Saturday - Plein Open free festival (The Hague)

The party never ends in the Dutch Summer and although this morning it doesn't look so promising, it should improve during the day and the evening.

In Den Haag's city center, from 13.00 to 23.00, today there's the Plein Open free open air festival, with a couple of podiums and loads of local bands scattered around the Spui, and indoor entertainment in several venues as well.

All  kind of music to cater to all kind of tastes and a bouncing castle to keep the kids entertained.

http://www.haagspopcentrum.nl/plein-open/

Not the Plein Open festival

Friday - Shadowplay (in the Mastbos in Brabant)

For those out there who dare complaining about these days' "heat" (it's called Summer to the rest of us) here's and idea.

Not far from Breda, easily reachable by bike from the station, there's a nice and leafy green spot called Mastbos, among the oldest of NL.

During the golden era of the Dutch naval superpower, the forest was used to harvest tall masts for military and commercial ships, hence the name which translates as "Mast Forest".

Today it has a purely recreational function, with walking and biking paths criss crossing varied landscapes, restaurants and loads of stuff to do for the kids, including a "follow the gnome" path and several wild playgrounds guaranteeing, already on the webpage, to get you all muddy and dirty.

Mastbos Breda

Thursday - The OV made me do it

I spotted this ad yesterday on my way back from Rotterdam airport.

Basically, by browsing the link mentioned on the poster, you get directed to a webpage packed with suggestions of place that can be explored and reached by public transport.

My pick of the crop? The XXXL painting exhibition currently hosted at the Submarine Wharf in Rotterdam.

http://www.hetovbrengtje.nl/

Wednesday - Spot the sculpture in Leiden

There's a lot of public art scattered around Dutch cities and Leiden is no exception.

Along the Nieuwe Rijn (the canal in the city center), where the market takes place on Saturdays, there's a bunch of statues representing different trades.

My favourite one is just across Leiden's equivalent of Ponte Vecchio, towards the City Hall: this obsequious gentlemen offering you some pretty fabric.

Tuesday - Virtually yours

If you have been to Den Haag recently you might have noticed, when you exit the station from the front, that the building at your right has been massivly renovated with the addition of a couple of high towers of offices and apartments.

On the ground floor there used to be a quite dated shopping center which has been redone too and soon will be hosting some new shops and concept stores.

However, if you cannot keep yourself and wait for the grand opening, you can already walk around it and make some virtual purchases.

On the shop fronts in fact, as a teaser of things to come, there are posters with special offers, products and arrangements that will be offered  when the shops open in September.

Just scan the barcode with your smart phone and the item you are coveting is practically already yours.

Virtual shopping wall

Monday - The water app

Keeping up with the theme of water.

On the page of this water utility, you can download an app with directions and live commentary for several walks in natural areas where drinking water is collected and preserved.

http://www.vitens.nl/overvitens/water/Paginas/Waterwandelingen.aspx

Sunday's Special - Guest post: Wadlopen in Friesland

Today: a guest post from my friend Ale who went wild and dirty up in Friesland.


A good idea for taking maximum advantage from those fantastic summer days it`s to enjoy a unique Dutch experience: wadlopen..... or more simply to get dirty while walking in the swamp trying to reach one of the Frisland islands. 

Of course, hope to get to your destination before the high tide catches you!

If you do not have any issues with getting mud on your legs and maybe higher, being wet for a few hours, losing your shoes in the swamp, crossing or swimming in the North sea and of course walking for more than 10 km, this experience is for you.

I did it last year from Holwerd to Ameland, 12 km and I can only recommend it: remarkable experience not only for Dutch people :o)

There are plenty of associations organizing those type of walk, all over the summer.

Below some useful links:

http://www.wadlopen.net/
http://www.wadloop-dijkstra.nl/
http://www.wadgids.nl/
http://wadlopen-pieterburen.nl/