the
Magazine MARCH / APRIL 2015 ISSUE
A bi-monthly publication by the Hollandse Club
Visit us online @ www.hollandseclub.org.sg
Food & Beverage March /April Chef’s Special Vietnamese Pancake
Event Reports
An Evening with Harmen van Straaten New Year’s Eve Sparkling Party A Walk Around Little India
Off the Beaten Track: The Green Corridor Hired Help: Your Rights & Hers Eggs, Eggs & More Eggs!
PLATINUM SPONSORS
GOLD SPONSOR
SILVER SPONSORS
2 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG
EDITOR’S MESSAGE
CONTENTS 4 7 20 8
Dear Members,
THE CLUB President’s Message Meet the Team! What’s Going On Around The Club
5 13 21
GM’s Message
Reciprocal Arrangement Staff Update
EVENT REPORT Kirti’s Cooking Harmen van Class Straaten Coffee Sparkling New Experience Year’s Party
9
6 14 22
Upcoming Events Hospitality Training by Richard
10
A Walk Aroud Little India
26 31
Hired Help: Your Rights and Hers
Facility Information
HUMAN INTEREST
23 29
Art Inspired by Asia: Clare Haxby Happy New Year!
24 30
The Green Corridor Finding the Right Neighbouhood
Residential Leasing
MEMBERS
35
Membership News AGM 2015
36
KIDS & TEENS Eggs, eggs Kid’s Art & more Challenge Eggs!
42
39
FOOD & BEVERAGES
Chef’s Special: March
44
Chef’s Special: April
SPORTS & RECREATION
50 57
Swimming
52
Squash
40
An Eggy Easter!
46
Vietnamese Pancake
54
Tennis
Club Activity Contact List
58
LIBRARY New Books Update
EDITORIAL COMMITEE Editor: Nina Gunasingham editor@hollandseclub.org.sg Writers: Claire Wintraecken Karien van Ditzhuijzen
Proofreader & copy-editor: Nedda Chaplin Photographers: Bernhard Wamelink Inge Kuipers
I hope you have all had a refreshing break over the Chinese New Year holiday. If I’m looking a bit bronzed this week it’s because we took the opportunity to hire a boat for a cruise around the islets off the Singaporean coast over the long weekend, which we thoroughly enjoyed. Welcome to the March / April issue of the Hollandse Club Magazine in which we cover a variety of subjects, from improvements around the Club through cooking classes to Easter and eggs. This issue is quite thrilling for me as it marks my debut as editor. Inside you will find lots of information about many different facets of the Club, such as the upcoming AGM, and the activities here - from exciting sports competitions through to quieter pursuits like reading - as well as excursions around our island home of Singapore. We have colour-coded the tabs on the pages and the corresponding numbers on the contents page to make it easy for you to flip to the sections that interest you. Many members will only be in Singapore for a short time, so we hope the Magazine helps you make the most of your time here. For longer-term residents, maybe we can help you discover things you never knew you never knew; Claire’s article on the Green Corridor certainly opened my eyes and Karien’s NCA / HOME report on the rights of foreign domestic workers was equally interesting. And don’t miss Paul’s account of the epic battle between our squash and tennis players! As ever, we have something for the kids, too; look out for our Easter egg story, the colouring competition winners and, of course, the Cow Project. (We have a cow? Yes we do - ask your kids; I’m sure they can tell you where she is!) And not forgetting our important items like the March and April events at a glance to let you know what’s happening around the Club, the Chef’s Specials for these two months and the contact lists for Club activities. As I am about to celebrate my husband’s 50th birthday at the time of writing, I would like to remind you that this year Singapore, too, turns 50. I know that many families have a long history with Singapore and the Hollandse Club; do you have any photos that we can include in the Magazine and reminisce over how much Singapore has changed over the years? Please do send us copies. Happy reading! Nina Gunasingham
22 Camden Park, Singapore 299814 | Tel: 6464 5225 | Fax: 6468 6272 | www.hollandseclub.org.sg Email: info@hollandseclub.org.sg | Court Bookings: reception@hollandseclub.org.sg The Hollandse Club Magazine is published bi-monthly and distributed free to members of the Club. For advertising enquiries, please email marcom@hollandseclub.org.sg Views and opinions expressed may not necessarily reflect those of the Club, its committee or editorial staff. © All Rights reserved. MICA (P) 156/04/2009. WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 3
MAIN COMMITTEE President: Nienke Nauta - Kuipers president@hollandseclub.org.sg Vice-President & Marketing: Willeke Lankamp vicepresident@hollandseclub.org.sg First Secretary: Anne Zwart firstsecretary@hollandseclub.org.sg Second Secretary: Paul Roberts secondsecretary@hollandseclub.org.sg Honorary Treasurer: Wietske Helle treasurer@hollandseclub.org.sg Chairperson for Food & Beverage: Tony Moes fnbmember@hollandseclub.org.sg Chairperson for Sports & Recreation: Patrice Plet sportsmember@hollandseclub.org.sg Ordinary Member (Kids Events): Linda Macgregor Commercial Affairs: Henk Jan Bakker commercial@hollandseclub.org.sg Ordinary Member (Internal & Corporate Affairs): Steef Jansen
COMMITTEE MEMBERS Kids Committee Chairperson: Evelien Kleijn Members: Maria van Dort, Marjolein Heijen, Evelyne van Overveld, Nathalie Ramirez Sports Committee Chairperson: Patrice Plet Library Committee Convenor: Hian Tan 6468 4004 Members: Cora Smouter, Angela Bowskill, Susanne Westerbeek, Nina Gunasingham, Annabel Klaassens, Ellen Goense Finance Committee Chairperson: Wietske Helle 8399 5729 Members: Then Wee Lin, Edwin Jager, Anneloes van Haaren, Cecile Sturm, Jan Willem Buist F&B Committee Chairperson: Tony Moes Member: Patrick Tan, Susanne Geerdink, Susanne Versteeg-van der Net Magazine Committee Members: Nedda Chaplin, Karien van Ditzhuijzen, Nina Gunasingham, Claire van Deur, Bernhard Wamelink (Photographer) 4 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Dear Fellow Members, Gong Xi Fa Cai to all! It has been nearly a year since we started as a new main committee and I can honestly say it has been quite a busy year. Our focus for 2014 was on: • Corporate relations: we developed a new long-term active sponsorship plan, which resulted in new 2 and 3-year contracts. We welcomed the companies Boskalis, DSM, Randstad, Mammoet and ABNAMRO as sponsors, together with the existing sponsorships of Van Oord and KLM. • Memberships: 2014 was a very challenging year with regards to memberships. We saw a drop in members from 1616 in December 2013 to 1519 in December 2014. In 2014, 343 members left our club, mainly due to overseas relocation, and only 228 joined as new members. • Upgrade of service at all levels: more exclusive benefits for our current members. This resulted in members-only classes for our outdoor activities held at the club. Our entrance policy for non-members was also tightened. Non-members can only be introduced a limited number of times by members. Our service staff had several training sessions this year in order to provide a better service to our members. Hospitality - and cultural difference training - was on the agenda, as well as an English language course for the less proficient English-speaking staff members. During 2014, we organised some successful social events at the club. For example, the live screening of the soccer World Cup (although in the middle of the night) was very well attended by members as well as non-members. Also, our summer party last May was a big success. A summer party will be organised again this year. Besides the fact that it had been a busy year, 2014 was also a challenging year with regards to the finances. Although one of our focus points was to generate more revenue, unfortunately, we finished 2014 with a negative result. This result is mainly caused by the decrease in the number of memberships, as explained before. A complete review of 2014, including a detailed overview of the finances, will be presented in the upcoming AGM on 26th of March at 8 pm at the club. During the AGM, we will also present our plans for 2015 and beyond. In the near future, we need to make some investments in order to upgrade our club facilities and in order to stay competitive with other international clubs in Singapore. I would like to thank our staff and management for their great effort and dedication in 2014. As the main committee, we worked very well together in the past year. Together we can achieve more! Last but not least, a club cannot exist without volunteers. Many of you volunteered in 2014 and, therefore, I would like to say a big thank you; whether it’s in one of our committees, as a convenor or in the main committee. Once again, thank you. Best regards, Nienke Nauta-Kuipers President
CLUB MANAGEMENT
GM’S MESSAGE Gong Xi Fa Cai to all members! I wish you all a prosperous and happy Year of the Goat. Last week, we ushered in the Lunar New Year with the traditional Lion Dance on the Terrace and we saw many members tossing a Yu Sheng salad with family and friends while wishing for many good things to come their way. What a great way to start my tenure as General Manager of the Hollandse Club in such a festive mood. Although the Club faces many challenges, I am excited about the possibilities for the future. I feel privileged to be a part of this unique club, which is steeped in a history that spans more than a century. Our club has witnessed, among many other things, the birth of the Republic of Singapore 50 years ago. Change is a constant factor for both Singapore and for the Hollandse Club. While we keep some of our unique traits, we constantly have to re-invent ourselves to stay relevant. In the coming months we will be continuing with renovations to update our facilities and improve your experience at the Club. Some of these renovations might inconvenience you at times but we will try to limit the impact for you and your guests as much as possible. During this time especially we would like to ask parents with younger children to mind them not to wander off to areas where there is no supervision. For March and April we have plenty of exciting events lined up to keep the whole family entertained, such as Quiz Night, Dragon Boating Family Day, Lectures, Workshops, Kids’ Adventure Camp, Cultural Tours, Cooking Classes, Easter Brunch with Egg Hunt, King’s Day and much more. Please join us at one (or two or three) of these events and the various sports classes, groups or competitions that are on offer. We have selected some delicious monthly specials for you to try and soon we will be able to introduce to you the new Terrace menu. Last but not least, I am very happy to announce that after many months of searching we have a new Editor of The Magazine: Nina Gunasingham. Congratulations Nina, and happy writing and editing! If you have ideas, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to approach me, or any of the staff. We greatly value your input! With kind regards, Daniel van Dijk General Manager
General Manager: Daniel Van Dijk 6461 1103 gm@hollandseclub.org.sg Banquet Operations Manager: Tan Boon Phang 6461 1137 banqmgr@hollandseclub.org.sg Banquet Executive: Mariah Said 6461 1112 banquet@hollandseclub.org.sg Commercial Manager: 6461 1139 sales@hollandseclub.org.sg Membership Executive: Darma Jahari 6461 1111 membership@hollandseclub.org.sg Marketing Communications Executive/Designer: Mohd Izzat 6461 1117 marcom@hollandseclub.org.sg Sports & Events Manager: Marilou Groot Nibbelink 6461 1110 events@hollandseclub.org.sg Sports & Events Executive: Yurni Hikmah 6461 1127 sports.exec@hollandseclub.org.sg Operations Manager: Bibiche Booi 64611136 opsmgr@hollandseclub.org.sg Finance Manager: Vangel Neo 6461 1108 finmgr@hollandseclub.org.sg Accountant: Zoey Lee 6461 1106 a.r@hollandseclub.org.sg Administrative Assistant: Regina Sim 6461 1160 adminasst@hollandseclub.org.sg
WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 5
FACILITY INFORMATION SPORTS & RECREATION Club Opening Hours Sunday - Thursday: 7am - 11pm Friday - Saturday: 7am - 1am General Office Hours Monday - Friday: 9am - 6pm Tel: 6464 5225 (Reception) Fax: 6468 6272 Lost & Found Items Please contact the Housekeeper at  6461 1114 or Reception at 6464 5225.
