a copy of the magazine here

Transcription

Summer 2015
S E R V I N G T H E I N T E R N AT I O N A L C O M M U N I T Y
WWW
.ACCESS-NL.ORG
Airborne Dutch
Special features | Paragliding from below sea level |
Dutch tackle complexities of constructing airports |
Filipino community strong and active | E-learning and expats |
Setting the
standard for
outstanding
International
childcare
Zein has provided international childcare
to expatriate families for over 10 years.
As a trusted partner to all International Schools in The
Hague, Zein’s services ranges from Day Care, Playgroups,
After School Care to Holiday Camps
The
Estate
Features
RECEN
TL
OPENE Y
D:
Premiu
m
Care C Child
e
Benoo ntre in
rdenho
ut,
The Ha
gue
• Great natural playground of 3,000 m2,
with fun tree houses, a petting place
with chicken and rabbits, sport court &
vegetable gardens
• Passionate, highly educated and loving
staff that make the difference
• Unique ‘personalised care’ formula
– your input is the basis for our care
• Fresh organic warm meals and snacks,
prepared by a full-time chef
• 3 times more indoor space than
traditional Dutch childcare centres
• Private parking, parents espresso & juice
bar, dedicated parents room with WIFI
Zein was founded by commited international childcare
professionals who understood the importance for
international working parents to give their children the best
start in life.
Zein has won several awards for their innovative and
progressive approach to childcare and was recently
nominated for ‘best childcare provider in The Netherlands”.
Call now to arrange a personal tour 070 326 82 63
or contact us at [email protected]
www.zeinchildcare.nl
Where the whole family feels at home
photo: tigs creations
Letter from the Executive Director
Dear
ACCESS
readers
It was not intentional, choosing ‘wind’ for our
Summer issue. It was simply the next in line,
of the four elements this year’s magazine will
cover. However, how appropriate, that we
should be covering this subject by exploring
the impact of airports in our lives – and those
behind them – as the international community
prepares for their summer holidays and escapes
to far flung places! Fear not though: there is
enough wind in the Netherlands to entertain,
distract and engage those who have no travel
plans this summer: open air concerts; discov-
ering the music of Renaissance recorders;
perhaps a daring trip to the skies while paragliding, or an alternative way of freeing your
mind with walking therapy? Our authors have
not disappointed and give us much to contemplate and learn about how this low lying land
is windswept on all fronts: from technology to
entertainment.
We are also introduced to the expatriate
Filipino community and offered some delightful travel items for journeys this time of year
or otherwise. And, in what is becoming a fast
favourite among the team at ACCESS: yet
another delectable dish to decorate our tables
and tantalise our taste buds.
Are you a writer, perhaps looking for an
Editorial role to hone your skills? ACCESS is
looking for both – to write for our e-zine as
well as online. If this is you, please do get in
touch with us at [email protected]
we would love to hear from you. Also, as a
nationally oriented organisation we would love
to feature more community events and activities.
Please do share these with [email protected]
so we can include here, or online.
For now, welcome to the Summer! May the
wind keep your sail full, wherever you may
travel.
Deborah Valentine - Executive Director
access | summer | 3
About
ACCESS is a volunteer
not-for-profit organisation that serves the needs
and interests of the
i nternational community
in the Netherlands.
It is supported by Dutch,
intern ational and
expatriate businesses
and organisations
through donations and
sponsorship.
What we do
Established in 1986 ACCESS is a unique volunteer-based
organisation. Representing an impressive cultural and
linguistic variety, its dedicated volunteers work to:
• p rovide guidance, advice, information to help individuals
with settling, and/or living and working in the Netherlands
• p romote friendship, understanding and well-being of the
members of the international community in the
Netherlands
• c ontribute to community development through skill
training schemes and courses
• s erve as a bridge between local and international
communities
• a ssist the HR departments of international employers
in preparing for and receiving international staff
Executive Board
•Chairman: Gary Hays,
Valshebnik Consulting
•Vice Chairman: Kiri Kikis,
Shell
• Treasurer: Edwin Jeanty
van der Spek, Deloitte Tax
Lawyers
• Secret ary: to be appointed
Members
•Willemijn van Oppen-Stuyt,
Educaide
•Jessie Rodell
•Koosje Ploegmakers,
ABN AMRO
•Godelijn Boonman,
GMW Advocaten
4 | access | summer
ACCESS
Laan van Meerdervoort 70
2517 AN The Hague
The Hague International Centre
City Hall Atrium, Spui 70
0900 2 ACCESS (0900 2 222 377)
local rate 20c per minute
[email protected]
www.access-nl.org
Join ACCESS on
• ACCESS News
• Community News
• What’s On
•C
over story: From below
sea level to sky high
• Arts & Entertainment: Air on
a recorder
•E
ducation: The amazing
opportunities that e-learning
offers expats
•T
ravel: Up, up and away
•H
ealth: Therapy outdoors:
a breath of fresh air!
•F
amily: The wind through
your hair!
•C
ommunity: Where Filipinos
find home in the Netherlands
ood: Briam a Greek vegetable
•F
dish for summer
•S
hopping: Summer Travel
Essentials
• Meet our Trainers
From below sea
level to sky high
photo: NACO
Summer 2015 Vol. 28 No. 2
Cover story
Arts & Entertainment
Air on a recorder
photo: Marco Borggreve
ACCESS e-zine
Summer 2015
Publisher Stichting ACCESS
Laan van Meerdervoort 70, 1st floor, 2517 AN The Hague
Editorial content [email protected]
Advertising 070 345 1700, [email protected]
Acting Editor Deborah Valentine
Design & Layout M-space, Marek Moggré
Contributors Christopher An-Traumer, Fleur Duggan,
Karen T Slingenberg, Magdalini Zografou, Myra Colis,
Nancy Kroonenberg, Renée Veldman-Tentori, Sally Squirrell,
Sieta Autar-Matawlie, Stephen Davies, Tracey Sullivan
Cover image Maartje Schuurmans
Copyright©ACCESS 2015 All rights reserved. No part
of the ACCESS e-zine may be used in any form without
explicit permission in w
riting 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, ACCESS and its writers cannot accept any
responsibility for the accuracy of the information included.
Travel
Up, up and away
photo: David van der Mark
Contents |
ACCESS Partners & Associates
Thank you for your support!
Platinum ****
Gold ***
Banking, taxation and
personal finance
ABN AMRO ***
J.C.Suurmond & zn. *
AAme Accountants
& Tax advisors A
The Community
Xpat Media (Xpat Journal) ***
Candles Flame Computer
Training *
M-space graphic designers *
The Hague Online *
Check-NL A
Expat Events A
Amsterdam Mamas M
ANCOR M
Broadcast Amsterdam M
AngloINFO SouthHolland M
DutchBuzz M
Dutch News M
IamExpat M
InTouch Rotterdam M
Volunteer The Hague M
Silver **
Bronze *
Healthcare
Bronovo Hospital *
Housing and relocation
Tulip Expats Services *
The Student Hotel *
RSH Relocation and
Immigration Service A
Learning Dutch
BSN Language Centre *
Direct Dutch *
Kickstart School *
Legal matters
GMW Advocaten **
Lifestyle
American Book Center **
The Student Hotel *
ASPA A
Paard van Troje A
STET The English Theatre A
Government support
Partner support
City of The Hague ****
Expat Center Utrecht ***
City of Delft *
City of Leidschendam-Voorburg *
City of Rijswijk *
Expatcenter Amsterdam *
Webster University *
Zestee Social Media School A
6 | access | summer
Associates A
Media Partners M
Connecting Women M
Women’s Business Initiative
International M
Your child
British School in
the Netherlands ***
Zein Childcare ***
Big Ben Kids **
International School
of The Hague **
True Colors **
American International School
of Rotterdam *
British School of Amsterdam *
German International School
The Hague *
HSV (The Hague School
A ssociation) *
International School Utrecht *
Kindergarden *
Passionate Parenting A
There are many ways in which you can support the work ACCESS
does: as a Partner, Associate and Advertiser. Click here to see our
Helping ACCESS 2015 Media Pack for opportunities.
ACCESS
News Summer
Contributing to the
kitchen table discussion
More often than not, the decision
to relocate to a new country, takes
place in the home: what we at
ACCESS refer to as the ‘kitchen
table discussion’.
This is usually a discussion in which the
questions, considerations, fears and expec
tations of different family members weigh
in. For it is known, and documented, that
if everyone is not ‘on board’ the adventure
is less likely to succeed.
Employers know this. And, to larger or
greater extent provide the support their
employees need at this time. ACCESS is
known for providing support as people
arrive, but more recently we have been called
upon to provide support in the expectation
management stage of relocating staff members, before decisions are firmly made.
Together with the City of The Hague ACCESS
has supported the ‘large’ staff relocation
processes of DAMCO, the CIMIC Centre of
Excellence and the NATO Communications
and Information Agency (NATO/NCI).
Travelling where needed to speak to people
before, or as they make a decision.
