A Dutch flair for fashion

Transcription

i n fo r m at i o n
,
advice and support for your life in the netherlands
Winter 2011
www.access-nl.org
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A Dutch
flair for fashion
Special features | A winter visit to Haarlem | What’s on |
Dutch women combine style and comfort | Winter reading ideas |
Discovering Dutch wines | Don’t hibernate this winter, get moving! |
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BSN Open Days
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Come along and find out why more and more families
are making The British School in The Netherlands their
international school of choice.
Wed 8 February 2012 - Senior School
Wed 7 March 2012 - Junior Schools
More information and on-line registration via our website:
www.britishschool.nl
| Winter 2011
www.access-nl.org
Understanding
ACCESS magazine
Winter 2011 Vol. 24 No. 4
Dutch
Circulation: 12,000
Readership: 60,000
fashion
Contents
5 Letter from the editor
7 ACCESS News
PHOTO: VIKTOR & ROLF
8 Community News
26
11 What’s on
14 Understanding Dutch fashion
19 The Hague Bridge
14
20 Arts and Entertainment
26 Community: Connecting Indian
expats with the Indian diaspora
28 Moderating mediation
30 Discovering Dutch wines
32 Travel: Vintage Haarlem
35 Winter reading
PHOTO: VIKAS KOHLI
22 Lifestyle: You can bet your boots!
Connecting
Indian expats
with the Indian diaspora
36 Food: Boats, bags and high tea
43 ACCESS Courses
46 Volunteer profile
Copyright©ACCESS 2011
All rights reserved. No part of the ACCESS magazine
may be used in any form without explicit 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, ACCESS
and its writers cannot accept any responsibility for the
accuracy of the information included.
32
Vintage
Haarlem
PHOTO: CITY MARKETING HAARLEM
39 Health and Fitness
ACCESS - The Hague Zeestraat 100, 2nd floor, 2518 AD The Hague, Tel: 0900 2 ACCESS (0900 2 222 377), local rate 20c per minute, [email protected]
Visit ACCESS Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, at: The Hague International Centre, The Hague City Hall Atrium, Spui 70, The Hague
Colophon: Publisher Stichting ACCESS, Editorial content [email protected], Advertising 0900 2 222 377, local rate 20c/min. [email protected],
Editor Lee Seabourne, Assistant Editor Carina Hyllested, Design & layout Marek Moggré, Contributors Lucy Bosscher, Lucie Scott, Mandie Rose Danielski,
Ann Jennen, Rubina Anis, Kitty Duell, Lily-AnneStroobach, Monique Rubin, Karen Slingenberg, Sonia Nding, Cathy Leung, Qin Cai, Genoveva Geppaart,
Cover photo Viktor & Rolf, Printing HENK Grafimedia Center
ACCESS magazine is widely distributed throughout The Hague and Amsterdam regions – you can also find our magazines in and around
Eindhoven, Utrecht, Maastricht and Rotterdam. You’ll find our magazines in local municipality expat centres, libraries, Chambers of Commerce,
Embassies and in shops, health centres, hospitals, relocation agents, hotels, and restaurants and cafes that offer a warm welcome to the expatriate international community living in the Netherlands.
from
€ 70
per day
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Unlike traditional hotels, our stylish apartments offer all
the space and comfort of home.
Make the most of your stay in The Hague by choosing
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Full kitchen (no kitchenettes) & laundries
Excellent locations in different parts of The Hague
All apartments include WiFi, bedlinen, towels
Mail [email protected]
Phone +31 70 358 40 99
Fax +31 70 306 00 57
WWW bizstaythehague.com
the
preschool
✆ 070 3272088
The Windmill Preschool is an English speaking preschool for International children aged 2 to 5 years old.
We use a carefully planned curriculum giving all children an opportunity to succeed in an atmosphere of care and
of feeling valued. Each session is designed to develop your child’s creative, physical and social skills.
We endeavour to provide a stimulating environment for your child to learn progressively and to support your
child’s learning through a mixture of planned play activities and education to promote
their creativeness and imagination.
www.thewindmill.nl
the
windmill
toddlers
0 to 4 years old - Every Friday 09:15 to 11:30
Session times to suit
your child’s needs
all day - 09:00 to 14:45
or mornings - 09:00 to 12:00
or afternoons - 12:15 to 14:45
or a mixture
providing a solid foundation for your child’s education since 2000
Letter from the editor
Dear
ACCESS
readers
Whether flamboyant or functional, fashion and design play a significant role in
our lives. Every day, consciously or subconsciously we make choices about the
way we look. As expats we are often inspired by local style ideas, which we add
to our own. Our choice of what to wear is influenced by a number of talented
designers whose creations are worn by celebrities, interpreted on the high
street and exported throughout the world promoting Dutch innovation.
Our cover feature, Understanding Dutch fashion, offers an insight into the development of contemporary Dutch fashion and its increasing global success.
From contemporary to vintage, you’ll also find fashion ideas in our travel
pages. Vintage Haarlem guides you through some of the highlights of this beautiful city, and whether you enjoy history, art or spending your leisure time discovering the gezellige cafes, there’s still time to choose seasonal gifts or a new
look from an appealing array of shops. If you need an excuse to dress up, then
don’t miss Boats, bags and high tea. Often seen as a British tradition, high tea has
well and truly arrived in the Netherlands. Meet up with friends, add a Dutch
twist and a unique location and taking tea becomes one of those special occasions. We have some ideas that may surprise you!
In October, The Hague hosted India maand, where we had the opportunity to
embrace Indian culture through film, music and dance events. This focus continues as the theme of the Holland Flower Festival in February will be India.
Recognising the number of Indian residents in the Netherlands, our article on
the Indian community identifies some of the organisations which help to support Indians living and working in the Netherlands and which also provide a
point of contact for those interested in Indian business and culture.
Finally, as we make changes to the magazine ACCESS invites you to join us
again in the spring when we switch to a digital format. Our aim is to deliver
a more interactive experience, as we continue to provide the same variety of
information and ideas. In the meantime, please enjoy everything we have to
offer this winter season.
ACCESS Partners
Thank you for your support
PLATINUM
• Gemeente Amsterdam
• Gemeente Den Haag
• NFIA – Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency
GOLD
• ABN-AMRO Bank
• The British School in the Netherlands
• Kamer van Koophandel Haaglanden
• WFIA – West-Holland Foreign Investment Agency
SILVER
• Adams Multilingual Recruitment Agency
• American School of The Hague
• Financial Consultants De Boer
• GMW Advocaten
• International School of Amsterdam
• International School of The Hague
•OPCW
BRONZE
• Academy for Counselling and Coaching
• American Book Center Amsterdam
• Big Ben Kids
• BSN Language Centre
• Crossroads International Church, The Hague
• Direct Dutch Institute
• Expat Help
• ICP – International Community Platform
• Kickstart School
• Koenders Real Estate & Art Gallery
• International Health Centre The Hague
• Language Courses German School, The Hague
• De Regenbogen Beheer
• The Windmill Preschool
• The Xpat Journal & Xpat Media
• Thomas Green’s, The Hague
ACCESS Associates
Thank you for your support
AngloINFO South Holland • Bureau Kraamzorg Extra
• BizStay The Hague• Crunch Café • Domestic-Outsourcing
• Driving School Keislair • The English Theatre • The Expat
Agency • Nedles-Dutch for Professionals • PhysiomotionPhysiotherapy Rotterdam • PR Housing • SEA LIFE
Scheveningen • J.C.Suurmond & zn Tax Consultants
• A&N Vastgoed • Voorhoeve Foundation
The ACCESS Associate scheme is aimed at small and start-up
businesses to enable them to reach a diverse international
audience. With our Associate scheme we offer the benefits
of a listing both on the ACCESS website and in the ACCESS
Magazine, and promotional opportunities to our Facebook
and Twitter audience. Contact [email protected] to find out
more about becoming an Associate.
Your organisation’s name here? Supporting
ACCESS means helping over 20,000 people in the
expat and international community each year.
Lee Seabourne, [email protected]
ACCESS | WINTER | 5
Quality day-care for your child,
peace of mind for you
Comme à la
Maison is an
international
childcare center
in The Hague. We
provide a warm
and welcoming
home for both
Dutch and
English-speaking
children.
• Special activities: art, gymnastics, music
and dancing
• Registered with the GGD. An active
Parents' Committee
• Warm, nutritional and balanced meals
available daily
• English and Dutch-speaking groups of
children aged 0-to-6
• Secure environment, fully equipped for
play, sleep and educational needs
• Swimming: unique to day-care, a chance
to experience the world of water
International Child Care House
Comme à la Maison
Duinweg 1, 2585 JT Den Haag
0031 (0) 70-404 9750
[email protected]
www.calmkid.nl
News
From magazine to e-zine
With regret, but aware of the opportunities of change, the Board and
Management of ACCESS announce
that this will be the last printed issue of
the ACCESS magazine. Moving with the
times, taking advantage of its new website, ACCESS will make the transition
to a digital version of its well-loved and
trusted magazine. The Spring 2012
issue and future issues will be delivered
differently, but will continue to highlight and share information to support
the positive adjustment to living in a
country far from home.
Strategy & structure
ACCESS is here to help you. For 25 years volunteers from
the international community have taken their own
expatriate experiences to assist, support and guide
newly arrived internationals to the Netherlands. Our
Partners and Associates are ‘helping ACCESS to help
you’. This is the impetus, taken from its past, that will
drive ACCESS forward. Whether attending to your inquiries at
The Hague International Centre, or via our help-desk. A service need
born from the community, for the community.
About ACCESS
Established in 1986, ACCESS is a non-profit organisation
committed to supporting the international expatriate
community in the Netherlands. We have since grown
HOF Haagse
Hulde award
As we went to print the votes were not yet counted for
this award recognising innovative cross border volunteer organisations. ACCESS was one of the nominees
and is waiting with baited breath (till December 17th)
for some added recognition of its work with more
than 100 volunteers from 25 different countries! A big
thank you to one and all who voted for us!
How we do it
ACCESS is supported by Dutch, international and expatriate businesses and organisations through donations and sponsorships.
ACCESS is governed by an Executive Board, and until recently had
two Executive Directors job sharing the responsibilities of overall
management of the organisation.
to become the leading source of free, personalised
i nformation in English for this community.
What we do
We are staffed by an enthusiastic team of volunteers who have
experienced the expat relocation process and are able to provide
comprehensive information, advice and support on all aspects
of living and working in the Netherlands. Advice is provided via
telephone helpline, email or personal consulation at the expat
desk at The Hague International Centre. ACCESS also offers a
free referral service to a private, professional counsellor network
as well as cancer support services.
Volunteering with ACCESS
Apart from the volunteers needed to run our help desk, we also
welcome volunteers experienced in event management, customer
service, advertising, fundraising, IT, finance, and copywriting.
Email our Volunteer Resources Department at [email protected].
Executive Board; Chairman: Gary Hays, TNK-BP;
Vice Chairman: Kiri Kikis, Kikis Investments; Treasurer: Anita de Casparis, Mazars;
Secretary: Imanda Wapenaar, WFIA
Members; Charles van Beuningen, van Beuningen advocaten; Connie Moser;
Willemijn van Oppen-Stuyt, Educaide; Jessie Rodell; Lars Tomson, ABN AMRO.
ACCESS | WINTER | 7
Community News
PHOTO: UTRECHT UNIVERSITY
12 Dutch universities
on the Times world
university rankings
Utrecht University is the highest
placed Dutch academic institution
on the latest Times Higher Education
ranking of the top 200 universities
in the world.
Utrecht is in 68th place, Leiden 79th
and Amsterdam is 92nd. With 12 universities in the overall rankings, the
Netherlands ranks third in terms of
the number of ranked institutions,
following the US and UK.
Universities are judged on 13 performance indicators, taking in research,
teaching, knowledge transfer and
international activity. Last year, no
Dutch universities made the top 100,
but this year the methodology has
been tweaked to put arts institutions
on a more even footing with those
excelling in science, which helped put
the Netherlands on the academic
world map of excellence. «
Amsterdam: as bike friendly
as it gets
Amsterdam is the most bicycle-friendly
city in the world, according to the
Copenhagenize Urban Cycling Index
2011.
