Culture News in English
Latest culture headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Students lose energy drinks after police locker inspection
Students at a school in Nieuw-West had energy drinks and nicotine pouches confiscated following a locker inspection conducted by school staff and the police. Authorities stated the search was intended...
Review: & Juliet is a mediocre musical farce with great music and stunning dance
The musical & Juliet reimagines Shakespeare's classic play using the hit songs of producer Max Martin to tell a coming-of-age story about Juliet. While the production impresses with high-energy street...
Hefner's widow asks Jessica Biel to reconsider movie role: 'Don't glorify him'
Crystal Harris, the widow of Hugh Hefner, is urging actress Jessica Biel to reconsider her role in the film Playmates due to allegations of abuse and exploitation at the Playboy Mansion. Harris argues...
Prince Harry suffered from depression weeks after moving to Canada: 'Had panic attacks'
Prince Harry revealed that he suffered from a depressive episode and panic attacks following his relocation to Canada, triggered by the sudden lack of adrenaline after years of high-stress royal dutie...
ABN AMRO expects newspaper revenue growth due to willingness to pay for news
Dutch newspaper publishers experienced their sixth consecutive year of revenue growth, reaching 1.2 billion euros, largely driven by a surge in digital subscriptions. While advertising income has dwin...
Olympic Stadium garage reopens after fire, no major impact on marathon
The parking garage beneath the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam has reopened following a fire that caused significant damage to the local Topsport Amsterdam offices. Organizers of the upcoming TCS Amsterd...
Many students attend Pink Breakfast in Haarlem, but: "Purple Friday is under pressure"
On Purple Friday, students wore purple to support the LGBTI+ community, with a well-attended Pink Breakfast held at the Haarlem city hall. However, recent data shows a notable decrease in the acceptan...
This won't be a hit piece on people in the Zuidas, I say on the way to the Green Business Club Zuidas anniversary
The Green Business Club Zuidas recently celebrated its fifteenth anniversary of promoting sustainability efforts within the Zuidas business district in Amsterdam. While the organization has made signi...
HBO to produce Crazy Rich Asians sequel series with returning cast
HBO is producing a follow-up series based on the bestselling Crazy Rich Asians books, with plans for original cast members to return. Filming for the project is expected to begin next year, building o...
Raving on a train or dancing in a church: 8 unique ADE locations in Amsterdam
The Amsterdam Dance Event will feature eight unique, unconventional venues ranging from a moving train and an arcade hall to historic churches and a five-star hotel kitchen. These diverse locations of...
TV puppet Karbonkel on public display for first time since restoration
The television puppet Karbonkel, famous for appearing in the Dutch educational show Ik Mik Loreland, is currently on display for the public following a major restoration project. Visitors can view the...
Ajax and Barcelona honor Johan Cruyff with Legacy Match at the Johan Cruyff Arena
Ajax and Barcelona will play a tribute match in the Johan Cruijff Arena on November 15, 2026, to honor Johan Cruijff ten years after his passing. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Johan Cruyff ...
Nearly 1.6 million viewers for Televizier-Ring, 600,000 fewer than last year
The Gouden Televizier-Ring Gala recorded nearly 1.6 million viewers, a decrease of 600,000 compared to last year's broadcast. Despite the decline, the event was the most-watched program of the day, wi...
Maartje Mulder’s (30) Amsterdam: ‘A friend had the Lunchroom Wilhelmina logo tattooed on her ankle as a tribute’
Amsterdam resident Maartje Mulder shares her favorite city spots and personal history as part of a retrospective on the year 1996. The military professional and startup employee reflects on local stap...
KATSEYE's Sophia Laforteza to return in 2027 following health issues
KATSEYE member Sophia Laforteza will rejoin the group in January 2027 following a health-related hiatus that began in August. The singer missed the band's current world tour to focus on her recovery a...
