Hollandse Club Magazine: January/February 2015

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2015

TheMagazine A bi-monthly publication by the Hollandse Club

Visitus us online online @ @ www.hollandseclub.org.sg Visit

EVENT REPORTS Optimist Sailing Camp Sinterklaas Arrival Charity Christmas Fair UPCOMING EVENTS Kids Etiquette Workshop Kirti’s “Feast of India” NEW2U Flea Market Lion Dance HUMAN INTERESTS Chinese New Year Meet The Artist Help! I’m Living In A Zoo Black & White Tour FOOD & BEVERAGE Chef’s Specials Wine Promotions

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSOR

SILVER SPONSORS

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CONTENTS

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5

6

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President’s Message

GM’s Message

Facilities Information

Optimist Sailing Camp

Sinterklaas Arrival

10 12 14 18 19 NCA Christmas Fair

Calender

Upcoming Events

What’s Going On Around The Club?

Staff News

21 22 24 25 26 Chinese New Year

Meet The Artist: Guus van Eck

KidsFest!

2015

World Press Photo

Help! I’m Living in a Zoo

28 30 34 38 42 Black & White Tour

Membership News

Places to Go in Singapore

Min, The Lion Girl

F&B Chef’s Specials

48 50 52 57 58 Swimming

Hockey

Tennis

Club Activity Contact List

Library Bookshelf

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.

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MAIN COMMITTEE President: Nienke Nauta - Kuipers president@hollandseclub.org.sg

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Vice-President: Willeke Lankamp vicepresident@hollandseclub.org.sg Second Secretary: Willemijn van Blommestein 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: Patrice Plet sportsmember@hollandseclub.org.sg Commercial Affairs: Henk - Jan Bakker commercial@hollandseclub.org.sg Ordinary Member: Paul Roberts, Linda McGregor, Peter van Buren, Steef Janssen

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)

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Dear Fellow Members, Whilst sitting on top of a snowy mountain in Austria I am writing the first President’s Message of the New Year. First of all I would like to wish all of you a very happy and healthy 2015. I hope it will be a good year for our club as well. As we look to the future, the Main Committee is working hard on a long term Strategic Plan for the club which includes proposals for investments in our facilities and for increasing our revenues.

The past two months have been really busy at the club with hosting events, fairs, sports competitions, corporate functions, dinners and parties. We received some wonderful feedback about these events which is always a big encouragement for our staff who put so much effort in making your time at the club a memorable one.

The annual Sinterklaas arrival was again a huge success. More than 400 children with their parents gathered at the scenic Marina Bay Front South to welcome Sinterklaas and his Petes and many of the children joined us at the club for the Sinterklaas party and a scrumptious lunch. I would like to thank all our staff and volunteers for organising and executing such a wonderful event.

On the sports front we also had a very busy period. During November the annual ZOAT hockey tournament was held, this time in Hong Kong. The Hollandse Club was represented by 3 Men’s teams and 2 Ladies teams and both Ladies and Men‘s teams won the Trophy! The club organised two Tennis Tournaments: The annual Davis Cup for adults and the Pepernoten Tournament for kids. Both were a success with lots of fanatic players and friendly matches. During the month of December, AquaDucks organised their twice yearly pool party. It was great to see all those happy kids jumping and dancing confidently in and around the pool.

Early November our GM, Elmer van Loon, sadly informed me that he and his family would be repatriating to the Netherlands at the end of December. I think I can speak on behalf of many of you when I say that we will sincerely miss Elmer and his family at the club and that we wish them all the best for the future.

The Main Committee is currently looking to fill the position of General Manager and in the interim the daily management of the club will be handled by Bibiche Booi, our Operations Manager and Daniel van Dijk, our Commercial Manager. If you have any questions, please contact them directly. You can also contact the Main Committee when you have other questions or concerns.

Dear members, I hope you and your families will all have a lovely time at our club in 2015!

Warm regards, Nienke Nauta-Kuipers

GM’S MESSAGE

CLUB MANAGEMENT General Manager: 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: Daniel van Dijk 6461 1139 sales@hollandseclub.org.sg

A very happy and healthy New Year to all Hollandse Club members and staff!

I hope all of you enjoyed a nice break during the Christmas and New Year holidays and that you are ready for an exciting 2015 with lots of great Club activities, events, tournaments and other initiatives. For over 170 members, the New Year started with a bang, as they all joined the yearly New Year’s Eve cruise on the Singapore River. Four boats with happy and excited members watched 2014 become 2015 with a display of great fireworks in the Marina Bay. As you read this message, I am probably lighting the fire in my fireplace on a cold and rainy day. After three and a half years in Singapore and three fantastic years working for the Hollandse Club, my family and I have returned to wintery Holland. With mixed emotions we leave Singapore behind. Feeling sad to leave so many friends, great colleagues and adventures behind, and excited to return back to our roots with a suitcase full of fond memories. Thank you all for your support, your friendship, your blunt criticism ☺ and the sheer joy and buzzing activity you bring to our international family Club!

At the time of writing, no information was available on my replacement but I am happy to announce that as from 1 February 2015, Marilou Groot Nibbelink will start as the new Sports and Events Manager. Marilou has a background in organizing events for Eltingh & Haarhuis Tennis Events and in leading the children’s animation teams of a number of holiday parks in the Netherlands. Welcome Marilou!

For January and February there are a number of exciting events planned. Together with Manners in Mind, we are organizing a Kids Etiquette workshop for various age groups.

There is another exciting quiz night planned again, and we expect a visit from Dutch illustrator and writer, Harmen van Straaten, and the Belgian storyteller, Tom van Outryve.

At the end of January, we plan a delicious “Feast of India” cooking workshop together with an “Exploring Little India” walking tour.

In February, there will be a show of the Amazing Toy Box for the children, a three-day Photoshop workshop for beginners and, of course, the traditional Lion Dance.

Furthermore, I would like to invite all of you to join our “Sparkling” New Year’s Party on Sunday 11 January 2015. Enjoy a complimentary glass of bubbly and snacks at the Hollandse Club “Sparkling” New Year’s Party. A fun party where the children meet again after a long break and where the adults raise a glass and toast to a fantastic Year of the Goat.

Wishing you all a healthy and happy 2015.

Membership Executive: Darma Jahari 6461 1111 membership@hollandseclub.org.sg Marketing & Communications Executive: Tan Yan Ting 6461 1117 marcom@hollandseclub.org.sg Sports & Events Manager: 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

Signing off as General Manager, until we meet again, Elmer van Loon

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FACILITY INFORMATION SPORTS & RECREATION Gymnasium Monday - Sunday: 7am - 10pm 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 Monday - Sunday: 9am - Closing (Last order 9.45pm) For reservations, please call Reception at 6464 5225 or email reception@hollandseclub.org.sg.

Serambi Bar Wednesday - Sunday: 6pm - 11pm Terrace Monday - Sunday: 8am - 11pm (Last order 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 Friday - Saturday: 11am - 1am Eve of PH & PH: 11am - 1am Pool Bar Monday - Friday: 11am - 7pm Saturday: 8am - 5pm Sunday & PH: 9am - 6pm

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 - Sunday: 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.

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EVENT REPORT

OPTIMIST SAILING CAMP During the October school holidays, the Club organized the first Optimist Sailing Camp for kids at the Changi Sailing Club.

The children really enjoyed themselves while learning basic sailing techniques using Optimist sailing boats. Wind and weather conditions were pretty good throughout the Camp, no choppy seas or rainstorms but on the last day, when the children had their first solo sailing competition, there was no wind to speak of so they had to use the rudder to move the boats to shore. So besides sailing the children acquired yet another invaluable skill: improvising. We will organize another sailing camp later this year.

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EVENT REPORT

SINTERKLAAS ARRIVAL

By Daniel van Dijk What a spectacular Sinterklaas arrival this year! A large crowd gathered on a sunny Saturday morning on the boardwalk at Marina Bay Front South to welcome Sinterklaas to our shores.

With a light breeze and clear blue skies, the location was truly spectacular. Stunning views of MBFC, the CBD, the Merlion, the Esplanade Theaters, Suntec and Marina Bay Sands. Even Sinterklaas must have been impressed by the scenery as he sailed on a traditional bumboat from across the Marina Bay with all his Petes and saw those hundreds of children waving and dancing at the foot of Marina Bay Sands. Tradition meets modernity at its best!

As Sinterklaas stepped ashore, he received a very warm welcome from His Excellency the Ambassador of the Netherlands Jacques Werner and his wife Soraya, the principal of the HSL Meino Meines, our very own Club president Nienke Nauta-Kuipers and, of course, hundreds of eagerly waiting children and their parents.

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EVENT REPORT

After a short speech by the Dutch Ambassador and a tour around the boardwalk to greet children, big and small, Sinterklaas and his pepernoten-distributing Petes continued their journey onwards to the Hollandse Club where a growing crowd of children was treated to a magic show before Sinterklaas arrived. At around 11:00, Sinterklaas was welcomed at the Main Hall by our president, Nienke Nauta-Kuipers, and an excited crowd of children. A great party kicked off with lots of pepernoten, singing, Petes dancing and children laughing. After such an exciting morning many children decided it was time for a quick cool down dip in the pool before heading for the special Sinterklaas lunch buffet. Before heading home, the children collected their Sinterklaas gift and Chocolate Letter. Two more weeks of Sinterklaas excitement awaited the children (and their parents) before Sinterklaas headed back home to Spain on December 6.

Although mostly Dutch-spoken, Sinterklaas is a children’s party for all nationalities so it was great to see a large number of non-Dutch speaking children attending this event and having a great time.

The Sinterklaas Party at the Hollandse Club is organized in collaboration with the HSL and many volunteers. We could not have done this without you. Thank you all for your time and commitment. It was great fun! Till next year!

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EVENT REPORT

NCA CHARITY CHRISTMAS FAIR

By Pleun Brevet It was a day to remember: vendors with great products, lots of visitors and some awesome performances from the HOME choir and the ‘All That Jazz’ dance academy. And it was all for charity, which made the day extra-special.

