ACCESS Winter 2014

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galactic Dutch Special features | Bi-cultural wedding planning exposed |

an earthy recipe | apps & outings for young space pioneers | community of untapped talents revealed | Spaceports explored |

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

Letter from the editorial team

from his usual subject matter to tell the audience that they’d better get off the island, and he didn’t mean Kowloon. Instead, the Cambridge don was urging people to get off the planet, planet Earth.

Hawking was hawking space colonisation.

“It is important for the human race to spread out into space for the survival of the species,” Hawking said.

dear ACCESS readers

So whether you decide to move to a new country or a new planet, we all know that moving to a new environment requires good preparation.

But worry not, ACCESS is here to help.

Conquering new frontiers

To prepare you for a new era, we have put together an interesting collection of articles ranging from space tourism and the burgeoning space industry in the Netherlands to a humorous piece on surviving a multicultural wedding something many of us can relate to!

Settling in a new country can often feel like moving to a new planet. In an age of dwindling natural resources, decreasing food security, and an ever increasing population; the search for a new home has never been more urgent or appealing.

Whether your interest lies in technology and innovation or cooking, there is something for every reader. So light that fireplace, put your feet up and enjoy reading the latest edition of the ACCESS e-zine!

Stephen Hawking, the British astrophysicist, is best known for his research and theories about black holes. But at a conference in Hong Kong in 2006, the famous physicist deviated

Happy reading, Christopher An-Traumer Communications Department Manager

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 • Cover story: a dutch Space odyssey • Travel: gateways develop over time • Arts & Ent: Switch off and read a book • Family: Space, the final frontier ....in the netherlands?

• Education: good learning apps for our expat kids • Community: a community of untapped talent • Food: an earth(y) soup • Lifestyle: Surviving an international wedding or two • meet our trainers Publisher Stichting ACCESS - Laan van Meerdervoort 100, 1st floor, 2517 AN Editorial content editor@access-nl.org Advertising 070 345 1700, adv@access-nl.org Acting Editor Deborah Valentine Design & Layout M-space, Marek Moggré Contributors Carina Hyllested, Christopher An-Traumer, Deborah Valentine, Emmy McCarthy, Fiona Passantino, Jeroen van der Meer, Karen T Slingenberg, Magda Zografou, Mandie van der Meer, Marjet van Yperen-Groenleer, Sally Squirrel Cover image ESA Copyright©ACCESS 2014 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.

cover story

A Dutch Space Odyssey photo: eSa

Winter 2014 Vol. 27 No. 4

community

A community of untapped talent

photo: icp

ACCESS e-zine

winter 2014

lifestyle

Surviving an international wedding or two

photo: goulmy deSign & FotograFie

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 Dutch News M IamExpat M InTouch Rotterdam M Government support City of The Hague **** City of Delft * City of Leidschendam-Voorburg * City of Rijswijk *

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Silver **

Bronze *

Healthcare Bronovo Hospital * Housing and relocation RSH Relocation and Immigration Services * Tulip Expats Services * Learning dutch BSN Language Centre * Direct Dutch * Kickstart School * Legal matters GMW Advocaten ** Kortman Immigration Lawyers A Lifestyle American Book Center ** ASPA A Paard van Troje A STET The English Theatre A

Associates A

Media Partners M

Volksuniversiteit Den Haag M Women’s Business Initiative International M 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 of The Hague * HSV (The Hague School Association) * International School Utrecht * Kindergarden * Passionate Parenting A

Partner support Webster University * Zestee Social Media School A Connecting Women M

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 2014 Media Pack for opportunities.

ACCESS

news Winter Resounding success We do not often blow our own e m o • lc e • W • horn, but when • e P ro h o t T gramme the statistics reveal it, then what else can we do. ACCESS is proud to share that the “Welcome to The Hague” programme it ran in 2014 was exceptionally rated with 96% appreciation by the attendees. With a huge thank you to the teams which organised this, and those who shared their feedback, we look forward to running these again in 2015, for the greater The Hague region, and who knows, elsewhere as well! Check our Events listing for updates. « ted by mornings hos Informative ESS, Hague and ACC the City of The al new internation e com wel to region. ue Hag The arrivals to

March 31 tember 22

June 2 December 8

Sep The Welcom e to The Hag 4 ue programme deadlines 201 is designed Registration ber 19th for those coming 30th, Septem to work and ch 28th, May Mar live th. in The Hague 4 ber 09:4 em 0 - 09:50 region. Fam and Dec Arrival at The ily members are Hague Interna 09:50 - 10:0 welcome, and 0 tional Centre/ Welcome by encouraged Coffee ACCESS on beh to attend. alf of ACCESS the City of The This mornin and Hague 10:00 - 10:2 g programm 0 e includes Living in the an overview Net 10:2 herlands: Wh 0 - 10:30 of useful reso o are the Dut Introduction urces for finding info ch? www.thehag 10:30 - 10:4 rmation, a cha ue.com 0 Introduction nce to have questio Spui 70 ACCESS website: what ns answered can do for inte , City Hall, ACCESS

by ACCESS volu rnationals 10:4IC) Centre (TH 0 - 10:50 nteern ers,atio andnal Audio-visual Int gue an Ha opp presentation 11:00 - 11:30 The ortunity to mee ‘The Hague t fellow Visit to The Hag Impressions’ internationals, 11:30 - 12:3 ue Public Libr a visit to The 0 ary Guided walk Hague Public Library through the 12:30 - 12:4 as well as a sho historic centre 5 Closing, The rt informative Hag ue treat & wel guided visit come pack to the historic centre Pre-registratio near City Hal n required via l.

Hague Participation is free of

welcome@a ccess-nl.org. charge

thank YOU! Finally, we at ACCESS would like to thank YOU the international community in the Netherlands, for your support and confidence in us as part of your “go-to-familyaway-from-home” and that our own collective experience

as “expats” is valued. Your visits to our site, downloads of our FAQs and consults in person, by phone and email prove we are meeting your needs. We look forward to continuing to improve on this in 2015. Thank you. «

call for talent Are you passionate about writing, editing, proofreading or photography? Interested in contributing to our website or E-zine? The ACCESS Communications Department is putting out a call for those interested in contributing to our e-zine and or website and would love to hear from you.

Read more here for details of whom and what we are looking for. « Spring 2014 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

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Summer 2014 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

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Securing our future Special features | cyber spies and nuclear allies | travel: Secret spots of the hague | pink power in the netherlands | health security | children’s cyber security | dutch Spring cuisine |

Sports fever in the netherlands Special features | dutch sorts of sports | athletic food | hockey in the netherlands | work out the mind with sport | Brazilians in the lowlands | kingdom of festivals |

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Community News

Expat history of The Hague exhibition 2015

Call for material

ACCESS and the Expatriate Archive Centre (EAC) are looking for material that could be used for this exhibition.

We are looking for excerpts from letters, diaries, blogs, emails etc., describing your impressions of The Hague as an expat.

Photos supporting your impressions are most welcome. We are particularly interested in pieces that are 25 years or older.

You can submit materials in English or Dutch until 31 December 2014 to: events@xpatarchive.com with the subject “Expat History of The Hague”.

