PDF - Connect International

Connecting
Worlds
Connect International serves the international
community in the provinces of Groningen,
Friesland, Drenthe and Noord Holland.
Supported by an international staff and Board of Directors, we provide quality
relocation services and practical information to help familiarize international
residents with all aspects of living, working or studying in the Northern
Netherlands, as well as organizing events and activities to make connections.
Services:
● Immigration services
● Home search & set-up
● Social events, activities & clubs
● Career services
● Business events
● Books & guides
● Information sheets
● Knowledge database
Join Us!
You can register to become a Connect
International member via our website.
For a small yearly fee, you receive the
Connections e-magazine newsletter
delivered directly to your email inbox,
you have access to the Connect
International
community
through
organized events, you can ask us any
questions you may have and much
more.
Visit: www.connect-int.org
2 / Connections #50
Welcome New Members!
Connect International would like
to welcome the following new
members:
Janny Koetsier,
Romana Schirhagl,
Jennifer Bauch,
Jingyi Liu.
Attention Writers!
Enjoy Writing?
The Connections Newsletter is
seeking volunteer writers who
enjoy writing on a theme,
informative articles, or opinions
they want to share. Interested?
Contact us at
publications@connect-int.org
Connecting
Worlds
Connect’s Partners
Helping to welcome the world
UNDER
ONE ROOF
PLATINUM:
Provincie Groningen
Provincie Friesland
Provincie Drenthe
GOLD:
N.V. NOM
GasTerra
Gas Unie
SILVER:
ABN AMRO
ASSOCIATES:
Everything you need to make
yourself at home in the Netherlands
Contact:
Connect Head Office:
Herestraat 106, Room 1.06, 9711LM Groningen
Telephone: 050 7440087
Email: info@connect-int.org
connect@connect-int.org
Website: www.connect-int.org
https://www.facebook.co
m/ConnectInternational
https://twitter.com/@c
onnectintcwc
Connect Noord Holland (Alkmaar):
Telephone: 06 25394234
Email: connectnoordholland@connect-int.org
https://www.facebook.com/
pages/ConnectNH/1852497
51488726
Nijestee
Connect International has a full membership
Publication Team:
Publisher: Stephanie Poortman
Assistant Editor: Margaret Metsala
Contributers to this issue: Stephanie
Poortman, Karen Prowse, Margaret Metsala,
Traci White, Tomas Poortman, Milena Stanojevic,
Carol Nieuwland-Goss & Lori McKinney.
Interested in advertising in Connections
E-Magazine?
Advertising Rates per Issue (10 issues per year) :
1/4 Page (12.5 x 9.5 cm)
€25,00
1/2 Page (12.5 x 19 cm)
€50,00
1 Page
(A4 - 21 x 29.7cm) €100,00
https://twitter.com/@Conne
ctNH
3 / Connections #50
Contact publications@connect-int.org for more
details.
May
Calendar
May 2014
4 / Connections #50
May
Events
CONNECT
(Groningen, Friesland & Drenthe)
Connect for Coffee
Date: 2 May 2014, 10:30 am
@ La Place, V&D in Groningen
Writers Circle
Date: 7 May 2014
Connect Crafts Club
Date: 9 May 2014, 10:30 am
Photography Workshop
Date: 9 May 2014, 4:00 pm
@ Kolendrift 7. Please note that the
Kolendrift street is only accessible for
bikes.
Eye Make-up with Lysette
Date: 11 May 2014, 2:00 pm
@ office Connect International,
Herestraat 106, Groningen
Parents Coffee Time
Date: 13 May 2014, 10:30 am
Connect for Coffee
Date: 16 May 2014, 10:30 am
@ La Place, V&D in Groningen
Parents Coffee Time
Date: 20 May 2014, 10:30 am
Connect Crafts Club
Date: 23 May 2014, 10:30 am
Parents Coffee Time
Date: 27 May 2014, 10:30 am
Connect for Coffee
Date: 30 May 2014, 10:30 am
@ La Place, V&D in Groningen
CONNECT Noord Holland
(Noord Holland)
CNH Connect for Coffee
Date: 9 May 2014, 8:00 pm
@ the home of Begoña, Heemskerk
CNH Kids & Coffee
Date: 14 May 2014, 9:00 am
@ TBA
CNH Book Club
Date: 21 May 2014, 8:00 pm
@ the home of Caroline, Bakkum
CNH Connect for Coffee
Date: 23 May 2014, 8:00 pm
@ the home of Emma M, Alkmaar
CNH Kids & Coffee
Date: 21 May 2014, 9:00 am
@ the home of Narelle, Noord Scharwoude
5 / Connections #50
Your
Stories
The Challenge: Alpe d’HuZes
by Carol Nieuwland-Goss
I am outside of my box. I have taken on a challenge that has me confronting
some of my own personal fears head-on; some expected, some have caught
me completely by surprise.