NCA did good business with the Dutch products, the Lucky Draw and of course the sales of the ‘regular’ NCA gifts. Everyone who bought any of these products with us at the fair automatically donated to the charities we support: Silra, Sanctuary House, HOME, Good Shepherd and Breadline. You can read more about these charities on our website (www.nca.org.sg).

The next step is for us to write out the cheques and hand them over to the charities, to support them in what they do best: helping the people who need it.

Before, during and after the fair a lot of hard work was done to get everything just right. And we could not have done it without the many volunteers who helped us. So, we would like to take the opportunity to thank all the volunteers for their efforts to make the Charity Christmas Fair the success that it was.

Photos by Inge Kuipers

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THE CLUB

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UPCOMING EVENTS

at a January

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January

Sparkling New Year’s Party – Welcome Back!

Sunday, 4pm - 6pm, Swimming Pool Free Admission All members are invited to join us as we toast to a good start to the New Year! We will have a good selection of music, kids activities by the pool, a complimentary drink and snacks for both adults and children.

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January

Friday, 8pm, 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.

January

Kids’ Etiquette Workshops by Manners in Mind

Sunday, Between 2pm - 6:30pm, Indoor Lounge Members: $32, $50 | Non-Members: $40, $65 Geared toward shorter attention spans, and with plenty of interaction and fun activities, these workshops help kids develop social skills that aid them in making positive impressions and developing sound relationships with peers and adults.

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January

Kirti’s “Feast of India” Cooking Class

Quiz Night

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Wednesday, 10:30am - 2pm, Brabant Room Members: $65 | Non-Members: $75 Join Kirti for this very popular one-day cooking workshop with Kirti’s signature dishes and brighten up your day with the tantalizing aromas, flavours and bright colours of Indian cuisine!

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January

Little India Walk

Friday, 10am - 12pm Members: $35 | Non-Members: $40 Gain tremendous insight into the rich Indian culture and heritage and get familiarised with the colourful nooks and crannies of Serangoon!

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January

Storytelling Session with Tom van Outryve

January

An Evening with Harmen van Straaten

Thursday, 8pm - 10pm, Library Free Admission Famous Dutch author and illustrator will be sharing where he gets inspirations for his works and will give tips on how to write childrens’ books.

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Friday, 8pm, Indoor Lounge Free Admission Join us for an evening with a professional storyteller! Sit down and let modern day storyteller Tom van Outryve take you on a journey to a yet unknown destination.

glance

UPCOMING EVENTS

February Events Cancellation Policy: 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.

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CALENDER Events not to be missed in the months of January and February!

Please do remember to register early to avoid disappointment!

Registrations can now be made online at www.hollandseclub.org.sg.

February

NEW2U Flea Market

Sunday, 11am - 5pm, Main Hall Free Admission The Scandinavian Women’s Association (SWA) in collaboration with the Hollandse Club is organizing a flea market in support of underprivileged families in Singapore. Shop for a good cause!

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February

3-Day Photoshop Workshop for Beginners

Wednesday - Friday, 9am - 1pm, Conference Room Members: $300 | Non-Members: $360 Learn how to use the most popular image editing software and unlock your creative potential!

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February

Lion Dance

Saturday, 12pm, Terrace Free Admission Soak in the Chinese New Year atmosphere and be awed by the traditional lion dance performance, bringing with it good fortune, prosperity, and longevity.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

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UPCOMING EVENTS

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UPCOMING EVENTS

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UPCOMING EVENTS

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THE CLUB

The Club regularly organizes parties for its members. Recently, we had a very special one: Byron Askin and Roger Pua celebrated their 20th anniversary at the Indoor Lounge for a group of close friends and relatives. Chef Raymond, Mr Boon and their teams made sure that everything was perfect and we received wonderful reviews: “Absolutely amazing experience” “…quality of the service staff exceeded our expectations” “Our guests cannot stop talking about how great the food was…” Thank you Byron and Roger for choosing the Club for your event and your generous feedback!

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THE CLUB

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NOVEMBER The Belgium Luxemburg Association Singapore (BLAS) had their annual Mussel Party at the Club. Cooked mussels with thick fries are a classic Belgian dish. Our chefs prepared more than 80 kilos of fresh mussels!

DECEMBER The Spanish Speaking Women’s Association organized a Christmas lunch and fair at the Club. It was wonderful to welcome such a very diverse group from countries such as Mexico, Spain, Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, Argentina and many more who all share the same mother tongue.

On December 6th we welcomed 140 Finns who celebrated their Independence Day with a dinner and dance in our Main Hall.

The decorations in the national colors of blue and white, and the high level of service received many compliments. Well done Chef Raymond, Mr Boon, Mr Rashid and your teams!

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THE CLUB

STAFF NEWS

STAFF AWARDS

ENGLISH LANGUAGE COURSE During the past three months, kitchen and Terrace staff members have been attending an English language class offered by Jacqueline Lemmens. They have made wonderful progress, and we would like to thank Jacqueline for her time and commitment to the Club.

EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR (JULY-DECEMBER): JET QUIAMBO

CULTURAL AWARENESS WORKSHOP During November and December, office and service staff attended a cultural difference/awareness training course and workshop.

It was fun learning about our different perspectives on things and how to deal with our cultural biases. Yes, we all have them!

STAFF UPDATE In November, our Events Manager and in-house hairdresser, Marjon van Heddeghem-Gijsman, had her last day at the Club.

She will be focusing on a new challenge: motherhood. We wish her all the best.

5 YEARS OF SERVICE: FREDERICK HO

DO YOU KNOW? • Do you know that we once had a cat trapped behind a wall in the lobby?

• Do you know that we use 5,000 place mats each month on the Terrace?

• Do you know that it takes two hours to clean the water in the swimming pool when faeces are found in the water? (Please use the loo when you have to poo!)

• Do you know that our Marcom Executive creates up to 20 new posters a month for the various events around the Club?

• Do you know that our Finance Department issued and sold 10,000 coupons in one month at various events at the Club?

• Do you know that we find between two and six pairs of slippers and shoes each day?

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THE CLUB

SMELL THE COFFEE! On a monthly basis the Hollandse Club serves more than 2,000 cups of coffee: Espresso, Lattes, Cappuccinos, Macchiatos and Tall Blacks. Clearly members of the Hollandse Club value their cup of coffee. Supported by one of our sponsors, Randstad, we have taken the initiative to improve the coffee experience at the Club. We have had an overhaul of our coffee machines, changed our coffee bean blend (after rigorous tastings by our in-house tasting panel) and our service staff have been on a barista course to ensure that our members and guests will have an even better coffee experience in 2015!

Our staff make the difference

Family, Paediatric & Travel Medicine • Caring for the expatriate community since 1999 • A diverse international team of medical professionals • A caring, friendly and familiar environment Camden Clinic | 1 Orchard Boulevard, Camden Medical Centre #14-06 | 6733 4440 Jelita Clinic | 293 Holland Road, Jelita Cold Storage #02-04 | 6465 4440 Paediatric Clinic | 1 Orchard Boulevard, Camden Medical Centre #11-06 | 6887 4440

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HUMAN INTERESTS

SINGAPOREAN TRADITIONS The Chinese New Year culture in Singapore is greatly influenced by that of South China.

The Chinese ancestors of Singaporeans travelled from places such as Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan along the coastline of the South China Sea to the little red dot. There is a vibrant mixture of dialect groups – Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese, Hakka, Hainanese and more – in present Singapore, each bringing their share of customs to make up that unique hotchpotch culture Singapore is so proud of today.

8 The Chinese character 8 looks and sounds just like the word ‘fa’, which means ‘to prosper’. It is, therefore, an auspicious number.

ORANGES AND TANGERINES Oranges and mandarins are a symbol of wealth, happiness and good fortune, and are, therefore, used as decorations.

RED The colour red is considered lucky for the Chinese, so especially around New Year people wear red for luck.

DID YOU KNOW THESE THINGS ABOUT

chinese new year?

By Karien van Ditzhuijzen

PRESENTS On New Year’s Day, people visit family and friends, handing out snacks, flowers and red packets (hong bao) full of lucky money. Any amount of money containing the number 8 is considered auspicious, or a note that is red in colour, like the Singapore 10 dollar bill.

BEING THANKFUL Always receive any gift or red packet with both hands. And don’t forget to say some auspicious things in return as a way of thanks such as “Xin Nian Kuai Le” (Happy New Year) or “Gong Xi Fa Cai” (be prosperous and may more wealth come along your way).

FLOWERS Chinese New Year is also called the spring festival, and flowers are an important part of it. Flowers symbolise beginnings. Why? Because flowers make seeds and seeds again make new flowers. If your flowers bloom on New Year’s Day, that will be a sign of good luck.

HAIRCUT Having a new haircut just before Chinese New Year will make you look not only pretty, but also different. If you are lucky, the evil spirits from last year will not recognise you.

SPRING CLEANING Families will clean their houses in the weeks before Chinese New Year, so all the bad luck from last year gets washed away with the dirt. Paint, polish, scrub, for when the gritty grime is gone, good luck can come in.

SHEEP 2015 will be the year of the sheep, or goat.

Were you born in 1955, ’67, ’79, ’91, 2003, or are you expecting a baby next year?

Those born in the year of the sheep are mild-mannered, pessimistic, shy and sympathetic. Personality traits, such as creativity, dependability, intelligence and calmness make sheep very charming to be with.

FOOD Food is, of course, a very important aspect of any celebration. On New Year’s Eve, dishes served are not only delicious but also a symbol of a wish for the New Year. Fish is a symbol of surplus, duck stands for happiness, long, chewy noodles give long life, and dumplings bring riches and family togetherness.

TOGETHERNESS Being together is the most important thing about New Year’s Eve; all of the extended family will gather for the Reunion Dinner. If someone cannot make it, a place will still be set for him or her so that they are not forgotten.

FIRECRACKERS At midnight the New Year will start with a roaring racket. Bing! Ping! Pow! Firecrackers explode with booming blasts, making the midnight sky alive with light. Ear-splitting noise is an age-old CNY custom to scare away monsters, beasts and evil spirits.

BEST BEHAVIOUR When you wake up on New Year’s Day, everyone is on their best behaviour: some people believe that whatever will happen this day will keep happening all day long.

They want to start the New Year just perfect.

