Summer of floral embrace

Summer 2012
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S E R V I N G T H E I N T E R N AT I O N A L C O M M U N I T Y
.ACCESS-NL.ORG
25
th
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y
a
nn
iversa
Summer of
floral embrace
Special features | The Floriade and a Blossoming industry |
Veer towards Venlo | Buds to decorate, tantalise and relieve stress |
What’s on | maintain that holiday feeling when back ‘home’! |
BI G BE N K ID S CENTRE
19-23 Zoutman Straat
2518 GL, Den Haag
bigbenkids@bigbenkids.com
The choice for quality care in the Hague
A dedicated Babies Centre.
A dedicated Toddler Centre (Day Care with pre-school).
A dedicated After School Club with pick ups from HSV,
local schools, French Lycee amongst others.
Secure environment rich with toys and learning opportunities.
A superb and dedicated staff – qualified as teachers,
nurses, and trained in first aid and emergency responses.
An active parents committee which makes all the major
decisions.
Free administrative support from Blue Umbrella.
A wealth of extra-curricular activities – music lessons,
Irish Dancing and Ballet.
All programmes are in English.
An all inclusive price which includes tax and admin,
2 hot meals a day, nappies.
500 sq metres of indoor space in a modern ground floor
setting, 20m from Albert Heijn XL on Eland Straat.
One tram stop north of the city.
Great garden measuring 120 sq metres.
For enquiries, arranging a meet and greet contact:
06 27325236 Nikki Idrissi
070 326 5602 Parents Enquiry Line
070 363 4070 Admin
Or email: bigbenkids@bigbenkids.com
|
ACCESS e-zine
Summer 2012 Vol. 25 No. 2
Contents
• Letter from the Executive D
­ irector
Summer 2012
Flowers
as seeds
of identity
PHOTO: NBTC Holland
• ACCESS News
• Community News
• What’s on
• Flowers as seeds of identity
• The alluring variety of Venlo
• Flowers and Fashion
• Grow your own urban veggies!
• Lifestyle: Home, sweet home?
• Travel: The flurry of flowers
• Scents & stress relief
The alluring
variety of
Venlo
• Food: Fresh summer recipes
Copyright©ACCESS 2012
All rights reserved. No part of the ACCESS e-zine may
be used in any form without explicit permission in
­writing from the Publisher. Every effort has been made
to ensure that the information in this publication was
correct at the time of going to press. However, ACCESS
and its writers cannot accept any responsibility for the
accuracy of the information included.
Flowers
and
fashion:
a love
that
endures
PHOTO: Peter Stigter
Colophon
Publisher Stichting ACCESS - Zeestraat 100,
2nd floor, 2518 AD The Hague, Editorial content
editor@access-nl.org, Advertising 070 345 1700,
adv@access-nl.org, Editors Simon Andrew,
Carina Hyllested, Assistant Editor Mandie Rose
Danielski, Design & layout Marek Moggré,
Contributors Lucy Bosscher, Mandie Rose Danielski,
Ann Jennen, Connie Moser, Giorgia Muirhead,
Barbara Reale, Mary Jane Roy, Roland Stockton,
Kathy Voyles, Cover photo Carina Hyllested
PHOTO: C. H. Chen
• ACCESS Courses
Letter from the Executive Director
which can help us overcome stress, gardens
and flowers which can inspire us to reintroduce our urban children to nature and flowers,
which like it not, are increasingly adorning
the fashion options we have. We discover how
an industry is managed and about a small town
where the world will converge.
Just a few seeds and yet, endless
possibilities
Dear
ACCESS
readers
The garden we grow
Seeds and flowers: a natural association.
As this issue of the ACCESS e-zine reveals,
from many seeds many things are blossoming. We learn from our community of professionals, how we can appreciate, benefit from
this flower festival – from the Floriade and
all that it inspires. There are flowers to be
enjoyed at the table; flowers the scents of
4 | access | summer
Not dissimilar to what we see at ACCESS every
day. Volunteering with ACCESS plants the
seeds of possibility, of potential and of success.
Regardless of how long a volunteer is with us
they grow in so many ways. In confidence by
applying their skills and picking up new ones;
in contacts and community, by meeting new
friends; in successfully relocating to the
Netherlands. They are seeds and gardeners at the
same time, for through their efforts they ensure
that many more also flourish in the Netherlands.
Seeds alone do not make a flower though.
In order for us, ACCESS, to allow our garden
to grow we rely on the contributions of many
elements. We are grateful for those who
already help us plant and nourish, but encourage more to join us and ensure that those who
have invested to come here, flourish and grow
when they do. «
Deborah Valentine - edirector@access-nl.org
About
ACCESS is a volunteer
not-for-profit organisation that serves the needs
and interests of the
­i nternational community
in the Netherlands.
It is supported by Dutch,
inter­n ational and
­e xpatriate businesses
and organisations
through donations and
sponsorship.
Executive Board
•Chairman: Gary Hays, TNK-BP
•Vice Chairman: Kiri Kikis,
Kikis Investments
•Treasurer: to be appointed
•Secret ary: Imanda Wapenaar,
WFIA
Members
What we do
Established in 1986 ACCESS is a unique volunteer-based
organisation. Representing an impressive cultural and
­linguistic variety, its dedicated volunteers work to:
• provide guidance, advice, information to help individuals
with settling, and/or living and working in the Netherlands
• promote friendship, understanding and well-being of the
members of the international community in the
Netherlands
• contribute to community development through skill training schemes and courses
• serve as a bridge between local and international
communities
How you can help
ACCESS can be supported in many ways:
• As a Volunteer: check the website for Information Morning
dates or contact vrd@access-nl.org
• As a Trainer: consult ‘Become a Trainer’ on www.access-nl.org
• As an Associate or Partner: details of which can also be
found on our website
• As an Advertiser: on our website or in our e-zine.
Contact adv@access-nl.org
• As a Friend: Like our Facebook page or follow us on
Twitter to show your support. Click on links below
•Charles van Beuningen,
van Beuningen advocaten
•Connie Moser
•Willemijn van Oppen-Stuyt,
Educaide
•Jessie Rodell
•Lars Tomson, ABN AMRO.
ACCESS
Zeestraat 100
2518 AD The Hague
The Hague International Centre
City Hall Atrium, Spui 70
0900 2 ACCESS (0900 2 222 377)
local rate 20c per minute
helpdesk@access-nl.org
www.access-nl.org
Join ACCESS on
access | summer | 5
Partners
Thank you for your support
PLATINUM
• Gemeente Den Haag
GOLD
• ABN-AMRO Bank
• The British School in the Netherlands
•W
est-Holland Foreign Investment Agency
SILVER
• American School of The Hague
• GMW Advocaten
• International School of The Hague
• ICP – International Community Platform
Associates
Thank you for your support
• 10 for Kids
• Bizstay The Hague
• Bureau Kraamzorg Extra
• Crunch Cafe
• J.C.Suurmond & zn Tax Consultants
• Petra Foesenek - Skin Therapy
• PR Housing
• De Regenbogen Beheer
• STET The English Theatre
• Voorhoeve Foundation
BRONZE
• AngloINFO South Holland
• Big Ben Kids
• The British School of Amsterdam
• Bronovo Hospital
• BSN Language Centre
• Direct Dutch Institute
• DutchbuzZ
• DutchNews.nl
• Financial Consultants De Boer
• The Guest Card
• The Hague Online
• International Health Centre The Hague
• Kickstart School
• ThexpatTV
• The Underground The Hague
• Xpat Media
• Zo Kinderopvang & Bso
6 | access | summer
The ACCESS Associate scheme is aimed at small
and start-up businesses to enable them to reach
a diverse international audience. With our
Associate scheme we offer the benefits of a
l­isting both on the ACCESS website and in the
ACCESS e-zine, and promotional opportunities
to our Facebook and Twitter audience.
Contact fnd@access-nl.org to find out more about
becoming an Associate.
Your organisation’s name here?
Supporting ACCESS means helping
over 20,000 people in the expat and
international community each year.
ACCESS news
The 3rd ACCESSing
the Netherlands
series held in March
was again a success.
ACCESSing
the Netherlands
ACCESSing the Netherlands is
an informal and informative
event. Professionals are
invited to give an overview of
and answers to questions on
several aspects of living in the
Netherlands. For an impres-
movie: ACCESSNL
Participants, speakers and
organisers provided such
­positive feedback that the
International Community
Platform has commissioned
ACCESS to run the series
again in early October 2012.
sion of what this offers to
new comers, and even those
who have been here a bit
l­onger but are facing new
Back in the saddle
ACCESS, one of the founders of the Feel
at home in The Hague, is proud to share that
it will again be actively involved in the
7th edition of this event. ACCESS is calling
all community groups, sporting and social
groups to join this event that is sure to put
‘life’ events, click on the film
made by THEXPAT.tv. To view
the presentations made in
March 2012 click here. «
you in touch with the international community. And, for those who have not yet
found their ‘group’ be sure to come by and
discover what is possible.
