The Lord of the Ring ... hood

Just found this out on "How to Dutch": in North Brabant's Geldrop where the streets of a whole neighborhood are called after characters from Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.

It looks like a fairly new development, but I couldn't find anywhere any explanation on why the town administrators decided to call the roads  like this. I just guess that someone at the planning department is a big Tolkien's fan.

So people can live on Gandalf, Frodo, Saruman and of course, Aragorn. 

Personally, I wouldn't mind living on Legolas.

http://tolkien-inspiration.blogspot.nl/2012/03/geldrop-curious-way-of-tribute.html

Writers Unlimited, The Hague

The must-go appointment for literature lovers in the NL, Writers Unlimited starts today in The Hague.

Tickets are still available and although I always think that these events are always a bit too expensive to become really mainstream, some of the writers enlisted are really worth seeing.

There's Ian Buruma, for instance, the Dutch-British journalist and writer, whose area of interest range from the causes and aftermath of the killing of Theo Van Gogh to the history of modern Japan. He just wrote a very interesting book about 1945. See its NYT review here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/29/books/review/year-zero-by-ian-buruma.html?_r=0

Then there's Amin Maalouf, Lebanese writer and member of the Academie Francaise, who will give a lecture tomorrow evening and will be interviewed on stage on Saturday.

I also like Geert Mak very much, especially his travel book and TV series In Europa. Old episodes can be seens here:

http://www.uitzendinggemist.nl/programmas/3350-in-europa

Indeed a full programme and an ideal indoor activity, also given the sad sad weather.

Link to the festival's website (in English):

http://www.winternachten.nl/winternachten/aeditieopening.php?editie=10094&taal=engels

Happy 2014! - New year, new blog.

And....we're back!

You might have already noticed the slightly different background, which is a collage of the pictures used in last year posts and the slightly different title.

The updates will be regular and plentiful however it's very hard to guarantee daily ones: unfortunately I have a job (meaning that it would be nicer to just win the lottery and go traveling the world, not that I am ungrateful for the fact that I do have a job) and (at times) an hectic life and a daily post proved to be sometimes quite a challenge.

There are nevertheless gazillions of things to do in Holland and I am quite determined to uncover them  for you, lovely readers, and duly report them.

For more updates and tips, keep checking also the Facebook and Pinterest pages.

Season's greetings

This blog goes on holidays and wishes you all a wonderful time during this festive season.

We will be back mid-january with a new format and plenty of new ideas on ... Things to do in Holland.

Tot ziens!

Monday - Winter table parade

You know the Parades in summer, those sort of high brow fun fairs with theatre acts, music and dance performances taking place in circus-like settings?

This is the winter version, only that the artists will performing on the top of a 120-meter long table at which you will be sitting and enjoying a drink.

www.tafelvanidee.nl

Sunday - Fairytales in Den Haar's castle

Den Haag castle is a wonderful fairytale like castle just outside Utrecht.

During the Christmas holidays, it comes alive with its ancient inhabitants and their fabolous fantasy lives.

Sprookjes van Den Haag is open till the 5 January, including  on Christmas and Boxing days: the perfect treat for kids who have it all!

www.kasteeldenhaar.nl

Saturday - Natural beauty in Groningen

Natural beauty is not just the topic of the popular BBC show "Snog, Marry or Avoid".

It's also the main theme of an ongoing exhibition in the Groninger Museum, showcasing the never seen before collection of a German art enthusiast.

Mr Rau managed to collect more than 800 pieces covering 500 years of Western art history: Sisley, Monet and Morandi among the others.

Possibly to be combined with some Christmas shopping in Groningen...

http://www.groningermuseum.nl/en/exhibition/natural-beauty-%E2%80%93-fra-angelico-monet

Friday - On Titanic and other stories

Last chance to see Ashley Ramsden performing "Titanic" and the "Man who planted seeds" today, at the Paradijs in the Koninklijke Schouwburg.

We have been on Wednesday and as always loved the atmosphere and the performance of this amazing story-teller and are very grateful to the STET who keeps bringing him here year in and year out.

http://www.ashleyramsden.com/

http://www.theenglishtheatre.nl/

Thursday - Christmas ballets

In case you were looking for a traditional Christmas ballet, the Dutch National Ballet is currently performing Sleeping Beauty at the Muziektheater in Amsterdam while the DDDD at the Lucent Dance Theater will make the Nutcracker come alive in Den Haag.

http://www.het-muziektheater.nl/en/program/2013-2014/sleeping-beauty/

http://www.ddddd.nu/en/productie.php?page=31

Wednesday - On cute cats and other animals, in Enschede

An interactive touchy feely exhibition for kids between 4 and 12, "Ah, wat lief" at the Concordia in Enschede, explores the psychological motives that make people exclaim "Oooo, it's so cute!" when they see a pet.