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MEET THE ARTIST:

GUUS VAN ECK

By Elise Molenaar-Kristiansen Guus van Eck (born in Sittard, the Netherlands in 1958) studied in Maastricht at the Fine Arts Academy and the Jan van Eyck Academy. Guus has become a well-established painter in the Netherlands and internationally. After his training, he left the Netherlands to move to Italy where he currently lives and works in his light-filled ‘palacio’ in Sicily.

Singapore, a colourful and fast-moving modern city that still harbours hidden old ‘treasures’, colonial houses, bridges and tropical parks, is a perfect contrasting cityscape to catch on canvas with van Eck’s style.

Hollandse Club Magazine interviews Guus via Skype while he is busy preparing for his next solo exhibition in Singapore, at the Hollandse Club.

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HUMAN INTERESTS

Guus, who are you and how do you describe yourself?

I am an art painter; when I was young, drawing and painting was a natural need. I simply had to do it. Because I am an art painter, I look at the world around me in a different way. My freedom is very important. I cherish that.

How do you paint and draw?

Mostly, I work with my canvasses on the floor. My atelier is like a children’s playground: crayons, paint, buckets of water, paintings and drawings scattered on the floor. My work develops almost playfully. I start off with several canvasses working on the same concept simultaneously. The works are in competition with each other and I am in competition with myself. Sometimes the drawing or painting never makes the final. It’s an ongoing development process. Art painting is not a trick; it is a skill that requires talent. You can become very able and seasoned but it is never a trick.

What is a recurring theme or trademark of Guus van Eck, the painter?

My signature is always recognizable. It is the way my pencil or brush strokes the paper or canvas. I have a light touch: I call it the melody of my signature. It has to do with dynamics, and with handwriting. When I write, my handwriting leans from left to right. Isn’t that the same for every right-handed person? Leaning buildings give movement.

All my work is made from memory; I store images in my head.

I paint or draw the reality I think. It is the van Eck reality. Every building has its own character. The skyscrapers of Singapore are like flowers: I group them and rearrange them on my canvas.

You very often take on commissioned work. How do you find inspiration for projects that you did not initiate yourself?

I have a curious mind: ideas from the outside might inspire me as well!

Do you have contact with people who buy your work or other artists?

I talk a lot to the people who are interested in my work and when they commission something we are truly collaborating. However, very often my work is sold through galleries and I never know who bought it. Sometimes I seek the companionship of fellow artists and our discussions can be very inspiring. But most of all I just love being alone in my studio, working with classical music turned up high. Being alone is freedom. I live on an island; my house is a watchtower. I seek seclusion to be creative.

This is your third visit to the Lion City. Why did you choose Singapore?

Sigrid and Martijn van Tuijl lived in Singapore and have one of my paintings of Rotterdam. They commissioned me to create a painting of Singapore and to come to the city to hold an exhibition as their leaving party. It was an exciting opportunity and I have not looked back since. Together with Elise Molenaar, we organized another exhibition at Gallery 67, which was a great success. Singapore is an inspiring city to me. Full of contrast: wild jungle, modern architecture and crumbling colonial buildings.

What do you think of the expats in Singapore and the Singaporeans?

The expats I meet in Singapore are all hard workers and very positive: quick to act. The Singaporeans are friendly and superorganized. Maybe a bit too organized. While I was doing some last minute mounting of work on frames in the parking lot of the hotel, simply because I had no space in my hotel room to do it, a friendly girl remarked that Europeans still know how to improvise but Singaporeans have lost that skill. Maybe she is right.

My work inspired by Singapore has evolved and I look forward to coming back to Singapore to show my newest artistic adventures. I worked on architecture before and now I have also been inspired by Singapore’s urban nature. Many of the plants and leaves you find in Singapore, I have in my jungle garden in Sicily.

I see a connection there. Yet there is one big difference: I have to water my plants, whilst in Singapore the tropical rain showers take care of the plants.

Van Eck’s works were on display in the outdoor Lounge at the Hollandse Club for one day only on October 1st. Many people came to have a chat with Van Eck and see his work. Some of his paintings will be hanging in the Hollandse Club bar from January onwards.

Van Eck at work in his atelier: www. youtube.com/watch?v=tR5Lc-HYV68 For more information please contact Elise Molenaar-Kristiansen at ejkristiansen@me.com or 9350 9906.

ART STAGE 2015

By Claire van Deur Art Stage Singapore will be held from 22 to 25 January 2015 at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre, kicking off the start of a new cultural season. Into its fifth year, Art Stage Singapore leads the Singapore Art Week as its pillars event. Art Stage Singapore is the leading Asian art fair connecting the world to the best of Asian contemporary art.

Its presentation of new contemporary art from the many art scenes in Asia makes it the place to discover the region’s established and up and coming artists. Galleries are chosen to exhibit their work at

Art Stage Singapore following a strict selection process, to ensure a high level of quality. A number of special projects will take place in addition to the main fair, fostering emerging talents.

The four-day long fair will featured over 150 galleries representing more then 30 countries and over 1,000 artists. The fair is a cultural flagship event in Singapore.

To stay in touch with the latest news and updates on Art Stage Singapore, visit: www.artstagesingapore.com.

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HUMAN INTERESTS

Photo by Tall Stories

KIDSFEST! 2015

Photo by ABA Productions

By Nina Gunasingham What are you going to do with the kids, now that the excitement of Christmas, New Year and all the holidays is over? You could… take them to watch a play. (Oh no, we couldn’t! Oh yes, you could!)

Photo by Tall Stories

KidsFest, which bills itself as the “family event of the year”, was launched in 2012 in Hong Kong and Singapore with three productions over two weeks, and has grown bigger every year since then. For 2015, the website (www.kidsfest.com.sg) cites ‘8 different productions over 5 weeks’. This year, it runs in Singapore from 21st January to 1st March, with the same plays performed about a week earlier in Hong Kong. You can get a 10% discount for groups of ten or more, or a 10% discount for two shows or a 15% discount if you book three or more shows together.

Photo by Brian Slater

Photo by ABA Productions

Photo by Robert Workman

Some plays, such as ‘The Gruffalo’, are making a return from previous years, whereas others, such as ‘The Princess and the Pea’, are new for 2015. Many are based on popular books, including two based on the well-known ‘Horrible Histories’ series (of which we have several in the Hollandse Club library. Come down and borrow them sometime).

‘The Gruffalo’, back – yet again - by popular demand, runs from 22nd-25th January and is recommended for 3-year-olds and above. A musical adaptation of the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, it follows Mouse through the woods as he scares away other animals with descriptions of the imaginary Gruffalo – and then he meets the Gruffalo! What does Mouse do?

‘Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo’ is new for 2015 and is for 5-year-olds and above. It runs from 29th January to 1st February. It features realistic-looking dinosaurs - which, we’re assured, are (mostly) friendly in an interactive experience, if your children dare get close enough to feed them! You can, however, watch from a safe distance.

‘The Snail and the Whale’, also an adaptation of a Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler book, runs from 30th January to 1st February for 4-year-olds and above and is a repeat performance from the Esplanade’s Octoburst of 2012. A little snail longs to travel, so she hitches a ride with a humpback whale, and they have adventures together. Maybe even little snails can do big things?

‘The Princess and the Pea’ is also new for 2015, running from 5th to 8th February. Take your princesses and princes to watch this retelling of the Hans Christian Anderson story by Mike Kenny, for children aged 3 and above.

Another new play for 2015 is ‘Hugless Douglas’, based on the book by David Melling, which is recommended for 3 to 7-yearolds - and their parents. It runs from 6th to 8th February and is 24 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

Photo by ABA Productions

about a lovable brown bear cub looking for a hug, but only his mum’s bear hug will do.

‘The Tiger who Came to Tea’, which plays from 19th February to 1st March, is back again from KidsFest 2012. It is based on the classic book by Judith Kerr about a tiger who visits Sophie and her mummy just as they are sitting down to tea. For 3-year-olds and above.

‘Barmy Britain - Part Two’, part of the ‘Horrible Histories’ series, runs from 19th February to 1st March and is new for this season (following the first part which showed in 2013). A hilarious take on British history (with all the nasty bits left in). Recommended for 7-year-olds and above.

Also part of the ‘Horrible Histories’ stable and new for 2015, ‘Vile Victorians’ concentrates on Victorian England (still with the nasty bits, don’t worry). It runs from 20th to 28th February and is recommended for 7-year-olds and upwards.

Although the website shows a recommended age for each play, it does also say there is no minimum age as all audience members must have a ticket. The plays all run for about 55 minutes to an hour with no intermission, and will be performed at the SOTA Drama Theatre with tickets available from SISTIC. The productions come from overseas, with their casts and crews coming from either Britain or Australia.

If you are planning on going there by car, there is no public parking at SOTA so you will have to find parking nearby. If you are traveling by public transport, there are many buses that stop along Bras Basah Road (bus stop B08069), outside Hotel Rendezvous, or the nearest station is Dhoby Ghaut if you are going by MRT. It sounds like a fun packed season for kids of all ages. Maybe I’ll see you there!

HUMAN INTERESTS

Photo by Julius Schrank

Photo by Christian Ziegler

Photo by Phillippe Lopez

By Claudia Artz After having travelled to nearly 90 cities in 40 countries over the past eight months, the World Press Photo 2014 exhibition visits Singapore from 10 January through 1 February 2015. The 2014 collection features 151 images from the world’s 53 top photographers of 25 nationalities. The 2013 collection - which was on show at Raffles Hotel from 8 through 30 March 2014 - was visited by nearly 20,000 people.

Often described as ‘the Oscars of visual journalism’, World Press Photo is a prestigious contest to which thousands of press and documentary photographers submit their images annually. The contest is judged by leading experts in visual journalism who represent various aspects of the profession. The international jury carefully picks the winning images from hundreds of thousands submitted photographs. For this 57th contest, 98,671 images were submitted by 5,754 photographers from 132 countries.

WORLD PRESS PHOTO

IS COMING TO SINGAPORE AGAIN! Photo by John Stanmeyer

World Press Photo is a non-profit organisation based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It was established in 1955 by members of the Dutch photojournalists’ union, who wanted to create an international competition to complement an already existing national contest called the “Zilveren Camera”. By doing this, they hoped to benefit from exposure to the work of the international photojournalists’ community. Until today, the various elements that form World Press Photo’s foundations remain the same- not only the contest, exhibition and award, but also its educative and communicative roles.