Mark your calendars for 16 September 2012
and keep your eyes on our site for more
information. «
access | summer | 7
Community news
PHOTO: Gerard van Roon
Primary school and
retirement home join
forces for sustainability
8 | access | summer
Community news
Boeren in Benoordenhout
(Farming in Benoordenhout)
wants to make a small contribution
to a more sustainable world.
Together with the primary school,
Paschalisschool and the retirement home
Arendsdorp, Boeren in Benoordenhout wants
to raise awareness amongst the children
in Benoordenhout, The Hague, for the
need to live in a more sustainable way
whilst stimulating the social cohesion
between young and old - and have fun.
The goal is to make sure our children
know that tomatoes don’t grow in cans
and that we need cows in order to have
milk and cheese. To get them a bit closer
to nature, to the beauty of seasons and
the fun of looking forward to them;
s­ummer, the season to eat strawberries,
or autumn and winter, the seasons for
great Dutch apples.
If you would like to help introduce children to gardening and have fun at the
same time, please contact Daniella Gidaly,
daniella@gidaly.nl or Barbara Steenbergen,
barbarasteenbergen@supportandsolutions.nl. «
International
school in
Utrecht opens
in August 2012
International School Utrecht
(ISU) is the first official Dutch
International School in the
Province of Utrecht. The school
is funded and recognised by the
Dutch government, and it will
offer academic programmes for
international students living in
Utrecht and the surrounding area.
ISU aspires to provide the
International Baccalaureate
­educational progression and
will apply for authorisation
to become an International
Baccalaureate World School
­offering all three IB programmes;
the Primary Years Programme
(PYP), the Middle Years
Programme (MYP) and the
Diploma Programme (DP). «
www.isutrecht.nl
access | summer | 9
Community news
Which Dutch
city should be
European Capital
of Culture 2018?
Every year, two European
countries may supply a
Capital of Culture and in 2018
it falls to the Netherlands to
designate a Capital of Culture,
along with malta.
Did
you k
now
Amster
dam wa ...
s Capi
of Cultu
re in 19 tal
87
and Rot
terdam
in 2011
.
In 2013, a jury consisting of Dutch and international experts will
decide which Dutch
city may carry the title.
The Hague, Utrecht, Maastricht,
the joint proposal of Brabant City (Breda,
Eindhoven, Helmond, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Tilburg
and surrounding areas), Almere and Friesland are
competing for the honour - and to become home
of a year-long programme of cultural events that
are of interest to all inhabitants of Europe.
Visit the candidate cities’ websites to give your
support to their Capital of Culture bid. «
Free Internet in The Hague
The municipality
of The Hague
has launched
a project to
provide free
internet access
in the entire city
within two years.
10 | access | SummEr
The free Internet access via WiFi was
initiated in April on the Spuiplein
and the Grote Marktstraat in the
city centre, and in the Zuiderpark.
For legal reasons the municipality
is not allowed to provide WiFi itself
so the city is inviting commercial
parties to offer wireless local area
networks in other areas as well.
The municipality’s role in the project
is to mediate in talks between interested companies and owners of
buildings where antennas could
be placed.
The municipality already provides
free WiFi in the City Hall, the public
library and at the sub-municipal
offices. «
Community news
Ever wanted
to walk on water?
Well, crossing the moat of the Fort de
Roovere in Halsteren, West Brabant gives
The flow of the moat appears
continuous, as the water level
remains at the same level,
reflecting the surrounding
foliage. As visitors approach
the fort, the bridge appears as
a break in the water with its
sloping walls containing it.
You can then walk up to its
gates like Moses on the water.
PHOTOs: RO&AD Architecten
you the opportunity – or close to it
anyway. There is a bridge, but from afar
the Moses Bridge is invisible to the eye.
The Moses Bridge was designed
by RO & AD Architects and was
awarded with the prestigious
BNA (Union of Dutch
Architects) Building of the
Year 2011, Southern Region.
Day of Architecture
23-24 June. This year’s theme
is Architecture and Food.
Check the Royal Institute of
Dutch Architects website for a
full programme. «
access | summer | 11
What’s on Summer 2012
Special events in June
WANT TO post a community event in this e-zine? contact access MAGAZINE at EDITOR@access-nl.org, SUBJECT: ‘what’s on’.
12 - 17 June
Festival Classique
The Hague
movie: Festival Classique
A classical music festival in the
historical city centre of The Hague.
From concerts with a grand and
festive entourage on the floating
Hofvijver stage to intimate performances in unexpected
locations.
www.festivalclassique.nl
International
Poetry Festival
Rotterdam
The focus of this year’s festival
will be on unfinished and
incomplete poetry. Just like
Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony,
poetry can sometimes be incomplete because of the death of
the poet. If the reader can fill
in the blanks himself, is it still
incomplete? When is something
complete?
www.poetryinternational.org
1 - 28 June Holland Festival- Amsterdam
The number one trend-setting performing arts festival in the
Netherlands bringing all the performance arts, visual arts, literature
and architecture together in Amsterdam.
www.hollandfestival.nl
28 June Oerol Festival
Terschelling
There aren’t many festivals that
can say they take over an island,
but the Oerol Festival actually does!
Artists, inhabitants and shops of
Terschelling guarantee a surprising
program.
PHOTO: Sil Kok
12 - 17 June
www.oerol.nl
access | summer | 13
What’s on Summer 2012
Special events in July
WANT TO post a community event in this e-zine? contact access MAGAZINE at EDITOR@access-nl.org, SUBJECT: ‘what’s on’.
PHOTO: lennykravitz.com
21 & 27 - 28 July Summer carnival - Rotterdam
If you think carnival and the Netherlands don’t match, the Summer
Carnival in Rotterdam will prove you wrong. A street parade, brass band
contest, carnival queen election and 900,000 dancing people in the
streets of Rotterdam create one of the most tropical and colourful carnivals you’ll ever see.
6 - 8 July
PHOTO: Daarzijn/Rotterdam Image Bank
North Sea Jazz Festival
Rotterdam
Amongst others, Macy Gray &
David Murray Blues Big Band,
Van Morrison and Tony Bennet
are confirmed for this indoor
festival in Rotterdam. Similar to
last year, a night concert has
been organised; on Friday night
Lenny Kravitz will take the stage.
www.northseajazz.com
www.zomercarnaval.com
17 - 20 July The Four Days Marches and
3 - 14 July Julidans
Festival - Nijmegen
Amsterdam
Every year 40,000 people show up at the greatest walking event in the
world: the Nijmeegse Vierdaagse (Four Days Marches). Registration to
the walk is closed, but Nijmegen welcomes everybody to the Vierdaagse­
feesten (Four Days Festival) which serves you a mixture of music, food
and drinks.
An international contemporary
dance festival where you can
watch dance performances, enjoy
dinner with the choregraphers
or have you own dance lesson.
www.4daagse.nl
www.julidans.nl
14 | access | summer
What’s on Summer 2012
Special events in August
WANT TO post a community event in this e-zine? contact access MAGAZINE at EDITOR@access-nl.org, SUBJECT: ‘what’s on’.
24 August - 2 September British Open Air
24 - 25 August
Theatre - Various locations
Brabant Open Air
Eindhoven
Enjoy Henri V by Shakespeare and The Twits, Roald Dahl’s famous book,
adapted for the stage by David Wood, in gorgeous settings. The tour
starts in Wassenaar in the beautiful grounds of Raadhuis De Paauw
and travels on to Keppel Castle, a still privately lived-in castle close to
Arnhem, and to the oldest castle in the province of Brabant, Heeswijk
Castle. The tour is rounded off at the Schovenhorst Estate.
www.theenglishtheatre.nl
‘t Preuvenemint
Maastricht
Preuvenemint is a contraction
of the Maastricht words preuve
(to taste) and evenemint (event)
- and these are exactly what you
can expect at this large open-air
restaurant, at the Vrijthof
square in the city of Maastricht.
Spectacular culinary sensations
accompanied by an appealing
music program. Over thirty
stands are put up here and function just like any high quality
restaurant - come and be ready
for a surprise, or two.
www.preuvenemint.nl
www.brabantopenair.nl
24 - 26 August Uitmarkt - Amsterdam
The Uitmarkt is the national opening of the cultural season.
Performances will be held at numerous theatres, museums and venues
near the Museumplein, Leidseplein and the Vondelpark in Amsterdam.
PHOTOs: Cris Toala Olivares
23 - 26 August
The Asteroids Galaxy Tour and
Simple Minds are some of the
musical acts that will entertain
you - and 20,000 other people!
www.amsterdamsuitburo.nl
access | summer | 15
Cover story
Flowers
as seeds
of identity
PHOTO: NBTC Holland
When people hear Holland,
they think flowers. Along with
windmills, ‘wooden shoes’ and…
certain more commonly illegal
herbal substances, the tulip is
an internationally recognised
symbol of the Netherlands.
by Giorgia Muirhead
16 | access | summer
What other country can say that their
claim to fame is one of nature’s greatest and most beautiful triumphs?
And this year sees the return of another
Dutch claim to fame, the once-adecade Floriade. Unsurprisingly, as
the flower industry has a firm place in
Dutch history and culture. But what is
that place, and what does it mean for
the international community?
