Zwarte Piet
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Dutch History; Zwarte Piet.

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. Zwarte Piet (Black Pete)…
Things to do in Haarlem
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Things to do in Haarlem this November

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. From Friday 2 November to 4 November Haarlem…
Marc de Haan
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Dutch History; Sint-Maarten Dag, the Dutch Halloween.

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…
library© https://pixabay.com/nl/boeken-bibliotheek-weinig-buiten-3526238/
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Little free libraries in Haarlem

‘Little free libraries’ are an American initiative that arrived in The Netherlands in 2013. ‘Little free libraries’ are places where people can exchange their books.  The idea behind them is that each of us can make our society better…
Haarlem property ladderhttps://pixabay.com/en/users/epicantus-168198/
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Selling Your Home So You Can Move Up The Haarlem Property Ladder

So, you've been living in your Haarlem property for a few years and now want a bigger and grander place to call home. Well, now is the time to make the move as house prices in the Netherlands jumped by 8.8% in quarter two of this year, compared…
paysliphttps://pixabay.com/en/users/martaposemuckel-17386/
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Decoding your Dutch Payslip.

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. According to Dutch Review, the…
smart technologyhttps://pixabay.com/en/users/Pixaline-1569622/
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Expat Innovations: Using Smart Technology to Make Your Home More Accessible

So, you have scored housing abroad. Congrats on passing one of the most difficult steps that most expats encounter. Now, you will likely want to ensure that all of your friends and family can visit your new home. You might be stunned to learn…
Octoberhttps://pixabay.com/en/users/FrankMagdelyns1-2783371/
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Monumentendag is full of surprises this year.

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. Besides opening their doors, many locations also organize on-site activities…
Hofje
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Dutch History; Haarlem the home of the Hofjes

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…
Haarlem
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Things to do in Haarlem this August

Whew, what a summer! And it's still going! Here are a few events in Haarlem that may peak your interest. From Thursday 2 to  Sunday 5 August, the main square is turned into a foodie heaven. It's Haarlem Culinair! At the same time…
dutch school
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Are you looking for a school for your children?

Are you looking for a school for your children? A Dutch public school may be the answer. When moving to The Netherlands with children, your first plan might be to send your kids to an international school. The curricula are of high quality…
novels
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Novels to better understand the Dutch

Getting to know a new culture can be difficult, especially when there is a language barrier. I moved to Holland five years ago and even if I have taken lessons and try my best to speak Dutch on every available occasion, my Dutch is still not…
workplace
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Haarlem's Top Coworking Spaces

Expats who engage in remote work have the benefit of working from anywhere, but selecting your office space should be done carefully. Recent research from Deskmag and Deskwanted revealed that 74% of coworkers have increased productivity.…
Suriname
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Suri-where?

Why would anyone go to Suriname if you’re not a nostalgic Dutch or someone just looking for a wild adventure? Simple, this tiny country is a world itself—breaking out from its colonial history while embracing its mixed heritage. Tucked between…
Liberation Day
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5th May: Liberation Day and festival

Following directly on from Remembrance Day, 5 May is a national day of celebration known as Liberation Day throughout Haarlem and the Netherlands. You will find a wide variety of entertainment and events taking place to commemorate the liberation…
Mud Masters Obstacle Run
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Mud Masters Obstacle Run 2018

Doing Mud Masters is one for the bucket list. A day full of mud, obstacles and fun with your friends – one that years later you’ll look back on with a smile and brag about at get-togethers with friends and family. This year the Mud Masters…
Est! Est!! Est!!!
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Wine tip: Est! Est !! Est !!!

Est! Est !! Est !!! di Montefiascone is an unforgettable name for a wine named after a special story. In the year 1111 the German bishop Johannes Fugger traveled to Rome. On his way to Lazio, he asked his servant Martin to find a good…
New York Deli
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New York Deli: Food and Live comedy

On Haarlem Foodies we gave in February  a preview of this new spot with the taste of the Big Apple. With a unique concept inspired by inspired by Delis in The Lower Eastside. Fast-casual American Jewish comfort food with outstanding quality. The…
Rokjesdag
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Rokjesdag 2018

Saturday 7 april will be the first "ROKJESDAG" of 2018. What is Rokjesdag or Skirt Day? It is officially the first day on which Dutch women wear skirts with bare legs. Every spring the men look forward to Rokjesdag, the day when the…
Keukenhof spring garden
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Keukenhof Spring Garden open 22 March-13 May 2018

Keukenhof, the world’s most beautiful spring garden, opens its doors from 22 March to 13 May 2018. Keukenhof Spring Garden Keukenhof (“Kitchen garden”, also known as the Garden of Europe), is one of the world’s largest flower…
Experience Haarlemmermeer
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Experience Haarlemmermeer Fair 2018

Get information, meet services and businesses, attend free workshops and presentations, enjoy a stand up comedy, live music, networking, meeting people and having fun! Free professional childcare and kids entertainment is available during…
Cold Netherlands
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Thursday real feel temperature: -17C degrees

Freezing winds from Siberia are blowing into the Netherlands this weekend bringing heavy frost with sunny sky. By next week Wednesday and Thursday, the temperature could dip to as low as -6C degrees to -9C degrees overnight. The temperature…
tissues
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Do Dutch people use tissues?

The other day I read a very interesting post on a Facebook Expats site. A young woman was questioning and seeking clarification as to whether Dutch people made use of tissue paper. She personally noticed that she had not come across any Dutch…
Geluksroute Haarlem 2018
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Geluksroute Haarlem 2018

Geluksroute (Happiness Route) is a relaxed way of sharing happiness, which makes for inspiring meetings and wonderful discoveries. Discover it on Saturday the 3rd of February 2018 and Sunday the 4th of February 2018 in Haarlem. The invitation…
blockchain bitcoin
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Speed course bitcoin and blockchain

Heard of the new buzz words and want to know more about it? Join the speed course bitcoin and blockchain. Free for our readers.   Program of the speed course bitcoin and blockchain The lecturer Henk van Cann will address: - Why…
National Tulip Day
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National Tulip Day 2018

An estimated 1.7 billion Dutch tulips bring a welcome touch of spring to households and businesses all over the globe each year. National Tulip Day sees Dutch tulip growers create a massive temporary garden on Dam Square Amsterdam, blooming…
Christmas tree action
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Christmas tree action on 4 and 10 January 2018

Just like in previous years, the municipality of Haarlem and Spaarnelanden organize the Christmas trees campaign in early 2018. On Thursday 4 and Wednesday 10 January 2018 - between 12.30 and 16.00 hrs - children up to 15 years old can bring…
work-life
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Work-life balance and how to achieve it.

A modern lifestyle requires most of us to spend a lot of our time working. And with 24/7 access to technology, it becomes difficult to disconnect from work even when we’re at home. When working abroad, expats are expected to adapt quickly…
New Year's plunge
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New Year's plunge

Those crazy Dutch! Once you survived Sinterklaas, Christmas and dodged the fireworks during new years eve you think you can finally relax. Well, guess again. How the tradition started I don't know but on the first of January masses of children,…
Amsterdam Light Festival
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Amsterdam Light Festival 2017 - 2018 

Amsterdam's winter festival returns each year to illuminate the city's streets and waterways with fantastic light installations by international artists. Find out more about where, when and how to see this year's works!  Amsterdam Light Festival…