ACCESS magazine | The art of nature (Issue 1, 2023)

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT MOVING TO AND LIVING IN THE NETHERLANDS

The art of nature

2023 ISSUE 1

In this edition: Exploring the world of service animals, pet travel, conservation and reintegration... That and more! Your free copy

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Dear ACCESS readers

I do hope this finds you well. They say, ‘good things come in threes’, and I cannot believe this is already my third time around as editor of ACCESS magazine. I am delighted to present our latest edition: The art of nature.

In this first issue of 2023 – with beautiful cover art by Elisabeth Schettle – we explore the natural world of the Netherlands and look at everything from service animals to pet travel, conservation to reintegration. We also treat you to some images kindly shared with us by the Natuurmonumenten and bring you a review of the book Between the Sea & the Sky by Jimmy Nelson. All that and much more besides.

Tracey Taylor ACCESS Editor editor@access-nl.org

I hope you will find the magazine to be an enjoyable read and might even discover something you did not know about the country we call home.

Once again, this publication would not have been possible without the support and dedication of our writers (Giulia, Joanna, Katarina, Lynette, Molly, Olivia, Sandra, and Steve), artists/illustrators (Elisabeth and Priyanka), designer (Marek), and proofreader (Nancy). Your time and effort are hugely appreciated – ditto for everyone who contributed. I must also give a shout out to L.T. for taking on our fiercely fabulous and fascinating cover story.

This edition of ACCESS magazine is particularly special to me as it marks my last as editor. After one year in the role (how time flies), I have made the decision to step down. Working as editor for the publication has been a tremendous experience and one that I will treasure.

My sincerest thanks to all at ACCESS, and to the wonderful writers, artists, designers, and contributors with whom I have had the pleasure to work. My successor should be appointed soon, and you can expect another edition of the magazine later this year.

To close, may I take this opportunity to say farewell and wish you all the best… happy reading!

This edition is particularly special to me as it marks my last as editor.

A word of thanks

From humble beginnings over 36 years ago, the ACCESS organisation has been able to extend and continue its work in an ever-changing environment, and this is thanks to the many individuals whom we are privileged to have on our team.

From enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteers in all the cities where we work - we are so grateful for all the work you do - to our wealth of partners, patrons, trainers, and counsellors. We also recognise our pool of talented writers, artists and contributors as well as our dedicated Board Members (Kim Jooste, Godelijn Boonman, Lucas Hendrikse, Roy Fu, Dorottya Bölöni and Inge Nitsche).

Contact

access-nl.org

@ helpdesk@access-nl.org

+31 85 400 03 38

Helpdesks

• The Hague - City Hall, Atrium

• Amsterdam - IN Amsterdam, World Trade Center

I-Tower, ground floor

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You all have our appreciation for the trust you give us as we endeavour to support you and your goals. We are proud that what ACCESS offers is of value to the local and international community across the Netherlands and take this opportunity to say a big thank you for making the ACCESS organisation what it is today.

Colophon

Publisher Stichting ACCESS

Editorial content

editor@access-nl.org

Advertising 070 345 17 00 fnd@access-nl.org

Editor

Tracey Taylor

Proofreader

Nancy Kroonenberg

Design & Layout

M-space - graphic designers

Printer

Printall AS, Tallinn, Estonia

Cover image

Elisabeth Schettle, illustrizzy.com

Contents images (clockwise) Hans Veth, Aleksey Melkomukov, Jimmy Nelson, Natuurmonumenten - Sjoerd van der Wal, Jae Park

This issue of ACCESS magazine would not have been possible without the generous help, imagination, and dedication of Joanna Bouma. Olivia van den Broek-Neri, Lynette Croxford, Priyanka Dharmaseelan, Katarina Gaborova, L.T. Hitchcock, Giulia Quaresima, Molly Quell, Elisabeth Schettle, Sandra Silva, and Steve Voyce.

With special thanks to Nancy Kroonenberg, Marek Moggré, and Deborah Valentine.

2023 ISSUE 1

Vol. 36 No. 1

Circulation: 11,500

Also available online at: magazine.access-nl.org

Contents

6. The running of the wolves by L.T. Hitchcock

13. It started with a dog named Sunny by Molly Quell

18. Naturally Netherlands by Joanna Bouma

20. Year of the Rabbit by Sandra Silva

22 Schools

Heart of the Community

25. Dogs ‘n’ cats… and ferrets? by Steve Voyce

28. Alpacas make their mark by Olivia van den Broek-Neri

32. Fresh at home by Lynette Croxford

34. Live your best life by Katarina Gaborova

38. Between the Sea & the Sky by Giulia Quaresima

Copyright ACCESS 2023

All rights reserved. No part of the ACCESS Magazine 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.

The running of the wolves

renowned, albeit in some regions unfairly, for their uniformity of landscape. But alien they are not. Scottish Highlanders (cows) roam casually around the dunes between Scheveningen and Kijkduin, gazing serenely at the nonplussed cyclists who speed by. European bison graze contentedly in the ZuidKennemerland National Park, and many of the long stretches of Dutch dunes are replete with bats, foxes, and sand lizards. We even have our own venomous snake, the viper, and a poisonous spider or two thrown in for good measure. In actual fact, over 800 different species of animal are native to the Netherlands, from the Atlantic puffin to the white stork.

And now, after being estranged for 150 years, the wolf is returning across the Dutch borders. But to what fanfare? A long-time staple villain of our imaginations, horror movies on remote moors, cautionary tales fuelled by Disney or Brother’s Grimm depictions, the wolf has oft been much maligned, consistently used as a menacing metaphor to teach us crude moral lessons of what could happen if we did not follow the right path or tell the truth. Neil Jordan’s 1984 chilling gothic film The Company of Wolves is, by itself, enough to make anybody wish for company of a far less toothy variety.

Judging a cover by its book

BY L.T. HITCHCOCK

You could be forgiven for thinking that the nearest the Dutch get to a wild animal is the famous coat of arms lion, arguably made more famous by the badge that adorns the national football team’s shirt, and always kissed with such hope and vigour before every penalty shoot-out (sorry Dutch readers). Indeed, one may assume that animals of a more exotic nature are alien to the lowlands of the Netherlands, lands

But is the wolf a misunderstood creature? A dark, noble, and alluring anti-hero of the wild? For some, the wolf is indeed a thing of beauty and something to be welcomed and cultivated back into the natural habitat. In its study of the wolf, Wageningen Environmental Research suggests that “Wolves are highly intelligent animals, each with their own character. In that sense they are comparable to the dogs we keep as pets: they are individuals.”

Others go further. Wolven in Nederland, an environmental non-profit that has been preparing for the wolf’s return for years, has a simple mission: “a conflict-free co-existence with wolves”. They seek to debunk the harmful stereotypes of past storytelling, and separate myth from fact with objective informa- »

“The wolves are running again.” So said John Masefield in his Christmas classic The Box of Delights . Now environmentalists and animal lovers alike are opening their own box of delights with the reintegration of wolves to the wilds of the Netherlands.

PHOTO: RAY HENNESSY

tion sharing. They see wolves as an asset to the Dutch countryside, a predator that plays a key part “in keeping prey population healthy’’. By liaising with farmers, hunters, government, the media, and other key stakeholders, they hope to facilitate such co-existence through encouraging a safe reintegration of wolves into the Dutch wildlife, stemming in no small part from well-informed dialogue on wolves in the wild. This would focus on the good and bad effects, as well as promoting a compensation scheme for any losses that do ultimately occur.

But what about the children? It didn’t end so well for Little Red Riding Hood (depending on which version you read). But fear not. Wolves have long since learned through a bitter evolutionary struggle that humankind is more foe than friend and knows to leave well enough alone. Only in the very rarest of cases has this truth ever been dispelled. According to wolf.org, there have only been 12 fatal attacks recorded in this century thus far across the entire world. Many sources claim that approximately

But is the wolf a misunderstood creature?

150 people are killed each year by falling coconuts, therefore, wolves’ threat level to humans, while being above zero, is “far too low to calculate”. This does not mean, however, that the return of wolves is not without its issues.

De Hoge danger

If such a defence sounds a tad protective for an apex predator, it should be noted that wolves are, in fact, an endangered species. Such groups as Wolven in Nederland feel that having emigrated naturally to the Netherlands, they should be treated with the according protection. Yet fears, both real and imagined, which led to the mass culling of wolves in certain

A dark, noble, and alluring anti-hero of the wild?

