haarlemsdagbladJul 6, 2026, 02:51

Future of SRO at risk, say Haarlem and Velsen councilors: 'Concerns about survival'

Dozens of council members from Haarlem and Velsen have expressed concerns regarding the future of the municipal sports company SRO following a multi-million euro fraud scandal discovered in late June. A motion was passed in Velsen calling for the municipal council to increase its oversight of the organization to ensure its survival.

Politics Business Haarlem

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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.

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.

Money has to come from somewhere in Brussels: new European taxes firmly on the table

Brussels is proposing new levies on plastics, carbon emissions, and parcel deliveries to generate independent revenue for the European Union. Critics argue these measures could act as a gateway to centralized European taxation rather than acting as genuine policy solutions.