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Contents Where an find the olland imes? The Holland Times is widely distributed for free, in the regions of Amsterdam, Amstelveen, Hoofddorp, Schiphol, Leiden, Delft, Den Haag, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Eindhoven, Maastricht, Wassenaar and Enschede. ou can find The olland Times at embassies and consulates, international organizations, internationally oriented companies, hospitals, medical clinics, sports clubs, international schools, housing companies, financial services and banks, expatriate centers, restaurants, libraries, kindergartens, langua ge schools, social clubs, movie houses and expat-oriented stores, as well as Kellys Expat Shopping in Amsterdam, The Hague, Wassenaar and Utrecht.

Theatres, cinemas and museums receive fewer visitors than before Covid Employers go to great lengths to get new staff

onkeypo

what is it and should we be worried

Aggression against healthcare workers is increasing 9

Students fear an increase in interest rates for student loans aster plan to improve elementary school skills

Albert

eijn launches packaging free concept

Amsterdam cancels cheap parking ones in shopping areas 13

ooking back at the Tips

ousing

ducation vent

aarlem

tricks for a perfect night’s sleep and better school performance

15 A erbaijan a country of opportunities 17 Column 19 Interview with an expat

ould you like to receive The Holland Times in your organization or become one of our distribution points?

21 Art

Please contact c.spraakman argomedia.nl

31 The comeback: the

ulture new e positions

27 Nice spots 29 Tips sports summer in the

etherlands

COLOPHON The Holland Times is an independent, English language newspaper with Dutch news, published by Argo Special Media B.V.

Argo Special Media B.V. Postbus 2203 1500 GE Zaandam

The editors try to ensure the accuracy of all information contained within. However, mistakes and ommissions are possible. No rights may therefore be derived from material published.

Editor Roselaar Tekstadvies Visit our website for news updates: www.hollandtimes.nl For all editorial information and suggestions, please contact us at: c.spraakman@argomedia.nl Advertising and Inquiries Bert Versteeg 020-506 39 26 06-33 74 34 63 bert@hollandtimes.nl

Would you like to receive The Holland Times in your organization or become one of our distribution points? Please contact c.spraakman@argomedia.nl Controlled circulation: international institutions, the diplomatic corps, and epicentres of the Netherlands’ international and expat community.

Contributors Marla Thomson, Priyanka Sharma, John Mahnen, Nanda Jagusiak, Nicole Kerr, Molly Fitz, Zuzanna Kuffel, Parul Sachdeva, Stephen Swai, Bárbara Luque Alanis, Raphael Vieira, Femke van Iperen, GoStudent & Expats Haarlem

The opinions of external authors in the Holland Times are published under personal title and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editors of the Holland Times. All photos: Depositphotos

Please send all advertising content to: traffic@argomedia.nl Distribution PostNL Design & Layout Caroline Spraakman

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09-06-2022 11:09

l a t n e r y r u x u L in s t n e apar tm dam r e t s m A

The freedom of renting Aan het IJ Properties in the new, green neighbourhood Aan het IJ, in the north of Amsterdam, are available for rent. One of the buildings is The Twins, a beautiful building next to a small-scale shopping street and a spacious park. The Twins is under construction. You’ll have the opportunity to move in very soon, in July 2022. The Twins offers many luxuries. Renters gain access to a fully equipped apartment, which boast a decadent kitchen, toilet and bathroom. Unique in the design of The Twins are the ‘green walls’.

Beautiful, vertical gardens along the various balcony walls. The solution for more greenery in the city. The communal courtyard garden is decorated with special trees and modern water mirrors. Here you can quietly read a book or have a drink with a friend or one of the neighbors. The offering ranges from 2, 3 and 4 room apartments from approximately 70 to 105 m2 in size. Parking spaces are offered with limited availability. Interested? For more information and rental prices visit our website:

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03-06-2022 13:45

JULY 2022 | 5

NATIONAL

Theatres, cinemas and museums receive fewer visitors than before Covid After two years of Covid pandemic, theatres, cinemas and museums have reopened. However, the turnout hasn’t been like expected: the picture is much more mixed than before the pandemic. Recently, only 30 out of 162 seats were occupied during a performance at the Bijlmer Parktheater. DeLaMar Theatre is also not seeing the recovery it had hoped for. In general, currently about 65% of seats are occupied, compared to 85 before the pandemic.

There are many reasons for the disappointing visitor numbers, and many can be traced back to the Covid crisis. Although lockdown and other measures have been lifted, the ‘old normal’ has not yet returned. There is still fear of catching the virus, especially among the elderly, which is causing attendance in theatres and cinemas to be below expectations. Especially theatres are geared towards an elderly public, so they are more affected by this. Secondly, people can still catch Covid and so have to quarantine. One in seven people does not show up at the Torpedo Theater in Amsterdam because they have Covid, while at pop music venue Paradiso this percentage is one in four. The disruptions and cancellation of performances because of Covid have also contributed to high no-show numbers in venues like Paradiso. “Some shows have been rescheduled seven times, so people no longer keep track of when they will happen, and sometimes they get Covid along the way,” says the Head of Promotion and Marketing of Paradiso, Jurry Oortwijn. Another reason is that during lockdown, people acquired other interests. For example, many people started going for long walks and hikes: 3 million people enjoyed hiking regularly last year, half a million more than the year before. It will take time before they return to their old interests, if ever. In connection, the previous common variety of offers was disrupted during the lockdown. Many people cancelled their usual subscriptions and so miss out on seasonal brochures which contain the most important announcements for theatre and cabaret. In addition, due

to high inflation and rising prices caused by the RussiaUkraine war, people have to choose how to spend their money, and they pick more important things than visiting museums and cinemas.

Especially museums are struggling because the number of tourists us not yet back at the pre-pandemic level, says Judikje Kiers, director of the Amsterdam Museum. Part of the reason is that not all travel restrictions imposed during Covid have been lifted. For example, Chinese travellers are not yet allowed to enter the European Union, and Americans are only allowed to do so if they are double vaccinated. It is also possible that fewer Asian and American tourists are coming to Europe because of the fear of the war in Ukraine. The Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam is highly dependent on tourists, who account for almost half of its visitors. The Van Gogh Museum is also missing its Chinese, Japanese and Southeast Asian visitors, while the Rijksmuseum currently sees only 40% of its previous attandance. More than half of the visitors to these museums are coming from the Netherlands itself. Unlike the effects caused by the decline in American and Asian tourist numbers, European visitors offer a slightly more promising perspective. The Van Loon Museum in Amsterdam sees many French, Spanish and German tourist. Still, the museum is receiving just 50 to 60% of the 2019 visitor numbers. The reduced visitor numbers cause long-term problems for the cultural sector. Theatres choose to schedule shows that will draw in the largest visitor numbers. The focus on popular shows and performances is creating a monoculture. “You don’t just want to make popular art just to bring in that audience. You also need to challenge and make people think. There has to be room for the raw experiment,” said Marga Kroodsma, director of Veem House for dance and performance. This conservative programming in theatres no longer matches what the

younger generation is looking for. This in the end may lead to them losing interest in theatre altogether, causing a ‘lost generation’ that never visits any show at all. But there is good news on the horizon. Just a week back, the State Secretary of Culture and Media, Gunay Uslu, announced a support package of 135 million euros. The extra investment will support productions and projects that came to a standstill during the Covid crisis. 20 million euros will go to start-ups in order to create new productions, which will increase employment for technicians and set builders. In order to restart the flow of production, 12.5 million euros will be available for major Dutch drama, documentaries and animation series. The government wants to devote special attention to novice creatives who faced difficulties during the closure of the cultural sector. Written by Stephen Swai

Employers go to great lengths to get new staff the places where they are most needed. Managing to recruit Employers are putting out great efforts to gain new employees. Some are luring potential employees with extravagant gifts and benefits. Het Parool mentions an employer from Burgh-Haamstede in Zeeland who gives a tiny house as a recruiting gift, and a distributor of solar panels gives away a holiday.

