Haarlem News in English
Latest Haarlem and Kennemerland region news translated from Dutch to English for the international community.

This empty plot in Heemstede will feature a two-story building with 18 homes in two weeks
Eighteen modular, fully furnished homes are being prepared for transport from Beverwijk to the former Princehof site on Glipperweg in Heemstede. The two-story residential building will be assembled wi...
Start spring with sunny terraces, the Amsterdam Wine Festival, and more news from this week
Spring is arriving in Amsterdam, bringing a variety of seasonal activities and local events to the city. Highlights for the week include the Amsterdam Wine Festival in Amsterdam Noord and the reopenin...

Ian (7) wants to play outside, but who will lend a hand?
The organization Buurtgezinnen is seeking a local support family in Haarlem for seven-year-old Ian, whose mother has chronic health issues that limit her ability to take him outside to play. A support...
Take the voting guide, enjoy the sun on the terrace, and more news from last week
This article provides a roundup of recent news in Haarlem, ranging from information regarding local council elections to lunch recommendations for restaurant week. It also highlights upcoming events f...

HBC storms impressively past tough Victoria after the break. 'The coach set us in the right direction after the break'
HBC secured a 1-4 victory against Victoria on Saturday afternoon, moving the team further away from the bottom of the rankings. Striker Arno Dijkstra highlighted the team's improved energy and the coa...

Play Perfect Girl exposes influencer world: ‘Everything for clicks’ ‘If you only care about image, you lose your essence’
The psychological thriller 'Perfect Girl' by theater group Mevrouw Ogterop explores the tension between reality and the curated lives of social media influencers. Focusing on themes of identity and th...

Bollenstreek Flower Parade to tour region with fifteen floats in April
The Bloemencorso Bollenstreek flower parade will take place on Saturday, April 18th, featuring 15 floats traveling through the Bollenstreek and Zuid-Kennemerland regions. Although there are slightly f...

Dull bang shocks Hoofddorp neighborhood: Afraid it will happen to me too
An explosion at a home in Hoofddorp left three residents hospitalized for smoke inhalation and caused significant distress in the local neighborhood. Police are currently searching for two young suspe...

Shoppers flout bicycle parking ban: 'It’s raining. No enforcement seen'
Shoppers in Haarlem's Grote Houtstraat are frequently ignoring bicycle parking bans, opting for convenience over designated parking zones. Cyclists interviewed cited a lack of enforcement and unclear ...
Who needs sleep? Haarlem celebrates the night for a week
The fourth edition of the Week of the Haarlem Night will take place from March 2 to March 8, 2026. During this period, the city of Haarlem will transform into a playground for night owls, celebrating ...

Viktoriia fled the war: The past four years really feel like a nightmare
Viktoriia, a 25-year-old Ukrainian refugee, has been living in Haarlem for four years after fleeing the war and leaving her family behind. She currently resides on a cruise ship and works at a local s...

Choosing between the classic tournedos or chef's surprise, Het Graanpakhuis in Vijfhuizen even has fans from Lelystad (8+)
Het Graanpakhuis in Vijfhuizen is recognized for its menu that balances traditional classics like tournedos with creative dishes by chef Bob Goossens. The restaurant's reputation for quality, includin...

Was Verspronck’s ‘Girl in Blue’ named Catharina? Expert investigates further after reader tip
Johannes Verspronck’s famous 1641 painting, ‘Girl in Blue,’ will soon be exhibited at the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem alongside portraits of her parents. Despite extensive research by expert Fr...

Casper van der Veen (21) named World Talent of the Year; second Dutchman to win award aims to continue World Cup form at Bloemendaal
Casper van der Veen, 21, has been named the 'Rising Star of the Year 2025,' making him the second Dutchman to receive this international honor. Following his success, the athlete extended his contract...