ST ED
ri N A H yL LE
PH O TO : CA
P H OTO :
FL O r iA D
E
Feature header
FL O r iA D
P H OTO :
The world-famous Floriade is currently
running in Venlo, until October 7.
This massive interactive celebration
of all things floral takes place once
every decade in the Netherlands, and
has done so since 1960. Visitors flock
to the exhibition from all over the
globe to view a one-of-a-kind and
uniquely Dutch phenomenon.
E
Floriade 2012: distinctively Dutch
It might be tempting to view the
Floriade as the Keukenhof ’s bigger,
marginally flashier cousin, but nothing could be further from the truth. »
access | SummEr | 17
Cover story | Flowers as seeds of identity
“The Floriade has
been an international
draw since the 60s”
Closer in spirit to a festival than a passive park, the event features musical
performances, indoor and outdoor
exhibitions, theatre, dance, restaurants and more – all in praise and reverence of flowers. It is hard to imagine
another country setting up a six-month
long carnival dedicated solely to pretty
plants.
In essence, the Floriade is the perfect,
internationally-known example of the
significance the flower industry has
– and has always had – in this country.
As an expat, you of course know about
the national weight the industry has
today, but it is in the context of its past
and future where a spectacle such as
the Floriade is best understood.
Floriade 2012
PHOTO: Carina Hyllested
5 April to 7 October 2012
• 5 April - 21 June
10:00 - 19:00
• 21 June - 2 September
10:00 - 20:00
• 3 September - 7 October 10:00 - 19:00
18 | access | summer
How to get there
Drive towards Venlo and you won’t miss the
signs to Floriade 2012
Entrance
• Adults
• Children (4 - 12 years) • Parking www.floriade.com
€ 25
€12.50
€6
beauty and exotic look, they also became
a physical, tradable commodity that represented the wealth and personal
achievement of the buyer.
Booming blooms
The aforementioned bulbs arrived in
the Netherlands from Turkey and Iran,
back in the late 16th century. Holland
had just happily entered its ‘Golden
Age’ – the period of 1600 to 1700 during which it ruled the seas and made
a fortune through colonies and the
spice industry. Faced with an almost
overnight doubling of disposable
income, the middle and upper-classes
were now looking for expenditures
to complement their lavish lifestyles
and newly-acquired taste for luxury.
Along came tulips. Tulip mania (tulpenmanie or tulpenwoede) is the name given
to a bizarre bidding war over tulip
bulbs amongst the rich. These unassuming little brown globes became the
ultimate status symbol for the nouveau
riche. Tulips were to the 18th century
elite what luxury cars represent now.
Besides the inherent value of their
PHOTO: FLOriADE
Bulbs (bloembollen) are exported from
the Netherlands all over the world.
This tiny, flat country that is several
sand dunes away from being a modern-day Atlantis just so happens to
be the global centre of the flower
and bulb trade. The reason for this
lies in its history.
Did
you k
Tulips w now...
er
century e to the 18 th
elite wh
at b
cars an
d tiny d ig
ogs
represe
nt now
Even after the bubble
burst, prices plummeted
and everyone returned to
their senses, the idea of flowers as
being distinctively Dutch remained
ingrained in the cultural conscience.
The flower industry had started in earnest, and gained momentum throughout the time that followed. Having
already earned an established history
as an export and trading country during »
access | SummEr | 19
Cover story | Flowers as seeds of identity
the Golden Century, the Netherlands
continued in that vein, becoming the
main growers and suppliers of flowers
to their neighbours, then their continent, and eventually the world.
Which brings us to present day, the
Floriade, and you. To grasp how perfectly the Floriade encompasses what
the flower industry in Holland means,
you need only to look at the guest list.
The event has been an international
draw for decades, attracting literally
millions, and showing them just what
the country can produce and is willing
to do to in order to display its oldest
badge of prosperity – the original purpose of the tulip all those years ago.
PHOTO: floriade
“Tulips represented a medal on
the country’s chest that proudly
read, ‘Holland; leading player on
the world stage’.”
Tulips today and tomorrow
20 | access | summer
What will happen when the enduring
symbol of wealth, stability and all-out
Dutchness is being produced somewhere else? For an answer to that, you
need merely to refer to the theme of the
2012 Floriade: “Be part of the theatre
in nature, get closer to the quality of
life.” That celebration of the quality of
life, as represented by Dutch flowers,
is really all the answer you need. «
In fact, no one in the international
community would be surprised to hear
that for the Netherlands, international
trade is still very much a vital part of its
character. It produces a vast percentage of the world’s bulbs while being a
relatively tiny market itself, so out
most of them go. The famous auctions
even operate in a comically similar way
to the early days of tulip mania, with
prices starting high and plummeting
within seconds. Both efficient and a
historical throwback – no wonder they
are doing well. This does not look set
to change too soon. The production,
however, is another story.
Giorgia Muirhead is the ACCESS
Web Editor webeditor@access-nl.org
The bulbs have been brought in,
exported out, and are now moving
back abroad; all in the space of about
400 years. What has this done to affect
the identity they brought along?
PHOTO: Carina Hyllested
You see, the times are changing. And
here, too, the relationship between the
Netherlands and international cooperation comes into play. Its position in
the global flower sector is slowly but
surely shifting. While no one is yet
challenging their legacy and seat at the
very centre of flower trade, the actual
production is currently moving to
other countries bit-by-bit.
access | summer | 21
Education | Partner feature
The British School in the Netherlands
Celebrating 80 years
in The Hague
This academic year sees The British
School in The Netherlands
celebrate its 80th anniversary.
Founded in The Hague in 1931 with
less than 20 pupils, the expansion
of The Hague as a centre for
international organisations and
businesses, coupled with the
growing reputation of the school,
has meant that today the BSN has
some two thousand students.
As one might expect, the BSN has
been through many changes and
developments during its 80-year
history. Today the school welcomes
students through its doors from
more than 80 different nationalities.
Paul Ellis, Head Teacher at Junior
School Diamanthorst – one of the
BSN’s three Junior Schools – has
22 | access | summer
been employed at the British School
for more than 30 years and has witnessed first-hand how the school
has evolved: “At the time I first joined
the British School it predominantly
served the British expatriate community.
However, as The Hague has become
increasingly international, so too has
the diversity of the children attending
the BSN. As such, the school has become
deeply embedded within the international
community, allowing our children to
learn about the value of diversity.
An ethos of mutual understanding and
cultural awareness within the school
community helps prepare students for
their lives as global citizens in an ever
changing world.”
The most significant aspect of
the celebrations will take place on
7 July when the new BSN Alumni
Association will be officially
launched at a special 80th
Anniversary Reunion, at which for-
mer pupils and staff members from
years gone by will be invited to come
back to The Hague for this special
event.
Paul explains how important this
sense of community still is at the
school: The community spirit amongst
parents, staff and children is one which
is very special indeed. What makes it so
unique is the shared drive and ambition
to be part of the success story of The
“ ... the vision for its new
Alumni Association is
to build a wide
accessible network”
British School. I’m aware of many examples in which people keep in touch after
they’ve left the BSN, however an Alumni
Association will provide the perfect mechanism and opportunity for even more
­former BSN children and staff members
to reconnect and stay in contact.”
can reconnect on a social or professional level. The association will also
provide its members with a range
of opportunities to share memories
or stories about the school, report
back news on their own achievements and network with each other.
The British School’s longer-term
vision for its new Alumni Association
is to build a wide accessible network, through which former pupils
Further information on the BSN
and its 80th anniversary celebrations
can be found on the school’s website www.britishschool.nl
Contact:
British School in
The Netherlands
Vrouw Avenweg 640
2593 WZ Den Haag
070 315 4077 or visit
www.britishschool.nl.
access | summer | 23
Travel
The alluring
variety
of Venlo
Venlo is a surprisingly active
municipality with ample opportunity for
fun and memories. The area is in North
Limburg, straddling the river Maas.
It includes more than just the historic
city of Venlo, but seven centres in total.
By Mandie Rose Danielski & Roland Stockton
Once you visit the area, you’ll
find a common denominator
among the people – a healthy
appreciation for the good
things in life. Food, drinks,
culture, history, art, music,
parties, festivals, nature and
good company. At an easy
two-hour drive or train ride
from Amsterdam or The
24 | access | summer
Hague, it’s an accessible
weekend away for all types
of travellers.
Days and days of festivals
Venlo is especially proud to
be the host of Floriade 2012
(see the article on page 16),
the first time that the exhibit
is held outside the Randstad.
But the citizens of Venlo are
already used to big events, like
the most popular Carnaval
every February. The party
starts again soon at Zomerpark­
feest, Summer Park Festival.
This free music and cultural
festival grooves on from 2 - 5
August in the Juliana Park in
Venlo, welcoming more than
80,000 visitors. The event has
grown over the past three
decades and is a cultural institution for the Limburg region.
