The XPAT JOURNAL SUMMER 2010 issue
Contents
IN THIS ISSUE 3
From the Editor
4
From the Point of View of... Bing Thio
8 12 14 16 20 22 28 24 26 39 64 30 60 68 40
INTRODUCTION INTERVIEW HEALTH CARE Someone to Take Care of Me Health Care Insurance - Home Coverage or Dutch Coverage? Health References Special Children Need Specialized Help Dental Care in the Netherlands
EXPAT LIVING IamExpat: Enjoying the Experience of Living in the Netherlands Private Recruiter Natanja Lokerse Frees Up Your Time and Your Mind
HOUSING Monumental Living on the Nassauplein
CULTURE Taken Out of the Box, Classical Music Has Something for Everyone The Hague Sculpture 2010 met Manolo Valdés en Kim De Ruysscher Delft Chamber Music Festival 2010: Play!
EVENT North Sea Jazz; Enjoying the Known and Discovering the Unknown World Première Wild Wonders of Europe in The Hague Feel at Home in The Hague
LEISURE
46 66
How to Turn City Slickers Into Happy Campers Diary of Events Footsbarn - Sorry! That’s Life
50
Art Diary
54
Young Writers in Print
62
ABC Summer Top 5
70
Summer in my Head
74
Funny You Should Ask About... Health
76
SERVICE
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The XPat Journal ® The premier magazine for expatriates in the Netherlands Published quarterly since 1998 Volume 13 Number 2 June - Aug 2010 ISSN 1388 932 X PUBLISHED BY The XPat Journal c.v. Bert van Essen Van Boetzelaerlaan 153 2581 AR The Hague, the Netherlands Tel.: +31(0)70 306 33 10 Fax: +31(0)70 306 33 11 E-mail: info@xpat.nl Website: www.xpat.nl EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Stephanie Dijkstra E-mail: editor@xpat.nl CONTRIBUTORS Shirley Agudo, Lisa Bruno, Nico van Dijk, Stephanie Dijkstra, Holly Marder, Robin Pascoe, Suzanne Schreve, Deborah Valentine, Hayley Wakenshaw, Tijmen Wisman, Pierre Wind, Nikki Young ON THE COVER Norah Jones - Photo: North Sea Jazz Festival ADVERTISEMENT INFO The XPat Journal c.v. Tel.: +31(0)70 306 33 10 Fax: +31(0)70 306 33 11 E-mail: sales@xpat.nl TRANSLATIONS Across Borders, Driebergen GRAPHIC DESIGN Studio Ferry Bridié BNO, The Hague PRINTED BY Offset Print B.V., Valkenswaard SUBSCRIPTIONS To subscribe for € 19.50 per year visit: www.xpat.nl For subscription service, change of address, termination and back issues, e-mail: subscriptions@xpat.nl © 2010 The XPat Journal c.v. All rights are reserved. No part of The XPat Journal may be reproduced or used in any form without permission in writing from the publisher. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this publication was correct at the time of going to press. However, the publisher and writers cannot accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information included. The content of The XPat Journal is not intended to serve as legal, immigration or tax advice. Readers are encouraged to consult with professional advisors for advice concerning specific matters.
Editor
Not only living, but also traveling, abroad can bring about a considerable amount of stress if it comes together with being sick. A friend of ours spent five days bouncing on the back seat of a four-wheel-drive through Africa, rushing into the bushes every now and then and cradling his stomach as it protested against uninvited guests. In France, we were given antibiotic submarines for our eight-month-old baby with the instructions not to crush, break, mix or otherwise tamper with them in order to make it actually feasible to get them down her gullet, while she was gasping for breath due to bronchiolitis. My cousin accidentally sawed through the muscle in his upper leg with his ski while in Austria and was told to relax (!) as they sewed the muscle back together again, because the tension in the muscle was making it too hard to pull it together... Ah, the joys of a malfunctioning body in another country. The worries of whether the doctor will understand you, or you will understand him, whether they will make the right diagnosis, have the right medicine, whether you will understand your instructions, whether you will ever make it home in one piece - all make you think twice, if you’re inclined to worry, about whether or not to make that trip or move. Which is yet another of the many reasons why it is so nice that you have come to live in the Netherlands. The doctors are close by, they almost all speak English, the medication you can get here is the same or at least of equal quality as back home, there are numerous hospitals - all in all, a pretty reassuring set of conditions. The biggest difference really is the attitude of the average Dutch GP; in general, it is appreciated if you try to stick it out without medication, whining, or even a doctor’s visit - at least the first five days. Not that they are entirely wrong; most afflictions tend to go away in about five days; all you have to do is take it easy, get plenty of oxygen, drink lots of fluids and be positive. In fact, in most cases, this is exactly what your Dutch GP will tell you to do: “Come back in five days, if it doesn’t get any better.” In fact, I have this down to such an art that my GP nowadays tells me; “Come back next time you actually have visible symptoms” because I wait so long that I look terrible, but he can no longer tell what exactly ails me. I once turned out to have so-called ‘fifth disease’, but with the help of oral antihistamine I had suppressed the symptoms and made it absolutely impossible for him to diagnose the problem. When my daughter came down with it a few days later, the retrospective diagnosis became clear. In fact, the other day he cheered because he could tell within an instant what was the matter with me. The average Dutch GP likes to minimize the intake of pills of any kind; only the absolutely necessary will make their way onto his prescription paper. In other words, the multitude of symptom suppressors that you will find the average American, English, or French drugstore are considered unnecessary chemicals here - nor are they easily obtainable over-the-counter. So don’t expect much help of that kind here - better to go back home and stock up on what you consider the bare necessities, and remember to perhaps bring a little extra for your friends who will envy your clear sinuses as they work they way through another box of tissues. In this issue, a few words on the Dutch medical and insurance system - plus, to remain in the medical context, an interview with Bing Thio, dermatologist at Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, who shares with us, among others, his views of western medicine vs. eastern medicine and the place each has in the western medical world. And in the meantime, remember, stock up on sunshine - it is the best preparation for getting through all your winter colds that will be lying wait for you when the R sneaks back into the month...
VISIT WWW.XPAT.NL THE XPAT JOURNAL
3
INTERVIEW
PHOTOGRAPHY ELLEN GROOTES
In the articles entitled “From the point of view of...”, we tell the story of an expatriate who is living in the Netherlands. In each edition, we interview an expatriate, each time from a different country and each time in a different position (the person who was placed here by the employer, came here on his or her own initiative, the partner, the family members, etc.) For this issue of The XPat Journal we interviewed Bing Thio, dermatologist at Erasmus
I
Medical Center in Rotterdam. In 1970, when Bing Thio was ten years old, his parents decid-
Worldly-Wise
ed to move with their two children, Bing and his sister Debby,
Now Bing lives in The Hague with his wife, Eline, and their two
to the Netherlands. Living in Indonesia, and being of Chinese
sons: Bing and Twan. How does life in the western part of the
descent, Bing’s parents had witnessed enough discrimination
country compare to life in the eastern part? “Without a doubt,
of and random violence towards the Chinese population, that
the people in the eastern part are nicer, more modest. The
they decided they did not want to expose their children to this
people in the stores are always eager to help you and to give
type of treatment if they didn’t have to.
you a word of advice. This is always a welcome change, compared to the arrogance of store employees in particularly the
Ostracized
chic areas of The Hague. Whenever possible, if I have to make
Approximately 5.3% of the Indonesian population is of Chi-
an expensive purchase, I try to wait until I’m back in Ensch-
nese descent - though this percentage is really assumed
ede, so I can stimulate the local economy. On the other hand,
to be much higher, yet hidden due to the high degree of
looking at my sons, life in The Hague better prepares them
(forced) assimilation. A large group of Chinese had emigrated
for the unexpected - both in terms of things that can happen
to Indonesia in the late 19th century, in an effort to escape
and in people they might meet. Children who grow up in the
poverty. With hard work and diligence, many became suc-
Randstad are indeed more worldly-wise than kids that don’t.”
cessful tradesmen, but were not allowed to own land or fulfill positions of power. Similar to the Jews in Europe, they were
Leiden
looked at askance by the local population and were often
After graduating from high school, Bing decided to study medi-
ostracized.
cine at the university of Leiden. However, when there are more applicants than places, the names of the applying students are
4
Enschede
drawn at random until all places have been filled. Bing’s name
When, during the late 60s, the Thios were looking for a new
was not among them. Determined to try again the next year, and
home, they decided, like many (Chinese) Indonesians before
in order to do something useful in the meantime, he enrolled to
them, to come to the Netherlands - an understandable choice,
study French at the Sorbonne, in France. “This way, if I were to
considering the ties that still existed bet ween the two coun-
be turned down a second year, then at least I could go study
tries, based on their shared colonial past. Being a dentist,
medicine in France,” he explains. However, the second time
Bing’s father had no trouble opening a practice to provide for
around, his name came out of the hat and he entered Leiden
his family. “We moved to Enschede, near the German border,”
medical school in 1979. Leiden turned out to be a good choice;
Bing tells. “It was a wonderful place to grow up. Laid-back,
it has a small-town feel, but a large student population. Though
warm, protected. No hustle and bustle, and a very low level of
there is no campus in Leiden, the relatively large student popula-
stress. As far as I recall, my sister and I were not only the only
tion in combination with the small town center ensures that the
Chinese children in the school, we were the only non-Dutch
city/town of Leiden has a laid-back studentikoze - an unofficial
nationals.” Bing continues: “Everyone was very welcoming
Dutch word that refers to anything student-like - atmosphere.
and very nice to us. Within no time we had a large circle of
When Bing was a student there, the international student popu-
friends from all social groups. It was a wonderful period. When
lation was virtually non-existent. Now it has a sizeable inter-
eventually my parents moved to a more upscale neighbor-
national student population that attends the English-language
hood, I stayed in my old school because I felt so at home
courses offered by the various faculties - including medicine,
there.”
law and business - as well as by Webster University.
THE XPAT JOURNAL
From the Point of View of...
Bing Thio
INTERVIEW
Making a Choice
to ‘ordinary’ medicine,” Bing observes drily. “In China, on
During his studies, Bing spent six months at the University
the other hand, where these methods are an accepted way
of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, where he carried out research into
of curing a patient, they have frequently proven to be just as
hypertension - an interesting choice for a dermatologist. “It
successful.” He goes on to explain: “In this country, a par-
was always my aim to become a doctor of internal medicine,
ticular standard policy is developed for treating a particular
whereby I was particularly interested in immunology,” he tells.
affliction, so that patients are given the same treatment for the
“But then I realized that there is far more immunology in der-
same problem, whether they be in Groningen or Rotterdam.
matology. Plus,” he added, “when you are a doctor of internal
To develop these policies, the doctors rely on evidence-based
medicine, most of your patients have an advanced age - which
research. This leaves little room for deviation in favor of alter-
I found a bit limiting. However, people age 0 to 100 can have
native processes. On the one hand, this may feel safer for
a dermatological affliction, so that you interact with people
the patient, and it takes away any discussion on what path to
of all ages -making it far more dynamic. And skin cells are
follow, or why one hospital does this and the other hospital
fast-growing, which means that the skin cures rapidly and you
does that. On the other hand, it removes a certain degree of
are rewarded quickly and gratifyingly with the results of your
personal involvement with the patient’s actual personal situ-
efforts. Furthermore, all the afflictions are on the surface; you
ation - if the doctor is not careful, he ends up merely going
don’t have to cut your way inside to see what is going on. And,
through the prescribed motions.”
something that appeals to me personally very much; there are very few fatal skin diseases.”
Nurses And how about the other medical care providers; nurses? How
Stem Cells
do east and west compare when it comes to that topic? “In
Luckily for someone who has chosen to be a dermatologist,
short, what can be said about a particular national culture in
Bing continues to be fascinated by the phenomenon skin: “The
general, can also be said of the hospital culture. In the east-
skin is a fascinating organ,” he enthuses. “Did you know that
ern countries, there is a lot of respect for the doctor; what he
the skin and the subcutaneous fat are full of stem cells that
says, goes - no discussion. And the patients are treated with
can convert into just about any type of cell if they are injected
respectful distance. In the western culture - at least, here in
into the right place?” Can one person’s skin cells be used for
the Netherlands - the nurses are far more liberal. It starts with
someone else? “No, every person’s organs and cells have their
the uniform; what they wear has a specific common basis, but
own password; you cannot use someone else’s cells. But in
there is room for individuality - in contrast with the truly uniform
your own skin, you have your own cells, with the right pass-
uniforms in Asian hospitals. Furthermore, if the nurses think a
word, with you at all times.”
patient is being obnoxious, you can be sure the patient will know this. This will not affect the quality of care he gets, but
Good Drive
the warm, fuzzy feeling may be missing. On the other hand, if
Earlier, we compared east and west, when it came to growing
a nurse disagrees with what the doctor is doing, then he will
up. How do east and west compare when it comes to medi-
say so. And the doctor will listen. Based on respect for their
cine? “Both medical worlds are very highly valued and of high
experience, observations and the realization that they interact
quality. However, in the west, the doctors are not very open to
more with the patient than the doctors do.”
alternative therapies, because they don’t like what they can’t prove. Half of the doctors are extremely enthusiastic; the other
Africa
half are violently opposed - which makes it impossible to inte-
But there is more to the world than just the ‘east’ and the
grate alternative healing options in a way that would satisfy all
‘west’. “I haven’t spoken about Africa yet,” Bing observes,
parties. I myself am not at liberty to prescribe any other type of
“which is a wholly different world - with the exception of South
therapy - all I can do, if a patient requests this treatment - is to
Africa, of course. It is a world where the people are eager
answer; ‘if you believe in it and it doesn’t pose a risk and you
to learn, but have almost no financial means. It is extremely
want to give it a try then I will neither dissuade you nor advise
gratifying to go there to teach or to cure, because they are so
you to do it; it’s your choice.’ I compare it to a beautiful car; I
grateful for what you can give. Luckily also the pharmaceutical
don’t know how good a drive it is, but I’m sure it will take you
industry, which is generally not viewed very favorably by the
somewhere.”
western world, answers the call for help and offers medication at a reduced price. The African medical world is a world of its
6
Evidence-Based Medicine
own. It is a rich ground for teaching, learning, preventing, cur-
“Basically, if you are against an alternative treatment, then it
ing and helping. A place where anyone dedicated enough can
probably won’t work. But let’s be honest, the same applies
truly make a difference; medicine at its best, in my opinion.”
THE XPAT JOURNAL
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Health Care
Someone to Take It’s one thing to be dealing with living in another country when you are in good health. But there is little that undermines your feeling of well-being
T
and ability to cope more than feeling ill.
containing information on just about everything relevant to the town or city you live in, such as doctors, sports schools, lawyers, day care, churches, etc.), or to ask those living in your neighborhood or other expats which doctor they go to. Naturally, you can also check the Yellow Pages of your phone book under Artsen - huisartsen. Keep in mind that some GPs have more patients than they can handle and find themselves forced to turn down new ones, at least for a while. Once you have settled on a GP, ask him if you can meet to
The good news is that you don’t need to be airlifted by heli-
discuss your needs and expectations and to establish com-
copter across the jungle to the nearest hospital or wait for six
patibility - especially as you are from abroad and might have
days for the appropriate medicine to arrive. The density of
different expectations.
doctors and hospitals here is enough to ensure that you will find a listening ear, knowledgeable hands and a well-stocked
Medication
medicine cabinet within minutes.
The GP can recommend medication and give you a prescription (recept). If you live in a country where you leave the
The Family Doctor
doctor’s office with a prescription for at least three types of
The Dutch word for family doctor or GP is huisarts - which
medicine no matter what you have, then you had best be
literally translates into ‘house doctor’. Despite being called
prepared. Chances are, your doctor will recommend that you
‘house doctor’, the GP only makes house calls in case of an
simply go home to bed with some toast and a cup of hot tea,
emergency. Otherwise you are expected to make an appoint-
which is the Dutch panacea for most minor illnesses. If you
ment and go see him (or her).
very much would like to be given medication, the best thing
Some GPs have walk-in consultation hours; these are
is for you to say so. Your doctor might not be in complete
usually early in the morning and do not require a prior
agreement, and might make you feel like a bit of a wimp, but
appointment. You simply go to the GP’s office, sit down in
to clear away any misunderstandings, you can explain that
the waiting room with the other patients, and await your turn.
this is the treatment you receive in your home country and
Other doctors only see you by appointment. You call in, make
that it makes you feel more secure (or better!).
an appointment for the same or the next day - and come at
For medication refills, simply call your GP. In most cases,
the agreed hour. Unless the doctor has been called out on
his or her assistant will be able to write out the prescrip-
an emergency, you will probably not have to wait more than
tion and will forward your request to the pharmacy of your
15 minutes.
choice. You can also choose to pick it up at the doctor’s
For simple questions, or to request a refill for your prescription, most doctors have a telefonische spreekuur,
office. Some doctors charge (a portion of) a consultation fee for this service.
whereby you can call in and speak to the doctor (or his assistant, who has followed special training) with your question or
Check-Ups
request.
General medical check-ups, on the whole, are not carried out
If your GP is away on a skiing vacation in the Austrian Alps
in the Netherlands. There are no annual blood pressure, cho-
or is out for an evening at the opera, he will leave a taped
lesterol, or blood-sugar tests. However, this does not mean
message in Dutch giving you the number of an on-duty doc-
that you cannot request a general check-up - it just has to be
tor, the doktersdienst (the emergency doctor), or the regionale
of your own initiative. In the bigger cities, you may be able to
huisartsenpost (a shared emergency practice).
find a medical center where you can have these tests carried out all in one go.
Finding a GP
8
The best place to start looking for a GP is to either consult
If You Need to See a Specialist
your gemeentegids (a booklet issued by your municipality
The GP, if he thinks you need more specialized expertise, will
THE XPAT JOURNAL
By Stephanie Dijkstra
Care of Me recommend you to a specialist. Most often, this will be someone at the nearest hospital. He will give you a referral notice (containing, among others, a history of your ailment) for the hospital and specialist he feels you should see. This does not mean that you do not have a say in what (type of) specialist you get to see or which hospital you would like to go to. Most GPs are quite flexible and all you have to do is say what (or who) it is you want. You will then have to make an appointment. Usually, your GP will have written down the relevant phone number on your referral notice. Depending on the type of specialist you need to see and the urgency of your condition, you can see him/her the same day or you might have to wait a while. If you need to see a dentist, eye doctor, physical therapist, need other help with physical disabilities, or need advice on your sexual health, also ask your GP for recommendations.
Insurance You have a choice between taking out health care insurance ‘in kind’ (natura) or based on ‘restitution’ (restitutie). In the latter case, you will have to pay your medical bills yourself and then ask you insurance company for a restitution, in the former, the insurance company will pay your medical bills directly. Keep in mind that, in either case, for your insurer to cover the expenses involved in your visit to the specialist, they will want to see a copy of the referral notice (see further on) - so you have no choice but to visit your GP first!
The Referral Notice For your insurer to cover the expenses involved in your visit to the specialist, they will want to see a copy of the referral notice (proving that your doctor thought it was necessary for you to go to the specialist). In most cases, the hospital keeps your referral notice - which you hand in to the specialist’s assistant when you come in for your appointment - and forwards a copy to the insurer along with the bill they submit on your behalf. If, however, you declare your own expenses with the insurer, then you will have to send (a copy of) the referral notice yourself. Without this referral, the insurer will likely not pay the bill.