FOOD & BEVERAGE OUTLETS The Lounge (Outdoor) Monday - Sunday: 8am - Closing (Last food order for the kitchen 9.45pm) For reservations, please call Reception at 6464 5225 or email reception@hollandseclub.org.sg. Serambi Bar Monday - Sunday: 6pm - 11pm (on request) Terrace Monday - Sunday: 8am - closing (Last food order for the kitchen 9.45pm) Beverages are available until closing. Tennis Pavillion Monday - Friday: 8am - 12pm Tuesday & Thursday: 4pm - 6pm Wednesday: 6pm - 11pm Saturday, Sunday & PH: 8am - 12pm 4pm - 6pm For special events opening hours, please ask Reception. During opening hours a limited menu is served. Tradewinds Bar Sunday - Thursday: 11am - 11pm (Last food order for the kitchen 9.45pm) Friday - Saturday: 11am - 1am (Last food order for the kitchen 9.45pm) Eve of PH & PH: 11am - 1am (Last food order for the kitchen 9.45pm) Pool Bar Monday - Friday: 11am - 7pm Saturday: 8am - 6pm Sunday & PH: 9am - 5pm
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Gymnasium Monday - Sunday: 7am - 10pm Library Tuesday - Saturday Facility information for the library will be different every week. Multi-Purpose Sports Court Monday - Sunday: 8am - 10pm Please check availability with Reception before using. Squash Courts Monday - Sunday: 7am - 11pm For court bookings, please call Reception at 6464 5225 or email reception@hollandseclub.org.sg. Swimming Pool Monday - Friday: 8am - 10pm Closure times for competitive swimming: Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday 5pm - 7.30pm (Two lanes will remain open) Last Friday of the month: 5pm - 7pm *At least two lanes will remain open on School Holidays between Monday to Friday. Tennis Courts Monday - Sunday: 7am - 11pm Booking is required. For court bookings, please call Reception at 6464 5225 or email reception@hollandseclub.org.sg. Child Minding Service Monday - Friday: 8.30am - 12pm For toddlers aged from 1 to 3 years. Tel: 6461 1150 Mums & Tots Group Tuesday: 10am - 11.30am Newborn to 4 years at Rotterdam Room. Puppy Room Monday - Thursday: 12pm - 8pm Friday: 12pm - 10pm Saturday & PH: 10am - 10pm Sunday: 10am - 8pm For children aged from 1 to 6 years. Juniors Room Monday - Thursday: 12pm - 8pm Friday, Saturday & PH: 10am -10pm Sunday: 10am - 8pm For children aged 6 - 11 years. The Chillout Room Monday - Friday: 4pm - 10pm Saturday & Sunday: 10am - 10pm For children aged 11 years and above.
MEET THE TEAM! When we sat down for our magazine meeting in January, there were calls for a magazine editor. Despite not having any experience, or indeed having written articles prior to the October / November issue, I found myself volunteering! So here I am as your new editor. Let me introduce my new team and myself. I am Nina; you may have seen me around the Club, especially as my two boys have a lot of activities here (and I’ll sometimes make an effort to do some exercise). Originally Sri Lankan - though I have never lived there - I have lived in Africa, Europe, America, Australia and, of course, Asia (I do not plan on going to Antartica) though I have been based in Singapore since 1998. Our boys are almost as well travelled as us and I like to say they are 5th generation expats! I love reading and almost anything to do with books and literacy - you can find me volunteering in the Club library - which is what led me to writing for the Magazine ... and now, my new ‘profession’ as editor! Born and raised in a small Dutch town, Claire Wintraecken has wanted to live abroad for as long as she can remember. After stints in Brussels and Paris, she and her husband moved to Chicago and Houston, USA, in 2001. She has lived in Singapore with her family for the past seven months, where she started working as a freelancer in the marketing industry. When she’s not managing the family affairs, her job or discovering Singapore with friends, she can usually be found honing her skills as an amateur writer for the Magazine.
Karien van Ditzhuijzen was born into expat life, and had lived in more countries than she could count before settling in Singapore in 2012 with her husband and three young children. She worked as product developer for years and then left the corporate world to work with less fortunate migrants than herself at the nongovernmental organisation, HOME. On the side, she is a freelance writer. Karien likes to write for children and adults alike, about exploring different cultures, parenting, nature, travel, lifestyle, and much more. She shares her Singapore stories on her blog: www.bedu-mama.com. Nedda Chaplin is a freelance editor and the copy-editor for the Magazine. She was born in Zambia, Africa, to expat parents from Serbia (her grandparents were expats, too) and moved to the UK as a toddler. She grew up on the south coast of England and has been living in lovely Singapore since 2011 with her Kiwi husband and three of their children. She loves playing tennis with the WITS team at the Club, and also likes running (kinda).
Inge Kuipers comes from the southwest of the Netherlands and has lived in Singapore for four and a half years with her husband and three children. All of them can often be found at the Club for sports activities or just hanging out and relaxing. Since photography is her passion, she enjoys doing the event photography for the Hollandse Club Magazine.
A picture a day ... Besides his day job as a manager, Bernhard Wamelink likes to take photographs. Before he came to Singapore, he ran his own photography business in Hong Kong for several years. Within the committee, he takes care of the food photography and sometimes the cover page of the Magazine. He always likes hearing comments such as ‘the pictures make me feel hungry’ ... it makes the time volunteering in the committee worthwhile. WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 7
KIRTI’S “FEAST OF INDIA” COOKING CLASS During the first cooking class in a series, Kirti pre-
pared some wonderful fragrant and delicious dishes. Kirti gives a ton of information about all the ingredients she uses and explains thoroughly how the dishes are to be prepared. She puts a lot of care and attention in both her audience and her cooking. Experience Kirti yourself and make sure not to miss the next cooking class! Photos by Inge Kuipers
COFFEE EXPERIENCE WITH RANDSTAD
On 6 February Sandra van Campen, CFO of Randstad Asia Pacific, visited the Club to taste for herself how we have improved the coffee experience at the Hollandse Club. Supported by our sponsor, Randstad, we have upgraded our coffee machines, changed our coffee blend and organised barista training for our staff members who are proud to present the result of their efforts. We would like to thank Sandra and Randstad for their continued support of the Club.
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By Daniel van Dijk
Dutch children’s books illustrator and author, Harmen van Straaten, shared his journey from being a corporate lawyer to becoming an illustrator and writer of children’s books. Harmen showed his audience some illustration techniques and explained from where he gets his inspiration. As it turned out, Harmen is not only a great illustrator and writer but also an entertaining narrator.
Photos by Inge Kuipers
We started 2015 with a sparkling welcome back party around the swimming pool. Complimentary drinks and snacks were served while great music played. The children had an awesome time playing in the pool while parents had a chance to catch up after the holidays. It was a great way to kick-start the year and to meet old and new friends. We will make it a tradition (again).
WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 9
A WALK AROUND LITTLE INDIA By Nina Gunasingham
A group of Hollandse Club members and their friends met Kirti opposite Tekka Centre for her walking tour of Little India. Tekka Centre used to be the site of KK Hospital, which means ‘buffalo shed’ because the area had previously been a kampung (village) where buffalo were milked. In fact, Serangoon Road retains its kampung connections in the names of the first two side roads to the left, which are Buffalo Road and Kerbau (buffalo) Road. After Kirti put traditional red bindis on our foreheads, we dived into the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and textures of Little India Arcade. As we passed into the shady depths - where you can have any part of your body hennaed for $3 - $8 and the aisles are crammed with stalls selling a confusion of colourful bangles, bindis, cushion covers, clothes, carved boxes and various other artefact - Kirti bought some Indian snacks of savoury pakora and (very) sweet jalebi to share. We then made our way down to Campbell Lane, where we saw the rice pots and other decorations from Thaipongal - the Hindu festival to give thanks for the harvest. We saw saffron coloured clothes (yellow is an auspicious colour), kaavadis and vels (or spears) for the upcoming Thaipusam festival. Singapore holds one of the largest festivals globally, where devotees (of many different religions) carrying either kaavadis or pots of milk on their heads, or who pierce their skin with vels, walk the 4km from Sri Perumal temple on Serangoon Road to the Tank Road temple to fulfil vows. Some also perform fire-walks near the Tank Road temple and many people line the way and watch the procession. On 2nd May, the road will be closed for a street parade from 6:30 - 10:30pm. For more information visit http://littleindia.com.sg/lizha.php. We continued exploring Little India, discovering that different deities have different types of garlands made for them; for instance, instead of the usual flowers, the elephant-headed God, Ganesh, has garlands made of grass. In the greengrocer’s we found myriads of different vegetables, often in several varieties. The ladies who had attended Kirti’s recent Indian cooking class were in their element, sorting through different types of lentils or distinguishing between old and new garlic. Did you know that a sari is six yards (5.5m) long? Designs can vary from simple printed nylon to embroidered silk, with crystals incorporated or encrusted with diamonds and being embroidered with silver or gold thread. We finally entered the Tekka wet market (so called because the floor does get wet when stall holders clean up, especially around seafood and meat stalls). More treasures awaited us there: fruit and vegetables such as dragon fruit, passion fruit, chikku, torch ginger, banana flower, and varieties of noodles such as kway teow, horfun and laksa. On the upper gallery you can spy clothes stalls, a safe distance away from the ground floor and the meat stalls where you can buy goat, lamb, chicken, beef - but only one pork stall - and many different varieties of fish and other seafood. After exploring the crowded, yet orderly, stalls of Tekka Centre some of us joined Kirti at Banana Leaf back in Little India Arcade for a typical Indian lunch. You, too, should take some time to explore this famous corner of Singapore, go to observe one of the festivals there or even just drive up Serangoon Road when it is lit up for special occasions.
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Photos by Inge Kuipers
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8
March
MARCH
at a gla
The Amazing ToyBox Show
Sunday, 3pm - 4pm, Main Hall Members: $12.50 | Non-Members: $17.50 Singapore’s ONLY professional kids music duo is coming to the Hollandse Club! Mark De Silva and Reuben Tupaz are former pre-school teachers and together they have close to 20 years of experience educating, working with and performing for children.
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March
The Comedy Club Asia: Comedy Night
Saturday, 8.30pm, Main Hall Members: $45 | Non-Members: $50 The monthly shows are the heart and soul of The Comedy Club Asia. We fly in some of the best comics from UK, Australia, Canada, US, NZ, India and Malaysia. This is the best place to catch the rising stars from Asia performing alongside the pros.