A significant problem exists in the labour market, as many vacancies are open without enough employees to fill them. In this staff shortage, with a record number of 133 vacancies for every 100 unemployed, employers are going all out to recruit personnel. Good working conditions are no longer enough. So, where’s the line on how much they should offer employees? Nevertheless, there are still sectors where companies have too many, or too expensive, employees for the amount of work. So, how can employers ensure that they get the right match for the job they need to fill? Both situations can create bigger problems when companies try to solve them. According to Het Financieele Dagblad, for example, in the case of staff shortage, PostNL’s subcontractors relied on unauthorized resources to obtain personnel. At the same time, P&O Ferries fired its permanent employees overnight, and replaced them with cheaper temporary workers. These patterns are proof of the need to match the available employees with

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Back in the 2017 labour market shortage, catering entrepreneur Ron Blaauw came up with the idea of gifting housing, a job and a moped to employees. The recruiting technique gained a lot of publicity five years ago. The catering company still uses the successful method now that the labour market situation seems even more challenging. How much is too much? The extra benefits and gifts have proven to be a good formula to get employees. Nevertheless, what an employee is looking for when applying for a job is more straightforward than employers think. According to the career site Indeed, the top reasons employees don’t try to change jobs include job security, a good salary and a good coworking environment. The motives for a change are an offer of a higher salary and a new challenge. Arjan Visser, who researches vacancies on Indeed, says: “We do not see that gifts have an impact. But the big picture is important for the job seeker.” Moreover, excessive gift-giving can become a dangerous strategy, according to Tilburg University professor Ton Wilthagen. He emphasizes the importance of meaningful work and good working conditions to gain and retain employees: “The effect of a higher wage quickly fades, as does the gift-giving. You get used to that after a few months.”

To succeed at recruiting new staff, employers should therefore focus on a range of elements, including flexible hours, the option to work from home, a comfortable workplace, room for professional development and an ongoing conversation about employees’ wishes. Connecting work with the workforce Getting the right match for the right job can be a challenge. Professor Toni Schmader of the University of British Columbia marks three ways employers can improve this connection. First is the nature of the work. Be aware of how stereotypes and ideas about a particular profession play a role in influencing or dissuading potential employees. To avoid misunderstandings from the beginning, actions like inviting schools to look at the workplace or offering lessons and traineeships can help breaking stereotypes. Next are the objectives of the organization. Keep in mind that a job is not just a good salary and career opportunities, but should also include opportunities to learn new skills, a good work environment and other aspects that an employee may find important in life. Finally, there are the day-to-day experiences of employees. Remember that the needs and concerns of staff matter, and companies wishing to attract new staff should act against environments where sexual harassment or bullying are tolerated, so newcomers are not discouraged. Employees have become aware of their value and know what an excellent all-around job position should offer them. Are companies taking their responsibility or will they continue to be short-staffed much longer? Written by Bárbara Luque Alanís

09-06-2022 10:41

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07-06-2022 12:54

JULY 2022 | 7

NATIONAL

Monkeypox – what is it and should we be worried?

Brace yourself, we have another zoonotic disease – a disease that spreads from animals to humans like coronavirus, Lyme disease, rabies, etc. Monkeypox virus has officially made its entrance in Europe and unfortunately, as of 20 May, in the Netherlands as well.

What is Monkeypox? Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease which is commonly found in the tropical rainforest animals of central and west Africa. It is transmitted to humans when they come in contact with an animal carrying the live virus. Monkeypox is occasionally identified in people from other countries who have travelled to regions where it’s endemic. Monkeypox symptoms and severity The symptoms of monkeypox are somewhat similar to that of chickenpox, starting with fever accompanied by intense headache, muscle ache, back pain and low energy. Where monkeypox differs from chickenpox is that the former causes the swelling of lymph nodes. Within one to three days after the start of the fever, rashes or lesions appear. These lesions can be flat or slightly raised, filled with clear or yellowish fluid, and then crust, dry up and fall off. Monkeypox symptoms usually last from anywhere between two to four weeks and disappear on their own without treatment. In some individuals, usually newborns, children with weak immune systems and people with underlying immune deficiencies, monkeypox can cause health complications such as skin infections, pneumonia, confusion and eye infections (which can lead to loss of vision) and even death. According to the World Health Organization, around 3–6% of reported cases have led to death in endemic countries in recent times, often in children or persons with other health conditions. However, it is important to note that these figures might be grossly overestimated because of the unreliability of surveillance data in endemic countries.

How does monkeypox spread? Anyone who comes in close physical contact with someone who has symptoms of monkeypox, or with an infected animal, is at the risk of contracting the virus. If you know someone has contracted the monkeypox virus, it’s best to limit your contact with them until they are cleared of all symptoms. The responsible thing for infected people to do is remain in quarantine. Is there a vaccine? Yes and no. The vaccines developed for smallpox also provide some degree of protection against monkeypox. A newer vaccine, known as Imvamune, was approved in 2019 for use in preventing monkeypox, but this is not yet widely available. People who have been vaccinated against smallpox in the past will also have some protection against monkeypox. However, it is unlikely that anyone below the age of 40 or 50 years is vaccinated, since vaccination against smallpox ended in 1980 after it became the first disease to be eradicated worldwide. Outbreak in Europe In May 2022 the Dutch Institute of Public Health RIVM announced that several people in Europe had contracted the disease, also in the Netherlands. While not common, it is not surprising to find monkeypox in Europe, especially since almost all travel restrictions have been lifted. However, what is striking is that majority of the infected people had no link to areas in Africa where the disease is found.

contagious. Still, this is no reason to not take precautions and stay safe. The WHO assures that the outbreak will not lead to a pandemic like Covid. There are now about 300 confirmed cases worldwide.

Some infection cases in the Netherlands were traced to an outbreak at the Belgian gay festival Darklands. Still, this by no means should be used to assume that monkeypox only affects men: in the UK, a woman and a child were also infected.

A word to the wise: take precautions, look for signs and symptoms in people you come in close contact with, maintain good hygiene and isolate yourself if you are unfortunate to contract monkeypox. People with compromised immune systems, children and babies should be further protected.

Though it is still unclear how the virus spreading in Europe, the variant prevalent here is not considered very

Written by Priyanka Sharma

Aggression against healthcare workers is increasing According to the WHO, 38% of health workers experience physical violence at some point in their careers. Many more are threatened or exposed to verbal aggression. The Covid-19 pandemic sems to have caused an increase of aggression against healthcare professionals. This can put healthcare provision at risk. OLVG, a hospital with two locations in Amsterdam, recently released a press release about the increase of aggression against healthcare professionals. Incidents of aggression against OLVG staff were reported 234 times in the first quarter of 2022; 154 involved verbal aggression, 31 physical violence and 23 threats. For the whole of 2021 OLVG reported a total of 764 incidents of aggression and violence against its healthcare staff. Limited visits cause frustration Stella Salden, director of NU’91, an organization that stands up for the interests of healthcare professionals in the Netherlands, says that aggression against healthcare workers has always been high, but increased significantly during the Covid-19 pandemic. “We see an increase of what we call “frustration aggression”,” said Salden, explaining that a lot of people were upset about the safety measures limiting the possibilities to visit patients in hospitals or demanding them to keep a safe distance. “When people don’t comply with those measures, the nurses warn them. This often causes irritation or even aggression.” Mike Wijngaarden, coordinator for aggression and violence at OLVG, explained the problem further: “There was a lot of anger and incomprehension about the number of visits allowed to a patient per day, while outside the hospital almost all measures had already been scrapped. It is often forgotten that we do this to protect our vulnerable patients.” “We understand that it can be difficult when you or a loved

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one is in hospital. But that should never lead to aggression or physical violence against our healthcare workers. We do not tolerate violence in OLVG and we report it when we can ,” added Maurice van den Bosch, CEO at OLVG.

employees from reporting aggression or going through with a report,” says Mike Wijngaarden, stating that the latest figures do not provide a complete picture of aggression at OLVG: “This is just the tip of the iceberg.”

