Haarlem News in English
Haarlem news in English — local headlines from Haarlem and the wider Kennemerland region (Heemstede, Velsen, Beverwijk, Zandvoort, IJmuiden), translated daily for expats and English-speaking residents.
Exhibition A Travelogue for the Eye opens in Haarlem
The exhibition 'A Travelogue for the Eye' by Frank Visser and Mirjam Bleeker is scheduled to open at Kunst Centrum Haarlem on Friday, May 22. The show features a collection of works presented by the t...
Piet and Joke ride an old Haarlem police motorcycle: 'It survived World War II'
Piet and Joke were spotted enjoying a day out with their vintage motorcycle and sidecar, which originally belonged to the Haarlem police force. The historic vehicle is notable for having survived the ...
War remains secondary at Bevrijdingspop: 'This festival is mostly about having fun, and that's how it should be'
Bevrijdingspop 2026 continues to prioritize music and celebration, despite organizers' previous promises to place a greater emphasis on themes of war and security. Attendees found that these serious t...
Everyone reflects at liberation celebration in Velsen-Noord. ‘Dancing in the Breestraat after liberation was unforgettable’
Residents in Velsen-Noord gathered to commemorate the end of World War II, sharing personal memories of the liberation. The article highlights the importance of local observances alongside larger fest...
Young Bevrijdingspop visitors stay level-headed despite world misery: ‘Freedom is just enjoying a beer’
Tens of thousands of visitors attended the Bevrijdingspop festival to celebrate freedom and enjoy a day of entertainment. Most attendees focused on the festive atmosphere, emphasizing the importance o...
Bevrijdingspop sometimes unforgettable. Singing along with the Bankzitters or Hannah Mae
Haarlem hosted a sunny edition of the Bevrijdingspop festival, a long-standing tradition celebrating Liberation Day. The event featured performances by acts such as Bankzitters and Hannah Mae, providi...
Uitgeest Playgroup Foundation loses in court; municipality not required to pay damages
The Peuterspeelzalen Uitgeest Foundation lost a lawsuit against the municipality regarding the payment of damages. An administrative court in Haarlem ruled that the municipality is not required to com...
Tens of thousands in Haarlem for Liberation Day, festival queue grows
Tens of thousands of people are gathering in Haarlem today for the annual Bevrijdingspop festival to celebrate Liberation Day in the Haarlemmerhout. Authorities have introduced measures to manage the ...
Bevrijdingspop: searching for a nice spot next to the nettles. 'A highlight is when Matthy from the Bankzitters winks at me'
Bevrijdingspop, a major liberation festival in the Netherlands, began with a calm atmosphere as attendees gathered at the festival grounds. The event features various performers, including Matthy from...
Increased police surveillance at Brouwersvaart after fires
Police have increased patrols along the Brouwersvaart after four arson incidents occurred in the area in a short period. The heightened surveillance aims to prevent further fires and improve safety fo...
Johannes Wirix-Speetjens (28) returns to Haarlem with Classical Queers, an ode to queer artists: 'Their music connects us, but the struggle for recognition is not over'
Johannes Wirix-Speetjens will perform his show Classical Queers at De Schuur in Haarlem on June 10. The production explores his experiences growing up queer in the city and pays tribute to influential...
Whether Telstar plays in the Eredivisie or first division next season, season tickets are sold out
Dutch football club Telstar has sold out all 3,361 available season tickets for the upcoming season, ensuring the stadium will be at full capacity. The tickets were all renewed or sold despite uncerta...
Follow everything about Bevrijdingspop 2026: are people coming for the party or to truly celebrate freedom?
The 46th edition of Bevrijdingspop, the oldest and largest liberation festival in the Netherlands, is taking place today at the Haarlemmerhout in Haarlem. A live blog is tracking the event to see whet...
Two vehicles heavily damaged after fire in Heemskerk
Emergency services responded to a vehicle fire in Heemskerk early Sunday morning that heavily damaged a car and a van. This follows another car fire in the area the previous day, with police now inves...
New bike path confirmed for N208 roadside. Link between Haarlem and Santpoort-Noord
A new bicycle path connecting Haarlem and Santpoort-Noord will be constructed in the verge along the N208 provincial road. This chosen route will be further developed into a final design over the comi...