PHOTO: RIIZZ

PHOTO: MARTIN SEPION

Wolves in Europe

The facts (Source: wolf.org)

• Common name: Grey Wolf

• Latin name: Canis lupus

• Population Europe (excl. Russia): 13,000

• Average weight: Females: 27-36 kgs; Males: 32-50 kgs

• Length of life: Up to 13 years in the wild (usually 6-8 years), up to 16 years in captivity

• Number of teeth: 42 (all the better to… just kidding)

• Average pack size: 5-8

• Common food: Ungulates (hoofed animals like deer, moose, caribou, elk, bison)

• Main threats to survival: Loss of habitat due to destruction, development, and encroachment by humans; persecution by humans.

• Sprinting speed: 58-61 kms per hour for short distances

• Litter size: 4-6 pups

• Fur colour: Grey, but can also be black or white

More info

• wur.nl/en.htm

• hogeveluwe.nl/en/discover-the-park/nature-and-landscape/wolf

parts of the world over previous centuries, are not culled so easily themselves. Hence–while slowly but surely, the resilient and curious beast finds its footing again in Northern Europe–old fears return to the fore.

In De Hoge Veluwe National Park alone, one may encounter red deer, roe deer and wild boar, to name but a few. But since the wolf’s arrival back in the park in 2021, the alpha hunter has been confirming its position at the top of the food chain, killing many mouflons, deer, and boar.

‘But it’s the circle of life,’ I hear you cry. ‘Have you not seen The Lion King’? But Simba and co. were not nefariously snuck into the Pride Lands (main location of The Lion King franchise), something that has been suggested of the wolves now in residence at De Hoge Veluwe National Park. The park has cause to believe that the wolves were introduced unnaturally, and while they refrain from hunting them, it is difficult to view them in this context as anything other than unwelcome guests. Concerns continue as to the effect the wolves’ hunting has on the fragile ecosystem of

the environment, which has been partially subverted by attacks on high-quality grazing animals, putting added pressure on the complex biodiversity of the ecosystem. Aside from this, on a more humane level, wolf kills can be somewhat indiscriminate in nature meaning that animals can be left to suffer.

PHOTO: TIM TEN CATE

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Striking a balance

Another valid and often voiced concern is that of the effect on farmers’ livestock and its subsequent way of living. In France, for example, ever since wolves re-entered from Italy back in the 1990s, wolf attacks on livestock continue to rise in conjunction with the increase in packs. It is therefore the difficult task of groups like Wolven in Nederland to try and mitigate these very real concerns against a desire for wolves to be allowed to live by their natural instincts, and in whichever hunting ground they may migrate to.

Wolves are not the first animals to return to this part of Europe: otters and beavers have returned to the local wilds after previously being hunted to extinction; the black-bellied hamster is another, as well as the aforementioned white stork. There is also a welcome return to other European countries of “big cats,” such as the Eurasian and Iberian lynx. Accommodating such changes and understanding their affects is complex. The Dutch know more than

most about the fine balances of nature, having waged a war and a love affair with the sea for centuries. Coping with and yet benefitting from the perils and possibilities of its geographical birth-right has led to innovation and progress, all based around striking a delicate balance with a power that can only be controlled within reason.

Such balances are an important part of maintaining the equilibrium of a biodiverse landscape, with much thought given to the impact on flora and fauna that reintegrated animals may cause. But environmental impact is no longer restricted to the domain of the environmentalists and researchers; it is now very much in the mainstreams of society. Just take a look at the amount of insect hotels that abound, now a staple for any company that adjusts its mission statement to shoehorn the word ‘sustainability’ into it, helping us forget about their outrageous profits because they are also saving the bees. Humans and the environment struggle evermore to live in accord, but the more informed we are, the more prepared we are for challenges.

So now the box is open to the delight of some and the consternation of others. Indeed, the wolves are running again but only time will tell how far they will run. In the meantime, however, take care to look up occasionally just to be sure you are not standing under a coconut tree. «

About the author

L.T. Hitchcock has been in the Netherlands for over a decade and is passionate about writing and literature. He lives in The Hague with his partner and daughters and loves to enjoy Scheveningen beach life (and playing with pet hamsters, Snowy & Berry).

Did you know... You can find more information on the reintegration of wolves to the Dutch countryside at Wolven in Nederland:wolveninnederland.nl

The IamExpat Fair - Are you going?

The IamExpat Fair on 4 November 2023 in The Hague is an exciting chance for internationals to find everything they need in one place, on one day. Featuring more exhibitors than ever before, this year’s IamExpat Fair will be the biggest yet!

The IamExpat Fair allows internationals to get acquainted with local businesses and thousands of other internationals from around the world. Attendees can browse stands covering career, housing, education, family, health, leisure… and admission is free!

The fair is complemented with workshops presented by experts in their fields, giving internationals the opportunity to dive into the topics that matter to them. Workshops are free but need to be booked in advance – the full programme will be announced in October.

Book your free ticket now!

thehague.iamexpatfair.nl

To date, the IamExpat Fair has brought together more than 435 companies, welcomed over 24,000 visitors from 150 countries, and held over 225 workshops, making it the leading fair for internationals in the Netherlands. No matter what you are looking for, the IamExpat Fair 2023 promises to be a fun and informative day. It lasts from 10 am-5 pm, and the first 2,000 visitors get a free goodie bag, so get there early!

What to expect at the IamExpat Fair:

• Learn how to rent/buy property, and secure a mortgage in the Netherlands

contact@iamexpatfair.nl thehague.iamexpatfair.nl

Meet local job recruiters, get started on that mortgage, sign up for a course to improve your Dutch or just soak up the atmosphere and pick up a few freebies! The fair takes place at the iconic Grote Kerk, so just browsing the stands is a pleasure in itself.

• Talk to recruiters, browse vacancies, and set new career goals

• Attend free workshops and presentations

• Discover services and businesses for internationals

• Find the perfect Dutch language school

• Benefit from exclusive offers

• Explore international schools, tutoring and educational opportunities

• Bring the family and have fun with the little ones in the kids’ area

Information about the IamExpat Fair

Date: Saturday, 4 November 2023

Time: 10 am-5 pm

Location: Grote Kerk, The Hague

Entry is free but online registration is necessary: thehague.iamexpatfair.nl/free-registration

For press inquiries and access, please contact: accounts@iamexpatfair.nl

Videos: vimeo.com/199689976 «

It started with a dog named Sunny

In 1935, Sunny began accompanying a blind brush maker in Amsterdam to and from the factory where he worked. The 10-month-old Malinois mix was the first graduate of what would become the Koninklijk Nederlands Geleidehonden Fonds

KNGF (Royal Dutch Guide Dog Fund), the first guide dog school in the Netherlands. Today, nearly 1,000 dogs from the organisation help people with visual impairments, physical disabilities, PTSD, and autism.

TEXT BY MOLLY QUELL PHOTOGRAPHS BY KNGF PHOTOGRAPHER RON BALTUS

Although dogs had been used to assist people with disabilities since at least Roman times, the horrors of the First World War brought guide dogs for the blind into more common use. Chemical weapons used during the conflict left thousands of soldiers with damage to their eyes. The first school for guide dogs was established in Germany in 1923, and the use of such dogs spread across Europe.

Royal treatment

The Dutch Red Cross saw the benefits of guide dogs and moved to establish an organisation in the Netherlands. In 1935, then Princess Juliana officially opened the KNGF. Now known as KNGF Geleidehonden (KNGF Guide Dogs), the non-profit organisation was given the “royal” designation after a second visit from Juliana in 1953, who was by then the Queen.

Initially, the dogs were rescues, with trainers stopping by an animal shelter on the Polderweg in Amsterdam practically daily to see if a suitable dog had turned up. Eventually, the KNGF developed its own breeding program and now works exclusively with Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, or a crossbreed of the three.

“Dobber looks like a wolf,” says Esther, who has a German Shepherd/Labrador mix. The six-year-old is large for a guide dog, which Esther says can be a benefit when she’s in a crowd.

Trainers look for complementary personalities and lifestyles between pairs.

Esther, who has a genetic condition that has caused her to lose her sight, can see some light and dark shades but, without Dobber, would struggle to negotiate the outside world. In fact, having a guide dog allowed her to move from the small village where she grew up to Amsterdam, where Dobber gets her back and forth to work and serves as an ambassador for KNGF.

Good clicks

A person applying to the KNGF for a dog must meet certain criteria, and the average wait time is around 18 months. According to Margot Bakker-de Bruin, a communications advisor at KNGF, matching dogs to people isn’t as simple as taking the next person on the waitlist. “There has to be a good fit,” she says.