Polikliniek and Ponsplaatje In the Netherlands, most specialists work out of hospitals and not private clinics. When you visit him/her at the hospital, you look for the sign Poliklinieken, and the correct department. If
THE XPAT JOURNAL
9
Health Care
this is your first visit to the hospital, you register at the front desk. There you will be asked a few initial questions (your
Though waiting lists are being worked away, keep in mind that for some surgeries there might be a waiting period.
name, address, insurer, GP, and a few other questions). This
Don’t expect a private room during a hospital stay. You
information will go into the computer and also onto a little
might be offered a double room but also be prepared for a
credit card-sized plastic card, called a ponsplaatje, which you
room for six. The rooms here can also be co-educational so
must bring with you every time you go to the hospital as it is
don’t be surprised if they ask you if you object to sharing a
used, among others, to find your records, mark forms, send
room with patients of the opposite sex.
your bills to your insurance company, and to print out labels for lab tests.
Children’s Hospitals
Many hospitals are in the process of replacing the pons
While all hospitals have children’s wards, there are also sev-
plaatje with an electronic card, called the electronische
eral excellent children’s hospitals throughout the country. You
patiëntenpas. This card contains all medical data on the
can give your GP your preference. Don’t forget to take your
patient in question.
records along that describe the child’s previous illnesses and a list of immunizations given.
Your Visit With the Specialist Once you arrive at the hospital for your appointment, you give
Some hospitals, but particularly children’s hospitals, have lodging possibilities if you want to be nearby.
the referral notice to the specialist’s assistant. Along with the referral notice you will hand in an envelope containing a short
Baby on the Way
description of your ailment, allowing the specialist to gain
If a baby is on the way, then you will first visit your GP, who
some preliminary insight into your condition.
will give you a referral notice for a midwife. In principle, it
The specialist will read the note provided by your GP, dis-
is the midwife who will monitor your pregnancy, up to and
cuss your situation with you, arrange the necessary tests and
including the delivery. Only in case of a medical complication
prescribe a possible treatment. In most cases, you will not
will you be referred to a gynecologist, either by your GP or
be filling out four pages of your own (and your entire family’s)
your midwife. Your insurance will cover all midwife-related
medical history before the visit - but this really depends on
costs. The cost of visiting a gynecologist will only be covered
your medical problem.
if you have been referred to one by your GP or midwife.
Depending on the seriousness of your illness and the
This does not mean that you will have your baby at home.
urgency of your lab tests, you may be referred to an emergen-
In case of a medical complication, you will have your baby in
cy room of the hospital or be sent straight to the laboratories
the hospital and your insurance company will cover every-
for blood tests. If your specialist is of the opinion that he will
thing. If there are no complications, you can either have your
want to see you again, that you need to see a different spe-
baby at home, or arrange a poliklinische bevalling, meaning
cialist or that you require hospitalization at some point in the
an out-patient delivery, whereby you go to the hospital, have
future, he will send you to either his secretary or the central
your baby with the help of your midwife and go straight home
appointment office to make your next appointment.
if green light is given. The advantage of this is that there will always be a gynecologist nearby to lend assistance in case of
Hospitals
emergency. You have to pay part of the expenses of the poli
There are many fine hospitals in the Netherlands, all with the
klinische bevalling, unless medical complications arise during
latest in technology - eight of them are university hospitals
delivery, in which case all costs will, in principle, be covered
and the others are run by the community or religious organi-
by the insurance company.
zations. In principle, all Dutch hospitals offer the same specializations, so that going to one hospital is as good as going
Of course, being sick anywhere abroad will never be the same
to the next. The only thing that can be said about university
as being sick at home. If only because you have to deal with it
hospitals versus community or religious hospitals is that, on
without the support of your usual comfortable support group.
the whole, more research is carried out at university hospitals
But if you realize that the latter issue is really the biggest dif-
so that they can be more up-to-date on recent (experimental)
ference, then you should be able to take a deep breath and
medical developments. However, there are also non-univer-
relax in the knowledge that you will nonetheless be in capable
sity hospitals that specialize in certain conditions / ailments
hands.
and that can also be expected to be completely up-to-date
You can find more in-depth information on medical care
on all the newest developments and to have the latest medi-
in the Netherlands in The Holland Handbook, www.holland-
cal equipment. Ask your GP whether there is a hospital that
handbook.nl.
is specialized in your condition.
10
THE XPAT JOURNAL
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Legal
Health Care Insurance Home Coverage or Dutch Coverage? Since a couple of years, everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands has the obligation to participate in the Zorgverzekeringswet, or Health Care Act. Particularly in international situations, the question arises whether this obligation also applies to the expat and his family - because in many cases the home country health care
I
insurance is continued while the expat is here. In this article, I will go into how it is determined whether the act applies and into whether or not the international insurance can be continued.
12
Aside from the Health Care Act, if you and your family reside here legally, you are covered by the Exceptional Medical Expenses Act (AWBZ). This covers care aimed at avoiding illness, as well as medical care, nursing, or other types of care, such as retaining, recovering or improving your ability to work, or improving your living circumstances. It follows from all this that if you legally reside in the Netherlands, then you will likely be under obligatory coverage of the Health Care Act and the Exceptional Medical Expenses Act.
Treaty Expats often try to recover their expenses via their (legal) health care insurance in their country of origin. If this is the case, a distinction has to be made between ‘treaty countries’ - allowing the employee to invoke a bilateral treaty between the Netherlands and the country in question - and non-treaty countries. For the purpose of assigning an applicable social insurance legislation, the Netherlands has entered into a bilateral social insurance treaty with the following countries: Austral-
The following situations can arise:
ia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Canada, Quebec, Chile, Cyprus,
l
insurance in the Netherlands is obligatory
Egypt, Israel, Japan, Cape Verde, Croatia, Macedonia,
l
obligatory insurance abroad takes place pursuant to a
Morocco, New Zeeland, Serbia-Montenegro, Tunisia, Tur-
social insurance treaty that arranges foreign (legal) cov-
key, the US, and South Korea. In separate treaties it is then
erage of medical expenses.
decided to whom the treaty applies. Some treaties only apply to citizens of the countries that are a party to the
Coverage in the Netherlands
treaty, some apply to non-citizens who are legally insured
Obligatory coverage in the Netherlands applies to anyone
in one of the treaty countries.
who is a resident of the Netherlands. If you have been
If you intend to invoke a bilateral social insurance treaty,
entered in the municipal registry of a Dutch municipality,
then you should keep in mind that the premise in these
then you are a resident, which is usually the case if you
treaties is that the employee is insured in the country in
are residing in this country legally. However, non-residents
which the work is carried out. This is called the ‘principle
are also under obligatory coverage if they carry out work in
of the country of employment’. However, there are also
employment in the Netherlands and wage taxes are paid
exceptions to this principle, allowing you and your family
over the generated income.
to continue the social insurance of your home country. In
The Health Care Act states that there is not only an
order to be allowed to do this, you must meet the require-
insurance obligation, but also an ‘acceptance’ obligation.
ments listed in the treaties under the heading ‘applicable
If you are under obligatory insurance in the Netherlands,
legislation’.
then within four months after this has become the case, you
The continuation of the social Insurance legislation in
must have approached an insurance company here, which,
the country of origin means that the Dutch legislation is not
in turn, has the obligation to accept you. Keep in mind that,
applicable - nor the obligatory coverage by the Health Care
if you fail to do this on time, you will be subject to a fine!
Act or the Exceptional Medical Expenses Act.
THE XPAT JOURNAL
By Nico van Dijk
Conditions One of the conditions is that the employment relationship with the employer in the country of origin must be continued and that the work that is carried out in the Netherlands must be of a temporary nature. This means that if you are sent to the Netherlands (for instance, to fill a position within a group of companies), you can be exempted from the insurance obligation pursuant to a treaty under the condition that you do not enter into an employment contract with the Dutch branch, but that you retain
your
employment
rela-
tionship with the company that is sending you abroad. The premise is that the social insurance
leg-
islation of the other country can continue to apply for a maximum of five years. I you wish to continue working here after these five years have passed then the Dutch social insurance legislation will become applicable and you will be under obligatory coverage of, among others, the Health Care Act. You can show that a treaty applies to you by means of what is referred to as Form 101. If you remain covered
No Treaty
abroad, then this usually includes legal insurance against
If your country has not entered into a social Insurance treaty
medical expenses. However, the legal system in other
then you cannot invoke the coverage of the social Insur-
countries can be quite different. It is important to be aware
ance of your country of origin. In that case, you will be cov-
of the fact that most countries that have entered into a
ered by the social insurance legislation of the Netherlands,
treaty have agreed that the employee will make use of the
and will have to arrange insurance here.
medical facilities of the country in which he or she resides,
In short, it is of great importance to determine whether
but that the costs will be borne by the country in which
you are under obligatory coverage of the Dutch Health Care
this person remains insured. This is different in the treaty
Act. And you should be aware of the fact that, though you
with the US and with South Korea. Medical expenses are
may have continued your home country health insurance,
not covered by the treaty, so that, consequently, there is
you might still be under obligatory insurance in the Neth-
no legal regulation on the coverage of medical expenses.
erlands as well.
Yet, the treaty does imply that the country of employment (in this case, the Netherlands) may not apply the rules on obligatory coverage. The apparent consequence is that the employee is not covered by the legislation of either
Nico van Dijk works as a tax advisor for Loyens & Loeff, www.loyensloeff.com. He can be reached via 010 - 224 63 45 or nico.van.dijk@loyensloeff.com.
country.
THE XPAT JOURNAL
13
Health Care
Health Care References EMERGENCIES
Topmedicalservices
PREGNANCY YOGA
Tesselschadestraat 4,
ZWANGERSCHAPSYOGA
SEXUAL HEALTH Aids Foundation
In case of an emergency, call the
1054 ET Amsterdam
national emergency number 112.
Tel.: 088 00 62 800
Central Registration of Yoga-
Keizersgracht 390-394,
State whether you need an
Internet:
Teachers Qualified to Teach
1016 GB Amsterdam
ambulance, the police or the fire
www.topmedicalservices.nl
Pregnancy Course Samsara
Tel.: 020 626 26 69
Tel.: 075 687 17 57
Internet: www.aidsfonds.nl
department and they will connect you with the correct department
GENERAL Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports (Ministerie van Gezondheid Welzijn en Sport)
RECOMMENDED READING The Access Guide to Health Care in The Netherlands
Internet: www.yoga-nl.nu
Rutgers Nisso Groep
ACUPUNCTURE
Oudenoord 176-178,
Parnassusplein 5, The Hague
a wide range of health topic s from
Dutch Association For Acupuncture (N.V.A. Nederlandse Vereniging voor Acupunctuur)
P.O. Box 20350, 2500 EJ The Hague
birth to death, insurance to legal
P.O. Box 2198, 3800 CD Amersfoort
Tel.: 070 340 79 11
rights, home care to hospitals,
Tel.: 033 461 61 41
Internet: www.minvws.nl
special services to social services.
Internet: www.acupunctuur.nl
Published by access This publication concisely covers
Internet: www.access-nl.org
HEALTH CENTERS
P. O. Box 9022, 3506 GA Utrecht
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE Babies and Toddlers
3513 EV Utrecht Tel.: 030 231 34 31 Internet: www.rutgersnissogroep.nl
DIET Nederlandse Vereniging van Diëtisten (Dutch Association For Dieticians) De Molen 93, 3995 AW Houten
International Health Centre The Hague
Published by access
Prins Willemstraat 41,
and toddlers in the Netherlands.
2584 HT The Hague
Topics include pregnancy, child
Dutch Association for Classic Homeopathy (Nederlandse Vereniging van Klassiek Homeopathen)
Tel.: 070 306 51 00
health and safety, activities,
P.O. Box 710,
Internet: www.ihch.nl
support groups, childcare services,
2400 AS Alphen aan den Rijn
recommended reading, etc.
Tel.: 0172 49 96 95
Internet: www.access-nl.org
Internet: www.nvkh.nl
HAVING A BABY
Association For Natural Therapists (Vereniging Voor Natuurkundig Therapeuten)
Tel.: 020 410 62 22
Liendertseweg 112-2,
Bronovo Hospital
Information for parents of babies
Bronovolaan 5, 2597 AX The Hague Tel.: 070 312 40 16,
Tel.: 030 634 62 22 Internet: www.nvdietist.nl
MENTAL HEALTH Nederlands Instituut Voor Psychologen (Dutch Institute for Psychologists) P.O. Box 9921, 1006 AP Amsterdam
e-mail: expat@bronovo.nl
Internet: www.psynip.nl
Internet: www.bronovo.nl
International Confederation of Midwives
Wassenaar Health Centre
Supports the interests of pregnant
3815 BJ Amersfoort
Hofcampweg 65,
women, mothers and midwives
Tel.: 033 472 60 03
Nederlandse Vereniging Voor Psychiatrie (Dutch Association for Psychiatry)
2241 KE Wassenaar
Eisenhowerlaan 138,
Internet: www.vnt-nederland.nl
Lomanlaan 103, Utrecht
Tel.: 070 512 72 00
2517 KN The Hague
Internet: www.bronovo.nl
Tel.: 070 306 05 20
Centre Medical Francophone
Tel.: 030 282 33 03 Internet: www.nvvp.net
Internet:
For Doctors/Therapists Offering Alterative Medicine/Care:
www.internationalmidwives.org
www.infolijn-ag.nl
Psyq Expat
Laan van Middenburg 2,
Laan van Meerdervoort 70, 2517 AD The Hague
Tel.: 070 386 21 91
For an Extensive List of HomeCare Related Sites
Internet: www.cmfonline.nl
http://thuiszorg.startpagina.nl
program). E-mail: expats@psyq.nl
www.kraamzorg.nl
Internet: www.psyq.nl
2275 CC Voorburg
14
THE XPAT JOURNAL
Tel.: 070 391 82 82 (ask for expat
Parnassia (Psycho Medical Centers in The The Hague Region)
DENTAL CARE
Tel.: 070 391 63 91
www.tandarts.nl
Internet: www.parnassia.nl
www.tandarts.pagina.nl
www.lassustandartsen.nl
www.tandartsplein.nl
Addiction And Mental Health Trimbos Instituut: www.trimbos.nl
FOR TRAVELERS
(which also has English-language information)
AUTISM
Landelijk Coördinatiecentrum Reizigersadvisering National Coordination Center for Traveler’s Advice
Autism Association For Overseas Families (NL)
The central organization in the
Parents and professionals working
the prevention of disease among
together for children with autism
travelers
Berglustlaan 15b,
P.O. Box 1008, 1000 BA Amsterdam
3054 BA Rotterdam
Tel.: 0900 95 84,
Internet: www.aaof.info
internet: www.lcr.nl
Specialized Autism Services (The Hague)
KLM Health Services
Coordinator: Kelly Lynn Redden,
1117 BV Schiphol-Oost
tel.: 06 559 06 824
Tel.: 020 64 95 187
Internet:
Internet:
www.specializedautismservices.com
www.klmhealthservices.com
SPECIAL NEEDS
Travel Clinic Havenziekenhuis
Netherlands that occupies itself with
Gebouw 133, Stationsplein N.O.,
NOVA Relocation, The brighter alternative Experts in providing assistance in national and international mobility of employees. We offer the following services: • Immigration Services • Destination Services
Haringvliet 2, 3011 TD Rotterdam
• Departure Services
www.xpatskids.nl - helping expat
Tel.: 010 412 38 88
kids who need extra
Internet: www.havenziekenhuis.nl
• International Assignment Management
ANGO (National Organization for the Disabled)
Tropencentrum AMC
• Move Management
033 - 465 43 43.
examinations
Internet: www.ango.nl
Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam
For vaccinations and medical
• Consulting Services
Tel.: 020 566 38 00
PHYSIOTHERAPY
Internet: www.tropencentrum.nl
KNGF PO Box 248, 3800 AE Amersfoort Tel.: 033 467 2900, internet: www.kngf.nl
NVMT - Dutch Association For Manual Therapy (Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapy)
www.nova-relo.com NOVA Relocation The Netherlands Tel. : +31 (0)70 324 25 24 - info@nova-relo.nl
P.O. Box 248, 3800 AE Amersfoort Tel.: 033 467 29 00,
The Netherlands - Belgium - France - United Kingdom
internet: www.nvmt.nl
THE XPAT JOURNAL NOVA Relocation Xpat journal 93x260_fev2009-def.indd 1
15 3/02/09 15:26
Health Care
Special Children Need When children have special academic, physical, social and/or behavioral problems these concerns are multiplied for families facing an international transfer. Placement for children with special needs is quite complicated and requires substantially more time than a standard school search.
W
When seeking out a new school, finding the help a child needs
Training and Funding
is critical, along with the right fit and a good environment. For
Kelly Lynn Redden, director of Specialized Autism Services
expat families in the Netherlands, what is available here for the
explains; “International schools can handle mild behavioral
non-Dutch child needing extra help?
problems, but more severe disabilities are not understood.
Each special-needs case is unique, as two children with
Teachers are not trained in special-needs assistance, so
the same overall diagnosis, for instance children with dyslexia,
those kids are just dismissed as too difficult to handle. As a
autism, or non-verbal processing disorder, will experience dif-
consequence, they are kept at home, and do not receive the
ferent levels of impairment and may respond to some types
education they are entitled to by law, and by the international
of treatment and not to others. A ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach
human rights of the child. In the Netherlands, there is no aca-
does not work. Families will have a unique set of educational
demic organization or cohesive group that supports special
requirements and differing concerns as to how the special
training for teachers. Younger children can be placed in nurs-
needs of their child will be met.
eries (age 3 to 5) and Lighthouse takes children up to age 12, but teenagers are socially isolated for ‘strange’ behavior. And
Screening & Diagnostics
going to a Dutch school isn’t an option, as the child then has
When a child is diagnosed as having a ‘disability’, the real-
the additional handicap of a language barrier.”
ity is usually more complex; there is an array of issues that
“Reform is needed, to cover services. A distinction is made
affect the child’s ability to learn and fit in. Whatever the ‘label’
between medical and educational needs, which boils down to
may be - dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, Down’s Syndrome,
insurance discrimination,” Redden remarks, “And - although
Asperger, Autism, PDS, ADHD or ADD - a consultant’s initial
recently NVA and Autism Fonds held an autism week - public
conversation with parents is critical to gather detailed infor-
awareness should be stimulated, as there are misconceptions
mation about the child’s history, the severity of the disability,
and myths, and a lot of outdated thinking in the Netherlands
its effect in and out of the classroom, and how it is currently
about autism, so that children are hurt due to archaic ideas.”
being treated.
Statistics show that 1 in 100 children have autism, which means that all teachers should expect to teach a child with
Special-needs children routinely undergo testing, and their
this particular disability and must receive appropriate training
report cards are usually accompanied by a multitude of evalu-
to best support their needs. (Source: NAS website 19/09/09)
ations from the educators, therapists, and doctors working on
16
their behalf. Gathering all the appropriate and most up-to-date
Education
information about a special-needs child requires time, and the
Children are encouraged to attend mainstream primary
family can incur substantial out-of-pocket expenses.
schools under the Dutch ‘Going to school together’-policy
The family’s capacity to function under stress and vari-
whenever possible. A quarter of Down’s syndrome children
ous aspects of their child’s situation - including the length of
now attend mainstream education. Parents can also opt
time the family has been dealing with their child’s limitations,
for a special school with referral from a Regional Education
the level of acceptance of the diagnosis, and the severity of
Center(REC). There are 320 special primary schools and 323
disabilities - all factor in. The foreign location, cultural dif-
secondary schools in the Netherlands, and while instruction is
ferences and language barriers all form new obstacles for
Dutch, children from a non-Dutch background can sometimes
the family.
be taught in their mother tongue to help them settle in. Special
THE XPAT JOURNAL
By Nikki Young
Specialized Help Education Needs teachers (SEN) are in place at international schools (public and private) where the language of instruction will (generally) be English. The number of children in schools for special education is 65,000 - an increase of 84% in the last 10 years (CBS, Statistics Netherlands). International schools are private and funded by tuition and receive no government subsidies, and can refuse students because they do not have sufficient staff to handle specific needs. It is advisable to contact the school directly in the first instance to enquire as to what is available.