The impact of such support is best described
by the NATO/NCI’s Chief Strategy Office:
“The Agency Staff Relocation is a very complex process in which communication plays
an essential role. The move affects not only
the employees, but also their families, it
raises questions/needs related to housing,
schooling, logistics, banks, job opportunities for partners, language and other courses,
doctors and hospitals, culture and free time
possibilities. It was the external briefers
from ACCESS and The Hague International
Centre that made a huge difference to our
Relocation Campaign in April 2015. Their
input was amazing. They saw immediately
where people’s concerns were and often had
the answers ready before the questions were
raised. They were professional, flexible and
very comprehensive.” «
For more information on this ACCESS
service, please contact [email protected].
access | summer | 7
le
ll
ce
Ce
0 Ye a r s of E
g 15
xce
en
b
in
ra t
German International School
The Hague
Open your child’s world,
expand their horizons.
High Quality Multilingual Education
from the ages 3 to 18
www.disdh.nl
Community News
Off to a flying start
After many months of planning and
anticipation, 31 March 2015 saw the
grand opening ceremony of the
Expat Center Utrecht (ECU), with the
first visitors arriving on 7 April.
We are thrilled and honoured to help
expats in Utrecht put down roots, and
have already welcomed and assisted
dozens of visitors seeking information: such as how to move a car to
Utrecht, register with the municipality,
and file a tax return.
Utrecht is an exciting community to live
in! The university and research communities are thriving, a 7500-seat music
venue opened in 2014, and Utrecht will
host the departure of the Tour de France
cycle race in July. The opening of the
ECU was the natural next step and fits
into the culture of Utrecht as a blossoming international city.
ECU hours are Tuesday and Thursday
from 9:00 to 17:00 at Stadsplateau 1,
the brand new city hall building. Feel
free to drop by to ask a question, add a
trusted referral to the ACCESS database,
or to have a chat
with one of our
friendly volunteers.
We look forward to
seeing you!
If you are interested
in becoming a
volunteer at ECU,
click here. «
access | summer | 9
What’s on Summer 2015
Special events in June
WANT TO post a community event in this magazine? contact access MAGAZINE at [email protected], SUBJECT: ‘what’s on’.
photos: Den Haag Marketing/Jurjen Drenth
Flag Day (Vlaggetjesdag)
Scheveningen 13 June
Vlaggetjesdag celebrates the
arrival of the first new herring
of the season (Hollandse Nieuwe).
Hundreds of thousands of people
will gather at the port of
Scheveningen to enjoy herring,
music and more.
www.vlaggetjesdag.com
Pinkpop Landgraaf 12-14 June
This three-day music festival, held in the city of Landgraaf in Limburg, is
the oldest and one of the biggest annual pop and rock music festivals in
the world. Robbie Williams will headline this year’s festival, which also
includes OneRepublic, Counting Crows, Foo Fighters, Avicii, Pharrell
Williams and other famous artists.
www.pinkpop.nl
The Day of Architecture Cities throughout
the Netherlands 20-21 June
The Royal Institute of Dutch Architects (BNA) organises a day of appre
ciation for architecture and urban design in the Netherlands. This year’s
activities - exhibitions, tours and debates – will be based on the theme
“New Netherlands”.
www.arch-lokaal.nl
FIVB Beach Volleyball
World Championships
The Hague, Amsterdam,
Apeldoorn & Rotterdam
26 June - 5 July
A total of 96 teams compete for
part of a $1 million purse as the
Netherlands hosts an FIVB inter
national event for the sixth con
secutive year. The semi-finals
and finals in each gender take
place on a specially-built sta
dium court in The Hague, with
Amsterdam, Apeldoorn and
Rotterdam hosting the initial
stages.
www.netherlands2015.fivb.org
access | summer | 11
What’s on Summer 2015
Special events in July
Visit the start of the Tour de
France in Utrecht this summer.
Enjoy the team presentation,
the individual time trial and the
start of the second stage towards
Neeltje Jans.
www.tourdefranceutrecht.com
North Sea Jazz Festival Rotterdam 10-12 July
The North Sea Jazz Festival is a must
for every jazz lover. Visitors can
enjoy international artists from var
ious subgenres, from New Orleans
jazz, swing, bop, free jazz, fusion,
avant-garde jazz and electronic
jazz, to blues, gospel, funk, soul,
world beat and Latin.
www.northseajazz.com
Rotterdam Summer Carnival (Zomercarnaval)
24-25 July
The Rotterdam Summer Carnival, or Zomercarnaval, is inspired by the
Brazilian carnival and features a combination of music, dance, theatre,
tropical street parties, and a parade.
www.rotterdamunlimited.com
12 | access | summer
photos: flickr Justin de Nooijer
Le Grand Départ (Start
of the Tour de France)
Utrecht 1-5 July
Skûtsjesilen
Championships
Friesland 18-31 July
Skûtsjes are typical Frisian ships
that were originally used as
cargo ships by Frisian farmers.
Once a year, skippers of these
historic ships participate in
the yearly sailing championships
in their fight to become the
skûtsjesilen champion. A map of
the various locations
(wedstrijdlocaties) indicates where
each race can be best viewed –
the map should help ‘translate’
the Dutch.
www.skutsjesilen.nl
Special events in August
Grachtenfestival
Amsterdam
14-23 August
Gay Pride Amsterdam 25 July - 2 August
One of the world’s most gay-friendly cities hosts yet another gay pride
with a week of parties and events that will lead up to a blowout weekend
of festivities, including the world-famous canal parade on the second
Saturday of the event.
photos: flickr Salomao Nunes
What started out as a four-day
event in 1998 has since evolved
into a ten-day classical music
marathon. Over the course of ten
days more than 150 concerts are
held on a unique range of stages,
including private homes and
gardens, roof terraces, in cruise
ships, traditional rooms in canal
houses, and subway tunnels.
www.grachtenfestival.nl
SAIL Amsterdam
19-23 August
www.sail.nl
Noorderzon Performing Arts Festival
Groningen 20-30 August
photos: flickr Dondersteen
SAIL is one of the largest mari
time manifestations in the world,
and the largest event of any kind
in the Netherlands. Hundreds of
thousands of spectators gather
to wave in an entire flotilla of
tall ships sailing into the city to
moor in its Eastern harbour,
where people can visit the ships
(free of charge).
www.amsterdamgaypride.nl
The Noorderzon Performing Arts
Festival returns to Groningen to
offer 11 days of high quality, cut
ting-edge international perform
ing arts, with a mix of artistic
mediums in venues across the city.
www.noorderzon.nl
Cover story
From below sea
level to sky high
Say ‘Dutch’ and ‘wind’ in the same breath and the image conjured is, of
course, windmills. Yet, what may surprise many is the role played by a
Dutch company in the global world of airports – the expat way of travel.
From their foundation, The Netherlands
Airport Consultants (NACO), saw the
potential in the airways of the world
and currently have some of the world’s
busiest airports in their portfolio.
by Tracey Sullivan
In December 2014 this high flying company landed in a new head office in de
Haagsche Zwann building in The Hague,
and has some impressive projects in
the making. Winner of the City of The
Hague’s 2009 Zilveren Ooievaar (Silver
Stork) for enterprise and industry, this
company embodies Dutch creativity,
ingenuity and enterprise. And, as we
discovered, there is a good chance that
on your many travels as an expat, wherever they may have been, you will have
passed through some of their state-ofthe-art international airport terminals.
photo: NACO
Pioneering foresight
The company has always been based
in The Hague and internationally
focussed. It was established in 1949
by Dr Albert Plesman, a Hague native
and son of an egg trader, who seemed
always destined to look to the air. »
Cover story | From below sea level to sky high
During World War I Plesman was an
officer in the Dutch air force. After
the war, in which the Dutch remained
neutral, he was involved in the founding of the Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM)
and was its president-director until his
death in 1953.
After World War II there was an urgent
need for new airports worldwide.
Even those not damaged or destroyed,
demanded development as ever larger
and more numerous aircraft took to
the air. From those early post war days
NACO established strong foundations
with project planning, designing and
building airports both at home and
overseas. “Supplying ready-made airports the world over” was the news
paper headline in January 1949.
In the early 1960s the company’s reputation and growth increased, and
was consolidated with its involvement
in the construction of Amsterdam’s
See for yourself
Two airports in the Netherlands offer ‘behind the scenes’ tours.
Reservations are recommended: Take a tour off the beaten
path at Schiphol and Maastricht-Aachen Airports.
www.schipholbehindthescenes.nl
www.maa.nl/en/over-maa/rondleidingen
airport Schiphol. Since then NACO
has worked continuously on the development of the airport and has been
involved in the planning, design and
construction of numerous extensions
and renovations. This important
European air travel hub has grown
from accommodating 18 million passengers in 1987, to allowing close to
55 million passengers to take to the
air in 2014. In spite of being among
the busiest airports in the world it is
also consistently voted among the best
by international travellers for its “clarity and comprehensibility, simplicity,
peace and quiet, comfort, details and
quality.”
The last 50 years of growth and development in international air traffic and
aviation related technology is paralleled by NACO’s growth, involvement
and reputation as a world class and
worldwide airport consultant. In an
environment where passengers’ needs
are as important as the services the
industry requires. NACO has developed parallel expertise.