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March
Black & White Tour
Wednesday, 9.30am - 1pm Members/NCA: $35 | Non-Members: $40 Executive Homes, the leading expat real estate agency in Singapore, proudly sponsors this tour that will take us, amongst others, to the beautiful black and white mansions in Mount Pleasant Park, Alexandra Park and Ridley Park. The ticket price includes Coffee and Dutch apple pie at the club. All proceeds will be donated to the NCA.
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13
March
Quiz Night
Friday, 8pm onwards, Main Hall Members: $20 | Non-Members: $30 It’s time for another round of the top trivia competition. Seasoned ‘brainiacs’ and newcomers are invited for a fun and social session of challenging quizzes.
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March
Saturday’s Ladies High Tea
Saturday, 6pm - 8pm, Pavilion Members (11-17 years): $20 One of a kind high-tea that caters for just girls! Mingle and share thoughts with your fellow members for a fruitful evening. You could bring along a non-member for the event too.
*Events Cancellation Policy: March
Dragon Boating
Saturday, 3pm onwards, Kallang Water Sports Centre Members: $65, $5 (Children coming along the bus but not participating) BBQ: Adult $30, Children $15 Join us for a fun afternoon of Dragon Boating! Sign up your team of 10 and aim to beat the rest in the Dragonboat race. Enjoy the refreshment and BBQ at the end of the day.
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For fee-based events, a request for cancellation (and refund) will be accepted up to 48 hours in advance of the event. The Hollandse Club must make commitments to suppliers at that time and making changes will result in additional labour, costs or penalties. If the cancellation request is received after the deadline, we cannot issue a refund and the event will be charged.
APRIL
ance... 5
CALENDER Events not to be missed in the months of March and April! Please do remember to register early to avoid disappointment! Registrations can now be made online at www.hollandseclub.org.sg.
April
Happy Easter Family Brunch!
Sunday, 11am - 2pm, The Lounge Members: Adult $20, Children (4-10 years) $15 Price for children is including the activities The whole family is invited to join this Easter Brunch at the Hollandse Club on ‘1e Paasdag’! During Easter searching for eggs cannot be forgotten, so children can hunt for the hidden eggs!
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April
Lecture by StyleTribute.com
Tuesday, 8pm - 9pm, Brabant Room Free Admission Get inspired by the motivational talk from founder Stephanie Crespin about the start-up journey in Singapore, by sharing her own experiences in taking StyleTribute.com from a start-up to a great success in just two years.
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April
King’s Day
Sunday, 10am - 3pm, Hollandse Club Children’s Activity: Members $10 | Non-members $15 Adult brunch: Members $30 | Non-members $35 Children’s brunch: Members $15 | Non-members $20 Let’s celebrate King’sday with great Old Dutch games, a Kid’s Flea market and other activities in and around the Club!
8-10
April
Lion Adventures - Spring Adventure Camp
Wednesday - Friday, Hollandse Club & Sentosa Members: $399 | Non-members:$449 Have fun with the games and our special off-site day with MegaZip Adventure Park. Kids can do the High ropes challenge, go on mega bounce trampolines and Zip down to a little island off Sentosa.
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April
Hired Help: Your Rights & Hers
Wednesday, 8pm - 10pm, Indoor Lounge Free Admission The Netherlands Charity Association, together with the migrants’ rights organization HOME, are hosting an information evening for employers of foreign domestic workers. Find out about your legal rights and responsibilities and where to go to for reliable information and advice.
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April
“Feast of India” with Kirti
Monday, 10.30am - 1.30pm, Indoor Lounge Members: $65 | Non-members: $75 (inclusive of ingredients, appetisers, recipes & lunch) Join Kirti for this very popular one-day cooking workshop and brighten up your day with the tantalizing aromas, flavours and bright colours of Indian cuisine! This menu is completely lactose & gluten free. WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 15
*Event Cancellation Policy applies (refer to pg 14).
*Event Cancellation Policy applies (refer to pg 14).
*Event Cancellation Policy applies (refer to pg 14).
*Event Cancellation Policy applies (refer to pg 14).
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*Event Cancellation Policy applies (refer to pg 14).
*Event Cancellation Policy applies (refer to pg 14).
*Event Cancellation Policy applies (refer to pg 14).
*Event Cancellation Policy applies (refer to pg 14). WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 17
*Event Cancellation Policy applies (refer to pg 14). 18 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG
*Event Cancellation Policy applies (refer to pg 14). WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 19
JANUARY
T’ S HA
G
THE CLUB
DW
OING
N AR O
UN
O
With the start of a new calendar
year and the approaching new lunar year, the Management organised a Spring Cleaning to de-clutter some of our storage areas. It resulted in the removal of three truckloads of unusable, broken and damaged i t e m s f ro m t h e C l u b p re m i s e s . How’s that for Spring Cleaning?!
FEBRUARY During the first week of February, the hotel rooms located on the ground floor were repainted. Over the course of just three days, the six hotel rooms plus the outside area received fresh coats of paint. We will continue to improve our facilities and services to ensure that both members and guests have a memorable experience at the Club. Being located in lush, green surroundings unfortunately means that that the Club has to prune and cut back some of the large trees periodically to ensure healthy and contained growth. During the second half of February, seven large trees had to be cut back and more than five truckloads of wood were disposed of. Sadly, we discovered that there are several sick and dying trees on our premises and these will have to be removed and replaced at some point in the future.
DO YOU KNOW? • Do you know that Mr Rashid created the CNY decorations around the Club? • Do you know that Mr Boon spends his Sundays catering on the hockey pitch? • Do you know that Chef Raymond is an accomplished Sushi Chef? • Do you know that tossing the Yu Sheng Salad high in the air is all part of the experience? • Do you know that more than 170 people attended the Comedy Club Asia in February? • Do you know that once every six months, we donate the unclaimed lost and found items to a charity?
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STAFF UPDATE
Congratulations!
PROMOTIONS
We are happy to announce that, as from 1 February, Jet Quiambo
was promoted to the position of Restaurant Manager. Jet is replacing Ramlee who, after many years of service to the Hollandse Club, decided to look for a new challenge elsewhere. Puspanathan A/L Krishnan and Edwin A/L Govindasamy have been promoted to Captain and Assistant Captain of F&B respectively. Congratulations to both!
NEW STAFF
In February, we welcomed Marilou Groot Nibbelink as
our new Sports and Events Manager. Marilou is a professional Events and Entertainment Manager from the Netherlands, who moved to Singapore very recently. Welcome Marilou!
Also joining us in February was Mohd Izzat Windera,
our new Marketing Communications Executive/Designer. Izzat is an experienced graphic designer and is responsible for creating posters, banners, flyers and the Club Magazine.
FAREWELLS In January we had to say goodbye to our previous Marketing Executive, Tan Yan Ting, who is pursuing her studies with SIM Global Education. We would like to thank Yan Ting for her dedication in marketing and design works at the Club. We wish her all the best in her studies and future!
In March we will have to say goodbye to our Operations Manager, Bibiche Booi, who will be departing for the Netherlands after living in Singapore for more than seven years. We would like to thank Bibiche for her dedication in coaching her staff to a higher level of service during her time at the Club. We wish her all the best in her new endeavours. We have several job vacancies at the Club at the moment. Please check the notice board for more details and forward the information to your friends. Members are excluded from applying for any of the jobs.
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HOSPITALITY TRAINING BY RICHARD HAECK Being in Singapore and especially at the Hollandse Club
was a great pleasure. Working with such an enthusiastic F&B team brought me great joy and energy. The complete F&B team attended the training about service and hospitality. During the two sessions we worked on the WISH principle. Being a proactive Waiter, be Interested in the guests, Serve with the proper techniques and be Happy and smile. During the training we had a great discussion about guest expectations. Do we prefer the Asian way, where “wait on� literally means wait until service is requested or the Western way, where proactive service is part of the hospitality experience? Both ways are desirable but it depends on the guest. Good communication with the guest helps us to perform better. So to all the members of the Hollandse Club: inform the F&B staff about your expectations and they will be ready and happy to serve you! It was my personal pleasure to meet members of the main committee and the management team. During my stay they took very good care of me and it gave me the feeling of a truly international family. After returning to Holland I shared my stories about Singapore with other hospitality professionals. Together we are now planning an inspirational tour to Singapore. Many thanks to all of you, it was a real pleasure and an extraordinary experience. Enjoy the service of your Hollandse Club! Richard Haeck Senior International Trainer www.richardhaeck.nl
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ART INSPIRED BY ASIA:
MEET CLARE HAXBY
If you want a stunning piece of art as a keepsake of your time in Asia, Clare Haxby is the artist to go to.
Clare, a British expat, has been resident in Singapore for eight years and her bespoke paintings and unique limited edition prints grace the best dressed walls in Singapore!
Clare’s prints of Singapore landmarks, which include The Botanic Gardens, MBS and the heritage shop houses, hang on the walls of The French Embassy and the residencies of The British High Commissioner and The Swedish Ambassador to name but a few. Clare, a painter and printmaker, trained in London, England and throughout her career has painted on canvas, designed textiles for the best of London design-led retailers, Liberty’s of London, and even painted her designs on models’ bodies for high profile pop music videos in London. Jamaroquai, The Bee Gees and Simply Red were Clare’s clients. Her current paintings, inspired by Singapore and Asia, have been several years in the making but after The Fullerton Hotel offered to host Clare’s show four years ago, Clare’s name came on the map as her style and unique mixed media style garnered attention. Demand for Clare’s powerful yet contemporary style has been sudden, and every week Clare’s prints, themselves global nomads, are winging their way across the globe. ‘I love Asia and it has been such a powerful inspiration on my work; my paintings and drawings”, says Clare. This week my prints have left my studio bound for Paris, Sydney and California. My clients often send me photos of their Clare Haxby ‘Art in Place’ in their new homes; it’s such a pleasure to see them in homes all over the world and recently I have received orders from banks and businesses who want my prints as corporate gifts. Clare creates one-off pieces on canvas for residential and commercial spaces and through her new online shop has a large collection of Limited Edition Prints inspired by Singapore and Asia; trips to Thailand, Bhutan and Sri Lanka have inspired her Buddha heads series. Each Limited Edition print is signed and numbered and can be sent internationally by courier, so perfect as a leaving gift for a friend leaving Singapore. www.clarehaxby.com contact clare@clarehaxby.com
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OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
THE GREEN CORRIDOR By Claire Wintraecken
So, while I am an avid traveller and explorer of other countries, why do I not get out that much in Singapore? Here, in the second story on “Off the Beaten Track”, I took my chance to get out and explore more of Singapore’s lesser-known places. I was looking for some quiet time in Singapore. After Googling “things to do nature Singapore” I stumbled upon the website of “The Green Corridor”. The Green Corridor was officially opened in July 2011 to the pub-
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lic and, since then, it has become a popular spot to enjoy a hike, jog or bike. The website www.thegreencorridor.org suggested a series of walks (eight different walking routes, which include good photo-taking spots) along Singapore’s old railway line running all the way from Woodlands in the North to Tanjong Pagar in the South. Charmed by the idea of a spot of history - with preserved stations along the way - combined with a long, lush walk right through the centre of Singapore, I choose the walking route from Rail Mall to Bukit Timah Train Station. Just ask the cab driver to drop you at King Albert Park or take the bus, and just off Bukit Timah Road and you will see the old, black iron railway bridge from the road. Join the path behind the bus stop (B45). From the station I wandered north, over the iron bridge and along the west side of the nature reserve. In just a few places, the old track is still in place. The trail itself is now just a dirt track fringed by towering rain trees. As it is not often that you find yourself completely alone in densely developed Singapore, it felt a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city. This abandoned railway line has become a haven of lush, untamed beauty. Thanks to the many residents who led a campaign to persuade the Singaporean government to leave the railway untouched, you can escape the city for some time. The old railway’s complex history partly explains why the land stayed out of the hands of developers. Built during British colonial rule in the early 1900s to ferry tin and rubber from the Malay Peninsula to the Singapore port, the railway remained under Malaysian control as part of the
separation agreement that came with the 1965 division of Singapore and Malaysia. It wasn’t until 2010 that the countries finalised a land swap where the rail corridor was transferred back to Singapore. After most tracks were removed (they had to be returned to Malaysia as part of the land-swap agreement), the trail is now becoming more and more popular. The Green Corridor connects not only many green spaces together, but also many people. I just hope it remains unchanged; it is an incredible stretch of ecological and cultural importance through the city. My list of places to visit and things to do in Singapore still remains long, but the Green Corridor made my list of favourite hideaways.
