ACCESS Spring 2015

spring 2015 S E R V I N G T H E I N T E R N AT I O N A L C O M M U N I T Y

WWW

.ACCESS-NL.ORG

Dutch bodem Special features | discovering dutch national parks |

sustainable city lifestyles | A French tradition comes to utrecht | Fatherhood in the 21st century | Being ‘green’ in the lowlands |

Setting the standard for outstanding International childcare Zein has provided international childcare to expatriate families for over 10 years.

As a trusted partner to all International Schools in The Hague, Zein’s services ranges from Day Care, Playgroups, After School Care to Holiday Camps

The Estate Features

RECEN TL OPENE Y D: Premiu m Care C Child e Benoo ntre in rdenho ut, The Ha gue

• Great natural playground of 3,000 m2, with fun tree houses, a petting place with chicken and rabbits, sport court & vegetable gardens • Passionate, highly educated and loving staff that make the difference • Unique ‘personalised care’ formula – your input is the basis for our care • Fresh organic warm meals and snacks, prepared by a full-time chef • 3 times more indoor space than traditional Dutch childcare centres • Private parking, parents espresso & juice bar, dedicated parents room with WIFI

Zein was founded by commited international childcare professionals who understood the importance for international working parents to give their children the best start in life.

Zein has won several awards for their innovative and progressive approach to childcare and was recently nominated for ‘best childcare provider in The Netherlands”.

Call now to arrange a personal tour 070 326 82 63 or contact us at info@zeinchildcare.nl www.zeinchildcare.nl

Where the whole family feels at home

photo: tigs creAtions

Letter from the executive director

dear ACCESS readers 2015 is the Year of the Soil, and sees a World Expo dedicated to feeding the planet. Inspiration enough for us to explore all things earth related.

An essential part of serving internationals in the Netherlands, besides answering the pressing questions they have, is, in our opinion, providing bridges to connecting to neighbours, to the country. It is this underlying current which runs through the topics we cover in our magazine. We believe there is much to be discovered, not only answered.

Our FAQ Guides, Helpdesk and website answer questions. Our magazine, online feature articles and contributions to other publications, such as the Xpat Journal, provide content which we hope will allow internationals to connect with their hosts and neighbours.

What drives our editorial and production process? Finding topics and ideas which allow our readers to connect with locals on content, until they are able to do so in language. And, we do our best to avoid the topics already covered by many before us, and search for the innovative, the unusual, the ‘I did not know’ factor.

In the past we have taken inspiration from: Dutch literature; unique Dutch sports and most recently the unlikely galactic journey of the Dutch.

This year, the classical elements are set to inspire a series of articles.

We start with ‘Earth’ and welcome you to this year’s journey. Want to know what is coming up? Sign up for our e-zine and receive it in your mailbox as it is published quarterly.

This and ALL the services provided by ACCESS, is brought to you by a team of professionals who volunteer their time, and expertise. Want to know more about them? Keep an eye out for our monthly Volunteer features. « Deborah Valentine - Executive Director access | spring | 3

About Access is a volunteer not-for-profit organisation that serves the needs and interests of the international community in the netherlands. it is supported by dutch, inter national and expatriate businesses and organisations through donations and sponsorship.

What we do

Established in 1986 ACCESS is a unique volunteer-based organisation. Representing an impressive cultural and linguistic variety, its dedicated volunteers work to: • provide guidance, advice, information to help individuals with settling, and/or living and working in the Netherlands • promote friendship, understanding and well-being of the members of the international community in the Netherlands • contribute to community development through skill training schemes and courses • serve as a bridge between local and international communities • assist the HR departments of international employers in preparing for and receiving international staff

Executive Board

• Chairman: Gary Hays,

Valshebnik Consulting • Vice Chairman: Kiri Kikis, Shell • Treasurer: Edwin Jeanty van der Spek, Deloitte Tax Lawyers • Secret ary: to be appointed

Members

• Willemijn van Oppen-Stuyt, Educaide • Jessie Rodell • Koosje Ploegmakers, ABN AMRO • Godelijn Boonman, GMW Advocaten

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ACCESS Laan van Meerdervoort 70 2517 AN The Hague The Hague International Centre City Hall Atrium, Spui 70

0900 2 ACCESS (0900 2 222 377) local rate 20c per minute helpdesk@access-nl.org www.access-nl.org Join ACCESS on

• Access news • community news • What’s on • Cover story: Finding your green team with an orange twist • Health: earth=Abundance=you • Travel: A dutch start to a French institution • Community: scouting and guiding in the netherlands: overseas style • Food: puff pastry tart • Family: Fatherhood in the 21st century • Education: dutch national parks, education on our doorstep • Lifestyle: living sustainably in the city • Meet our trainers

Finding your green team with an orange twist travel

A Dutch start to a French institution

Publisher Stichting ACCESS - Laan van Meerdervoort 100, 1st floor, 2517 AN Editorial content editor@access-nl.org Advertising 070 345 1700, fnd@access-nl.org Acting Editor Deborah Valentine Design & Layout M-space, Marek Moggré Contributors Carolyn Vines, Christopher An-Traumer, Deborah Valentine, Fontemaria Totaro, IVN, Johanna Ballerstein, Kathy Voyles, Kristin Anderson, Liz Boyd, Magda Zografou, Monique Rubin, Rick van Vliet, Stephen Davies, Willemijn Lenders Cover image Maartje Schuurmans Copyright©ACCESS 2015 All rights reserved.

No part of the ACCESS e-zine may be used in any form without explicit permission in writing from the Publisher. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this publication was correct at the time of going to press. However, ACCESS and its writers cannot accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information included.

photo: jiMMy doMingo / greenpeAce

Winter 2015 Vol. 28 No. 1

cover story

photo: rAzVAn photogrAphy

ACCESS e-zine

spring 2015

Family

Fatherhood in the 21stcentury

photo: MonKey BusinessiMAges

Contents |

ACCESS Partners & Associates

Thank you for your support!

Platinum ****

Gold ***

Banking, taxation and personal finance ABN AMRO *** J.C.Suurmond & zn. * AAme Accountants & Tax advisors A The Community Xpat Media (Xpat Journal) *** ICP – International Community Platform ** Candles Flame Computer ­Training * The Hague Online * CheckNL A Expat Events A ANCOR M Amsterdam Mamas M Broadcast Amsterdam M AngloINFO SouthHolland M DutchBuzz M

Silver **

Bronze *

Dutch News M IamExpat M InTouch Rotterdam M Volunteer The Hague M Government support City of The Hague **** City of Delft * City of Leidschendam-Voorburg * City of Rijswijk * Expatcenter Amsterdam * Expat Center Utrecht *

Media Partners M

Lifestyle American Book Center ** ASPA A Paard van Troje A STET The English Theatre A Partner support Webster University * Zestee Social Media School A Connecting Women M Volksuniversiteit Den Haag M Women’s Business Initiative International M

Healthcare Bronovo Hospital * Housing and relocation Tulip Expats Services * Learning Dutch BSN Language Centre * Direct Dutch * Kickstart School * Legal matters GMW Advocaten **

There are many ways in which you can support the work ACCESS does: as a Partner, Associate and Advertiser. Click here to see our Helping ACCESS 2015 Media Pack for opportunities.

6 | access | SPRING

Associates A

Your child British School in the Netherlands *** Zein Childcare *** International School of The Hague ** American International School of Rotterdam * Big Ben Kids * British School of Amsterdam * German International School The Hague * HSV (The Hague School ­A ssociation) * International School Utrecht * Kindergarden * Passionate Parenting A

ACCESS

news Spring

call to hr departments employing internationals Much of what ACCESS provides and does is geared towards the end user – internationals themselves. The same people who may in one way or another, directly or as the partner of an employee, also be part of your departments’

expatcenter Amsterdam ACCESS is pleased to have become an official partner of the Expatcenter Amsterdam.

While we may not be physically present in Amsterdam to serve internationals, several of our Trainers and Counsellors are, as are our popular Child Birth Education classes. And, our Helpdesk and database of answers to your questions do cover the country. We can help. «

responsibility. Did you know ACCESS has products and services which can help you too?

