Monday - The New York Hotel in Rotterdam

The New York Hotel is the stunning building at the end of the Wilhelmina Pier in Rotterdam.

It used to host the headquarters of the Holland-America Line, which for several decades of the Nineteenth and Twentieth centuries transported emigrants, fortune seekers and the first class wealthiest across the Atlantic Ocean, to a new world and a new life.

It hosts now a posh, nostalgic hotel and cafe' and restaurant on the ground floor.

We drove by yesterday evening in the warm sunset light and regretted that we did not have time to stop and have a drink in the sheltered terrace on the pier, watching the sun disappear behind Rotterdam harbour's cranes.

http://www.hotelnewyork.nl/en/

Sunday - Scheveningen Kite Festival

Second and final day of the colorful Scheveningen Kite Festival, with dozen of silky creations filling the air.

It's set to be another beautiful day, so loads of photo opportunities of stunning kites against the blue sky ahead.

http://www.vliegerfeestscheveningen.nl/

Saturday - Whisky by the Sea

More than 500 whiskies are ready to be tasted in the Arsenaal Theather in Vlissingen (Zeeland) during this year's " Whisky by the Sea" event.

I have been to several whisky tastings in NL and always had a good time: it's a wonderful way to drink loads of lovely spirits while pretending to do something cultural.

http://www.whiskybythesea.nl/

Friday - MINI kite surf tour

One of the last submissions from faithful contributor Ale before she departs for her new adventure.

Europe's best kiteboarders are touring the continent sponsored by MINI and this week they are in Scheveningen: freestyle competitions and parties are on the whole weekend.

http://www.kitesurftour.eu/2013/09/20/mini-kte-scheveningen/

Thanks Ale and best of luck! :)

Thursday - Unseen Photo Fair in Amsterdam

An international photofair for undiscovered photo talents and unknown shots of notorious ones.

In the hipster expo space of the Amsterdam Westergasfabriek area, more than 50 international galleries come together to give you the best, the edgiest and the still undetected from the contemporary photography world.

Open till Sunday, it includes a book market, a collection of affordable photos and an exhibition at FOAM.

http://www.unseenamsterdam.com/

Wednesday - The lowest point in The Netherlands

In NL, you literally know when you have reached the bottom: it's on the Zuidplaspolder, somewhere along the highway from Rotterdam to Gouda, on a side road betwen Nieuwkerk aan de Ijssel and Mordrecht.

Marked by the monument pictured below, it makes for an unsettling experience to stand in front of it and realise how low below the sea you would be if there would be water here.

Tuesday - Fotoweek 2013

I got this tip from Arturas, the creative and talented friend I mentioned the other day, who also took the profile picture for this blog's Facebook page.

The Fotoweek runs from the 20 to the 29 September and professionals photographers, amateurs, shops, museum, libraries are celebrating this amazing mean of expression.

At several HEMA shops around the country for instance, customers can have their family portrait taken from Friday till Sunday...for free!

People can also contribute with the best (funniest, sweetest, awkwardest...) family photo to the "Largest Family Photo Album of The Netherlands" which will then be preserved digitally in the National Archives.

http://www.defotoweek.nl/

http://www.defotoweek.nl/popup-studio/index.html

" I think it was on the way to Uni". Copyright: Arturas.

Monday - Flying high

Major nerd alert for this post, although I must say that all kind of people show up in the several spotting posts around Schiphol: mothers with small kids and massive camera lenses, couples who wish to take a romantic stroll under the gasoline fumes, your average plane-spotters with binoculars and jackets with many pockets and even elderly gentlemen equipped with chairs, blankets and lekker bakje's.

Anyway, the latest star on Schiphol's runaways is the A380 from Emirates, which lands daily around 13.00 and take off to Dubai a couple of hours later.

This is a massive, spectacular machine, a proper feat of international engineering and when you stand under it while it lands, you can admire a wonderful human achievement and also feel a lot like Bono in Beautiful Day.

