17, approximately 61% reportedly use Instagram.

The American law/settlement itself is unlikely to dramatically threaten Meta’s overall advertising revenue, because it applies only to U.S. users aged 13–17. However, it represents an important precedent. If similar restrictions expand to other countries and age groups, the economic significance of users’ lost time could become much greater.

This is not an isolated American case. Regulation of young people’s access to social media is expanding in other countries as well. Australia, for example, became the first country in the world to introduce a ban on social media for users under the age of 16, while similar proposals and debates are also taking place across Europe and other parts of the world.

If a particular group of users is allowed to spend less time on Instagram, or is prevented from using the platform altogether, the number of opportunities to show advertisements to that group naturally decreases.

Meta itself reportedly warns in its financial documents that an increasing number of laws are restricting or prohibiting the provision of its services to younger users, and that regulatory changes may affect its advertising business.

In recent weeks, some Instagram users have noticed another change. As of today, these notifications are appearing for more users. Advertisements have begun appearing directly in the Following tab—the section of the app traditionally used to browse content from accounts that users actually follow.

For a long time, Following was seen as a way to avoid part of the algorithmically recommended content and focus only on accounts that a person had personally chosen to follow.

Imagine a user who previously spent two hours a day on Instagram. During those two hours, they might have seen a certain number of advertisements. If regulation or parental controls reduce that usage to one hour, Meta suddenly has only half the amount of time in which it can display ads to that user.

Increasing the frequency of advertisements is one of the factors Meta itself mentions when explaining the growth in advertising impressions.

Meta competes for the user’s attention. Attention can be monetized through advertising. If the regulatory environment attempts to reduce the amount of that attention, its economic value to the platform may actually increase. Every minute of usage becomes more valuable. It then becomes logical to search for new advertising spaces, improve the efficiency of the advertising system, increase advertising prices, or display more ads within the same amount of time.

Indeed, in the second quarter of 2026, Meta simultaneously recorded a 14% increase in advertising impressions and a 12% increase in the average price per advertisement. Advertising revenue therefore grew significantly faster than the number of daily active people itself, which increased by only 3% year over year.

This suggests that the growth of Meta’s advertising business is not based solely on acquiring more users. Regulation may have a paradoxical effect. Regulators want people—especially children and teenagers—to spend less time on social media. Meta, on the other hand, has an economic incentive to maximize the value of users’ time, because advertising is its primary source of revenue.

The result does not necessarily have to be fewer advertisements. It may be exactly the opposite: less user time is greater pressure to monetize every minute → more advertising impressions is higher advertising density

It can therefore be argued that all of these developments are acting on the same economic issue: how much attention Meta can obtain from the user, and how much of that attention it can convert into advertising revenue.

If the world truly continues limiting the amount of time that young people, for example, are allowed to spend on social media, it may eventually turn out that the biggest change to Instagram will not be less social media—but a higher value placed on every minute that users still spend there.

A main source: Meta’s Q2 2026 Financial Report — Advertising Revenue and Ad Impressions

A inspiration for tittle "Click Twice" is song with "Click Twice" by King Tetrus.

to Keep Your Face Covered II.

 Following up on the previous article, here are some additional arguments:

Behind A Mask 

If the legal framework justifies a ban on covering the face on the grounds that the face must be visible or identifiable, it should be able to explain why it permits other material ways of covering or masking the face that can significantly alter its appearance.

Make-up constitutes a material, physical layer applied to the face, including prosthetic makeup. In this sense, it can be considered a form of physically covering or masking the face, even though it does not involve covering it with fabric.

If the purpose of the ban is to preserve a person’s identifiability, physical visibility of the face cannot be confused with the identifiability of the person. A face can be completely uncovered while its appearance can simultaneously be altered through prosthetic and cosmetic means to such an extent that the person is not recognizable to the public.

That in itself, and perhaps even more so when combined with different-colored contact lenses or a wig.

 The second part of the article looks at 

the Dutch model.

The Dutch model directly supports the argument I made in the previous article: if there is genuinely a need to identify a person, it is not necessary for their face to be continuously visible in public. The Dutch government explicitly states that face coverings may be worn on the street and that the police may ask a person to uncover their face if this is necessary for identification.

