Holland Focus Sept-Oct 2008

AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND bi-monthly magazine - price (incl GST) AUS $5.95 - NZ $6.80 - vol.3 no. 5 - SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008

holland focus

Frisian Balloon Festivities Tesselaar Tulip Festival

Join a Dutch caterpillar through the Australian Outback

www.hollandfocus.com

bloemenveiling Aalsmeer

frontpage photo by Douwe Bijlsma, see page 58 for Frisian Balloon Festivities

CONTENTS ARTICLES______________________

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9 World Press Photo 2007 10 Melbourne’s Port dredged by ‘the Queen’ 14 Jonas Kreveld Award nominations 18 Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer 22 New Dutch Academy: Brunch with Baroque 26 Melbourne International Arts Festival: That Night Follows Day and Schönberg Ensemble 30 Bokrijk in Belgium - brings back memories 33 A Dutch caterpillar through the outback 38 The man who makes pianos sing 41 Springtime! Tulip Festival in Victoria 42 30 years of shirt making by Eugene 46 A-League Football 54 Van Muiswinkel en Van Vleuten spreken Australische Ned. aan 60 Treat of the week the rise and fall of a grocery family 63 Prins Willem Alexander Village

60

COMMUNITY NEWS_____________ 48 62 62 65 66 67

REGULARS_____________________ 3 6 15 16 17 25 28 40 44 47 50 51 52 56 58 64

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Give a 1 year subscription to holland focus for only $32.50 Bonus for existing subscribers: we will give you a present too, by extending your subscription with one free extra edition for every new gi� subscription Use subscription form on page 67 and do not forget to let us know who you are

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NZ - Dutch Forum - “Onze Hoe Wie” Tasmania - Abel Tasman Art Prize Queensland - club news SA - club news NSW - club news Four generations

Editorial le�ers to the editor Who’s Who Dutch Cuisine Pim - The kingdom of Belgium Dutch/Flemish cinema - Darren Arnold Taals Taaltje - Hebban olla uogala boekbespreking / book review Van AA tot Zwuup Voor Groot, Klein en Jong Kiwikorrels - Frans Hertoghs Verbeeldingen - Frans Hertoghs kruiswoordpuzzel eropuit - events in the Netherlands Marcia - ‘B’ is voor bakker Fryslân Boppe - Balloon Festivities Profile of... John Newland

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editorial

G’Day

‘Dutch’ Outback Safari words and photos Jacob van Splunter It really was a exciting moment. A�er almost two years of preparation and a long trip from Schiphol via Hong Kong and Sydney, 21 Dutch checked in at the Britz car hire depot in Alice Springs. It took more than two hours to organise all the paperwork, but a�er that the first Fivesenses Outback Safari really started. The Dutch tour operator Fivesenses and the Australian Global Gypsies joined forces for a tag-along through two of the most inhospitable areas of Australia: the Tanami Desert and the Kimberley. I had the pleasure to be allowed to (jointly) coach this trip as Dutch travel guide and also to report about it.

I already have been writing about Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific for more than twelve years, but what would be nicer than to offer the readers to set off -escorted- by themselves?

But would people be interested? Would the Dutch get enthusiastic about a tagalong trip? The answer came quickly, because the trip was booked out. And to judge by the responses a�erwards it was a resounding success.

Inhospitable deserts and the outback were roamed in a

smooth and safe way. Travel in convoy appeared to be a good combination of individual travel within a group. In the privacy of your own 4WD bush camper the convoy ensures security and comfort.

In this Holland Focus we bring a detailed report of the Outback Safari. But the safari a�racted a�ention in the field of science too. The Murdoch University in Perth and the Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre study the impact of 4WDtourism through remote areas and kept a close track of the activities of this particular safari.

And at the end of this year an academically justified report will be published.

To put it shortly: no lack of interest for this safari. For 2009 the second outback safari has already been planned. I certainly wish you much reading pleasure with this new Holland Focus and perhaps I will welcome you, at next year’s ‘Dutch’ Outback Safari. Because Dutchies Down Under are of course very welcome on this Australian and Dutch speaking safari.

An advertisement with more information on page 37.

Registration has started! www.hollandfocus.com - 3

Retirees make

five-star resort living

their home

For years people have flocked to Queensland from the eastern states and across Australia to experience the benefits of the sunny weather and a more relaxed pace of life. Beachmere Sands Lifestyle Resort, planned over a 300 acre site on Moreton Bay, delivers five star luxury surrounds aimed at the 55 plus retirees.

PeopleFirst Retirement Living Chairman Paul Wheeler says it’s li�le wonder people are a�racted to Beachmere Sands because it’s the best retirement option in the country.

“Beachmere Sands is positioned in an enviable location - between the calm of the water and vitality of a seaside village - and a great deal of a�ention has gone into all stages of its development,” Mr Wheeler said.

“People are choosing a precinct that best suits their lifestyle, aspirations and budget and this award-winning resort meets all considerations,” he said.

Beachmere Sands is set in beautifully landscaped gardens with security gate entry, on-site management and 24 hour emergency care. Villas are available with a choice of two bedrooms with or without study and three bedrooms.

All have been built to exacting standards with five star finishes throughout such as extra height ceilings, reverse cycle air-conditioning, engineered stone bench tops, dishwasher, tiled dining area, enclosed garage and private fenced rear yard.

With two HIA awards for Special Purpose Housing Development of the year and Villa Development of the year and a finalist in the UDIA awards for the Seniors’ Living Category, it’s easy to see why so many people are

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flocking to Beachmere Sands.

New resident Christine Walker was a former Sydney sider for 53 years before making the move to Beachmere Sands. “I wanted to look at resorts from the Gold Coast to Bribie Island; my sister suggested we try Beachmere Sands. We looked through their displays and I was taken with the open friendliness of their Lifestyle Advisors, I looked around the area a bit more but I just kept coming back to Beachmere Sands!”

Beachmere Sands Lifestyle Resort will boast an extensive recreational lake with sail boat berth facility and a golf course. A caravan storage facility; 5 rink lawn bowls green designed by Commonwealth Games Lawn Bowls Gold Medallist Kelvin Kerkow; a heated outdoor pool and spa are already in place, along with the $10million Sands clubhouse, an Activity Park, a resort piazza with cafes and boutiques; a wellness and fitness centre; and an ageing in place with a future Aged Care facility are also planned. Spectacular rainforests, mountain ranges, pristine beaches and coastal scenery are all at the doorstep - being part of Queensland’s natural beauty.

Resident David Greig was a�racted to Beachmere Sands for its location; affordable and yet superior housing; and community environment.

“This is the next chapter in my life and I’m excited to be living it. Beachmere Sands allows me to mix with likeminded people whether it be at the Clubhouse, playing billiards or pursuing outdoor activities such as bowling, fishing and swimming” Mr Greig said.

Mr Greig says he’s worked hard throughout his life and saved well. He feels it’s time to reap the benefits.

“I chose Beachmere Sands because it has everything I need and aspire to have. I feel included because I am part of a community and the things I love and need are all close by. If I want to go to the city, Brisbane is less than an hour’s drive.”

Beachmere Sands Lifestyle Resort is located at 218 Bishop Road, Beachmere, Queensland, Australia. To book a personal tour of Beachmere Sands call 1800 229 833 or email info@beachmeresands.com.au . For more information visit www.beachmeresands.com.au

f h 2 e t i wr

PO Box 169, Olinda Vic 3788, Australia E: editor@hollandfocus.com

Hereby the information re article about the Delta works in last edition, what we consider to be a mistake in the date of the floods in the Netherlands in February, 1953.

At that time I was a trainee pilot at Woensdrecht, near Bergen op Zoom, and it was the night of Saturday the 31st of January and Sunday morning the 1st of February that through a never before experienced combination of floods just a�er a full moon and the extreme storm from the North-west, caused the breaking of the dikes which were supposed to protect the low lying areas of the Netherlands.

In the article on page nine in the first column, nearly on the bo�om, it was referred to as: “the catastrophic floods of February, the 3rd in 1953”.

In the middle column nearly on the top of the page it was again mentioned as “that freezing cold night of February the 3rd.

I have in my possession also a book called “DE RAMP” (“the Catastrophy”) in which the above is verified as being the 29th of January and the 1st of February, and not the 3rd.

Kind regards and our compliments with your wonderful magazine “HOLLAND FOCUS”.

Ria and Harry Janssen Vic. You are right; it was on the 1st of February, our apologies for this mistake. Thank you for pointing it out.

photos taken on the 19th of March 1953 on Schouwen Duivenland, Zeeland. photographer unknown

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In the article about Deventer your religious readers may have appreciated if the name Thomas a Kempis had been mentioned.

Also about the massive clog dance in E�en-Leur. All participants but one (the man with the yellow clogs and I wonder what he was doing) wear ladies clogs. I grew up in pre-war Waterland, North of Amsterdam. These clogs with round noses were worn by women, men wore clogs with pointed noses. They did hurt more when you were caught in the ‘Bongerd’.

John Koene Vic

I had never seen your magazine before and the article on Madurodam looked interesting so I bought it and as I soon found out all the other articles were interesting as well. I especially enjoyed your Who’s Who quiz as it was a really easy one for me to answer.

As a teenager in the 60’s in Holland phone calls were expensive as we were charged per minute. As soon as I picked up the receiver my Father would bellow “Remember what Van Oldebarnevelt said!” “Yes Dad, Make it short”.

As a teenager I was not all that interested in history, but now I love finding out about it all. I remember Koninginnedag, when we would dress up in red, white and blue and orange crepe paper and walk in lines of two to the village square where all the other primary schools from our village would assemble. I remember speeches, parades including decorated bikes etc. and at the end we would go straight home with a bag with some sweets and an orange. But the best bit about the day was all the schools singing the patriotic songs like: De zilvervloot, Piet Hein, Waar de blanke top der duinen, In naam van Oranje, doe open de poort and the one about Michiel de Ruiter. Now at 53 I still sing them and love them. Would you know if there are any CD’s with these songs? Thanks again for a great magazine.

Meinita Baker, Auckland, New Zealand Ik schrijf u om te bedanken voor de zeer pre�ige verrassing in de vorm van de CD van Frans Hertoghs “Tien Misva�ingen over het Nederlands”, ik heb er met grote interesse naar geluisterd.

Inderdaad hee� de heer Hertoghs heel wat belangrijke opmerkingen gemaakt en ik zal tzt nogeens naar de CD luisteren.

Ook was ik zeer verbaasd te lezen in een nummer van ‘Holland Focus’ dat enige Australiërs er in geslaagd waren om, na aanvraag, de Nederlandse nationaliteit terug te hebben gekregen. Ik heb enige tijd geleden geprobeerd om ‘dual’ nationaliteit te krijgen. Een dochter van mijn zus, die hier is geboren en geen Nederlands spreekt, hee� dit toch wel kunnen doen. Bovendien gaat ze zelden naar Nederland. Ik heb destijds, om bij een ‘pension fund’ te kunnen behoren, de Australische nationaliteit moeten aanvragen. Mijn vader was hierover nogal kwaad geworden en hij is hier als Nederlander gestorven.

Ik reis vaak naar Nederland, verleden jaar was ik er ongeveer zes weken en waarschijnlijk ga ik volgend jaar weer naar mijn geboorteland.

Nogmaals dank voor de aardige CD en ik kijk al uit naar de volgende “Holland Focus”.

HM Dykstra

In 1950 my wife and I boarded the Greek ship ‘Cyrenia’ in Geneva. It was going to take us to Australia. While sailing through the waters of the Indian Ocean we liked to stand on the bow, watching the dolphins, trying to keep up with the speed of the ship and giving the impression that they were trying to row the ship to its destination. The food on board did not impress the Dutch passengers. It consisted mostly of spaghe�i or macaroni, two acceptable meals, but obviously the chef’s favourite additive was vinegar and lots of it. Therefore the shore of Western Australia was a welcome sight! Someone knew a delicatessen in Fremantle and we all went there.

The word ‘PIES’ on the window brought delight to the weight-losing Dutch!

Arriving in Melbourne, our intended destination, we didn’t expect a fanfare reception, but a welcoming handshake from an Australian official would have been pleasant, but it was not to be. All we had was the address of the employment office in Elizabeth Street. A young bloke was in a�endance and he listened patiently to our story. His non response made us unsure if he understood us. He never said a word but disappeared through a door. Ten minutes later he came back with a person, who introduced himself as Mr Priest. He asked a few

photo Rudi van Voorst

Beste Frans, Ik heb genoten van uw artikel over Jantje en de pruimen.

Zoals zovele mensen kon ik me de eerste 2 couple�en nog wel herinneren maar de rest niet (meer).

Mijn vader had overigens heel andere woorden voor het eerste couplet : Jantje zag eens pruimpjes liggen in zijn vader’s kwispeldoor Jantje hikte slikte al die vieze roggels door.

Daar staan wel een paar woorden in die de huidige generatie wel niet meer zal kennen.

“Pruimen” en “pruim tabak” bestaan al lang niet meer en wat een “kwispeldoor” is zal ze ook wel niet bekend zijn.

Wel jammer overigens dat het “opvoeden” van kinderen niet tot het gewenste resultaat hee� geleid.

Je kunt nu eenmaal de “natuur” niet veranderen.

Wim Secker To all the contributors Thank you for this great magazine Holland Focus.

Fantastic from beginning to end!

Mr. Frans Hertogh’s CD is great listening. We lost a lot of our Dutch language over the years.

This July/August edition’s “Jantje zag eens pruimen hangen” brings back memories from way back.

But every subject is interesting and enjoyable reading.

Anton Froon

questions and then picked up the phone. When he put the phone down he said: “The bu�er factory in Warragul wants tradesmen and the employment office wants a typist. You can start tomorrow.”

He even booked a hotel for us. Considering his name I started to believe he talked to the Lord personally!

We travelled to Warragul by train. A Dutch bloke who had been in Australia a couple of years said: “I suppose you are looking for accommodation?” And continued: “See that house on the hill? An elderly lady owns it.”

The lady was only too happy to let us have the rooms.

The house stood on four acres of land; most of it was developed into a garden with many exotic plants and was called ‘the garden of Eden’. Warragul is situated 100km east of Melbourne and is a prosperous farming area. In 1950 the population was approximately 600 of mostly retired farmers. The bu�er factory was the largest employer and supplied most of Melbourne’s milk.

The rainfall is considerable, which gave it the name of ‘Weeping Warragul’.

In the July/August issue of Holland Focus the story about the Delta Works brought back memories from the disastrous floods in February 1953, in which 1,900 people lost their lives. Six Dutch families lived in Warragul at the time and we discussed ways to help them. A stall was suggested, but that needs goods. An advertisement in the local paper brought a fantastic response from the local business community. The manager of the bu�er factory, where most of the Dutchies worked, donated cartons of bu�er and cheese. In our garden was a huge flowering gum tree. We managed fi�y bouquets from it.

A trip to the Dutch tulip farm was made and most of the donated tulips were used to decorate the hall, where a Saturday evening dance was organised. By 8.30pm no one had arrived yet and we got very worried. At 9pm the cinema finished and by 10pm we had to close the doors.

Everybody was full of praise for the decorations.

On the local market we had two stalls a�ended by two Dutch girls dressed in a Dutch costume (drawing lots of interest). One had to appreciate the Aussies generosity as a cheque of more than 5,000 Pounds was sent to the people who organised the flood relief.

Herman Koopman SA

missing person

Begin jaren ‘70 is mijn nicht: Trudie van der Tol met haar twee kinderen Amani (20-07-1971) en Basim (03-10-1972) Kadhim Majeed uit Nederland vertrokken naar Australië.

Zij is mijn enige nicht, opgegroeid in Weert (L) en na een studie in Engeland getrouwd met Saleh Kadhim Majeed, veterinair arts, afgestudeerd in Engeland en Utrecht. Dit huwelijk is ontbonden. Saleh kwam oorspronkelijk uit Irak. Van alle hierboven genoemde personen ontbreekt elk spoor. Ik zou zo graag in contact willen komen met mijn nicht, die nu ongeveer 70 jaar oud moet zijn. Email Trudi van den Bosch: trai@home.nl

I’m still looking for a few members of group IX of the Dutch Youth Program. In February 1964 group IX le� Ro�erdam with the “Flavia”. We have had quite a few reunions already and now we keep in contact via email.

If you have been a member of our group, please contact Ria Satink, now living in Canberra, phone: 02-62549676; email: ria@pcug.org.au . www.hollandfocus.com - 7

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WORLD PRESS PHOTO 2007

photo Pieter ten Hoopen, 15th place The 51st Annual World Press Photo Exhibition visited the Brisbane Powerhouse recently and Renèe Veldman-Tentori a�ended the launch on behalf of Holland Focus.

World Press Photo is an independent, not-for-profit organisation based in Amsterdam and is run by an independent executive board, supervisory board and about 25 permanent staff. The competition has been conducted since 1955 and gives an overview of the importance of photojournalism worldwide.

Funding provided by the Dutch Postcode Lo�ery and corporate sponsors Canon and TNT allows such a large scale competition to take place. The mission of the organisation is to encourage high professional standards in photojournalism and to promote a free and unrestricted exchange of information.

The jury awarded prizes in 10 theme categories to 59 photographers of 23 nationalities in this prestigious competition. Just one photo was selected from 80,536 entries as the overall winner of the World Press Photo of the Year 2007. This honour was awarded to UK photographer Tim Hetherington whose image shows a US soldier resting in a bunker in the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan in September 2007.

The valley is infamous as the site of the downing of a US helicopter and has seen some of the most intense fighting in the country.

“This image represents the exhaustion of a man – and the exhaustion of a nation,” says jury chairman Gary Knight, and adds “We’re all connected to this.

It’s a picture of a man at the end of a line.” Fellow juror MaryAnne Golon commented: “I use all my energy to have people notice bad things. There’s a human quality to this picture. It says that conflict is the basis of this man’s life.”

Tim Hetherington received his award at a ceremony in Amsterdam on 27 April 2008, along with a prize of 10,000 Euros and a Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III camera. This and other winning photographs were exhibited at the Brisbane Powerhouse from 12-30 June 2008. They were also displayed earlier this year at the State Library of New South Wales in Sydney as part of a worldwide tour of more than 100 locations. Project Manager Paul Ruseler travelled from the head office in Amsterdam and spoke at the launch, explaining some of the background and ideals of the World Press Photo Foundation.

Alongside the competition, the organisation also operates a number of other educational activities and events, such as the Joop Swart Masterclass.

Since 1992, young promising photographers are selected from international applicants to a�end this week long event in Amsterdam. This highly sought a�er opportunity allows the twelve who are chosen each year to interact with experts and share and pass on their knowledge and experience.

