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.
Regional transport workers to strike one day a week until Christmas
Regional transport workers in the Netherlands are planning weekly strikes until Christmas to push for better working conditions, including lower work pressure and improved pay. Municipal city transpor...
Many students attend Pink Breakfast in Haarlem, but: "Purple Friday is under pressure"
On Purple Friday, students wore purple to support the LGBTI+ community, with a well-attended Pink Breakfast held at the Haarlem city hall. However, recent data shows a notable decrease in the acceptan...
Cameras return to troubled Haarlem neighborhood, but will it work? "They just pee on them"
Surveillance cameras have been reinstalled at Roerdompplein in Haarlem to combat a resurgence of antisocial behavior and harassment by groups of youths. Despite these security measures, local resident...
Autumn break in Haarlem: this is the weather forecast
As the autumn school break begins in Haarlem, the recent period of warm, sunny weather is coming to an end. Meteorologists predict a more unsettled week ahead with cooler temperatures, frequent shower...
Haarlem city treasury grew last year: nearly 380 million euros in cash
The municipality of Haarlem saw its financial reserves grow to nearly 380 million euros by the end of 2025, reaching its highest level since 2016. This growth is driven by higher-than-expected revenue...
Weekend tips: things to do in Haarlem (October 9-11)
Haarlem is hosting a variety of community activities from October 9 to 11, including artisan markets, nature walks, and early evening social events. The program also features family-friendly theater p...
Three Polish suspects released after leaving suitcases at Haarlem station
Three Polish suspects arrested for leaving unattended suitcases at Haarlem station in September have been released from custody, though the investigation continues. The incident previously led to a te...
Shoe belonging to famous Zandvoort dwarf turns up in England
A shoe belonging to the famous 19th-century Dutch performer Simon Paap has been discovered in a museum in Warrington, England. Researchers confirmed the artifact's origins, linking it to Paap's travel...
House prices exceed half a million, but buyers have more choice again
Dutch house prices reached an average of 503,000 euros in the third quarter, a slight increase amid a 24 percent rise in available housing supply. Despite more properties being on the market, sales re...
Sharp rise in homes for sale, but concerns over ‘mismatch’ and ‘shrinkflation’ in new construction
The Dutch housing market has seen a substantial increase in both existing and new-build home listings, offering buyers more negotiation room and choice. However, sales for new construction projects ar...
No trains between Amsterdam Sloterdijk and Haarlem due to power failure
A power failure has caused a suspension of intercity train services between Haarlem and Leiden. The disruption is expected to continue until approximately 08:00 as maintenance crews work to restore po...
Volunteers brighten up parking lot: 'Bringing the dunes into Haarlem'
Haarlem is increasing its urban greenery through several initiatives, including the creation of a new dune garden in the Waarderpolder industrial area. Volunteers are planting native species to boost ...
Woman (86) dies after swim in North Sea between IJmuiden and Overveen
An 86-year-old woman has died after going for a swim in the North Sea between IJmuiden and Overveen. Despite an immediate rescue effort by emergency services, she could not be revived, and police have...
Concerns in Haarlemmermeer as emergency care moves to Haarlem
The Spaarne Gasthuis will move its emergency and inpatient services from Hoofddorp to a new location in Haarlem by 2033 to better manage staffing shortages. Local officials in Haarlemmermeer are criti...
Adult children living at home? This happens less often in Haarlem than elsewhere in the country
Young adults in Haarlem are increasingly living with their parents for longer, with the median age rising to nearly 23 years old. This trend is largely driven by a challenging housing market that make...
Brazilians (22 and 23) who used extreme violence to rob men met via Grindr are now in the Netherlands
Two Brazilian men, aged 22 and 23, have been extradited from Portugal to the Netherlands to face charges for a series of violent robberies in Amsterdam and Haarlem. The suspects allegedly lured victim...
Spaarne Gasthuis maintains full-service hospital in Haarlem-South
Spaarne Gasthuis has announced it will maintain a full-service hospital in Haarlem-Zuid, providing 24-hour and emergency care while converting its Hoofddorp site into a day-treatment facility. The Cit...
Public Prosecution Service: ‘Child soldiers’ (18 and 19) flown in from Sweden to carry out contract killings in Amsterdam and Haarlem
Two teenagers from Sweden were apprehended after being flown into the Netherlands to execute contract killings in Amsterdam and Haarlem this July. While an attempted hit in Amsterdam failed, authoriti...
50 reports of demolition and tree felling in Haarlem last week
The municipality of Haarlem processed 50 permit applications last week regarding residential construction, structural renovations, and tree felling. The requests cover various projects across the city...
This is why the Schoterbrug section is completely detached
A mysterious pillar standing near the Schoterbrug in Haarlem is actually an unused decorative element from the bridge's original design. City officials confirm it remains in the grass because its inte...
High rents drive away candidates: private sector homes stay online longer
Rental interest in the Netherlands has dropped significantly as rising prices and decreasing housing supply make finding a home more difficult. Landlords are increasingly selling their properties due ...
Mountains of bulky waste on Haarlem street: "This has been going on for four weeks"
Residents in the Waddenstraat area of Haarlem are complaining about large piles of trash that have accumulated over the past month due to tenants vacating buildings slated for demolition. The 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 ...
One in ten houses sold in Amsterdam is a former rental property, landlords complain: 'The damage is enormous'
Approximately 9.1 percent of homes sold in Amsterdam were formerly rental properties as landlords exit the market following the introduction of new rental legislation and higher taxes. Across the Neth...
Spaarne Gasthuis chooses Haarlem and invests in a new hospital
Spaarne Gasthuis has decided to maintain a full-service hospital with 24-hour emergency care in Haarlem, while converting its Hoofddorp facility into a planned-care day hospital. This reorganization a...
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 fo...
Walking, chatting and taking a moment: join the Walk of Life in Haarlem
The Walk of Life is coming to Haarlem this October, offering free guided group walks on three consecutive mornings. The event focuses on mental health and social connection, inviting everyone to parti...
Haarlem Horror Film Festival comes to Schuur in Haarlem
The Schuur theater in Haarlem will host the first edition of the Haarlem Horror Film Festival from October 19 to October 25. The program features live-scored silent classics, the Tyro Film Competition...
Haarlem gears up for the holidays already: lights are already up
Haarlem has started installing its annual holiday street lighting, a tradition that originated shortly after the Second World War. Specialized installers are currently mounting festive displays across...
Falls in Haarlem: 9,575 elderly people seriously injured in the past five years
Elderly residents in Haarlem experienced 9,575 serious injuries from falls over the last five years, though recent data shows a downward trend in these incidents. Health experts note that targeted pre...