80 major cities around the world were given points in 13
different categories including bicycle culture, facilities,
infrastructure, perception of safety, politics, social
acceptance and urban planning. The Dutch capital was
praised for its cycling atmosphere which was “relaxed,
8 | ACCESS | WINTER
enjoyable and as mainstream as you can get. This is the
one place on the planet where fear-mongering about
cycling is non-existent and it shows.”
Amsterdam isn’t perfect, however. The report called for
a “more uniform design of infrastructure” in the city:
“We love cycling in Amsterdam but it would be more
enjoyable if we didn’t have to guess what the next stretch
of cycle track will look like.” «
www.copenhagenize.eu
Community News
Green future for The Hague
By 2040 The Hague aims to become a climate neutral city,
a city which uses energy economically, makes use of
renewable energy and compensates its CO2 emissions.
The municipality will work together with residents and businesses in order to meet
the 2040 goals:
• Homeowners and companies can apply for a subsidy for building a ‘green roof ’
until 1 November 2014. This is intended for roofs with grass, jade plants, gardens,
bushes and trees which will improve the city’s environment by reducing air pollution, retaining rainwater in storms and having an insulating effect on houses
•The Municipal Executive has ordered a study into the
possibility of using waste as a renewable energy
source. In the City Region of Haaglanden it is calculated that some 657,518 tonnes of biomass is available. The municipality hopes this is sufficient for the
construction of a regional biomass power
plant which can generate electricity.
Note!
The Good & Green Guides aim to show people
how easy it is to find good and green places
and to enjoy life while taking care of their
own health, other people and the environment. Available for Amsterdam, Rotterdam,
The Hague and Holland. «
www.goodandgreenguides.com
ACCESSing
the Netherlands
On September 18 , during the Feel at
Home in The Hague International
Community Fair, ACCESS successfully
implemented a follow up to their pilot
seminar series to inform newly arrived
expats and their families. Run on behalf
of the ICP (International Community
Platform), ACCESSing the Netherlands
th
is an informal seminar series in which
professionals are invited to share
information on a variety of topics from
education to housing. The evaluation
and feedback received confirms the
value and need for such an initiative
and plans are under way to repeat the
series in March 2012. Details of the
forthcoming ACCESSing the
Netherlands programme will be
posted on the website. «
ACCESS
cancerlink
art therapy
workshop
ACCESS Cancerlink is
pleased to announce that
the Intuitive Painting
Workshop planned for
earlier this year will now
take place in January 2012.
This workshop offers a creative way to
get in touch with your feelings and
emotions and reconnect with the basic
urge to create. It is designed mainly for
cancer survivors, cancer patients or anyone who has experienced cancer in a
loved one or close friend, but is open to
anyone who wants to develop a deeper
connection with the inner self.
Be sure to wear old clothes or a smock
that you don’t mind getting dirty.
Date: January 28th, 2012
Time: 12:30-16:30
Venue: ACCESS, Zeestraat 100,
2518 AD The Hague
Cost: € 20 to cover cost of materials
For more information and to register,
contact: International Counselling
Connections, Kathleen Sheridan:
[email protected]
See also the article by Audrey Weinberg
on “Creativity to Beat Cancer” in
ACCESS Magazine, Spring 2011,
pp. 32-33 – back issues are available on
www.access-nl.org «
ACCESS | WINTER | 9
Congratulations Access!
years old
- Dutch
news
in English
- Dutch
news
in English
- Dutch
news
in English
for for
internationals
internationals
for internationals
-
DutchNews.nl is
DutchNews.nl
is
DutchNews.nl
is
available
online,
available
online,
available
via email
and asonline,
a
via
email
and
asand
a as a
via email
tailor-made
service
tailor-made
service
tailor-made
for mobile
internetservice
for mobile
internet
for mobile
internet
www.dutchnews.nl
www.dutchnews.nl
www.dutchnews.nl
-
What’s on Winter 2011
Special events in December
WANT TO POST A COMMUNITY EVENT IN THIS MAGAZINE? CONTACT ACCESS MAGAZINE AT [email protected], SUBJECT: ‘WHAT’S ON’.
18 November - 23 December
Christmas Market - Valkenburg
9 - 11 December Batman Live - Rotterdam
The greatest superheroes in the world come to life when Batman and Robin take on the villains: The Riddler,
Catwoman, Penguin, Two-Face, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy and of course The Joker. Ahoy will be transformed into
Gotham City, Wayne Manor and Arkham Asylum, so you’ll find yourself in the world of DC Comics, most popular
hero.
PHOTO: VVV ZUID-LIMBURG
www.ahoy.nl
A Christmas market in a cave underneath the city!
Visitors can enjoy an atmospheric shopping experience as they wander through the candlelit labyrinth
of passageways searching for gifts and decorations.
25 - 28 December
26 - 30 December
International Chamber
Music Festival - Utrecht
Tangomagia Festival
Janine Jansen’s very own chamber music festival
offers treats like ‘The Soldier’s Tale’ by Stravinsky,
‘Quintet for Clarinet and Strings’ by Mozart, ‘Piano
trio in B-flat’ by Schubert, ‘Violin Sonata No. 10’ and
‘Septet’ by Beethoven and daily children’s shows.
Amsterdam will transform into ‘Buenos Aires on the
Amstel’ with workshops for all levels, performances
by world famous Argentine maestros, tango music by
international DJ’s and orchestras, nightly salons in
majestic locations, and a daily tango café.
www.kamermuziekfestival.nl
www.tangomagia.com
Amsterdam
25 - 28 December
Christmas ballet ABDALLAH and the Gazelle of Basra - The Hague
Note: On Global Grasshopper’s best Christmas
markets in Europe 2011 for ‘Most unique shopping
experience!’
www.globalgrasshopper.com/destinations/europe/
a-guide-to-the-best-christmas-markets-in-europe/
www.kasteelvalkenburg.nl
PHOTO: HANS OOSTRUM
17 - 18 December
Dickens Festival - Deventer
Come and meet Scrooge, Oliver Twist, Mr. Pickwick
and Christmas carollers. More than 900 characters
featured in the famous books by Charles Dickens
come to life in the historic city centre of Deventer.
Wander through the pretty streets of the Bergkwartier
and visit the market on the main square, enjoying the
aromas of English punch, roasted chestnuts, thousands of fairy lights and the heart warming ambience
of Christmas.
The poor shoemaker Abdallah and his love Irma have to hide the wise Sheik Ismael from a violent gang. To show his
gratitude the Sheik offers Abdallah four wishes. He chooses beautiful clothes, a wonderful p alace and a harem consisting of the most beautiful women. When Irma sees this, she runs away in anger. Will Abdallah ever find her again?
A unique collaboration between professionals and amateurs ranging in age from 6 to 65+, young talents from the
Royal Conservatoire, will also perform.
www.dickensfestijn.nl
www.ddddd.nu/en
ACCESS | WINTER | 11
Special events in January
Throughout the season
Family fun on the ice
Various locations
Many outdoor ice rinks are still open in January. Stay
warm with hot chocolate from the heated cafés surrounding the rinks and enjoy a fun day on the ice.
Amsterdam - Leidseplein and Museumsplein,
21 December - 27 February
The Hague - CoolEvent Scheveningen, Kurhausplein,
12 November – 15 January
PHOTO: CLAIRE DROPPERT
Rotterdam - Blue Winterplein, LLoyd Multiplein,
Schiehaven 5, 4 December – 16 January
Delft - Beestenmarkt, 9 December – 9 January
Doordrecht - Scheffersplein, 15 December – 8 January
Gouda - Goudse Markt, 16 December – 8 January
25 January - 5 February
24 September - 8 January
Faulty Towers,
The Dining Experience
International Film Festival
A Hague history of shopping
Rotterdam
The Hague
Schouwburg Amstelveen
Eating out has never been so much fun. This dinner
show by Interactive Theatre Australia is modelled on
the famous TV show Fawlty Towers. Food and laughter
are usually a good combination - unless you’re dining
in the fictional hotel that is...
The focus is on new, innovative, independent films
and filmmakers. The festival is a mixture of cinema,
film-related visual art exhibitions and live performances. For twelve days in a row you’ll have the
opportunity to enjoy the work of talented filmmakers
of the future.
www.schouwburgamstelveen.nl
www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com/en
PHOTO: HAAGS HISTORISCH MUSEUM
10 - 15 January
26 January - 26 February
Holland Dance Festival
PHOTO: LESLEY LESLIE-SPINKS
The Hague
12 | ACCESS | WINTER
The Holland Dance Festival features some of the
most outstanding dance productions in the world,
and this year is no exception. On 26 and 27 January
Sylvie Guillem gives a special performance by the
famous choreographers Mats Ek, William Forsythe
and Jirí Kylián. Free introduction an hour before the
programme commences and a drink and bite to eat
after the performance are included with your ticket.
Did you know that the first escalator in the
Netherlands was installed in the Bijenkorf on the
Grote Marktstraat in 1926? The Historical Museum of
The Hague will be hosting an exhibition showcasing
shops from the past and the present. Personal objects
and memories play a key role and are supplemented
by photographs, films, posters, illuminated signs,
packaging, paintings and other objects that once
adorned The Hague’s shops.
http://en.holland-dance.com
www.haagshistorischmuseum.nl
Special events in February
9 - 12 February
13 - 19 February
PHOTO: HOLLAND FLOWER FESTIVAL
PHOTO: GALERIE MARTIN VAN ZOMEREN
ABN AMRO World Tennis
Tournament - Rotterdam
Roger Federer will be here…at the world’s largest
indoor tennis tournament. The tournament has Gold
status and is on the ATP World tour. With your ticket,
you are not only welcome at the matches, but also at
Sports Plaza, Tennis Plaza and at the matches of the
World Wheelchair Tennis Tournament.
22 - 26 February
Twee
Be the first to congratulate ACCESS on its
t
and
25th anniversary on Twitter and win two
win!
tickets, including VIP lounge access for the tournament, courtesy of ABN-AMRO Bank.
Tweet: “Congratulations @ACCESS_NL on your 25th
anniversary in 2011/2012 #ABN-AMRO”
Holland Flower Festival
www.artrotterdam.nl/en
www.abnamrowtt.nl
www.hollandflowersfestival.nl/en
18 - 26 February
19 - 21 February Maastricht Carnival
Art & Object Rotterdam
Emerging talents and the latest developments in
visual art gather at Rotterdam’s international art
and object fair. An interesting mixture of video art,
performances, design, drawings, paintings, sculptures and site-specific installations are on display.
Bovenkarspel
This year the 79th Holland Flowers Festival will take
the theme of India. Walk through colourful gardens
and see a great variety of flowers and the latest garden
trends. The neighbouring consumer fair will offer
gardening, home and lifestyle products.
Huishoudbeurs
Amsterdam RAI
Ladies make lifestyle choices at the Huishoudbeurs
female show at Amsterdam RAI, with makeovers and
catwalks featuring fashions from leisure wear to
lingerie.
Chefs give cooking demonstrations, celebrities perform and shops offer the latest household, health and
dietary products.
PHOTO: HUGOTHOMASSEN
www.huishoudbeurs.nl
Save the date: 11 March
City Pier City Run - The Hague
The course of The Hague half marathon leads you
from the historical city centre to the beach of
Scheveningen and back. This phenomenal run, which
has led to world records in the past, is always viewed
by thousands of cheering spectators. It’s without a
doubt one of the best runs in the Netherlands. On with
the sneakers and get in form to join yourself…
www.cpcloopdenhaag.com
Maastricht Carnival is among the biggest celebrations of its kind throughout Europe. People from all walks of life put
a great deal of creative energy and passion into making costumes and designing their face paint. The city is also completely decorated in the three official Carnival colours – red, yellow and green. And at practically every street corner
you’ll find a brass band livening up the local atmosphere with music. Everything in the city of Maastricht stops for the
annual carnival and its related events.
www.tempeleers.nl
Cover story
Understanding
Dutch
fashion
In 1993, when Dutch fashion was still
something of an oxymoron, Viktor Horsting
and Rolf Snoeren, graduates of the Arnhem
Academy of Art and Design took the fashion
world by storm having won the most
prestigious International Fashion and
Photography Competition in Hyères, France.
BY LUCY BOSSCHER
“Mixing the drama of grandly staged opera with the precisionchic of Paris couture, Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren are some
of the industry’s most famous and often–unpredictable–showmen. Too arty to place in the just-fashion category and too fashion-y to simply be called artists, they meld the two like few others.