An exciting new exhibition offering a fresh insight into expatriate life in The Hague is being organised by ACCESS, the Expatriate Archive Centre (EAC) and the Municipal Archives of The Hague.

The exhibition has the working title of “Expat History of The Hague” and will take place from 26 October until 14 November 2015 in The Hague City Hall.

The aim of this exhibition is to show The Hague as seen through the eyes of expats who call and called this city home.

photo: Expat Archive Center

The Municipal Archives of The Hague and the EAC house – among many other collections – materials which describe expatriate life in The Hague during different periods of time. ACCESS serves the needs and interests of the current expatriate community in the Netherlands. An exhibition about how expats view The Hague is a perfect opportunity to bring these three special organisations together. The exhibition will be in English and Dutch.

The EAC and ACCESS will go through the submissions and will notify the selected candidates. «

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Community News

Changes in Dutch Employment law and Healthcare in 2015 In the past, it was common to have a permanent job with one employer throughout your entire career.

Dutch employment law was based on this situation. However, in the 21st ­century this is no longer realistic as ­relationships between employer and employee have changed and continue to change. The Dutch government will introduce changes to the labour law d ­ uring 2015 in such a way that it supports the changing requirements of both employers and employees.

Healthcare and support are well arranged in the Netherlands. However, the government believes that changes are needed due to the costs involved, and because people’s priorities have changed.

As of 1 January 2015 some additions will be made to the Basic health insurance, which in turn will result in an increase of your “own risk” from €360 to €375 and probably also mean a higher premium. The municipalities will take on responsibility for an important part of support for the elderly and people with a physical or mental illness.

For more information on the coming changes in Dutch employment law and Dutch healthcare please see the News section on the ACCESS website. «

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photo: Rotterdam Image Bank

Rotterdam Expat Fair: Home away from Home ACCESS is happy to be a part of Rotterdam’s growing international support network. Following the re-launch of InTouch Rotterdam (reported on in our Summer 2014 e-zine), we can now look forward to the “Rotterdam Expat Fair: Home away from Home” taking place on 8 February 2015 in Rotterdam. Hosted by another ACCESS partner, the American International School of Rotterdam, this promises to be an event to support internationals living in Rotterdam in an even bigger way. For more information: www.rotterdamexpatfair.nl « access | winter | 11

Under 5’s Open Morning Helping you select your child’s first school

Wednesday 22 January 09:30 Register online

Internationally Curious Nurturing every child’s natural desire to investigate, question and inquire - developing it into a skill that will help them thrive anywhere in the world.

www.britishschool.nl

Internationally British

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

What’s on Winter 2014

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

27 November 2014 - 1 March 2015 Giants of the Ice Age Amsterdam Travel into space and back in time. The largest travelling exhibition ever created about the Ice Age comes to the Netherlands.

December 2014 - 18 January 2015 Amsterdam Light Festival The best light artists from the Netherlands and abroad return to transform Amsterdam into an illuminated wonderland. The third edition ­features a canal cruise and walking route to take in this year’s selection of spectacular illuminated artworks.

www.amsterdamexpo.nl

From the North Pole to South Limburg. Set in the spectacular Velvet cave in South Limburg, this 17th edition of the Christmas Market is larger than ever with over more than 50 shops set in an extensive labyrinth of passageways. This is a market not to be missed.

photos: Janus van den Eijnden

Until 23rd December Christmas Market Velvet Cave Valkenburg

www.amsterdamlightfestival.com

4 December Intergalactic Lovers - Concert Amsterdam Close your eyes and let your mind drift off into space. An evening of atmospheric melodies at the “Cosmic Relaxation Centre Paradiso” in Amsterdam

www.kerststadvalkenburg.nl

www.intergalacticlovers.com

17 - 21 December Christmas Market The Hague The city of The Hague gets its very own Christmas market for the first time this year set along the Lange Voorhout and the Lange Vijverberg. www.royalchristmasfair.nl access | winter | 13

What’s on Winter 2015

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

January - ongoing Space Expo Noordwijk

photos: space expo

Space Expo is Europe’s first permanent space exhibition. Located on the grounds of ESTEC (European Space Technology and Research Centre), which designs and develops virtually every space project run by the European Space Agency or ESA, visitors get to experience the universe of space exploration through fun exhibits, rocket simulators and more.

Great for families!

16 January - 29 March Plastic, Promises of a home-made future Rotterdam An exhibition which focuses on the endless possibilities of plastic. Plastic is the second part in a series on materials and their economic, cultural and social significance and how the pursuit of innovation is accompanied by conflicting interests. www.hetnieuweinstituut.nl

26 - 31 January Impro Amsterdam

www.space-expo.nl

Until April Star Viewing Utrecht Gas nebulas, plants and more.

From the end of September until the beginning of April the Sonnenborgh Museum and Observatory hosts viewing ­evenings. www.sonnenborgh.nl 14 | access | winter

30 January 15 February CaDance festival The Hague Leading international and Dutch choreographers and young talents put on dazzling performances at venues around the city. www.cadance.nl

The Netherlands’ only international improv festival brings five full days of improvisational action to the city. Alongside the main performances, there are Late Night Shows, Workshops, IMPRO talks, an Open Stage and an after-party to top it all off.

With an audience coming from all over the world, this is an event not to be missed! www.impro-amsterdam.nl

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

1 February Tango Extremo Los Maestros de la Habana Gorinchem Performing an amazingly rich beautiful musical duel, Tango Extremo shows that tango means living, dancing and shelter in the shadow from the sun. With their new exciting project, Los Maestros de La Habana, has been influenced by the wonderful music of South American port cities of the 30’s. The group performs a blend of music from La Habana and Buenos Aires. www.tangoextremo.com

9 - 16 February ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament Rotterdam Since 1974, a tournament known as the largest and best-visited indoor men’s tennis tournament in the world, with as many as 116,354 visitors last year.

Consistently featuring some of the biggest stars in the tennis world, this stop in the ATP tour features autograph sessions, fashion shows and a variety of restaurants and shops that visitors can enjoy. www.abnamrowtt.com

11 - 14 February Cross-linx Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Groningen Adventurous and open-minded: Cross-linx establishes connections between composed “new” music and artists from the avant-garde pop scene.

This year the Dutch travelling indie-classical Cross-linx festival includes the participation, among others, of American singer Mark Lanegan and UK electronic act Squarepusher.

www.cross-linx.nl

5 - 8 February Art Rotterdam

photos: Art Rotterdam

More than 100 galleries, selected on the basis of quality and originality, present emerging talents and the latest developments in visual art at Rotterdam’s inter­ national art fair. www.artrotterdam.com access | winter | 15

Cover story

a dutch Space

photo: eSa

imagine - you are travelling in a shuttle, and you have just left the earth’s atmosphere. earth quickly becomes a bluish green orb receding into the distance.

By karen t. SlingenBerg

The knowledge of what lies ahead, an arduous journey of many months, weighs heavy on your mind. Your final destination – Mars. A one-way ticket to the red planet which you are to colonise and make habitable for human life? Science-fiction? No, a Dutch reality of the 21st Century.