It features music of all genres,
plus performances in dance,
theatre, fashion, film, literature and art. Former acts
include Kaizers Orchestra,
Paolo Nutini, Caro Emerald,
Omar Souleyman, Digital
Mystikz and more. With 100+
acts it truly is a “summer
cocktail culture powerhouse.”
Find out more at www.zomerparkfeest.nl (Dutch only) or
email info@zomerparkfeest.nl
for details in English.
Local flavours
For a chill afternoon any day,
Eugénie van der Meer of
Voorschoten, herself a Venlo
native, recommends a bike
ride along the river Maas.
“It’s a beautiful area for biking, a very big thing in North
Limburg,” says Eugénie.
“And it’s very nice to relax
afterwards with a beer at the
Markt square with a view of
city hall. Or try one of the
cafés on the Parade.”
The city hall is
one of Venlo’s
oldest historic landmarks still existing. The
Renaissance-style building
dates from 1596, flanked at
the front by two octagonal
towers of unequal height, plus
two more towers added during a restoration in 1887. Take
in the unusual architecture
from Café Restaurant Central on
the Markt. With three floors,
a terrace and a bar, they offer
plenty of atmosphere. Try the
three - or fourcourse surprise menu
with the special IJscappuccino. (Tel. 077 355 2373) »
Finding hotels
Call the VVV Tourist Office
of Venlo for more information and for help finding
hotels and attractions.
(Tel. 077 354 3800)
access | SummEr | 25
PHOTO: C. H. CHEN
Did
you k
now..
Hertog
.
Jan bee
r
i
sb
in Limb
urg, na rewed
John I, D med for
uke
Braban of
t.
Travel | The alluring variety of Venlo
PHOTO: Richard Fieten
“the village of
Grubbenvorst,
the ‘epicentre
of asparagus’”
PHOTO: Stichting Promotie Noord-Limburg
Asparagus, here we come!
The asparagus season erupts
April through June, and is
a staple for the region’s delicacies. To learn from the
experts, drive or bike to the
village of Grubbenvorst, the
“epicentre of asparagus.”
Make your way to the north
corner of Pastoor Vullinghs­
plein and find a cosy table
at Brasserie In de Witte Dame,
26 | access | summer
named for a local ghost story
about “the white lady.”
They’re located just 2km from
the Floriade exhibition. They
boast a large outdoor terrace
and a menu that changes every
8 weeks or so. Until 8 July you
can enjoy the seasonal vegetable prepared 11 different ways.
Try asparagus bitterballen, a
veggie spin on the traditional
Dutch bar snack.
For more than just the pleasant sit-down experience, tie
on your walking shoes for
the restaurant’s Asparagus
Wandelarrangement. This fivekm walk is led by a tour guide
through wooded paths along
asparagus farms. Begin with
coffee and a slice of vlaai in
the morning, then harvest
your own asparagus and be
back in time for lunch.
Castle Gardens, Arcen
Delight in breathtaking greenery
at Kasteeltuinen, with 10 rose gardens, plus Oriental gardens of
bamboo, bonsai & squirrel monkeys! This year, among the ponds
& rolling hills, dozens of sculptures by Zimbabwe artists take
center stage.
PHOTO: Stichting Promotie Noord-Limburg
This outing is an unforgettable introduction to Limburg
nature and epicurean delights.
(Tel. 077 327 8051)
Milling and distilling
If it’s a ‘spirited’ afternoon
you’re after, then visit the
charming Graanbranderij De
IJsvogel in Arcen. It’s an artisanal distillery mastering
in gins and a special ‘corn
brandy’. Follow a guided tour
or discover at your own pace.
Learn about the craft of distilling with the restored water
mill. After a liquor tasting
enjoy further refreshment on
the rustic terrace surrounded
by a brook. (Tel. 077 473 1240)
Green adventures
In 2003 Venlo was awarded
“Greenest City of Europe” and
continues as a leader in agriculture and environmental initiatives. Being green is important in urban construction and
beyond the city boundaries
and there are two naturally
stunning parks in the Venlo
area. The first is De Groote Peel
National Park with a unique
experience for hikers. The
springy, peaty soil underfoot
feels like you’re walking on a
waterbed. This wetland preserves what is left of former
natural bogs, now a maze of
peat moss, purple moor grass
areas, lakes and woodland.
Set out on your own trail or
walk a marked route of two,
three or six kilometres.
Be sure to stick to the paths
so as not to disturb the delicate nature surrounding you.
The second nature reserve is
National Park De Maasduinen, a
haven for hikers, bikers, horse
riders, birdwatchers and toad
lovers. Don’t miss the curious
horseshoe-shaped dunes.
Among the wildlife are knoflooktoad (or garlic toad), lizards,
deer, beavers, ermines, foxes,
cranes, woodpeckers… Who
needs a zoo with these 4,500
hectares of diverse nature
waiting to be discovered? «
access | summer | 27
Photo: BFI (British Film Institute - Photo from the film ‘Les demoiselles de Rochefort (1967))
Arts & culture
They say
fashion is
a cultural
barometer
of our times.
It gauges
the zeitgeist
of an epoch.
Flowers and Fashion:
A love that
endures
By Lucy Bosscher
28 | access | summer
In the 60s the mini skirt and the flower
power became the symbols of liberation, in the 80s it was all about
“excess-orising” a la Dynasty - big
hair, big shoulders, glitzy jewellery,
only to be followed by Japanese minimalism and the deconstruction ushered in by the Antwerp Six. As society’s
mirror, fashion reflects the cultural and
social trends prevalent at a given time.
So it is not surprising that when the
financial crisis hit in 2008, the fashion
world turned from bling and logo
mania to sobriety and restraint.
Four years on and at the backdrop of
sobriety a new trend is emerging: a
flowering garden of earthly delights.
Exotic blooms, prim roses, wildflowers
and all sorts of floral prints ranging
from huge motifs to stylised graphic
patterns ruled the catwalks from New
York to Paris, from London to Milan,
heralding the return of the pretty and
the feminine. The trend has been so
pervasive that even menswear has had
a healthy injection of floral cheer.
A much needed antidote to the ever
somber news? The return of flower
power? Or simply an indication that
our crisis weary souls are yearning
for beauty?
On a recent trip to Antwerp at the Dries
Van Noten store, I watched local
patrons, undeterred by prices, snap up
coats and dresses in bold printed fabric.
The prints were an unlikely mix of
hand-coloured seventeenth century
studies of butterfly wings, eighteenth
century Arcadian land and seascapes,
early-nineteenth century rose studies
by Pierre-Joseph Redouté and an image
of a Victorian jungle – all these spliced
with photographs of modern cities at
night. A giddying cocktail you’d say? As
mismatched as it sounds, the result was
an utterly desirable poetic modernity.
And on a grey February day, a promise
of sunshine and better times ahead.
In March, British Vogue further sealed
the trend profiling Thierry Boutemy, a
French florist who eschewed the glamour of Paris for the provincial charm
of Brussels. When the ultimate fashion
bible sings praise to horticulture
heroes there is something in the air.
Of course, Thierry Boutemy is not your
ordinary florist; he is an artisan fleuriste,
floral artist, and a true poet who
weaves magic using flowers, preferably
wild, instead of words. He has become
the darling of the fashion world with
the likes of Dior, Lanvin, Dries Van »
access | summer | 29
Arts & culture | Flowers and Fashion: A love that endures
Flowers and their delicate fleeting
beauty have always inspired fashion.
Flowers are pretty, romantic, they are
symbolic of femininity, and they show
the beauty of the natural world. In
Victorian England the mastery of the
language of flowers was as important as
being well dressed; and in the MiddleEastern mythology luxuriant flowers are
part of the verdant gardens of paradise.
“C hristian Dior’s love of flowers
inspired him to create the New
Look in 1947”
movie: Dyoniss99
Historically inspiring
Noten and Viktor & Rolf calling on
Thierry’s vision to create floral accompaniment for their shows. It is easy to
understand why, once you see his creations – enchanting dreams, transporting you into the fantasyland of childhood fairy tales. “My bouquets are not
structured, not perfect, even shambolic; …but if I did something more
contrived, I would be betraying myself,
and the flowers…”
30 | access | summer
In the Ottoman Empire men and
women used flowers and floral motifs
as personal adornment. Male robes
were tailored from fabrics with floral
patterns: hyacinths, roses, carnations
and tulips undulating across sumptuous silk textiles.
Christian Dior’s love of flowers
inspired him to create the New Look in
1947. Drawn to their architectural symmetry, their colours and their scent,
he sought to transpose these qualities
on to the clothes he designed: “I was
drawing flower women, soft, sloping
shoulders, generous busts, slim waists
and wide skirts like flower petals.”
Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel professed
endless fascination for the camellia, a
white flower brought to Europe from
Japan by a Jesuit priest. So deep was
Mademoiselle’s infatuation with the
flower that it permeated her most
­intimate surrounding. Camellia was
everywhere: on the Coromandel
screens she obsessively collected, on
chandeliers in her apartment, in her
hair, and on her clothes. Invariably
white. Discreet. Subtle. Today a white
camellia brooch is as much a part of
Chanel’s DNA as the little black dress.