Collections are never boring affairs, and shows employ fantastical
techniques, whether it’s models wearing their cumbersome lighting structures or clothing presented upside down,” notes New York
Magazine. Drama and scale are, indeed, the constant ingredients of
Viktor and Rolf shows.
In an interview, Viktor Horsting once pointed out that “In Holland,
the mentality is you’re not supposed to want to stand out. We
made our collections to be noticed, but it was also a reaction.”
Today, Viktor and Rolf have built an international reputation as
experimental vanguards with a particularly ironic view of fashion
and kooky show productions.
This reaction against uniformity, desire to be noticed and hunger
for fame must have been the fire that kept them alive during the
darkest times when in the late 90’s in Paris, broke, with no funding, shunned by buyers and critics, they had to refocus and move
from the fringe world of artsy fashion installations to couture.
This proved to be the right space to accommodate their natural
inclination for theatrics and experimentation. “We believe that
couture should be a field for experimentation. It is a laboratory in
our absolute dedication to fashion.” So, do Viktor and Rolf and
their signature style represent Dutch fashion? Is it about balancing
on the arty line rather than producing pretty frocks and dresses
that sell? And what actually is Dutch fashion identity?
“D utch fashion is a unique
expression of individual spirit
rather than collective identity”
Dutch fashion identity
There have been a number of attempts to provide answers. An
ambitious study, Dutch Fashion Identity in a Globalised World is currently underway, led by the Radbout University of Nijmegen. It is
based on the assumption that Dutch fashion is a sum total of individualism and individual expression, innovation and postmodern
design. Laura van Erkelens, founder of Fashionnl.com, an online
portal for the promotion of Dutch fashion and a graduate of the
Utrecht School of Visual Art and Design, researched Dutch fashion identity and its perception internationally for her master thesis
during 2009. According to Van Erkelens, three adjectives are key
to understanding Dutch fashion identity today: open-minded,
sober, opinionated. “However,” she insists, “Dutch fashion identity should never be viewed in isolation from the Calvinist tradition
and impressive development of other design disciplines in the
Netherlands such as industrial design, architecture, graphic design,
typography. Also, fashion design in the Netherlands is taught in
art academies where the focus is on individual expression and
conceptual thinking rather than pattern making and marketing.
Freedom to experiment is far more important than relevance to
the needs of the industry. As a result graduates have strong ideas
about fashion and self-expression but lack the practical knowledge of starting a label.” »
Cover story | Understanding Dutch fashion
PHOTO: MEGAN ALTER
in needle work, was exhibited
at the City Hall in the centre of
The Hague.
“For a long time in this country
designers earned fame and
peer recognition not through
the number of pieces sold, but
the number of museum exhibitions, a logical consequence
of the art subsidy structure
where it is easier to get funding
for an art project/initiative than
setting up production lines.
However, this perception of
fashion as an artistic pursuit
only has been gradually giving
way to the growing awareness
of fashion as business,” says
Laura van Erkelens.
Daring and eccentric
Experimental and conceptual
Thus permeated by the Calvinist tradition of sobriety and purity,
Dutch fashion is a unique expression of individual spirit rather
than a collective identity. In a society where every aspect of life is
tightly regulated and consensus rules, fashion, for a long time a
poor relation of other thriving design disciplines, is the unfettered
universe to innovate, experiment, explore concepts and express
your point of view - often with a dose of irony. Dutch fashion
designers have always been averse to frills and the ostentatious.
Instead, they focus on lines, construction and shapes. Since many
designers come out of art schools, Dutch fashion is more of an
artistic occupation than a commercial activity. “Wearable, desirable creation” would not be a compliment to pay. “Conceptual and
modern” would. In fact, the more conceptual the better.
Take Sara Vrugt, The Hague fashion ambassador 2011. Celebrated
for her conceptual work in fashion, Sara in her twenties has
already had a number of exhibitions to her credit, including at the
reputable Gemeente Museum of The Hague. Her latest project,
a giant abstract embroidery piece, a collaborative effort which
brought together community residents and all those interested
Wendy Troost, owner of
The Hague based fashion PR company, sees a certain dichotomy
in Dutch fashion. “On the one hand, it is daring, known for its
eccentricity. But on the other, our Dutch practical sense comes
to the fore and designers make wearable clothes. So you have
Jan Taminiau and Iris van Herpen and their most daring creations
worn by Lady Gaga, and then there is G-Star, Scotch & Soda, and
Mexx for the less extravagant folk.” Having already made an international impact, a number of young designers are leading the way
in promoting Dutch style:
• Iris van Herpen, a young Dutch designer who manipulates tech-
nology pushing the limits of fashion. For instance, she would
combine rapid prototyping with traditional couture technique.
She’ll cut strips of plastic, using a selective laser sintering
machine then arrange them into a garment by hand.
• Jan Taminiau, is the designer of choice for the fashion forward
like Beyonce, Lady Gaga and fashion royal Princess Maxima.
• United Nude design shoes that fuse architecture, modern materials and innovation. They are currently sold in over 40 countries
with flagship stores in Amsterdam (well worth a visit), New
York, Shanghai and London.
International perception
Lady Gaga is big clout endorsement but the new found “cool”
status for Dutch fashion has yet to be translated into international
acknowledgement and business success equal to that of Dutch
design. But change might be coming - and soon. The creative
sector, including fashion is officially “the new darling” of the
Dutch government. It has adopted a multi-pronged strategy for
international positioning – identify markets of interest; market
fashion and design through missions to these markets; invest in
education and training; invest in collaborations (multi-design
stores, private-public partnerships) and develop global alliances
as, for example, with India, China, Germany, Turkey. Moreover,
numerous organisations work to raise the international profile
of Dutch fashion:
• Dutch Fashion Foundation supports fashion talent
PHOTO: M.B. VAN BERGEN
through a number of high profile initiatives staged at
Did
home and international fashion capitals. It manyou k
n
ages the Dutch Fashion Awards, a springboard for
Amster ow...
d
a
m Int
professional development.
nationa
l Fashio er
nW
• Amsterdam International Fashion Week (AIFW)
was the
first to eek
has carved a niche as a fun younger alternative to
the pub admit
lic.
the Big Four: New York, Paris, Milan and London.
Without forsaking the required glamour quotient, it
is as a champion of green fashion and sustainable life
style. AIFW is part of the Amsterdam Eco-cluster, a collective
of sustainable businesses under Amsterdam Innovation Motor.
In July 2011 AIFW was awarded the ‘Best International Fashion
Week’ Award by international sustainable lifestyle magazine
Sublime.
• Dutch Design Fashion and Architecture (DDFA) is a special programme for international positioning of the design, fashion and
architecture sectors.
• HTNK, fashion recruitment and consulting agency with particudesigners will take all the ingredients available, reign in the conlar focus on business skills for graduates and young designers
ceptual, season with business acumen and spice up with desirabil• www.fashionnl.com founded by Laura van Erkelens is an indeity to create that wonderful dish called Dutch fashion. «
pendent online portal promoting the best in fashion talent and
a must read resource for all things fashion in the Netherlands.
What the future holds
The Dutch are universally recognised for their design. Their cuisine is perhaps less well known, but they did introduce spices to
the world. In fashion it’s often like creating in the kitchen and getting the balance right. I hope that the new generation of fashion
About the author
Lucy Bosscher is a fashion thinker, linguist, communicator. She runs www.nobignames.com, The Hague-based
creative and linguistic consultancy, and she writes
Luci’de Dispatches, personal notes on fashion, people
and an eclectic array of subjects.
Education - Partner feature
Texel and
s cience go
hand in hand
– as students of American
School of The Hague discover
For more information:
American School
of The Hague
Rijksstraatweg 200
2241 BX Wassenaar
Tel: +310 (0) 70 512 10 60
www.ash.nl
We all love a day at the beach but for the High School
students at American School of The Hague, that
means something quite different as they spend
three intensive days working on their second year
International Baccalaureate (IB) Science project.
The location, De Hors, Texel, the unique natural
dune area where the southern end of the island is
gradually elongating due to the build up of sand
from the North Sea. Sixty five students of Biology,
Chemistry, Environmental Systems and Society or
Physics, the four key Sciences offered at American
School of The Hague, face three days of intensive
work, no small part of which is to work together to
achieve both individual and group success.
Having split into 13 small groups, across disciplines,
the students get to work selecting the area of the
dunes they will study. They quickly organise themselves and ensure a clear division of tasks, with one
student working as equipment manager to ensure
that all of the necessary equipment is on site.
Hypothesising and measuring bio-diversity, measuring the properties of core samples, analysing abundance versus diversity in different areas, measuring
surface and ground temperatures along with wind
speed to assess the impact on plant growth… all in a
day’s work for these Science students. It’s a beehive
of scientific activity both at De Hors and in the laboratory facilities at Ecomare, the marine museum
located on Texel. With the hypotheses made and the
samples collected, students move to the laboratory
to analyse and test their results. As a culmination,
each group presents their findings at a symposium
on Friday morning where their peers critique their
research.
This Project Trip attempts to offer a compressed yet
authentic scientific research experience to students.
The goal is to build a first-hand appreciation for the
difficulty of what it means to “know” something in
science, given the multitude of factors that impinge
on even the simplest of research objectives. The
added value beyond science is that these students
develop teamwork skills that are both essential and
in demand at our universities, in the workplace and
in daily life.
At professional conferences in Europe, the NSTA
Annual Convention in the USA, as well as through
the comments of IB evaluators, the approach of the
School to this required interdisciplinary project has
received many accolades. As a school with more
than 70 nationalities represented, communication
is an essential part of learning. The final word goes
to the students:
“Communication was important
and communicating your ideas so
that everyone can understand.”
Community
The Hague Bridge
– building bridges between local Dutch residents
and the international community
Willem Post is the International Advisor to the Mayor
and the Deputy Mayors of The City of The Hague.
He has a real passion for the international community
living in The Hague, seeing the cultural and social
Den Haag in Leidschenveen-Ypenburg.
Also, a world fair in Escamp was held
with representatives of over 30 different
national communities living in The Hague
– Ethiopia to Morocco!”
value we add to The Hague, as well as the obvious
economic value!
INTERVIEW BY LUCIE SCOTT
The Hague Bridge was the vision of Willem
and the Mayor of The Hague, Jozias van
Aartsen, as a means to build bridges
between local Dutch residents and the
international community living in The
Hague. The most obvious way to do this
was to split the programme into the eight
city districts of The Hague. This avoided
the programme being too city-centre
focused, bringing in all those that live in
The Hague, and also as a means of showcasing everything the City of Peace and
Justice has to offer.
Willem states “The Hague Bridge was
never meant to be just a project but an
ongoing programme of events to connect
expats with local residents. The programme has been built on the foundation
stones of The Hague Hospitality Centre
opened in 2002, to The Expat Centre in
2005, to the recent opening of The Hague
International Centre in November 2010”.
With the first phase of The Hague Bridge
about to close in the city district
Centrum in December, the secDid y
ond phase will begin in early
know ou
... ACC
2012. This time Willem and
has bee
E
n the pr SS
incip
his team want ideas from
partner
with the al
City
in orga
Dutch and international resinising H
a
g
u
e
dents about the kind of events
Willem explains further,
Bridge e
vents.
or activities that they would
“The Hague Bridge
like to see in their neighbourstarted in the city district of
hood. These ideas need to focus on
Haagse Hout. We started in a
building bridges between the two commulow-key way with a few events, but as we’ve
nities, building pride in our City of The
travelled through each district, spending
Hague and bringing the City of Peace and
about three months in each, awareness has
Justice to the people.
increased and now more than a thousand
people participate in each district.
Willem invites ACCESS readers to submit
their ideas. The most promising will go
“We’ve had common events in each disthrough a selection process, after which
trict, including walks, lessons in schools
the winning neighbourhood idea will be
about what the City of Peace and Justice
partially sponsored by the municipality.
means, and organised free visits to the
For a view of past activities and events
OPCW and ICTY. What’s been particularly
please see www.denhaag.nl/thehaguebridge
special are the events that have highlighted
and send your ideas via the website email
and celebrated the diversity of the districts,
address titling your email ‘ACCESS Reader
from a presentation by the city’s urban
Hague Bridge Ideas’.
planner at the city’s tree and plant nursery
in Scheveningen, to a local/international
Willem closes, “Our programme will be a
schools banner making day which led to
success when all can say they are proud to
another event where the banners were prelive in The City of Peace and Justice”. «
sented to the international players of ADO
Arts and Entertainment
Fashion-forward
This winter you can do more than flip through the pages of Vogue and JACKIE
magazines to get your fashion fix. These events neatly trace past influences on fashion,
shape our contemporary icons, and challenge the future of design. Discover your style
where you’re close enough to feel the fabric. (Of course, please refrain from disturbing
the models and mannequins!)
