the
Magazine MAY / JUNE 2016 ISSUE
A bi-monthly publication by the Hollandse Club
Visit us online @ www.hollandseclub.org.sg
Featured Stories Off the Beaten Track meets “Intersections” Mothering Sunday & Father’s Day Artists Insights
Kids & Teens
Crafts to Connect Cooking Together: Poffertjes! Bond with your Baby
PLATINUM SPONSORS
GOLD SPONSOR
SILVER SPONSORS
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Magazine Director: Marloes Schoonenberg (sales@hollandseclub.org.sg)
Editor-in-chief: Nina Gunasingham (editor@hollandseclub.org.sg)
Proofreader: Janene Johnson
Writers: Claire Wintraecken Karien van Ditzhuijzen
Art & Creative Editor: Mohd Izzat (news@hollandseclub.org.sg)
Photographer: Inge Kuipers
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. Š All Rights reserved. MICA (P) 156/04/2009.
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FACILITY INFORMATION
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
SPORTS & RECREATION
Lost & Found Items Please contact the Housekeeper on 6461 1114 or Reception on 6464 5225.
Library Monday - Saturday Facility information for the library will be different every week.
Gymnasium Daily: 7am - 10pm
Multi-Purpose Sports Court Daily: 8am - 10pm Please check availability with Reception before using.
FOOD & BEVERAGE OUTLETS Terrace Daily: 8am - closing (Last food order for the kitchen 9pm) Beverages are available until closing. Serambi Bar Daily: 6pm - 11pm The Lounge (Outdoor) Daily: 8am - closing (Last food order for the kitchen 9pm) For reservations, please call Reception 6464 5225 or email reception@hollandseclub.org.sg Tennis Pavillion Monday - Friday: 8am - 12pm Saturday, Sunday & PH: 8am - 12pm 4pm - 6pm For special events the opening hours can be suitably altered. Tradewinds Bar Sunday - Thursday: 11am - 11pm (Last food order for the kitchen 9pm) Friday - Saturday: 11am - 1am (Last food order for the kitchen 9pm) Eve of PH & PH: 11am - 1am (Last food order for the kitchen 9pm) Pool Bar Monday - Friday: 3pm - 6pm Saturday: 8am - 6pm Sunday & PH: 9am - 5pm
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Squash Courts Daily: 7am - 11pm For court bookings, please call Reception on 6464 5225 or email reception@hollandseclub.org.sg. Swimming Pool Monday - Friday: 8am - 10pm Closure times for competitive swimming: Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday 5pm - 7.30pm (Two lanes will remain open) Last Friday of the month: 5pm - 7pm *At least two lanes will remain open on school holidays between Monday to Friday. Tennis Courts Daily: 7am - 11pm Booking is required. For court bookings, please call Reception on 6464 5225 or email reception@hollandseclub.org.sg. Kids’ Rooms Monday - Thursday: 12pm - 8pm Friday: 12pm -10pm Saturday: 9am - 8pm Sunday & PH: 10am - 8pm For children aged 1 - 11 years. The Chill Out Room Monday - Friday: 4pm - 10pm Saturday & Sunday: 10am - 10pm For children aged 11 years and above.
CONTENTS
6
7
8
9
11
15
President’s Message
GM’s Message
Staff Updates
Did You Know?
Meet The New Main Committee
Meet Heather Anstice
17
20
23
25
27
29
Membership Ambassador Group
Members’ Benefits
Family Colouring Contest
Connect while Crafting
Connect through Cooking
Bond with your Baby
32
34
36
38
40
52
Off the Beaten Track goes back to an old hobby..
53
“Intersections” Bridges Cultures
Mothering Sunday and Father’s Day
Artists Insights: Deepa & Ilona
May/June Events Calendar
54
55
58
60
Lion Dance & Best Dance Teens Party
63
Kids’ Social Activity & Comedy Club Asia
Easter Workshop
Kasper van Kooten
Sports Schedule
Swimming Report
Squash Report
64
68
70
72
74
78
Tennis Reports
Judo Reports
May Chef’s Specials
Happy Hour Specials
June Chef’s Specials
May/June New Books
EDITOR’S MESSAGE Welcome to another issue of our Hollandse Club Magazine! Meet our new Main Committee, including some familiar faces, who will take us forward. Together we are stronger, whether it is at work, play or competition. This is the time of year Singapore celebrates Mother’s and Father’s days, which remind us of our family ties even if we are scattered across the world. Sophie introduces us to some crafts we can do together and Karien brings us more of her delicious recipes which would be fun to make as a family. David reports on the Club swimming championships and we also have an article from the winning family. Congratulations to all the swimmers! Unfortunately, my family had to pull out due to injury and conflicting schedules - but next year! Claire explores off the beaten track and introduces us to yet another hidden corner of Singapore and we continue our series on sports and fitness classes around the Club with a look at judo by one of our young reporters. I did actually manage to take my own advice and start playing tennis again and I would like to thank the ladies of the Monday morning
Tennis Social for the warm welcome back (again!). Unfortunately, the Club will be saying goodbye to Maja, who has convened the Monday morning tennis for so long. I haven’t quite made it back to swimming yet, though. Just don’t tell David you’ve seen me... Enjoy reading the Magazine, and I hope to see you around the Club! Nina Gunasingham Editor WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 5
MAIN COMMITTEE President: Marte van der Hoeven president@hollandseclub.org.sg Vice President: Cecile Sturm vicepresident@hollandseclub.org.sg First Secretary: Daniel Gelinas firstsecretary@hollandseclub.org.sg
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Second Secretary: Rein Graat secondsecretary@hollandseclub.org.sg Honorary Treasurer: Jan-Willem Buist treasurer@hollandseclub.org.sg Commercial Affairs: Henk Jan Bakker commercial@hollandseclub.org.sg Member Food & Beverage: Filip Olde Bijvank fnbmember@hollandseclub.org.sg Member Sports & Events: Andrew MacDonald sportsmember@hollandseclub.org.sg Member Marketing & Communications: Pooja Arora marcom.maincommittee@hollandseclub.org.sg Member Property & Investments: Stuart Crow investment@hollandseclub.org.sg
COMMITTEE MEMBERS Kids’ Committee Members: Patricia Joris, Alina Manicea Sports & Events Committee Chairperson: Andrew MacDonald Library Committee Convenor: Hian Tan Members: Susanne Westerbeek, Nina Gunasingham, Yvette Filipiak, Nihilan Finance Committee Chairperson: Jan Willem Buist Members: Then Wee Lin, John Williams, Wietske Helle, F&B Committee Members: Patrick Tan, Filip Olde Bijvank, Le o n i e v a n W i l l i g en b u rg , K a te Va n Schuijlenburg, Claire Wintraecken Magazine Committee Members: Nina Gunasingham, Karien van Ditzhuijzen, Janene Johnson, Claire Wintraecken, Inge Kuipers Marketing Committee Chairperson: Pooja Arora Members: Amcke Becker, Niek de Rooij, Jacqueline van Herk, Karen Bart
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Dear Fellow Members, Spring has arrived - the season for rebirth, renewal and regrowth. We thank you for the green light given at the last annual general meeting (AGM) to implement ‘Club Revisited’ and the shared trust in our Club’s potential to reinvent itself. We see the energy and interest growing amongst our Members, potential new Members and various other parties. Many Members came forward to join one of our Committees, step into the Members-loan scheme and suggest great ideas for events. During the last week of the Easter holidays it was lively at our premises with people meeting up, relaxing, working, playing sports and enjoying the food and beverages. At time of writing we’re just three months into 2016 and have already welcomed 70 new families as Social Members. It shows us that offering families and individuals, a sociable club at good value for their recreational, sport and business needs is meeting a market demand. We recognise the considerable challenges lying ahead of us all, in terms of adaptation, finances and the implementation of the new Club vision. As the Main Committee, together with our staff and other Committees, we are busy on all levels, from practicalities to fine-tuning of the Clubs’ vision and strategy. The foundation has been laid and in this respect we specially thank Anneloes van Haaren, Paul Roberts, Patrice Plet, Steef Janssen, Anne Zwart and all our Members active in the different Committees for their input and the many, many hours committed to the Club over the years leading up to the March AGM. Although I believe social cohesion and unlocking potential can move mountains, I want to stress that change needs both time and active participation. Members have suggested talent/singing/karaoke contests, open microphone and dance nights, themed dinners, and National celebrations. I can’t be the only one missing regular live music at our premises and would love to welcome talented Members to share their music with us. Let’s work hand-in-hand and enjoy what we can achieve together. Or as Lee Kuan Yew put it: Follow that Rainbow. Go ride it! Warm Regards, Marte van der Hoeven President
CLUB MANAGEMENT
GM’S MESSAGE
General Manager: Annemiek van Leeuwen – Kuijsten 6461 1103 gm@hollandseclub.org.sg Office Manager, HR: Maya Rashid 6461 1160 hr@hollandseclub.org.sg F&B Manager: Alejandro Puno 6461 1136 fnbmgr@hollandseclub.org.sg
Dear Members, On behalf of the Staff, I would like to start this message by thanking you, our Members, for giving us, the Staff of the Hollandse Club, the trust to start the Club Revisited model. For Staff, a time of tremendous change starts with the outcome of the 2016 AGM. For some of them the Club Revisited model has a major personal impact, because of the F&B outsourcing module. Please know that we take care of all our staff. As we speak we are finalising an extensive social plan which will be presented to the Staff shortly. The new model also triggered several staff members to re-consider whether or not they want to stay on board to build and work together on the new business model. This has resulted in a relative increase in staff turn-over. As the late Mr. Johan Cruijff used to put it, there’s an advantage in every disadvantage. In our Staff Update section you can read that we are very happy to welcome new players to our Hollandse Club team. I am convinced that together with these new staff team members we have a bright future ahead for our Club. In this edition of the Club magazine we focus on connections in various ways, we connect you to our new Main Committee, you can connect with your children through articles on arts, crafts, and cooking. And we want to connect with you at the Summer Break BBQ Party in a festive way to say good bye to our members who will repatriate this summer and say safe travels to all our members going on holidays. As always we have our monthly specials. We have listened carefully to our members and after several suggestions from you for Rendang, we have put it back on the monthly specials for both May and June.
Sales & Marketing Manager: Marloes Schoonenberg 6461 1139 sales@hollandseclub.org.sg Membership Executive: Rex Gillera 6461 1111 membership@hollandseclub.org.sg Marketing Communications Executive/Designer: Mohd Izzat 6461 1117 marcom@hollandseclub.org.sg Sports & Events Manager: Martijn Boersma 6461 1110 events@hollandseclub.org.sg Sports & Events Executive: Abdul Hafiz 6461 1127 sports.exec@hollandseclub.org.sg Finance Manager: 6461 1108 finmgr@hollandseclub.org.sg Finance Specialist: Narimah Binte Ma’at 6461 1106 a.r@hollandseclub.org.sg
The Tennis Committee is organising the Hollandse Club Tennis Championship and on behalf of the Staff we wish all tennis players bonne chance! As your team of staff members, we are committed to the success of the Club Revisited and we look forward to welcoming you at the Club. With kind regards, Annemiek Kuijsten General Manager
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Staff Updates By Annemiek Kuijsten
The Hollandse Club is in a time of change. Last month I explained the burden of quotas with you and unfortunately this has not changed to date. Due to our negative quota we had to let go of two valued service staff members - Edwin and Chandru. In the office we have Marilou who has chosen to pursue a career in the fitness sector and Aafra who went on maternity leave. After 9 years of service, our Finance Manager Vangel and Accountant Zoey have left the Club. Sherman, also in the finance department, has chosen to join the finance department of another members’ club. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors.
On the other hand, we have new staff members who will pick up the ball and want to join us to build the Club to new heights. We would like to give a warm welcome to our new Office Manager - Maya Rashid, Events Manager - Martijn Boersma and Finance Specialist Narimah Binte Ma’at.
On The Terrace we have engaged a hospitality recruitment agency to fill the gaps with trained hospitality staff. We welcome Claris and Florence, as new team members to our service staff from this company. In the weekends, extra colleagues will join them to serve our Members and guests.
