Feel more at home in Haarlem with Taalthuis! Are you interested in following a Dutch course? Do you want to learn Dutch in a structured but fun way? On January 10, 2019 Taalthuis organizes an open day soyou can come and see why learning Dutch at Taalthuis is the best choice! WHEN Thursday January 10 […]
Sings – ‘It’s the most wonderful time of the year!’ I can’t believe it is December already! Haarlem is full of fun and festive treats for you and the whole family to enjoy.
Sinterklaas and his Pieten arrive by steamboat and moors on the Spaarne on 18 November in Haarlem.
Zwarte Piet is a controversial character – whether you believe him to be racist or not, in this article we will be taking a look instead at Zwarte Piets’ history, where did he come from, and who exactly is he.
The weather is getting colder but that doesn’t mean Haarlem is quiet. From the Comedy Factory night to the arrival of Sinterklaas himself; November is full of activities for the whole family.
Sint-Maarten (St. Martin’s Day) is a popular children’s feast day in many parts of the Netherlands. On the evening of November 11th, small groups of children can be heard going up and down the street singing songs and reciting poems, equipped with lit lanterns. As a reward, they are given sweet treats, in a custom […]
Wow! It’s October already?! One of my personal favourite times of the year, with all the glorious golds, browns and red colours, here are things to do in Haarlem that make this windy and wet month a little cosier.
Toneel-en Filmschuur Haarlem offers a ‘language no problem’ program that consists of a broad variety of films, theatre, dance and musical theatre performances for adults, youngsters and children. Below you find the Language no problem theatre program 2018-2019. With expatsHaarlem discounts and meetups.
It’s finally payday! You have been working hard all month and your long-awaited payslip has been delivered! But what is this? What does this mean? We decode all those numbers and long Dutch words for you.
The Haarlemmertrekvaart is a canal between Amsterdam and Haarlem. It was dug in 1631, making it the oldest tow-canal in Holland. Travel on tow canals was historically done by barges which were towed by animals and sometimes men, on a path along the canal’s edge known as a towpath.
During Open Monumentendag – every second weekend of September – thousands of historical buildings and sites (about 4.000) are open to the public free of charge.
It is September already and as usual, there is something for someone in Haarlem this month.
At Taalthuis you can follow Dutch Language courses at different levels. Their aim is to make learning a fun experience! Founded in 2006 Taalthuis now is a well-known language institute in the Netherlands for higher educated students. With lesson locations in eight different cities in the Netherlands, including Haarlem, Taalthuis makes it possible for expats, au […]
A hofje is a Dutch word for a courtyard with almshouses around it. They have existed since the Middle Ages. A hofje provided housing for elderly people (mostly women). They were privately funded and served as a form of social security. Hofjes are usually built in a U-shape with a yard or garden in the […]
Have you ever been harassed in the street? Received a crass message on a dating app? Have a coworker make a comment about your appearance that just didn’t sit right?
Whew, what a summer! And it’s still going! Here are a few events in Haarlem that may peak your interest.
The International School Haarlem (ISH) is opening their secondary school department in September 2018. The demand for international education is greater than the municipality and school boards of IRIS and Solomon originally anticipated. For example, the primary school department, which opened its doors in September 2017 has already welcomed their 100th student!
Anthony Fokker, also known as the Flying Dutchman, built his first plane in 1910 and taught himself to fly. During WWI he introduced the gear system that made it possible to fire a machine gun through the propeller arc without hitting the blades.
Summer is finally here and July is packed full of activities! From a concert on the Spaarne to the end of the month drink; we got you covered.
Henry Hope (1735–1811) was an Amsterdam merchant banker born in Boston, in Britain’s Massachusetts Bay Colony in North America. He was a key figure in the Dutch East India Company and made a fortune. He built the Villa Welgelegen in Haarlem.
After the warmest May on record, we now enter June. Will the good weather last? Who knows! However, Haarlem still has plenty of things to do.
Around Haarlem, there is plenty of food events. But where can you taste, drink and discover new products? Let me introduce to you Landgroed de Olmenhorst. In the middle of Haarlemmermeer, between The Hague and Amsterdam, Landgroed de Olmenshorst is only 20 minutes from Haarlem. You will find 18 hectares of organic apple and pear […]
William the Silent or more commonly known as William of Orange was the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish Habsburgs that started the Eighty Years’ War. He was born in the House of Nassau as Count of Nassau-Dillenburg. He became Prince of Orange in 1544 and is thereby the founder of the […]
Its now May in Haarlem and there are lots of things to do! On Friday, May 4 is the first instalment of the freedom festival, the memorial concert. On Saturday, May 5 is the freedom concert! The whole of Haarlem turns into a massive music concert for the day. On Tuesday, May 8 come practice your […]
Corrie ten Boom was the first licensed female watchmaker in the Netherlands, who, along with her father, and other family members, helped many Jews escape the Nazi Holocaust during World War II by hiding them in her closet.
From Spring Gardens to Kings Day, we got you covered this month! Hopefully, the weather will be better…
The windmill, Molen de Adriaan was built on the foundations of the Goevrouwetoren by Adriaan de Booys, an industrial producer from Amsterdam. The Goevrouwetoren, or Goede Vrouwtoren (Goodwife Tower), was a tower built to help defend Haarlem over the river Spaarne with its sister tower on the other river bank. Between these two towers was a […]
From peeking into your neighbour’s houses and the expats Haarlem end of month drink, we got you covered this March.
A 6-month-old baby was kidnapped today (Feb 26th) in a supermarket car park in Eersel. The police have issued an Amber Alert to help find her. Hannah is in serious danger. She was taken forcibly from her caregiver and was whisked away in a car, a black Mercedes Benz 270CDI, with the license plate; 94-GK-PB. […]
After a disastrous defeat in the ‘raamjaar’, Johan de Witt and his brother was murdered and eaten by an angry mob, but is this true?
Dutch Mystery Books for a gezellige winteravond.December 18, 2018 - 11:36 amReading a good mystery novel can be a very satisfying experience. I believe it has to do with the fact that, while crime is always terrifying, as readers we know that the crime will most likely be solved at the end of the book and the murderer, if not caught, will at least be identified. […]
14 Ways to Survive the Holidays when you’re Living AbroadDecember 13, 2018 - 11:08 amDecember begins and that means the holiday season arrives. If you’re living abroad, spending Christmas away from your family and friends can be a difficult time. For some people, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, and for others, that same word creates some form of anxiety with usually only one wish: skip […]