Conquering complexity
Once a building and an airstrip, an
airport has become an increasingly
complex organism, some are cities
photos: NACO/ECG
Supplying ready-made
airports the world over.
movie: NACO
in themselves. Not only the complicated
primary function as a transportation
hub, with consideration given to air
traffic control, maintenance facilities,
security, baggage handling etc., but
also the incorporation of retail, food
and beverage outlets, hotels, the
coordination with existing infrastructure and the consideration of environmental and aesthetic concerns are all
integral elements of airport projects.
In responding to the ever more deman
ding and increasing numbers of users,
NACO has decades of experience.
The company combines state-of-theart expertise with international experience and high calibre collaborative
partnerships. The solutions that they
provide on the ground are innovative,
customer-friendly, efficient and culturally sensitive, as well as being pragmatic, cost effective and sustainable. »
Cover story | From below sea level to sky high
Recently completed projects include
providing new passenger terminals
and infrastructure to airports in vastly
different locations and requirements
in Gibraltar, Taiwan, Botswana and
Brazil.
The projects in Beijing and elsewhere
must take into consideration the many
interdependent systems of airport
design and construction and their
interaction with their surroundings.
This includes all forms of public transport from metro and inter-airport
photo: NACO
In 2011 NACO provided the winning
design for the new Beijing airport,
that when completed will be the largest
airport in the world
with an annual
capacity of
Did

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passengers and a total of eight runways. We would be mistaken to think
that building an airport is simply
designing a building through which
we, the passengers, wander to and
from our flights.
trains to high-speed trains, and runway
designs and taxiway layouts configured
to minimise fuel burn and CO2 emissions. These are in fact only two of
the sustainability considerations when
designing an airport. Add to that integrated waste management systems
as are evident at Schiphol and the
complexity of the picture begins to
overwhelm.
Last year NACO also supplied the
winning design for the new international airport in Mexico City. Designed
to be one of the world’s largest and
most sustainable airports, it takes a
pragmatic approach to Mexico City’s
difficult building environment and
also revolutionises the concept of
what an airport can be. Comprised of
a single terminal building whose very
form evokes flight, it minimises the
use of materials and energy while
maximising comfort and convenience
for its users.
The design works with the city’s temperate, dry climate using displacement
ventilation to fill the space with fresh
air. Comfortable temperatures will be
maintained for almost all of the year
with almost zero air conditioning or
heating.
An expat appreciation
Flexibility, expandability, sustainability
seem to be the baseline requirements
from airport providers. Efficiency,
convenience, comfort and beauty are
the demands of the ever more globally
mobile traveler. It is safe to say that
most expats in the Netherlands have
had their fair share of using Schiphol
as a gateway to the airstreams, and nodoubt also moved through many other
airports around the world. Now, just
think how much experience and expertise goes into their development, and
with your Dutch hat on, how many can
be attributed to a company based here,
in the Netherlands.
This small country, despite being largely
below sea level (and that includes
Schiphol airport), has certainly found
a way of making an impact high above,
riding the winds of innovation and
ingenuity. «
About the author
tracey sullivan is a freelance writer and editor, a poet and a
mother - not necessarily in that order. She has a fledgling
online presence at: rimeandspindrift.wordpress.com
Internationally
Focussed
A school that provides opportunity and challenge
both inside and outside the classroom. Where
talent and excellence is fostered and potential is
fully realised, producing well-adjusted confident
students ready to go out and make their mark on
the world.
www.britishschool.nl
Internationally British
Arts & Entertainment
Air on a recorder
Renaissance
entertainment
For classical music buffs longing for
the enchanting sounds of a madrigal
or motet of the Renaissance, listen no
further.
By Karen T.
Slingenberg
The Royal Wind Music (RWM) is a
recorder ensemble of impressive
magnitude, playing music from the
period 1520-1640, which transports
the listener to the court of England’s
Henry VIII and beyond. But even for
the inexperienced Renaissance goer,
it promises to be a worthwhile experience; so go and feast your ears on the
lively, soothing tones of this unique
ensemble.
The RWM was established in 1997 and
conceived by its Dutch founder and
leader Paul Leenhouts. This recorder
ensemble consists of double sextet and
a double-bass recorders, ‘a special recipe’, according to Paul Leenhouts. The
recorder players, who studied at the
Amsterdam Conservatory, come from all
over the world.
Unique recorders
The ensemble plays a unique collection
of over 50 recorders made by Adriana
Breukink (the Netherlands) and
Bob Marvin (Canada). Both makers
modelled their instruments on
Bassano examples found in the Art
History Museum (Kunsthistorisches
Museum) in Vienna. The ensemble’s
Renaissance recorders vary from a
15 cm small sopranino to a three-meter
long sub-contrabass recorder, which
according to Eva Gemeinhardt of the
RWM’s PR Department, is “… one
of three instruments of this size
in the world.” The latter was designed
in 1998 for the RWM following
Renaissance principles, in collaboration with Adriana Breukink, Winfried
Hackl and Paul Leenhouts. »
Arts & Entertainment | Renaissance entertainment
Eva Gemeinhardt states that “there
is probably no other ensemble in the
world having such a unique collection
to play on.”
From a historical perspective
Another aspect of the RWM’s uniqueness is their interpretation of Renais
sance music. According to Petri Arvo
(artistic board of the RWM); “…one of
[our] most important goals is to find,
create and dive into the sounding form
of seemingly abstract material.”
The ensemble’s Renaissance
recorders vary from a 15 cm
small sopranino to a three-meter
long sub-contrabass recorder.
This is no small feat considering how
long ago Renaissance music was composed. The further back in history one
goes, the less reliable musical sources
become, yet as Petri Arvo points out:
“Through careful examination of
material we are able to make interpretations which we think are loyal to
Renaissance practices, the modern
view of a historical concept, and our
own thoughts about musicality and
musical philosophy.”
Understanding Renaissance music
For the modern concert goer, Renais
sance music might not be one’s priority. However, as with many unfamiliar
things, looking at its context might
help audiences to appreciate this
ancient musical form.
What typifies Renaissance music,
according to Petri Arvo, “… is the same
or similar melodies passing through
all of the voices in a more or less symmetric way or pattern. This results in
a ’mesh‘ of complex and simple harmonies together, voices crossing and
doubling each other momentarily in
unison and in octaves, and stopping
together from time to time in cadences,
allowing the listener to get back on
track again. This form is also heavily
related to the context of the time,
where symmetry and perfection was
a great virtue in any area of culture,
science or society.”
RWM’s educational pursuits
RWM also aims to educate young
audiences through concerts and
programmes. One programme introduces young audiences to the different
sizes of the instruments. Music is
played from around the world, and
children are encouraged to make their
own music, creating a
memorable experience
for budding young musicians. Petri Arvo believes
that: “Renaissance music
is absolutely for everyone. It is inspiring,
demanding, beautiful,
soulful, touching, slow,
fast, loud and quiet...
sometimes all of the
above, even at the same
time!”
Conclusion
Renaissance music is an
area of previously uncharDid
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tered territory. Where
now..
T
.
h
e
o
Baroque music is widely
ldest re
cord
found,
to date, er
known, Renaissance
dates
t
o
t
h
e
music has had little attenlate photo: Marco Borggreve
1
3
00s.
tion, with little attention
in contemporary concert
Performances in August
programming. Thanks to ensembles
9 August 2015: MAfestival Bruges (BE)
like the RWM, the world is being
www.royalwindmusic.org
educated and entertained in true
Renaissance fashion. As Petri Arvo
points out, “Many first-time audiences
have been very positively surprised
about Renaissance music and approach
About the author
the ensemble for questions. There
Karen T. Slingenberg, a freelance writer is passionate about
are still many of those audiences to
everything from cooking and crafts to current affairs and the
arts. www.thelongandshortofit.eu
reach.” «
Education | Partner feature
A Wider Choice
Providing students with the best possible
springboard into higher education and
employment has always been one of the
highest priorities at The British School in
The Netherlands (BSN).
The introduction of the International
Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
(IBDP) in 2008 – to run alongside
the well-established A Level Pro
gramme - was a demonstration of
the school’s commitment to offering a wider choice and opportunity
for students in the Sixth Form (age
16-18). This academic year saw the
BSN adding another qualification
into the offering.
Greater opportunities
The IB Career-related Programme
(IBCP) offers a very practical
approach to post 16 study. Combined
with the Business & Technology
Education Council (BTEC) qualification, it provides an interesting alternative for students and is accepted
as an entry requirement into
university.
Michelle Cooke joined the BSN
as IBCP Co-ordinator and has a
background in both teaching and
business management, and says:
“…the real value of the IBCP is that
students tackle a specifically careerfocused study which will help to
strengthen their position and
enhance their employability and
project management skills in the
future.”
Students taking the two-year IBCP
course have their studies broken
down into three components:
At least two IB Diploma
Programme courses at standard
or higher level
An IBCP ‘Core’ that includes
approaches to learning, community and service, language development and a reflective project
An approved vocational professional qualification, in the case
of the BSN, this is the BTEC
National Level 3 Diploma in
Business. Over the two-year
course, students will study a
variety of business topics but
will have four compulsory units:
the business environment, business resources, introduction to
marketing and business
communication.
•
•
•
The students are taught alongside
IB Diploma students, whilst other
components take the form of tuto-
rial sessions and practical working
groups. This is complemented by
real workplace case studies and
project work with organisations
such as Ikea, Shell and Asics.