Details on World Press Photo, the competition and the other activities of the organisation can be found on their website www.worldpressphoto.org words Renèe Veldman-Tentori www.hollandfocus.com - 9

Melbourne’s Port

dredged by

Reading the papers, one might get the impression that the ‘Queen of the Netherlands’ is a huge monster, harming the entire bay and killing its wildlife at the same time. The reports on the Dutch dredge ‘Queen of the Netherlands’ has not always been that objective. But if Melbourne wants to expand the economy, it requires expanding port services to allow for large container ships and the dredging operations have to be conducted.

words Kathleen Vervoort 10 - www.hollandfocus.com

experienced that before.” Although the helicopters were present when the ‘Coza’ started, the actual media coverage was much less and there were no protesters.

‘the Queen’ The Queen of the Netherlands and the Cornelis Zanen photo ©Boskalis Strangely enough the port has been dredged many times and dredging near the quays has been carried out every year and no one has ever protested about this. However, Boskalis was on the receiving end of many protests when the Trailing Suction Hopper Dredge ‘Queen of the Netherlands’ entered the bay.

Although Boskalis has more vessels on this project, the ‘Queen’ seems to a�ract most of the protester’s a�ention. Frans Uelman says: “It was really impressive, we never experienced this before. And everything was against the ‘Queen

of the Netherlands’, our flagship, but we have eight ships working on this project, and the dredge ‘Cornelis Zanen’ does the same work as the ‘Queen’.” He thinks it all comes back to sensational journalism.

The ‘Queen’ is one of their biggest vessels and arrived as the first one on the project; the ‘Cornelis Zanen’ is smaller and started 3 months later than the ‘Queen’. “The day we started dredging with the ‘Queen’, three media helicopters were circling above our vessel, shooting photos for newspapers and footage for television. We have never

Not just politicians, but also environmental groups were against it. One of them, Blue Wedges, even started a law suit, and lost it. They are worried about the ecosystem in the bay and the entrance to the bay, which is very unique. Dredging could damage it irreparable, according to them.

“Of course we know how special this bay is,” Frans tells us, si�ing on his comfy sofa. “We were involved in the investigations for the environmental approval process and couldn’t start dredging until having obtained governmental approval,” he assures us. Frans and his wife live in a small flat on St-Kilda Road, overlooking the bay. They have been living in Melbourne for four years now, as the project demanded lots of research.

“All the research for this project has been done by the Port of Melbourne Corporation and we have given input where it regards specific dredging aspects. As part of the investigations, we conducted trial dredging in August 2005,” Frans explains. “It does not happen very o�en that we, as a dredging company, are involved in three years of preparation.

During the environmental effects study people already protested and we had to be keen on covering all areas of concern in respect of the flora and fauna in the bay.” Port Philip Bay is home to a colony of li�le penguins, dolphins, fish, and sessile invertebrates such as sponges and anemones in the entrance to the bay and this is one of the great concerns people have. What if the dredging will damage this fauna in an irreparable way? “We considered that too,” Frans says. “Dredging will always damage something, but it is our task to reduce this as much as possible. For this project several candidates tendered for the work back in 2003. The Port of Melbourne Corporation decided that we could do the job, as we presented a work method that not only could cope with the harsh conditions in the Entrance (waves and currents), but also explained how we would reduce the damage to an acceptable level.” www.hollandfocus.com - 11

The sea sponges (unique to this spot) and anemones people are concerned about, are living on the steep walls of a canyon which is situated at the mouth of Port Philip Bay. This canyon was formed many years ago, when the sea level was much lower. Today, this hundred metre deep canyon is home to these delicate sponges and anemones, which are actually animals, who feed on the algae. “We do not dredge in that canyon, as only the channel has to be deepened. While dredging the channel, rocks might drop of the edge and fall down in the canyon and do some damage to the corals, but we work very carefully and do not come too close to the edge. The damage will be as li�le as possible.”

Another concern relate to the turbidity generated by the dredgers.

Suspended sediment particles need some time to se�le and in the mean time the water is less transparent, causing that less light reaches the bo�om where seagrasses, algae and bo�om dwellers live. We have to measure the turbidity at several locations and we are not allowed to exceed

Frans Uelman

certain preset levels. If we do so at a particular location, we have to take measures, such as cease dredging in that part of the area, until the levels have gone down again.

The third important concern is the removal of the contaminated material in the Yarra River and the placement in a ‘bunded’ underwater area. A�er all material has been placed a sand layer of at least 50 cm will be placed on top to ensure that the contaminated material will be safely contained.

This is controlled by an Environmental Management Plan, which sets the rules and manages the dredging. As a consequence there is a lot of scrutiny and every week Boskalis has to write extensive reports and provide all measured data. The Port of Melbourne Corporation and the government of Victoria have to be kept informed about progress and whether Boskalis complies with the rules, norms and laws.

Boskalis and the Port of Melbourne Corporation are not the only parties who conduct tests. Also the Australian Conservation Foundation and Dr. Simon Roberts from the Monash University, do tests regularly. “They say that our measurements are insufficient and will not provide the correct answers” Frans says, “Some people also mistrust our measurements as we are conducting them ourselves.”

Ten days a�er the work started, the Herald Sun did their own tests too, to check whether the water would be cloudier than before the dredging, as the opponents said it would be. Their conclusion was that the water was even clearer than before!

Not just newspapers, opponents and scientists

Boskalis has eight ships operational on the channel deepening in Port Phillip Bay, but most of the press coverage is about the ‘Queen of the Netherlands’ and the ‘Cornelis Zanen’. The Queen of the Netherlands is the flagship and is 174 metres long and therefore one of the largest dredging ships in the world. On this ship alone, 36 people are working, which is at least 10 more than usual as Boskalis is obliged to have Australian crew aboard of their vessels. Besides the fact that the Boskalis captain and chief engineer will be staying aboard anyhow, seeing the complexity of the works Boskalis has decided to keep their Dutch crew as well. As the Australian dredging market and the offshore market are very demanding, it is very hard to get sufficiently trained people. Therefore, Boskalis is training Australian crew themselves.

Boskalis needs to dredge 20 million cubic metres, containing sand, clay, rocks and silt, a 500 million Australian dollar project.

Boskalis considers this job challenging and complicated, but certainly not a big one. Complicated because of the environmental controls, the material and conditions in the entrance. Another technical challenge concerns the sewage, oil and gas pipeline protection work that has to be carried out.

The dredger works like a vacuum cleaner. Two Dragheads at either side of the ship are being trailed along on the bo�om, dislodging and sucking the silt, sand, clay and rocks from the bo�om of the channels. The soil water mixture is pumped through the suction tubes then discharged in the hopper. The hopper of the Queen of the Netherlands can carry 23,000 cubic metres of dredged material and deposits it in one of the two designated underwater disposal facilities in the south and the north of the Bay. The contaminated silts are disposed of in the underwater confined disposal area in the north, which is surrounded by a bund. When filled, the bund will be capped with half a metre of sand. The project is expected to be completed in the second half of 2009.

For this project six candidates applied for the job in 2003, Boskalis was one of them and got the job. They have entered into an Alliance contract with the Port of Melbourne Corporation since.

World wide the competition consists mainly of two dredging companies in the Netherlands and two in Belgium. In some areas like the USA and East-Asia, local companies are on the market as well.

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AU S T RALIA

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

NETHERLANDS

are closely watching the consequences of the dredging operations, but also the public. The Port of Melbourne Corporation employs 6 people at the communication service. They answer phone calls, register them, make a note of complaints, collect the articles wri�en about the project and prepare press releases.

“Of course we get complaints,” Frans says. “We received three complaints about noise when our vessels were in the port and not even working. You see, most complaints are incorrect. People blame us for everything now. We even got blamed for krill or seagrass on the beach, although that is something very common, it happens every year…”

Every complaint has to be examined by the Port of Melbourne Corporation and is costing a lot of effort.

But times are changing, according to Frans. “Nowadays most calls are about ge�ing information for school projects.

Many students use it for writing papers, or they just use it as a discussion topic. Students from universities write their thesis or promotion about certain details of this project, which is a nice evolution. ” The worst thing that happened to the project was the reporting in the Age. Frans shows us some headlines of their articles on the dredging, all very negative, referring to ‘the Queen’ as a monster killing the bay.

Businesses and government had already complained about the coverage of the Age, but also 235 journalists from the Age, complained about their editor in chief Andrew Jasper, who, according to them, told them to only write negative stories about the dredging.

The Netherlands Chamber of Commerce Australia (Inc.) promotes trade and investment relations between Australian and Dutch organisations and individuals and provides a business networking forum for its members in a professional and social atmosphere, through meetings, functions, trade delegations, promotions and provision of trade assistance.

Visit www.ncca.com.au

for details on membership and forthcoming events Phone (03) 9597 0469

Networking for Business

The dredging of Port Philip Bay will take two years, but Frans will return to the Netherlands later this year. When the work has finished, Melbourne will be able to welcome container ships with a draught of 14 metres and will guarantee the port’s long term practicality as Australia’s largest container port.

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www.hollandfocus.com - 13

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS – THE 2008 JONAS KREVELD AWARD The Jonas Kreveld Award Commi�ee, chaired by Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (NCCA) Board Member Mr. Kees van Duyn and including representatives from DutchCare and the Erasmus Foundation, is pleased to announce that the prestigious Award will be presented again this year and herewith invites nominations from the Dutch community.

The late Mr. Jonas Kreveld, in addition to being a successful businessman, provided an important contribution to the Dutch community in Victoria. In the year 2004 a private initiative was developed to commemorate the memory of this remarkable man, and to encourage others to follow his example, by instituting an annual Award named a�er him. The Jonas Kreveld Award was presented to Petra Neeleman in 2006 and the 2007 winner was Hans Nieuwland, Honorable Consul to the Netherlands.

Who can I nominate for the Jonas Kreveld Award?

In reviewing the nominations, the Commi�ee’s objective is to award the Jonas Kreveld Award to: The most deserving Dutch or Australian person with a strong background in business who has made, or is making, an outstanding contribution to the Dutch community in Victoria.

A strong background in business may include but is not limited to:

- Having been a successful business owner, or running a successful business (or other evidence of an ‘entrepreneurial spirit’) - Having achieved a senior / management position within a large corporation

An outstanding contribution to the community may take many different forms, including:

- social service and charitable work for the benefit of those of Dutch descent; - other volunteer work for the benefit of the Dutch community; - the promotion of cultural ties and/or business relations between Australia and The Netherlands.

Deadline for nominations: Monday 15 September 2008

For candidates to be considered, they would need to have proven credentials in both of the above areas.

The Jonas Kreveld Award will be presented to the winner on Friday 17 October 2008 at the Dutch Orange Ball in Studio 3 at Crown, Southbank.

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL

TIM ETCHELLS & VICTORIA THAT NIGHT FOLLOWS DAY

AUSTRALIAN Premiere

Nomination forms can be downloaded from www. ncca.com.au or call NCCA on (03) 9597 0469 if you would like a form send out to you or for further information.

SEE 3 OR MORE SHOWS AND SAVE!

THE SCHÖNBERG ENSEMBLE

9–25 OCTOBER 2008

AUSTRALIAN Premiere

CONDUCTED BY REINBERT DE LEEUW

Approached by Belgian Theatre Company Victoria to create a work performed entirely by children for an adult audience, director Tim Etchells has developed a confronting work that explores the ways in which adults determine the worlds of their children.

Fresh from their annual appearance at the Holland Festival, one of the 20th century’s most groundbreaking ensembles performs two distinct programs in their Australian debut.

Performed in Flemish with English surtitles subtitles

The CUB Malthouse, Merlyn Theatre

the Arts Centre, Hamer Hall

Wed 22 – Sat 25 Oct at 8pm

Thu 9 & Fri 10 Oct at 8pm

www.melbournefestival.com.au

Principal Public Partner

The Schönberg Ensemble supported by

BOOK AT TICKETMASTER 1300 136 166

Who’s Who? If there are persons who could be called ‘Famous all over the World’ and being Dutch as well, this man is definitely one of them! Even during his life (1606 -1669) there was a period that he was famous not just in Holland, but his skills were noticed in Italy, where the important family De Medici was very interested in his skills.

Born in Leiden, probably in the year 1606 (could be 1607) as son of a miller and a rich bankers daughter. He was an intelligent kid; he was enrolled at the University of Leiden at the age of fourteen. But he would not start any study, as he wanted to be a painter. And that’s what he became: one of the greatest painters in history of mankind.

He learned his first skills during a three year period in Leiden, but he moved to Amsterdam around 1625.

By 1931, he already was a well known cra�sman; he le� his atelier in Leiden and moved back to Amsterdam again. He lived the life of a wealthy artist with his wife and his son. On the 4th of October 1969 he died as a poor man and was buried in a rented grave in the Westerkerk in Amsterdam. His last paintings, mostly self-portraits, show an old, disappointed man.

This ‘Who’s Who’ is just too short to write about this man.

Hundreds of books have been wri�en about him and his brilliant painting qualities. Studies, documentaries, films, you name it. All over the world, his paintings hang in the most famous museums and daily thousands of people come to look at his work.

I felt so proud when I visited the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg in Russia and walked into a room with at least 10 paintings by this man on display.

I’ll never forget the painting of ‘The Old Man’. The colours, the ‘dark - light’ technique, the face of the man expressing a very experienced life.

And that is just one example of the more than 300 paintings he made during his life.

© Chris Lampe

The correct answers will go in the draw for the book by John Newland: Driving the heart of Europe (see page 64 for the review)

As a great admirer of one of the greatest painters of all time, there is no way I can withhold my respect for this person and ask you: Who is this man who really is one of the most famous Dutchmen of all time?

Voor de ECHTE en BESTE

Send your answer, name and address (before 10 October 2008) to: Holland Focus, PO Box 169, Olinda Vic. 3788, Australia or email: editor@hollandfocus.com

Kroketten, bitterballen en fricandellen Even Anneke of Cees bellen

last issue’s “Who’s Who?”

Brisbane en omgeving: 07-5546 3361 of 0400 896 606

The name off the man whose surname lives on through the company is Frits Philips The winner of this Who’s Who is:

Bill Willems, Queensland

Gold Coast: Rob, 07- 5502 9219

ons! i t a l u t Congra

Sunshine Coast: 6 Fresh Warana Market, Nickling Way 07- 5493 1522 www.hollandfocus.com - 15

Dutch Cuisine Boterkoek (butter cake) 200g plain flour 200g bu�er 150g castor sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 egg 1 greased boterkoek tin with a diameter of 20cm

Beat the egg lightly. Knead the flour, bu�er, castor sugar, vanilla sugar and most of the egg into a so� dough. Press the dough evenly in the tin. Using a knife decorate the top with diamond shapes and brush with the remaining egg. Place the tin in the pre-heated oven (200°C) for about 25 – 30 minutes or until golden brown. Leave the boterkoek in the tin until cooled down.

Special boterkoek tins are available in the Netherlands, but a flan tin (preferably with smooth edges) could also be used.

ijk l e k a m s  e

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The kingdom of Belgium The kingdom of Belgium, the Netherlands’ southern bordering country, finds itself in deep administrative crisis. At least, that is still happening while writing this column. The Christian-democrat Yves Leterme,

Yves Leterme during the last election chosen with more than 800,000 preference votes, again verwi�igd (beautiful Belgian word for informed) king Albert that he has not been able to create a government. A�er careful consideration the monarch has charged him to try again with forming a new government. However, the administrative disputes are enormous amongst our southern neighbours. The main stake in the dispute is that the Dutch speaking and richer Flanders want more power, against the will of the less fortunate French-speaking Walloon. In fact Belgium exists of three federative parts: Flanders, Walloon and the governing centre of Brussels, which is situated exactly on the line dividing the two country parts. That Flanders wants more administrative control is not that remarkable, because -in short- it means that the money Flanders deposits into the treasury is taken out by Walloon and Brussels. Within Flanders more and more people want to break away. If that really is the option, it would mean the end of the state of Belgium. Remarkable? Ah, Scotland, Bavaria, Lombardy and Catalonia - they all strive for more regional independence and less central intervention. In those countries they too say: our own region first. Thus Flanders is not that special. However, things are never as black as they seem.

Belgium. Country of rich history and grand culture, of delicious food and high-spirited Burundians, but also

Pim of tireless workers. From the flat North Sea beach and Flanders to the hilly Ardennes and beautiful nature. It touches me, did many trips and holidays to this country.

Still, on the early Sunday morning, all the way from Groningen (no less than 450 kilometres away, you might think this funny) I turn on TV-channel ‘Belgium 1’ to watch the repeats of the news of the previous evening.

Then I inhale some of the Belgian current affairs and culture and I am ‘back’ for a moment. Lovely too, that Flemish accent of those presenters. They cannot help that, as they are Belgian… My absolute favourites are Sabine and Frank, who alternately present the weather at the end of the news. Sometimes inimitable, with mysterious Flemish jargon, but always smiling what ever the weather will be. It does absolutely nothing for me in Groningen, but I enjoy it thoroughly.

The most beautiful memory of Belgium is the first camping holiday with my partner, again many years ago.

We had put up our tent in the French-speaking villagewith-castle Durbuy in the Ardennes and set off to the local bakery to buy hot bread rolls. My partner, who, just like me, only spoke some school French, wondered if you should say ‘s’il vous plaît’ or perhaps ‘s’il vous plaît s’asseoir’ a�er paying. I explained that the first meant alstublie� (please) and the second gaat u zi�en (please, sit down). But when she paid for the bread rolls and correctly said ‘s’il vous plaît’, the shop assistant, a�er accepting the (then still) Belgian Francs, immediately dropped down on a stool…. I le� the shop shrieking with laughter followed by my totally confused partner.

A country that produces such beautiful memories hás to stay, isn’t it?

Pim Feijen

Luister non-stop naar de mooiste muziek van Nederlandse bodem op www.rnw24.nl

Gratis digitaal ochtendblad dagelijks in uw mailbox Neem nu een abonnement: www.wereldomroep.nl/wereldkrant www.hollandfocus.com - 17

Aalsmeer in the morning,

a Parisian kiosk the next day The Netherlands, 1912. In Aalsmeer in café the Drie Kolommen flower growers decide to establish the Centrale Aalsmeerse veiling. Five days later in the same café flowers are auctioned ‘under the clock’ for the very first time. Meanwhile, the auction of export flowers takes place in café Welkom by the veilvereniging Bloemenlust Aalsmeer. At the end of the sixties both auctioneers decide to join forces.

They continued with the name of Aalsmeerse Bloemenveiling in a new building at the Legmeerdijk in Aalsmeer South, officially opened by Prince Claus on 15 September 1972. Since 1 January 2008 Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer has merged with FloraHolland. Meanwhile the company has 6 branches of which Aalsmeer is the biggest.

A report about the Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer

words and photos Yolanda Edens

18 - www.hollandfocus.com

The Aalsmeer Bloemenveiling complex

fresh daily The current company complex in Aalsmeer is a city in itself and covers more than 150 hectares, comparable to the Kingdom of Monaco. The floor area in Aalsmeer takes up 200 football fields.

