Saturday - Jazz in the Gracht

I realised that I get to talk twice about the canals of The Hague this week but I promise that I do not have any covered interest in their exploitation as a tourist attraction.

I got this tip from a friend of a friend and she was (convincingly) enthusiastic on the event.

On a barge on the Dunne Bierkade (Narrow-Beer-Shore) several bands will alternate all afternoon long up till 23.00 for some jazzy classics and jam sessions.

As a bonus (for some): beer and bitterballen available in the area.

http://www.jazzindegracht.nl/index.html

Friday - New cultural season opens in Amsterdam, with a massive festival

If you want to know what Amsterdam's new cultural season will bring, don't miss this weekend's Uitmarkt: the info market for the culture vultures.

Cinema, theatre, classical music, jazz, pop, library, lectures, classes, workshops, museum...you name it: you can sample a bit of all these around Leidseplein and Museumplein and wet your cultural appetite.

http://www.uitmarkt.nl/english

Thursday - National Restaurant Week

Restaurant week is back. Yay!

Till the 5th September, dozens of restaurants of all sorts, all over the country, will offer a special 3-course lunch (22.50 euro) or dinner (27.50 euro) when you book through the National Restaurant Week website.

Although some of the most prized one are fully booked for dinner, you may still be able to get a table for lunch.

http://www.restaurantweek.nl/lang/en

Wednesday - Boat tour on the Haagse canals

I am always happy to get suggestions from friends and colleagues: today it's Nora's turn to give her tip.

She has her family over and the other day they went for a boat trip along The Hague's canals.

Less famous and celebrated that their Amsterdam and Delft's "cousins", they are nevertheless a fun way to explore the city.

The tour lasts 90 minutes and departs several times a day and if you are really a boat tour fan, the same company also offers boat trips on other canals and rivers of the region.

http://www.rondvaartdenhaag.nl/

Tuesday - Urban Camp Site

Always wanted to sleep in a box hanging from a tree, inside a former polyester silo, in a massive sperm-cell-shaped-pod or in a cupboard?

Well now your dream may come true: the Urban Campsite temporarily hosted at the Vliegenbos in Amsterdam, offers a weird and wonderful selection of bizarre art objects in which you can spend the night.

Prices vary according (presumably) to the comfort level and the site is open till 30 September.

In one of the available art pieces/sleeping devices, the artist will tell you fairy tales so that you sleep better.

http://urbancampsiteamsterdam.com/index_en.html

Good ol' camping days...

Monday - The grapes of Den Hoorn

As amazing as it may seem, it`s actually possible to eat grape locally produced in NL.

In a small, biodynamic greenhouse of Midden-Delfland, a husband and wife team grows several varieties of table grapes.

Although they are behind glasses to protect them from bad weather, the grapes grow according to their natural rhythm, influenced by the weather outside.

I would think that, since this year we are having it so good weather-wise, the harvest will be closer to September then October.

They are open for guided tours for groups from 10 people up, with the chance to savour their juicy products, combined with those of nearby farms.

The shop is open from August till November and there's an open day on the second weekend of September.

http://druivenkwekerij.nl/

Grapes in Samatorca, near Trieste (not NL).

Sunday's Special - Guest post: Apenheul Apeldoorn

Ale writes:

Monkeys, apes, orang-utans, chimps, squirrel monkeys, gorillas...you will find all those and even more in Apenheul, a triking primate park for children and grown-ups. A lot of them are roaming free in the park and some aver very curious and will play with visitors :o)

It's nice to watch their behaviours towards food, their facial expressions, reactions to visitors, the interaction among them and finally to realise how close to them we are:....veeeeery much!

A good idea for a nice day trip!

http://www.apenheul.com/