Want to know more? Contact Deborah Valentine, ACCESS’s Executive Director on edirector@access-nl.org for more information. «

Welcome to the hague The Hague International Centre provides its services • • Welcome • • to the international resitoThe dents of not only The Hague, but also Delft, Leidschendam-Voorburg, Rijswijk and Wassenaar. The Welcome programme, run by ACCESS is open to all internationals living in these nearby cities. The tour component of the programme is of The Hague City Centre, but ALL the other information – from the ‘who are the Dutch’ session provided by ACCESS’ own Caitriona Rush of At Home Abroad – to the ‘where can I find information’ and the networking afterwards, is relevant to everyone. Find out the dates, and register here. « ted by mornings hos Informative ESS, Hague and ACC the City of The ional new internat to welcome on. regi ue Hag arrivals to The

Hague tre (THIC), City

rnational Cen

The Hague Inte

March 31 September 22

June 2 December 8

deadlines 2014 th Registration tember 19 th th May 30 , Sep March 28 , er 4th. and Decemb

Hall, Spui 70

access | spring | 7

Internationally Creative Our educational programme is designed to encourage young people to step outside their comfort zone and learn to express themselves in bold and imaginative ways.

www.britishschool.nl

Internationally British

Community news

Expat Center utrecht

ECU comi n soon g !

ACCESS is thrilled, honoured and excited about being asked to become a key component of the Expat Center Utrecht (ECU), which is scheduled to open in March 2015.

We know from experience that there is an ever-growing international community in the Utrecht region: the growth of the International School Utrecht, already an ACCESS Partner, in the past year is proof of this. We are psyched and ready to serve internationals living in Utrecht and the surrounding areas, in person, from our desk in Utrecht’s City Hall.

photo: nBtc

We also salute the city of utrecht and the initiative to cater to the needs of this growing community.

Are you based in Utrecht? Would you like to be an ACCESS Volunteer? Get in touch via vrd@access-nl.org to find out more.

Want to know more about ACCESS?, or the ECU? Contact Utrecht@access-nl.org. ÂŤ

access | spring | 9

Community News

IamExpat Fair 2015 Westergasfabriek, March 7 Whether you’re a new arrival or a long-term resident in the Netherlands there’s a lot to explore and understand: from finding a house, a new job, or a great school for your kids, to choosing a trustworthy accountant, legal advisor or a respected MBA program.

Good reasons to attend the IamExpat Fair, a truly international event designed to ­connect and support the expat community in the Netherlands.

Find everything you need, in one location, on one day: Discover businesses in the fields of Career, Education, Housing, Expat services, Family & Kids, Health & Leisure Attend workshops and presentations to help you thrive in the Netherlands Benefit from special offers Connect with other internationals

• • • •

Entrance is FREE but tickets are limited.

Register now!

photo: Arjen Veldt

Who will be there?

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Some of the biggest names in the expat industry will be present to meet with you in person, discuss your needs, and offer products and services. The sponsors and dozens of other international-friendly companies and

professionals will be hosting stands and running free workshops.

A great location

The IamExpat Fair will be held at Amsterdam’s Westergasfabriek, a former gasworks that is now a major cultural venue hosting international events and festivals.

The Westergasfabriek is easy to reach from the Central Station, Leidseplein and other locations around Amsterdam.

• Time 10:00 - 17:00 • Date Saturday, 7 March, 2015 • Location Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam Save the date in your agenda and visit the IamExpat Fair website for more information and to get your Free ticket.

You can also stay up to date by joining their Facebook and Meetup event pages. «

See you at the expat event of 2015!

Volunteers have spoken In 2014 two of ACCESS’s volunteers undertook research into the experience of our current, as well as past volunteers.

More than 600 people, 70% of whom were past volunteers confirmed that the model established almost 30 years ago is still valid today. Serving others, while building a community and learning from one another is a successful model for ensuring a positive relocation (or expatriation) experience. Want to read what was revealed? The report is available here. « access | spring | 11

What’s on Spring 2015

Special events in March WANT TO post a community event in this magazine? contact access MAGAZINE at EDITOR@access-nl.org, SUBJECT: ‘what’s on’.

CineDans 11-15 March Amsterdam

Holland Animation Film Festival 18-22 March Utrecht

movie: HAFFTube

CineDans – A dance on Screen Festival is unique, in the Netherlands and in the world.

At the CineDans Festival the c­entral focus is on dance film.

The emphasis lies on choreographies created specifically for the camera and on special film adaptations of existing dance performances. Approximately 60 films will feature in this year’s festival.

HAFF is an international animation festival that pays attention to the most varied forms of animation. This year’s theme is animation and sports. In addition to leading and quirky selections for the (international) competitions, the festival also includes workshops, talk shows and Comic Art.

www.cinedans.nl

Movies that Matter Festival 20-28 March The Hague

www.moviesthatmatter.nl

Keukenhof 20 March-17 May Lisse

photo: Keukenhof

The Movies that Matter Festival, an initiative of Amnesty International, is The Hague’s film and debate festival on human rights, peace and justice.

www.haff.nl

The world famous tulip and flower park opens its doors for a season dedicated to Van Gogh. In 2015 the Keukenhof will honour the famous Dutch artist with a special mosaic. www.keukenhof.nl access | spring | 13

What’s on Spring 2015

Special events in April WANT TO post a community event in this magazine? contact access MAGAZINE at EDITOR@access-nl.org, SUBJECT: ‘what’s on’.

CinemAsia Film Festival 11-13 April Eindhoven, Rotterdam, The Hague

Art Breda 5-12 April Chasséveld Breda

Photo: Alessandro Bonuzzi

ART BREDA is an inspiring international spring fair for antiques, old art and contemporary art. Prior to the opening of the fair, all objects will be examined by specialised vetting committees to ensure the authenticity and quality of the artworks and other objects available during the fair.

www.artbreda.nl

SOTU Festival 17-19 April Amsterdam SOTU (Sounds of the Underground) is a music festival which celebrates the uniqueness of the global independent music and art community.

With artists representing many traditions and influences there is surely to be something for everyone with a sense of adventure. www.sotufestival.com 14 | access | Spring

Moving into its 8th edition, the CinemAsia Film Festival will be on tour in Eindhoven, Rotterdam and The Hague from 11 to 13 April 2015 with more groundbreaking films from Asia. Past editions have included the most vibrant film cultures, featuring everything from Hollywood hopefuls to orphaned children and Himalayan quests for God to lip-synching Filipino drag queens. www.cinemasia.nl

NN Marathon 12 April Rotterdam Considered the Netherland’s largest running event, the world’s top athletes will set off from the bustling Coolsingel, alongside tens of thousands of other runners, seeking to triumph, each in their own unique way. www.nnmarathonrotterdam.org

Special events in May WANT TO post a community event in this magazine? contact access MAGAZINE at EDITOR@access-nl.org, SUBJECT: ‘what’s on’.

The Amsterdam Coffee Festival 15-17 May

Photos: Alessandro Bonuzzi

The Amsterdam Coffee Festival is the event for innovative subculture lovers of coffee, tea, chocolate and related products.

Witness cutting-edge coffee art and science, experience the latest brewing techniques firsthand and revel in new taste sensations.

Liberation Day 5 May Local events

www.amsterdamcoffeefestival.com

www.bevrijdingsfestivals.nl

Tong Tong Fair 27 May-7 June The Hague This is the largest Eurasian fair in the world. The event is a sensory ­stimulating blend of a cultural festival, exhibitions and food fest rolled into one, held in an archipelago of tents and stands.

Dutch Beer Tasting Festival 28-30 May The Hague

Photos: TONG TONG FAIR

www.tongtongfair.nl

The Netherlands pulls out all the stops for Liberation Day (Bevrijdingsdag) on 5 May. You will find a wide variety of events taking place in Amsterdam and throughout the Netherlands, including the Concert on the Amstel, which takes place on a huge stage floating on the Amstel with the Royal Theatre Carré as a backdrop. For events close to you visit their website.

The Dutch Beer Tasting Festival is the opening event for Dutch Beer Week. Learn more about the brewing process, the different types of beer and the rich history of beer in the Netherlands, and sign up on the spot for a master class. www.weekvanhetnederlandsebier.nl access | spring | 15

Finding your green team with an orange twist

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Cover story

We are living in an age where environmental action is all but expected.

We are encouraged to reduce our carbon footprint, participate in global marches against climate change, sign online petitions, to demand labelling of genetically modified organisms in our food, and to ‘vote’ with our yen, dollar, pound, peso or euro by purchasing products that support a sustainable and equitable lifestyle for all.

by Kristin Anderson

Given this eco-equitable philosophy of the times, it should be easy to make the shift to a sustainable lifestyle.

Why then, is it so difficult? Sure; we can remember to take a reusable shopping bag to the market to purchase a fair trade bar of chocolate and cut back on weekly meat consumption.

But will our action save the oceans, reduce pollution, address food and water security, stop slavery and mitigate climate change?