It is the biggest trade complex in the world, where all activities take place under the one roof. Daily 20 million cut flowers and about 2 million pot plants are traded here. Only day-fresh flowers leave the auction building, on their way to the European flower shops or to the close

by Schiphol to be transported worldwide. “A rose sold in Aalsmeer this morning must be in a kiosk in Paris the next day”, insures the FloraHolland branch manager Marcel Claessen. “Unsold flowers will be destroyed. This way we can guarantee quality and prevent that not-dayfresh flowers will ruin the market.”

The fresher the flowers are, the be�er the quality is. The transport speed, with which the flowers from the supplier arrive -via the auction- at the wholesaler or exporter and eventually at the sales point, is high. So not surprisingly the auction operates on a 24-hour basis. “Flowers that have been cut today will be here tonight. Here they are kept in a cold store to be auctioned the next morning.” clock And those auction mornings do start early. Already at 6am the buyers sit down on one of the five stands which offer views on enormous auction clocks which display the image of the flower that is ‘under the clock’ at that particular moment. By means of a chain-track in the floor, small carts with flowers slide past the buyers. Regularly the opsteker an employee of the auction takes out a bunch of flowers from the cart to give the buyers a be�er view. These Flowers remain beautiful with the correct care. employees are the so-called After each use a flower vase must be cleaned with a opstekers (porters). The detergent. Rinsing is not good enough: bacteria can stay name originates from the behind and as a result new flowers are affected. Preferably beginning when the auctions roses should be put in a spotless glass vase.

Never put flowers in full sun or on a draughty spot.

started and the flowers were auctioned in front of a café.

Every bunch was shown to the buyers by

the opsteker.

The price of the flowers will be decided by a system of afslag (Dutch auction). The clock shows the price per stem, the number of stems in the container, the size of the lots and the minimum quantity of containers to be sold.

Apart from that, the clock shows information on quality/ classification and the properties of the flower such as length of the stem, weight and number of buds. The buyer that presses the bu�on first, determines the price and has bought the lot.

Daily in front of each clock the same products are sold by auction, so buyers know exactly where they have to go.

There are fourteen auction clocks in total. Every morning about 60,000 transactions take place here, within a few hours. Two third of this amount takes place via the visible clock, one third ‘on distance’ via several Internet systems.

FloraHolland Connect also mediates between growers, purchasers and buyers in Europe and offers a variety of services to these customers. quality Not one other place in the world offers such a large and www.hollandfocus.com - 19

whether a flower stays in bud for a long time or not, is determined by type and has nothing to do with the freshness or toughness of the flower diverse assortment of flowers and pot plants as Aalsmeer does. Claessen: “Hundreds of varieties of many flowers exist and new varieties emerge constantly. Countries also have preferences for specific flowers. The Japanese and Americans are crazy about dyed flowers that sometimes have an unnatural blue, purple or green colour. In Russia one frequently gives one rose on a long stem to someone. In Eastern Europe it is quite common that men give flowers to each other. In the Netherlands one prefers to give bunches with the flowers still in bud. In other countries it is restricted to one open flower. Mixed bunches are preferred in the United Kingdom.

This enormous diversity becomes very clear during a tour through the halls where millions of flowers are ready for internal delivery at one of the three hundred exporters and wholesalers under the auction roof that organises transport to the airport or to sales outlets throughout Europe. Auction employees drive carts apparently criss-cross- past each other. In a high tempo they deliver dozens of carts loaded with flowers to the buyers, working with a track and trace-system. Each cart is provided with barcodes, so the people of the logistics department of the auction know exactly where a cart is located in the auction building.

To make room for the next cargo, computer-controlled trolleys move high above the halls on rail systems to customers who are situated on the other side of the freeway on new auction grounds.

Inspectors walk along the containers with flowers and random check the quality and also check all information supplied by the grower on accuracy.

Outside cooled trucks drive to and fro to transport the flowers to the place of destination as fast as possible.

In a separate test centre new and existing types are tested 20 - www.hollandfocus.com

Auction employees drive carts -apparently criss-cross- past each other.

and assessed. The different vases with flowers have signs stating the type of flower, when it has been cut and how the flower develops under several circumstances. At first all new flower types are tested comprehensively and must pass the quality test before they are allowed on the auction floor. ultra-Dutch product The world trade in flowers keeps expanding. Eastern Europe is a strong rising consuming market. On the production side; in Africa growers are expanding more and more. Worldwide the Netherlands are the front runners in cultivating techniques, innovation and new consuming markets. Secret of this success remains; the unique way in which supply and demand are brought together by auction.

“Besides, it is a skill to monitor the quality of this enormous trade floor, to keep an eye on your environmental responsibility, the rising of several qualityand environmental marks, a responsible way of energy usage, but also for the well-being of the approximately two thousand employees working at the Aalsmeer auction”, Claessen explains. “It is a unique company and it is super to put such an ultra-Dutch product on the market. Every single day it is an enjoyment to experience all those colours and scents of flowers. And most of the employees experience that feeling too. But do tell me, who would not be happy to have that many flowers around them?”

The Japanese and Americans are crazy about dyed flowers that sometimes have an unnatural blue, purple or green colour.

The Aalsmeer flower auction is open to the public. Visitors are welcome from Monday to Friday from 7am - 11am. Also tours in several languages are catered for by appointment only. To attend an auction means an early presence (between 7am and 8am). More information: www.floraholland.com

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telephone +61 (0)2 4973 3397 www.hollandfocus.com - 21

New Dutch Academy: Brunch with Baroque

On Sunday 15 June, under a resplendent sun warming the heart of The Hague, guests and passers-by were treated to an outdoor baroque concert on the historical moat waters of the Hofvijver pond, performed by the New Dutch Academy (NDA). This concert was part of The Hague Festivals taking place from 13-29 June, starting with the Festival Classique, a series of very special outdoor concerts, of which the key proposition deliciously played on words: “Buiten. Gewoon, Klassiek.”

words: Anne Paret photos: Yolanda Edens The conductor of the NDA, Australian-born Simon Murphy, and his twenty-five fellow musicians in the orchestra, enchanted the Sunday morning early birds with beautifully phrased tunes by Corelli, Van Wassenaer, De Fesch and Händel. The la�er could not have dreamed of a more fi�ing decor for his famous Water Music.

To the side stood the classicist Mauritshuis Gallery, adjacent to the Prime Minister’s “Torentje” and the Binnenhof.

Across the pond, congenial-looking wooden tables had been placed for people to enjoy their brunch with baroque.

22 - www.hollandfocus.com

master classes at the Conservatories in The Hague and Amsterdam. They come in particular to discover Dutch composers of the period.

Murphy: “The Dutch o�en don’t have such a positive appreciation of their own music in the 18th Century. There are many Dutch composers of early music, such as Van Wassenaer and De Fesch, but somehow the Dutch won’t play them. I simply don’t understand it, and in fact, it makes me rather angry.”

Cultural asset In order to be granted residency status in the Netherlands, the musicians have to go through a tedious process of immigration application, dealing with both the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) and the Ministry of Education and Culture (OC&W). Once it has been ascertained however, that they constitute “a cultural asset” for the country, they receive a le�er from the State Secretary for Education, acknowledging that in fact, they have proven to be of vital cultural importance to the Netherlands.

And they are. “It takes an Australian to rediscover the Dutch composers of the time and to re-enact them, so as to acquaint the Dutch public with its own cultural heritage. There were pioneers in the sixties”, Simon Murphy tells. “Like Gustav Leonhardt and Frans Brüggen, who launched the Netherlands for its worldwide leading position in early music by innovating it and daring to interpret it in a contemporary way, yet also restoring the authenticity of the instruments.” A baroque violin or viola, for example, Simon Murphy explains, does not have a chin rest pad. “This is intentional. It allows the instrument to resonate more fully and endows the violinist with full freedom of movement.”

With the bustling antique market on the Korte Voorhout as a tangential backdrop, the transparent-domed podium on which the musicians played was framed in history.

The audience, too, was seated on a floating auditorium a bit further adri�, opposite the orchestra. Crystal clear views of underwater flora shimmered at their feet.

“Tuning the instruments actually takes longer when you’re doing an outdoor concert,” Murphy explained to the audience, as he prepared to raise his baton.

Competing with the sea gulls and pigeons overhead, the NDA, before launching into Händels Suite Nr 3 in G Major (HWV 350), had a go at silencing the birds by imitating them with the help of water pipes, the smallest of percussion instruments.

Appreciation The NDA was created in 2002 by a number of young musicians who have made early music from the 17th and 18th Centuries their specialty. The musicians come from thirteen different countries, including six players from Australia. They came to the Netherlands in their twenties to study early music, and Simon recruits them from his

Different Simon Murphy has always been deeply a�racted to baroque music. “Ever since the age of seven, I knew that baroque held my future. I used to listen to the Australian classical radio, which thanks to an exchange with Radio

Simon Murphy playing the violin www.hollandfocus.com - 23

Nederland Wereldomroep and the fantastic PR-machine of the Philips record company, frequently aired Dutch recordings of classical music.”

Both of Murphy’s parents were classical music teachers.

“As a boy,” he says, “they used to boyco� popular music in the house.” Asked how others saw him, he intimates, “I wasn’t teased for it, but I was certainly different in this respect from other children.”

Dutch names like Willem van O�erloo and Edo de Waart surrounded him, and so it was only natural that his musical career took him to the Utrecht Conservatory of Music, where he studied baroque and classical violin.

He now gives solo performances during international festivals, teaches at the Royal Hague Conservatory and most recently re-established the Dutch composer Joseph Schmi� (1743-1791), who thanks to the NDA, is now known as the Dutch Haydn.

Future Where does the founder of the NDA see the ensemble in the future?

Murphy: “I’d like to do more of the same really. Produce more CD’s, participate in more festivals like the Händel’s Festspiele which we just returned from, and enhance the presentation of Dutch culture abroad.”

Murphy: “I am proud to be able, through my work, to promote the exchange between two fantastic countries and I think it is exceptionally rare, as an Australian-Dutch

www.newdutchacademy.nl CD’s out by the NDA: Stamitz&Richter- Early String Symphonies NDA/Murphy/NDA Mannheim Project Vol. 1 Pentatone Classics SACD PTC 5186 028 Stamitz&Richter- Early String Symphonies NDA/Murphy/NDA Mannheim Project Vol. 2 Pentatone Classics SACD PTC 5186 029 Corelli – Concerti Grossi (selection) NDA/Murphy, Pentatone Classics SACD “The Dutch Haydn” Joseph Schmi� (1734 – 1791) Early Symphonies NDA/Murphy, Pentatone Classics SACD

conductor, to represent both.”

The Hofvijver concert was such an occasion. As his sheet music was li�ed off its stand by a sudden breeze and flew about the open-air stage, Simon Murphy simply continued, as did the NDA... The music was in their hearts.

entertainment

Dutch/Flemish cinema BENX

by Darren Arnold

Scooping awards at several international film festivals - including Montreal, where it tied with acclaimed French movie Un Secret - Nic Balthazar’s debut feature Ben X has a�racted interest way beyond Dutch-speaking territories.

Based on the director’s own novel, Ben X is a compelling, o�en harrowing work which has helped maintain the

momentum created by an impressive line of recent Flemish films. It’s been so well-received, in fact, that a remake (presumably in English) is rumoured for next year; while Hollywood versions of European films have more o�en than not proved disappointing, they do at least signal wider recognition of good ideas and stories (last issue’s film under discussion - Welcome to the Sticks - is currently undergoing a big-budget remake, produced by Will Smith).

Ben X (say the title quickly in Dutch: ben niks - “I’m

nothing”) is a troubling tale of Ben (Greg Timmermans, another impressive first-timer,) an autistic teenager whose school day is nigh-on unbearable thanks to the bullying he’s subjected to, with two particular classmates (well-played by Maarten Claeyssens and Titus de Voogdt) making his life miserable. Ben does have an outlet for his frustrations in the form of online computer game Archlord, where he adopts an infinitely more confident persona, and even becomes romantically involved with another player, Scarlite (Laura Verlinden).

As the film progresses, Ben loses track of what is real and what exists in the world of the game, making for a confusing time for both protagonist and audience.

Certain aspects of Ben X recall Richard Kelly’s 2001 runaway cult success Donnie Darko - both films share the backbone of a highly troubled teen whose fantasy and reality become so muddled that the audience is no longer sure of what is real. But while Balthazar’s debut feature film isn’t quite as polished as Kelly’s, it’s no cheap knockoff either; the director has more than enough ideas of his own to mark him out as one to watch for the future. It’s very easy to see why Ben X is ripe for a remake - even at its most basic level, the impressive way in which it deals with the universal subject of bullying should resonate in almost any language or culture.

Filmed in both Dendermonde and Nic Balthazar’s birthplace of Gent, Ben X is a Netherlands-Belgium coproduction that really does remind the world just how strong Dutch language cinema can be. You can visit the official website at www.benx.be, and a limited edition double DVD (region 2) can be purchased from www. mediadis.com .

www.hollandfocus.com Photos of events throughout Australia Check our website regularly and read articles, updates and information about interesting events.

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“For Anything Dutch” • Delicatessen • Souvenirs • Oak Furniture www.hollandfocus.com - 25

entertainment

Melbourne International Arts Festival 9-25 October 2008

Tim Etchells

That Night Follows Day photo © Phile Deprez

Melbourne International Arts Festival presents That Night Follows Day, a collaboration between Tim Etchells, acclaimed director and writer of the British company Forced Entertainment, and Belgian theatre company Victoria at The CUB Malthouse, Merlyn Theatre from Wednesday 22 – Saturday 25 October at 8pm.

Approached by Victoria to create a work performed entirely by children for an adult audience, Etchells has developed a daring, no-holds barred commentary on parent-child relations.

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Visit our website www.dutchcare.com.au 26 - www.hollandfocus.com

“That Night Follows Day … a text that tries to map the ways in which adults shape, frame, explain and define the world for children … the ways parents, teachers and the adult world in general construct the world for kids, seeing to effect how they interact with it, seeking to stress or hide certain parts of it, seeking to explain it, seeking to make the world safe, comprehensible, fun, interesting, or simply liveable.” Tim Etchells.

The cast comprises 16 children ranging between nine and 15 years of age. The stage is dressed as a school gym with plastic classroom chairs sca�ered about. The children walk on stage to a raucous soundtrack of playground noise, stack the chairs then dutifully line up in a row – ordered and disciplined: a chorus of young people who speak, alone and in unison, about the various ways in which adults define the world that they inhabit. The statements become increasingly accusatory.

You feed us. You dress us. You choose clothes for us. You bathe us. You lay down the law. You sing to us. You watch us sleep. You make us promises and sometimes hope we will not remember them. You tell us stories you hope will frighten us, but not too much. You try to tell us about the world. You explain to us what love is. You explain to us the meaning of war. You kiss us while we are asleep. You whisper when you think we can’t hear. You explain to us that night follows day.

One by one the kids fall out of line, and gradually they start misbehaving until the piece reaches a crescendo of anarchy.

Based on a text wri�en by Etchells and developed through many workshops and conversations with the cast, That Night Follows Day catalogues the many ways the children’s world is determined by that of adults.

With clarity and humour it examines the systems of parenthood, upbringing, discipline, care and welfare of children and adolescents. The relationship between children and adults is not only articulated through the text, it is also displayed in the physical relations and staging of the piece. Kids are arranged in a formal grouping – neat, tidy, contained by the structure of the line – as they are so o�en arranged and displayed for audiences of adults in school assemblies and concerts, recitals and for formal photographs.

entertainment

Melbourne International Arts Festival 9-25 October 2008

presents

Schönberg Ensemble Conducted by Reinbert de Leeuw Melbourne International Arts Festival presents The Netherlands’ internationally renowned Schönberg Ensemble, opening the Festival with two concert events on Thursday 9 and Friday 10 October at the Arts Centre, Hamer Hall.

For the first concert on Thursday 9 October, the Ensemble and chief conductor Reinbert de Leeuw perform avant-garde works from the old and new world including: Zilver by Dutch composer Louis Andriessen; American composer John Adams’ Chamber Concerto; Divertimento, a new work by Germany’s one-time enfant terrible, Mauricio Kagel and Austrian composer Arnold Schönberg’s Kammersymphonie.

The second concert on Friday 10 October presents the Ensemble and de Leeuw as they perform Micrographia, a work from one of Australia’s most distinctive contemporary composers Michael Smetanin, and The Netherlands’ composer Jan van de Pu�e, entitled Uma Só Divina Linha - The only divine line, to poems by Portuguese writer Alvaro de Campos. For the second half of the evening, the Ensemble is also joined by acclaimed Canadian soloist Barbara Hannigan for a rousing celebration of the late composer, György Ligeti who was mentor to and collaborator with the Schönberg Ensemble before he died. Two works will be performed, his Chamber Concerto and Mysteries of the Macabre.

The Schönberg Ensemble, ranked as one of Europe’s most distinguished and commi�ed new-music groups, plays the most prestigious concert halls and major festivals throughout Europe, Canada and the United States. Recent performance highlights include the celebration of Argentinean born composer and film maker Mauricio Kagels 75th birthday in 2006 and the sold out concert in Amsterdam with German soloist and actor Barbara Sukowa and Reinbert de Leeuws performing de Leeuws’ Im wunderschönen Monat Mai – ‘Dreimal sieben Lieder nach Schumann und Schubert. The Ensemble performs frequently on radio and television and has made many recordings of works by French composer, organist, and ornithologist Oliver Messiaen, Russian composer Galina Ustvolskaja and Dutch composer Klaas de Vries among others. In 2006 it released Schönberg Ensemble Edition, an anniversary CD and DVD box with 22 CDs and three DVDs as a record of the Ensemble’s 30

© Philip Mechanicus © Co Broerse years which received international critical acclaim.

Reinbert De Leeuw formed the Schönberg Ensemble in 1974. Its repertoire was rooted in the performance of the complete chamber music of Austrian composers Arnold Schönberg, Alban Berg and Anton Webern, three of the most important composers of the Second Viennese School. Born in Amsterdam in 1938, Reinbert de Leeuw’s musical activities cover a wide field: in 1972 he founded a series of concerts in Holland’s major cities and since 1974 he has been conductor and music director of the Schönberg Ensemble. He is also author of a book on American composer of modernist classical music Charles Ives and has collaborated on film documentaries of twentieth-century composers. His compositions include works for orchestra and chamber ensembles and he is co-author of two operas, Reconstruction (1969) and Axel (1977). He regularly conducts Holland’s foremost orchestras and ensembles, including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Netherlands Chamber Choir and the Netherlands Wind ensembles.

He has toured and performed in festivals world wide and was guest artistic director of the UK arts festival Aldeburgh Festival (1992). see advertisement on page 14 for booking information

Dutch Clocks in Oz • Zaanse, Sallanders, Schippertjes, Frisian Tail Clocks • and a variety of other clocks from Holland located in Clayfield Qld. 4011 visit by appointment only ring Rob Schmidt on 0432 832 800 www.dutchclocksinoz.com.au www.hollandfocus.com - 27

TaalsTaaltje door Frans Hertoghs

Hebban olla uogala

exclusief voor Holland Focus!

