Culture News in English

‘Think medieval.’ Enjoying archery and being a knight for a day at the Brederode Ruins opening day

The Ruins of Brederode have officially reopened for a new season, offering visitors medieval-themed activities such as archery and traditional bread baking. The opening day allowed guests to experienc...

Joke Sickmann, champion of industrial heritage in Amersfoort, dies at 93

Joke Sickmann, a prominent advocate for industrial heritage in Amersfoort, passed away last week at the age of 93. She died at her daughter's care farm in Putten, where she had spent her final years.

In 30 years, the Canta has grown into a proud symbol of working-class Amsterdam

Life-sized chessboard returns to the city after years, now at Frederiksplein

A life-size chessboard has officially opened at Frederiksplein in Amsterdam after previous locations at Max Euweplein and Museumplein were closed due to noise complaints. The project was realized thro...

Israel moves Dead Sea Scrolls to safe location as a precaution

The Great Isaiah Scroll, one of the most famous Dead Sea Scrolls, has been moved to a secure location by Israeli authorities as a precaution. This action follows recent military escalations and mutual...

Pope calls for end to ‘spiral of violence’ in Middle East

Pope Francis has called for an immediate end to the spiral of violence in the Middle East during an address at St. Peter's Square. He urged all involved parties to take moral responsibility to prevent...

Filmmaker explores Haarlem’s war history: ‘Last chance to let eyewitnesses speak for themselves’

Filmmaker Sander van Weert is creating a documentary focused on Haarlem's history during World War II. The project features interviews with local residents who share their personal experiences of livi...

Wie is Moon? wins Rob Acda Night Award

Rapper and producer Moon van den Berg, performing under the name "Wie is Moon?", won the Night Edition of the Rob Acda Award this past Saturday. The event was held in the small hall of the Patronaat m...

Walk along military traces in ‘open-air museum’ Naarden-Vesting

The newspaper supplement AlleTijd features a 3.3-kilometer walking route through the historic fortified town of Naarden-Vesting. This route allows visitors to explore various military traces in what i...

Marcel Klingeler wins over the audience but not the judges on The Voice of Holland: ‘That trumpet solo couldn’t fail’

Marcel Klingeler, a 54-year-old contestant from Haarlem, performed the song 'Malle Babbe' on the television competition The Voice of Holland. Although his performance was well-received by the audience...

Book by Bakkum woman about Dutch father and German father-in-law in WWII nominated for literary prize

Marjan Gerrits from Bakkum has been nominated for the Literaire Parel award for her double novel "Als je niets bent". The book, which explores the lives of her Dutch father and German father-in-law du...

Homecoming show for Haarlem band Bender at Theater de Liefde: ‘We love playing here’

The Haarlem-based band Bender will perform their "Nooit weggeweest" program at Theater de Liefde on Saturday, March 7. This concert marks a homecoming for the group as they return to their home city o...

At Haarlem’s Club Stalker, everyone was welcome and nothing was too crazy

Club Stalker in Haarlem was a pioneering venue that played a significant role in the development of the Dutch dance scene, predating iconic Amsterdam clubs like Roxy and It. The club was celebrated fo...

Pianist and composer Jan Huydts dies at 89

Dutch pianist, composer, and jazz educator Jan Huydts has died at the age of 89 in his hometown of Hilversum. His family announced his passing on Sunday, stating that he died the previous Friday.

Take the voting guide, enjoy the sun on the terrace, and more news from last week

This article provides a roundup of recent news in Haarlem, ranging from information regarding local council elections to lunch recommendations for restaurant week. It also highlights upcoming events f...

Olivia Dean is big winner in Manchester with four Brit Awards

Olivia Dean emerged as the major winner at the Brit Awards held in Manchester on Saturday night. The British singer secured a total of four awards during the ceremony.

How to behave in your new in-laws' group chat: Is an emoji too much, or are you too fast, too slow, or too boring?

The article explores the social anxieties and etiquette involved in joining a partner's family group chat. It specifically addresses dilemmas regarding response times and the appropriate use of emojis...

'Voting rights alone are not enough', Conny Braam looks back on her activist past in new memoirs

Author Conny Braam reflects on her career as an anti-apartheid activist in her new book, 'Memoires van een activiste.' The memoir details her experiences leading the Anti-Apartheid Movement Netherland...

Play Perfect Girl exposes influencer world: ‘Everything for clicks’ ‘If you only care about image, you lose your essence’

The psychological thriller 'Perfect Girl' by theater group Mevrouw Ogterop explores the tension between reality and the curated lives of social media influencers. Focusing on themes of identity and th...

Mexican man surprised in Uitgeest: 'No monument for Cornelis Corneliszoon, how is it possible?'

Mexican history enthusiast Jaime Dávila expressed surprise during a visit to Uitgeest at the lack of a monument for Cornelis Corneliszoon. Corneliszoon's invention of the wind-powered sawmill was a c...

Bollenstreek Flower Parade to tour region with fifteen floats in April

The Bloemencorso Bollenstreek flower parade will take place on Saturday, April 18th, featuring 15 floats traveling through the Bollenstreek and Zuid-Kennemerland regions. Although there are slightly f...

Husam Alhasan’s family finally celebrates Ramadan together in Bussum after years of uncertainty

After three years of separation, Husam Alhasan has been reunited with his wife and two daughters who recently arrived in the Netherlands from Syria. The family is now celebrating Ramadan together in B...

Who needs sleep? Haarlem celebrates the night for a week

The fourth edition of the Week of the Haarlem Night will take place from March 2 to March 8, 2026. During this period, the city of Haarlem will transform into a playground for night owls, celebrating ...

A coffee with Ozan Turkdogan (Anti-Racist Muslim Party): Activism is being a pain in the ass to others

Ozan Turkdogan, leader of the Anti-Racist Muslim Party, outlined his party's goals for the upcoming municipal elections in Amsterdam, including increasing the visibility of Islamic history and severin...

Was Verspronck’s ‘Girl in Blue’ named Catharina? Expert investigates further after reader tip

Johannes Verspronck’s famous 1641 painting, ‘Girl in Blue,’ will soon be exhibited at the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem alongside portraits of her parents. Despite extensive research by expert Fr...

Dear Old Friend II: Shivering on the Afsluitdijk

Lottie Hellingman, a multi-talented artist and single mother, reflects on her life and career while living in Amsterdam. The piece, titled 'Lieve oude vriend II,' explores her personal history and exp...

These teachers have thousands of followers on social media: ‘My classroom door is always open, I see social media as an extension of that’

Four teachers discuss their motivations for sharing their daily classroom experiences on social media platforms, aiming to provide transparency and highlight the positive aspects of education. While m...

'Reading teacher' Sanne started her Instagram account to inspire other teachers: 'I also get inspired myself'

Sanne Dorrepaal, a 28-year-old teacher from Haarlem, uses her Instagram account to share her expertise in youth literature and inspire fellow educators. At the Beatrixschool, she has implemented a dai...

Teacher Pleun shares her songs on TikTok: ‘My biggest goal is to inspire other teachers and show high school students how beautiful teaching is’

Pleun Couwenhoven, a 26-year-old teacher at a Montessori school in Haarlem, uses her TikTok account to share music and insights into her life as a kindergarten teacher. With over 62,000 followers, her...

Didem discusses social media with children, often because their parents don't want them on it: 'I completely agree'

Didem Aykilic, a 31-year-old teacher at Het Spectrum in Hoorn, gained a significant social media presence after her students created a TikTok account for her. Despite her initial reservations about so...