Just the tip of the iceberg However, only a fraction of all aggression incidents in healthcare gets reported. “If a visitor pushes me, I see it as aggression. But if I have no pain or injury, then that visitor is not criminally liable. In addition, it is often difficult to prove anything and it is not possible to report such incidents anonymously. This sometimes prevents

It is not only legal qualification that contributes to the underreporting of aggression against medical professionals. Stella Salden says that aggression against healthcare workers is a taboo. “We see that nurses are ashamed to report these incidents to the police or even hesitant to discuss them with their colleagues or employers. We have to change this, because if the problem is not discussed, we cannot solve it.” The problem needs to be addressed because, as the WHO states, violence against health workers not only has a negative impact on their psychological and physical well-being, but also on their job motivation. In the end, this results in lower quality of care and puts healthcare provision at risk. Increasing aggression can be one of the factors causing healthcare professionals to leave their jobs, which is a big problem for countries like the Netherlands that already struggle with a shortage of nurses. OLVG offers information and training to make employees more resilient to aggression and violence. Training courses help them learn how to deal with aggression. Moreover, to draw attention to the growing problem, OLVG is starting a campaign with photos of healthcare workers who have experienced violence. Some of them are labelled with the words they heard from patients or their families such as “I am waiting for you outside” or “I will remember your name”. After all, it’s not the staff who need to change, but the visitors who have to restrain themselves. Written by Zuzanna Kuffel

09-06-2022 10:41

At Kühler & Partners International Mental Health we provide psychological healthcare for Kids & Teens. We have a specialist team of child psychologists and a child psychiatrist, offering high quality care to children age 6-18 and their families. We are there to support children who experience psychological issues such as anxiety, depression, stress due to major life events, low conﬁdence and self-esteem, problems with attention, behaviour or emotion regulation. If these problems do not disappear by themselves and last too long, they may have an impact on different areas in the child’s life, such as family, friends and school. Therapy or counselling can help to ﬁnd a way forward. We work together with children and parent(s)/families towards a healthier and better personal wellbeing. After initial assessment, we offer individual therapy, parent- and family counselling. Our treatments are tailormade, short if possible and longer if needed. We are a multidisciplinary team of professionals with an international background.

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Students fear an increase in interest rates for student loans rate increase will initially only affect students who graduated in 2017 or 2022. For someone who graduated in 2018, for example, the interest is fixed until the end of 2023. The Dutch national students’ association ISO is concerned about the feared rise in interest rates. “This is another financial slap for students. After the empty promise about not counting student debt in mortgage applications, it now appears that students may have to pay hundreds of euros per year in interest.”

In recent years, the interest on student loans was 0% due to a favourable economic climate. However, this year the scenario may change due to the rise in other interest rates. This can cost students a lot of money, according to Het Parool newspaper. This feels like a step back from a study period characterized by setbacks and broken promises, writes master’s student Harold Janssen in FD newspaper. The interest on Dutch government bonds – which serves as a benchmark for the interest on student debt – was negative,

but that has changed due to the current economic situation and rising inflation. The payback interest rates for student loans are determined every year for a period of five years. For example, those who graduated in 2017 found out what their interest rate was at the end of that year: 0%. This rate came into effect in January of 2018 and lasted until the end of 2022. However, the rate that will be in force from January 2023 is expected to be much higher. Since the interest on student debt is fixed for five years, any interest

The Ministry of Education says it understands students’ concerns about rising costs, but also calls it ‘conceivable’ that the interest debt will rise. “It’s important to realize that the recent period of historically low interest rates was truly unique. Moreover, lenient repayment conditions still apply to student debts: those who earn little pay nothing, and what you repay remains dependent on your income.” How much will students pay? If the interest rate would become 1,5%, with the average student debt standing at €15,200, former students would have to pay back an extra €228 in interest per year. However, many students have a much higher debt, especially those who did not live with their parents during their course. The annual interest on a debt of €50,000, which is not an unusual amount of debt,

can rise to €750 per year.

FD reports this increase is manageable, especially given the good income that many students can expect after graduation. It is, however, another setback in a long line of financial disappointments for this generation. These are the students who did not receive a basic grant as a gift, but had to pay back their entire grant – a policy that was in place for seven years but will be reversed soon. Furthermore, they who will no longer profit from the promised increase in the quality of education. And finally, they have received online education for two years and may have suffered from study delays as a result. Perspective It’s important to remember that the opportunity to study at a good educational institution, with a loan with a low interest rate, is still a good deal compared to many other countries, according to FD. Also, being able to borrow money so cheaply is a major plus. The current tight labour market also means that students can expect a good job after graduating. In June, the House of Representatives will vote on a motion to freeze tuition fees for 2023-2024. The ISO hopes for a majority, so that at least one cost item does not rise further. Written by Raphael Vieira

Government chalks out a comprehensive master plan to improve elementary school skills In recent years, the Covid crisis, teacher shortages and various other factors have had an adverse effect on elementary education in the Netherlands. It has been observed that many pupils finish primary school while lacking at basic skills such as reading, writing, math, digital literacy, and interacting with each other in a rapidly changing world. Furthermore, primary teachers’ educational skills are not up to the desired standard. Acting on these serious concerns, the government has devised a comprehensive plan for the next

ten years to get the basics in order and improve the quality of education. The proposed plan focuses on providing ample time and space to train teachers as well as steps to improve students’ basic skills. Primary teachers in association with education experts will provide knowledge, extra hands and help at school. Extra hands are set to be recruited in order to help about 150 primary and secondary schools to strengthen the basic skills of tens of thousands of students. In addition

to this, 350 schools can apply for a subsidy to improve basic skills themselves. This will reduce the administration load for teachers, so they can primarily focus on teaching. Furthermore, teachers will be armed with more didactic and subjectspecific knowledge, so they will enjoy their work more.

scientific research. The government is all set to provide support to give pupils a brighter future. Minister Wiersma also emphasized that it is not just about schools, but that all involved parties, such as parents, culture institutions, childcare and libraries, should come forward to improve pupils’ basic skills.

All these ideas are the highlights of the first draft of the plan, presented by the education minister Dennis Wiersma. Now the minister is in talks with teachers, school leaders, administrators, teacher training experts and other parties from the education sector to set out the details of the plan.

The education inspectorate will monitor whether the schools are taking the steps that are expected of them. Schools with lax approaches will be scrutinized and a stricter enforcement policy will be adopted to deal with unprofessionalism. According to the government, a coherent, long-term study will assess the improvement and development of education as a whole. The outcomes of the study will help the government to determine the development of basic skills, deficiencies in various areas and possible solutions to combat these deficiencies. This program will not only help to develop effective supervision at the school level, but bring fruitful changes to the entire Dutch education system.

As the main causes for the problems, the minister highlighted the outdated and unstructured curriculum, an overloaded program, scarcity of manpower and a gap between educational science and practice. The list does not end here: trends such as digital entertainment, pupils who read and write less during their free time, and a decrease in the number of libraries are further culprits for the students’ lack of basic skills. The plan also aims to improve teachers’ ability to teach various disciplines. For example, they must be given extra time to acquire knowledge and resources that they can apply in practice. Furthermore, all schools must use effective teaching methods, as identified in the most recent

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The obvious question that arises in everyone’s mind is – when will we see the effects? Experts say we should not expect success overnight. It will take lots of hard work, the right attitude and continuous efforts to achieve the desired results.