These aspects, combined with the
high student to teacher ratio is
something the students really value,
as Sixth Form student Billy Price
explains: “Our group is quite small,
which means that we can really get
a lot out of each lesson – spending
time going over things in detail.”
070 315 4077
www.britishschool.nl
With A Level and the IBDP firmly
established at the BSN, adding
the IBCP means that we are able
to widen access.
Kevin Sandeman, Director of Sixth
Form further describes the benefit
of this additional option: “The BSN
is the only European school outside
the UK, to offer these three pathways at Sixth Form. With A Levels
and the IBDP firmly established at
the BSN, adding the IBCP means
that we are able to widen access to
our Sixth Form.” «
Education
The amazing
opportunities
that e-learning
offers expats
There are amazing opportunities
arising for expats in the fields of
both learning and teaching online.
By Renée Veldman-Tentori
Developments in technology alongside
a growing worldwide culture of sharing knowledge means that expats
can benefit, no matter where you are
located.
“We are experiencing an e-learning explosion. It truly is learning without borders.
All you need is a computer, Internet connection and an interest.”
Here are five tips to
get started.
1
Establish
your
learning
goals.
Would you like to learn
for fun or undertake
something more serious? Perhaps you want
to just explore some
interests further or
maybe you require
a qualification? A book
such as “A Career in
Your Suitcase” by Jo
Parfitt and Colleen
Reichrath Smith can be
a good tool here to help
you clarify your current
and desired skill set.
2
What are your
resources?
If you have a computer,
Internet connection,
some spare time and a desire to learn,
these are really the only resources
you need. Courses vary drastically in
price so you may wish to set a budget.
An iPad is an ideal learning resource,
which makes your study even more
flexible.
3
What is your
learning style?
Some of us are highly
disciplined and don’t
mind reading large volumes of text.
Others are more visual or like to listen to learning materials.
Understanding your own preferred
learning style can be an advantage
when choosing an online course.
There is plenty of information and
even online tests available if you are
not sure.
4
Here a few to get you started:
Udemy www.udemy.com
Launched in 2010, Udemy is a learning
platform where experts of any kind can
create courses. Offering more than
22,000 course alternatives, there is
sure to be something for everyone.
Most are free or low-cost.
Skillshare www.skillshare.com
Experiment with
different learning
platforms
There are a growing
number of learning platforms for
you to try.
Focussed around short videos and
online projects, Skillshare started in
2011 and has since had industry leaders
such as Seth Godin teach low-cost
courses. Topics include business,
design, DIY and much more. »
Education | The amazing opportunities that e-learning offers expats
Podcasts www.apple.com/itunes/podcasts
but on completion, you can often opt
to pay for a skills assessment to receive
certification.
Many universities around the world
now also offer options to undertake
their courses online.
Many businesses and individuals are
creating value packed podcasts. Apple
is one of the leaders in this field but
other options are available for
Android. If you’re new to podcasting,
think of it as a recorded radio programme you can listen to at a time that
suits you.
Coursera www.coursera.com
There are many more learning platforms to choose from, each with its
own pros and cons. Even just some
basic online research should help you
make the decision.
5
Try teaching online
Do you have a skill to
share? Several of the
e-learning platforms
such as Skillshare and Udemy offer the
opportunity to create a class. Why not
share your own knowledge with the
world?
Wishing you every success in your
e-learning journey and I’d love to hear
about your online learning experiences. «
Bringing together more than 100 highquality educational institutions from
around the world, this is a good place
to come for on demand and structured
courses. Everything from arts to engineering and plenty in between is free,
About the author
Renée Veldman-Tentori loves to connect, share, learn and
teach. She is the online editor and community manager at
TheHagueOnLine and a lecturer at The Hague University of
Applied Sciences in Marketing Communications. www.zestee.com
Travel
Up, up and away
By Sally Squirrell
Paragliding is not for the faint
hearted! When you can’t
catch a thermal or the wind
drops you might end up
spinning around and around
in the air. But, when you do
catch a thermal, you soar like
a bird high up into the sky
with literally a bird’s eye view
of all that is below you.
photo: David van der Mark
Let’s start with the basics
Parasailing is the flying that you do
while being towed behind a boat with
a big parachute attached to you, going
where the boat goes. Paragliding is the
real deal, YOU are in control. Free to
go as far as your eye can see and your
understanding of thermals will take
you. Thermals being rising bubbles or
columns of air: as the sun heats air
near the ground, that air expands and
rises and creates thermals. Paragliders
use these to gain lift, and rise up within
the thermal column to fly higher and
can reach up to 7,000 metres. »
photos: By Sally Squirrell
Did
ow...
n
k
u
s
yo
hquake
t
r
a
e
l
a
The Nep ply touched
e
have de nd support
o le
many. T donating to
r
conside 555
Giro
“ok, now trust me, we’re just
going to run off this hill
and then we will fly.”
Paragliding has its history
in the space and aerofoil
industry of the 1960s. Today,
based on those inventions the current
paraglider canopy is a teardrop-shaped
parachute made from two layers of fabric.
Some physical things to think about
• o ver 14 years of old
• y our weight should be above 45kg, and under 110kg for
tandem flying
y
• ou should be reasonably fit and healthy to walk to the
launch place and to carry the paraglider yourself
• y ou should have good eyesight so you can judge a good
landing place from the air
It does not have a frame as hang gliders
do. Air flows through the cells formed
between the two layers of fabric and the
supporting fabric allowing the canopy
to stay inflated due to the cells only
being open at the leading edge. All this
fabric and suspension lines, amazingly
enough, fold neatly up into the size of a
backpack.
Just run, jump and believe
My only experience of tandem paragliding was in Nepal. My ‘instruction’:
“ok, now trust me, we’re just going to
run off this hill and then we will fly.”
Travel | Up, up and away
Leave it to the Dutch to find a simple
and pragmatic solution. With the help
of a winch, you are raised to approximately 300 metres above the ground
and then the wind takes it from there.
This means that here you will probably
be learning to take off and land in a
farmer’s field or on the beach, rather
than on the slopes. You can of course,
take a mountain course; though this
involves travelling to another location
where there are mountains. So, to avoid
travelling distances by land, to learn
how to travel in the air consider the
local options.
Why not try paragliding
out yourself?
You can sometimes see experienced
paragliders skimming the dunes in
Scheveningen, just missing the concrete bunkers as they soar through the
air, or across farmers fields in the provinceS of Utrecht and Brabrant. You can
paraglide all over the Netherlands, the
location up to you and what you want to
movie Artun Korudag
Now I find myself contemplating
paragliding here in the Netherlands
where hills, even small slopes, are
few and far between – so how will
this travelling through the skies work
here I wondered?
see, as well as the weather. Alone or in
tandem despite the lack of elevation
the possibilities exist to do a bit of
travel the Dutch air currents.
Two sites you can visit to explore your
options, if you are daring enough, are
Paragliding Holland and Sky Gliders.
Make a note of their phone numbers
and call them though, as information
in English is missing. For a map of
where you can take to the skies in
the Netherlands, visit Slope. Happy
gliding «
About the author
Sally Squirrell enjoyed her first paragliding experience and is
inspired to try paragliding again in the Netherlands, farmer
field style. www.eekhoornandsquirrell.com
Law | Partner feature
Life after death
Your digital legacy contains all your digital possessions. These include
photos, videos, documents, music, e-mail accounts and your social
p rofiles like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. But, what about the
accounts of all the web shops you visit or your online banking details?
‘Even after death, a ‘virtual’ presence continues.
by Sieta
Autar-Matawlie
After the death of a loved one, his
or her online life continues. This can
create difficult situations for the family, for example receiving an e-mail
reminder regarding the birthday of
the deceased. It is therefore a good
idea to consider what you want to do
with the digital legacy of a loved one.
Such undesired messaging happens
more often than you think.
Nearly eight million people in
the Netherlands are active on the
Internet. In my meetings with relatives/heirs I notice that often they
have no idea about all the online
accounts of their deceased relative.
Have you ever wondered what
happens to online accounts and
domain names when you die?
What happens to your Facebook or
Twitter account? And what about
your e-mail account or an online
shopping credit? And who tells your
online friends? How do relatives
gain access to your accounts if they
don’t know of their existence or
passwords?
Many people have a virtual life.
If nothing is recorded about what
should happen with these accounts
after their death, it can be difficult
to settle the legacy. It is therefore
sensible to think about this and
make appropriate arrangements.
Social media executor
You can make preparations yourself.
You can make a list of your accounts,
login names and passwords and
Have you ever wondered what
happens to online accounts and
domain names when you die?
provide instructions on what to do
with them after you die. You can do
the same for important files like
photos and videos. Keep the list in
a safe place and tell a few people
where it is. The risk is then that the
list can get lost. You can also record
your wishes regarding your digital
legacy with a solicitor in a will. Or
you can appoint a social media executor in your will to ensure that your
digital legacy is attended to. You can
instruct a social media executor in
your will to delete your social media
accounts or to convert them into
memorial pages. The will is registered with the solicitor at the
Central Will Register and the heirs
can request and read the will after
your death thus ensuring that your
wishes are respected.