The following text is taken directly from the website of the Dutch government: (1)

 Partial ban on face-covering clothing

 

 In the Netherlands, people have the right to dress as they wish, regardless of what others think about it. In some locations, it is important for social safety and service provision that people can look at and recognize one another. The government therefore prohibits clothing that completely covers the face in certain locations: on public transport, in education, healthcare, and in government buildings.

Looking at and recognizing one another

In some places, it is necessary for people to look at and communicate with one another. This is important for providing good services. For the safety of visitors, patients, and staff, it is important to be able to recognize who is in the building or on public transport.

Locations where face-covering clothing is prohibited

In everyday language, people also sometimes use the terms burqa ban or niqab ban. The prohibition under the Partial Ban on Face-Covering Clothing Act applies in several places, namely:

educational institutions;

healthcare institutions;

public transport;

government buildings.

This includes, for example, a full-face motorcycle helmet, a balaclava, or a niqab. The ban on face-covering clothing applies to everyone. This includes visitors, employees, teachers, students, and patients.

Face-covering clothing on the street

In other places and on the street, people are still allowed to wear face-covering clothing. The police may ask a person to remove the face covering if this is necessary for identification.

Exceptions to the ban

There are several exceptions to the ban:

People may wear face-covering clothing if it is necessary to protect their bodies. An example is a welder’s safety mask.

The ban does not apply to clients, patients, or their visitors in residential areas of healthcare institutions where people stay for longer periods of time. For example, a senior citizens’ residential complex. The residential area is considered the private domain of clients or patients.

Face-covering clothing is permitted during festive and cultural activities taking place at a location where the ban applies. The clothing must be appropriate according to social norms and is permitted only when the clothing is an inseparable part of the celebration. For example, masks or other face coverings during a Sinterklaas celebration or carnival party at a school. Or a bridal veil during a wedding at the town hall. 

Source: (1) Gedeeltelijk verbod gezichtsbedekkende kleding

 Another point towards female Muslims is that there are probably only about two known cases in Europe in which face covering with burqa was used in connection with an attempted murder or murder. In one case, a woman disguised herself in a burqa so that she would not be recognized, and in the other case, a niqab was used as a disguise during an attempted contract killing. However, it is crucial to point out one thing: in these cases, these were not Muslim women who normally wore a burqa or niqab for religious reasons. Rather, religious clothing was used as a disguise in order to conceal the person’s identity. These cases may therefore show that covering the face can make it more difficult to identify a perpetrator, but they are not in themselves evidence that Muslim women who wear the niqab for religious reasons pose a security risk.

to Keep Your Face Covered

Safety and Privacy and the Rights and Freedoms

 

 I can’t help but find it almost absurdly amusing sometimes when pro-Russian individuals from some government, and others like them, attack Muslims. What is particularly strange is that there are more Muslims living in Russia than in a number of European countries that are themselves the targets of a criticism. And secondly, these critics often reject European values themselves, so, figuratively speaking, they are only making themselves look even more hypocritical.

As for me, I often spend time in Western European communities where people of Muslim background also live. It was also from some of these people that I experienced friendliness and respect — and that was long before I ever wrote these words. Obviously, for reasons that we can all understand. These people, who are part of Western society, have, in my experience, shown greater respect for rights and freedoms than those who themselves attack or question them.

Because of these Western communities, I get the feeling that hatred toward people of different nationalities or background is largely something that takes place especially online or in certain countries, rather than in the reality I know through these Western communities. A truth is also that these communities also include people working in public offices and the police from diverse backgrounds, and in my opinion this also helps determine how well society functions.

To be honest, I don’t like bans on covering the face either. I have several reasons for this, including personal ones. If someone voluntarily decides to cover their face in public, in my opinion they should have the right to do so.

Furthermore, the protection of freedom of religion is itself part of the European and international human-rights framework. Respect for these rights should be universal—by all humans. These thoughts are fundamentally rooted in human rights and freedoms themselves, because I see human rights and freedoms as an essential expression of true human freedom—One person’s freedom ends where another person’s begins.

Just look, for example, at celebrities whom, in the United States for example, sometimes cover their faces in order to preserve their safety and privacy. They have their reasons for doing so — and the right to privacy and safety is one of them, because these possibilities for madness around them… 

For this reason, banning someone from covering their face seems to me, in a certain sense, to restrict their right to privacy or safety. For some people, having their face covered may be a way of preserving at least some degree of privacy in a particular society, or even of maintaining a sense of security. I myself could appreciate having such an option in certain situations or societies. 