Written by Parul Sachdeva

09-06-2022 10:41

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09-06-2022 10:42

JULY 2022 | 11

NATIONAL

Albert Heijn launches packaging-free concept: a new dawn in supermarket grocery shopping? This April, the Netherlands’ largest supermarket chain Albert Heijn (AH) launched its new packaging-free concept. The move is set to encourage AH customers to do a large part of their daily shopping more sustainably. The concept is simple. Customers fill a reusable bag or jar with a choice of products, they take it home, and voila: no additional waste. The packaging-free assortment consists of seventy products and 80% is organic, the AH website explains. Customers can choose from breakfast cereals, spreads, tea and nuts, to pasta and rice. The concept – a collaboration with SUPZero, an organisation that guides companies in the transition to wastefree concepts – was introduced to Dutch consumers at Albert Heijn XL in Rotterdam. The XL stores Gelderlandplein in Amsterdam and Leidschendam are scheduled to be next, followed by another fifty in the coming year. AH has been voted most sustainable supermarket chain in the Netherlands for the sixth year in a row in the European Sustainable Brand Index 2022, and the move aims to support AH’s ambition to use twenty million kilos less packaging material by 2025.

packaging material. The great thing about this concept is that customers can simply take products with them in their own reusable packaging, time after time. You can also grab exactly the amount you need. In this way, together we ensure less waste and less wastage.” Elisah Pals, founder of Zero Waste Netherlands, added: “We have to move away from the single-use society. Separating waste at home is great, avoiding it when shopping is even better. That is a direct environmental benefit. I hope that we will soon be able to introduce packaging-free shopping in more stores.” The concept consists of six meters of packaging-free products. Customers can

fill their own reusable packaging from dispensers, or they can buy a reusable jar or bag on the spot. To help consumers get used to the new concept, packaged counterpart products elsewhere in the store have labels which state they are also available unpackaged. RTL News reported from Rotterdam that, although customers had to familiarise themselves with the new concept, there was a lot of enthusiasm. Many had brought their own packaging. According to RTL News, some experts predict that the move may encourage consumers to pay more attention to sustainability. Dutch independent retail consultant Eelco Hos, for example, said that although packaging-free shopping may not be for the average consumer

right now, “it’s a start.” Comparing it to vegetarian and organic movements, he added: “Without these kinds of initiatives you won’t get things moving.” He called the project “a super cool initiative” and argued that “Albert Heijn is showing that they mean business when it comes to reducing the amount of packaging materials”. According to Eco & Beyond, a platform for eco-friendly solutions, the zero-packaging supermarket is a new type of retailer emerging across Europe, looking to become a global phenomenon, while Zero Waste Europe (ZWE) says there is a future for Europe’s packaging-free shops. Forbes describes that for customers climatefriendliness will become more important than brand loyalty, and that they will buy more food from packaging-free stores. It also states that bringing your own container will become the norm. AH is not the first supermarket in the Netherlands to work with reusable product containers. In some Jumbo stores, for example, consumers can take breakfast cereals home in their own packaging, as well as at organic stores Ekoplaza, Odin and Marqt. There are also several online initiatives, such as Pieter Pot and De Groene Meisjes, and locally-owned stores in many cities. For a complete overview, check out the website of Het Zero Waste Project.

Marit van Egmond, CEO, says: “We encourage a healthy lifestyle and want to leave the earth a better place. We do the latter, for example, by continuously checking whether we can use less

Written by Femke van Iperen

Amsterdam cancels cheap parking zones in shopping areas Amsterdam is eliminating low-cost parking zones in shopping districts, alderman Egbert de Vries has decided. In all Amsterdam shopping centers, parking for 10 cents an hour will soon be a thing of the past. Until recently, people could park for ten cents an hour on Zeilstraat, Delflandplein and Van Woustraat, for example, for a maximum period of one hour. If you needed to run a short errand, this was the place to go. In a few weeks, this will come to an end. The decision is the result of a Supreme Court ruling that those who park their car for longer than the statutory parking period restriction cannot be subjected to an additional parking fee. Basically, parking would be free – and that’s not an option in Amsterdam. De Vries claims that the Supreme Court judgment startled him, and that it implied that short-term cheap parking is no longer possible at all. Parking in Amsterdam “is expensive, more expensive and most expensive”, he says. The city council is concerned that if enforcement is not possible in these parking places, severe problems would occur. Therefore, shortterm, low-cost parking will be discontinued for the time being. The standard tariff in the adjacent streets will be applied to the existing ten-cent zones. This means that in Jan Tooropstraat, for example, the cost of € 4.50 will be applied, which is already in place in other streets in the area. The question is whether or not low-cost

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short-term parking in shopping malls will return. The adjustment is being described by the city council as a temporary measure, with the goal of presenting suitable solutions by the end of 2022. Daan Wijnants, city councillor for the VVD party, believes that the elimination of ten-cent zones for enterprises will be a bad bargain in the long term. He is hoping that the rule will be only temporary: “Especially shops with larger items get a lot of visitors who come by car for a short period. The council must come up with a solution quickly.” Other parties, such as

GroenLinks and D66, who are planning to form a coalition, are opposed to low-cost parking zones in shopping areas, partly because they encourage short car trips. For the time being, parking for ten cents per hour will remain available at the Middenmeer, Drieburg and Transformatorweg sports facilities, as well as the Sint Barbara cemetery. The parking term restriction will also be removed in Weesp, but only in September, when the parking regulations of Amsterdam and Weesp will become the same.

Amsterdam: an expensive city Amsterdam is infamous for its parking fees, not just for visitors but also for residents. Car owners who live in the historic city center and Plantagebuurt pay the highest fee for their parking permit, according to LocalFocus, a research journalism organization that has compiled information on parking fees for all 352 towns. As reported by newspaper Het Parool, residents of these areas pay around €568 per year for a parking permit. According to Giuliano Mingardo, urban economist at Erasmus University, parking permits are most expensive in affluent communities. The high parking fees are basically due to a large number of people and a lack of available parking spaces – the same reasoning that applies to house prices. Municipalities use parking fees, such as those from permits, to balance their budgets, according to Corine Hoeben of COELO research institute. She explains: “Due to the tasks that the municipality has to perform, there is often a budget shortage and the central government is unable to provide extra money. All the money comes together in one big heap and the municipality has to cover all costs with this.”

Written by Nicole Bea Kerr

09-06-2022 10:42

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03-06-2022 14:34

JULY 2022 | 13

NATIONAL

Looking back at the Haarlem and Haarlemmermeer Housing & Education Event 2022 The Haarlem and Haarlemmermeer Housing & Career Event on Saturday 21 May was the largest event for locals and internationals living, working, studying or setting up business in the Haarlem and Haarlemmermeer area. The day was an excellent way to learn all about finding a home, an education, a degree course and the multilingual employment opportunities in the region, as well vacancies and startup opportunities. The event took place in the monumental Koepel, the former prison in the city of Haarlem, recently renovated and opened to the public. The event was kicked off by the municipality of Haarlem, together with the organizer expatsHaarlem, the event sponsor and the venue manager. The bilingual Dutch and English program included free presentations, workshops, stands and entertainment. Topics were housing, relocation, education, employment, entrepreneurship, finance, healthcare, coaching and socializing – all conveniently brought together under one roof. The Housing program presented a selected group of experts in the housing market in the big Amsterdam area and in Haarlem and Haarlemmermeer. It consisted of several presentations about recent housing developments in the area, new urban projects, future living areas and plans for more sustainable houses. Renters, real estate agents and financial advisers talked about the legal, financial and practical matters of renting, letting, buying, selling and renovating a home. They gave insights into the house hunting process and tips on how to prevent making costly mistakes, how to choose between renting and buying and your maximum mortgage. At the information stands, questions were answered on getting set up in the region. Home restylers gave practical renovation and decoration tips and attendees could ask for

personal advice. Psychologists advised on how to improve life in your new home and country. In the Career program, education professionals gave presentations and answered questions about primary and secondary (bilingual) education in the Netherlands in general and in Haarlem and Haarlemmermeer. Career advisors and coaches gave tips about how to find and apply for your dream job or how to start your own business. A recruitment agency offered multilingual job positions and local entrepreneurs presented their success cases. High school and university speakers gave international business and marketing lectures. The Grand Final was the Koepel comedy show with