BY MANDIE ROSE DANIELSKI
A passionate affair
If you haven’t already met Miffy the
bunny (Nijntje in Dutch) from the children’s books, then your impression of
her today will be chic, stylish, dazzling, colourful and life-size. She is
PHOTO: ZEB DAEMEN
Miffy plays dress-up
PHOTO: ALICE DE GROOT.
The Gemeentemuseum of
The Hague enlightens visitors
at Fashion ♥ art, a passionate
affair, under the direction of
Maarten Spruyt. Here, clothing
is the canvas. The impressive
parade of dresses reveals a progression of fashion to suit the
modern working woman. Yet,
what is even more illuminating is
the tightly knit relationship
between art and fashion from the
last century. Abstract art, op art,
surrealism and minimalism have
played a role from the paintbrush to the
sewing machine. Even today art bears
influence over colours and shapes in
the designs of Viktor & Rolf, among
other leaders in fashion. We’re
inspired to wonder which art from
today will change the fashion for
tomorrow.
much transformed from her one-dimensional representation originating in 1955.
On that first book cover, graphic designer
and creator Dick Bruna presented Miffy in
a red dress. For the Miffy in fashion exhibit
in the Dick Bruna House in Utrecht, 15 artists give the icon a makeover. Some have
donned 40-cm-tall bunnies with sparkles,
lace, pearls and ribbons, respectively.
Certainly you won’t forget the bunny by
ANREALAGE, who brightens the character
in a mosaic of white and orange buttons.
Also among the models is my favourite by
artist i-did slow fashion whose Miffy was
inspired by Johannes Vermeer’s “Girl with
a Pearl Earring.” Piet Paris gives Miffy a
vintage Yves Saint Laurent look, besides the
designs of Saskia van Drimmelen and others.
This exhibit threads together high art,
graphic design and contemporary fashion.
It is a truly fun collaboration of international designers. For this occasion Bruna
himself made a new white dress with bows
for Miffy. He continues to “strive for the
greatest possible simplicity,”
and his unmistakeable style
has earned worldwide recognition. Children and
adult visitors are welcome
to try their hands at
sketches, too, like “How
would you design a hat?”
You’ll find inspiration
from Bruna’s many
book covers and drawings emphasising his
use of simple shapes to
compose perfect accessories – socks, raincoats, and umbrellas.
It’s an up-close flash
of fashion as you’ll not
experience elsewhere.
“M iffy gets a makeover courtesy of
fifteen top artists and designers”
Catwalk of the year
In January one intense week of fashion
captures the vision of established and new
Dutch designers at the Amsterdam
International Fashion Week (AIFW). The
catwalks, competitions, forums and workshops take place twice a year, in winter and
summer. Since the first opening in 2004 a
number of Dutch designers have returned
to dazzle, including Iris van Herpen. (Spot
her designs regularly on trendsetters like
Björk and Lady Gaga, among others.)
Other Dutch participants include Claes
Iversen and Jan Taminiau (who also contributed memorably to “Miffy in fashion”);
Bas Kosters (featured at “Fashion ♥ art”);
Tony Cohen and Spijkers & Spijkers, the
twin sisters Truus and Riet, who opened
the show in the summer. The list of talent
gets longer as the event gains in international popularity.
PHOTO: ANREALAGE
At least one day is organised
to promote young talent, too.
Generation 12, the top five
master’s fashion students
from the Arnhem ArtEZ
Institute, participated in
the summer. Among
them was Hanna Siwecki,
the designer behind
IROTSUYA. Her “Internetinspired” line included one
glamorous green, laser-cut
reflective Plexiglas dress.
This was meant to represent building fashion on
our bodies as we would
build our profiles online.
Other memorable student pieces were
Jonathan Christopher’s undefined gender
collection, made of fabrics that change
colour in the sun. His line was based on the
Dutch saying, “Iemand in een ander licht zien.”
(“Seeing someone in a different light.”)
High creativity like this leaves fashionistas
itching for the January revealing of winter
looks that show us what we didn’t know we
wanted. The catwalk programme is invitation-only, but the public can enjoy fashion
shows, launches and parties across
Amsterdam. Specifics are announced closer
to opening day. You can download the specially selected shopping route stretching
from the Nine Streets (De Negen Straatjes) to
the Albert Cuyp Market. Also check out
video replays and interviews at sites like
www.fashiontelevision.nl, and learn more
about Dutch fashion at www.dutchfashionfoundation.com. «
Feel the fashion
Fashion ♥ art
Ends 8 January 2012
Gemeentemuseum Den Haag
www.gemeentemuseum.nl
Miffy in fashion
Ends 22 January 2012
Dick Bruna Huis
Agnietenstraat 2, Utrecht
www.dickbrunahuis.com or
www.centraalmuseum.nl
AIFW DOWNTOWN
20 – 29 January 2012
www.amsterdamfashionweek.com
Lifestyle
Dutch women combine style and comfort?
You can bet your
A couple of months ago,
I was attending the
opening of an art
exhibition. With autumn
having begun, but the
weather still very sunny
for the time of the year,
I couldn’t decide which
shoes to wear.
BY ANN JENNEN
In the end I chose the classic black pumps and, over
cocktails, I met my friend July who I noticed was
wearing black leather boots. When I mentioned her
choice of footwear, she just raised her shoulders and
stated, “Oh well, I just thought Dutch women wear
boots all the time too.” A few days later, our newly
arrived au pair from Germany came back from her
very first shopping trip to The Hague city centre:
“Lovely shops, great variety of styles!” She hopped
on to the kitchen counter, bit into an apple and then
continued: “And you know the shoe stores are amazing. I have never seen so many boots in one place in
my life.” Indeed, when talking about Dutch women
and fashion, you can’t help but notice that they seem
to have a ‘thing’ about boots.
My Dutch neighbour Willemijn and I walk our sons
to the local ballet school every Thursday afternoon.
As the seasons change from autumn to winter to
spring, her footwear remains the same: trendy,
brown leather boots. Me: sneakers (comfy), walking
shoes (snow resistant), ballerinas (yay, bare feet
again). Researching this article gives me the perfect
opportunity to finally ask her about her footwear habit.
boots!
Her reply is a perfect example of Dutch pragmatism:
“I love wearing boots because I don’t need to think
about the colour of my socks anymore.” As images of
men in dark business suits with bad socks suddenly
crossed my mind, I get her point immediately.
“Also,” she continues, “I hate wearing nylon stockings and you kind of have to if you want to look elegant in pumps.” True again. But still, a girl wants
some variety in her outfit, right?
A Dutch friend Annemiek, who is working in a highend fashion store, feels that boots provide more possibilities when getting dressed. “You can wear them
underneath your trousers for extra warmth, over a
skinny jeans or leggings for a touch of elegance. A
pair of boots can give summer skirts a longer life
cycle as they protect against the first chilly days. Even
the most dull office outfit is immediately spiced up
with matching boots. Compared to a pair of shoes,
boots add creativity to your wardrobe.”
One of the last days of September and I am queuing
at the ATM machine. There is this beautiful woman
standing in front of me. She looks absolutely stunning. Sexy and self-assured. She is wearing navy blue
leggings with a matching short dress. Her dark
brown hair is long and shiny and she’s wearing
expensive sunglasses. Even though the sun is shining
and it’s at least 25°C, she is wearing an elegant pair
of brown, leather, high-heeled boots. I simply can’t
resist asking her about her choice of footwear.
“Actually”, she says, “this is my home wear suit. I just
ran out the door because I needed to get some cash.
Since I didn’t feel like changing, I grabbed my boots
to upgrade my outfit.” In terms of style, she definitely
made the right decision. With slippers instead of
these elegant boots, her outfit would have looked
like, well, home wear. I can’t help but wonder if her
feet aren’t feeling a little too warm. I dare to raise
the matter. She gives me this knowing smile.
“These are summer boots with a very thin lining.
If you wear them with a cotton sock you’ll be fine.”
Having just met my new style icon, I run home
and start rummaging through my winter gear to
find my boots. As they look a bit rundown, I decide
to take them to the shoe repairman down the street.
Entering the shop, I notice that half of the racks are
filled with boots in all sorts and varieties. Theo
Waslander, expert in the field, feels that Dutch
women have a very solid and practical nature.
Boots seem to meet their demands both in style
as in comfort.
“I love wearing boots, I don’t need
to think about what colour socks to
wear anymore”
Probably, local transport habits also have a lot to do
with it. In my opinion, Dutch mums, mostly cycling
with one toddler in front and one behind them, are
all heroes. I already have difficulties riding my bike
with one child. When steering the bigger part of your
family through rush hour on a bike (or bakfiets), I can
imagine that high heels simply won’t do the job.
Home again and happy with my newly mended
boots, I’m tidying up the house. My husband joins
me in the living room, turns back and forth a little bit
and then says: “Honey, I’m sorry to put it so bluntly,
but I have absolutely no idea what I could get you for
your birthday next week. Is there something in particular you would like?” Well… Let’s see… Black or
brown? Leather or suede? High heels or flat? So many
options, such a difficult choice! «
PHOTO:
BOOTY SHAPERS
More
information
Love your boots and
don’t forget to care for
them during the winter.
Keep them clean and
repaired and they will be
there for you every year.
Where to buy these ‘I love
my boots’ booty shapers:
www.bootyshapers.com
Ignore your health and it will go away
CH I ROPRAC TIC C ARE
Why
Our experienced chiropractors are trained to examine you for distortions or misalignments in your spine that can irritate your nervous system. They can choose from
a range of chiropractic techniques freeing you from these unhealthy distortions.
Whom
The short answer is: for “everybody with a body”, ranging from babies to the elderly.
When
Not just for acute pain, but also for early pain. Early pain is often so mild that most
people ignore it altogether. Prompt chiropractic attention can help prevent low back
pain, hernia, sciatica, neck pain, headaches etc.
PRAKTIJK
C H I R O P R A C T I E
STEGEMAN
Where
At the well established Stegeman Chiropractic Clinic, where we have been treating
well over 17.000 people since 1987, you will find our four dedicated chiropractors,
all trained in the UK or USA.
Wow!
If you bring this article to our clinic, you will receive a Euro 26,- discount on your first
visit.
Praktijk Chiropractie Stegeman: Zwolsestraat 197 2587 VB Den Haag 070 3502638 [email protected]
DEF 4 DRUKWERK FEL GROEN advertentie.indd 1
www.chiropractie-stegeman.nl
13-7-2011 14:16:25
Education - Partner feature
It’s all in
the mind
In education, we are often confronted with
many varied challenges. One challenge we
are very happy to face, and indeed embrace,
is the way that brain research is impacting on
our profession.
Graeme Scott
Principal of Primary
School – International
School of The Hague
The International
School of The Hague
Wijndaelerduin 1
2554 BX Den Haag
Secondary School
+31 (0) 703281450
Primary School
+31 (0) 703384567
ish.admissions@
ishthehague.nl
www.ishthehague.nl
Ten years ago, almost to the day, I sat in a training
course in the UK learning how to remove asbestos
from my school. In contrast, last week, I was working with one of the world’s top neuroscientists,
examining how brain research can impact on student
learning. What used to be the domain of the medical
profession is now very much in our territory too.
Here at The International School of The Hague (ISH)
we have invested a great deal of time and energy into
current and corroborated research into how children’s brains function. I say “corroborated” because
there is a significant portion of relatively recent neuroscience that has already been disproven or is currently being seriously questioned. However, due to
much less invasive and more accurate brain imaging
techniques, we now have serious evidence that we
need to consider in terms of what and how we teach
in our classrooms.
It may come as quite a surprise that seventy five per
cent of what we know about the brain today, we
thought differently about 50 years ago. However,
we should not feel too pleased with ourselves,
because what we know about the brain is hugely
outweighed by what we don’t know. Nature or nur-
ture is a common debate, but we now know that children’s experiences shape their biology just as much
as biology shapes children’s development. As the
American psychologist and educator, Dr. Jo Ann
Deak puts it, “every interaction a child has during the
course of a day influences the adult that child will
become.” Dr. Deak recently spoke to staff and parents at ISH and reinforced the idea that we are no
longer teachers, we are also neurosculptors - we have
a significant and lasting impact on children’s brains.
