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.

Saturday - The Kroller Muller Museum

This museum in the middle of the Hoge Veluwe National Park, never overcrowded, allows visitors to enjoy the paintings without having to elbow their way to the front.

The Van Goghs are plentiful and cover a wide period of the artist's lifetime, so you will have the chance to marvel at the 'Potato eaters' in all their glumness for as long as you wish.

Check out the paintings from other Dutch artists like Jan and Charlie Toorop plus several pieces from international artists, including the modern art equivalent of H&M: Picasso.

The museum would be perfect enough as such, however there's much more to discover in the surrounding Sculpture Garden.

In the midst of a beautiful park, massive sculptures pop up unexpectedly from behind hydrangea bushes and in-between the trees.

For the smaller pieces, mainly bronzes, there are 2 open air pavilions.

My personal favourite: the massive, labyrinthine and accessible Jardin d'email (enamel garden) from Dubuffet.

http://www.kmm.nl/?lang=en

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kr%C3%B6ller-M%C3%BCller_Museum#Sculpture_Park

Friday - Scheveningen Firework Festival

Apart from dogs, passing birds and grumpy people, everyone loves a good firework display... just ask Guy Fawkes!

The International Firework Competitions starts today at 21.45 and will delight onlookers for the next 2 weekends till the 24 August.

If you plan to go by car get there early as it's normally packed, no matter the weather.

http://www.vuurwerkscheveningen.com/

Thursday - Karma Chameleon (in Almere)

Almere is one of the new towns built on the land that has been reclaimed from the Ijmeer after WWII.

Loathed by many for its lack of traditional Old Dutch gezelligheid, it features however several contemporary buildings that are worth visiting (and make good photo material).

One of these is an office complex called La Defense.

The specificity of it is that while the exterior blends in with the other surrounding buildings, the internal courtyard hides a surprise: the walls are made of glass panels covered in light-reflecting foil, changing colours throughout the day according to the sun's position and angle.

The result is an ever-changing, spectacular opalescent façade.

http://www.unstudio.com/projects/la-defense-offices

Wednesday - Guided tours at castle Hoensbroek

I mentioned this castle in a post sometime ago, as they were hosting a mock-tournament, complete with horses and pikes.

During the summer, on Wednesday afternoons, they also offer guided tours through the highlights of the castle, explaining how the life of the castellan and his family and knights (and minions) used to be.

Recommended for medieval history enthusiasts, children and GoT fans


http://kasteelhoensbroek.nl/evenement/kasteel-hoensbroek-binnenstebuiten

Kasteel Hoensbroek.
Ok it's not. It's Winterfell, from Game of Thrones.

Tuesday - The cultural bike tours app

Useful link for bike enthusiasts looking for new routes to explore the countryside, the towns and notable monuments of the chosen area.

With historical background information, links and maps it can be downloaded for a small fee and let your smart phone will do the rest.

http://www.traproute.nl/

Monday - The bronze folk of Katwijk

This cheerful albeit a bit static parade can be seen on the Princestraat in Katwijk.

http://vanderkrogt.net/standbeelden/object.php?record=ZH28ap

Sunday - The mighty Hoge Veluwe

The Hoge Veluwe is one of he must-dos on my own personal program for first time visitors and it makes for the perfect day out even with the trickiest of guests.

That's because there really is something for everyone to do: a beautiful park with a multitude of changing sceneries, bike riding on the free white bikes, an amazing art museum with its own sculpture garden (about which more on an upcoming post), wildlife watching huts and a recently renovated posh hunting lodge complete with photogenic reflection in the nearby pretty lake.

The easiest way to get there is by car, however public transport also gets you there, by train and then bus.

http://www.hogeveluwe.nl/en/14

http://www.noordhollandsdagblad.nl/reizen/nieuws/article23480903.ece

Saturday - T-shirt as art in Leiden

T-shirts...don't we all love them?!

Far from being just a convenient clothing item, it has now become a major expression vehicle for people's passions, believes and above all, sense of humour (or lack of it).

This exhibition features t shirts used as canvas for all kinds of artistic experimentation.

http://portal.leiden.nl/nl/toerisme_vrije_tijd/agenda/agenda_item/t/t_shirt

Friday - Transformator Den Haag

For the whole month of August at the Dakota theatre in Den Haag: an art exhibition showcasing artists from several European countries trying to express and portray the impact of the intermingling of cultures.