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Mars One

The Mars One Mission is destined to become a reality in 2023, when the first manned mission to Mars is due to take place. Arno Wielders, one of the Dutch co- founders of the mission believes that “mankind is destined to be a multi-planet species, to move

Odyssey

beyond the confines of our home planet. To work with Mars One is to be a living part of this incredible undertaking.�

What is so unique about Mars One is not only the way in which the idea of colonising Mars was conceived in the

first place, but also that we are living in an age where it is technologically and economically viable to do so.

Advances in space technology are greatly due to the knowledge that is generated through various space initiatives and missions, that are made possible by the European Space Agency (ESA) Âť access | winter | 17

photo: ESA

Header

movie: XCOR Space Expeditions

amongst others around the world and in particular, the Netherlands.

Experience generates information and vice versa; information creates possibilities so that missions such as Mars One can be realised.

Other space initiatives

ESA, NASA and other aerospace institutions are responsible not only for space missions but also for many other 18 | access | winter

space-related activities that have impact on our daily lives. Earth observation is just one of those activities where the study of the effects of climate change, conserving biodiversity and managing natural resources takes place. Also navigation is an important aspect of their activities where advanced technology enables satellites to be erected and placed in outer space so as to help us humans find our way around our own planet. Furthermore, touching base with someone on the other side of the world through mobile networks could only have been achieved through the use of satellite technology.

Cover story | A Dutch Space Odyssey

The Dutch are playing their part in space research and education through institutions and initiatives of their own. Leiden University for example offers a Masters Course in Air and Space Law and in Delft you can study Space Engineering. Students are given the chance to carry out research in a broad range of spaceflight disciplines with an emphasis on space mission design, systems engineering as well as solar system engineering.

“ Noordwijk with its Space Business Park (SBP) is the place to be in the Netherlands to witness space innovation taking off.” space industry a stepping stone to realising their technological and economic goals. ESIC themselves claim that stars are born here.

Robots and rovers

A Space Business Park

Yet, it seems that Noordwijk with its Space Business Park (SBP) is the place to be in the Netherlands to witness space innovation taking off. Besides ESA, the SBP forms an ever-growing cluster of unique and high quality aerospace enterprises earmarked for their knowledge-intensive character. These include companies specialised in software engineering and product development, laboratories for research and testing, as well as knowledge and business centres. One of these business centres is, The European Space Innovation Centre (ESIC). The building is as futuristic as you would expect; a cross between a giant glasshouse and a space station. ESIC’s objective is to offer starting businesses in the aero-

Another building in the Space Business Park worth seeing is that of the DECOS Technology group; a sci-fi spacecraft office stands amidst a Mars-like terrain. The DECOS Technology Group develops technologically high-quality, a knowledge-intensive product; an example of their activities is developing test drives. At the beginning of October, DECOS launched a Mars Rover test drive using four robots »

Stop press update During the preparation of this issue we, the world, were “brought back down to earth” by the crash of the Virgin Galactic Space Ship Two and propelled further than mankind could ­­ have imagined with the landing of Rosetta. In this failure and achievement, further proof that space remains the next frontier challenging more than the intrepid Dutch. access | winter | 19

Cover story | A Dutch Space Odyssey

photoS: ESA

objects on a planetary surface, and transporting, and assembling construction kits.

“ Mankind is destined to be a multi-planet species, to move beyond the confines of our home planet.” developed for the aerospace industry.

These robots were put to the challenge of completing a hurdle-ridden assault course and carrying out assignments.

In this way, the engineers could determine the strengths and weaknesses of their robot designs. Some of the assignments, the robots carried out were tracking down and identifying 20 | access | winter

It turns out these robots play a key role in future missions to other planets.

The Mars One Mission is no exception.

The plan is for two rovers to be sent to Mars to set up the outpost before the humans arrive. One of them will explore the surface of Mars in search of the most suitable location for the settlement, for transportation of large hardware components and then general assembly. The second rover will be a trailer used for transporting the landing capsules.

“Robots will undoubtedly become an essential part of the future on Earth too,” says Paul Veger, CEO of DECOS “…which is why we embrace this progress in the wish to stimulate further developments.”

Why take the risk

Looking at all these space initiatives, the enduring question remains: “why do it?” “Why risk lives and massive amounts of money to go where no man has gone before?” In the 60’s, national prestige seemed enough for Russia and the USA to join the race to get us

movie: Celebrity Universe

to the moon. But since then, governments seem to be less willing to invest such huge amounts, although countries like India and China are now taking their first steps into space. It seems that throughout past decades, the push to reach space has increasingly come from commercial companies with idealistic CEO’s like Richard Branson (Virgin Galactic), Elon Musk (Space X) and Jeff Bezos (Blue Origin) leading the race. With the Mars One programme, the Dutch are taking a unique place amongst these giants, funding

their programme with reality TV. All those willing to spend hours watching live footage of the colonists risking their lives will fund their very efforts. That kind of creative commercialism could only be truly Dutch: A Dutch Space Odyssey. «

About the author Karen T. Slingenberg is a freelance writer whose passions cover many areas from cooking and crafts to currents affairs and the arts. Her website is www.thelongandshortofit.eu. access | winter | 21

Travel

Gateways develop over time We all know the term “port”, to describe a place from which, or into which, ships sail.

With the development of air travel it was perhaps then not surprising the word was added to “air” to capture the same meaning: an airport therefore being the place from, and to, which airplanes travel.

by Deborah Valentine

It is therefore even less surprising that the term was then added to space crafts, and hence our lexicon was a word richer: spaceports are therefore places from and to which space craft’s depart and return. There is a key to this story in the return function. For until what seems recently, we were accustomed to space crafts, rockets, projecting into orbital travel from a launch pad to which it would not return, as predicting where such craft would land upon re-entry was not yet known.

Port status

Once only the domain of astronauts, scientists, technicians, engineers and researchers, spaceports around the world are gearing up for you and me.

As the industry and technology expand exponentially entrepreneurial visionaries are investing millions in preparing to be the first commercially viable port of exit into sub-orbital travel routes.

Editor’s Note Dear readers, The plan was to have a travel article on Curaçao because there are plans for a Spaceport there which fit well with our theme. However due to circumstances beyond our control and that of our writers, this was not possible at the last minute. However, we came across so much intriguing information about Spaceports that we thought we could take advantage of this to share some of it with you.

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photoS: xcor Space expeditionS

“thanks to pioneering minds ....we can conceivably imagine spaceports being a reality.”

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From Curaçao to New Mexico, and the Arctic Circle to the desert steppes of Kazakhstan (to mention only a few) departure points destination space are on the rise. Some are extensions of existing rocket launch sites, others brand new initiatives in the making, some have successfully propelled man to space, and back, some continue, despite recent setbacks, to invest in the adventure. Some are constructed, some still only on the drawing board.

Travel | Gateways develop over time

Related links Want to visit a spaceport? Should you be in the New Mexico area you can do so at Spaceport America; you can also drop into the “Plane Crazy” monthly visiting days in California at the Mojave Air & Space Port, or keep up with on the ground space experiences planned for the Caribbean Spaceport. For other space travel related experiences, see iExplore, and do take a look at their tips for preparing for space travel.

For those with deeper pockets, tickets to space are available at XCor Aerospace for a mere US$95,000 – granted this does include your pre-flight training, at the simulator here in the Netherlands, as well as a medical check.