Can there possibly be a greater responsibility?
The brain is a highly efficient organ, and it seeks to
make more robust those connections that are used
often. For example, if we teach children in physical
education how to pass a football then consolidate
and reinforce this skill over a period of days, months
and years, the brain strengthens these connections
and the skill becomes more developed – reminding
us of the importance of practise. However, the brain
is also good at pruning, and connections that are
made but not used or practiced may be deemed
unimportant by the brain and discarded. We also
know that some of the most profound learning happens when the emotional centres of the brain are
activated. When we make an emotional connection
with a concept, this can activate different parts of the
brain and result in deeper learning.
Our teachers now need to know a lot of ‘brain basics’
and to understand how they relate to children’s
behaviour. Only when we know, can we adapt and
adjust our classrooms and teaching so that we maximize the learning opportunities for our children.
Thankfully, as ISH is housed in a beautiful new building, I can spend time on this as I don’t have asbestos
to remove! «
Graeme Scott
Principal of Primary School – International School of
The Hague
PHOTOS: VIKAS KOHLI (INDIAN DIASPORA CONFERENCE 2011 THE HAGUE)
Community
Connecting Indian expats
BY RUBINA ANIS
To provide and nurture is an intrinsic
psychological value to every normal human
being. Everyone has a natural desire to
contribute to the community they live in.
Maximising potential
The Indians living in the Netherlands have
been contributing to the growth and development of the Dutch community to their
best of their ability in many fields. This
diverse community has also contributed
tremendously to economic growth in
India. This applies to people who are gainfully employed and have their social networks in place. However, there is a part of
the Indian community whose potential is
not maximized or explored because they
lack the networking opportunities that
connect them with business and social
organisations, not only in the Netherlands
but also in India. These are the equally talented and skilled spouses/ partners of
knowledge migrants. These people, generally women, often step down professionally as they find it extremely hard to find
employment that gives them the opportunity and flexibility to work in their own language and within the frame work of their
cultural values. More Indian accompanied
spouses will work or contribute to the
community they live in if they have access
to an organisation that not only connects
them to Dutch organisations, but also provides comfort and flexibility in language
and cultural values.
The Netherlands has a population of
approximately seventeen million people.
Within this population there are two hundred thousand people of Indian origin
(PIO). These are mainly Surinamese
Hindustani people. There are another
twenty thousand people of Indian origin
who are called NRIs (Non Resident
Indians). Among the NRI’s are five thousand knowledge migrants who provide
their expertise to the Dutch community in
various fields. These fields are information, technology, engineering, finance,
research, education and the hospitality
business. The Indian expat community is
also very dynamic and mobile and often
people live here for short periods but long
enough to put a gap in the non-working
spouses’ CV. This also acts as a demotivating factor for accompanied spouses to
find and start work in the Netherlands.
The accompanied spouses are well qualified and can seek voluntary or paid work
if they are connected to organisations that
have same cultural values as their own.
Information and support does exist and
there are a number of Indian organisations
in the Netherlands for the Indian
“There is a part of the Indian
community whose potential
is not maximised”
and professional life. Their website is
www.indianexpatsociety.org.
• Netherlands India Association is one of
the oldest associations in the
Netherlands and has contributed to the
growth of Indian art in Dutch culture
and vice versa. People who are interested
in the field of art, culture and literature
will find membership of this organisation very useful. The web link is
www.netherlands-india.nu .
• Foundation for Critical Choices for India
is an organisation that will be useful for
people who are looking to contribute in
www.gopio.net for more international
events of the PIO all over the world.
• Netherlands India Chamber of
Commerce and Trade is a nonprofit voluntary organisation in the Netherlands.
People who are interested in knowing
more about matters related to business
and commerce will find this organisation
very interesting. It’s also a good way to
keep updated about the trade policies
between India and the Netherlands. Visit
www.nicct.nl for complete information.
• India Business Chamber of Commerce
is another voluntary organisation that
with the Indian diaspora
Diasporas. These organisations are not
only a good place to touch base with the
latest developments in India and Indian
cultural values, but also a great way to
get connected with resources and learn
the values of their adopted Dutch community. Here, the following organisations can
help connect the Indian Expat spouses/
partners to resources which will be useful
in finding or creating paid or voluntary
work opportunity for themselves.
Accessing networks
• Indian Expat Society is a nonprofit
organisation that brings together various
professionals and people from all walks
of life to enhance and improve personal
research and development in India. The
foundation is a non-profit voluntary
organisation initiating and implementing long term projects and research in
various issues relevant to India. For more
information log on to www.fcci.nl.
• Global Organisation for people of Indian
origin, Netherlands chapter is an organisation where resources from people of
Indian origin are pooled together for
personal and professional growth.
It’s an organisation where people can
touch base with latest news in India in
business, culture and politics. Not only
that, people can voice their opinions in
the matters concerning India. The web
link is www.gopioholland.nl. Also visit
brings together Indian businessmen in
one platform from diverse business and
trade fields. The organisation can be
very useful in providing insights in
matters of starting business and new
trends in the field of trade and commerce
in the Netherlands. Get in touch with
www.indiabussinesschamber.com.
And finally, people who are interested in
social, cultural, religious and spiritual
activity in The Hague region can also get
in touch with Stichting Federatie EEKTA.
It’s a faith-based organisation for activities
related to cultural development and diversity for people of Indian origin. «
Society
Mediation is a form of
ADR (Alternative, or
better yet, Appropriate
Moderating
Dispute Resolution).
I’d rather call it EDR
(an Effective Dispute
Resolution).
BY KITTY DUELL
As an established approach to conflict
resolution, one would think that the
Netherlands, where polderen - the Dutch
consensus model - was invented, would
take a lead role in this. Well, yes and no.
In this small country we have thousands
of mediators, but as in other countries
around the world just a small group actually sees it as his or her profession.
What separates mediation from
other conflict management
approaches?
Mediation is the only process that actually
leaves the decision making to the clients.
In whatever situation, the mediator facilitates the communication between stakeholders in a rather informal process in
order to bring them to an informed decision: a solution, an agreement to disagree
or in the worst case, clarity to what the next
step should be: court, arbitration, binding
decision, etc.
Mind you, mediation is not for the fainthearted. During the mediation one cannot
hide behind the lawyer or other advisors,
you will have to take responsibility for the
choices you make. On the other hand,
agreements reached in mediation have the
highest rate of execution, mainly because
people have committed themselves to the
outcome.
Two important rules apply in the mediation. Firstly, the confidentiality that governs all participants; all new information
acquired in the mediation process cannot
be used in court should the mediation fail
to come to an agreement. Secondly, stake-
holders must commit to the process voluntarily, no one can be coerced into participating. At any moment you are allowed to
walk away from the mediation and try to
find another way of resolving the issue.
How to find the right mediator
How do you distinguish the right mediator
for you? First of all, consider the following:
the title ‘mediator’ is not protected.
Everyone can put a sign on the door and
mediation
Instituut or International Mediation
Institute. These mediators work under specific rules and regulations and are bound
by a code of conduct, so you’ll be protected
to a certain extent by a complaints scheme.
In the Netherlands there is even ‘mediation
aid’ (toevoeging) for people who have an
income that would otherwise prohibit
them from this form of service. Of the
certified mediators just a percentage are
accredited to these kinds of mediations
and/or ‘Court’ connected/ordered mediations. Yes, a judge might refer you to a
mediator or you or your lawyer could ask,
in addition to a court proceeding, for a
mediator.
From theory to practice
claim to be a mediator. If you want a ‘certified mediator’ look for one in the official
registries e.g.: Nederlands Mediation
“M ediation works
because people
commit themselves
to the outcome”
In my 11 years’ experience as a mediator a
range of conflicts have been and still are
brought to my meeting room: from B2B/
contract topics, boardroom/partnership
issues and workplace/employment disputes, to family issues ranging from (cross
border) marital, divorce, parenting plans,
to contest of will, or in the worst case:
parental child abduction and other criminal matters such as sexual harassment
and bullying.
In my experience, my non-legal background has a great advantage. I can work
with my clients and refer them for the legal
aspects to a lawyer(s) or ‘Het Juridisch Loket’,
as I do with tax and other financial issues
to experts in the field, without falling
into the trap of leading decision making
in any way. Also I’m open to any outcome,
which is shown by the mediation I facilitated for a married couple who came to
me for a divorce. During the meeting I discovered that most of the pain that they
inflicted towards each other came from the
financial problems they were experiencing.
Both were blaming the other for the situation they found themselves in. With the
right questions from me, and gaining
insight through their own answers they
were ready to work on the real problems
while staying married.
Of course this is not possible in every case.
In some situations clients will be better off
with a separation of ways. When there are
children involved I make sure that their
wellbeing is protected as much as possible.
In cross border issues I have to take into
account that solutions are enforceable in
a different jurisdiction: for businesses, in
the countries where the organisations are
based and in family cases in the countries
of habitual residence of the children and
either parent, plus where necessary, also
in the countries where grandparents or
extended family reside. «
“My wish remains for clients, and for
readers like you: a conflict free future.”
More information
Kitty Duell, MAS in International Mediation
06 54 787464
[email protected]
www.mediationkit.com
Lifestyle
Discovering
Dutch wines
Ask people in the Netherlands what they think
about locally produced wines and you are
likely to get a puzzled look or simple denial.
“Impossible,” said one Dutch colleague,
“it’s not sunny enough to grow grapes here!”
Locals and visitors alike are often
into new, hybrid cultivars that ripened
quickly and were well suited to the Dutch
pesticide-free agricultural requirements.
The second was global warming. Due to
a rise in annual temperatures, these new
frost-resistant cultivars can now be grown
as far north as Denmark. These developments led to a dramatic growth in Dutch
viticulture.
unaware of the fact that a growing
number of wine farmers
are making some very
quaffable wines right
on their doorstep.
BY LILY-ANNE STROOBACH
Figures released recently set the number of
Dutch vineyards at 178. They cover a total
of 190 hectares and produce about 800,000
bottles annually. The vineyards are relatively small and the more commercial ones
average 1.8 hectares in size. There are wine
farms in all 12 provinces of the
Netherlands. Even the tiny island of Texel
has a vineyard that produces wine.
Although the Netherlands has no real wine
growing tradition, vines were planted here
by the Romans some 2000 years ago. The
first twentieth century pioneers only
started planting vines again for wine making some 30 years ago in the province of
Limburg. They used traditional cultivars
such as Riesling, Pinot and Auxerrois
which were suitable for the warmer climate
of Limburg, but did not do well in the rest
of the country.
In the last decade, two developments have
made it possible to grow vines almost
anywhere in the country where the soil is
suitable. The first was the research done
“Cellar masters are
positive about this
year’s vintage”
Today, the biggest concentration of wine
farms in the Netherlands is in the
‘Achterhoek’ – the ‘backyard’ of this country in the province of Gelderland. There are
more than 20 producers in this area and
about half of these belong to the Verenigde
Achterhoekse Wijnbouwers – a cooperative
that pools the resources of these farmers
and professional wine makers in order to
get the most out of their harvest.
I recently travelled to Voerden at the heart
of this wine growing region to find out
more about these wines. Here I was met
by Maarten Smit, local wine expert and
self-appointed ‘ambassador’ for the
‘Achterhoekse’ wines. He showed me the
different cultivars; the golden Solaris, the
greener Johanniter, the deep red Rondo
and Regent grapes that were new to me.
We tasted their sun-warmed berries while
Maarten explained that twelve different
cultivars were grown here to produce 11
different wines. All the ‘Achterhoekse’
wines are produced biologically. Farming
practices are environmentally friendly and
the grapes are picked by hand. I chatted
to some of the farmers who told me that
most of them had been rearing livestock
no less than 7 years ago. “The farms are
now so much greener, cleaner and fragrant!” a former pig farmer commented
with a satisfied grin.
Following good harvests between 2007
and 2009, the wet summer last year dealt
the wine farmers a heavy blow. Although
expectations were low again for this year,
the recent harvest was surprisingly good
and cellar masters are positive about this
year’s vintage.
Netherlands is in its infancy and the wines
are crying out for attention and acceptance.