Impressionist fashion
Yves Saint Laurent, the undisputed
king of fashion, the man who gave
women the freedom to wear trouser
suits and le smoking, created some
stunning couture pieces drawing
inspiration from art and flowers:
Monet’s water lilies, Van
Did
Gogh’s sunflowers and
know you
..
irises come alive artfully
England . I­n Victorian
th
the lang e mastery of
embroidered on fabric.
ua
ers was ge of flow as imp
o
a
s
Dutch designer Jan
­being w rtant
el
dressed l
Taminiau, favoured by
recurring trend. Love
Princess Maxima and Lady
it, or hate it, embrace it,
Gaga, produced five pieces espeor shun it, but do remember
cially for the Floriade 2012 fusing couto stop to smell the roses. «
ture technique with floral inspiration.
Lucy Bosscher is an ACCESS volunteer
Flowers have a staying power it seems,
and fashion thinker, linguist and comand flowers and floral prints are a
municator. www.nobignames.com
PHOTO: Peter Stigter
access | summer | 31
Education | Partner feature
Modern day
libraries exposed
We all know that reading is a joy and
a wonderful skill to pass on to our
children, but in this digital age, what
really goes on in the Library?
The mission of the librarians at
American School of The Hague is to
help students develop a lifelong love
of reading and learning, to teach
them how to become information literate as well as
d
i
D
digital citizens, and to
w... ­
o
n
k
encourage them to
l
you
n Schoo
a
c
i
r
e
m
become contributing
The A
ue has
g
a
H
e
h
T
f
o
members of the global
fferent
i
d
e
e
r
h
t
s
community. But how,
librarie
you may ask, does this
happen in the day-to-day
routine of a school student?
With three age-appropriate libraries, thousands of books, DVD’s,
audiobooks and a broad range of
digital materials, they’re literally
32 | access | summer
the hubs of American School of
The Hague. Hosting authors is a
regular feature of daily life in all
three of the libraries. Recently,
author Linda Ravin Loddin visited
with Elementary School students to
speak about her book, ‘The Busy Life
of Ernestine Buckmeister’. The Middle
School students had a chance to
learn from author Justin Somper
[of the Vampirates series] and High
School students met Annabel
Pitcher, who discussed her widely
acclaimed debut novel, ‘My Sister
Lives on the Mantelpiece’. Author visits
provide students of all ages with the
opportunity to delve into the mindset and processes involved in writing and publishing a book.
The libraries are warm and welcoming, and encourage everyone,
including staff and parents, to
spend time exploring the vast
resources available. A diverse after
school activity program for students
is also a highlight in modern day
libraries.
Students and parents drop in to play
chess, both with the giant chess
pieces and the regular sets. Lego is
alive and young students can listen
to a story and then build their own
Lego sculpture based on the theme
of the story.
The High School library is a hive of
activity on Friday afternoons as students and staff gather together to
play Tabletop Role Playing Games,
known as RPG’s. The characteristics, skills, abilities and powers of
the character are created according
to pre-assigned rules and the players then decide on the looks and
personality of their imaginary characters. The characters form a team
and try to overcome obstacles, puzzles or battles that the Game Master
has created for them. The RPG club
is a great place for students who
love science fiction and fantasy,
intellectual challenges, and a solid
dose of humour and fun.
Contact:
American School
The Hague
Rijksstraatweg 200,
2241 BX Wassenaar
+310 (0) 70 512 10 60
www.ash.nl
admissions@ash.nl
ECC@ash.nl
With their own websites, online
instructional units and book
reviews, and a host of clubs and
activities, what’s not to love about
spending time in the library? «
access | summer | 33
Family
Good to the ground
Grow your own
urban veggies!
34 | access | summer
By Kathy Voyles
Last year I gave a Changing the World One
Plate at a Time talk at TedX, The Hague.
I began with a story about a nine-yearold girl who walked into my garden
and asked if the apples on my tree were
real or if I had stuck them on. She
really had no idea that apples came
from trees, believing instead that they
come in packs of four, in brown plastic
containers from supermarkets. There
and then I decided that teaching kids
about foodstuffs and where they came
from would become paramount in my
life. Now, I want to go a step further
and encourage everyone, young and
old, to grow some food!
“a nine-year old girl walked
into my garden and asked if
the apples on my tree were
real or if I had stuck them on”
the difference an acre of tillable soil
meant to a family without money.
His family was lucky, they had a little
land and they certainly tilled it for
all they were worth, growing beans,
watermelons, potatoes and more.
Times were tough but gardening
brought food to the table and literally
saved their bacon.
Frugal times call for gorgeous
herbs and vegetables
Nowadays, we have supermarkets
­literally groaning with food but few
of us know how to grow it. I believe
we need to change all that and relearn
our grandparents’ skills along with
our kids. It’s great fun learning how
to ­garden and even more fun eating
what you have grown. And in these
tough times, growing makes sound
financial sense. Plus, it makes kids
appreciate what work goes in to producing food and how homegrown is
not so homogenised.
Go on – grow for it
I was brought up with a strong gardening tradition and the words of my
father ringing in my ears – “land is
power, land is food!” My dad, Woody,
grew up dirt poor in the great depression of the 1930s. I can only imagine
It doesn’t matter if you have only a
small space or even just a windowsill,
you can still grow something in the
tiniest of places. Visit one of your local
gardening centres and start checking
out gardening websites. »
access | summer | 35
Family | Grow your own urban veggies!
Quick guide to growing things
Growing plants is not complicated but
there are a few basics to remember –
you need to have a good growing
medium (earth), a few nutrients (compost and fertilizer), some space, water,
a container (if you don’t have a garden),
and some sunlight for good results.
I have two worm composters that take
care of our household organic waste
and break it down to recycle back into
the garden. Compost is a soil conditioner and should be blended with
earth to make your growing medium as
fertile as possible. If using containers,
add in some stones or broken pottery
to help drainage, fill with soil and
compost, add a little fertilizer (cow
Plants to grow in urban spaces
• Lettuce – Rosso and Kos: sprinkle mixed salad seeds in
small containers
• S now Peas – plant these in containers or directly into
the garden, under a triangle of strong sticks bound
together with bright wool or ribbon
• Rocket or Ruccola (notensla) – these tiny seeds are easy
to grow and will return year after year!
• Broccoli - does very well in slightly shady gardens
• S wiss Chard - and various edible flowers such as the
seeds of nasturtium, borage, pansies plants, and violets
plus your favourite green herbs
• Courgettes – plant from May
manure (koemest) pellets are readily
available at garden centres) and plant
your seeds. Water in well (but don’t
drown them) and place in optimum
spring sunlight for best results.
As easy as A, B, Seed
It really is as simple as that – plant carefully, water well and check after a few
days to make sure the soil medium isn’t
too dry. If the rain is sparse this spring/
summer it may be wise to lay mulch in
the form of wood chips, coco chips
(which smell divine) or tree bark around
your plants. This will help keep the soil
moist and protect from drought. Don’t
forget to guard against those enemies of
the gardener, slugs and snails! A word
of warning though – garden centres are
full of non-biodegradable plastic. I find
it best to try growing from seeds straight
into the ground or from seedlings nurtured on windowsills. If I do purchase
plants in pots I recycle them or place
them into the plastic recycling bins.
Be creative, be a little crazy but just
grow – you won’t regret it. «
Kathy Voyles, Cook, connector, food
inspirer, gardener, local food lover,
speaker and writer.
www.schoollunchbox.wordpress.com
access | summer | 37
Lifestyle
Home,
sweet
home?
By Ann Jennen
38 | access | summer
Looking forward to
going back ‘home’
during the summer?
Make sure to maintain
that holiday feeling.
Why is it that holidays at home quite
often turn out to be no vacation at all?
Instead of relaxing in the garden sipping cocktails, it’s mostly running
from lunch with your girlfriends to
teatime with aunty Jean. That guilty
feeling about not being able to spend
as much time with your relatives or
friends as they would like, might also
have something to do with it. Having
to tell the same story over and over
again doesn’t help either. The living
out of suitcases! Here is what you can
do to help you maintain that welldeserved holiday feeling.
“How long will you be staying?”
Make reservations in a nice restaurant
and invite a bunch of friends. It keeps
you from having to tell the same story
over and over again. Prepare a short –
but good- answer for those boring/
tricky questions and change subject
immediately. “We will stay in the
Netherlands for another year. But
enough about me, how are you? Any
plans for the summer?”
Be picky on who you meet
Avoid persons who can’t relate to your
global life and the challenges coming
with it. “Another move? Oh my, I really
don’t see how this life can make you
happy”, might not be what you want to
hear if you are facing a fifth relocation.
Spend time with those friends and relatives who give you positive energy and
a fresh look upon life.
“How was your trip to Turkey?”
Before seeing a friend, quickly run over
your last conversation to be up
to date again. Lots of
things might have hapHot
pened since and no
Discove tip! ­
r somet
one has unlimited
hing
new; pl
a
n
a few
memory capacity. It
‘tourist
’ stops
w
might even be a good
at home hile
idea to write down the
most essential info
straight after your talk,
which can be a great way to refresh
your memory before next year’s visit.
