Saturday - Kitesurf school

I saw this ad of a kite surfing school in Scheveningen and I thought I'd share.

I suppose that with all the wind that there's here in Den Haag, the beach must be a real kite surfers paradise.

Nothing for me, but my boyfriend tried once and had a great time, although he could barely move the following day.

http://kitesurfschoolscheveningen.nl/

Friday - Stedelijk Museum Den Bosch

Apart from being the birth cradle of the bossche bollen, Den Bosch is a nice place to visit also because of its Stedelijk Museum.

Contemporary art from the Netherlands and beyond, with some pieces from one of my latest personal pleasant art discoveries, Karel Appel, and the possibility of voting on line for your favourite item in the collection, it also offers loads of practical art experiences and live performances for the coming months.

http://www.sm-s.nl

Thursday - Hear the Call of the Mall, in Utrecht

After Schiphol airport, the first bit of NL I experienced on my first day in Utrecht when I moved here many years ago, has been the Hoog Catharijne shopping mall.

Far from being horrified by it (after all, I do love shopping and ugly concrete buildings) I have developed an affection for the ugly brutalist monster: let's not forget this is where I saw my first ever snack-bar wall.

"Call of the Mall" is an ongoing exhibition of contemporary art pieces, installations and videos disseminated inside and outside the shopping area, including the car park, exploring the relation between men, the consumerism society and its public spaces.

For free and on till the 22 September.

http://www.callofthemall.nl/en/home/

Wednesday - At trip to Texel

A nice colleague of mine is planning to spend the weekend in Texel , so I got inspired and wrote down a couple of things that can be done while on the island.

Well, first thing first, enjoy the boat trip from Den Helder but be careful about eating your lunch on the deck: the sea gulls can be as aggressive and fearless as those on Scheveningen's promenade and snatch your broodje in a matter of seconds, the bastards.

Ditch the car at the hotel or at a parking near one of the villages and get a bike: this way you can get to the best, wildest beaches and enjoy the lovely weather forecasted for the weekend.

Don't forget to bike to (and visit) the famous red lighthouse: 153 steps and an amazing view await you.

Then, one should head for the pub and sample a glass of the local Texel beer: it's also available at the supermarkets (including the AH) and it makes for a nice souvenir.

For actual (but also grown up) kids, one particularly nice attraction is the Ecomare, the marine wildlife park where you can see the seals and sea-lions, two small porpoise and loads of sea life typical of the Wadden islands and North Sea.

To sum up: bring your swimsuit, don your flip flops, smother yourself in sunscreen and enjoy!

http://www.texel.net/en/

http://www.ecomare.nl

http://www.speciaalbier.com/texels-bier.html

http://wikitravel.org/nl/Texel

Tuesday - Towering Toblerone

If you have ever been around what's now called The Hague International Area, you might have noticed, behind the World Forum, a curious building shaped as a massive vertical Toblerone box.

That's the Toren van Oud, from the name of the father and son architect duo who designed it in the 60s. When it was inaugurated in 1969 it was Den Haag's first skyscraper.

Originally thought as an hotel, it then become an offices and apartment building and now it stands sad, empty and surrounded by newly built HQs of international organisations.

A workshop (including a guided tour) to discuss the future of the building and its role in the developing "Peace and Justice" neighbourhood, will be held tomorrow, in the garden of the Geemente Museum.

http://www.statenkwartier.net/workshop-mens-omgeving-21-augustus-2013/

http://taak.me/?nk_project=toren-vraagt-aandacht

http://taak.me/?nk_project=tower-jam-sessions

Monday - Fun Forest climbing park

A couple of weeks ago we had an (unexpected - a friend's car broke down - yet very nice) little trip to the Ruhr area in Germany.

Nearby Europe's tallest gasometer, now converted into an art and exhibition space, there was a tree climbing park, with loads of suspended bridges, hanging wooden structures and rope ladders and it looked like amazing fun!

So we looked it up and discovered that you can try the same in NL too, in four different locations (Amsterdam, Almere, Rotterdam and Venlo).

Release your inner Tarzan and Jane (but with all safety requirements in place): giggles and gasps guaranteed!

http://www.funforest.nl/

Sunday - Antique market in The Hague (come rain or shine)

You are a fan of Antique Roadshow and an insatiable collector of weird and wonderful souvenirs? Or a second-hand book connoisseur?  Or just a hoarder with a passion for little trinkets?

Then head to the Lange Voorhout in Den Haag and check the weekly "Antique and second-hand books market".

It runs every Sunday till mid September and will give you chance to check the Russian sculpture exhibition as well.

http://www.denhaag.nl/home/bewoners/to/Antiek-en-boekenmarkt.htm

A print spotted at the Antique market.