Wednesday - They see me rollin', they hatin' ....or nightskating in Rotterdam

Don your skates and join the crowd in Rotterdam for this year's first edition of the Wednesday Night Skate.

Every Wednesday evening until the 28 August, skating enthusiasts will get together and take over the streets of Rotterdam with a race around the city which includes a final jam (skating) session.

Picture me rollin'....

http://www.wednesdaynightskate.nl

Tuesday - Faces of Utrecht

Free exhibition running till the 28 July portraying Utrecht through its inhabitants.

According to the author, it's an anthropological study of the classical Utrecht's sense of humor and outlook on life.

http://www.stedelijkefotografie.nl/opdrachten.php?geheim=&id=32

Monday - FAST and curious

A bit of a follow up to yesterday's post.

The Surfers Village is actually called FAST, or Free Architecture Surf Terrain and it's a (seemingly random) concoction of buildings, containers, caravans, a theatre arena and in general, bits a pieces looking as if they have been washed ashore by the sea.

It's actually part of an architectural project, but the outlook contributes to giving a very pleasant feeling of anarchy and hippiness that you don't get too often in NL.

In summer especially, they have a programme packed with open air events: cinema, theatre, weekly parties, plus unplanned performances from passing and resident artists and DJs.

Bonfire and cold beer included. And yeah, if you cannot make it home on your legs, there's an hostel on the premises.

http://www.fastthehague.com/content.php?lng=2

Sunday - Waslijn: for swappers, not for swingers (and some beach football)

Today, in Scheveningen's Surfers Village (at the very end of the Northern beach, opposite the pier that marks the harbour's entrance and the Beach Stadium), starting at 14.00 join a very original Summer party offering you clothes swapping, poffertjes, BBQ and live music.

The clothes swap  is organised by the dynamic duo behind Waslijn and it roughly works like this: you rent a 5 euro "clothes hanging line", you bring your used-but-in excellent-condition clothes that for whatever reason you don't want to keep anymore and swap them with someone else's pre-loved ones that suits your current tastes (or size) better.

All the left over garments will be donated to a charity.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Waslijn/120896548079528?fref=ts

PS:  those not too keen on clothes who want to join the party a bit later, can check out the qualifications to the European Beach Soccer Championship in the Beach Stadium just across the road from the Surfers Village.

http://www.beachstadion.com/

https://www.facebook.com/KNVBBeachSoccer

Map of the area here:

http://goo.gl/maps/702ZX

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/

Saturday - Tea time, me time

When I first read that in Boskop you can pluck and drink your own tea, I was a bit puzzled and slightly worried about the speed at which climate change is happening.

However it turned out that we are in fact talking about herbal teas and infusions.

Imagine a pretty botanical garden on a small green island, boats that get you to shadowy picnic spots under willows and an high tea in the green house (if it rains).

In brief, a perfectly reasonable to way to spend an afternoon...

http://www.pluktea.nl

Friday - Watermuseum in Arnhem

As every Dutch schoolgirl (and boy) knows, this country's link with water is strong and has ancient roots, so it's no wonder that in Arnhem there is an entire museum dedicated to it.

Loads of interactive displays and games for the kids and some food for thoughts for the grown ups too, with water at risk of becoming as expensive as oil in a not too distant future.

Sobering thoughts but the museum offers ideas for some innovative solutions as well.

Since the museum's official page seems to be experiencing some issues today, I paste a couple of other links in English as well.

http://www.watermuseum.nl

http://www.holland.com/us/tourism/article/the-netherlands-water-museum.htm

http://www.arnhemnijmegenregion.com/netherlands-water-museum

Public water tap (Korea).

Thursday - Street Art Amsterdam

Not everyone is a fan but indeed street art is nowadays very prominent in the art world panorama, with a scraps of wall spray painted by Banksy fetching up to thousands of £££.

Often we walk around and watch, without seeing, the many amazing and thought provoking things that the urban environement can offer.

The contrast between old and new and gezellig and urban is even more visible in Amsterdam and provides excellent raw material for great pictures.

This tour offers a different perspective on the been there/done that feeling given by your average walking tour and will surely contribute to increasing your knowledge of the city, appreciation of contemporary art and, of course, your street cred.

https://www.facebook.com/StreetArtAmsterdam?directed_target_id0

In Utrecht, but street art nonetheless.

Wednesday - Fietzerria, or On the itinerant pizzeria.

If you see a guy biking on the fietspad or on a country road with a massive stone oven on his bakfiets, worry not, but rather start following him, as you might have a chance to savor some freshly made pizza.

Renato is a Brasilian architect living in NL with a passion for building ovens and baking pizza and he is currently touring the country.

Upon request, he can park in your garden, entertain kids and grown ups and teach you how to bake.

The results, of course, are yours to eat!

PS: the website is quite yummy too.

http://mypizzaoven.nl

Tuesday - L'addition svp!

Till the 14 July (ca va sans dire!) it's French Restaurant (long) Week!

Possibly to honour the ongoing Tour de France, 100 French bistro, brasserie and restaurants scattered all over the country offer a 3 courses dinner for 30 euro, plus free aperitif.

Check on the website for one close to you.

Sadly, view on Montmartre not included.

http://www.franserestaurantweek.nl

Monday - Life is a beach

There's only one advice I could possibly give to anyone today and it's the following: leave your work as soon as you can and head to the nearest beach, pond, river, park or whatever spot of open air you fancy and make the most of these wonderful summer days, as you never know here when it's going to be over (or if it will be summer ever again).

Personal favourites: Wassenarse Slag, for not having any concrete building in sight and Meijendel, near the nudist beach in front of the bunkers, for at safe distance from Scheveningen's madness.

Burgh Haamstede Zeeland or one of the Wadden Islands when we want to make it a weekendje weg.

http://www.kustgids.nl

http://www.beachpedia.eu

Sunday - Metropolis Festival Rotterdam

Festival season in full bloom and this weather calls for spending time outdoors without worrying about the raincoat you didn't bring.

Rotterdam again today, with the free entrance Metropolis festival in the Zuiderpark (not far from the Ahoy).

Pop, indie, rock, hip hop, world music and more.

Several bands who played here in the past went on to become internationally famous superstars.
Think Radiohead, The Killers, Interpol, Gossip and more recently The XX and the Black Keys.

So who knows? You might chance upon the next big hit!

http://metropolisfestival.nl/

Picture taken at an unrelated NERD concert in Rotterdam.

Saturday - The great outdoors (playground) in Groningen

There's an amusement park near Groningen offering a wide range of fairly uncommon, to say the least, but amusing indoor and outdoor group activities such as bushtrail, catapult building, crates pile ups and highland games.

Since getting wet today will not be an issue (temperature's forecast is in the middle 20 C and above), I would go for the build-your-own-raft-and-see-if-it-floats one.

And, if you prefer a more chillaxed thing to do, you can always join a petanque tournament.

http://www.outdoorinternational.nl

Friday - Milan Festival Den Haag

Starting today and ending on Sunday (literally, with fireworks), the Milan Festival in the Zuiderpark is the largest open air event in Europe celebrating the Hindustani culture.

Expect deliciously spicy food and Bollywood music, but also hip-hop, catwalks, markets and a cricket tournament!

http://www.milan-zuiderpark.nl/