Government Assistance The Dutch Equal Treatment Act on grounds of Disability or Chronic Illness (WGBH-CZ, Wet gelijke behandeling op grond van handicap of chronische ziekte) has been in effect since 2003 and establishes the right to non-discrimination in employment and adult education. The Act has very recently been amended to include the sectors of primary and secondary education and housing. And then there is the PGB (Persoonsgebonden budget) of the AWBZ - Personal Care Budget (financed by the Exceptional Medical Expenses Act), which provides an annual fixed sum to persons with a disability, to enable them to create tailor-made individual care arrangements. If you feel your child is being discriminated against when in comes to educational options, the Commission for Equal Treatment (Commissie voor Gelijke Behandeling) can be contacted; www.cgb.nl or telephone 030 - 888 38 88. Yet, Redden is concerned; “Recent cuts in PGB (Persoons Gebonden Budget) for families and organizations has had a detrimental effect on children with special needs. If the child does not receive expert care at school or elsewhere, and the PGBs have been cut, families and professionals have no alternative but to stop taking their children to qualified professionals for individual support, which is desperately needed by most individuals with autism,” Redden said, “This can lead to a deterioration of skills for the child, and leave the parents with no specialized support, causing increased anxiety and stress for the family. Decades of research have shown that a minimum of 20-30 hours of professional direct intervention should be offered to children with autism, both at home and in school.”
Help and Advice In some cases the child is diagnosed when the family is already living here, which can make it even more difficult to
THE XPAT JOURNAL
17
Health Care
get help. Many parents complain about the length of time it
It’s no secret that the choice of school often determines
takes and about the bureaucratic problems encountered in
where a family will live; yet surprisingly, that isn’t always a
getting an assessment from the relevant Dutch health services
first step. “You would be amazed how many families wind
- indeed many have opted to return to their home country to
up returning to their home countries because their children
undergo testing there.
cannot get into the schools, because they are full-up,” she
However, one advantage of living in the Netherlands is that
continues, “For children with special requirements, it is even
many native English-speaking professionals are available for
more difficult to be placed.” Diagnostics and screenings can
speech and behavioral problems, though there are often wait-
determine if the right help is available.
ing lists. All of these services, however, are expensive, and in general parents are expected to finance the costs of teach-
Parents Helping Parents
ing assistants hired specifically for their child, themselves. In
It sometimes seems that expatriate parents need to re-invent
addition, the parents also bear the costs of specialists and
the wheel at every turn. One of the best types of support is
therapists - though access to special-needs provisions is
other parents who have first-hand experience going through
determined by the conditions of the expatriate employment
the proverbial merry-go-round of frustration, challenges and
and insurance packages, and some of the larger employers
all too often bureaucracy. The Hague Support Group is a
partially or fully cover these costs.
group of parents of children with various special needs - medical, behavioral, educational - who meet regularly for coffee to
Willemijn van Oppen, director of Educaide, The Comprehen-
offer mutual support, exchange information and pool resourc-
sive Helpdesk for International Education in the Netherlands,
es. Anyone with an interest in the group, both personally and
advises parents, students, teachers, schools, institutions,
professionally, is welcome to join.
universities, companies and authorities on a wide range of
Soul Robertson started Passionate Parenting because she
issues pertaining to international education in the Nether-
realized there was a real need to provide international parents
lands. “It’s best when parents make contact before moving to
with much needed information. Various workshops and semi-
the Netherlands,” she advises, “I work with all of the schools
nars are organized for expat and local families with children of
and many of the professional specialists. Last year I had one
all ages. Passionate Parenting has brought on board the most
family with three special-needs children, and after reviewing
qualified educators in a wide variety of fields - many of whom
the children’s needs, I advised them not to make the move.
work with special-needs children - to provide a dynamic and
They decided to come anyway, and the children’s disabilities
ever-changing series of seminars/workshops covering diverse
were too severe for the Lighthouse, so they wound up staying
areas of interest.
home with the mother. Within less than a year, they returned to the US.”
The Dyslexia Parent Support Group was started by Debra Lambert five years ago and now has around 45 members, all with children in a number of the international schools. The
www.aaof.info - The Autism Association for Overseas Families in the Netherlands (AAOF) www.specializedautismservices.com - Specialized Autism Services Dyslexia Parent Support Group - Debra Lambert 071 - 889 15 52 debra.lambert@uku.co.uk www.dyslexia.com - Dyslexia resources The Hague Support Group - Cathy Hart: 070 - 317 51 01 (hotcitygirl@hotmail.com) or Nathalie Gallegos: 070 - 319 38 08 (panat@wanadoo.nl) www.ldonline.org- Learning disabilities resources www.balans.nl - Netherlands foundation for learning disabilities www.passionateparenting.nl - health and education workshops for parents www.xpatskids.nl - helping expat kids who need extra assistance. 06 - 23 797 078 www.educaide.nl - Education help desk, consultancy 065 - 598 89 98 www.ango.nl - ANGO (National Organization for the Disabled) 033 - 465 43 43
18
THE XPAT JOURNAL
group believes that with the right training, teachers will be better equipped to recognize learning disabilities and to effectively help children achieve their potential.
The Lighthouse Foundation in The Hague works in close cooperation with the international mainstream and in some cases Lighthouse students are accepted at those schools with special assistance from Lighthouse. The number of students at Lighthouse Special Education depends on the policy of the mainstream international schools on accepting children with special needs. The total number of students varies between 20 and 25. www.lighthousese.nl Although resources may be hard to find, they are available. ACCESS, which was founded in 1986, is a not-for-profit organization committed to supporting the international expatriate community in the Netherlands. It is a source of free information in the English language, and of services, including publications, courses, counseling referrals and community events. www.access-nl.org
THE HOLLAND HANDBOOK 2010 - 2011 The Indispensable Guide for Expatriates in the Netherlands
This richly illustrated handbook offers 256 full-color pages of essential information for the expatriate on all aspects of living and working in the Netherlands such as: career, financial and legal issues, health care, housing, insurance, international education, registration and telecommunications. Table of contents • The Netherlands in a Nutshell • Working in the Netherlands • A Place to Live • Legal, Tax and Financial Matters • Getting Around • Daily Life • Kids • Education • Health Care and the Medical System • Things to do in your Free Time
For more information and to order The Holland Handbook visit: www.xpat.nl or www.hollandbooks.nl Companies and organizations can also order the book directly from the publisher in bulk quantities at a considerable discount. Please contact info@xpat.nl or +31(0)70 306 33 10 for our price list.
Price € 29.90
Health Care
Dental Care in the Netherlands In the Netherlands, dental care is provided by university-educated dentists, all of whom are government-registered. The quality of the care, also in comparison with other countries, is
T
excellent.
The Dutch visit their dentist on a regular basis - approximately 85% go once or twice a year. As a result, only a relatively small part of the population has badly cared-for teeth.
Types of Practices Almost all dental practices in the Netherlands are private, there are no state practices. Most of them are modest undertakings, with one dentist and one assistant. In the larger cities there are larger practices, consisting of several dentists, a number of assistants and dental hygienists. Such a structure allows the practice to diversify its services. Keep in mind, however, that many practices in the Netherlands are full and consequently cannot take on any new patients.
Insurance Dentistry is privatized in the Netherlands, i.e. the patient is responsible for the payment of the costs of the treatment, not the insurance company. However, under Dutch basic health insurance, the insurance company will fully cover all costs of dentistry for children through to the age of 21 as well as dental surgery for all adults. All other dental care, which constitutes the majority of care given, can only be insured by taking out an additional insurance. This supplementary insurance can cover up to 75% of the costs. For the exact coverage, check the policy terms or contact the insurer.
Specializations In the Netherlands, all regular dental specializations can be found. The best-known are oral surgeons, who are usually
20
THE XPAT JOURNAL
affiliated with a hospital, and orthodontists, who usually have
form (so-called UPT) codes that allow the insurance company
a private practice. Moreover the number of periodontologists
to determine the related costs. All dentists who work in the
(who specialize in gums), endodontologists (root canal spe-
Netherlands must adhere to these codes.
cialists), implantologists and children’s dentists is steadily growing. Patients are referred to these specialists by regular
Finding a Dentist
dentists. A growing number of Dutch dentists employ the
New practices, which still take on new patients, often have
services of a dental hygienist, but in the larger cities par-
websites. It is advisable to do some comparative shopping
ticularly, there are also separate dental hygienist practices.
before deciding on a practice. Issues to take into consider-
Patients can visit these practices without a referral from their
ation are: philosophy of the dentist/practice, opening hours,
dentists.
is there a dental hygienist, are refresher courses taken on a regular basis, what does the practice specialize in, does the
Other Issues of Interest
staff speak English, etc.
All dentists in the Netherlands must comply with the rules on
Dutch dentists follow a thorough training, make use of modern
hygiene set by the Dutch government. Most dentists will give
equipment and run a clean shop. In other words, if the Neth-
a local anesthetic before a painful treatment. Laughing gas is
erlands turns out to be your new location, dental care should
seldom used and if it is, only by a limited number of special-
be the least of your worries.
ized dentists.
Rates The government determines the rate for the treatments. As a result of this these rates are, generally speaking, lower than in most wealthy countries. All treatments are described in uni-
Thomas Rietrae runs an international high-end dental clinic in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw neighborhood. His practice is focused on expats and among his clients are many employees of multinational businesses. For more information, visit: www.theinternationaldentist.com.
Beautiful Neo-Renaissance Apartments for Rent ly On
2
f le
t The AICS - provider of worthwhile experiences. We are a unique Primary and Secondary school located in Amsterdam, offering International education in English. We “cause” community-based, international learning for students of all nationalities, abilities and classes living in the Netherlands. We are pleased to offer:
• The International Baccalaureate
Nassauplein 26 and 27 The Hague
Of the, in total, eight apartments, just a few are still available for rent. The apartments, which are housed in two stately buildings, beautifully unite the 19th and the 21st centuries. Completely restored, comfortable residences behind classical façades.
070 338 58 80
www.zeilstrabeheer.nl
Diploma Programme (IBDP) for children aged 16 - 19 years • The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IBMYP) for children aged 11 - 15 years • The International Primary Curriculum (IPC) for children aged 4 - 10 years
• 3 hours of Dutch per week • Additional English lessons (EAL) • Activities organised by the AICS and the Dutch community
• Affordable tuition,
Primary School (€ 3.900,-); Secondary School (€ 4.800,- 5.800,-)
The IBDP is an internationally recognised pre-university course of study that leads to the acquisition of the IB Diploma, offering entrance into universities and institutions of further education worldwide. Prinses Irenestraat 59 • 1077 WV Amsterdam • T: 020 - 5771240 • E: info@aics.eu
Amsterdam International Community School www.aics.eu
THE XPAT JOURNAL
21
EXPAT LIVING
IamExpat: Enjoying the Experience of Living in the Netherlands It is a busy Monday Starbucks morning at Utrecht Central Station. Two good friends wander in, in search of a caramel frappuccino. They are Nikos Nakos and Panos Sarlanis, co-founders of
P
IamExpat.
an adventurous mindset, they have similar but also unique needs.” In order to meet these needs, they started IamExpat one year after graduation. Explains Panos: “We don’t claim that we are the only ones providing what we provide; we simply do it in a different way. We wanted to create a community feeling, to be a reliable source of information that is triggered by the expats. Secondly, we wanted to help the international community enjoy the experience of living in the Netherlands; and we wanted to communicate how expatfriendly this country is. So we created a platform that is useful to the international community and that reflects our lives here
Panos tells: “Initially we came here to study…” At this point,
as expats. The aim is for the website to be interactive, to cre-
Nikos interrupts to explain: “Our stories are so similar we
ate a community feeling by allowing all visitors to participate
might as well start our sentences with ‘we’.” Panos continues
and interact.” He continues: “Many people ask us, how did
without missing a beat: “We always wanted to live abroad,
we come about starting our business and setting up IamEx-
study and build a career, so we looked around in Europe to
pat, when in reality there are already similar sites and other
find the appropriate Master’s, which we found in Entrepre-
sources of information. But what makes us different is that we
neurship & New Business Venturing, offered by the Rotterdam
constantly interact with our visitors and continuously adapt to
School of Management.” You can tell already that they are well
their requests and issues.”
attuned to each other; they finish each other’s sentences, tolerate each other’s interruptions, they both like frappuccino…
Common Experiences Adds Panos: “We cover all expat groups, be they students,
22
Quality of Life
entrepreneurs, employees or spouses. Our own experiences
Nikos adds: “The Netherlands is a very attractive country to
tie in with the experiences of most expats. We came here as
study in. Like many prospective students, we compared stud-
students; we know what it is like to need six weeks to find a
ies in the UK with studies in the Netherlands. We opted for the
place to live, while studying, adapting and taking exams. After
Netherlands because the RSM is one of the highest ranked
graduation, we needed a job; so we know what it is like to look
business schools in Europe, while the tuition fees are very
for a job, find one and work for a local employer. And now we
attractive. Furthermore, this is a very international country,
have set up our own business. All in all, through what we have
with plenty of opportunities when you finish your studies.”
done here, we have a lot in common with most expats - from
Says Panos: “Many international students who come to Hol-
students to employees to entrepreneurs - which is a unique
land stay here after they’ve finished their studies - not only
advantage. We know the hurdles they will meet, we know their
because of the career opportunities but also due to the quality
needs, we know what they are going through, in virtually every
of everyday life.”
situation.”
Greek Passion
Main Needs
Panos and Nikos moved to Amsterdam just after graduation:
Nikos points out that the main needs of expats are threefold:
“We believe in Amsterdam,” says Nikos, with a hint of Greek
“They need accommodation, they need a job, they want
passion. “In Amsterdam you can expect the unexpected; it
a social life. Social life matters for every expat; they have
is exciting, there is diversity, there are various cultures, an
to find a way to integrate into society. You no longer see
international environment, it is creative, open-minded, entre-
them going back home every two weeks to fulfill their social
preneurial. People come and go every day, for a variety of
needs. We therefore provide information on what is going
reasons - but all have something in common: they have left
on on the cultural scene in the Netherlands. Plus, we pro-
their countries, they have come to the Netherlands, they have
mote events, workshops, books, shows and exhibitions.” He
THE XPAT JOURNAL
Photography by Nansy Panagopoulou
pauses, and adds: “And there is a fourth need: for information. For instance, on navigating the Dutch bureaucratic system.
Nikos (l) and Panos
The linguistic skills of the Dutch are amazing, but this does not mean that they all speak English. A good example of this is the belastingdienst, the tax office. Though their English is without a doubt better than that of the tax office of any other non-English-speaking country, it’s something else to expect them to be able to explain the technical tax details in English. Expats need someone who speaks their language, knows how the system works and can help them use it. It is our job to connect them with the right people.”
Eco-System As Nikos explains: “There is a complete expat eco-system out there; on the one side, you have the expats, and on the other side you have the services; on either side, there is awareness that the other party exists. We are the players in the middle who help them establish contact.” IamExpat publishes articles about expat life - integration, language (courses) and culture, has a lifestyle section, establishes contact between expats and governmental organizations, explains everyday issues such as the DigiD (digital ID) and offers legitimate sources of information. Opening his arms in a virtual embrace, Panos adds: “We include expats from all backgrounds; students, travelers, artists, adventurers, diplomats, accompanying families, entrepreneurs, company employees as well as employees of non-governmental agencies, job seekers... everyone.” Nikos continues: “Among them are newly arrived people who are grateful for what they find on our site and who give us feedback on and insight into what is currently important to them. But we also have among our members people who have lived here many years, and who consider us a good and reliable source of information. Both sides of the spectrum enjoy the community feeling and the up-to-date information we provide.”
Four Friends IamExpat was established by four friends, each one with specific roles within the team. “Timing was ideal for everyone,” Panos tells. “Some of us had full-time employment and thus income, others not and therefore had the time to invest in establishing IamExpat. When the time came to make choices, the choice for the challenge of creating our own organization was easy. We appreciate the value of creating something out of nothing and we are so passionate about our organization that we want to give it everything.” steps we learned and to apply our empirical insights. Every Finishing each other’s sentences once again, Panos and
day we become more respectful of the opportunities we have
Nikos conclude: “We came here with a passion; to become
- and more grateful. And that is something we want to share
entrepreneurs. Not only did our studies at RSM bring us real
and help others find through IamExpat.”
value - we can also use them to pursue our passion; to take action, to do something challenging and creative, to follow the
For more information on IamExpat, visit www.iamexpat.nl.
THE XPAT JOURNAL
23
Housing
Monumental Living on the
Nassauplein
The Hague has a number of very characteristic quarters, one of these being the noble Archipelago Quarter. Here you find wide lanes, lots of greenery, and beautiful and stately
T
mansions. The atmosphere is serene. Therefore it should come as no surprise that the quarter - which also houses many statues, reminding us of memorable events and persons - has been designated an ‘urban conservation area’. The Archipelago Quarter of The Hague
was the first large-scale 19th-century extension outside the city’s 17th-century canals to be designated a
tural style and that are known for their singular mix of neo-
‘residential area’ in the zoning plan. Most of the construction
renaissance with a classical feel and luxurious and modern
and development of the quarter took place in typical late 19th-
finishing. The stylish ground apartments allow direct access
century style - that is to say; based on no real plan. Private
to the spacious gardens and all other apartments are provided
investors who acquired land created their own layout - based
with a balcony or a roof terrace.
on commercial needs - which led to dense construction and
All the apartments have been constructed in keeping with the
ramrod straight streets.
standard of modern needs regarding lighting, space and living conditions in order to meet the highest quality standards.
The Nassau Square
Currently, only two of the eight apartments on Nassauplein 26
The main streets, originally lined with trees and public gar-
and 27 are still available.
dens, are wide and the houses are still stately. Examples of the quarter’s elegant lanes are: Laan Copes van Cattenburch,
The Environment
Burgemeester Patijnlaan, Burgemeester Van Karnebeeklaan,
The Archipelago Quarter is known for its excellent location
Surinamestraat, Koninginnegracht, Riouwstraat, Schevening-
in relation to shopping, the city’s centre, the beach, dunes,
seweg and the Javastraat. The Nassau Square is one of the
woods and access roads. The various shopping areas nearby
best-known squares in the Archipelago Quarter and one of
have their own unique and cosy atmosphere, whether you visit
the few places where you still find the layout of an old park,
them for your daily groceries or for extensive shopping.
contrary to many of the other streets in this quarter.
In short, living on the Nassau Square in the Archipelago Quarter will allow you to enjoy the culture of The Hague, with
Living on the Nassau Square
all the required modern amenities available.
On Nassau Square, you will find apartments whose design is a natural combination of the 19th and 20th-century architec-
24
THE XPAT JOURNAL
For more information, contact Zeilstra Beheer at tel.: 070 - 338 58 80
The strength of Segment Relocation & Expat Services?
We are the personal touch that expats need! After arrival in your new country, it would be nice if someone takes your hand and leads you through all the official procedures. At Segment Relocation & Expat Services, we understand that wish and have made it our core business. Currently we are the leading authority in accompanying newly arrived expats in The Netherlands. From the moment you arrive at Schiphol (didn’t you always dream of your own pick up service at the gate?), we will take care of you. We’ll lead you through all official procedures, i.e. at immigration and city hall. That isn’t where our support ends. Do you need a bank account? Doctor? School for your children? Job for your partner? We are here to help you. Not only on the first day, but during your whole stay. Behind the scenes, we’ll already have arranged your work and residence permits. Housing? No problem. You are here to work. We will ensure a carefree stay.
OUR SERVICES IN SHORT • Personal guidance through all the official authorities • Applications for work and residence permits • Assistance with practical matters • Courses for HR professionals • Familiarization Courses • Housing
More information? Feel free to contact us! info@segment.eu - phone +31 (0)33 434 50 99 WWW.SEGMENT.EU
The only American-accredited university in the Netherlands.