Global issues right under our toes

In other words, the environmental problems facing our world are so ov­erwhelming, that it seems there is little we can do. To top it off, our governments and the corporate entities that drive the global economy seem to ­forget there is not just economy at play in the three E’s of sustainability, but rather economy, equity and environment.

2015 has been declared International Year of the Soil (IYS) by the United Nations (UN) in order to bring focus to the importance of healthy soil addresses and many of the environmental issues we face. According to the Global Soil Partnership, the goals of IYS are, among others, to “… achieve full recognition of the prominent contributions of soils to food security, climate change adaptation »

But don’t despair. Thanks to the internet, social media and event organising sites like 350.org and avaaz.org, it is actually easier now than any other time in history to take action on both local and global issues that are important to you. And 2015 is already shaping up to be a bright and shining light where global environmental thinking is concerned.

access | spring | 17

Cover story | Finding your green team with an orange twist

through to 31 October 2015, with the theme ‘Share, Grow, Live’.

Considering that the Netherlands is one of the world’s top three exporters of fruits and vegetables, this is clearly a topic on which the Dutch can speak with authority.

Is green the new orange?

2015 is already shaping up to be a bright and shining light where global environmental thinking is concerned. and mitigation, essential ecosystem services, poverty alleviation and sustainable development . . .”

The UN is not the only one focusing on soil this year. The 2015 World Expo Milan theme is ‘Feeding the Planet, Energy For Life’—a theme that clearly relates to healthy soil. The Netherlands will also be participating in the Expo, which opens 1 May 2015 and runs 18 | access | spring

Part of thinking globally is acting locally, or in this case, understanding environmentalism within the Dutch context. First, the big questions: How does the Netherlands rate compared to other countries in the world when it comes to the environment?

Where do they excel and where is there room for improvement?

According to the 2014 Environmental Performance Index produced by Yale University, the Netherlands ranks 11 out of 178 countries. That’s in the top six percent of countries analysed. Not bad!

Environmental Health and Ecosystem Vitality are the two guiding principles for the index. There are nine subcategories within these two topics and twenty indicators. The Netherlands received top marks in Water & Sanitation and Health Impacts, which both fall under Environmental Health,

and top scores in Water Resources, which is a subcategory of Ecosystem Vitality. However, improvement is needed on air quality (109 out of 178) and agriculture (91 out of 178).

Finding your green team on Dutch soil

There’s more to the Dutch green front than environmental rankings and water expertise. The environmental non-profit sector is also impressive.

It would take a book to write about them all, but with the local inter­ nationals (otherwise referred to as ‘expats’) in mind, I have chosen a handful to highlight here. » access | spring | 19

Greenpeace, one of the world’s most visible environmental action groups, has their international headquarters in Amsterdam. Milieu Defensie, also known as Friends of the Earth Netherlands, tackles environmental issues related to air pollution, food, energy and raw materials. With 65 chapters and over 85,000 members nationwide, you could most likely find a chapter near you, though not all their local information is in English.

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photos: greenpeAce

Did ow... n k u yo s first a w y a Earth D in 1970. ted celebra e than 192 or Today m s observe e countri it.

For the fossil fuel frustrated

Fossil Free, an international network that campaigns for divestment in fossil fuels, has a strong presence in the Netherlands. The Fossil Free movement encourages people to withdraw financial support (divest) from banks, investment funds and businesses that continue to invest in fossil fuels, and invest in businesses that support renewable energy sources. Global Divestment Day was on 13 and 14 February 2015, but their events are year round.

Cover story | Finding your green team with an orange twist

Celebrating your way to

Festivals are also a great way to bring attention to the environment. Fete de la Nature is a three-day event planned for 23 – 25 May 2015, which encourages people to create their own events outof-doors, be it a park, forest or waterfront. This event differs from many organised festivals in that the entire country is invited to come up with their own idea to celebrate nature. Please note, their website is only in Dutch.

And, in the world line up of calls to action, we mustn’t forget Earth Day, celebrated by over one billion people in 192 countries worldwide each year on 22 April, or on the weekend closest to the date. To date, planned in the Netherlands, is one Earth Day event in The Hague on Saturday, 18 April. For more details see www.facebook.com/ Earthday2015Netherlands.

Can bicycling be even more sustainable?

An article on environmental aspects of the Netherlands would not be complete without an ode to the bicycle, or all 18 million bicycles in the Netherlands. (That’s right; more ­bicycles than people!)

MOVIE: Bonno pc

Environmental Action

What makes the Dutch cycling experience even more sustainable? Consider solar bike paths. SolaRoad, an innovative Dutch company introduced the world’s first solar bike path last year in a neighbourhood outside of Amsterdam. Energy garnered from the bike path is filtered back to the energy grid, generating enough energy to power two to three homes for an entire year.

And you thought the Dutch flag was red, white and blue! There is a lot of green in there too …albeit under the radar. «

About the author Kristin Anderson is an environmental activist, author and ­blogger living in the Netherlands with her Dutch husband and their son. www.authorkristinanderson.com access | spring | 21

The ideal gift for expats Do you work with expats and internationals or are you one yourself?

Ready, Steady, Go Dutch is crucial to understanding the Netherlands, and understanding ‘expats’.

This innovative English-language publication is a handy 100-page paperback full of tips, tricks, and testimonials from expats and internationals, who have already ‘gone Dutch’.

Price: €12.50 plus p&p. www.readysteadygodutch.com Discounts available for bulk orders, contact: books@dutchnews.nl

Are you looking to expand your horizons and meet new people?

Then connecting women is for you!

Come join us to meet an international community of diverse women and to listen to an inspiring speaker at one of our gatherings.

We meet on the first Monday of every month (except August and January) in The Hague.

You don’t need to be a member to join our events.

For more information visit our website... www.connectingwomen.nl

Health

Earth=Abundance=You So here you are in the Netherlands, your family’s first or fifth international assignment. You’ve organised your house...well, more or less! The children are settled into their new international school. Your hairdresser’s English is excellent. Hello, good hair days. You regularly meet friends for coffee at the cosy café around the corner.

Yes. Spring is in the air, and everything is in place. At least it would be if not for that feeling in the pit of your stomach. You know...that restlessness.

You’d never say you’re unhappy, and

unfulfilled would be too big a word.

But that gnawing feeling that something’s missing just won’t go away.

You try to ignore it but a little voice tells you how ungrateful you are to feel ‘that’ way because you’ve got it good; you’re living the life you’ve always dreamed of. You shouldn’t complain.

Yet the more you look at the abundance of things you should feel grateful for, the guiltier you feel about that nagging question: Is this it?

Head clutter

photo: Martha Costa

by Carolyn Vines

If you’re a partner who’s put your dreams on hold to accompany your spouse, then this scenario probably sounds familiar.

Welcome to the club. Restlessness, lack of fulfilment, disconnection all make sense when we partners allocate all our resources to helping others reach their goals and live their dreams. access | spring | 23

Health | earth=Abundance=you

What results is head clutter due to stress and worry over to-do lists or where in the world your next posting might take you.

The good news is that we can choose which thoughts we focus on. Here’s how.

Reaching out to Mother Earth

Not only indicted for physical ailments, head clutter is charged with limiting performance and is guilty of undermining self-confidence. It disconnects us from that time in our lives when we dared to dream big because we believed anything was possible, blocking our creative passion, unique gifts and talents.

When is the last time you noticed the abundance of leaves on a single tree?

Or listened to one of the thousands of different kinds of birds each singing its unique song. Ever wonder about the countless grains of sand on the beach instead of the few hundred thousand we need to bury our feet?

photo: corinne risler

Did ow... n k u yo suffer o s l a n a Trees c : from poor ress from st petition for soil, com nd city water a life?

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Probably not, because head clutter only draws attention to itself.

In honour of Earth Day (on 22 April) we can pay homage to Mom in a different way. By first paying attention to Her abundance, we take one small step toward connecting to the abundance within us. Try this: go to the nearest tree and count leaves. We become so focused on their shape, size and colour that there’s no space for worry, guilt or to-do lists. Now see what happens when you start counting your skills, secret talents and unique gifts.

Create space

Mother Earth does not believe in hoarding. What she does not use ­withers and falls to the ground where she eventually composts it as energy for the regrowth process in the spring.

So you see, letting go of what no longer serves is a natural de-cluttering process.

Did you know that we think tens of thousands of thoughts every day?

And that all those thoughts carry energy that feed us or defeat us?

To think about dreams, set goals, ­prioritise, and learn to say ‘no’ to what we don’t want we need head space.

Mother Earth does not believe in hoarding. What she does not use withers and falls to the ground.