Excited about space travel in general? Why not plan a party?

April 12th is celebrated annually around the world to commemorate space & travel. Find one, or plan one on Yuri’s Night.

movie: GC Privé | Luxury Asset Specialists

As a result of those with deep pockets, opportunities will certainly be available, for “us” in the foreseeable future.

Today we can already take tours of the existing facilities; there are teaching and learning programmes – for young and old; marketing initiatives attracting the curious, the adventurer and the intrepid. It is still professionals coming and going through the spaceports, or on manned flights related to research and industry (think about satellites being sent in space, crews coming and going to the International Space Station among other ‘common activities), but before long this may well be the entry and departure points for many of us, or the next generation. “...giant leap for mankind ...”

It was only in 1969 that Neil Armstrong uttered these words. A mere 45 years later those who witnessed the moment when he took that giant step are now grandparents to a generation who have grown accustomed to spacecrafts ­travelling back and forth.

Thanks to the pioneering minds of those developing spaceports today we can conceivably imagine this being a reality. Wonder what they will look like? «

About the author Deborah Valentine, as acting Editor, could not let the Travel Section fall away, and undertook to share what she learnt while editing this issue. access | winter | 25

Education | partner feature

an Internationally British welcome moving to a new country can be a positive and exciting time, but for some the experience can cause a degree of apprehension and anxiety.

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At The British School in The Netherlands (BSN) a well-established support network is in place to help new families successfully transition into their new environment. Until recently the school’s Parent Teacher Association was responsible for providing this type of support, however, in 2010 the BSN Family Association was established, which took up the mantle with a slightly different emphasis, focusing on the social and community side of school life.

The Family Association has quickly become an integral part of the BSN and its community and oversees the activities of a range of subsidiary volunteer teams. Each team has a different focus but all work towards the same goal of ensuring families feel welcome, valued and at home in their new community.

The BSN Welcome Team contacts all new families before they start at the school, as team leader Dawn Black explains; “Emails are sent out to new families before they start at the school so they know we’re here.

There is a team on each BSN campus to make sure all parents have someone they can turn to. This initial contact is then followed up with regular Coffee Mornings at each school so newcomers get the chance to mix and meet other parents.”

Dawn’s Welcome Team has recently established a series of ­community Facebook Groups, which have become an imme­diate success “social media has worked extremely well, as it provides an open forum for questions, allowing the whole Facebook Group to contribute with their views and support.”

Linking Nationalities

The BSN International Team approaches things from a different angle, linking new parents by their nationality or language with other similar BSN families. Most nonEnglish speaking families receive a welcome letter, in their native ­language, from their International Team representative. They are also invited to international Coffee Mornings where they can socialise whilst speaking their mother tongue.

Ute Limacher-Riebold leads the BSN Sessions Team who facilitate presentations on an array of topics.

She describes, “we organise and deliver sessions on anything from the Dutch healthcare system to tips on using an OV-chipkaart.” Parent feedback is always highly valued, “we regularly survey our parents so we can tailor our programme and continue to offer sessions that help families to feel at home as quickly as possible.”

Contact: The British School in The Netherlands 070 315 4077 or visit www.britishschool.nl

For further insight into how the BSN welcomes and supports families, take a look at the school’s Community video.« access | winter | 27

Shopping re-timer Glasses Whether you will be travelling 30,000m or 30okm above the Earth, you will surely be affected by jetlag. This device is the result of 25 years of research and has been proven to help ward off the negative effects of long-haul travel. www.shop.goodlite.nl

€ 2 29

The future and although space tourism will still be out of the budget for the average person, for the foreseeable future, we can all still admire the galaxy from our own planet and homes with these items.

Hubble’s Universe: greatest discoveries and images This truly sublime book is more artistic than it is scientific – perfect for the coffee table. Enjoy the spectacular collection of images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope, made possible by the new Wide Field Camera 3. www.bol.com

€25€ 60 0 € 2 7 99 Fisher Space Pen How will you write to your loved ones while in space? Certainly not with a regular ink pen of course!

This brand of pens uses patented pressurised ink cartridges and is able to write in almost any condition - zero gravity, underwater, over wet and greasy paper, at any angle, and in a very wide range of temperatures. www.allwrite.com

28 | access | winter

mobile Foodie Survivor Kit

€ 5 9 90 Celestron Powerseeker 60az telescope Admire the galaxy from afar. This telescope is perfect for the amateur stargazer. More than just a toy for the husband or children, this telescope will add a touch of intellectual sophistication to your living room. www.telescoop.nl

If space food is as bad as airplane food, then we’d better be prepared. For food lovers, nothing is scarier than being in a foreign place where you’re subject to sub-par food.

The horror! With this handy Mobile Foodie Survival Kit, you can make even the most repulsive food edible. www.firebox.com

beyond

€ 19 9 5

By chriStopher an-traumer

lat56 - Red-eye carry on garment bag Travelling to Mars or just over the pond to New York City on business trip? You will need a bag that is durable, practical and stylish. This brand has patented what it calls the Torso Protecting System (TPS) that keeps interior contents free of wrinkles.

€ 2 39

Joris Palladium “Odyssey” open comb Safety razor How will you shave while floating around in a space station? This safety razor can be used on Earth as well as in zero gravity. Elegant and practical, this razor is a sound investment for now and the future.

It’s also appropriately named the “Odyssey”. www.fendrihan.com

www.lat56.com

75

€ 16 2

access | winter | 29

Arts & Entertainment

Switch off and read a book

Before the omnipresent mobile, walking side-byside with a friend while talking to someone else on a phone would have been unheard of. Technology is changing the way in which we interact with each other in person and from afar. We can now easily sustain a friendship across the world cost free and effortlessly; a great advantage for internationals such as ourselves.

By Sally SquirrelL

photo: Jonathan Velasquez

Predict the future

30 | access | winter

A few fascinating books have struck a chord with me recently, possibly due to the fact that all of them involve a similar theme and were read in quick succession. They are all to do with the future of mankind, our technological future and where we sit within it.

Ultimately we are a social race as human beings, but now our interactions are being altered by technology.

Three fascinating books for the modern expat ­trying to navigate the demands of social technologies and the need to retain our privacy but still successfully interact online. «

ia .o r g

Huxley in Brave New World (1932) deals with the fear of losing individual identity in the fast-paced world of the future. As we develop our online selves as well as our offline, are we more of a person or less? Show selves your better side, sure, but do we really need to be out there all of the time? As in Nineteen eighty-four when Winston tries to keep something for himself but to no avail; the party knows what he is up to at all times. Even his thoughts! Ahhhhh, please, no! Everybody needs some space to disconnect and just be yourself.

: w ik ip e d

As our interactions change so do the boundaries of privacy and common courtesies. All three books herald a future world, Orwell really was conjuring up the future. With Eggers, these things are occurring daily.

Some of them are already reality but his message is one of foreboding nonetheless.

covers

Dave Eggers in The Circle (2013) expounds the “dangers of technology” but you can also detect his fascination with technology in his writing. Three, 4 or 5 screens on your desk really could become a reality; I already use two screens side-by-side on a daily basis for work. But keeping up a social ranking level based on the number of my online interactions is not something I imagine myself doing. Facebook, Google and other social media firms already track your every move and tailor advertising, even mining your email for content and key words. If George Orwell, author of Nineteen eighty-four (1949), were alive today, how would he view this world in light of his book’s themes?