“The Green Corridor
connects not only many green spaces together, but also many people.
”
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By Karien van Ditzhuijzen Many expats in Singapore employ foreign domestic workers. They live in our houses, look after our children, and often become a valued member of the family. At the same time, many of us have a lot of questions and concerns about employing foreign domestic workers and how to treat them well. It is sometimes hard to know what is legal, normal or culturally appropriate. Not all domestic workers know their rights and duties either, and misunderstandings and misconceptions are common. Treating your domestic worker as part of the family may sound nice, but this does not offer her much protection when things go wrong. A domestic worker is better off treated like a proper employee, with the associated rights and responsibilities. So whom do you turn to for advice? Often the main source of information is the employment agency, but it can be hard to judge whether their advice is to be trusted. They are in the business of making money from the hiring of domestic workers, and are keen to incur as few costs as possible for themselves. Should you contact the Ministry of Manpower (MOM)? When should you call the police? And which of the horror stories and urban myths surrounding foreign domestic workers are in fact true?
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Is it really illegal to “keep my domestic worker’s passport? The agency said I should.
”
How to find out about your and her rights Employers that want to know more can find the details of workpass regulations for foreign domestic workers on the MOM website (www.mom.gv.sg). However, employers often struggle to translate these regulations into workable guidelines, and are left insecure about their own rights and duties when employing a foreign domestic worker. Guided by dubious agents’ advice, and scaremongering urban myths, they are afraid of the consequences for themselves if they give their FDWs too much liberty.
JESSEL’S STORY Jessel comes from the Philippines, and has worked in Singapore as a domestic worker for many years. With her third employer she became the victim of a deceptive agent. She shares her life story: Life was hard with my husband having no permanent work, so I decided to work in Singapore. I had to pay six months’ salary to the agent, but my employer let me pay small deductions every month. I was lucky; my employers were good people. I felt at home with them, even though I did not have any days off and they did not allow me a handphone. The first three months were hard. I missed my children. I cried a lot. After two years, my contract finished and I had to find another employer. I did not go home to take a vacation because I wanted to earn money. To transfer, I had to pay two months’ salary to the agent again. My second employers were good people too. They treated me as family. When my mam gave birth, I felt like I was having a baby, too. After a year and a half, I decided to go back home. I missed my kids too much. Life back home was difficult, as I could not provide for my four kids. I applied for a job in Singapore again. Processing went very fast and, after only one month, I was back in Singapore. I was very shocked when the agent told me that seven months of my salary were going to be deducted as an agent fee. I did not get to see my contract until I had been working for the new employer for three weeks. By that time I had little choice but to sign it. I felt that I had been fooled. Why had they not told me this when I was still in my own country? They had said that, because I had worked in Singapore before, I would only get four months of salary deductions, spread out over a longer period. I had trusted them to tell the truth. Now, I would not have any money to send home to my family for seven months. I asked my agent why my loan was so much higher than agreed. She would not answer me. Neither did she answer me when I asked to go home. When I told the agent I was very disappointed in her, she texted me back saying: “I told you before, my business is making money”.
Help for migrant workers The $5000 security bond effectively scares employers into believing they are responsible for everything their domestic worker does on her day off. Some believe that they might forfeit this bond if the worker gets pregnant, or participates in illegal activities, and as a consequence do not allow her to go out or give her an early curfew. Many feel that they need to act as a guardian of their domestic worker, rather than as an employer. As Jessel’s story illustrates, agencies cannot always be trusted to offer guidance. Singapore’s Employment Agencies Act stipulates that agencies are allowed to charge a maximum of two month’s salary as a fee to foreign workers entering Singapore, yet most new domestic workers end up with a debt that is much higher, either knowingly or unknowingly. Competition between agencies is intense, and employers are happy to hire their new domestic worker ‘without any agency fee’. They don’t always realise that the fee still has to be paid. Just not by them.
For the migrant workers, there are organisations to reach out to. HOME (The Humanitarian Organisation for Migrant Economics) is a non-governmental organisation that provides direct assistance to all migrant workers in Singapore who have a conflict with their employer or agent. Apart from direct assistance, HOME is involved in research and advocacy to increase awareness on migrant’s issues in Singapore, as well as working to empower migrants to better their own lives. Domestic I heard I should make workers run away from sure my helper is back their employers for a from her day off before range of reasons, from abuse to non-payment it gets dark or I could lose o f s a l a r y, i l l e g a l my $5000 bond - is deployment, medical that really true? neglect, or simply because they do not like their situation and do not know what else to do. HOME provides them with shelter as well as legal and practical advice, and, where necessary, supports them in filing a complaint with either the police or the Ministry of Manpower. In Jessel’s case, HOME managed to negotiate a reduction of her agency fees, and she has now transferred to a new employer.
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Apart from providing direct assistance to foreign domestic workers, HOME organises workshops to teach them about their rights and responsibilities. Often migrants new to Singapore accept situations that are in fact illegal because they do not know (continue next page) WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 27
that this is the case, or because they feel pressured and feel they have no choice but to cooperate. Together with NUS law students, HOME has set up a series of workshops called ”Law and You”, informing foreign domestic workers about their lawful position in Singapore, and what they can do when their employers don’t stick to their end of the bargain.
Educating employers
About NCA
Many employers try to do the right thing but do not want to get into trouble themselves. Others might see a domestic worker in their area, who they suspect is being treated badly, and want to help. This can be risky, as any interference can lose the foreign worker her job. Still, Singapore law offers a good amount of protection to foreign domestic workers, if you know how to go about securing it. Letting her know there is help available, and how to get it, can be a great support to a domestic worker who is isolated in the house of her employer.
The Netherlands Charity Association (NCA) has been supporting HOME for decades, and we feel it is important to educate and inform people who hire foreign domestic workers. The NCA supports several Singaporean charities and aims to bridge the gap between the Singapore expat community and these local charities. We are pleased to work closely together with HOME and hope this event enlightens and clarifies the most common questions and myths heard by many of us.
So what is the truth about the security bond, and other facts and myths surrounding the hiring of foreign domestic workers? And what can you do when you meet an unfortunate migrant in need of help? NCA, together with HOME and Singapore NUS law students, are organising an information session that attempts to answer these, and many more questions surrounding the employment of foreign domestic workers. HOME panel will be available to answer any more you might have.
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HAPPY NEW YEAR!
By Nina Gunasingham
This year (actually, at the very end of last year) my family and I joined the Hollandse Club’s New Year’s Eve excursion to the Singapore River for a cruise that culminated in the spectacular fireworks display over Marina Bay - but that was three months ago, and I’m not talking about that. The annual Lion Dance which all the kids love - especially my boys - was performed at the Club on 28th February to celebrate the beginning of the Chinese New Year, which fell this year on 19th February. The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar one (calculated based on both the moon and the sun), which is why the date, which marks the Spring Festival, fluctuates on the Gregorian calendar. It can fall anytime between the last weeks of January and the end of February, occurring on the second new moon after winter solstice. But that was last month, and I’m not talking about that, either. Well, what’s left? Quite a bit, as it turns out. The Tamil New Year falls on 14th April and doesn’t vary from year to year, as it is based on the sun’s passage. The Hindu calendar is lunisolar and originated as an agricultural calendar to help the farmers plan their crop cycle. As the New Year marks the beginning of spring, Hindus and those of other religions through much of South and South East Asia celebrate the same date as New Year. One New Year tradition in Sri Lanka, for instance, is that young people are given a token amount of money on a betel leaf, for luck (kids, take note!). However, the Hindus of north India celebrate New Year at Deepavali, also known as Diwali, the festival of lights. Deepavali falls on the night of the new moon in the Hindu month of Kartika, which corresponds to mid-October to mid-November on the Gregorian calendar, and so its date does vary. This year it will be either 10th or 11th November (subject to confirmation). And there is also the Islamic New Year. As the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar (11 to 12 days shorter than the solar calendar), New Year’s Day changes every year against the Gregorian calendar. It begins with the first sighting of the new moon crescent in the Islamic month of Muharram, which falls on 14th October this year. So don’t worry; if you haven’t made your resolutions yet (or haven’t kept the ones you’ve already made), there is still another New Year around the corner to celebrate. Happy New Year!
