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.
Four debates in Bloemendaal ahead of municipal elections
Bloemendaal will host four election debates in preparation for the upcoming municipal elections. The series begins on Friday, February 20, with the "Rainbow Debate" held in Aerdenhout.
![Police in bulletproof vests investigate for hours in Velsen-Noord, one arrest [update]](https://prod-img.ijmuidercourant.nl/public/incoming/chierq--mg-7635.jpg/alternates/BASE_SIXTEEN_NINE/_MG_7635.jpg)
Police in bulletproof vests investigate for hours in Velsen-Noord, one arrest [update]
Police in Velsen-Noord conducted a several-hour investigation on Wijkerstraatweg following a threat that potentially involved a firearm on Friday night. Officers wearing bulletproof vests arrested one...
Venezuelan authorities grant amnesty to 379 prisoners
Venezuelan authorities have granted amnesty to 379 political prisoners following the passage of a new law on Friday. The move follows the removal of former President Nicolás Maduro from power and is ...
New Bird Bike a source of frustration for mother and son Kas. Bike is mostly out of service for repairs
After saving €1,200 to purchase a La Souris Bird Bike, a young owner named Kas and his mother have faced ongoing frustration due to the electric bicycle's frequent technical failures. The bike has s...
Weekend or weekday? This is the day King's Day 2026 falls on
King's Day 2026 will fall on Monday, April 27, providing many people in the Netherlands with a long weekend and an extra day off. This follows two consecutive years where the national holiday occurred...
Ukrainian Julia Vodolazska bought a house in Hoorn: ‘This is the first year we feel a bit stable’
Julia Vodolazska and her family fled the Russian invasion of Ukraine and settled in Hoorn, Netherlands, where they both secured permanent employment and purchased a home. Despite their relatively smoo...
From the slopes to the circuit. Martijn Wijsman (52) has only one leg, but that doesn’t stop him from wanting to be the best
Martijn Wijsman, a 52-year-old four-time Paralympian and cancer survivor with one leg, is transitioning from a career in professional skiing to competitive car racing. The Zandvoort resident recently ...
The tax authorities as the worm in the apple
Reforming the tax system has emerged as one of the most significant challenges for the Dutch government, despite being overshadowed by high-profile issues like nitrogen and migration. This complex fis...
Beverwijk sacrifices green space for Heemskerk housing development: 299 new homes near station area
The Beverwijk city council has approved a plan to construct 299 new homes at Euratomplein near the Heemskerk station area. The project involves building on a small portion of land belonging to Beverwi...
Toos & Henk - February 21
Cartoonist Paul Kusters provides a unique perspective on current events through his "Toos & Henk" comic strip. Published from Monday to Saturday, the February 21 entry continues his regular series of ...
'If this ban is implemented, it won't solve the PFAS problem': Jasper Roubos from Haarlemmermeer fears for the future of Dutch arable farming
Dutch farmer Jasper Roubos warns that a potential ban on pesticides containing PFAS could destroy the country's arable farming sector without effectively solving the chemical pollution problem. The Ne...
Netherlands considers ban on PFAS pesticides
The Netherlands is considering a ban on various pesticides containing PFAS to protect the country's groundwater. While drinking water companies support the potential measure, farmers have expressed si...
LIVE Eredivisie | Ajax host season revelation NEC in direct battle for third place
Ajax is set to host NEC at the Johan Cruijff Arena tonight in a significant Eredivisie matchup between two teams currently tied at 42 points. The 21:00 kick-off serves as a direct battle for third pla...
Total of five dead in Austria avalanches
Five skiers died following avalanches in Austria on Friday, according to reports from local authorities. The death toll rose after one of the three people rescued from an avalanche near St. Anton am A...
Comedian Eric van Sauers ashamed he doesn’t want to perform in Limburg and Groningen: ‘That arrogance. As if I'm too big for that’
Dutch comedian Eric van Sauers expressed regret for excluding distant Dutch provinces from his theater tour to avoid long travel times, labeling the decision as arrogant. He reflected on his 42-year r...
Extensive cloud cover, little sun in Haarlem in the afternoon
Haarlem will experience overcast skies today with an increasing chance of rain, followed by a rainy night. Temperatures are expected to reach a high of 10°C this afternoon with moderate winds and wil...
Police praise critical eye of Big Brother Awards
The Dutch National Police have adjusted their operational methods based on critical feedback provided by the digital rights organization Bits of Freedom. During the 2025 Big Brother Awards, Deputy Pol...
Dutch men's short track relay team wins eighth Olympic gold
The Dutch men's short track team, featuring Jens van ’t Wout, Melle van ’t Wout, Teun Boer, and Friso Emons, won the gold medal in the relay at the Milan-Cortina Olympic Games. This victory marks ...
Dutch Tax Authority continues to use algorithms, promises improvement
The Dutch Tax Authority has committed to using algorithms more responsibly following criticism and receiving a Big Brother Award for privacy violations. However, a spokesperson stated that the organiz...
Future of vacant national monument Bloemoord still unknown
The housing association Brederode Wonen is considering various future scenarios for the vacant historic monument Bloemoord on Bloemendaalseweg. A new purpose is being sought for the building following...
Multiple dead in avalanche at Austrian ski resort St. Anton
At least two people were killed on Friday following an avalanche near the St. Anton am Arlberg ski resort in western Austria. The incident occurred in the mountainous region of the country's west, as ...
Andrew may be removed from line of succession after Epstein case
The British government is considering legislation to remove Prince Andrew from the royal line of succession due to his ties with Jeffrey Epstein. This move would proceed once the police investigation ...
Higher sentences for mistaken identity kidnapping of man (56) held for days in Gouda warehouse
The Amsterdam Court of Appeal has sentenced six men to prison terms of up to four years and 11 months for the mistaken identity kidnapping of a 56-year-old man. The victim was abducted in Cruquius and...
'When something like this happens, football means nothing'. Tribute to Seedorf, Mbappé, Thuram, Henry and all those who spoke out against racism
In his weekly column, Henk Spaan pays tribute to football figures such as Clarence Seedorf, Vinicius Jr., and Wouter Goes for their stances against racism. The piece highlights the importance of playe...
Blow for Ajax: Season over for goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros after serious knee injury
Ajax goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros will miss the remainder of the season after sustaining a serious knee injury during training on Friday. The Czech goalkeeper requires surgery and will be replaced by Ma...
Piet Huijg and his legacy of service live on in Cronjé sports shop: 'We do things differently, but honor my father's values'
The sports shop founded by former HFC Haarlem player Piet Huijg is celebrating its 50th anniversary in the Cronjé district of Haarlem. Managed by his daughter Ilse for the past decade, the store cont...
We only have each other on loan
The author reflects on significant family transitions as their parents' house was sold this week following their deaths last year. On the same day the property was handed over, the author's youngest s...
Merz re-elected CDU leader with 91 percent of the vote
Friedrich Merz has been re-elected as the chairman of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) after securing 91 percent of the vote at the party's congress. This result confirms his continued lea...
Zelensky: US and Russia want Ukraine to give up Donbas
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in an interview with AFP that both the United States and Russia are pressuring Kyiv to cede the Donbas region to end the war immediately. Zelensky emphasi...
Johan de Wit's insane 24 hours: from gold to nothing in a roaring skating arena
Speed skating coach Johan de Wit experienced contrasting fortunes within a 24-hour period during a recent competition. While his pupil Zhongyan Ning secured a gold medal in the 1,500-meter race on Thu...