Along with my husband, I
have signed up to cycle up
Alpe d’Huez in France on 5
June 2014 as part of the
fundraising
for
cancer
research in The Netherlands. I
confess I am not a cyclist by
nature. I have always enjoyed
bike riding for the exercise,
good green-print, no parking
fees. Now I am cycling at a
different level: more intense,
in full cycle gear, and learning cyclist
etiquette for good reason. Having
watched, cared for and loved both
family and good friends subjected to
the wrath of this fickle disease, I have
felt helpless for too long and I needed
to change that by taking action. For
them, I am wholeheartedly committed
to doing ‘something’ in the fight to stop
cancer from killing.
educational and laboratory research of
all kinds. It feels unfathomable to
imagine, but the reality is that we may
never really find a cure for cancer.
What we are doing and will continue to
do, is provide the funds to pursue the
path of science and research so that
we can find an effective way to help
cancer patients live successfully with
cancer.
The mission of the organization, Alpe
d’HuZes (AD6), is to support and
promote (scientific) research on all
forms of cancer, with the goal that
cancer patients can live longer and
enjoy healthier and happier lives. No
question, this is an ambitious mission
and they have made a difference since
the first year in 2006 , with money
raised
going
toward
funding
The motto of AD6 is “giving up is not
an option” (‘opgeven is geen optie’),
simple, poignant & spot on. How true
that applies for so much in our lives
aside from fighting cancer. Cycling has
been physically and emotionally
challenging for me as I have been
confronting my own fears such as
cycling in a mass group of 5000
cyclists (mild claustrophobia); failing to
6 / Connections #50
Your
Stories
release my shoes from pedals in time before falling while locked in (this terrifies
me); forgetting to breathe (small anxiety attacks), and while I am staying true to the
motto, I have adapted my way of continuing with this challenge. For health reasons
I will now be walking the Alp two times instead of cycling. My training continues
over the next 7 weeks with cycling in the Ardennes, Utrechtse Heuvelrug,
Noord-Holland and Limburg, as well as at the gym and walking.
It is individual. There is no ‘one cure fits all’ treatment. We must never give up.
We’re worth it. Every single one of us is worth the fight. I am doing this in honor of
my Dad, Liz, Virginia, Judi, Annemarie, Esther, Ingrid, Denise, Florian, Michael,
and Suz. Giving up is not an option!
For more information about Alpe d’HuZes, http://www.opgevenisgeenoptie.nl. If
you would like to sponsor me, that would be greatly appreciated, thank you!
http://deelnemers.opgevenisgeenoptie.nl/acties/carol61/carol-nieuwland-goss
7 / Connections #50
Entrepreneur
Feature
Your Mobile Vet in Noord Holland
by Lori McKinney
Pets- those amazing creatures that offer us unconditional love, and become
members of the family. We want the best for them, just as we do for anyone
we love. Claire Regan of Dierenarts Noord-Holland, is the vet to my own
four-legged members of the family. I was honored to be able to interview her
about her mobile veterinarian practice.
-Your love of animals shines
through in your work. Could you tell
us a little about yourself and what
inspired you to go into veterinary
medicine?
I guess the real reason I became a vet
lies in a deep emotional connection to
animals from my childhood. Animals
always fascinated me and I have
always had a strong instinct to help and
protect them. Animals are so innocent
and bring so much joy to us so, for
many different reasons, animals strike
chords within me that I must answer.
I learned how to help them by going to
vet school. In fact, the reason I wanted
to be a vet in the very beginning was to
save endangered species in Australia.
At the time these were the Striped
Sugar Glider and the Eastern Spotted
Quoll.
After qualifying in 2001, I left Australia
for England to work/travel for a year.
After many adventures all over the
world as a vet, I am now here in
Holland with my wonderful boys.
It was probably the scariest thing I
have ever done and it certainly wasn't
easy! Starting a business in a foreign
8 / Connections #50
country and not able to speak the
language above toddler level was a
huge challenge. I am very grateful to
all my clients, especially the first ones
who literally taught me how to speak
Dutch! Thankfully, animals have no
language and I can communicate with
them on their own terms, in their own
homes, plus get a clear picture of the
health/welfare
of
the
animal.
