The Christmas holidays are just around the corner and there is a lot to do for young people in Haarlem and the surrounding area. The weather forecast is not good, but you can enjoy yourself warm and dry in various cultural institutions in the city. And thanks to the HaarlemPas, this is also affordable for Haarlem residents with a small budget.
In De Schuur, Haarlem Pass holders can go to the film or theater for just one euro per ticket. And you’ll be in the right place during the Christmas holidays, says head of education Kirsten Bootsma. “At Schuur, we are leading the way with the HaarlemPas. In addition to the performances for one euro, you also get a free drink with the performance during the Christmas holidays. And all children who go to a children’s film receive free popcorn.”
Party for children
“We really want to put the school holidays on the map as parties for children from Haarlem and the surrounding area,” Bootsma continues. “We do this with beautiful films and theater performances, but also with free workshops and all kinds of individual activities for young people. It really works, we already saw many new faces during the autumn holidays. But the cultural offer could still be better known to the holders. of the HaarlemPas. Once they have been there once, we often see them again. Parents see that it makes their child really happy.”
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Bootsma has programmed several youth performances during the Christmas holidays to make you happy. “Wonka is of course the ultimate Christmas film for children aged eight and over. And the Dutch family film Yippie No More is really great. You really can’t get more feel-good than that.”
In addition to films, there are also several theater performances for youth in the Schuur. The dance performance Among us is a good example. “It is colorful and witty, truly a journey of discovery into your own inner self,” Bootsma reveals. “It’s youth theater, but also great fun for adults.”
Sign language interpreter
The dance performance is special Stray dogs, which is also ideal for the deaf and hard of hearing and for people with a visual impairment. For example, a sign language interpreter participates in the performance.
According to the weather forecasts, a white Christmas is not possible, but it will snow in the Schuur on December 23 and 24. When It Snows. Zahira Suliman’s solo dance is suitable for children from the age of two and takes place in an enormous snow globe.
You can find the complete (Christmas) programming of the Schuur here.
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The spectacular Christmas performance will be held in Stadsschouwburg Haarlem from December 21 to January 7 ‘Palace of Wonders’ by the Ashton Brothers, produced in collaboration with the theatre.
‘The theater feels like home’
“I actually always call ourselves ‘a circus variety show for laughs’,” says Joost Spijkers, who forms the Ashton Brothers theater company together with Haarlemmer Pim Muda, Timo Bakker and Friso van Vemde Oudejans. “The theater in Haarlem feels like home to us. Especially now that we have been there for two weeks. Three actually, if you count the rehearsals. It is a very inspiring environment that breathes a lot of history and romance.”
The Ashton Brothers were supposed to give a similar show in the Haarlem theater two years ago during the Christmas holidays, but that was canceled due to corona.
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It promises to be a Christmas performance full of music, humor and acrobatics, for the whole family. “We even hope to hang in the rafters of the theater,” says Spijkers. “And we have also invited many guests. Like contortionist Captain Frodo from Norway, for example. He can completely fold himself. He is still in a knot, but I hope he will be out again on the 21st.”
“My calves are already stiff and my feet hurt”
Truus Tullemans
The 80-year-old former dancer Truus Tullemans will also take the stage one more time with the Ashton Brothers. “I can stand on pointe with her. She can still do it great, as it turns out during rehearsals. My calves are already stiff and my feet hurt,” Spijkers laughs.
10,000 tickets have already been sold Palace of Wonders. There will therefore be an extra afternoon performance on Saturday, January 6. From December 28, there will still be (last) tickets available every day. There are a total of nineteen afternoon and evening performances.
Tickets for the Ashton Brothers normally cost 39.50 euros. Haarlem Pass holders pay 7.50 euros.
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There is a lot to do for young people in the Haarlem museums during the Christmas holidays. A treasure hunt has been set out in the Verwey Museum through the exhibition All Haarlemmers. It focuses on a thousand years of the city’s history. There are also old Dutch games, coloring pages ready and the museum café serves hot chocolate. Entrance with the HaarlemPas is completely free.
The Teylers Museum is a children’s paradise with all its fossils and minerals. During the Christmas holidays, children can do a treasure hunt or create their own work of art. Also recommended is the exhibition about artist Wybrand Hendriks. The museum is free to enter with the Haarlem Pass.
Cozy Craft Club
The Frans Hals Museum opens its doors wide to young visitors during the Christmas holidays. Children can roll up their sleeves for two weeks at the Knusse Crafts Club. Decorate a room in Sara Rothé’s famous dollhouse yourself or make a real light show lamp.
The Frans Hals Museum also offers an audio tour, especially for children: the Big Do and Listen Tour. Free admission with the HaarlemPas.
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Councilor for culture Diana van Loenen hopes that many young Haarlem residents can experience some culture during the Christmas holidays. “Culture enriches and connects. It gives you new insights and contributes to understanding others. And of course it is important to be able to do fun things with your children. That is why culture must be accessible to everyone.”
“Culture enriches and connects. That is why culture must be accessible to everyone”
Van Loenen believes it is important that many cultural institutions in the city offer significant discounts to holders of the Haarlem Pass. “What I really like is that, for example, the Schuur makes it possible to attend a performance for one euro. This way, culture is accessible to almost everyone.”
The councilor himself also goes out during the holidays: “Yes, certainly! In any case, I will go to the performance Among us in the shed. And I’m going with my daughter to the Christmas Sing-Along Concert at the Phil. I didn’t grow up with the theater at all, but now I enjoy almost nothing more than going to a great theater or music performance!”
HaarlemPas
- More than 7,000 Haarlem households have a HaarlemPas. This also includes more than 2,600 children between four and seventeen years old.
- Haarlem residents who receive social assistance benefits will automatically receive the pass.
- Anyone who earns less than 130 percent of the social assistance standard can apply for a HaarlemPas.
- The city pass provides discounts on cultural institutions in the municipality, but also on membership of a sports club or music club.
- With the pass, a child can attend the playgroup for two half-days a week for free.
- Holders of the HaarlemPas can also claim the municipal health insurance policy, which is cheaper than most commercial health insurance policies.