Thursday - Schoonhoven's witch

Today, to do something suitably creepy, one can visit Schoonhoven, where the last alleged Dutch 'witch' was burned 1597..

Apart from this detailed, it's a quaint little town, known for it's gold- and silversmiths (there's a museum about it) and a very ornate water-tower from the beginning of the 20th century.

Happy Halloween to all!


http://nieko.home.xs4all.nl/english.htm

Pumpkin, anyone?

Wednesday - Leiden's hotspot

Although the official Leidse Hutspot Day (Leidse Ontzet) is on the 3rd October, given the season and the weather, it's worth mentioning this dish cherished by the Dutch with pride.

The legend tells that when the Spanish were eventually defeated and fled Leiden, they left behind the ingredients that make up the aforementioned hutspot: carrots, potatoes and onions, plus a little bit of meat.

Basically, the cornerstones of Dutch cuisine...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hutspot

Tuesday - The apple of my eye

To follow up on yesterday's post, here's a couple of links for places where you can pick your apples and eat them.

http://www.olmenhorst.nl/activiteiten/zelfpluk.html

http://missnatural.nl/pluk-je-eigen-fruit-in-een-zelfpluktuin/

Monday - Honesty boxes and farm products

OK, maybe today the weather is not at its best (understatement) but if you have a chance another day, take a drive around the polders and discover the many products that local farmers put on sale outside their farms: potatoes, apples, pumpkins, flowers, bulbs and more.

And don't forget to leave the money in the box, as the whole scheme is based on the honesty of the purchaser.

Sunday - Beer ads museum in Breda

Beer ads come in a multitude of sizes and shapes: posters, beer mats, trays, gadgets and TV commercials.

This museum in Breda, open only on Sundays, has a seemingly never-ending collection of all things beer, including the drink itself, sometimes accompanied by live music.

http://www.bierreclamemuseum.nl/en/informatie/museum

Saturday - Monsters in fashion

Established and upcoming fashion designers from all over the world explore the potential of imaginary monsters, avatars and cartoon carachters as inspiration for their creative output.

Ongoing at the Centraal Museum in Utrecht: expect a Lady Gaga-esque exhibiton...

http://centraalmuseum.nl/en/visit/exhibitions/arrrgh-monsters-fashion/

Friday - Clingedael's Japanese Garden - Autumn Opening

The Japanese garden in the Clingendael park is now open for the Autumn season, with plenty of photo ops of its pretty colorful trees, little shrines and bright red bridges.


http://www.denhaag.nl/home/bewoners/natuur-en-milieu/groen/to/Japanse-tuin.htm?utm_source=alias&utm_medium=offline&utm_campaign=japansetuin

Thursday - Metro 2033

Metro 2033 is a dystopian novel set in an ipotetical (and apocalyptical) Moscow ravaged by a nuclear war: the survivors have taken shelter in the abandoned metro station and are now involved in multiple fights with other metro occupants, the carnivorous rats and the mutants former humans who live upstairs.

 These multiple plots have been translated into a videogame too.

Today the author will be talking about his work and meeting the fans at the library in Den Haag.

http://www.bibliotheekdenhaag.nl/Artikelen/Metro-2033-2.htm

Wednesday - Karel Appel in The Hague

This colourful murales made of ceramic tiles, made by Karel Appel, is decorating the entrance of the World Forum in The Hague.

 

http://www.karelappelfoundation.com

Art meets art -The wonderful Miss F. modelling on her fiets in front of the tilework
 

Tuesday - Kanoroutes

While browsing for pictures for another post, I came across this useful site for kanoe-goers based in The Netherlands with routes, tips and pictures, in English and Dutch.

http://www.kanoroutes.nl/

Kanoeing in Estonia

Monday - Flyboard

When I saw this on the news earlier this year, I thought it looked like something out of a James Bond film, however apparently flyboarding ( which is slightly more exciting than boarding a flight) is the latest craze.

Below a useful explanation on how it works, taken from another blog, and a picture of how it looks like.

Crazy, innit?

http://www.flyboardnederland.

Sunday - See You in The Hague

"See you in The Hague" tell the Palestinians to the Israeli soldiers when they cross the check-points along the wall.