Hoarding old thoughts, beliefs and values that no longer serve us is bad news.

The first step toward head space is to become aware of the quality of our thoughts. Take ten minutes out of the 1440 in a day and write down every thought that flashes through your head. Pay close attention to how you feel in the precise moment that you think any thought. Eventually you’ll learn to let go of the ones that make you feel tense, anxious or otherwise out of sorts.

Compost that energy and watch your growth when you focus attention on your unique gifts. «

About the author Carolyn Vines is an author, international speaker and Certified Professional Life Coach dedicated to training accompanying spouses to put their dreams into action. access | spring | 25

Education | partner feature

going for green developing an environmentally-aware student body is an increasingly important part of education at the British school in the netherlands (Bsn). there are many projects, classes, and initiatives, but few have been as fundamental as the development of a school ‘eco-garden’ at the Bsn senior school campus in Voorschoten.

What was formerly an empty expanse of grass was transformed through a student led Environmental Committee project.

Now, just over 18 months on, this beautiful garden boasts an amazing variety of shrubs and bushes, natural flower beds, a number of young trees, a stretch of reed-fringed water, a bird-table and nesting boxes, a beehive and an insect hotel.

Diversity is the spice of life

070 315 4077 www.britishschool.nl

One of the areas, to which the Senior School’s Eco-Committee has paid particular attention, is bio-diversity. Enthusiastic EcoCommittee member Mike Weston explains, “we wanted to attract as many flora and fauna as possible.

We have already seen over 30 species of birds and about 120 different

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butterflies and moths, as well as various mammals and amphibians.

So many wild plants have colonised since the garden was established that we will need expert help in identifying them all!”

An important issue with an ecogarden is that of striking the right balance between attracting wild creatures, whilst also making it accessible to young people as a source of enjoyment and learning.

So far, however, the BSN appears to be getting it right – due in no small part due to the responsible attitude and excellent behaviour of the students themselves. What is also gratifying is to see the number of teachers now using the garden as a way of enhancing their lessons – mathematicians measuring things, DT stu-

dents designing garden furniture, Biology students taking water samples, language students learning the Dutch names of trees and plants, and so on.

Ongoing achievements

The management of the garden is overseen by the Eco-Committee, comprised of both staff and students. Committee Co-Chair and Year 13 student, Veronica White, describes the incredible transformation she’s witnessed in the past three years: “When we started this project, the garden was going to be no bigger than a classroom, so the beautiful space we’ve created and enjoy now is more than I ever could have imagined.”

“… the beautiful space we’ve created … is more than I ever could have imagined.”

“This year, our main goal is to achieve the Green Flag Award an award for schools that indicates their dedication to their environment and issues of sustainability.

To do this, we will be focusing on three key aspects - reducing energy consumption, recycling and reducing waste, and continuing to increase the biodiversity of the school. «

access | spring | 27

Shopping

No space is too g ardening tools and products for contemporary dutch urban lifestyles By christopher An-trAuMer

pikaplant jar

€ 67 Plantation Polish artist and designer Alicja Patanowska has created a collection of handthrown ceramic plant pots that fit inside old glasses found on the streets of London, left outside by patrons of the city’s numerous bars and clubs, so that both root and stem can be seen. www.do-shop.com

Dutch company Pikaplant has a great solution for people who love plants, but don’t how to take care of them properly – the Pikaplant Jar. These self-sustaining biotopes are hermetically sealed and recycle water and nutrients from the humid air.

€ 49

www. pikaplant.com

Aquaflower by plastec

€ 6 30

The AquaFlower is made from 100% recycled bottle fibers and is designed to sit at the bottom of the pot. It conserves water by absorbing it and then releasing it back into the soil as it dries out. www.plastecproducts.com

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from

€ 19 9 5

small pa ck

Boskke – Sky Planter Not everyone has abundant floor space for potted plants, but everyone has ceilings.

These upside-down planters conserve space and water, thanks to an innovative design that feeds water gradually to the plant’s roots with no excess water draining away.

of 4

€ 87

Woolly Living Wall planters

www.boskke.com

These low maintenance planters can be used in- or outdoors and the size and shape of the display is customisable. The new modular design features a self-watering tank to make planting easier. www.woollypocket.com from

€ 150 from

€ 2 19

Naturemill automatic compost bin This high-tech composter is a quiet indoor system that uses an odourless natural culture to transform all your leftover food scraps into nutrient-rich compost – the best fertilizer for your plants. www.naturemill.net

Bulbo quadra and cynara Lack of sunlight in the Netherlands?

No problem. These LED lights reproduce the ideal spectrum to stimulate the photosynthesis process indoors.

Suitable for medium-sized vegetables, kitchen herbs, flowers and succulents. www.bulbolight.com access | spring | 29

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German International School The Hague

Open your child’s world, expand their horizons.

High Quality Multilingual Education from the ages 3 to 18

www.disdh.nl

Raamweg 47 2596 HN The Hague 070 212 69 91 www.m-space.nl

Travel

A Dutch start to a French institution The Netherlands will change from orange to yellow this summer as Utrecht hosts Le Grand Depart (the Grand Start) of the Tour de France in July. Yellow because it’s the signature colour of this French tradition.

by Monique Rubin

After five years, the festive start of the famous cycling race returns to the Netherlands, marking a record sixth time that the race starts in the Netherlands, more than any other country outside of France. When asked why tour organisers seem to favour the Netherlands, Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme cites not only the country’s geographical location, but its enthusiasm for the sport. This characteristic zeal was noted in 1954 when the first launch of the tour outside of France occurred in Amsterdam. L’Equipe, a French national newspaper dedicated to sports, wrote: “All of the Netherlands

seemed to have gathered on the roads… Tens of thousands of spectators in closed ranks, uninterrupted, for kilometres and kilometres, clapping, cheering for everything that had to do with the tour, the cyclists, the motorcyclists…[in this way] they made a triumph of the first stage!”

Le Grand Depart Travel guide

The 2015 Tour de France is made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of more than 3,300 kilometres (2,050 miles). The first two stages take place in the Netherlands, and is a great opportunity to show the world that there is more to the country than Amsterdam.

The first stage starts on 4 July …but there is plenty to see and do, before, during and after. Follow the map and tips on the following pages to plan a unique way of discovering the Netherlands, as well this highlight of the French sporting calendar. » access | spring | 31

Header Travel | A dutch start to a French institution

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32 | access | spring

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Famous for its Heksenwaag (witches’ scales) - a weighing house for witches that offered persons accused of witchcraft an honest o opportunity to prove their innocence. Als notable: its city centre, which has more than 250 protected buithldings, including the town hall (1588), a 15 century church and its 12th century tower.

access | spring | 33

Travel | A dutch start to a French institution

photo: rAzVAn photogrAphy

Where to watch: When deciding where you want to watch the tour, it will be helpful to check the race website or a local newspaper in advance for information Did on the route and road ow... n k u e yo m closings. e first ti l h t s i 5 1 l i 20 w an team an Afric art in Don’t limit yourself to take p . e c a the r one spot; however, be prudent about the spots you choose. You have a better chance to get a good look at the cyclists at climbs, turns or switchbacks than you will on wide, flat roads and descents where the cyclists will be whizzing by at top speeds.

“ Tens of thousands of spectators in closed ranks, uninterrupted, …., clapping, cheering for everything that had to do with the tour ….”

Spectator tips

What to expect: Though the grand depart isn’t going to have the suspense that other stages of the tour, you will find lots of excitement and merry-making, with music, food and entertainment. This will also be a good opportunity to see the cyclists up close, get autographs and pictures.

34 | access | spring

How to watch: Be prepared and wear/ pack appropriate clothing, as well as some food and drink. Folding chairs, as well as something to read or other distractions are also a good idea as there is a lot of waiting, which is part of the experience. «

About the author Monique White Rubin lives in The Hague with her two children. You can read about her travels, expat life and her quest to “run the world” one marathon at a time on her blog www.motravels.com

Community

Scouting and Guiding in the Netherlands: Overseas style

The Scouting movement, established by Lord BadenPowell in the United Kingdom, has become a world-wide, international movement, which, with its sister organisation of Guides has been providing boys and girls with the opportunity to develop their personal physical, mental and spiritual development while playing constructive roles in society.

by Liz Boyd & Deborah Valentine

photo: Lynne Armitage

Both organisations have Groups or units, organised by age, led by adult volunteers, where skills are developed, experiences shared, and contributions are made to the communities around them. They are not educational organisations, but rather ones in which participants learn by doing and having fun. Adult volunteers are drawn from all walks of life and all share the same commitment to the Promise as the boys and girls do.