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DID YOU KNOW? Did you know that... • We have volunteering vacancies available for Kids’ Activities, Food & Beverage, Customer Service, Sports & Events, Finance, Administration, HR? • A guest residing in Singapore can only be introduced once a month to use the Club sports facilities by ANY member? • A copy of the 2016 updated Rules and Regulations and Bye-laws is available upon request? • You have to show your Membership card upon arrival at the reception? • You can collect your new Car Decal at the reception? • You can only use the main entrance to enter the premises? • The Beef Rendang is back on the menu? • We have a Monday morning social tennis? You do not have to be an A-player to join! • You can learn to swim free style in 3 months? Join in on Tuesday and Thursday morning at 9am? • A healthy Water melon and Feta salad is one of the monthly specials?
• A healthy Water melon and Feta salad is one of the monthly specials? • We are looking for a triathlon convener? Special swim classes on Monday evening at 8pm? • A special sports account number is available for sport teams for F&B purposes? • Guests can, without limitations, be introduced to make use of the Food and Beverage outlets? • In May and June we have lots of staff birthdays to celebrate? Happy Birthday to: Pantry Helper Foo Moo Yim 8th May Housekeeping Rashid Bin Suyot 31st May Marcom Executive Mohd Izzat Windera 14th June & Designer Sales & Marketing Marloes Schoonenberg 16th June Manager Front Officer Mariah Bte Said 22nd June • We make beautiful, tasteful birthday cakes that don’t break the bank?
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welcome
EXTENDING A WARM
• Monica Buell • David J. Inger • Ley Elizabeth Oei • Peter Ting • Ben Schulte • Matthew Allen • Olivia J. Boyce • Peter Tai • Lars Rueter • Katja Blankenheim • Andrew John Fairfoull • Jemma Fairfoull • Boudewijn Jon Bernard Vismans • Katrien Verhoeven • Andrew Lindsay Clark • Sandra Dhamrawan • Karen Houtman-Van Geuns • Edward Daniel Van Geuns • David Agar • Louise Agar • Tatiana Ohm • Thorsten Ohm
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TO OUR NEW CLUB MEMBERS!
• Darren Keith Bellerby • Kathryn Theresa Horne • Lucas Jan Schmeddes • Stefani Han • Erwin Joost Bolwidt • Simone Gertrude Catherine Kaelen • Timothy James Chamberlain • Katerine Elizabeth Chamberlain • Mamiko Okada • Glodee Judd • Adam Robert Judd • Patricia Jones • Robert Jones • Michael Andrew Frewen • Penelope Murphy • Anne Louise Belcher • Darren Leslie Belcher • Philippe Lutgen • Zoe Lutgen • Lauren Prendiville • Mark Garrett Prendiville • Harris Adrian
• Simone Adrian • Bjorn Sprengers • Crista Sprengers-Voorneveld • Helen Charlotte Staples • Patrick William Staples • JanneTeerink Van Eeden • Charles Van Eeden • Sarah Anne Davies • Gregory Michael Davies • Richard Thomas John Mclean • Judith Sheamala Macintyre • Thomas Platts • Alice Clark - Platts • Adriaan Cent Groot • Annemieke Heleen Van Middlekoop • Jas Foo-Phillips • Chris Phillips • Shaun William Lascelles • Catherine Lascelles • Salil Bhuvanadasan Palliyil • Mari Saito
WetCommittee Stuff Meet the
Our New Main Committee
By Nina Gunasingham & Marte van Hoeven
The new Main Committee was elected at our well-attended AGM on Tuesday 22nd March. Many position holders are staying on, but new faces replace those stepping down and fill some newly created offices. We thank Anneloes (President), Patrice (Sports), Steef (Internal Affairs), Anne (First Secretary) and Paul (Second Secretary) for their service to the Club. Introducing the new team managing the Club:
Marte van der Hoeven – President New to the Main Committee. Engineer with restructuring, management and board expertise. Hello dear members. Together with my family, husband Mark and our children Lara (6) and Joris (4), we have be e n Club M embe rs si n ce our m ov e he re i n September 2014. With our young kids we love hanging around the pool, terrace and puppy room, enjoy playing tennis and field hockey and appreciate evening club events. We’ve lived in Dubai and Rotterdam before moving to Singapore and this city has truly been a warm bath for us. We immediately felt at home at our Club and we hope to enjoy its unique atmosphere for many years to come. I believe a strong social cohesion is the key to our club’s long-term success and as such, as part of Club Revisited, it will have my close attention as President.
Cecile Sturm – Vice President Finance Committee for 2 years before Main Committee (October 2015). Background in financial auditing. With my husband and our 2 sons, I came here 3 and a half years ago from Geneva, where we missed a Club like this where you can do all kinds of activities and socialise any time. We became members immediately and mainly enjoy the tennis, hockey and swimming facilities. As Vice President I am responsible for human resources. Challenging times lie ahead of us and I will do my best to resolve situations respecting all parties involved. We now have a very strong, international Main Committee that is motivated to make Club Revisited a big success!
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Daniel Gelinas – 1st Secretary Main Committee since January 2016. Head of Risk at Standard Chartered; background in credit portfolio risk and control. I am Canadian with two daughters, one living in Canada (34) and one living in Singapore (16). I joined the Hollandse Club because of its relaxed atmosphere, landscape and size and for the squash courts and pool. My key focus will be the implementation of the Club Revisited options ensuring that members have a strong say in the final product and a clear understanding of the way the money raised through financing will be used to deliver a high quality Club Revisited solution.
Rein Graat – 2nd Secretary New to the Main Committee. General Council (Asia-Pacific) & Global Head Financial Markets Strategy at ING. Previously I worked in London and lived with my family, my wife Geke, our daughter Bente (11) and two sons, Pepijn (9) and Simon (8), in Zeist. The Club was highly commended as a central quality point of tranquility where you can connect with others. It complements other enjoyable aspects of living here. We visit the tennis courts and restaurant most. My focus is sustainable solutions that maintain the identity of our Club, which will require adaption for us all. I hope we can all show the same flexibility in embracing change as we do when picking up our families and moving abroad.
Jan-Willem Buist - Honorary Treasurer Finance Committee for 2 years before Main Committee (May 2015). Finance Manager at Randstad. I have been here with my wife and two daughters for 4 and a half years now. We moved from Maarssen at the end of 2011 and have been Members of the Hollandse Club since January 2012. The immediate attraction was the relaxed atmosphere, friendly staff and nice swimming pool area. We spent many hours watching the kids attend their swimming classes and now it is where we catch up with friends. I joined the Finance Committee in 2013 and took the position of Treasurer last year. Implementing the Club Revisited model will be my main focus for the next months.
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Henk-Jan Bakker - Commercial Affairs Main Committee since March 2014. Regional Director (Asia & Oceania) at United Dutch Breweries. I am from the Netherlands and married to Floortje with three daughters, Madelief (8), Julie (5) and Liselot (4). We joined the Club in 2012 as the perfect way to meet friends and play sports and for the kids to enjoy themselves. I like to play tennis and hockey, and enjoying a drink and nice food at the Terrace or around the pool, watching the kids having a great time! I will assist the Club to achieve our joint goal of attracting new Members and aim to set up at least one partnership with an international school or association.
Andrew MacDonald – Member Sports & Events New to the Main Committee. Project Director – Retail at Faithful+Gould. I am Australian and have been here on and off for 23 years as well as working and traveling around the Gulf for 6 years. My wife, a Singaporean freelance journalist, and I have two children, a daughter (11) and a son (7). We joined the Club for the relaxed family atmosphere and the tennis; I have been a regular at the Saturday Men’s tennis social for over fifteen years. I joined the Main Committee to give something back to the Club. I am a member for Sports & Events and I chair the Club Maintenance Committee.
Filip Olde Bijvank – Member Food & Beverage Main Committee since December 2015. Managing Director Vroon Offshore; legal background, organisational restructuring expertise. My wife, two lovely daughters and I have been calling Singapore our home for almost 2 years. We were delighted to find the Club and immediately became Members on our arrival in July 2014. Of course, it’s an advantage to meet fellow professionals working in Singapore. We actively join the various sport activities organised by the Club. My international shipping experience will help me on the Committee. Furthermore I am an enthusiastic hobby cook and thus have a close affinity with Food & Beverage.
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Pooja Arora – Member Marketing & Communications New to the Main Committee. Founder & Managing Director at FlexTalent; brand management and HR background. I’m originally from India, here for over 11 years and now officially a Singaporean with a 15 month old child! I joined the Club in 2012, the key reason, and my most treasured part, being the relaxed atmosphere and the lush greenery. I am an entrepreneur and use the Club as my second office. I have always considered this Club a ‘hidden gem’ - a great facility and location which not many are aware of. I plan to use my international experience to drive that awareness up and market this amazing Club to lots of families!
Stuart Crow – Member Property & Investments New to the Main Committee. Head of Capital Markets (Asia Pacific) at Jones Lang LaSalle. I am Australian with three children, Leo (3), Charlie (7) and Stella (9). I have been here for 15 years and a Member of the Club for 7 years. We are active Members; the kids all play tennis and do squad swimming. I play tennis and still practice hard in an attempt to one day win the Club championships! My role is to assist the Club with real estate and investment matters. The real estate is our most valuable asset and I will ensure it is used effectively for the Club’s long-term benefit.
Future Your journey starts here it starts now Your future is in your hands and know one shows you how To make it, unfold, and have it turn out what you want it to be Not anybody, not me Take it a step at a time Even if your plans are stopped on a dime Be careful, and listen, learn from your mistakes Because one day you’ll advance on the choices you make Your future is here, your future is now But don’t worry, you’ll show yourself how
Poem by Mathew Miller
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MEMBERSHIP
Meet Heather Anstice
one of our new one-month Members By Nina Gunasingham
Welcome to the Hollandse Club Heather! Please tell us a bit about yourself. My name is Heather and I’m living in Singapore with my husband and two children aged 13 and 10. We have come from a small suburb on the edge of Sydney, Australia, near bushland and the Hawkesbury River. What brought you to Singapore, and how do you enjoy living here? My husband had the opportunity to come to Singapore, along with his family, for a two to three year work assignment. We decided that the time was right and we would give Singapore a try! We arrived, nervous but excited, at the end of 2013. Our experience living here has been incredible. We have taken advantage of Singapore’s location to explore some fabulous parts of South East Asia. We have also taken the opportunity to travel and visit relatives in Europe; something that is not done so easily from Australia. We have had some invaluable experiences and I’m so glad we could share them with our children. I love that Singapore is so safe. I also love that there are many cultures here - different and diverse areas, architecture, festivals and especially cuisine. We love the hawker centres and restaurants. My children have discovered white pepper crab - their culinary tastes have expanded tenfold!
Our latest mission as a family (including our adopted Singapore dog) has been to walk various parts of the Green Corridor. It’s great to feel removed from the high-rise buildings and bustle of the city and get back to nature. It’s a wonderful thing to do. What drew you to the Hollandse Club, and what do you love about it? Previously, we had been to the Club a few times as guests of friends, so we decided to become trial Members. Our favourite place is hanging out by the pool! My children like the diving board and sometimes my husband does too! What advice would you like to pass onto our other Members? The Club has a fantastic environment and relaxed feel. I think it is a welcoming place if one is new to Singapore and wants to go somewhere familyfriendly for a morning or afternoon out. Thank you, Heather. We hope to catch up with you and your family around the Club soon.
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MEMBERSHIP
In Loving Memory It is with great sadness we inform you that our dear member Kees Duyverman passed away in early April. Kees and his wife Maja Duyverman de Koning have been Members for 14 years and became truly a part of the Hollandse Club history. Many of us know Maja as an active player and organiser for the lady’s tennis. We will remember Kees as a warm, kind man with friendly blue eyes. We would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to Maja, her friends and family. We are honoured to have been part of your lives for so many years. Thank you for all the good memories we share.
This summer the Hollandse Club initiated the Membership Ambassador Group. A group of active Members who assist the Membership & Sales Team to welcome new Members and make them feel at home at the Club. Whether you are looking for more information regarding the Club’s facilities and activities, to increase your network or just to have a chat, the MAG members are happy to assist. For example, if you are interested in playing tennis, the MAG can arrange an enjoyable game with some of our other Members for you! Should you have any questions or wish to mingle with the MAG members, do not hesitate to contact Marloes, the Club’s Sales Manager. She will make sure one of the MAG Members reaches out to you. We are always on the lookout for new MAG volunteers. If you have some spare time and you are enthusiastic about sharing your experiences with new and potential Members, do let us know by sending an email to sales@hollandseclub.org.sg.
