haarlemsdagbladMay 13, 2026, 03:00

Spaarne Gasthuis, Buurts and GGD demand more public transport, neighborhood teams and mold prevention: ‘That is what is needed’

The regional healthcare platform Sigra is calling on municipalities in the Haarlem area to invest in mold prevention for housing, expand neighborhood social teams, and upgrade public transport services. The platform, which includes the Spaarne Gasthuis and the GGD, emphasizes that these improvements are necessary to address regional health and social needs.

Politics Health Haarlem Netherlands

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Insurers call on government to tackle rogue contractors

Legal aid insurer DAS is calling on the Dutch government to take stricter action against rogue construction companies following an increase in scams targeting homeowners. Reports indicate that one in three homeowners has encountered fraudulent contractors who often appear prominently in online search results.

Opportunity or threat for Akersloot Omnipark? Castricum municipality sees sports grounds as solution for housing shortage

The municipality of Castricum is considering the sports grounds of a local handball and tennis club in Akersloot as potential sites for flexible housing to address housing shortages. These locations are the only ones not restricted by nitrogen regulations, though the proposal puts the clubs' long-standing plans for a joint sports 'omnipark' at risk.

Police used force in more cases last year

The Dutch police used force in 25,163 incidents last year, representing a nearly 9 percent increase from the previous year. This rise is partly attributed to a general increase in the total number of police deployments, which reached 2.6 million.

Study: Surgery for children with appendicitis not always necessary

A study by Amsterdam UMC involving 300 children across 15 Dutch hospitals found that antibiotics can effectively treat simple appendicitis, potentially making surgery unnecessary. The research suggests that many pediatric patients recover well without the standard procedure of removing the appendix.

UK repatriates 10 people for preventive hantavirus isolation

The UK Health Security Agency is repatriating ten British citizens from remote island territories, including passengers from the cruise ship m/v Hondius, for preventive isolation. This measure follows potential exposure to the hantavirus.