The other way around
Ask yourself why you really want to
spend your holidays at home. If it’s
only for the grandparents to see their
grandchildren, have them come over.
They can face the delayed flights without nagging kids pulling at their arms.
Moreover, it’s a great way to integrate
them into your new life. «
Ann Jennen is a regular contributor
to ACCESS. annjennen@hotmail.com
access | summer | 39
Travel
Feature header
The flurry
of flowers
Yet, it was only in 1911, at a meeting of growers
at a local pub in Aalsmeer, that the formation
of a co-operative auction bringing together
supply and demand was established.
The Dutch love affair with
flowers has been going on
for centuries, from fortunes
won and lost in the Tulip
mania of the 17th century
to today’s multi-billion
Euro floricultural industry.
From living rooms to board
rooms flowers are and
have been at the centre of
much activity.
by Connie Moser
40 | access | summer
Since 2008 the mega-merger of the Bloemen­
veiling Aalsmeer with FloraHolland, has resulted
in a co-operative which counts 6,000 growers,
operating from 6 centres. It is from these centres that, every day, the world price for flowers
and plants is set and where large and small
batches of flowers are sold within fractions
ofseconds. Nowhere in the world are so many
flowers and plants traded, accounting for 12
billion cut flowers and over 500 million plants
exchanging hands per year!
Witnessing the hive
There is no other way of visualising the magnitude or beauty of this experience other than
witnessing it, as it happens. Perched six metres
above the hive of activity, the constant movement creates a steady blur of colour in motion.
Everything needs to be fresh, shipped quickly.
On large auction clocks prices are set and bids
are made in a matter of seconds, as flowers
PHOTOs: NBTC Holland
and plants are wheeled in, and out again.
Buyers at FloraHolland or from a distant
l­ocation via monitors are quick to set their
price and whoosh; flowers are quickly whisked
to their destination. The brisk, continued
movement of nature’s colourful palette passes
by. The rush and clank of silver stacking carts
filled with some of the 20,000 varieties of
cut flowers and plants with fragrant scents,
combine to form an impression of subtle
hues, vibrant shades, delicate forms, bold
shapes and visual delight. With all the frantic
zip-zapping around, you wouldn’t want to
be down below.
The early bird
Did
you k
n
Roughl ow... ­
y
auction 125,000
tra
occur e nsactions
very d
FloraHo ay at
lland
In order to truly appreciate the hustle and bustle of
FloraHolland, capture the scents and sights,
an early arrival is recommended. Time is
money, everything needs to be fresh, and
get shipped quickly to all corners of the globe
so trading starts early, at 7am, and is done by
11am.
FloraHolland, the largest flower auction in
the world truly is a place where ‘beauty meets
business’ and should not be missed by anyone
with the chance to visit it. «
access | summer | 41
Government budget deficit
and the housing market
A government budget deficit arises
when government spending in any
one year is higher than its revenue.
by JosÉ de Boer
The ministry of Finance finances the
public debt by issuing bonds on the
money-market. When a bond matures,
the loan must be repaid. And when
government expenditure is higher
than its revenue, the amount that
needs to be paid back will need to
be borrowed again. The repayments
42 | access | summer
on the public debt are also part
of the expenditure. These circumstances create a budget deficit.
The Stability and Growth Pact (SGP)
is an agreement, among the 27
Member states of the European Union,
to facilitate and maintain the stability of the Economic and Monetary
Union (EMU). According to the
EMU, a country should have a budget deficit of no more than 3% of
its Gross Domestic Product.
Finance - Partner feature
Mark Rutte, prime minister and
leader of the VVD (Liberal) and
Maxime Verhagen, leader of CDA
(Christian Democrats), together
with the support of PVV leader Geert
Wilders spent seven weeks together
in The Hague to reach agreement on
additional budget cuts of 14 billion
Euro to ensure that the Netherlands
continues to meet EMU standards.
On 21 April Geert Wilders unexpectedly broke off all negotiations. This
resulted in Mark Rutte offering the
resignation of his Government to
the Queen the following Monday.
Unexpectedly and to the relief of the
financial markets, VVD and CDA
received help from two other parties
to reach a majority vote. Groen
Links (the Green Left) and Christian
Union (CU) came to the rescue and
agreed on major budget cuts to
reach the required maximum budget
deficit of three percent. For the
housing market this meant changes.
Bad news is that banks will probably
lend up to 100% instead of the current 106% of the purchase price
after 1 January 2013. This means
that the transfer tax and other buyers’ costs will need to be saved up
“good news is that the
temporary measure
of a reduced transfer
tax (from 6% to 2%)
will be continued”
for. Partly interest only mortgages
will also cease to exist and increase
the monthly payments of first time
buyers. Hardly a stimulating measure for Holland’s ailing housing
market.
The other news is that as of 1
January 2013, new mortgages will
have a different tax rebate method.
The tax rebate will still be granted,
but will gradually reduce over a
period of 30 years down to zero.
Jose de Boer
Financial Adviser
(MFP) / Owner of
De Boer Financial
Consultants bv.
Contact:
De Boer Financial
Consultants
070 511 8788
www.fvbdeboer.nl
The good news is that the temporary
measure of a reduced transfer tax
(from 6% to 2%) will be continued.
The other good news is that for
existing mortgages, the tax rebate
on mortgage interest payments will
be honoured now and in the future.
Even when a mortgage is refinanced
this rebate will be respected. It may
be worthwhile considering buying
this year. «
Wassenaar /
The Hague office
Gang 3
2242 KD Wassenaar
Amsterdam office
(New Address!)
De Lairessestraat 108
1071 PK Amsterdam
access | summer | 43
Health & wellbeing
Scents
& stress
relief
By Mary Jane Roy
We all know the saying,
‘stop and smell the roses’.
The meaning we give to it
is: slow down, take a look
around you and appreciate
what you have. With stress
being so prevalent in our
present day lives there
may be more truth to this
saying than we previously
gave credit.
The ancients used the fragrances of
certain plants to help reduce stress,
fight inflammation and depression
and induce sleep. Research is now
explaining how certain fragrances can
help us become more stress resilient.
4 4 | access | summer
In 2009, the Science Daily magazine
noted that scientists in Japan reported
“the first scientific evidence that inhaling certain fragrances alters gene
activity and blood chemistry in ways
that can reduce stress levels.” Scents
such as lemon, mango, lavender and
other fragrant plants were suggested
to help improve mood.
Soothing scents
So can scents really soothe stress?
In the above quoted Japanese study,
rats inhaled linalool after being
exposed to stressful situations.
Subsequent to inhaling the linalool,
the researchers saw a return to normal
of key elements of the immune system.
Gene activity that normally goes into
overdrive in stressful situations was
reduced. Additional research is necessary to confirm this study. However,
these findings may lead the way to
identifying fragrances that can soothe
stress.
had less worry and a­nxiety and felt less
depressed. These effects carried over
into work as well.
Effects on aging
Nature seems to support seniors coping
with challenges as they age. In 2001,
more than 100 seniors participated in a
Rutgers University study that set out to
explore the effects flowers would have
on seniors: some received flowers,
­others did not. When flowers were present, increased happiness and elevated
moods were experienced by 81% of the
participants. Both short-term and longterm memory were enhanced in 72%. »
Dr. Nancy Etcoff of Harvard University
Medical School led a study on what
effects flowers in the home had on
­personal well-being. After just a few
days of having flowers in the home,
participants, regardless of their age,
felt more compassion towards others,
access | summer | 45
Health & wellbeing | Scents & stress relief
And for 40%, social engagement was
higher. “Instinct tells us that flowers
lift our spirits, but their effects on
seniors are especially profound, if not
surprising,” stated Dr. Jeanette
Haviland-Jones. “Happier people live
longer, healthier lives and are more
open to change. Our research shows
that a small dose of nature, like flowers, can do a world of wonder for our
well-being as we age.”
Soothing scents in the workplace
And what about the workplace?
According to a study at Texas A&M,
flowers promote positive attitudes,
innovation and creative ideas. This
could have potential impact on the
­success of a business.
Another behavioural study using flowers in the workplace carried out by
Harvard found that flowers and plants
helped create a workplace of happiness, compassion and greater collegiality. Productivity is largely affected by
the quality of collegial relationships.
Flower power in the Netherlands
PHOTO: Tropisch Rozenland
The Dutch, of course, don’t need to be
convinced of the effects flowers have
on mood. Flowers can be bought on
virtually every street corner and at every
opportunity they are given as a symbol
of appreciation or of love.
46 | access | summer
Martijn Vis, third generation owner of
Tropisch Rozenland, says, “What flowers
do with us is beyond comprehension.
Tropisch Rozenland
Offers flower arranging workshops, as well as
high tea, breakfast and lunch.
www.tropischrozenland.nl
They impact us directly in our hearts.
Your heart becomes filled with love.”
In his tropical garden centre the roses
are tilled with loving care, even listening to classical music.
“W hat flowers do with us is beyond
comprehension. They impact us
directly in our hearts. Your heart
becomes filled with love.”
