Sinterklaas versus Santa Claus
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Sinterklaas versus Santa Claus

They both work in the same sector, wear red, and have a big white beard. For Piet's sake: what's the difference?  The Big Day Sinterklaas: Sinterklaas' "heerlijk avondje" / delicious is 5 December, although Sint arrives with a steamer…
EXPAT CINEMA: The Hand of God
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EXPAT CINEMA: The Hand of God

On 5 December at 14:15 hours The Schuur in collaboration with expatsHaarlem presents the most personal and intimate new Italian film by Paolo Sorrentino (the director of La Grande Bellezza) The hand of God, with English subtitles.   Expat…
Evening closures and stricter anticorona measures during the dayPhoto by marco fileccia on Unsplash
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Evening closures and stricter anticorona measures during the day

The Netherlands will shut down from 5pm to 5am, apart from essential services for at least three weeks from this Sunday, as the cabinet struggles to reduce the spread of coronavirus, now at an average of 22,000 new cases a day. The number…
Earlier Coronavirus press conference on Friday, as hospital problems mount
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Coronavirus press conference this Friday, as hospital problems grow

Demissionary prime minister Mark Rutte and health minister Hugo de Jonge will host a new press conference this Friday, a week before the one planned on December 3. De Jonge said the decision has been made following a meeting with ministers…
Press conference: Light lockdown and 2G policy to comeMatt Seymour
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Press conference: Light lockdown and 2G policy to come

The Netherlands will be going into a three-week light lockdown. Coronavirus measures will apply from Saturday 13 November at 18.00 to at least Saturday 4 December.  At the press conference yesterday, Prime minister Rutte began his address…
Expat Cinema: Do Not Hesitate
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Expat Cinema: Do Not Hesitate

On Sunday November 21st Toneelschuur and expatsHaarlem will present a special screening of the Dutch Oscar entry Do Not Hesitate, with English subtitles. Readers of expatsHaarlem get €3 discount and pay €8,50 instead of €11,50. Don't you…
Sint Maarten will go on in Haarlem, but with coronavirus measures
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Sint Maarten will go on in Haarlem, but with coronavirus measures

Singing with the kids door to door on Sint Maarten on Wednesday 11 November. Is that possible in Corona time? The Kennemerland Safety Region and GGD Kennemerland are following the decision of the government: Sint Maarten 2021 is happening! There…
Expat Cinema November: Riders of Justice ROLF KONOW
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Expat Cinema November: Riders of Justice

On Sunday, November 7th at 19 hours the Schuur and expatsHaarlem present a special screening of the Danish movie Riders of Justice, with English subtitles. Readers of expatsHaarlem get €3 discount and pay €8,50 instead of €11,50 with the…
New coronavirus measures: face masks are back, more working at home again and coronapass entry in more locations
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New coronavirus measures: face masks are back, more working at home again and coronapass entry in more locations

The government  has announced this second of November, 2021, that it is bringing back some of its previous coronavirus prevention measures and introducing new ones, in an effort to reduce the surge in new coronavirus cases. Face masks return…
Nationalities in the regions
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We are great, but how many are we?

Yes, us expats are interesting and fun and adventurous and brave, in one word great! But let's see how many of each nationality live in each nearby region. Find yours in the easy-to-read table that I spent an hour making for you :) Haarlem Haarlemmermeer Bloemendaal Zandvoort Amsterdam Dutch 147…
As of 25 September, we no longer have to stay 1.5 metres from others. The coronavirus entry pass system is being introduced
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Netherlands to reopen further with coronavirus entry pass

As of 25 September, we no longer have to stay 1.5 metres from others. The coronavirus entry pass system is being introduced for locations that will get busier when the 1.5 metre distancing rule is lifted. You can get a coronavirus entry…
free COVID self-testsDimitri Karastelev
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Ordering free COVID self-tests

The Dutch government has announced that between 10 August and 1 September, you can order two free COVID-19 self-tests. Self-testing is an important means of detecting asymptomatic infections. So before going back to work or university after…
Coronavirus vaccinations without appointmentUnsplash
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Coronavirus vaccinations without appointment

Have you not been vaccinated against COVID-19 yet but do you want to? From 17 August 2021, it is possible to go to the vaccination locations in Haarlem and Haarlemmermeer without an appointment for your first corona vaccine dose. As things…
No restrictions for on-site learning but other measures against COVID-19 extendedDaniel Schludi
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No restrictions for on-site learning but other measures against COVID-19 extended