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For a small island, Singapore offers tremendous variety. In fact, the unique feel of each neighbourhood is one of the many charms of living here. As a newcomer though, it’s not always easy to understand what each area has to offer. That’s where a seasoned estate agent can help, with advice on commuting times to work and schools, style of housing available in the vicinity. This article looks at some of the most popular areas to live in the neighbourhoods. ORCHARD Most apartments (or condos as they’re called in Singapore) are located along streets on either side of Orchard Road, which are surprisingly green and relatively quiet considering their proximity to this centre of activity. The downsides? Rents tend to be higher than elsewhere, and condos are considerably smaller. Newcomers also need to watch out for new constructions coming up, as these can be noisy. HOLLAND VILLAGE Housing is spread along Holland Road, with the houses and condos further west tending to be more upmarket. Rents are lower than Orchard and there are still some older condos for rent which are more spacious than new ones and often for the same price. The downsides? Rents are high still, and at present there are few MRT stations. BUKIT TIMAH This is a lovely residential area, with lots of greenery, which also benefits from fast access to major expressways such as the PanIsland Expressway (PIE) and the main north-south expressway (CTE), handy for getting to schools and work across the island. The downsides? Rents are high and there is the inconvenience of the ongoing construction along the road as well as the need to do U-turns to access housing at certain spots. NOVENA There’s a mix of houses and condos to choose from with lower rents than Orchard and Bukit Timah, and it’s a good choice for families with children at the Australian, French and Stamford American schools to the north, or schools to the south and east. The downsides? This is a high density housing area with condos located close to each other. TANGLIN Tanglin combines the feel of Bukit Timah with some of the convenience of Orchard. Located to the south of Orchard Road, the area offers a combination of large houses with gardens, low-rise older condos as well as new high-rise condos in the River Valley Road area. The downsides? It’s a long walk or bus hop to the nearest MRT stations. CITY:ROBERTSON QUAY AND MOHAMMED SULTAN ROAD City-living is not for everyone. Housing around the renovated Robertson Quay and nearby Mohammed Sultan Road tends to appeal to single or young couples, who enjoy the buzz of the 30 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG
nightlife along the Singapore River as well as the convenience of being close to CBD. Housing here is in condos, which tend to be smaller than further out of town. Shopping is available at UE Square, while Orchard Road and Chinatown are mere hops away. The downsides? It’s noisy and condos are small. THOMSON AND BRADDELL Expats looking for lower rents and more space are increasingly looking north, where Thomson Road and Braddell offer the convenience of a central location but better value for money. The downsides? It’s a longer commute to the CBD, and a more local area with less internationally oriented shops and restaurants. EAST SINGAPORE To the east are the districts of Changi, Pasir Ris, Tampines and Bedok, as well as the areas more commonly referred to as East Coast, which include Marine Parade, Katong, Tanjong Rhu, Siglap and Joo Chiat. Bedok and Tampines are also developing fast, with many new condos going up, and the attraction of Bedok Reservoir with its running paths, treetop obstacle course and water skiing. EAST COAST Most expats in this area live in high-rise condos, which offer great sea views, and full range of facilities such as pool, gym, BBQ pits and walking access to the East Coast Park. For those looking for a bungalow or townhouse, Siglap is particularly popular with expats and offers a good range of local and Western restaurants and bars. It’s only slightly to the north of the coast, so still offers a good access to all the leisure options along the seafront. The downside is that this area can get a little noisy in the evenings. FABER PARK AND SUNSET WAY It has a loyal expat community who appreciate the area’s suburban feel with many children cycling to school (UWC, Dover Court and Tanglin Trust) along the cycle paths. Sunset Way has a similar feel with mostly houses and a few older condos, and offer a range of shops, restaurants and good vet for those with pets. TIONG BAHRU A little to the north of Sentosa is an area that has experienced a big revitalization in the last few years. Tiong Bahru was traditionally a very local neighbourhood, well off the beaten track for most expats. Nowadays, however, expats are starting to appreciate the space and value of money from the lower-rise 50s era HDB (Housing Development Board) flats, a direct MRT line into the CBD, as well as good restaurants. WOODLANDS Woodlands is at the northern tip of Singapore, right next to the causeway to Malaysia. It’s an excellent location for those with children at the Singapore American School, and offers big and reasonably priced houses as well as condos. Expats here appreciate the local character while still having access to shopping, restaurants and cinemas nearby. There’s also the option to drive across to Malaysia to buy household supplies at cheaper prices. The downside is that although well served by MRT and bus lines, it’s a long way from the CBD.
& RESIDENTIAL LEASING Singapore has a large rental market due to the number
of expats coming and going all the time. To be certain that you find the place that is right for YOU, and not just convenient and profitable for the estate agent, it is important to select a specialized expat real estate firm that has a deep understanding of the market, spends time and effort to understand your requirements, and offers a wide range of services. Ideally, your agent will be familiar with expat life in Singapore and will advise you on where to find schools, public transport, supermarkets, etc. Once you have selected the property you wish to rent, you will need to follow a process of negotiation and documentation to secure the property. AGREEMENT ON TERMS AND CONDITIONS To save time and avoid possible misunderstanding later, it is important to agree upon the most important terms and conditions to be included in the rental agreement before putting anything in writing. A good real estate agent is essential here as they have extensive experience in documenting terms and conditions that you may not have considered. Before you start negotiating, make sure you agree on basic terms such as length of the lease and rent, and then prepare a checklist of anything that you specifically require from the landlord. LETTER OF INTENT Next, you need to prepare a Letter of Intent or LOI as it’s commonly referred to. A Letter of Intent is a formal letter presented by the tenant to the landlord, which contains the tenant’s offer to
rent a residential property. If the landlord signs the letter this is taken as an official sign of acceptance of the tenant’s offer. A Letter of Intent should always carry a clause specifying an expiration date. TENANCY AGREEMENT The Tenancy Agreement is prepared by the landlord and is, in essence, a more detailed version of the Letter of Intent, stating both parties’ obligations. Always obtain your real estate agency’s input and if in any doubt about any clause, contact your legal firm for their advise. TERMINATION OF LEASE The security deposit is a deposit paid by the tenant once the Tenancy Agreement has been signed. It is held by the landlord and is only returned to the tenant when his or her Tenancy Agreement expires and when he or she has fulfilled the terms and conditions included in the Agreement. The final amount returned will depend on the tenant’s fulfillment of any terms and conditions. The landlord also reserves the right to deduct any expenses incurred should a tenant cause any damage to the property or inventory. If the Diplomatic Clause is used, the landlord will ask for reimbursement of the pro-rated commission paid to his real estate agency. This means that you will have to reimburse him part of the commission fees according to the number of months that you have rented the property. It is clear that before entering the Singapore rental market, you should have an experienced and professional real estate firm on your side.
The Executive Homes Black and White tour 18th March 2015.
E
xecutive Homes, the leading expat real estate agency in Singapore, organises and fully sponsors this tour for its second year. The tour will take us, amongst others, to the beautiful black and white mansions in Mount Pleasant Park, Alexandra Park and Ridley Park. The tour will be conducted by Diana Chua, a knowledgable black and white expert. Tickets can be bought at the Hollandse Club, S$65 for NCA and club members, S$75 for non members. All proceeds will be donated by Executive Homes to the Netherlands Charity Association (NCA).
t: +65 9011 8055
e: hestercalkhoven@ehc.com.sg w: www.ehc.com.sg
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welcome EXTENDING A WARM
TO OUR NEW CLUB MEMBERS! • Arnout Mostert • Shirley D’Souza • Morten Westin • Fang Jiang • Ross Etwell • Catherine Harman • Martin Meijers • Hana Majeed Al Madanat • Ronald De Vries • Vivienne De Vries - Coppus • Stefan Vincent Ras • Caroline Jantien Ras - Sliedrecht • Martin van Leeuwen • Annemiek van Leeuwen • Jacobus Cornelis Scheurwater • Marit Selma Scheurwater-De Heus
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MEMBERSHIP NEWS NEW MEMBERS’ PROMOTION New members who join the Hollandse Club from 1st November 2014 will receive a welcome hamper with D’licious treats from Holland, Belgium, Germany and South Africa. If you have not done so yet, please collect your hamper!
Settlement of Member’s Account Please make sure that, if you are not already paying by GIRO, that you pay your monthly bill on time. GIRO forms can be obtained from the reception, website or membership department: membership@hollandseclub.org.sg.
REMINDER Updating your Contact Details Contact details reminder: when you move house (or abroad) or change your phone number or email, please send your new contact details to: membership@hollandseclub.org.sg
When you have notified the Club of your intention to resign from the Club and have received confirmation of your last day of membership, please bear in mind that two weeks prior to your last day at the Club, you can no longer charge your account. Payment of your Terrace bills, tickets etc. will have to be made by NETS or Credit Card.
Phasing out of old Membership Cards / Car Decals If you still have an old membership card or car decal, please apply for a new card or decal as we are trying to phase out the old ones (replacement is free of charge). Application for a Supplementary Card Please apply for a supplementary card for your domestic helper or children (aged between 11 and 25) using the appropriate form, which can be obtained from the reception or via membership@hollandseclub.org.sg. The cost of a supplementary card is $15 per card.
NEW MEMBERS’ NIGHT On November 13th we organized a New Members’ Night. It was great to see a group of new and not-so-new members getting to know each other better over a cold drink in the evening at the Serambi Bar and Outdoor Lounge area: the perfect place at the Club to relax and meet new friends. We will be organizing a New Members’ Night at least twice yearly, and we hope that it will become one of those ‘not-to-be-missed events’ at the Club! Usage of F&B Vouchers Please check the validity of Food and Beverage Vouchers issued to you to avoid disappointment upon expiry.
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By Karien van Ditzhuijzen
Easter is coming and we all know what
that means. Eggs! Lots and lots of colourful eggs. Which are your favourite? Soft boiled? Fried, sunny-side up? Scrambled? Or maybe you prefer your Easter Eggs made of chocolate.
So, where do all these Easter Eggs come from? The Easter Bunny. Well, yes. But the Easter Bunny needs to get them somewhere first, and real eggs can only come from real chickens. Of course you knew that. Now, you can just go to the supermarket to get some eggs, but what is the fun in that? Would it not be great to get them directly from the chicken? That’s what we thought, so we decided to get some chickens for our garden. First, we have to build a hen house. And a run, so they can walk around, dig in the mud, have sand baths and eat bugs and worms. Now, we are ready for the chickens. Out of a brown cardboard
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box, six hens peek. Confused, but curious too. Slowly, they set their first steps in their new home. They scratch the mud with their toes. They don’t know what to do, these first days outside. At the farm they lived in a small cage. They don’t know how to have fun. Do you know what chickens like to do for fun? They like to dig holes and roll in the sand. They like to sit in the sun. They like to forage for food. And they like to explore something new and exciting. There is plenty new and exciting for them to explore in their new run!