Trainers look for complementary personalities and lifestyles between pairs. Everything from the environment – Do they live in a city or in a rural area? Do they use public transportation for travel? –to something as simple as walking speed are among the factors considered.

Puppies spend the first 14 months of their lives with volunteer families, who expose the dogs to various situations and teach them basic commands. Then the dogs move to the training facility at KNGF in Amstelveen where they learn the regular tasks that they will be expected to do.

Guide dogs for the visually impaired are taught intelligent disobedience, essentially ignoring any command from their owner if the dog deems the action too dangerous. Dogs generally prefer to obey their owners so learning how to block someone’s path if they are walking into an unsafe situation can be challenging.

In service

In its 85-year history, the KNGF has expanded from helping blind veterans to training dogs in providing other types of assistance as well. The organisation also works with dogs who will go on to be service dogs

for people with mobility issues, autism, and PTSD. Some service dogs are better suited for helping wheelchair users with basic tasks like retrieving items and pushing buttons. Other dogs with an especially calm demeanor can help people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Most recently, the organisation has begun to train dogs to help children with autism.

Not all dogs are cut out to be service dogs. The dogs who cannot be trained to the organisation’s high standards are placed for adoption. “Sometimes, for example, they simply cannot be trained not to react to cats,” says Bakker-de Bruin. The waiting list for a guide school dropout is long as well.

If a dog becomes too old or develops a medical condition that prevents them from doing their job, the KNGF will find the retiree a home. Some guide dog users are able to keep their former helpers. Esther’s first dog lived with her until his death at the age of 14. “She could stay until the end,” she says. If it’s not possible for the dog to stay on, they often live out the rest of their days with a foster family.

On average, it costs €40,000 to breed and train a guide dog. That fee is only partially covered by health insurance. The organisation is entirely reliant on donors to support its mission. People who want to support the KNGF can do so by donating (formulieren. geleidehond.nl/form-58970/steun-met-een) or volunteering as a foster family for puppies or dogs who have retired. «

About the author

Molly Quell is an American journalist based in Delft. She is The Hague correspondent for Courthouse News Service and a contributing editor at Dutch News. When not working, you’ll find her enjoying a beer and hanging out with her dog Trouby. Twitter: @mollyquell

Did you know...

In the first year of training, dogs are exposed to many different experiences including interacting with people, children, and animals, and negotiating busy streets, railway stations, shops, and noisy traffic.

How ACCESS helps internationals move to and settle in the Netherlands

• Website

Answers to many frequently asked questions by internationals moving to and settling in the Netherlands.

Topics related to: Relocation; Dual Careers – for accompanying partners; Healthcare and Health Insurance; Housing; Education – for all ages; and Leaving the Netherlands for heading home or to other countries.

• Counsellors

On-call counsellors referring internationals to the mental health support they may need, keeping location, language and specialisations in mind. Two are on-call each month to help you.

Besides being professionals, network members have experienced the relocation process and know many of the challenges faced.

• Helpdesk

Our international teams are available in person, by phone or via email to respond to your questions and discuss relocation to the Netherlands. Our teams are in The Hague, Amsterdam, Amstelveen and Utrecht.

You can also volunteer to be on one of our teams. Check Information Sessions on our website for more details.

• Trainers

Our trainers can provide you with a range of services: career development, childbirth preparation, cross-cultural understanding, higher education and career guidance for young adults, holistic health, language & communication, life transition, and much more

Since 1986, ACCESS has aided internationals relocating to the Netherlands. To manage this transition, we assist with answering your questions to make a new ‘home’ far from home. Our brief ACCESS overview details how we can help you – just after arrival and in the days, months and years to follow. access-nl.org

Courses

Childbirth and first aid courses English (in several cities) support starting a family and solving first aid emergencies. trainers are often expatriates themselves and understand the challenges of giving birth far from ‘home’, while also knowing Dutch practices.

Magazine

and online copies of the ACCESS Magazine provide regular features helping internationals to about their new ‘home’ and familiarise themselves with the country, culture, food, travel, and ACCESS partners.

• Partners

Our trusted partners support us, and we in turn support them in a variety of ways. We encourage you to use the services provided by our partners. Do let them know you heard about them through us. See pages 41-42.

• Volunteering

ACCESS could not function without its volunteers from more than 40 countries. You can volunteer on a helpdesk team in The Hague, Amsterdam, Amstelveen or Utrecht. We provide training so that you can support internationals in the same way as you have been supported. We also need volunteers on our social media team, magazine, and website, among other teams.

Naturally Netherlands

We live in a small country, criss-crossed by roads, motorways, railway tracks and canals, and interspersed with villages, towns, and industrial zones. So how has such a country managed to contribute so much to nature?

BY JOANNA BOUMA

It’s a wonder there’s any nature in the Netherlands at all, being the 27th most densely-populated country in the world. And indeed, many newcomers may look around and – because they don’t see acres of forest, imposing mountains or lots of wild animals – think there’s no nature here at all.

But while nature in the Netherlands is limited to specific areas and certainly needs a helping hand, as it does everywhere, only a few of us are perhaps aware of what flora and fauna are living – and thriving –across the country and in our coastal and inland waters.

Dutch in support

Did you know the Netherlands was instrumental in repopulating the seal population of Europe after the Phocine morbillivirus nearly wiped them out in the ‘80s? Or that it’s a rest and recuperation place for migratory birds? That huge colony of cuttlefish feeds and breeds here every year? That there are banks of wild oysters and soft corals in the waters around the land? That the country has a population of wild cats, and that orca, humpback whales, sperm whales, dolphin, and porpoise swim off its coast?

PHOTO: NATUURMONUMENTEN JAN KOPPELAAR

PHOTO: NATUURMONUMENTEN CINDY VAN DEN BROECKE

PHOTO: THOMAS BORMANS

That otters and beavers frolic in inland water bodies?

That the country plays a role in the breeding and releasing of Przewalski’s wild horses and European bison? That the Netherlands has 19 species of bat and is again becoming home to predators like the sea eagle, wolf, jackal and wild cat?

Love of nature

The Netherlands is also home to many groups working in nature conservation. There are branches of international organisations like the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Greenpeace, Sea Shepherd, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Rewilding Europe, and more. There are also a lot of national organisations that work for nature. This article looks at just one of them Natuurmonumenten – loosely translated as nature monuments but its official English language name is the ‘Dutch Society for Nature Conservation’.

organisations that try to protect nature by keeping humans away, but Natuurmonumenten argues that when people experience nature first-hand, they’ll start loving it and take a more active part in protecting it.

Seek and Explore

So, leave museums and city sightseeing behind, go on a voyage of discovery and visit some Natuurmonumenten sites – their website has a map showing sites around the country. You can choose the activity you’d like to do – walking, animal spotting, visiting historic sites, cycling, clean-ups, boat trips, etc. Many activities are suitable for the whole family and wheelchair users. And you can even hold corporate activities and meetings in a place surrounded by nature.

More info

The Natuurmonumenten protects over 300 natuurgebieden (nature reserves) across the Netherlands. You can support it by becoming a member (€3.25 a month), donating, volunteering, purchasing from their website, and just getting out there! natuurmonumenten.nl

Life in parallel

Natuurmonumenten is a society of almost 900,000 members and donors which manages 110,000 hectares of nature in the Netherlands. These figures mean it’s one of the largest non-governmental nature organisations here and can thus exert some degree of influence at a local and national level. In a nutshell, Natuurmonumenten protects nature and the cultural heritage of its sites, promotes new nature, influences the protection of nature outside its own sites, and advocates on behalf of ecosystems and biodiversity. Many conservation organisations try to keep nature and humans separate and while this has its merits, Natuurmonumenten encourages people to go out into nature. This may be a different stance to other nature

While there could be more nature in the Netherlands – as there could everywhere else – there’s still enough here, but you need to keep your eyes open to spot it. Look out for different species of birds and count them – you’ll be surprised how many you see. Look up at twilight – even in urban areas – to spot bats. Look down on woodland paths to see the tracks of animals that have passed before you. Look through the forest to see if you can spot where wild boar have been rooting for grubs. And on beaches and lake shores, scan the horizon for those elusive sea eagles and see what kind of shells lie along the water’s edge at low tide.

You’re unlikely to see wolves, jackals, and wild cats as they shy away from people, but you might be lucky to capture them on film. Good luck. And enjoy! «

About the author

Joanna Bouma and her dog Cinta (which means ‘love’ in Malay) live in The Hague. Joanna is a freelance writer/editor/ translator and enjoys nature, hiking and playing badminton (which she plays very badly!). Cinta enjoys walks and food.

Natuurmonumenten is a highly-respected organisation in the Netherlands.