Over the years, World Press Photo has developed a clear mission. It is committed to supporting and advancing high standards in photojournalism and documentary photography worldwide, and to generate wide public interest in and appreciation for the work of photographers and for the free exchange of information.

Admission to the exhibition is free, as well as the exhibition tour app and Look & Click educational materials that can be downloaded from www.worldpressphoto.org. Guided exhibition tours for schools are limited availability and can be booked at www.worldpressphoto.asia.

We look forward to welcoming you at the Raffles Hotel in January!

Photo by Emiliano Lasalvia

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HUMAN INTERESTS

By Karien van Ditzhuijzen Most people think Singapore is just another urban jungle, full of concrete, marble, and high rising, shiny buildings. Actually, Singapore has some stretches of real jungle, too; the Central Catchment Nature Reserve boasts a good stretch of primary rainforest, and the wildlife to match. And I should know, since our garden borders the lush green of MacRitchie Reservoir, and plenty of the jungle wildlife spills over our low fences.

It’s no wonder that one of my children’s favourite activities is going on safari. In the garden, that this. On our very first day in the house they took off, armed with hats, backpacks, water bottles and a selfdrawn map. When I asked what they had seen, the answer was a very disappointed: ‘Only a squirrel. Oh, and some birds.’

Just a few minutes later I heard screaming from the kitchen, and I still regret not having the camera ready to snap the grinning macaque that was sat in the middle of the kitchen table, dexterously peeling the skin of a banana he had just pilfered from the fruit bowl I had naively placed in front of an open window.

HELP! I’M LIVING IN A ZOO

The macaques were only the beginning. One day we saw what our helper fittingly described as ‘a tree-hugging rabbit’. Google gave the answer: this was one of the flying lemurs that our area is famous for. Flying lemurs have large skin flaps between their neck, arms and legs, allowing them to glide through the air, resembling a flying cloth, sailing from tree to tree. Once we were lucky enough to spot a whole family, and on this picture a trained eye might spot the baby in the top left skin fold of the upper lemur.

Some visitors, such as our lemurs, are highly cuddly; others are just plain beautiful. Such as the white throated kingfisher that got stuck in our living room, and tried to seek refuge on a matching turquoise painting.

Or the fluffy caterpillar that we didn’t mind offering our palm leaves to.

Some visitors we have come to regard as good friends, such as the tree frog that we have named Kermit and who lives in our beanbag. We much prefer him to the rat that decided to gnaw a hole in that same beanbag to have a nest of babies, just inside.

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HUMAN INTERESTS

Often, we are enchanted by the lovely song of the bulbul, so we were excited when a pair of them started to build a nest in our lipstick palm. For days we followed them packing leaves, sticks, and a strip of discarded snakeskin into a small bowl. Not much later we saw the hardworking bird fly back and forth with food, filling the mouths of his demanding offspring. Then, one morning, disaster struck. I saw the macaque strolling close to the tree, but it was not until he leapt up in one big jump that my heart stopped: the babies! I ran towards him, shooing, but it was too late. The rascal swiftly climbed to the top of the tree, a fistful of grey fluff in his fist. Nature at its cruellest, and the incident left me with a bad taste in my mouth all morning.

The most illustrious of our guests must have been the pangolin mother and child we found napping in our drain one morning.

This friendly, scaly anteater is an endangered species, and not a sight we will easily forget. The pictures I posted online became very famous and were picked up by the local university, animal rescue organisations, as well as an international wildlife magazine.

For convenience’s sake we name all our amphibians Kermit, and this guy lives under the outdoor sofa; the slightly grumpy face below was due to the fact that he was disturbed from his slumber when the roof of his house was removed for mopping the floor.

Less popular is our Jungle Fowl rooster, a rather pretty, cocky fellow with colourful feathers, who likes to wake us up very early in the morning with his cheery cock-a-doodle-doo. He has become an even more frequent visitor since he discovered the six egglaying hens that are a new addition to our backyard. He likes to strut his stuff around the run, visibly miffed that he cannot get inside. We have threatened to turn him into cock-au-vin more than once, only to be stopped by the knowledge that, although increasingly easily seen in Singapore, this wild ancestor of our domesticated chicken is, in fact, a protected species.

A modest-sized (by Singapore standards) monitor lizard of around a meter long frequents our garden increasingly. Its sneaky, silent crawl allows it to sneak in unobserved, until his presence is found out by the Myna birds, who then try to scare it away with loud squealing twittering. Our chickens don’t like this reptile visitor one bit, and whenever they see him they’ll stop laying eggs for a few days.

This python picture, taken just down the road, is remarkably deceptive. The fern in the middle is in fact well over a meter wide, making this python roughly four meters long and as thick as my thigh. Since I was within inches of stepping on it, I still check under the kids’ beds every night. Just in case.

And, of course, there are all the animals I did not get a picture of.

It was way too dark; that one evening we were afraid there was a burglar in the bushes. I can’t tell you how relieved we were when our flashlight proved it in fact to be ‘just’ a large wild boar.

And there are birds, the yellow orioles, the scarlet sunbirds, the fluttering butterflies big as my hand, the woodpeckers, and the omnipresent Myna birds. The numerous ants, termites, mosquitos and, before I forget, the 30cm long giant centipede that once scampered over my foot. I was too busy screaming to think of cameras that night.

I also never got a shot of any of those slender squirrels and tree shrews that jump around our trees so abundantly that we hardly even notice them now. Not because they are so fast and agile, although they are, but because I never tried. They are always there, reminding me how spoiled we are, living in our very own safari lodge.

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HUMAN INTERESTS

THE EXECUTIVE HOMES

BLACK&WHITE TOUR

By Hester Calkhoven

WHAT IS IT THAT MAKES THE BLACK-AND-WHITES SO APPEALING? In many cases, it’s their setting. Many of the larger properties are set in large gardens with lawns and centennial trees, often surrounded by jungle, which easily transports you back to the Singapore when they were built, in the late 19th Century onwards.

As urbanization continues apace and plot sizes diminish, there is quite simply nothing to beat these settings.

In terms of the houses themselves, it’s the uniqueness of the style that attracts, every time. These are not just mock Tudor constructions transplanted from the southern counties of England to SouthEast Asia; they’re unique homes combining Indian and Malay influences and, most of all, built to suit the Singapore environment.

A quick tour of Singapore will introduce you to a huge variety of accommodation, from high-rise condominiums to cozy town houses. However, the most memorable and, arguably, the most attractive homes are the uniquely Singaporean black-and-whites.

The term black-and-white refers to a range of housing built during the British colonial period. The ‘true’ black-and-white house was made up of timbering on the upper portion of the house, which was usually painted dark brown or black in contrast to the white of the brickwork. This particular look followed the Tudor Revival Movement in architecture in the United Kingdom during the late 19th Century. It’s remained a popular look even to this day in cities across Europe.

These beautiful houses are highly desirable and, sadly, in short supply. Luckily, even if you don’t get to live in one, you can visit a selection of them thanks to an initiative by real estate company, Executive Homes.

Founder Hester Calkhoven has organized a tour of some of the island’s loveliest mansions. Through her extensive contacts, a group of current occupants have generously agreed to open their doors to visitors, giving them a tantalizing glimpse inside these architectural gems. The tour visits some of the larger houses built in Alexandra Park, Mount Pleasant, Ridley Park and Malcolm Road, and is led by specialist heritage tour guide, Diana Chua, who can explain the history and architectural features.

All proceeds from the tours go to the Netherlands Charity Association, which supports victims of human trafficking. Chairperson of the Association, Ineke van Praag, says “We are very happy that Executive Homes is sponsoring another Black & White tour for us. Last year’s tour was a big success. Human trafficking is a heinous crime and we do what we can to help the victims get their lives back.”

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The British had already begun refining local architecture to suit their needs in India. There, the local mud hut house was developed into the Anglo-Indian bungalow, with a tiled roof replacing the thatch, wide overhanging eaves, classical columns, a portico and tall windows to keep out the elements.

UNIQUELY SINGAPOREAN In Singapore, these bungalows were refined again, taking some of the features of local Malay architecture. One of the most important was the use of stilts, or in this case brick pillars, to raise the houses a few feet off the ground, protecting against flooding and termites and helping air circulation to keep the building cool.

With Singapore’s tropical climate, keeping cool was high on the list of requirements. The solution in the black-and-whites was to have long verandahs around the house to cut off the heat inside.

Blinds were then used to keep out the rain or to allow air to circulate through open doorways or windows. Today, many residents continue to use rattan blinds, now often painted black and white to match their homes!

Inside the houses, rooms are big and ceilings high, with elegant wooden or tiled floors, and in some cases, the use of lattice screens to encourage air to circulate.

BUILT FOR ADMINISTRATORS, BUSINESSMEN AND THE MILITARY The first black-and-whites were built to house wealthy businessmen and colonial administrators at the end of the 19th Century.

Many were designed by the firm Swan and McLaren, whose chief architect Alfred John Bidwell designed the iconic Raffles Hotel.

At the end of the First World War, Singapore was booming thanks to the demand for rubber, and began to attract more and more foreign firms and to expand its civil administration. By the outbreak of the Second World War, Singapore had become a major naval base and even more black-and-whites were built to house military personnel.

HUMAN INTERESTS

While the estates for naval personnel could be found to the north and east of the island, other estates with larger properties were just off Orchard Road, offering today’s residents a gorgeous property on a large plot, but still within a stone’s throw of the action on the island’s main shopping street.

Not every black-and-white is a huge mansion though. Many expats who came out to work between the Wars were bachelors on short tours. On Cable Road, for example, one trading company commissioned a collection of four bungalows and a mess where all the bachelors would live and take their meals together.

Some of the houses on Stevens Road, built for the Public Works Department, did away with the verandahs altogether, and ended up looking not too dissimilar to houses built outside London at this time.

