Lifestyle News in English

Animals thrown off by daylight saving time: "Pigs are making a huge racket"

The transition to daylight saving time is causing behavioral disruptions in animals such as deer, chickens, and pigs, who rely heavily on consistent routines and light cycles. Caregivers at locations ...

On holiday in Afghanistan or visiting melting ice? Travel experiences are becoming increasingly extreme

A growing number of tourists are seeking increasingly extreme travel experiences, such as visiting Taliban-controlled Afghanistan or abseiling in Antarctica. Driven by the influence of social media, t...

Work at Vogelenzang Pond on Bakkum Estate completed after six months with new boardwalk as centerpiece. ‘A better and healthier environment for everyone’

Renovation work at the 'Meertje van Vogelenzang' pond on Landgoed Bakkum in the North Holland Dune Reserve has been completed after six months. The project includes a new bridge as a focal point, aime...

Hay fever in Amsterdam, Brad Pitt spotted and more news this week

This week's news highlights from Amsterdam include practical tips for managing hay fever symptoms and a reported visit by actor Brad Pitt. The article provides a collection of stories intended to info...

Sabine works in a hotel with a story: ‘We have many regular guests, people you get to know better over time’

Hotel Augusta in IJmuiden is noted for its authentic historic atmosphere that transports visitors back to the town's character from over a century ago. Employee Sabine highlights that the hotel's uniq...

How was Car-Free Sunday? ‘Wonderful, the emptiness, peace and quiet.’ Yet there was also chaos

Readers shared their memories of historical car-free Sundays, reflecting on the unique peace and quiet of the empty streets. While many cherished the tranquility, others recalled the chaos of emergenc...

Anita's free lifetime gym membership at SportCity is not for life

Anita Flendrig, who received a lifetime free gym membership as a retirement gift from Sportschool Vlietlijn sixteen years ago, is now facing a cancellation of the perk by the new management at SportCi...

'Jumping' violence trend fits broader culture of online peer pressure and filmed violence among youth

Experts are warning about a violent trend called 'jumpen,' where young people assault others and film the attacks to share on social media. This behavior is attributed to online peer pressure and has ...

Sip, paint & brunch in Haarlem, the Rataplan tour and more news from the past week

This article provides a roundup of recent news and upcoming events in Haarlem, including a 'Sip, paint & brunch' event and updates from Rataplan. It highlights various creative concepts and local outi...

Daylight saving time begins: Clocks move forward one hour

Daylight saving time began over the weekend, with clocks moving forward from 02:00 to 03:00 on Sunday morning. This transition resulted in many people getting one hour less sleep than usual.

It shouldn't be a chore, and canned food is fine too

Wouter Klootwijk's weekly column explores the social pressure to engage in specific activities, such as visiting outdoor terraces when the sun shines. He argues against these perceived obligations and...

Olympia Haarlem survives late stages to climb table after Noa de Vries brace: 'That punishment training worked'

Olympia Haarlem secured a 1-2 away victory against De Foresters, with striker Noa de Vries scoring both goals. The win helps the team climb the league rankings despite a season of inconsistent perform...

Roy’s Poultry moves to Ruysdaelstraat in Heemskerk for more space: ‘It’s becoming a nice food street’

Poultry shop Roy’s has moved to a larger location on Ruysdaelstraat in Heemskerk to accommodate the business's need for more space. The move strengthens the street's reputation as a specialty food d...

Shepherd dog Floor always remained so soft. Comfortingly soft. I stroke her head, a strange sound comes from my throat

Journalist Lisanne van Sadelhoff reflects on her deep bond with her sheepdog, Floor, in her weekly column. She describes how the dog provided comfort during her own difficult times and how she is now ...

Amsterdam family on Buying Blind: will they succeed in finding a home for them?

Residents of Amsterdam participate in the television show 'Kopen Zonder Kijken' to find a home in the city's challenging housing market. The article highlights the relatable struggle of searching for ...

They call me Tiger in the Woods because I sometimes hit it into the bushes

Glenn Durfort shares his passion for golf while playing at The Dunes course in Zandvoort, explaining that he focuses on enjoyment rather than keeping a strict score. He humorously notes that his occas...

Buy or wait? Open House Day in uncertain times: ‘Rising prices make people nervous’

Hillegom ‘weed pigs’ barred from Haarlem: ‘They eat everything’

Haarlem councilor Robbert Berkhout has decided against using a herd of pigs to control Japanese knotweed, a method previously successful in neighboring Hillegom. The councilor explained that the exper...

Viscafé Ed has the best kibbeling in Haarlem, and so much more (10-)

Viscafé Ed, located at the Grote Markt in Haarlem, has been praised as a high-quality addition to the city's culinary scene. The restaurant is specifically noted for its exceptional kibbeling, as wel...

Italy investigates beauty companies for encouraging obsession in young girls

Italy has launched an investigation into beauty companies Sephora Italia and Benefit Cosmetics for allegedly using deceptive marketing strategies to target young girls with skincare products. Authorit...

Millions of Douwe Egberts points exchanged for books as savers can spend them again

The Bruna bookstore chain has experienced record-high website traffic following the announcement that customers can now redeem Douwe Egberts loyalty points for books. This new partnership allows long-...

Three days in jail and community service for machete stabbing

A 26-year-old man has been sentenced to three days in prison and 120 hours of community service for a May 2024 machete attack in Amsterdam-Zuidoost that injured two people. The court cited the defenda...

Advice from my 9-year-old teacher: ‘Don’t voice everything that’s going wrong. It only makes it worse’

Dutch performer and single mother Lottie Hellingman shares life advice from her nine-year-old daughter, who suggested that dwelling on negative situations can make them worse. Hellingman, originally f...

This is the best supermarket milk chocolate praline Easter egg: ‘I can actually taste hazelnut’

Three chocolate experts conducted a blind taste test of nine supermarket brands of milk chocolate praline Easter eggs to determine the highest quality options. The panel evaluated the products based o...

Leonie Hijne from Bonhoeffer College in Castricum named Sustainable Teacher of the Year: 'I was nervous, but it went well'

Leonie Hijne from the Bonhoeffercollege in Castricum has been named the 'Sustainable Teacher of the Year' for 2026 at a ceremony in Arnhem. She accepted the award as a significant recognition for the ...

Vacant bowling alley at Buikslotermeerplein to become youth center: "Safe space for everyone"

A long-vacant bowling alley at Buikslotermeerplein in Amsterdam-Noord will be transformed into a youth center designed by local teenagers to create a safe community space. The project, led by a commun...

Paid parking remains controversial in Haarlem, even after victory for GL-PvdA and D66: 'It will be a death blow'

Despite the local election victory of GroenLinks-PvdA and D66 in Haarlem, public opposition to the expansion of paid parking remains strong. A recent poll indicates that over two-thirds of respondents...

What to do with all those items from the parental home? 'Heirlooms represent a bloodline, but they become fragmented with each generation'

Author Gerbrand Bakker's latest book, 'Boedel,' explores the emotional and practical challenges of handling a parental estate following his mother's death. The work follows siblings as they sort throu...

A mindfulness course, a personal trainer, and an e-bike: but Ralph's dog wasn't allowed on the flexible budget

Ralph's request to use his flexible employee benefits budget to purchase a dog was rejected and met with ridicule from his HR department. Career expert Anne-Marije Buckens notes that employers typical...

Writer Erik Nieuwenhuis delves into the lives of Amsterdam tram line 1 passengers

Amsterdam writer Erik Nieuwenhuis has published a novel titled "Lijn 1," which explores the fictional lives of passengers and staff on the city's tram line 1. Drawing from thirty years of observation,...