Friday - Urban Explorers Festival in Dordrecht

Dordrecht in my opinion is one of the best kept Dutch secrets and this festival is a good chance to discover it.

It promises music, expeditions and performances and starts today with "an extraordinary carillon concert from a "sound artist" followed by an audiovisual live show at the city hall.

http://www.urbanexplorersfestival.nl/

Thursday - Erasmus Bridge

My dad's most favourite bridge ever can be viewed 24/7 from a strategically placed webcam.

Popular culture fun fact: The bridge was featured, together with many other Rotterdam's landmarks, in "Who am I?" a Jackie Chan's film from 1997.

http://www.checkcams.com/holland/rotterdam/erasmusbrug_fotografie_paul_martens

Wednesday - Dinner at the Baazar

I am surprised that I haven't actually already mentioned this place before, but the Baazar, either in its Amsterdam or Rotterdam outposts, is a fixture among the eateries I take my first time visitors to NL.
And when the come back, they want to go again.

The fare is Mediterranean/Middle Eastern, with large portions, decent prices and an atmosphere that is really lively (although not advised if you don't like loud music while you eat ... or in general).

Amsterdam's venue is the most stunning but the Rotterdam one has probably a better atmosphere (and an hotel upstairs) and the perfect location on the city's hippest street, the Witte de Wit.

http://www.bazarrotterdam.nl/

Tuesday - Art, from the very large to the very small

Currently at the GEM (just behind Scheveningen), the exhibition "Ja, natuurlijk" exploring with different large, small and microscopic installations, the synergies between humans, art, nature and technology.

It looks already pretty cool from the outside, so I am looking forward to explore what's inside the building!

Free entrance with the Museumkaart.

http://www.gem-online.nl/en/exposities/ja-natuurlijk

Monday - A memorial tree for the victims of chemical weapons

In Den Haag, just behind the OPCW*'s building, there's a memorial to all the victims of chemical weapons.

In a small dunal landscape next to a maple tree, a pole covered in solar panels powers the webcam hosted on its top, recording imagines of life passing by underneath it. Frames from the footage are then uploaded on a specially created website.

On the pavement, a poem in several languages engraved in granite pays homage to the dead.

http://www.thismeldingtree.org/

*Organisation for the Prohibition of the Chemical Weapons

Sunday - Dutch Liberation Day

Liberation Day will be celebrated today all over the country with free concerts in several cities (14 in total).

Well known Dutch artists will be playing in various locations for the main events plus smaller podiums and venues are scattered around, hosting many more  performances.

During the "5 for 5" moment, the whole country will observe 5 minutes of silence to commemorate the victims of all wars.

http://www.bevrijdingsfestivals.nl/

Saturday - Amsterdam Rhubarb Week

Currently ongoing the Amsterdam Rhubarb Week.

Chefs, restaurant and foodies are celebrating this scrummy and recently rediscovered vegetable all over Amsterdam.

They are even going to launch a new drink called Rabarcello, which I would love to try sooner or late.

For the time being, I think I will stay traditional and stick to my rhubarb crumble with custard cream.

http://amsterdamnow.com/events/amsterdam-rhubarb-week/

Friday - Literary Late Night

Every first Friday of the month starting at 21.30 at the Centraal Bibliotheek in Den Haag, there's a literary talk show with a musical background.

Dutch but also international speakers talk about themselves, their books and experiences and are happy to discuss their work with the public.

Live music accompanies the talks and the book signing.

 http://www.literatuurlatenight.nl/

Thursday - Mini World Rotterdam

I landed at Rotterdam airport yesterday and while taxing we were treated by the pilot to a panoramic flight above the city and the harbor, a truly stunning view.

A cheaper way to have a view from above is offered by Mini World Rotterdam, a 200 sqm maquette representing the city, including the newly renovated Central Station.

The day in mini Rotterdam last 24 minutes and at dusk the city lights up. 

Trains, boats and trams are running and there are so many details to notice that every visitor can channel their inner Gulliver while spending the whole afternoon just peering through the windows of houses, shops and factories.

http://www.miniworldrotterdam.com

Wednesday - Labour's Day

In most countries of Europe it's International Workers' Day today and although it's not an holiday in NL, this blog is nevertheless going to celebrate it.

Have a wonderful First of May!

Tuesday - Queen's day

When I was a low budget student living in Utrecht, I furnished half my (admittedly small) apartment with things I picked in the streets during and after Queen's day. 

The best street markets are those away from the central and most touristy part of the Dutch towns and I personally didn't like Amsterdam on Queen's Day: it looks too much like the night before, only that all the side effects are visible under the sun.

The "balcony scene" of the Coronation, with the new King and his wife waving their royal hands to the crowd, is at 10.30 on the Dam. 

For those really keen on seeing the Coronation in style, but unwilling to go to Amsterdam, the cinema Pathe Buitenhof in Den Haag will show it live on its screens.

