Saturday - The world is your ostrich

Everyone will be talking about the Rijskmuseum this weekend, so since that is covered we can pass to an even more entertaining prospect: a ostrich farm!

In Monnikewerve, a village in Zeeland on the border with Belgium, there's an ostrich farm offering, in no particular order: a discovery tour of the animals, a cafe' serving cakes made with ostrich's eggs, the sale of said eggs (1 ostrich egg = 25 hen's eggs) and meat, bags and purses made with ostrich skin and cosmetics from ostrich's fat.

In these times of meat frauds and horse sold as beef, ostrich seems to be like the new pig.

http://www.destruisvogel.nl

Friday - Spring blossoms in Amstelveen

This event was brought to my attention by my lovely colleague H. and I am sorry I did not get to write the post on day of the event.

It seems that the area of Amsterdam is home to the second largest Japanese community in Europe and in the year 2000, to celebrate the 400 years of commercial and cultural relationships between the 2 countries, the Japanese Womesn's club planted 400 cherry trees, 200 with Japanese women's names, the rest with Dutch names.

The Cherry Blossom Festival was held in Amstelveen on the 10 May, a tradition that has been going on for 13 years already.

Although the event has passed, with Spring giving its first late signs, the Bloesem Park (= Blossom Park) and its "lady trees" is still worth a visit.

http://www.iamsterdam.com/en-GB/living/events/cherry-blossom-festival

http://www.amsterdamsebos.nl/evenementen-0/cherry-blossom/

Thursday - The expat experience discussed in Den Haag

Despite the latest years' turn to a certain parochialism, The Netherlands has mostly been a country of people who travelled and welcomed travellers. The Expatriate Archive Centre was born five years ago to collect, archive and preserve the memories of those who went and those others who came.

To celebrate their anniversary they have organised for today at the National Library a symposium about the "Expatriate experience", with a focus on highly skilled migrants.

The programme includes several workshops and a lecture from writer and journalist Max de Bruijn.

http://www.xpatarchive.com/symposium/programme

Wednesday - Discover a secret garden

Hofjes are truly magical places, secluded by a tiny door from the hustle and the bustle of the city, oasis of calm and peacefulness.

The Hof van Wouw makes no exception.

I have been here a couple of times before, around Christmas, and I have been smitten by the place.

I therefore warmly recommend a visit in spring, now that the flowers are in bloom and the trees are pushing their first tentative buds.

The hof and its pretty gardens are open to the public today in the afternoon (and on the 17 April)

The entrance is just 1 euro.

http://www.hofvanwouw.nl/

Tuesday - Birds of a feather: birdwatching in NL

One thing I often notice when I bike to work, is the amount and diversity of birds, ducks, swans and other winged animals, hanging about in the parks, floating on canals and crossing the fietspad..

Just recently, in a polder next to the Queen's house, I saw some 20 storks sharing the grass with a flock of sheep while a crane looked on impassibly.

Bird enthusiasts and beginners alike can keep up to date with the bird situation here:

http://www.dutchbirding.nl/

While if you wish to join a bird watching excursion, check this out:

http://www.birdsnetherlands.nl/vogelexcursies.htm

Monday - Imagine: a Fantastic Film Festival

Although I had never heard about this festival before, it turns out it's in 29th edition: this just proves that there are so many things going on in this country that you cannot keep track with them all!

Mostly horror movie and thrillers it seems, with here and there a sprinkle of manga, science fiction and master-classes from celebrated directors.

It starts today and ends on the 17 April, in the stunning EYE or the Film Institute Netherlands, which by itself is worth the trip.

http://www.imaginefilmfestival.nl/

Sunday - Museum Weekend 2013

The post comes a bit late, as I just woke up after the second night at the Motel Mozaique...

Anyway, last chance today to take part in some of the events organised during this year's Museum Weekend.

The participating institutions are scattered all over the country and cater for all sorts of interests: Dutch Golden Age paintings (Den Haag), beer advertising (Breda), aboriginal art (Utrecht), glassmaking (Leerdam) and really much more (everywhere).