Surprise yourself and “go Dutch” the next
time you buy a bottle of wine! «
Not all the wines produced are readily
available, but some of the major outlets
stock the more popular ones. My personal
advice would be for you to travel to the
vineyards themselves to sample the wines
on location. The wine industry in the
www.dutchbuzz.nl
Featured vineyards:
www.achterhoeksewijnen.nl
www.wijndomeinbesselinkschans.nl
PHOTO: ACHTERHOEKS BUREAU VOOR TOERISME
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Travel
Vintage Haarlem
Haarlem is a small Dutch city brimming with
history, subtle charm and style. It is one of the
options to entertain and amuse, whether your interests are art and culture, shopping or trying out the
variety of gezellige cafés and restaurants.
oldest cities in Holland and also considered one
of the most beautiful.
BY MONIQUE RUBIN
Located just 20 kms west of Amsterdam, Haarlem
makes for an easy and convenient day trip. Take the
train into the Haarlem station - the only station in
Holland built in the Art Nouveau style – and make
your way to the city centre, which offers a variety of
History and culture
As you arrive in Haarlem, one of the first things you
notice about the skyline is the windmill. De Adriaan
plays prominently in Haarlem’s history and when the
windmill was built in 1779, De Adriaan produced
cement and paint. By the time it was sold in 1803, it
had become a tobacco mill. Sadly, a fire destroyed the
windmill in 1932, but in 2002, exactly 70 years later,
De Adriaan was rebuilt and reopened to the public.
Dating from 1784, the Teyler Museum is the oldest
museum in the Netherlands. The museum began
as the private collection of wealthy cloth merchant
and banker, Pieter Teyler van der Hulst and is famous
for its extensive collection of prints and drawings
from many of the old masters’ such as Michelangelo
and Rembrandt, as well as for its eclectic collection
of fossils, minerals, scientific instruments, medals
and coins. The museum is currently presenting
an exhibition in co-operation with the Louvre of
works of the famous French landscape painter,
Claude Lorrain.
Also try to visit the Corrie Ten Boom Museum. While
Anne Frank famously told of hiding in an attic in
Amsterdam, Corrie Ten Boom writes about her
own experiences, in the book The Hiding Place. The
Ten Boom family, devout Christians and active
members of the Dutch resistance, risked their lives
to help Dutch Jews escape the Nazis by hiding them
in their home. The museum (Barteljorisstraat 19;
023-526-8481) has been refurbished to appear as it
did in the 1940’s and visitors can see the small room,
hidden behind a wall in Corrie’s bedroom, where
the Ten Boom family hid and saved the lives of 800
Jewish people.
PHOTO: ST. BAVOKERK HAARLEM
The city centre is where you will find Grote Markt,
the beating heart of Haarlem. It is on and around this
square that you will find a number of Haarlem’s
must-see sights, including one of the best-known
landmarks in the Netherlands, St. Bavokerk, or the
Grote Kerk. Inside this gothic style church you’ll find
one of the worlds’s great organs, used by many
famous composers, including Mendelssohn, Handel
and the then 10-year-old Mozart on his visit to the
Netherlands in 1766. In his epic novel, Moby Dick,
Herman Melville even compares the inside of a
whale’s mouth to “the great Haarlem organ”.
Today, there is a small museum that recounts the
windmill’s history. Though De Adriaan is fully functional and capable of grinding grain, it is mostly
visited on weekends and holidays by tourists.
“M eander through the city streets
and stop off at a cosy cafe to enjoy
a warming drink”
Another monument you will find in the Grote Markt
is Vleeshal. Built in 1603, the Vleeshal, or meat hall,
was the only place in Haarlem where meat was sold
from 1604 until the 18th century. Today the renaissance style building is home to two museums: the
Archeologisch Museum Haarlem and Museum De
Hallen, which is used as an exhibition gallery by the
Frans Hal Museum, which is located nearby in a 17th
century building formerly used as in alms house for
elderly men. The museum houses a large collection
of paintings from the Golden Age of Dutch art. In
addition to numerous works by Frans Hal, the
museum includes paintings by Jacob van Ruisdael,
Pieter Saenredam and other members of the Haarlem
painters’ guild, of which Hal was a member.
Shopping
Haarlem is a popular shopping destination and has
been voted the best shopping in the Netherlands several years running. The trendy shopping area also »
Exposition
The Claude Lorrain
exhibition runs until
20 January, 2012. For
more information go to
www.teylersmuseum.eu
Travel | Vintage Haarlem
Even though Haarlem’s shopping night is over,
shoppers still get the red carpet treatment in the
pedestrian-only city center, known as the rode loper
(red carpet), where exclusive home furnishings
shops, trendy fashion boutiques and shops selling
antiques and other curios are found.
The consciously fashionable Yugo (Kruisweg 72;
023-531-9876) stocks chunky, funky knits made of
organic cotton, hemp and soy. The trendy A Guy
Named Sue (Kruisweg 25; 023-532-6725) carries
collections by popular brands such as French
Connection and Laundry, as well as pieces from
the up and coming Dutch label Daite.
Haarlem offers many vintage stores for those who
like to wear their nostalgia on their sleeve.
Glamorous designer duds from the 30s to the present can be found at Second Change & Shazz
(Keizerstraat 7; 06-48524027), while Djunk
(Breestraat 13; 06-48333623) has a special mix of vintage and new clothing, bags, shoes and jewelry. Jutka
& Riska (Kruisstraat 15; 06-46615460) specializes in
vintage dresses from the seventies and eighties and
also has shops in Amsterdam and Antwerp. For men
looking for vintage clothing, Bradley’s Second Hand
Luxuries (99 sw small Heiligland; 023-5421262) has
a large selection and Cocky 16 Barre Street Feet; 0235319212) offers second-hand clothing for children.
Vintage travel style is also coming into vogue thanks
to the American television series Pan Am. Accessorise
your new look and make a pilgrimage to Pinth
Vintage Luggage (Old Groenmarkt 5; 023-5318800)
to find a variety of name brand travel accessories,
such as ship boxes, doctor bags and golf bags, many
from the 30s, 40s and 50s.
holds the Guinness World Record for the longest red
carpet. The 5149-meter red carpet was rolled out for
Haarlem Shopping Night 2011 leading consumers to
the myriad of shops in what is fast becoming Holland’s
shopping capital, and showing the world that this
small Dutch city is big when it comes to fashion.
Restaurants and cafes
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Not only does Haarlem offer fashion, culture and
history, it is a gastronomic heaven for foodies.
Whatever your culinary preference, it can be found in
Haarlem, and quite likely in or around the city centre.
Located near the Frans Hal museum, De Ark (Nieuw
Heiligland 3; 023-531-1078) is a favourite with the
locals and serves good, reasonably priced food. You
can enjoy a 3-course meal at this typical bruincafé for
approximately €20. The menu is simple, with the
usual offerings of salads, main dishes and a children’s menu (€7). De Ark also offers daily specials,
such as the stellar Portuguese stewed beef with potatoes, onions and mushrooms in a wine sauce (€7).
Dodici (Smedestraat 47; 023-5328686) is a small restaurant tucked in the corner of the Grote Markt that
offers delicious meals anytime of day. Locals drop in
for a cup of coffee and fresh croissants in the morning, girlfriends take a break from shopping to enjoy
a light lunch, five o’clock is cocktail hour, followed
a couple of hours later by a delightful dinner. Dodici
means twelve in Italian and the number is the main
concept of the restaurant: 12 wines, 12 meals, 12
tables and a whopping 12 euros for the most expensive meal on the menu. «
Info
Haarlem is a 15-minute
train ride from
Amsterdam, with trains
leaving Amsterdam’s
Central Station every
10 minutes and is a 30
minute train ride from
The Hague, with trains
leaving every 20 minutes. For schedules and
ticket information go to
www.ns.nl.
For more information
on Haarlem and the
city’s museums and
attractions visit
www.haarlemmarketing.nl
Books
Winter
reading
Light the fire, curl up in a chair and enjoy book
recommendations from our ACCESS volunteers.
Any Human Heart
by William Boyd, ISBN 0-241-14177
Through a collection of journals, we are
invited into the life of Logan Mountstuart.
As he crosses the globe encountering characters both real and fictional, we get an
insight into key events of the twentieth
century. The book is thoroughly gripping
and entertaining, but also moving and
heart-warming. Boyd writes with compassion and tenderness in his understandings of the human journey, the
search for happiness and the price we pay along the way. When I read it
again recently I enjoyed it as much as the first time.
I Dreamed of Africa
by Kuki Gallmann, ISBN: 0140287442
This is the memoir of Italian Kuki Gallmann,
who with her fiancé established a 90,000 acre
ranch in Kenya during the 1970’s. When tragedy
struck, Kuki found herself pregnant and alone
with her young son. As you read her story you
begin to understand the isolation she felt in a
country with different customs and little possibility of keeping in touch with the outside
world. If you like to read about life in foreign countries with different cultures and traditions, this book is worth reading.
Wuthering
Heights
by Emily Bronte,
ISBN 978-1846146091
Immerse yourself in the
wild setting of the
Yorkshire Moors.
Catherine Earnshaw’s fate is sealed with the arrival
of orphan, Heathcliff. As they grow older their all
consuming love dramatically affects the lives of
those around them, as jealousy and a desire for
revenge drive the plot of a novel you won’t want
to put down. An acclaimed new film version by
director Andrea Arnold will be released in the
Netherlands in February.
The Busy Life of
Ernestine Buckmeister
by Linda Ravin Lodding,
ISBN 978-0-979974-69-4
In her new book, The Busy Life of Ernestine Buckmeister,
Netherlands-based author, Linda Lodding gives us
a glimpse into Ernestine’s world of rigid schedules,
where afterschool time is spent exclusively on taking more classes. What Ernestine really longs to do
is play in the park with her friends. This book,
which reminds
us that a happy
life is a balanced life, is
a delightful
read that is
enhanced by a
cast of colourful characters
and humorous
illustrations by
Suzanne Beaky.
Food
The Dutch are increasingly
embracing the traditional
British high tea. There is
no shortage of cafes,
tearooms and restaurants
in the Netherlands that
serve this naughty but
nice afternoon pastime,
but there are some that
stand out because of their
unconventional setting.
BY KARIN SLINGENBERG
Moored in Rotterdam harbour, the
‘SS Rotterdam’ is a cruise ship from the
1950s which has been elegantly refurbished in original 50s décor. Vintage artdeco lamps add to the ambiance, as do
colourful marine themed tapestries. The
authenticity of the ship transports you to a
bygone age as you find yourself awaiting
departure, though sadly the SS Rotterdam
will never sail again.
To launch an SS Rotterdam high tea there
are two options available; take the ‘Royal’
high tea which includes a glass of champagne and hors d’oevres or head straight
for a pot of personally selected loose-leaf
tea with names such as ‘Green Magic’
and ‘Festa Mandorla’. For the traditional
English tea drinker, the amounts in the
teabags do not make for strong brews but
the service is amenable and efficient.
PHOTO: HANDBAG MUSEUM
The SS Rotterdam
Boats, bags
and high tea
“D ainty treats served in elegant settings
make tea a special occasion”
The sweet and savoury goodies arrive on
traditional cake stands and give a good
first impression of general scrumptiousness. The nutritious counterpart consists
of a mixture of delicately sized mini mackerel rolls, salmon brioche slices, a chicken
and cheese club sandwich and goat’s
cheese rolls. The highlight is the chicken
club, a hint of truffle oil blends beautifully
with the freshly flavoured chicken, topped
off with the creaminess of the mayonnaise
dressing; a treat for the taste buds.
The sweet treats comprise scones, a bitesized cheese cake sponge, lemon meringue
puddings, chewy butter cookies and chocolates to top it off. The scones are a little
disappointing as they had not quite risen
and appear more like raisin biscuits.
However, the lemon meringue pudding
does not disappoint, the tanginess of the
lemon curd complements the creamy texture, whilst the Dutch butter cookies’
sticky chewiness would make a dentist
cringe. The main ingredient in
the spongy cheesecake is
cream, adding more
inches to your
waistline than
sensations to the
taste buds.
As a special occasion,
the price you pay for high tea on the
SS Rotterdam is well worth it as the savoury
delights star alongside the 50s glamour
of the cruise ship’s Club Room. For more
information: www.ssrotterdam.nl
‘Hendrikje’ Museum of Bags and
Purses
Located on the ‘Herengracht’ in
Amsterdam, the Museum of Bags and
Purses is our next location. It claims the
honour of being the only bag museum
in Europe and the largest of its kind in
theworld.