In my opinion, the right to see a person’s face should belong only to an authority that is legally empowered to require it. Likewise, a person should not be required to prove their identity to anyone other than the authorities designated to do so. If someone does not need to establish their identity to an authorized authority in a particular situation, I see no reason why they should be forced to show their face. 

And, just to lighten things up a little, I could also mention some of these girls — for example, when they sit down next to you on a train with their faces covered by a mask, even though the pandemic has been over for a long time. 

One might then think that sometimes it really isn’t such a bad thing for people to keep at least a little bit of their identity or security to themselves.

In the end, also during many events is possible to keep your face covered. Not just during a Halloween one. They could just as well ban makeup, because sometimes it also means you’re not seeing a person’s real face. Or they could just ban a hair color, because a hair color change can be the change for an identity itself. 

I also now remember that during the pandemic, I liked wearing face masks. Respirators were more difficult to wear, but I genuinely liked wearing masks. Sometimes people would ask me, including at events where I was on probation, why I was wearing a mask when I wasn’t required by organizers. After the pandemic, I was disappointed that wearing a mask was no longer considered appropriate.

I also admit that even in June 2023, when I was travelling to an event in the Netherlands, I took advantage of the fact that it had only been a short time since the requirement to wear a respirator on public transport in Germany had been lifted, and I wore one during the journey for personal reasons. I like Germany, and it was not meant to be anything personal against Germany, but I wanted to be at least somewhat covered.

A relevant is also Cyprus—a European Union country. If we include the entire island, including Northern Cyprus, Muslims make up approximately a quarter of the population. Although Cyprus ranks lower in some overall safety or peace rankings, this is significantly influenced by the island’s long-standing geopolitical conflict and division. But according to the UN, in 2024 there was approximately one intentional homicide per 100,000 inhabitants in Cyprus, equivalent to 0.001% of the population per year. Latvia, another EU country, has a population of around 1.8 million, with Muslims accounting for approximately 0.06% of the population. Latvia has the highest homicide rate in the EU; according to statistics, it is 4.0 per 100,000 inhabitants.

Public Transport in the Countryside

How Public Transportation Works in Small German Municipalities

 Recently, I also mentioned high-speed trains in Germany, but I have another fact about a frequent public transport services in Germany.

 When people hear the term public transport, most imagine a large city. Buses, trams or the metro, a dense network of stops, and services running at short intervals. In reality, however, a similar principle can also work in a small municipality.

German municipalities are a good example. For instance, a municipality with just under 4,000 inhabitants may have approaching 40 public transport stops connecting different parts of the municipality. There may even be several stops along a single street, located relatively close to one another, making public transport more accessible to people living in many parts of a relative short street. So public transportation therefore does not function merely as a connection between a small municipality and the nearest larger city or another municipality. Individual routes connect different parts of the municipality itself. Public transport routes pass through numerous local districts, allowing them to be connected with one another.

It is not only the number of connections that matters, although services can also be quite frequent. The density of stops and the possibility of using public transport for short journeys within the municipality are equally important. In some small German municipalities, therefore, stops can be found relatively very close to one another. Public transport is thus not merely a means of travelling to another city or municipality, but functions much like urban public transportation. In other words, the routes run between its individual Ortsteile (districts).

Small German municipalities demonstrate that public transport does not have to begin only in cities with tens of thousands, millions of inhabitants. If a network is designed to connect the different parts of a small municipality as well, it can have a similar importance for its residents as urban public transport does in a larger city.

Hot As Hades

 The Ecstasy of these Days 

  In the end of May 2026, I wrote about a my Sunday night silent disco dance in the Zuid Holland, when I danced on bed and listened to the same trance track—Hot As Hades (John O’Callaghan Remix)—for two hours of dancing. 

And as a drink was an ordinary Dutch blackcurrant lemonade—pretty strong taste of this drink from Zeeland.

I also wrote that I sometimes added my own truly trance lyrics instead of the original trance ones in the Hot As Hades (John O’Callaghan Remix)…

One of the truly trance lyrics was actually sad—it was about the end of the summer season and the loss of a summer love. 

