Lifestyle: Living, Leisure, Work and Wellness

Dutch wineRoyalty free with no attribution required (from rawpixel)
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Dutch wine: take a tour to discover your new favourite tipple

I know what you are thinking: the Netherlands is famous for its beer and its jenever, but surely not for its wine? Well, we are here to tell you that Dutch wine does exist, and it is a delight to the taste buds. Not only that, in recent years…
code yellow
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Again code yellow in province for strong gusts of wind

For the whole of the Noord-Holland The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) issued code yellow for strong gusts of wind. According to the Dutch national weather institute, there is a risk of heavy gusts of wind up to around…
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Record new businesses opened in NL last year

A record number of new businesses opened in the Netherlands last year. A total of 207 thousand companies started operating in 2019. That is 23 thousand more than opened in 2018, which was also a record year, according to figures Statistics Netherlands…
Carnaval
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Carnival parade in Eindhoven cancelled due to high winds

The Carnival parade in Eindhoven has been cancelled this weekend due to forecasted high winds. Carnival organisers made known that other activities would still go ahead in a revised order. But their carnival procession has been cancelled…
Daycare
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Choosing a daycare in Haarlem: 10 things to consider

It can be tough making that decision about which daycare centre to select for your little one. Here we provide some key tips and outline aspects to be taken into consideration, so you can be confident in your decision. Haarlem has a wide…
Gluren bij de BurenRoyalty-free (author's own pic)
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Musical tour of Haarlem with Gluren bij de Buren

On the day that many people stayed holed up behind closed doors due to the fact Storm Ciara was making her presence felt outside, myself and the rest of the 'Gluren gang' took to the streets for a musical tour of Haarlem. What awaited us were…
Love letter to the NetherlandsRe-use with no attribution required
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My love letter to the Netherlands

Dutch life from the perspective of an expat living in these flat lands for 6 months is the focus of this post. It is an amorous missive – perfectly timed in the run-up to the most romantic of days. Dear Netherlands (or the more affectionate…
Ciara
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Storm Ciara to hit Netherlands on Sunday

The first storm of the year will hit the Netherlands on Sunday, according to Weeronline. Winter storm Ciara will bring strong winds with gusts up to 140 kilometers per hour, rain and lightning with it, the weather service expects. Sunday…
A day off in HoofddorpApproved for re-use with attribution
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A day off in Hoofddorp

From water to land, between history and modernity: explore Hoofddorp in the heart of the Haarlemmermeer. It was a little over a year ago, when I arrived in the Netherlands initially, that I first heard about Hoofddorp. “Hawfff-what?”…
Politie
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Boy (18) badly hit at bar in Haarlem

An 18-year-old from Haarlem was seriously injured last night after being mistreated in front of a bar along the Spaarne river in Haarlem. Four men got out of a car in front of the café around 3:50 am and immediately hit the victim. After…
firework
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Firecrackers and sky rockets to be banned this year

The Dutch government has reached a deal to outlaw firecrackers and sky rockets. The prohibition will start before the upcoming New Year's period. Many ornamental fireworks may still be allowed to be sold, like fountains and spinning ground…
Van GoghJan-Kees Steenman
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Van Gogh Museum acquires a unique Degas pastel

In a first for the Netherlands, the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam has acquired a fully worked out pastel by French impressionist Edgar Degas, which will be on show from next Wednesday. The Van Gogh Museum has acquired an important pastel…
February Events
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Things to do in Haarlem this February

Winter may not yet be over, though we can see signs that the change of season is just around the corner. Spring bulbs are sprouting through the soil and daffodils are already for sale at the flower stalls, and we can definitely see the days…
GeluksrouteGeluksroute
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Geluksroute: the road to happiness

Information Geluksroute (Happiness Route) is a relaxed way of sharing happiness, which makes for inspiring meetings and wonderful discoveries. The invitation is simple: What makes you happy and would you like to share this? Come…
Gluren
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Gluren bij de Buren Haarlem

