Saturday - The world is your ostrich

Everyone will be talking about the Rijskmuseum this weekend, so since that is covered we can pass to an even more entertaining prospect: a ostrich farm!

In Monnikewerve, a village in Zeeland on the border with Belgium, there's an ostrich farm offering, in no particular order: a discovery tour of the animals, a cafe' serving cakes made with ostrich's eggs, the sale of said eggs (1 ostrich egg = 25 hen's eggs) and meat, bags and purses made with ostrich skin and cosmetics from ostrich's fat.

In these times of meat frauds and horse sold as beef, ostrich seems to be like the new pig.

http://www.destruisvogel.nl

Friday - Spring blossoms in Amstelveen

This event was brought to my attention by my lovely colleague H. and I am sorry I did not get to write the post on day of the event.

It seems that the area of Amsterdam is home to the second largest Japanese community in Europe and in the year 2000, to celebrate the 400 years of commercial and cultural relationships between the 2 countries, the Japanese Womesn's club planted 400 cherry trees, 200 with Japanese women's names, the rest with Dutch names.

The Cherry Blossom Festival was held in Amstelveen on the 10 May, a tradition that has been going on for 13 years already.

Although the event has passed, with Spring giving its first late signs, the Bloesem Park (= Blossom Park) and its "lady trees" is still worth a visit.

http://www.iamsterdam.com/en-GB/living/events/cherry-blossom-festival

http://www.amsterdamsebos.nl/evenementen-0/cherry-blossom/

Thursday - The expat experience discussed in Den Haag

Despite the latest years' turn to a certain parochialism, The Netherlands has mostly been a country of people who travelled and welcomed travellers. The Expatriate Archive Centre was born five years ago to collect, archive and preserve the memories of those who went and those others who came.

To celebrate their anniversary they have organised for today at the National Library a symposium about the "Expatriate experience", with a focus on highly skilled migrants.

The programme includes several workshops and a lecture from writer and journalist Max de Bruijn.

http://www.xpatarchive.com/symposium/programme

Wednesday - Discover a secret garden

Hofjes are truly magical places, secluded by a tiny door from the hustle and the bustle of the city, oasis of calm and peacefulness.

The Hof van Wouw makes no exception.

I have been here a couple of times before, around Christmas, and I have been smitten by the place.

I therefore warmly recommend a visit in spring, now that the flowers are in bloom and the trees are pushing their first tentative buds.

The hof and its pretty gardens are open to the public today in the afternoon (and on the 17 April)

The entrance is just 1 euro.

http://www.hofvanwouw.nl/

Tuesday - Birds of a feather: birdwatching in NL

One thing I often notice when I bike to work, is the amount and diversity of birds, ducks, swans and other winged animals, hanging about in the parks, floating on canals and crossing the fietspad..

Just recently, in a polder next to the Queen's house, I saw some 20 storks sharing the grass with a flock of sheep while a crane looked on impassibly.

Bird enthusiasts and beginners alike can keep up to date with the bird situation here:

http://www.dutchbirding.nl/

While if you wish to join a bird watching excursion, check this out:

http://www.birdsnetherlands.nl/vogelexcursies.htm

Monday - Imagine: a Fantastic Film Festival

Although I had never heard about this festival before, it turns out it's in 29th edition: this just proves that there are so many things going on in this country that you cannot keep track with them all!

Mostly horror movie and thrillers it seems, with here and there a sprinkle of manga, science fiction and master-classes from celebrated directors.

It starts today and ends on the 17 April, in the stunning EYE or the Film Institute Netherlands, which by itself is worth the trip.

http://www.imaginefilmfestival.nl/

Sunday - Museum Weekend 2013

The post comes a bit late, as I just woke up after the second night at the Motel Mozaique...

Anyway, last chance today to take part in some of the events organised during this year's Museum Weekend.

The participating institutions are scattered all over the country and cater for all sorts of interests: Dutch Golden Age paintings (Den Haag), beer advertising (Breda), aboriginal art (Utrecht), glassmaking (Leerdam) and really much more (everywhere).

Just browse the searching engine by city and you will find plenty of them close to you.

And the best part come now: access to each is just 1 euro!

http://www.museumweekend.nl