About the author Sally Squirrell is a British architect and writer at Eekhoorn & Squirrell - design and writing studio. www.eekhoornandsquirrell.com access | winter | 31

Family

Space, the final frontier… in the Netherlands?

I have a space-crazy kiddo. He loves rockets and astronauts and aliens. We close each day by telling each other, “I love you to the moon and the stars and then back again, in a rocket ship”. Over the summer I decided to feed his imagination the best way I know how, by making things bigger and more realistic.

By Emmy McCarthy Illustrations

by M-space, maartje schuurmans

Travelling to “Space”

From a tip on the Amsterdam Mamas Facebook group I decided to plan a daytrip to Space Expo, Europe’s first permanent space exhibition, located in Noordwijk. You can be in no doubt that you have arrived at Space Expo, there are giant space artefacts in the grounds. From the outside it looks like a small hangar or warehouse.

Not very inspiring and I was beginning to wonder if I had made a mistake.

Our galactic experience

We collected our tickets and picked up a free children’s tour guide (the one for younger children is only available in 32 | access | winter

Dutch, the older one is available in more languages). Then we pulled open the door and headed into…

The galaxy! A line of illuminated star walls guided us into the main exhibition space and it was amazing! Dutch astronaut Andre Kuipers was (virtually) on hand to guide us in. We followed a winding path through Andre’s story of space full of photos and history. We got to see his space

suit and take a photo of ourselves as astronauts.

As we turned the corner we were amazed to see a countdown timer in front of the base of a rocket ship. 5….

4… 3… 2… 1!

The rocket began to shake, smoke began to pour from the boosters, and the ground trembled as we sat through a virtual take-off. This experience is repeated regularly throughout the day and the countdown timer will let you know how long until the next one.

From the launch pad my little “astronautin-training” raced towards the section of international space station in the

Our tips for visiting Space Expo

• There is a café serving snacks and drinks inside, and inviting benches outside for sunny days.

• Check 9292.nl for the train and bus times. One of two buses drops you a just short walk away.

• Your Museumkaart is not valid at SpaceExpo. Check the website for current ticket prices.

• Ample parking available if you come by car.

• Don’t forget to check the website during holiday periods as there are often special activities going on.

Space Expo website (English): www.spaceexpo.nl

middle of the hall. We spent quite some time playing at being astronauts in space, pulling levers and exploring.

Then it was back outside to learn about satellites, gravity and space exploration through the ages. My son particularly enjoyed launching a rocket to the ceiling!

We were at Space Expo for several hours exploring and revisiting our favourite parts. Which, as any parent of a four year old will know, means that our day out was a huge hit! «

About the author Emmy McCarthy is one of the founders of Amsterdam Mamas, a not-for-profit organisation for English-speaking parents in Amsterdam. access | winter | 33

Law | Partner feature

In most European countries, the legal system is based on Roman law. The law is laid down in codes. In Anglo-American countries, such as America, the United Kingdom and Australia the law is laid down in jurisprudence, which is based on customary law. In practice, this different approach can cause problems in divorce cases involving both legal systems.

A divorce under common law in the Netherlands

by Marjet van Yperen-Groenleer

applies to maintenance arrangements and English law (or the law of a common law country) applies to the settlement of assets or vice versa.

Dutch law

Maintenance and assets are two ­separate issues in the Netherlands.

Maintenance covers income, compensation for loss of earning capa­ city during the marriage, and a monthly payment to enable the former spouse to maintain the same standard of living. Division or ownership of assets are settled on the basis of the pre- or post-nuptial agreement, or divided 50/50 if the former spouses were married in community of property. The income of the spouses is disregarded.

Applicable law

Dutch law does not necessarily apply to divorces taking place in the Netherlands. In some cases, depending on the issue involved, foreign law has to be applied. The law applicable to maintenance may differ from the law applicable to the settlement of assets. This is complicated enough, but things get even trickier when Dutch law (or the law of another European country)

34 | access | winter

English law

In England, maintenance and assets are lumped together. If the former spouses cannot reach an agreement between themselves, the court determines what it considers to be a reasonable lump sum which one spouse must pay to the other. In fact, the court is guided solely by the measures of reasonableness and fairness. In addition to the lump

Marjet van Yperen-Groenleer

it is, in reality, impossible to apply both english and dutch law to a divorce.

Contact:

sum, monthly maintenance must sometimes also be paid. Sometimes, as well as paying the ex-spouse a lump sum to buy him or her out, the higher earning partner is also required to transfer ownership of a house to the former spouse. This is known as the reallocation of assets.

When determining how assets are to be divided up, factors including each spouses earning capacity, the needs of the person entitled to maintenance and the financial

circumstances during the marriage are taken into account.

GMW Advocaten 070 361 5048 led@gmw.nl

Problem and solution

www.legalexpatdesk.nl www.gmw.nl/en

As maintenance and assets are considered part of the same pot in English law but are dealt with separately in the Netherlands, it is, in reality, impossible to apply both English and Dutch law to a divorce.

There is no “one size fits allâ€? solution for all these scenarios, so a tailor-made approach is called for. ÂŤ

Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook

access | winter | 35

Education

good learning apps for our expat kids

Cool stuff about Space we are all excited about the netherland’s contribution to the race to mars; here are a few cool apps about space that might inspire little expats. during the holidays, the app train and its two willing, unpaid user testers were spending time in a place where one can actually see stars, so we put a few space apps to the test: and here are the best ones in the 4+ category.

By Fiona paSSantino

Star Walk™ Kids - astronomy for children By vito technology inc. ages 4+ price: $ 2.99

movie: vitoiphone

While in the French countryside during the autumn vacation, our children finally got to see a “real” night sky with

36 | access | winter

actual stars. They were amazed; wondering whether it was all real.

This app is good fun; when you hold your phone or tablet up towards the sky, the app screen follows your motions using the builtin gyroscope to cover the stars you are actually looking at. It draws constellations (which my son calls “space dot-to-dots”) and gives them a little colour. Very fun to use.

Visually appealing, immediately intuitive, simple, and not too much to overwhelm anyone. «

Interactive Minds: Solar System By vosonos llc ages 4+ price: $ 2.99

movie: voSonoS llc

Not a tool, but a book with all the bells and whistles. This interactive science app is 58 pages long and full of images, videos, and interactive 3D simulations. What’s particularly fun are the planetary seasons and planet size differences; it’s hard for children to imagine just how large the sun is, how long a year is on Jupiter or how heavy a person is on the moon. Here, we have a few neat ways to bring all that across. There is no narration (this is both good and bad) and the videos are fairly small. But otherwise a winner. «

Spacecraft 3d

By Jet propulsion laboratory ages 4+

as they launch and get deployed. Could be friendlier, more intuitive and easier to use however. «

And, from the “big dog” itself, NASA. While NASA has many apps out there for children, all of which feel official and “real”, this one is fun because of its use of AR (Augmented Reality).