I kept parts of that lyric: 

 As she slowly fades now there, 

 she turns. 

 I feel the same. 

 She drugs me in with her eyes. 

 I leave my heart. 

 We come down together. 

 I can take this better. 

 She is my one, only love now. 

 We fall together. 

…

 The summer time comes to an end. 

 Butterflies are ceasing to fly. 

 The dance of Heart in your eyes, 

 is missing to my heart. 

 You’re the Miss heart. 

 Miss heart, 

 Miss heart, 

 Miss heart, 

 Miss heart, 

 …

Antisocial Behavior

 I have to write something again about life in a certain country. I don’t even need to explain that what follows is not an isolated case. This is one of the reasons why Sidney SN is an influencer.

One of many examples is Dickies shorts. They look decent, and that is also why I like them. Despite all the familiar forms of hatred, I am still sometimes surprised by something.

One example is the idea that I must deliberately wear these Dickies shorts, apparently as a provocation towards certain people who are offended by me and by social habits that, in my opinion, are also the norm in Western society itself, or in Germany. To me, these people in the certain country lack basic civilized social manners and behavior when they see a problem with someone simply dressing decently and cleanly.

I don’t understand why I should wear more decent or attractive clothes as a form of provocation, rather than simply because I like these clothes. I like quality things, quality of life, quality food, and good hygiene. A reason why I like values of the west side of Europe. In my opinion, I live in a civilization, and civilization is not about living in a way that resembles indigenous or primitive habits — habits that were historically determined by the times people lived in, rather than by having a choice. 

Since I am talking about social behavior and norms, in my opinion, one of the reasons why the spread of free tekno is restricted in the Benelux countries or England is literally this antisocial behavior. In the country mentioned above, it seems that similar antisocial behavior is quite a social norm, when an ordinary citizen actually sees normal social or civilized behavior as a problem or provocation towards their person. 

Dutch cheese in French bread roll with a Italian style

 I don’t think I ever intended to become an influencer, but I’m glad it happened, especially because of the reasons behind it.

I have something a little lighter to share, something very typical for a blogger: food.

Another topic of mine is agriculture in the Netherlands, which is always very interesting for me. I’ve also probably mentioned something that is very well known to many people: the Netherlands is also a country of cheese. The Dutch have created many cheeses that are now famous all over the world, and it’s not just Gouda — pronounced correctly in Dutch as “chou-da,” with the G being the characteristic Dutch guttural “ch” sound.

I also buy affordable Dutch cheeses when I’m outside the Netherlands. 

Right now, I have something here made with one of the grated Dutch cheeses. It’s a very quick dish, inspired by my favorite Italian cuisine…

French bread roll, Dutch cheese and Italian seasoning. There’s also some ketchup and tomatoes. The filled French bread rolls just need to be put in the microwave.

A meal bringing France, the Netherlands and Italy.

Speed Over Time

 I have previously written about the quality of Dutch railway infrastructure, but Germany’s high-speed ICE network deserves attention as well.

I recently read that Czechia is planning to build a tunnel on part of the railway line between Pilsen and Prague to reduce travel times. What struck me was the timeline itself—the project will start after 2030. By contrast, Germany and the Benelux countries have been investing in modern railway infrastructure for decades. High-speed rail has long been a reality there, with trains operating at speeds of up to 300 km/h or with Eurostar in Benelux even more.

Looking at the pace of development in the Czech Republic, it is difficult not to wonder whether the country will ever catch up something from progressive and advanced infrastructure of Germany or Benelux. 

In the way of trains, a good example is the journey from Düsseldorf to Munich. Imagine comparing the same route under two different railway systems: one served by a Czech-style express train operating on conventional infrastructure, and the other by Germany’s ICE running on dedicated high-speed lines.

The contrast is striking.

Today, a direct ICE train completes the journey from Düsseldorf to Munich in approximately 4 hours and 33 minutes to 4 hours and 50 minutes, depending on the service.

If the same journey relied solely on infrastructure comparable to conventional Czech railway network—with maximum speeds typically between 120 and 160 km/h, numerous curves, and significantly lower average operating speeds—it would take roughly three hours longer. In the case of services such as the Berounka train between Pilsen and Prague, with an average speed of 80–95 km/h, the journey between Düsseldorf and Munich would take almost twice as long than with German's trains. 