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Membership Ambassador Group (MAG) By Marloes Schoonenberg
MEMBERSHIP
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Charity
Garage Sale
Collection
All proceeds go to Singaporean Charities Organized by NCA
Expats giving back
Please donate any item you can like toys, clothes, books, shoes household items We will take almost anything as long as it is clean and in good working order
Collection point
42 Jalan Kampong Chantek Bukit Timah From 3-13 May Mon-Fri 8 am - 8 pm
Garage sale Help raise money for local charities
May 15 9 am - noon Hollandse Club
Since 1968
nca.org.sg
“You know that feeling where you suddenly want to clean the house? Yeah, me neither.�
F $20 OF holland
*
www.helpling.com.sg *for new clients only, available until 30/08/2016
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MEMBERSHIP
We have partnered up with a selection of merchants to bring you some of the best deals beyond the Club! * Please show your membership card to enjoy these promotions
proof of identity to enjoy the discount. a la
For more info log on to http://www.ikedaspa.com
Vedure Face, Body & Nail MediSpa 501 Orchard Road, #04-06 Wheelock Place, Singapore 238880 Tel: 6732 6448 info@vedure.com | www.vedure.com
Like Facebook page: INQDesign.sg
For more info on party packages, log-on to www.azzotiq.com Email: celebratiq@azzotiq.com
Receive $200 worth of product credit* for every booking of studio session. *Quote “Hollandse Club Promo” to enjoy the additional product credit. Email us for more info!
For more info log-on to www.tomatophoto.sg Email: info@tomato.sg
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For more info log on to www.tennishub.com
MEMBERSHIP
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World citizen at the HSL At the HSL we understand the importance of your mother tongue; it shapes your cultural identity. Knowing who you are and where you come from gives you self-confidence and the opportunity to become an open-minded, reflective world citizen. The HSL is a family school for Dutch and Belgian children ranging from 2 to 12 years old. It has been awarded a rating of “outstanding” by the Dutch Inspectorate of Education. Whilst we are proud of our Dutch roots, we maintain a strong international focus. Alongside the Dutch curriculum, we offer the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) and daily English led by native English speakers. Within our IPC program our students benefit from student-centred learning. Emphasis is placed on the development of critical inquiry, collaboration and in-depth research to give our students a wider, more international perspective. We offer an inspiring curriculum, which includes sports, music and extracurricular activities taught by an international team of passionate teachers. The school provides an inclusive and warm environment, which ensures that our students are challenged to discover themselves and the world beyond.
Hollandse School | Singapore 65 Bukit Tinggi Road • (65) 6466 0662 • www.hollandseschool.org
Family
Colouring Contest
Hey kids! Join our Family Colouring Contest and win many cool prizes! Submit your best colouring at the Reception by 3rd June. Winners will be featured in the July/August 2016 issue. Ready, steady, go! Name:_________________________________ Membership No.:__________________ Age:____________ HP:___________________ Email:_____________________________ *extra copies of this colouring page are available at the Reception. WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 23
Connect
to Create!
Bonding . Fun activities . Creativity
Connect while Crafting By Sophie March
More craft ideas like this can be found on Sophie’s blog on local families, world travel and kid’s activities. http://www.idaandernest.com
‘Connect at the Club’: What a great theme for this month’s magazine as everyone comes together to support the future of our amazing club. And a brilliant opportunity for some crafting fun with the kids. We’ve just come back from a trip to George Town in Penang. I loved looking out for the Peranakan tiles as we toured around the World Heritage site. The Peranakan are people of Chinese origin, who moved to Malaysia and Singapore and adapted to their new locality when it was under British rule, connecting their original traditions with their new culture.
Tiles from that era were made in Europe and used to decorate the houses of wealthy Peranakans. The tiles typically had images of flowers, birds or geometric patterns and often join together to make a complete image. They connect the East to the West and for the Hollandse Club, they connect our present (look out for the tiles adorning the bar on the terrace) to the past history of the place we currently call home, Singapore.
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This fun family craft idea can be done by all ages – a great chance to connect together! OK, enough about connecting and on with the instructions:
3. Use pictures of Peranakan tiles for inspiration for older kids, or sketch an outline of a design for younger kids ‌ or just let their imaginations run wild;
1. Print or draw a grid of square tiles on a piece of paper;
4. Work together as a family to create a picture. Each person completes a square and then connect them together to make a family mural!
2. Using crayons or markers, colour in the tiles to create a picture;
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More craft activities using tiles:
Fun Fact:
• cut smaller pieces of coloured paper into squares and stick them onto the grid to create mosaic tile pictures. Why don’t you investigate other countries that have heritage tiles for inspiration?
• original Peranakan tiles are now collectors‘ items; one gentleman in Singapore has a collection of over 8,000 tiles!
• use the grid as a template for a puzzle. Get the kids to draw one large picture and then cut it up into smaller squares and ask them to put it back together as a puzzle. (Hint: give each square a number on the reverse side of the paper before you cut it up– it makes it easier to put the puzzle back together if you get stuck!); • make the tiles 3D! Use a thick paper or card base and get creative with items you can stick on to the tiles. Beads, sequins, pasta – whatever you can find.
Connect through Cooking: Poffertjes!
What is more fun than to cook food together with your kids? They will love trying this Dutch classic: poffertjes. The mini pancakes are fluffy and soft inside. ‘Poffertje’ translates loosely as ‘little puffer’ and indeed, the batter should puff up nicely in your pan. Poffertjes are made in a special cast iron pan which has little round holes in the shape of the puffers.
By Karien van Ditzhuijzen
For a classic taste you can make the poffertjes with buckwheat flour only but, since in Asia it can be hard to find the lighter variety of buckwheat flour, you may mix it with plain white flour. Some people nowadays use wheat flour only, but you will miss the authentic poffertjes flavour if you do so.
Poffertjes are a special treat in the Netherlands, freshly made and served at fairs and markets by a traditional ‘poffertjeskraam’. Who does not remember the sweaty baker slaving over his hot plates? The dexterity of his hand, flipping over the poffertjes with a fork at lightning speed? And then, after your wait in the queue is finally over, digging into a plate of the steaming little rounds, heaped with icing sugar and molten butter? Traditionally, poffertjes are made from buckwheat flour. Buckwheat was considered a poor man’s flour so, later on, more sophisticated people preferred to use a blend of buckwheat and wheat flour instead. To make the poffertjes puff up properly yeast was used but, for a quick batter that needs no leavening, baking powder works just as well.
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Poffertjes Ingredients
To make your poffertjes
• 125 g light buckwheat flour • 125 g plain flour • 250 ml milk • 2 eggs • 1 teaspoon baking powder • a pinch of salt • butter for greasing • optional: butter and icing sugar • optional: sugar syrup, caramel sauce or whipped cream
• Place all the ingredients into a mixing bowl and stir batter to a medium thickness. • Place your poffertjes pan over a high heat, then add a good knob of butter into each hole. • Melt it until it’s frothy and bubbles. • Pour a little bit of the batter into each of the holes in the pan. • You can use a squeezy bottle for this, a ladle, or a pitcher. • When the poffertjes start to become solid, turn them around with a fork so the other side can turn golden brown as well. • Serve hot, with a sprinkle of icing sugar and a knob of butter. For a special treat, sprinkle with sugar syrup, fruit, caramel sauce and/or whipped cream.
Tips: • You will need a special ‘poffertjes pan’ to make your poffertjes, they can sometimes be found at the German Market Shop, 609 Bukit Timah Road, 269710. • If you need to eat gluten free, just use only buckwheat flour or, for a lighter version, substitute the plain white flour for any brand of gluten free flour. Your poffertjes will taste just as good. 1
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Bond with your Baby By Crista Sprengers
Hi, my name is Crista Sprengers and I’m from the Netherlands. In the Summer of 2011, my husband, our daughter Liv (who was 10 months at the time) and I moved to Singapore. We had been living in Amsterdam up until then and Singapore was our first expat experience. In 2013, our son Melle was born and in the Summer of 2015, we all became permanent residents. We love Singapore and intend to stay here for the long term. We only recently joined the Club as Members, but were familiar with it as we had visited many times for comedy nights, Sinterklaas and Koningsdag. And to get a quick fix of the bitterballen! I’m an Occupational Therapist by trade and before we moved to Singapore I worked for the city of Beverwijk, assessing applications made by disabled citizens for government sponsored aids such as wheelchairs and home adaptations. After we moved to Singapore, with Liv in tow (as we didn’t have a helper back then) I spent at least 6 months settling in and finding my way around. When the dust settled, I started thinking about what I would like to do besides being a stay-athome-mum. Things aren’t so easy though, when you’re on a Dependant Pass, have a child under 18 months old and no helper or family to help out. At the same time, I had the opportunity to try my hand at something totally different from my previous job- relatively risk-free. After all, we weren’t depending on any salary I was bringing in. At the time we were using baby sign language with Liv and it was so successful (and so much fun!) that I decided I wanted to do more with it. I trained (long-distance) with “Baby Signs US” and got my certification in 2012. And then…. life happened. My husband changed jobs, we moved to another house and I got pregnant with Melle. I didn’t start my Baby Signs business until Melle was about 1 year old and could join my classes and playgroups with our helper.
Baby Signs is a way of communicating for a pre-verbal baby through the use of simple hand gestures. A baby can learn this as the development of their fine motor skills precedes their spoken language development. The babies in my classes aren’t hearing impaired, they just haven’t learned to speak yet. The classes are aimed at babies aged 6-24 months old and their caregivers. Baby Signs reduce frustrations for both baby and parent by bridging the gap between the time when they want to tell us things and the time when they can actually say what they want. A lot of research has been done about this, mainly in the US. It showed that using baby sign language has many benefits such as reducing tantrums, strengthening the parent-infant bond, promoting positive emotional development and helping babies learn to talk. Plus- it’s a ton of fun finding out what goes on in those little heads (a lot more than you’d think, too!). If you’re interested in learning more, or possibly joining a class or playgroup, do pop over to the Baby Signs Singapore Facebook page! WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 29
Recently I’ve been contemplating a career change to see if I can do something with another passion of mine; sewing nursery decor such as fabric bunting. I’ve also become involved with a charity called ‘Babes’ which supports pregnant
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teens in Singapore. I feel so fortunate that I can do all these things while here and it makes living in Singapore even more enjoyable. See you around!
ACTIVITY CORNER Family Members Word Search
Find the secret path to the Club house -become member of the Club.
aunt father nephew sister uncle brother husband niece son wife daughter mother
COLOURING CONTEST WINNERS!
Carice (8 years old)
Weve (5 years old)
Ineke (4 years old)
Congratulations to the winners of the Easter New Year Colouring Contest! Winners will be notified by email. Keep up the good work, kids!
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK GOES BACK TO AN OLD HOBBY...
By Claire Wintraecken
According to an article in The Guardian, a generation of hip (young) gardeners is bringing horticulture to children. As it turns out, gardening is enjoying a renaissance among the young. Reading the article, I reminisced about my own childhood back in the seventies when I scuttled in my family’s allotment. 32 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG
FEATURES My family had a real community garden with green beans, peas, potatoes, leek, carrots, zucchini, onions and even a flower patch. It was much more than throwing seeds in the ground and watering; it was hard work. My Grandmum was in charge and operated the garden as a business. She learnt through experience rather than books,using common sense and trial and error. It would take her a lot of planning to determine which plants went where. Looking at the direction of the sun and, the richness of the soil to ensure there were vegetables all year round for the family dinners. As a child I just loved getting my hands (clothes as well of course) dirty and helping out. Learning from experience, making mistakes and trying again. Being a city dweller nowadays, I have become comfortable living with Cold Storage and the wet markets next door for my daily fruit and veggies. Indeed, I have to admit I often do not know where (and how) my veggies were grown and where they came from.
Singaporeans, creating employment opportunities for marginalised groups. Arriving at the farm, a large sign with “welcome to paradise” is the starting point of a fun morning out. Indeed, I did feel welcome immediately. And later on, I found lots of interesting quotes which reflect the enthusiasm and boisterous personality of the farm. I chose to wander around by myself, exploring the different plots and going through the many lanes. Each plot provides an interesting mix of plants and trees. There is an insect hotel, a “born free” dog run, (although I did not see any dogs), a ginger tunnel and a citrus grove. Furthermore interesting insights about the plants are pointed out. I skipped the food museum and decided to go for a lovely lunch at “Poison Ivy”, the on-site bistro. I had a lunch of stir-fried vegetables and tofu which was lightly seasoned and easy on the oil. I would say the dish was definitely a reason to go back.