Greg Shapiro, one of the most famous comedians in the Netherlands. Perhaps you know him as the voice of Trump in the ‘Netherlands Second’ video, with over 50 million views all over the world. What makes this event stand out is that it was organized by the local expat community expatsHaarlem, a very enthusiastic and proud local team. Being from abroad themselves, they know from experience what an international needs. ExpatsHaarlem is fully run by volunteers and depends on sponsors, partners and media partners for organizing events like these. The Holland Times, as a partner, is proud to report about the event. www.expatshaarlem.nl

Tips & tricks for a perfect night’s sleep and better school performance For some it’s so easy (“as soon as my head touches the pillow, I’m gone”), for others a lifelong struggle (“I see every hour on the clock”). Difficulty falling asleep, waking several times a night… a good night’s sleep is not easy. But Susanne Willekes, founder of The Sleep Agency, knows: “Sleep is a necessity of life, not a luxury”. Together with her team, she helps parents and families in the Netherlands and abroad to achieve a better night’s sleep and thus quality of life. According to recent American research, 25-50% of children (6 months to 12 years) sleep badly. Teenagers have even more trouble getting a good night’s sleep. The importance of a good night’s sleep Lack of sleep can have serious consequences, not only in the moment itself, but also at a later age. A prolonged lack of sufficient sleep can lead to obesity, depression, decline in cognitive functioning (perceiving, thinking, language, consciousness, memory, attention and concentration) and thus a negative effect on school performance. While sleeping, your body and mind get the opportunity to relax and recover, which is necessary to operate at an optimal level. If you enjoy a good night’s sleep, this will have a positive effect on your mood, resilience, brain development, memory, weight, motor skills, energy level, immune system and school performance. What many people don’t know is that babies and children also have to make growth hormone. Long-term lack of sleep at a young age can therefore have significant long-term consequences. Correlation between sleep and school performance A good night’s sleep can improve the cognitive functioning of children and teenagers influence positively. This is partly because when you sleep, oxygen is supplied to it the brain, which helps in processing information. This is how the brain finds rest and becomes prepared to absorb new information. Enough sleep also contributes to increasing

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concentration. So, a good night’s sleep is absolutely necessary for good school performance! Expert tips: how to encourage a good night’s sleep - Choose a fixed sleeping rhythm: go to bed about the same every night. - Maintain good sleep hygiene: Make sure the bedroom is dark, tidy and clean; ensure a cool temperature, ideally between 16-18 degrees. - Put all mobile devices in the bedroom on airplane mode so you are not interrupted. - Stop using a mobile device an hour before going to bed. The blue light from screens prevents the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone, and thus has a sleepdisrupting effect. In addition, certain activities on screens,

such as gaming, increase the heart rate and blood pressure and activate the brain, making it more difficult to fall asleep. - Provide structure and routine: use the same routine every time before going to bed: packing bags for the next day, showering, brushing teeth, reading. At some point your brain knows: it’s time to go to sleep. - Try to do homework as much as possible during the day, before dinner. To do homework, the brain has to work hard and this leads to a head full of thoughts. - Movement is key! Exercising for half an hour a day helps you sleep better at night. High-intensity training in the three hours before you go to bed, however, is not a good idea, as this creates adrenaline. - Spend time outside. Outdoor air and sunlight have a positive effect on sleep. Spending at least an hour a day outside improves your sleep. - Be careful with your diet: avoid heavy meals, junk food, caffeine and alcohol before going to sleep. - Stop worrying! This is easier said than done, but very important. Before going to bed, write down everything you’re worried about, and save your worries for later. About Susanne Willekes Susanne Willekes is the first certified child sleep coach in the Netherlands. She followed the Gentle Sleep Coach training with Kim West in America and started her practice The Sleep Agency in 2015. She has published two books about sleep for babies and toddlers. In addition, Susanne developed the sleep and nutrition app Sleepeez for babies and writes for parenting platform Ouders van Nu. More info: www.sleepagency.com www.gostudent.org

09-06-2022 11:03

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07-06-2022 12:41

JULY 2022 | 15

FOREIGN MATTERS

Azerbaijan-a country of opportunities

Nanda Jagusiak-Monteiro interviews the Ambassador of Azerbaijan, H.E. Mr.Fikrat Akhundov Eastern world, women’s suffrage was granted in 1918 in Azerbaijan. 16 neighboring and Western countries opened representations in Azerbaijan. When Azerbaijan declared its independence, the territory of Azerbaijan was 114 km2 (square kms). In 1919, the Azerbaijani delegation was sent to Paris Peace conference to get the recognition by the world states. Notably, President Wilson who met the delegates in May 1919, mentioned Azerbaijani representatives in his speech by saying: “I was talking to men who talked the same language that I did in respect of ideas, in respect of conceptions of liberty, in respect of conceptions of right and justice.”

H.E. Fikrat Akhundov: Diplomatic career since 1999, OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission; 1999-2005 – Second secretary, First secretary, Embassy of the Rep. of Azerbaijan to the Rep. of Austria, Permanent Representation of the Rep. of Azerbaijan to the International Organizations in Vienna; October 2002- OSCE observer at municipality elections in Kosovo; 2005-2009 – Head, Division of Western Europe, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 2009-2016 – First secretary, Embassy of the Rep. of Azerbaijan in Federal Rep. of Germany; 2016-2017 – Deputy Head, Human Resources Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 2017-2019 – Counselor, Embassy of the Rep. of Azerbaijan in the Rep. of Bulgaria; 2019 – Counselor, Department of Eastern Europe, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 26 December 2019 – present, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Permanent Representative to the OPCW. As per December 26, 2019 you are the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the Netherlands. How do you experience it to live and work in the Netherlands? I arrived in The Hague in the beginning of February 2020 and presented my credentials to His Majesty King Willem-Alexander on February 12, 2020, thus starting my work as the Ambassador. But my first acquaintance with the Netherlands happened in 2002, while working at the Embassy of Azerbaijan to Austria. For me, as a certified Germanist, back then it was interesting to explore the cultures, traditions, lifestyles of countries with close lingual ties to the German language. For me, the Netherlands, first of all, is a country with high standard of living, modern technology, with the largest production and export of agricultural products in the world. Of course, the best value of the Netherlands is its friendly people. I really enjoy the culture, history and the architecture of the Netherlands. It is an interesting country, at the same time challenging for diplomats. On May 28, 1918, 104 years ago Azerbaijan declared its independence and thus became the first secular democratic republic in the Muslim East. What can you tell the reader more about this? Proclaimed during complex geo-political times, Azerbaijan Democratic Republic has left a significant mark on the rich history of the statehood of Azerbaijan. In the short period of its existence, the first Parliament and Government were established. For the first time in the

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How would you describe the current development of relations between Azerbaijan and the Netherlands? This year marks the 30th anniversary of Azerbaijani-Dutch diplomatic relations. For the last 30 years the relations between Azerbaijan and the Netherlands has developed in different spheres, from agriculture to logistics, from education to tourism, culture and so on. About 50 Dutch companies work in Azerbaijan in different fields. Also Azerbaijan companies cooperate closely with Dutch companies. In the book titled “Bakoe” by researcher Anton Hantschel published in 1943 in Amsterdam, it is mentioned that the first companies of Dutch origin arrived in Baku, Azerbaijan after the oil boom in 19th century and were working till 1920s. Today, Dutch companies operate at oil sector, logistics, agriculture and also took part in environmental remediation projects in Azerbaijan. There is a large Azerbaijani-Dutch community living in the Netherlands. The Netherlands became 2nd home for those Azerbaijanis. Many of them arrived in the Netherlands, after the collapse of Soviet Union, due to conflicts in the region. Which are the main import and export products of Azerbaijan? In Azerbaijan, the oil and gas sector takes up to 70% of production. Nevertheless, Azerbaijan government has been developing non-oil sector and also diversifying the energy resources through solar, wind energy projects. The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and the Netherlands amounted to $127.4 million in 2021, with export amounting to $39.6 million and import to $87.7 million. The main products that the Netherlands exports to Azerbaijan are agricultural equipment and machines, technology (energy and other spheres). The main products that Azerbaijan exported to the Netherlands are oil products. But Azerbaijan is diversifying its economy, thus Azerbaijani dry fruits and wines have also found their place in Dutch markets. Dutch companies are involved in the clean water projects, providing environmental solutions to pollution of lakes by oil spills, in Baku and suburbs. Nevertheless Azerbaijan and the Netherlands have a huge potential for further deepening economic, cultural and humanitarian relations. What is Azerbaijan’s role in ensuring Europe’s energy security and what is the impact of oil-gas industry to the economy of your country? TAP (Trans-Adriatic pipeline in particular plays a key role in the EU’s strategic goal of energy security and diversification of energy sources as it is the shortest and most direct method of exporting gas from Azerbaijan to European markets. Thanks to timely strategic decisions by the Government of Azerbaijan on energy, diversification guarantees a sustainable energy supply to the European and world markets. Bearing in mind the current situation in Europe, Azerbaijan continues to be a true partner of Europe in its energy security issue. In this regard, gas supplies to Europe are expected to exceed 10 bcm by the end of the year.

