Culture News in English

No sober New Year in Haarlem after all: municipal fireworks or drone show starting in 2027

Following a recent city council debate, Haarlem has decided to host a central fireworks, drone, or laser show for New Year's Eve starting in 2027. This decision overturns the mayor's original proposal...

Have you seen the djembe player anywhere? Seniors fully enjoy the Volbloeiers senior festival at Landgoed Akerendam

Over 350 seniors participated in the fourth edition of the Volbloeiers theater festival, held at the Akerendam estate in Beverwijk. Attendees enjoyed a variety of performances and workshops tailored s...

Why the public outrage, Henk Spaan asks. Van Dijk played much better than public opinion gave him credit for

Columnist Henk Spaan defends Virgil van Dijk's recent football performances, arguing that the public criticism directed at the player is unwarranted. Spaan evaluates the performances of several player...

Verstappen third in Silverstone sprint race qualifying

Max Verstappen qualified in third place for the sprint race at the British Grand Prix on the Silverstone circuit. Lewis Hamilton secured the fastest time, finishing 0.321 seconds ahead of the Red Bull...

Churchill Pride began after flags were destroyed and continues to grow: De Wolkenkrabber now also participates

The Churchill Pride initiative in Amsterdam's Rivierenbuurt has expanded significantly since its inception in 2016, gaining momentum following the destruction of several rainbow flags in 2023. Residen...

'White men to the back!' Richard Kemper finds Sophie Straat's call original and essential. 'Just like with Rembrandt.'

Singer Sophie Straat called for women, queer individuals, and people of color to move to the front during her performance at the Best Kept Secret festival. Richard Kemper praised the statement as orig...

Arrested Turkish comedian who called Erdogan a dictator faces jail time

Turkish comedian Deniz Göktas was taken into pre-trial detention on Friday following his arrest for allegedly mocking religious values and insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The comedian faces...

Heemskerk baker Sjon bakes for Tour de France fans again this year: 'A new quiz every day'

Baker Sjon Koelman from the bakery Wim Koelman in Heemskerk is once again celebrating the Tour de France by offering special themed cakes to customers who correctly answer daily cycling-related quizze...

Just Go Skating connects asylum seekers and Haarlem residents at skatepark this Sunday: ‘On a skateboard, it doesn’t matter where you’re from’

The initiative Just Go Skating is organizing a skateboarding workshop this weekend in Haarlem to foster connections between asylum seekers and local residents. The organizers aim to promote social inc...

A rich, savory blend of Eastern spices: the Snackspert is a fan of Kwalitaria’s kebab croquette

Poetic installation in Grote Kerk Alkmaar: 'Depending on the position of the sun, something appears or disappears'

Cindy closes coffee shop The Harbour, competition becomes too overwhelming

After nine years in business, Cindy Ruitenberg is closing her coffee shop, The Harbour, located in the IJmuiden harbor area. The shop will serve its final customers until 2:00 PM this Saturday.

We all want to be seen, Gordon just a little more than the rest of us

KNVB files complaint over racist abuse against Oranje players

The KNVB has filed a formal complaint regarding racist comments made online against Dutch national team players following their elimination from the World Cup by Morocco. The football association anno...

Anouk considers quitting music: 'I've been running at a loss for years'

Dutch singer Anouk is considering retiring from the music industry after stating that her career has been operating at a loss for years. She announced on Instagram that she is currently recording what...

The Achterklap Podcast | Rico Verhoeven is not getting married after all and Madonna on Grindr

Kickboxer Rico Verhoeven has announced his breakup with Naomy, while pop icon Madonna is actively seeking attention to stay in the spotlight. These developments are discussed in the latest episode of ...

The Collection: the bicycle helmet is on the rise

Bob Vylan sues BBC for libel

The punk-rap duo Bob Vylan has initiated legal action against the British broadcaster BBC for alleged defamation. The claims follow the duo's performance at the 2025 Glastonbury festival.

Review: Jannah Loontjens' novel Gala and Zev about two youths from a deprived Scheveningen neighborhood feels contrived

Michiel Cox wrote an essay collection about fatherhood and sentimentality: You are entering a literary desert

Review: Women Without Men – what price does an Iranian woman pay for her desires?

Cool Machine review: The question remaining after the third part of Colson Whitehead's swinging crime trilogy: what will the author do next?

Jan-Bert Vroege leaves Amsterdam politics for alderman role in Almere: "Time for something else"

After sixteen years in Amsterdam politics, Jan-Bert Vroege has been installed as a new alderman in Almere. He will oversee a diverse portfolio focused on the city's future, including economy, innovati...

The jazz, soul and R&B of Lizz Wright have the deep passion of gospel

This article discusses the enduring popularity of the Christian hymn 'Amazing Grace' and its interpretation by various artists, including singer Lizz Wright. It notes that a translated version of the ...

Oranje's World Cup elimination left Malevy Leons with a broken heart and a tough day at the office

Malevy Leons expressed her disappointment following the Dutch national team's defeat against Morocco during the World Cup. She described the loss as a difficult experience despite not being a regular ...

New Schippers peanut butter floor contains 'only' 390 kilos

Artist Wim T. Schippers' famous 'Peanut Butter Floor' was recently re-installed at the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen depot in Rotterdam. Two staff members spent nine hours applying 390 kilograms of pe...

Telstar to play away games in blue this season with shirt celebrating 150 years of IJmuiden and paying tribute to the North Sea Canal

Football club Telstar will wear blue away kits for the 2026-2027 season. The design commemorates the 150th anniversary of IJmuiden and pays tribute to the North Sea Canal.

Review round-up Madonna's new album: 'One of her better records'

More than twenty years after the success of her 2005 album, Madonna has released a long-awaited follow-up titled Confessions II. Critics have praised the new record, describing it as a dance-oriented ...

Solange's favorites: This is by far my favorite café in Amsterdam

Solange Former, an editor at indebuurt Amsterdam, shares her personal favorite local spots in the city. In this article, she reveals her top cafe recommendation among her preferred locations in Amster...

Letschert proud of plan for mandatory internship compensation

Dutch Minister of Education Rianne Letschert has expressed pride in a new cabinet proposal to legally mandate internship compensation for vocational and higher education students. She stated that inte...