Scouting started in 1907 in the UK for boys. Then in 1910 Baden Powell was approached by a group of girls » access | spring | 35

photos: Lynne Armitage and Sarah Elliott

attending a world camp, as a Scout Group to ask for their own Girls organisation, and in 1910 the Guiding (Guide) Movement was born – the same year Did that Scouting started in .­ now.. of k u o y the Netherlands. In 1914 st unit r fi e h t 1 n 1 g i 9 e 1 r In Brownies was founded, es in Fo in d i u G h s d i e t i n r e B p for girls between 7 and s was o al. e i r t n u g Co u t Por 11, again because the Oporto, girls asked. A rich history has followed, one which has seen some adaptations to the model but not to the founding principles or commitment to the Promise.

Local ‘international’ troops

In the course of that rich history, and because of the growing international 36 | access | spring

mobility of families around the world, there was a need for English speaking scouting and guiding groups in other countries. It was hoped that in having ‘international’ scouting and guiding opportunities in foreign countries, some continuity could be offered to the girls, and boys, already part of the movement – wherever they may be.

It was also a way of letting those internationally born children to access the movement, whilst living abroad.

As Nevil Adkins, Group Scout Leader of The Hague states, “Scouting is open to all boys and girls and we have a very diverse and inclusive membership base. Although we are affiliated to British Scouting Overseas we are open to any nationality as long as their

Community | Scouting and Guiding in the Netherlands

ability with English is sufficient for them to understand and take part in the Group activities.” This applies as much to Girl Guiding, the sister organisation of Scouts.

In Dutch scouting, groups are all mixed. Should you wish to explore the possibilities of joining Dutch Scouting consult Scouting Netherlands.

50 years young …and going strong

Perhaps the ongoing requirement for the overseas units of Scouts and Guides is best illustrated by the fact that recently, British Guides celebrated 50 years of overseas guiding in the Netherlands. 1st The Hague Brownies, (for girls from 7– 10), celebrated their Golden Anniversary in 2014 and, in the same year, 1st The Hague Rainbows (for girls from 5-7) celebrated their Silver Anniversary. One hundred years of the Brownies was also commemorated in 2014 and Brownies and Leaders from The Hague joined up with others from units in Belgium, France and Luxemburg at a Chateau in Belgium to celebrate. A local celebration was also held in The Hague for all members, to celebrate the centenary, from the smallest Rainbow to the oldest Adult volunteer.

Selection of useful links/contacts

• Guiding in The Hague girlguidingthehague@hotmail.com • Guiding in Amsterdam girlguidingamsterdam@gmail.com • Boy Scouts of America (The Hague/ASH) lfklocke@gmail.com • Boy Scouts of America Transatlantic Council www.tac-bsa.org/International • 1st The Hague Scout Group membership@1sthague.org • 1 Amsterdam Scout Group kimberly.sweetman@me.com • BSA Troop 8 Amsterdam www.facebook.com/BSAlighteninghawks (American Boy Scouts) • USA Girl Scouts Overseas www.usagso.org • British Guides in Foreign Countries www.bgifc.org.uk • British Scouting Overseas www.britishscoutingoverseas.org.uk • World Association of Girl Guides & Girl Scouts www.wagggs.org/en/home • World Organisation of the Scout Movement www.scout.org st

The Scout and Guide movements are alive and well in the Netherlands, for Dutch and internationals, providing boy, girls and adults with a unique opportunity to learn by doing, keeping true to the Promise and having fun throughout. «

About the author Liz Boyd started her guiding life at 7 as a Brownie in Scotland at her mother’s suggestion, and has been a Leader for 20 years, originally in Scotland and the last 12 of these here in the Netherlands. Currently with Jane Jarvis she is the District Commissioner for The Hague. access | spring | 37

Law | Partner feature

New year, new laws Due to the new Dutch labour law, 2015 will bring a lot of changes for employees as well as employers.

Parts of the new law came into force on 1 January; the other changes will come into force as of 1 July 2015.

by Willemijn Lenders

38 | access | spring

Changes as per 1 January

Three topics are covered by the new rulings which came into force at the start of the year: the trial period, the non-competition clause and the notification of termination.

It is prohibited to include a trial period in fixed-term contracts of six months or less. A non-competition clause in fixed-term contracts is also prohibited, unless the contract specifies the necessity of such a clause due to critical company interests. Both changes apply to contracts entered into after January 1.

Furthermore, the notification of termination is introduced by the new law. An employer is now obliged to notify the employee in writing whether their fixed-term contract will be extended or not at least one month before the end date of the contract. Failure to do so entitle the employee to an amount equal to the salary over the period the employer should have given notice. This only applies to fixed-term contracts with duration of at least 6 months.

Changes as per 1 July

As of 1 July, an employment agreement for a fixed term will convert in an employment agreement for an indefinite time when a maximum of three contracts is exceeded or parties entered into more than one contract, and the total duration exceeds the period of two years. In both situations an agreement for indefinite time is the result, when a period of no more than 6 months and one day had passed between consecutive contracts.

Another big change is the calculation of the severance payment when an employment agreement is terminated. The so called ‘cantonal

formula’ will be replaced by a ‘transition allowance’. When the total duration of the employment agreement is longer than 24 months, an employee is entitled to this allowance, which is calculated according to statutory rulings.

“…changes for employees as well as employers.”

Last, a reconsideration period is introduced in case of a termination of the employment agreement with mutual consent. This means that the employee can withdraw their consent to the termination within 14 days. When the consent is withdrawn, the employment agreement is continued, or the negotiations on the terms and conditions of the termination are reopened.

Finally

The above is an overview of the new Dutch labour law, and does not cover all details exhaustively. In case you have any doubts about your situation, be sure to consult and be informed in detail about your own personal legal situation. «

070 361 5048 www.gmw.nl/en

access | spring | 39

Food

Puff pastry tart with strawberries and mascarpone It’s miraculous how the earth becomes suddenly more alive with the arrival of spring. It gives birth to the most colourful and flavoursome fruits and vegetables, beckoning us to use them in all sorts of dishes, savoury or sweet.

By Magdalini Zografou

Strawberries are to me the epitome of spring. Their vibrant red colour, their irresistible sweet smell, their honeyed fresh flavour, is capable of transforming a simple dessert into a thing of beauty.

This puff pastry tart is covered with vanilla-flavoured mascarpone and topped with ripe, halved strawberries.

A final dusting of icing sugar completes the picture, but if you’re feeling more decadent, replace the icing sugar with a generous drizzling of melted dark chocolate (55% cocoa solids).

40 | access | spring

Preheat oven to 190ºC.

Place the sheet of puff pastry on top of a baking sheet lined with baking paper. Lightly score, with a knife, a 2cm border around the edges of the pastry and prick the dough inside that border all over with a fork. This will prevent it from rising too much in the oven. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the top of the pastry with some of the beaten egg and place on the middle rack of the preheated oven.

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown and puffed up. Take the baking sheet out of the oven, carefully transfer the pastry onto a wire rack by lifting up the baking paper, and leave to cool completely.

With a hand-held electric mixer or a whisk, beat the mascarpone with the sugar and vanilla bean paste (or the seeds of the vanilla bean) in a medium-sized bowl until creamy and smooth.

Rinse the strawberries under cold, running water and dry them well on paper towels. Cut them in half lengthwise.

Ingredients

yields: 1 tart / 6 pieces

• 1 sheet ready-m

ade puff pastry (trimme d to a 30x20cm recta ngle), thawed if froze n • 1 small egg, be aten well with a fork

photo MAgdAlini zogrAFou:

Once the puff pastry has cooled, cover it evenly with the vanilla flavoured mascarpone using a small offset spatula and being careful not to cover the border. Arrange the strawberries on top and sprinkle generously with icing sugar.

Serve your tart immediately, cut into pieces. You can keep it for a day in the refrigerator, covered with plastic wrap,

but it is better served the moment you assemble it. «

For the mascarp one cream: • 300 g mascarp one cheese • 2 tablespoons granulated white sugar • 1 teaspoon van illa bean paste (or the se eds of a fresh vanilla be an) • 350 g fresh str

awberries (around 12) • Icing sugar, fo r dusting the tart

About the chef Magdalini Zografou is a Greek girl cooking in her little expat kitchen in the Netherlands. mylittleexpatkitchen.blogspot.com access | spring | 41

Family

Fatherhood in st the 21 century consider, if you will, the concept of fatherhood.

Did you k In 2001 now...

