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.
Petting zoo ’t Molentje celebrates 75th anniversary: ‘All animals living with us are allowed to grow old here’
Kinderboerderij ’t Molentje, the oldest petting zoo in the Netherlands, is celebrating its 75th anniversary this Sunday with various festivities. Located in the Groenendaalse Bos, the farm was offic...
Housing priority in Haarlem for healthcare, education, and childcare staff falls short: scheme used only 9 times
Since 2023, a priority housing scheme for healthcare, education, and childcare workers in Haarlem has resulted in only nine successful placements, significantly lower than the anticipated eighty. The ...
Illustration Biennial shows how visual culture makes resistance visible: 'Societal importance of illustration is greater than ever today'
The eighth edition of the Illustratie Biënnale will take place on June 6 and 7 at the Schuur in Haarlem. The festival highlights the growing importance of illustration in making social resistance vis...
Holiday host families wanted in South Holland and North Holland
Stichting Europa Kinderhulp is seeking host families in North and South Holland to provide summer vacations for vulnerable children aged five to twelve. These holidays are scheduled for July and Augus...
Look back: this was Bevrijdingspop in Haarlem
Haarlem celebrated Bevrijdingspop yesterday with a full day of music and festivities to commemorate freedom. The event featured various performances and large crowds, while similar Liberation Day cele...
66 municipal reports on construction, demolition, tree felling, and hospitality in Haarlem last week
The municipality of Haarlem processed 66 permit applications last week regarding construction, demolition, tree felling, and catering. Residents can review these reports to see specific developments p...
Haarlem midwifery practice Luna expands to Santpoort-Noord: 'We are the village practice in the city'
Haarlem-based midwifery practice Luna is expanding with a new location in Santpoort-Noord, scheduled to open on May 9th. The new facility on Broekbergenlaan will provide pregnancy support and host an ...
Jan (74) spotlights Jacob van Campen in new book, known for Royal Palace and Elswout: ‘Architecture is less personally visible, people don’t know the creator’
Sociologist Jan Niessen has released a new book titled "Jacob van Campen, Schilder en architect" to bring attention to the Haarlem-born architect of the Dutch Golden Age. The biography explores Van Ca...
Heavy smoke at apartment fire in Haarlem
A fire broke out in an apartment building on Andorrastraat in Haarlem on Wednesday morning, producing significant amounts of smoke. Emergency services are at the scene, and it is currently unclear if ...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...