In this issue’s ‘Off the beaten track’ I am heading out to Bollywood Veggies. Bollywood Veggies is an organic vegetable farm that does not use chemical fertilisers, pesticides or growth hormones. As I learned from the internet, Bollywood Veggies is an institution amongst Singaporean families, where they get fresh and organic vegetables, herbs and fruits. The story began, strangely enough, with the death of a good friend when Ivy Singh Lim and Lim Ho Seng pondered the direction their lives would take in their retirement years. When they read a newspaper story about farming in Singapore they knew that they wanted to examine further the possibilities of opening their own farm. After intense research, administrative hurdles and exploration and discussion of the Kranji countryside with the remaining farmers, Ivy and her husband finalized their bold plan. Ivy, the first and former owner of Bollywood Veggies, (she stepped down in 2014) and her husband first started their venture in the year 2000. However they didn’t open the farm doors to the public until 2005. The name Bollywood Veggies was chosen because of Ivy’s Indian heritage. Since the opening, the farm has grown from strength to strength, adding a culinary school and a museum in 2009. The company makes it a point to hire challenged and less fortunate
Finally, I ended up with loading the back of my car with citronella plants, lemon grass and rosemary to start up my own little (city) kitchen garden in Singapore. This gives me the opportunity to bring horticulture to my children. I can also enjoy the pleasure of getting my hands dirty and the satisfaction that comes from caring for something over time, while observing the cycle of life first hand. Bollywood Veggies makes a good family field trip. There are guided tours on the farm, hands-on programs, and culinary classes. “Poison Ivy”, outdoor seating areas, a culinary school, and food museum are the perfect ingredients to have a ball on a lazy morning or afternoon. It is a true retreat from the city; all set against the quaint backdrop in Kranji. Just getting there is a bit more complicated than just hopping on the Subway. The nearest MRT is Kranji station and from there you can take a taxi or wait for the shuttle bus. 100 Neo Tiew Road, Singapore 719026 (Kranji) +65 6898 5001
Wed-Fri 9.30am – 6.30pm Sat, Sun & PHs 8.00am – 6.30pm Mon-Tue closed
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FEATURES
“Intersections” Bridges Cultures By Claire Wintraecken
On a bright sunny Monday afternoon I met Marie Pierre Mol in her gallery called Intersections. The gallery is located in a shophouse in the historic Arab quarter of Singapore. Intersections is a lovely peaceful place in a fun, hip and lively neighbourhood (even on a Monday afternoon). The gallery co-owner, Marie Pierre Mol, welcomed me graciously and I found myself engaged in an animated conversation about the Hollandse Club, being an expat while wearing many hats and life in Singapore now and in the past. Marie Pierre grew up in Paris where, as a child, she would pass sculptures and artists playing music or performing on her way to school. “My love for art was born at the playground.” explained Marie Pierre. She studied Political Science and Economics, married and started a family. Since then she has been moving and living around the world.
oxygen in the hustle and the bustle of city.” This time around she felt it was a good point in her career for a total reinvention. After years of fulltime work she took up a life long dream and started training to become a SAM (Singapore Art Museum) instructor. Once she successfully completed her training, Marie Pierre knew she had chosen the right path. A Master in Asian Art History with a focus on modern Asian and contemporary art (from Myanmar) was achieved just two years later.
As we take a trip down memory lane, Marie Pierre tells me about the first time she moved to Singapore in the early nineties with her husband and four children. Marie Pierre’s husband is Dutch and they joined the Hollandse Club. She remembers the wonderful family times they had at the Club; her kids learning to swim, playing tennis and around St Nicholas, baking“ pepernoten” and of course the egg hunts at Easter.
Meeting Louise Martin at a mutual friend’s house was the final piece of the puzzle. Louise and Marie Pierre became friends right away and found out that they had the same passion for art. Together, they completed a ‘How to run a gallery’ course with Sotheby’s in New York. This intense course confirmed their strengths complemented each other’s and together they created Intersections. After six years in the ‘little red dot’ they moved back to Europe. However, in 2010, Marie Pierre and her husband received the opportunity to return to the tropics. Singapore was a far cry from the way it was twenty years ago when Marie Pierre left with her family. Nowadays, Singapore is a cultural hub, where museums with world-class arts and galleries have started popping up all over the city. Amazed by the metamorphosis of the city, Marie Pierre was glad to find that the Hollandse Club was still the same. As Marie Pierre said: “We love the greenery of the Club. Living in an apartment building in the city, we consider the Club as our backyard, our
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The word Intersection means a place where two or more roads meet and that is exactly Marie Pierre and Louise’s aim with their gallery; to bridge diverse cultures through arts. Like mathematics, art is a universal language which unites people who can otherwise appear so distant from one other. Intersections represents both established and emerging artist mostly based in Southeast Asia, with a primary focus on the emerging market of contemporary Burmese art. Amongst Intersections’ wonderful exhibits, I particularly loved the interesting works created by two very talented Burmese artists, Soe Soe and Khin Zaw Latt.
FEATURES After four years of pop-up galleries, Intersections has found a port of call in their current location. Both ladies keep challenging themselves by organising five to six exhibitions a year. They always collaborate with the artists from the beginning and the result is that the shows are wonderful. As a result Intersections has had the privilege of being invited by Art Stage Singapore 2015 and 2016. Intersections presented artists from Myanmar on the curated platform of art stage, which is dedicated to Southeast Asia. Intersections’ next exhibition is: Ink Imagine II, Autographic Matters. It will be a collective exhibition with four artists: June Lee Yu Juan, Pang, Hélène Le Chatelier and Suzy Bruzeau. 18 May to 26 June 2016 For more information about Intersections or upcoming events, please visit the website: www.intersections.com.sg Or even better take a ride to the Arabic neighborhood, have a stroll and go and see for yourself! Intersections 34 Kandahar Street, Singapore 198892 Opening Hours Wednesday to Sunday: 2pm to 7pm Closed on Monday, Tuesday and Public Holidays.
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FEATURES
Mothering Sunday & Father’s Day When should we celebrate?
By Nina Gunasingham
I love being woken up in the morning of Mother’s Day by my children with their hugs and kisses (as opposed to the usual mad morning rush) and I love the handcrafted gifts - but I do get a bit confused as to when the actual day is. Being someone who tries to have her cake and eat it too, I’d celebrate them all, if I could. The Origins In ancient times, the Greeks celebrated Spring festival in honour of Rhea, the mother of the Gods of Olympus. Similarly, the Romans celebrated Hilaria on the Spring equinox in honour of Cybele, the ‘great mother’. In fact, the three-day celebrations got so riotous that Cybele’s followers were banished from Rome. (Now, that’s one way to celebrate!) Early Christians honoured the Virgin Mary on the fourth Sunday of Lent. In Great Britain This year, Mothering Sunday fell on the 6th of March (the fourth Sunday of Lent, which is three Sundays before Easter) in the UK, as well as Ireland and Nigeria. In the sixteenth century, this was the day Christians went ‘a-mothering’, that is, returned to their mother church. Those in apprenticeships or in service living away from home (think Downton Abbey) could return home and spend time with their families and mothers. The practice started fading after the Industrial Revolution, but revived in the early 20th century under the influence of the American Mother’s Day.
In America In the USA, Anna Jarvis held the first Mother’s Day celebration in 1908 to honour her mother, Ann Jarvis; a peace activist during the American civil war and a humanitarian, who died on the 9th of May 1905. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson declared Mother’s Day, celebrated on the second Sunday in May, a national holiday. Unfortunately Anna Jarvis, who had created Mother’s Day (note the singular) for everyone to thank their own mother, spent the rest of her life and fortune fighting the way that the occasion had become commercialised. Around the World Many Christian countries, especially those that are Catholic, link celebrations honouring mothers to a day in honour of the Virgin Mary. In some countries, for hundreds of years, this was the 8th of December, which is still recognised as Mother’s Day by the Vatican and Panama. However, other countries have disassociated Mother’s Day from their religious observances In France, Napoleon instituted a day to honour mothers of large families. After World War I, the city of Lyon and then later the Government of France chose a date (the last Sunday of May) to honour war widows.
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FEATURES
In the Netherlands, as in Australia and America, Mother’s Day is commemorated on the second Sunday in May. In Australia in 1924, Janet Hayden from Leichardt, New South Wales, organised local children to take presents to destitute mothers in Newington State Home. She appealed to the public via the newspapers and this eventually led to Mother’s Day being celebrated nationally. In Thailand, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the 12th of August, Queen Sirikit’s birthday. Most countries in the Middle East celebrate on the 21st of March, the Spring equinox. Countries of the Eastern bloc prefer to celebrate International Women’s Day on the 8th of March. South Korea celebrates Parent’s Day on the 8th of May. While many countries around the world celebrate Mother’s Day on a specific date in May or on the first, second or last Sunday in May, there is a Mother’s Day somewhere around the world in every month from February to December. But what about Fathers? And yes; fathers get a look-in too, don’t worry. In America In July 1908, in a town near Anna Jarvis’s home, Grace Clayton initiated the first observation of Father’s Day in honour of 361 miners, 250 of whom were fathers, lost in a disaster six months earlier. In 1910, inspired by hearing about Anna Jarvis’s Mother’s Day, Sonora Dodd suggested a Father’s Day be held in honourof
fathers like hers, who had raised six children as a single parent. It was made an American national holiday in 1972 by President Nixon. Around the World Many countries, including the USA and Holland, celebrate Father’s Day on the third Sunday of June. Others observe it on the 19th of March (St Joseph’s Day) or certain dates in June, various Sundays in May through to November and other specific dates through the year. In Taiwan, it is held on the 8th of August (the eighth month) since bā-bā (eight eight) sounds like bàba (father). In Thailand, Father’s Day is celebrated on the 5th of December, King Bhumibol’s birthday. In Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea, it is celebrated on the first Sunday of September, which is the first Sunday of Spring ‘down undah’, often with a Father’s Day barbie. In the UAE it is held on the 21st of June, which is usually midsummer’s day. And ... there are even grandparent’s days, though these are not as widely celebrated. I suspect most families do what ours does and celebrate with both grandparents and parents on Mother’s or Father’s Day. Wherever you are from, whenever and whatever you celebrate, happy Mother’s or Father’s Day. As parents (and grandparents), we deserve it!
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FEATURES
Artist Insights I: Deepa Khanna Sobti By Marilou Groot Nibbelink
Deepa Khanna Sobti is a Singaporean artist, poet and philanthropist. She writes a unique poem for every painting that she makes. Her art style is abstract expressionist and she only uses oil paints as a medium and only palette knives as tools. Her work is multilayered, using bright colors and a unique blend of contrasting light against dark. Deepa has been awarded several global awards. She was chosen for the Art Museum Chianciano Italy’s Biennale 2015 and is selected for the London Biennale 2017. She was also a finalist for the Art Gemini Prize UK and received an honorary mention at the London International Creative Competition. She has won a recognition prize by Palm Award, Germany and was shortlisted for the International Emerging Artist Award, Dubai. Deepa has exhibited her work extensively in Europe including at the Walton Fine Arts and Galleries Pall Mall, London, the Carrousel Du Louvre Paris, the MAMG Museum Austria and the Palace of Chancellery at the Vatican. Deepa’s work has been critiqued by the International Confederation of Art Critics who have called her ‘a prodigiously talented artist whose interpretation
of reality is outstanding’. They will also publish her paintings and poems in a book in 2016 which will be available on Amazon and will be a part of the permanent collections in the National Library, London and the Oxford University Library. Her art and poetry make a strong suggestion to the viewer to investigate their present experience and to realise what reality really is. Additionally, to see that the world as it is currently understood is merely a relative imaginary construct, comprising mainly of thought. Deepa believes that, even within that thought construct, there is no separation between the individual and the world one inhabits. And to shine though the mind, one must pave the way for the ‘everything’ and the ‘nothing’. This is the reason her website is called www.emptinessisfull.com Deepa donates 75% profits from her practice to 6 charities that she is closely associated with. If you are interested in seeing Deepa’s work, some of her artwork will be on display in The Tradewinds Bar for the month of May.
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FEATURES
Artist Insights II: Ilona van Daelen By Marilou Groot Nibbelink
Ilona was born and raised in the Netherlands. After completing her education, she started work as a personal assistant and later, together with her husband, worked in finance for over 10 years. From childhood, she has been very interested in drawing. Unfortunately she did not begin to explore these skills until 2006. From that time on, she began drawing portraits and took her first steps into the world of acrylic painting. Ilona also started taking painting classes from a wellknown Dutch artist.