Aromatherapy
For the last 10 years or so aromatherapy has become increasingly popular
to improve mood and health. Its use
goes back thousands of years, rooted
in ancient Egypt, India, Greece and
Rome. Aromatic plants were used for
religious, cosmetic and medicinal
purposes.
costs, you would think those of us who
live here should be stress free. Maybe
we just need to stop and smell them
more often. «
Day spas using aromatherapy abound
here and elsewhere. According to
ASPA, a beauty and holistic spa
in The Hague, “..the key to
finding the right scent for the
right person is through personal interaction. The client must choose the scent
themself. In offering the
client a select choice of
scents, it’s their brain that
will determine which
scent will be used.”
(Mary Jane does not intend this information to be regarded as health advice.
Please consult your physician)
Mary Jane Roy is an ACCESS Trainer
and facilitates increased stress resilient techniques. www.creatingwaves.nu
With the abundance of
flowers in the Netherlands
and their inexpensive
access | summer | 47
Food
Have you ever thought of integrating
flowering plants into your vegetable
garden? There is a resurgence of
interest in edible flowers that is
rapidly becoming good business for
local restaurants and food markets.
If you don’t have a vegetable garden,
you can find edible flowers in Sligro
and in some specialised fine food
grocery stores.
Fresh summer
recipes with
edible flowers
By Barbara Reale
Eating flowers has been a tradition throughout the world
for millennia. Cherry blossoms and chrysanthemums
are used in Japan and nasturtiums have always been used
in South American cuisine.
Roses and orange flowers
have been used in many
48 | access | summer
Middle Eastern dishes. The
flowers of pumpkin and
squash are a delicacy in many
cultures.
There are a surprising number
of regular ornamental flowers
that can add colour and zest as
a garnish to savoury or sweet
dishes. I love to garnish a
spinach polenta with borage
flowers or baked salmon with
nasturtium, salads with petunia and calendula petals, or
top off a parfait with a couple
of violets.
Here, a recipe which tickled my nose, and fancy.
Combine 1 cup of the coconut
cream, and 2 teaspoons lavender petals in a saucepan and
bring it to a boil. Take the pan
off the heat and stir in the
honey until it dissolves. While
the cream mixture is cooling
slightly, pour the remaining
1-cup coconut cream into a
small bowl and sprinkle the
powdered gelatine over top.
Let it stand for 5 minutes.
Then stir the dissolved gelatine mixture into the very
warm honey and lavender
mixture.
Pour the entire mixture into
individual serving dishes. Let
it sit for at least 6 hours in the
refrigerator, undisturbed, on
a flat surface. Drizzle the pan-
nacotta lightly with a few
drops of honey and the
remaining flowers before
serving.
Not sure if a flower offers
more than a scent?
Check this site to be sure.
www.homecooking.about.com «
Barbara Reale is an Italian
naturopathic doctor and
­culinary nutritionist.
www.royalempowerment.nl
Lavender Panna Cotta
Ingredients:
•7grams (half mini packet)
powdered gelatine
•2 cups of organic coconut
cream
•1/4 cup wildflower honey
•3 teaspoons dried lavender
PHOTO: Bara en kaka till
pet als
access | summer | 49
Courses
r eg i ste r fo r co u r ses onl i ne at www . access - nl . o r g , o r contact t r a i ne r d i r ectl y .
Date / Time
Title
Details
Contact
Childbirth and parenting
12 June
19:00 - 21:00
Childbirth
Preparation
Course,
Amsterdam
A 6-week course starting on 12 June. Tuesday Truus Gale
evenings. Location: British School Amsterdam, ceb@access-nl.org
Anthonie van Dijckstraat 1, Amsterdam.
Cost: € 220,–
18 June
19:30 - 21:30
Home
Management:
Sort/
Straighten/
Shine/Sustain
Run a stress free home, be effective in starting
AND finishing chores, and get your kids to
contribute to an organised happy home.
­Location: van Hogenhoucklaan 89, The Hague.
Cost: €35,–
Soul Robertson
passionateparenting@gmail.
com
06 418 577 73
27 June
8 August
19:00 - 21:00
Childbirth
Preparation
Course,
The Hague
A 6-week course starting on 27 June and again
on 8 August. Wednesday evenings.
Location: Bronovo Hospital, The Hague.
Cost: € 220,–
Lee Tolman/Nester Moyo
ceb@access-nl.org
28 June
17 July
23 August
20:00 -22:00
Borstvoedingscentrum
Breastfeeding Preparation for breastfeeding: the class that
deals with the period after the birth of your child. Amsterdam
information
17 July
18 September
19.00 - 20.15
Labour
Control
An effective, practical preparation for labour
through a combination of techniques as yoga,
relaxation and breathing.
Location: Bronovo Hospital - Physiotherapy.
Cost: € 135,– for 8 sessions.
Joke van Roosendaal
sport-en-spirit@hotmail.com
070 326 26 38
Thursdays
20.15 - 21.30
Postnatal
course
A combination of different disciplines will
make you feel stronger and relaxed.
Location: Bronovo Hospital - Physiotherapy.
Cost: € 70,– for 8 sessions in addition to
Labour Control, or € 85,–.
Joke van Roosendaal
sport-en-spirit@hotmail.com
070 326 26 38
Location: Wethouder Frankeweg 44, Amsterdam. info@borstvoedingscentrum.nl
Cost: € 25,–
020 470 03 21
In the following pages a listing of a selection of the Courses provide by ACCESS Trainers.
Additional ones listed on www.access-nl.org/courses
access | summer | 51
Courses
r eg i ste r fo r co u r ses onl i ne at www . access - nl . o r g , o r contact t r a i ne r d i r ectl y .
Date / Time
Title
Details
Contact
Personal development
27 June
10:00-17:00
Work-LifeBalance
Achieve optimal Work-Life-Balance by learning
key strategies to bring more vitality and passion into your life.
Location: Raamweg 4, Den Haag.
Cost: € 175,– incl. workbook
Ferrari-Malik Health and
Performance Consulting
info@ferrarimalik.com
06 5894 4706
Mondays
Kids
19:15 - 20:15
Adults
20:30 - 22.00
Karate/
Kempo
American Dragon Martial Arts School is giving
courses out of Rijswijk in Karate/Kempo.
Costs: € 75,– yearly membership & € 8,– per
month of training.
William Rumley-van Gurp
info@cftrainingtoday.com
06 22779969
September
October
19:30 - 21:30
POWERtalk
International
Short Course
A practical, 6-module course covering all
Marlene Burns, PhD,
aspects of communication skills from speech
burns.marlene@gmail.com
construction to a clear, confident delivery.
06 202 777 65
Location: Christus Triomfatorkerk, Juliana
van Stolberglaan 154, The Hague. Cost: € 180,–
Thursday
Morning
11.00 -12.00 or
Evening
19.00 -20.00
Fireside Chats
- Diversity
Discussion
Group
Weekly discussion group covers topics on diver- Christine Fischer
sity, from ethnic identity, gender, orientation, info@fischersfiresidechats.com
accessibility, to power issues, etc.
06 361 508 75
­Location: Daytime, Bagels & Beans,
T­homsonlaan 53, The Hague.
Location: Evening, Valkenboskade 131,
The Hague. Cost: € 10,– per chat.
On Demand
Fireside
Workshops
- Diversity
Trainings
These sessions are created to help deal with
Christine Fischer
homesickness, stereotyping, difference, etc.
info@fischersfiresidechats.com
Location: On Demand. Cost: € 35,– per person. 06 361 508 75
On Demand
Fireside
Seminars
A deep exploration of the pervasive influence
Christine Fischer
diversity has on one’s own identity. This
info@fischersfiresidechats.com
semester’s fireside explores the work:
06 361 508 75
­Understanding Race, Ethnicity & Power
by Elaine Pinderhughes.
Location: On Demand. Cost: € 280,– per person.
52 | access | summer
Courses
r eg i ste r fo r co u r ses onl i ne at www . access - nl . o r g , o r contact t r a i ne r d i r ectl y .
Date / Time
Title
Details
Goal oriented course towards setting up your
own Social Media plan to get in contact with
your audience. Location: Access office,
Zeestraat 100, The Hague. Cost: € 30,– p.p.
per evening.
Check website
Social Media
On demand
FREE introductory session for
1-to-1 coaching
Life & Career A workshop offering a down-to-earth and
practical approach to help you achieve your
Coaching:
Understanding goals. Location: The Hague. Cost: € 176,–
Yourself
Contact
Mark Drenth
info@onyourmark.nl
06 535 772 87
Marie Dewulf
info@coach2moveon.com
06 244 013 55
Job seeking
On demand
Career
Coaching
Programme
Individual sessions to help you decide your
future career direction. Result is an action plan.
Location: Bentinckstraat 133, The Hague.
Cost: € 607,– for full programme.