Visit our campus today!
Visit www.webster.nl and learn more about our flexible Bachelor & Master programs.
+31 (0)71-516.8000 190x127.indd 1
19-02-2010 13:54:05
Culture
By Deborah Valentine
Taken Out of the Box, Has Something for Ever been faced with the image of nine circles in a square, and been asked to connect the dots in four straight lines, or less, without lifting your pen? Know the solution? Start outside of the square, and go beyond the margins. That is ‘thinking outside of the box’, finding creative solutions to common challenges without being hindered by conventional
T
restrictions, margins. lar thoughts, Annemarie, schooled at
The founders of Festival Classique, the
the Conservatorium in Maastricht and
outdoor classical musical festival which
brought up with classical music, started
takes place from June 18-20 applied it
a process which today is bearing fruits
once and continue to apply it today in
beyond what she imagined.
this fourth edition of an ever-growing,
Festival Classique is by all accounts
not to be missed, musical experience.
a unique worldwide event - an outdoor classical multi-day (and multi-location)
Unique in Multiple Ways
event, for one and all. There are outdoor
Festival Classique is the embodiment
classical music series to be found in the
of ‘thinking outside of the box’. Among
world, such as the Chicago Outdoor
the challenges the founders posed
Classical music series in Grant Park, or
for themselves were: ‘how does one
the Proms in the UK as well as events
engage a broader audience with the
- one-off moments - but Festival Clas-
beauty of classical music?’ ‘How can
sique appears to be the only festival
we show off the city’s historical connec-
event of its kind worldwide. And it takes
tion to classical music?’ ‘How do we
place here, in the Netherlands.
ensure classical musicians engage with their audiences?’ In
Buiten. Gewoon. Klassiek. In Dutch, buiten means outside,
answer to all of the above questions and many more, Festival
gewoon means ordinary. Together as one word, buitengewoon
Classique undertook one simple step - they took the music
means extraordinary, exceptional. In this case even the Dutch
out of the box; out of the traditional concert hall. Thereby they
language, with its ability to allow the formation of new words
have provided unique settings, and opportunities to show off
by joining words of independent meaning proves that ‘thinking
the city, as well as expose musicians and audiences alike to
out of the box’ has many virtues.
one another. Annemarie Goedvolk, Artistic Director for Festival
26
Classique, has been involved with the Festival since its incep-
Where to Begin
tion four years ago, and continues to apply this approach.
It would do little justice to the Festival Classique to try and
“Why do I get upset when pop music artists don’t greet the
provide a list of the more than 80 performances, concerts and
crowd with ‘hello Amsterdam’, but think nothing of it that a
events which take place throughout the city of The Hague
classical musician remains distant from their audience? How
Friday June 18th through to Sunday June 20th. This can be
is it possible that I do not miss the intimacy and engagement
found on the festival’s website (also in English). Besides, that
of a jazz performance at a recital?” Pondering these and simi-
would be ‘thinking in the box’ and that would give no credit to
THE XPAT JOURNAL
Classical Music Everyone
Hofvijver
the organisers, sponsors, participants and musicians of this
confronted. Among the costs of any performance is location
festival whose motivation, dedication and enthusiasm defy
and in an effort to reduce these costs the organisers placed
boundaries.
a small ad in a local paper asking for people to ‘donate’ a
There are nonetheless a few elements of the festival worth
space. The response was overwhelming. And so, this year for
using to tempt you. Imagine the sound of music drifting over
a mere € 4.99 (plus transaction costs) lucky early birds can pur-
water - and you have a reason to attend the concerts on the
chase tickets to experience exceptional classical music at the
floating podium on the Buitenhof - as a paying spectator in the
HEMA for instance, or at McDonald’s, or even in the intimacy
tribunes, or if you get there early enough from the banks of the
of someone’s 17th-century living room. The Huismerk-series
Hofvijver. Imagine this on a summer’s eve, with the slowly fad-
takes place in the week proceding Festival Classique, from the
ing light of day, or in the midday sun with children and families
June 14 to 17.
engaged in a concert just for them. How about a concert for
Shakespeare once wrote: “if music be the food of love,
children aged 5-12 months, yes, months, not years - and their
play on; give me excess of it...” Festival Classique in The
(grand)parents of course, or the opportunity to take part in an
Hague is your opportunity to indulge in the sounds of music
effort to be in the Guinness Book of World Records with the
in unexpected places. Do not miss this feast.
highest number of Air Conductors? Imagine the opportunity of listening to lesser known composers - female for instance - in a setting featuring works of art by women. A final word for the ‘Huismerk’-series: ‘how do we reduce the costs of performances?’ was another one of the challenges
Festival Classique: June 18-10, centre of The Hague. [Huismerk-series: June 14-17 on various locations]. For details of the programme and to order tickets to specific events visit www.festivalclassique.nl.
THE XPAT JOURNAL
27
INTERVIEW
Photo Judith Giesbers
Private Recruiter Natanja Lokerse Frees Up Your Time and Your Mind As a private recruiter, Natanja Lokerse can find every private service professional you need, be it here or abroad. She is called upon to find special staff for families, executives, career couples and
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entrepreneurs.
than a babysitter or au pair; her task goes further than simply picking up the kids from school and providing entertainment. My clients choose to employ a nanny because they are looking for an educationally responsible child-care solution, in which the stimulation of the development of the individual child plays a central role. All my nannies have years of experience. The knowledge and experience they have accumulated throughout those years enables them to optimally fulfill their important role in the child’s life.” Natanja adds: “The cost of having a nanny are, also for expats, partly covered by the
Whether you need a personal assistant, an estate manager,
Dutch child-care law. This means that, if the nanny is arranged
butler, nanny, housekeeper or a domestic couple - finding
through a recognized childcare organization - which Some-
the perfect match is what she does best. In 2005 she started
Buddy is - then, provided you pay tax in the Netherlands, the
her company Some-Buddy, to deliver specialized recruitment
childcare costs are partly borne by the Dutch government”.
services for a niche market.
Another area of private service is companionship. “Older
Natanja describes herself as ‘an expert in creating time and
people want to be able to be independent and live in their
flexibility’. Many people have extremely busy schedules and
own house as long as possible. Often, I am approached by a
having the right assistance at home can make life so much
busy family with the request to help with their parents. These
easier. “Having staff frees up your time. You come home,
parents need a companion; someone to cook, clean, accom-
your house is clean, the children are at the table and dinner is
pany them on a walk, take them to the hairdresser. This is
served. This provides you with quality time together.”
non-medical assistance, though if that becomes necessary of
“When I am recruiting private service professionals, I insist
course it can be arranged.”
on individuals with experience and impeccable references from
To be of optimal service Natanja goes beyond purely
former clients,” Natanja explains. She conducts more than just
recruitment and placement. She offers her clients a Payrolling
one interview with potential candidates to go over their CV,
service, whereby, after recruitment, the selected professional
discuss their ambitions and go deeper into their past experi-
enters the employment of Some-Buddy. This option makes it
ences and problem-solving skills, whereby she also takes into
easier and less time-consuming for her clients to have private
consideration their particular personalities and character.
staff, since the necessary administration and monthly payment
Each placement is tailor-made. “Next to the extensive
of the professional(s) are taken care of by Some-Buddy.
interviews with my candidates, I also spend a good deal of
There are a number of interesting projects Natanja Lokerse
time visiting my clients, getting to know them and their family
is also involved in. For example, for Visseringstaete, a com-
dynamics, seeing what they need and how I can best be of
plex with newly built top-notch luxury rental apartments in
service, and finding out what they want. Only then can the
Amsterdam, she provides all of the tenant’s staffing needs. It is
perfect match be made, one with the right click between all
definitely an up-scale address, so if someone needs a nanny,
persons. I look for sustainable long-term solutions. It’s impor-
butler, cook or a personal trainer, she makes sure requests are
tant to avoid turnover in private personnel.”
honored.
Natanja is well-known for the high-quality professional
28
nannies she places with her clients. “A nanny does much more
THE XPAT JOURNAL
Of the many talented people Natanja represents, one of
her butlers gives etiquette trainings on yachts in the south
fied clients and happy professionals, it gives me energy. I have
of France, and one of her Estate Managers spent two years
a big international network and because my referrals are word-
as project manager coordinating the architects, stylists and
of-mouth, I like for people to think, when they need private staff
decorators for the interior design of a newly-built villa before
or a terrific job in private service, ‘Call Natanja, she can help’.
the family moved in.
It’s my ultimate goal to recruit private staff for clients through-
Natanja admits to being pretty much of a perfectionist,
out the entire world and be the expert they are looking for when
which she finds necessary for this type of work. “I don’t like
it comes to advice on private staff and domestic recruitment. ”
to say ‘no’. I see it as a challenge to arrange something that seems impossible and to do this perfectly. I like having satis-
For more information see www.some-buddy.nl
THE XPAT JOURNAL
29
Event
North Sea Jazz Enjoying the Known and Discovering the Unknown Pat Metheny Photo JimmyKatz
Norah Jones
The time has come again to check the website of the North Sea Jazz Festival at least, for us NSJ-junkies.
might never be exposed to them. All boundaries fade as you slowly make your way from adventure to adventure - enjoying the known and discovering the unknown. Among those who will be attracting the big crowds are favorites such as Marcus Miller and Macy Gray, as well as Norah Jones, Jamie Lidell and Corinne Bailey Rae. And have we mentioned Joss Stone, Buddy Guy and Stevie Wonder
Somewhere halfway May, the organizers of the North Sea
yet?
Jazz Festival reveal their secrets; who will be jamming, jumping, singing, and sliding their way across the 15 stages of the
Themes
festival, with a full program spread over three nights. More
Two themes this year are Global Brooklyn NY and Hyperrhythm
than 175 acts come to mesmerize, entertain and fire up any-
+ OK Computer. Since the 30s, New York has been known as
thing ranging from a group of 50 people to a crowd of several
the jazz capital of the world, attracting jazz musicians from
thousand.
across the world - and this year’s festival will be bringing part
And that is the special magic of the North Sea Jazz Festi-
of this jazz scene to the Netherlands. The lively Brooklyn jazz
val; it has acts that attract people by the thousands, but it also has acts that appeal to a select few. There is plenty for those who wish to avoid the biggest crowds, while it also introduces new - and perhaps eclectic - sounds to those who otherwise
THE XPAT JOURNAL 31
Caro Emerald
scene serves as an excellent example of how jazz continuously renews itself thanks to the various musical backgrounds of the musicians, but New York has also made a name for itself as a city of composers. This year’s young and talented artists from the Brooklyn scene will come to share with us their innovative compositions - combining elements of their national music with the rhythms of jazz - or to share their special bond with many of these multifaceted composers - and oftentimes mentors. Hyperrhythm + OK Computer showcases a new scene of musicians who have a great fascination for hyperrhythms. These producers, who have grown up in an ocean of sound created by the ubiquitous electronic media and connected with each other via online networks, have become the architects of dizzying musical constructions. In Amsterdam, Viral Radio acts as a vehicle for spreading this new electronic music and has created a special program for Friday, with Swedish virtuoso Dimlite, Irish wonderboy Mike Slott and Hudson Mohawke. OK Computer, on Sunday, will bring us electronic improvisation by worldfamous musicians and young sound artists. With the help of fast computers and advanced software, you can experience real-time innovation brought to you by a variety of performers. Other themes include XXL, big bands from all across the planet; Legends of the New Era, a younger generation of artists that will be the next legends; Gospel Soul, which speaks for itself; and Saudade, the melancholy feel of the Portuguese Fado.
Artist in Residence This year’s Artist in Residence is Ornette Coleman, described as a trail-blazing artist, and the greatest innovator of free jazz in the fifties and sixties. For Friday evening, he has put together a very special project: This is Our Music Now. Jazz fans will recognize the title as coming from the album Coleman made together with bass player Charlie Haden in 1960. On Friday, the festival will be presenting a unique performance of the Ornette Coleman Quartet with special guest Charlie Haden, together again for the first time after thirty years. Special guest Joshua Redman, son of Dewey Redman, who played together
32
THE XPAT JOURNAL
Elvis Costello
concerts, seminars, expositions, and after-parties till dawn. For more information visit www.northsearoundtown.com. On the festival website, you can put together your own program, by clicking on the act and adding it to your personal agenda. Once you have put together your program, you register once, after which you can have it sent to your e-mail address, look it up via your mobile phone, post it on hyves, or send it to your friends. As during the past years, you can also select your style and have the program highlight the acts that might be of interest to you.
Dates: 9, 10 & 11 July Location: Ahoy Rotterdam, for more information on how to get there, visit the website www.northseajazz. com. Ticket prices Day tickets: € 80 - Three-day tic kets: € 194 All-in tickets: € 365 - Plus concert: € 15 Ticket sales Ticket sales through www.northseajazz.com
with Coleman in the sixties, will also be joining them. On Saturday night, Coleman will be revisiting his special combination of harmony, melody and rhythm, which he called ‘harmolodics’ in a line-up that will include Coleman himself, two bass players and a drummer. On Sunday night, the Ornette Coleman Quartet will perform with some very special guests: Bachir Attar & The Master Musicians of Jajouka, a Moroccan band that has been passing on their musical tradition from father to son for centuries. Coleman’s other guest this evening is former pupil James Blood Ulmer, considered one of the most remarkable free jazz guitarists who furthermore follows the ‘theory of harmolodics’, as devised by Coleman.
North Sea Around Town On the days preceding, during and after the North Sea Jazz Festival there will be plenty of related activities in the center of Rotterdam:
Macy Gray
Beauty
By Lisa Bruno - Photography Erik Hagen
Exploring the Beauty Within
One Expat Artist’s Quest to Redefine What It Means to Be Beautiful
“Hello, Beautiful!” is how artist Erik Hagen greets good friends at the door to his sunny studio, located in his Hague home. He’s not joking - Hagen believes in beauty, so much so that he has created an art initiative named The Exploring Beauty Project.
T
The Exploring Beauty Project is a series of images paired with inspirational words from the models. The project aims to redefine the perceptions of beauty beyond age and size, both in Europe and the United States. Launched in 2009, it has grown at an amazing rate, attracting the interest of many different types of women. “The response has been so positive, “ Hagen says, “and the interest keeps growing, entirely by word of mouth. “I have been thinking about this idea for years. It wasn’t until I moved to The Hague that I started to implement it,” Hagen, an artist and photographer originally from Washington DC, moved to Den Haag two years ago with his spouse to fulfill a shared dream of living in Europe. “Before I came here, I was happy doing outdoor landscape painting. Here, I found myself in a new studio in a new country, and it was very solitary.” “I’d come from an office environment,” he continues, “and I missed the daily interactions with people. And while the landscape painting was really nice, it didn’t have a strong connection to people and didn’t have a social aspect. I thought this new project would be a great way to meet people, to connect with the community and do something that made a difference.” “It’s really audacious to think we can actually change beauty standards,” Erik tells. “And at first I didn’t think we’d be able to do that. But I’ve come around. I’ve started to see how this project is making a difference and can make a difference.
After 30 volunteer models and a volunteer content-driven website, we’re starting to connect with people all over the Tanya, 27
34
THE XPAT JOURNAL
world.“
Tatiana, 56
The volunteer models are mostly from the US and from
stand out for their interviews, some are extremely emotional.
Holland. When reading their statements, one is struck by the
Many women don’t feel comfortable or beautiful, but they
similarities in their perceptions of beauty. For Hagen, it was
come to the shoot to move out of their comfort zone. There
unexpected. “I am surprised at how similar the responses
was one woman who did not feel beautiful, is rubenesque,
have been. It’s more OK in Holland to be a normal size than it
has stretch marks from childbirth, is older, and she decided to
is in the US. Women here are the tallest in the world, and are
pose nude. Through the process of coming to the shoot and
larger naturally, and it seems more accepted to be curvy here.
then seeing the results, she has come to feel differently about
However, they still look at the same thin fashion models and
herself and her relationship with her body. It’s a compelling
still feel some of the same inadequacies. So we’re all in the
image and beautiful story.”
same boat when it comes to self-perception.”
When Hagen started the project, the focus was on women over forty, of non-traditional size. Since then it has evolved to
Hagen sees the project as a collaboration with the models. “I
include women as young as 25 and as old as 61, with every
have never used live subjects before; it is new to me,” Hagen
age and body type in between. “I didn’t want to say no to
says. “I am very conscious of the ‘male gaze,’ so I gave some
people who had a strong opinion on what beauty was and
direction, lots of color and texture, but then left it up to the
wanted to contribute to the project. I didn’t want to constrain
models to choose how they are most comfortable posing.
the project - I wanted to see where it would go and how it
Each shoot is memorable because there is a very focused
would evolve. I have never said no to someone who wanted
interview before the shoot, then there is the shoot itself, about
to contribute and the project is the better for it.”
two hours in total. By the end, I feel like I have made a connec-
Hagen is starting to receive notes from others who have
tion with each person, like I’ve made a friend. Some women
been impacted by the project. “I received an e-mail from a
THE XPAT JOURNAL
35
Beauty
Li, 40
woman in the American Midwest. She feels that beauty is
The Exploring Beauty Project started as an idea, a response
elusive, and has been troubled by it for most of her life. She
to the negative feelings so many women have about their own
believes the project is important to people like her who are
bodies. “Now we have a blog that gets updated weekly with
finally accepting their own beauty.”
new images and interviews,” Hagen says. “We have more
The project has also changed Hagen as an artist. “Prior
volunteer models, we have shows planned in The Hague, we
to this project I wasn’t aware of the ability of art to reach
are part of Holland’s Kunstweek in November, we’re in the
so many people and change so many lives. For me, art has
process of publishing a book on the project, and we’re devel-
always been a very personal and inward-looking experience.
oping a touring schedule for Europe and the United States. It’s
Art occupies an interesting place in society. It can change our
thrilling to create art that matters and that people care about.”
cultural expectations, taking us in directions and we usually don’t go. I see new possibilities opening up for me as an artist, from oil painting to photography, to the Internet and digital media. It is empowering and incredibly liberating.”
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THE XPAT JOURNAL
For more information: www.exploringbeauty.org
t: 06 147 60 597 e : m o n i q u e @ q u a l i t y r e n ta l s . e u w w w. q u a l i t y r e n ta l s . e u
museum het prinsenhof delft
Delft C ha m b e r Music Fest i val
www.delftmusicfestival.nl
30
th
july – 8
th
august 2010
Recommended Reading
The Holland Handbook 2010 - 2011 What’s it like to live here, in the Netherlands? Who can help you find a new home? Is it true that you could owe up to 52% in taxes? What does the government do with that money? Are you going
W
to have to learn the language? Will you have to go home if you’re sick? Can you get a temporary job? Will you feel safe here? All these and countless other questions are answered in
this eleventh issue of The Holland Handbook, once again put together by expat experts and expats themselves to help you make this country your home for as long as you will be here. Whether you are a complete newcomer, have been here for a few months already, or are an ‘old rot’ - the Dutch term for an ‘old hand’. Because
artist - The Holland Handbook will help you on your way to
the book is filled to the
making your mission a success. You will not only find ways
brim with questions and
to navigate the system, but also to navigate social interaction
aswers for those at any
among the Dutch - from establishing eye contact with shop
stage of finding their way
owners, to showing up with the right hospitality gift, to mum-
around this country; be it
bling the right greetings on the right occasions.
from finding a real estate
The chapters cover the following topics: The Netherlands
agent, to keeping the
in a Nutshell, Working in the Netherlands Finding a House,
30%-ruling when you
Financial, Tax and Legal Matters, Getting Around, Daily Life,
change jobs, to explor-
Education, Health Care and the Medical System and Things
ing places the Dutch
to Do in Your Free Time - including auction houses, festivals,
like to visit, but for-
museums, typical Dutch sports events, and many, many other
eigners have seldom
activities.
heard of.