1 took pa 0% of fathers ren their wo tal leave from rk com 23% in pared to 2010.

how has the role of the father changed over the years? What does it mean to be a father in the 21st century? What can fathers provide to their families that cannot be provided for by mothers? What happens to the father who struggles to define his place in the family unit, and what difference does it make?

By stephen dAVies 42 | access | spring

Then and now

During my upbringing in the 80’s I was very aware of the roles my parents played.

My father earned the money, while my mother organised the home front.

Thirty years on the percentage of working mothers in the Netherlands has increased rapidly from approximately 32% with work in the 80’s to approximately 18% without any work in the 2013. The role of father as provider has in this way been diluted. Paediatrician Aldo Naouri claims in his book Fathers and Mothers (2005) that while the role of the mother has always remained ‘solid’ and defined, the role of the father is ‘nebulous’ and vague, changing throughout history.

What about the future?

The changing role of the father is something given very ­little attention until the start of this century. As in all periods of transition there have been men who have adapted naturally to this change, experimenting with ways of getting more involved in the nurturing of their children, redefining their own roles. Research has shown that these involved fathers are now having a very positive effect on the social and behavioural development of their children.

Others, however, have been confronted with a challenge that they were not prepared to face. An increasing amount of research is now being ­carried out to identify factors that may put struggling fathers at risk for developing depression or anxiety issues resulting from the birth of their children. The mental health of the mother is one of these factors.

Concurrently poor mental health of the father can negatively influence the mental state of the mother. Next to this, evidence also suggests that the development of their children can be negatively affected.

This much is known, yet screening and support for struggling fathers is still lacking. Why? Because there is still too little awareness, and perhaps too few fathers willing to admit that they find the hard job of parenting difficult!

For a detailed overview of the current findings on this topic read Sad Dad by Olivia Spencer. «

About the author Stephen is an ACCESS CSN psychologist and father of two.

He is currently trying to create more awareness of this topic and runs a regular workshop for fathers in Amsterdam. access | spring | 43

Education | partner feature

Music plays a vibrant role at the german international school the hague. the joy of music unites and inspires members of the school community to come together as a school wide orchestra for special occasions such as the school’s 150th anniversary celebrations, the annual christmas concert or the opportunity to play together with a visiting german Big Band.

the power of music One for all, and all for one

070 354 9494 www.disdh.nl

It is under the direction of a young and stimulating music teacher that the DISDH Orchestra has become so popular. It is not which particular instrument one plays, it is not the level of expertise one possesses nor is it the amount of experience one has which makes the DISDH Orchestra so special. Rather, it is the love of music and the desire to come together as an orchestra

4 4 | access | spring

which dictates its great success.

The musicians in the orchestra come from all parts of our school community. Students, teachers and parents play together on stage enchanting their listeners by spreading the harmony their music creates.

Individual members of the school community shed their usual roles and stand side by side sharing a common bond. Boundaries are transcended and all of a sudden a virtuoso student violinist rehearses a piece next to his history teacher who is just a novice in the realm of music. Students see their teachers in a new light; teachers interact with parents on a different level, with the common love of music and the goal of putting on an excellent concert bringing all the members together.

Diversity is the key

The DISDH Orchestra is also a symbol of the diverse community at the school. Different languages, cultures and nationalities play together on stage just as they sit together in a classroom or meet together as parents. The pieces

“singing in the school choir gives me the feeling that I am part of the school and I just love it”

performed represent all different genres of music stemming from all over the world.

A highlight of each DISDH Orchestra performance is the collaboration with the school choir. Whereas the DISDH Orchestra comes together only for special occasions, the school choir meets weekly. When the DISDH Orchestra and Choir join forces, the results are uplifting and moving at the same time. They captivate their audience demonstrating the power and joy music holds.

The strong familial atmosphere in the school is heightened at each new concert. The DISDH looks forward to many more musical events to be shared and enjoyed by all. «

“I am so happy that the DIsDH offers us the chance to join in and take part. The school Orchestra reinforces the sense of belonging among parents in the school community.” access | spring | 45

Education

Dutch national parks

photo: Nationaal Park Oosterschelde

education on our doorstep

National parks, wherever they may be in the world, are the most beautiful and valuable nature reserves that exist.

They are to be marvelled and can teach so much. We just need to take the time, and know where to go, and what to pay attention to.

by Association for Environmental Education

46 | access | spring

What may surprise many is that in the Netherlands there are twenty of them covering a total of 130,000 hectares.

Providing exceptional areas which invite you to come and discover nature.

Despite the ‘compact’ size of the country, nature in the Netherlands offers a huge diversity of landscape. Within the National Park system each Park represents one aspect of the diversity

of Dutch nature. In them you can enjoy the silence of wide heath, carr woodland, dynamic drifting sands, moving islands, meandering brooks, still bog pools, expansive woodland, intertidal mudflats, and other natural elements typical of the Netherlands. Needless to say, each park has its own specific animal population, among them rare bird species, deer, badgers, beavers, otters and seals.

In a nutshell

All the parks provide recreational activities geared to nature and education. There are many walking and cycling paths, bridleways and canoeing routes, hides, lookout posts, ­seating, signposting and information panels. Most parks have one or more visitor’s centres which aim to inform and amuse both young and old, raising an appreciation of nature along the way. The attractive presentations focus on the parks’ natural values, nature management, man’s influence on nature and the importance of nature conservation. Visitor centres also organise courses, activities and special projects for visiting schools or people who live in or near the park, and are the starting point for walks and guided excursions. Each national park has its

own internet site and most also publish a regular park bulletin which includes a schedule of activities.

Brochures, folders and maps are also available. In Did you k order to simplify internow..

T h e w net access to the parks’ orld’s la . ­ ­Nationa r l Park is gest website, a general webin Gree land, it n i s l a site was launched: rger tha n 163 cou ntries! www.nationaalpark.nl.

Here there is some English language information. For an overall overview of which Park offers what there is a comprehensive guide to them all here in English, French and German. »

Tips for activities in national park

• Nature cruise - Cruise from port Zierikzee. A roundtrip of • •

•

about 2 hours by low tide with a nature guide on board and various educational materials. www.sportvisserijmoermond.nl or www.frisiarondvaarten.nl Watersnoodmuseum, Ouwerkerk - Museum about the flood in 1953. www.watersnoodmuseum.nl Storm surge barrier - After the North Sea Flood of 1953 a storm surge barrier was built in the Oosterschelde to protect a large part of the Netherlands from flooding. The four-kilometre long section has huge sluice-gate type doors that can be closed in adverse weather. The barrier is normally open, allowing salt water to enter the estuary and much of the tidal movement to be maintained. www.neeltjejans.nl Oesterij, Yerseke - Experience the world of Oysters, Mussels and lobster. www.oesterij.nl access | spring | 47

THE DUTCH & THEIR BIKES

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> Adults or Children > Multiple locations > Dutch & English > Private or group lessons > Business English E : languages@britishschool.nl W : bsnlanguagecentre.nl

“Learning is the Heart of The International School of The Hague” E: ish.admissions@ishthehague.nl

I: www.ishthehague.nl

T +31(0)70 328 1450

T : 070 315 4080

15-08-14 12:45

Education | Dutch national parks

National Park Oosterschelde in the South West of the Netherlands, with its 37,000 hectares, is the largest of the twenty national parks in the Netherlands, and received its designation as one in May 2002. It is also one of the most important bird sanctuaries in the country. The sea, the salt marshes, the mud flats, the ‘inlagen’ (shallow coastal lagoons), the ‘karrevelden’ (cart fields) and the grounds are ideal places to look for food. And, under­ water, a busy, densely-populated word full of anemones, shrimp, and fish and, even, seahorses is waiting.

The Oosterschelde is also of economic importance. The very same characteristics mentioned above, clean seawater with its low and high tides is a home port for Zeeland’s mussel and oyster farming.

The area is a great place for boating.

Walkers and cyclists will have to explore the area using the dikes, although some tidal mud flats are accessible in rubber boots. Children can go beach combing under the watchful eye of a guide, and there are also opportunities for snorkelling, birding and boat trips. The former ­artificial island from which the storm

photos: Nationaal Park Oosterschelde

The largest of the lot

Despite the ‘compact’ size of the country, nature in the Netherlands offers a huge diversity of landscape barrier was built, Neeltje Jans, is now part of the nature reserve and has a ­visitors centre. With a bit of luck you may even spot harbour porpoises or seals in the estuary. «

About the author IVN, the Association for Environmental Education is a Dutch organisation for environmental education, where some 80 professionals and 20.000 volunteers throughout the Netherlands have a joint mission: to contribute to a sustainable society by connecting people with nature and their environment. IVN staff & volunteers organise education and information activities, in close co-operation with many stakeholders. access | spring | 49

photos: christel VAn MeuWen

Education | partner feature

the international school of the hague has educating for global citizenship as part of its educational philosophy.