Year of the Rabbit

An estimated two billion people celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year (or Spring Festival) around the world but what is the connection between this event and animals? We look at the traditions and superstitions associated with the Chinese zodiac and the Year of the Rabbit.

BY SANDRA SILVA

Legend has it that Chinese Lunar New Year festivities stem from an ancient battle against a terrifying beast called the Nian (which sounds like ‘year’ in Mandarin) that showed up every New Year’s Eve. The Nian (sometimes depicted as a fierce lion) would eat crops, kill livestock, and terrorise people. After discovering the Nian was afraid of loud noises and the colour red, locals began creating their own ‘monster’ with red paper and bamboo, donned red clothing, and set off loud firecrackers to scare him away.

Come together

Let the festivities begin...

Celebrations for Chinese

Lunar New Year have been held in The Hague [Chinatown] since 2002. Dances, traditional music, acrobatics, and different forms of martial arts are exhibited in the heart the city. Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Almere also mark the annual event.

Chinese Lunar New Year starts on the second new moon after the winter solstice. In Chinese culture today, the Lunar New Year (or Spring Festival) signifies a time for family, reunion and enjoying meals together with ‘lucky’ dishes like fish (for prosperity), dumplings and spring rolls (wealth); oranges (fullness); noodles (happiness and longevity) and special sweet rice cakes called nian gao (higher income and position). Children receive red envelopes containing money to wish them health, growth, and good studies for the coming year. But despite these positive associations with Chinese

Lunar New Year, there are also certain things to avoid like washing or cutting one’s hair (seen as washing away one’s future) or buying books (considered an invitation for bad luck as the Mandarin word for ‘book’ sounds the same as the word for ‘lose’).

Light celebration

Chinese Lunar New Year can continue for up to two weeks! The last evening of the celebration is marked by the Lantern Festival where beautiful lanterns (paper or otherwise) are lit in temples and homes or carried during a night parade. It’s believed this particular tradition dates back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD) when Buddhist monks honoured Buddha by lighting lanterns.

Creature comforts

Chinese Lunar New Year follows the Chinese zodiac calendar which has a 12-year cycle. Each new (Lunar) year is represented by an animal with its own attributes and cultural meaning and is believed to have come from zoolatry (worship of animals). According to legend, the Jade Emperor (Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Pure Felicity and Majestic Heavenly Lights and Ornaments) wanted to select twelve animals to be his guards and summoned all creatures on earth to participate in a race to his palace. The emperor then created the Chinese zodiac based on the order by which the animals arrived.

The dragon is the most coveted sign in the Chinese zodiac with births in China peaking in dragon years.

It is said the cat and rat travelled together on the ox’s back but as the ox crossed a river, the rat pushed the cat into the water and then claimed first place by jumping off the ox’s back and dashing to the feet of the Emperor. So, the ox became the second animal in the Chinese zodiac followed by the tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.

Did you know...

These animals are also found in the zodiacs of South Korea, North Korea, Singapore, and Cambodia but in Japan, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar, the animals – and their order – differ slightly.

Feeling hopeful

2023 is the Year of the Rabbit – the fourth animal in the twelve-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac – and is a period symbolised by hope. Back in the days of the Jade Emperor, it is said the rabbit set off a day early to reach the palace but when it got there, no other animals had yet arrived. Thinking it was ‘assured victory’, the rabbit went for a little nap but upon waking, discovered three other animals (rat, ox, tiger) had already shown up and so had to be content with fourth place.

The Year of the Rabbit symbolises longevity, peace, and prosperity so 2023 is predicted to be a year of hope. Those born in the Year of the Rabbit are thought to be gentle, quiet, elegant, eloquent, friendly, witty, patient, and responsible and tend to be successful in the fields of art, music, architecture, literature, translation, public relations, and business consultation.

Animal matters

Away from rabbits, the key attributes of the other eleven Chinese zodiac animals are:

• Rat: Quick-witted, resourceful, kind

• Ox: Diligent, dependable, determined

• Tiger: Brave, competitive, unpredictable

• Dragon: Confident, intelligent, enthusiastic

• Snake: Enigmatic, intelligent, wise

• Horse: Animated, active, energetic

• Goat: Calm, gentle, sympathetic

• Monkey: Sharp, smart, curious

• Rooster: Observant, hardworking, courageous

• Dog: Lovely, honest, prudent

• Pig: Compassionate, generous, diligent

Lucky signs

Each animal of the Chinese zodiac also has its own fortuitous symbols regarding numbers, colours, flowers, and directions. For those born in the Year

of the Rabbit, auspicious numbers are three, four and nine; the best colours red, pink, purple and blue; and the luckiest flowers jasmine and lilies. If we consider directions, those born in the Year of the Rabbit will find the best fortune in the east, south and northwest, and have the most luck in January, April, August, and November. That said, individuals born in the Year of the Rabbit are advised to avoid numbers one, seven and eight and the colours brown, dark yellow and white to attract the most luck. But whichever Chinese zodiac animal you happen to be, hope you are having a very happy Year of the Rabbit! «

About the author

PHOTO: SJ KC8AU

Schools: Heart of the Community

Amersfoort

• Amersfoort International School

Admissions: +31 6 57 25 70 60 contact@amersfoortinternationalschool.nl amersfoortinternationalschool.nl

Starting in 2023-2024, AIS will offer an English-language international primary education for children from 4 to 12 years old. Currently candidate IB World School.

Amsterdam

• Amity International School Amsterdam

Admissions: +31 20 345 44 81 admissions@amityamsterdam.nl amityschool.nl

IB World School offering PYP, MYP and DP for students ages 3-18. Not-for-profit international school surrounded by green spaces with a focus on inquiry, creativity and independence.

Amsterdam

• The British School of Amsterdam

Admissions: +31 20 679 78 40 admissions@britams.nl britams.nl

Forward looking, forward thinking: the best that British international education offers. A thriving school community which empowers everyone to be the very best they can be.

Amsterdam

• International School of Amsterdam

Admissions: +31 20 347 11 11 admissions@isa.nl isa.nl

ISA is a globally-recognised leader in educating for international understanding. Founded in 1964, ISA was the first school in the world to offer all core IB programmes from the age of 2 to 18.

Amsterdam / Haarlem

• Winford Bilingual Primary School

Admissions: +31 20 751 66 50 info@winford.nl winford-bilingual.nl

High quality bilingual primary education in English & Dutch. Our students follow the Dutch, UK, and IPC curricula, in Amsterdam, Haarlem and The Hague as of September 2023.

Delft

• International School Delft

Admissions: +31 15 285 00 38 or +31 15 820 02 08 admissions@internationalschooldelft.org internationalschooldelft.com

IBPYP/IBMYP/IBDP. Young growing IB World School for 3-18 yrs. Caring international staff & community, focus on Innovation & Design.

The Hague / Wassenaar

• American School of The Hague

Admissions: +31 70 512 10 60 admissions@ash.nl ash.nl

From a single classroom in the early 1950s to nearly 1,300 students, the ASH journey is rich with history and experiences that connect our community through the decades.

The Hague

• British School in The Netherlands

Admissions: + 31 70 315 40 77 admissions@britishschool.nl britishschool.nl

Primary/GCSE/A level/IBDP/IBCP/BTEC. International school for 3-18 years, 80+ nationalities. Inspiration & challenge for the whole child, creating global citizens who can build a better world.

The Hague

• HSV International School

Admissions: +31 70 318 49 51 id.admissions@hsvdenhaag.nl hsvid.nl

Preschool/Primary/Special Education. International Primary School offering international education to children aged 3-11 years old. Four locations in different areas of The Hague.

Rotterdam

• Nord Anglia International School Rotterdam (NAISR)

Admissions: +31 10 422 53 51 admissions@naisr.nl nordangliaeducation.com/rotterdam

We open doors to learning and provide life-changing experiences that inspire and enable every child to fl ourish, now and in their future lives. Children from 3-18 on one site.

• International Waldorf School of The Hague

Admissions: +31 70 783 00 30 info@iwsth.org internationalwaldorfschool.nl

IWSTH distinguishes itself through the integration of cognitive and artistic education. Our balanced educational approach addresses learning that occurs with the head, heart and hands.

• International School of The Hague

Admissions: +31 70 328 14 50 ishthehague.nl

IPC/IBMYP/IBDP/IBCP. We offer children aged from 4-18 high quality international education, inspiring personal excellence in our strong and diverse community.