070 361 5048
www.gmw.nl/en
By making arrangements for your
digital legacy, you can ensure your
loved ones avoid having to embark
on unnecessary legal proceedings. «
Health
By Stephen
Davies
It was at the start of spring 2014 that I took my psychology
practice out into the parks and alongside the waterways of
Amsterdam. I remember a clear, sunny day on the banks of
the river IJ, waiting for the ferry to take me over to
Amsterdam Noord to meet a client.
Therapy outdoors:
a breath of fresh air!
There was a pleasant breeze blowing
downstream and from where I was
standing I could see the magnificent
architecture of the Eye Film Institute
alongside which was, at the time,
decorated with a colourful façade.
Taking in these sights, I was convinced that I was adding value to my
therapy process by encouraging people to walk with me through this wonderful city.
I understand that it is not everyone’s
preference to start a therapy process
outdoors. When many consider the
idea of psychological care, they may
visualize a room populated by only
themselves and the professional they
have entrusted with their issues.
I carried out my training, and worked
for a few years in this very typical
clinic setting. Clients came to the
building where I worked. I had a
small, tastefully decorated room
where each individual’s process
unfolded over the course of their therapy. We analysed situations, gained
insights, and agreed on ways of challenging their restricting patterns of
behaviour or thought. I employ the
same process now. The setting has
simply been enriched.
Out of the box
Promotion of the healthy body, healthy
mind philosophy has always been central to my approach. While working in
the clinic, I explained the importance
of regular physical exercise to every
client, outlining how it could benefit
their moods and increase their selfconfidence, among other things.
Although they understood, they had
difficulty applying this change to their
behaviour. I realized that I could make
that message stronger by not just telling them to get active but by doing it
together with them.
I had never even considered therapy
outdoors before it was mentioned by
an experienced colleague. She told me
how clients she had helped would prefer walking around outside while talking through their issues. Her clients
found this method less confronting
and consequently opened up, talking
more readily about their issues. Being
an outdoor type myself, the idea fascinated me, so I started considering
the logistics of running a psychology
practice devoid of a physical practice
location. The more I investigated, the
more enthusiastic I became. The
Netherlands is, after all, a very walking-friendly country. The terrain is flat »
Health | Therapy outdoors: a breath of fresh air!
and there are more than enough open
spaces and suburban park areas scattered around. Finding locations would
be easy.
I had never even considered
therapy outdoors before it was
mentioned by an experienced
colleague.
The considerations
There were, however, other issues to
consider in the application of this
somewhat unconventional method.
The main concern was ensuring the
privacy of my clients and upholding
the ethical codes by which the profession is bound. I knew that I could not
offer a secure therapy environment
if those who chose to see me did not
feel comfortable discussing their
situations, for fear of being overheard.
Prior to starting the practice, I spent
time observing the surroundings that
I could use as potential walking routes,
seeking those that were less densely
populated and more discrete. I also
observed individuals walking around
these spaces. The majority of them
seemed content within their own bub36 | access | summer
ble, either listening to music or in discussion with members of their group.
Aside from the occasional polite interaction between strangers, individuals
passed one another blissfully unaware
of what the other was doing. It seemed
reasonable for me to assume that my
clients and I would remain just as
anonymous to other roaming individuals as they would remain to us.
The other concern was the weather!
These flat lands where we live endure
their fair share of rain and wind. You’d
be forgiven for thinking that it is actually a pretty wet country. My opinion on
this matter has changed. It does rain
here, of course, but most of the wet
weather I have seen in the last year has
been brief. When weather warnings are
issued walking is cancelled for safety
reasons: replaced with Skype or Face
Time or a rescheduled appointment.
People still quiz me on this working
method. In reponse I explain that most
people who seek psychological care
have to travel to make their appointment. Theoretically, they are just as
likely to get wet on their journey to or
from a regular practice as they are during a session with me! At least with
me, they will keep moving!
Did
you k
now
Precipit
ation in ...
t
of rain,
hail, sle he form
et or
occurs o
nly 7% snow
of t
time in
the Net he
h
lands. er
I encourage my clients to dress accordingly for our sessions, and I certainly
take my own advice. Raincoats keep
you dry, gloves and a hat will keep
you warm. Hopefully as summer
approaches, I shall be encouraging
the use of sunscreen!
As I continue through my second year
as a mobile psychologist, I am happy
to receive an increasing amount of
inquiries about my approach, along-
side the positive
feedback given by
existing clients. My methods
feel v alidated, and to have struck such
a positive chord with these individuals
feels like a real breath of fresh air. «
About the author
Stephen Davies is British trained and ACCESS CSN psychologist
with his practice in Amsterdam. interactivetherapy.nl
ISH Students explore what’s
’Beyond Boundaries’
at the TEDxYouth@ISH event in June
TEDx stands for ‘Ideas worth
spreading’, and its programme is
designed to help communities and
individuals spark conversation.
The umbrella theme ‘beyond boundaries’ sets the tone for the coming
event and the program will feature
a diversity of speakers from across
several disciplines addressing
topics linked to this theme.
For the third time, the International
School The Hague (ISH) is organising
a TEDx Youth conference for ISH
students and guests on the afternoon
of 9 June, 2015.
Talking Heads
– Students in the lead
movie
movie: Freddie Verburgt
Previous TEDxYouth@ISH events
‘Spark your talent’ and ‘Dream,
Dare, Do’ inspired and enthralled
the audience and we look forward
to another thought provoking
TEDxYouth@ISH event.
Enthusiasm abounds
We had an overwhelming response
to our ‘call for speakers’, from
which ten have been selected from
both the student body and outside
the school. Among the topics to
be featured are: how to overcome
emotional, physical and social
boundaries, whilst achieving admirable results in sports and personal
life. The audience will discover
space and hear about the transfer
of technology from an European
Space Agency expert; the concept
of money and cash in the future will
More than just speakers
In addition to the speakers, the programme will include musical entertainment ranging from percussion,
electronic, pop and classical music
to Gypsy jazz and be complemented
by performances of contemporary
dance. TEDxYouth@ISH participants can also join workshops and
explore the exhibits in the Plaza.
The TEDxYouth@ISH event will
take place on Tuesday 9 June at
the International School The Hague.
For more information about the
event see www.tedxyouthish.com.
photos: Christel Van Meeuwen
be explained by an expert in financial history; we will be exploring the
unknown depths of the oceans with
a young scientist and we will admire
accomplishments beyond our imagination. One of our student speakers is passionate about reaching out
to help orphans and investing in a
non-profit organisation. Another
student will explain how the influence of the media can restrict development and sets boundaries for
progress in African countries. A
linguist will question general visual
perceptions and give insight into
new concepts of human cognition.
What is TED and TEDx?
TED is a non-profit organisation
devoted to spreading ideas, usually
in the form of short, powerful talks.
TED began in 1984 as a conference
where Technology, Entertainment
and Design converged, and today
covers almost all topics – from science to business to global issues –
and takes place in more than 100
languages. Independently run TEDx
events also help share ideas in communities around the world. «
070 328 1450
www.ishthehague.nl
Family
Things to do this summer
(or before if you want to
brave the Dutch weather!)
with your children that will
make the cobwebs blow
away! The benefit of living in
the Netherlands is even if it
is ‘not on your doorstep’, it’s
never really that far away……
The wind
through
your hair!
BY FLEUR DUGGAN
Our top five tips for letting the wind fly through
your hair this summer are:
Open Air Museum
in Arnhem.
This is an ideal way of exploring things close
by with children. The Netherlands has fantastic bicycle lanes. When you don’t know your
area that well, every trip is like a little adventure that can reveal hidden secrets on your
door step. At the ANWB-store (Dutch
Automobile Assocition) you can get bicycle
maps . Find the closest store to you here.
40 | ACCESS | SUMMER
2
MOVIE: MOREBYNUMBERS
The Netherlands Open Air Museum is full of
historical stories. These stories are brought
to life during your visit to the museum.
You can play an exciting smugglers game
with your whole family, try to find your way
out of the mysterious maze, bake your own
bread or learn how to milk a cow!
PHOTO: DIUEINE_MONTEIRO
1
Renting or buying a
bicycle or a bakfiets
3
Beaches and lakes
The enchanting Efteling in Kaatsheuvel with
fantastic rides and the fairy tale forest is a
trip well worth making. In my family’s opinion the best theme park ever. It has something to offer the whole family. Depart early
in the morning so you make the most of it,
and do bring a buggy or rent a bolder car for
little legs. The exciting rides will thrill you
and the magical forest will inspire you. In its
adopted role as the ‘guardian of fairy tales’,
the Efteling has protected these magical fairy
tales for more than 60 years, keeping Fairies
& Magic alive – for young and old.
MOVIE: ADRIAN4 4UK
5
Beaches and lakes, great for family
fun and days out with friends. There’s
nothing more refreshing than a nice
sea breeze on a sunny day. A few of
our tips would be: Zoutelande beach
in Zeeland, the beaches of Hoek van
Holland and Scheveningen; and the
Lakes in Friesland, or the Loosdrechtse
Plassen.