With installations, videos and photos, these artists (two Hungarians, a Slovakian and a Serbian) are exploring the changes and transformations that human beings undergo when migrating to a culture different from their native one.

Entrance is free.

http://pinvents.com/event/301898573287145/transformator-exhibition

Thursday - Amsterdam Skate Week

Last few days of this event dedicated to skating (as in "skateboard" this time), which includes not just ...skating... but also chances to win money thanks to photo and video contests and also of course...skating.

On the menu tonight, street jam "somewhere downtown": the one showing off the best tricks will win 500 euro.

Skating: a spectacular spectator sport.

http://www.amsterdamskateweek.com

2012: skaters on Venice beach.

Wednesday - Pluk de nacht (= Pick the night) itinerant film festival

Another cinema event, this time in Amsterdam with a really interesting selection of films from all over Europe.

It starts tonight and runs till Saturday 17 August, then it will move first to Arnhem then to Den Haag.

Entrance is free in Amsterdam and Arnhem but not in Den Haag.

Beach chairs can be reserved online, however worry not: even if the chairs run out on-line, you can most likely still find some space.

The price of the chairs is not fixed, but it's a free donation to the foundation of the cinema-loving organisers of the festival.

Because the night belongs to...cinema-goers!

http://www.plukdenacht.nl/festival/2013/#programme-stenen-hoofd-amsterdam-2013-nl

My very own beach chair.

Tuesday - Summer film festival in Utrecht

Ongoing summer film festival at the Louis Haartloper Complex in Utrecht, with a recap of the best 2012 films, including The Artist, Shame and Drive, which gives me an excuse to publish a picture of Ryan Gosling.

If the weather is nice, the screenings take place outside.

Louis Haartloper Complex summer festival

Hey girl.

Monday - Off to the beach in Zeeland

Since I live in this country I became something of a weather obsessed, so the first thing I do in the morning is check my trusted weer.nl to have clues on what to wear, if I should take a day off work and head for the beach or if instead I will need towel and hairdryer when I get in the office, etc...

On a lovely day such as today, it would be great to go to Zeeland, on the (white) beach near Burgh Haamstede, where the water is so clean that you can actually see your feet, no concrete towers are in sight and a kind, moustachioed man drives his adapted scooter along the beach to sell to grateful bathers ice creams and cold drinks.

Burgh-Haamstede

Before you head to the beach, get some breakfast in the village: Harry Sonnemans' bolus (traditional spiral moisty pastry covered in sugar and cinnamon) is said to be among the best of Zeeland.


Watch the Hairy Bikers visiting the Sonnemans bakery here:

Sunday - Join the flowers and vegetables pride in the Delftland

It seems that boat parades are very popular this weekend and today the canals between Delft and Naaldwijk will be the setting for a flower and vegetables floating parade, celebrating the area's main trade: greenhouse plants growing.

I have been the happy onlookers of such parade once and enjoyed very much the country fair atmosphere, the beautifully decorated boats (real edible marvels scattered with fruit and flowers) and the incredibly cheesy carnival music.

As they would say on the entertainment column: ***A must see!***

http://www.varendcorso.nl/230/7-augustus-Delflanddag

Saturday - Pride and joy on the grachten in Amsterdam

Who said that there would be no more Queen's Days?!

Today dozens of colourful, glittery and very loud boats packed with handsome guys and sexy girls, partying on the Prinsengracht, will be joining thousands of people "partying back" in the streets along the canal and its surroundings: it's the Amsterdam Gay Pride.... and with weather like this, it's going to be a blast!

http://www.amsterdamgaypride.nl/

Today's bonus suggestion (thanks awesome L.!): Schollenpop, free beach music festival in Scheveningen, with loads of different genres and bands including, from what I read on the website, rappers, metal and the Belgian answer to One Direction!

http://www.schollenpop.nl/

Friday - ABC Trade-In Day in The Hague

Today, from 11.00 till 17.00 at the American Book Center in Den Haag, you can bring English books you have already read and want to get rid of and get in exchange a voucher for the purchase of new books.

All kind of fiction accepted but no non-fiction or children books.

http://www.abc.nl/frontpage/events/index.php?show=details&place=abc&event=872

Second hand book shop in Edimburgh