Ilona tries to create a realistic view of her subjects, although they are painted with a very rough structure. One can recognise her work because it is painted in bright colours, using the background colour in the objects. Ilona never mixes colours on her palette, instead she does it directly on the canvas. This results in beautiful color gradients. She does have a favorite painting subject, however, which is very Dutch - cows! If you are interested in seeing Ilona’s work up close, some of her artwork will be on display in The Tradewinds Bar for the month of June.
Since 2011 she has been painting at home, trying to develop her own style.
However, after giving birth to her two beautiful sons and growing the family business, the urge to paint was set aside. In September 2013, Ilona and her family moved to Singapore to expand their company into Asia. At this time Ilona decided to quit her job and focus on what she loves doing most, painting. Her paintings are mainly freestyle originals, but she also accepts commissions. WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 39
UPCOMING SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS
MAY
at a gl
46 &
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AquaDucks May Holiday Camps
&
May
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May Fair
May
to
Fri, 12pm - 7pm, Main Hall Free Admission
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Friday Kids’ Club: Games & Crafts
May
Championships
May
BLOOM Business Lunch
May
Wed, 12pm - 1.30pm, Indoor Lounge Free entry (Lunch at $17.50)
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CLUB talks - Jack Sim
May
Wed, 8pm, Main Hall Save the date!
Youth Laser Tag
May
Fri, 6pm - 8pm, Main Hall (M) $22.50 | (NM) $30 (7 years & above)
28
Comedy Club Asia
May
Sat, Doors open at 8pm, Main Hall (M) $30 | (NM) $50
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Adults Tennis
Fri & Sun, 13th May (6pm - 10pm) & 14th,15th May (whole day), Tennis Court
Fri, 4pm - 6pm, Kids’ Room (M) $5 | (NM) $8 (English Spoken)
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May
Fri & Sat, 6th May (6pm - 10pm) & 7th May (2pm - 6pm), Tennis Court
Wed & Fri, 10am - 12.30pm, Pool (M) $50 | (NM) $70
13
Youth Tennis Championship
UPCOMING SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS
JUNE
CALENDAR
glance... 3
Friday Kid’s Club: Games & Crafts
June
Fri, 4pm - 6pm, Kids’ Room (M) $5 | (NM) $8 (English Spoken)
4
Movie Night at the Pool
June
Sat, 7pm, Pool (M) Free | (NM) $15
10
Teens’ End-of-Year Disco
June
Fri, 8pm - 10pm, Chillout Room (M) $6 | (NM) $10 | Door Ticket: $15
19
Summer Break BBQ Party
June
Events not to be missed in the months of May and June! Please do remember to register early to avoid disappointment! Registrations can now be made online at www.hollandseclub.org.sg
3
The Buddenbrooks Dinner
June
Fri, 8pm, Indoor & Outdoor Lounge Members only. 4-course dinner at $87.50
10
Award Swimming
June
Fri, 5pm - 7pm, Pool (david@aquaducks.com.sg)
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ABC Swimming
June
Sun, 12pm - 6pm, Pool (david@aquaducks.com.sg)
(M) Members (NM) Non-Members
Social events Sports events
Sun, 3pm - 7pm, Pool Members: (A) $35 | (K) $18
*Events Cancellation Policy: For fee-based events, cancellation (and refund) will be accepted up to maximum 48 hours in advance of the event. If the cancellation request is received after the deadline, we cannot issue a refund and your account will be charged.
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UPCOMING SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS
Only runs if a minimum number of participants is reached. * Event Cancellation Policy applies to ALL events organised at the Club (Please refer to pg 41).
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UPCOMING SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS
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UPCOMING SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS
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UPCOMING SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS
The Movie night only runs if a minimum number of participants is reached. You can sign up until Mon, 30th May.
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UPCOMING SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS
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UPCOMING SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS
You can sign up until Mon 13th June.
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Perception vs Reality
What’s it really like to be a trailing spouse in Singapore? As we all know, perception and reality can be wildly mismatched. When it comes to the experience of expat wives of Singapore, the disparity is gulf-like. For those looking from the outside in, the life of a trailing spouse looks pretty rosy. Long lunches, yoga sessions at the club, poolside cocktails—all with a helper to tend to the children and prepare the meals. Add in frequent jaunts to nearby tropical resorts and the narrative seems picture perfect. But is it truthful? The reality is that the role of the trailing spouse can be wonderful, but it can also be extremely challenging. In today’s complex, fast-paced world, the trailing spouse bears the responsibility of building a full and happy life for the family unit within a tight timeframe. She (sometimes he) needs to research and secure the fundamentals, like schooling, housing, transport and healthcare, all in an unfamiliar environment. Once everything is ticking along, the trailing spouse then needs to take care of everyone’s emotional needs, including her own. She needs to help the children transition into their new school and find new friends. She needs to build a social circle for herself and the family. The weekends can’t be blank - she needs to find out where to go for fun and arrange getaways to keep everyone’s spirits high. Yes, I am a trailing spouse, but no, this is not intended to be a ‘woe is me’ tale. I’ve experienced many wonderful moments in Singapore. I’ve met some fascinating people, many of whom will now be lifelong friends. We’ve laughed, cried, celebrated our achievements and vented our frustrations. We’ve grown close to each other’s children and become the substitute family we all need when we are so far from home. Joining the Hollandse Club was also a big turning point for me. This is where my children do their swimming lessons, where my husband and I can have a hit of tennis and where I can swim some peaceful laps in the middle of the day. I always run into people I know, so it’s become a second home and a place where we feel we belong. After nearly three years on the little red dot, I still have moments when I feel a bit lost. Amongst the glimpses of glamour in my expat life, there is plenty of grit. Sometimes, it feels like errands take twice as long as they used to back home. Like everything is just that little bit more difficult. I still need advice and support to live my best life in Singapore. Where can I get a painting framed? Where can I buy baking products? What’s the hottest new restaurant in town? Every week, I have new questions and sometimes my real-life friends don’t have the answers. That’s when I turn to expatgogo, because it’s an online community of expats with diverse backgrounds and knowledge, so there’s always someone who has the right answer for me. Networking online allows me to connect with people I may not meet in my everyday life. I benefit from their wisdom, and I repay the favour by sharing the knowledge I’ve acquired during my time as an expat. It’s a win-win situation all round. Try to reach out to other trailing spouses, both online and in real life, so you can find the support you need. Once you find your tribe, you’ll find yourself flourishing and really making the most of your expat experience. Connect with me on expatgogo.com and let’s chat. I have lots more useful tips to share. I look forward to helping you embrace your expat experience in Singapore. Cheers! Sarah Ordonez, City Writer, expatgogo Singapore About the Author Sarah is an Australian Mum of two currently living in Singapore. She has also been an expat in London and San Francisco. As our City Writer, Sarah loves to delve into all that’s happening in the Lion City. If you have any hot tips, please drop her an email at sarah@expatgogo.com.
Connect with other expats in Singapore Make the most out of expat life in Singapore with inspiring articles, helpful advice, curated business listings and instant connections with like-minded expats. Get started at expatgogo.com/singapore.
Family, Paediatric & Travel Medicine
Our people make the difference • 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
www.imc–healthcare.com
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50 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG
Book online
Myanmar
Laos Thailand
KUNDALINI YOGA
Vietnam
& SOUND BATH HEALING
Cambodia
As taught by Yogi Bhajan
Kundalini Yoga known as the Yoga of Awareness, as taught by Yogi Bhajan is an exquisite practice of yoga mudra, kriya, breathing techniques, deep meditation and relaxation. The recipe of each class brings the practitioner to a balanced and harmonious state of relaxed bliss. The power of the practice helps each person, class by class, step by step, to clear out accumulated stress, and uncover the natural source of energy and light within. Yogi Bhajan, a master of Kundalini Yoga and Gong said, “Vibrate the cosmos and the cosmos shall clear the path.” So on a spiritual level, the gong helps us to clear our path of obstacles so that we live a life of destiny as opposed to a life of fate. The sound of Ong that emanates from the gong has a direct impact on the third eye, the pituitary and pineal glands. This subsequently increases our intuition and connection to divine and universal knowledge. It brings us beyond time and space. It brings us bliss and union. On a physical level, the gong releases tension and blocks in the body, it stimulates a higher functioning of the glandular and nervous system, it increases prana, our vital life force and improves circulation. The gong also works deeply on the mental, emotional and spiritual bodies. The gong purifies and quietens the mind. Essentially, it cuts through the linear mind and clears the clutter from the subconscious mind to reveal the radiant and authentic self.
Singapore
www.beeninASIA.com
Your personal travel agent with Dutch expat roots
To find out more about the class & book a place Contact Pamela Kaur at +65 91527771 Email: yogalotus8@gmail.com Health and Lifestyle site: www.almondsandraisins.com
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SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS REPORTS
Lion Dance By Marilou Groot Nibbelink
Sun, 20th February
During the Chinese New Year, the lion dance is commonly performed. The performance of a lion dance is believed to bring good luck and fortune to a business. For the last few years, the Ling Ying Dragon & Dance Troupe has performed this traditional dance at the Hollandse Club. This year was no different. The troupe of approximately 10 dancers arrived around 11.30am and began performing the lion dance all
around the club; from the office upstairs, to the Brabant Room, both kitchens, terrace to the swimming pool, tennis area and gym. Thereafter, they performed the traditional ‘custom’, which literally means ‘plucking the greens’. After the lion dance, we were fortunate to also enjoy the dragon dance. The terrace was fully packed with members watching and kids grabbing the peeled mandarins!
Best Dance Teens Party By Marilou Groot Nibbelink
Fri, 4th March
On Friday the 4th of March the Hollandse Club organised a disco party in collaboration with the Belgian and Luxembourg Association of Singapore (BLAS). The disco was especially organised for youths aged 10 years and above and both Hollandse Club and BLAS members could bring along friends. We had over 60 girls and boys at the Chillout Room, which was transformed into a cool, dark space with disco lights and DJ booth. Everyone could send in their 52 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG
favorite songs, from which the DJ created a top 50 best songs list chosen by the dancers, according to the crowd. So the music was specifically what they asked for! Until 11pm they danced as if their lives depended on it! It was a huge success so both the Hollandse Club and BLAS would like to organise more events for teenagers. If you have any ideas for other events you would like the Club to hold, please contact us via events@hollandseclub.org.sg.
SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS REPORTS
Kids’ Social Activity By Marilou Groot Nibbelink
Sun, 6th March
On Sunday afternoon, the 6th of March, the Tennis Committee organised a tennis social for adults. To ensure the children were also entertained, we organised a kids’ social activity during the same time in the Chillout Room. One of our members, Laura, kindly volunteered to organise a LEGO play kids’ activity. Together with Anne, Laura founded Letz Create. Letz Create is a toy library with toys that stimulate the creative minds of children. They make it affordable to play with different LEGO sets. This can be for everyday use, holidays or special occasions.
The sets need to be returned, so children learn to have a sense of sharing and responsibility. For $29 you can play with one set for 30 days. This includes delivery and cleaning of the set. Please check out their website www.letz-create.com! As the pictures show we had some very creative participants! Among them we held a lucky draw and the winner was given the opportunity to play with one of the Letz Create sets for 30 days! The winner was personally informed by Laura.
Comedy Club Asia By Marilou Groot Nibbelink
Sat, 12th March
We missed them for a couple of months, but the Comedy Club Asia (CCA) returned to the Hollandse Club on Saturday the 12th of March! They didn’t change their well-known format; 3 international stand-up comedians performing on one night.
over 100 people, laugh continuously.
Comedians Jimmy McGhie from the UK, Pat Burtscher from Canada and Steve Simeone from the USA, were flown in for this edition of the comedy night. All three of them gave a very cool and hilarious performance which made the crowd, numbering
The next CCA night is planned for the 28th of May. Reserve your ticket(s) now for the special membership price at Reception or through our website events@hollandseclub.org.sg.
We were happy to see that both members and nonmembers found their way back to the Hollandse Club for the always popular CCA!
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SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS REPORTS
Easter Workshop Create your Own Easter Egg By Marilou Groot Nibbelink
Fri, 18th March
Easter fell early this year; we celebrated it on Sunday the 27th of March! For this occasion we asked art studio Abrakadoodle to provide an Easter themed art workshop on Friday the 18th of March. On the day itself we had 17 children in the Brabant Room with the assignment to
create a chicken out of a large white egg. The children drew patterns on the egg and then coloured the different patterns with paint. Then each chicken, of course, needed legs, eyes and a cockscomb. Once fabricated and pasted, the chicken was ready! The hard work was done; time for a drink and a snack!