4
PHOTO: MARIE-II
MOVIE: EFTELING
Magic of The Efteling
Dutch capital of events - Rotterdam
In Rotterdam, which the Lonely Planet characterised as having an ‘oh so cool spirit’, there is
Euromast , Splashtours & KidsMarina. It’s a
great family day out and is known as the ‘Dutch
capital of events’. There’s always some festival,
fair or other activity in Rotterdam especially
for children and they often create their own
beaches along the Maas in the summer, something in itself to see.
ACCESS | SUMMER | 41
Community
Where Filipinos find
‘home’ in the Netherlands
photos: Myra Colis
By Myra Colis
Filipinos worldwide are known for
their friendliness, hospitality and
cheerfulness towards fellow Filipinos
and foreigners alike. For Filipinos who
really want to connect, building new
circles of friends and acquaintances in
a foreign country can come naturally.
For a span of 9 years in China, I’d
made friends with more or less only
15 Filipinos! In the Netherlands, however, I’ve already met and known more
than a hundred Filipinos in just 2 years
here! What made this huge difference?
Unlike my experience in China, one
can find many active Philippine organisations in the Netherlands that both
new comers and old timers can call a
place like home.
Where Philippine connections
begin
The Philippines is the 5th largest
Christian country and the 3rd largest
Catholic country in the world. So it’s
no surprise that more than 15% of
the listed Filipino organisations in
the Netherlands are religious groups,
including the Filipino Catholic
Community, Jesus is Lord and the Word
International Ministries. In Christian
communities, this is where Filipinos
start to develop strong bonding. This
connection typically leads to formation
of socially oriented activities like community picnics in celebration of the
Philippine Independence Day or fundraising events for victims of natural
calamities in the Philippines. Notably,
every Filipino gathering comes with
salu-salo (means eating together).
Empowering Philippine women
for over 20 years
Of about 18,600 first and second generation Filipinos in the Netherlands,
more than 80% are women. In 1991,
the Stichting Bayanihan (Philippine
Women’s Centre in the Netherlands)
was established to advance the participation, integration and emancipation
of Filipinas through social service
and orientation trainings on the rights
of women and migrants, domestic
violence, intercultural communication
and upbringing of children.
Of about 18,600 first and
second generation Filipinos
in the Netherlands, more than
80% are women.
In fact, Bayanihan currently serves as
a social cultural counsellor to relevant
Dutch institutions such as Jeudgzorg
and Zorginstellingen, acting as support,
cultural communicator and bridge
to kababayans (fellow Filipino) whose
children were taken out from their
homes. It also received the Banaag
(bright light) Award in 2012, the
Presidential Award for Filipino »
16TH EDITION
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®
The Indispensable Guide to the Netherlands
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CULTURE • EMPLOYMENT LAW • LEGAL, TAX
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• DAILY LIFE • CHILDREN, INCLUDING CHILDCARE
• HEALTHCARE • INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION •
LEISURE AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
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nisatie
rscheissa?
tstraling
trouectief.
18-05-15 14:23
“
Does your logo reflect
who you are? A professional
and suitable corporate
image makes your company
trustworthy, and adds to
your self-confidence.
M-space is a graphic design studio based in The Hague,
with experience with international clients. To find out
more, and discuss your needs and interests, please do
not hesitate to contact us directly.
www.m-space.nl
Community | Where
Filipinos find ‘home’ in
the Netherlands
Individuals and Organisations
Overseas, and was commended for
its work on ensuring the well-being
of Filipino au pairs and marriage
migrants in the Netherlands. In April
2014, Bayanihan’s Seniors Group
was formed to provide the same service for the Filipino seniors.
LSE: a new home for aspiring
Filipino leaders and social
entrepreneurs
LSE stands for ‘Leadership and Social
Entrepreneurship’, the two cornerstones of a 6-month, non-for-profit,
empowerment programme for Filipino
migrants and overseas workers.
The LSE Netherlands was launched in
September 2013. To complete the programme, participants must prepare
and present a business plan to a panel
of experts by the end of the course.
LSE attracts participants of all ages
and diverse backgrounds with 41 graduates in 2014 and nearly 40 enrolees
this year.
These are few of the many ‘homes’ for
Filipinos in the Netherlands. To further
connect with the community, Filipinos
en masse are celebrating the Philippine
photo: Myra Colis
Did
you k
now..
There a
.
re over
10 milli
Filipino
on
migr
(10% of ants worldwid
e
the Phi
l
i
p
p
i
n
e
populat
ion).
Independence Day this
summer at Spaarnwoude
Houtrak on June 6th and at
Den Haag’s Zuiderpark on the
13th. When craving for Philippine
delicacies simply drop by at Baryo
Pilipinas restaurant or check out fresh
Philippine produce made available in
the Netherlands by Sarap Pinoy. «
About the author
Myra Colis is a Filipino migrant and entrepreneur. She arrived
in 2012 and founded E3 Data Intelligence Services, offering market
research services and organising educational training events.
She is also on the Board of Stichting Bayanihan and the LSE
Secretariat Team.
Languages,
both new and
old, come to life
at the DISDH
Languages play a vital
role at the German
International School
The Hague. While
German is the main
language of instruction,
English and Dutch make
up key e lements in the
education offered from
Kindergarten to Grade 12.
In secondary school,
French is added to the
curriculum making
DISDH students’ truly
multilingual.
Next to the modern languages taught
at the school, a select group of students learn Latin. It is particularly
through their experience that the
image of languages coming alive
can best be depicted. Bringing a
dead language back to life can be
quite a challenge. As opposed to the
other modern languages taught at
the school, Latin cannot be easily
practised out on the streets, it is
not a language the students use on
holiday nor does it seem particularly
helpful in the modern world. Yet, it
is a language which helps students
learn structure and proves helpful
when learning other languages.
This makes the enthusiasm the
students show for learning Latin
all that more impressive.
“Learning Latin is
fun and gives me a
feeling of success.”
Students receive weekly lessons
both on a one-to-one basis as well
as in small groups of two to four.
This ensures a relaxed learning
atmosphere where individual needs
are at the forefront. Each student’s
learning can follow its own natural
flow. The teacher picks up on the
level and abilities of each of the
students and designs the lessons
accordingly. Under these conditions, students learn quickly and
make good progress.
The method
The students learn in a cooperative
manner, both from and with each
other. This methodology helps
promote the student’s interest and
facilitates learning. Through their
Latin studies, they are able to translate original texts by the likes of
Cesar and Cicero. Further, students
are prepared for and have the opportunity to complete their ‘Latinum’,
a recognised exam in Germany and
prerequisite for certain faculties at
some German universities.
Developing language skills is a priority at the German International
School The Hague. Students are
given the tools they need to converse, study and work in a multitude
of languages. Based on their personal preference of language, students go on to study at universities
all over the world. Rather than being
a barrier, language opens a window
of opportunity. Through their language studies, DISDH students are
ready for life in an international
environment while at the same time
feeling at home in their guest country, the Netherlands. «
070 - 354 94 94
www.disdh.nl
“I really enjoy the relaxed classes
which make for a pleasant
learning atmosphere.”
Food
Briam
By Magdalini Zografou
I n g re d i e n
ts
gs
6-8 ser vin
toes, peeled
½ cm thick
1
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w
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y
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sliced 2-2½
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e
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e
• 3 gre
into chunks
h flat-leaf
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f
o
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s
r
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plus extra fo
the dish
m tomatoes,
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•
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chopped, or
atoes
chopped tom
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tr
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e
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•
oil
ns tomato
o
o
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s
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paste
water
• 350 ml
• Salt
ly
epper, fresh
p
k
c
la
B
•
ground
ota
•4 large p
a Greek vegetable
dish for summer
As any expat will attest, there’s nothing better
than tasting the food of your home country and
savouring the flavours that are embedded in
your DNA; that wake up memories and connect
you to your roots. For me, it is when I cook
Greek food that I feel the happiest.
Briam is a traditional Greek dish of
vegetables – potatoes, courgettes,
aubergines, peppers, tomatoes – baked
in the oven with onions, parsley and
lots of olive oil. After a couple of hours
of slowly simmering, they become
sweet and melt in your mouth while
the sumptuous sauce gets infused
with their freshness and deep flavour.
Feta cheese and crusty bread are all
the accompaniments you’ll need.
Just make sure you have enough,
because once you start dipping that
bread into the sauce, there’s no turning back.
Preheat your oven to 200°C.
Note: Sprinkle a little salt and pepper over each layer of vegetables
as you add them to the pan
rather than solely at the
end so the dish is seasoned throughout.
Arrange the potatoes
at the bottom of a
large baking dish
and add the sliced
courgettes on top.
These two vegetables need to be at
the bottom of the
pan as they require more time to cook.
Add half of the onions, followed by the
sliced aubergines. Add the rest of the
onions and the bell peppers. Add the
tomatoes and sprinkle the chopped
parsley on top. Add the tomato paste
to 350 ml of water and stir to dissolve.
Pour it all over the vegetables along
with the olive oil. Add a last sprinkling
of salt and pepper. Mix a little with a
large spoon without messing up the
vegetable layers and place the baking
pan on the lower rack of the oven.
Check the vegetables every half hour,
mixing each time carefully with a large
spoon.
The briam will be ready after about
2 hours or when the vegetables are
soft and crispy around the edges.