Each area will have stories to tell of the residents who have lived there. In Mount Pleasant, these stories are not so pleasant: many of these large government-built homes were taken over by the Kempeitai, or feared Japanese military police, under the Occupation during the Second World War. Even today, many local taxi drivers will refuse to go along this road after dark in case they meet the ghosts of the victims who met their deaths at the hands of the Kempeitai.

With Independence, many of these beautiful homes were lost forever to urbanization. Thankfully though, many of those belonging to the colonial administration and the military were saved. They were handed over to the new Singaporean government who decided to preserve them as part of their cultural heritage.

Today, all black-and-whites are managed by a government agency, the Singapore Land Authority. Many have been turned into restaurants, shops, clinics or artist’s studios. Others are still residences.

It’s possible to rent one for a two-year term through an open bidding system. Beware though! Rents can end up high; one of the largest properties reached S$45,000 a month!

Tenants are expected to respect the architectural integrity of the property, which means that you are usually required to install your own AC units, water heaters, swimming pool and sometimes upgrade kitchens and bathrooms, and then must remove these items again at the end of the lease. For the chance to live in such a unique property, this is a small price to pay!

However, if you can’t afford to rent one of these unique homes, join the Executive Homes tour at least!

Executive Homes was founded by long-term expat, Hester Calkhoven, who has worked as a relocation consultant in both Hong Kong and Singapore since 1995, helping expatriate executives with every aspect of finding a new home and establishing offices in a new country. All the staff are long-term Singapore residents and, therefore, able to offer a unique insight into the intricacies of the Singapore property scene.

Tickets for the tour are on sale at the Hollandse Club reception.

Members of the Hollandse Club and Netherlands Charity Association: S$65, non-members: S$75. For further information please contact hestercalkhoven@ehc.com.sg or telephone 9011 8055.

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 MEMBERS

EXTENDING A WARM

TO OUR NEW CLUB MEMBERS! • Franka de vos van Steenwijk • Coenraad de vos van Steenwijk • Nathan Paul Kitchner - Moore • Carolyn Anne Kitchner - Moore • Pang Phaik Suan • Andy Chan • Ganesh P Shetty • Adrie van der Ven • Monique van der Ven • Stephanie Weijenberg • Jeroen Weijenberg • Dave Wisse • Karin Wisse-van den Boom • Sarah Ordonez • Jose Ordonez

• Charles Ferguson • Karen Zhang • Marielle Diepenmaat-van Gorp • Maarten Diepenmaat • Allard Voute • Juliette Peterson • Titus de Greeff • Ingenorg Brondsted • Ted Mithen • Mandy Mithen • Dr. Tan Tian Cho • Seah Sok Koon Lena • Julia Walker • Mark Walker

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MEMBERS

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 We would like to remind all our members to inform the membership department of any (recent) changes in your contact details: residential and/or billing address, email and phone numbers.

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 Members can apply for a supplementary membership card for their helper and/or child(ren) if they are 11 years and older. The cost of the supplementary card is $15 as from 1 January 2015 and will be charged to their account.

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!

THE ANNUAL

ANG POW FUND Throughout the year our Club staff have been working hard to bring you top Club service. Rules prohibit any form of tipping so that is why we have created the annual ‘Ang Pow’ fund. Members are asked to kindly contribute to this fund as a gesture of goodwill and thanks to the staff for all their effort. In line with this programme in other member clubs, married couples’ accounts will be debited with $60 and singles with $30 for the month of December 2014. The total sum contributed is then distributed equally among the staff during Chinese New Year.

Members who wish to give more or do not wish to contribute at all, please send an email to arofficer@ hollandseclub.org.sg before the 20th of January 2015.

Should no contact be made, it will be assumed that members have consented to contribute towards the fund. The staff of Hollandse Club thank you in advance for your generosity.

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MEMBERS

ESCAPE TO

THE SURIN PHUKET

By Yolanda Helle I couldn’t believe I had won a 3D/2N trip to The Surin in Phuket.

I have never won anything in a lucky draw at the Hollandse Club, and I have been a member my whole life! I was very much looking forward to just doing some chilling and relaxing when I realised I had to bring the parents as I was only six months old at the time. Oh well, someone had to pick up the pieces after me I suppose. And I probably could still do my bit of sleeping, swimming and surfing.

I must say, The Surin in Phuket is a beautiful place. For starters, everyone seemed to love me. Endless smiles and everyone wanted to hold me and play with me. I almost could have done without the parents. Except maybe for the steep stairs. Being carried up and down from my kingsize bed to the pool and the beach was a definite plus.

My parents favourite was most likely the happy hour. As I fell asleep in my bouncer they enjoyed the beautiful sunset over the bay in the Andaman Sea enjoying a few bevvies.

All in all a great escape but if you ever win, give it to your parents and let them enjoy it by themselves. And make it 3 nights instead of 2!

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MEMBERS

MEMBER-IN-FOCUS

By Frank Bruinsma

tennis events, including the popular Seniors’ Tour which was hosted at the Club for another 10 years.

The Club had a visit from Uschi Reineke, a member from many years ago. She lived in Singapore from 1979 to 1984 and was a member of the Hollandse Club during this time.

Her two children, Mark and Petra, were also very keen tennis players at United World College. Uschi was involved in training the UWC tennis team and some of the stronger players, instilling in them a high level of discipline and sportsmanship. Her experiences in table tennis allowed her great insight into being a professional athlete.

Originally from Germany, Uschi was very well known in Singapore’s tennis circles. She played table tennis at an international level and had only picked up tennis when she moved to Kuala Lumpur in 1974 at the age of 36.

With her athletic ability and applying her table tennis skills and techniques to tennis, Uschi became a very strong tennis player. She immediately became a prominent player at the clubs in KL and then at the Hollandse Club, with a reputation as someone who was hard to beat! Uschi instigated several

Uschi loved visiting the Club again after 30 years, and commented on how it feels the same and how everyone is still very friendly. She comments on one big change, though - the surface of the tennis courts used to resemble LEGO bricks; if you dropped your earring, you’d never be able to retrieve it!

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MEMBERS

UNDISCOVERED CORNERS OF SINGAPORE YAN PALACE

HAW PAR VILLA

By Claire van Deur

By Claire van Deur

Having lived on the Little Red Dot for some months, I decided it was time to take a break from my routine and explore the city.

It was a lovely day and, accompanied by Nina and her lovely 6-year-old son, I headed off to have lunch at Yan Palace at Warren Golf & Country Club, as the restaurant is well known by the locals for its dim sum.

If you are looking for true nostalgia, perhaps you should consider visiting Haw Par Villa along Pasir Panjang Road. It is a Chinese mythological theme park - if it can be called one.

The restaurant itself is located in the Club House of the Warren Golf & Country Club, and looks like it would have been impressive in its hay day. The service is so-so, but the terrace view is fantastic and overlooks the golf course.

There aren’t many places where the trolley is pushed around for you to select your dumplings, but at Yan Palace (just at the weekends) they still stroll around. So before you dive into these tender bundles you actually get see them (unfortunately, we were there on a Tuesday so we missed this experience but that gives us yet another good reason to go back).

We ordered several dim sum dishes, steamed BBQ buns and other local delicacies. The carrot crystal prawn dumplings - my all-time favourite dim sum dish - were very good. As for the char siew boa (huge and fluffy BBQ pork buns with a soft skin), they will have you crave for more. Carrot cake had a mild crisp to the top, not overly starchy but pretty ordinary.

In my honest opinion, the dim sum at Yan Palace definitely gratified our taste buds but not something to be amazed by; good I’d reckon. However, the sense of nostalgia, traditional family-size restaurant, and beautiful view makes it worth the trip.

The park was created in 1937 by two brothers, Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par, who were inspired by the more violent and obscure parts of Chinese folklore. But the brothers were better known for creating the medicinal rub, Tiger Balm. I found out that there is a Vices and Virtues section where dioramas point out good and bad behavior; that convinced me (as some of my family members still have lots to learn in this area).

My mind was set; we were going. So I dragged my family on a Friday afternoon for a “fun” day out. When we walked in, the place was deserted, the restaurant was closed and hardly any staff was around. It is hard to believe that this park used to stand shoulderto-shoulder with attractions like Singapore Zoo and Jurong Bird Park. Although there is some renovation going on, it is far from ready for the big crowds.

Crazy half-crab people, graphic eviscerations, a frog in a baseball cap riding an ostrich are just some of the thousand strange statues that dramatise Chinese legend and folklore on display at Haw Par Villa. The most chilling part of Haw Par Villa is “The Ten Courts of Hell”, which used to be a popular attraction for local families back in the seventies and eighties in order to teach the kids a bit of moral fortitude. It is a series of dioramas that depict (in much detail) the various after-death punishments you will receive for specific sins. This attraction is housed in an ominous dark cave, which can be very scary for young children. The Pond of Legacy is a series of small ponds filled with real turtles as well as statues of giant crabs with human heads. And the park has a section of the Journey to the West. My kids may not have learned what I had in my mind, but they had a ball running around in this whimsical Chinese folklore park.

So go see it now while it lasts. It is very unconventional and not a magical trip to Disneyland, but a must for anyone seeking something out of the ordinary.

Haw Par Villa is next to the Haw Par Villa MRT station, and is open daily from 9am to 7pm. Entry is free.

Yan Palace Warren Golf & Country Club 81 Choa Chu Kang Way 688263 Singapore 34 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

MEMBERS

ANOTHER SIDE OF THE ISLAND

By Nina Gunasingham Growing up in Africa, I was used to limitless horizons, but those are few and far between in Singapore, what with high-rise apartment buildings and the tropical jungle that covers a lot of the island. Consequently, I enjoy discovering those quiet corners of Singapore that seem to have escaped, at least for now, the bustle of city life. Recently, my husband went for a company retreat at Changi Point, and knowing that I would like it, took the whole family on an expedition there one Sunday.

We drove towards the airport on the expressway and then took a leisurely drive back in time around the south end of the runway and up the east side on Changi Coast Road. You may be familiar with the long, straight, tree-lined tunnel-like road beside the runway if you’ve ever been to greet Sinterklaas at the ferry terminal there (before the event moved to Keppel Bay). As we drove along, we all had fun plane spotting, until the road curved around the north end of the runway and the vista opened out as it ran beside Changi Beach Park, where we could catch sight of the sea beyond the trees on the right. Then the road turned again and became Loyang Avenue as we passed Changi Village, with its large sculpture of an RAF aircraft, where there are a lot of places to eat; but we were heading further along to The Coastal Settlement and turned right after driving for a while between the fairways of Changi Golf Course.