Could you tell us about the current innovations in Azerbaijan? In January of 2022, Saudi Arabian energy company ACWA Power made $300m investment to 240MW wind power plant project in Azerbaijan. More such alternative energy projects are planned to be implemented in near future. New transport, logistics, eco-tourism, smart city and smart villages projects have been launched in the region. The goal of the Azerbaijani government is to transform the region fully into a green energy zone by 2050, as well as reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 40 percent. How do you assess tourism potential of Azerbaijan? Azerbaijan that is known as “Land of Fire” from ancient times has been the bridge between East and West. It is situated on an ancient Silk Road and on a new Silk RoadIron Silk Road as well. Azerbaijan is the largest country of South Caucasus and the capital Baku city is at the shore of the largest lake in the world - Caspian Sea. Nine out of eleven existing climate zones can be experienced in Azerbaijan. These details already allure people to discover Azerbaijan. One of the most popular historic places situated in Azerbaijan’s capital, is the district known as “Icherisheher” - the Old city of Baku, located on the shore of the Caspian Sea inside the medieval city walls. The main cultural places of interest of Old city are the Palace of Shirvanshah and Maiden Tower dated back to 12th-15th centuries. The national park Gobustan is the largest concentration of mud volcanoes in the world. Also, Gobustan is an openair museum famous for its Neolithic rock drawings that date back 12,000 years. Another historic city of Azerbaijan - Sheki is located at the foot of the Greater Caucasus Mountains and is characterized by a traditional architectural ensemble of houses with high gabled roofs. Located along important historic trade routes, Shaki city has been the center of silkworm breeding and the silk trade from the late 18th to the 19th centuries. Old city of Baku, Gobustan and Shaki city are all inscribed on World Heritage list of UNESCO. What can you tell us about the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix? Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix was held for the first time in 2017. This year, Azerbaijan Grand prix took place on June 12. Baku circuit has become one of the most excited and challenging races for Formula 1 pilots, thus becoming one of the favorites of Formula 1 fans. Besides the interesting moments of the game, the spectators all over the world are able to see the magnificent ancient walls of Baku and the modern skyscraper reminding the flames wrapped into Azerbaijani tricolor. The cuisine of Azerbaijan is one of the ancient, exotic and complex cuisines in the world. Which are the most important dishes? One of the most important dishes of Azerbaijani cuisine is “Dolma”, small fillings wrapped in fresh or pre-cooked grape leaves. The name of the dish originates from the shortened Azerbaijani word ‘doldurma’, meaning ‘stuffed’. Dolma making and sharing tradition was presented by Azerbaijan and inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2017. If you can describe your country in one sentence, what would you say? Azerbaijan – or Land of Fire currently is a crossroad of different civilizations, cultures and ideas of tolerance.

09-06-2022 10:42

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THE WORLD IN YOUR CLASS ROOM!

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Education for a peaceful and sustainable future UWC Maastricht is the leading international boarding school (for students 16-19 years old) in the Netherlands and is one of the 18 United World Colleges around the world. Our graduates receive an International Baccalaureate Diploma (diploma programme / career-related programme), which is recognized and respected by the world’s leading universities.

07-06-2022 12:39

JULY 2022 | 17

COLUMN

Aiming for ambivalence Pop psychology has told us to practice ‘living in the moment’ for decades. Yet it seems the only time I am ever actually able to live in the moment is when I am angry. That feeling of anger can become so loud and all-consuming that my mind, in its simultaneous quest for consistency, will usually conjure up a dictum: this must be how I have always felt. In response, I spend days plotting how I can radically alter that anger-inducing situation. For example, if I feel angry at someone, that anger leads me to deduce that the love I had previously felt for them was fallacious. That is, until I express my discontent. Suddenly the cruelty that coated the person in my mind is challenged by the actual caring human standing before me. At that point, I feel consumed – again – by love. So, I start to feel guilty for voicing my frustrations and making that person feel uncomfortable. The lesson these behavioural patterns teach me is clear: do not trust your emotions. However, I know that this ‘lesson’ is unhelpful, toxic and stressful. I also know that I am not the only person trapped in the illusion of emotional certainty. The idea that we can know ourselves fully and be certain of our feelings, intentions and convictions is alluring, but it is rarely (if ever) the case. Instead, as psychoanalysis teaches us, human beings are riddled with contradictions. What is psychological ambivalence? Freud borrowed the psychoanalytic concept of ambivalence from leuler’s three fold definition. Firstly, ambivalence of the will, e.g., when you want to eat and not eat at the same time. Secondly, intellectual ambivalence, which involves adherence to contradictory premises. Lastly, there is affective ambivalence, which means that one can feel both love and hate for the same person.

While Bleuler argued that ambivalence was a symptom of mental ill-health, Freud elaborated on his work to argue that it is actually the foundation of psychological life. For Freud, mental health issues occur when we struggle to manage this inherent ambivalence, often because of a convolution of morality with emotionality. For example, in the story I told above, anger is deemed incompatible with love. So, by keeping these emotional brackets separate, it means that any time I am faced with a con ict, my solution is: either I am a bad person, or they are a bad person. Psychical courtroom dramas like these are common in those of us who struggle with perfectionism or anxiety. Still, it is a lot to take in when you didn’t sleep very well and are just irrationally annoyed with your partner at the breakfast table. This kind of rigid thinking can soothe the anxiety of not-knowing, which is often rooted in the fear of losing control. pecifically, convoluting morality with emotion tends to be rooted in the idea that because we cannot control our emotions, we are afraid that they can overwhelm us and lead us to act against our wishes or best interests. However, when we find a way to navigate that fear, namely, sitting in the discomfort of ambiguity, it actually helps us feel more in control.

of your life (be it a job, relationship, lifestyle choice, country, financial decision and so on , try to accept the idea that you can be both happy and sad at the same time. You can love your work and want to leave. You can also leave your work and wish you stayed. When we aim for ambivalence, it helps us figure out what we actually want. Instead of believing that our most blinding emotions are the ‘true’ ones, we take time to digest and honour each and every one, no matter how incompatible they seem. And if nothing else, when we accept that we feel ambivalent towards others, it means that we are more able to tolerate when other people are frustrated with us.

Okay, but what does it mean to aim for ambiguity? Firstly, to be clear – I am not trying to imply that feeling angry because someone or something hurt you is bad. Not at all. It is a necessity to express anger – in a healthy way. But nothing in life is black and white. The healthiest connections are filled with love, annoyance, irritation, joy, boredom and all emotions in between.

inally, it is fitting to end on a parado : psychoanalysis gave us the notion of psychical ambivalence and yet there are few schools of thought that people feel less ambivalent about. Some love it, some hate it, and there is not much space for the in-between. Whichever team you’re on, if you’re eager to work your own uncertainty bandwidth, try reading this article through the lens of the opposite viewpoint.