What would Grumpy Cat say? No, probably.

http://www.concordia.nl/detail/4034/ah-wat-lief-concordia

Tuesday - Theo Jansen's marvellous beach walking machines

Theo Jansen is a Dutch artist who, in his own words, creates nothing less than "new forms of life".

Intelligent, self thinking machines made of PVC tubes, ropes and plastic bottles which once a year he lets loose on a Dutch beach.

Watch him here explaining his creations during a TED talk, it's pretty amazing:

http://www.ted.com/talks/theo_jansen_creates_new_creatures.html

They use the power of the wind to walk and are able, through a mechanism that's explained in the video, to detect the water and stop when they reach it. He even was able to develop a system to allow the machine to fix itself to the ground when it gets stormy.

It's A.I. made of rubbish and it's wonderful to watch.

You can visit his lab/studio in Ypenburg by following the (very sweet and low key) directions provided on his website:

http://www.strandbeest.com/events.php

The location of the next straandbeest walk will be announced on his website in January 2014.

Copyrighted

Monday - Den Bosch

Frequently overlooked by mainstream tourists, possibly because they would never be able to pronounce its name when trying to buy a train ticket, 'S-Hertogenbosch, or as us in known call it, Den Bosch, should instead be featured more prominently among the Dutch cities known by visitors.

And, as the poster below seen along track 5 at Schiphol mentions, it has been awarded the title " most guest friendly city of the NL".

It has a splendid gothic cathedral, it was the hometown of the awesomely freaky painter Jeronimus Bosch and, being in Noord Barabant, is known for its food and cakes.

Furthermore, there's an ongoing "Winter Paradise Festival" perfect for 'tis season.

http://www.boschwinterparadijs.nl/

http://www.vvvdenbosch.nl/go/home

Sunday - Amsterdam Sunday Market

Another day, another market, this time in Amsterdam.

Browse around for your sustainable Christmas presents, taste organic food, copy crafty ideas and remake them yourself at home, enjoy the artworks and keep the kids entertained.

http://www.sundaymarket.nl/

Saturday - Utrecht street market

Lovely monthly market in Utrecht, this time in a Christmas version and lasting till Sunday instead than just the customary Saturday.

http://destreekmarkt.nl/

Friday - Candle-lit Christmassy Gouda

Together with the Christmas Carol show, this has to be my favorite Christmassy thing to do in Holland.

The whole city shines in the warmth of flickering fairy lights and at between 19.00 and 20.00, the lights on the Markt are turned off and in each window on the square, including in the gothic city hall, a candle is lit.

It's truly magical and I warmly recommend it. It also includes many of side events.

http://eng.goudabijkaarslicht.nl/

Thursday - Our Dear Lord in the Attic

After a thread of churches becoming something else, this post kind of goes in the opposite direction, since it's part of a house (the upper floors) that hides a church.

Our Lord in the Attic is definitely the coolest museum in Amsterdam.

A facade of a XVII century canal house hides a church "carved" during the Reformation, when catholics where forbidden to practice their religion, at least in public.

http://www.opsolder.nl/eng/home.php

Copyright I Amsterdam

Wednesday - Amsterdam's hidden trasures

One comment I hear a lot from first time visitors to Amsterdam, is that they didn't like it a lot and found it tacky, messy and cheap looking.

The problem is, all first time visitors limit themselves to the Damrak, the Dam, the Red Light District and the occasional visit to Leidseplein, without even ever knowing about the existence of the Joordan or the Pijp, for instance.

A little, cute and hand-drawn map tries to put remedy to this by featuring the city's lesser known attractions: 9 Straatjes, small cafes, indipendent shops and smaller museums.

http://city-treasure-map.com

Tuesday - The (bike) hitchhiker's guide of The Netherlands

We all have seen couples, friends and family members biking this way, however an artist based in Utrecht, Mapije de Wit, went a step further: she installed Bike Hitchhiking signs in several spots in Utrecht, so if you have a free spot on the back of your bike and are going in the same direction, you can give someone a
bike-lift.

The Municipality of Utrecht is actually thinking about officially adopting the scheme.

http://mapije.com/v3/projecten/fiets-lift-plaats/

Copyright Mapije.com

Monday - Things to do in Rotterdam

A very late post but as we get closer to Christmas, days seems to be getting shorter and more hectic.

So today I will only be able to share a link I have found on the Independent with suggestions and tips on things to do in Rotterdam.

http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/48-hours-in/48-hours-in-rotterdam-8198260.html

Sunday - Laurenskerk in Rotterdam

A church that is still a church and hasn't been converted into anything fancy, is the Laurenskerk in Rotterdam, one of the few architectural survivors of the war's bombing.

For those who are interested, there are several services every Sunday. For all the others, it's still worth visiting, since they have a varied program of concerts and cultural events.

www.laurenskerkrotterdam.nl