Hebban olla uogala nestas bigunnan, hinase hic anda thu. O sorry, u hebt het even niet kunnen volgen? O.K., daar komt ie nog eens, en nu wat duidelijker:

Hebban olla uogala nestas bigunnan hinase hic anda thu.

Oeroud Nou, als u het niet meteen begrepen hebt, dan kan ik u dat niet kwalijk nemen, want deze tekst is bijna duizend jaar oud. In feite is het de allereerste geschreven tekst in wat later de Nederlandse taal zou worden. Nu u weet wat het is, kunt u misschien toch een paar woorden verstaan: Hebban, vogala, nestas en bigunnan, die woorden wijken nog niet zo heel ver af van het moderne Nederlandse ‘hebben, vogelen, nesten’ en ‘begonnen’.

Het is een interessante tekst, eigenlijk de enige die we in het oer-Nederlands hebben. En dat we die toevallig ooit ontdekt hebben is een heel apart verhaal.

Het begin van literatuur In vrijwel alle talen begint de geschreven literatuur heel anders, met grote, tienduizenden regels lange verhalende gedichten, die in brede gebaren de heldendaden bezingen van goden, halfgoden, van helden en vorstelijke mensen.

Zoals de vele tienduizenden verzen die de Griekse schrijver Homerus rond zeven eeuwen voor onze jaartelling opschreef, de beroemde Ilias en de Odyssee.

Daarin schilderde hij met weidse gebaren de val van het oude Troje en de tien jaar lang durende zwer�ocht

Verliefde monnik In 1936 viel er in de National Library te Londen een oud, middeleeuws boek uit elkaar. Nu is dat niet heel erg verbazingwekkend, want het boek was een kleine acht eeuwen oud. Het was zoals gebruikelijk in die tijd gemaakt van perkament, een soort flinterdun gebleekt leer, dat veel sterker is dan papier. En bij de restauratie bleek dat ze in de rug geen touw gebruikt hadden, maar strak opgerolde strookjes perkament. Op een klein stukje was een le�er te zien. Een van die touwstrookjes werd voorzichtig uitgerold en wat bleek? Er stonden een paar oud-Nederlandse zinnetjes op. Het was een stuk van een kladbladzijde, zo’n pagina waarop de monniken hun pas bijgesneden ganzenveer uitprobeerden. Het stond er ook een paar keer le�erlijk in mooie Latijnse le�ers: probatio pennae: de ganzeveer proberen.

Nu had een van de monniken om zijn pen te proberen iets heel anders neergeschreven. Het is de tekst van hierboven: Hebban olla uogala nestas bigunnan hinase hic anda thu.

Woord voor woord betekent dat: ‘Hebben alle vogeltjes nesten begonnen, t’en zij ik en jij’. In modern Nederlands: ‘Alle vogeltjes zijn al begonnen met nestjes, behalve ik en jij’. Kennelijk is het een regel uit een liefdesliedje, dat toen populair was.

En het kost ons weinig moeite om de jonge monnik van bijna duizend jaar geleden te zien die dromerig en verliefd deze tekst op zijn kladblaadje schreef.

van Odysseus. Dat was op dat moment geen recente verslaggeving, want hij beschrij� gebeurtenissen die vijf eeuwen eerder al waren voorgevallen. Ik moest ze vroeger op school uitgebreid vertalen en geloof het of niet, ook toen al vond ik ze echt mooi. Ik zal u even een kleine indruk geven van de indrukwekkende stijl en de versvorm. In eigen vertaling: Hem hield een machtige Nymph, Kalypso, de stralende godheid Vast in gewelfde gro�en, verlangende zeer hem te huwen. Toen brak in de wiekende kringloop der jaren het jaar aan Als door de goden beschikt, waarin hij naar huis zou teruggaan... enz.

Prachtig.

Of neem de Gilgamesj, het grote Babylonische epos, geschreven op kleitable�en uit de bibliotheek van Assoerbanipal. Dat gaat over de gelijknamige koning uit 2700 v.C., maar eigenlijk beschrij� de Gilgamesj het ontstaan en de geschiedenis van de hele wereld. We kunnen er zelfs nog pre-bijbelse herinneringen aan de Grote Zondvloed terug vinden.

Of denk aan de Noorse Edda, het sombere verhaal van de wrede Noorse godenwereld, waar later Wagner en de Nazi-Duitsers zo aan verslingerd raakten.

Ja, en ook de bijbel is zo’n boek, dat ineens honderden bladzijden dundruk beslaat. Ook dat beschrij� in tienduizenden regels de geschiedenis en de oorsprong van de wereld en de grootste daden van een heel volk en zijn god.

Allerlei talen beginnen hun geschreven literatuur met

28 - www.hollandfocus.com

groot geschal en weidse gebaren: de strijdwagens donderen over de slagvelden, helden sneuvelen lachend, verraad en wraak zinderen door de regels heen.

Twee regeltjes Maar het Nederlands niet. Die taal begint met twee bescheiden regeltjes uit een simpel liefdesliedje. Het begin van onze literatuur is geschreven door een verliefde monnik in de kantlijn van zijn dagelijks werk.

En misschien het allermooiste zijn wel de woorden die hij achter die regels hee� geschreven. We weten niet of ze oorspronkelijk bij het liedje hoorden. Het kan best zijn dat het een persoonlijke verzuchting is van de schrijver.

Het was nog heel moeilijk ze te ontcijferen. Ze zaten namelijk in de draai van het perkament en ze waren half vergaan. Het duurde een hele tijd voor iemand er in slaagde ze te ontcijferen. Maar tenslo�e kwamen ze erachter, met behulp van de modernste technieken. De monnik had als vervolg geschreven: Uuat umbidan nu?

Wat umbidan nu? Waar wachten we nou op?

Nou, geweldig, niet? Nederlandser kan het haast niet.

Het is prima om van je geliefde te dromen en naar de vogeltjes te kijken en te zuchten, dat je samen nog geen nestje hebt gebouwd. Maar daarna moeten er spijkers met koppen geslagen worden: kom op, schat, waar zouden we op wachten?

Ik vind dat nog extra geweldig, als je bedenkt, dat het helemaal niet de bedoeling was dat zo’n monnik met een meisje een nestje zou bouwen, integendeel. Die monnik moest kuis blijven en dat meisje liefst ook.

Met een hart Romantisch maar tegelijk praktisch, menselijk en persoonlijk, recht door zee en tegendraads, een man met een hart. Ik blijf mijn hele leven voor die onbekende monnik een echt Nederlands zwak houden. En ik ben er trots op, dat onze literatuur begint met zo’n prachtige en zo’n typisch Nederlandse tekst: Hebban olla uogala nestas bigunnan hinase hic anda thu...

Uuat umbidan nu

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Bokrijk in Belgium

brings back memories Domain Bokrijk: an interesting open air experience for those who are interested in Belgian history. The Bokrijk area ofďŹ cially belongs to the city of Genk, one of the cities at the heart of the Belgian province of Limburg. It is also relatively close to Hasselt, the capital of Limburg. By car it takes about one hour to get there. Whether leaving from Antwerp, Brussels or even Eindhoven in The Netherlands.

The open air museum Bokrijk has become one of the major tourist attractions in Limburg. The number of visitors each year exceeds 300,000.

words and photos Jan Weijdt 30 - www.hollandfocus.com

Roots of Bokrijk In the year 1252 the Earl of Loon and Chiny, Arnold the Fourth, sold a part of his forest situated between the cities of Genk and Hasselt to the nuns’ abbey of Herkenrode.

“Buscurak”, the original name of the forest changed over the years into Bouchreyck or Bokrijk. The abbey had a farm build and gradually cultivated the land. For centuries the domain remained in the abbey’s possession until it was confiscated during the French Revolution in 1797 and sold to someone from Maastricht (then Limburg was not divided between Belgium and Holland as it is now). In 1938 Bokrijk was acquired by the province of Limburg. But it was not before October 1953 that the government of Limburg decided to develop and establish an open air museum on the domain. The first curator of the open air museum was Dr. Jozef Weyns.

Some time ago, someone involved with planning the near future for the museum stated: “We know what our goal is, but we have difficulties in deciding what the best way is to get there”. Like every museum Bokrijk also has to make decisions about what to do with the available means, in order to reach maximum preservation of the heritage, for which they feel responsible. As a result, Bokrijk is constantly changing and thus remains interesting to all visitors, young and less young.

Landscape The domain itself consists of forests, farmland, gardens and small lakes. The total area of the open air museum measures approximately 550 hectares. It has a well preserved collection of ancient Flemish farms, mills and houses. Experts on Belgian rural history are convinced that most of the Flemish countryside looked like this at the start of the 19th century. While walking through the park, the differences are very distinctly visible between the various Belgian provinces; e.g. East- and West Flanders, Brabant and Limburg. A few years ago a replica of a small old city was erected. It even includes a café in a cellar.

When did it all start?

The open air museum Bokrijk was officially opened on the 12th of April 1958 in the presence of Prince Albert of Belgium. And to emphasize the special position the Domain has gained over the years, this year on the 29th of April, that same Albert revisited Bokrijk - however, this time as King Albert of Belgium together with his wife, Queen Paola. Certainly an anniversary with an extra golden rim, earned in half a century of hard work and thorough study of Flemish folklore.

The project “open air museum” started simultaneously with the Brussels World’s Fair of 1958. From which we www.hollandfocus.com - 31

probably all remember the still impressive and giant construction, the Atomium. Since then, nobody talks about the Brussels World’s Fair anymore. But Domain Bokrijk and its open air museum are still going strong and popular with tourists.

Original craftwork In some houses of the museum real citizens of Bokrijk and master-cra�smen are bringing back to life old trades, like farmers, barbers, cobblers and a blacksmith, making it even more interesting for visitors. A number of small restaurants are to be found in some of the old farmhouses, in which traditional Flemish dishes can be enjoyed to complete the experience and having a break at the same time. The section representing the province of Haspengouw is specialised in “living history”. Actors revive the buildings in a historically correct way, showing life as it was some 100 years ago. With even a candy store where handmade candy is being produced, using ancient recipes.

Collection The collection contains an astonishing 140 authentic buildings, forming the core of the museum. In and around these buildings (farmhouses, mills, etc. etc) a significant quantity of tools and utensils is on display.

All originating from the same era as the surroundings in which they are exhibited. The collection includes some 30,000 pieces of vulnerable heritage, representing daily life in the 17th century till the mid 50ties of last century.

Titiana

de Vries-Haremaker

“La Tulipe” classic soprano

performs and organizes:

Charity and Fundraising concerts also for: • Weddings and Baptisms • Corporate Functions • All other Special Occasions

for bookings please email Titiana: withmelbainthewings@hotmail.com or phone 03 9739 0073 (Victoria) CD also available: “Angel in Rainbow Flight” (songs and arias sung by TITIANA) $25.00 32 - www.hollandfocus.com

Address: Open Air Museum Bokrijk - Bokrijk Park – 1 Bokrijklaan - 3600 Genk – Belgium email: bokrijk@limburg.be directions: By car: From Brussels: freeway E314 (A2) Brussels-GenkAachen, exit 30 ‘Park Midden Limburg’ (Bokrijk).

From Antwerp: freeway E313 direction Liege, at Lummen take E314 (A2) direction Aachen-Genk, exit 30 ‘Park Midden Limburg’ (Bokrijk).

From Liege: freeway E313 direction Antwerp, exit ‘Diepenbeek’, direction Genk, follow signs for ‘Park Midden Limburg’ (Bokrijk).

From Maastricht: freeway E25 direction Eindhoven, E314 (A2) exit 30 ‘Park Midden Limburg’ (Bokrijk).

From Eindhoven: freeway E25 direction Maastricht, E314 (A2) exit 30 ‘Park Midden Limburg’ (Bokrijk).

By train: Intercity train: Blankenberge-Brussels-Genk, Disembark the train at Bokrijk station.

Ask for a “Train & Museum” combined ticket at the station of departure.

A Dutch caterpillar through the outback A tag-along through the Tanami Desert and the Kimberley

The isolated and inhospitable outback makes travel to it and through it a trying task. However, travel in convoy offers the possibility to roam through these areas in a safe and comfortable way. Holland Focus travelled through the desert with the Fivesenses Outback Safari.

words and photos JACOB VAN SPLUNTER

www.hollandfocus.com - 33

“It looks like roadside picnicking.” Stephan has to laugh when his verdict sinks in. As it happens, we are talking about El Questro Wilderness Park in the east of the Kimberley. This is the place where the rich and famous are holidaying; where movie stars like Nicole Kidman fly in by helicopter. They have one thing in common: they come to enjoy the peace and the space of one of the most remote and finest landscapes of Australia. To speak of roadside picnicking seems slightly exaggerated.

Although it is not entirely undeserved. While the jetse�ers are transported to a special part of the park, the ordinary mortal stays on an excellent equipped camp-site that indeed seems very crowded a�er having been in the Tanami Desert and the Kimberley for a considerable time.

Kick-off How different the start is at the Britz Depot in Alice Springs. Twenty-one Dutch gather to collect their 4WD and start the Fivesenses Outback Safari, a tag-along that will take four weeks. The first day is still on the comfortable bitumen of the West MacDonnell Ranges.

An excellent moment to get used to the 4WD and to the facilities of the bush camper on the tidy camp-site in Glen Helen. Also a good opportunity to get acquainted with convoy leader Jeremy Perks of the Perth-based Global Gypsies. The first ‘house rules’ are discussed, the first meal by hostess Rebina Criddle is consumed and further

All roads along the Gibb River Road are open

introductions with the participants take place at the campfire. The composition of the group is very mixed, but one thing they have in common is: an adventurous disposition and the wish to see a part of Australia that is not always within reach of the individual traveller.

Driving in convoy means travel under protection of the group and escorted by Dutch and Australian experts. The route has been mapped out already, (aboriginal) licenses have been organised, the most beautiful camp-site has been arranged and by having half a kitchen and servicestation on tow a carefree trip has almost been guaranteed.

And that is what the participants want. They want an adventurous trip through inhospitable territories, but in a comfortable and safe manner.

34 - www.hollandfocus.com

The Mitchell Falls are the crown jewels of The Kimberley

Off-road The real adventure starts when the bitumen has been replaced by dirt roads. The corrugation of the roads turns every car into a boneshaker. The steering wheel vibrates in the hands. Fortunately it does not take long to get used to this, as approximately six thousand kilometres are in front of us, of which a large part is on this type of dirt roads.

The principal part of this safari is near the Tanami Road and the Gibb River Road.

The Tanami Road goes from Alice Springs in northwest direction to Halls Creek and connects Central Australia with Western Australia. Along the way we come across three signs of human life only: Tilmouth Roadhouse, the aboriginal se�lement Yuendumu and Rabbit Flat Roadhouse. And the rest? Only the unhospitable and immense Tanami Desert.

To taste the atmosphere a stay at the roadhouses has to be included. What makes Rabbit Flat - Australia’s most remote roadhouse – so special is its manager, Bruce Farrands, who

In Balgo the most beautiful Aboriginal paintings are produced se�led here in 1969 with his French wife. A talk with Bruce gives some understanding of the hard life in the outback.

Movie se�ing The endless road through the Tanami desert comes to a pleasant end by visiting Balgo and Wolfe Creek.

Balgo is a typical aboriginal community. The role of the beautiful Balgo Cultural Centre certainly helps with the neatness of the place. Here the finest aboriginal paintings are produced and about one hundred people make a good living here. A bit further down is the Wolfe Creek meteorite crater, the second largest in the world, the Meteorite Crater in Arizona being the largest. The position on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert as well as the fact that one experiences here the ultimate ‘homealone’ feeling, gives an extra dimension to this place. The The Mitchell Falls are the crown jewels of The Kimberley

www.hollandfocus.com - 35

Tour guide Jerey Perks (Gypsie 1) crosses the rivers first, before the rest of the gypsies can

The Outback Safari is organised by the Dutch tour operator Fivesenses, in association with the Perth-based Global Gypsies. The trip includes hiring of a bush-camper for 27 days, Dutch/Australian travel guides, all meals during the safari, hotel accommodation and transfers to Alice Springs. For 2009 a new safari has been planned from 14 May to 15 June. Readers of Holland Focus get a discount of AU$250.00 on the total price. For more information see the advertisement in this edition or go directly to Fivesenses, Puntegaalstraat 79, 3024 EB Ro�erdam, phone: (+31) (0)10 425 62 54, info@fivesenses.nl, www.fivesenses.nl .

landscape is not just inhospitable, but also threatening.

Especially a�er seeing the 2005 movie of Wolfe Creek. It gives the constant feeling of being in a movie se�ing.

Outside category The Kimberley is the second principal part of the safari.

Here is the famous Gibb River Road, which forks to the Kalumburu Road leading to the Mitchell Falls.

The milestones are undoubtedly the wading through the Pentecost River and especially the King Edward River. Already the drivers have been tested in driving on unmade roads, but these river crossings are the ultimate test. In ‘L4’ and in first gear the ten gypsies drive -one a�er the other- into the King Edward River. The wheels disappear under the water, the exhaust seethes and although water ‘only’ comes halfway the doors, many close the car windows to be on the safe site. Loud cheering guides them and the cars that reach the other site safely receive a warm applause. “Well done, you’re The Kimberley is crocodile country

36- www.hollandfocus.com

Bruce Farrands in his office/shop at the Rabbit Flat Road House professional four-wheel drivers now”, Jeremy says relieved a�er the last car has passed through the river without any problems.

At night at the primitive, but brilliantly situated campsite of King Edward River all bits fall into place. This river junction and the camp-site form the perfect se�ing for this tag-along.

Seemingly difficult parts of roads are taken easily under good guidance and on the camp-site nobody talks about the lack of showers, washing machines or a restaurant.

On the al fresco set table a delicious meal by hostess Rebina is consumed and a�erwards: tranquillity at the campfire under a starry sky. We are in one of the most unhospitable parts of Australia and it feels familiar, safe and comfortable. Who mentioned roadside picnicking?

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���������� ������������������ ����������������� ���������������� ������������������ ����������������� ������ �������������

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Lucien Parent, the piano genius

The man who makes When visiting Adelaide, you may wish to visit the studio of Lucien Parent, the piano genius from the Netherlands. Having spent more than 45,000 hours in piano research, his magnificently restored instruments are highly regarded internationally. words Kathleen Vervoort Who says that small pianos will not produce a nice deep sound? Only those who have not heard the work of Lucien Parent, who can make pianos just over a metre high sound like a real Steinway.

The way he does this is a closely guarded secret. “I’m not going to patent this. I had one invention patented and it cost me as much as a house. And if I patent this, I need to give all the details to the Patent Office, and the manufacturers have access to these plans and can just add something and say it is their invention,” he says. “It has to stay in the family. When my two grandsons are a bit older, I’m going to pass my knowledge on to them.”