Just browse the searching engine by city and you will find plenty of them close to you.

And the best part come now: access to each is just 1 euro!

http://www.museumweekend.nl

Saturday - Farmers market in Rotterdam

The Hague's weekly farmers market was the topic of an earlier post and I have now discovered that Rotterdam has its own (larger) version as well, although a monthly one, with some extra dates for special events.

The good people of Uit Eigen Stad are there too, together with several other producers and vendors from the area of Rotterdam, including fishmongers, a mustard maker and a mushroom grower.

http://www.rotterdamseoogst.nl

Friday - To the woods!

Foraging is the mot de jour in these, to use the abused cliche, times of austerity.

I have however always been a fan and when I was still living back home we went often to the woods: wild asparagus, blackberries, mushrooms, flowers and herbs were among our fare.

There's a certain peculiar satisfaction in picking your own food and you always have the impression that it tastes better than shop bought one.

So I was very pleased to discover, while reading the Coop magazine, that a lady called Ria Loohuizen, author of several books on foraging, is offering guided tour into the nature in the area of Groningen to teach how to pick edible local plants. The tour ends with a dinner which includes dishes prepared with the foraged food.

Some information about a previous tour and contact details are available here and according to the Coop magazine, Ms Loohuizen can also be directly contacted at the rialoo@XS4all.nl, mentioning "plukwandeling" (= picking walk) in the subject of the email.

Thursday - Non boring guided tours of Amsterdam

My friend A. did this tour on Monday, was quite enthusiastic and warmly recommended it.

Here's what she had to say:

"No need for booking, just pop up in Dam square at the start time (we made the tour in the afternoon).
Stephanie, our guide, was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about Amsterdam, she told us plenty of stories and anecdotes!
perfect for cheese lover`s (not for me!), during the tour they even got cheese tasting.
and of course you pay what you want, Stephanie deserves a good tip :o)"

It's almost free, save for the 3 euros of the booking fee and covers, in a funny and entertaining way, the history of the city through its main sights.

The tours departs from the Dam twice a day.

http://www.newamsterdamtours.com/daily-tours/new-amsterdam.html

Wednesday - Book launch: the metropolitan polder

The polder metropool is the Randstad, the agglomeration in the north west of the country including the main Dutch cities which, given the chronic lack of space in this part of the country, will one day become one large urban and semi-urban entity: a metropolis.

The author Pieter Maessen, a journalist and adviser to the municipality of Rotterdam, will present (in Dutch) his book at the Paagman on the Fred this evening at 19.00. For the uninitiated, the Fred is how people from The Hague call the street Frederik Hendriklaan.

Entry is free but reservation is advised.

http://www.paagman.nl/metropool

Tuesday - Katwijk: Remembering the fallen at sea

A very touching monument at the end of the boulevard in Katwijk remembers the town's fishermen who perished since 1919.

"Gone to the sea for their daily bread, oblivious to death. No farewell given to the loved ones, only the names and memories remain".

Monday - Motel Mozaique is coming to town

There is still some time to buy tickets for Motel Mozaique, the itinerant music festival kicking off in Rotterdam this Friday.

Two nights of music, events and performances in big and small venues scattered all over town: bring your confy shoes!

We went on Saturday last year and had an awesome time, discovering some new cool acts and singers. So much so that this year we bought tickets for both nights.

On my list, Aluna George, Laura Mvula and the Milk Carton Kids (I don't know them, but I do love the name).

http://www.motelmozaique.nl/program

Sunday - Happy Easter!

Not much open today, in terms of museums, shops or cafes, so the best is actually to go for a walk on the beach, weather permitting, or else stay at home and indulge in a day long brunch.

Saturday - Escape to the (Dutch) Country

Scattered on the polders between Wassenaar and Leiden, are several farms and cheese makers selling their products from small shops on their premises.

Different kind of high quality cheeses, butter, yoghurt and other local delicacies are sold for very reasonable prices. You can indeed taste the difference from supermarket bought equivalents.

