Culture News in English
Latest culture headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.

Abbie Chalgoum on his mother abused for years: ‘Violence, loneliness; it’s unbelievable what she had to endure’
Abbie Chalgoum is set to release his new novel, "Milouda," which chronicles his mother’s life of enduring years of domestic violence, humiliation, and loneliness. The book, debuting this Friday, hig...
Our lists by theme: the best tips for food, drink & culture
Het Parool has compiled a series of themed lists featuring the best recommendations for food, drink, art, and culture in Amsterdam. These curated guides are regularly updated to showcase the city's la...
Living in a time of proof
Journalist and poet Yanaika Zomer discusses an incident of police violence against a woman in Utrecht in her latest column. She reflects on the modern cultural demand for visual evidence, emphasizing ...

Spin-off of Máxima series about Mabel and Margarita in the works
Millstreet Films and Videoland are developing a spin-off of the series *Máxima* centered on Princesses Mabel and Margarita. The production will focus on the period starting in 1999, when both women m...

NU+ | Experts on Ferry Doedens documentary: 'Educational value is lacking'
The recently released documentary series *Ferry Lost* portrays actor Ferry Doedens' ongoing struggle with addiction, sparking significant public debate. Experts and viewers have raised concerns over t...

Former Jersey Shore star Snooki has cervical cancer
Former Jersey Shore star Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi has announced that she was diagnosed with stage one cervical cancer following a recent biopsy. The 38-year-old reality star shared the news in a video ...

André Hazes and B.B. King share the stage posthumously: Theater calls for the audience’s imagination to speak
A new theatrical production posthumously brings together Dutch folk singer André Hazes and American blues legend B.B. King, inspired by their brief real-life encounter on Hazes' 50th birthday. The pl...

Shakespeare actor lets sword fly, injuring woman in audience
During a performance of Shakespeare’s *Richard III* in Berlin, a lead actor accidentally injured a woman in the audience when a sword slipped from his hands. The weapon flew into the crowd during th...

NU+ | Hilary Duff makes comeback after ten years and remains wildly popular
American singer Hilary Duff released her sixth studio album, titled *Luck… or Something*, on Friday after a ten-year hiatus from the music industry. Despite the long break between releases, the arti...
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...

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 ...

Anna dePeyster, Rupert Murdoch’s ex-wife and mother of his successor, dies
Anna dePeyster, the former wife of media mogul Rupert Murdoch and mother of his successor, has died at the age of 81. Her passing was reported on Friday by the New York Post, a publication within Murd...
Life can be lonely as a Palestinian in Amsterdam: ‘We long for a safe space to share our pain’
The newly formed Palestinian Network Amsterdam (PNA) has launched a series of gatherings to provide a safe, supportive space for Palestinians in the city to connect and heal from collective trauma. Su...
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...
Centuries-old testimonies of violent men: ‘She fears for her life’
Historical records from 18th-century Amsterdam notarial archives, recently featured in a study by the Meertens and Huygens Institutes, reveal how domestic violence was documented and addressed in the ...
Marco Oskam (59) started as a glass collector, now owner of the Casablanca for 25 years
Marco Oskam is celebrating 25 years as the owner of Café Casablanca, a landmark jazz and karaoke bar in Amsterdam’s Zeedijk district that dates back to 1946. Having started at the establishment as ...
Amsterdam-Noord’s frayed edges under pressure: ‘Without these places, you become a kind of Almere. That is a choice’
Rapid population growth in Amsterdam-Noord is threatening the survival of unique creative and community-led "fringes" as temporary leases expire to make room for housing and sports facilities. Residen...
Are scandal documentaries about Ferry Doedens and Lil Kleine compelling or simply unethical?
The documentary 'Ferry Lost' has sparked an ethical debate in the Netherlands regarding the potential exploitation of vulnerable celebrities like actor Ferry Doedens for television ratings. While crit...

World-famous Sagrada Familia reaches highest point 144 years after construction started
The Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona has reached its highest point 144 years after construction began, following the completion of the cross on the central Jesus Christ tower this Friday. Althoug...
Jelka van Houten: My body is one big scar
Dutch actress Jelka van Houten shared candid reflections on her body and lifestyle habits in a recent interview with Mezza magazine. She admitted to frequently forgetting to eat and neglecting her exe...

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...

Streamers, snacks and pajamas for Ramadan available in every shopping street
Dutch retail stores are increasingly offering Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr products, such as decorations, snacks, and themed clothing, directly in mainstream shopping streets. This commercial trend makes i...
György Kurtág’s 100th birthday at the Muziekgebouw is a celebration without the deep seriousness of his work
Amsterdam’s Muziekgebouw hosted a tribute concert to celebrate the 100th birthday of Hungarian composer György Kurtág, featuring musicians with long-standing ties to his work. The program included...

Public art not representative: Amsterdam is a male stronghold when looking at statues
The city of Amsterdam is developing a new policy framework to ensure its 1,750 public artworks and monuments are more representative of its diverse population. Research indicates that women, people wi...
Firefighter Steven van de Looij (55) extinguished the fire in the Vondelkerk
Steven van de Looij, acting fire commander of Amsterdam-Amstelland, led the response to a significant fire at the historic Vondelkerk church during his first hours on the job on New Year's Eve. To pre...
'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...

Five well-known buildings in the running for Friends of Old Hillegom Certificate
Five prominent public buildings in Hillegom have been nominated for the annual certificate awarded by the Friends of Old Hillegom association. The nominees include the Hof, the Maartenskerk, the Cultu...
Abuses at Sleepers prove TV and film world is still a ‘toxic industry’
Recent allegations of manipulation and gaslighting on the set of the series *Sleepers* have sparked renewed criticism of a persistent toxic work environment within the Dutch film and television indust...

NU+ | How Prince Andrew was increasingly backed into a corner
Former Prince Andrew has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, marking a significant escalation in a long-standing criminal investigation. The arrest follows years of controversy ...

Iconic red Canta struggles against poor maintenance and trendiness
The iconic Canta microcar, a staple of Amsterdam's streets since 1995, is being celebrated in a new documentary series titled "Vrijheid op Wielen" for its 30th anniversary. While the vehicle remains a...