Children – particularly older ones – can learn about various spacecraft used to explore the solar system, proudly featuring the little ‘wheelybot that can’, Curiosity. This app promises to stay updated with all the new gizmos

movie: Fredy roSal

price: free

About the author Fiona Passantino is the founder of The App Train; a focused company specialised in innovative, visual communication.

The App Train is both a developer and micropublisher of educational apps for children. www.theapptrain.com access | winter | 37

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ce

Ce

0 Ye a r s of E g 15 xce

en

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in ra t

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

THE DUTCH & THEIR BIKES

SCENES FROM A NATION OF CYCLISTS

HEALTHCARE

THE DEFINITIVE PHOTO GUIDE TO THE WORLD’S BEST BICYCLE CULTURE Available through bookshops, www.hollandbooks.nl and www.amazon.com

€ 29.90 Hardback with dust-jacket

352 pages | 700 photos | 7 x 9 inches Published by XPat Scriptum Publishers, The Netherlands | ISBN: 978 90 5594 899 4

CHILDCARE

HOUSING

EDUCATION

FINANCIAL

FORMALITIES

Finding international childcare used to be quite a hassle.

That’s why Check-NL.com has selected over 700 Dutch service providers in healthcare, childcare, housing, education and finance who are willing and able to service the expat and international community. Now you can easily find and review the service provider you need. Like a childcare provider that does speak your language.

Community

A community of untapped talent Finally, some statistics to support what many a trailing spouse knows: that when it comes to professional development and employment, trailing spouses are overlooked, unseen and not being recognised for what they can offer to the local economy.

by Deborah Valentine

As a community, the partners of expat employees in today’s world know, like no other, that their skills, resources, talents are untapped. Here, and in many other countries. Making the decision to accompany the partner who has been offered employment in another country is never an easy one.

Even less so when the “trailing spouse”, or as we prefer to refer to them, STARS (Successfully Travelled and Relocated Spouses) often leave a career or job behind. What is interesting about current developments in the Netherlands, however, is that attention is being brought to local employers – interna-

tional or otherwise – about the wealth of resources on hand. Resources they often search for internationally, without realising the skills and talents they may be looking for are here on their doorstep. And, in acknowledging and taking advantage of this resource, they would do the economy and the country a favour.

Research reveals solutions

Since its start (2009) the International Community Platform (ICP) has endeavoured to articulate the needs of the international community (through its employers) and align these needs with services. Five sectors were identified as priority areas. Each year since then, a subject was selected, researched, the gap between needs and services reviewed with service providers, and solutions created. Check-NL is the result of this alignment process regarding Healthcare, Childcare and Housing (in the greater The Hague area for now, but expanding). There the international access | winter | 39

Community | a community of untapped talent

Alignment Proces icp research 2014 research

gap analysis

selection of topics definition of solutions implementations solutions decision on solutions

feasibility check

community can find a list of service providers meeting their needs; plus the community can share their reviews about those providers. The ICP

Where to next For details of the presentation of the research cited above see www.icpresearch2014.com. Download the full report here.

Check-NL.com – Sourcing support for the soft factors of settling in the Netherlands. Among others: Childcare, Healthcare and Housing. www.Check-NL.com For results of the most recent International City Podium – where talent & employers/schools align themselves see www.internationalcitypodium.nl The “ACCESS Partner Support Guide” and “Working in the Netherlands Guide” provide tips, ideas and suggestions for making the most of your stay and search for employment. www.access-nl.org/guides 40 | access | winter

research into public transport, for example, resulted in something even more concrete: greater availability of English language support on public transport itself (in The Hague), and on the websites used to plan one’s travel.

Last but not least

Partner satisfaction/employment was most recently researched. In 2014 the ICP surveyed more than 2,000 internationals and confirmed what many knew, but had not documented with hard facts. Among internationals already living in the Netherlands, there is not only a great desire to work, there is also a wealth of talent – at all levels – readily available to international employers, but also, more importantly perhaps, to local employers wishing to become more international. A whopping 89% of internationals who accompany their partner to a job are highly educated and ambitious. Yet, unemployment among this group (24.1%) exceeds the average rates within the regular Dutch economy – particularly among highly educated women. Here are ready resources, experiences, skills, languages and mind-sets totally untapped by a local economy aiming to become even more competitive on an international scale. And, this statistic

photo: craFting connectionS

threatens the attractiveness of the country as a location for international companies. If the partners of their employees cannot find employment, companies will go elsewhere, where the quality of life for staff and family members scores higher.

Level of education icp research 2014

5,4% 2,4%

secondary education

vocational training

25,6%

Revelations

The survey revealed much more than simply confirming what many within the international community already knew. Among the discoveries was the wide gap between the perceptions and realities of what an “expat� is.

bachelor

53,2% 11,3% 2,1%

master

phd

other

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% access | winter | 41

Community | A community of untapped talent Top 5 hurdles in career ICP Research 2014 competition with native speaking candidates

17,9%

idea about career is not clear i can’t find work in my expertise financial issues i can’t find work that matches educational level

14,2% 11% 7,1% 6,4%

Anecdotes abound about being approached by service providers, retailers offering things way beyond most of the communities’ pocket book – simply based on this wrong Did assumption. w... ­ o n k u o y ose who h t f o % 52.7 In reviewing the d a part e i n a p d ­accom n e fou ­questions about the ner hav ent? m ­life-career matrix of employ internationals in the Netherlands, three aspects were shown to be of ­critical importance to ensuring that the Netherlands remains competitive.

These have resulted in the following action plan.

42 | access | winter

Advocacy & action

The resulting “action plan” – spearheaded by the ICP, together with public and private sector partners include: raising awareness among employers, especially within the local ­economy, of the benefits of employing internationals; matchmaking opportunities between possible employers (international or otherwise) and potential candidates (such as the recently held International City Podium); advocacy among public institutions as well as employers about how Dutch-only policies are a barrier to being able to capture the talent and expertise available;

· · ·

Top 5 hurdles in life ICP Research 2014

26,8% 19%

language organising housing

16,7%

lack of future career opportunitues

11,5%

difficult to adapt to culture

10,3%

·

creating opportunities for local ­networks to be more open to and engage with the international community.

hard to build up network

Check-NL is the result of the alignment process regarding Healthcare, Childcare and Housing.

Facts help

Change always takes time. But, with facts and figures stories can be better told, communicated and shared.

“Aha” moments created, and steps taken towards revealing a pool of ambitious, qualified talent ready and willing to make their contribution.

International City Podium on Facebook, or subscribe to their newsletters on www.internationalcitypodium.nl.

Initiatives such as these, especially on social platforms, are bound to create even more awareness, and opportunities. «

To be a part of the change, find out about opportunities for employment or internships, learn about networking and matchmaking events follow the

About the Author Deborah Valentine, Executive Director of ACCESS, has on ­several occasions been a STAR herself and meets many in her work. access | winter | 43

Education | Partner feature

Model United Nations returns to ISH For the 24th time, on 31 October 2014, the Model United Nations (MUN) was held at The International School of The Hague (ISH) – MUNISH. Model United Nations (MUN) is what the name proclaims: a simulation of the real United Nations. It is “a conference run by youth, for today’s youth, to benefit the youth of tomorrow.”

by Students ISH

It is these ideals that make MUNISH the true embodiment of Model United Nations. For a single weekend students can become diplomats and assume the responsibility of the roles they take on. In their role as UN representatives, they gain an insight into the workings of the United Nations, develop research, public speaking and diplomacy skills and have the unique opportunity to learn about the politics of the nation they represent.