In fact, on the list of things to do in Chapter 10, perhaps
Whether you have
they should include: read The Holland Handbook! because it
come here to study,
is fun, informative, entertaining - and full of beautiful photo-
to work, to find a job,
graphs that will either whet your appetite for a day out, or else
to start a company,
serve as a wonderful reminder of your days in the Netherlands,
to accompany your
once you go back home.
spouse,
to
seek
adventure, to be an
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THE XPAT JOURNAL
For more information visit: www.xpat.nl and www.hollandbooks.nl
Culture
The Hague Sculpture 2010 with Manolo Valdés and Kim De Ruysscher
Lillie, 2006 Photo Gonzalez Sinova
From June 17 through September 12, The Hague Sculpture Foundation will be presenting its 13th open air exhibition. 23 huge bronze sculptures, created by the famous Spanish sculptor Manolo Valdés, will be on display on the Lange Voorhout, as well as five smaller sculptures by the Flemish sculptor Kim De Ruysscher. A unique and free
I
cultural event of internationale allure. In 2010, Spain and Belgium will be sharing the presidency of the European Union, which is why the foundation decided to organize this exhibition around the best-known sculptors of these two countries. Paintings and sketches by Valdés will also be on display in Pulchri Studio and the Kloosterkerk, both on the Lange Voorhout.
Regina II, 2005 Photo Martin Garcia
Manolo Valdés Manolo Valdés (Valencia, Spain, 1942) moved to New York in the 80s, where he devoted his time to painting and sculpting. His inimitable style is precise and expressive, and his subjects
pensive woman. De Ruysscher’s work has been exhibited in
are often inspired by art history. He takes famous figures from
several countries and has won prizes in among others the
well-known works, enlarges them, minimizes the details and
Netherlands, France, Spain, Finland, Canada and China.
displays them in abstract. These days, Valdés lives in New
York, Valencia and Madrid. His work can be seen all across
The Hague Sculpture
the world, most recently in among others Saint Petersburg,
Through the sculpture exhibition of The Hague Sculpture
Beijing, Paris and Düsseldorf. This spring, his work will be
Foundation, the city presents itself as an innovative city of
exhibited in the gardens of the Château de Chambord, and
culture. The open air exhibitions, which can be visited day and
in December an exhibition with monumental sculptures will
night, are highly-acclaimed, yet extremely accessible. They
open in New York.
therefore attract a wide public, of all ages. In the previous years, the exhibition showed works by
Kim De Ruysscher
among others Javier Marín, Sol LeWitt, Julian Schnabel, Fern-
Kim De Ruysscher (Wilrijk, Belgium, 1973) has been living in
ando Botero, Damien Hirst, Camille Claudel, Auguste Rodin,
The Hague since 2006. He creates marble statues, using a
Ossip Zadkine, Henry Moore, Max Ernst and Joan Miró.
classical style - though he lets himself be inspired primarily by daily life. His theme is ‘relax’: people who are lying in a sleeping bag or resting in a chair, an abandoned table, a pillow, a
For more information, the route, the podcast, and the agenda, visit www.denhaagsculptuur.nl.
THE XPAT JOURNAL
39
Leisure
Article and photos by Suzanne Schreve & Tijmen Wisman
How to Turn City Slickers And Harvest the Flavour of We have been looking forward to this weekend for a long time. Winter has been breathing down our necks and the sun still seems one step beyond us. I remember May as being one of the hottest months, even though it precedes the official summer period. The reason I remember this so well is because in May, I’d be sliding my sweaty fingers across the keyboard prepping for finals. This time around though, the 8th and 9th of May decide to
A
match their numbers in degrees. And when you’ve booked an all original get-away in a furnished
manual coffee-grinder. Here, electricity is out and a wood-
tent reminiscent of the more conscientious olden days - no
burning stove for cooking and oil lamps or candles for lighting
heating and no electricity - burning up a forest in order to stay
are in. There’s even a rustic-looking cool box to store the beers
warm doesn’t really fit the picture.
and butter. You half-expect Julia Child to pop up from behind
The tiny Netherlands, full of big surprises. But even locked
the iron stove and start giving you tips on how to best flip
in between clouds and clay, this weekend proves to be full of
an omelette. After we have settled in, Jennie takes us to the
lovely surprises and I wouldn’t have traded it for anything in
24-hour self-service honesty shop where you can buy local
the world.
goodies and some basics, but your best bet is to bring most
Better or Best Farm Stay?
of the food yourself, except for the milk of course. We’re not the only ones who have come this weekend,
This trend starts with our hosts Frits and Jennie, because
all seven tents are occupied, but this holiday destination still
although there are multiple locations in which ‘Het Betere
remains a quality small-scale experience. The tents are in a
Boeren Bed’ (Better Farm Bed) has facilities, the hosts are very
lovely spot, looking over a fence onto a rolling field dotted with
much part of the experience. When we arrive Friday eve, we
suitably picturesque cows. The farm itself is small and Frits
are immediately whisked away from the car, which we won’t be
has maintained the herd, whose milk is used for Leerdammer
needing nor wanting for the rest of the weekend, and shown
cheese, for the last 25 years. When only candles illuminate this
to our tent. Jennie points out that lugging our luggage could
otherwise sleepy corner of Otterlo, I turn in, with my socks on,
be a lot easier if we used the appointed wheelbarrow. We
still smelling of bonfire and secretly wishing they had provided
dump all our stuff in, pick up some wood en-route and make
us with long johns for the night. It hasn’t even been more than
a stop-over at the animal house. This little gem not only feeds
six hours and already I’ve let go of any urban fashion faux pas.
the kids’ enthusiasm - and I love a little cuddling time with
40
calves or baby rabbits too - but it is also home to the chicken
Never Put All Your Eggs in One Basket
den, where, if your timing is right, you can pick your own eggs.
At six thirty A.M., I am awoken by the mechanical beeping
While I watch Tijmen mull over the logistics of egg-laying, I
sound of Tijmen’s phone alarm. Last night he became set on
continue on to our tent.
beating the neighbouring kids to finding the chickens’ first
It is very spacious, set up for six people, and decorated to
eggs. The alarm rings until Tijmen has climbed over me and
reflect former rural life down to the cast-iron pots and enamel
out of the cupboard bed, pressing the off button with his left
plates. Folksy touches are scattered around - framed photos
thumb while his left foot thumps me in my eye. The idyllic situ-
of farm animals, vintage sweets tins, and a Douwe Egberts
ation we find ourselves in really doesn’t call for this encounter,
THE XPAT JOURNAL
Into Happy Campers Your Weekend Visits
Leisure
but then again, I did egg him on last night as I rather fancied a farmer’s uitsmijter - a Dutch term for both a special type of fried egg - for breakfast. Tucked underneath the duvet I eagerly await his return, until I watch him stumble back empty-handed, grumbling: “The girls from the second tent got there at six and took four eggs. Four eggs! They’re hardly four years old.” As he crawls back in next to me, we hear a boy outside yell to his father; “Dad! Dad! I found an egg!” With a couple of whispered swear words, Tijmen closes the cupboard bed door and falls asleep. Although it’s the natural life, with enough luxury to take the rough edges off, don’t be fooled by the tools. The basics force you to relax into a slower pace of life, also because there isn’t any other choice. When it takes an hour to make a cup of coffee, you appreciate drinking it all the more. Getting into this way of thinking at the beginning can be a fairly torturous process, especially when you wake up in a freezing tent and can’t flick on a radiator or take a hot shower. But by the end you become more organised and try not to let the fire go out and, more importantly, you learn not to get so stressed about silly things like the pasta taking a few extra minutes to cook. You also find yourself with more time on your hands, because no computer means no e-mail, no TV means no wasted hours watching mindless shows, and no telephone (if you manage to turn off your mobile) means no interruption from the outside world. Being on a real working farm also allows the children to go semi-feral for a while.
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And if you’re a slummy mummy looking for a break from
widespread heather fields like brides waiting to walk down the
Nappy Valley of the Dolls where immaculate mums push their
aisle. This famous self-seeding tree is actually a simple Scots
immaculate children around all day, try wearing the same
pine planted here after 1870 which, as a result of excessive
clothes for two days and not putting on make-up. It’s like a
exposure to strong winds out in the open, grows outwards not
breath of fresh air.
upwards. This is what gives it the appearance of having a long
Besides doing your own ‘chores’ you can also lend a hand
veil trailing at the back.
with the farm work, guided by Frits - for instance, you can milk
The entire park contains more than 5,000 hectares of
a cow by hand or feed the calves. We join Frits for the former
woodland, heath, sand dunes, drift sand, lakes, the Kröller-
and while he possesses that certain dexterous finesse which
Müller Museum, the St Hubertus Hunting Lodge, a Visitors
allows him to squirt voluminous quantities of milk at high
Centre, several campsites and restaurants, and of course
pressure, Tijmen’s handle on things produces just enough for
wildlife. Although we could have opted for a morning tour from
an espresso macchiato. Now defeated by eggs and milk, we
6 to 9 A.M., we did not, as the rain would have kept the ani-
decide to bike the surrounding areas, because right next to us
mals in the thicket of the forest and out of sight. If the weather
sits the second oldest national park in the Netherlands, the
is good though, it is very much worth your while to book an
Hoge Veluwe.
excursion with a ranger. The chances that you will see wildlife are great - whereby you can expect to encounter animals such
High on Nature
as red deer, mouflons, roe deer and wild boars silhouetted
The park entrance reminds us of Kruger Park’s gates, maybe
against the morning sunlight. It is less likely that you will see
because it is the only national park that is fenced off and for
the endangered species for obvious reasons, but the park is
which you have to pay an entrance fee. Once we pass the
home to many; from butterflies to pine martens and badgers.
grid though, the wood swallows us - leaving Africa at the
From the savannah we cycle back into more woodland
gate - before spitting us out on the Dutch savannas. You’ll
breathing in our natural surroundings and the fresh smell of
immediately notice the draping pine trees set in the middle of
pine, while wet grass sticks to our skin and the birds tweet
THE XPAT JOURNAL
43
Leisure
loudly above our heads. The park is so extensive and diverse
days, make sure to take your time. Our heads need a rest after
that you can enjoy it for several days. If you don’t have a
being visually bombarded by some of the best painters in his-
bike or forget to reserve one at Frits and Jennie’s, don’t fret
tory, so we escape to the garden. This is not just any garden;
because at each entrance a mass of white bikes are available
it is a sculpture garden covering 25 hectares, making it one
for use, free of charge. Just don’t forget to bring a picnic bas-
of the largest in Europe. Here nature and art truly combine,
ket. As we are still cycling in temperatures around 9 degrees
fusing into a wonderful display of shapes and shadows. The
Celsius, we opt for an indoor lunch at the Kröller-Müller
flowing interaction is a direct result of how the artists formed
Museum.
their sculptures based on the surroundings rather than merely placing an artwork outside amongst the shrubs and trees.
Naturally, Art
Sculptures like The Needle Tower by Kenneth Snelson and
Rushing down the paved bike paths, with wind gusts pushing
One by Richard Serra seem to have been carved from the
shots of oxygen down our lungs, we arrive at the Kröller-
roots up, sprouting out into the sky. Our route takes us from
Müller complex. As we enter the museum, it becomes clear
open spaces to tight paths, to entire buildings of art. We rest
we can use all the oxygen we can get, as we are completely
our body and soul at an amphitheatre-inspired work of art. To
overwhelmed by the enormous collection of art. Hallways of
us it immediately seems the perfect place for an actual musi-
van Goghs give you the impression that you are visiting the
cal performance. Tijmen has visions of rock artists smashing
studio of the post-impressionistic painter himself. The entire
their guitars into the smoothly carved stones and silently
museum’s collection exists of early artwork by Mondriaan,
labels this a bad idea. But later we discover in one of the leaf-
Pablo Picasso, Isaac Israëls, Fernand Léger, George Seurat
lets that in July the park hosts a festival, allowing you to dance
among so many others that the entire list of names could fill
amongst the sculptures, while checking out the performances
the remainder of this article. It is simply too much to handle
of various artists.
in one visit, so if you are planning on going there one of these
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THE XPAT JOURNAL
Kröller-Müller Must-Haves Most of the art collection in the museum belonged to Anton and Helene Kröller-Müller. What’s more, the entire park belonged to the married couple, and was originally acquired for private means. Both Helene and Anton enjoyed nature, Anton of slightly different kind than Helene as he was mostly fond of hunting. When they expanded their estate, Anton was motivated to do so to in order to gain more hunting ground, while Helene simply wanted to have more ground to explore. When the couple decided to build a hunting lodge, Helene asked the designer, Hendrik Berlage, to include a theme in his design based on the legend of St. Hubertus. St Hubertus used to be a hunter, until he saw a red deer with a luminous cross in his antlers and heard a voice telling him to better his life. The next day Hubertus got rid of his bow and added St to his name - and he has since become known as the patron saint of hunting. Berlage altered the design in keeping with her wishes and built the imposing structure in the shape of two deer antlers. The tower in the middle, raised and accentuated, symbolises the luminous cross. The entire building rises out from a surrounding pond, which in early morning fogs over and in the afternoon is home to several geese languidly lazing in the sun. Once started as a hunting lodge, today it is open to the public, offering tours on a daily basis. For those who are into architecture this is an absolute must.
The Creation of Lasting Memories The park is currently celebrating its 75th anni-
Frits & Jennie Meijer (our BoerenBed farm)
versary and to mark the occasion, the muse-
Westenengerdijk 45 6732 GP Harskamp
um has an entire exhibition dedicated to the park’s unique history. You can find out much
Het Betere Boerenbed
more about the quirky Kröller-Müller couple
www.betereboerenbed.com (site in English). As opposed to many Chinese restaurants, what you get looks exactly like the photos on the website
and how their higher purpose served to create such an exceptional and timeless monument to nature and art. The cultural blend that is
Kröller-Müller Museum
evident in the park, we also find back at the
Houtkampweg 6 - 6731 AW Otterlo -Tel.: 0318 - 591 241 Internet: www.kmm.nl (site in English)
farm. Our last night we spend in the open, tables shoved together with all families dining together on freshly-made pizzas baked in the
Het Nationale Park De Hoge Veluwe
wood-fired traditional oven outside by Frits
Informations & Reservation Tel: 0900 - 464 38 35 (weekdays, 20 ct/m) Internet: www.hogeveluwe.nl (site in English)
and Jennie. This is rustic art, naturally simple and unforgettable.
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45
Leisure
Events Diary: Summer 2010 The list of events contained here is only a selection of the many activities, shows, exhibitions, etc. taking place in the Netherlands between June and August. We do not pretend to be complete, but we do hope this list offers you an interesting and varied selection. For a more extensive list of happenings, we recommend that you visit: www.holland.com Teylers Museum
bones and droppings. Nuts, seeds and
newcomers? And how warm would it
pollen grains remain of the plant spe-
need to be in the Netherlands for the
cies. These small clues are enough to
monkey and the elephant to return? Will
allow us to reconstruct the landscape
we ever see a panther creeping through
of that period. This subtropical plant
a tulip field?
and animal life is known to us because of the clay pits at Tegelen, in the province of Limburg. There is even an era in history named after this sedimentary fossil-containing layer: the Tiglian. Tey-
Dates: May 22 - August 29 Location: Teylers Museum, Spaarne 16, Haarlem For more information, please visit: www.teylersmuseum.nl
lers Museum has the largest collection of fossils from this site, thanks to the efforts
Vondelpark Summer
of Eugène Dubois, the curator at Teylers
The Vondelpark Summer Festival fea-
Museum who discovered the primitive
tures free theatre, cabaret, concerts,
upright Java Man.
dance and entertainment, suitable for
Due to the current period of climate
all ages. It is held in Amsterdam’s larg-
change - it is getting wetter and warmer
est green space, the Vondelpark, and
- changes in animal and plant life are
its open-air theatre. During the festival,
apparent even over the past 20 years.
visitors can enjoy a variety of free per-
Heat-loving species are on the increase
formances. Classical concerts are held
and cold-loving species are disappear-
on Thursdays. Dance performances are
ing. Should we be happy with these
hosted on Fridays. Saturday afternoons are for the children, while Saturday eve-
The Tropical Netherlands
nings are for cabaret and light music.
For many millions of years, cold and
Sundays are for music, varying from
warm periods have alternated. For
world music to jazz, to urban, to local.
Dates: June 6 - August 29 Location: Vondelpark, Amsterdam For more information, please visit: www.openluchttheater.nl
example, there was a time when palm trees grew in Antarctica and when the Netherlands was covered with ice. When the polar ice caps melted, the sea level rose and the Netherlands disappeared under water. Nearly two million years
Parade
ago, it was subtropically warm here. Ani-
A travelling festival that brings a splash
mals including elephants, rhinoceroses,
of culture to several cities in the Nether-
panthers, monkeys, hyenas and bears
lands. The core words for this year’s pro-
lived here at that time. The remnants of this animal life are teeth,
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THE XPAT JOURNAL
Parade
gramme are: hard to grasp, self-providing, young, and multidisciplinary. There
Parade
will be new theatre acts, well-known
opments within the African cultures,
be dozens on concerts on more than
musicians, young film makers and old
looking at both tradition and innova-
20 indoor and outdoor stages. See our
talents - and, as always, De Parade
tion. Visitors can experience ‘the African
article on page 26.
will inspire, hypnotise and surprise both
way of life’, and will include a lively and
the unsuspecting first visitors as well as
diverse Africa market, with a diversity
those who have come out of curiosity,
of products and, of course African cui-
attracted by its reputation. There will also
sine, to appeal to everybody’s taste and
be a section for children.
appetite. Furthermore, there will be an
Dates and locations: June 17 - 27, Rotterdam, Museumpark (in and around the NAi); July 2 - 11, The Hague, Westbroekpark; July 16 August 1, Utrecht, Moreelse Park; August 5 - 22, Amsterdam, Martin Luther Kingpark For more information, please visit: www.deparade.nl
Dates: June 18-20, in the weekend, the concerts around noon. Location: various locations in the city of The Hague For more information, please visit: www.festivalclassique.nl
interactive programme for children, and workshops.
Date: June 13 Location: Zuiderpark, The Hague For more information, visit: www.thehagueafricanfestival.nl
Alice TT Assen The Dutch Motor Grand Prix at the Drenthe Circuit in Assen is one of the biggest events on the World Championship calendar, attracting an incredible 170,000 spectators. The race, known
Festival Classique
as the Dutch TT, has taken place here
The Hague African Festival
This wonderful festival offers the very
since 1949 and is regarded as one of the
This is the second Hague African Festival
best of classical music on the most
Netherlands’ top sporting events. The
in The Hague, organised by the African
beautiful locations in the city. There will
Motor Grand Prix is one of the fastest,
organisation Sankofa Foundation, and is
most thrilling sports events in the world.
aimed at bringing together Africans and
The races are extremely competitive and
the Dutch. Roggeveld, in the Zuiderpark,
the bikes can reach speeds of up to
is considered an excellent venue for the
310 kph (185 mph). Unlike in Formula 1
festival and the city of The Hague is an
racing, competitors frequently overtake
important home basis for the African
each other.
