Culture News in English

Playing Pokémon to train military drones: how data from the popular game is used for warfare

The popular mobile game Pokémon Go has functioned as a massive geographic data collection operation since its global launch in 2016. This data is now being utilized to train military drones for warfa...

Schlager singer, Sinterklaas helper and serious actor, Sem Ben Yakar is all of them

Sem Ben Yakar is a versatile performer who balances serious acting in socially relevant plays with roles as a Schlager singer and Sinterklaas host. His work draws on his Jewish heritage and multicultu...

Video | Ariana Grande in tears during first concert in 7 years

News summary: mystery surrounding Volkshotel and where to watch the World Cup on a big screen

This weekly news roundup for Amsterdam addresses a mystery surrounding the Volkshotel and explains why sirens were heard throughout the city on Friday. Additionally, the article provides leisure tips ...

How we support the Dutch national team: From 1988 street parties and Gullit pastries to orange-decked streets: 'Everyone waves and smiles at everyone'

The article reflects on the public's enthusiastic support for the Dutch national football team, highlighting the massive celebrations in Haarlem following the 1988 European Championship victory. It de...

Language enricher Roxy Dekker makes horrific language error: ‘Like I fucking care, really’

Singer and TikTok influencer Roxy Dekker is facing criticism after making a grammatical error in her content. The artist, known for creating songs from follower-suggested words, responded to the backl...

Noraly Beyer shares powerful life lesson with viewers while mourning Joost Prinsen

Celebrating 150 years of IJmuiden with art in living rooms and studios: ‘The ruggedness of IJmuiden is an important source of inspiration’

The fifth edition of the Velsen Art Route attracted hundreds of visitors to local studios and homes to celebrate the 150th anniversary of IJmuiden. Participants explored various galleries and private ...

Video | Ed Sheeran surprises hundreds of fans and one young fan in particular

Rainbow flag flying less proudly: 'Was support ever truly authentic?'

Companies are increasingly scaling back their public support for the LGBTQI+ community during Pride month in response to a growing anti-woke movement. This trend of reducing visible corporate allyship...

Official opening of De Blokkendoos toy library’s new location in Hoofddorp: ‘Less space, but many positive reactions’

The toy library Speelotheek De Blokkendoos officially opened its new location in the Floriande district of Hoofddorp on Saturday. Moved from the city center to the local library, the facility continue...

Visitors fill the square at Café Bartje until late during Santpoort Square Party

Residents and visitors gathered at the square near Café Bartje this weekend for the Santpoorts Pleinfeest. Despite changeable summer weather, the event saw a large turnout that lasted until late into...

More than a million attend papal mass in Madrid

More than a million people attended a mass led by Pope Leo XIV at the Plaza de Cibeles in Madrid, marking the highlight of his visit to Spain. The ceremony was attended by Spanish King Felipe and Quee...

Parool pleased with attention for Styles page, considers reprinting

The Amsterdam-based newspaper Het Parool is considering printing extra copies of its Saturday edition following significant interest in a full-page advertisement by Harry Styles. In the handwritten no...

Two men released after arrest at Ye concert in Arnhem

Two men, aged 22 and 24, have been released from custody following their arrest for disturbing public order during a concert by the rapper Ye at the GelreDome in Arnhem. The suspects from Schiedam and...

Walking through Weesp, a mini Amsterdam with local cookies and boats on the Vecht

This weekly feature from AlleTijd presents a 4.7-kilometer walking route through Weesp, a town often described as a smaller version of Amsterdam. The trail highlights local specialties like "Weesper m...

Tennis player Lucas to Special Olympics: I think I'll get gold, I hope for silver

24-year-old Lucas Matthes is set to compete in tennis at the Special Olympics National Games held in Haarlem next weekend. Matthes, an ambassador for the event and a former Dutch national champion in ...

Noraly Beyer on Joost Prinsen's farewell: He just didn't want to anymore

Noraly Beyer revealed that her partner, presenter Joost Prinsen, decided to end his life after suffering a stroke in October 2025. The stroke left Prinsen partially paralyzed and with speech difficult...

Renata Jansen photographs club characters as a tribute to super-volunteers: ‘They seem like a dying breed’

Photographer Renata Jansen has created a series of portraits to honor "super-volunteers" who have dedicated decades of service to their local sports clubs. The project highlights these indispensable i...

Duffy to perform in UK next month for first time in fifteen years

Welsh singer Duffy has announced she will perform her first UK concert in fifteen years with a secret, intimate show in London on July 5. According to an Instagram post by the singer, the performance ...

Review: At the Gelredome, Ye shuffles across his globe, alone in the world

Jan swapped Haarlem for Oslo 60 years ago but still dreams of a herring cart

81-year-old Jan Hoogenwerf reflects on his life in Oslo sixty years after moving there from his hometown of Haarlem. Despite his long residency in Norway, he maintains a strong connection to his Dutch...

From club night to coffee rave: why young people are ditching bars for morning parties like Rise & Rave in Haarlem

The third edition of the 'Rise & Rave' event will take place on Tuesday, June 9th, at Copper Branch in Haarlem, offering a morning dance party with coffee and croissants before the workday begins. The...

Will villas be built next to the Brederode Ruins in Santpoort-Zuid? Opponents return to Council of State: 'Only the developer is happy'

Organizations including Monumentenbezit are threatening to appeal to the Council of State if plans for three villas next to the Ruïne van Brederode in Santpoort-Zuid proceed. Opponents argue that the...

Special training for neighborhood dispute mediators as problems grow more complex

BeterBuren has launched a pilot program in Amsterdam to provide specialized training for volunteer mediators dealing with increasingly complex neighbor disputes involving mental health issues or cultu...

Employees can take time off to pull all-nighters during World Cup

Employees are taking time off to watch World Cup football matches that are broadcast during early morning and late-night hours. Despite these schedule conflicts, employers reportedly do not expect a s...

Suspended priest Pierre Valkering wants two high-ranking Vatican officials to testify in Haarlem: 'I want to know exactly what has been alleged about me'

Suspended Amsterdam priest Pierre Valkering is seeking to have two high-ranking Vatican officials testify at the Haarlem district court. He aims to uncover what Bishop Jan Hendriks reported about him ...

'Kennemerland is no Russia,' says Rinus Michels, but the amateurs score twice against the future European champions

In 1988, the Dutch national football team played a warm-up match against an amateur side from Kennemerland in Haarlem shortly before winning the European Championship. Although the professionals won, ...

Apologizing for historical wrongs – how do you do it?

The Dutch state will officially apologize on July 2 to mothers who were forced to give up their children between 1956 and 1984. Historian Nicole Immler notes that while addressing such historical inju...

No provocation during Ye's first show in Arnhem

American rapper Ye performed the first of two scheduled shows at the GelreDome in Arnhem without making any provocative remarks. He focused primarily on his music from a large globe-shaped stage with ...