Rotterdam

• Harbour International School

Admissions: +31 10 448 22 66 veroniquez@harbouribsr.nl harbourinternational.nl

Primary international school for 4-11 yrs. Differentiated curriculum, a safe and caring environment help foster and develop all children’s potential.

• Rotterdam International Secondary School (RISS)

Admissions: +31 10 890 77 44 admissions.riss@wolfert.nl riss.wolfert.nl

Moving countries is hard but choosing the best IB school for your child shouldn't be. RISS offers a range of programmes from its innovative foundation curriculum and IGCSEs to the IBDP and IBCP.

Can we help you?

Academic institutions are communities of families, staff, students and support teams–the people ACCESS has been serving for more than 36 years. These institutions invest in us so we can continue to serve internationals throughout the Netherlands.

Are you an international school? Can we help you? Would you like to join us? Get in touch; we are ‘here to help’.

Contact:

Deborah Valentine edirector@access-nl.org access-nl.org

Rotterdam The Hague

The Hague

Enriching learning experiences

One of the many advantages of being situated among the wooded dunes on the south side of The Hague, an area of unique natural beauty, is the opportunity our students get to connect with nature every day.

Kentucky, Blondie, Salmon Ella, and Gertrudis live a life of leisure on campus as the Chickeneers in Years 7 to 12 look after them every day. This co-curricular activity, for which students can earn important experiences that count towards the service component of their curriculum, teaches children all about how to take care of animals including feeding, cleaning out their coop, and carrying out any necessary repairs to keep them safe.

Chickeneers even get to experience growing their own food, using the rich soil next to the chicken coop to grow a variety of vegetables and herbs such as tomatoes, carrots, peppers, rosemary, and more. It turns out the ISH chickens have an appetite for sage, mint, and spinach.

ishthehague.nl

The International School of The Hague (ISH) has its very own lake, populated with diverse flora and fauna, and an eco-area where students and staff can spend breaks, and have lessons outside whenever possible.

Students from both Primary and Secondary make use of the space for a multitude of outdoor activities from testing their first solar-panelled boats to monitoring changing weather conditions. But it is not just the students who benefit from these beautiful surroundings – meet the ISH… chickens.

It is another example of high-quality learning and the school’s commitment to a wide variety of ways our students can find their passions and personal excellence. Aside from the obvious experiential benefit, students who want to, get to take the eggs home to their families.

A big thank you to Ms. Lira who had the vision for this project in 2019 and has consistently inspired an enthusiastic and compassionate group of students ever since.

Always searching for ways to enrich our students’ learning experiences, her next project will be creating a butterfly habitat. «

070 328 14 50

It turns out the ISH chickens have an appetite for sage, mint, and spinach.

Dogs ‘n’ cats … and ferrets?

BY STEVE VOYCE

For

Bringing your pet to the Netherlands from inside the EU

Pets from European Union (EU) Member States may enter the Netherlands through any border crossing, if they comply with certain requirements. Within the EU there are harmonised regulations for the noncommercial transportation of dogs, cats–and ferrets. Anyone travelling with a pet that is not a dog, cat or ferret should contact the Nederlandse Voedsel- en Warenautoriteit (Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority–NVWA–which is part of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality) for more information.

Requirements

Your dog, cat or ferret needs to have an identity (ID) microchip or a readable tattoo applied before July 2011 and an EU Pet Passport, which is issued by a veterinarian (vet). All animals older than three months must have been vaccinated against rabies and this needs to be certified by a vet in the passport. It is important to remember that these regulations also apply whenever you take your pet outside the country. So, if you plan to take your pet on vacation outside the Netherlands you will need to make sure their rabies vaccination is up to date (and check the regulations of the country you plan to travel to).

Bringing your pet to the Netherlands from outside the EU

Third countries are countries outside the EU, although some countries that are not EU member states are considered EU member states for travelling with your pet.

If you are travelling with your cat, dog, or ferret to the Netherlands from a third country, it is important to check whether you are coming from a low-risk or a high-risk country regarding rabies. The NVWA website has full, up-todate lists of these countries.

many, a pet is an important member of the family so when you move to another country, you take it with you. Even your ferret. Or perhaps you live in the Netherlands and are thinking about adding a bundle of fur to your life. Let’s sort out the facts from the fluff.

Did you know... The English word “pet” originates from the Middle English word “petty”,“small”.meaning

Pets in the Netherlands

For more information about owning a pet in the Netherlands try the ACCESS or NVWA websites (in English).

access-nl.org/relocating-tonetherlands/first-threemonths/pets-in-thenetherlands/having-a-pet

english.nvwa.nl/topics/ travelling-to-the-netherlandswith-your-dog-or-cat

If you are travelling from a low-risk country, your pet will need to have an ID microchip and must have been vaccinated against rabies 21 days prior to entry into the EU, have a veterinary certificate issued by an authorised veterinarian, and a pet owner’s declaration.

High-risk countries

In addition to complying with the regulations for traveling from low-risk countries, if travelling from a high-risk country your pet must have a blood sample taken at least 30 days after their rabies vaccination, to establish the amount of rabies antibodies. Your vet sends the sample to an EU- approved laboratory to confirm your pet is cleared to travel. However, you need to wait at least three calendar months from the date the sample was taken before you travel. If you have travelled from or through Ireland, Finland, Malta, Norway, or the United Kingdom, your pet must be dewormed against Echinococcus multilocularis. Check the NVWA website for further information.

From the United Kingdom to the Netherlands

If you want to travel, or return, to the Netherlands from the United Kingdom (UK), your pet does not need a blood test, but your dog, cat or ferret must have an ID microchip, an EU Pet Passport or an animal health certificate issued by the official authority in the UK, as well as a valid rabies vaccination (the pet may not travel until 21 days after the first dose).

Arrival in the Netherlands

You do not have to notify the NVWA that you are bringing your pet before arriving in the Netherlands. When arriving at the airport, ferry terminal or by train in the Netherlands (or Channel Tunnel terminal in France, if driving from the UK), you must report your pet to customs, who will verify the chip, accompanying health certificate, and other documents. If your pet meets the EU-import requirements, it does not need to be quarantined. If not, customs will hand over your pet to an official veterinarian, who could decide to quarantine the animal or to send it back to its country of origin. If your pet needs to be placed in quarantine, as the owner you will be charged with all costs, so it is best to make sure you start the necessary preparations months before your trip.

Pet insurance

Pets can be expensive if they get ill or injured so, while it is not compulsory in the Netherlands, it is wise to consider pet insurance. Insurance policies can fit your budget and needs depending on the level of cover you opt for. However, be aware that most vets will charge you the full cost for any treatments or medicines, and you will need to claim back these costs from the insurers.

Pet tax

Although many Dutch municipalities have scrapped the hondenbelasting (annual dog tax), around 200 still impose it–the amount can vary from area to area, with extra charges also added for additional dogs. Check your municipality website for more information. Cats and other pets do not require registration or tax.

PHOTO: BONNIE KITTLE

International

Get the right vet

When arriving in the Netherlands, or getting a new pet, it is a good idea to register with a local vet as soon as possible. In most cities and towns, you will likely find one within walking distance, and in the countryside, a vet might be a short drive away. Ask fellow pet owners for recommendations or search online for dierenarts (veterinarians) and dierenartspraktijk (veterinarian practice) in your area.

In case of emergency, your vet or insurer will probably have a 24-hour phone service, or you can find a Dieren Spoedkliniek (emergency veterinarian) online or call the local Dierenambulance (Animal Ambulance).

Eating and walking

Pet food and treats can be bought in most supermarkets. In specialised animal stores and most garden centres, you can also find beds, toys, games, baskets, and other accessories.

Dogs must always be kept on a leash on the street. In many parks they can go without a leash (check local regulations and signs). Be sure that your dog is well-trained, will behave well, and will return to you before allowing it off the leash. Dogs are also allowed on beaches–except during the summer months–but possibly on a leash early in the morning or in the late evening. Check signs at beaches for dates and regulations.

Irrespective of where you take your dog, you must always clean up after it. Bags or special ‘pooper scoopers’ are available at pet shops and veterinarians. There are fines for those who do not clean up after their dog.

Water buffalo?

The Dutch government has a list of 30 authorised animal species that can be in private ownership, including common pets such as dogs, cats, ferrets, guinea pigs, and rabbits. Camels, gerbils, and water buffalo can be kept, provided the animals are well taken care of, but from January 2024 you will no longer be allowed to keep animals such as serval cats, meerkats, and sloths.

Tell you a tail

As with many things in life, forewarned is forearmed so whatever pet you have and whether you are moving from or to the Netherlands, be sure to do your research, secure the relevant documentation and vaccinations, and prepare well in advance to ensure that you – and your fur baby – can make the journey as smooth as possible. «

About the author

Pets can be expensive if they get ill or injured so it is wise to consider pet insurance.