This is not simply a matter of faster trains; it is a matter of long-term investment and system priorities. Germany’s railway network between Cologne, Frankfurt, Nuremberg, and Munich is built around extensive high-speed corridors designed for fast, efficient travel. In contrast, the Czech railway network remains largely conventional, with only limited sections capable of supporting speeds of 160–200 km/h.

While much of Western Europe has spent decades building infrastructure networks for the future, in the Czechia still seems to be debating projects that should have become reality many years ago. 

Beyond Populism

 It was undoubtedly tragic what happened in Berlin over the weekend. However, it was impossible not to notice that politicians, including representatives of the Czech government, once again used this incident to promote their own political narratives.

It is also highly speculative to claim that the people involved identified with the LGBTQ+ community. In reality, many of the current governing parties and their leaders have previously expressed opposition to various LGBTQ+ rights. They have rejected key demands, including marriage equality and the right of same-sex couples to raise children etc. etc... I do not want to go into this debate in greater depth here, but given their previous political positions, their sudden expressions of solidarity appear questionable and, in some cases, politically motivated. Even Vladimir Putin’s government uses similar rhetoric against LGBTQ+ people. Some of these politicians have also opposed gender equality, which makes their claimed support for LGBTQ+ victims even more difficult to reconcile.

The reactions I have seen in Czech media following the Berlin incident once again resemble a populist approach. These same political forces have often shown hostility toward Ukrainian refugees as well, both during their election campaigns and afterwards. Ironically, one could argue that if Ukrainians in the Czech Republic belonged to another minority group, they might receive a different level of acceptance from some politicians. Otherwise, the contradiction in their positions becomes increasingly visible.

Recently, I also referred to a statement made by a member of a government, a claim about wannabe safest country in Europe that does not reflect reality.

The further reactions following the Berlin attack once again led me to question broader claims about security and crime that are often associated with people from certain countries or communities. I therefore looked at murder statistics in Germany’s capital Berlin and compared them with those of the supposedly “safe” Czech capital Prague — a city where, according to some political narratives, there should be almost no influence from migration from Islamic countries.

   Prague vs. Berlin: 

What do murder statistics look like when adjusted for population size?

  When comparing the safety of European cities, absolute numbers of murders are often cited. However, these can be misleading because they do not take into account population size or differences in the legal definitions and statistical methods used by individual countries. A more accurate comparison requires calculating the rate per 100,000 inhabitants and understanding the circumstances that may significantly influence the statistics.

 Year 2025

Prague

* 23 intentional killings (murder/homicide)

* Approximately 1.41 million inhabitants

* 1.63 cases per 100,000 inhabitants

Berlin

* 108 completed cases of Mord + Totschlag (murder and manslaughter)

* Approximately 3.70 million inhabitants

* 2.92 cases per 100,000 inhabitants

At first glance, it might appear that Berlin had a higher murder rate than Prague in 2025. However, such a conclusion would be misleading without further explanation.

 An exceptional case that changed the statistics

Berlin’s 2025 statistics included 79 completed killings connected to a single extraordinary criminal case. Police are investigating a former palliative care "white" doctor suspected of serially killing patients. This single case significantly increased the city’s overall statistics. However, these deaths occurred over a period of several years, not only during 2025.

If these 79 cases were excluded, Berlin would have approximately:

* 29 completed cases of Mord + Totschlag

* 0.78 cases per 100,000 inhabitants

 What did 2023, 2024 and 2025 look like?

Prague (2023)

* 27 registered murder cases

* Approximately 1.38 million inhabitants

* ≈ 1.96 cases per 100,000 inhabitants

Prague (2024)

* 19 registered murder cases

* Approximately 1.40 million inhabitants

* ≈ 1.36 cases per 100,000 inhabitants

Prague (2025)

* 23 registered murder cases

* Approximately 1.40 million inhabitants

* ≈ 1.64 cases per 100,000 inhabitants

Berlin (2023)

* 34 completed cases of Mord + Totschlag

* Approximately 3.66 million inhabitants

* ≈ 0.93 cases per 100,000 inhabitants

Berlin (2024)

* 53 completed cases of Mord + Totschlag

* Approximately 3.69 million inhabitants

* ≈ 1.44 cases per 100,000 inhabitants

Berlin (2025)

* Approximately 29 completed cases of Mord + Totschlag

* Approximately 3.70 million inhabitants

* ≈ 0.78 cases per 100,000 inhabitants

What does this show?