But this was not the only special moment is his life. For the grand opening concert of the Victorian Arts Centre in Melbourne, featuring Hephzibah and Yehudi Menuhin, a brand new $250,000 Steinway Concert Grand was imported from Hamburg. At the reception following the concert, their shared opinion was that the tone of the piano was too strident, and the duration of the sound was too short. When asked who would be the best technician to fix this, they surprised the organisational commi�ee by not recommending someone from New York or Hamburg, but Adelaide, by saying that ‘Lucien Parent is one of the very best designer technicians in the world’.” His work on this Steinway was so well received, that he was approached by several other institutions, to perform the same magic on their instruments.

photo © Melinda Parent

For more than 50 years, Lucien has researched and visited all the most important piano manufacturers throughout the world. “One of the most wonderful events was when I was invited by Steinway Chief Engineer Theodore Steinway to a three and a half hour lunch in their head office in New York. At the conclusion, he walked up to me and took my right hand into both of his hands and

said ‘Mr Parent, my sincere congratulations, there are areas in the fields of piano research and design, in which you know more than I do’ ”.

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pianos sing The walls of his studio, which frequently resound to the beautiful sounds of music composed by Lucien, on his beloved collection, are covered with testimonials from leading artists and institutions complimenting his cra�smanship.

Lucien not only repairs and restores pianos from such famous names as Steinway, Blüthner, Bechstein, Rönisch, Lipp and Bösendorfer, his collection also boasts many of the finest examples of piano engineering from its very beginning in 19th Century. His earliest piano is a Broadwood square piano from 1803 which sits alongside a modified upright piano built this century. Many of the pianos in his collection are visual works of art like the Traumann upright made in 1850 in Hamburg with exquisite timber carvings in its Rosewood case.

Holland is still very close to Lucien’s heart, and he remembers fondly his childhood and teenage years.

A child prodigy that excelled in chess, drawing and of course music, he made his piano debut playing the Warsaw Concerto to a packed audience in Eindhoven in 1949. He was also a keen soccer player in the first youth team of EVV Eindhoven, a passion he brought to

Adelaide when his family migrated in 1951. Upon his arrival he joined the Dutch “Orange” soccer team, and was the leading goal scorer in that year with 31 goals to his credit.

The memories of his homeland were substantially influenced by the War and its a�ermath. In particular Lucien remembers the allied bombardment of the Philips factories on the 6th of December, 1942. Being a Sunday, the 25,000 employees, which included his father, were fortunately absent when a squadron of RAF mosquito bombers descended on the factory. But it was the destruction of the centre of Eindhoven by the Lu�waffe on the day of liberation on 18th September 1944, during which Lucien and his family were almost killed by an unexploded bomb that landed only 20 meters from their garden dugout trench that began their quest for a be�er life.

Within weeks of his arrival in Adelaide, he landed a job at Savery’s Music Store in Rundle Street tuning and repairing pianos. A�er three months, Lucien started his own business and launched an international career making pianos sing.

for breakfast, lunch, dinner or in between

available at selected supermarkets

boekbespreking / book review Hollands Glorie Het boek voor verzamelaars waarin een beeld van oerHolandse producten van toen herkenbare nostalgie van Nederlandse bodem onder het mo�o “Wacht u voor namaak”.

144 pagina’s Formaat 25 x 25 cm. Gebonden.

Prijs € 24,95 incl.verpakking-en portokosten binnen Nederland. Verzendkosten buiten Nederland op aanvraag.

Grootmoederstijd hee� aan dit boek meegewerkt door advertenties uit hun archief beschikbaar te stellen.

Voor meer informatie en bestellingen kunt u bellen of emailen info@grootmoederstijd.nl +31 (0)546-824562

Blanke koelies Janneke Adama van Scheltema was tien jaar oud toen er een einde kwam aan de oorlog in Nederlands-Indië. De oorlogsjaren: de aanval op Pearl Harbour, de internering in het Jappenkamp en vervolgens de terugkomst in Nederland beschrij� zij vanuit de herinneringen van het kind dat ze was. De titel verwijst onder meer naar de aankomst in de haven van Amsterdam, waar tot verbazing van Janneke Nederlandse (blanke) werknemers de schepen uitlaadden.

Janneke Adama van Scheltema werd in 1936 in Batavia geboren. In 1942 verhuisde het gezin naar Banjoemas, op het pla�eland van Midden-Java. Nadat de vader van Adama van Scheltema gevangen werd genomen keerde het gezin terug naar Batavia, waar ze in 1943 in het kamp Tjideng werden geïnterneerd. Na de oorlog repatrieerden zij naar Nederland.

Adama van Scheltema’s ouders instrueerden hun kinderen om alleen naar de toekomst te kijken en het verleden de rug toe te keren. Nu ruim zestig jaar later ontstond toch de behoe�e om de herinneringen op te rakelen en een plek te geven. Het boek is geïllustreerd met kaarten, tekeningen, officiële documenten en foto’s van het gezin Adama van Scheltema, die een beeld geven van hoe een hecht Nederlands gezin de Indische oorlogsjaren doorkwam.

ISBN 978 90 6832 617 8, prijs € 15,00 Verkrijgbaar in de boekhandel in Nederland of via internet.

The Twin Best-selling Dutch novel (over 60,000 copies sold) Winner of the 2006 Golden Dog-Ear Prize for the best selling debutante novel. Shortlisted for the 2007 Libris Literature Prize. Dutch title ‘Boven is het stil’.

Subtle and restrained is ‘The Twin’ a novel by Gerbrand Bakker. The book tells the story of the 55 year old farmer Helmer who is not happy with the life he is living and tries to find freedom from his past. The death of his twin brother at a young age is but one of the incidents that affected his life. Gerbrand Bakker uses the Dutch country as a backdrop of this fascinating and carefully wri�en life story of this unhappy farmer who is waiting for his father to die. Although the translation into English is not always perfect, David Colmer still managed to ‘translate’ the feelings of Helmer. The writer leaves it to the reader to find the reason behind Helmer’s unhappy life and gives a glimpse of the happiness of his future. Although this is his debutante novel for adults, Gerbrand Bakker published a children’s book, Perenbomen bloeien wit, earlier.

ISBN 978-1-921372-25-5 www.scribepublications.com.au

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Auckland Dutch Dancers from New Zealand

Springtime!

Tulip Festival in Victoria The Tulip Festival offers weekends and days with different themes Turkish Weekend, September 13 and 14 Turkey hosted the world’s first Tulip Festival more than 400 years ago. The Turkish Weekend is a showcase of Turkish culture and food.

Dutch Weekend, September 20 and 21 Get down to the Tesselaar Tulip Festival for the Dutch weekend as it will be transformed into mini-Holland! A special inclusion this year, in addition to Victoria’s Tukkers Clog Dancers, is the Auckland Dutch Dancers from New Zealand. Various Dutch stalls and food.

Food Wine and Jazz Weekend, Sept. 27 and 28 A fusion of Groove, Gastronomy and Grapes in the Garden! Combining life’s finer pleasures. Enjoy the Jazzy tunes of John Morrison and the Moonee Valley Jazz Band in conjunction with Creole Bells with non-stop music all weekend. Indulge in delicious Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges produce and enjoy a range of complimentary wine tasting.

Children’s Day September 23, 24 and October 1 Days filled with FUN! Treat the kids to days of fun and adventure amongst the brilliant colour of the tulips and Kids under 16 are free!

Pink Lady Day, October 2 Raising awareness and money for Breast Cancer Network Australia. Twenty per cent of entry proceeds during the Pink Lady Day will be donated to BCNA. Ladies enjoy a complimentary glass of champagne on entry.

Irish Weekend, October 4 and 5. Celebrating the greening of the tulip - though there is still a lot of colour in the blooms - they will be farmed in a couple of days. Irish music, dancing and of course Guinness.

Senior’s Day, Each Friday. Free tea/coffee for Seniors.

Sculptures in the Tulips, Everyday. Sculptors from across Victoria will exhibit their work between the tulip beds. Visitors will be able to choose their favourite for the People’s Choice Award.

September 11 - October 8 ALL THE FUN OF THE FESTIVAL FFour weeks k a year we are able bl tto share h with ith you the delight that is the Tesselaar Tulip Festival.

• Fields of fabulous flowers • Daily entertainment • Delicious food • Dutch Weekend September 20 - 21 • Fun for all ages • A great excuse for a great day out! • Group discounts available Tesselaar Tulip Farm 357 Monbulk Road Silvan Victoria 3795 Phone 03 9737 7722 Fax 03 9737 7798 www.tulipfestival.com.au

www.hollandfocus.com - 41

30

YEARS OF SHIRT MAKING BY

EUGENE

YOUR PERSONAL SHIRT DESIGNER IS A DUTCHIE

W���� ������� ������� ��� ������� �� A�������, � ������ �� M��������, ��� ����� ���� ������ � ���� ������ ‘������’. T��� ���� ���� ���� ����� ����� ������� ��� ���� ��� ���� �����, E�����, ���������� ���� ��� N����������. F�� ���� ���� 30 �����, �� ��� ���� �������� ��� ����, ����� �� ��� ��� ���� ���� ������ �� �������, ������� ���������.

words Kathleen Vervoort Eugene came to Australia when he was only 21 years old.

The first year he stayed at his aunt’s place in Melbourne.

Having no idea what to expect here, he arrived in a thick flannel jacket. Way too hot, he found out quickly. But he has never regre�ed moving to the other side of the world.

Now, 42 years later, he runs an exclusive shirt shop.

Something he had not expected to do. “I always dreamt of being a journalist. But when I arrived here, they told me I had to do my matriculation again, which I did. But two years later when I applied again at the Herald, they told me I was too old for the cadetship. The maximum age was 21 and by then I was already 23. I had to look for something else to do, and found a job at Repco.” Two years later a job came available at Treadmill, a leading textile factory. Working here created some interest in this textile world and soon enough Eugene knew how to recognise quality fabric. A knowledge he treasured and used in his own business, a couple of years later. “I have always been particular with my shirts; that runs in the family as my dad and brother were even worse than I. So why wouldn’t I be able to run a shirt making shop? Of course I couldn’t sew, but I was very good in organising, so I selected my own team of specialists.” Nowadays, there is still one lady working at Hemden who has been with them from the very beginning. The shop was doing extremely well; constantly advertising for more staff. At the end of the eighties he owned five shops and employed fi�y people. “It was a golden time for us, but a�er the infamous recession we almost went broke. We had to dismiss many people, but that was the only way to survive.’A�er the recession, things slowly went be�er again and Hemden is now one of the most exclusive shirt

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makers in Australia. According to some clients, it is even one of the best in the world.

FIT YOUR SHAPE

People coming to Eugene’s shop, might get a shock. This is a real made to measure shop; you can’t just try something on. “We make your pa�ern, for your shape and also in your style. The first consultation is the most time consuming and the client has to come back for at least one fi�ing. We also make a file of the client’s measurements. For re-orders, all they have to do is ring us.” Once you are a customer, new fabric swatches will be mailed to you twice a year. This way there is no need to visit the shop and one is able to choose from his ‘recliner’. “Sometimes people can’t find a fabric they like amongst the swatches; then we just send them another bunch of swatches. We treat our clients like kings.”

To make the clients feel extra special, Hemden provides some additional services. They help people choose the best colours, give them advice on collars. Give seminars and even teach them how to knot a tie.

“Hemden is a rather conservative brand, we are no trendsetters, but we follow the fashion, we do adjust collars and cuffs. One season people might prefer them a bit longer, or shorter, or ...” Of course, services like these have a price tag. For a suit with two pairs of trousers, around 4,000 Australian dollars have to be paid. One shirt will cost 400 dollars. The price for suits with one extra pair of trousers made by the French designer firm Dormeuil, is 2,000 dollars. “We started working with Dormeuil two years ago.

As our staff is ge�ing older, it is hard to keep on making all suits here. So now we sell Dormeuil suits to people with relatively easy sizes and we still make the more complicated ones. A�er two years of working with them, everybody is still happy. The only ‘complaint’ we get from our clients -who even travel all the way from England- is that our shirts last too long, because we only work with products of excellent quality. The fabrics used for our shirts are 100% co�on and I select them at trade fairs in Switzerland. Every second year I go to Europe to select new fabrics. If we had a collection for women, this would be impossible. Then I would have to go twice a year.

But not that many changes happen with men’s collections.” Hemden used to have a collection for women too, designed by Eugene’s wife, Roslyn. But due to illness of a close family member, she could not give it the a�ention it needed. The line was stopped two years ago. They kept the label ‘Lady Hemden’ registered, in case their youngest daughter would like to continue this brand. Anyway, Eugene plans to retire within a couple of years. “I am 63 now and I would like to get some time for myself.” Their son Kym is likely to continue the shop. When Eugene asked him, he did not have to think twice. I thought you would never ask, Dad, he said. Clients don’t have to be afraid of any change in quality, because his son has had an excellent training. Not just at Hemden, but also at companies like Hugo Boss.

Roslyn and Eugene

Hemden 1024-1026 High Street Armadale, Victoria 03 9500 9543 hemden@hemden.com.au www.hemden.com.au

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Van Aa tot Zwuup Naast familienamen die teruggaan op voornamen, op plaatsen en op beroepen is er een vierde bron waaruit achternamengemaakt werden. Het zijn versteende bijnamen.

Voor Groot, Klein en Jong Bijnamen worden vooral gebruikt in kleine gemeenschappen, waar de mensen elkaar goed kennen. Bijnamen zijn een soort etiket die over de naam heen geplakt worden en die zo een nieuwe naam vormen. Op mijn oude kostschool hadden alle leraren een bijnaam. Soms ware dat hele saaie, zoals een leraar met de voornaam Aloysius, die al veertig jaar De Wies hee�e. Soms was er een soort beeldspraak, zoals De Cowboy of De Puk. Maar soms ook was de bijnaam even onbegrijpelijk als de familienaam. Zo kon niemand bedenken waar de bijnaam De Seut vandaan kwam of De Saus. Mijn eigen familienaam duikt voor het eerst op in 1578 bij het huwelijk van Ma�hijs Cornelissoone ‘die men noemde Hertoch’.

We zullen er eens en paar van die bijnamen onder de loep leggen. De cijfers achter de namen tussen haakjes geven het aantal naamdragers aan in 1947.

Bruinooge [102], Barvoets [22], Krombeen [97], Korthals [187], Zilvertand [13], Kwaaitaal [105] of Scheel [140]. Maar met dit soort namen moet je wel oppassen.

Een naam als Zuurmond [261] is misschien afgeleid van het Franse Sur(le)mont, ‘Op de Berg’ en Griep [408] is net als de nevenvormen Grip [31] en Grijp [28] toch wel afgeleid van een uitgestorven voornaam, die we misschien terugvinden in Grijpskerk. En soms zijn we het spoor bijster. Wat te denken van Eijrond [6], Klui�oo� [18], Gladpootjes [87], van Suikerbuik [54] of van Pontvuijst [13]?

Ziekten en gebreken zijn er in de familienamen te over. Blind [173], Doof [15], Mank [142], Bult [886], Dik [1130] en Vet [746], Dolleman [255]. Maar een enkele keer komen we ook een complimentje tegen: Mooi [341] en Schoon [699], Knappert [18], Heilig [105], Den Braven [309], Onverzaagt [37] of Rechtop [8].

Lichamelijke kenmerken Veel bijnamen zijn afgeleid van opvallende uiterlijke kenmerken.

Zo ontstonden familienamen als

Dik(ke) of De Dik(ke)?

Het valt op dat de meeste van dit type familienamen soms ongebruikelijke vormen hebben.

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door Frans Hertoghs

Zo zouden wij iemand die dik is tegenwoordig niet aanduiden met de dik, maar met de dikKE. Toch komt dat type familienaam veel voor. Ik heb eens gekeken bij een aantal van dat soort bijnamen, dat relatief veel voorkomt. De Jong [55256] staat zelfs bovenaan in de top tien van de meest voorkomende Nederlandse geslachtsnamen! Natuurlijk hee� de naam allerlei nevenvormen zoals Jong, Jongh, Jonc, Jonk, al dan niet voorafgegaan door De en het achtervoegsel -e, -en, -es of -en(s). Toch komt de vorm De Jong verreweg het meeste voor, zelfs meer dan tachtig procent. En waarom mag Joost weten. Waarom heet zeventig procent van de mensen die ‘Klein’ genoemd worden gewoon Klein [5287] en niet De Klein [2165]?

Terwijl dat bij Groot [5980] en De Groot [24724] precies andersom ligt?

Hetzelfde verschil geldt voor Lang [189] en Kort [1538], terwijl De Lang [1128] en De Kort [2455] veel dichter bij elkaar liggen. Kortom, het lijkt erop alsof de verschillende vormen willkeurig over de lichamelijke kenmerken verspreid zijn.

Meer lange dan korte?

Nu we toch met die ‘lange’ en ‘korte’ familienamen bezig zijn, vielen de lange mensen vroeger meer op dan de korte? Het lijkt er wel op, want als je de bijnamen en al hun verschillende vormen bij elkaar optelt blijkt dat meer dan tweederde van de namen op lange mensen duiden. Kennelijk vielen die meer op. Alleen in Brabant en Limburg was het merkwaardig genoeg precies andersom: daar duidt meer dan de hel� van die speciale familienamen juist op kleinere mensen. Ra ra hoe zit dat? Zou dat zijn omdat de mensen daar langer waren zodat de kleine mensen meer opvielen? Of waren er gewoon minder lange mensen?

Intussen je moet natuurlijk niet vergeten dat niet alle gezinnen en geslachten even kinderrijk waren. Welgestelde mensen kregen in doorsnee minder kinderen dan arme mensen. De aantallen naamdragers zijn dus niet representatief voor de keuze van de oorspronkelijke naam.

Maar zou dat dan kunnen inhouden dat lange mensen meer kinderen gekregen hebben?

En hier verlaten we natuurlijk het terrein van de naamkunde en begeven we ons op het gladde ijs van de veronderstellingen. Gauw terug dus.

Saaie namen?

Naamkunde is een interessant vak, en de wetenschap der familienamen al helemaal. Natuurlijk zijn zeldzame namen als Sloof [535], Kriebel [63], Wij�e [149], Grisel [9], Onverwacht [8] en Billen [2] echte trekpleisters, maar ook ‘gewone’ namen als De Jong, Kleine, de Groot en Lang zijn interessant.

En vergeet niet: namen betekenen niets. De eerste naamdrager had misschien een kenmerk dat in de naam terug te vinden was, maar dat gold natuurlijk niet voor de mensen die zijn naam erfden. Op dat moment verloor de naam alle betekenis en werd een betekenisloze aanduiding. Dat weet iedereen. Niemand kijkt op van een beroepsvolleyballer die De Klein heet of een grijsaard met de naam De Jong. De Knecht [81] is directeur en De Baas [52] is zijn loopjongen. De Goey [1064] wordt veroordeeld en De Slegte [57] krijgt een lintje. Dus, hoe u ook heet, u bent en blij� in de eerste plaats uzelf en uw naam is maar een etiket.