"See you in The Hague" says a fancy brochure produced by the City of The Hague to entice new visitors.

The different meanings that the name of the "City of Peace and Justice" bring to mind to different people in The Netherlands and around the world are explored in the programme of this event.

Also in the schedule, the grand opening today of a viewing platform (picture below, in construction) which, according to the artist who created it, while seen from below looks like normal scaffolding reveals something very different once on the top...

http://www.stroom.nl/activiteiten/manifestatie.php?m_id=8234826

Saturday - Amsterdam Dance Event

Dance like nobody is watching.

And if there is one place where you should be able to do it, this is the Amsterdam Dance Event.

Dozen of DJs, in what seems to be the biggest dance event after Miami's, take over clubs all over Amsterdam and will make you shake your booty.


http://www.amsterdam-dance-event.nl/live/

Friday - Haagse Pop Week

More than 150 bands will be playing in more than 30 locations all around The Hague from today till next weekend.

Expect all kinds of musical influences, side events (including auditions) and award giving cheesy moments.

http://www.haagsepopweek.nl/

Thursday - The New Wilderness, a documentary

Although The Netherlands are one of the most densely populated countries in the world, there's an area in the East called Oostvardersplassen where nature is still wild, with horses, foxes, deers and geese roaming freely in the beautiful scenery.

A film crew has spent 2 years in the area, documenting the passing of seasons and the circle of life:  the result of their effort is now in all Dutch cinemas.

The commentary is in Dutch with (in some cinemas) English subtitles: according to some Dutch mother-tongues, who got used to the BBC and Sir David Attenborough's informed (and informal) soft spokeness, the commentary sounds a bit forced and verbose, however the images and editing are definitely worth the trip to the bioscoop.

http://www.denieuwewildernis.nl/

http://www.staatsbosbeheer.nl/Natuurgebieden/Oostvaardersplassen.aspx

Deers in Sudtirol.

Wednesday - The Canals of Amsterdam: the book

Although at almost 100 euro a copy this tome can seem quite pricey, it does depict, one by one, with full colour pictures, illustrations and explanations, all the facades of the canal houses along the Unesco's heritage protected district of Amsterdam.

In Dutch and in English, it celebrates the 400th anniversary of the construction of the central main canals.

And now try and say this tongue twister, at least twice and at a speed:

Achtentachtig prachtige grachten

http://thoth.nl/Canals-of-amsterdam/

The cover of the Dutch version of the book 

Tuesday - Sneek-y gate

A lot of people are familiar with the Dutch clothing brand Gaastra.

Not so many however know that their logo takes its shape from this pretty XVII century gate (the Waterpoort or Hoogendster Pijp) that used to be part of Sneek's defensive walls.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterpoort

Copyright: kanoroutes.nl

Monday - Rotterdam World Food Festival

Talking, eating, watching, discussing, tasting, cooking, sampling ...food: what's not to like?

The Rotterdam World Food Festival runs till the 27th October and offers, as you might have guessed, world food, meeting with prized chefs, guided tours into culinary Rotterdam and many more exciting and bizarre bud pleasing experiences.

http://www.worldfoodfestival.nl/en/

Sunday - A trip to Mekka, the exhibition

If you really need to go out on a day like this, then you may want at least to avoid being al fresco...

The exhibition "Mecca" currently at the ethnographic museum in Leiden (Volkenkunde Rijksmuseum, very close to Central Station, so you don't get too wet) explores the journey of the pilgrims and their experiences, memories and tips, through pictures, objects and testimonies.

It started off at the British Museum in London where it was fully booked, so it's likely to be an extremely high quality event.

http://verlangennaarmekka.volkenkunde.nl/nl/verlangen-naar-mekka-intro

Saturday - The Duurtstede castle

The castle, on its present site since the XIII century, is one of the highlights of the small town of Wijk bij Duurstede near Utrecht.

It's available to rent for events and ceremony and, possibly given it's fairytal-ish shape, features in several Dutch children's TV shows, including those sort of mystery/detective films about Sinterklaas that are aired every year from November onwards.