The high tea is served in a stylish period
room dating back to the late 1600s. The
wooden floors, large canal-view windows
draped in gold velvet and the elaborate
painted ceilings create an authentic period
ambiance.
The service is friendly and accommodating, before you know it you are presented
with a teapot per person and a wide ranging choice of Twinings tea bags. A traditional British cake stand displays a modest
collection of dainty treats; scones, moussefilled ‘Raspberry Jewels’, Madeleines, iced
almond biscuits and two dark truffle chocolates. Triangular smoked salmon and egg
and rocket sandwiches grace a separate
plate and in the background the only music
is the sound of tinkling tea cups and murmuring voices.
At first glance the spread appears meager.
The savoury selection consists of just two
sandwiches per person. However, at the
end of the high tea a pleasant surprise
comes in the form of two ham and cheese
tartlets and cheese straws fresh from the
oven. The rocket in the egg offers a crisp
crunchiness, offsetting the creamy filling
and the salmon is light and fresh.
The white bread is slightly doughy but the
fullness of flavour compensates. The highlight is the scone – warm, tasting as a
scone should, light, not too sweet with an
authentic scone flavour. On the other hand,
the mousse-filling of the ‘Raspberry Jewel’
is a little too sweet – no sparing of calories
there.
After tea take a walk around the museum.
The combination of remarkable bags,
classy interior and canal views offer good
value for money and make for a sedate winter’s afternoon.
The unconventional setting of both venues
enhances the experience of taking tea.
Often served with a Dutch twist, they do
their best to provide the sweet-toothed
with a tasty sugary fix. Both high teas supply some wholesome fare in the form of
savoury bites - needed to relieve some of
that niggling guilt. «
For more
information:
‘Hendrikje’ Museum of
Bags and Purses
www.tassenmuseum.nl
More high tea locations:
De Bakkerswinkel
Den Haag, Zoetermeer,
Utrecht, Amsterdam
www.debakkerswinkel.nl
Hotel New York
Rotterdam
www.hotelnewyork.nl
Hooistraat
Den Haag
www.hooistraat.nl
access | winter | 37
Law - Partner feature
Is your inheritance
protected from a divorce?
There is no global consensus on
how to divide the assets of
divorcing couples. In most
countries you do not need prenups
or an exclusion clause in the
Carla van Waes
Family Law Specialist
testator’s will to be solely entitled
to the assets or money you inherit.
In the Netherlands, however,
things are different and expats
could be in for a big surprise when
they discover that they have to
share their inheritances with their
former spouse.
Marjet van YperenGroenleer
Family Law Specialist
GMW Advocaten
Tel: 070 3615048
[email protected]
[email protected]
www.gmw.nl/en
Couples married without any prenuptial agreement
are automatically married under the regime of general community of property. This means that all
property and debts are equally shared between the
spouses, including assets obtained previous to the
marriage and inheritances and gifts that are not
specifically covered by an exemption clause. In doing
so, the Netherlands stands truly unique in the world
as most countries have matrimonial regimes limiting
the jointly owned property to all that was acquired
during the marriage. So, what happens if a couple is married in community of property, the husband inherited a sum of
money and they decide to divorce?
No exclusion clause in the testator’s will
If there is no exclusion clause in the testator’s will,
the inheritance falls within the community and the
wife will be entitled to half of it. As you can imagine,
the husband might find the situation unreasonable,
especially when he is, for instance, not entitled to
the inheritances of the wife that are covered by an
exclusion clause.
Exclusion Clause in the testator’s will
If there is an exclusion clause in the will, the wife is
not entitled to a share of the inheritance. No problems here, you’d think. But what if the inheritance
is (partly) spent?
In case the inheritance or part of it is used to purchase
the matrimonial house, the husband will get a refund
for that particular amount. And if the property has
increased considerably in value, the husband might,
as from January 1, 2012 even be entitled to the
increased value of the property. Now suppose that
the husband in our case used his inheritance for
house hold costs or financed a nice holiday. In that
case the wife could argue that his inheritance is
exhausted; the husband wanted to spend his money
the way he did and, therefore, is not entitled to restitution. In most cases, however, the judge does not
accept this argument! Even if the inheritance is
exhausted and the husband benefitted from it, he
could claim the amount of his inheritance.
These examples show that you should be fully aware
of your situation to prevent unpleasant surprises.
You may even want to warn your parents to insert an
exclusion clause in their will, at least for the time you
are living in the Netherlands. «
Health and Fitness
Don’t
hibernate
this winter,
get moving!
During winter do you have
the feeling of being trapped
at home, hibernating while
waiting for the spring season?
Then let me introduce you
to three sports activities that
will help you to keep fit while
having fun too.
BY SONIA NDING
Feel the sensuality of belly dance
You have probably heard about belly dance
or belly dancing, an Arabic dance also
called raqs sharqi. It’s a great way to tone
your body while dancing to the exotic
rhythms of Arabic music. I recently met
Zahara Zahara, a professional Venezuelan
dance teacher and choreographer in The
Hague. She arrived in the Netherlands two
years ago to perform and teach belly dance
to kids and adults of all ages. From a very
early age she learnt ballet and then turned
to Arabic culture and dance. Throughout
her career, she has danced with many talented choreographers including those who
have worked with singer, Shakira.
During a one hour session Zahara took us
through the movements. “We first stretch
our body and work on the breathing,” she
said. “ Then we focus on the hands, arms
and shoulders before moving the hips,
because at the end you will have to move
them together.” We learn and practise
some specific movements and positions.
For comfort we dance in bare feet, wearing
a top and pants or a skirt, so that Zahara
can easily correct our movements. »
Health and Fitness | Don’t hibernate this winter, get moving!
Keep the summer vibes and try
Zumba!
Zumba® is a Latin-inspired dance-fitness
programme, created by the Colombian
dancer and choreographer Alberto ‘Beto’
Perez in the 1990s. Since 2001, the Zumba
programme - with the popular Zumba
Fitness - has grown to become a worldwide
dance-fitness programme. After arriving
in the Netherlands early in 2009 it proved
to be a huge hit. I tried Zumba sessions at
the sport club, In-Tension located in
Scheveningen. Maya, my fitness instructor,
is from Israel and arrived in the
Netherlands almost nine years ago. A few
months after the introduction of Zumba to
the Netherlands, she became a Zumba
teacher.
Did
.
now..
you k more
n
We bur
the
during
calories o keep
winter t .
warm
Start working out:
Information on Belly dance:
Zahara Zahara’s website with
videos and contact details:
www.zahara-zahara.com
Official Zumba website, including where to find classes in
your city (dance studios, fitness clubs): www.zumba.com
In-Tension Club in
Scheveningen:
www.in-tension.nl
Qi Kwan Do website and
contact details for Helen:
www.qikwando.nl
I didn’t expect such a complete sport.
“It involves the physical and spiritual,”
she explained. “Physically, you strengthen
your whole body from legs, back to
hands”. She also stressed that “you work
on your concentration which makes you
more aware of your body. You can feel
inside and outside yourself that you are
beautiful.”
I enjoyed the trial lesson. It was fun - I
raised my heart rate and burnt calories.
I even discovered some unexpected muscles! If you feel like dancing to beautiful
music and toning your body at the same
time, then give belly dancing a try.
“Zumba incorporates aerobic elements
such as squats, and different kinds of
music and dance styles, mostly Latin
dance like salsa and world music such
as hip-hop or African dance,” she
explained. “In a one hour-session of
Zumba, as an instructor and while playing a track, you see how people react, they
forget about the time, their look, and about
the fact they are sweating, burning calories
and working out. It is all about music,
moving, dancing and having fun: a pure
moment of enjoyment. And at the end, they
can see results.”
Zumba is for everyone, every age and you
do not need to be a dancer at all. If you
have any health issues, you can adjust to
the class as soon as you let the instructor
know about it. I enjoyed the Zumba class,
you really have fun and you forget any worries. You dance on summer vibes as if you
were in a discotheque on holiday. If you
want to give it a try don’t hesitate - become
addicted to Zumba!’
“Enjoy the health
benefits of Qi Kwan
Do, which improves
co-ordination and
concentration”
Defend yourself, improve coordination and energy: Qi Kwan Do
I met Helen Maynard-Hill, an English Qi
Kwan Do teacher in Amsterdam. She
arrived in the Netherlands four years ago,
having first discovered Qi Kwan Do in
London. “As a petite young woman, I
wanted to have the self-confidence to be
able to face an attacker and to look after
myself. I am not a violent person, but an
independent one. Qi Kwan Do gave me the
skills, assurance and confidence to travel
around at any time of the day by myself,”
she explained. “Originally, I had no intention of teaching it, but as I progressed
through the belts and got more confident,
I saw that I could help others.”
What can you expect in a Qi Kwan Do
class? We all wear trainers, a T-shirt and
tracksuit bottoms - or specific suits if you
progress through the belts. After the warm
up, we go through different techniques
PHOTO: SONIA NDING
Qi Kwan Do is a self-defence art, originating in Korea and influenced by many other
martial arts such as Tae Kwon Do and Kick
Boxing. It’s a combination of yoga, selfdefence and cardio vascular movements.
An Italian, Master Parisi, is the founder of
this sport and has regularly trained with
martial arts experts from around the world
to improve it.
of combat, depending on each belt level.
We practise with a partner and as a woman
on a self-defence course the environment
feels non-threatening. At the end of this
intensive lesson, I had worked out and
released stress by kicking and boxing– I
loved the ‘hammer’ kick. After the class I
definitely felt and looked better. This training suits children from four years old, and
adults of all fitness abilities. “In London
we had a lady of seventy five practising,”
mentioned Helen.
If you want to gain confidence, get fit in a
friendly atmosphere, and eventually reach
the Black Belt and beyond, try a Qi Kwan
Do lesson with Helen.
Belly dance, Zumba and Qi Kwan Do are
fun sport activities for anyone, any age.
You have the opportunity to meet new people – well appreciated when new in town to burn extra calories and get fit. They are
all well worth trying, so get moving, stay
fit and warm up during this cold season! «
The BSN Language Centre
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Morning, afternoon and evening classes
Extensive range of Private Tuition
& In-company programmes
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Call Angela Duncan 070 350 4950
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Date / Time
Title
Details
Location
Cost Contact
Childbirth and baby courses
10, 17, 24, 31 January,
7, 14, 28 February,
6, 13, 20 March
Childbirth
Preparation
Course
Five two-hour sessions on Tuesday evenings
preparing couples for childbirth in the Netherlands and one postnatal reunion led by Truus
Gale, qualified midwife.
The British School
Amsterdam
€ 200
[email protected]
On demand
Childbirth
Preparation
– Individuals
Individual childbirth preparation session in the
Amsterdam region.
Home address
€ 150
Truus Gale
24 January - 13 March
20 March - 8 May
Prenatal Yoga
Complete preparation for labour through
breathing and relaxation techniques, yoga postures. Eight sessions on Tuesday evenings.
Bronovo Hospital
The Hague
€ 135
On demand
Prenatal
information
Two individual 1.5 hour sessions by qualified
physiotherapist covering breathing and birthing
positions helpful during 1st and 2nd stages of
labour
PhysioActive, Wijttenbachweg 39, 2341VX Oegstgeest
€ 120
12 December, 19 January,
20 February 20:00-22:00
Breastfeeding
This workshop offers you the opportunity to
explore breast feeding in more detail. Focus on
self reliance: what can you both do to get off to a
good start with your baby. Partners are encouraged to join.
Borstvoedingscentrum
Amsterdam, Wethouder
Frankeweg 44, 1098 LB
Amsterdam
14 December, 8 February,
11 April, 9 June, 8 August
10.00
Breastfeeding
Course
Information regarding most aspects of breastfeeding, pumping, and also the ‘kraamzorg’
(nursing care) lasting approximately 2 hours.
De Koningsveste, Gildeweg 12
Office 23, 2632 BA Nootdorp
Check website
Postnatal yoga/
pilates course 6
lessons, baby
welcome
Back in shape: serious exercise to regain
strength after childbirth in small groups and
good atmosphere. All exercises are clearly
explained; baby is welcome.