Happy Last Koninginnedag!

Monday - Konninginnenacht parties

Too many things to do today to list them all: it's going to be a long marathon of street parties, fun fairs and concerts. 

Simply check on the webpage of each city and you will find a long list of events, most of them very likely fuelled by copious amounts of booze.

"The last Queen's bash" is celebrated at the Panama in Amsterdam, while stages with concerts and DJ sets are scattered on several locations in Utrecht and Den Haag.

Simply don't your best orange outfit and join the crowd!

Sunday - Subbacultcha, baby!

It's a free magazine in English which is also a cultural platform, a promoter of alternative indie music, art and performances, and an organiser of events and concerts.

For 7 euro a month you get the magazine at home and free access to all the concerts and other cool things these guys are putting together for the coming months.

http://www.subbacultcha.nl

Saturday - The opening of the Japanese Garden

Opening day of the Japanese Garden in the Clingendael park today, for this year's "spring session": it will stay open till the 9 of June with very wide opening times.

The occasion is marked by a Japanese Festival representing Dutch institutions with links to Japan and offering music, food and the arts of beautiful things that are so characteristic of Japan.

http://www.denhaag.nl/en/residents/to/Japanese-festival-in-Japanese-Garden.htm

Friday - Guess who's going to the cinema now

I don't have kiddies myself, so this is a totally unqualified opinion, however it seems (from what I hear from friends) that, especially when the little ones are ...well, little, it's very difficult to do most of the things you used to before.

So I guess it will be welcomed news to know that on Friday afternoons and Sunday mornings, in a couple of cinemas in The Hague, there are special screenings for parents with small children. A similiar arrangement is available in Amsterdam as well.

Lights dimmed and not off, volume down and 2 tickets for the price of 1.

http://www.cinemum.nl/

Thursday - Art 2013 Utrecht

A week of art in the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht, with lectures about Japanese netsuke and art nouveau, guided tours and several art galleries displaying their best pieces.

Plus, the Exposition "Feest" to celebrate, with contributions from all the exhibitors, this year's coronation but also the 300 years of the Peace of Utrecht.

http://www.art2013.nl/pagina.php

Wednesday - Sounds like art (in Eindhoven)

Sound producing sculptures, harps played by gravity and astonishing syntesisers are part of this exhibition happening at the MU, a space focused mainly on visual arts and based in Eindhoven.

Quoting from their About page: "MU shows what art can be, not what art should be", which sounds like a good deal to me.

Combined with a lunch here, it makes for the perfect day out in Eindhoven.

http://www.mu.nl/uk/exhibitions/now/sounds-like-art/

Tuesday - Border Kitchen and its literary talks

Border Kitchen organises literary events in The Hague in the form of a live interviews of up-and-coming, but also well established international writers. Hilary Mantel, Madeline Albright and Alessandro Baricco were among the past guests.

Tonight's event, with UK born author of Ghanese descent , Taiye Selasi, is already sold out.

It is however worth it adding their website to your favourites or following them on Twitter and keep an eye on future events, since they have many more talks planned for the coming months.

http://www.borderkitchen.nl

Monday - 1 frietje met, graag !

There was some excitement in my household when we discovered that the winner of this year's AD Friettest is our very own local snack bar, Jack Snack.

The bf and his mum being Dutch, we have our own almost weekly ritual involving a portion of frietjes and heated debates about the best pataat parlours.

Yesterday I tried Jacks' ones (with mayo of course) and I am now a converted: they almost taste like home made ones, due to the fact (revolutionary, it seems) that Jack changes the oil in his frying machines every day.

In the top 100 of the Dutch snack bar, there are rare gems such as the Friturologisch Intituut Schipper, in Rotterdam, de Frietboetik in Tilburg and the, not so promising, LifeLine Food&Drinks in Ridderkerk, which gets a meagre 4, surely skinner than its fries...

http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1040/Den-Haag/article/detail/3428431/2013/04/19/Jack-barstte-bij-bakken-lekkerste-friet-in-tranen-uit.dhtml

Sparkle added during post-production, to make them even more appetising...

Sunday - Take a walk on the (Dutch democracy) side

Every Sunday at 14.00 an English spoken tour takes foreign visitors through the places and the rituals of the Dutch constitutional monarchy.

The exploration of the Binnenhof includes the Hall of Knights (Ridderzaal) where the Queen (and now WA) gives the yearly speech on the state of the nation, the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Ridderzaal in particular is worth a visit especially for its stained glass windows with the coat of arms of the Dutch cities and little gargoyles representing eavesdroppers scattered trough the beams of the roof (which, by the way, is an upside down ship frame).

Tours depart from the nearby Pro Demos vistors centre, starting with a video packed with background info.

http://english.prodemos.nl/English/Visitors-Centre