paroolOct 10, 2026, 01:00

Xplore students choose their own exam level, even if teachers have doubts: 'Our pass rate is lower, but we give every child a chance'

The Xplore secondary school in Amsterdam-Noord allows students to create their own curriculum and choose when to take their final exams, even if teachers have doubts. While the model offers significant freedom, its lower pass rate has led to questions about the quality of education at the school.

Culture Amsterdam

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

Opinion: A man was masturbating on metro 53. Is Amsterdam doing enough to protect women in Zuidoost?

An incident of public indecency on Amsterdam's metro line 53 has sparked criticism regarding the safety of women traveling to the Zuidoost district at night. The upcoming cancellation of the direct route to Centraal Station is being labeled a setback for safety, with calls for the city to prioritize infrastructure improvements and maintain direct transport links.

The Bear has nothing on this: inside the kitchen of the award-winning Cradam

Café-Restaurant Amsterdam is celebrating its anniversary while managing a high-volume service that sees around six hundred reservations on weekend days. The kitchen staff maintains a fast-paced environment to handle the constant influx of food orders.

'The worst part? That the whole street watched as they followed me and called me names': this is what everyday violence against queer people in Amsterdam looks like

Five queer residents of Amsterdam have shared personal testimonies describing a rising climate of hate, intimidation, and violence against the LGBTQ+ community. These individuals report that anti-queer sentiment is becoming increasingly normalized among both youth and adults throughout the Netherlands.

The year of young internet pioneers, bagels and coffee to go: was 1996 the year Amsterdam became a metropolis?

The year 1996 is highlighted as a transformative period for Amsterdam, marked by significant infrastructure projects like the Amsterdam Arena and the initial planning for the Noord/Zuidlijn. This era also saw the launch of the Canal Parade and the rise of new cultural trends that helped shift the city toward a more metropolitan status.

A hidden suitcase in the attic revealed this Amsterdam woman's secret NSB past

The 1995 discovery of a hidden suitcase in an Amsterdam attic revealed the secret NSB past of local resident Willy Breurken. Researcher Merel Ligtelijn discovered that Breurken, who grew up in poverty, had turned to National Socialism as a result of her difficult background.