So, the next time you feel unhappy with an aspect

Written by Molly Fitz

Modern Dutch Heroes: Nikkie de Jager about a personal secret, she decided that she was going to take control. She continued in the video with how she struggled with the decision to make this announcement, but came to realize that above all she wanted to control the narrative. Then she announced to the world that she is transgender.

Standing on the international stage of the 2021 Eurovision Song Festival in Rotterdam, next to decades-long veterans of international celebrity the likes of Jan Smit, Chantal Janzen and Edsilia Rombley, was Nikkie de Jager - the queen of YouTube makeup tutorials and better known as Nikkie Tutorials. If you didn’t know it, you would think she had been on the international stage for as long as her co-hosts, as she navigated the Song Festival broadcast with ease and grace. And true, with millions of followers on all her socials, she is the undisputed queen and is very much ‘the moment’ – but it took a lot for her to get where she is today. Less than a year and half before co-hosting the Eurovision Song Festival, Nikkie was forced to open up a part of her life that was incredibly personal, which she thought had long been locked up and gone away. In January of 2020 she uploaded a video to YouTube where she announced that after having been blackmailed by an old acquaintance

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The level of bravery it takes for someone who was on the rise in social media circles – becoming a popular in uencer and winning collaboration deals with international makeup brands – to reveal such a secret to the world is remarkable in its own right. But to have been blackmailed, or even just threatened, by someone she knew and to not cower but to stand up strong and speak her truth, is something beyond just being brave. The vulnerability she displayed and the strength that she exuded allowed the world to really see Nikkie the person, not just Nikkie the famous YouTuber. And the world responded overwhelmingly with love, support and admiration for her bravery. Her fame only skyrocketed from there. Then, in August , she and her fianc Dylan Drossaers e perienced what she called her worst nightmare’. ikkie and Dylan were held at gunpoint during a home robbery, after a violently forced entry into their home. She later uploaded another video e plaining brie y what had happened and that it would take some time for her to recover. And despite this and her other difficulties, she always has a shining spirit. he’s always smiling and positive confident yet humble personifies graceful strength. Those who watch Dutch T can regularly see her as a guest or a judge on many Dutch T shows like ie is de ol’, ake p our ind’, Drag

Race Holland’ (the latter two both with Fred van Leer), and as the host of her own shows, ‘Make-Up Cup’ and ‘Glow Up’, which also features younger children learning the visual artistry of makeup. And she belongs to a very exclusive group of Dutch celebrities who have made it to the television talk shows, having been on the Ellen Show last year. If this is Nikkie’s moment, it’s a moment that is lasting a very long time as she gains more and more fans around the world. In the past few years, she has collaborated with some of the most famous and in uential people in the world including ady Gaga, noop Dogg if you haven’t seen her tutorial video that he narrates, definitely check it out , arc acobs and more. She has also won numerous awards including the American In uencer Awards twice , People’s Choice Awards, Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards for Favourite Star in the Netherlands, and her crowning achievement here in the Netherlands, the prestigious Televizier-Ster for Presenter of the Year. Nikkie de Jager is a champion for so many people in so many areas of life, and has undoubtedly helped countless people in the world struggling with their own gender and own personal identity. Yes, she ‘survived’ these monumental struggles, but she’s come out of them more a ‘warrior’ than a survivor’. er spirit is infectious and her in uence will surely be measured for generations to come. or this reason, ikkie de ager is a modern Dutch hero. Written by Marla Thomson

09-06-2022 10:43

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Because sometimes you need a little guidance to ﬁnd your way.

Please contact us at +31 (0) 85 0660 500 for more information or to schedule an intake. Contact details +31 (0) 85 0660 500 info@internationalmentalhealth.nl

We invited Ligia Koijen Ramos to talk to us about NLP. Ligia is the only Master Trainer in Amsterdam who was directly trained by John Grinder, a co-founder of NLP. What is NLP and why study it? LKR: NLP, an acronym for Neuro-linguistic Programming, is a discipline that focuses on the practice of change and efficiency of the human operating system. This may seem very abstract, but NLP is one of the most practical and focused disciplines I have ever studied. NLP explores how humans receive, organise and use information from outside and how this impacts our systems (body and mind). Many references to NLP are still too focused on the mind and linguistic processes, while NLP has developed a lot since its first iteration in the 1970s by its three founders. Today, with the continuing work of John Grinder and Carmen Bostic S. Claire, NLP has gained a whole new portfolio of exercises and practices

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Clinics Amsterdam Den Haag

that make transformational processes even faster and more effective.

because it gives us all the necessary tools to make our communication effective and efficient.

One of the questions I am often asked is: who can learn NLP? All people, of all ages, who want to be able to think, create and use their emotions more effectively can learn NLP. One of the things I hear most often after an NLP course is “why didn’t we learn this in primary school?” Indeed, with NLP, many of the problems we have experienced from that age onwards would never have become problems.

Over the years, it has been shown that NLP works and enables change that often seems so difficult and even impossible.

“Because the problem is never the real problem. The real problem is the emotional state we approach the problem in.” John Grinder. NLP is also one of the most comprehensive tools for therapists, coaches, psychologists and all others who work with change or transformational processes. Increasingly, our international certification groups have been filled by top managers and leaders. NLP not only shows us how we work ourselves, but also helps us to work with others,

In which situations can we use NLP? It can be used in all situations, because we are all already using processes, behavioural patterns, thought patterns and physical processes. In other words, we are all already using NLP – but the question is, are we using it in the way that most enhances what we want for ourselves and our teams? NLP can also be used as a therapeutic process, in the sense of assisting and partnering with other disciplines to treat clinical and psychological cases. When and where can we study NLP? Our next course is in October 2022 in Amsterdam. The whole course is set in a global context, delivered in English and provides participants internationally recognised certification. in2motivation.com

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o .

Interview with an expat seeing some of the infrastructure things here, because the Dutch are masters at it.

Where do you prefer to relax in your city? Scheveningen! The beach is great. I’m from the middle of the US, so having a beach nearby is great. You can relax on the beach or go to one of the many restaurants and beach pavilions. If it’s a busy time of the year we bike to the beach in Wassenaar. It’s a lot quieter there in the summer months.

Best-kept secret in your city? It’s not much of a secret for Dutch people here, but The Hague Market (Haagse Market) is really cool. It’s a typical open-air market with stalls and stands. ou can find a lot of things here and some really good deals.

What do you like to do on the weekends? If the weather is good, we are usually out biking or at a festival now that it’s summer time. If the weather is bad, I like gaming.

Name: Frank Where do you come from and where do you live in the Netherlands? I’m from Kansas in the United States. I currently live in Leidschendam near The Hague. What’s your job/business? I freelance as a business intelligence officer for a software company that develops software solutions for the healthcare industry.

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What is the nicest thing about the Netherlands? The availability of public transportation. It’s everywhere and really easy to get around. Going out at night is fun too; everyone just wants to have a good time, so there’s always a good atmosphere wherever you go.

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was really good and the price was not bad. I recommend it.

What’s your favourite Dutch store? Cool Blue. They have the best selection and their staff is really good. They also have one of the best e-commerce sites I’ve seen. There are also some good gaming stores in the center of the city.

What was your first time in the Netherlands? I came to the Netherlands on a student trip in high school, but we were only here for a couple of days, so I don’t remember much. I came back with friends one summer in college. I don’t remember much on that trip but for different reasons!

n r .