Praktijk De Morgenster,
Laan van Meerdervoort 352,
Den Haag
€ 75 for 6
lessons
(1 hour)
Wendy Koopman
Teach your child
to sleep
Learn the basics of how to help your child to
sleep I.5 hour session 0-4years
ABC Treehouse Amsterdam
€ 35 pp
€ 40
(couples)
Deirdre Budd
Buggyfit
Buggyfit is an exercise class in the fresh air with
your baby or toddler in their buggy.
Vondelpark, Amsterdam
On demand
Ongoing
www.childbirthclassgale.com
[email protected]
Joke van Roosendahl
070 326 2638
[email protected]
Vera Atlas
071 5153689
[email protected]
€25 per
person/
couple
€ 30
020 470 0321
www.borstvoedingscentrum.nl
[email protected]/
[email protected]
Sharron van der
Linden-Woodley
06-54720436
[email protected]
www.bbyzorg.nl
070-3623447
[email protected]
www.praktijkdemorgenster.nl
www.dream-Angus.com
Lorna
0646037774
[email protected]
www.wilsonsworkouts.nl
Creative workshops
Check website
Writing memoir
Experienced memoirist teaches you how to write
the real story ina compelling way, complete with
characters and a plot that works.
ABC Book Center, The Hague
€ 35
Niamh Ni Bhroin
06 2674 7504
www.thesingingwarrior.com
Continuous Enrollment for
Tuesdays & Thursdays
Suzuki Talent
Education Group
Music Lessons
Group Violin and Ukulele classes for all ages.
Private lessons available on request.
Uke Boutique, Linjbaansgracht 191, Amsterdam
1016 XA
€ 135 for
10
weekly or
bi-weekly
classes
Candace Bloom
Starts 1 February in
Amstedam & 2 February in
The Hague 19:00- 21:00
Digital
Photography
Basics
Get the most from your digital camera by learning and applying basic photography techniques;
aperture, shutter speed, exposure, and lighting
Amsterdam and The Hague
€ 220 for
6 session
course
Megan Alter
0627509760
[email protected]
www.all4strings.nl
www.meganalter.com
[email protected]
Courses
Date / Time
Title
Details
Location
Cost Contact
Personal development
Monthly 3-hour session
09.30-12.30
Please call or email for
the dates
Life & Career
Coaching:
Understanding
yourself
‘Use your values as a personal compass’. Clarify
what is important to you as a person and identify your values, needs and limits.
The Hague
6 December, 10 January,
24 January
Chech website
The Wine Series Wine Course
Sign up for one or more evenings on a range of
wine-related topics. Certified WSET tutor.
Includes tapas.
The Hague/Amsterdam
February/March 2012
POWERtalk
International
Short Course
Want to Wow an Audience! Join our six-module
course and learn the art of effective speaking
The Hague
Diversity Series Fireside Chats
Learn about multicultural and diversity issues
through discussions, workshops, and seminars
characterised by a warm and informal tone
The Hague
Mindfulness
Training
Eight sessions to help increase concentration
and focus, and enhances both energy levels and
quality of sleep. (Includes a workbook and a set
of CD’s)
Prinsengracht, Amsterdam
Career Coaching
Career Coaching for Expats and Repats. Moved
(back) to the Netherlands? Would you like to
explore your passion, values, career options and
get ready to use your skills & experiences again?
Amsterdam Zuid / Hilversum
Check website
Check website
Available upon request.
Please check website.
Schedule a free introductory call.
€ 176
Marie Dewulf
06 2440 1355 www.coach2moveon.com
€ 55-€70
Anne Nielsen de Bérard
06 2631 7807
www.anneswines.com
€ 180
Marlene Burns
06 2027 7765
[email protected]
www.powertalkeurope.com
Check
website
€550
Christine Fischer
06 3615 0875
www.fischersfiresidechats.com
Lot Heijke
020 6854592
[email protected]
www.presentmind.nl/en/
€79 per
session
Caroline van den Bogaard
06 15374371
www.cctransitions.com
[email protected]
Caring for yourself
28 January
12:30 - 16:30
ACCESS cancerlink art therapy
This workshop offers a creative way to get in
touch with your feelings and emotions and
reconnect with the basic urge to create. It is
designed mainly for cancer survivors, cancer
patients or anyone who has experienced cancer
in a loved one or close friend, but is open to anyone who wants to develop a deeper connection
with the inner self.
ACCESS, Zeestraat 100,
2518 AD The Hague
Check website for
upcoming events
Healthy Cooking
and dinners for
every need
Taught by certified culinary nutritionist and
designed to get rid of food related ailments
while cooking nutricious and delicious recipes.
Cucina Reale, Paardemarkt,
Delft Center
Starting every 6 weeks.
Six 2-hour sessions, only
5 participants per group.
See website
Weight Loss
Support Group
This support groups meets weekly. The aim is to
help you achieve your most healthy weight.
Learn from each other. Trained facilitator and
coach guiding the sessions.
The Hague & Haarlem
& Amsterdam
First Tuesday of every
Monthly Talk month. Booking is essenDiscussing the
tial. Please email for details issue of losing
Each month a different topic related to diets and
losing weight. eg: Why diets don’t work,The
Great Binge and how to stop it, Understanding
emotional hunger.
The Hague & Amsterdam
weight in a
healthy way
€ 20
Kathleen Sheridan
[email protected]
€ 60-100
Barbara Reale
06 4805 8793
www.royalempowerment.nl
€ 200
Jacinta Noonan
06 5127 6691
www.bigontheinside.com
€ 20
Jacinta Noonan
06 5127 6691
www.bigontheinside.com
Courses
Date / Time
Title
Details
Location
Cost Contact
Parent education seminars
7 December
19:30-21:45
Raising Bilingual
Children - Eowyn
Crisfield
How to raise multi-lingual children, with all the
theory, guidelines and practicalities.
Van Hogenhoucklaan 89
The Hague
€35 pp
€52.50
(couples)
Soul Robertson
30 January
19:30-21:45
Families and Food Food is the fuel for our kids, but also the fuel
- Katherine Fortier that ignites dinner-time fights. Learn new solu-
The Hague
€35pp
€52.50
(couples)
Soul Robertson
8 February
19:30-21:45
Teaching Problem Parents often step in too early to help kids dealSolving to Children ing with a new challenge. Stimulate self-discovery & autonomy.
- Alison Sutton
The Hague
€35pp
€52.50
(couples)
Soul Robertson
12 March
Mindful Parenting
- Iris Bouwman
Mindfulness is a contemplative practice where
we learn acceptance, see beauty in our children
& live in the present.
The Hague
€35pp
€52.50
(couples)
Soul Robertson
€ 79
€ 279
Extended
program
tions to apply at home.
06 4185 7773
www.passionateparenting.nl
06 4185 7773
06 4185 7773
06 4185 7773
Job seeking
Check website
Career
Explorations in
The Netherlands
Workshop: Discover your possibilities to work in Amsterdam Zuid / Hilversum
The Netherlands. Extended program includes
MBTI personality assessment, career assessment
plus two coaching sessions.
Career Coaching
and Job Hunting
Support
Full Career Counselling programme to help you
discover your profile, career ideas and explore
what may be holding you back. End result is an
action plan. Job Hunting support also available.
The Hague
The Hague: 7, 21 DecemCoaching Group
ber, 18 January, 1, 15,
for Expat Women
29 February 10:00 - 13:00/
18:00 - 21:00
Amsterdam: 14 December,
11, 25 January, 8, 22 February, 7 March 19:00-22:00
Six sessions plus an individual coaching session.
For women looking for their dream job and want
to discover their strengths.
The Hague/ Amsterdam
On demand
on
request
€ 399
06 1537 4371
www.cctransitions.com
[email protected]
Teresa Moynihan
06 2665 4708
www.moynihan-hr-consulting.com
Dorota Klop-Sowinska
06 1325 3655
www.dosocoaching.com
Languages
Amsterdam: Nine Thursdays starting 12 January
Hilversum: Nine Wednesdays starting 11 January
Dutch Language
and Culture
Courses
Learn Dutch NOW! Focusing on daily conversations, grammar, and Dutch culture, nine
classes. Small groups, lot of interaction and
speaking.
Amsterdam Zuid / Hilversum
On demand
Eight Things to
Know in Chinese
Four-hour intro to the Chinese language. Practise pronunciation, names, numbers and some
survival phrases. Private lessons also available.
The Hague
€ 265
06 1537 4371
www,cctransitions.com
[email protected]
€ 60
Wang-Ju Tsai
06 1217 3662
[email protected]
Volunteer profile
For versatility and dedication:
Meet Carina...
As Carina Hyllested takes on a key new
role for ACCESS, we think it’s only right
that she tell us more about herself and
why volunteering at ACCESS is so
important to her. The gist of it is: as
committed as she is to ACCESS, it
comes a close second to her dedication
to her husband (altogether now, ‘’aah’’).
INTERVIEW BY CATHY LEUNG
How did you come to be in the Netherlands?
We moved here in 2009, after a posting in Bahrain. Coming to
the Netherlands was almost like coming home - in comparison to the Middle East it’s relatively similar to Denmark
where we come from - so, having experienced an interesting
and very giving culture, we went from sand and sandals year
round back to boots and bicycles.
How has your expat working-life evolved?
When we left Copenhagen I put my studies on hold – I was
studying for a BA in Rhetoric. Even when I had the opportunity of a leisurely lifestyle in Bahrain, I wanted to stay active,
so I helped manage a health food cafe. Here in The Hague,
it has been harder to find paid employment with the current
jobs market. As I have limited work experience on my CV, a
recruitment agency suggested I get involved with ACCESS.
I now give a lot of time and energy to the charity, helping the
international community whilst developing my skills. Like all
new volunteers I started on the Help Desk and then moved on
to fundraising activities, recruiting small, local businesses
into our Associate scheme. However, I have found my real
interest lies in communications. Now, as Communications
Co-ordinator I lead a team of volunteers who work on our
website, magazine, internal newsletters and the ACCESS
Guides.
What about life outside of ACCESS?
My main activity is to spend quality time with my best friend,
my husband. His work is very full-on and so we make a big
thing of relaxing together at home. Unlike in Bahrain we
don’t really seek out the Danish community in the
Netherlands, we are much more of a two-some. At weekends
we like to explore the country, enjoy the neighbouring
Clingendael estate, pop down to Bruges for Belgian waffles
or northern France to cruise the cideries. Oostvoorne aan Zee,
a delta to the south of Rotterdam, provides my husband with
a great place to surf, whilst I surf the shore with the dog. «
gue
The city of The Ha
SS on
congratulates ACCE
RSARY!
it s 25TH ANNIVE
The Hague
International Centre
the first point of contact for new
residents and visitors to The Hague.
The Hague International Centre
Spui 70, Atrium City Hall The Hague, Opening hours – Mon-Fri 09.00-17.00 hours,
Contact Tel: +31 (0)70 353 5043, E-mail: [email protected], Website: www.thehague.com
Academy for Counselling and Coaching
English-language Diploma Course Counselling & Coaching
Exciting International classes with people from all over the world
You can gain valuable skills and experience that make a positive difference in your personal
and professional sphere. This course provides ample opportunity for useful learning and
development and can be a starting point for setting up your own practice.........
.
The training for Counselling and Coaching is given in The Hague - Amsterdam or training via
webcam with other students and your trainer: Live Online TeleClass Practise Experience
Expand your personal skills and professional repertoire and Register now for the new
English-language Diploma Course in Counselling & Coaching.
You can find all the information on our website:
www.counselling.nl
(mind: double ll)
r
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y
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€
,
0
99
WELCOME TO
THE NETHERLANDS
ABN AMRO: Expert in financial services for expats
ABN AMRO is literally and figuratively the bank for international customers. ABN AMRO is
the financial specialist for expatriates residing in the Netherlands. And just like our expat
customers, we aim to offer pioneering services complete with tailor-made products and skilled
consultants who speak their language.
You have a busy job, so we would like to make banking in the Netherlands as easy as possible.
We will gladly assist you with your financial needs, not just after you arrive, but from the
moment you know you are coming to the Netherlands. ABN AMRO is a trusted partner for
expats, diplomats, civil servants and international organisations.
For more information, please visit www.abnamro.nl/expats
Contact
Amsterdam: 020 - 34 34 002
The Hague: 070 - 37 52 050
Rotterdam: 010 - 40 25 888
e-mail: [email protected]

A Dutch flair for fashion

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