The first time it rains they look up at the sky: what is that funny stuff falling out of the sky? Their barn at the farm had no rain. They ruffle their wet feathers, annoyed. Go inside, we shoo, but they do not understand. The first weeks of the rainy season we see a lot of very wet chickens. Soon the hens feel at home. The first to come and see us every time we enter the run is Keetje. Keetje looks like a ragamuffin, with her bald head and bum. The other chickens must have pecked her a lot when she lived in the cage at the farm. Keetje is not shy at all and is the first to eat food from our hands. Josephine, a large fat mother chook, follows suit. Others are more shy, like pretty and regal looking Wilhemina. She struts around like a queen. Feetje and Leentje look so much alike with their drooping combs, we struggle to tell who’s who. Tilly is shy too at first, but soon becomes friendly and happy. After a few months you would not recognize our chooks. Keetje’s feathers have grown back, and she now competes with Wilhemina for being the prettiest of the flock. Do you know what chickens eat? Chicken food, you probably think. And you are right, they do. But that is not all. Chickens are omnivores, which means they will eat anything. Chickens in the wild eat worms, insects, berries, grass, seeds, leaves; they might even kill small lizards and mice. So if we dig up some juicy worms, our hens are happy. Do you know what else that they like? Banana skins. Apple peel. Leftover fried rice. Chopped green vegetables. And on special occasions, some chocolate birthday cake! Whenever we enter the run they come running, curious to see what surprise we have in store. We struggle in, trying not to step on them, as they flock around our legs. Always hungry, no matter how much they have already eaten.
sleep? In the wild, they sleep on a branch of a tree. In our hen house, they sleep on a roost. A roost is simply a thick stick, mimicking the branch. The chicken that sits highest on the roost is the highest in the ‘pecking order’. That means she is the boss and rules the roost. Our top hen, Josephine, picks her spot first. She also makes sure she gets first choice when food is being served. She will peck everyone who tries to stop her and, if necessary, plant herself in the middle of the bowl, blocking the others with her fat bum. Poor Wilhelmina and new arrival, Madelief, who are lowest in rank, have to fight to get their share. There is one thing our hens (that come from a commercial egg farm) are very good at: laying eggs. Sometimes they lay an egg a day, each. First, they just drop them where they are walking, with a funny squat, as if they are on the toilet. But soon they learn to use the nest boxes, small cubicles with nice, soft straw for them to sit on. Every morning we collect our harvest. And then we just have to eat them. Boiled, fried or mixed in a cake. Yummy. We love our new pets!
When it gets dark, they learn to go inside the little hen house to sleep. Do you know how chickens WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 37
KIDS & TEENS
Dutch education with an international dimension
IPC
The HSL is a thriving Dutch school with an international dimension. We offer an excellent educational program with a combined Dutch and international curriculum.
IPC is an integral, thematic and creative primary curriculum where children gain an international perspective while learning to work together, to investigate, to make connections and to find solutions. HSL is accredited at mastering level.
SCL Structural Cooperative Learning is an inviting, interactive and effective teaching approach, where students of different aptitude levels work together to achieve the lesson’s objective.
ICT Our program encourages students to manage, discover and create while using the computer and other digital media. This benefits our academic curriculum and helps prepare our students for secondary education.
English The English language curriculum runs concurrent to the Dutch language program and aims to teach children English as a first language.
65 Bukit Tinggi Road (65) 6466 0662 www.hollandseschool.org 38 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG
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Name:________________________________ Age:__________ Contact No.:__________________________ Membership No.: _____________________________________ Name of Cow: _____________________________________
(Detached this page and submit to the Reception Counter by 10th April 2015)
Winners will be announced in the next magazine!
Only one name will be chosen (she might get confused otherwise).
The cow has two sides, so we will pick two winning designs.
Most of you will know that we have a statue of a cow at the entrance to the Club. After many years of service guarding the entrance to the Club, she needs a little makeover. Her paint is chipping and, although we appreciate the Dutch-ness of the black and white cow, we are looking for some exciting designs and a name for our cow. So put on your thinking caps and send us your ideas for a stunning name and ditto design for this old, Dutch lady.
KIDS’ ART CHALLENGE: HOW TO NAME AND PAINT THE COW?
At Easter we paint eggs. Big, stripy eggs,
rainbow eggs, red, yellow, purple and blue eggs. Feathery eggs, and glittery eggs, and bunny eggs. Red and white PSV eggs. The Easter bunny hides the eggs when we are sleeping. And in the morning we look for them. We look under the sofa and under the cushions. In the bushes and drains. In the flowerpots and the chicken house. In the cabinets and bags. In the car and in the bicycle baskets. And in the shoes. And under the bed. At last everybody has 10 eggs. Some eggs are easy, others are difficult to find. The eggs that nobody finds, we will look for them the next day. We eat all the eggs. How many eggs do you think everybody eats? At least 5 or 6 on each Easter day. By Tijm, Linde and Jasmijn Meulendijks
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CHRISTMAS COLOURING CONTEST We received a lot of submissions for the Christmas Colouring Contest. Good job to all children and congratulations to these 3 winners! Prizes can be collected at the reception. Keep those entries coming in!
EASTER!
Koo, 5 (D408)
Hana, 9 (D425)
Annabel, 7 (N155)
When I think of Easter, I think of Easter egg hunts and the Easter bunny who brings me chocolate eggs. On Easter Sunday I am allowed to eat a chocolate egg for breakfast! Yummy…. Often our class at school has an Easter party and we do a charity event, which is good fun. We have done a scooter race and a mini triathlon. It does make me sad that Jesus died for us on Good Friday. It is amazing that he rose again on Easter Sunday. I enjoy going to church and doing craft at Sunday school. I like going on holiday for Easter. Last year we went to Margaret River and did Easter egg hunts on the beach. It was so much fun. I don’t know what we are doing this year. All I do know is that I love spending time with my mum, dad and sisters at Easter.
...................................................................................................ADVERTISEMENT....................................................................................................
Een thuis voor je moedertaal! German European School Singapore CPE Registration Number: S72SS0010G Registration Period: 22.06.2011 – 21.06. 2017
Nederlands op de GESS Het volgen van moedertaalonderwijs is een krachtige manier om kinderen het gevoel te geven dat zij een thuis hebben en ergens bij horen. Het is onze ambitie om onze leerlingen te ondersteunen in hun moedertaal. Op onze Europese afdeling, met Engels als instructietaal, bieden wij moedertaalprogramma’s aan in het Nederlands, Duits en Deens. Ook het volgen van Mandarijn, Spaans en Frans behoort tot de mogelijkheden.
Open Hous e on 3, 10 & 16 Marc h
We give our students roots and wings. GESS Advertisement_Hollandse_Club_March_2015_193x136.indd 1
GESS is een not-for profit, internationale school met een Europees karakter. GESS biedt onderwijsmogelijkheden voor leerlingen van 18 maanden tot en met 18 jaar. Wij zijn een geaccrediteerde IB World School (PYP, MYP, DP). Het Nederlands taal en cultuurprogramma wordt in samenwerking met LanguageOne aangeboden en is geaccrediteerd door de Nederlandse Onderwijsinspectie.
www.gess.sg 19/1/2015 9:18:20 AM
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VIETNAMESE PANCAKES I’ve heard several people say that the best part of the Terrace menu is the Vietnamese section, probably because the dishes are served with lots of fresh green vegetables. Naturally, I had to investigate - any excuse to eat! I have had the pancake several times before, but in best investigative technique I had to order it again so I could write about it. The pancake is light and fluffy, yet slightly crispy, and is folded over a filling of tender meat and fresh, crunchy greens redolent of the flavours of Indochina. Thi Thuy, the chef for Vietnamese Kitchen, tells me that making the pancake isn’t hard, but it is time consuming. First she prepares the minced chicken for the filling. The meat is first marinated for half an hour. Then she sautés chopped onions until they are golden, then adds the meat and cooks it. For the pancake itself, she uses some special flour (a mix of different flours, which includes rice flour amongst others) imported from Vietnam; I suspect this helps with the light, fluffy texture of the pancake. To this she adds coconut milk, egg, salt, sugar and water and whisks it until the flour is mixed in and the consistency is not too thick or too thin, to her expert eye. She heats a frying pan until it’s very hot, adds a little oil and removes it. Then she adds onion and enough batter to form a thin layer. She adds the filling, which contains green beans, minced chicken, prawns, bean sprouts and onion, and cooks it and then folds the pancake over. The sauce is composed of fish sauce, sugar, vinegar, lime juice and water and a little chopped chili and garlic, to give it that sweet and sour kick. Since she found it difficult to articulate her cooking, Thuy very kindly offered to e-mail the recipe to me. So here it is; Thuy’s Vietnamese pancakes: Method • To make the pancakes, place flours and dry ingredients in a large bowl and stir. Add coconut milk Ingredients and water and mix well to form a pancake batter. Add spring onions and allow to rest for 15 minutes. 220g rice flour • Heat 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil in a 10-inch nonstick skillet. Add a few slices of cooked pork belly 50g wheat flour (you can change it to minced pork or minced chicken), a couple of shrimp with cooked green beans. 2 tablespoons corn flour • Stir the batter again and pour 2/3 cup of it into the pan. Tilt and swirl the pan to coat the bottom 2 tablespoons tapioca flour with a very thin layer of batter, letting it come up the side of the pan. 1 cup coconut milk • Scatter 1/4 cup of bean sprouts over and drizzle 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil around the edges. 500ml water • When pancake has cooked, fold uncovered pancake half over filling. Cook on moderately high 1 teaspoon ground turmeric heat until the bottom of the cake is golden and crisp. 1 teaspoon sugar • Slide the pancake onto a plate and serve with lettuce leaves, mint, coriander and Sweet and Sour 1/2 teaspoon salt Vietnamese Dipping Sauce. Serve the pancakes as soon as they are cooked.
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*Event Cancellation Policy applies (refer to pg 14).
Savitar Easter Tennis Camp at Hollandse Club
*Event Cancellation Policy applies (refer to pg 14).
Hollandse Club BEACH TENNIS Let’s hit the beach
Camp 1: Tuesday, 31st March - Thursday, 2nd April 2015 (3 days) Camp 2: Tuesday, 7th April - Thursday 9th April 2015 (3 days) Time: 9am - 12pm
2 DIFFERENT “SUB CAMPS” TO CHOOSE FROM: HC Mini Tennis
HC Junior Development
Young players will learn key tennis fundamentals using lower compression balls, 1/4 court & mini nets. Emphasis on technique, rallying & fun.
Introducing and enhancing basic fundamentals with emphasis on technique, footwork & rallying.
Age: 4-7 years Level: Beg/Int Red Balls
Age: 7-14 years Level: All Levels Orange, Green, Yellow Balls
All Sub Camps will be divided into groups according to their skill level & age. We can assess on the first day to place in appropriate group.
Price:
3 Day Camp: $225+GST
Note:
• All camp registration will be confirmed 48hrs prior to start date • Once registered, members’ account will be charged prior to camp start date • Special prizes, giveaways, and awards will be given out to all participants on final day of camp
Venue: Sentosa Island Beach Location: Siloso Beach Date: 7th March, 2015 Time: 3pm to 6pm Format: Doubles Sign up now for a great afternoon of Beach Tennis. Paddles provided. Fee: S$20 per person Register by 5th March as a team or individual by emailing Scott at Scott@savitar.sg.
ONLINE REGISTRATION: Please CLICK HERE or go to www.savitar.sg, click ‘Locations’, ‘Hollandse Club’ For further enquiries on the camp or tennis, please contact Director of Tennis, Scott Johnston at Scott@savitar.sg or H/P 9038 9348
*Event Cancellation Policy applies (refer to pg 14).
*Event Cancellation Policy applies (refer to pg 14). WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 47
*Event Cancellation Policy applies (refer to pg 14).
*Event Cancellation Policy applies (refer to pg 14).