The Coastal Settlement is a casual eatery set in a former army barracks-warehouse, which exudes a 1970s / colonial vibe, down to last century’s music and the VW Beetles which you can glimpse parked in the verandahs as you wend between tropical plants to the entrance. You can eat either indoors or al fresco from a menu which caters to both Western and Asian tastes, with a small but adequate children’s selection. My boys chose chicken nuggets and fish and chips. I ordered the big breakfast, and must admit I had to ta pau (take home) half of it, while my husband demolished a steak. We also like the tender Wagyu beef cubes and the truffle fries there. After a relaxed brunch we drove back along Netheravon Road, passing more colonial style buildings and the Yacht Club and turning back onto the coast road at Changi Village.

We passed the Civil Service Club and made a brief stop at Changi Beach, where there are kayaks, canoes and sea rafts for rent at Changi Beach Club as well as bicycles and skates. There are bike paths as well as walking paths that run through the park alongside the beach which is shaded by palm and other trees.

The beach itself is a strip of almost white sand along the water, which is part of the Johor Straits containing a couple of islets.

You can look across to Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong and perhaps see Malaysia behind them.

Then we returned to the car and drove back around the airport grounds, through the green tunnel. As we drove along the ECP towards the city we passed the Marine Parade Community Centre and some picturesquely sited barbecue pits. The sea – which had hitherto been uncluttered by the almost ubiquitous container ships we see around the coast – began filling up, and the park sprouted the more well known restaurants and attractions of the East Coast. We were back in 21st century Singapore.

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MEMBERS

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KIDS & TEENS

MY FAVOURITE PLACE IN SINGAPORE

By Sophie van Deur

By Alice Gorman Hi my name is Alice Gorman and I am 11 years old. I moved to Singapore from the UK in 2007 when I was 4 years old. My favourite place to visit in Singapore is Jurong East Swimming Complex.

We have been going there every school holiday since my brother and I were tall enough to ride the slides and once I had a birthday party there with 10 girls. There are three big slides, two of which you go down in an inflatable ring that you hire there. One great thing is that the park never seems to get very busy so the queues are always quite short. There is also a little kids area, with a fun water climbing frame, a lazy river and a wave pool. For me, the best part is the lazy river because you go through tunnels with water squirting down on you and it is fun to try and hold onto the wall and fight against the current. At the side there are some water pistols so your friends can fire water at you as you go round.

My favourite activity in Singapore is to go to a waterpark or swimming pool with lots of slides. That is because I love to swim. I have been twice to Adventure Cove Waterpark, once at the weekend and once on a weekday. At the weekend it was crowded so we had to wait a long time. But during the week, it was quiet and I have been on all the slides over and over again. There are more then 10 different slides. We also went on a journey through a river in a tube, you will see several nice sea creatures (we were lucky and even saw the dolphins jumping). But what I like the most is the wave pool, to chill. The next time we have a day off from school, I would like to go again.

The food options are a bit limited (KFC and Pizza Hut) so we sometimes take a picnic as there are plenty of tables to sit at around the pool or you can visit the hawker centre over the road for some chicken rice. It’s a cheap day out at $1.50 for an adult and 80 cents for a child on a weekday and $2.00 for an adult and $1.00 for a child on a weekend. One last thing: don’t go on a Monday - it’s closed.

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KIDS & TEENS

MIN, THE LION GIRL

By Karien van Ditzhuijzen Min is a lion. Well, not a real lion, like you see in the zoo. But when she puts on her special yellow head, she is a lion all right. A lion with googly eyes, and furry brows. A Chinese dancing lion. Just like her dad. And her granddad before him. Dad has a large red lion head, with golden whiskers and bouncy pop-poms next to dark eyes. Colourful silk floats behind the head to make the body of the lion. Lying still on the floor, the lion is just pretty. But when dad and his friend climb under the silk, the lion comes to life. The drums bang, and the lion roars. A pair of dancing lions jump, spin, and shake. Min thinks the lion dance is magic.

Min loves her little yellow lion head best in the world. She has a dream: to dance at the school’s big stage for Chinese New Year. In front of all the parents and grandparents. Every night Min practises in her room. She does not need the drums.

She hears them in her head. Min has watched her father dance so many times. Her father is the best lion dancer in Singapore.

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Dad and granddad like to sit together and talk about the lions. About all the different dances.

About the great family tradition. And then granddad looks at Min with hollow eyes. ‘Now, the tradition will stop. Why did you not have a son?’

Papa always shakes his head when granddad says that. ‘True, I have no son. But I have a beautiful, nimble daughter.’ Then, he always strokes Min’s hair.

Min feels sad when she hears granddad and dad talk about lion dances. If only she was a boy. How will headmaster let a girl join the Lion Dance competition? How can she show granddad that the family tradition does not have to stop?

A long queue of boys snakes in front of the headmaster’s office. They all want to join the competition. When Min joins the queue, the boys laugh.

They point at her. ‘Haha, a girl can’t dance the lion dance! Haha, lion girl, crazy girl.’

KIDS & TEENS

Min eyes sting with tears. She runs home. In her room, Min looks at the beautiful yellow lion head. She shakes it angrily. Why am I a stupid girl? She slams the lion head on the floor. It bounces, but does not break. The papier-mâché is strong. Now Min is even angrier. She throws the lion head out of the window. Min roars after the lion as it tumbles down. She watches the head bounce, off the balcony of the flat below.

And then the flat below that. And then to the street. Oh no, someone is walking there. What if he gets hit? Min growls like a real lion. Then she hides under her bed.

door though her fingers. A yellow furry eyebrow peaks around the corner. Then, another. In between, two dark, fierce eyes. The lion shakes his head. It looks at Min, blaming. Min shuffles from under the bed. She cuddles the head of the lion, ‘sorry lion.’

Min buries her head under her arms. She hides in her den, crouching quietly. Then, her ears prick up. What is that? Footsteps sound down the hall.

The door opens to a small slit. Min watches the

‘My beautiful, nimble, dancer girl. Those boys are stupid. Don’t they know you are from the Shi family? They are just afraid you will beat them. I’ll talk to the headmaster tomorrow.’

Dad sticks his head round the door and grins.

‘Look what I found falling from the sky!’ When he sees Min’s wet eyes, he askes: ‘What’s the matter?’

Slowly, the story comes out. Dad hugs Min and kisses away her tears.

Dad does exactly that. And what must headmaster say to Singapore’s most famous lion dancer?

Yes, he says, of course. Afterwards, dad teaches Min his best moves, every evening after dinner.

‘Let’s not tell granddad yet,’ dad says. ‘Let’s keep it a surprise.’

On the day of the competition, the school hall is full of students and parents. Dad plays his drums and Min dances as she has never danced before.

She twirls. She jumps. She stamps her feet and climbs the highest pole. The whole hall roars with applause.

Does she win? No. Min comes in second. Still, Min is happy. The applause of her proud grandfather is worth more than a hundred prizes. Granddad pats her hair. ‘I have never been so proud of a girl.’ ‘Just wait,’ he adds, with sparkling eyes.

‘Next year I’ll train you. Then we will win for sure!’

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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 40 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

KIDS & TEENS

HALLOWEEN COLOURING CONTEST We received a lot of submissions for the Halloween 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!

Lea Eggen, 8 (E147)

Anoush van der Kam, 10 (K511)

Maximilian, 7 (D437)

A NOTE OF THANKS

By Lucy Lee My five year old son did this in school this morning. A totally random drawing, but it shows how much he enjoys the swimming pool and the Club. Thank you for all your work and, of course, all the staff who make the Club such a lovely place to chill out.

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.

Regis

ter for ou r Open Hous e!

We give our students roots and wings.

GESS Advertisement_Hollandse_Club_January_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 18/11/2014 5:53:18 PM

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FOOD & BEVERAGE

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FOOD & BEVERAGE

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FOOD & BEVERAGE

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FOOD & BEVERAGE

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SPORTS & RECREATION

MULTI LABEL STORE FOR MEN AND WOMEN 20 Amoy Street, Mon - Fri: 9am - 8pm, Sat: 11am - 3pm

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SPORTS & RECREATION

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SPORTS & RECREATION

SWIMMING Happy New Year to all members!

EVENTS IN NOVEMBER / DECEMBER Award Swimming During the first week of December, a lot of kids received their reward for doing such a good job in 2014. There was award swimming for our Duckies (preschoolers) and Proficiency (technical strokes). Good job everyone! Let’s work together to the next level.

On 7 December, there was diploma swimming for the Dutch children. Besides the ABC, children got their zwemvaardigheid 1 and 2, Survival 2 and water polo as well. Great job everyone!

Neptune / Triton League In November, we had the Triton League and the Neptune League. There were a lot of medals for our Dutch Dolphins. On the 2 November, the Neptune League was held at our very own Hollandse Club. A big thank-you to all the timekeeping volunteers. There were a lot of PBs. Great job everyone!

UPCOMING EVENTS Hollandse Club Championship The Hollandse Club Championship will be held on Sunday 1 March 2015. It is open to all members from 3 years old to 100 years old. The registration forms will be available at the Club reception. The closing date is 23 February.

Swim Camp During the school holidays in January, we will have swim camp for kids aged 4-12 years on Wednesday 29 January. Come join the fun! For registration, please check at the reception.

EVENTS CALENDER Races 23 March: Hollandse Club Championship Neptune League Sunday 16 March @ Tanglin Club Sunday 10 May @ British Club Sunday 24 May @ SICC Titan Water Polo League Sunday 18 January Sunday 15 February Sunday 12 April Sunday 3 May Triton League Friday 13 February Friday 8 May Club Nights (swim trials for the swim team) Round 1: Friday 30 January Round 2: Friday 27 February Round 3: Friday 24 April ABC – Swimming Awards 2015 Round 1: Sunday 22 March Round 2: Sunday 14 June Award Swimming Friday 12 June Best regards, Aquaducks Team Hollandse Club 48 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

Photo by Eric S C Lim

SPORTS & RECREATION

NEW GOLF PRIVILEGES IN 2015!