Below the tips from the man of the house:

Check this link 2 or 3 hrs before http://www.schiphol.nl/Reizigers/Vluchttijden/Aankomsttijden.htm
to see if the flight is on time or not. When you are close to Schiphol, better check this link (http://www.lvnl.nl/nl/airtraffic) to see which runway will be used for landing: most of the times it will be the Polderbaan and Zwanenburgbaan.

In any case the most eastern runway will always be used to receive the A380 (this is the Zwanenburgbaan).

For take off, check the link again (http://www.lvnl.nl/nl/airtraffic) to see which runway is going to be used or listen to frequency 121.6500 with a scanner (Startup control Schiphol).

The flight number is EK147 and arrival is every day scheduled at 13.30h, departure at 15.30h.

To check the codes of the runways see:  http://www.airliners.nl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=206

See? Proper nerds stuff!

Copyright: still the man of the house.

Sunday - Peace of Utrecht's 300 years birthday bash

The first time I ever heard about a place called Utrecht was at school when we studied the eponymous Treaty, signed in 1713 between France, Spain, England and several other countries.

France and Spain agreed to be BFF, Sicily went to Savoy, some more land was officially by decree stolen to the Native Americans, the Spanish Netherlands (what's today's NL and north of Belgium) went to the Holy Roman Emperor...and much more!

So this year Utrecht celebrates that Peace that put it on the map with conferences, shows and exhibitions.

Among other events, today it's day 2 of the Basis Festival in Soest, with the shelters of Soesterberg's Military base open to the public and packed with performances, act, kids' activities and even an assault course (to make peace, possibly?...)

http://www.vredevanutrecht2013.nl/en

Saturday - Ik Hou van Holland

Ik hou van Holland (I love Holland) is not just an awful TV show on which Dutch celebs confront each other on their general knowledge about their own country (lower than mine, it seems), it's also an interesting project being developed by the Stedelijk Museum Schiedam.

The aim is to explore the relations between Dutch art after 1945 and the social, political and cultural contexts in which artists have been creating.

 This series of talks, workshops, short exhibitions and of course loads of art pieces on display will last till 2015.

http://www.stedelijkmuseumschiedam.nl/nl/tentoonstellingen/verwacht-in-2013/281-ik-hou-van-holland-nederlandse-kunst-na-1945

Today there's also the culmination of the celebrations for the 100 years of the Peace Palace, with a big concert and some international guests. The ticket costs some hefty 50 euros, but according to some it's worth it, chiefly because Jude Law will be among the presenters.

http://100jaar.vredespaleis.nl/

The Peace Palace. Copyright: the multi-talented and simply awesome Arturas 2.0

Friday - The Faulty Towers Dining Experience

How many times, when getting a very poor (or rude) service at a cafe' or a restaurant, people think "Jezz, it's like being on Faulty Towers".

Well now you can actually experience almost the real thing: Faulty Towers - The Dining Experience, in on in Rotterdam from tonight and will move to Groningen in February.

Que? Que?!

http://www.interactivetheatre.com.au/ticket_sales/neth-sep2013.html

Thursday - The toast factory

What does it take to create a meal as simple as a toast from scratch, factoring in the human, emotional and ethical implications of rearing a living animal to kill it...and in city centre farm?

The creative minds behind this project decided to figure it out, so earlier in February this year, they got two pigs, some cows and planted the grain.

Now in September, the toasts are finally ready for ... harvest.

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

Korean toasts, with kiwi jam spread.

Wednesday - The green green grass of het Groene Hart

A maze! Made of corn! Near Utrecht!

...and many other surprising findings will hit you when you browse this site.

