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…
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…
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…
Sint Maarten 2020 in HaarlemSven Brandsma
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Sint Maarten 2020 in Haarlem

Every year, children sing songs at the door during Sint Maarten on 11 November. This could increase the chance of coronavirus spreading, though the chances are reduced when everyone is careful and follows the guidelines. The celebration can…
Major job losses are imminent at and around Schiphol due to coronaBen Koorengevel on Unsplash
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Major job losses imminent at Schiphol due to coronavirus crisis

Due to the coronavirus crisis, about half of the jobs at and around Schiphol are at risk of disappearing in the short term, the NOS national news website reports. There are about 35,000 job at Schiphol, says the FNV trade union. In addition,…
Green-roofed bus shelters in HaarlemArianna Ardia-Wenink
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Green-roofed bus shelters in Haarlem

Two bus shelters at the Verwulft in Haarlem have gone 'green'. Since 7 September, the bus shelters have been installed with eco-roofs and are topped with plants. Residents of the surrounding houses can now look out onto a mini garden. The plants…
Waste Free: local initiatives and what to do to fight food wastehttps://haarlemlink.nl/initiatief/haarlem-food-future
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Local initiatives to combat food waste

Every year, we throw away 34 kilos of food per person. This shocking statistic raises the question: what can we do about this? Haarlem Food Future is committed to combating food waste, for example with the 'Doggy Bag' scheme and providing inspiration…
Body found in the Spaarne near Catharijnebrug in HaarlemCreative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RM513353-Haarlem-Catharijnenbrug-01.JPGNetherlands license.
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Body found in the Spaarne near Catharijnebrug in Haarlem

A body was found in Haarlem on Saturday afternoon in the Spaarne near the Catharijnebrug. It concerns a 35-year-old man from Haarlem. At around 14:30 on Saturday 29 August, passers-by discovered the body and alerted the police. The…
Hema leaves Kruisstraat and moves to the old Hudson's BayHema
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HEMA leaves Kruisstraat for good and moves to former Hudson's Bay in Verwulft

On 5 September, the HEMA store on the Kruisstraat will close its doors for good. The entire contents and all the staff will move from Kruisstraat to the former V&D and later Hudson's Bay building on Verwulft. The new store opens on 14 September. It…
The CoronaMelder coronavirus app is in an advanced stage of development trialled in several regions in the Netherlands and in multiple languagesGovernment of the Netherlands.Government of the Netherlands
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Dutch CoronaMelder coronavirus app to feature multiple languages

The CoronaMelder coronavirus app is in an advanced stage of development. CoronaMelder is currently being trialled in several regions in the Netherlands and will offer multiple language options, including English, German, Polish and Turkish,…
Beverwijk Bazaar open or partly closed?falco via Pixabay
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Concerns about coronavirus measures at Beverwijk Bazaar

The Veiligheidsregio Kennemerland (Kennemerland Region Security Organisation) has decided to close three halls that are part of the Beverwijk Bazaar, Hall 30 to Hall 33, for two weeks. However, Bazaar Beverwijk entrepreneurs refuse to close…
You don't believe it: the rent in Haarlem drops
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You won't believe it: the rent in Haarlem drops

It is hard to believe, but it is true: the rent per square metre in the free sector fell in Haarlem in the second quarter of this year, according to figures from NVM Makelaars. Earlier this year, all the way back in February, the average…
Thermometers, hand gel, ordering by phone and long rows of chairs: this is what the sit down edition of Haarlem Jazz & More looks like this year.
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Haarlem Jazz Sit-Down Edition: thermometers, hand gel and long rows of chairs

Thermometers, hand gel, ordering by phone and long rows of chairs: this is what the sit-down edition of Haarlem Jazz & More looks like this year. Haarlem Jazz & More is a unique multi-day event in the old town of Haarlem. Due…
Schools start again in North HollandVeilig Verkeer Nederland
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Schools start again in North Holland

The primary schools will start again on Monday 17 August. This means that many children go to school by bicycle and on foot. Coinciding with the opening of primary schools after the summer break, the Veilig Verkeer Nederland (VVN) (National…
Testing centre at Schiphol Airport open from this week
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Testing centre at Schiphol Airport open from this week

A testing centre at Schiphol Airport opened on Friday 14 August. This is where travellers returning from high-risk areas can get themselves tested. Read about what that involves. By getting yourself tested for COVID-19 at Schiphol,…
Info face masks mandatory in parts of AmsterdamCity of Amsterdam
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Face masks mandatory in parts of Amsterdam

Since Wednesday 5 August, it has been mandatory for anyone the age of 13 and above to wear a non-medical face mask in parts of Amsterdam city centre. These designated areas have been selected due to there being limited space and where it…
Haarlem porn house unsaleableFunda
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Haarlem porn house unsaleable

The kinky apartment on Gedempte Raamgracht in Haarlem, where artist Willemijn de Lint took care of the interior, turns out to be unsaleable. So she decided to paint everything white. The apartment, with jacuzzi, triple bed and hooks in…
End of heat in sight: showers and thunderstorms and cooler weekendKNMI
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End of heat in sight: showers and thunderstorms and cooler weekend

In a few days, the heatwave that the whole country has been dealing with for a week will end. According to KNMI, after some thunderstorms and rain showers, it will be 'only' 25-28 degrees from Friday.  Today was another hot day in the…
There is recurrent car vandalism in the Vijfhoek in Haarlem. Local Municipality and Police are aware of the situation but do nothing. The citizens pay the fee of this uncontrolled vandalism.
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Car vandalism in the Vijfhoek

Last Friday morning my car was damaged in de Vijfhoek. The perpetrator has fled. Local residents say that trucks very regularly do not easily make the bend in the Gedempte Raamgracht, damage a car and flee. The Municipality of Haarlem and the…
The Netherlands officially has the first national heat wave of the yearGerd Altmann via Pixabay
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First official national heat wave of the year

The Netherlands officially has the first national heat wave of the year. Around 10 a.m. a temperature of 25 degrees was measured in De Bilt. To be classed as a nationwide heatwave, the De Bilt weather station must record a five-day period…