Dates: June 24-26 Location: Assen For more information, please visit: www.tt-assen.com
communities in the Netherlands. The Hague African Festival will present to us contemporary Africa, focusing on the cultural wealth and current develTT Assen
Julidans Photo David Ruano
Julidans - Summer Festival for International Contemporary Dance
North Sea Jazz Festival
Delft Chamber Music Festival
In its 34-year history, the festival has
Play! is the effervescent theme of this
Julidans is not merely interested in new,
hosted almost every jazz hero of our
year’s Delft Chamber Music Festival.
newer, newest. Those who have kept
time. One of the largest and most well-
Based on the idea that the pleasure of
up with Julidans know that they like to
known Jazz festivals in the world with
playing the most important part of mak-
show performances in which dance and
international artists playing the finest
ing music, the organisers have striven to
other theatrical means are used to voice
tunes for 8 hours of non-stop live Jazz.
find pieces that - for them - reflect the
an outspoken view on developments in
In 2006, the city of Rotterdam took over
ultimate pleasure of playing.
society. As is their tradition, there will be
the role of hosting the Festival - so those
For more information, see our article on
performances from all across the world,
of you used to heading to The Hague on
page 35.
from China, to Belgium, to Morocco, to
automatic pilot; re-programme it! For a
Israel, to Canada - and more. Julidans
more in-depth description, please read
will cover all of Amsterdam, from the the-
our article on page 30.
atres on Leidseplein to the Bijlmer Parktheater. The organisers of Julidans see themselves as matchmakers, connecting old and new, well-known and unknown,
Dates: July 9-11 Location: Ahoy’, Ahoyweg 10, Rotterdam For more information, please visit: www.northseajazz.nl or www.ticketservice.nl
Dates: July 30 - August 8 Location: Van der Mandelezaal, Museum Het Prinsenhof, St. Agathaplein 1, Delft For more information, including a brochure and ticket reservations, visit www.delftmusicfestival.nl
east and west, centre and south-east, dance and the new media.
Dates: July 1-14 Location: Amsterdam For more information, visit: www.julidans.nl
Summer Carnival The Summer Carnival is a yearly threeday Caribbean Carnival in the city centre of Rotterdam and is the most colourful and tropical party in the Netherlands. Similar to the carnival in Rio, it is a huge event, attended by at least 900,000 visitors from all across Europe, who come to dance to Latino music and look at the colourful and startling costumes and floats in the big street parade. Participants from Rotterdam’s many ethnic groups, especially those from Cape Verde, the Antilles and Surinam, give the event its own unique atmosphere.
Dates: July 26 (Queen Election), 30-31 (verify the date of the election closer to the date) Location: City centre Rotterdam For more information, please visit: www.zomercarnaval.com
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THE XPAT JOURNAL
Summer Carnaval Photo Fred Ernst
Leisure
Haags Uitfestival This festival offers a variety of attractions, including stages on the Lange Voorhout and the Spuiplein, with cabaret, theatre, dance performances, music, and street performances and, of course, an information market on the coming season of cultural events in The Hague and the opportunity to buy admission tickets at reduced prices.
Date: September 5, Location: Lange Voorhout and Spuiplein, The Hague For more information, please visit: www.haagsuitfestival.nl
Grachtenfestival
12th Grachtenfestival/Concert
indoor stages all across the city. There
The nights of the Grachten Concert
is enormous variety on offer here, with
(Canal Concert) are a magical time to find
previews of theatre, cabaret, dance, pop
yourself in Amsterdam. Renowned solo-
and classical music, opera, mime, chil-
ists perform classical music on various
dren’s theatre, street theatre and film. All
locations within Amsterdam and on the
performances are free.
banks of the IJ River, with fairy-like lights decorating the canal sides and buildings. With over 160 concerts and activities programmed, the Grachtenfestival 2009,
Dates: August 27-29 Location: Museumplein, Amsterdam For more information, please visit: www.uitmarkt.nl
the opening of the classical music season, welcomed over 70,000 visitors. The
Uitmarkt Amsterdam
entire Festival offers a wide selection of classical music at various locations in the city. The Grachtenfestival makes a special effort to provide a stage for young talent. Also part of this event is the Kindergrachtenfestival, which brings productions for babies, toddlers and teenagers. Many of the concerts are free of charge or accessible against a small fee.
Dates: August 14-22, ocation: Pulitzer Hotel, Prinsengracht, Amsterdam For more information, please visit: www.grachtenfestival.nl
Uitmarkt Amsterdam Amsterdam is a hub of cultural activity and the Uitmarkt is a fine example of the city’s artistic character. At the end of August, the new season of Culture commences with shows on outdoor and
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49
Art Diary
Summer 2010
Han van Meegeren, Supper of Emmaus, 1937, oil on canvas
Van Meegeren’s Fake Vermeers
the authenticity of his works. At the end of the Second World War a
Van Meegeren’s Fake Vermeers is an exhibition of ten famous forgeries
painting from the Netherlands was found in the collection of the Nazi
of Han van Meegeren. Most are in the style of Johannes Vermeer, but
minister, Hermann Göring. The painting was traced back to Han van
the works also include forgeries of Frans Hals, Pieter de Hooch and
Meegeren, who was immediately arrested on suspicion of collabora-
Gerard ter Borch. The exhibition explores Van Meegeren’s technique,
tion. Van Meegeren admitted to having sold the work, but also claimed
his masterpieces and his downfall.
to have made the painting himself. He had sold Göring a forgery. Van
Van Meegeren’s technique remains exceptional. For his master-
Meegeren’s confession became worldwide news and he was hailed
piece The Supper at Emmaus, Van Meegeren used a genuine 17th-
as a hero as ‘the man who swindled Göring’. Meanwhile the art world
century canvas and historical pigments. He bound the pigments with
was thrown into disarray.
bakelite, which hardened when heated to produce a surface very similar to that of a seventeenth-century painting. This technique, combined with Van Meegeren’s choice of subject matter and composition, was an important factor in convincing so many people of
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Dates: May 12 -August 22 Location: Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, Rotterdam For more information, please visit: www.boijmans.nl
The Young Vermeer Concurrently with Van Meegeren’s Fake Vermeers the Mauritshuis in The Hague is hosting the exhibition The Young Vermeer. The exhibition explores Vermeer’s development by focusing on three early works. The unique association between the two museums allows them to offer a discount to visitors of both museums during the exhibition. For this presentation, the Mauritshuis has brought together Vermeer’s early work: one painting from Edinburgh, one from Dresden and one from the Mauritshuis itself. These early works are quite different from the richly decorated interiors with attractive women you might expect from Vermeer. Instead they depict a mythological subject, a story from the Bible and a brothel scene, and they are all surprisingly large. Nonetheless, they all reveal the master’s hand and the seeds of his later style. They also show a young Vermeer already captivated by tranquillity and light, qualities that would later make him world-famous. Two works from the museum’s permanent collection will also be on display.
Dates: May 12 -August 22 Location: Mauritshuis, The Hague For more information, please visit: www.mauritshuis.nl
Johannes Vermeer, The Procuress, 1656, oil on canvas
seum. Dibbets creates an ever-changing tension between perspective and horizon which produces optical confusion in the viewer. At the same time, the multitudinous variations within the series suggest a quest for the perfect horizon. As an avant-garde conceptual artist, Jan Dibbets stands alongside contemporaries like Sol Lewitt, Lawrence Weiner and Joseph Kosuth. The importance of his work to postwar Dutch art is universally recognised. This exhibition of recent work includes two series: New Horizons / Land + Sea and Sectio Aurea. Both series are based on Dibbets’ 1972 work Sectio Aurea (Golden Section), now in the collection of the Gemeentemuseum. Dibbets’ work has frequently focused on the Dutch landscape, for example, as in his Dutch Mountains series, using manipulated images of land and sea to transform the flat landscape of the Netherlands into rolling hills. In these two new series, the artist again plays with the flatness of the landscape, using changing viewpoints and masking the photograph in constantly changing ways. Although the changes are sometimes almost zero, they still have an optically disconcerting effect on the viewer. Each
Jan Dibbets
work in the two series consists of a combination of horizons,
Figurehead conceptual artist Jan Dibbets is exhibiting this
one on land and one at sea.
spring at the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag. Dibbets is showing his latest series, entitled Horizons and based on his Sectio Aurea (1972), a work now in the collection of the Gemeentemu-
Dates: May 22 - September 12 Location: Gemeentemuseum, Stadhouderslaan 41, The Hague For more information, please visit: www.gemeentemuseum.nl
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art
Eerelman, Blue dog
The Exhibition The Exhibition will be presenting a choice from the collecting activities that have taken place in the building on the Praediniussingel in the last hundred years. Accordingly, the exhibition consists of a small selection of contemporary art characteristic of the policies of three consecutive directors: paintings by artists such as Jakob Smits and Herman Kruyder, acquired during the directorships of Jos de Gruyter and Bram Westers, with works from the New Figuration by Lucassen, and the geometric abstracts by Struycken. At the same time, the Museum will present furniture by Mendini and Sottsass and others, from the Frans Haks period. In addition, work by De Ploeg will also be on show, as well as 17th and 18th-century painting and applied art from Groningen. Besides several well-known masterpieces, art that has seldom been exhibited in the Groninger Museum in the past few years will now be on show, such as works by the 19th-century Groningen painters Eerelman and Egenberger. A small tribute will be paid to the former Museum of Natural History with the exhibition entitled Animals in Art, on display in the basement.
Dates: May 30 - September 5 Location: Groninger Museum, Groningen For more information, please visit: www.groningermuseum.nl
The ideal Woman must be the mirror reflection of myself� Courtesy of Louise & Eric Frank, London - Photo Karen Knorr
70s This international exhibition gives us an unique image of one of the most important
and
fruitful
periods in the history of photography: the seventies. Finally photography was to be
before where to be seen on the same
accepted as an art discipline, col-
show. Do not miss this exhibition, only
our was allowed and the raw daily
showing at the Fotomuseum.
life became a full worthy theme. The 70s show brings icons such as Cindy Sherman, Christian Boltanski, Sophie Calle, David Goldblatt, Willian Eggleston and Eugene Richards, which never
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THE XPAT JOURNAL
Dates: June 5 - September 19 Location: Netherlands Photography Museum Rotterdam, Rotterdam For more information, please visit: www.nederlandsfotomuseum.nl
6.20PM 10 06 09 2009 Photo Reinier Gerritsen
Jacques Villon/Kees van Dongen, Avenue du Bois de Boulogne, 1928, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
Teylers Museum, Drawing Pieter Jansz. Quast
From New York with Love
Welcoming the Rijksmuseum: Jacques Villon
For more than ten years, Matthijs de Clercq has been support-
In its annual presentation in the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum will
ing the museum by means of his acquisitions of art. De Clercq,
show a selection of works by Marcel Duchamp’s ‘unknown’ brother Gaston
who lives in New York, but grew up just outside Haarlem, largely
Duchamp, who went by the pseudonym of Jacques Villon. After his training
focuses on sketches, specifically from periods that are ‘under-
in Montmartre, Villon succumbed to the influence of artists such as Henri
rerpesented’ in the museum’s collection. This has led to a collec-
de Toulouse-Lautrec and Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen. After 1906, how-
tion of more than 70 drawings, including works by Pieter Aertsen,
ever, he experimented with a more Cubist style. The Rijksmuseum owns an
Crispijn van den Broeck, Corneille, Jacob Matham, Jan Porcellis
extensive collection of prints by Villon thanks to regular gifts by Ernst and
and Maerten de Vos. All important masters from whose hand the
Else van der Vossen-Delbrück, who have devoted themselves to collecting
museum had not previously owned any work.
Villon’s graphic art.
Dates: June 10 - September 19, Location: Teylers Museum, Haarlem For more information visit: www.teylersmuseum.eu
Dates: July 9 - September 26, Location: Van Gogh Museum, Paulus Potterstraat 7, Amsterdam, For more information visit: www.vangoghmuseum.nl
Wall Street Stop When the financial crisis of 2009 was at its peak, Reinier Gerritsen photographed people in the subway between Wall Street and Grand Central Station, New York. We see masses of introvert subway travellers in unposed group portraits. They reflect the collective feelings of a world in shock, not understanding that things have reached the stage where the global financial system has collapsed. Gerritsen assembles his photos from a number of shots that he takes within a few seconds. He is able to realize pictures of a striking clarity and strength. He expressly presents his documentary series as a construction, and thereby places his work in the centre of the discussion on the importance of the documentary in the year 2010. In his subject choice he consciously places himself within the tradition of documentary photography by retracing the footsteps of Bruce Davidson (1980’s) and Walker Evans ( 1930’s) and their fascination with everyday life in the big city.
Dates: June 26 - September 12 Location: Netherlands Photography Museum Rotterdam, Rotterdam For more information, please visit: www.nederlandsfotomuseum.nl
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contest
Young Writers in Print: Features Competition Every young writer wants to be published. So perhaps the best prize of all for the winners of the Young Writers Competition, organized by The XPat Journal, The International Herald Tribune and DutchNews.nl, is the publication of a book featuring their work. In total, nearly 700 young writers from 40 different schools took part in the competition, launched last September, and submitted stories, poems and plays based around the theme of friendship. The book contains the 15 winners and some 40 runners-up - picked by the judges on the basis of their imagination, emotion, insight, and writing skills. “We were staggered by the number of entries and the enthusiasm so many children showed in taking part,” said judge Jo Parfitt. “The students who contributed to this project wrote with insight and emotion about the reality of friendship in the context of their mobile lives. I was both moved and impressed.” “One of the most striking things to emerge from the entries was the number of stories about bullying,” said Robin Pascoe, editor of DutchNews.nl, and another judge. “In particular girls wrote about being bullied or having no friends. And of course, being expat children, there were a lot of stories and poems about leaving people or being left behind themselves. Some were terribly sad but others full of hope and optimism.” All 700 original entries have also become part of the Expatriate Archive Centre’s collection, so every story and poem, not just those in the book, will have a place in history. This unique book can be ordered for € 10 via www.hollandbooks.nl or by sending an e-mailto: editor@xpat.nl For more information check: www.youngwriterscompetition.nl
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THE XPAT JOURNAL
Friendship Book Winners We are pleased to announce the winners of The Young Writers’ Competition 2009 - 2010
2009 - 2010 Panel of Judges: Russell Shorto Anne de Graaf
Gold prize
Han van der Horst
Age Group 6 - 9: Clara Visentin, British School in the
Jo Parfitt
Netherlands, Junior school, Age: 9
Robin Pascoe
Age Group 10 - 13: Grace Sullivan, British School in the Netherlands, Age: 10 Age Group 14 - 18: Eline Wezenbeek, International School of
The Young Writers’ Competition 2009 - 2010 is sponsored by:
The Hague, Age 15
Silver prize Age Group 6 - 9: Leon Steiner, British School in the Netherlands, Junior school, Age: 9 Age Group 10 - 13: Alice Wightman, International School of
Gold prize winner - age group 6 - 9
Amsterdam, Age: 12 Age Group 14 - 18: Katherine Saul, The American School of
Clara Visentin
The Hague. Age: 14
British School in the Netherlands, Junior School Age: 9
Bronze prize Age Group 6 - 9: Molly Edwards, British School in the
Benny and the Paintings
Netherlands, Junior school, Age: 9
Benny, a small nine year girl lived in a small cottage with her
Age Group 6 - 9: Caroline van Meerbeeck, International
mother and father.
School of Amsterdam, Age: 9
She had no friends to play with as her village was small and
Age Group 6 - 9: Sjonnie Quinn IV, International School of
mainly inhabited by old people. As her school was in another
The Hague, Age: 8
far away village, she could not play with her school mates.
Age Group 10 - 13: Jonas Brekelmans, International School
She loved paintings especially the ones she made. She
of The Hague, Age: 12
painted a lot and knew about famous paintings. When she
Age Group 10 - 13: Obi Nwosisi, Amsterdam International
looked at them she felt like she was immersed in them. Every
Community School, Age: 12
painting made her day dream.
Age Group 10 - 13: Doortje Hefting, OSG West-Friesland, Age: 13 Age Group 14 - 18: Henry Williams, The European School, Bergen, Age: 14 Age Group 14 - 18: Jaffar Al-Aani, OSG West-Friesland, Age: 14 Age Group 14 - 18: Bridget Chase, American School of The Hague, Age: 14
One day her mother was going to take her out to a museum of paintings. “Come on Benny get your wellies and your jacket on.’’ Benny’ s mother said as Benny came downstairs. They entered the car and drove off. “ Thank you Mum, I’m so excited, I can’t wait to be there” “Would you like a poster of a painting Benny?’’ her mother asked. “YES please”, Benny exclaimed. Benny had asked her a poster many times without success, strangely this time Mum proposed her. Fifteen minutes later the car arrived at the museum.
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55
contest
Benny jumped out of the car and raced at the entrance full
a familiar look, she turned around to see the painting which
with excitement . “Not too fast Benny” her mother called after
she had bought a few days earlier. She stopped and stared in
her. Soon they entered the museum and walked to the 19th
shock “where on earth are the girls of the painting?!” Benny’s
century collections.
mother said dropping her jaws.
“Benny, I’ m going to the ancient paintings so you stay here
“Mum I know it’ s weird, but these girls are actually the ones
and don’t wander off, okay?” her mother asked “yes mum”
in the painting. I understand that they were painted with special
Benny replied.
paints that made them come to life. They are called Amelia and
As Benny’ s mother walked away, Benny stared at a beau-
Amy and they are my new friends” said Benny.
tiful painting of the sunflower vase Van Gogh had made. She
“Well, this is more than weird” said Benny’s mother paus-
started to day dream. She dreamed of touching the vase to
ing for a moment “besides, you should actually have told me
feel how it was made. But accidentally she tipped the vase
that...” Benny interrupted her “but if I had told you that, then you
over and the sunflowers spread over the floor. (What a mess!).
wouldn’t have believed me or worse you would take the painting
As she was tidying the floor, she heard some giggling behind
away. I do not want that, Amelia and Amy are my only friends”.
her. When she had finished she turned around to see who was giggling.
Benny’s mother still recovering from the shock considered the matter before answering. The strange appearance of the
She saw two girls in a painting from Paul Gauguin, giggling.
two girls was exceptional and worrying, however the two girls
“What’ s so funny?” Benny asked at the girls, still giggling.
were very kind and she has noticed that Benny had been very
“it’ s just that” the older sister began “ we found funny when
happy recently.
you tipped the vase over” the younger finished. “What are you doing here?” the younger girl asked suspiciously “Yeah. What are you doing here?” the older added.
Benny saw her mother’s face gradually changing from shock to a large smile, when she finally said “Benny I will not take the painting away, Amelia and Amy can stay if they behave”.
“Well,um....... Um first I have to tell you that I love paintings
And so the two girls remained. Initially every evening and
and I also love painting” Benny said “and.......” but the younger
the time Benny was at school they stayed in the painting, to
girlinterrupted “yes but that’ s not what we were asking” she
come out of it when Benny was home. But after some time
said. “Be quiet and let her continue” her sister said “Thank
they stopped going back in the painting, and mum bought two
you, and as I was saying my mom brought me here tolook at
beds so they could sleep in Benny’s room.
some paintings and later she will also buy for me a poster of a painting” Benny finished. “Hey, there is a poster of our painting in the museum’s shop! If you have that bought, than we can be together and become friends”.
Summer came and passed, and with the start of school, Amelia and Amy, now real girls, joined Benny’s class. So now Benny was always with friends.
Gold prize winner - age group 10 - 13
“True! But will you still be alive? I mean, will you still speak and.........” Benny was about to say something else when the
Grace Sullivan
older sister interrupted “just go and tell your mom to buy our
British School in the Netherlands - Age: 10
poster”. When Benny had gone to tell her mom that she wanted to have the poster with the two girls, her mum was happy to
She has big, blue, spiky flower eyes.
buy it.
And white blond hair that’s calm on top
Fifteen minutes later, back at home Benny was admiring her
and wild underneath. That is just like Orla.
poster (which she had hung some where). She had started to
I have known her since I was two and tiny
talk to it again and was happy that she had chosen it.
and we both loved pink and princess stuff.
After few days the two girls (which by now had names.
Whatever I do with her is fun. Even
Amelia & Amy) could come out of the painting and go back
when our parents take us to boring old
in for sleeping (or if mom was coming in Benny’ s room they
buildings in the freezing cold. She always
would go in and pretend they had stayed there the whole time)
makes me laugh. When I am worried or sad she can always
One day when Amelia, Amy and Benny were playing,
cheer me up. And she ALWAYS keeps our secrets secret. She
Benny’s mother entered the room holding a large basket full
is always kind and never tells lies. When we talk on the phone
with clean laundry.
we
“Benny you know... Huh? Who are these girls?” her mother asked pointing at Amelia and Amy. Then as the two girls had
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Orla is my best friend
THE XPAT JOURNAL
talk for hours. She left to Australia when we were only 4. We barely see each other but we are still best friends.
