Crusade with green soap

For this story, we'll take you back to the early 13th century. The time of the Fifth Crusade, which lasted from 1217 to 1221, especially the conquest of Damiate, an Egyptian port city. The people of Haarlem played an important role in the conquest of this city. Using a large ship with a saw at the bow, our brave fellow townsmen broke through a chain stretched across the Nile River, clearing the way to the city. After conquering the city, they took bells back to Haarlem. These so-called Damian bells can be seen in the city's coat of arms and heard every day, as they hang in the tower of the Great or St. Bavo church and are used every day. A wonderful story about Haarlem warriors that, unfortunately, alas, is most likely not based on truth. So it is actually more of a local legend than a local story.

Fortunately, there is still a large number of fighters in Haarlem who do exist and are fighting for a sustainable future. Take Marcel Belt, the founder and instigator of Marcel's Green Soap. A brilliant story of a man who opened the kitchen cupboards one day, saw that they contained nothing but not particularly sustainable products and decided to do something about it. Or the Oyster Mushroom Farm, which tells the story of circular agriculture in the city. To make this a little more concrete, here's an example: they grow oyster mushrooms using coffee grounds and process some of those oyster mushrooms into, among other things, bitterballs. And we could go on and on. Well, one more. The story of FriesHoes. These people from Haarlem not only make delicious and fresh fries, they also give the potato peels a second life. These are used by brewery Jopen in the brewing process. 

While you're there

To be honest, we can't stop talking about sustainability in Haarlem. So a few more examples: sustainable water bottles from Dopper, Fair Fashion Pop Up and, last but not least, the Haarlem Greenhouse. The city garden for sustainable thinking and doing and a wonderful place to relax, walk and play. And if you're looking for even more fun kids outings, also consider Museum of the Mind and Mister Pepper.

More stories

On 33 rpm to an hour of Mozart

In recent years, just about every self-respecting band has been releasing new music on vinyl. So you could say that vinyl is back on the scene. That's not true of Haarlem.

Kenau in a city full of mosquitoes

When someone is called a kenau, it is usually not meant as a compliment. It means something along the lines of bossy woman. But that does the Haarlem namesake a disservice.

Scoring with Eef, Cajanus and Loutje

Anyone who watched the Olympic final 3x3 basketball can remember the last second of the game.

Squabbling painters on a royal soccer field

You undoubtedly know Frans Hals, but at the time there was another great living in Haarlem. Who? Judith Leyster. An artistic and enterprising woman.

The first train to streets of gold

Haarlem was often the first. Examples? The first museum, the first newspaper, the first liberation festival. But more on this another time. Now we want to talk about the first railroad. It was festively opened on September 20, 1839.

Cocktails with a loose touch

Back for a moment to the end of the 16th century. From the Southern Netherlands many people came to our city. Among them the Hals family, consisting of father François, mother Adriana and their sons Joost, Dirck and Frans.

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