The tomato sauce should be shiny,
rich and plentiful.
Allow to cool slightly and serve
sprinkled with some chopped fresh
parsley. «
About the chef
Magdalini Zografou is a Greek girl cooking in her little expat
kitchen in the Netherlands. mylittleexpatkitchen.blogspot.com
Volunteering | Partner feature
Thinking about volunteering? That’s great! Whether you have
recently moved to the city or have already settled in, the Volunteer
The Hague event offers something for everyone.
Volunteer The Hague event:
discover new
opportunities
070 - 302 4444
www.volunteerthehague.nl
Taking place on 11 June from
16:30-19:00 this event will showcase
the new and exciting volunteering
opportunities open to internationals
living in The Hague. It will take
place in the cultural heart of the
city, at Theater aan het Spui on the
Spuiplein. Representatives from
various organisations such as Laluz,
Stichting Present, Den Haag Cares,
ACCESS, The Hungry Mind and
The World in your Classroom among
many more will be attending, offering you information and a chance
to sign up. After browsing the information stands, there will be plenty
of time to mingle with fellow-inter-
nationals and enjoy a tasty selection
of Dutch food and drinks.
Why Volunteer?
People choose to volunteer for a
variety of reasons. Regardless of the
motivation, what unites people is
that they find it both challenging
and rewarding.
Volunteer jobs come in all shapes
and sizes. The time commitment
can differ from a few hours a day to
several times a week. Tasks vary in
complexity and specialisation and
can be done by you or with a group
of co-workers or friends. It could
be having a weekly coffee with
an elderly person, cleaning up a
garden, cooking for the homeless
or organising a fun afternoon for
children with disabilities.
The World in your Classroom
An example of a volunteer project
is ‘The World in your Classroom’
(TWIYC), during which internationals give guest lectures about their
home countries to Dutch high
school students – teaching them
about different cultures and giving
them the chance to practice their
English. Joana Bouza Serrano
– a history teacher and writer from
Programme
highlights
• Guest speaker
• Meet & greet with volunteer
organisations
• Volunteer job market
• Drinks & bites
Date Thursday 11 June 2015
Time 16:30 - 19:00
Location Theater aan
het Spui, Spuiplein
Portugal – who participated last
year, had this to say about the experience. “I moved to The Hague with
my husband and two children last
year and was looking for a way to get
to know my new home town. My own
children go to an international
school, so it was very interesting to
learn more about how the Dutch
high school system works. I would
really encourage people to volunteer
as there is a lot you can get out of it.
TWIYC allowed me to experience
the international atmosphere of
this remarkable historical city and
I greatly enjoyed meeting my fellow
lecturers from all over the world!” «
Volunteer The Hague event
You’re invited!
Thursday 11 June - from 16:30 to 19:00 pm - Theater aan het Spui - The Hague
www.volunteerthehague.nl/event
VOLUNTEER
THE HAGUE
Ostrich Pillow Light
This portable, adjustable
and comfortable pillow is
a must-have for any trip.
The Ostrich Pillow Light
is perfect for power nap
ping, allowing you to
catch a quick snooze on
an airplane or in a car.
www.ostrichpillow.com
€34
Summer Travel
Essentials
by Christopher An-Traumer
PhoneSoap Polish
free
AirHelp
App!
AirHelp helps air passengers
get compensation from air
lines – between €200- €600 –
when their flight gets can
celled, delayed or overbooked.
If the claim is successful,
AirHelp keeps a 25% contingent
fee from the final payout.
Our phones and electron
ics are filthy and it’s not
hard to see why. Clean,
sanitise and polish your
phone and other elec
tronic devices with this
wax-based antibacterial
polish.
www.phonesoap.com
www.getairhelp.com
€13
Shopping
Rolo Travel Bag
Kindle Voyage
€ 20 6
This is Amazon’s most popular e-reader
to date, and probably the best e-reader
ever. The Kindle
Voyage is glareresistant, hi-res,
and thinner than
ever. Leave your
books at home and
pick up one of
these e-readers!
This super-compact travel
bag may be the most conve
nient option for travelling yet.
It’s a carry-on and a portable
wardrobe all-in-one, giving
immediate access to exactly
what you want, and the
attached hanging hook allows
you to hang it up at your
destination.
www.rolotravel.com
www.amazon.com
Whether you’re making your way by plane,
train, automobile, or even on your own two feet,
no trip is complete without travel accessories.
Here are 7 great products and services that will
make your life so much easier.
SWIMS loafers
from
€85
The SWIMS loafers offer the utmost in
versatile footwear: wear them on the
beach, on a boat or even at the office.
And when the summer season is over,
throw them in your washing machine!
www.swims.com
€46
Connect
This free app brings
together your social
networks, email and
phone contacts by
putting them all on
a convenient world
map. You get an alert
when a friend is
nearby or in your city
– at home or when you travel – so
meeting up is that much easier.
www.connect.com
free
App!
Mother Nature
at True Colors
Mother Nature is True Colors’ play
ground. There is a corner in Rijswijk
where children cared for by True
Colors childcare are encouraged
to forage in the exciting discovery
corners; chase in a game of hideand-seek; splash about with water
or study the creepy crawlies.
As soon as the sun comes out, the
doors at True Colors slide open to
a world of indoor and outdoor play
and creative activity.
Nature at every step
070 792 0270
www.truecolorschildcare.eu
Dining out in the picnic corner is a
favourite for all the children. Even
more exciting are picking fresh
cherry tomatoes, strawberries or
salad for lunch from the rooftop
garden. Regina Stork, Manager at
True Colors explains: “… we help
children appreciate and enjoy nature
and all it has to offer.” And what
about sleeping outdoors?
At True Colors, weather permitting,
children are able to sleep outdoors
with all the benefits these have.
In fact, even children who struggle
to go to sleep often fall asleep more
easily and also sleep for longer
when they do so in the fresh air,
bundled up cosy and warm. A practice common in Scandinavia, this is
new to the Netherlands.
Added value
Children at True Colors are from
parents who work for international
organisations and companies such
as the European Patent Office and
Shell. They all have busy jobs and
a young family. Providing an earlybird tasty breakfast is just one of
the ways True Colors can help
relieve some of the pressure on
photos: True Colors
arents. Some parents find this
p
very helpful, and for the children
it forms a sociable and great start
to the day. The children also get a
hot meal at lunchtime.
The Netherlands is a country with
lots of water. So the sooner children
get used to it, the better. This is
why swimming lessons are provided
to children from the age of 2.5. It
starts with becoming at ease around
water and only later evolves into
proper swimming lessons. There is
also yoga, music and toddler’s gym
lessons and regular visits from a
children’s hairdresser complete
As soon as the sun comes out,
the doors at True Colors slide
open.
the picture. Sound like home?
Good. It is what we aim to be,
a home from home.
True Colors is an international
childcare centre in Rijswijk near
The Hague. It has been serving the
children of the local international
community for over 10 years! Want
to know more, feel free to visit and
keep your eye on this space for
updates on all we do. «
Do you want to learn
English or Dutch?
> Summer intensives in
either English or Dutch
> Multiple locations
> Business English
> Dutch & English
for all levels
E : [email protected]
W : bsnlanguagecentre.nl
T : 070 315 4080
ACCESS Ezine quarter pageCORRECT - APR2015indd.indd 1
10/04/2015 13:18:32
Innovative International Education
Are you looking to
expand your horizons and
meet new people?
Then connecting women is for you!
Come join us to meet an international community
of diverse women and to listen to
an inspiring speaker at one of our gatherings.
We meet on the first Monday of every month
(except August and January) in The Hague.
You don’t need to be a member to join our events.
For more information visit our website...
www.connectingwomen.nl
“Learning is the Heart of The International School of The Hague”
E: [email protected]
I: www.ishthehague.nl
T +31(0)70 328 1450
ACCESS Trainers
Meet our
Trainers
ACCESS Trainers are an
integral part of the ACCESS
Community. They provide
training opportunities on
topics of relevance to the
international community
ACCESS serves, in English or
other languages. Trainers who
work with ACCESS are vetted
for their relevancy to the
international community.
We offer courses in the following
categories:
• Creative
• Cultural awareness
• Global mobility
• Having a baby
• Health and physical well being
• Languages and art
• Professional skills development
Are you interested in being part
of the ACCESS trainer network?
Do you have a course, which provides
value to the international community?
Contact [email protected] or click here
for more information.
Have a look at all the courses
and register online:
access-nl.org/courses-workshops.aspx
Meet our Trainers online:
access-nl.org/meet-the-trainers.aspx
Digital photography
Megan Alter
Professional photographer
& photography teacher
Amsterdam
Learn to take better photos. Megan believes in learning by
doing; her classes not only teach theory, but how to put that
theory into practice. Sign up for a class now and take control
of your camera so you can express yourself more fully and
preserve beautiful memories with your images.
www.meganalter.com/classes
ACCESS Trainers | Meet our Trainers
r e g i s t e r f o r c o u r ses o n l i n e a t www . a c c ess - n l . o r g , o r c o n t a c t t r a i n e r d i r e c t l y .