Hollandse Club members now have Golf privileges at Warren Golf and Country Club in Singapore on weekdays and Sunday afternoon. A minimum of three (3) golfers are required for reservation of tee-time. Terms and Conditions apply.

Please contact our Sports Executive sports.exec@hollandseclub.org. sg for more information or check out the Notice Board in the lobby.

LADIES OUTING

By Anneloes van Haaren On 25 November 2014, we headed off to play at the beautiful Palm Golf Resort in Johor. It took us less than an hour to get there (past Legoland and past the outlet stores) and the company in the car was very enjoyable. At the Palm Resort, we were welcomed by our host: our very own Hollandse Club administrative assistant, Regina Sim. Regina is a long time member at the Palm Resort and part of the Main Golf Committee.

In our buggies and accompanied by two caddies, we proceeded to start at the back nine of the Allamanda course. It was sunny and the palm trees were waving at us. So were the numerous water hazards and the steep bunkers. From a recent golf trip, we had all the metrics to convert yards back to meters in our system and nothing was holding us back from attacking the course and having fun.

We met with beautiful doglegs and island greens. Long hitter Nienke was able to keep it straight most of the time. Cecile specialized in strong long putting, despite the incredibly fast greens.

Anneloes conquered some amazing bunkers and Regina proved to be a very consistent and excellent golf player.

From left to right: Nienke Kuipers, Anneloes van Haaren, Cecile Sturm & Regina Sim

At hole 17, some dark clouds started to appear on the horizon.

Fortunately, we were able to keep it dry until the end and, by that time, we wished we had put on more sunscreen.

It was great fun to play at the Palm Resort. Thank you, Regina, for making this day at the Palm Resort possible for us ladies of the Hollandse Club and for being such a marvellous host!

Palm Resort Golf & Country Club If you are considering playing at the Palm Resort Golf & Country Club, it is located north of Johor, not far from the Senai International Airport. The resort has three 18-hole golf clubs, each of them named after an exotic, local flower. Rates start at RM 128 on weekdays. More information is available at www.palmresort.com.

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SPORTS & RECREATION

HOCKEY This has been a fantastic year for Hollandse Club Hockey in Singapore. Player engagement has never been higher and the ties between the hockey section and the Hollandse Club have never been better. We have seen the arrival of many extremely talented players who have played at the highest international levels.

Sadly, some players left us as they said goodbye to Singapore in pursuit of other exciting international adventures.

Most of our sections outperformed expectations in their respective leagues, still with some scope for improvement: Ladies - the ladies ended their season in the top women’s league (NWL 1) just off the stage in 4th position.

Men’s A - the top men’s team performed well in the top league (NHL 1) but just missed a 3rd spot on stage and also ended up in 4th place (with 70 goals scored and only 33 against).

Men’s B - our men’s B team fought and - from time to time - struggled in the NHL 2 league but ended up in an admirable 7th position, which means their place in the NHL 2 is secured for 2015.

Men’s C - while the competition for the C-boys is still ongoing, it is not a stretch to assume they will end up with a top 3 finish and likely promotion to NHL 3 (second promotion in as many years this team has been playing!)

Youth Section - we still have approximately 200 kids (!) showing up at the regular training sessions at CCAB on Sunday mornings and Tuesday evenings. The kids are trained by enthusiastic parent-coaches (many of whom - bravely - show up early on Sunday mornings nursing the effects from the night before). This is indeed one of the most active and successful children’s hockey sections in Singapore and duly recognized as such by the Singapore Hockey Federation.

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The undisputed highlight of the second half of the season calendar was the ZOAT (“South East Asia”) Tournament in Hong Kong in November. This highly competitive annual tournament is successively held in five different countries in the Asia Pacific Region. A total of 23 teams (ladies and men) from Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Bangkok, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and - so called - Regionalisten (an eclectic mix of Dutchies and other players from various parts of the APAC region) played roundrobin matches leading to knock-out matches to determine the winning teams.

This year saw the overwhelming landslide superiority of Singapore hockey with both the Men’s A team and the Ladies winning the tournament by beating Hong Kong in stylish fashion.

SPORTS & RECREATION

In addition, a Men’s all-stars team was selected from amongst all participating teams and managed to graciously beat a team of local Hong Kong talents (national players and some local top talent) by 2 - 0.

All regional teams displayed skill and determination on and off the pitch with many teams arriving early on Thursday to practice and hone their social drinking skills in the many alley bars of Lan Kwai Fung and Wan Chai.

On Friday night, the Consul General was kind enough to host a reception at his residence on The Peak, which turned out to be a wonderful event. Most guests decided to kick on and re-explore the bars and clubs they had so feverishly frequented the night before and did so with much gusto and determination.

On Saturday there was the traditional ZOAT party, held this year in Ozone Bar at level 118 (!) at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. A fantastic atmosphere coupled with breathtaking views and brilliant music

by DJ Didier Moller, accompanied by Dutch singer Berenice van Leer and Saxo Joe who kept everyone thoroughly entertained and off their feet.

All in all it was a fantastic event, brilliantly organized by the Hong Kong organization committee. I know the regular ZOAT participants are counting down the days until next year’s tournament in Bangkok!

We can look back on a very successful and enjoyable hockey year.

2015 will be action-packed as well. Of course, we’ll be playing the regular team competitions and, in addition, the Men’s Hockey World League Round 2 (scheduled from 17 - 25 January) will be played at Seng Kang stadium. This event is a qualifier for the World League semi-finals and we’ll see hockey giants such as Japan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Oman, Poland and Ukraine compete. We will organize a family day out to go watch some of these games, so please make sure you register with me if you are keen to come.

A bit later in the year, the South East Asia Games will be held from 5 - 16 June with around 7000 athletes from 11 nations participating across 30 sports disciplines, amongst which - of course - hockey.

In 2015, Hollandse Club Hockey will again organize and host the traditional Wooden Shoe tournament where we invite local Singaporean clubs to participate in friendly rivalry for the coveted Wooden Shoe Trophy.

To top 2015 off, I am sure many Singapore-based players will again make their way to the annual ZOAT tournament, this time in Bangkok, which will be held in the fourth quarter.

Hollandse Club Hockey is thriving. Make sure you connect with me or the Ladies or Youth convenors if you want to join in the game (training and/or competition) or any of the festivities or social events.

Sincerely, Jeroen van Son Convenor

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SPORTS & RECREATION

TENNIS

TENNIS LADDER

IMPORTANT DATES Hollandse Club Junior Tennis Camp 6th to 8th January 2015 | 9am to 12pm daily Ages 4 to 14 | $225 per player Beginning of Term 1 Junior Tennis Program 12th January 2015 CNY Hollandse Club Junior Tennis Camp 16th to 18th February 2015 | 9am to 12pm daily Ages 4 to 14 | $225 per player End of Term 1 Junior Tennis Program 27th March 2015 Easter Hollandse Club Junior Tennis Camp 31st March to 2nd April 2015 | 7th to 9th April 2015 9am to 12pm daily | Ages 4 to 14 | $225 per player

COACHES CORNER Emergency Shots Retrieving Lobs Emergency shots are shots out of the ordinary which often involve a lot of improvisation. We all hope that our game plan works out perfectly, so that when we run to the net, our opponent gives us an easy volley… dream on! Chances are that when you try to approach the net, they pop up a lob right over your head. Here are some important points on how to retrieve the lob which goes over your head.

• Decide early whether you will be able to smash the lob or not.

If not, turn quickly towards the back fence.

• Watch the ball at all times. Never take your eyes off the ball as you may misjudge where the ball will bounce… if it doesn’t bounce on your head!

The Hollandse Club proudly presents to tennis members for the very first time, the Tennis Ladder! A ladder is a competitive system for all tennis members of each level and most of all it is about fun and meeting other players for a nice match. You only need to challenge a person or team above you on the ladder. If you win, you climb the ladder by changing places.

To start off with, we have two ladders for adults: 1. Men’s Singles Ladder 2. Women’s Doubles Pyramid Ladder (so start looking for a partner!)

When: January 2015 – June 2015 Both ladders will end with a day filled with matches.

Please join and register by using the registration link in the email sent to all tennis members.

Or if you have any questions about the ladder, please contact Marina Aarts and Danielle van Wees by sending an email to tenniscommittee@hollandseclub.org.sg.

NEW MEMBERS INTERESTED IN PLAYING TENNIS We are always happy to welcome new tennis players, so if you are a new member and interested in playing tennis, please send us an email to tenniscommittee@hollandseclub.org.sg and we will keep you updated with our events.

In addition, you are very welcome to join our tennis socials. If you cannot make it at any of these dates or times, but would like to play a social game with another member, please let us know and we will try to find you a tennis partner.

• Always run so that the ball is off to one side… never follow the exact path of the ball or you will not be able to swing.

• I recommend you change your grip to an Eastern backhand grip and position yourself so that you can hit the ball over your opposite shoulder (left shoulder for right handers and right shoulder for lefties).

• You should time your run so that you can make contact with the ball at about eye level, hitting the ball with the inside face of your racquet.

• If you get there quick enough, you may have time to take a quick look over your shoulder to see what your opponent is doing and hit the ball depending on his/her position.

• If you just manage to get there, go for a safe, high, defensive lob and get ready to return a smash.

Never give up, get that ball back! Good luck!

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The first Friday night social will be on Friday 23rd January 2015.

Tennis courts can be booked through reception (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

DAVIS CUP

By Henriette Veldman Friday 14th and Saturday 15th November was marked by the annual Davis Cup tournament at the Hollandse Club. We have developed our own version of this world famous tennis tournament at the Club.

We are very pleased to say that we played with a ‘full house’ of over 60 participants. Eight teams, consisting of men and women of different levels and nationalities were formed and each team named after a region in the Netherlands. Over a period of two days, these teams competed against each other, playing women’s doubles, mixed doubles and men’s doubles.

It was a great event with lots of fun, tennis, food and drinks and, unfortunately, some rain late Saturday afternoon. As a result of the poor weather, the finals had to be postponed to the morning of Sunday 16th November.