After removing the exceptional impact of one large criminal case involving a white man, or when looking at the years 2023, 2024 and 2025 separately, Prague and Berlin appear to have a very similar level of homicide crime relative to their populations. 

But 15 murder victims from the December 2023 Charles University in Prague shooting are not also included in this figure for Prague. Regarding Berlin, the PKS states that 10 cases from the Berlin series had already been included in the statistics for 2024, while 79 were included in 2025. Without the Berlin series, Berlin may therefore actually look even better.

Therefore, the claim that Germany is dangerous because it accepts migrants from Eastern countries, while the Czech Republic is safe because of the absence of migrants from Islamic countries, appears to me to be false. 

What happened?!

 Today I was deeply shocked by what happened on the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam.

I wondered whether I should write anything about this tragedy. I have a connection to Rotterdam and its community, and I simply can’t remain silent. I have also travelled by tram across the Erasmus Bridge many times.

This morning, a moving tram collided with a stationary tram on the Erasmus Bridge. The accident occurred while the bridge was open to allow a ship to pass.

Bridge openings like this are an everyday occurrence. During my visits to Rotterdam, I have often waited on a tram at the Erasmus Bridge while a ship passed underneath before continuing towards Wilhelminaplein. I wouldn’t want to experience something like this myself.

I was “surprised” that the approaching tram did not appear to slow down. The exact cause of the accident has not yet been made public. According to the available information, even witnesses did not immediately understand what had happened.

I have examined the situation using numerous available videos. One of my hypotheses is that a contributing factor may have been that the stationary tram was positioned just beyond the crest of the bridge in the direction of Wilhelminaplein. When approaching from the opposite side, the view over the bridge’s crest is limited. Based on my understanding of the bridge’s elevation, one possible contributing factor could be that the driver of the approaching tram was unable to see the stationary tram for much of the bridge, or perhaps not at all until the last moment.

This does not explain the accident itself. The actual cause may turn out to be something entirely different from my hypothesis. There are also safety systems in place, including signals and authorisation to enter the bridge. The accident could have resulted from a technical failure or another unforeseen circumstance. Hopefully, there was no failure to observe the signaling system or the bridge-opening procedures.

If the investigation were to show that the second tram had been authorized to enter the bridge while the first tram had stopped beyond the bridge’s crest, then the restricted visibility might prove to have been one of the contributing factors.

According to the available information, 15 people were injured in the accident. Seven were taken to hospital, and one person sustained serious injuries. The remaining injured passengers were treated at the scene and were able to return home.

Screenshots; 

Twee trams botsen op elkaar op de Erasmusbrug 

Meerdere zwaargewonden na botsing tussen trams Erasmusbrug Rotterdam

Lebensqualitätsindex

Den Haag

 To say a few more words about the Netherlands, it has already been mentioned on the blog that the Netherlands was ranked Best Quality of Life 2026. In my opinion, the recognition is well deserved.

The Quality of Life Index by City 2026 is also dominated by Dutch cities. My favorite, The Hague, holds first place, followed by Eindhoven in second, Rotterdam in third, and Utrecht in fourth. Groningen also appears in the top ten, ranking seventh.

Frauenkirche, Nuremberg

And it is not only Numbeo where these Dutch cities rank so highly. Similar conclusions can also be found in other sources, including Eurostat, the OECD Better Life Index, the European Commission’s Quality of Life in European Cities survey, Mercer Quality of Living, and others.

Beyond what I consider the obvious strength of the Dutch cities, the top ten also includes two German cities. Nuremberg ranks ninth.

I like Nuremberg and often make a stop there while traveling. I was therefore not surprised to see it receive such a high rating from Numbeo.

Nuremberg also has a great deal to offer from both an architectural and historical perspective. Although the city was heavily bombed during the Second World War and much of its historic fabric had to be reconstructed, it has retained a remarkable character.

