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.
Haarlem Bird Hospital hosts free nature activities for children Wednesday afternoon
The Vogelhospitaal in Haarlem is hosting a free nature activity for children called the 'Creepy Crawly Expedition' on Sunday, March 1st. From 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, participants can explore the garden to...
Skating in shorts at Boerderij Zorgvrij in Spaarnwoude: ‘And on the first warm day we also have an ice cream’
Residents in Spaarnwoude and Santpoort celebrated the first warm day of the year with outdoor activities like skating and cycling. The arrival of spring weather encouraged locals to visit Boerderij Zo...
Police chase from Amsterdam ends in Haarlem
Police initiated a high-speed pursuit of a Mercedes on Wednesday evening starting in Amsterdam. The chase continued along the N200 highway and concluded in Haarlem.
Municipal scanning car hits lamppost in Haarlem
A scan car belonging to the Haarlem and Zandvoort municipality crashed into a lamppost on Wednesday evening. The incident occurred at the corner of Julianastraat and Stolbergstraat in Haarlem.
Griekspoor beats Bublik to reach Dubai quarter-finals
Dutch tennis player Tallon Griekspoor advanced to the quarterfinals of the Dubai tennis tournament after defeating world number 10 Alexander Bublik on Wednesday. The victory secures Griekspoor a place...
Accident on A9 towards Uitgeest causes major delays, one person injured
An accident involving two cars on the A9 motorway towards Uitgeest led to a complete road closure and significant traffic delays on Wednesday evening. One person was injured in the collision, which al...
Dine for less at these Haarlem restaurants during Restaurant Week
Restaurant Week is returning to Haarlem, offering diners the opportunity to eat at participating restaurants for a discounted price over nearly a month and a half. The event allows visitors to explore...
Working? No way, they're enjoying the sun: First spring warmth draws Haarlem residents outdoors
The first spring warmth of the season brought residents of Haarlem outdoors to enjoy a sunny Wednesday. Many people traded their winter coats for light jackets and took to their bicycles or opened the...
Doors of Velserbroek residential complex wide open for a month: 'Strangers recently entered a neighbor's home again'
The doors of the De Hofstede residential complex in Velserbroek have remained open for nearly a month due to a malfunctioning entry system. Residents have expressed concern for their safety after unau...
Renewed unrest at Gierstraat-Breestraat corner. Felled trees and new hospitality permit application raise eyebrows
Tensions have resurfaced at the corner of Gierstraat and Breestraat in Haarlem after the property owner cut down several trees and submitted a new catering permit application. The local city council h...
Coastal towns want mandatory insurance after cutter runs aground, Fisherman's Union supportive
Coastal municipalities in North Holland are advocating for mandatory liability insurance for vessels under 300 tons following the costly stranding of an uninsured cutter near Zandvoort. The Dutch Fish...
Who knows where missing Sophia (37) from The Hague is?
The family and police are searching for 37-year-old Sophia (Yiqun) Wang, who disappeared after leaving Amsterdam's Amstelstation around midnight on Friday, February 20. Originally from The Hague, auth...
Francesco (91) and Agnieta (95) rest in Tilburg, but their missionary work continues in the Moluccas
Two elderly sisters in Tilburg, Francesco and Agnieta, recently reviewed the impact of their long-term missionary work in the Moluccas through photographs taken by Ton Toemen. The article reflects on ...
Weekend tips: things to do in Amsterdam (February 27 to March 1)
This article provides recommendations for activities and events taking place in Amsterdam during the weekend of February 27 to March 1. As the days grow longer, the city offers various engaging option...
Scented candle causes fire in Hoofddorp apartment complex: 'Bed was on fire'
A fire broke out in a Hoofddorp apartment complex this morning after a scented candle set a bed on fire while a teenage resident was briefly away. Emergency services evacuated the building and rescued...
Ajax punished for fireworks against FC Groningen: F-side empty during next home match
Ajax has been penalized with a closure of the F-Side stand for their upcoming match against Sparta on March 14 following a fireworks incident during a game against FC Groningen. The club accepted the ...
Roads in Velsen and IJmuiden closed for major asphalt maintenance
The municipality of Velsen will begin major asphalt maintenance on several regional roads starting in mid-March. Construction is scheduled to occur overnight between 8:00 PM and 5:00 AM, which may res...
Area ban for shot troublemaker in Spaarndam, 68-year-old shooter remanded for three months
A 68-year-old man from Spaarndam remains in pretrial detention for three months after shooting his neighbor in the legs in February. He faces charges of attempted manslaughter, aggravated assault, and...
Why more and more children are not going to school and how we are tackling it
The number of children not attending school rose to 821 during the last academic year. Authorities have investigated the causes for this increase and are now implementing measures to address the issue...
Help for seniors with moving
The City of Haarlem has reintroduced a moving expense allowance of €1,250 for seniors aged 65 and older who transition from multi-story rental homes to more accessible housing. This initiative, part...
Interior afternoon Haarlem houses
On March 6, 2026, Haarlem will host an event focused on the historical interiors of local houses dating from 1875 to 1945. Experts will discuss architectural details like stained glass and decorative ...
Elections: slightly fewer candidates in Haarlem than four years ago
On March 18, 365 candidates will compete for 39 seats in the Haarlem municipal council. This figure represents a slight decrease compared to the previous election four years ago, when 383 candidates w...
Snowdrop walk in Thijsse's Hof
Hundreds of snowdrops are currently blooming in Thijsse’s Hof botanical garden. The site is once again hosting its annual display of these early spring flowers.
'This is the practice ground. Here children really learn that we do it together,' says departing principal Ruscha Wijdeveld (67) of OBS de Erasmus in the disadvantaged Meerwijk neighborhood
Ruscha Wijdeveld is retiring as the director of OBS de Erasmus primary school in Haarlem's Meerwijk neighborhood after decades of service. The school, which hosts students from 35 different background...
70 municipal reports on demolition and tree felling in Haarlem last week
The municipality of Haarlem processed a total of 70 permit applications last week regarding demolition and tree felling. These reports were released to keep residents informed about upcoming activitie...
Major fire in Hoofddorp apartment building
A large fire broke out in an apartment building on Manenburgdreef in Hoofddorp, prompting emergency services to scale up to a Grip-1 level. Firefighters have rescued several residents from balconies, ...
Health inspectorate investigates lidocaine post-COVID treatment at Velsen-Noord clinic
The Dutch Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ) is investigating a clinic in Velsen-Noord for potentially violating medical research regulations while treating post-COVID patients with lidocaine. T...
Parking fines rain down on construction-plagued Meerwijk: 'Soon we’ll have to sell the street paper'
Residents of the Meerwijk neighborhood in Haarlem are facing a surge in parking fines of 139 euros each after parking illegally due to a lack of available spaces. The shortage is caused by an influx o...
Municipal elections on March 18: what OP Haarlem wants
Residents of Haarlem will vote in the municipal elections on March 18. This report focuses on the plans and candidates of the local political party OP Haarlem.
Nine months juvenile detention after Heemskerk explosion; teen also guilty of home robbery in Zuidoostbeemster
A 19-year-old man from Amsterdam has been sentenced to nine months of youth detention by the Haarlem district court. He was convicted for his involvement in an explosion in Heemskerk and a violent hom...