birth
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My story of my second birth in a Dutch Hospital.

It is approximately 22:30 hours and I am shifting and turning and nursing painful cramps. I am 9 months pregnant. It is the 7th of July 2014. Is it labour pains already!? His due date (uitgerekend) is 16th July but the planned c-section (keizersnede)…
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…
international school haarlem
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The International School Haarlem is opening their secondary school in 2018.

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…
Animals
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A child or a dog? A decision of millennial's.

A close friend, a successful journalist, an attractive girl and wife, bought a dog with her husband. They are not ready for children at the moment but will consider this question in five or six years. Having the dog is an excellent solution…
road trip
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3 road trips with kids to make from the netherlands part 3 Germany

Its summer and you're probably thinking about taking the family out for a road trip! In this final instalment, we look at Germany. Part one of this series is in France and part two of this series is in Belgium.  Road trips from the…
road trips
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3 road trips with kids to make from Netherlands part 2 Belgium

No matter if you are planning a break for a weekend or your summer vacations, these road trips with kids are perfect for anyone living in the Netherlands. This article is a part of a three-part series. Part 2 is about Belgium. Part one…
road trip
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3 road trips with kids to make from the Netherlands part 1 France

Spring is already here and I am sure you have already started thinking about your next family trip. No matter if you are planning a break for the upcoming bank holidays or your summer vacations, these road trips with kids are perfect for anyone…
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…
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Shopping in Haarlem: 10 baby gifts to make mums happy

After talking to different mums about their must-have baby items, here you can find my definitive baby gifts list. This top 10 baby products will help mums to sleep, feed, dress or educate their babies better. Make mums and babies happy by shopping…
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…
bilingual
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How to raise a bilingual child?

The problem of bilingual children is acutely felt in another country, where the one language is used at home and another is used in the big wide world. The son of my friends from the UK, a five-year-old Dany, speaks the purest English…
Veronica's Funky Vintage Market
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Veronica's Funky Vintage Market

Second hand lady, men, kids clothes, shoes, jewels and more. On Sunday 11 March 11-16,30 hours in Haarlem. - There's a lot of baby clothes, also a lot of great brands! - There's A LOT of girls' clothes size 92-116 - There's super nice women's…
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…
Haarlem
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Things to do in Haarlem this March

From peeking into your neighbour's houses and the expats Haarlem end of month drink, we got you covered this March. On Friday, March 2 is  Italiano per Bambini. on Friday, March 9 is the Haarlem Mamma Club. On Sunday, March…
giving birth
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Pros and cons of giving birth in the Netherlands

I became a new mum recently, and one of the first things I wondered when I found out I was pregnant was ‘do I want to give birth in the Netherlands?’. For some expats, especially the ones from other European countries, giving birth in their…
Kids Carnival
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VIDEO: expatsHaarlem Kids Carnival

Highlights of the Kids Carnival. Enjoy!   You can also purchase photos here.
sharenting
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Sharenting - the overshare of children on social media.

For many, having a baby is an occasion to be celebrated. But does it need to be celebrated together with every casual acquaintance and former co-worker that you’ve friended on Facebook over the last decade? The parenting overshares,…
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…
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…
child
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Being an expat as a child

When I came here to the Netherlands I quickly realized that this was a whole new and very different experience then what it felt like to be an expat as a child. I was born in Hungary, I lived with my parents in Budapest, started elementary school…
Oliebollen
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Oliebollen, a Dutch New Year's tradition

It is a Dutch tradition to eat 'oliebollen' on New Year's Eve. What's that, what's their origin, where to buy the best ones and how to bake them? Here we go... Oliebollen? Oliebollen are a traditional Dutch delicacy eaten during winter.…
Winter Village Hoofddorp
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Winter Village Hoofddorp

Experience a true winter wonderland at Winter Village Hoofddorp. An ice rink in a fairytale atmosphere, crackling fireplaces, hot glühwein and delicious winter dishes. The Town Hall Square has been transformed into Winterland Hoofddorp. A…
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My First Sinterklaas

This past weekend on the evening of December 5th, I celebrated my first Sinterklaas. I first learned of the old Dutch custom earlier this year when moving to Haarlem with my Dutch boyfriend. As a Canadian new to the tradition, I would like…
Christmas Market
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Haarlem’s Christmas Market Photo Walk

The Christmas Market in Haarlem is one of the biggest and nicest Christmas markets in the whole Netherlands and Benelux.  Every year the city turns in a real spectacle. This year the Christmas Market will take place on Saturday 9 and Sunday…
Festival
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How to celebrate the festive period in Haarlem

December is here! To some its the most wonderful time of the year. This is what the city of Haarlem is up to during this festive period. Haarlems Winterbier Festival Come and enjoy the Haarlems Winter Beer Festival on the 9th & 10th…
Wonderland Bavo
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Unique child care centre Wonderland Bavo in Haarlem

Are you looking for a unique child care centre for children between the ages of 2 and 12 years in Haarlem-West? Wonderland Kinderopvang has a unique location for your child care centre in Haarlem. Our pre-school centre (for children…
Black Friday
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Black Friday in Haarlem

It's black Friday! Find an overview of the (web)shops that participate to Black Friday 2017.  Visit their shop or find the webshop with Google for great sales deals! Black Friday Black Friday is an informal name for the day following Thanksgiving…
EMA
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EU MEDICINE AGENCY with 900 jobs and 500 family members to the Metropole Region Amsterdam

A lottery is how Amsterdam is now officially the next home of the European Medicines Agency (EMA). 900 jobs and 500 family members will leave London and move to Amsterdam, with staffers needing to choose between staying in the UK or making…
class
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More kids per class in Dutch primary school

According to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sciences (ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap -OCW) school classes still average around 23 pupils. But a reaserch conducted by AD newspaper with government figures obtained using…