4 4 | access | winter

MUNISH is attended by students from all over the world and has been a part of the school for the past 24 years. It is organised and run by students from The International School of The Hague. Over 900 participants attended last year and the numbers keep growing every year.

Over 60 different nationalities from schools situated in more than 10 countries, create a conference with a truly international atmosphere.

During the conference, students discuss and try to find solutions for some of the most important and challenging international issues of our time. MUNISH leaves students with a new perspective on our world and of their roles in shaping it.

Topical Themes

The theme for MUNISH 2014 was “Security and Development.”

This theme invited students to join in and discuss questions that are crucial to the future. Is development always beneficial? To what extent does development contribute to ­various forms of security, ie food security? In what ways do new developments, such as technological advances, threaten security? Albert Einstein once said, “All that is valu-

photo: Christel Van Meeuwen

MUNISH leaves students with a new perspective on our world and of their roles in shaping it.

ple cannot access security in the way of food, water or education, how can we as a society expect to develop?

Contact: The International School of The Hague Wijndaelerduin 1 2554 BX Den Haag

For further information please visit www.munish.nl Immediate impact

able in human society depends upon the opportunity for development accorded the individual.”

Yet despite the importance of development in the context of security and despite modern development, millions still lack access to their basic human rights. If so many peo-

This year’s MUNISH charity was the Stahili Foundation which aims to create awareness of, and put an end to, child labour, trafficking and abuse. The first orphan rescued by the foundation attended this year, and his inspiring speech can be viewed here. «

Secondary School +31 (0)70 328 14 50 Primary School +31 (0)70 338 45 67 ish.admissions@ ishthehague.nl www.ishthehague.nl

access | winter | 45

Food

Even though this issue is about all things galactic, this is a very down to earth dish; pun intended.

No matter how far you travel, nothing compares with the feeling you get when you return home, sitting down to a warm meal, surrounded by your loved ones.

By Magdalini Zografou photo: Magdalini Zografou

Earth(y) Soup 46 | access | winter

Enjoy what earth has to offer in the form of this creamy, velvety pumpkin soup graciously enhanced with the acidic notes of dried cranberries and the pleasant crunch of toasted pumpkin seeds. This is a soup which encapsulates the essence of winter eating.

Tip: Cut the vegetables into equalsized pieces so they cook at the same time.

In a large, heavy-bottomed pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and sauté for 2-3 minutes, until they soften, stirring regularly so they don’t burn.

Add garlic, pumpkin, potato, carrots, leek, nutmeg, ginger, salt and pepper and mix well with a spatula. Add the chicken stock and hot water and mix again. Turn heat up to high and bring to the boil. Once it starts to boil, reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 25 minutes or until the vegetables have softened.

Meanwhile, add the pumpkin seeds to a dry, small pan and place over medium heat. Toast them, stirring regularly so they don’t burn, until they become fragrant. Empty them immediately onto a plate and let them cool.

When the soup is ready, remove from the heat, let cool for a while and then, if you have an immersion blender, blend the vegetables in the pan until smooth and creamy. If you have a regular blender, transfer the vegetables lit-

tle by little to it and blend until you have a smooth, creamy soup. Return soup to the pan.

Place the pan over low heat, add the cream and stir well. Add salt and pepper to taste if required. Allow to come to a simmer and remove pan from the heat.

Serve in deep bowls. Stir in a couple squeezes of lemon and garnish with pumpkin seeds, cranberries, parsley and a drizzle of olive oil. «

I n g re d i e n t

6-8 ser ving s

s

• 4 Tbsp. olive oil • 1 onion (~150 g), chopped • 2 garlic clove s, chopped • 1 small peele

d pumpkin (~600 g), cut into pieces • 1 large potato (~300 g), peeled and cu t into pieces • 2 carrots (~4 00 g), peeled and sliced • 1 leek (~150 g), white and pale green pa rts only, sliced • ½ tsp grated nutmeg • ½ tsp groun d ginger • Salt • Freshly grou nd black pepper • 750 ml chick en (or vegetable) sto ck • 500 ml hot w ater • 125 ml cream • 1-2 Tbsp. hu lled pumpkin seeds • 1-2 Tbsp. dr ied cranberrie s • Handful fres h parsley leaves, chopp ed • Lemon juice

About the chef Magdalini Zografou, a Greek girl cooking in her little expat kitchen in the Netherlands. mylittleexpatkitchen.blogspot.com access | winter | 47

Lifestyle

Surviving an international wedding or two A Dutch man meets an American woman.

They fall in love. Four years later, they embark on a great adventure: planning two weddings! One is set on the pristine Noordwijk Beach, the other in the woody suburbs of New York. In an exclusive for the ACCESS e-zine, these newlyweds share their experiences planning - and surviving - the cross-cultural events.

By Mandie van der Meer & Jeroen van der Meer

Part I The American Bride Watch your tongue

Despite my husband’s exceedingly excellent English, when it came to the wedding planning, he and I weren’t speaking the same language. In Dutch, the word “reception” means the act of 48 | access | winter

receiving. Therefore, a typical “reception” is the hour after your ceremony where the bride and groom receive guests. The guests wait politely in a line so everyone can say “Gefeliciteerd,” or congratulations, to the couple.

In (American) English, however, the “reception” has evolved into something more… expensive. It’s decorations, dinner, dancing and dessert.

It’s four hours of great fun.

photo: Goulmy Design & Fotografie

TIP 1 Make sure the bride and groom don’t have to think about anything on the day itself: appoint a trusted relation (or wedding planner) to guide you and your guests.

Then there’s the term “wedding party”.

This refers to the group, or “party”, of family and friends who are asked by the couple to participate in the ceremony. They wear fancy, matching clothes, just like you’ve seen in those American romantic-comedy films.

Now, try to imagine our conversation using these terms: M: We’re not having a wedding party, just witnesses. » access | winter | 49

photo: goulmy deSign & FotograFie

Lifestyle | Surviving an international wedding or two

The order of things photo: amy tuccio photography

TIP 2 if you have two weddings, kindly ask guests at the first one not to post photos to social media, so they don’t spoil any surprises for the guests of your second event.

J: What do you mean we’re not having a party? We have to have cake and drinks… and bitterballen!

M: Well, of course we’re having a reception, you know, like, four hours long.

J: Wait – four hours long? How many people are you inviting?!

50 | access | winter

Bitterballen, a staple Dutch party snack, were an obvious choice to serve our guests at the Dutch wedding. But why was my husband-to-be was suggesting to have them after the wedding cake?

Again, imagine this dialogue (but add a Bridezilla-like tone): M: Bitterballen after cake? Why would we serve snacks after cake?

J: But we have to offer warme hapjes.

M: Yeah, but that comes first, after the ceremony. Right?

J: But first we eat cake.

TIP 3 introduce your families before the wedding. they’ll need some time to get comfortable with each other.

