Lifestyle: Living, Leisure, Work and Wellness

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…
Rachel Smets Feeling Guilty March 2021
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How to remove guilt and worry, and move forward.

Why do we feel guilty so often or dwell on the past? Why is it so difficult to make certain decisions? Many people spend large amounts of time with two useless thought patterns: Guilt and worry. Guilt is in the past and worry is in the future,…
Pandemic Getaways
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Wonderful and safe getaways during the pandemic

Since March 2020, the Netherlands has had several different levels of lockdown to control the virus, some of which offer an opportunity to get away for a weekend. Here are my tips on how to responsibly enjoy a holiday in the Netherlands during…
Aneta photo win
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Aneta, who won the 'Unlike Portrait Awards', lives in Haarlem!

I recently saw this portrait that left me speechless. The light, the colours, the model's alabaster skin and piercing look. A portrait that looks like a painting, but it's not. It is a photograph and it is real. And it was taken by the super-talented…
swap studio
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Free new clothes while saving the environment: Start swapping!

The fashion industry has a disastrous impact on the environment. In fact, it is the second largest polluter in the world, just after the oil industry. Especially fast fashion (zara, h&m etc), which makes shopping for clothes more affordable,…
A good year Czech wines
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Dreams do come true and Dušan lives his in Haarlem!

When I met Dušan the first thing I saw was his passion for Czech natural wines. And now you can all see that, because he just founded a company that brings this naturally, delicious fermented juice to us, here in the Netherlands, straight to…
expatNest social distancing weekend
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So, any plans for this another-social-distancing weekend?

Although it's been a year that we’re practising social distancing, weekends remain important. Yes, the restaurants and bars are closed and we should keep at least 1,5 meters distance from people that don't live in our house, but this doesn't…
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…
Ben Coates article
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The year of corona: Dutch superiority - Superior failure

In the Netherlands if we are better at something, we like international comparisons. And if we are not better at it, the answer is: 'This is not a competition!' During the corona crisis, Dutch failure is often presented as Dutch superiority. About…
Dutch green field with bikeroyalty free (reuse possible without attribution)
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New CBS report tracks Dutch government’s climate targets

February has had its fare share of extreme weather scenarios in the Netherlands. Going from country-wide 'code red' warnings for snow drifts and blizzards near the beginning of the month to the start of a record-breaking run of mild days just…
Is your job making you sick?
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Is your job making you sick? Stop pretending and take action!

Is your job making you sick? Do you feel trapped in your 9-5 wondering 'this is it for the rest of my life?' On the other side of this life there is freedom. If you long for freedom, why are you not going there? Stop pretending and start taking…
Amsterdam’s Tuschinski most beautiful cinema in the worldHama Haki

Amsterdam’s Tuschinski most beautiful cinema in the world

Amsterdam’s Tuschinski Theatre has been named the most beautiful cinema in the world by Time Out magazine. Time Out's most beautiful cinemas In their list of the 50 most beautiful cinemas in the world, Time Out magazine honours modern…
Online retail turnover increased by over 92 percentrupixen.com
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Online retail turnover increased by over 92 percent

Online sales were 92.1 percent higher in January than in the same month a year earlier. Since the start of the publication of Internet sales by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) in January 2014, the growth has not been so strong. The cause can…
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…
Why do we love the snow?
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Why do we love the snow so much?

There's no doubt that we are going through some weird times with a pandemic and the measures to prevent it. And as if that wasn't enough, the winter of 2021 has arrived, bringing sub-zero temperatures and icy winds along with it. The dark, cold…
Snow with bisschopswijn
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Dutch snow? Time for Dutch mulled wine: bisschopswijn!

Finally, we had the snow storm we all have been waiting for and don't we deserve it, especially this weird year! So while outside it feels like -14°C and we came back inside after walking and playing like children in the snow storm in the center…
Local Charities Worldwide, global platform for local givingroyalty free (can be reused without attribution)
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Local Charities Worldwide: four Haarlemmers start a revolution of giving

I don’t know about you but I am quite done getting my heart broken every morning, for the best part of the last year. Getting up, sipping coffee on the couch while browsing through the news is supposed to be a relaxing start to my day, like…
Camille learning Dutch with Taalthuisroyalty free
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Back to school: Camille and her Dutch learning journey

As an expat moving to a new country, learning the local language or at least some notions of it usually is one of the first concerns – right after having sorted out the important stuff actually essential to life, such as finding accommodation…
Rachel Smets life hacks crab bucketroyalty free (author's own pic)
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When your family doesn't support your dream

What do you do if you are lacking support from your loved ones? It is time to apply the crab theory! Is your family not supporting your dream? You are super excited and motivated but they say you're crazy. Knowing this crab theory will…
sunset signpostroyalty free (reuse possible without attribution)
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The tricky expat question: where is home?

Expats the world over establish themselves in new places, but do they call the new place home or is it where they originally came from? This Expats Nest article asks this question by sharing the story of Greek-born expat now ensconced in London. Here,…
Lockdown measures tightened including curfewAnne Nygard
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Lockdown measures tightened including curfew

On the evening of  Wednesday 20 January, prime minister Mark Rutte and minister Hugo de Jonge announced that lockdown measures have to be tightened in response to concerns about new variants of the coronavirus. The previous announcement on…
Moroccan landscaperoyalty free (reuse possible without attribution)
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Travel tales: moving to Morocco with a passion for photography

During this period of time when we cannot travel, let’s look back and share stories of past trips – ones that have come about so we can make life changes or holidays where we had a once-in-a-lifetime experience. This article tells the story…
Iceland's Northern Lightsroyalty free (reuse possible with accreditation)
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Travel tales: Iceland’s dancing Northern Lights

During this period of time when we cannot travel, let’s look back and share stories of past trips – ones that have come about so we can make life changes or holidays where we had a once-in-a-lifetime experience. First up is my own recollection…
dutch cabinet resignation
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Dutch government resigns: what are the consequences for the corona crisis?

The Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte’s government resigned on Friday 15 January over a scandal in which thousands of parents were falsely accused of child benefit fraud between 2013 and 2019. Ministers will stay on in a caretaker capacity…
Netherlands to remain in lockdown until at least 9 February inclusiveMartin Sanchez on Unsplash
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Dutch lockdown continues until at least 9 February

On the evening of Tuesday 12 January, prime minister Mark Rutte and minister Hugo de Jonge announced that the measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus would be extended for a further 3 weeks. The previous announcement in December…
kid tantrum cryingroyalty free (reuse possible without attribution)
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Unruly kids: is it time to embrace the ‘time out’?

Time out is often used to calm children down. It is a controversial method, with both supporters and opponents. This article includes a description of what the ‘time out’ method entails and the advantages and disadvantages that go along…
baby feetroyalty free (reuse possible without attribution)
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Freebies for newborns in the Netherlands

When your new baby is delivered, this will undoubtedly be the best present ever. Though, did you know that you can get other deliveries – for free – for when you bring your newborn home, if you know where to look? Read on to know what surprises…