Fortunately, here in Holland 99% of
pets live in relative luxury so there
aren’t many welfare situations. I’ve
done volunteer work overseas (mostly
Entrepreneur
Feature
Greece and Spain), and have seen
first-hand
the
unfortunate
circumstances of unwanted animals.
-You are one of the few mobile
veterinarians in this country. Could
you explain the importance of being
a mobile vet, the type of services
you offer, plus what it means for the
pets and their owners?
Being a mobile vet gives peace of mind
to clients that their animal will be
handled in front of their eyes in the
comfort and security of their own
homes. We can perform most
procedures
at
client’s
homes
depending on where they live and the
complexity of what needs to be done.
We perform all services that a normal
practice does: vaccinations, nail
clipping, micro-chipping etc., and of
course, treating sick animals. One of
the questions I am often asked by
clients is if their homes are clean
enough for surgery and the answer is
“yes” 99% of the time. We provide our
own sterile equipment, etc.
When there are more invasive or
complicated surgeries such as: large
tumor removals or open stomach
surgeries, we always do those at the
practice where everything can be
measured and monitored. Often pet
owners come to the clinic and wait,
plus there is also an option for them to
watch their pet’s surgical procedure.
9 / Connections #50
For me, it’s important that people have
a choice over what happens to their
own animal. Helping them choose the
best decision is my goal with every
case. Many of our clients are the
elderly and disabled or those who
simply have no transportation. Our
fees are in line with what you would
pay at a traditional vet with the
exception of a small travel fee.
In a nutshell, we take the stress out of
the experience and make it a cozy,
pleasant one in the comfort of each
person’s home. Our clients seem to
love it, and naturally we have formed
some pretty close bonds with our
clients as we get to know them, their
families and pets. Overall, it’s usually a
very positive experience for the
owners, their pets, and also for us.
Thank you Claire, for sharing your love
and passion for animals and veterinary
medicine with us. You can learn more
about
Claire
and
Dierenarts
Noord-Holland by following them on
Facebook at, http://goo.gl/rpqxKZ, or
by visiting her website (in Dutch)
www.dierenartsnoord-holland.nl.
Entrepreneur
Feature
From Argentina with love
by Milena Stanojevic
Diezijn-Leuk, mentioned in the April 2014 issue of Connections, was again a
great success. Even rain could not stop people from coming and visiting this
amazing market of handmade products. Among some 100 participants was
also the stall of Casa Pampa.
Casa Pampa presents, as the owner
says, products made with love from
Argentina. And all the items are either
designed or carefully selected by Juud.
So Juud, first of all, how did you end
up in Groningen?
A few years ago we moved to
Groningen for my husband’s work. He
is a general practitioner (GP) in
Bedum, a village north of the city
Groningen. Furthermore it was also
time for new adventures with our two
young children after 14 beautiful years
in Amsterdam. An official goodbye to
our student- and young urban
professional life and a warm welcome
to a permanent family life in the north
of the Netherlands.
How did you come up with the idea
of starting Casa Pampa?
The idea developed when my Dutch
father moved to Argentina ten years
ago when he retired. Since his moving
I travel to Argentina every two years.
During my visits Casa Pampa
developed from a love for the robust
and elegant products from South
America. I was inspired by the
authentic crafting skills of Argentine
artisans and their use of natural basic
10 / Connections #50
materials. With Casa Pampa I found
the perfect way to bring a little piece of
Argentina to the Netherlands.
Can you tell me more about the
products? What inspires your
designs, where are the products
made, and by whom?
Casa Pampa provides a limited
collection of products made with love in
Argentina. Natural quality materials;
100% leather, wood and wool. Most of
Entrepreneur
Feature
the products are handmade, making
every product unique.
The products contribute to a little job
creation in Argentina and in the
Netherlands. Most products, like the
beautiful vibrant colored pillows, are
made by artisans in Salta, in the north
of Argentina. The leather belts and
accessories are designed by myself
and made in Córdoba, in the centre
region of Argentina.
The making of the belts:
11 / Connections #50
How difficult is it to have an on-line
store? What kind of marketing tools
do you use?
My webshop is made through Tictail,
an easy and free online shop solution,
a great way to start a little shop, which
I use for selling and display for a few of
my products.
Most of my sales are done on markets,
home sales or direct buyers. I like the
personal contacts. It is not my intention
yet to run a professional online store,
Entrepreneur
Feature
which brings a lot more to it. This way it
is small and I can focus on the fun of
making people happy with a unique
present or product.
I promote my webshop through social
media, like Instagram, Facebook
(www.facebook.com/MadebyJuud) and
a blog (www.madebyjuud.com)
Do you think that the Northern
Netherlands is a good market for the
original products and the small
entrepreneurs like yourself?