I should have remembered the Dutch birthday parties I’d been to. Cake is always served first. However, if we served cake immediately after the ceremony in New York, our guests would think it was time to leave already! Our negotiation: Cake first in Noordwijk.

Cake last in New York. The sweetest of both worlds.

part ii The Dutch Groom How to say “I love you”

Some differences in customs turned out to be fun. In the Netherlands the bride and groom are required to say ja, and only ja, during the ceremony. If you jokingly say “Ja, prima,” or “OK,”

photo: amy tuccio photography

M: Cake first?! Cake is the last thing we serve, after all the other food.

Appetisers, main dish, dessert. No? J: But if you don’t give them cake at the beginning, they’ll think there’s no cake!

M: So we’re having cake… for lunch?

TIP 4 listen to friends and family for suggestions, but make it your wedding. you decide on everything! then the marriage will be deemed void.

In the US, however, it is customary to say your own personal vows to one another. The adventurous Dutchman in me liked this idea and so we added saying our vows to the formalities.

I said my vows in English and Mandie said hers in Dutch. The Dutch family and friends loved it too. » access | winter | 51

The ideal gift for expats

GET THE FREE APP

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’.

XPAT Journal

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

14581-012-ADV XPJ App 95x127.indd 1

15-08-14 12:48

Innovative International Education

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

“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

Lifestyle | Surviving an international wedding or two

Did ow... n k u yo dding e w e g a e Aver d US ar n a L N r costs fo 0 and $29,858 0.0 € 16,75 3,817)! (€2

photo: goulmy deSign & FotograFie

TIP 5 make a plan for an organised photo shoot with family and friends. if you don’t, you may end up posing for Facebook pictures for hours, or forgetting important moments like a hug from grandma.

Special touches

In the Netherlands it is customary for friends or family to perform some kind of act at your wedding. These can be comedy skits, songs (A from big Apple, that’s where she’s from, the B from Beach town, that’s where he’s from…), or, in our case, a video.

My university friends, called De Vettige Herders (The Greasy Shepherds), spent days collecting pictures of my life since

university and assembling them to the song “Pretty Fly for a White Guy” by The Offspring. These performances always try to humble the bride or groom in some fashion, and so I was not surprised to find myself staring, together with all our wedding guests, at a picture of my friends and I mooning the camera, a view of seven white guys’ butts that my wife will never forget.

Lessons learned?

Do not assume any component, at any step of the process. Strive for transparency, even if it means explaining what you expect to happen at every hour or half-hour of the day. Explain your traditions and listen to the other’s impartially and patiently. Pass no judgement at first, respecting and embracing your differences which will contribute to a memorable wedding, or weddings, if you’re lucky. Or crazy. « access | winter | 53

Education | partner feature

the german international School the hague encourages its young scientists to expand their knowledge beyond the classroom and take part in the annual Youth Science competition in germany.

Success at the Youth Science Competition in germany Motivated by their own curiosity, students work on projects in Mathematics, IT, Science and Technology. Each year, they return to The Hague from the competition inspired by a sense of accomplishment and success.

Taking part in the competition was a challenge but also great fun.

All DISDH Secondary School students are welcome to join the school’s Youth Science Delegation.

Participation is voluntary and constitutes an important part of the after school options available at the DISDH. Either individually or in groups of two or three, students begin preparing for the competition by choosing a topic that especially interests them.

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They address a specific unsolved scientific question. A work plan is established which includes a period of experimentation during which students probe, analyse, create and invent always keeping the original scientific q ­ uestion at the forefront of their research. Over a period of three months, students spend four to five hours a week working on their projects.

Once the conclusions have been interpreted and implications evaluated, a detailed written report is sent to the jury. At the competition itself, each project is presented to a panel of expert judges. Students involved in the programme learn research methodology and the process of scientific work. Experience has shown that students involved in the Youth Science Competitions get a head start in acquiring the a­cademic and organisational skills needed for working scientifically and writing research reports.

“The Youth Science Competition gave me the chance to become acquainted with the world of research. I worked on a topic which interested me and learned

to develop experiments and gained invaluable practical experience.”

Students not only learn the basics of scientific research but also gain experience working in a team and dealing with competition. They ­recognise the effort needed to complete a project and also identify the limitations, which influence ­scientific research, and learn the importance of flexibility.

One of the school’s most dedicated science teachers has accompanied students to Germany for the com­ petition for the last 20 years. It is thanks to her insight and guidance that so many students take part and achieve first place year after year.

The students are proud of their work and their success shows them that with hard work great results can be achieved.

At the last competition, the German International School The Hague was honoured with a special award as the school that most inspires its ­students in the fields of science and technology. With excitement, the DISDH looks forward to the upcoming competition this winter. «

Contact: Deutsche Internationale Schule Den Haag Van Bleiswijkstraat 125 2582 LB The Hague The Netherlands 070 354 95 94 www.disdh.nl info@disdh.nl

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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.

learning 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 56 | access | Winter

Meet our Trainers online:

access-nl.org/meet-the-trainers.aspx

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 w w w . a c c e ss - 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

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.

Presentation and speaking skills Marlene Burns Coaching in effective speaking The Hague

www.powertalkeurope.eu

Marlene is an accredited trainer for Powertalk International’s Short Course, which she presents with fellow trainer Angela Tait. Both are experienced speakers at both local and inter­ national levels. Are you a nervous beginner or just feel the need to improve? This course offers in-depth training at all levels for effective speaking.

Career and life coaching Marie Dewulf

International career and life coach

The Netherlands & via Skype

www.coach2moveon.com

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. access | winter | 57

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 w w w . a c c e ss - 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 .

Presentation and speaking skills Christine Fischer

Multicultural coach & ACCESS Community Education manager The Hague

www.fischersfiresidechats.com

Christine holds an M.A. & an M.Ed. in multicultural counselling psychology from TC, Columbia University, NYC. She created FischersFiresidechats discussions, workshops, and seminars to foster warm, informal, yet informed environments for learning cultural competence. Her programmes cultivate awareness of one’s own cultural worldview, attitudes towards cultural differences, and offer a variety of cross-cultural skills.

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.

Workshops in coaching and counselling Jacqueline van Gent

Psychologist and trainer in Transactional Analysis The Hague

www.ta-denhaag.nl

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Jacqueline provides internationally accredited workshops for people wanting to enrich their coaching or counselling skills with very effective, ready-to-use tools. Workshops consist of a little bit of theory and lots of practice, and in a learning climate that helps people of all ages, feeling at ease and willing to engage in developing both personally and professionally.

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 w w w . a c c e ss - 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 .

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.

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.

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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 w w w . a c c e ss - 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 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

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.

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

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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.

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 w w w . a c c e ss - 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 .

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.

Creativity for Character Shawna Snow

Trainer/Facilitator Amsterdam

workshops.reckoning.nl

Shawna is one of three professionals in The Reckoning workshops which aim is to bring out the best in us and in the children in our lives using art. She has over 20 years experience in teaching and leading youth as well as a Masters in Global Urban Leadership. In 2008, she founded Stichting Reckoning, which has used this approach with many marginalised communities and now offers these tools to the general public.

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. access | winter | 61

ACCESS 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 w w w . a c c e ss - 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 .

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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