Eggs are on sale too, so it's a good chance to stock up some for the Easter days.

My personal favorite is Nellestijn, with its gigantic dog, well kept cows and cute lambs. Try the zeer oud cheese, the yoghurt and the mustard with honey.

Fun fact: the daughter of the owner was the first girl to appear on the popular Dutch TV show "Boer Zoekt Vrouw" (=  "Farmer looks for a wife"), although I am not sure if she managed to find love (or an husband, or both) on that occasion.

http://www.nellesteijn.nl

Friday - Witness the Good Friday re-enactment

The description of the Orientalis in Nijmegen sounds like one of Simpsons' Ned Flanders' Bible based fantasy dreams.

A park that describes itself as a "trip through the three holy books", with reconstructed holy land villages, Bedouin camps and the nativity grotto.

However words can be deceiving and if you don't try it, you will never know.

On the program for this afternoon a re-enactment of the Passion of Christ, featuring Pontius Pilatus, the Golgotha and the Getsemani grove.

http://www.museumparkorientalis.nl

Thursday - These boots are made for walking (and then going back by train)

Although it's one of the most densely populated countries in the world, there are plenty of interesting walks to do in The Netherlands passing across pretty green areas with canals, tiny villages and polders.

A good starting point is the website eropuit.nl, which is a brainchild of the NS (National Railways).

A search engine on the left column allows you to set the criteria you wish: departure place, kind of excursion (nature, sporty, with kids, with museums), date of the trip.

According to what you chose, several suggestions are provided with useful information about the length, the sights, the costs involved and public transportation advice.

http://www.eropuit.nl

Wednesday - Slow food in Rotterdam

I am a sucker for all things sustainable that are so fashionable right now: farmers' markets, heritage products, long lost vegetables. A bit hypocritical too, since my clothes and house appliances are most likely made by kids in some sweatshop in the Far East. Anyway, these are confusing times.

Uit Je Eigen Stad (From your own town) is a little surprising enterprise based in Rotterdam, hidden in the quite uninspiring area of the harbour where the fruit and vegetables freight companies are located.

They grow their own vegetables and serve them in the cafe', together with locally produced meat and cheeses. The produce is also on sale and they have a stall at the monthly Rotterdam Harvest Market.

It's a very nice place to have a lazy Sunday brunch outdoor when the weather gets better or a dinner with friends in the cosily furnished interiors.

Try the pear juice: it's delicious!

http://www.uitjeeigenstad.nl

UPDATE: 25/07/14

We went there for dinner Friday last week: it was a lovely, warm evening, so we sat outside enjoying the weather, the dozing cats and the roaming chicken.

Some of us had fish while other had pork and everything was lovely.

Like any proper hipster place, they have local craft beer produced in Rotterdam, which is absolutely worth trying.

Before going back, we took a walk through the fields and glass houses where gorgeous tomatoes and other veggies are grown.

Check their website out for more info on their Saturday and Sunday open air market.

Tuesday - The future is in the cards

I found an intriguing postcard in the Boterwaag the other day, advertising Tarots readings and workshops.

Not really my thing, although I  know people who profess themselves "former sceptics" converted by a particular skilled cards reader who made them change their minds by guessing it all right.

I must admit that it does however sound like a fun, if only just to impress friends and families at dinner parties.

Consultations, classes, party and festival hires are all available.

http://www.ridderspoor.nl

Monday - Get down with the cool kids in Almelo

I am obviously past the age and anyway always lacked the skills for it, but for people between 10 and 25 there's a really cool venue in Almelo called NAXT, offering classes and open sessions for aspiring break dancers, songwriters and visual art wizz.

There are yearly courses of DJing, slow motion animation, producing and hip-hopping, but you can also buy a daily ticket (for only 5 euro) and join daily open sessions with professional coaches giving you tips and guidance in the new art of your choice.
.
Concerts and events are periodically organised as well. You can get an idea of what they are doing on their YouTube channel and FB page.

http://www.naxt.nl

http://www.youtube.com/user/NAXTcreative