The Northern Netherlands is a good
place to base a studio and storage. In
Amsterdam I could have never stocked
all my products in my apartment. As we
are able to live bigger here in the north
of the Netherlands I have enough
space to store my products and a nice
working space. Also, other expenses
are lower than what we were used to in
the centre of the Netherlands;
therefore, I have more financial
opportunity to combine Casa Pampa
with being a full-time mother and
12 / Connections #50
partner which I love doing the most.
The Netherlands is a small country so I
can easily drive to other places if
needed for sales.
“Do what you
love, and love
what you do!”
You also have a blog, and you love
photography. Can you tell me more
about that?
With my visual log (blog) I can combine
my love for photography, travels and
random things I admire with Casa
Pampa inspiration. I’m looking forward
to more travels in the future and more
photography. Maybe a course at
Fotoschool Groningen, a nice place
(which I can suggest!) based in the
centre of the city. www.fotoschool.nl
Information
Center
13 / Connections #48
Information
Center
The fourth and fifth of May
By Tomas Poortman
On the fifth of May, the Dutch celebrate Bevrijdingsdag, or Liberation Day in
English. It is a national holiday, which means that schools and most
government institutes are closed. On this day the Dutch celebrate the end of
the German occupation during World War II, because on the fifth of May they
were liberated by Canada. Technically, however, Germany surrendered on
the eighth of May, the date on which most other European countries
celebrate the end of the war.
There are many forms of celebration of
this day, the most famous two being
Bevrijdingspop in Haarlem and
Bevrijdingsfestival Overijssel in Zwolle.
But in your local city there’s bound to
be an event or two as well. The website
of your Gemeente will either have
information on their website, or a link to
another website with the information.
Another important aspect connected to
the end of the war is Dodenherdenking,
or Remembrance of the Dead in
English. On every fourth of May at 8pm
the Dutch take two minutes of silence
to remember those who died during
World War II and in wars since. Unlike
Liberation Day, the fourth of May is not
a national holiday.
There are many places across the
country where Dodenherdenkingceremonies are being held, but the
most famous one is on the Dam
Square at the National Monument in
Amsterdam. The royal family and
several ministers of the Dutch
parliament are also present at this
ceremony, and the entire ceremony will
14 / Connections #50
be broadcast live on several Dutch
television channels.
A special Remembrance of the Dead
ceremony is also held every year in
Kamp
Westerbork,
a
former
concentration camp during World War
II, where a large group of people (more
than 4000 people last year) walk
silently (a so-called ‘stille tocht’) from
the entrance of the camp to the
National Monument on site, 500
Information
Center
metres further up. In the next
Connections Magazine there is
planned to be an article devoted to
Kamp Westerbork on its own.
The events described in this article are
all free and most local events will be
free also. However, do keep in mind
that especially the more well-known
events will attract a lot of visitors, so for
a good spot in either a remembrance
ceremony or one of the festivals you
should check at what time you want to
arrive.
Euromarkt 2014 : Europese School Bergen NH
As in previous years there will be many
countries culinary represented. This year
there will be foodstalls from e.g. the
Netherlands, Italy, France, Germany,
Belgium,
Great
Britain,
Spain,
Scandinavia, Russia, Asia, The United
States and South Africa, etc. There will
also again be a large fleamarket and
bookmarket.
This year there will be several sports
activities, a raffle, and live entertainment.
Also a "Gameland" for younger children
and the school’s International playschool
“Little Europe” where there will be drinks,
snacks and fun activities for them.
So please come on the 18th of May 2014,
from 11:00 to 16:00 hrs. to the European
School Bergen, Molenweidtje 5, Bergen
NH, for a great fun day out for the whole
family! Entry is free.
We are very happy to welcome you!!!
For more information :
www.europeanschool-parents.nl
15 / Connections #50
Places to go
Things to see
Airbnb - Air Bed and Breakfast
By Traci White
Airbnb is a trend where people can rent out a room in their home for guests
to stay. It’s a new way for people to turn empty space in their home into a
monetized asset.
Since the recession began in 2008,
mini economies have taken the place
of more traditional consumer and
product relationships. Etsy is a good
example of artists and crafters around
the world using the site as their online
store to sell their often custom-made
items directly to a customer, and Fray
is a medium for handy people to offer
their services.
Airbnb is one of the most successful
concepts developed as a result of the
changing economy: founded in 2008,
there are more than 600,000 properties
available through the city around the
world, primarily in Europe and North
America. It was recently valued at $10
billion, and it may soon make an IPO.