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SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS REPORTS
Kasper van Kooten By Marloes Schoonenberg
The Dutch comedian, singer and author Kasper van Kooten performed on Friday the 26th of February at the Hollandse Club. All the way from the Netherlands, he came to Singapore for a few days to entertain the Dutch Community. During his show “Bonte Avond”, he took the audience back to his childhood, where he and his four friends imitated the “Dolly Dots”, a famous Dutch female group from the eighties.
It was a great show, full of humour and beautiful songs. The evening ended in the Tradewinds Bar with good conversation, photos and drinks! The following day, Kasper continued his journey to Phuket where, while overlooking the beautiful sea, he started writing his next book. A multitalented person we think!
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SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS REPORTS
SPORTS CONTACT LIST
CLASS
DAY
TIME
VENUE
POINT OF CONTACT
CONTACT
A Aerobics (Step)
Wednesday
0900 - 1000
Rotterdam
Ann Yang
9815 0239
B Bridge (Duplicate)
Friday
0900 - 1230
Amsterdam
Franciska Ho
6259 3864
C Cardio Sculpt
Mon & Fri
0900 - 1000
Rotterdam
Ann Yang
9815 0239
H Hockey (Ladies)
Wednesday
2000 - 2100
CCAB*
Willemijn Hamaker-Dorrepaal 9715 0938
Hockey (Men)
Wednesday
2100 - 2200
CCAB*
Titus de Greeff
Hockey (Youth)
Tuesday
1800 - 2000
CCAB*
Su Yin Timp
9839 9771 9142 9233
Sunday 0900 - 1200 CCAB* Wietske Teunissen
9423 6374
J Judo (Children Intermediate)
Friday
1700 - 1800
Rotterdam
Gerard Lim
9750 6305
Judo (7 years & under)
Saturday
0930 - 1030
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
Wednesday
1830 - 1930
Rotterdam
Peter Robertson
98378637
Sunday
1630 - 1730
Rotterdam
Peter Robertson
98378637
K Karate
P Personal Training By Appointment Gym Ashraf 8180 6610 Youri Kruse 9739 7610
Pilates
Thursday
2000 - 2100
Rotterdam
Ann Yang
9815 0239
S Squash (Training)
Tuesday
1900 - 2100
Squash Court
Daniel Gelinas
9725 4198
Thursday
1900 - 2200
Squash Court
Daniel Gelinas
9725 4198
Saturday
1400 - 1700
Squash Court
Daniel Gelinas
9725 4198
Squash (Social)
Various
Swimming Pool
hollandse@aquaducks.com.sg
T Tennis (Ladies Social)
Swimming Lessons/Competition Mon – Sat Monday
0900 - 1200
Tennis Court
Maja Duyverman
9750 7124
Tennis (Mixed Social)
Sunday
1600 - 1800
Tennis Court
Klaus Wulf
8118 0300
Tennis (Ladies Competition)
Friday
0900 - 1200
Tennis Court
Pauline Welten
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)
Tennis Court
Mr Wee
9673 4851
W Water Polo (8 & below)
Mon – Sat Tuesday
Thursday *CCAB (Co-curricular Branch, MOE Hockey Field)
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Various 1800 - 1900
Swimming Pool hollandse@aquaducks.com.sg
1800 - 1900
Swimming Pool hollandse@aquaducks.com.sg
SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS REPORTS
Rotterdam Classes
CLASSES
CLASSES ARE PRO-RATED FROM TIME OF JOINING.
Register your interest via the 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.
WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 57
Hollandse Club Monday Time
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Venue Pool
Tennis Court
Rotterdam
Pool
Cardio Sculpt
Adults Swim Training
Squash Court
External
Pool
Rotterdam
External
Pool
Rotterdam
Squash Court
8 - 8.30am 8.30 - 9am 9 - 9.30am
Step Aerobics & Adults Swim Lesson
9.30 - 10am Tennis Ladies Social
10 - 10.30am
Adults Swim Training
Parent & Child / Preschool
Aqua Fit
10.30 - 11am 11 - 11.30am 11.30 - 12pm 12 - 12.30pm 12.30 - 1pm 1 - 1.30pm 1.30 - 2pm 2 - 2.30pm 2.30 - 3pm 3 - 3.30pm 3.30 - 4pm 4 - 4.30pm 4.30 - 5pm 5 - 5.30pm 5.30 - 6pm 6 -6.30pm
Parent & Child / Preschool / Learn to swim
Parent & Child / Preschool / Learn to swim
Preschool / Learn to swim
Swim Higher
Parent & Child / Preschool / Learn to swim
Parent & Child / Preschool / Learn to swim
Preschool /
Preschool / Learn to swim
Learn to
level LTS / b/c
Preschool / Learn to swim
Higher Level LTS / b/c / Preschool LTS
Higher Level LTS / b/c / Preschool LTS
Stroke & developm ent / Fun Class
Stroke & developm ent / Fun Class
Stroke & developm ent / Fun Class
Dutch Dolphine's
Waterp olo 8yrand below
Dutch Dolphine's
6.30 - 7pm
Hockey (Youth)
Higher Level LTS / b/c / Preschool LTS Stroke & developme nt / Fun Class
Waterpolo 8yr- and below
Karate
7 - 7.30pm 7.30 - 8pm 8 - 8.30pm 8.30 - 9pm
Squash Social
Squash Training Adults Swim Training
Hockey (Ladies)
Hockey (Mens)
9 - 9.30pm 9.30 - 10pm
Legend: Kids/Teens
Families
Ladies
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Men's
Mixed
Pilates
b Sports Schedule Friday Pool
Rotterdam
Tennis Court
Saturday Amsterdam
Pool
Rotterdam
Squash Court
Sunday Tennis Court
Pool
Rotterdam
Judo (7 yrs - below) Tennis Ladies Competition
Bridge (Duplicate)
Parent & Judo (10 yrs Child / below) Preschool / Learn to swim Judo (10 yrs above)
Parent & Child / Preschool / Learn to swim Preschool / Learn to swim (3 - 5pm)
Tennis Family Social
Hockey (Youth)
Parent & Child / Preschoo l / Learn to swim
Squash Social
Judo (Children Interme diate)
External
Dutch Dolphine's
Cardio Sculpt
Stroke & develop ment / Fun Class
Tennis Court
Parent & Child / Preschool / Learn to swim
Tennis Men's Social
Parent & Child / Preschool / Learn to swim
Karate
Tennis Mixed Social
Dutch Dolphine's
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SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS REPORTS
SWIMMING By David Verlinde
Dear Members, The month of March was a super busy swim month full of tournaments and other activities. Neptune League On the 6th of March we held the Neptune League at the Tanglin Club. The pool was 33 meters in length, so instead of the usual 25 and 50 meter races, the races were 33 and 66 meters. A lot of the children moved up in their age groups and in combination with the extra length of the pool, it was tough. However, the Dolphins did fantastically and received a lot of 1st places. Great job Dolphins!
The last race was the family race. 1. Bakker 1:05.56 2. Desaulles 1: 05.58 3. Wersch 1:12.49 ABC Swimming Award On the 20th of March we did the ABC Swimming Awards (Dutch Awards). Almost 50 children came to the pool and showed their best swimming in order to receive their award. Great job everyone!
Club Championship On Sunday the 13th of March we held the Club Championships. 130 members were trying to get the gold medal in their age category or beat the club record, which many almost succeeded. A couple of times the swimmers only came 0.2 seconds too slow. There were 2 new club records; - Joris van der Hoeven broke the record for the 25m freestyle 4U boys’ race; - Julia Burns broke the record for the 25m freestyle mothers’ race. Summer Holidays If there is a need to cancel your swimming tuition, please submit the cancellation form online to Aquaducks ONE MONTH before desired termination date of the class. Email, SMS, or verbal notices of cancellation are not acceptable. Please notify us in time. Late notification will result in the full month’s fee being charged. During a student’s absence, such as holidays, if you wish to hold his or her place, you can do so by continuing to pay the usual swimming lesson fee. If you choose to cancel, a re-registration fee of $25 will apply.
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SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS REPORTS
Hollandse Club Swim Championships 2016 By The Bakker Family
Photos by Inge Kuipers
The biggest swimming event of the year (at the Hollandse Club at least) took place on Sunday morning, the 13th of March. Well before 8am, many members were showing up in good shape, to battle for the medals. From the youngest (4 years old and under) to the seniors (40+), participants swam as fast as they could in different disciplines. The atmosphere was great from start till finish and the definite highlights of the morning were the 4 years and under kickboard race, the mothers’ & fathers’ races and the family race. Our family participated for the 5th year, in the family race. Being the runner-up last year, we were very motivated to finish first this year. As the schedule proceeded, we became conscious that it would be a tough competition. In the last swimming heat of the morning we were lined up next to last year’s winners. At the start signal we had only 1 mission - cross the pool as fast as possible, 4 times,.... which we did.... 0.02 seconds faster than the competition. Yeah!!! We want to thank the Club and Aquaducks for the great event. It was very nice to see so many people around the pool and to feel the fantastic atmosphere. Start training and next year you could be a winner! (As we are leaving lovely Singapore this Summer for a new adventure in Oslo).
Events Coming Up - AquaDucks May Holiday Camps Wed & Fri, 4th & 6th May - Award Swimming Fri, 10th June - ABC Swimming Sun, 12th June WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 61
CLUB talks The Hollandse Club welcomes inspiring speakers to spread their ideas and engage the audience. First Speaker not to miss is Jack Sim, founder of the World Toilet Organization and the Bottom -Of-Pyramid Hub. Successful businessman turned philanthropist. 2001 Jack broke global taboo of toilet and sanitation by bringing it to global media with his unique mix of humor and serious facts. 2004 Winner of Singapore Green Plan Award. 2008 Time Magazine Hero of the Environment. Sits in World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Councils for Water Security and Social Entrepreneurship. Be inspired. Join us on May 25th – 8pm
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SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS REPORTS
SQUASH By Paul C W Roberts
Can the Tasmanian Devil do the impossible and get another National Squash League Championship for the Hollandse Club? Well, we are midway through the season and god forbid my famous last words put the kybosh on a wonderful thing, but the Vets I team are currently holding on to the number one spot by hook or by crook. Some clearly stoic performances from the team, in particular Mr Fred ‘Duuglas’ Sarloos, who only six month ago had a new wooden hip inserted and despite jeers of ‘Robocop’ in his early return to the court, he persevered and overcame the odds to get back to the player he once was. He reminds me of an old Douglas Bader; well apart from the fact that Douglas Bader overcame the loss of both legs to fly a Spitfire again...you can see the similarities.
two Johnies have been playing out of their skins and despite some rather weak performances from other antipodeans the C team remain in rude health. The D’s are being sucked dry of talent as John Yates and John Bird continue their ascent to greatness. Fortunately Ross is ensuring that we at least have some strength in the D but selflessly losing on a regular basis. Colin ’the Butterfly’ returns to the ranks for the second half of the season but he too is injured, although how much it will restrict his already very restricted movement is yet to be seen.
So if the Vets Is are positively flying, the Vets IIs are sort of hovering somewhat precariously just above the ground. We lie smack in the middle of the pack having played some of the stronger teams. What I can say with a great sense of pride is the fact that thus far we have managed to field a full team each week, something rarely achieved last year. Vijoy has got over his match day jitters to put in some sterling performances, Manoj continues to be the bigger man, taking the number one spot and despite being easily beaten every time, he remains resolute in taking one for the team. And him a banker too!
And finally to the E’s run by our Regal Romanian . A team I think doing well but having had no reports through I can only assume are heading in the right direction. So, not a bad season thus far.