Het Groene Hart ( the Green Hearth) is that area you cross when you drive from Utrecht to The Hague, scattered with farmhouses, the occasional windmill line and the ever chillin' cows, but also many little towns and villages with a surprisingly rich past and historical relevance.

http://www.groenehart.nl/

Tuesday - Prinsjesdag

Prinsjesdag is the Dutch equivalent of the British Queen's Christmas speech or the US President's State of the Union address, only instead of happening in December or January, it takes place on the 3rd Tuesday of September.

And let's face it, most of the people feel that the new year actually starts in September, when schools reopen, people are back from holidays and you sign up again for the gym, the Spanish class or the Italian cooking workshop. All of which you will anyway seldom attend because with the weather and the darkness, who wouldn't rather be on the couch with a comforting cup of hot chocolate and "How I met your mother" on TV?

But I digress...

This is year's Prinsjesdag is particularly relevant as it's Willem Alexander's first time and people are eager to know what he will say, what Maxima will wear and if Geert Wilders's hair will glow in the dark as usual.

The reigning monarch makes her/his way to the Ridderzaal on a golden carriage, as you do.

Go early to find a spot among the loyal monarchists well equipped with fridges, Thermos flasks and fishermen's umbrellas: you may be lucky and score a discarded boterhammetje.

http://www.prinsjesdagdenhaag.nl/

Most likely, it will unfortunately rain on their parade...

Monday - The bridges over trouble water

It seems that every country in Europe is equipped with its own controversial Calatrava masterpiece.

These bridges are located in the Harlemmermeer area, bewteen Hoofdorp and Nieuw Vennep and the costs for their construction and maintenance have been spiralling throughout the years, as often Calatrava's projects tend to do.

These (quite striking) three bridges are poetically called Harp, Zither and Lute and they actually blend very well with the surrounding countryside.

http://www.architectuur.org/bouwwerk/140/3_bruggen.html

Sunday - Open Monuments (Last) Day

Second (and last) day of the Open Monuments Day and although there aren't as many monuments open as yesterday, there are still plenty of interesting sites to visit.

The searching engine is an useful tool and the best strategy is to look by Province and then zoom in a certain area, to skip the usual spots and find the unexpected.

Loads of churches are open today, possibly because it's Sunday and they would be open anyway...

http://www.openmonumentendag.nl/zoek/

Come in: we are open!
 Laurenkerk in Rotterdam

Saturday - Leiden's night of art and knowledge

Festival season continues and tonight it's the night of Kunst and Kennis, Art and Knowledge, in Leiden.

It's almost logical for a city like Leiden, at the forefront of science and medicine studies, to combine the usual formula focussed on art and music with science and technology.

Expect all kind of exhibitions and demonstrations, workshops on African dance, sampling of molecular cuisine and insects, interactive cartography and loads of DJs at the afterparty.

http://www.nachtvankunstenkennis.nl/

Art meets science: can you see the dolphins?

Friday - (Mad) high heel race

Stiletto race: possibly one of the most bonkers competitions ever, and dangerous too, but fun (to watch) nevertheless.

The race is tomorrow on the Denneweg, however the registration closes today, so, if you are older than 21, own a pair of shoes with a 9 cm heel (and above) that are no wider than 1.5 cm and you are so mad to think you can run with them, sign up and get a chance to win more heels and other goodies.

http://denneweg.nl/index.php/component/rsform/form/5-h4-inschrijfformulier-haagse-hakken-race-2013-h4

Not suitable for the competition.

Thursday - A V&D with a view

Missing the view from above, the thrill of the height, the bird eye perspective ?

Just go to the V&D in the Hoog Catharijne shopping mall, climb to the restaurant on the last floor, get a koffee en gebak and enjoy the stunning panorama, Domtoren included.

Copyright: my dad.

Wednesday - Climbing in the flat country

For all those intrepid daredevils out there who miss the trill of the mountains but would nevertheless like to do a bit of climbing, here's the Mountain Network.

Five climbing arena scattered around the country suitable for beginners and experienced climbers who want to keep in shape.

http://www.mountain-network.eu/

Not indoor climbing.