Culture News in English
Latest culture headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
World-famous Sagrada Familia reaches highest point 144 years after construction started
The Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona has reached its highest point 144 years after construction began, following the completion of the cross on the central Jesus Christ tower this Friday. Althoug...
Jelka van Houten: My body is one big scar
Dutch actress Jelka van Houten shared candid reflections on her body and lifestyle habits in a recent interview with Mezza magazine. She admitted to frequently forgetting to eat and neglecting her exe...
Future of vacant national monument Bloemoord still unknown
The housing association Brederode Wonen is considering various future scenarios for the vacant historic monument Bloemoord on Bloemendaalseweg. A new purpose is being sought for the building following...
Streamers, snacks and pajamas for Ramadan available in every shopping street
Dutch retail stores are increasingly offering Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr products, such as decorations, snacks, and themed clothing, directly in mainstream shopping streets. This commercial trend makes i...
György Kurtág’s 100th birthday at the Muziekgebouw is a celebration without the deep seriousness of his work
Amsterdam’s Muziekgebouw hosted a tribute concert to celebrate the 100th birthday of Hungarian composer György Kurtág, featuring musicians with long-standing ties to his work. The program included...
Public art not representative: Amsterdam is a male stronghold when looking at statues
The city of Amsterdam is developing a new policy framework to ensure its 1,750 public artworks and monuments are more representative of its diverse population. Research indicates that women, people wi...
Firefighter Steven van de Looij (55) extinguished the fire in the Vondelkerk
Steven van de Looij, acting fire commander of Amsterdam-Amstelland, led the response to a significant fire at the historic Vondelkerk church during his first hours on the job on New Year's Eve. To pre...
'When something like this happens, football means nothing'. Tribute to Seedorf, Mbappé, Thuram, Henry and all those who spoke out against racism
In his weekly column, Henk Spaan pays tribute to football figures such as Clarence Seedorf, Vinicius Jr., and Wouter Goes for their stances against racism. The piece highlights the importance of playe...
Five well-known buildings in the running for Friends of Old Hillegom Certificate
Five prominent public buildings in Hillegom have been nominated for the annual certificate awarded by the Friends of Old Hillegom association. The nominees include the Hof, the Maartenskerk, the Cultu...
Abuses at Sleepers prove TV and film world is still a ‘toxic industry’
Recent allegations of manipulation and gaslighting on the set of the series *Sleepers* have sparked renewed criticism of a persistent toxic work environment within the Dutch film and television indust...
NU+ | How Prince Andrew was increasingly backed into a corner
Former Prince Andrew has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, marking a significant escalation in a long-standing criminal investigation. The arrest follows years of controversy ...
Iconic red Canta struggles against poor maintenance and trendiness
The iconic Canta microcar, a staple of Amsterdam's streets since 1995, is being celebrated in a new documentary series titled "Vrijheid op Wielen" for its 30th anniversary. While the vehicle remains a...
Coffee with Tim Kuijsten (ChristenUnie): Not becoming a city where people live past each other
Tim Kuijsten, the lead candidate for the ChristenUnie in Amsterdam, aims to reclaim the party's city council seat by focusing on strengthening community institutions like churches and neighborhood cen...
Birds is a great exhibition, but the wunderkammer presentation takes some getting used to
The Mauritshuis in The Hague has opened "Birds," a new exhibition curated by historian Simon Schama that explores the complex relationship between humans and nature. The display features diverse works...
‘Micha Wertheim for Everyone’ is highly nuanced yet contains provocative propositions
Dutch comedian Micha Wertheim's new show, "Voor iedereen," explores the role of theater as a space for control in an increasingly chaotic world where politics has become a spectacle. The performance d...
Amsterdam man who threatened Douwe Bob after Jewish football event unrest arrested again
A 38-year-old Amsterdam man suspected of threatening singer Douwe Bob has been rearrested for violating the conditions of his release. The suspect, who had been free for several months, was originally...
Yungblud releases second part of album Idols
British rock singer Yungblud will release "Idols II," the second part of his "Idols" album, this Friday. The new collection features six tracks and follows the release of the first part last year.
What is even more interesting than Kjeld Nuis's relationship? A single Femke Kok!
The media's focus on the romantic lives of Dutch Olympic skaters recently sparked controversy after coach Dennis van der Gun joked that gold medalist Femke Kok "only needs a boyfriend" to complete her...
NU+ | Froukje puts observations about cheating into song: 'Not devastated myself'
Dutch singer Froukje has released her first solo single in over two years, titled "Iedereen Gaat Vreemd" ("Everyone Cheats"). The track explores her observations on infidelity, though the artist clari...
Orlando by early music ensemble La Tempête could go down in history as a hit
The early music ensemble La Tempête, directed by Simon-Pierre Bestion, recently debuted a multidisciplinary production titled *Orlando* at Amsterdam's Muziekgebouw. The performance creatively blends ...
Berlinale proves political rows smolder longer at film festivals without Hollywood stars
The 76th Berlinale film festival faced a notable absence of Hollywood stars, which caused media attention to shift toward a persistent political controversy regarding the Gaza conflict. Tensions were ...
Colleagues react to Eric Dane's death: 'Left a lasting impression'
Colleagues are paying tribute to American actor Eric Dane, known for his roles in *Grey's Anatomy* and *Euphoria*, following his death at the age of 53. He passed away on Thursday due to complications...
Trunk alert: more baby elephants here than you can handle
The "Olifantjes Verzameldag" (Elephant Collector's Day) is an event dedicated to enthusiasts who collect elephant figurines and statues. The gathering provides a space for those with a passion for the...
Karen Damen and James Cooke new judges for Got Talent
Karen Damen and James Cooke have been announced as the new judges for the television program *Got Talent*. This update follows the decision to transform the show into a joint production between the Ne...
Eric Dane (53), 'McSteamy' from Grey's Anatomy, dies from ALS
Actor Eric Dane, known for his roles in *Grey's Anatomy* and *Euphoria*, passed away on Thursday at the age of 53 following a battle with ALS. His family confirmed the news in a statement to *People* ...
This building in the Tuinstraat once housed a bookstore besieged by Jordaan residents
In February 1887, a pro-monarchy mob in Amsterdam's Jordaan district targeted socialist bookstores, including Jan Fortuyn’s shop on Tuinstraat, following the publication of a scandalous anti-monarch...
Chansonnier Dave (81) has lived in France for 60 years, but is returning to Carré: ‘The eighties were a terrible time’
At 81 years old, Dutch-born singer Dave is set to return to Amsterdam’s Carré theater for a performance in 2025, following the unexpected success of his previous shows. The veteran chansonnier, who...
In ‘The Making of De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig’ the band itself is disrupted: ‘It became a kind of game’
To celebrate their 20th anniversary, the Dutch hip-hop group De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig is featured in an experimental documentary titled "The Making of De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig." Directors Jan Hulst,...
Political cooperation between Muslim and Jew leads to widely supported dialogue plan: ‘Investing in peacetime’
Amsterdam city councilors Sheher Khan and Itay Garmy, a Muslim and a Jew from opposing political parties, have received unanimous support for their "Bekend maakt bemind 2.0" plan to foster structural ...
Former Prince Andrew released by police but remains suspect in investigation
Former Prince Andrew was released from a Thames Valley police station around 7:00 PM local time following questioning. He remains a suspect in an ongoing investigation into allegations of potential mi...