One spoonful of salmon salad per roll, no more. A well-oiled catering machine feeds Bevrijdingspop volunteers
A dedicated catering team is responsible for feeding more than 400 volunteers working behind the scenes at the Bevrijdingspop festival on May 5th. The operation ensures that the staff is well-fed whil...
Commemoration at the Dreef: fifteen executed men and other war victims honored in silence
On Monday, a memorial service was held at de Dreef to honor fifteen men executed there on March 7, 1945. The ceremony also paid tribute to other victims of World War II and subsequent conflicts in a m...
Silent march to the Honorary Cemetery: hundreds commemorate resistance fighters in the dunes
Hundreds of people participated in a silent march to the Honorary Cemetery in Overveen on May 4th to honor Dutch resistance fighters. The commemoration marked the 81st anniversary of the end of World ...
LIVE: Watch the Remembrance Day ceremony on Dam Square and the Remembrance Concert in Haarlem
NH will broadcast the National Remembrance Day ceremony live from Dam Square in Amsterdam tonight at 19:50, followed by a remembrance concert in Haarlem. The event occurs amid reports of vandalism at ...
From Bevrijdingspop to the Paardenmarkt: experience Liberation Day from your couch with NH
NH is providing comprehensive coverage of Liberation Day celebrations throughout the province, including the major Bevrijdingspop festival in Haarlem featuring artists like DI-RECT and S10. To prevent...
Ordinary residents tell their stories in ‘Haarlem in Wartime’
The documentary 'Haarlem in Oorlogstijd' premiered on Monday afternoon at the Filmkoepel in Haarlem to a large audience. The film features ordinary local residents sharing their personal stories and e...
Charges amended, but suspect denies any involvement in Beverwijk revenge attack
An 18-year-old suspect from IJmuiden appeared in court, denying involvement in a 2025 kidnapping and assault that moved from Beverwijk to Haarlem. The prosecution alleges the incident was a revenge at...
Ewald Engelen gives Freedom Lecture at Haarlem lodge on climate of fear and militarization in Europe
Professor and publicist Ewald Engelen will deliver the annual Freedom Lecture at the Ad Lucem et Pacem lodge in Haarlem on May 18. The lecture will address his critical views on what he describes as a...
Disappeared: successful baseball club Haarlem Nicols had a significant debt
The Dutch baseball club Haarlem Nicols, formed through a 1964 merger, is featured in a series highlighting defunct sports organizations. Despite its historical success, the club eventually collapsed a...
Victim kidnapped, assaulted and filmed: Suspect denies involvement in youth violence and wants to go home
A 19-year-old suspect denied involvement in the kidnapping and severe assault of a 23-year-old man during a preliminary court hearing in Alkmaar. The victim was abducted from Beverwijk to Haarlem on S...
Man hit brother with car in Haarlem. Amsterdam man (29) sentenced for attempted aggravated assault and possession of nitrous oxide
A 29-year-old man from Amsterdam was sentenced to five months in prison for intentionally hitting his brother's scooter with a car on the Houtplein in Haarlem in November 2023. The court convicted him...
Haarlem Comic Days spotlights heroines
The "Badass, now is the time for real heroines!" exhibition at Stripdagen Haarlem will showcase female comic book characters. The event is free to the public on May 29 and 30 at the Hart cultural cent...
Implementation of paid parking in Haarlem delayed by three months. 'We want to work carefully'
The large-scale rollout of paid parking in Haarlem has been delayed from late 2026 until March 2027. City aldermen stated that the shift in schedule is necessary to ensure a careful implementation pro...
Wim celebrates 95th birthday with walking group: 'We knighted him'
Wim Eijlbers recently celebrated his 95th birthday with members of the Duin en Kruidberg walking group. His fellow walkers marked the milestone by honoring him with a special celebration to recognize ...
From stage construction to security: Bevrijdingspop volunteers are working hard
Hundreds of volunteers are preparing for Bevrijdingspop Haarlem, with an increased focus on crowd safety following overcrowding issues at last year's event. New measures including additional gates hav...