Teacher Pleun shares her songs on TikTok: ‘My biggest goal is to inspire other teachers and show high school students how beautiful teaching is’
Pleun Couwenhoven, a 26-year-old teacher at a Montessori school in Haarlem, uses her TikTok account to share music and insights into her life as a kindergarten teacher. With over 62,000 followers, her...

'Reading teacher' Sanne started her Instagram account to inspire other teachers: 'I also get inspired myself'
Sanne Dorrepaal, a 28-year-old teacher from Haarlem, uses her Instagram account to share her expertise in youth literature and inspire fellow educators. At the Beatrixschool, she has implemented a dai...
Find them all: rare planetary parade visible above Haarlem
A rare planetary parade featuring Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Mercury, Uranus, and Neptune will be visible in the sky on Saturday, February 28th. During this celestial event, the planets will appear lined...
Cycling friends Dylan van Baarle and Niki Terpstra want to be leading again with Soudal Quick-Step: ‘This is one big family’
Dutch cyclists Dylan van Baarle and Niki Terpstra are aiming to restore the Belgian team Soudal - Quick Step's dominance in the Flemish classics. Van Baarle, as a lead rider, and Terpstra, as a team l...

Owner of poisoned Fleur warns residents near Amstelveen park
Multiple dogs have been poisoned after eating toxic substances in Broersepark, Amstelveen, resulting in at least one reported death and several hospitalizations. Concerned pet owners are posting warni...
2026 local elections: unique polling station locations in Haarlem
The 2026 municipal elections in Haarlem will feature several unique and striking polling stations across the city. This initiative allows residents to visit non-traditional venues for voting, providin...

Three injured in major house explosion in Hoofddorp
Three people were injured and hospitalized following a powerful explosion at a residence in Hoofddorp during the night from Friday to Saturday. The incident occurred on Koning Willem I-laan, and the v...
Mystery on Bickerseiland: what is that giant doing there?
A mysterious wooden giant statue holding a spear and shield has been spotted on Bickerseiland in Amsterdam. The figure appears to be guarding the neighborhood, prompting questions about its origin and...

Wanted: rector with integrity as Coornhert recovers from trust crisis
Coornhert Lyceum is seeking a new rector following a crisis of confidence between staff and the Dunamare school board. After the conclusion of an investigation, the school aims to move forward by find...

Hoofddorp asylum center is a multi-story village where residents have become family: ‘We see each other grow up’
The former Crowne Plaza Hotel in Hoofddorp has transformed into a self-contained community housing 530 asylum seekers and status holders for nearly three years. The facility features various amenities...
Local taxes in Haarlem up 21 percent in four years
Local taxes for homeowners in Haarlem have increased by 21 percent over the past four years, according to data released by Vereniging Eigen Huis. This year, an average household with an owner-occupied...
Telstar narrows gap at the bottom with victory over NAC in crucial basement battle
Telstar secured a vital 3-0 victory over NAC in a crucial match at Velsen-Zuid, helping them close the gap at the bottom of the league table. The home side remained dominant throughout the game and co...

Bloemendaal struggles with housing 150 asylum seekers. Problem-free reception of 28 girls in mini asylum center on Sparrenlaan
The municipality of Bloemendaal is currently facing challenges in fulfilling its requirement to house 150 asylum seekers. While the broader task remains difficult for local political parties, an exist...

Tennis player Griekspoor reaches sixth career final in Dubai
Dutch tennis player Tallon Griekspoor has reached the sixth ATP final of his career. He achieved this milestone during a tournament held in Dubai.

She is unbeatable, yet Esther Kiel (29) is retiring: 'Natural ice is fantastic, but you don't want to train all year for just those few races'
Speed skater Esther Kiel has announced her retirement from the sport at the age of 29, despite her recent string of victories on natural ice in Sweden. Kiel, who is from Overveen, explained that the i...

Toy from Haarlem wins international Toy Award
The Haarlem-based toy brand Waytoplay Toys has won the Toy Award 2026 in the Sustainability category at the international Spielwarenmesse in Nuremberg. This recognition highlights the brand's commitme...