The winner of poule A, ‘Noord-Holland’, played the winner of poule B, ‘Friesland’. After a fight for 1st place, ‘Noord-Holland’ may call themselves champions of 2014. Congratulations Berndt and Mireille Kodden, Wouter and Hester Moormann, Anneloes van Haaren, Wouter Ankersmit and Gareth Stevens. You are the proud holders of the Davis Cup trophy this year!

WOMENS INTERCLUB TENNIS SINGAPORE (WITS)

By Scott Johnston Congratulations to the club members that played in this seasons WITS competition. Four Teams respresented the club during the Autumn season with all teams playing great tennis and having fun.

The number of players representing the Hollandse Club in WITS has doubled this year, which reflects the strong interest in tennis.

Dutch D-Light team finished 7th with a number of wins throughout the season in Division D, The ‘Mostly Orange’ Team finished runner up with a very consistent season in Division D, their efforts have been rewarded with a move to Division C next season.

The Powershots team were victorious in Beta Division with a very dominant season winning eight out of nine weeks. Congratulations to all players that trained and compete together throughout the season.

▲ Beta Division Winners Autumn 2014: HC Power Shots Maja Duyverman (Captain), Hang Thang Nguyen, Caroline Hagenouw, Janna van Duyn, Peronne Wendrick, Marleen Aldorf, Marlette van Grootel, Veronique Olver, Anna Coppola, Danielle van Wees, Lea van Lishout, Sarocha Wangkati

The Double Dutch Team were also victorious winning the A Division which is a great achievement. The team had a tough start to the season but finished strongly showing determination to win the division.

A Division Winners Autumn 2014: HC Double Dutch ► Players: Mireille Kodden, Ingrid van der Heijden, Lieke Coopman, Linie Mackenzie, Rozemarijn Stol, Valeria Cnossen, Marianne Doele, Marjel Timmermans, Esther Balhuizen

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 53

SPORTS & RECREATION

PEPERNOTEN TOURNAMENT

By Marina Aarts & Anneloes van Haaren This year, the Pepernoten Tennis Tournament, took place on Friday 28 November and Saturday 29 November 2014. The tournament is a friendly youth tennis event for members of the Hollandse Club aimed at letting children and teenagers gain more match and tournament experience. We were very lucky with the weather. Despite the rain we were able to run the tournament as planned with only minimal delay.

On Friday night the kids of 11 years and older played in various pools based on age and playing ability. There were plenty of really exciting matches. Saturday afternoon we had different pools for the 5-7 year olds (playing with red balls on mini courts), the 7-9 year olds (orange balls on ¾ courts) and the 8-10 year olds (green dot balls on full courts). When the rain kicked in, we played a Sinterklaas movie for the kids and at the end of the afternoon, two ‘Zwarte Pieten’ arrived to attend our tournament and to hand out the awards at the end.

It was a great and successful event. The young tennis players had lots of fun.

Winners: Britt Moormann, Job van Dijk, Mischa Weenink, Ayden Kodden, Thom Ottervanger, Taylor Hoang, Tara van Dort, Maxwell Lomans, Tobias Ankersmit, Mike Ottervanger, Mathijs Bakker and Matthew Gledhill

We would like to thank all the persons involved to make this tournament a success and in particular, Scott Johnston from Savitar, for knowing the young tennis talents at the Hollandse Club so well, for helping us to set up the different pools and, last but not least, for entertaining the kids with tennis games while the Tennis Committee was counting the scores.

Runners Up: Rosalie van Echtelt, Djoeke Leuning, Hannah Ankersmit, Konstantin Boetje, Pepijn van Echtelt, Sanne van der Heijden, Evie Wang, Cloë Lomans, Yannick Kodden, Piers Molenaar, Ruben Smouter, Eline Westerbeek and Rik Smouter.

10 YEARS & UNDER Photos by Marina Aarts-Kuipers

54 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

SPORTS & RECREATION

11+ YEARS Photos by Roelof Westerbeek

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 55

SPORTS & RECREATION

Next Term: 5th January – 30th March (Mon) 9th January – 27th March (Fri)

Next Term: 7th January – 25th March

Next Term: 6th January – 24th March (Tues) 8th January – 26th March (Thurs)

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.

Next Term: 7th January – 25th March (Wed) 9th January – 27th March (Fri)

Next Term: 9th January – 27th March (Fri) 10th January – 28th March (Sat)

56 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

Next Term: 18th January – 31st May

Next Term: 13th January – 31st March (Tues) 10th January – 28th March (Sat)

Next Term: 18th January – 29th March 2015

SPORTS & RECREATION

CLUB ACTIVITY CONTACT LIST

CLASS

DAY

TIME

VENUE

POINT OF CONTACT

CONTACT

A Aerobics (Step)

Wednesday

0900 - 1000

Rotterdam

Ann Yang

9815 0239

Wednesday

0830 - 1015

Swimming Pool

Alicia

Aqua Spin

9698 9202

Wednesday 1930 - 2015 Swimming Pool Alicia 9698 9202 Friday 0830 - 1115 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

Bridge (Duplicate)

Friday 0900 - 1230 Amsterdam Franciska Ho 9766 0610 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

LIBRARY

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2015 ENGLISH — ADULTS

“Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki”

by Haruki Murakami Haruki Murakami, and his years of pilgrimage is the long awaited new novel, a book that sold more than a million copies the first week it went on sale. It is a story of love friendship and heartbreak for the ages.

“Gone Girl”

by Gillian Flynn A book about how well one person can truly know another. Immensely dark and deeply intelligent.

“Endgame: The Calling” “Roll Out the champagne, Singapore”

by James Frey Written into this book is a puzzle. Solve the puzzle and you will find the key to open a case of gold . Play, Solve, Endgame is here.

by Catherine Lim An exuberant celebration of the nation’s 50th birthday.

DUTCH — ADULTS “Overspel”

“Honderd Uur Nacht”

by Tatiana de Rosnay

by Anna Woltz

Een overzichtelijk leven wordt na een impulsieve bui, eindigt in een nachtmerrie.

“De Boeken Dief”

Een filmisch jeugdroman, waarin spanning en psychologie perfect in balans zijn.

“Gouden Jarden”

by Markus Zusak

by Annegreet van Bergen

Een imponerende oorlogsroman. Dit is een verhaal over moed, vriendschap en overleven.

Hoe ons dagelijks leven in een halve eeuw onvoorstelbaar is verandert.

“Pogingen iets van het leven te maken”

by Hendrik Groen Geheime dagboek van een 83 jarige, een vrolijk boek.

“Ik Wist Het”

by Chantal van Gastel Pakkend en meesleepend geschreven.

58 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

“De Zoon”

by Jo Nesbo De nieuwe thriller.

LIBRARY

ENGLISH — YOUNG ADULTS

“The Kill Order”

(Prequel to The Maze Runner)

by James Dashner

“My Family and Other Animals”

In the aftermath of sun flares that scorch the Earth, the survivors have to battle a viral plague.

by Gerald Durrell

“Fantastic Mr Fox”

by Roald Dahl

Durrell (who grew up to be a naturalist and zookeeper) writes a very funny account of his childhood with his siblings in Greece.

Boggis, Bunce and Bean, three nasty farmers, want to catch Mr. Fox. Can he outwit them and save his family?

“Better Nate Than Never”

by Tim Federle

“Eleanor & Park”

by Rainbow Rowell

“James and The Giant Peach”

13 year old Nate Foster is a small town boy who wants to be a Broadway star. One night, he escapes to New York because he’s heard about the open auditions for ‘E.T. the Musical’. Can Nate make it big in the Big Apple?

“The Scorch Trials”

(Sequel to The Maze Runner)

by James Dashner The story of what happens when Thomas and the other Gladers leave the Maze.

Two misfits find first love in high school.

by Roald Dahl James escapes from his two wicked aunts by rolling away in a giant peach with some interesting new friends.

“Cinder” “The Extraordinary Cases of Sherlock Holmes”

by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

“Alice-Miranda at School”

by Jacqueline Harvey Alice-Miranda arrives at boarding school a day early to find that something is wrong. Can she sort things out? Of course - she’s AliceMiranda!

8 short stories; some of the most famous Sherlock Holmes cases.

“The Death Cure”

by Marissa Meyer A futuristic re-telling of ‘Cinderella’, first in the ‘Lunar Chronicles’. Cinder, a gifted mechanic and cyborg, is a second class citizen on Earth, where a deadly plague is killing people. Then she meets the handsome Prince Kai, involved in negotiations with the lunar people, and finds herself at the centre of an intergalactic struggle and a forbidden attraction.

(Book 3 of The Maze Runner)

by James Dashner The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous. Will anyone survive the Death Cure?

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 59

10 minutes from Orchard Be it academic, sporting or artistic at AIS we foster a culture of excellence, innovative learning and a global outlook for all our students.

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Best of the International and Australian Curriculum

The only school in Singapore offering the Australian Curriculum enhanced with IB PYP, IGCSE, IB DP and HSC, for students aged 2 to 18 years old.*

Enrolling for January 2015 Book your personal visit today!

Tel: +65 6653 7906 www.ais.com.sg

Academic Excellence

IB Diploma results 12% higher than the world average and NAPLAN results over 20% higher than the Australian national average in Elementary Numeracy and Reading, mean our students graduate to the top universities in Australia, UK, US and around the world.

International Sports Program

Cricket, rugby, basketball and swimming clubs, 12 representative sport teams and 20 international tours across Australia, Asia and Europe every year.

Globally focused, distinctly Australian Contact: +65 6517 0247 | www.ais.com.sg

Global Language Program

Daily Mandarin for 3 to 11 year-olds; Mandarin, Indonesian or French in Secondary and a dedicated mother tongue program for native speakers.

Early Childhood Excellence Starting at 2 Years Old Dedicated maths co-ordinator, daily Mandarin and individualised goal setting in the Preschool inquiry centre.

*IGCSE is registered in the United Kingdom, IBP YP and IB DP in Switzerland and the HSC in Australia.

60 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

AIS is part of the Cognita Group of Schools www.cognitaschools.com Australian International School Pte Ltd is registered by the Council for Private Education. CPE Registration Number 199204405H. Period of Registration 6 July 2011 to 5 July 2015