haarlemsdagbladJun 8, 2026, 14:00

Messenger Jenning de Sanger had to deliver mail across 350 km of hostile territory in 1574

In 1574, following the Spanish capture of Haarlem, Jan Jansz (known as Jenning de Sanger) was appointed as a merchant messenger to deliver mail across 350 km of hostile territory to Douay. This appointment continued Haarlem's long-standing tradition of utilizing specialized messengers to manage official and commercial correspondence.

Politics Business Culture Haarlem Netherlands

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Based on reporting by haarlemsdagblad. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

Haarlem takes financial risk with new Spaarne Gasthuis construction

Haarlem is assuming significant financial risk by providing a 100 million euro guarantee and committing to purchase the current hospital site for 25 million euros to keep the Spaarne Gasthuis in the city. The initiative ensures 24-hour emergency care remains in Haarlem, though the city has deferred requirements for building staff housing.

More than 76,000 rental homes have already disappeared from the market – landlords complain about affordable rent legislation

Since the introduction of the Affordable Rent Act in 2024, over 76,000 rental homes have been sold off by landlords across the Netherlands, tightening housing supply. Rental prices are simultaneously rising faster than inflation, with Amsterdam, Amstelveen, and Haarlem remaining among the most expensive areas for tenants.

Spaarne Gasthuis to build entirely new hospital in Haarlem

Spaarne Gasthuis plans to build a new hospital in Haarlem-Zuid by 2033 to consolidate clinical and emergency care services. Consequently, the Hoofddorp branch will be repurposed into a day hospital for outpatient treatments and diagnostic services.

Artist Jeff Koons sells $100 million in art from private collection

Artist Jeff Koons is selling a private art collection valued at 100 million dollars through an upcoming auction at Christie's in New York. The collection includes high-profile works by Picasso, Manet, and Dutch Golden Age painter Cornelis van Haarlem.

Waste bin full? Future sensors may sound the alarm

The municipality is testing fill-level sensors in waste containers to optimize collection routes and reduce trash accumulation on streets. A pilot project is currently underway, with plans to potentially expand the use of this technology across the city by early 2028.