Maar soms wel erg interessant.

Bekende Nederlander Ilse de Lange

smartbrush For all your painting jobs One call does it all! reasonable rates All work guaranteed for obligation free quotes call Eddie Coolen Melbourne on 03 - 9761 5349 or 0411 203 083

Op de website: www.familienaam.nl kun je de geografische spreiding van familienamen in Nederland nagaan (zie kaartje vorige pagina).

SMARTBRUSH

‘It’s All Dutch to Me’ - the website which offers you the best Dutch products available,

imported directly from Holland

holland focus

Fill your ‘shopping cart’ with all the Dutch goodies and wait for delivery at your door from Delft Blue to licorice, food and gifts it is all available on our website and more products are added regularly

If you don’t have access to the internet,

feel free to give us a ring and ask for a printed catalogue, we will be happy to send you a copy free of charge!

www.itsalldutchtome.com.au email: sales@itsalldutchtome.com.au phone: 02-4861 6670

! n i W

family passes to a Sydney FC game

A-League Football In the lead up to the game against Qld Roar, I interviewed John Aloisi (phote above) and Ivan Necevski (photo right), Sydney’s number two goalkeeper, during a promotion for Hyundai at Paul Wakelings, Campbelltown. A large crowd turned up all with balls, shirts and even flags in hand for the prized autograph of John Aloisi. No request was denied as he happily smiled for photos and brief conversations with star struck souvenir seekers.

I remarked to John that we have a large number of Dutch coaches from Pim Verbeek to Robert Bahn. words and photos Henry Van Zanden Has the Dutch style or way of playing influenced Sydney FC? Aloisi: “There’s not really just one style of Dutch play.

We’ve got a lot of Dutch coaches here, and very lucky to have them. But Pim Verbeek’s style of play is different to Guus Hiddink. Johann Cruyff has his own style. Each coach has their own distinctive way of playing so there isn’t just one style of Dutch football.”

I put the same question to Steve Corica who said, “Not really. Kossie (ed.: coach John Kosimina) is his own boss.

We’ve had no contact from above regarding Dutch style of play. Where it is influential is in the juniors.”

John, will Kossie be playing you up front as a lone striker or with a partner?

Aloisi: Well I’ll play anywhere Kossie wants me whether it is one up front or two.

Do you prefer to play with a partner?

Aloisi: No, it doesn’t really worry me. I’ll play anywhere I’m asked to play although don’t expect me to be playing le� fullback.

We seem to be a bit light on defenders as there are only 6 defenders in the squad.

Aloisi: Well that’s our squad. There are others who can also play at the back. We’ll just have to make do with what we have.

Ivan I noticed in training that Brosque was playing more of a le� a�acking midfield role linking more o�en with Corica with Simon Colosimo playing in the centre or in front of defence when defending.

Ivan: Yes, our midfield is fantastic. Brosque is playing more of a midfield role with Simon linking up from the centre.

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I noticed Jacob Timpano was back and looked pre�y sharp at training. Is he over all his injuries?

Ivan: Yeah, we’re glad to have him back. He’s been out for over 12 months and he’s looking good. The whole defense is looking good.

Do you think that you will get much game time this year? You looked pre�y sharp out there today particularly in close.

Ivan: Yeah, I spoke to Kossie and he said that he won’t be playing favourites and I’ll get my opportunities.

John, how are your injuries coming along? Do you think that you will get some game time soon?

Aloisi: Yeah, I’m coming along OK. I should be ready soon.

Do you think that you are still a good chance for the World Cup? Aloisi: Yeah, I’m confident that I can get there.

John hopes to play in the second round against the Mariners. Although the 32 year old Aloisi had recovered from his knee surgery, John learned that he had sustained a foot injury which meant that his comeback will have to be even further delayed.

John: It’s hard to take because the injury that I was carrying is good. The knee feels brilliant and this flared up last week. It’s one of those things that happen in football and sport and now I just have to get over it and look at the positives.

Holland Focus has two family passes to a Sydney FC game to be raffled.

Name one of the Dutchmen who coaches an Australian team.

Send your answer to editor@hollandfocus.com or PO Box 169, Olinda Vic. 3788 before 27 September 2008

New Zealand

KIWIKORRELS Wit Goud & Goudse

Frans Hertoghs

Voor het tweede achtereenvolgende jaar wrijven de Nieuw-Zeelandse veehouders zich in de handen. Na een recordwinst vorig jaar zien ze dat hun winst dit jaar nog ver overtroffen wordt. Was er vorig jaar per boer al een uitbetaling van dik vier ton euro, dit jaar zal het waarschijnlijk meer dan vijf ton worden.

Supercoöp Nieuw-Zeeland is altijd al een land geweest van schapen en vee. Melk, boter en kaas zijn de solide basis waarop de economie al tientallen jaren drij�. Een paar jaar geleden besloten de verschillende coöperatieve verenigingen samen te gaan in een superbedrijf: Fonterra. Dat hee� nu een soort monopoliepositie in de buitenlandse handel in melkproducten. De melk wordt opgehaald bij de boeren, verwerkt, en verkocht en de boeren krijgen elk jaar een betaling, die gerekend wordt per kilo vaste melkstoffen, zeg maar melkpoeder.

Vorig jaar waren de uitbetalingen ineens veel hoger dan voorafgaande jaren. Dat kwam door een samenloop van allerlei gebeurtenissen in de wereld zoals misoogsten, biobrandstof en economische catastrofes. Plotseling waren de Nieuw-Zeelandse melkproducten niet meer aan te slepen. Met als gevolg omhoogschietende prijzen.

Recordbetaling Om een indruk te geven van waar het om gaat: de prijs per kilo melkpoeder was twee jaar geleden vorig jaar nog $ 4,67, vorig jaar was dat ineens $ 6,90 en het wordt dit jaar nog wel een dollartje meer. Dat is een gemiddelde uitbetaling van bijna een miljoen dollar per veeboer.

Toegegeven, er was een grote droogte die een half tot een heel miljard gekost hee� en de productieprijzen zijn ook flink gestegen, al was het maar door de brandstof- en kunstmestprijzen.

Supermarktprijzen Maar waarom zijn dan in onze supermarkten de prijzen van melkproducten ook verdubbeld?

Dat vragen Nieuw-Zeelanders zich verbijsterd af. In het afgelopen jaar is de prijs van een liter melk met ruim twintig procent gestegen, de boter kost bijna dubbel zoveel en de kaas ruim zestig procent. Terwijl de boeren maar een kwartje meer gekregen hebben per liter melk.

Fonterra en de supermarkten bezweren dat ze hun winstmarges hetzelfde hebben gehouden en de vervoerders klagen steen en been over hun verliezen. Rara, hoe kan dat?

Woekerwinst?

Waarom betalen wij, zo vragen wij ons samen met de Groenen af, evenveel als de mensen in het buitenland?

Onze markt neemt nog geen vier procent af van de totale verkoop van Fonterra. We zijn een regionale markt en die is onderhevig aan plaatselijke schommelingen.

Prijsstijgingen vanwege droogte en gestegen brandstofprijzen moeten natuurlijk doorberekend worden, maar die kosten zijn veel lager dan deze exorbitante stijgingen. “We vragen Fonterra niet om hun spullen aan ons te verkopen met verlies. We vragen om er niet meer dan een redelijk winst op te maken.”

Waarom zouden de veeboeren en hun coöperatie de winstmarges onredelijk vergroten ten koste van hun eigen landgenoten? Veel Nieuw-Zeelanders zouden op die vraag wel een antwoord willen hebben.

Een commissie gaat nu aan het werk om te onderzoeken of een en ander wel in de haak is. Intussen blijven de kiwi’s zuchtend en steunend hun sterk gestegen supermarktrekeningen betalen. De prijsstijgingen voor melk en kaas bestrijden ze door niet meer dan de hel� te kopen van wat ze gewoonlijk gebruiken.

Zuur De Nieuw-Zeelandse dollar staat veel te hoog. Daardoor wordt de export gehinderd. Bedrijven sluiten, banen gaan verloren. De hypotheekrente staat tegen de tien procent, de huizenmarkt stort in. Veel kiwi’s hebben het heel moeilijk om de eindjes aan elkaar te knopen. En dan is het wel erg zuur om mee te moeten betalen aan de miljoenenwinsten van de veeboeren. Eigen kaas is goud waard. photo Phillip Capper

visit www.hollandfocus.com for the English translation of this article

www.hollandfocus.com - 47

New Zealand

Dutch Forum – “Onze Hoe Wie” The Dutch community in New Zealand is changing The 2006 Census shows that there are about 22,100 persons recorded as being born in The Netherlands living in New Zealand. A larger number, 28,600, wrote in “Dutch” as one of their ethnic affiliations and 27,000 New Zealand residents speak the Dutch language. If we include second, third and now even fourth generation Dutch migrants and their families, perhaps as many as 150,000 people can be considered part of the Dutch community.

However, the surviving Dutch settlers from the 1950s immigration wave are now in the late retirement stage of their lives. More than 40 percent of the Dutch-born in New Zealand are aged over 65. the organising commi�ee Subsequent numbers of Dutch immigrants have been much smaller, and have migrated to New Zealand under very different conditions and with very different expectations.

The second and third generations of the initial migration wave now make up a significant proportion of the New Zealand population. Some Dutch Kiwis have returned to the Netherlands. Emigration from The Netherlands has again increased in recent years, including to New Zealand.

In addition, young Dutch people come to New Zealand for a visit or a working holiday, having obtained a temporary work permit. The new Dutch migrants may maintain fairly strong links with their country of birth, through the internet or through frequent travel, rather than through affiliation with Dutch clubs.

With the growing encouragement of cultural diversity in New Zealand, many younger Dutch Kiwis are “seeking their roots”. Health care, housing and community networks are of importance to the older groups. Links between the two countries remain strong through family, business, tourism, government and diplomatic links.

A wide range of organisations cater for some aspect of the Dutch community in New Zealand. Apart from the formal representation through the Netherlands Embassy, they include: the New Zealand Netherlands Foundation, Dutch social clubs throughout New Zealand under the umbrella of the NZ Federation of Netherlands Societies; Dutch “borrelclubs” and business associations; people

teaching Dutch language classes; groups providing cultural activities (choirs, dance groups, etc.); The Foxton Windmill Trust – De Molen; Echo Radio; the Friendly Support Network of the Netherlands Trust; Dutch retirement villages; etc.

Also New Zealand organisations are representing, or supporting, the multicultural dimension of New Zealand’s society and providing support for all migrant groups, such as Migrant Resource Centres, NZ Federation of Ethnic Councils, the Human Rights Commission, etc. Because the Dutch are o�en “invisible migrants” who have integrated extremely well into New Zealand society, many Dutch may not feel strongly linked to such organisations. Nonetheless, initiatives such as soccer festivals and multicultural days are now bringing the migrant groups together and the Dutch would like to be represented at such gatherings.

Such representation is by no means straightforward or sustainable as only 20 percent of Dutch New Zealanders belong to Dutch clubs.

Need for a UNITED DUTCH VOICE It has become clear to the organisers of the Dutch “Hoe Wie” that the various Dutch community activities across the country are largely fragmented and uncoordinated. This has become an impediment to community development.

There is a lack of up-to-date knowledge about “who does

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New Zealand 4 Further development of community services, including the Friendly Support Network 5 Possible use of AOW funds 6 Visions for a bright NZ Dutch Future There will be a one-hour slot for each topic. Each topic will be introduced in 15 minutes by a speaker, which will leave 45 minutes for discussion, facilitated by a moderator. Confirmed speakers include Jacob Vossestein from The Netherlands; Michael Clyne and Petra Neeleman from Australia; and O�o Groen and Boyd Klap from New Zealand. The discussions are recorded. A summary report will be sent to all participants a�erwards.

The Forum commences at 10.30 am, immediately a�er the official opening of Het Festijn, and will conclude at about 6.30 pm.

Following the Forum, there will be drinks and then an evening of dinner and entertainment jointly with those a�ending Het Festijn.

Hamilton Gardens what”. This creates a problem when people and agencies try to assess the needs of the community or want to support new initiatives, such as the Dutch museum that is planned.

The Dutch community in New Zealand is at the crossroads.

Representatives of the organisations mentioned above believe that the first step on the way forward is to organise a national gathering of Dutch community leaders: 1. to canvass the views about the changing needs of the Dutch community, and 2. to identify the ways in which these needs can be met.

The “HOE WIE” on Saturday 25 October 2008 in HAMILTON The organising Commi�ee proposes to hold a one-day summit, or “hui” as we call it in Aotearoa New Zealand, for the Dutch community in New Zealand. It will be held on Labour Weekend 2008 during “Het Festijn”, organised by the NZ Federation of Netherlands Societies. We propose to have the widest possible representation of organisations, groups and individuals (the “stakeholders”). The gathering is referred to as “Onze Hoe Wie” because it is about “How” the Dutch community will develop in the future and “Who” will be responsible for promoting community development.

The organising commi�ee has set as the Mission Statement for the “Hoe wie”: Maintenance and development of NZ Dutch social capital.

NZ Dutch social capital is defined as “The collective value of all social networks among the Dutch community in New Zealand and the inclinations that arise from these networks to do things for each other”.

The Forum will start with a ‘PowerPoint’ presentation on the facts and figures about the Dutch community in New Zealand, based on research being conducted at the University of Waikato.

Following this introduction, a range of topics will be discussed.

These topics resulted from canvassing the opinions of the organising commi�ee throughout the country. The topics are (following the order of the programme schedule): 1 Passing on of Dutch Culture within and across generations 2 Promoting the Dutch language in New Zealand 3 Dutch-NZ exchanges at cultural, professional and scientific levels

Additional information may be found on the “Onze Hoe Wie” page at the “Het Festijn” website: h�p://www.hollandsfestijn2008.org.nz/forum.html If you would like to receive an invitation to “Onze Hoe Wie” please send an email with your contact details to onzehoewie@gmail.com Dutch Forum “Onze Hoe Wie”, P.O. Box 11-110, Hillcrest, HAMILTON

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Vertoond in 100 Verbeeldingen van Ambachten, Konsten, Hanteeringen en Bedryven; met Versen (1694)

Translated and edited by Frans Hertoghs

Jan en Kaspar Luiken: Het Menselyk Bedryf:

De Parelboorder

Zet, koopman, slim uw kapitaal Op Jezus, parel in de schaal.

The Pearl driller

O, shrewd merchant buy your bliss With the pearl that Jesus is.

earl-hole maker or pearl driller must have been an actual trade, but probably not many tradesmen existed. Pearls were expensive jewels. The drilling of pearls is a special skill, in which the hole has to go exactly through the centre.

Around the drilling holes no particles of the pearl should break off. Therefore drilling is done from both sides with special drills that do not have screw thread but a small kind of rasp on the end. The drilling through the pearl did not have to take very long. A first class craftsman only needed two minutes for every small pearl and one minute for a big one.

Here a still young master is busy with the drilling in the backroom of his house. His right hand moves the span, a kind of bow of which the string has been wound around the drill. This makes it possible to move it as slow as desired. His le� hand holds the drill perfectly vertical. The pearl is embedded in a massive and shockproof block that is placed on a primitive but sturdy stand. A workbench of the same design can be seen on the right. He does not need any more tools than these. The still young man is fully concentrated on his job, even though behind his back a well dressed customer with a flamboyant hat is engaged in selecting pearls. A woman is assisting him. Is she the wife of this cra�sman? She is wearing the same hat anyway. Her le� hand is pointing to a pearl the customer is holding in his closed fist. Another person is in this room, to be seen on the back and is with his face in the full light perhaps busy selecting pearls. To be seen in the background are a tower, a high house and a brick wall with high windows that are not typical Amsterdam’s but remind of Italy. Beautiful in this print is the receding line of figures that transport the light from the window on the le� side to the two passers-by, walking in the distance on the street.

P

arelgater of parelgatboorder moet wel een echt ambacht geweest zijn, maar waarschijnlijk waren er niet erg veel van. Parels waren dure sieraden. Het doorboren ervan is een speciale vaardigheid, waarbij het gat precies door het midden moet gaan. Rond de boorgaten mogen er ook geen kleine stukjes paarlemoer afspringen. Daarom wordt er dan ook van twee kanten geboord met speciale boortjes die geen schroefdraad hebben maar een soort schrapertje aan het eind.

Het doorboren van een parel hoefde niet zo lang te duren. Een eersteklas vakman had voor elke kleine parel ongeveer twee minuten nodig en voor grote een.

Hier zien we de nog jonge meester in de achterkamer van zijn huis bezig met het boren. Met zijn rechterhand beweegt hij de boog, een soort strijkstok waarvan de pees rond de boor gedraaid zit. Zo kan hij die met elke gewenste traagheid bewegen. Met zijn linkerhand houdt hij de boor nauwkeurig loodrecht. De parel ligt ingebed in een massief en trilvrij blok dat op een primitief maar stoer onderstel staat. Een werktafel van hetzelfde ontwerp staat rechts. Veel meer dan dit gereedschap hee� hij niet nodig. De nog jonge man is volledig geconcentreerd op zijn arbeid, ook al is er achter zijn rug een goedgeklede klant met een zwierige hoed bezig met parels te inspecteren. Een vrouw helpt hem. Is het de echtgenote van de ambachtsman? Ze draagt in elk geval hetzelfde hoofddeksel. Met haar linkerhand wijst ze naar een parel die de klant, op de gesloten vuist houdt.

Er is nog iemand in de kamer, die we op de rug zien en die met het gezicht in het volle licht bezig is, misschien met parels te selecteren. Op de achtergrond zien we een toren, een hoog huis en een muur met hoge raampjes die niet typisch Amsterdams zijn maar die aan Italië doen denken. Mooi in deze prent is de wijkende lijn figuren die het licht doorgeven vanaf links aan het raam tot de twee voorbijgangers in de verte op straat.

A peerless Treasure of high price Lies under simple pious life Hidden like a priceless Pearl Enfolded by an Oyster shell: When Death all wrappings takes away It’s shining in Gods golden ray.

P

Een schat van weergaloze aard Ligt onder simpel, deugdzaam leven Verstopt als parels, zoveel waard, Met oesterschelpen zijn omgeven: En als de dood die schelpen licht, Zie je ze glanzen in Gods licht.

50 - www.hollandfocus.com

CROSSWORD - KRUISWOORD Translate the questions into Dutch words. Some questions could be the other way around (marked N-E).