Sometimes I think that Prague’s historic center itself is somewhat overrated when compared with German cities such as Nuremberg. (Prague is one hundred and fifteenth in the ranking of Numbeo.) At the same time, this also works in Nuremberg’s favor: it is generally less crowded with tourists, feels calmer, and is noticeably cleaner—cleanliness being one of the factors considered in Numbeo’s rankings. It is also less sprawling, another aspect reflected in the index, and its historic center is well integrated with the nice and strong modern parts of the city.

Where are you from?

 Given that I am among the people whose     more attractive appearance itself, stemming from the intellect and personality behind it, has become a problem for a significant part of society in a certain country around me, I am interested in the security of certain countries.

First of all, in my opinion, if a society is described as economically and culturally more advanced, while someone’s appearance alone becomes a problem, this claim appears to be untrue. Secondly, statements about safety for ordinary people in general are also misleading.

Because of these experiences, my experiences with other European countries, and statistical data, I was once again struck by the following statement:

“I know, and I think your people know as well, that the Czech Republic is the safest country in Europe and definitely one of the safest countries for people from Israel. And the reason is completely clear: we simply do not have any migrants from Islamic countries here.”

The statement was widely quoted by Czech media as part of appearance at a joint press conference with the Israeli Foreign Minister.

There are several false claims in this quote. First, the Czech Republic is not the safest country in Europe. It is not even among the top ten safest countries in Europe. Secondly, in my opinion, based on my experience as an “Aussie,” the Czech Republic does not necessarily have to be considered a safe country for Israelis, just as it may not be safe for people of Muslim origin or people of any other background. Thirdly, there are more countries in Europe that are safer than the Czech Republic, and their general populations include people from Islamic countries. One example is the Netherlands, and Switzerland is also among the top ten safest countries in Europe.

My examples of the Netherlands and Switzerland show that countries with a significantly higher proportion of residents with a migration background can also be very safe. The decisive factors are the functioning of institutions itself or the structure of society.

I could also mention that, due to “shortcomings” in the country mentioned above, I have experienced smiles and positive attitudes toward me from people of Muslim background as well, for example in the Netherlands. Therefore, someone could even argue that one may feel safer among these communities, just as the Netherlands or Switzerland itself is also statistically a safer country than Czechia.

How Migration Is Changing European Demography

 Perhaps some “environmentalists” may see a positive side when a population, civilization declines somewhere: less space is needed for people and fewer resources are consumed.

I sometimes smile at the fact that in the Benelux countries, France, or Germany, populations are growing, while elsewhere stagnation is taking place.

If immigrants and war refugees were also to leave, as many politicians suggest by appealing to widespread public sentiments, the population would decline by another roughly 10%. In an ironic sense, I have also thought that both mentally and because of a reduced population, this could become a political tool and might even help some countries in the event of a potential invasion.

This is about Czechia, where the population is declining, and Western Europe, where populations are growing and civilization in progress. I recently wrote about Rotterdam, where construction continues on a large scale, and about Luxembourg as well. In Czechia, less is being built partly because there are fewer people to build for, including as a consequence of migration policy.

Czechia is among the countries that have experienced a long-term population decline. The number of births is lower than the number of deaths, and demographic projections indicate that without sufficient migration, the Czech population will decrease over the long term.

On the other hand, Western Europe has growing populations. Countries such as Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, and, in recent decades, Germany have managed to offset population decline caused by low birth rates through immigration.

According to Eurostat, since 2012, the European Union’s population growth has been almost entirely dependent on positive net migration, which compensates for the natural decrease in population. Migration policy has therefore become one of the main factors shaping demographic development, alongside strong economic growth, as seen for example in Luxembourg.

In Germany, people with a migration background already account for approximately one-third of the population; in the Netherlands, nearly one-third; in Belgium, up to 40 percent; and in Luxembourg, the majority of the population consists of people born abroad or their descendants.

Baden

 I would say that I like Karlsruhe in Germany. Karlsruhe is located in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, in southwestern Germany, not far from the French border.

I was also in Karlsruhe during one of the nights over Christmas in 2025. As usual, I walked to Karlsruhe Palace (Schloss Karlsruhe). Even from the park, you can see how long the palace is—it almost doesn’t fit into a standard iPhone photo.

