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.

Bevrijdingspop to center on war and freedom in 2026: 'The new generation feels deeply about what is happening in the world'
The Haarlem festival Bevrijdingspop is shifting its focus to emphasize the importance of peace, security, and freedom in its upcoming edition. While still featuring popular music acts like S10 and Ban...

Telstar earns impressive point at NEC after wild night of storms and a bicycle kick
Telstar secured a 1-1 draw in a challenging away match against NEC. The game was marked by a thunderstorm and a disallowed bicycle kick goal.

Nights in the Kennemer Dunes: how Ronald Zimmerman became Nature Photographer of the Year
Haarlem-based photographer Ronald Zimmerman has been named Nature Photographer of the Year after winning the Groene Camera award for his work. His award-winning series captures natterjack toads at nig...

Trendy retail chain opens its doors in Haarlem: ‘What we find beautiful is the starting point’
The concept store 'Things I like, Things I love' has opened a new location in the Grote Houtstraat in Haarlem. This trendy chain selects its products based on what the owners personally find beautiful...
Local residents concerned by boat fires in Brouwersvaart. 'Can camera surveillance be installed here?'
Residents near the Brouwersvaart in Haarlem are expressing concern and requesting camera surveillance after a series of arson attacks. On Saturday morning, two boats were set on fire, following previo...

Haarlem court employee fired for embezzling 150,000 euros
A financial employee at the Haarlem court was dismissed after embezzling approximately 150,000 euros between 2018 and 2025. While a criminal investigation was initiated, it was halted following the em...

Shared dining feels special at Table Twenty Four, but what are those corn kernels doing in our dessert? (7.5)
Table Twenty Four offers a special shared dining experience featuring well-presented and delicious dishes. While the overall quality is high, the review mentions that some elements felt missing and qu...

Wrong amount charged 58 times at De Lange Heer on King’s Day; owner compensates visitors to avoid appearance of payment issues
Twan Stoelman, the owner of Café De Lange Heer in Haarlem, has publicly announced that 58 customers were overcharged during King's Day celebrations. The owner is compensating the affected visitors to...

Labor Day shines at Café de Zon: ‘The fight for better labor rights is far from over’
On Friday, Café de Zon hosted Labor Day celebrations featuring protest songs and discussions on trade unions and migrant workers' rights. The event emphasized that the struggle for improved labor rig...

Boat on fire in Haarlem, extensive damage
A small boat was destroyed by fire on the Brouwersvaart in Haarlem during the night between Friday and Saturday. The vessel sustained significant damage as a result of the blaze.
Rood-Wit hockey player has MS but is determined to return: 'I'd prefer to be back on the field next week'
Twenty-four-year-old hockey player Joann ter Haak from the Rood-Wit club has been diagnosed with the chronic autoimmune disease Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Despite the diagnosis, she remains determined t...
'It seems illogical, but it works perfectly': how Peruvian and Japanese flavors come together at Maita
Restaurant Maita, a fixture in Haarlem's Lange Veerstraat for nine years, specializes in Nikkei cuisine which fuses Peruvian and Japanese flavors. Manager Spyros explains how these distinct culinary t...

Cartoonist Jip van den Toorn: 'An act of resistance doesn’t have to be big'
Cartoonist Jip van den Toorn delivered the annual Willem Arondéus lecture at the Bavo Church in Haarlem, emphasizing that acts of resistance do not always have to be grand or heroic. She discussed th...

Loitering nuisance hangs like a dark cloud over opening of Prof. Boumanstraat playground. 'They scream and throw stones'
A renovated playground on Professor Boumanstraat in Haarlem's Boerhaavewijk neighborhood celebrated its opening on Thursday afternoon. Despite positive feedback on the new facilities, local residents ...

How to get Haarlem residents talking about the climate? Plan for traveling artwork
Haarlem is planning a traveling artwork designed to spark community dialogue about climate change and creating a greener, more livable city. The project serves as a follow-up to the Haarlem Citizens' ...

Sunscreen, drinks and sunshine on the first summer day in Haarlem
Haarlem experienced its first summer-like day last Friday as temperatures reached 23 degrees Celsius. Residents celebrated the warm weather by switching to summer clothing and heading outdoors.
You can soon look inside these Haarlem windmills
During the National Windmill Days on May 9 and 10, several windmills in Haarlem will open their doors to the public for free. Visitors can explore the interiors of these historic structures to learn h...

Cyclists' Union: PRO breaks election promise with 'bicycle-unfriendly' approach to Grote Houtstraat. 'Inhospitable and monomaniacal'
The Fietsersbond has criticized Haarlem's largest political party, PRO, for plans to reduce bicycle parking spaces near Grote Houtstraat. The cyclists' union argues that Alderman Robbert Berkhout's po...

Drug premises in Cruquius heavily guarded, but no sign of a laboratory
Police discovered a significant quantity of drugs in a building in Cruquius after responding to a robbery report, resulting in the arrest of three suspects. While heavily armed officers and a speciali...
‘Woman was an object to two Haarlem men.’ Prison sentences demanded for rape and sexual assault
Prosecutors have demanded a two-year prison sentence, with ten months suspended, against a 33-year-old man from Haarlem for the rape of a woman. The victim reportedly woke up during the assault in the...

'Gentle poet' Gershwin Bonefacia at May 4 Memorial Concert; 'Resistance is a chain of continuous small acts against injustice'
Poet Gershwin Bonefacia, former city poet of Amsterdam and winner of the Gouden Ganzenveer 2026, will perform as a special guest at a remembrance concert on May 4th. The event will be held by the Kenn...

Strand van Oranje festival should not return
A weekly poll invites readers to share their opinions on whether the festival 'Strand van Oranje' should be allowed to return. The article encourages public participation to gather community feedback ...

Conrad Shipyard is too special to be demolished after all
The article presents a weekly poll inviting readers to share their views on the potential demolition of the historic Werf Conrad site. It suggests that the location may be too significant to be torn d...
9 cool photos of Bevrijdingspop through the years
The article showcases nine historical photographs of the Bevrijdingspop music festival, which is held annually in Haarlem. The event takes place every May 5th in the Haarlemmerhout park to celebrate f...

Kennemerland fire department learns from Spanish colleagues how to fight wildfires: 'Fires like those on the Veluwe happen there daily'
The Kennemerland Fire Department is improving its wildfire preparedness by learning from more experienced colleagues in Southern Europe, the US, and Canada. Local firefighters are assisting internatio...
Cycle path along N208 near Haarlem a step closer
The province of North Holland and the municipalities of Haarlem and Velsen have selected a preliminary design for a new fast cycling route along the N208. The chosen 'roadside variant' will create a c...

Victims lost thousands of euros to Marktplaats fraud from Heemstede and Hoofddorp: 'I was involved'
A 24-year-old man from Heemstede admitted in a Haarlem court to his involvement in a Marketplace fraud scheme that cost victims thousands of euros. The suspect, whose activities were linked to Heemste...

Shibuya karaoke bar reopens this weekend, three years after forced closure
Karaoke bar Shibuya in Haarlem is set to reopen this weekend after being closed for nearly three years. Under new ownership, the establishment maintains its original appearance and atmosphere.

Major reed fire with heavy smoke on Liewegje in Haarlem
A large reed fire broke out on a walking path near Liewegje in Haarlem on Thursday evening, resulting in significant smoke development. Witnesses at the scene reported that the fire may have been the ...
Weekend tips: things to do in Haarlem (May 1-3)
Haarlem offers a variety of activities for the weekend of May 1st through 3rd to help locals recover from King's Day festivities. The article provides a curated list of event recommendations to keep r...