haarlemsdagbladFeb 27, 2026, 13:37

The parents of twins Lotte and Tim Houben (17) initially wanted to keep the two apart: ‘At first I wasn’t allowed to play basketball because Tim was already doing it’

Seventeen-year-old twins Lotte and Tim Houben from Haarlem discuss their close bond and the experience of growing up together. Their parents initially encouraged them to pursue separate interests, such as initially preventing Lotte from joining the same basketball team as Tim, to help them develop individual identities.

Lifestyle Haarlem Netherlands

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Is every location suitable for a murder story? On the road with writing duo Nicci French in Broek in Waterland

Writing duo Nicci French visited Broek in Waterland to promote their new thriller, "Wrong Turn," and explore the village's potential as a setting for murder mysteries. They discussed how even picturesque locations can provide the necessary elements for suspenseful and nightmarish narratives.

Ronald Bartlema remained involved with Jeugdjournaal until the end; as a food critic, he preferred dining incognito

Family and friends gathered at Westerveld to bid farewell to Ronald Bartlema, a long-time culinary critic and contributor to the Jeugdjournaal who died at age 67. Following the funeral service, a reception was held at café-restaurant Franzen in Haarlem to honor his 25-year career of reviewing restaurants. Bartlema was known for his preference for dining incognito while writing for the newspaper.

Supreme Court gives no explanation for more than half of rejections

In 2025, the Dutch Supreme Court failed to provide substantive reasoning in 571 out of 976 cases where it ruled against appellants. Legal experts are increasingly critical of this long-standing practice of issuing final rulings without detailed explanation.

Blokker's comeback: Will the household chain make it this time? ‘I think the stores look excellent’

Following a bankruptcy and the closure of hundreds of locations in late 2024, the household retail chain Blokker has reopened 56 stores this summer. The comeback has sparked discussion regarding whether the chain can successfully sustain its operations this time around.

He swallowed his tongue on a frozen De Vijverberg and narrowly survived: Milan Berck Beelenkamp (48) on why he swapped the football world for contaminated soil

Former professional footballer Milan Berck Beelenkamp has transitioned to a career in soil remediation after leaving the professional sports world. The 48-year-old, who famously survived a life-threatening injury during a match, now balances his new profession with a role at the amateur club SV Zandvoort.