Saturday - Discover Amsterdam Oost, all day long

This is a suggestion I got from my friend A. who's coming up with plenty of ideas about Amsterdam, which will surely be featured on this blog in the near future.

Today during the whole day residents and causal visitors alike can discover Amsterdam Oost's many attractions, cultural offers and culinary spots.

The program covers a kaleidoscopic variety of topics, including but not limited to the history of Italians in the Netherlands,  yummy films of the Amsterdam Food Film festival, a special tour of the Royal Tropical Institute Library and lots of music and performances in the evening.

Pity for this miserable weather, but at least plenty of things are indoor.

http://www.iamsterdam.com/en-GB/experience/what-to-do/whats-on/event-guide/march/24H-Oost

Friday - Part 2 - Have fun for charity

"Enjoy yourself working eight hours overtime": I saw this advertised outside my local supermarket and the poster intrigued me, so I looked it up.

All sorts of creative people (designers, photographers, writers...you name it!) are invited to offer their expertise and advice (hence the overtime) for a good cause. The recipients are charities and NGOs who might need a little bit of help with their slogans, PR or website.

All this plus music, comedy and food&drinks from 20.00 till 01.00.

The deadline for creatives and charities has already passed, but anyone can go, give a look around, meet people and get involved.

At the International Club The Hague on Javastraat.

http://www.8i2013.nl/

http://www.internationalclub.eu/en/

Friday - Part 1 - Movies that Matter

This weekend in Den Haag is so packed with events that I will have to write 2 posts today.

First up is the "Movies that Matter" film festival, which started yesterday in the Filmhuis and in the nearby Theather aan het Spui.

On my list, Camp 14, a film + animation about a North Korean guy who escaped from a work camp, Justice for my sister, a documentary about a girl from Guatemala trying to find her sister's murderers and My Brother the Devil, about 2 Egyptian brothers growing up in Hackney.

There's also a documentary about WikiLeaks...in fact there too many interesting things to be able to see them all, however chances are that many of the documentaries in the programme will soon be screened on Holland Doc, the extremely high quality, all-documentaries Dutch channel.

http://www.hollanddoc.nl

http://www.moviesthatmatter.nl/english_index

Thursday - Check into the hospital and get a beer instead

I have already mentioned in an older post the Olivier Belgian pub in Utrecht, hosted in an ex church.

The owners of Olivier seems to have a penchant for transforming unlikely locations into quirky pubs, since Leiden's version is hosted instead in a former hospital.

Wide choice of Belgian beers, hearty food and delicious chips.

http://www.cafe-olivier.be/content/locaties

Wednesday - Pasar Malam Indonesia in Den Haag

I have kind of insider's information about this event, as my boyfriend's parents are Dutch/Indisch, born in Indonesia.

The original Pasar Malam was founded by the first generation of Dutch Indonesian ("Indisch") who came over from the former colony in the 50s.

It was an occasion to meet friends and family, remember the good old days, play some indo-rock and enjoy delicious food cooked by the various Tanten (Aunties).

Over the years however, the Pasar Malam has become more and more commercial and it has lost that "longing" charm that the first editions had. It has now changed its name to Tong Tong fair.

According to John (=bf) however, the newly established Pasar Malam Indonesia has a more authentic feeling  giving interesting insights on how the country is today.

Check out the music programme: among the most popular Indonesian contemporary pop stars have been playing here. Also, try the real Indonesian dishes on sale, some of them very different than their watered down Dutch incarnations.

Tuesday - Sneak peak on the future of Rotterdam

240 million cubic meters of sand have been dug up since 2008 to form the Maasvlakte 2, a new bit of reclaimed land at the entrance of the port of Rotterdam: to put things in perspective, it equals an area as big as Disneyland Paris or Schiphol Airport.

It will host chemical plants, distribution centres and container terminals. Since the new haven will be 20 meters deep, it will be able to harbour the mega container ships that will be used in the future.

At visitors centre of Future Land you can learn about the creation process, the future use and the environmental impact of the newborn land. There's even a film being projected on a water curtain!

Guided tours by mean of a ride on the Future Land Express are available and there's a seaside cafe' too.

www.futureland.nl

Monday - A painting with a view in Delft

There is a spot in Delft from where the view hasn't changed much in the last 400 years. The gates, bridges and spires in Veermer's 'View of Delft' are still there.

The painting is in the Maurithuis, currently closed due to refurbishing.

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

Sunday - The Little Venice of the North

There must be at least 15 places in the world that go under the name 'The Venice of the North', but this village sounds like the closest to the real thing I have read about so far.

Giethoorn, in the Overijssel province, has no roads and its inhabitants can only travel around by boat, foot or bike (of course!).

Guided boat tours and rented boats are available for visitors as well.

Photo ops with gorgeous houses, cute bridges and wonderful flowery displays are guaranteed.

www.giethoorn.info