Gold prize winner - age group 14 - 18
the first place and that I didn’t really have anything I wanted to say to them.
Eline Wezenbeek International School of The Hague - Age: 15
Not to forget it’s ridiculous to claim that just because we have internet communication we can suddenly stay friends long distance. Whatever happened to phones or even let-
Friendship
ters? It’s like they never even existed. The only reason it’s so
To me, it means reminiscing. It’s about looking back at experi-
popular to communicate through the internet is because it’s
ences I had with other people; how we laughed at a joke, cried
easier and cheaper; those are the only two factors teenagers
about hurting ourselves and screamed towards each other
care about. If you ask me, it’s all ridiculous, it’s impersonal and
when we fought. The people whom I consider friends are as
materialistic. People think that just because they exchange a
much memories as the experience I shared with them. This is
few shortened words with each other they’re still in touch and
because with the moving I do, it’s nearly impossible for me to
can maintain their friendship.
maintain a real friendship.
Of course, I’ve become spoiled too; I never have learned
Travelling puts a strain on friendship, which is a renowned
how to deal with people, because I knew that I would never
fact. I can barely think of anyone whom I would call a friend
have to see them again once the year was over. As heartless
for life. Of course a few people come to mind, but no one that
as that might sound, it is the sad truth. The hard truth is that
really stands out of whom I can say is the person I could see
in some schools, when the year was over, ninety percent of
myself be friends with for ever. A lot of this has to do with just
the people I say goodbye to, I’d never see again. I never cried
moving to different cultures and adjusting myself to them until
once when it was time to say goodbye; except if it was me
I didn’t stand out like an outsider anymore, or not being able
that was saying goodbye to everyone else, because whenever
to bond with someone long enough until I could call them my
I left, it was an end of an era, a chapter and the end of many
best friend for life. Then, when I would meet up with some of
friendships for me.
my old friends I felt like I had out grown them, I had learned
Part of me has to be responsible for not staying in touch
more about life, cultures, languages and art, and it seemed
with the people I used to have unforgettable moments with.
like they had stayed the same through all those years, frozen
But as I grew older, into times where people really start to
in time and defrosted when it was time for me to come back.
think about who they are, I started meeting friends who I wish
And if that wasn’t the case they had outgrown me, because in
I could see every day, of whom I would cry about if either one
the mean time they had started smoking or drinking, as if they
of us left.
were twenty-three years old. That was just plain ridiculous;
Everyone has to say goodbye in their life. Whether it is to
in my opinion, that’s even worse than staying the completely
a person, a place or an object, but it’s the children that grow
same person throughout the years.
up in a travelling life style that say it too often. They grow up
Another thing I believe about friendship which is something
saying it so much that it doesn’t mean anything anymore. The
I know is true: friends are the only people in the world that
first time I said it, and understood what it meant, it felt like rip-
can truly hurt you. Strangers who judge you on the street
ping off a band aid. But now, it’s nothing. I don’t like dwelling
can bruise you, but friends are the ones that leave a scar for
on things, I prefer to move on and live my life, and I think that’s
life. This is because they have the knowledge to do so. That
because of the far too many times I’ve had to leave something
knowledge is something you could only have gotten out of
behind. I’m not sure if being fifteen and being able to say
being in a friendship. Relatives have it too, but they are the
that I can deal with death, disease and farewells better than
people who’ll never use it against you. What is most important
a thirty-year-old is a good thing. I really don’t know what that
and special about that is that no matter how much you try to
makes me; heartless, experienced, mature or even pathetic,
teach someone that, everyone still learns it the hard way.
maybe all of those.
Another reason for me not being optimistic about long-
It’s sad but true: all things come to an end, good or bad,
distance friendships as much as I could is that I didn’t grow
no matter what the circumstances are. It’s silly to believe
up in an environment where internet communication meant
that friends can beat that crucial law of nature. Most people
everything and you could find out what someone was doing
choose to ignore it, but I don’t. I face that fact and therefore I
every single day of the week. Because when we travelled the
try to make every moment worth remembering. My message
most, internet communication wasn’t that popular (a.k.a: the
to all people is to push that knowledge to the surface of their
pre-facebook era). I had no contact with who ever I might be
consciousness and put it into practice.
having in the back of my mind right now. So when I saw that person again I wasn’t prepared to see them, and the saddest part is, is that I hadn’t even looked forward to seeing them in
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57
contest
Silver prize winner - Age group 6 - 9
The waves that threaten to tear us apart, the wind that
Leon Steiner
screams and howls in our ears.
British School in the Netherlands - Age 9
We will ignore the storm hat roars around us,
A Letter to my best friend for ever who also happens to be my big brother
We will stand up against the waves that threaten to tear us apart, We will shut out the sounds of
Dear Maxi Bro,
the wind that screams and howls in our ears.
Sorry that I haven’t written to you for a while. I have been very busy. Me and Mum went ice skating and I learned how
But how?
to do it in half an hour. Now we go and skate every weekend.
Because you can lean on me
School is busy. How are things with you? Have you made
I can lean on you
some friends already? How is it living in England? Life is weird
You can trust me
without you being there. I miss you. Mum and I will come over
And I can trust you
for a weekend to London next month.
I will always be there
Today I want to tell you what a special kind of person you
So will you
are to me. I miss you so much and hope that we can see each
I am a column of friendship
other again soon.
So are you
Remember the day when we first met? You always wanted a little brother and then one day I was there. I can’t remember
Silver prize winner - Age group 14 - 18
but Mum keeps telling me what it was like. We always have so much fun. When I was really little you let me play with your
Katherine Saul
playstation controller and I thought it was for real - so cool -
The American School of The Hague - Age: 14
but it wasn’t even plugged in. Our friendship is something I cannot live without and there
I awoke to the sunlight shining through his open window and
is no doubt. Ytou are that special person for good times and
into the seemingly empty room. I grunted and rolled over in
bad. Someone to be there for when I am sad.
the makeshift bed on the floor. “Lars?” I shouted. No answer.
I can always share my thoughts with you and ask for your
“LARS!?” still no answer. So I got up off the floor and went
advice and you known I will always be your little brother and
downstairs into the kitchen where the strong smell of bacon
friend.
was emanating.
It is so special to have a brother who is also my best friend.
“Good morning” I turned around to see Lars’ mom stand-
I thought you should know.
ing in the doorway, “Want some bacon?”
Silver prize winner - Age group 10 - 13
the counter wolfing down everything in sight. “Oh, have you
“If there’s any left.” I glanced over at Lars’ brother across seen Lars?” I glanced at the clock, and realized that Lars was
Alice Wightman International School of Amsterdam - Age 12
usually still sleeping at this hour. “I asked him to run to the Albert Heijn for me, we’re almost out of eggs and juice.” As she said this I looked into the fridge
Friendship
and wasn’t surprised to find that it was almost empty. “I’m gonna go home but I’ll be back in a bit, if Lars gets
You are a column of friendship
home tell him I’ll be here soon.” I said as I shut the door
So am I
behind me. It was late summer and therefore warm enough
You will always be there
for me to walk out side in my pajamas, which consisted of
So will I
shorts and a tank top. Lars and I live on the same street me at
I can trust you
number 5, and him at number 22. All of the houses over look a
You can trust me
soccer/ dog walking park separated from the road by a 3-foot
I can lean on you
deep canal. I know it’s 3 feet because Lars once dared our
You can lean on me
friend Tim to jump in to water and walk from one end to the
But what of the storm
other and the water only came up to about his waist.
that roars around us,
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THE XPAT JOURNAL
I took the key from under the mat and quietly slipped inside
the house. It was so silent, I could’ve heard a pin drop. I guess no one was up yet. I slowly climbed up the narrow, steep flights of stairs to my room. * Where is it? * I mumbled to myself as I searched around the room for the tiny wrapped package. “Gotcha” I said lifting up this past season’s softball mitt. Quickly, I tiptoed down the stairs and out the door. I looked up the street towards house number 1 and saw Lars on his bike slowly pedaling down the road. He hadn’t seen me yet to I stepped out onto the edge of the road. “Hey Eva!” he said with a big smile on his face. He started to slow down but I burst out. “Don’t slow down! I’m gonna jump on the back okay?” His bike kept moving so I stepped forward a few steps and then jumped onto the rack on the back of his bike. “Good morning! It seems you were up early.” I said while trying to keep my weight even so as to make it easier for him to bike me. “Yeah, I guess I wanted my last day here to be the longest.” I frowned as he said this, today was his last day of living in Holland, next week he would be starting ninth grade in Denmark. His house was already all packed up, except for some food and towels. “So what do you want to do today?” “Lets go out somewhere, I don’t feel like sitting around the house.” I said. I checked my phone for the time, 9:30. We had to be at Bagel Alley (a popular hang out and café) in an hour. “Let’s go for a ride. Just gimme a second to go get my bike.” So we went back to my house but this time to the back gate to where the bikes are stored. We bike around a lot, there’s a lot of bike trails in Holland that overlook gorgeous canals and fields. Especially summer with all to the tulips and daffodils everywhere. “Hey, I’m getting kind of hungry, can we go to bagel alley to get some food?” now we only had 15 minutes until we had to be there. “Sure, I’ll pay, I still owe you for last time.” We biked on in silence and when we got there locked up
The Young Writers' Competition 2009 - 2010 was brought to you by
our bikes and stepped inside where half of the soon to be ninth graders were waiting to say good-bye. We both looked around at the sea of faces. Some of them were happy, or so they appeared, but most wore a sad expression. It was upsetting, to see him go. He was one of those people who helped to make the grade what it is, the kind of person that was friends with everyone. Just then Lars turned to me and said, “I really going to miss you,” turning towards everyone else he said, “Bye everyone”. He gave me a hug, and walked out the door. I didn’t even get to give him his present.
DutchNews.nl THE XPAT JOURNAL
59
EVENT
World Première Wild Wonders of Europe in The Hague From May 27 through August 30, The Hague will host the world première of Wild Wonders of Europe. A free open air exhibition on the Lange Vijverberg with more than 500 larger-
W
than-life nature photographs made in the 48 European countries by 69 top-photographers. Wild Wonders of Europe will reveal the most amazing treasures of nature of the continent to 700 million Europeans and the world. You can see animals and landscapes that you may never have heard of. This unique pan-European initiative will share with us the beauty of nature. Things we can still admire, but might lose one day. It will show us why European nature is important to us. And why we should protect it. The quality of the photographs will lend the exhibition tremendous emotional power. There will be at least one photograph per European country, but this is but a small selection of the almost 200,000 photographs that were taken for this unique project over a period of 15 months. The most beautiful photographs can also be found on the Wild Wonders of Europe website. The exhibition will be visiting all 48 European countries over the years to come, with the city of The Hague hosting the première. As second UN-city of the world and the greenest city of the Nether-
Bee-eater tossing a bumble bee - Merops apiaster and Bombus sp.
lands, this city is uniquely suited to host
Hungary/Pusztaszer Protected Landscape, Csongrád
this exhibition during the International UN
The bee-eater is a specialist in bumble bees, wasps, bees and other larger flying insects. One of
Year of Biodiversity.
Europe’s most colorful and exotic-looking birds, the bee-eater, lives in colonies in sand banks. That
On www.wild-wonders.com you can
is why this species has benefited from human construction and road building, where gravel pits
find extensive background information on
and excavation sites provide many more artificial sandbanks than untouched nature. On the other
the project. For instance the latest news,
hand, widespread pesticide used in farming reduces the numbers of large insects that the bee-eater
blogs, videos, the photographs, and the
needs to survive. The bee-eater is a Mediterranean species of dry and open country, spreading
photographers. Many of the 69 photog-
northwards with climate change. Sometimes they are persecuted by bee-keepers, who are not so
raphers will be present for the opening in
enthusiastic about their choice of diet.
The Hague.
Photo by: Markus Varesvuo/Wild Wonders of Europe
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THE XPAT JOURNAL
Bugling red deer stag - Cervus elaphus Denmark/Klampenborg, Copenhagen
Dalmatian pelican - Pelecanus crispus
The red deer is the most emblematic of all European animals. It is depicted in countless cave paint-
Greece/Lake Kerkini, Macedonia
ings, rock carvings, and in the coats-of-arms of noblemen, towns, regions and businesses. It lives in
At 16 kilos and with a 3 meter wing
many habitats from treeless moorlands to semi-desert, but is on the verge of distinction in some areas,
span,
due to avid hunting. During the 1800s and 1900s, the red deer survived in many countries only in large
together with the great bustard and
royal hunting grounds, like the one where this photo was taken. It is now coming back in great num-
the mute swan, a competitor for the
bers, thanks to reintroductions and more sensible hunting regulations. During the fall mating season,
title ‘The World’s Heaviest Flying
also known as ‘the rut’, the red deer stags use a brawling call to advertise their territory and attract the
Bird’. All three species live in Europe.
females. Photo by: Florian Möllers/Wild Wonders of Europe
The Dalmatian pelican has made a
the
Dalmatian
pelican
is,
very successful comeback over the last 30 years, thanks mainly to nature protection measures. Now it is quickly becoming a very valuable nature tourism asset. Lake Kerkini is one of the most productive fish waters in Europe, and supports, aside from supporting a vibrant fishery industry, tens of thousands of pairs of breeding cormorants, herons, spoonbills, grebes and pelicans. In 2009, an EUfinanced cleanup campaign removed decades of plastic and other garbage from the lake. Can we make a difference? Yes, we can! Nature conservation works! Photo by: Jari Peltomäki/Wild Wonders of Europe
THE XPAT JOURNAL
61
recommended reading
ABC Summer Top 5 In 1972, a couple of young enthusiastic Americans came to Amsterdam, the city where anybody, anything and everything goes, and decided to open a store with American erotic magazines and book remainders bought for 10 cents a pound dry weight. That was almost
T
four decades ago.
Today the American Book Center has grown into one of the
and her mother, barely speaking English, emigrate from Hong
biggest, maybe even the biggest source of American (and
Kong to America. Kim’s Aunt Paula has arranged green cards,
British) English-language books and magazines on continen-
paid medical bills, provided work and shelter and in return
tal Europe. For general information about the store and their
expects repayment deference, respect and cash. However,
stock, visit www.abc.nl. Especially for the readers of The XPat
the apartment she provides is derelict, unheated and roach-
Journal, the staff of the ABC has compiled a list of books that
infested and the work is in Paula’s filthy sweatshop; so inten-
tell us about people who, confronted with lives and conse-
sive that the employees’ children work there after school to
quences they never anticipated or prepared for, embark on the
help their parents keep up. Despite these hardships, Kimberly
journey nonetheless to see where it takes them.
is determined to escape poverty and gains a scholarship to a private school.
THE TERRIBLE PRIVACY OF MAXWELL SIM Jonathan Coe € 21.99
from the touching relationship between Kimberly and her
Poor Maxwell Sim. He’s that awful man who sits next to you in
mother, and the stark contrast between Kimberly’s lives in
the train and talks to you no matter how emphatically you bury
two completely different cultures. Kwok based this story on
your nose in your book. His wife and daughter have left him.
her own experiences and there is understated authenticity
He’s fallen out with his father. He has 74 Facebook friends and
on every page, particularly in the subtle way in which Kwok
yet no friends at all. Afraid of intimacy, he tries to connect with
describes Chinese culture and language. Girl in Translation is
strangers, including his car’s sat-nav, and fails miserably. In
a debut with a very likable narrator, as polished and elegant
a world hyper-connected via satellite, Maxwell Sim is alone.
as the work of a long-established author. Sure to become a
On a crazy PR stunt involving driving across Britain to
Much of the appeal in this witty and hopeful story comes
modern classic.
hawk eco-friendly toothbrushes, Max attempts to clumsily reconnect with people from his past. As his journey progress-
WAR DANCES - Sherman Alexie € 25.99
es, we find out more about him through the fascinating stories
In this prize-winning collection of poems, stories and more, we
told by other characters, via Coe’s trademark gift for narrative
meet a group of men on the verge of major changes; a sick
voices. The most enjoyable voice though, is the pared-down
man tends to his alcoholic father in hospital; a teen with a sum-
and affable one of Max himself who starts off by telling us he
mer job at the local newspaper must write the obituary of the
is a terrible writer, that his father and ex-wife are the authors,
obituaries editor; a man defends his home from burglars and
not him. It’s this sort of honesty and emerging self-awareness
becomes a poster-boy for racism; a politician’s son commits
that make him so endearing and the unusual end to his pica-
an unforgivable hate-crime; a man in a failing marriage courts
resque so shocking.
a woman he sees in airport lounges. These believable charac-
As ever, the joy here is in Coe’s black humour, his understated writing and his ability to capture an entire decade into 350 pages. Great stuff.
ters, whether they are fathers, adulterers or murderers, invite us to sympathise with them and then examine our own lives. Alexie’s style is simple and easy to read. It’s also full of humour, intelligence and hidden emotional depths, reminding
62
GIRL IN TRANSLATION - Jean Kwok € 20.99
one of Hemingway or Vonnegut, especially in his talent for
After the death of her father, clever eleven-year old Kimberly
making the reader want to simultaneously laugh and cry. The
THE XPAT JOURNAL
By Hayley Wakenshaw
poems which punctuate the stories are succinct tableaux of
THE LONELY POLYGAMIST - Brady Udall € 21.99
post-modern life: they use pursuits like building a Lego Star
With three homes, four wives and 28 children to support,
Wars Death Star, or making a mix-tape, as a metaphors for
hapless Mormon Golden Richards is forced to save his con-
the book’s themes, tying the collection together perfectly. War
struction business by building a brothel in Nevada (telling
Dances is a smart and enjoyable read from an incredibly tal-
everyone it’s a rest home) and while doing so, he falls in love
ented author that you’ll want to dip into over and over.
with his shady boss’s wife. His delinquent son Rusty hatches a disastrous plot to get the attention he craves, and after
THE POSTMISTRESS - Sarah Blake € 21.99
multiple miscarriages, his third wife Trish feels disconnected
The Postmistress weaves together the stories of three women
from the rest of the family and wants to leave. Added to all
during World War II. Ballsy war reporter Frankie travels across
this, there’s a dog with underpants, nuclear tests gone terribly
Europe to capture the voices of the fleeing Jews. Back home
wrong, an ostrich, and a sofa that just won’t go away. Golden
in Cape Cod, newly-married Emma waits for her husband,
is in a glorious mess - alienated, on edge, and headed for an
who, traumatised by the loss of a patient, has left to volun-
almighty showdown.
teer his skills in England. Prim Postmistress Iris, who usually
This is a super-sized version of the big American family
thrives on protocol, struggles with the difficult delivery of an
novel, in the vein of The Corrections or Middlesex. The many
important letter. After a meandering, seemingly aimless start,
characters and plot-lines in this breezy 600-page tale are in
a shocking pivotal event occurs that makes the rest of the
the hands of a gifted storyteller who makes us care about
story utterly compelling. Apart from some beautiful writing,
each person - their faults and worries are the same as ours,
what makes The Postmistress stand out is the way in which
only bigger - and infuses the story equal doses of comedy and
Blake convinces the reader of the fragility of life and the ter-
tragedy. We pressed Udall’s last book eagerly into the hands
rible sadness of war. She does this with such immediacy
of everyone looking for a good read, and we’re pretty sure
and skill that you’ll be thinking about it weeks later. It’s by no
we’ll be doing it again with The Lonely Polygamist.
means a masterpiece, but it’s an affecting, thought-provoking and very memorable book nonetheless.