Health and nutrition
Joyce Bergsma
Nutritional therapist
Amsterdam
www.eatlivelovefood.com
Trained in the UK, Joyce Bergsma offers private consultations
and also seminars in corporate spaces. She specialises in
mental health and how nutrient deficiencies influence it.
Her successful weight loss programme, fun and informative
workshops on Fermentation, Mindful Eating and Adrenal
Fatigue are the perfect introduction to changing your
ingrained habits.
Career coaching
Caroline
van den Bogaard
International career coach
Amsterdam & via Skype
www.cctransitions.com
Caroline inspires and motivates international professionals
to look for ways to continue their career in a new country,
and to make the transition easier through career coaching.
She knows the challenges and opportunities that profession
als face when transitioning to another country, having lived
and worked abroad herself. She is a certified career coach
and has a Master’s degree in occupational psychology.
Career and life coaching
Marie Dewulf
International career
and life coach
the Netherlands & via Skype
www.coach2moveon.com
Marie is an expatriate, a Life and Career Coach and trainer/
facilitator whose focus is on cross-cultural adaptation,
communication skills, and career development/transition.
She works with you to discover what your hidden talents are
and how these can be identified and released to unlock
YOUR potential. It’s about discovering what you can do with
a guide by your side.
Learning Dutch
Nitha Dijkstra
Dutch Language Courses
The Hague
www.dutchenroute.nl
There is no better way to get to know a country and the people
than by learning the language. Nitha Dijkstra has taught
Dutch for almost ten years now and with her company she
offers lively courses, with the emphasis on enjoyable, practi
cal and effective. With a lot of energy and a down to earth
attitude Nitha will help you to learn all about the language
and the culture of the Dutch.
Art history
Wendy Fossen
Freelance Art historian
& Art history teacher
The Hague
www.casadellarte.nl
Wendy is owner of Casa dell’Arte and works as a freelance
art historian. She has been giving art history courses in both
Dutch and English for over 7 years. She also works as a
museum guide at the Gemeentemuseum, and as a tour guide
in Italy. Wendy holds degrees from the Universities of Leiden
and Amsterdam and from the University of Kent in Canterbury,
England.
Childbirth preparation
Truus Gale
Experienced midwife
and prenatal coach
Amsterdam
www.childbirthclassgale.com
Truus has over 25 years experience in Dutch midwifery and
related areas. She holds a Dutch equivalent of a BA in Educa
tional Sciences from Amsterdam University and graduated
from Amsterdam Midwifery College in 1988. Truus has
been an ACCESS trainer since 2005, specialised in prenatal
individual or group information sessions for expat couples
expecting a baby in the Netherlands.
IT and Self defence
William
Rumley-van Gurp
Professional personal
development trainer
The Hague & Rotterdam
www.cftrainingtoday.com
William is a qualified and experienced trainer, able to offer
tailor-made courses in a range of IT and Self defense areas.
He has 26 years experience in Self defence and Karate. He has
also been teaching people to use Microsoft applications since
1997 when working as an IT Trainer for an international
organisation based in The Hague.
Arabic and calligraphy lessons
Khaled Khaled
Arabic language lecturer
Amsterdam, The Hague and
Utrecht
english.arabisch.nu
Khaled has lived in the Netherlands since 1969. He studied
Linguistics of Middle Eastern Languages for 8 years at the
University of Amsterdam, specialising in the Arabic language
and culture. Khaled offers intensive lessons in the Arabic
language and Egyptian Colloquial Arabic, and can also pro
vide calligraphy lessons.
Breastfeeding and maternity care consultations
Helen Marshall
Lactation consultant
and Kraamverzorgster
greater The Hague area
[email protected]
Helen is a qualified Lactation Consultant IBCLC who helps
new mothers who are experiencing challenges in breastfeed
ing and in maternity care. She qualified as a Paediatric Nurse
in Scotland and now supports and educates new mothers in
and around The Hague. Helen gives courses and consultations
in English and in Dutch to provide support for breastfeeding
and mothers-to-be.
Career development and Job hunting
Teresa Moynihan
Career coaching
& Job hunting support
greater The Hague area
www.moynihan-hr-consulting.com
Teresa Moynihan is a HR Professional and a Certified and
Licensed Career Counsellor with a Postgraduate qualification
in Career and Talent Management from Kingston University
in London, UK. Teresa’s extensive experience in HR and
Recruitment enables her to incorporate this knowledge into
coaching situations involving career issues.
Nester Moyo
Senior midwifery advisor
The Hague
www.access-nl.org
Nester is a Zimbabwean Midwife Educator who has lived in
the Netherlands since 2001, and has worked with ACCESS
conducting child birth preparation classes since 2002. Nester
is well versed in the education and practice of midwifery in
the Netherlands, as she has been a visiting lecturer to some
of the midwifery universities in the Netherlands.
Chitra Natarajan
Childbirth Educator
Utrecht
www.akriti.nl
Chitra is a certified HypnoBirthing Practitioner & Lamaze
Certified Childbirth Educator. She enjoys her role as someone
who can support, help and guide a family during Pregnancy,
Childbirth, Breastfeeding and Postpartum. Chitra is currently
in the process of completing Hypno Fertility Educator certifi
cate through HypnoBirthing Institute.
Physical stress management
Dora Lucia Neves
Movement practitioner &
massage therapist
The Hague
www.consciousrebalance.com
Dora is a qualified professional with 18 years’ experience in
physical stress management. With her training in movement
skills and massage techniques she has developed her mobile
practice Conscious Rebalance which offers Posture Realign
ment workshops and classes for groups or 1-1 training
sessions as well as a variety of massage techniques at home
or the workplace.
Becoming Bicultural
Katerina Pouliasi
Cross-Cultural
Psychologist (PhD)
Research and training
the Netherlands
www.in2cultures.nl
When you live actively with two cultures (between your own
family, organisations or society at large) you, partly uncon
sciously, partly deliberately, acquire a bicultural mind: become
able to think and behave in ways that fit different cultures.
Katerina has extensively investigated biculturalism among
children and adults. With her tailor-made surveys and work
shops she will help you discover and advance your potential.
Pre- and postnatal courses
Joke van
Roosendaal-Kuyper
Breathing and relaxation
therapist/Yoga instructor
The Hague
www.access-nl.org
Joke has been working in the yoga field for 25 years (Pregnancy
yoga for 18 years). Through different kinds of schooling
(Breathing and Relaxation) she has developed a practical
preparation for labour and offers tools to cope with fear and
pain. Being fully informed and prepared makes for a less
stressful delivery.
Coaching with archery
Jac Rongen
International coach
and facilitator
Amsterdam
www.rongen.com
Jac has more than 20 years of experience in helping people
deal with personal issues through archery. His method is
swift and relaxed as the sessions take place in a private park.
Jac feels that the best way to deal with past pain or future
anxiety is to focus on the present while learning new skills in
archery. This allows one to focus on the here and now rather
than on past problems in order to achieve more in the future.
Helping you feel at home in the Netherlands
Caitríona Rush
Cross-cultural consultant
the Netherlands
www.athomeabroad.nl
Caitríona has spent 18 years living and working in 8 countries
around the globe. She provides workshops, trainings and
one-on-one sessions to both individuals and businesses.
Her goal: to help internationals be happy living in the
Netherlands, and to facilitate companies in achieving
increased effectiveness and success when doing business
with other cultures.
Lee Tolman
Fysiotherapistacupuncturist
The Hague
www.partnersinwellness.nl
Lee has undertaken extensive post-grad courses specialising
in childbirth preparation, prenatal and postpartum com
plaints, menopause and infertility. Lee is currently practicing
physiotherapy and acupuncture in a private practice in
Voorburg and shares facilitation of the ACCESS childbirth
preparation courses. She has been a Dutch resident for the past
20 years and a childbirth educator for ACCESS for 15 years.
Life coaching
Carolyn Vines
Certified core energy
life coach
the Netherlands
youfirstcoaching.com
Besides being a Certified Professional Coach, Carolyn is an
award-winning blogger, international speaker, author of the
memoir “Black and (A)broad: Traveling Beyond the Limita
tions of Identity”, and mother of 3 bicultural, bilingual kids.
She teaches parents experiencing mid-life crises, who also
have small kids, how to unplug from their external busy-ness
and reconnect to themselves and find their own solutions.
Ria Wiertz
Antenatal teacher
Rotterdam
www.borstvoedingspijkenisse.nl
Ria is a qualified antenatal teacher with over 15 years experi
ence. Ria trained with the Stichting ter Verbreiding van de
Psycho Prophylaxes Method, a Dutch Lamaze variant. She is a
lactation consultant, personal coach and is qualified to teach
Baby Massage. Ria is in the process of obtaining the official
Lamaze Trainer Certificate so she can train others to give this
wonderful course.
EXPAT? ASK KASIA FOR A DUTCH
BANK ACCOUNT WITH SERVICES
AND SUPPORT IN ENGLISH.
Our International Client Desk welcomes you.
“Hi, my name is Kasia. I’m an expert in expats. So I know what you’re going through. New environment. New job.
New banking products. My multilingual colleagues at our International Client Desk and I are specialised in advising
and serving you! At abnamro.nl/expat you’ll find more information and the Mobile Banking app in English.
You’re always welcome!”