Lifestyle News in English

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 ...

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...

These Americans traded the US for Amsterdam because of Trump

A growing number of Americans are emigrating to the Netherlands, particularly Amsterdam, driven by political dissatisfaction and safety concerns in the United States. Statistics from the Dutch Immigra...

The best restaurants for dining out in Amsterdam

Food critic Mara Grimm has compiled an interactive map featuring her Amsterdam restaurant reviews since early 2022, which allows users to filter selections by price, rating, and location. The guide hi...

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...

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...

Mayor Halsema: homeless foreign crack addicts may be repatriated more often

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema has proposed scaling up the voluntary repatriation of homeless foreign drug users, particularly Eastern European migrants, to address the city's growing crack cocaine pro...

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...

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...

State Secretary advises parents to keep children away from play sand

Dutch State Secretary Judith Tielen has advised parents and organizations to prevent children from playing with play sand due to concerns over potential asbestos contamination. While no formal ban has...

Coffee with Tim Kuijsten (ChristenUnie): Not becoming a city where people live past each other

Tim Kuijsten, the lead candidate for the ChristenUnie in Amsterdam, aims to reclaim the party's city council seat by focusing on strengthening community institutions like churches and neighborhood cen...

Huge success of Olympic short trackers yet to spark amateur surge

Despite the significant success of Dutch short track skaters at the Winter Olympics, ice rinks in the Netherlands report only a marginal increase in amateur participation. While young skaters are insp...

A coffee with Carla Kabamba (Party for Tomorrow): "This city must not become homogeneous"

Carla Kabamba, leader of the Party for Tomorrow (Partij voor Morgen), outlined her vision for Amsterdam ahead of the municipal elections, focusing on affordable housing and increased investment in voc...

Politics on the Amstel: Poll changes campaign dynamics and embarrassing debate over Stek Oost

Journalists from AT5, Het Parool, and De Telegraaf discussed the shifting dynamics of Amsterdam’s political campaign, where PvdA, GroenLinks, and D66 are currently neck-and-neck in the polls while t...

What is even more interesting than Kjeld Nuis's relationship? A single Femke Kok!

The media's focus on the romantic lives of Dutch Olympic skaters recently sparked controversy after coach Dennis van der Gun joked that gold medalist Femke Kok "only needs a boyfriend" to complete her...

Help with lost and found items

The City of Haarlem provides services for lost and found items through its public hall at Zijlvest and the iLost website. Official documents and keys should be handed in at the public hall, while othe...

Former Jehovah's Witness Armando committed armed robbery, but is now a successful entrepreneur: ‘Suddenly I had a change of heart’

Armando Muis, a 35-year-old former Jehovah's Witness who committed an armed robbery at age 15, has transformed his life into a highly successful business career. Currently a fatbike entrepreneur, he i...

Majority of city council rejects plan for cable car over the IJ

A majority of the Amsterdam City Council has expressed opposition to a proposed cable car across the IJ river, citing concerns about its financial vulnerability and heavy reliance on tourists. While t...

Trunk alert: more baby elephants here than you can handle

The "Olifantjes Verzameldag" (Elephant Collector's Day) is an event dedicated to enthusiasts who collect elephant figurines and statues. The gathering provides a space for those with a passion for the...

Karen Damen and James Cooke new judges for Got Talent

Karen Damen and James Cooke have been announced as the new judges for the television program *Got Talent*. This update follows the decision to transform the show into a joint production between the Ne...

This North Holland station is a pleasant place to be (and this one isn't)

A recent survey by ProRail and NS identifies Overveen as the most pleasant railway station in North Holland, while Wormerveer received the lowest satisfaction score due to a lack of facilities and rec...

Amsterdam can ban fatbikes in specific areas

The Amsterdam City Council has approved a measure allowing the ban of fatbikes in specific areas where they cause safety issues or public nuisance. A pilot program starting later this year will implem...

Former Prince Andrew released by police but remains suspect in investigation

Former Prince Andrew was released from a Thames Valley police station around 7:00 PM local time following questioning. He remains a suspect in an ongoing investigation into allegations of potential mi...

These men have been building their own miniature train world for fifty years

The NZH model railway hobby club in Haarlem is celebrating its 50th anniversary with public open days scheduled for May 30 and 31. The club has spent decades building an intricate miniature world in a...

Mother celebrates child's first failing grade with apple pie: does it really help against performance pressure?

To combat the high performance pressure faced by modern youth, a mother celebrated her child’s first failing grade with an apple pie. This gesture aims to demonstrate that academic results are not t...

Video | King Charles makes first appearance after Andrew's arrest

Dutch want to live more sustainably, but government misses opportunities

Most Dutch citizens are willing to adopt more sustainable and climate-conscious lifestyles, which could potentially save megatons of CO2 emissions. However, the government is currently missing opportu...

A coffee with Grethe van Geffen (Namens Amsterdammers): "People feel let down"

Grethe van Geffen, leader of the local party Namens Amsterdammers, is campaigning for the municipal elections with proposals to reduce bureaucracy and improve community facilities in areas like IJburg...

Fat bike ban to proceed as PvdA and GroenLinks change course

The Amsterdam city council coalition parties GroenLinks and PvdA have decided to support a proposal granting the municipality the authority to ban fatbikes in busy urban areas. While specific location...