THE XPAT JOURNAL
63
Culture
Delft Chamber Music Festival 2010: Play! For 14 consecutive years, the last weekend of July has seen the kick-off of for the Delft Chamber Music Festival; a chamber music lovers’ paradise that takes place
F
in the city center of Delft. For ten days in row, musicians from all across the world will be
together with Oleg Maisenberg and Jonathan Biss. There will
performing in the informal festival-setting, as guests of artistic
also be a few unfamiliar faces, including upcoming violinists
director Liza Ferschtman.
such as Alina Ibragimova and Bracha Malkin, and cellist Alisa
Play! is the lively theme of this year’s Delft Chamber Music
Weilerstein. The former first violinist of the Orlando Quartet,
Festival. Based on the idea that the pleasure of playing is
Arvid Engegård, will be bringing his new Engegård Quartet.
the most important part of making music, Liza Ferschtman
Star musicians Christian Poltéra, Rick Stotijn, Amihai Grosz
has striven to find pieces that - for her - reflect the ultimate
and Jennifer Stumm will perform once again, while there
pleasure of playing. On the site, she tells: “Personally I find
will also be new performers such as Marko Ylönen, Hariolf
the string quintet, especially with two violas, one of the
Schlichtig, Oliver Triendl and Matthew Hunt, and the win-
most playful musical forms.
ners of the Dutch Music Prize 2009, Bram van Sambeek and
The extra dimension added
Lavinia Meijer.
in the middle register makes
As usual, the festival will start with an ‘upbeat concert’,
it my favourite ensemble
while there will be a few free concerts, given by laureates of
form.” For this reason, she
competitions. Novelties this year will be the free Canal Con-
has programmed six string
cert, hosted by the Rubens Quartet, and the Musical Chairs
quintets this year, including a
Concerts on Tuesday and Thursday. These will be three
brand-new quintet especially
short concerts on three different locations, allowing you to
written for the festival by the
discover the musicians’ solistic qualities. Born partially from
young, highly inventive com-
the need to avoid the noise caused by construction activities
poser Wilbert Bulsink. Fur-
on the nearby railroad tracks, and partially from the desire to
thermore, there will be string
‘embed’, as they call it, the festival in its host city, Ferschtman
quintets from Mozart, Men-
has organised three simultaneous concerts, that start at 1 P.M.
delssohn, Beethoven, and
and last approximately 30-35 minutes. At the end of the first
Röntgen, as well as lesser-
concert, the audience makes a short three-minute walk to the
known work from Caplet,
next location, and the musicians play their piece again, at 2
Bizet and Kurtag.
P.M. and then at 3 P.M. The festival’s final concert on Sunday
Another thread highlighting this year’s theme is to
will be the unforgettable Schubert Quintet played by Weilerstein, Poltéra, Ferschtman, Schlichtig and Ibramigova.
be found in György Kurtág’s unique
miniatures
Signs,
Games and Messages. As for the musicians... The organisers are proud to announce the return of Robert Holl,
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THE XPAT JOURNAL
The Delft festival also offers a set of three free concerts to those who register first through the website www.delftmusicfestival.nl. Here you will also find all the necessary details about programming and booking for the regular program.
Check us out for travel guides to today’s hottest travel destinations, language guides and fun travel literature.
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Leisure
Footsbarn - Sorry! That’s Life exclusive at Carré From Friday, July 9 through Saturday, July 24 Royal Theater Carré will be putting on Sorry! That’s Life, a dynamic and humoristic show by
S
Footsbarn, in which language plays no role. Sorry! That’s Life is a new show with nonsensical, mysterious, musical, and moving acts. You will also see animals that you didn’t know could learn tricks. It is a wonderful experience with clowns, undertakers, horses, ducks, gypsies, children, dogs, goats, violinists, opera singers, corpses, technical stunts, modes of transportation, and a tremendous final act.
The Story
When the funeral of a famous violinist is disturbed by a group of gypsies who want to use the location for a wedding, it becomes time to face the music. The battle can begin: are we going to mourn the deceased, or are we going to celebrate a brand-new union? This will bring the polarities between the two worlds to an extreme.
Footsbarn
Koninklijk Theater Carré, Amstel 115 - 125, 1018 EM Amsterdam For more information and ticket sales visit: www.carre.nl
The international theater group Footsbarn will be visiting the famous Carré piste, after having been to Paris and London. The roots of the Footsbarn Travelling Theatre lies in the 70s. They have always been warmly welcomed in Amsterdam, among other during the famous Festivals of Fools.
READERS’ OFFER Koninklijk Theater Carré kindly offers 4 free tickets for the show on July 9th to readers of The XPat Journal. To compete just send an e-mail to editor@xpat.nl and mention Footsbarn show, your name and the name of the person you want to invite. The XPat Journal will draw two lucky couples and inform the winners on July 2nd. Please send your e-mail before July 1st.
66
THE XPAT JOURNAL
Living and working in The Netherlands?
Looking to move to or from The Netherlands?
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*4000 tickets are on offer on a strictly first-come-first-served basis
Events
Feel at Home in The Hague The International Community Fair 2010 A Day to Discover International & Cultural The Hague! Plan a day trip to The Hague on Sunday, September 19, and discover all there is to do in the region at the fifth annual Feel at Home in The Hague - The International Community Fair
T
2010, in the Atrium of the City Hall.
tacts and connect with locals and other expats in the area. As if that weren’t enough, this unique event provides the perfect opportunity for cultural organisations, sports and social clubs as well as service providers to reach out to the ever-expanding international population in the region. Still wondering what the fuss is all about? With some 60,000 expats and internationals living in the region, about 150 International organisations, around 80 nationalities, and a diverse assortment of cultures and languages, plans to expand The Hague as an international and cultural hot-spot are steadily underway. The team behind Feel at Home in The
There will be plenty to see and do at this keenly anticipated
Hague - The International Community Fair share this vision - to
annual event before heading out with the family to make the
assist in enhancing the image of The Hague as an attractive
most of the attractions that The Hague has to offer.
International region offering a diverse range of cultural activi-
Feel at Home in The Hague - The International Community
ties and events suitable for its international residents.
Fair 2010 is the event for the expat and international com-
The Fair is organised by TheHagueOnLine.com, an Eng-
munity of The Hague region to discover all there is to do in
lish-language daily news and information portal. The Director
their free time at one time, in one location, and is the perfect
of both Feel at Home in The Hague - The International Com-
opportunity to discover The Hague as a truly international and
munity Fair 2010 and TheHagueOnLine.com, Billy Allwood
cultural city. Visitors are also encouraged to make new con-
recognises the importance of making information available
City Hall The Hague, Atrium
to all International residents to enable them to feel at home in their new city. “I certainly wish Feel at Home in The Hague had been around when I first came to The Hague 16 years ago. Back then, I found it very difficult to find information about events and social happenings in The Hague region,” Billy says. Since its inception five years ago, Feel at Home in The Hague - The International Community Fair has grown to attract people from in and around The Hague who have sought and found useful information and services that have helped them in some way. Being the only event of its kind, the Fair has secured its position
68
THE XPAT JOURNAL
as one of the biggest and most important international events
Additional copies will also be sold, with the proceeds going
of the year, proving itself to be a truly useful resource to new
towards the Ethiopian Trade coffee charity project, The Meleya
as well as well-established internationals in the area.
Foundation.
A significant factor uniting the international citizens resid-
Doors open at 11 A.M., and tickets can be purchased
ing in The Hague region is the choice of English as a com-
upon arrival for € 5 each. Children under 18 may enter free of
mon language. Whether it’s finding a sports club for the kids,
charge. Snacks and coffee can be purchased at the restaurant
obtaining advice about the Dutch health system or being
in the City Hall.
the first to know about the upcoming cultural events, there
Combine a visit to Feel at Home in The Hague - The Inter-
is useful information in English for each and very visitor.
national Community Fair 2010 with a day out. If planning a day
Approximately 150 stand-holders will be present to provide
trip around The Hague, bear in mind that the ‘culinary capital
information in the areas of Top Events 2010/2011, Heath and
of the Netherlands’ is bursting with excellent cafés and res-
Wellness, Property and Travel, Business Services, Sports and
taurants. After exploring the Fair and enjoying a relaxing lunch
Activities, as well as Education and Careers.
in the city centre, why not discover the many attractions that
One of the unique aspects about Feel at Home in The
The Hague has to offer?
Hague - The International Community Fair 2010 is its capacity
If you are new to The Hague and its surrounding areas,
to appeal to expats and internationals, as well as internation-
have lived here for a while or are just visiting, find out what
ally-minded locals and ‘re-pats’, that is, native people who
Malelaars Ass.pdf 22-05-2007 2010/2011 has in store for culture10:58:31 and leisure, expand your
have lived abroad and have returned to their home country
social network and connect with International The Hague at
with a global outlook.
Feel at Home in The Hague - The International Community
Each visitor will be given a free copy of the annual Feel
Fair 2010.
at Home in The Hague Magazine, which is filled with useful articles and information about International The Hague.
For more information:Malelaars www.feelathomeinthehague.com. Ass.pdf 21-05-2007
14:02:17
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THE XPAT JOURNAL
69
COOKING
Summer in My Head When writing this, I am about to fly to Shanghai. When I look out the window, summer is not at its best - but my head is, because I am happy. It’s hard to believe, but I am about to go to the World
T
Expo in Shanghai to give ‘Taste Lessons’.
of a Taste Lesson (www.smaaklessen.nl) has been translated to Chinese for the occasion and will be published in bookletform, which will be presented at the Expo. That’ll really be something, should the presentation be a success. A little boy from The Hague, who had a dream… of making Taste Lessons obligatory in the Netherlands… sees his dream perhaps coming true in China… To be continued…
Spinach Soup
This is a great tribute to my Taste Lesson method, which I
800 ml chicken bouillon • 350 gr spinach • 50 gr roux (5 parts
once developed in order to teach children more about food.
butter, 6 parts flour) • 150 cc liaison (100 ml cream and 1 egg
And to make them more aware of the need to eat healthy
yolk) • 4 boiled eggs
foods and to exercise more. In other ways, an excellent way to combat chubbiness and other related afflictions.
Stirfry the rinsed and de-stemmed spinach in a little butter, douse with the bouillon. Let it sit for five minutes. Use a hand
And now there are a number of people in China who see
grinder to grind it. If you want, put it through a sieve. Bring the
the use of giving Taste Lessons at elementary schools and
soup to a boil again and thicken with the roux. Add pepper
who have invited me to hold my pitch.
and salt to taste.
Obesity is quickly becom-
Serve straight away. Chop up a boiled egg and place in
ing a problem in China. At
a warm soup bowl. Pour the soup into the bowl. Serve with
the moment, there are 200
bread. If you want, serve a fried quail egg on a slice of French
million overweight Chinese -
bread, instead of adding boiled egg to the soup.
a number that is expected - including a lot of children
Meat Balls on a Lemongrass Stick, with Yardlong Beans
. As a result of a collabora-
Meat Balls on Lemongrass Stick
tion between the municipality
600 gr minced beef • 1 egg • 2 finely chopped cloves garlic
of The Hague, ROC Mondri-
• 1 finely chopped red onion • freshly ground pepper • fresh
aan Educational Institute and
chili pepper, deseeded, to taste • salt to taste • 1 flattened tsp
China, Chinese TV Chef Deng
cumin or caraway • 6 fresh leaves coriander • 1 flattened tsp
Bodeng and I have been
ground ginger • 1 flattened tsp curry • 1 tsp lemon juice
brought together - resulting
60 gr bread crumbs • 12 thin sticks of lemongrass
to rise quickly in the future
in the first Taste Lessons in China. At the 2010 Shanghai
Yardlong Beans (kousenband)
Expo. Pretty darn cool.
600 gr rinsed yardlong beans • 1 finely chopped red onion •
Deng Bodeng will be the ambassador of the Taste
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THE XPAT JOURNAL
1 clove garlic • 50 ml sunflower oil • 300 ml bouillon • pepper and salt
Lessons in China - after the
Mix the minced beef, egg, garlic, onion, ground pepper,
Dutch model, of which I am
chili pepper, salt, cumin or caraway seed, coriander, ginger,
the ambassador. He will use
curry, lemon juice and bread crumbs into one homogenous
the Dutch method as his
mass.
basis, but will adapt the les-
Knead into 9 meat balls of the same size, per person. In any
sons to the norms of the Chi-
case, make the balls no larger than a ping pong ball. Fry on
nese culture. A compilation
all sides until golden brown. Prick them onto the lemongrass
TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHY: TV CHEF PIERRE WIND
stick and place in a preheated oven at 180oC until they’re
the mashed potatoes. Pour this mix into a greased form. Place
done. The taste of the lemongrass will seep into the meat
in an over at 180o C. When done, take the pound cake out of
balls.
the tin and let it cool.
Chop up the yardlong beans into even pieces. Heat up 50 ml of oil and fry the chopped onion and garlic. After a minute,
French Toast Pound Cake
add the chopped beans. Stir around well on a low flame, and
Beat in the milk with the eggs. Draw the two sides of a slice
douse with bouillon. Place a lid on the pan. Let the beans sim-
of pound cake through the flour and then through the egg
mer for about 20 min, until they are done. Lay the lemongrass
mix. Fry in a little bit of hot oil. Remove the slices from the
sticks with the meat balls crossways across the beans (after
pan when both sides are brown. Then dip both sides in the
having drained the beans first). On that, place a baked bow
sugar-cinnamon mix.
made of spring roll-wrap. Serve with rice, if you want. It’s fun if you braid the yardlong beans, but it is also a lot of work. If you want to add a sauce, use beef glace or the cooking juices that have been thickened.
Whiskey Cream Beat whipping cream, sugar, vanilla sugar and whiskey until stiff. Slice the slice of cake diagonally and serve with heaping
French Toast Made With Grandmother’s Pound Cake, with a Basis of Mashed Potato and with Whiskey Cream
spoonfuls of cream.
Pound Cake 500 gr potatoes • 4 egg yolks • 4 egg whites • sniff of salt • 150 gr granulated sugar • 50 gr semolina • 1 tsp grated lemon zest
French Toast Pound Cake (for 4) 2 eggs • 50 ml milk • flour • 4 slices of pound cake (preferably at least a day old) • sunflower oil • mixture of 3/ 4 parts granulated sugar and 1/4 part cinnamon
Whiskey Cream 250 gr whipping cream • 50 gr granulated sugar • 5 gr ‘vanilla sugar’ (vanillesuiker) • 35 cc whisky
Pound Boil the peeled potatoes and puree them. Beat the egg yolks with the sugar until light yellow and thick. Mix in the semolina and lemon zest. Beat the egg whites and salt until stiff. With a spatula, mix the egg yolk mix and then the egg white through
THE XPAT JOURNAL
71
WORLD CUP EVENT opening party on 11th of June at 16.00h
Watch all the matches from 11th of June till 11th of July Support your national team during the World Cup Football in the ado Stadium (at Forepark the hague) TICKETs
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page 73
The American Book Center - www.abc.nl
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Want to really understand the Dutch? An insider’s guide to the acronyms, abbreviations and weird words used in everyday Dutch.
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COLUMN
Funny You Should Ask About...
Health (in the Fast Lane) Last week at Albert Heijn I saw a woman pushing
most. I don’t even do a stubbed toe well.
her no-more-than-forty-five-year-old husband in
leagues are nodding their heads right now), I always want
a wheelchair. He had obviously been the victim of a debilitating stroke. I know what stroke looks like. My father, only a year after retiring from an American company where he had worked for 40 years, had a severe stroke that left him paralyzed and bedridden for eight years - unable to even sit
T
up on his own.
to feel perfect. So I load up on Echinacea at the slightest scratchy throat, pour on the Neosporin if anything remotely feels like it’s getting infected, and wash my hands - not obsessive-compulsively but a lot - as soon as I return home from anywhere. I go to aerobics twice a week, and I eat well. But despite all this, once I reached 50 I realized that I’m now in the ‘downward-dog’ position in terms of the sliding scale of my life. At the risk of sounding fatalistic, I know that I only have a few really good, i.e. completely healthy, years left to enjoy life to the absolute fullest. And, although I have no desire to climb Mt. Everest, I do have high hopes of traveling, for example, on the Orient-Express one day soon, with someone that I really care about. But I don’t want to be hobbling on and off that luxury train with a walking stick or, worse yet, hoisted onto the carriage in a wheelchair! I want to take this romantic journey while I’m still totally healthy and vibrant - and I’m
There are signs of stroke - the weak, drooping or contorted
realistic enough to know that that could change in an instant.
hands and face muscles - that are unmistakable. This man
Perhaps that’s why I tend to smile a lot and see the silver
had them. He had clearly had a stroke, at a very young age. A week later I saw him sitting in his wheelchair in front of a
house that I presume was theirs, perched on the front sidewalk
74
Perfectionist that I am (my close friends, family and col-
lining in virtually everything. To me, each day is literally a gift and, since my days - and your days too, my dear friends - are limited, I try to savor the hours.
like a garden urn, unable to move, but probably instructed by
Two years ago I broke my wrist while visiting my younger
his loving but totally burnt-out wife, who only meant well, to
daughter in Montreal where she was studying. I slipped on
“sit there and enjoy the view”. But he was looking down, not
a sheet of ‘black ice’, as they call it. It was my first broken
out. And I’m sure that enjoyment was not on his mind.
bone ever, but it soon became crystal-clear to me how utterly
When I see someone like that, I always think, “There but
incapacitating a broken bone can be and the pure havoc it
for the grace of God go I”. That could well be me, especially
wreaks on one’s life. Perhaps that’s what started me on the
now that I’m reaching, shall we say, a ‘riper’ age. And it stops
path of appreciating good health. Once you’ve experienced
me dead - at least for a few invaluable moments - on this fast-
the reverse, there’s no denying its implications for happiness.
track of life that I have created for myself with mega-deadlines
As it was, I could barely function with a plaster cast on my
and unending to-do lists that I’m sure will never be completed
arm; even the simplest of tasks - like washing my hair and
in my lifetime.
getting dressed - were virtually impossible. But I realized
Two things come to mind immediately: why on earth I’m
that I was still much better off than a woman who came for
trying to do so many things and pressuring myself to death
physiotherapy at the same clinic as I did in Chicago, where my
(or perhaps to disability), and just how important health is to
other daughter lived at the time, and where I ended up having
our quality of life.
surgery to put a metal T-shaped plate in my badly decon-
I, for one, cannot imagine being wheelchair-bound or
structed wrist to hold it together properly. This woman had
housebound and unable to get around as freely as I do now,
not only broken her arm but also her leg in an extraordinary
sometimes at breakneck speed. You see, I don’t do illness
fall down a marble staircase at a concert hall in Chicago. By
well. No one does, of course, but I think I’m worse at it than
comparison, she made me feel extremely lucky and enabled
THE XPAT JOURNAL
By Shirley Agudo
me to put things in perspective. Truth be told, I would make a horrible patient, disabled in any way and requiring some sort of special care. I feel sorry for anyone who would have to care for me. I would not be a ‘happy camper’, knowing that I could not live the fast-track life I’m used to. As a result, that’s why I do some of the things I do to try to keep healthy. It’s also why I tend to live each day out loud, seeking and thoroughly enjoying the high points and successes of each day and, more importantly, the love that I continue to be blessed with. On my massive, floor-to-ceiling book cabinet sits a book called 1,000 Places to See Before You Die: A Traveler’s Life List, by Patricia Schultz. I know I’ll never see all 1,000 places in my lifetime - nor will most people - but I’m determined to make a huge dent in my own list. So I’ll see you on the Orient-Express sometime soon. Look for me in the most luxurious cabin on board. I’ll be the lady with the feather in my cap and a song in my step.
Shirley Agudo is the author and photographer of five books, including her latest book ‘Bicycle Mania Holland. For more information, see www.bicycle-mania.nl and www.shirleyagudo.com.
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