Culture News in English
Latest culture headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Sharper thinking, better blood values: how fasting can be healthy according to a doctor
As the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan begins tonight, medical experts are highlighting the potential health benefits of abstaining from food and drink between sunrise and sunset, such as improved blo...
A coffee with Daniël van Duijn (LEF): We want a rave island near Pampus
Daniël van Duijn, leader of the LEF party, is campaigning for the Amsterdam municipal elections with a platform focused on youth interests and unconventional urban projects. His key proposals include...
Honoring Haarlem's top athletes
On February 16, 2026, the city of Haarlem honored its top athletes at a sports gala where rower Roos de Jong and karateka Sebastiaan van Teeffelen were named sportswoman and sportsman of the year. The...
This macabre Haarlem masterpiece hung in Jeffrey Epstein's home: "He didn't understand the message"
Recently released documents reveal that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein commissioned a large-scale replica of Cornelis van Haarlem’s 1591 masterpiece, "Massacre of the Innocents," to hang abo...
Boekhandel De Duif in North also offers meetups for knitting enthusiasts
Bibi Scholten van Aschat opened De Duif, a community-focused bookstore in Amsterdam-Noord, which has become a local hub since its launch in December. Funded partly through crowdfunding, the shop offer...
He received a 10 from Mara Grimm, but where does Choux chef Merijn van Berlo like to eat?
Merijn van Berlo, the acclaimed chef of Amsterdam restaurant Choux, has shared his personal list of favorite dining spots and specific dishes across the city. His recommendations range from casual sta...
Danh Vo is a collector, scavenger and tinkerer – the Stedelijk now displays his montages of historical fragments
The Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam is hosting an exhibition by Vietnamese-Danish artist Danh Vo, titled πνεῦμα (Ἔλισσα), which features assemblages of historical and personal artifacts. T...
Search for creator of thrift store paintings: "Incredibly beautiful"
Art enthusiast Erwin Kanik is seeking the identity of a mysterious painter signed "De Boer" after discovering thirty colorful artworks at a thrift store in Heemstede. He has appealed to the public via...
'Sinatra' returns to Concertgebouw after nearly 50 years: "You can't tell the difference"
Frank Sinatra impersonator "Frank in Person" will perform with nearly 100 student musicians at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw on February 28, marking nearly 50 years since the original artist appeared at...
Macarons from these two shops are equally delicious: ‘Nice and chewy and the flavor matches the colors’
In a blind taste test of eight supermarket brands, three pastry chefs identified two retailers that offer high-quality macarons with a desirable chewy texture and accurate flavors. The review, conduct...
Actor Bas Hoeflaak: ‘I suffer from restless legs’
Dutch actor Bas Hoeflaak discussed his personal life and health in a recent interview with Mezza magazine, revealing that he suffers from restless legs. He shared his routines for relaxation and maint...
Relief in Zandvoort: iconic clock restored and ticking again
The iconic station clock on Sophiaweg in Zandvoort has been replaced and is functioning again after a public poll showed that 80% of residents wanted to save the landmark from removal. The municipalit...
After a century, Gudde family quits herring trade: 'Rejected six times for a larger stall'
After four generations and nearly a century in the trade, the Gudde family is closing their Amsterdam herring stall as 69-year-old Lucien Gudde retires. The business will not be passed down to his son...
Snoop Dogg to perform at the Melkweg in two weeks
American rapper Snoop Dogg will perform an intimate concert at the Melkweg in Amsterdam on February 26th, returning to the 1,250-capacity venue for the first time in 14 years. The artist is currently ...
A walk past 10 iconic Ajax locations in Amsterdam
This article outlines a walking tour of iconic locations in Amsterdam that have played a central role in the history of the football club AFC Ajax. It highlights significant sites such as Café Oost-I...
Spotify soaring despite disgruntled bands quitting: ‘You only make an impact if Taylor Swift leaves’
Spotify reached record-breaking audience numbers last year despite several bands leaving the platform in protest of the company's policies. The streaming service's growth continued even as it faced cr...
Hendrik Groen steps out of anonymity and writes Book Week gift
Author Peter de Smet, known by the pseudonym Hendrik Groen, has stepped out of anonymity to write the gift book *Piaggio* for the 91st Boekenweek, taking place from March 11 to 22. Journalist Doortje ...
Sommelier of the year works at restaurant Flore: ‘It doesn’t matter what I like’
Antonello Nicastri, head sommelier at Amsterdam's two-star restaurant Flore, was named Sommelier of the Year at the Gault & Millau 2026 awards. He was recognized for his innovative approach to beverag...
Elsbeth Etty writes book on February Strike: How is it possible they dared
Journalist Elsbeth Etty has released a new book titled "We moeten iets dóén!" which explores the motivations of participants in Amsterdam's 1941 February strike against Nazi persecution. Through res...
Houtfestival takes a one-year break to consider its future
The Houtfestival in Haarlem has been cancelled for 2024 after the local municipality offered only a partial subsidy of €48,000 instead of the requested €80,000. Organizers will use this one-year h...
Erwin Olaf exhibition at Stedelijk Museum extended
The Stedelijk Museum has extended the "Erwin Olaf - Freedom" retrospective by five weeks until April 6 due to high public demand. The exhibition showcases the career of the late Dutch photographer and...
Ukrainian supermarket workers surprised by photo in Haarlem picture book
A supermarket owner in Haarlem-Noord honored his Ukrainian employees by featuring their group photo on the back cover of a new historical picture book about the city. The staff, who arrived as refugee...
Once a German defense line, now a sanctuary for all kinds of animals
Remnants of the WWII Atlantikwall defense line in Zuid-Kennemerland National Park have become vital habitats for local wildlife, such as bunkers serving as bat hibernacula and water-filled tank ditche...
Margreet Dolman’s Amsterdam: ‘I’m looking forward to the first beer on the terrace at Van Zuylen’
Margreet Dolman shares her favorite locations and personal history in Amsterdam, highlighting iconic spots like the Betty Asfalt Complex theater and the Concertgebouw. She expresses a deep connection ...
Zohran Mamdani would undoubtedly love New Draver (8-)
Inspired by the culinary preferences of New York politician Zohran Mamdani, this review highlights New Draver, a traditional Surinamese restaurant and community hub in Amsterdam’s Oosterparkbuurt. T...
More attention from boys than from the press: Lidy (92) skated at the Olympics
Lidy Stoppelman, now 92, was the first Dutch figure skater to compete in the Winter Olympics during the 1952 Games in Oslo. Despite receiving little media attention or official support from the Dutch ...
Gravestone found in thrift store returned to family: All's well that ends well
A gravestone belonging to a woman who died in 1989 was successfully returned to her relatives after being discovered among the inventory of a thrift store in Aalsmeer, Netherlands. Store owner Gideon ...
Memarian family makes royal carpets: formerly in Iran, now in the Netherlands
Sadegh Memarian, who fled Iran in 1995 to escape political repression, has established a renowned carpet restoration studio in Cruquius, Netherlands. Continuing a multi-generational family craft that ...
Amsterdam to get monument for guest workers: "People who helped build the city"
Amsterdam is planning to build a monument to honor guest workers for their historical contributions to the city, following strong support from the Moroccan and Turkish communities. The project has a b...
Haarlemmermeer Lyceum discriminated against student by preventing prayer at school
The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights has ruled that Haarlemmermeer Lyceum in Hoofddorp discriminated against a Muslim student by preventing her from praying and refusing to establish a quiet roo...