© holland focus

Horizontal: European language 3 part of the body 6 and others (abbr) 7 personal pronoun 9 messenger 11 spring 13 fruit of a tree 15 scooter 17 moist 18 Indonesian shop 19 edge 21 ‘cheese’ town in Holland 23 exclamation of pain 24 small child 26 (he) inherits 28 rapid 31 giant 32 female sheep 34 cargo 35 part of cutlery 37 at anytime 38 clean 39 quay 41 Dutch water level (abbr) 42 pre�y 43 bronchial disease Vertical: 1 musical note 2 hardly 4 throat 5 Chinese linear measurement 6 first 8 in bits 9 agricultural worker 10 distance 11 vende�a 12 cream 14 witch 16 colour 18 tackle 20 prissy girl 22 slender 25 split 26 currency in Spain 27 face 28 show 29 avenue 30 footpath 33 finished 35 colour 36 slogan 40 done 41 river in the province of Brabant solution in next edition

ere! h of t u o  G Between 1606 and 1708 on the leveled sand plain between Haagse Bos and Voorhout in The Hague nobility played ‘Malie’ (or Palmalie). That explains the name ‘Malieveld’. The ‘malie’ game was developed in France and was a favourite sport for nobility and monarchs during the 17th century. It was a precursor of Golf and Cricket.

The English called it ‘Pall Mall’ and the French ‘Palle Maille’.

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eropuit.

blog.nl

Events in the Netherlands What’s up in The Netherlands? An extract of things happening out of sight of the daily news chase, but interesting enough to mention. For more actual affairs please go to www.eropuit.blog.nl . It is a Dutch infotainment website about interesting events in the Netherlands: fairs, festivities, sports, remembrance days and current news, regarding daytrips and going outdoors. Around the 21st of every month an English summary of actual events will be placed on this website. It is called: ‘Events in the Netherlands’. words Erik Feenstra It is ge�ing ho�er in the Netherlands. Not just that, but this part of Europe heats up twice as fast as the rest of the world. That is one of the conclusions of the latest 5-year report of KNMI (the Dutch weather bureau): state of the climate in the Netherlands in 2008. Most probably it is not happening through natural fluctuations. It results in outdoor terraces in February, beach days in April and lower heating bills. Temperatures in De Bilt (base of the KNMI) rose one-and–a-half degree since 1950. Nowadays temperatures in the Netherlands resemble those in French cities some years ago. The last five years all seasons were warmer than average. The amount of rain rose by 18%, the number of days with extreme rainfall increased too, because the North Sea is ge�ing warmer.

Black is Beautiful

On the other hand spring and summer can be extremely dry, due to a warm southwest wind and a lot of sun. In winter, a cold wind from the northeast (resulting in the Elfstedentocht in Friesland) became rare. The KNMI calculated that at the end of the 21st century temperatures in this region might rise above 40 degrees Celsius, if we don’t do anything to the CO2 emission.

Smoking is bad for your health, but real hardcore smokers are facing other problems too. Since 2004 smoking at workplaces is forbidden. Since July 1st smoking is not allowed anymore in hotels, bars and restaurants. Right now it is quite cosy in the inner cities, with many people standing on the pavement in front of bars and restaurants to have their puffs, but what are they going to do in wintertime?

As for me: I quit smoking in September 2004 and must have saved around 6,500 euro since. A considerable amount of money! And ... no problems for me in bars and restaurants!

In the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam an eye-catching exposition opened: ‘Black is beautiful’, black people through seven centuries of Dutch art. Until October 28th about 135 paintings, drawings and manuscripts are shown to the public. It is the first time that such an exposition is taking place. In the 19th century ‘exhibitions’ of black people took place: they were simply shown live in the Zoo and at the big Colonial Exhibition in 1883. When art historian Esther Schreuder started her investigations, museums told her that in the country only four paintings were known which portrayed black people. When she stopped her investigations, that number had increased to about one hundred.

painting a�ributed to Jan van der Hoecke, Sibylle Agrippina

52 - www.hollandfocus.com

The Dutch have the stubborn reputation of taking their own food on holiday: potatoes, unions, ‘pindakaas’ (peanut bu�er), ‘ontbijtkoek’ (honey cake), coffee and ‘drop’ (licorice). Well, that might have been the case in the past, but nowadays it is a myth: that is the result of investigations among Dutch tourists. A quarter of the Dutch might take some food with them, but the rest adjust to the eating habits of the country they are visiting.

A lot of us don’t like to meet other Dutch people on holiday (and that is no myth ...).

Like in all Western countries, the Dutch population is greying. The amount of people dying is decreasing: the risk of heart failures is ge�ing less, especially with men.

Meanwhile the Dutch Minister of Social Affairs said in an interview that in the future we might have to work until we reach the age of 70. Because of the holiday season, so far not many protested against his words, but that certainly will change in September, when everybody is back at work: the Parliament too.

Every summer Nijmegen is the eye-catcher of the country during one week. This year the 92nd edition of the ‘Nijmeegse Vierdaagse’ took place from 15 till 18 July. More than 44,000 people walked during four days; a bit less than 35,000 participants made it to the finish. In 1904 the military in Breda formed a soccer team.

One year later they organised a tournament, which later became the Army Sporting Days. In 1908 the overall organisation of sports unions had been grounded and they organised a four day walking event from ten military barracks -from all over the country- to Breda. In these days four days events were popular: horsing, rowing, cycling and walking. In 1910 the ten routes were combined to one event around Arnhem and the next years in cities like Utrecht and Amersfoort (where the first woman finished the tour), until Nijmegen got the event in 1925. In the 2nd World War this city was heavily bombed, but in 1946 more people than ever came to take part in the Vierdaagse.

The event became more and more popular in the country and abroad and got the predicate ‘Royal’. At the final day the people who finish get a gladiolus, when they enter Nijmegen on the ‘Via Gladiola’ (normally the Sint Annastraat). The whole city is partying during this week; that final night a big ‘blarenbal’ (Ball of blisters) is held. By the way: walking and staying slim doesn’t have to go together: the University of Nijmegen examined the participants and concluded that a lot of them are overweight.

The telephone-booth will disappear from the streets.

The Dutch phone company was obligated to offer one box for every 5,000 residents. But nowadays everybody is walking around with a mobile phone, no need for

phone-booths anymore: the government drew back this obligation.

A�er twelve years of renovating the Pyramid of Austerlitz, in the woods between Amersfoort and Zeist in the heart of the country, restorations have been finalised.

It is a hill with an obelisk, erected by Dutch and French soldiers in 1804, as an honour to Napoleon. The Pyramid was named a�er the ba�le of Austerlitz in the Czech Republic, which Napoleon won. For years it was old, crooked and invisible behind the trees.

Finally: a woman in Oldenzaal (in the east of the country) accidentally flushed her holiday money through the toilet. When she pulled down her pants, 900 euro slipped out of her trouser pocket. Civil servants used a camera to find the paper money, found it and fished it out of the drain system. The woman hang the paper money on the washing line to dry: a few hours later the money was dry and she could go on holiday.

Do you have any questions or comments: you are most welcome to react under ‘plaats reactie’ eropuit.nl.

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Van Muiswinkel en Van Vleuten

spreken Australische Nederlanders aan

door Yolanda Edens foto Tom Berends

In de voorstelling Prediker & Hooglied van het cabaretduo Erik van Muiswinkel en Diederik van Vleuten vormt een brief uit Australië de rode draad. In de brief wordt het duo gevraagd optredens te verzorgen voor Nederlandse immigranten in Australië. Gezeten op een bankje in het park vragen de beide heren zich af of ze moeten ingaan op dit verzoek. Want hoe leg je aan Nederlanders, die al jaren niet meer in Nederland wonen, uit hoezeer hun vaderland is veranderd sinds hun vertrek? Dat de tijden van Swiebertje, Rudi Carell en de Kronkels van Simon Carmiggelt op TV al lang niet meer bestaan? De veranderingen die Nederland hee� ondergaan sinds de moord op Theo van Gogh?

Of zouden de Australische Nederlanders daar niets van weten? Deze gebeurtenissen gebruikt het duo als uitgangspunt voor een sublieme vertolking van Simon Carmiggelt (Van Vleuten) en een indringende beschouwing op de moord op Van Gogh.

54 - www.hollandfocus.com

Van Muiswinkel wil eigenlijk als fervent cricketspeler wel ingaan op het verzoek: cricket is in Australië immers erg populair en hij ziet wel mogelijkheden om beide zaken te combineren. Van Vleuten (links op de foto), als verse vader van zoon Spijker, ziet het niet zo zi�en.

Hij vertelt over zijn oom Guus die ook naar Australië is geëmigreerd, zich nu ‘Gus’ noemt en amper nog op Nederlandse woorden kan komen. Hilarisch gegeven is het feit dat oom ‘Gus’ pas tien weken Down Under vertoe�.

Het duo schetst daarmee een prachtig beeld van de verschillende soorten Nederlandse immigranten in Australië, verpakt in een scherpzinnig kijk op de huidige Nederlandse samenleving. Waar kinderen en ouders op het consultatiebureau vermanend worden toegesproken wanneer hun dreumes afwijkt van de statistieken. Waarin bijna niemand meer Algemeen Beschaafd Nederlands spreekt. Een land waarin iedere Bekende Nederlander

tegenwoordig een eigen musical krijgt. En waar inmiddels veel te veel cabaretiers actief zijn.

Aan het eind van de voorstelling komen beide heren tot de conclusie dat ze niet moeten ingaan op het verzoek. Ze hebben Australische Nederlanders niet echt iets zinnigs te bieden, vinden ze.

In onze ogen een onterechte conclusie. Prediker & Hooglied is een van de weinige hedendaagse cabaretvoorstellingen die zo op de planken zou kunnen in Australië.

Herkenbaar voor zowel de immigrant die het Nederland van Swiebertje verliet alsook voor de immigrant die via BVN, internet en e-mail uitstekend op de hoogte is van de perikelen rondom Ayaan Hirshi Ali en Rita Verdonk. De fictieve uitnodiging uit de voorstelling verdient het om omgezet te worden in een echte.

Aangevuld met een paar leuke cricketwedstrijden zullen de heren wellicht wel instemmen.

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De voorstelling Prediker & Hooglied was tevens de laatste die het duo op de planken bracht.

Na een jarenlang en vruchtbare samenwerking hebben beide kleinkunstenaars besloten ieder hun eigen weg te gaan. De DVD van de voorstelling is binnenkort te bestellen via de website van hun management: www. harrykies.nl

Subscribe to holland focus and receive a free CD:

exclusive to holland focus Frans Hertoghs’ “Tien Misvattingen over het Nederlands”

pay for one year subscription (six issues) and get the CD free

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THE CLOG BARN Experience the colour & charm of Holland without leaving Coffs Harbour

Clog Barn

Take a leisurely browse through the Clog Barn, where you will discover a treasure of souvenirs - e.g. Delft blue pottery - and special gifts and fascinating daily clog making demonstrations. You can also view the North Coast’s largest collection of Diecast Collectable cars and motorbikes.

Clog Making Demonstrations 3 times daily 11am, 2pm and 4pm.

www.clogbarn.com.au

Dutch Village

Don’t miss OMA’S COFFEE HOUSE Delicious meals Dutch pancakes, Croquettes, Uitsmijter, Bitterballen, Poffertjes

Take a delightful stroll around the model Dutch Village with working windmills and working trains! Entry to the Dutch Village adults $5, children $3.50 and pensioners $4.50.

A Family Fun Adventure

215 Pacific Highway, Coffs Harbour phone: 02 6652 4633 open 7 days from 8 am

Marcia ‘B’ IS VOOR BAKKER This all started because of a tidy-up in several rooms before a painter (schilder) came. It was necessary to take things out of cupboards before they could be moved.

Souvenirs ‘came to light’ which had been stored away a�er holidays in the Netherlands. I’m very sentimental about a lot of such things but the one I have before me may seem a bit ‘over the top’. It is a plastic bag about the size of a sheet of paper (A4). It has some words and a small advertising ‘icon’. The icon looks like a crown (kroon) – more of that soon. The words are ‘warme bakker’, also, ‘Paul Kaiser’ and under that ‘bakkersspecialiteiten’. The word ‘bakker’ has several uses – as in this case – a baker.

It is also a surname - its origin probably from the work the person did – like Timmerman perhaps. This is the word for carpenter – see p 50 of last issue of holland focus July/August 2008 in the series from Het Menselyk Bedryf.

Other names indicate the life of the people as identified in earlier times - we have friends with the surname Ridder (knight) which sounds as if it came from a rank in a traditional society – I recall from the parliament in The Hague (Den Haag) hearing of the Ridderzaal (the Knights’ Hall of the Binnenhof Palace). Another meaning from a dictionary is ‘the hall of a castle’ – kasteel - and from films of such times we might visualise the start of a scene with the knights on their horses streaming up to the castle as they return triumphantly from ba�le.

Now as I look again at my plastic bag from the warme bakker - (I think we used to use the term ‘hot bread (brood) shop’ here at one stage) - I feel sad and nostalgic because I need to throw the bag away a�er all these years. I’m nostalgic for those holiday times. But (maar) be�er to move on, although before doing so, I’d like to mention that the dictionary ‘told’ me that a slice of bread and bu�er is a boterham. I thought I’d heard the word used to describe a sandwich. Yes, the dictionary says also that a sandwich is a belegde boterham. What does belegde mean?

Among the meanings for beleggen is the following – ‘to spread with meat (vlees), cheese, etc.(enz. from enzovoort – and so on). Let’s not forget that if we wanted a cheese roll we’d ask politely for ‘Een broodje kaas alstublie�’ (if you please). As I write this, I seem to remember, in the

shops, a sign saying ‘Belegde broodjes’. To return briefly to Paul Kaiser and the crown mentioned above – is a connection being made with the word Kaiser describing a German ruler (the emperor)? I note from the Macquarie Dictionary that there are several meanings for Kaiser and that it comes from the Latin word Caesar.

On TV recently something else reminded me of the Netherlands. We were looking at the Chelsea Flower Show in London. On one of the flowers was a fat bee and the word which sounds like bommen came to mind. It was a word used by my husband with some enthusiasm (not anxiety) and the insect reminded of a bumble bee. I can’t find bommen in connection with bees, but mostly to do with bombs. Is it something to do with the droning sound which a bee makes? A bee, by the way, is een bij, and de bijenkorf is the beehive.) In the south of the Netherlands, in Limburg, we saw old-fashioned looking beehives in the garden (tuin) of a relative. Also tucked away in memories of holidays in the Netherlands is the recollection of being in a large department store called de Bijenkorf – perhaps a reader knows the origin of the name in this case. Now to return to the Chelsea Flower Show – thinking of a ‘flower show’ of course reminds us to include bloemen (flowers) in this collection of some words in Dutch which begin with ‘b’. To take it further ‘een bosje bloemen’ can refer to the bunch of flowers which you bring for your hostess. Signs by the side of the road sometimes read snijbloemen (cut flowers). ‘Side of the road’ reminds me of a warning sign we sometimes saw there, perhaps to do with heavy rain - zachte berm (‘verge’ - as the dictionary translates it). To continue with the ’flower-power’ words - one year we were fortunate to see a bloemencorso (floral parade). People also had decorations in their garden. We were particularly impressed and excited by one creation which had an Australian connection. It was honouring the historic flight of the KLM plane called de Uiver from London to Melbourne in

1934. In the spirit of the bloemencorso the model of de Uiver was covered in flowers.

Thinking further about the ‘b’ words, boat and bu�er come to mind – boot en boter. Hold on – doesn’t boter also mean more than one boat (een boot)? (Later thinking

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- perhaps that’s boten? Yes, that’s right). A favourite ‘b’ word among friends and family is bokkenpootjes. Literally this word means ‘goats’feet’. It is the name also of finger length meringues (schuimpjes) covered with flakes of almond – two of them joined together with a cream filling, with one end is dipped in chocolate - Lekker! (perhaps translated these days as ‘Yummy!’)

My next task around the house in the ‘ge�ing ready for the painter’ project is to move some books from a book cupboard (boekenkast). The preparation is keeping me very busy (erg bezig) although perhaps druk is be�er here.

Thinking of all the preparation I’m doing I remember my mother in her gentle way using the expression ‘Making mountains out of molehills’ to describe my reaction to things – perhaps that applies to this endeavour. However, along the way I’m having an interesting time. Perhaps the advice she would give now would be to close down for the day, so, to draw on another Dutch memory, let’s sign off with the children’s rhyme, using a recognisable ‘b’ word – ‘Naar bed, naar bed, zegt Duimelot’ (een duim is the thumb – and, according to the dictionary, duimelot is a nursery word - this li�le poem is a sort of finger game), or we could sing a slightly similar rhyme from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves’ – ‘Heigh ho, heigh ho, it’s off to bed we go…’ Tot de volgende keer!

Marcia de Groot.

LATER – The ‘b’ words keep coming! I’m just back from shopping and it occurs to me that my list of things to do o�en contains Dutch words – benzine (petrol) and bananen (an easy one to guess!). Then there are the names of well known Dutch people. I came across an article about Dick Bruna and the Miffy books. It was interesting to learn that her ‘real’ name is Nijntje. Lastly, I recall the picture on the cover of the last issue of holland focus. It shows an interesting building by the architect Piet Blom and also contains a review of a book about him. Writing about people with ‘b’ names brings me back to how this article started – ge�ing ready for the house painter. I’m reminded now of a picture painter – because one of the things which had to be moved was a large print of a joyful Breughel painting. Now I’m pondering where to put it so that I can enjoy it on a more regular basis (basis).

Genoeg! (Enough!). Tot ziens! See you again!

Fryslân Boppe!

The slogan ‘Fryslân Boppe! united many Frisians against the Dutch (Hollanders). The slogan sometimes was adapted to: ‘Fryslân Boppe!

Hollân yn ‘e groppe!’ meaning ‘Frisian Land above and Holland down in the ditch!’. Now it is the name of a series of articles in holland focus about a unique part of The Netherlands the province of Fryslân (Frisian Land). This is part ten. words Henk-Jan de Meer photos Douwe Bijlsma

The Frisian Balloon Festivities

Every year in late July the Frisian sky is full of hot air balloons. In 1986 nine friends calling themselves Vriendenclub de Vlecke got very excited about hot air balloons and they organised the Frisian Balloon Festivities in Joure. With the 50 balloons rising in the sky, the trend was set for one of the biggest ballooning events in the Netherlands and Joure was subsequently called the Balloon City. The year a�er they tried to get 100 balloons up, but weather conditions prevented this. In 1988 for safety reasons only 35 balloons were allowed to start on any event and the organisers decided to go for quality instead of quantity and the special shaped balloons came to Joure.

The organisers aimed at becoming the biggest and best ballooning event in the Netherlands. The 1989 programme included the take off of gas balloons, which a�racted a large crowd. Also many famous Dutch and international artists performed in the marquee for the first time. From 1999 about half the balloons participating in the event have a special

shape. The Vriendenclub De Vlecke decides to stop in 1995. They could not think of anything to make the event bigger and be�er. The council and sponsors wanted the Balloon Festivities to stay and a group of enthusiastic balloonists informed them that they were interested and took over from the Vriendenclub.

This year’s event took place from 23 till 27 July. Unfortunately during the last two days of the event the weather was very bad and all activities had to be cancelled.