PHOTO: STEVE TSANG

Community | Dogs ‘n’ cats… and ferrets?

Alpacas make their mark

Alpacas are curious, fluffy animals with large eyes. Although native to South America, they have been living in the Netherlands for 25 years, and their general cuteness and calming manner have made ‘walking with an alpaca’ a popular activity here.

BY OLIVIA VAN DEN BROEK-NERI

Mayke Engels, owner of River Forelands Alpaca Farm (Wamel, Gelderland), offers several activities with alpacas, but the most popular is going on a walk with the animal, attracting customers from across the country. Engels explains that alpacas walk at a slow pace and allow you to enjoy your surroundings and the location of her farm is also part of that calming experience. “We are living near the river”, she says, “and there is nothing; no cars, no traffic.” People visit River Forelands to get away from it all.

“[Our customers] tell me they feel like they are in the South of France, and it is so relaxed with the animals,” says Mayke.

Walking with an alpaca is also a calming exercise because the animal acts as a mirror to the handler. “When people are too hasty, I can see it in the animals,” Engels explains. When she sees an uncalm alpaca, she explains to the handler that their stress is transferring to the animal. “If you are calm, then the animal will be calm as well,” she says.

Although the ‘alpaca walk’ activity continues to gain popularity and attract frequent – and repeat – visitors throughout the year, there are also other opportunities to see the alpacas. “From March until October, we have baby alpacas on the farm,” says Engels. “They are very cute and are born with a lot of wool and very big eyes.” Engels explains that alpaca mothers are okay with people visiting their babies and are quite used to visitors. “You can get very close to them during the experience,” she adds.

Visiting River Forelands

It starts with coffee or tea and then the chance to feed the breeding females and babies if they are there. That is followed by an introduction and a one-hour walk near the river in the forest. Visitors are matched with an alpaca that is used to the activity. “We have special alpacas for the walking experience,” she Engels. “There are other alpaca breeders who are doing these types of tourist activities, but there are not many that do both breeding and tourism,” says Engels.

Breeding alpacas

“We started with a breeding programme because we would like to improve the species in the Netherlands,” says Engels. This is a long-term commitment because alpacas’ pregnancy takes one year. Engels started her business 10 years ago with just two alpacas and now has approximately 40 in her herd. Because alpacas are social animals, she only sells a minimum of two alpacas per sale, also because the animals require a lot of space.

PHOTO: AMBER DEKKER

One of Engel’s customers is Amber Dekker who purchased three alpacas for pets. The idea to purchase them came about when she noticed that the fruit trees on her urban farming land created a lot of rubbish. At first, she thought about getting goats or horses but then decided against it as horses can destroy grass, and goats can destroy everything, including trees! “About three years ago, we went to an alpaca show and met Mayke with her alpaca,” says Dekker. During this show, her children also got to walk with one of the baby alpacas and that is when the love for the animal began. Dekker’s alpaca family are Bink (four years old), Tasman (three) and Kenyi (one). “They are very kind to one another,” she says, “and always playing with each other.”

On her farm, Dekker’s alpacas move between three grass areas, so they always have fresh food. Her neighbours also enjoy the animals, and some people can even pet them. “They are very independent

however, and decide if someone can pet them or not,” says Dekker. “We never force them.” This was a lesson that she and her family learned first-hand. “In the beginning we tried to pet them, but then they would not approach us anymore. Now they approach us all the time.”

Although Dekker enjoys her alpacas, she warns that world-be buyers attracted by the cute looks should really invest in getting information before buying an alpaca because they are very shy animals. “They are not the pets everyone thinks they are,” says Dekker. «

About the author

California-native Olivia van den Broek-Neri works as Project Coordinator Communications & Events at Holland Expat Centre South in Eindhoven and was previously an ACCESS volunteer. She and her husband share their home with Lola.

PHOTOS: MAYKE ENGELS

Walking with an alpaca is also a calming exercise.

Help during a divorce

important issue as you cannot simply move (back) abroad with a child. Also, the fact as to whether or not taxes are paid in the Netherlands plays a more common role in expat cases in terms of making alimony calculations and outlining the financial picture after the divorce.

What are the benefits of mediation?

A major advantage of mediation is that you reach mutual agreements and thus decide on important issues in your life together. Another advantage is that mediation is often a much faster process than going to court for a divorce. The length of the process is often up to you. The mediator will follow your pace as much as possible. An additional advantage is that mediation is often less expensive and less burdensome than legal proceedings.

Mediation for expats

It can be especially complicated during the time of a break-up to keep track of all the emotional – and legal and financial – consequences of a divorce, and this is all the more evident if the divorce is initiated in a country in which you are not originally from because you live and work there as an expat.

Divorce with the help of a mediator

A lawyer-mediator can provide you with the necessary overview and guidance, so it becomes clear where you stand. With a mediator, the applicable law is explained – is it, for example, the law of the country where you currently live, where you were married, or perhaps the law of the country of your nationality – and your specific situation is considered.

For instance, in expat cases – much more than in other cases – the issue of whether you both want to continue living in the Netherlands comes into play. If there are children born from the marriage, this is certainly an

In conclusion

Do you need help from a mediator with a divorce?

GMW lawyers employ specialised divorce mediators who will be pleased to assist you. If you have any further questions or would like to make an appointment, please feel free to get in touch. «

Deciding to end your marriage or relationship is difficult and brings many emotions as the path where you decide to leave each other as partners is set. Important decisions and agreements also need to be made during an already difficult time.

GMW Advocaten can help.

MARCELLA VERWOERD

The mediator will follow your pace as much as possible.

PHOTO: PRISCILLA DU PREEZ

Fresh at home

Growing your own food has always been seen as a beneficial activity, which is why the ‘allotment garden’ has a long and rich history in the Netherlands and around Europe. Since the seventeenth century, townspeople in small cities have grown vegetables for their own use on small patches of land allocated to them by local municipalities. Next to that, many have also included cheese making in their portfolio. Let’s find out more.

BY LYNETTE CROXFORD

An increasing number of scientific studies have found that gardening is an effective stress reliever and has health benefits beyond the physical. However, the most exciting thing about growing

Growing vegetables at home also means you will be doing your bit for the environment by helping to cut down on CO2 emissions.

your own food is getting to eat well in every season. To start off, you can use a small area of your back garden or begin even smaller by getting a few pots from a garden centre. There is usually a bunch of choices per season that are pre-potted and ready to go. To do gardening right, you just need a plan.

Your monthly guide to growing

At the start of the European year, it is too cold to plant much outside apart from the hardy Jerusalem artichoke that needs little care and can survive in most soil types. By mid-February, you can start sowing lettuce, broad beans, summer cabbage and spinach and put them on a sunny windowsill or in an indoor mini greenhouse. In March, the first crops can go straight into the ground. The temperature will be high enough for plants to survive. Should the soil still be a little too cold, you can pre-heat the soil by partially covering it with transparent plastic for about ten days.

Did you know...

PHOTO: MARKUS SPISKE

Get started...

• Allotments (volkstuinen) can be found across the country. More info at the Dutch national organisation for allotments (Algemene Vereniging van Volkstuinen Nederland). avvn.nl/home

• Cheese making kits can easily be found online, and in some specialist (physical) stores. Vegan cheese making kits (Vegan kaaskit) are also available.

April and May are both prime sowing months. All the sensitive plants you have kept indoors can now go into the ground and start to flourish. Keep an eye on the weather for possible cold nights or frost, however, and in that case, it is always good to cover the ground or the leaves with plastic.

Mid-year is plant heaven. The warm, moist earth and rising temperatures make growing ideal. This is also the last chance to get new plants into the garden. Late summer is not ideal. Crops that start growing quickly when they experience short or chilly days, e.g. chicory, endive, and Chinese cabbage, can be sown in June.

By autumn, start to sow for next year. Swiss chard, spring onions and cabbages lend themselves well to this. Lettuce, spinach, and radishes can still be sown for the current season. As an extra tip, you can sow mustard in empty boxes which will help improve the fertility of your vegetable garden. September is the last time you can sow radishes, cress, lettuce, and rocket. In addition, spinach and head lettuce can also be sown. Garlic cloves and the first onions can be put in the ground for next year. Make sure you get the right variety since not all are suitable.

Mid-October is the time for planting fruit trees. This period continues until the ground freezes. Vegetables such as white and Savoy cabbage and head lettuce will still grow fine in a greenhouse. If you have a sheltered warm garden, you can sow broad beans for overwintering in November, otherwise better wait until spring.