10 July
23 September
10:30 - 13:00
Workshop:
Career
Explorations
Looking for work? Prepare yourself to continue Caroline van den Bogaard
your career in the Netherlands. Location:
info@cctransitions.com
Amsterdam Bright City, Claude Debussylaan
06 153 743 71
2-8, Amsterdam Zuid. Cost: € 79,–
16, 17 June
23, 24 June
7, 8 July
14, 15 July
Career Boot
Camp
This program is aimed at designing a new
Dorota Klop-Sowinska
career path for yourself. Includes an Online
dorota@dosocoaching.com
Bridge personality test & report and an indi06 132 536 55
vidual feedback session.
Location: Amsterdam / The Hague. Cost: € 299,–
On demand
Career
Coaching
Work with a personal career coach to define
your career goals and actions for development. Location: Amsterdam Bright City
Claude Debussylaan 2, Amsterdam Zuid.
Cost: € 79,– per Meeting / Hour.
Caroline van den Bogaard
info@cctransitions.com
06 153 743 71
Job Hunting
Support
Strengthen your job application techniques and
learn how it all works here in the Netherlands.
Location: Bentinckstraat 133, The Hague.
Cost: € 125,– includes follow-up (CV editing,
information, tips etc.)
Teresa Moynihan
teresa@moynihan-hr-consulting.com
06 266 547 08
FREE introductory call
On demand
FREE 20-minute
phone consult
Teresa Moynihan
teresa@moynihan-hr-consulting.com
06 266 547 08
access | summer | 53
Courses
r eg i ste r fo r co u r ses onl i ne at www . access - nl . o r g , o r contact t r a i ne r d i r ectl y .
Date / Time
Title
Details
Contact
Health and wellbeing
7, 8 June with
follow up on
30 June
13:00 - 16:30
Mind your
Stress
We will explore various ways to develop emotional control and become more stress resilient. Location: Het Coachhuis, Raamweg 4,
The Hague. Cost: € 295,– including VAT.
Mary Jane Roy
maryjane@creatingwaves.nu
06 242 411 12
9 June
10:00-17:00
Life Balance
Achieve optimal Work-Life-Balance by learning the strategies to bring more vitality and
passion into your life. Location: Raamweg 4,
The Hague. Cost: €175,– incl. workbook
Ferrari-Malik Health and
Performance Consulting
info@ferrarimalik.com
06 5894 4706
11 June
16 July
13:00 - 15:00
Weight Loss
Support
Group
Join the support group to share experiences
and receive support, tips and encouragement
as you work towards your most healthy
weight. 6 Mondays. Location: The Hague
Cost: € 127.50 incl. journal, CD & book.
Jacinta Noonan
jacinta@bigontheinside.com
06 512 766 91
16 June
11:00 - 16:00
The heart’s
influence on
achieving
your ideal
weight
This interactive workshop gives you information, tips and tools to achieve emotional
­balance and eliminate emotional eating.
­Location: Het Coachhuis, Raamweg 4,
The Hague. Cost: € 75,– including lunch.
Mary Jane Roy
maryjane@creatingwaves.nu
Jacinta Noonan
jacinta@bigontheinside.com
29 June 10:00
1 July 17:00
Free Mental
e-Motion
Discover how to develop and reinforce your
potential through effective mind-body techniques. Location: Raamweg 4, The Hague.
Cost: €490,– including workbook and one
hour individual coaching.
Ferrari-Malik Health and
Performance Consulting
info@ferrarimalik.com
06 5894 4706
On demand
Individual
coaching for
Weight Loss
Traditional diets only focus on what you put
in your mouth. Coaching takes a holistic view.
Because change on the inside, directly effects
change on the outside. Cost: € 550 for 6
sessions
Jacinta Noonan
jacinta@bigontheinside.com
06 512 766 91
On demand
Free 20-minute
telephone
consultation
Mind your
Stress
In a 1:1setting we explore various ways to
develop emotional control & become more
stress resilient. Cost: € 97,35 per session incl.
VAT. Flexible location.
Mary Jane Roy
maryjane@creatingwaves.nu
06 2424 1112”
54 | access | summer
Feature header
Courses
r eg i ste r fo r co u r ses onl i ne at www . access - nl . o r g , o r contact t r a i ne r d i r ectl y .
Date / Time
Title
Details
Contact
Weight Loss
Workshop
Throw away those diet books and start dealing
with your weight issues in a positive and
empowering way. 2-day workshop.
Cost: €120,– incl. Workbook & CD
Jacinta Noonan
jacinta@bigontheinside.com
06 5127 6691
30 June
13:30 - 16:00
High Tea and
introduction to
Art & Etiquette
classes
Artist Marjolein van der Sluis will give a small
demonstration of what her art and etiquette
classes are about. Classes will start in
­September 2012.
Park Avenue Art Studio
Marjolein van der Sluis
marjolein.vd.sluis@gmail.com
06 521 908 72
25 September
Digital
Photography
Basics
Learn how to get the most from your digital
camera by understanding the basics of photography. Let the adventure begin!
Location: Amsterdam/The Hague.
Cost: € 260,– (inclusive VAT)
Megan Alter Photography
m.alter@meganalter.com
06 44402731
On Demand
Custom
Photography
Lessons
Do you have specific goals for your photography? Do you want personalised instruction?
Custom Photography lessons are available for
individuals and groups. Location: Vijzelstraat
72, Amsterdam. Cost: varies
Megan Alter Photography
m.alter@meganalter.com
06 44402731
Ongoing
Art classes
for children
Private classes! Great fun and playful learning,
all materials provided. All ages, various programs possible. Location: Laan van Meerdervoort 52e, The Hague or at your location. Cost:
€ 36,– per hour if in studio.
Park Avenue Art Studio
Marjolein van der Sluis
marjolein.vd.sluis@gmail.com
06 521 908 72
Ongoing
The Real
Shoot
Experience
We will be working with models and props to
create beautiful images and get real world
photography experience. Cost: € 390,–
Megan Alter Photography
m.alter@meganalter.com
06 44402731
Starting soon!
Creative
Are you missing a topic? Is there a course which would enhance your own expatriate experience in the Netherlands? Let us know so we can investigate for you further? Community
Education Department ced@access-nl.org
access | summer | 55
Courses
r eg i ste r fo r co u r ses onl i ne at www . access - nl . o r g , o r contact t r a i ne r d i r ectl y .
Date / Time
Title
Details
Contact
Languages and Culture
Starting dates: Dutch for
4 June, 2 July
Starters
and 3 September
09:00 - 11.00 or
19:00 - 21:00
Learn how to get by in everyday situations.
The course consists of textbook assignments
and practical interactive sessions using music,
role-play, games and practical excursions.
Location: Prinsestraat 53, The Hague.
Cost: € 660,–
Amina Abdelmoula
info@dutchessa.com
06 8177 2950
Starting dates:
4, 18 June
2, 16 July
3, 17 September
09:00 - 12.00 or
14:00 - 17:00
Summer
Express
A two-week intensive Dutch course for beginners or intermediates. We use classic and
c­reative course tools alongside field trips.
Location: Prinsestraat 53, The Hague &
­Scheveningen Beach. Cost: €1220,–
Amina Abdelmoula
info@dutchessa.com
06 8177 2950
Starting dates:
18 June
2, 16, 30 July
13 August
Dutch
Summer
Boot Camp
A full immersion one-week Dutch beginners
Amina Abdelmoula
course in the Dutch countryside. During practi- info@dutchessa.com
cal outdoor activities you get to practice your
06 8177 2950
Dutch. Location: De Kaag, Rijpe Wetering.
Cost: €3.450,– incl. transport, accommodation
and meals.
See website for
dates. Dutch via
Skype on
demand
Dutch
Language
Courses
Different levels, small groups, experienced
Caroline van den Bogaard
and qualified trainer, challenging, relaxing
info@cctransitions.com
and interactive learning environment.
06 153 743 71
Location: AICS, Prinses Irenestraat 59,
Amsterdam. Cost: € 250,– per course / 9 weeks.
The courses offered through ACCESS are aimed at providing opportunities for personal
growth; supporting the development of ‘community’; learning something new; preparing for
a new direction. Trainers who work with ACCESS are vetted for their relevancy to the international community. Interested in being part of the ACCESS trainer network? Have a course
which provides value to the international community? Contact ced@access-nl.org or click here for
more information.
56 | access | summer
WELCOME TO
THE NETHERLANDS
ABN AMRO: Expert in financial services for expats
ABN AMRO is literally and figuratively the bank for international customers. ABN AMRO is
the financial specialist for expatriates residing in the Netherlands. And just like our expat
customers, we aim to offer pioneering services complete with tailor-made products and skilled
consultants who speak their language.
You have a busy job, so we would like to make banking in the Netherlands as easy as possible.
We will gladly assist you with your financial needs, not just after you arrive, but from the
moment you know you are coming to the Netherlands. ABN AMRO is a trusted partner for
expats, diplomats, civil servants and international organisations.
For more information, please visit www.abnamro.nl/expats
Contact
Amsterdam: 020 - 34 34 002
The Hague: 070 - 37 52 050
Rotterdam: 010 - 40 25 888
e-mail: expat.clients@nl.abnamro.com
e-mail: international.clients@nl.abnamro.com
e-mail: international.clients@nl.abnamro.com