To be able to take off the weather has to be extremely good particularly for the special shapes. The balloon of pilot Marlies Nägeli, in the shape of the Cathedral of St. Gallen, Switzerland, can only fly in very ideal weather conditions.

Fortunately she was able to fly on the first three days of the event.

Other special shapes are: a cow, an orange and even Vincent van Gogh’s head. Every year new shapes arrive from all corners of the world.

The 24th edition of the Frisian Balloon festivals will take place from 22 July till 26 July 2009, again with many activities for children too.

Check out www.hollandfocus.com for more special shapes and pictures.

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Special shaped balloons A hot air balloon is a big investment, but if the owner decides to have a special-shape made it will be a lot more expensive and a sponsor shall have to be approached.

Many special shapes are very instable and when landing the balloon has to be emptied much more careful than normal balloons and the pilot has to look for a large paddock to land on. In the air the expensive balloons react slower and more gas is used. The surface is large and cools down quickly.

Inflating takes longer too, as it is hard to fill the balloon through the narrow opening.

Pilots of the special shapes have to be very experienced as the buoyant force is 3 ton during a wind force of nine knots. Hot air balloons don’t fly in the rain because balloon heat can cause water to boil atop the balloon, and boiling water destroys the fabric.

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Treat of the week

The rise and fall of a grocery family Like most countries, the Netherlands also has a history of traditional grocery families.

These families started small with a little shop somewhere in a country town.

Only a few of them managed to expand and grow to national players in this branch, like the De Wit, Deen, Heijn, Van der Heijden and De Gruyter families.

Several new players arrived, but Albert Heijn is one of the strongest in the Netherlands and, being part of the Ahold Company, it expanded to one of the largest in the world.

It is no surprise that the Heijn Company has grown to what it is now, as it has always been a company that has kept an eye on the market: looking through the eyes of the costumers and making changes when necessary.

But by the end of the sixties, early seventies, many traditional family companies were forced to sell their shops to avoid bankruptcy.

One of them was the family business ‘Piet de Gruyter and Sons Sons’, older Dutch will still remember the shops, especially the ‘Snoepje van de Week’.

words Chris Lampe images Wijnand Veenendaal www.grootmoederstijd.nl

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Around the year 1799 Piet de Gruyter’s grandfather owned a so called ‘horse mill’ presumably in the city of ’s-Hertogenbosch. With this mill he was able to grind seeds and corn.

Piet de Gruyter is the founder of the De Gruyter Company, he did not just take over the business, but also started burning coffee beans, mostly to supply farmers in the area of ’sHertogenbosch.

By the end of the 19th century, when the company was managed by Lambert and Jacques, two grandsons of Piet de Gruyter, the retail business was added to the company.

In 1896 the first shops opened, the very first one on the Vreeburg in Utrecht.

All the De Gruyter stores were quite luxuriously decorated. For instance all the stores had crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceilings. The art deco style was very recognisable and the stores were mostly found on the corner of streets in the four biggest cities of the country.

But not just the style and decoration were part of the image, the company was also known for only stocking their own brand.

In 1913 the successful company opened its 44th store.

The company was also clever regarding customer relations. Several minor and bigger campaigns were organised. The well known: Snoepje van de week (Candy or Treat of the week) was probably the most famous.

When customers spent at least ten guilders on groceries, they could buy this ‘treasure’ for ten cents only. Each week they offered a different treat, mainly meant for kids. One week it could be a candy, another week it could be a small toy, or a picture postcard.

Over a long period the company also gave away cardboard cut-outs of li�le houses which could be put together and complimented with matchboxes to make up a complete village.

To be used with the very popular model trains.

It was a smart move by the De Gruyter Company, customers spending just under the ten guilders limit would purchase something

extra, to make sure that they would get the ‘Treat of the Week’.

Another famous action was to give a 10% discount when customers would hand in their previous docket.

The customers were happy with the discount, but (of course) the company would have a clear view on what customers had bought.

The company was given the nickname ‘Piet de Dief’ (Pete the Thief) as it was suggested that the discount was not real and customers had to pay for it anyway.

But others claimed that, for instance, a kilo of sugar did actually not weigh a kilo as heavy paper bags were used for wrapping the products.

Anyway, during the sixties the family company reached its highest point, having a huge manufacturing site with 17 divisions in ’s-Hertogenbosch

and 525 stores throughout the Netherlands.

The factory in ’s-Hertogenbosch contained sites for the production of cookies, soups, jams, coffee and tea, but also a printing site, PR department, testing location and a laboratory.

But by sticking to the traditional way of doing business, the personal service in the stores, plus only stocking their own brand, it completely missed the boat of modernising to bigger and modern ‘self help supermarkets’; the American way.

The costumers started to avoid the stores and went shopping in the larger modern stores where they had a wider range of- and cheaper products.

At one stage the well known Unilever Company tried to save the

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De Gruyter stores, but it was too late.

The company was sold a�er announcing that it lost more than 40 million guilders in one year (now 18 million Euros).

Some of the stores came into the hands of other supermarket companies, but slowly all the De Gruyter stores disappeared and the company stopped to exist at the end of 1977 and the history of this family business ends there and then.

In the centre of ’s-Hertogenbosch not many things remind of this once great company. Only a street named ‘De Gruyter Passage’ and some nameplates and buildings. But most of the factories have been demolished.

Tasmania

Abel Tasman Art Prize

The Noord Brabant’s Museum, Verwersstraat 41, ‘s-Hertogenbosch owns an extensive collection of items that once belonged to this family company. Scenes, photos, plates, counters, paintings, original dockets and of course the ‘Snoepje van de Week’ are displayed.

Books have been wri�en and documentaries made about this grocery family that became a part of the Dutch culture and history.

QUEENSLAND the Stirrers “Prince’s Celebrations” will be held Saturday 1 November at the Dutch Club 123 Pine Rd, Richlands Qld.

For info or tickets ring Matt 07 33532450

Once a year the Dutch community, in conjunction with the Kingborough Council which has a sister relationship with the Council of Grootegast, has an art competition for young people. One year the winner of the prize in Australia travels to the Netherlands and the following year the winner in the Netherlands travels to Tasmania.

This year’s winner Lo�ie Hema, from the Netherlands, visited Tasmania.

A reception was given by the Mayor of the Kingborough Council, Dr Graham Bury. The idea of the competition was instigated by Rob van Schie in conjunction with the President of the Dutch Australian Society, Dr Freddie Von Schmidt. The competition has been a huge success in Tasmania and in the Netherlands, in particular the birthplace of Abel Tasman at Grootegast.

Hon. Consul George Huizing, Lo�ie Hema and Rob van Schie

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PRINS WILLEM ALEXANDER VILLAGE Less than half an hour from the centre of Brisbane city, is a true Dutch village! The Prins Willem Alexander Village is home to around 200 over 55s who live in either independent living units or are cared for in the hostel (low care) and nursing home (high care). The Netherlands Retirement Village Association of Queensland instigated the construction of the facility with the first stage completed in 1990 and other stages added since then.

Much care was taken in the design to ensure it really feels like you have stepped into a li�le part of The Netherlands.

The buildings are inspired by the traditional Zaanse style and residents and visitors agree that true gezelligheid has been created here. Each year the April Fest is celebrated, which began five years ago as an open day for residents and their families. This has now grown into a very popular “Dutch Day” becoming known throughout Brisbane and beyond, so mark 19 April 2009 in your diaries and watch the magazine for more information.

Chief Executive Officer, Robin Christelow, and Director of Nursing, Laila Chalustowski and Ineke Broekman showed Renèe Veldman-Tentori around the Village recently. It is immediately apparent that a true community and caring atmosphere has been created here, with fantastic facilities and services for the residents. There are numerous thoughtful touches throughout the Village for those with Dutch Heritage such as a Del� Blue room in the Nursing Home and a Clog Collection outside on the lawn. Most of the residents and staff speak Dutch as well as English which adds to the atmosphere, meaning older residents can feel comfortable in using their moedertaal and others can learn and practice Dutch if they wish. Almost everywhere you look is some reminder of The Netherlands and it is fun walking around trying to spot everything from the crests of all the provinces in one room to dolls in traditional dress to pictures of tulips on resident’s name plaques. ‘Café de

More information and photos of the Village are available on their website. If you can imagine yourself living here one day then you can contact the Village, however being such a wonderful place there is a long waiting list! Meanwhile mark 19 April 2009 in your diaries to visit the Village for next year’s April Fest. Volunteers are also sought to help out with a variety of tasks so if you live in the Brisbane area and would like to take part in the “gezelligheid” then please make contact as below. Holland Focus will also be publishing regular articles on the Village, its residents and activities.

Address: 62 Collingwood Road, Birkdale QLD 4159 Phone: 07 3822 0800 Website: h�p://www.dutchvillage.com.au/ Email: nrva@dutchvillage.com.au words and photos Renèe Veldman-Tentori

Tantes’ is open on a Wednesday serving delicious coffee and treats and Bea’s Winkel stocks Dutch delicacies, run by a friendly and enthusiastic team of volunteers, usually dressed in bright orange!

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Profile of:

John Newland words Johan de Rooy John Newland is the son of English immigrants. A name one would not immediately connect with a magazine named HOLLAND FOCUS. But let me explain.

John is married to a lady from Belgium. A country with many ties to the Netherlands, especially in the Flemish part. Also, John has wri�en an exquisite travel book called “Driving the heart of Europe”.

How it all began?

Well, John is a fair dinkum South Australian. An Adelaidian in fact. He received his education in Adelaide and spent most of his career in Adelaide, employed by the Commonwealth Bank. He did well from the beginning and was soon posted to head the branch in Ivanhoe Vic. on a so called “bachelor contract”. This caused a problem when he met Hugue�e Permentier, lovely daughter of Ivanhoe’s Belgian G.P. John and Hugue�e promptly fell in love and wanted to get married. However, they had to wait till John finished his contract a�er which they got married in Adelaide.

A�er a 4 year stint in Sydney John was transferred back to Adelaide where he finished his distinguished banking career.

Meanwhile, Hugue�e wanted to see family and friends again in Belgium. John had never travelled overseas and was not overly enthusiastic to do so. But, loving husband that he was (and still is), he took some long service leave and accompanied wife and 3 ½ year old daughter on the trip to Belgium. Only this once, John told Hugue�e. That was in 1973.

One trip was enough. John got bi�en by the travel bug and since then they made 11 (yes, eleven) more trips to Europe. Not just visiting Belgium, but most countries in Europe plus the U.K. On one occasion they purchased an old Mercedes Benz and travelled in it for seven months.

During their travels the Newlands had their fair share of li�le and near accidents plus difficulties with hotels and cultural differences in various countries.

In 1991 John retired from his banking job, but not from

John and Hugue�e in Switserland

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other activities. In 1990 John was appointed Hon. Consul in South Australia for the Kingdom of Belgium and filled this position admirably till 2002.

While Hon. Consul, people came to him not only for consular ma�ers but also for advice on travelling Europe.

So much so that he, a�er retirement, tutored for W.E.A. adult learning on the subject of driving Europe.

The lectures were very well received. John thought it would be very helpful to many more people if he wrote a guide for the independent travellers who wished to visit Europe at their own pace.

The guide became THE BOOK. It is a sturdy bound volume of 250 pages that can stand some rough handling. It took John 18 months to put it together. He approached a few publishers with his ideas but they showed li�le interest so John, who believes in his book, decided to take ma�ers in his own hands.

The hardest part, says John, was to decide the number and size of the pages, the margins and the text underneath the photos.

He succeeded!

It is a very readable book with tips on things as: foreign roads, vehicle lease, dining and accommodation, packing and much more. There is even a chapter on rail travel.

I could go on lauding the book but the best way is to read it yourself. Even without actually travelling, it is a good read about Europe and the many pictures are excellent.

I loved the book.

It retails for $49.95. For readers of Holland Focus John is willing to reduce the price to $40.00 pick up or plus postage.

You want to speak to John? He is very approachable on (08) 8362 9110. Email: noddie1@chariot.net.au

TOUR DOWN UNDER The 2009 Tour Down Under (T.D.U.) was going to be an International Cycling Union (I.C.U.) Pro Tour. The first Pro Tour outside Europe.

This is not going to happen!

Ongoing arguments between the Tour de France organisation and the I.C.U. have lead to its failure.

So, back to square one as it was before the Pro Tour announcement.

The director of the T.D.U., Mike Turtur, says that nothing will change and that the event will continue to be very successful.

The government of South Australia agrees with Mike and has commi�ed $14.6 million for the T.D.U. in this year’s budget. This is to be used over a four year period.

So does Patrick Jonker, a winner of the T.D.U. He says, riders went flat out before the Pro Tour and they will race flat out in the 2009 race.

FAMILY DAY in the D.S.W.C. More than 100 persons were present at the July family day at the club to listen to the well-known musician Tony van Dam. It was a happy reunion of Tony and his public.

People asked for more and this will be provided on October 19th when Tony will come back.

Before this will happen a�endance of all members is required on September 28th for the A.G.M. of the club.

Make sure your membership card is up to date.

Sub groups are asked to be in time with their reports.

The meeting starts at 2pm sharp.

Photo: Tour Down Under, Author: Cobber_cpd

South Australia Johan de Rooy N.E.S.W.A. Our veterans will be busy in October.

They start the month with a celebration of LEIDENS ONTZET on October 3rd in the D.S.W.C., off Salisbury Highway, Salisbury.

It is the exact date so the event will be on a Friday and starts at 12 noon. Perhaps not an easy date and time for some to a�end, but nevertheless the commi�ee hopes that many will come to taste the traditional herring and white bread. If that is outside your diet the club kitchen can supply other fare. Ring Eddy van Reeuwijk for more information.

Then, on October 8th, there will be an official visit from a high profile delegation from the Netherlands.

Amongst them will be Vice Admiral Ir. M.A. van Maanen, Inspecteur Generaal der Krijgsmacht en Inspecteur der Veteranen.

Also Lt. Col. W Grims, president of the “Veteran Platform” and Col. Mar. (b.d.) D. Knoppen. They will be accompanied by Lt. Col. C. Lefevre, mil. a�aché of H.M. Embassy in Canberra and Mr. Bordelier from Melbourne who organises the travel agenda.

Together with other people in the delegation they will meet with N.E.S.W.A. in the D.S.W.C. at 2pm.

There will be a remembrance ceremony at the monument for the fallen. The Australian army will supply a “Garde D’honeur” and a bugler. A�er the ceremony there will be an opportunity to meet members of the delegation.

N.E.S.W.A. wants to make this a memorable event and invites not just all her members but also members of the public.

For more information please contact the secretary M.E. van Reeuwijk on (08) 8296-2233 or president H.Nijholt on (08) 8344-4773.

Send an e-card from our website www.hollandfocus.com Some photos taken by our photographers will be placed on the website to be sent by you!

The photos are changed regularly. news items that cannot be placed in the magazine will be placed on the website visit the website regularly to keep up-to-date www.hollandfocus.com - 65

NSW

Het was feest in Wollongong op 2 augustus j.l.

De club DASI bestaat 55 jaar en dat moest gevierd worden.

Er waren zo’n 40 leden van de Rembrandt Club aanwezig, en daar hoorde de Kanavalsclub ‘De Kwasten’ bij.

Ze gaven weer een beste imitatie van André en zijn Orkest. Er werd genoten van de muziek en uit volle borst meegezongen.

Twee weken voor dit feest (zondag 20 juli) was het Wollongong zangkoor te gast in de Rembrandt Club, voor het jaarlijks concert. De mensen uit Wollongong weten hoe ze zich moeten amuseren! En behalve het zingen werd er ook nog voordrachten gehouden in Sydney’s West.

Dat was lachen geblazen. Voor velen was het een zondagmiddag om niet gauw te vergeten.

Het Kwasten Strauss Orkest

Het is fantastisch hoe deze twee clubs elkaar hebben geholpen met de festiviteiten.

Op deze manier hebben velen kunnen genieten. Houden zo!!

Mia Joosten

02- 9623 2569

email: info@rembrandtdutchclub.com Website: www.rembrandtdutchclub.com OPEN: Dinsdag’s van 10 vm tot 4 nm om te winkelen en een kopje koffie te drinken.

Vrijdag’s vanaf 11 vm tot laat.

Je kunt er kaarten, biljarten, sjoelen, scrabbelen, Holland Focus lezen en ook zingen.

Iedereen is van harte welkom.

Informatie voor leden en hun gasten.

Als u informatie kunt geven over gezochte personen of als u een verdacht persoon ziet neem dan zo spoedig mogelijk contact op met Crime Stoppers. Voor informatie over verschillende gezochte personen is een beloning van AU$1000 beschikbaar gesteld. U hoeft uw naam niet te noemen. De persoon die belt krijgt een codenummer toegewezen, dat gebruikt moet worden in elk contact met de politie totdat de beloning betaald is. Bel gratis naar Crime Stoppers op 1800 333 000 of ga naar www.crimestoppers.com.au

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woensdag 15 oktober Leidens Ontzet Om 11 uur is de koffie klaar.

Voor de Hollandse atmosfeer speelt Herman de liedjes van toen en nu.

Voor leden $8.00 Niet-leden $12.00 Bodemloze koffie, koek, lunch, toetje na en floorshow inbegrepen.

Stoel bestellen, Leny bellen 02 9673 2106 of 02 9623 2569 zaterdag 8 november Karnavalavond om 8 uur ‘s avonds Wij nemen afscheid van Prins Tony de Eerste Muziek van ‘The Masters’ Kaartjes bestellen Leny bellen 02 9673 2106 of 02 9623 2569

last edition’s solution

holland focus

ADDRESS PO Box 169, Olinda Vic. 3788 T & F +61 (0)3 9751 2795 M 0419 465 516 E editor@hollandfocus.com www.hollandfocus.com

four generations

ABN 40 118 310 900 editor and publisher iet Fuijkschot editor@hollandfocus.com contributors to this issue: Darren Arnold, Douwe Bijlsma, Yolanda Edens, Erik Feenstra, Pim Feijen, Marcia de Groot, Frans Hertoghs, Mia Joosten, Chris Lampe, Henk-Jan de Meer, Johan de Rooy, Jacob van Splunter, Renèe Veldman-Tentori, Kathleen Vervoort, Rudi van Voorst, Jan Weijdt, Henry Van Zanden. advertising sales: T +61 (0)3 9751 2795 F +61 (0)3 9751 2795 E advertising@hollandfocus.com Queensland: renee@hollandfocus.com subscriptions T +61 (0)3 9751 2795 E editor@hollandfocus.com DISCLAIMER: Any views and opinions expressed within Holland Focus are solely those of the individual author or other information source and do not necessarily re-present the opinion of Holland Focus.

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SUBSCRIPTION

photo above: Mia Joosten (second from le�) flew to Cairns to be at the birth of her great-granddaughter Kassidy. photo le�: Mia as a baby, another four generations.

Mia was six when her great-grandmother died.

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