DI-RECT honors deceased family members on new album: 'This is how we keep them alive'
The Dutch band DI-RECT honors deceased family members on their new album, I: Keep The Fire On, using music as a way to process personal grief. The record serves as the first chapter of a planned trilo...
Wereldmuseum opens exhibition on disco: from dance floor to fight for rights
The Wereldmuseum is opening an exhibition on October 10, 2026, that explores the history and cultural impact of disco music. The display highlights how the genre evolved from underground clubs into a ...
PaffPopcornPanel on Low Expectations: ‘Everyone in this film was looking for themselves’
A panel discussed the film Low Expectations, focusing on its realistic portrayal of a struggling musician searching for her identity and purpose in life. While viewers felt the narrative was at times ...
The advantage of having zero viewers is that Buzz can quit without anyone noticing
The Net 5 talkshow Buzz is struggling to find an audience, with ratings so low they are effectively unrecorded. The program, which aims to mimic the casual nature of a group chat, remains largely unno...
Young people in Startblok Elzenhagen feel unsafe due to aggressive co-resident
Residents at the Startblok Elzenhagen housing complex in Amsterdam are feeling unsafe due to an aggressive neighbor who has reportedly threatened and intimidated other occupants. While the complex's c...
Visit the 'Pre-ADE Market', do yoga at the Thomas Church or go to a lunch concert at the Concertgebouw: what to do in Amsterdam this week
Amsterdam is hosting a wide variety of events this week, including theatrical performances, art exhibitions, and the 40th edition of the Cinekid film festival. Residents can also participate in neighb...
The Men's March reminds me of cavemen standing in bear skins in front of their cave
The Mannenmars, organized by Wild and Sacred Men, is scheduled for October 10 in Amsterdam to promote a cultural shift in male behavior toward protecting women. However, the event has sparked debate b...
Amsterdam schools take Purple Friday more seriously due to decline in LGBTQ+ acceptance: ‘We feel the need even more strongly’
A record 3,130 schools across the Netherlands are observing Purple Friday to support LGBTQ inclusion amid a recent, concerning decline in student acceptance rates. Amsterdam schools remain committed t...
Metropolis Lyceum in Amsterdam-Noord is a festive sequence of spaces, classrooms and study areas
The newly completed Metropolis Lyceum in Amsterdam-Noord integrates various secondary education levels into a single, interconnected building. Centered around a functional atrium and auditorium, the s...
In Folk, Dunja Jocić shows the power of dancing together
In the dance performance Folk, choreographer Dunja Jocić explores both the empowering potential of collective movement and the darker, exclusionary side of group identity. Through a blend of club and...
Juliet Schellekens is not yet a seasoned comedian, but her songs are deeply moving
Julia Schellekens has debuted her theater show, Ik beloof je eeuwige twijfel, which explores personal dilemmas through comedy and music. Although the performance shows some signs of inexperience, it i...
Willem de Haan (81) documented the lives of Jewish Concertgebouw Orchestra musicians: Conductor Mengelberg had nothing to do with them being placed on a protected list
Emeritus professor Willem de Haan has begun documenting the lives of seventeen Jewish musicians who performed with the Concertgebouworkest during the Second World War. His research aims to honor those...
How Josje (30) handles Purple Friday as a teacher in East: 'I never ask if they accept gay people. I ask them which day I should propose to my girlfriend'
Recent studies show declining LGBTQ+ acceptance among secondary school students, prompting teachers like Josje de Zwart to address the issue on Purple Friday. By integrating personal narratives and in...
Review: not every organ solo or abandoned backing track on the Beatles' deluxe Rubber Soul reissue is spectacular
A comprehensive new box set of the 1965 Beatles album Rubber Soul has been released, featuring either four CDs or five LPs. Reviews indicate that while the collection is extensive, not every included ...
From forbidden profession to established guild: this triangular building on the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal housed the Brokers' Guild for centuries
The Amsterdam Brokers Guild, originally faced with legal prohibitions in the 15th century, evolved into a well-established organization that commissioned its own historic headquarters on the Nieuwezij...