Other homemade goodies

Apart from veggies, you can also venture into making cheese at home with your own cheese-making kit (kaasmaak pakket). It is not as complicated as you might think, and there are quite a few cheeses that are easy and quick to produce at home. Lactic cheese consists of milk, salt and added vinegar to separate the curds. After straining the cheese to a desired dryness, it is ready to eat. This can take as little as an hour. Goat cheese is made from a similar process and great to mix with herbs and spices. Citric acid is used in recipes for fresh Italian cheeses like mozzarella and mascarpone. Cheeses made like this – rather than through fermentation – are “quickset”. With this wonderful shortcut, the time it takes to acidify and coagulate the milk is much reduced. A variety of kits are available to get you started on your home cheese making journey.

Start today

Why not use the energy of the new season to get plants or go in search of the perfect cheese making kit to get you started. With minimal time and input, you could create a seasonal menu to get more variety into your diet and benefit from the health benefits at the same time. There are many resources online and a number of gardening clubs across the country from which to get advice and inspiration. There is no time like the present! «

About the author

Lynette Croxford was born in South Africa and moved to South Holland over 10 years ago. She has two daughters, a dog called Trixy, and enjoys photography, running and exploring cities on foot.

The most exciting thing about growing your own food is getting to eat well in every season.

Live your best life

But does the pursuit of perfection make us happy?

BY KATARINA GABOROVA

Sylvia, a talented, creative, smart web-designer in her late thirties found herself hiding in the toilet. The darkest and smallest space that she could find in her house. Hoping that nobody (especially her two daughters aged 3 and 6) would find her for at least five minutes.

“I need to catch a breath,” she was thinking, while scoffing the last pieces of some chocolate. “I don’t want my girls to see me like this,” she thought, while licking the corners of her mouth and feeling anxious, disappointed in herself and guilty… and all the while questioning her parenting skills.

Sylvia feels bad for eating chocolate while on a newly prescribed diet. She is nervous about an evening meeting with her boss. She has ‘failed’ once again for not hitting the gym even though she promised herself that she would start three weeks ago. Sylvia picks up her phone and sends a message to her best friend, “I feel so fragile.”

Highs and lows

Studies show that most of us never make the designated ‘finish line’ of the goals we put in place. In fact, by constantly chasing bigger and better achievements, we end up putting more stress on ourselves and unknowingly contribute to our own unhappiness. With social media bombarding us

We have all been there… making New Year’s resolutions, setting lofty goals, wanting to get fit, quit smoking, acquire new skills

Did you know... Happiness has been scientifically shown to boost your immune system.

PHOTO: CATALIN POP

with images of perfection and dream lives, it’s easy to fall into the comparison trap and feel as if we are in a never-ending race to keep-up and not get behind in life. The ticking clock in the back of our minds reminds us that if we don’t act fast, some opportunities will pass forever. But is this really the case?

Level-up

According to positive psychology, we can actually achieve ‘great things’ and fulfill our resolutions whilst still feeling a sense of personal growth. All we need to do is say ‘goodbye’ to media pressure and comparisons and instead focus on our own personal journey towards happiness. Each one of us has a baseline level of happiness. It’s a combination of genetics (50%), our thoughts and actions or ‘internal state of mind’ (40%), and external circumstances that happen to us (10 %).

• Exercise for body strength to ensure optimal function and serotonin production.

• Practise gratitude by savouring the good things in life and expressing them.

• Invest energy in things you can change and help others – it makes us feel good!

• Prioritise relationships with family and friends instead of overworking.

• Evaluate progress and growth regularly vs. focusing on what is missing.

And remember every small step is a step forward, is beneficial, and is getting you somewhere.

Take note

The key is to make changes mindfully while checking on our internal state of mind and having a supportive network. Each one of us is unique and moving at our own pace. Setting goals and resolutions and wanting to grow may be a great human journey but it should be a more mindful journey towards happiness. We need to consider our physical and mental well-being whilst prioritising meaningful connections. And with the right support, anything is possible and the journey towards happiness is achievable.

Positive vibes

Sonja Lyubomirsky – psychology professor and happiness researcher – defines happiness as a state of satisfaction, contentment, positive well-being, joy, a sense of worthwhile, and a ‘life is good’ type feeling. So, instead of treating life like a race, we can choose to take it slowly and focus on improving our internal state of mind.

Taking charge

Having had 20 years’ experience with positive psychology, below are some tips to help increase your internal state of mind and by default, your level of happiness.

• Invest in experiences and adventures rather than materialistic possessions.

As for Sylvia, she finally caught her breath. She lifted her head up, brushed crumbs off her sweater, smiled energetically, opened the bathroom door, and started walking towards her little girls. It all turned around because she had looked at her phone and read her best friend’s response, “You’ve got this!” «

Learn more

For more tips on how to increase your level of happiness, check out The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos (Yale professor. Scientist. Podcast host). drlauriesantos.com

About the author

Founder of K.G. Psychological Services, author of V!VA Tools for well­being and SEE BEE TEE, Katarina lives in The Hague with partner Maylon, daughters Monique and Mia, and Pomeranian Monika.

More at: katarinagaborova.com | psychologistinthehague.com

The key is to make changes mindfully while checking on our internal state of mind.

Winford Bilingual Primary School has opened in Haarlem

Bilingual education for ages 4-12

We follow the Dutch and UK National Curricula, and link them together with the International Primary Curriculum

• All subjects are taught 50% in Dutch and 50% in English

• Small class sizes allow us to focus on each individual child

• Two fully qualified teachers per classroom

• Flexible holidays

We would love to show you around!

winford-bilingual.nl | winford.nl email: info@winford.nl

FLUENT IN TWO LANGUAGES

Make learning fun!

Innovative volunteers at Bright Future Foundation have worked together to create a bilingual interactive book for Dutch and international children. With a non-formal teaching methodology, the book introduces young children to the basics of science… from the structure of the human body and its senses to seasons, weather, and nature.

The inspirational Bilingual Interactive Book has been created as part of the European Union’s (EU) Solidarity Corps Project (a volunteering programme funded by the EU for Europeans aged 18-30) and is a non-profit initiative. The book is a follow on from the Bright Future Foundations’s project Dutch for Non-Dutch which was awarded ‘Best Project of the Year 2021’ by the EU Solidarity Corps Project.

Thanks to the book’s bilingual format, parents who perhaps don’t speak Dutch can also understand the content – without the need of a dictionary – and can practise Dutch with their children in a fun learning environment.

Get reading

The Bilingual Interactive Book is available at the Koninklijke Bibliotheek (National Library of the Netherlands) in The Hague and the Bibliotheek Amstelland (Amstelland Library). In cooperation with old and new partners –and local organisations who work with the same target group – the Bright Future Foundation has created a special programme to introduce the book to readers.

Get involved

+31 6 50 41 08 08 brightfuturenl.com/ bilingual-book info@brightfuturenl.com

Get learning

The Bilingual Interactive Book has been illustrated by children aged 9-15 and contains interactive workshops and ‘scientific’ experiments to do together.

If you work with Dutch or international children and would like to offer them a great learning experience, please contact the Bright Future Foundation to make an appointment for a presentation workshop at your school or organisation. In 2023, such workshops will be provided free-of-charge and a copy of the Bilingual Interactive Book will also be gifted to your school or organisation after the event!

Between the Sea & the Sky

Amongst other things, the Covid-19 pandemic forced all of us to endure travel restrictions. But if you are a photographer–who has always challenged his own limits to reach the farthest, most unexplored lands to capture the essence of indigenous communities–then that restriction takes on a whole new meaning.

BY GIULIA QUARESIMA PHOTOGRAPHS BY JIMMY NELSON

Jimmy Nelson (UK) has travelled all over the world with his camera, capturing cultures and experiences of tribes which resulted in masterpieces like Before They Pass Away and Homage to Humanity. When travel was not possible, Nelson transformed the limitations of being stuck at home into an opportunity. This was a new project on his doorstep and made him realise he did not need to travel to the ends of the earth to discover human beauty. “I am immensely grateful for it. I discovered a world that would otherwise have remained closed to me. It has left me feeling like I belong somewhere, no matter how much I have travelled the world.” [source: Olaf Templeman in de Volkskrant - 18 September 2022]

Between the Sea & the Sky is the result of this research throughout the Netherlands, his adopted homeland for 30 years. The book chronicles the story of 20 traditional Dutch communities, adorned in characteristic dress amidst a rich and diverse environment. Seaports, dunes, and windmills are the background for the groups portrayed in their traditional clothes, revealing their Dutch identity as people shaped by landscapes at the mercy of water and weather.