Green Flag flying proud By ricK VAn Vliet And johAnnA BAllerstein

50 | access | spring

Among the many curricular and extra-curricular initiatives students and staff develop to further this, is the promotion of Sustainability – not only in what we teach, but just importantly in what we do at ISH. From Reception to Primary to Secondary

As part of the school’s student-run Global Issues Network (GIN), a whole-school campaign was launched six years ago to ensure that Sustainability, care for our Environment, the need to employ alternative energy sources, etc. is not only preached but also practiced.

Education | partner feature

The first student-led initiative saw the realization of GreenSpace, a nature garden on campus, meant for educational purposes. This natural habit is used for classes doing fieldwork, and for after-school nature lessons and maintenance.

GreenSpace is also home to the school’s bee colony.

Additional work on making the school a sustainable workplace has been the installation of extensive solar panelling, a wind turbine, the setting up of a recycling scheme, and cooperation with the school cafeteria to promote healthier food which has a smaller ecological footprint. These efforts were rewarded by full accreditation from the EcoSchools Organization’s highest accolade, the Green Flag in 2013.

And, closer to home Fonds 1818 also awarded ISH the ‘Groene Schoolplein’ award, the first in The Hague.

Stimulated to do more

Since then, ISH has seen the start of the Globe Project, whereby students gather climate data for NASA and ESA as part of a global school watch on climate change; the introduction

This will no doubt renew the spirit, entrepreneurship and creativity of students to come. of iPads for students and the appointment of an artist-in-residence who will work, with students, on the creation of a large-scale ‘green’ art work on campus. And, thanks to the new ‘follow me’ printing system, the amount of paper used by the school has been reduced by 70 000 sheets PER MONTH, equivalent to about 350 kg of paper!

An ISH GIN student team, The Silverback Engineers, will also join the Eco-Marathon project in Rotterdam for the third year running, where university and school teams compete to build and run a vehicle with the greatest possible fuel efficiency.

070 328 1450 www.ishthehague.nl

ISH will be re-accredited as a Green Flag Eco-School this year for its continued efforts to not just talk about making a difference, but finding ways of making that difference.

This will no doubt renew the spirit, entrepreneurship and creativity of students to come. « access | spring | 51

Lifestyle

Living sustainably in the city saving the planet is a tall order. over whelm ing at times. Where, how, to start? in order to answer some of these questions, and make it a manageable endeavour we thought we would interview former Access volunteer and long-time urban food activist Kathy Voyles.

By Access

Besides her passion for healthy eating & the planet, Kathy is also a cook, writer, and the food and humanities correspondent for DutchBuzZ radio radio. We were sure she would have some straight forward simple

tips for internationals wishing to make their contribution to a healthier world – from their urban settings far from familiar practices.

We were not disappointed.

A : Kathy, with so much doom and gloom in the media about the insurmountable challenges facing the planet, what can we do, here in Dutch cities to be a part of the change?

K : Well, to start with, break it down into doable actions. With a bit of planning and preparation

plastic glass jars paper packaging

52 | access | spring

cans

every effort made is one well worth it – and for multiple reasons.

A : Multiple reasons?

K : Yes. For instance, when we buy at markets, from local organic farmers, not only can we contribute to farming practices which are better for the soil, we also support these entrepreneurial individuals and nourish ourselves and family far better. Here and there products may be more expensive, but you will be assured of a greater variety than at your local grocery store, of seasonal products, which are fresher thus lasting longer. Furthermore, these are often free of plastic wrapping which itself is a plight on any sustainable practices. One act, multiple benefits.

A : Are they easy to find, organic markets?

K : The trend is growing and fit naturally into the tradition of local farmer and street markets which take place throughout the Netherlands.

They are often listed on municipal sites, or failing that, remember, google is our friend.

A : Coming back to your point about plastics. What can we do about waste in the Netherlands?

Links

• www.wecycle.nl - for small electrical appliances, lighting etc.

• www.recyclemanager.nl - An app to help you recycle. The how, what and where.

• www.kringloop-info.nl/links - Comprehensive list of organisations related to recycling, in broadest sense of the word • www.peerby.com - Unique site where you can borrow items • •

from people nearby, instead of purchasing them for one time use. www.milieudefensie.nl/english - Friends of the Earth www.transitiontowndenhaag.nl – Local chapter of this worldwide initiative

K : Ah, plastics, horrid product, so threatening for so many reasons to the cause of sustainability. Ideally, one should avoid buying anything in plastic but, when unavoidable, do take advantage of the plastic recycling options in and around your neighbourhood. Get the whole family involved in separating waste. You will be amazed at how much plastic we use and therefore how much of it ends up in landfills if not recycled.

A : Yes, it is a participatory project isn’t it?

K : Agreed, and what I find took a bit of getting used to was having to take some of that to the depots myself.

I know in some countries all is collected. access | spring | 53

Lifestyle | Living Sustainably in the city

But here, in the Netherlands generally speaking everyone plays a direct role in ensuring waste material is recycled.

It certainly adds to awareness. And, speaking of recycling, let us not forget larger less regular items we no longer need. In many cities if you call ahead these will be picked up, but you can also take them to your local dump, or better still, if there is still some life in them, call a local charity to pick them up. They will fix them up and sell them, recycling as it were, while providing employment and income opportunities to others. See, one act, multiple benefits. Even clothes, which more often than not have a second life in them, can also be passed on in exchange for multiple benefits. Or, have a local swap party.

A : We recently heard about food being recycled. What do you know about that?

K : Yes, curious as it sounds, it really is another wonderful initiative, fairly local, but growing. Basically, fresh organic produce which can no longer be sold in shops, but is still edible, is collected and sold off at a reduced rate.

You never know what you will get, but it is good value for money when you do get it and it prevents unnecessary waste.

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...become an ‘unshopper’, less of a consumer. Only head to the shop when you need something.

The local group which has started this in The Hague/Delft area is EcoRevolte.

A : What would be your last added bits of advice to those wanting to contribute to a more sustainable world?

K : Cycle vs the car, or take public transport. If not here, where? And, become an ‘unshopper’, less of a consumer. Only head to the shop when you need something. With groceries, avoid waste, use left overs, shop in s­eason. If unfamiliar with the seasonal products, ask at your local market, stall holders will be happy to share.

And remember, not only is it ‘cool to be green’ it is also friendlier on the pocket. «

About the author Kathy Voyles has 3 apple trees, a pear, a plum and a cherry tree in her small urban garden plus frogs, toads and 3 worm composters, and hopefully a balcony full of herbs this spring!

Her recipes and tips for urban living can be found on schoollunchbox.wordpress.com.

ACCESS Trainers

Meet our Trainers ACCESS Trainers are an integral part of the ACCESS Community. They provide training opportunities on topics of relevance to the international community ACCESS serves, in English or other languages. Trainers who work with ACCESS are vetted for their relevancy to the international community.

ing new skills. The most popular of our courses are those related to ­preparing for a family, in which you meet others in the same situation (­having a family far from family) and gain insight to how things may be a ­little different to where you are from.

We offer courses in the following categories:

• Creative • Cultural awareness • Global mobility • Having a baby • Health and physical well being • Languages and art • Professional skills development Are you interested in being part of the ACCESS trainer network?

The courses offered through ACCESS are aimed at providing opportunities for personal growth; supporting the development of ‘community’; learning something new; preparing for a new direction; cultural adaptation; as well as pregnancy and childbirth.

Do you have a course, which provides value to the international community?

Contact ced@access-nl.org or click here for more information.

Have a look at all the courses and register online:

access-nl.org/courses-workshops.aspx ACCESS courses cover a variety of ­topics and they provide you with the opportunity to meet new people, while learn-

Meet our Trainers online:

access-nl.org/meet-the-trainers.aspx access | spring | 55

ACCESS Trainers | Meet our Trainers

r e g i s t e r f o r c o u r s e s o n l i n e a t www . a c c e s s - n l . o r g , o r c o n t a c t t r a i n e r d i r e c t l y .

Digital photography Megan Alter

Professional photographer & photography teacher Amsterdam

Learn to take better photos. Megan believes in learning by doing; her classes not only teach theory, but how to put that theory into practice. Sign up for a class now and take control of your camera so you can express yourself more fully and preserve beautiful memories with your images.

www.meganalter.com/classes

Health and nutrition Joyce Bergsma

Nutritional therapist Amsterdam

www.eatlivelovefood.com

Trained in the UK, Joyce Bergsma offers private consultations and also seminars in corporate spaces. She specialises in ­mental health and how nutrient deficiencies influence it.