On warmer days or nights, when approaching Karlsruhe Palace along the main road, you can often smell the nearby zoo. It is located just behind the fence next to the sidewalk, so its presence is usually quite noticeable. During the freezing Christmas nights, however, I noticed it mainly because of the interesting sounds of the animals. There are residential buildings on the opposite side of the street.

I also like that the walk to Karlsruhe Palace takes you past Platz der Grundrechte (Square of Fundamental Rights), which is located in the lower part of the Schlossbezirk, in front of the Federal Constitutional Court.

The square features 24 double-sided street signs displaying quotations from judges, lawyers, scholars, and ordinary citizens about law, justice, and democracy. Each sign places two different perspectives on the same subject face to face, creating a public dialogue about the meaning of law, justice, and democratic society. The entire installation forms a unique public reflection on law and democracy.

Amerika 03.

            Many times, when I’m walking through the streets, I stop and think about taking a photo, but sometimes it feels a bit strange.

The Netherlands is probably the place where you can see the most classic American cars from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s compared to any of the surrounding countries. 

The Netherlands has one of the most visible communities of American classic car enthusiasts in Europe, and there are several reasons why it stands out much more than its neighboring countries.

The country has a long tradition of American car clubs and car meets.

Historically, it was also easier to import American vehicles through the Port of Rotterdam, and many Dutch people used these cars as their everyday vehicles.

Dutch cities, especially in South Holland and North Holland, have a fairly open alternative and performative culture, so it’s not unusual to come across themed cruises or groups of people dressed in costumes. American culture—rock ‘n’ roll, hot rods, muscle cars, and the spirit of the 1980s—is deeply rooted there, and people are not afraid to drive eye-catching American cars even outside of organized events.

Also, cities in South Holland, with their modern architecture and major port atmosphere, often feel like places where classic American cars naturally fit into the urban environment. 

52 hours in a hot Netherlands

• Day 01.

11:00 a.m. – Arrival for a stop in Eindhoven.

Travel from Eindhoven to South Holland.

Check in to accommodation.

Grocery shopping.

Visit to Hoek van Holland, traveling by tram and metro to the beach near Rotterdam.

Return to the hotel for personal needs.

Dinner.

A visit of Katendrecht and some time relaxing in the park, then continuing the night.

A private party until late at night.

• Day 02.

Before noon departure and travel to The Hague.

Visit to Scheveningen, including the beach and the sea.

Return to the hotel for personal needs.

Evening visit to Rotterdam city center.

Visit to Nieuwe Werk, Het Park, and other sights.

A private party until late at night.

• Day 03. 

Morning packing and late morning check out.   

Visit to the Maastunnel, then continue through tree parts of city to the afternoon departure point from the Netherlands.

America 2.0

  I sometimes refer to Rotterdam as a kind of “little New York.” The local community is highly diverse and multicultural. Like New York, Rotterdam is closely connected to water and its port, with a significant portion of the city built on land reclaimed from the sea. For centuries, the Dutch expanded the coastline by draining and protecting coastal areas.

Within the Dutch context, the city is quite unique in how openly it embraces high-rise construction. While cities such as Amsterdam and Utrecht are more constrained by historic architecture and skyline preservation, Rotterdam has had greater freedom for modern development since the middle of the twentieth century.

The Wilhelminapier area (part of Kop van Zuid) is one of the city’s main high-rise districts, and additional projects are still being planned there. Major transformations are also taking place around Feyenoord and throughout large parts of Rotterdam-Zuid.

However, development is not limited to the southern part of the city. High-rise projects are also emerging around Rotterdam Centraal, in the Coolhaven and Maritime District areas, along the River Maas, and within former port and industrial zones that are gradually being transformed into modern urban neighborhoods. The Maashaven area is also undergoing significant redevelopment, with extensive port facilities steadily being converted into new residential districts focused on housing, public space, and better use of the waterfront.

Source: eu-space.europa.eu

As a result, Rotterdam may represent the closest European example of a city attempting to address limited space in a manner similar to some North American and Asian cities—through greater density and vertical development.

In my opinion, Rotterdam also has some similarities to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It’s not because of the skyscrapers or the fact that both are coastal cities, but rather because of things like the changeable weather. Sometimes the weather in Rotterdam can change in an instant, much like it does in Melbourne. And in its own way, Rotterdam’s position relative to Amsterdam is similar to Melbourne’s position relative to Sydney.