Lifestyle News in English

A bag of Pietersma fries makes you part of a nearly 70-year-old tradition

What makes the new Heemskerk skate park so special? Designers collaborated with local skaters

A new modern skate park has opened in Heemskerk at Cornelis Geelvinckstraat, replacing an older facility. The project involved collaboration with local skaters and is designed to accommodate various e...

Audio walk and artwork in the dunes shed light on traces of war: ‘The podwalk makes people walk the route much more consciously’

Natuurmonumenten has launched an audio walk titled 'Duinen vertellen oorlogsverhalen' and unveiled a landscape artwork in the dunes near IJmuiden. The project highlights traces of World War II, such a...

Will there be a referendum on an Amsterdam boycott of Israel?

A citizen collective has submitted a formal request for a referendum in Amsterdam concerning a municipal boycott of Israel, listing ten specific demands such as severing ties with Israeli institutions...

Politics on the Amstel: Will the coalition stay in power or will Amsterdam change course?

Journalists from AT5, Het Parool, and De Telegraaf discuss the final week of political campaigning in Amsterdam, covering topics such as tourism, the cannabis ban, and local community issues. The revi...

Eighties icon Boy George to represent San Marino at Eurovision

NVWA: Most play sand meets asbestos standard

An investigation by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) found that most play sand meets safety standards for asbestos. While 65 out of 99 products contained no asbestos a...

Parents, coaches and children discuss safety at Telstar sports club: 'Football is for everyone'

The municipality of Velsen and local football clubs organized a meeting with parents, trainers, and children to discuss safety and inclusivity within sports associations. The initiative emphasizes tha...

Cheating allowed

This card game allows players to use tactics usually considered cheating, such as hiding cards in sleeves or on the floor. These actions are permitted and integrated into the gameplay rules.

Cor, Nol and Alex are a well-oiled machine collecting textiles: 'Alex crawls into the container and passes the bags to us'

Volunteers Cor, Nol, and Alex from the OIG-IHD organization successfully collected hundreds of kilograms of donated textiles this morning. The team works together efficiently to gather bags from colle...

Lubach apologizes after causing rush on cheap Belgian gas station: ‘Don’t go to Herentals’

Dutch television host Arjen Lubach has apologized for causing an unexpected rush of customers at a gas station in Herentals, Belgium, after featuring it on his show. He informed the press agency ANP t...

King's Day 2026: Amsterdam parties you don't want to miss

Amsterdam will celebrate King's Day on Monday, April 27, 2026, with the city hosting various festivities including boat parties on the canals and large festivals. The event is expected to draw thousan...

Cecilia had a mural made of the ‘Hotel California’ album cover as the starting point for her interior colors

Cecilia van Weel-Niesten, 76, designed her new 90-square-meter apartment in Beverwijk around the colors of a mural inspired by the 'Hotel California' album cover. She lives with her dog Moos and descr...

Rijsenhout bins uncollected due to wrong waste, residents angry: 'I’m constantly afraid of doing something wrong'

A waste separation pilot in Rijsenhout has led to frustration among residents as PBD bins are frequently left uncollected due to contamination issues. Local residents report feeling overwhelmed and in...

May holiday could be expensive due to Middle East unrest: what you should and shouldn't do if you've already booked

Travelers planning trips to or via Dubai for the upcoming Easter and May holidays cannot currently cancel or change their bookings for free despite Middle East unrest. While rebooking is an option, it...

Rheumatism buddies became friends for life

Reporter Mitzie Meijerhof and Rob Pfaff recount how they transitioned from "rheumatism buddies" to lifelong friends. Their story serves as the conclusion to the "Voor het leven" series, which explores...

Bargain hunters search for gems at Sportcentrum Groenendaal flea market

Organisatieburo Mikki is hosting a flea market this Sunday at Sportcentrum Groenendaal on Heemsteedse Sportparklaan. The event invites bargain hunters and collectors to browse for unique items and enj...

Dutch Athletics vows to prioritize athletes after sex tape scandal: 'I think we can do better'

Chiel Warners, the new technical director of the Dutch Athletics Union, announced a shift in focus toward athlete welfare following a non-consensual sex tape scandal involving Zoë Sedney. During a pr...

Reader's question: How to find a legal cleaner without an immediate contract commitment?

After being injured in a bicycle accident, 71-year-old Siem Weterings is seeking a temporary, legally registered domestic worker to assist with household chores. The inquiry addresses how to hire such...

From the Red Light District to Henk Sneevlietweg: The city in miniature at new Miniature Museum

Amsterdam has opened a new Miniature Museum in the former Diamond Museum building near Museumplein, featuring detailed and interactive replicas of iconic city landmarks. The museum focuses on historic...

How concerned is Velsen about high fuel and energy prices? 'I use the car as little as possible'

Residents in the municipality of Velsen are managing the impact of rising fuel and energy prices caused by conflicts in the Middle East. While the price increases are noticeable, there is no widesprea...

Jennifer (35) and Anthony (14): 'I am proud my mother is running in the elections'

Volt starts day with morning rave: People are being pushed out of the city

The political party Volt organized a morning rave in Amsterdam's Houthavens to campaign for the upcoming municipal elections and highlight the city's housing crisis. Lead candidate Juliet Broersen use...

Initiative to fill vacant office floors with tiny houses

Thomas van Leeuwen has proposed an initiative to build tiny houses on vacant office floors in Amsterdam to help address the housing shortage. The project aims to utilize 600,000 square meters of empty...

Sytze Rijpkema (Ja21) wants bridges over the IJ at the expense of art and culture: The cheese slicer method

Ja21 lead candidate Sytze Rijpkema proposes constructing two bridges over the IJ river in Amsterdam by reallocating funds from the city's arts and culture budget. Rijpkema suggests a broad reduction i...

Weekend tips: things to do in Haarlem (March 13-15)

Haarlem features a busy schedule of activities and events for the weekend of March 13-15. Despite the unpredictable March weather, the city offers various outings to help residents and visitors fill t...

A creative solution for the housing shortage: tiny houses in vacant offices

'The friendship turned out to be more than just a holiday romance; it was even better back in the Netherlands,' says Kars (26) about Damin (25)

Damin Hajjaji and Kars Zijlstra from Haarlem share the story of their friendship, which began during a holiday and continued to grow after they returned home. The two young men reflect on how their bo...

Help, my son holds anti-women views, what can I do? ‘Before you know it, they’re on extreme platforms’

Experts are warning about the rise of misogynistic views among boys, driven by the 'manosphere' and influencers like Andrew Tate. The debut of the Netflix series 'Inside the manosphere' underscores th...

Ukrainian couple Olga and Ruslan open Black Roll Odessa kiosk at Velserpont: 'The best shawarma is in Odessa, we’re bringing it here'

Ukrainian refugees Olga and Ruslan have opened a new food kiosk called Black Roll Odessa near the Velserpont in the Netherlands. After fleeing the war and previously operating a food truck in Hoorn, t...