This week saw the 22 millionth dose of vaccine administered. The Netherlands now has high vaccination coverage and the figure is continuing to rise on a daily basis. Nevertheless, a greater increase is still needed. There are still an estimated…
Organizing Your Wedding In HaarlemPexels
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Organizing Your Wedding In Haarlem

Every year, 130,000 people get married in the Netherlands. Haarlem is the perfect place to organize your big day, as you can find everything from the venue to the beautiful flowers right here. You could even get married in the Grote Kerk if…
Coronavirus in the Netherlands: what changes from June 26Meghan Holmes
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Coronavirus in the Netherlands: what changes from June 26

From June 26 most of the coronavirus measures in the Netherlands are ending. While social distancing remains the norm, face masks will vanish in most places. Here’s what changes. The Netherlands take big step in relaxing measures: almost…
Pentecost 2021 is on the 23th and 24th of June. Here a couple of tips to spend your long weekend.Pexels
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Pentecost 2021 in Holland

Something that intrigued me ever since I first arrived in Holland is the number of Dutch public holidays specifically related to events on the Roman Catholic calendar. It struck me and still does that a fairly non-religious country like the…
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The number of unemployed Haarlemmers has risen

Unemployment in the Netherlands rose in 2020 for the first time in five years. At the end of last year, 357,000 people were out of work, compared to 314,000 at the end of 2019, according to figures from the recently published report…
Bavaria takes over Haarlem brewery UiltjeUiltje
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Bavaria takes over Haarlem brewery Uiltje

Uiltje Brewing Company from Haarlem, the brewer of specialty beers such as Bird of Prey, Dikke Lul 3 Bier! and F * ck the caravan is in the Fik, will be owned by Swinkels Family Brewers. Het Uiltje will expand and remain autonomous. Uiltje…
Buying a property in today’s housing marketTierra Mallorca
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Buying a property in today’s housing market

If you are, or have recently talked to anyone who is, a prospective property buyer, you will know that today’s Dutch housing market really is a sellers’ market. You will then also know that properties are often being sold (well) above the…
This course is meant for children in the age between 8 and 12 to expand their knowledge of Dutch. Both online and face-to-face in Haarlem, starting May 10th.
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Dutch for Children

This Monday afternoon course is meant for children in the age between 8 and 12 who want to expand their knowledge of Dutch. The interactive course consists of 8 fun and meaningful lessons for children who wish to learn Dutch and communicate…
Haarlem women's day
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International Women’s Day: 12 remarkable Haarlemmer women!

March 8 is the International Women's Day and here in Expats Haarlem we want to celebrate it by honoring some of the Haarlemmer women who made and are still making an impact in the Netherlands and in the world! Haarlem's history has many special…
https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/coronavirus-covid-19/winkels-en-contactberoepen/winkelen-en-boodschappen-doenArturo Rey
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Corona: rules for shops in the 1.5 metre society

From 3 March all non-essential shops may offer shopping by appointment. Shops for basic necessities such as among others supermarkets and other food stores, chemists and gas stations may stay open for business. Delivery and pick up of orders…
More breathing space in lockdown, but caution remainsMartin Sanchez
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More breathing space in lockdown, but caution remains

The coronavirus measures are testing everyone’s resilience, both physically and mentally. The longer the crisis continues, the more difficult it becomes for everyone. Now that a year has passed, the pandemic’s social and economic effects…
Dutch turn to live-stream webcams during curfewGemeente Haarlem
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Dutch turn to live-stream webcams during curfew

The national coronavirus curfew came into effect on January 23, and search engine Google immediately reported a significant increase in the number of ''webcam" searches. Curfew in the Netherlands In the ongoing fight against the coronavirus…
festive food sparklesroyalty free (reuse possible without attribution)
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Festive food deliveries in Haarlem: order a tasty New Year treat!

The period between Christmas and New Year can be a hazy, lazy time and it is understandable if you don’t fancy cooking for yourself. After such a hard time for the horeca industry, it can be a good idea to support our favourite restaurants…
xmas cardroyalty free (reuse possible without attribution)
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Writing Christmas cards to Haarlem's elderly residents

It’s the festive season and a perfect time to do a good deed for fellow residents in the city, right? How about penning a little message on a Christmas card as a surprise for someone who might not otherwise receive any Christmas mail? It could…
primary school abacusroyalty free (re-use possible without attribution)
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Choosing a primary school in Haarlem

The process of picking the perfect primary school starts a long time before your child actually heads off for their first day. In the Netherlands, kids start school shortly after turning 4-years old and the application deadline will be 12 months…