*Event Cancellation Policy applies (refer to pg 14).
*Event Cancellation Policy applies (refer to pg 14).
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*Event Cancellation Policy applies (refer to pg 14). WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 49
Dear Members,
SWIMMING
Swimming is an important lifesaving skill that everyone should possess. Swimming is also healthy for your body and lots of fun. It’s very important for everybody to master these skills and to maintain them, especially for children. Everything that a child learns before they turn 9 years old can be lost if the strokes are not maintained and settled into the muscle memory. We (Aquaducks) are firm believers of fun lessons. We will always try to teach in the most fun and professional way possible. We have taught over 10,000 kids at the Hollandse Club since 1989. Parent and Child Level 1 to 6 (age 6-48 months) Babies are not strangers to water, as they have spent 9 months submerged in the womb. Our infant classes are a great way to reintroduce your little one to an aquatic environment. This is a parent-accompanied programme that also fosters parent and child bonding. Children have lots of fun building their water confidence through songs and games in this programme. Submersion and personal survival skills are also practiced when your child displays his/her readiness. The main aim of this programme is for infants to be happy, ‘free’ and safe in the water. Pre-school Level 1 to 6 (age 3-5 years) Personal safety is key to this programme. Our programme is child-centred and we believe in children learning at their own pace with lots of encouragement and fun. Children will develop water confidence, breath control and stamina through games, repetitions and positive reinforcement. Children will also learn basic survival strokes such as the breaststroke and freestyle, gradually increasing in distance and techniques. Learn to Swim (LTS) Level 1 to 5 (age 5 and above) In the Learn to Swim programme, we focus on refining all four stroke techniques: freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly. Water Safety, stamina building and excellent stroke technique stands paramount in this programme. This programme enables Dutch children to get their ABC diploma as well. Fun Class This class is for children who have already completed their Dutch C Award or Proficiency 4 Award. After receiving these awards, it is important to keep the children swimming to maintain good stroke technique (for long term muscle memory to set in) and build more stamina and good health. During this class, kids will be taught a combination of swimming technique, survival training, junior lifeguard and water polo subjects. Dutch children will be able to get the Zwemvaardigheid/survival/water polo 1,2,3.
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Development Squad (The Dutch Dolphins) Placement in this class requires that children reach certain criteria, and focuses on perfecting techniques of all four strokes: freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly, as well as proper racing starts, turns and finishes. Children also train to swim longer distances; there are also many swimming competitions throughout the year with The Dutch Dolphins competing in the Neptune League and Triton League races. Adults Programme. Whether you are an adult beginner or a competent swimmer looking to improve your stroke technique or personal best, or if you are a triathlete or you want to do an Iron Man, then this class is for you. Our coaches will work with you to achieve your personal goals. Swimming for Domestic Helpers. Apart from learning to swim, the domestic helpers will learn about safety and supervision around the pool and will learn what to do in an emergency. Water Polo (The Dutch Merlions) This class will teach the children the game of Water Polo, learning the rules and have fun playing the game. Our coaches will help the kids by giving more technique and tactics correction, with friendly competition against other teams.
EVENTS COMING UP - Hollandse Club Championships: 1 March - Club Night (swim trials for the swim team): 24 April - Neptune League Round 1 @ Tanglin Club: 15 March - Neptune League Round 2 @ British Club: 10 May - ABC – Swimming Awards 2014 Round 1: 22 March Best regards, Aquaducks team. Hollandse Club
despite attending the classes for almost a year and a half. I really find it a great way to increase my cardiovascular fitness!
WHAT DO MEMBERS SAY ABOUT AQUA SPIN? You may have seen the bikes by the pool; you may have seen the instructors vividly encouraging the class, but what do other Hollandse Club members say about the exercise? We decided to get a member’s insight into the class, and why it’s so popular. Let’s hear what Susanne Baan has to say! First class with Aqua Spin: August 2013 Number of sessions per week: 2 What I most enjoy about Aqua Spin: What I enjoy the most about Aqua Spin is the drive and passion of the instructors, and that once you’ve finished you have so much energy gained from the exercise and the stimulation. Also, Aqua Spin can be done for different reasons such as weight loss, back pain reduction and many other things that may benefit you personally. As it is something you do for yourself, everyone has their comfortable speed at which they train and, therefore, as long as you can smile, you can keep your mind to it, as it is never a competition between fellow classmates.
Would I recommend Aqua Spin to other people? I would recommend Aqua Spin to people who have never tried before because a lot of people are not aware of the exercise and the benefits it provides you. Aqua Spin runs classes @ the Hollandse Club every Wednesday at 8:30am and 9:30am and Fridays at 8:30am and 9:30am and 10:30am. Come for a trial session and find out why everyone loves it! Aqua Spin is also looking to open a HIGH-INTENSITY men and women’s evening class. Given recent requests to the Club for spinning sessions, we would like to explore the possibility with Aqua Spin. Interested members, please contact below. For bookings or info please contact us: info@aquaspin.sg or give us a call at 96989202.
The benefits I’ve had working out with Aqua Spin: When I first started Aqua Spin I thought it wouldn’t be so challenging, however, lesson after lesson it is still a strenuous exercise which requires great effort and has proved to be challenging WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 51
SQUASH Having missed the deadline for the last report, we have plenty to tell you about the successes of
our wonderful squash club. I think it best to start with the highlight of the quarter, which involved our grudge match against the tennis club for the Hollandse Club Racketlon Championship 2014 (played in January 2015). The event pitted the might of the tennis section against the cunning and guile squash section. We noted last time round that our squash style was not best suited to table tennis, providing the tennis chaps an unfair advantage which pushed us to add the game of speedminton. What? I hear you ask. Well, indeed, our cunning plan was that none of the tennis guys would have even heard of said game let alone played it and so our plan was hatched to get the cup that should rightfully be ours. First up was tennis and, despite losing our diamond in the rough, Geert, to the sands of Abu Dhabi, we felt that we had some quality in the ranks. Ross, our junior tennis champion New Zealand circa 1978 obviously felt that using the same racket that took him to that glorious title would work for him again. Alas he was outfoxed, outplayed and out of date losing 21-1 (the other double faulted for Ross’s one point). Not the most auspicious of starts but then things started to turn our way with Alan winning his tennis match, followed by squash, table tennis and speedminton. Some epic battles ensued with the squash section giving no quarter and playing with Churchillian pose. Even when the captain of the tennis team resorted to random acts of violence against our poor Manoj, we did not falter. In the end, we won the event 9-4 and immediately had the gauntlet thrown down by a somewhat embarrassed tennis section for a rematch at the earliest possible convenience.
Joking aside, this event has proved to be extremely popular with those playing and it is something that we are keen to keep going at the Club. Aside from this, The Tanglin Club hosted their annual doubles tournament, which drew in some members of our Club. The most successful, of course, was the pairing of Ross and partner who managed to make it to the final – of the plate – only to lose in emphatic style. Daniel and Kim put up a strong fight and all in all a good showing from the Club. The National Squash League is now well under way and all four teams that we have entered into this year’s competition are playing admirably. The E team lost their first match to the Police but this is to be expected since most of their players are ex-Ghurkhas and most of our team, ex-sportsmen. Valiant though the effort was, we were just not able to tire them out. Duracell bunnies to the last man they were. The Vets II have made a strong start by soundly beating their opening match opponents and the C-grade team managed to scrape a win having drew their opening match 2-2 but won on games won. One has to always remember that the squash section has a headcount of some 35 members and so to play so equally with clubs many times bigger is always something to be proud of. Looking ahead, we will continue to play though the National Squash League and we are arranging our annual trip to Manila to play against the best of the best there. With any luck, Fred’s bionic hip will be fully functional by then and we can look forward to another successful tour. We are always looking for new players to join the squash section so if any of you want to come and have a knock around then please feel free to come down to the squash courts (Turkish Baths) on a Saturday afternoon. We also have drills on Tuesday evenings and socials on Thursday evenings. If you have any questions or want to have a game then feel free to call any of the below. Daniel Gelinas: 97254198 Ross Stokes: 83232014 Fred Saarloos: 96151144 Erik Mul: 9631 2107 James Spalding: 91636517 See you at the courts, Paul Roberts
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SPORTS & RECREATION
TENNIS Club Championships: Change of format As a result of the successful Tennis Ladder, the response for the Club Championships is a bit low this year. Realising it will be difficult for many players to participate in both the Tennis Ladder and the Club Championships, the Tennis Committee has decided to change the format of this year’s Club Championships. So this year, the Club Championships will be held on two consecutive weeks in May. By doing this, we hope to create a more social and enjoyable tournament with greater numbers of people on the courts and spectators on the sideline. In this new format, the Championships will be held from Monday 4 May to Sunday 17 May 2015. Please note that there will be no evening matches on Monday 4 May because of Remembrance Day. The Tennis Committee will schedule all matches. Participants will be able to indicate upfront when they are NOT able to play. The Tennis Committee will subsequently do its utmost to accommodate for such. Following this change in format, we have now canceled all current registrations and kindly ask those who did already registered to do so again once the new invitations have been sent out in March. Please mark the tournament dates in your calendar. We hope to see you all in May for some great tennis and who knows, your name might end up on the wall this year!
NEW MEMBERS INTERESTED IN PLAYING TENNIS The Tennis Committee at the Hollandse Club is always happy to welcome new tennis enthusiasts in our midst. So, if you are a new member of the Hollandse Club and interested in playing tennis, please send us an email at tenniscommittee@hollandseclub.org. sg so that we can keep you up to date with the upcoming tennis events. In addition, please note that you are very welcome to join one of the tennis socials at the Hollandse Club. If you cannot make it on any of these times or days, but would like to hit a social game of tennis with other members, please let us know and we will find you a tennis partner.
SPRING into ACTION! Youth Spring Tennis Tournament @ the Hollandse Club Saturday 14 March 2015 Under 11 - 1 to 6 pm 11+ years - 6 to 10 pm
Mark in your diary. Invitation will be sent by e-mail.
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Tennis courts can be booked through reception (tel. 6464 5225). Please do not forget to cancel the court booking in case you have to reschedule or annul your tennis appointment. In this way, you allow other members to play.
SPORTS & RECREATION
Dear Tennis Players,
Dear Tennis Players,
With more than 30 participants for the men’s singles ladder and 27 women’s teams for the pyramid, the first Hollandse Club Tennis Ladder is a reality!
On the 23rd January, we had our first Friday Night Social of 2015. We had a ‘full house’ of 20 members for an evening of casual tennis and a glass of Pimm’s.
We started the 20th January and a lot of matches have been played already. If you are interested, you are still more than welcome to join! Just let us know and we will send you the registration link.
During the Friday Night Socials, we play three 40-minute rounds of (mixed) doubles followed by a drink and some nibbles. Beside the fact that it’s an ‘active’ way to catch up with friends and meet new people, it’s also a great opportunity to play some mixed doubles - a format many of us don’t play too often.