Her successful weight loss programme, fun and informative workshops on Fermentation, Mindful Eating and Adrenal Fatigue are the perfect introduction to changing your ingrained habits.

Career coaching Caroline van den Bogaard

International career coach Amsterdam & via Skype

www.cctransitions.com

Caroline inspires and motivates international professionals to look for ways to continue their career in a new country, and to make the transition easier through career coaching.

She knows the challenges and opportunities that professionals face when transitioning to another country, having lived and worked abroad herself. She is a certified career coach and has a Master’s degree in occupational psychology.

Career and life coaching Marie Dewulf

International career and life coach

The Netherlands & via Skype

www.coach2moveon.com

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Marie is an expatriate, a Life and Career Coach and trainer/ facilitator whose focus is on cross-cultural adaptation, c­ommunication skills, and career development/transition.

She works with you to discover what your hidden talents are and how these can be identified and released to unlock YOUR potential. It’s about discovering what you can do with a guide by your side.

r e g i s t e r f o r c o u r s e s o n l i n e a t www . a c c e s s - n l . o r g , o r c o n t a c t t r a i n e r d i r e c t l y .

Art history Wendy Fossen

Freelance Art historian & Art history teacher The Hague

www.casadellarte.nl

Wendy is owner of Casa dell’Arte and works as a freelance art historian. She has been giving art history courses in both Dutch and English for over 7 years. She also works as a museum guide at the Gemeentemuseum, and as a tour guide in Italy. Wendy holds degrees from the Universities of Leiden and Amsterdam and from the University of Kent in Canterbury, England.

Childbirth preparation Truus Gale

Experienced midwife and prenatal coach Amsterdam

www.childbirthclassgale.com

Truus has over 25 years experience in Dutch midwifery and related areas. She holds a Dutch equivalent of a BA in Educational Sciences from Amsterdam University and graduated from Amsterdam Midwifery College in 1988. Truus has been an ACCESS trainer since 2005, specialised in prenatal individual or group information sessions for expat couples expecting a baby in the Netherlands.

IT and Self defence William Rumley-van Gurp Professional personal development trainer The Hague & Rotterdam

www.cftrainingtoday.com

William is a qualified and experienced trainer, able to offer tailor-made courses in a range of IT and Self defense areas.

He has 26 years experience in Self defence and Karate. He has also been teaching people to use Microsoft applications since 1997 when working as an IT Trainer for an international organisation based in The Hague.

Arabic and calligraphy lessons Khaled Khaled

Arabic language lecturer Amsterdam, The Hague and Utrecht

english.arabisch.nu

Khaled has lived in the Netherlands since 1969. He studied Linguistics of Middle Eastern Languages for 8 years at the University of Amsterdam, specialising in the Arabic language and culture. Khaled offers intensive lessons in the Arabic ­language and Egyptian Colloquial Arabic, and can also provide calligraphy lessons.

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ACCESS Trainers | Meet our Trainers

r e g i s t e r f o r c o u r s e s o n l i n e a t www . a c c e s s - n l . o r g , o r c o n t a c t t r a i n e r d i r e c t l y .

Breastfeeding and maternity care consultations Helen Marshall

Lactation consultant and Kraamverzorgster The greater Hague area

helen.marshall1@gmail.com

Helen is a qualified Lactation Consultant IBCLC who helps new mothers who are experiencing challenges in breastfeeding and in maternity care. She qualified as a Paediatric Nurse in Scotland and now supports and educates new mothers in and around The Hague. Helen gives courses and consultations in English and in Dutch to provide support for breastfeeding and mothers-to-be.

Career development and Job hunting Teresa Moynihan

Career coaching & Job hunting support The greater Hague area

www.moynihan-hr-consulting.com

Teresa Moynihan is a HR Professional and a Certified and Licensed Career Counsellor with a Postgraduate qualification in Career and Talent Management from Kingston University in London, UK. Teresa’s extensive experience in HR and Recruitment enables her to incorporate this knowledge into coaching situations involving career issues.

Childbirth preparation Nester Moyo

Senior midwifery advisor The Hague

www.access-nl.org

Nester is a Zimbabwean Midwife Educator who has lived in the Netherlands since 2001, and has worked with ACCESS conducting child birth preparation classes since 2002. Nester is well versed in the education and practice of midwifery in the Netherlands, as she has been a visiting lecturer to some of the midwifery universities in the Netherlands.

Childbirth preparation Chitra Natarajan Childbirth Educator Utrecht

www.akriti.nl

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Chitra is a certified HypnoBirthing Practitioner & Lamaze ­Certified Childbirth Educator. She enjoys her role as someone who can support, help and guide a family during Pregnancy, Childbirth, Breastfeeding and Postpartum. Chitra is currently in the process of completing Hypno Fertility Educator certificate through HypnoBirthing Institute.

r e g i s t e r f o r c o u r s e s o n l i n e a t www . a c c e s s - n l . o r g , o r c o n t a c t t r a i n e r d i r e c t l y .

Physical stress management Dora Lucia Neves

Movement practitioner & massage therapist The Hague

www.consciousrebalance.com

Dora is a qualified professional with 18 years’ experience in physical stress management. With her training in movement skills and massage techniques she has developed her mobile practice Conscious Rebalance which offers Posture Realignment workshops and classes for groups or 1-1 training ­sessions as well as a variety of massage techniques at home or the workplace.

Pre- and postnatal courses Joke van Roosendaal-Kuyper

Breathing and relaxation therapist/Yoga instructor The Hague

www.access-nl.org

Joke has been working in the yoga field for 25 years (Pregnancy yoga for 18 years). Through different kinds of schooling (Breathing and Relaxation) she has developed a practical preparation for labour and offers tools to cope with fear and pain. Being fully informed and prepared makes for a less stressful delivery.

Coaching with archery Jac Rongen

International coach and facilitator Amsterdam

www.rongen.com

Jac has more than 20 years of experience in helping people deal with personal issues through archery. His method is swift and relaxed as the sessions take place in a private park.

Jac feels that the best way to deal with past pain or future anxiety is to focus on the present while learning new skills in archery. This allows one to focus on the here and now rather than on past problems in order to achieve more in the future.

Helping you feel at home in the Netherlands Caitríona Rush

Cross-cultural consultant The Netherlands

www.athomeabroad.nl

Caitríona has spent 18 years living and working in 8 countries around the globe. She provides workshops, trainings and one-on-one sessions to both individuals and businesses. Her goal: to help internationals be happy living in the Netherlands, and to facilitate companies in achieving increased effectiveness and success when doing business with other cultures. access | spring | 59

ACCESS Trainers | Meet our Trainers

r e g i s t e r f o r c o u r s e s o n l i n e a t www . a c c e s s - n l . o r g , o r c o n t a c t t r a i n e r d i r e c t l y .

Childbirth preparation Lee Tolman

Fysiotherapistacupuncturist The Hague

www.partnersinwellness.nl

Lee has undertaken extensive post-grad courses specialising in childbirth preparation, prenatal and postpartum complaints, menopause and infertility. Lee is currently practicing physiotherapy and acupuncture in a private practice in ­Voorburg and shares facilitation of the ACCESS childbirth preparation courses. She has been a Dutch resident for the past 20 years and a childbirth educator for ACCESS for 15 years.

Life coaching Carolyn Vines

Certified core energy life coach The Netherlands

youfirstcoaching.com

Besides being a Certified Professional Coach, Carolyn is an award-winning blogger, international speaker, author of the memoir “Black and (A)broad: Traveling Beyond the Limitations of Identity”, and mother of 3 bicultural, bilingual kids.

She teaches parents experiencing mid-life crises, who also have small kids, how to unplug from their external busy-ness and reconnect to themselves and find their own solutions.

Childbirth preparation Ria Wiertz

Antenatal teacher Rotterdam

www.borstvoedingspijkenisse.nl

Ria is a qualified antenatal teacher with over 15 years experience. Ria trained with the Stichting ter Verbreiding van de Psycho Prophylaxes Method, a Dutch Lamaze variant. She is a lactation consultant, personal coach and is qualified to teach Baby Massage. Ria is in the process of obtaining the official Lamaze Trainer Certificate so she can train others to give this wonderful course.

Are you interested in being part of the ACCESS trainer network?

Do you have a course, which provides value to the international community?

Contact ced@access-nl.org or click here for more information.

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