Over to the main draw and the C team are being led with aplomb by James and they too seem to be having a blinder of a season and this without the talents of Daniel G who has spent the last six month nursing his well worn back into some sort of working order. The The internal ladders have started again and after my last report it seems that the tennis section have had second thoughts about the Racketlon Challenge. We have heard nothing from them and so I can only assume that they simply don’t have the appetite for another beating at the hands of the squash section. So, what more can I say? Not a lot really. If there is any interest in playing god’s game then please feel free to venture down to the courts on a Saturday afternoon at around 14.00 when we have our socials. We welcome all comers so we hope to see you down there. WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 63
SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS REPORTS
TENNIS By Danielle van Wees
New Hollandse Club members interested in playing tennis The Tennis Committee at the Hollandse Club is always happy to welcome new tennis enthusiasts into our midst. If you are a new member of the Hollandse Club and interested in playing tennis, please send us an email to tenniscommittee@hollandseclub.org.sg then we can keep you up to date with the upcoming tennis events. In addition, please note that you are very welcome to join any of the tennis socials at the Hollandse Club. Tennis courts can be booked through Reception (tel. 6464 5225). Please do not forget to contact Reception if you have to reschedule or cancel your tennis court booking. This will give your fellow members the opportunity to play. Many thanks to Maja Duyverman! After many years, unfortunately, Maja is leaving Singapore. For 10 years she was the organiser of the Monday Morning Ladies Social. In addition to this she was a player and captain of the B Wits Tennis Team for the Hollandse Club. She did both things with full dedication and great enthusiasm!!! Maja, thank you very much for all your work and good luck in the Netherlands!! The Tennis Socials of the Hollandse Club
Photos by Inge Kuipers
Coming Events Youth Club Championships May 6th and 7th Adults Club Championships May 13th, 14th and 15th
Tennis Ladder All year round Are you interested in organising the Monday Morning Ladies Social? Please send an email to tenniscommittee@hollandseclub.org.sg Additionally, if you are interested in joining the Tennis Committee, please send an email to tenniscommittee@hollandseclub.org.sg Sportive Tennis regards, Danielle van Wees (Convener), Marina Aarts, Sheila Bouwman, Susanne Geerdink and Eva Hanegraaf
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SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS REPORTS
Beach Tennis Sizzles During March, Savitar held a full day of beach tennis for its Members. In the morning, our Hollandse Club juniors competed against another team of players from the Savitar Tennis Centre at the Fairmont Hotel. After five matches Floris Westerbeek from the Hollandse Club took out the event on his first attempt at beach tennis. Congratulations Floris! In the afternoon the adults had a fun and competitive round of matches, playing five sets of matches in three hours, which is lots of beach tennis for anybody!
Woulter Moormann played consistently all afternoon, winning all his matches and was the overall winner. Congratulations to all the players that participated and made the afternoon so much fun. Any players interested in joining our next beach tennis event please contact the tennis director Scott Johnston on 90389348 or email scott@savitar.sg.
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SPORTS IN FOCUS Photos by Inge Kuipers
Coaches’ Corner: By Scott Johnston
Mental Tips for Match Play If you feel there is a big difference between the way you play socially and the way you play in matches, you’re not alone! This is very common and it is all in your head. Here are some mental tips to get you more prepared and to help you perform better during matches. Talk your way into the match, not out of the match. It is common before the match that people ask you who you are playing and you go on about how good they are, who they have beaten before, how often they play etc. Basically, you are talking your way into losing. Give yourself some credit in your discussions about the match or avoid saying anything negative or positive about your opponent. Just say, for example, “I’m going to try my best and enjoy the match.” Go and have fun. This starts as soon as you sign up for the tournament. Enjoy the competition, the excitement of the draw, the crowd, the fine food! During your warm up, don’t get annoyed by mistakes, warm up your mind by staying positive and having fun. Play the game as well as you can, enjoy the competitive atmosphere. During the match, acknowledge your opponent’s good shots, be fair and think about nothing but the match. Try these tips in your next match and enjoy your tennis!
IMPORTANT DATES June 10 Hollandse Club Under 10, 12, 14 Junior Team Tennis Grand Final June 18 Last Day of Junior Group Tennis Programme June 21 - 23
Savitar Junior Tennis Camp 1 (9am to 12pm daily)
June 28 - 30
Savitar Junior Tennis Camp 2 (9am to 12pm daily)
July 5 - 7
Savitar Junior Tennis Camp 3 (9am to 12pm daily)
July 12 - 14
Savitar Junior Tennis Camp 4 (9am to 12pm daily)
July 26 - 28
Savitar Junior Tennis Camp 5 (9am to 12pm daily)
Aug 2 - 4
Savitar Junior Tennis Camp 6 (9am to 12pm daily)
Aug 9 - 11
Savitar Junior Tennis Camp 7 (9am to 12pm daily)
Aug 15
New Term of Junior Group Tennis Programs. Term 2 Begins
Aug 19
Hollandse Club under 10, 12, 14 Junior Team Tennis Competition (week 1 new season)
For any more information or to register for any of the above activities, please contact Scott Johnston on 9038 9348 or email at scott@savitar.sg 66 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG
SPORTS IN FOCUS
WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 67
SPORTS IN FOCUS
JUDO with Jagsport By Gerard Lim Introduction Whether the goal is self-defence, personal development, or just to have fun, our judo programme is designed to bring out the best of each individual. Unlike team sports, judo works on developing selfesteem and when the need arises, a simple and effective form of self-defence. Children actively involved in judo demonstrate a lower level of anxiety, an increased sense of responsibility and are less likely to be withdrawn. Judo can also be practiced by children with physical disabilities and special needs. About Jagsport Providing judo classes to the Club since 1997, Team Jagsport is best known for their quality training programs and is the preferred choice for discerning parents. In addition to running classes for organisations (including Camp Asia) and educational institutions, they operate their own training facility, which is also home to the Singapore National Judo team. All coaches undergo regular fitness and coaching courses, locally and abroad, to ensure quality instructions in a safe environment. Trainers are especially selected for their life skills and ability to relate to the children.
Other class options and adult classes for personal protection, submission grappling, and sambo can be arranged upon request (minimum 6 participants to start) Classes are ongoing throughout the year with scheduled breaks during term and public holidays, and you may enroll your child at any time, if there are vacancies. FEES: Course fees are payable in advance per term, and the course fees will be pro-rated from the point of entry until the end of the term.
Prerequisites / Requirements: 1. Newcomers are invited to attend a trial session to assist in making an informed decision. Your child should be comfortably attired in T-shirt and shorts. 2. Confirmed participants will be required to purchase a set of judo uniform for training. Applications & Enquiries:
Our Classes To maintain a consistent level of instruction and supervision, classes are kept small (maximum 16 participants). No more than 6 students are assigned to 1 trainer. Classes are held at the Rotterdam room, for children from as young as 4 years on the following days: 1. Friday 1700h: Children from 7 years (All Grades) 2. Saturday 0930h: Children 4 years to 7 years (Beginners) 3. Saturday 1030h: Children 7 years to 9 years (All Grades) 4. Saturday 1130h: Children 8 years and older (Intermediate)
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You may register with Reception or speak to the Sports & Recreation Officer for more information. Enquiries pertaining to the class content may be directed to Ms. Joanna DC Ang at 9173 3793, or via email to: joanna@jagsport.com Make a change, join us on the mats!
SPORTS IN FOCUS
JUDO Rohain interviews his Jagsport coaches By Rohain, 7 years old
Judo helps you with your arm, leg and throwing techniques. It’s really fun doing judo and it tells you that there are lots of paths to doing it and you can’t give up because there are so many ways. It’s a lot of fun doing judo especially when you’re learning. We need more people to join the judo group to see how much fun it is and to experience the way of judo. Sign up if you want to have some fun in judo! I interviewed Joanna DC Ang (Filipina), Patrick Castaneda (Filipino with Singapore PR) and Arvin Balamurugan who is Singaporean. Rohain: Why did you come to Singapore? Joanna: To explore new work opportunities and live here. Rohain: Why did you choose to do judo? Joanna: My parents are judokas so it was only natural for my siblings and me to practice judo. Patrick: I chose judo as I wanted to join a sport cocurricular activity in junior college. I was inspired by my seniors and impressed by their skills. Rohain: What do you like about judo? Arvin: I like that judo is a self-defence sport. Rohain: What do you enjoy about judo? Joanna: To be able to use my creativity to explore my body’s possibilities.
Rohain: Why do you like teaching here? Joanna: The children are creative and entertaining, and they truly enjoy our class. Rohain: How do you think judo helps people who learn it? What benefits does it give? Arvin: Judo helps with motor skills and hand-leg coordination. It helps us gain confidence and physical fitness. Rohain: What advice would you give to those who want to start learning judo? Joanna: Go for it! Do not be afraid and have fun. Mostly find a place where you can bond with the class and instructor. Rohain: What advice would you give to those who are already taking judo, if they want to get better? Patrick: Just keep training and never give up! Pay close attention to the instructor’s directions during training and put in your best effort when practicing. I have been maybe the longest doing judo in my class and have experienced a lot. It’s fun and awesome and it also helps with self-defence, so you try Jag Sport. We hope to see you in our judo class to experience the fun of it. Love judo and never give up!
Rohain: What is your interest in judo? Joanna: Playing a match. Patrick: Doing the perfect throw. Rohain: Why did you choose Jagsport? Patrick: Because Jagsport coaches and trainers are passionate about judo and they have an excellent competition and safety record. Rohain: What is special to you about teaching judo? Joanna: The values it is based on and the happy faces I see on the mats. Rohain: Why did you choose the Hollandse Club to teach at? Patrick: Jagsport has been providing judo to the club since 1996 and we are proud to continue the work of our senior coaches.
Taken last year, Rohain (left) got a double promotion from white belt to double tip and his brother Nihilan got a double promotion from yellow to orange single tip.
WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 69
CHEF’S SPECIALS
May
VEGETARIAN LASAGNE
$10.50
Layers of Spinach, Zucchini and Eggplant topped off with Melted Cheese.
FIG AND FETA SALAD
$15.00
Rocket Leaves, Fresh Figs, Feta, Walnuts & Crispy Prosciutto. Served with Olive Oil & Vinegar.
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SMOKED SALMON BAGEL SANDWICH
$12.50
Slices Smoked Salmon with Cream Cheese, Tomato,Red Onion & Capers. Served with Bagel & Lemon Wedges.
* Add S$2.00 to any Main Dish in the Monthly Food Promotion and get a bottle of a Strong Bow Cider. * Add S$1.00 to the Kids’ Menu Special of the Month and get a pack of Marigold Apple Juice or a Dutch Lady Milk Chocolate or Yakult or a small Shirley Temple.
INDONESIAN BEEF RENDANG $14.50
Served with Potato Cake, Krupuk Emping, Pickled Achar & Steamed Rice.
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SWEET & SOUR PORK
$11.00
Stir Fried Crispy Pork Cubes & Vegetable in a Sweet & Sour Sauce. Served with Steamed Rice.
SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE
$8.00 Spaghetti with Tomato and Minced Beef Sauce. Photos by Inge Kuipers WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 71
CHEF’S SPECIALS
June
INDONESIAN BEEF RENDANG
$14.50
Served with Potato Cake, Krupuk Emping, Pickled Achar & Steamed Rice.
WATERMELON & FETA SALAD
$11.00
Water Melon Cubes, Feta, Black Olives, Red Onion, Pine Nuts & Mint Leaves. Served with Honey Mustard Dressing.
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HEALTHY SANDWICH
$11.50
Open Faced Sandwich with Lettuce, Sliced Ham, Cheese, Boiled Egg, Tomato, Gherkins on a Rye Bread.
* Add S$2.00 to any Main Dish in the Monthly Food Promotion and get a bottle of a Strong Bow Cider. * Add S$1.00 to the Kids’ Menu Special of the Month and get a pack of Marigold Apple Juice or a Dutch Lady Milk Chocolate or Yakult or a small Shirley Temple.
IKAN BAKAR TALIWANG $13.50
Grilled Black Pomfret Lombok Style. Served with Rice & Vegetable.
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THAI GREEN CURRY CHICKEN
GRILLED PORK SAUSAGE WITH APPLE SAUCE
$13.50
$9.50
Stewed Chicken in Coconut Gravy with Eggplant served with White Steamed Rice.
Served with Baby Carrots & Potato Wedges. Photos by Inge Kuipers WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 73
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ADB SUMMER BBQ We’re keeping traditions alive!
Why should you join the AdB?
Join us for a Brazilian night together, where we promise great food, cool drinks and time to catch up! Venue: We are very happy and thank ADB Member Patrick van der Voort, Vopak, for hosting the ADB Summer BBQ for the fourth time in a row in the garden of his beautiful black & white house.
ADB offers not only a platform to share knowledge and experience of doing business in Asia, but also:
• Inspires through company visits, cultural visits and lectures;
• Encourages personal development through panel discussions held by members, prominent Dutch and non-Dutch business people and industry experts;
• Facilitates networking at our monthly events, annual dinner & dance and during casual drinks;
• Gives the opportunity to converse with Dutch
Date: Thursday June 2nd from 7.30pm – 11.00pm
politicians, visiting Singapore;
• Keeps you informed through our bimonthly ADB Magazine full of Dutch news with a
More informaton: adb.org.sg / adb@adb.org.sg
Singaporean twist.
