
Addressing the need to be liked
It is time to stop being a people pleaser and instead make time to build more self-worth.
You are a kind person, that's great, but when do you become a people pleaser?
The difference between being nice and being a people pleaser is the…

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…

Let’s talk about hometowns: Boscotrecase, Italy
Capitals, cities, towns, villages, neighbourhoods. We all come from somewhere and it’s time to meet each others' hometowns and who knows, we might put some new places that we have never heard of on our bucket list! In this post, we hear from…

Intensive mothering: the concept fully explained
Have you ever heard of ‘intensive mothering’? It could be a term relevant to all mothers in 2020 – as it has been quite an intensive year, right? Though, it is actually a concept that was introduced in the 1990s. Read on to discover more…

Let's talk about hometowns: share your story!
Capitals, cities, towns, villages, neighbourhoods. We all come from somewhere and it’s time to discover each other’s hometowns – who knows, as a result we might put some new places that we have never heard of before on our bucket list!…

Dutch coronavirus response: survey for internationals
A new survey aimed at internationals living in the Netherlands about how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting their daily lives has been issued by ICAP, the International Community Advisory Panel – which is an initiative put together by four…

Experiencing gratitude even in tough times
It is mid-November and Thanksgiving is just around the corner. With the trials that 2020 has brought us so far, it has been a tough year – though, maybe we can still take a moment and find something to be grateful for. If you wish to welcome…

Asian cars most reliable says Consumers' Association report
The most reliable cars come from Asia. At least, this is the result from the annual research investigation of the Consumers' Association (Consumentenbond). Mini is the only European car brand in the organisation's 'reliability top 10'.
Research…

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…

House hunting tips: buying a home in Haarlem
Buying a home in Haarlem can be exciting but also incredibly stressful. Transitioning from ‘huur’ to ‘koop’ on the Funda.nl search map is a big thing – and then you have to dive into the whole buying process. There are certainly a…

Dutch unemployment rate dips in September, but more jobs could go
Despite the economic impact of coronavirus, the official Dutch unemployment rate fell from 4.6% to 4.4% between August and September, national statistics office CBS published this October.
CBS makes known that in total, a further 2000…

Cabinet tightens up measures to tackle coronavirus
On the evening of 3 November, prime minister Mark Rutte and minister Hugo de Jonge announced new measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus. In addition to extending the current measures, part of the package of new measures…

Drivers: Uber lets algorithm decide whether employees are fired
With the taxi app Uber, automated systems would decide whether or not to detain drivers. Four former Uber drivers went to court in Amsterdam on 26 October. They say Uber is firing employees through automated systems, their lawyer…

November happenings for Haarlem's 775 years
This month our November events are fully focused on the fantastic occasion of Haarlem celebrating being a city for 775 years!
Haarlem’s calendar for November has at its heart the fact that the city has a big birthday happening this month!…

Haarlem: 775 years!
On 23 November, in the year 1245, Haarlem received city rights from Count Willem II. That means that this month marks exactly 775 years since Haarlem could call itself a city. The festivities that were planned had to be curtailed due to the…

Coronavirus in Haarlem: latest numbers from the RIVM
The total number of Haarlem residents that tested positive for coronavirus over the last week was 553. The figures were announced in the new weekly update from the RIVM. A total of 67,542 Dutch people received confirmation that they are infected…

How to let go of limiting beliefs
Your challenge is to shut down the monkey mind in order to break free from your limiting beliefs.
Your dream is to wake up to a life + career + relationships you love.
You want a lifestyle that has other people saying: wow, you're so lucky!
What…

Kids who give a helping hand to be honoured: call for nominations!
Haarlem’s very own children’s mayor, Quinten de Lange, is calling for nominations from the city’s residents to nominate Haarlemmers aged between 4 and 12 years for the chance to be rewarded for acts of kindness or dedication they have…

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,…

Time change in the Netherlands: winter time 2020
It is official: winter time 2020 has started! Overnight our clocks went back an hour as daylight saving time came to an end. This means that today it feels like we have an 'extra hour' and no doubt your system will need to adjust. It also means…

Cycling with kids in the Netherlands
Dutch kids grow up on bikes – and it is never too early to get them out on two wheels. Until they are old enough to cycle on their own, they will need a little help. This post outlines my experiences of cycling with kids in tow.
Living…

Uncertainties of global mobility for expats during a pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has basically impacted all aspects of life including the way we work and travel. We are living in times of great uncertainty. In this blog post, I shed light on the global mobility trends 2020/2021 and how the pandemic…

Fireworks exploded in Haarlem house
During the early hours of Wednesday 14 October, there was an incident at a house on the Prins Bernhardlaan in Haarlem caused by fireworks exploding after being thrown through the window. It is the third time in a few days that the house has…

The Netherlands ranked best place to grow up by UNICEF report
According to a recent UNICEF report, Dutch kids come out top in a league table of well-being outcomes across 41 of the world’s richest countries. Though, there is always room for improvement.
UNICEF’s Innocenti Report Card 16 – ‘Worlds…

Dutch coffee quirks
Yes, it is official: the Dutch drink an awful lot of coffee. However, the coffee landscape in the Netherlands brings with it unique experiences and traditions. Read on to discover more!
Coffee – one of life’s simple pleasures enjoyed…

Tips for communicating with your kids
Trying to get your message across in a busy household takes work. Getting your children to listen to you is another mountain to climb. Remember that it is a two-way process and learning to honestly talk to each other can really help. Clear conversations…

Rental apartment: Byzantiumstraat 17 in Haarlem
Luxurious and fully modernized "newly-built" apartments located within walking distance of the pleasant city center of Haarlem. Now for rent.

Haarlem happenings in October
The autumn agenda has some seasonal events taking place in October in Haarlem. The calendar is dotted with art, food, performance and perhaps some spooky happenings. Don’t forget to follow the guidance in compliance with RIVM guidance and…

No more Moria: this is the story of one refugee camp
In recent years, I have heard and read too many opinions and comments from people around the world, opinions full of hatred and disgust for fellow humans that they don’t know, for humans who are suffering, for humans who didn’t choose to…

Post-career break: how about a returnship?
Calling anyone considering going back to work after a career break, whether that be after having had children or following a move abroad. If you are ready to make decisions and take action, be sure to consider all options. Did you ever think…