But in some cities - for example New
York and San Francisco, where the
company was actually founded renting a property for less than 30 days
is actually illegal due to potential risk of
abuse. In New York City from July
onward, an additional tax will be
charged to Airbnb users staying there.
The concept is a slightly dressed down
version of staying in a real B&B, but
often costs far less. For example, I’m
going to Genoa for a wedding this
summer, and hotels and inns in the
16 / Connections #50
area are already around €100 a night –
I’ve found lots of clean, private rooms
available through airbnb for half as
much. I’m planning to book this
afternoon! Sometimes, the owners of
the homes are there during your visit,
but often people book airbnb and stay
there as the only guests in the house,
except for house pets! It depends on
what you’re looking for, but getting to
cuddle some critters is another perk
that most hotels don’t offer.
Here in Groningen, there are 247
Airbnb properties. Nada and Hertzog
rent out a loft room in their house in the
Oosterpoort, and have been doing so
since February of 2013. She and her
husband are originally from South
Africa and have been living in the
Netherlands for 18 years, and they
actually stay at airbnb’s around the
world when they travel. “It’s a cheap
way to go on holiday,” Nada says.
Their room is on the top of the list of
available rooms in Groningen, and for
€38 a night, it’s not hard to see why.
That price means that their listing is
popular, but Nada says it’s not
something that she could make a living
doing. Positive reviews from guests
ensure that the listing remains high,
Places to go
Things to see
and being a people person is more or
less a prerequisite to offer space in
your home as an airbnb. “I like to meet
people, and you really have to be pretty
laid back to let them use your bathroom
and your kitchen. Being open minded
helps.’
RUG, like doing master’s classes, but
some come for concerts and events,
like Noorderslag and Noorderzon.” She
says that while many of their guests
come from Europe, they have had
visitors from Australia, North and South
America, and China stay in their home.
Even though she has lived here for
years now, Nada actually says that
offering an airbnb room has made her
more aware of what’s happening in
Groningen. “Most of our guests come
because they have a connection to the
Are you traveling this summer and
want to consider staying in an airbnb?
Check out www.airbnb.com and see
what’s available in your holiday
destination!
17 / Connections #50
Food for
Thought
Food Well-Traveled
By Carol Nieuwland-Goss & Lori McKinney
I’m Carol Nieuwland-Goss, native
Californian who leaped to Holland for
love in 2002 with my Eggman. Part of
settling into expat life involved starting
a new relationship in Dutch with foods:
what is it, how to shop for it, how to
prepare it, and will I ever find it again?
Twelve years on, my food adventures
continue on a much happier and fun
beat as I make my way around the
markets, the shops, and the off-beat
little ethnic shops that are tucked in and
stock up on edible treasures that, when
used, will take a dish to a whole new
level. New discoveries both delight and
surprise, while the old and familiar offer
comfort and security. Writing and
photography are passions of mine,
food photography being my most
recent focus.
18 / Connections #50
I’m Lori Sepp- McKinney, originally
from coastal Mississippi, who also took
the leap of love in 2002 for my now
husband, Marcel. As Jamie Oliver
says, “Good food is a global thing, and
I always find that there is something
new and amazing to learn.” Carol and
I share that vision, and we want to
share it, with you! Also, like Carol, a
few of my passions are photography,
writing, great food, and a sense of
adventure- the latter being something
that has definitely come in handy while
sourcing ingredients here in the
Netherlands. Whether it’s creating old
favorites from, ‘home’ or the inspiration
of learning new techniques including
new cuisines, we love the process and
are excited to share with you.
Food for
Thought
So much can get lost in translation from
one’s native language to Dutch.
Ingredients that we took for granted
and were easy to find on the shelves of
any supermarket back home are now
an epic treasure hunt to find the
equivalent versions here in Dutch
supermarkets.
Some items are neatly tucked in the
Dutch supermarket shelves e.g. such
as ‘allspice’ - which is known here by
the name ‘Piment’.
Also, that ever-so-elusive orange box
of Arm and Hammer baking soda?
Most Asian supermarkets, which can
be found in most towns, carry it for
around a euro.
(depending on the store) can be found
in the aisles of your local Asian
supermarket or Toko (Amazing Oriental
is a great one, with several stores
across
the
Netherlands,
visit
amazingoriental.nl to find your nearest
one.)
Next month we will be sharing our
experience during a trip to the
Amsterdam Noordermarkt- plus a few
summer foodie favorites, just in time for
BBQ season.
The same with double-acting baking
powder.
Various sized containers
19 / Connections #50
We hope to make your food journey
more adventurous and fulfilling as we
share our knowledge and experiences
with you.