Art event by Gluren bij de Buren on Sunday, February 9, 2020. There is a brand new edition of the "living room festival " Gluren bij the de Buren Haarlem on the doorstep! On Sunday 9 February 2020, living rooms will be transformed by…
Comedy
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Haarlem New Year's Comedy

Start 2020 laughing at the HAARLEM NEW YEAR'S COMEDY on Saturday, January 11th. With GREG SHAPIRO, one of the best comedians in the Netherlands, The voice of Trump in the ‘Netherlands Second’ video with over 50 million views all over the…
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,…
Oliebollen
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Oliebollen, a Dutch New Year's tradition

It is a Dutch tradition to eat 'oliebollen' on New Year's Day. 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.…
Gerd Altmann ©
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Top tips for last-minute Christmas shopping

Okay so it's December 18th, you could start to panic BUT we would rather you didn't! Whether you are yet to pick up the hottest gadget of the year or you simply need to grab the last few items on that wish list, here are a few stress-busting…
Grote Markt HaarlemFiona McGeever ©
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Life in the Netherlands

90 days in: Life in the Netherlands. Is it time to stick or twist? When I was about one month into my time in the Netherlands, I met up with some other expats.  Those that were here for one year shared with me that the first six months were…
Dortmund Christmas marketsJulia Smile ©
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Dortmund Christmas Markets

A day trip to Dortmund Christmas Markets! When we think of the best Christmas markets in Europe Germany is certainly up there! Having done some quick research, we found that there were only a few of them open on December 26th, most close by…
Vooges
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Haarlem Xmas Comedy & Drinks

Join the Haarlem Xmas Comedy, with a great international line up, in trendy and cozy Vooges Centraal, with excellent drinks and snacks, next to (almost in) Haarlem Central Station. Don't miss it! Online tickets with discount (€ 10 p.p. instead…
Haarlem ChristmasInage by Jill Wellington ©
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Things to do in Haarlem this December

Happy holidays to all our expatsHaarlem readers, December has finally arrived! Sinterklaas kicked off the festivities but that is only the beginning! This month promises a variety of festive events from the much anticipated Christmas Markets…
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Santa Run Haarlem 2019

The more Santa's the merrier! Don your finest festive attire and join the 2,000 costumed participants as they run, walk, hop or dance the 3-kilometer route through the festively lit city center. The SantaRun Haarlem has become one of the largest…
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Street of Queen Emma

Relive the time of the Queen Mother Emma in the Schagchelstraat Haarlem The Schagchelstraat goes back in time to a Christmas party in the 19th century. This is, among others, the period of the regency of Queen Emma, ​​the mother…
December
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Haarlem Christmas Markets 2019

Haarlem Christmas markets 2019 are just around the corner! On Saturday 7th and Sunday the 8th of December, the center of Haarlem will be transformed into a large Christmas market full of festive stalls offering everything from Glühwein…
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How To Change Yourself Completely with ONE Simple Neurolinguistic Trick

How to change yourself completely You are not who you think you are. Or are you? Can you change your thoughts to change yourself? Since I learned this simple trick, my life shifted completely. You can change just about anything about…
Sinterklaas
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Things to do in Haarlem this November

November has arrived in Haarlem! The Christmas lights have begun to illuminate our beautiful city and the arrival of Sinterklaas is just around the corner. The temperatures may have plummeted but this month promises lots of heartwarming festive…
Sinterklaas
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Sinterklaas comes to Haarlem

Sinterklaas and his Pieten will visit the city of Haarlem on Sunday, November 17th. Once again the man in red has chosen our picturesque city to moor his boat. As is now traditional, Sinterklaas and his crew will come to a halt…
David Stegenga ©
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KLM Urban Trail Haarlem

On Sunday, November 10, KLM Urban Trail participants will once again have the opportunity to explore extraordinary buildings in Haarlem city. The second KLM Urban Trail will offer participants an opportunity to see many of Haarlem's…