Light

Nelson employed a handcrafted analogue camera –built for him by engineer Alessandro Gibellini–for this project. Following in the footsteps of Vermeer and Rembrandt, his work represents the crisp northern light. The atmosphere is ‘romantic’ with depth and contrast created by the natural light of the Netherlands.

The 20 regions presented are introduced with a bilingual Dutch/English description, offering a historical and geographical perspective alongside intriguing titbits. Alongside such facts are also legends, myths, spells, and symbols from these diverse regions.

People

As Nelson’s journey continued through these communities, he discovered a striking resemblance to the world’s remote indigenous groups: a shared sense of community.

While this may appear lost in modern society, it comes out when people put on traditional dress and recall their common roots. When visiting the inhabitants of Katwijk or Marken, “I did not proceed any differently than I did with the Papuans,” says Nelson. “First, I want to get to know a community well and build a relationship of trust with the people I am going to photograph. I do not just want to look at a place, I want to feel a place. My work is mainly known to young people, but they told their parents who I was and persuaded their grandparents to come in front of the camera as well.” [source: Olaf Templeman in de Volkskrant - 18 September 2022]

Immerse yourself

Between the Sea & the Sky ­ A photographic tribute to the Netherlands by Jimmy Nelson is available to purchase online and in bookstores. The American Book Center (ABC) kindly provided a copy of the book for our review. The ABC is an independent, family-owned bookshop with stores in Amsterdam, The Hague and Leidschendam and offers an assortment of books, magazines and merchandise as well as self-publishing services. abc.nl

Tess Zondervan, one of the girls who posed for the project, captures the magic that happens when wearing traditional clothes. “It feels like I have been lifted out of my own shoes and dropped into the clogs of my ancestors. When traditional clothes gradually begin to take shape on my body, layer by layer, pin by pin, one thing becomes clear–I am not wearing these clothes, they are wearing me–just like we wear all Marken’s stories and secrets.” [source: Between the Sea & the Sky - A photographic tribute to the Netherlands by Jimmy Nelson]

Values

This book is a tribute to the tradition, heritage – and ultimately culture – of one of the most progressive and inclusive nations in the world. A nation which sometimes may seem to have forgotten its own roots, but these values are still a fundamental part of Dutch pride and openness. “May we all, like the Dutch, continue to stand tall and proud for generations and benefit from the sea’s infinite possibilities whilst being protected by the immeasurable blanket of the sky above.”

[source: Between the Sea & the Sky - A photographic tribute to the Netherlands by Jimmy Nelson] «

About the author

Giulia Quaresima has lived in the Netherlands since 2018 and soon after, she began collaborating with ACCESS. Her passion for sharing her insights on books has grown ever since. She also loves her family dog, Keira.

STARTING A BUSINESS

An ACCESS Story

I have so many questions...

Have you checked out the ACCESS website and helpdesks?

They are geared towards helping internationals!

access-nl.org

Now that I have settled in the Netherlands, I’m looking to start my own business here.

-JOSH

That is awesome! The process is well laid out here.

What are the prerequisites?

What about finance, taxes...?

How can I learn more?

ACCESS is here to support the international community in the Netherlands.

They can provide you with all the information you need.

access-nl.org

Thank you, Naomi. I checked out the ACCESS website and found a lot of answers to my questions.

Plus, I learned so much more about living here.

Yay! Happy to be of help, Josh.

-NAOMI

Thank you for helping ACCESS

Government & Patrons

We thank and acknowledge the following for their support and trust.

• Amstelveen Municipality • City of Delft • European Medicines Agency (EMA)

• European Space Agency (ESA)/European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) • The Hague International Centre

Healthcare

Another category which speaks for itself, and includes members of our ACCESS Trainers Network.

• De Boezemvriend • Chitra Natarajan • Ingrid GustafssonHilberink • Jac Rongen • Jacinta Noonan • Linda Bosma Malley • Meida van Baal • Maggie Bijl • Truus Gale

Learning & Education

For children as well as adults, includes language centres/schools.

• American Book Center • American School of The Hague

• International Welcome Centre Utrecht Region

• IN Amsterdam

• Telespazio • TU Delft (Coming to Delft Services)

• Worley

Dual Career Support

For the particular needs and interests of accompanying spouses/partners the following may be of value.

• Angela Fusaro

• Caitriona Rush

• Colleen Reichrath-Smith

• Empower Amsterdam

• Natália Leal

• Caroline van den Bogaard

• Connecting Women

• Janet Rodenburg

• Rawia Liverpool

• Toastmasters of The Hague

The Hague

• Marie Dewulf

• Teresa Moynihan

• Veena Joseph • Volunteer

• Women’s Business Initiative International

Relocating

Whether you are planning a relocation to the Netherlands, or have recently arrived and are getting settled.

• ABN AMRO • A&F Finance • FVB De Boer • GMW Advocaten (Legal Expat Desk)

• Mynta Law Immigration Lawyers

• Prijsvergelijken • TaxSavers

Childcare

Daycare, after-school care and support for your children.

• Big Ben Kids

• Kinderopvang 2SAMEN • True Colors Childcare

• Zein International Childcare

Housing

The services of these partners speak for themselves – and cover your housing needs.

• !WOON

• Expat Mortgages • My Dutch Mortgage Online

• MLP Real Estate

• Amersfoort International School • Amity International School Amsterdam • Beatriz Laus • British School in the Netherlands

• British School of Amsterdam • Direct Dutch Institute

• Harbour International School • HSV International School

• International School of Amsterdam • International School Delft

• International School of The Hague • International Waldorf School The Hague • Kelly Lynn • Nord Anglia International School Rotterdam • Rotterdam International Secondary School

• SPEAK • Winford Bilingual Primary School • Young Expat Services

Counselling Network

• Angelika Matthias • Ann Kuis • Caroline van Diest

• Carolyn Tabak • Cristina Baroncelli • Danielle Hollreiser

• Karolina Fotyga • Lysanne Sizoo • Mariza Thanapoulou

• Nuria Maldonado Bellido • Patric Esters • Sivan Weinstein

• Sylvia Silberg

ACCESS is currently looking for new members to join our Counselling Network. If you are interested and would like to know more, please check out this link: access-nl.org/counselling/become-a-member

Acknowledging our Partners, Counsellors, Trainers & Volunteer Managers

ACCESS is grateful for many things, not the least, the work of our strong and diverse volunteer community. They do the work – but the partners invest in us so that we are able to carry out our mission to serve the international community. Should you make use of them, do mention ACCESS referred you. Should you wish to help us serve the international community and include you in our acknowledgements, get in touch with fnd@access-nl.org

IMAGE: ANNE FRANK FONDS

PHOTO: SASCHA ASSBACH

Start a new chapter of your career

with Zein International Childcare

Start a new chapter of your career with Zein International Childcare

Are you interested in working for a truly unique international childcare organisation, with children from all over the world?

Are you interested in working for a truly unique international childcare organisation, with children from all over the world?

As the leading provider of English-speaking and bilingual childcare services in the Netherlands, finding enthusiastic and dedicated staff who have a true passion for teaching, developing and caring for children is one of our top priorities.

As the leading provider of English-speaking and bilingual childcare services in the Netherlands, finding enthusiastic and dedicated staff who have a true passion for teaching, developing and caring for children is one of our top priorities.

Do you like the idea of working in a friendly team of colleagues of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds? Are you looking for a full-time, part-time, or flexible position? If so, then Zein could be just what you’re looking for!

Do you like the idea of working in a friendly team of colleagues of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds? Are you looking for a full-time, part-time, or flexible position? If so, then Zein could be just what you’re looking for!

Alongside roles for qualified teachers, we offer places on the popular Zein Academy International Talent Programme (ITP). Through the ITP, enthusiastic candidates follow a professional training programme tailored to their prior (international) work experience and educational background to obtain a recognised childcare teaching diploma.

Alongside roles for qualified teachers, we offer places on the popular Zein Academy International Talent Programme. Through the ITP, enthusiastic candidates follow a training programme tailored to their prior (international) work experience and educational background to obtain a recognised childcare teaching diploma.

Visit www.zeinchildcare.nl for more information.

Visit www.zeinchildcare.nl for more information.

With over 160 staff representing 40 nationalities, Zein really is ‘setting the standard’ in the international makeup of its workforce.

With over 160 staff representing 40 nationalities, Zein really is ‘setting the standard’ in the international makeup of its workforce.

Holiday Camps