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