°°°
“Connecting Dutch business people in Singapore”
°°°
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RECIPROCAL ARRANGEMENTS AFFILIATE GOLF CLUBS
AFFILIATE SOCIAL CLUBS IN SINGAPORE
Hollandse Club members have privileged golf rates at golf clubs* in and around Singapore. Call the Sports department at 6461 1127 or email sportsrec@hollandseclub.org.sg for further information.
• NTU Alumni Club – www.ntualumni.org.sg • Changi Sailing Club – www.csc.org.sg
The following clubs are involved: • Orchid Country Club, Singapore (Weekdays) • Sembawang Country Club, Singapore (Weekdays) • Warren Golf & Country Club, Singapore (Weekdays & Sunday afternoons) • Indah Putri, Batam – Indonesia • IOI Palm Villa Golf & Country Resort, Johor – Malaysia • Horizon Hills Resort Berhad, Johor – Malaysia • Palm Resorts, Johor – Malaysia • Macau Golf & Country Club, Macau – China
RECIPROCAL CLUBS: INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATE CLUBS
Hollandse Club members can also enjoy access to all clubs under International Associate Clubs worldwide. Refer to www.iacworldwide.com for the list of clubs and services. *Terms & Conditions only.
RECIPROCAL CLUBS
Hollandse Club members enjoy access to premier international reciprocal clubs offering excellent standards of Food & Beverage outlets and recreational facilities (including golf). Feel free to contact the Membership department at 6461 1139 or email sales@hollandseclub.org.sg for further information. Australia
The Commercial Club (Albury Ltd) The City Tattersalls Club Royal Automobile Club of Australia (RACA) Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) Tamworth Golf Club
Albury Sydney Sydney Melbourne West Tamworth
www.commclubalbury.com.au www.citytatts.com.au www.raca.com.au www.racv.com.au www.tamworthgolfclub.com.au
Brunei
The Royal Brunei Yacht Club
Jalan Kota Batu
www.therbyc.com
Canada
Hollyburn Country Club
Vancouver
www.hollyburn.org
China
Ambassy Club Almeria Private Clubs Old Chengdu Club Naga Club Han Yuan Club Stone Mountain Golf Club & Resort Placid Rivers Club
Shanghai
www.ambassyclub.com.cn www.worldclubnet.com
Hong Kong
Foreign Correspondents’ Club Butterfield’s
Chengdu Beijing Suzhou Dali Beijing www.fcchk.org www.butterfields.com.hk
Hong Kong Football Club United Services Recreation Club Pacific Club Macau Golf & Country Club
Central City TaiKoo Place, Quarry Bay Happy Valley Kowloon Kowloon Macau
India
Golden Swan Country Club
Thane
www.goldenswan.com
Indonesia
Southlinks Country Club Indah Putri Golf Resort
Batam Batam
www.southlinksgolf.com www.indahpuri.com
Japan
Kobe Club Tokyo American Club Yokohama Country & Athletic Club
Kobe Tokyo Yokohama
www.kobeclub.org www.tac-club.org www.ycac.or.jp
Malaysia
The Raintree Club Royal Lake Club Kelab Renang Pulau Pinang Horizon Hills Golf Resort 101 Palm Villa Golf & Country Resort
Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur Penang Johor Johor
www.raintreeclub.net www.royallakeclub.org.my www.penangswimclub.com www.hhgcc.com.my www.palmvilla.com.my
Netherlands
De Industrieele Groote De Witte Societeit
Amsterdam The Hague
www.igc.nl www.societeitdewitte.nl
Norway
Shipping Klubben
Oslo
www.shippingklubben.no
Philippines
The Manila Club Nomad Sports Club
Makati City Metro Manila
www.themanilaclub.com www.normadsportclub.com
Qatar
The Doha Club
Doha
www.doha-club.com
Singapore
The Japanese Association Keppel Club
Adam Road www.jas.org.sg Bukit Chermin Rd www.keppelclub.com.sg
South Africa
The Cape Town Club
Cape Town
www.capetownclub.org.za
Thailand
Banyan Golf Club The British Club
Hua Hin Bangkok
www.banyanthailand.com www.britishclubbangkok.org
United Arab Emirates
The Club, Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
www.the-club.com
United Kingdom
St. James’ Club The Lansdowne Club
London London
www.stjamesclubandhotel.co.uk www.lansdowne-club.co.uk
www.hkfc.com.hk www.usrc.org.hk www.pacificclub.com.hk www.mgccmacau.com
NEW BOOKS MAY / JUNE 2016
__________ ENGLISH BOOKS (ADULTS) _________ Based on the real life of fur trapper Hugh Glass. Punke’s novel opens in 1823, when Hugh Glass joins the Rocky Mountain Fur Co. on a venture into perilous, unexplored territory. After being savagely mauled by a grizzly bear, his nearly lifeless body is left in the care of two volunteers from the company. When Indians approach their camp, Fitzgerald and Bridger abandon Glass. Worse yet, they rob him of his weapons and tools. Deserted, defenceless, and furious, Glass vows his survival. And his revenge.
“The Revenant” by Michael Punke In Ireland in the early 1950s, Eilis Lacey is one of many who cannot find work at home. Thus when a job is offered in America, it is clear that she must go. Leaving behind her family and country, Eilis heads for unfamiliar Brooklyn and to a crowded boarding house. Slowly, the pain of parting is buried beneath the rhythms of her new life -- and finally, she begins to realise that she has found a sort of happiness. As she falls in love, news comes from home that forces her back to Enniscorthy -- not to the constrictions of her old life, but to new possibilities which conflict deeply with the life she has left behind in Brooklyn. Colm Toibin has captured, the immigrant experience in 1950s Brooklyn, where young, eager hearts try to navigate the struggles of modern life.
“Brooklyn” by Colm Toibin Vianne and Isabelle have always been close despite their differences. Younger, bolder sister Isabelle lives in Paris while Vianne lives a quiet and content life in the French countryside with her husband Antoine and their daughter. When World War II strikes and Antoine is sent off to fight, Vianne and Isabelle’s father sends Isabelle to help her older sister cope. As the war progresses, it’s not only the sisters’ relationship that is tested, but also their strength and their individual senses of right and wrong. With life as they know it changing in unbelievably horrific ways, Vianne and Isabelle will find themselves facing frightening situations and responding in ways they never thought possible as bravery and resistance take different forms in each of their actions.
“The Nightingale” by Kristin Hannah 78 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG
At seven years old, Martin Booth found himself with all of Hong Kong by at Harper his feet Lee when his father was posted there in 1952. This is his memoir of that youth, a time when he had access to corners of the colony normally closed to a gweilo, a “pale fellow” like him. From the plink plonk man with his dancing monkey to Nagasaki Jim, and from a drunken child molester to the Queen of Kowloon (the crazed tramp who may have been a Romanov), Martin saw it all--but his memoir illustrates a deeper challenge in his warring parents. This is an intimate and powerful memory of a place and time now past.
“Gweilo” by Martin Booth Set in Wexford, Ireland, Colm Tóibín’s magnificent seventh novel introduces the formidable, memorable, and deeply moving Nora Webster. Widowed at forty, with four children and not enough money, Nora has lost the love of her life, Maurice, the man who rescued her from the stifling world to which she was born. And now she fears she may be sucked back into it. Wounded, selfish, strong-willed, clinging to secrecy in a tiny community where everyone knows your business, Nora is drowning in her own sorrow and blind to the suffering of her young sons, who have lost their father. Yet she has moments of stunning insight and empathy, and when she begins to sing again, after decades, she finds solace, engagement, a haven—herself.
“Nora Webster” by Colm Toibin Discovering a tattered letter that says she is to open it only in the event of her husband’s death, Cecelia, a successful family woman, is unable to resist reading the letter and discovers a secret that shatters her life and the lives of two other women.
“The Husband’s Secret” by Liane Moriarty
LIBRARY LIBRARY
ENGLISH BOOK _ (CHILDREN) _
One of Harry Potter’s Hogwarts textbooks written by J.K. Rowling under a pseudonym. It is an A to Z listing of magical beasts and their classifications, believed by Muggles to be mythical, like the Quintaped, the Puffskein, and the Knarl.
“Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them” by Newt Scamander
___________ DUTCH BOOKS (ADULTS) ___________ Een jong stel verruilt de grote stad voor een oud huis in de Himalaya. De anonieme, mannelijke, hoofdpersoon kan zich hierdoor in alle rust op het schrijven storten. Hij kampt echter met een writer?s block, en het stel groeit langzaam uit elkaar. Wanneer hij geobsedeerd raakt door een kist met dagboeken van de vorige eigenaresse van het huis, verlaat zijn vriendin, Fizz, hem. Hij reconstrueert het leven van de hoofdpersoon uit de dagboeken, Catherine, en legt daarbij niet alleen de geheimen uit haar verleden bloot maar ook het fundament van zijn relatie met Fizz.
“De Alchemie van het Verlangen” door Tarun J. Tejpal Een gezellig souper waarop Hannelore Martens en Van In zich op een snikhete zomerdag willen trakteren, wordt bruusk verstoord door brigadier Versavel die zijn baas komt opvorderen omdat er aan de Damse Vaart een driedubbele moord is gepleegd.
“Onder Valse Vlag” door Pieter Aspe
U-mi en haar jongere broertje U-il worden door hun moeder verlaten. Na een zwerftocht langs diverse familieleden komt hun vader hen halen en neemt hen mee naar zijn nieuwe woning. Dit twijfelachtige geluk komt echter tot een abrupt einde als ook hij na korte tijd zijn kinderen in de steek laat. U-mi en U-il koesteren hun droom te kunnen vliegen. Zo proberen ze zich te handhaven in het harde leven, maar op het moment dat zij hun vleugels uitslaan, blijken zij vogels met gebroken vleugels.
“Vogel” door Oh Jung-hee Het boek speelt in de negentiende eeuw. In een Gelders dorpje zou een wonder gebeuren: een ziek meisje ontvangt elke vrijdag de stigmata, de kruiswonden van Jezus in haar handen. Op onverklaarbare wijze komt er bloed uit haar handen en voeten. Pastoor Peters moet gaan onderzoeken of er écht sprake is van een wonder. Geloof en wetenschap botsen met elkaar. Hoe moet je als pastoor functioneren als je zelf twijfelt aan het geloof? Gruwelijke armoede, vreselijke ontberingen, helse pijnen, en geloof. Of bedrog? Een verrassend boek over een pastoor en een non, die vroeger ooit geliefden leken te worden.
“Het Vergeten Seizoen” door Peter Delpeut
De ooit zo statige residentie die de Russische emigrant Pavel Antipov in Istanbul voor zijn vrouw liet bouwen, is tragisch in verval geraakt en biedt nu onderdak aan tien families en - naast een groot aantal beestjes - een luizenplaag. Tot de bewoners behoren onder meer de mooie Ultramarijne Minnares met haar persoonlijke geheim, en een kapperstweeling. Maar in het gebouw huist ook tante Madame, die het oude Turkije belichaamt, dat zijn historie koestert maar botst met het nieuwe. Shafak laat op een scherpe manier het culturele en spirituele verval in het hart van Istanbul zien.
“Het Luizenpaleis” door Elif Shafak
De voddenkoningin is het wervelende levensverhaal van Koko, die in de sixties en seventies vodden verzamelt, er vintagemode van maakt, en op het hoogtepunt van haar carrière alles weer verliest. Sprookje en tragedie, portret van een ondernemende vrouw, verhaal van vriendschap, vertrouwen en economisch roofridderdom – met De voddenkoningin laat Saskia Goldschmidt ons een wereld zien, die zeldzaam vertrouwd en vreemd tegelijk is.
“De Voddenkoningin” door Pieter Aspe WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 79
In 2016, LePetitdepot launches Carrefour products in Singapore!
All your French favourites at unbeatable prices delivered straight to your door
voucher
S$10
code HOSC16*
> Order online : free delivery the next day The best prices in town!
All basic products
Organic
Gluten free
Frozen
Cheese & dairies
Baby
Kids
Gourmets
Wines
www.lepetitdepot.com * Use the code above before checking out to enjoy free delivery and a S$10 discount on your first order - minimum 70$ - before June 30th 2016.