Warm regards, Danielle van Wees and Marina Aarts
The next Friday Night Social will be on the 20th March. You’ll receive an invitation by e-mail. Hope to see you there! Not on the tennis e-mail list yet? Send us a message at: tenniscommittee@hollandseclub.org.sg Warm regards, Peronne Wendrich and Marina Aarts
For all our 18+ tennis enthusiasts we proudly present our very first
TENNIS LADDER Men’s singles ladder Women’s doubles pyramid ladder
Interested in climbing the ladder yourself?
W provid e aim to e all te with ch nnis playe all rs enjoya enging and ble ma tches. Just ch alleng e the pe above rson y The win ou on the la or team dd ner wil l rise a er. step.
Send us an e-mail at tenniscommitteehc@gmail.com
IMPORTANT DATES Hollandse Club Beach Tennis Event 7th March 2015 End of Term 1 Junior Tennis Program 27th March 2015 Easter Hollandse Club Junior Tennis Camp Camp 1: 31st March to 2nd April Camp 2: 7th April to 9th April 9am to 12pm Daily, Ages 4 to 14, $225 per player Beginning of Term 2 Junior Tennis Program 13th April 2015 For enquirires please contact Director of Tennis Scott Johnston on 9038 9348 or scott@savitar.sg
COACHES’ CORNER Getting to the Net In preparation for the Singles Tournament, the Match Point this month will give you a better idea of when to go to the net and how to get there, mainly during a singles match. Previously we covered the Serve and Volley. The strategy is very effective, especially when you have a good serve. However, not all of us have the effective serve or the confidence it takes to serve and volley but that does not mean you cannot come to the net. There are two ways to put yourself in a good position to volley: the “conventional way’ and the “sneak attack”. The Conventional Way Create a short ball (a ball which lands near the service line on your side). This will allow you to use that particular ball to hit an approach shot (a shot you follow up to the net) and your next shot is then a volley. The easiest way to create a short ball in the first place is to hit your shots as deep as possible. This usually makes it difficult for your opponent to hit an effective shot, with the result that the ball is often returned “short”. You then take the opportunity, hit an approach shot and come to the net. The Sneak Attack This is a much riskier way of getting to the net and could drastically backfire if not attempted at the right time. It involves moving from the base line all the way to the net without hitting an approach shot. The best way to set this attack up is to hit a reasonably high, very deep shot, preferably with top spin. When you see your opponent struggling with the shot, you move very quickly to the net for the put-away volley… Be careful not to get too close to the net in case of a lob. Mix your game up in singles. Do not become predictable and when you have the chance, get to the net to put more pressure on your opponent. This will help you win that Match Point. Good Luck!
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Monday & Friday Classes Term dates: Mon, 13th April 2015 to Mon, 29th June 2015 Fri, 17th April 2015 to Fri, 3rd July 2015
Wednesday Classes Term dates: Wed, 15th April 2015 to Wed, 1st July2015
Tuesday & Thusday Classes Term dates: Tues, 14th February 2015 to Tues, 30th June 2015 Thurs, 16th April 2015 to Thurs, 2nd July2015
CLASSES CLASSES ARE PRO-RATED FROM TIME OF JOINING. Register your interest via Reception. For new courses, you will receive a confirmation email three days before class starts to confirm the course is commencing. If you have specific questions about the class, please contact the respective instructor listed in the Activities Contacts page. Sunday Classes Term dates: Sun, 8th February 2015 to Sun, 31st May 2015
Friday & Saturday Classes Term dates: Fri, 10th April 2015 to Fri, 12th June 2015 Sat, 11th April 2015 to Sat, 13th June 2015
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Tuesday & Saturday Classes Term dates: Tues, 7th April 2015 to Tues, 30th June 2015 Sat, 4th April 2015 to Sat, 27th June 2015
Sunday Classes Term dates: Sun, 19th April 2015 to Sun, 21st June 2015
CLUB ACTIVITY CONTACT LIST
CLASS
DAY
TIME
VENUE
POINT OF CONTACT
CONTACT
A Aerobics (Step)
Wednesday
0900 - 1000
Rotterdam
Ann Yang
9815 0239
Friday
0800 - 0900
Swimming Pool
Alicia
Friday Friday
0900 - 1000 1000 - 1100
Swimming Pool Alicia 9698 9202 Swimming Pool Alicia 9698 9202
B Basketball (7 – 10 years)
Sunday
1000 - 1100
Multi Purpose
Bernard Williams
9437 6252
Tuesday
1930 - 2300
Amsterdam
Franciska Ho
6259 3864
Aqua Spin
Bridge (Duplicate)
9698 9202
Friday 0900 - 1230 Amsterdam Franciska Ho 6259 3864 C Cardio Sculpt
Mon & Fri
0900 - 1000
Rotterdam
Ann Yang
9815 0239
D Domestic Helper Swimming
Tuesday
1100 - 1200
Swimming Pool Mauro Hernandez
9725 4198
H Hockey (Ladies)
Wednesday
2000 - 2100
CCAB
9237 4415
Cecile Sturm
Merel Schwaanhuyser 9237 4344
Hockey (Men)
Wednesday
2100 - 2200
CCAB
Jeroen van Son
Hockey (Youth)
Tuesday
1900 - 2000
CCAB
Su Yin Timp
8484 9423 9142 9233
Sunday 0900 - 1100 CCAB Wietske Teunissen
9423 6374
J Judo (Children Beginners)
Wednesday
1630 - 1730
Rotterdam
Gerard Lim
9750 6305
Wednesday
1730 - 1830
Rotterdam
Gerard Lim
9750 6305
Friday
Gerard Lim
9750 6305
Judo (7 years & under)
Saturday
1700 - 1800 Youri - 1030 0930
Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Gerard Lim
9750 6305
Judo (10 years & under)
Saturday
1030 - 1130
Rotterdam
Gerard Lim
9750 6305
Judo (10 years & above)
Saturday
1130 - 1230
Rotterdam
Gerard Lim
9750 6305
K Karate
Sunday
1630 - 1730
Rotterdam
Peter Robertson
9681 1927
M Moms & Tots
Tuesday
1000 - 1130
Rotterdam
Sports & Recreation
6461 1151
Judo (Children Intermediate)
P Personal Training By Appointment Gym Ashraf 8180 6610 Youri Kruse 9739 7610
Pilates
Tuesday
1200 - 1300
Rotterdam
Ann Yang
9815 0239
Thursday
2000 - 2100
Rotterdam
Ann Yang
9815 0239
S Squash (Junior Training)
Saturday
1200 - 1400
Squash Court
Yeo Kiang Bee
8147 8059
Squash (Training)
Tuesday
1900 - 2100
Squash Court
Daniel Gelinas
9725 4198
Squash (Social)
Thursday
1900 - 2200
Squash Court
Daniel Gelinas
9725 4198
Saturday Swimming Lessons/Competition Mon – Sat
1400 - 1700 Various
Squash Court Swimming Pool
Daniel Gelinas David Verlinde
9725 4198 9225 7310
T Taekwondo
Tuesday
1700 - 1800
Rotterdam
Raymond Chin
9181 0827
Saturday
1500 - 1600
Rotterdam
Raymond Chin
9181 0827
Tennis (Ladies Social)
Monday
0900 - 1200
Tennis Court
Maja Duyverman
9750 7124
Tennis (Mixed Social)
Wednesday
2000 - 2200
Tennis Court
Annelous van Haaren
9639 8287
Sunday
1600 - 1800
Tennis Court
Annelous van Haaren
9639 8287
Tennis (Ladies Competition)
Friday
0900 - 1200
Tennis Court
Pauline Welton
8168 2084
Tennis (Men’s Social)
Saturday
1400 - 1700
Tennis Court
Patrice Plet
9833 4038
Tennis (Free Family Courts)
Sunday
0900 - 1200
Tennis Court
Reception
6464 5225
Tennis Lessons (Savitar)
Mon – Sat
Various
Tennis Court
Scott Johnston
9038 9348
Tennis Lessons (Mr Wee)
Mon – Sat
Various
Tennis Court
Mr Wee
9673 4851
Swimming Pool
David Verlinde
9225 7310
W Water Polo (8 - 16 years)
Thursday
1800 - 1900
WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 57
MARCH / APRIL 2015 ENGLISH — ADULTS
“The Girl on the Train”
“The best place to be today, 365 things to do & the perfect day to do them”
by Paula Hawkinkins A thrilling and tense and wildly unpredictable novel.
by Lonely Planet Discover 365 amazing places to be for every day of the year. Thrilling festivals,natural and seasonal phenomena and cultural highlights.
“Travelling to Infinity” by Jane Hawking The true story behind “The theory of Everthing. The incredible story of Jane and Stephen Haking.
“Chasing tomorrow” by Sidney Sheldon A sequel of “if tomorrow comes” by with suspens and twist.
“The Escape” by David Baldacci Duty, loyality,family,the ultimate sacrefice.
58 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG
“The infinite sea” by Rick Yancey Epic sci-fi adventure about a terrifying alien invasion.
LIBRARY
ENGLISH — CHILDREN
“The letter for the king”
“Time riders, The infinite cage ”
by Tonke Dragt
by Alex Scarrow
Got the best book of the year.Translated from the Dutch for the first.
This is a novel that is addictive as any computer game. catch Mr. Fox. Can he outwit them and save his family?
“The Spook’s Apprentice or The seventh son” by Joseph Delaney
“Little Miss Lucky ”
Based on fact. As a child ,Joseph Delany lived in a similar house in Preston where he had a recurrent nightmare. What’s even more spooky....his brothers had the same nightmare.. The house has now been pulled down.
“Mr. Jelly ”
DUTCH — ADULTS “Donderdag’s kinderen” by Nicci French De nieuwe Nicci French literaire thriller.
“Wat dood is” by Belinda Bauer dit is een geweldig ,tot nadenken stemmen boek dat je aandacht meteen vanaf de eerste pagina vasthoudt. Een briljante beschrijving vanautisme van binneuit.
WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 59
Association of Dutch Businesspeople in Singapore
‘To share meaningful and business-related information amongst the Dutch business community in Singapore, whilst networking in a fun environment’
ADB
ADB announces its 25 anniversary conference th
In 2015, Singapore and ADB are celebrating their 50th and 25th anniversary, respectively. Time to reflect and to look forward on the good relationship between Singapore and the Netherlands. In this context, in May 2015, ADB will organize its 25th anniversary conference focusing on the contribution of Dutch business and people towards Singapore’s growth in the past, present and future. More information on the exact date and speakers will follow in due course via the email invitation and on our website www.adb.org.sg.
25
yrs
AlSo like To join ADB? Want to know more about us and our monthly activities? Are you interested in extending your personal network among other Dutch business people in Singapore? Then be welcome, go to www.adb.org.sg and register under Memberships. Join us now and we look forward to meeting you at our next events. Should you wish to contact us please feel free to send an email to adb@adb.org.sg