JULY 2022 | 19

INTERVIEW

What’s the worst thing about the Netherlands? The weather is bad and the Dutch food isn’t that great. I went to my girlfriend’s parents’ place with her one time and her mom made steamed kale mashed with potatoes and a sausage on top. Apparently, this is a really famous meal that everyone loves. It was ok, just a strange thing to have as a famous dish. Do you have Dutch friends? Yes, my girlfriend is Dutch so I have a lot of friends through her and her family. What do you like about Dutch people? What don’t you like? They are almost always nice to be around. They can get a little crazy sometimes but they always seem to want to have a good time. And they want you to have a good time too, so that’s cool. I also like how they are really into their sports teams, especially any team or athlete that does well in international competitions – it’s like the whole country gets onboard with cheering them on. It’s cool. Do you have a favourite restaurant in your city? We just found this great Georgian restaurant called Suhumi in The Hague. My girlfriend saw it on a TV show, so we checked it out. The food

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Who is your favourite Dutch person? Memphis Depay is my favorite Dutch person and an all-around awesome soccer player. He also has a sick tattoo of a lion that covers his whole back. I like the way he plays, especially since the national team got a new coach. What would you recommend a visitor to do and see in your city in the Netherlands? I recommend walking around the old government places like the Binnenhof if you like history. There’s also Madurodam, an outdoor attraction that’s like a miniature Netherlands. There are small models of all the famous places and cities and you can just walk around. It’s a cool place for all ages, so whoever is visiting, you can always take them here. What is your favourite Dutch food? And what Dutch food do you dislike? I like Dutch fries and kibbeling, it’s like fish and chips, but that’s about it. Where I come from, they make the best burgers, steaks and comfort food, so I kind of miss that. I like Dutch beer and the ice cream here is the best, hands down. My girlfriend cooks a lot and it always tastes good, so the food you buy in the grocery store seems to be really good.

Looking back, what do you wish you knew before you moved to the Netherlands? I wish I knew how to watch American baseball when I got here! It’s on TV all the time back home, but here you can almost never find a game on T . I spent a ton of time figuring out how to watch it online and missed part of the season when I first got here. efore I moved here, I heard that the Netherlands were the biggest baseball fans in Europe. But after being here I realized that only meant that it had zero popularity outside the Netherlands and that the Dutch only have a tiny bit of interest in the sport because there are some professional players from Curaçao and Aruba. What are one-two things you recommend to new expat here in the Netherlands? Get layers of clothes and always carry an umbrella! Just remember that this is another country, so things will be different. It took me time to stop saying “It’s not like this in the US”, but my girlfriend just kept saying “That’s because it’s the Netherlands!” One day I realized that she meant not to compare how things are here to how they are back home, but to enjoy the differences and think of them like part of the adventure. Also, the things I miss really aren’t that bad, when you think about it.

Written by Marla Thomson

Do you celebrate Dutch holidays? What is your favourite? Yes, we celebrate them all! We like King’s Day in Amsterdam because you can pretty much do what you want, and everyone is just in such an awesome party mood. We go to her parents’ home for a lot of the other holidays, especially the Christmas and religious holidays, though none of us are particularly religious. Where do you like to go out? Bar Eleven is great for watching sports, especially the Dutch national football league. We also have friends in Leiden so we go there sometimes, but most of the time we hit a nice bar or restaurant on the Grote Markt or, if the weather is nice, we sometimes go to Scheveningen. O’Casey’s probably has the best bar food in the area and is great to hang out with English-speaking people, especially rugby fans. What famous Dutch place should you really go and see? I think most people come and visit the usual sites like Amsterdam, the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum and maybe The Hague and Rotterdam. But short visits like I did in high school don’t really give you a good idea of what the Netherlands has. Like the Deltaworks and the Afsluitdijk, the water management engineering projects the Dutch use to keep the country from ooding. It’s probably not at the top of the list of things to do or see, but I really recommend

Upper photo: Madurodam Middle: Rainy days in the Netherlands Left: Football player Memphis Depay

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het scheepvaart national maritime museum

The National Maritime Museum holds one of the world’s largest and most notable maritime collections including paintings, ship models, navigation instruments and sea charts. Discover 500 years of Dutch maritime history and its strong link to society of today and tomorrow. Be amazed by the impressive building with a stunning glass roof over the open courtyard.

The National Maritime Museum offers a complete day out for families with children. There are exhibitions such as The tale of the whale and you can visit the replica East Indiaman Amsterdam. Opening a new exhibition for visitors aged 2-6 years from this summer!

More information, such as our summer programme and opening hours, please visit: www.hetscheepvaartmuseum.com

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ART & CULTURE

Discover two gems of Rotterdam’ modernism Chabot Museum Rotterdam and UNESCO World Heritage site Van Nelle Factory Rotterdam is known for its modern architecture, with the Depot in the Museum Park as the most recent attraction. But did you know that the city already embraced modernity in the early 20th century? Rotterdam is seen as the cradle of ‘Het Nieuwe Bouwen’, the Dutch modernist architecture movement of the early 20th century, characterized by light, air and space, and closely related to the internationally renowned Bauhaus. Its members maintained a lively exchange of ideas on architecture, art and design, which revolved around helping to build a new and better world, after World War I had ended. Now, you can discover two very fine e amples of Rotterdam modernist architecture: The Chabot Museum and UNESCO World Heritage site Van Nelle Factory. The Chabot Museum offers guided tours every weekend, including a shuttle bus between the locations. Art in one of Rotterdams most beautiful villas The Chabot Museum for International Expressionism is housed in an icon of the Nieuwe Bouwen style, located in the bustling Museum Park. Here, you can experience art in the light, open spaces of one of Rotterdam’s most beautiful villas. This summer it shows highlights and defining moments from enk Chabot’s (1894-1949) broad oeuvre. Known for his often monumental and idiosyncratic paintings of landscapes, people and animals, he was inspired by his immediate working and living environment on the river Rotte and his close relationship with the people who lived there. However, he also visited other Dutch regions together with friends, to immerse himself into their sublime scenery and depict a heavily concentrated version of this in his art. An intimate art experience on a world class level.

considered the symbol of the Dutch ‘Nieuwe Bouwen’ movement and an international highlight of Modernism. The Van Nelle Factory, a UNESCO World Heritage since 2014, is world famous for its progressive design, in which air, light and space gained an entirely new role in architecture. This included daylight to the factory oors, state of the art facilities for all employees and greatly improved the working conditions. It is without a doubt one of the most extraordinary buildings in town. Le Corbusier even called it ‘the most beautiful spectacle of the modern age’. With Chabot to van Nelle Devotees of architecture, art and industrial heritage will enjoy themselves with a guided tour celebrating Rotterdam Modernism. An experienced guide from the wonderful UrbanGuides will bring to life the architecture, production process and modern transformation of the factory, but also what it was like to work here. Experience the building from the inside and out and discover why this groundbreaking design was of great architectural importance. Every Saturday and Sunday, including shuttle bus. Chabot Museum Rotterdam Museumpark 11 info & tickets: chabotmuseum.nl museumparkvillas.nl

Unesco world heritage site van nelle factory This unique industrial building from 1931, that once processed coffee, tea and tobacco, is

World Press Photo Exhibition 2022 | The Nieuwe Kerk The World Press Photo Exhibition 2022 is on show in De Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam until 14 August 2022. This edition was opened by alderman Touria Meliani (art and culture), Bram Janssen, winner in the category Stories – Asia, Annabelle Birnie (director of De Nieuwe Kerk) and Joumana El Zein Khoury (director World Press Photo). Alderman Meliani said: “Amsterdam once again shows the best photojournalism and documentary photography to the world. They are not just photos. It’s stories that matter.”

The exhibition is the premiere of the annual exhibition of the international press photography competition, which will go on a world tour and will

visit at least 65 cities in 25 countries. The World Press Photo of the Year is ‘Kamloops Residential School’ by Amber Bracken. The winning photo shows children’s clothing hung from crosses, in memory of the children who died at the Catholic boarding school in Kamloops, Canada. This year’s World Press Photo Story of the Year was won by Matthew Abbott with ‘Saving Forests with Fire’. The story shows the Australian community of Nawarddekken using ancient techniques to fight forest fires. ther winners were alo de Almeida (World Press Photo Long-Term Project Award) and Isadora Romero (World Press Photo Open Format Award). Dutch photographer Bram Janssen was awarded for the series ‘The Cinema

of Kabul’, winner in the Stories category for the Asia region. New presentation World Press Photo Exhibition The exhibition in De Nieuwe Kerk has been renewed, in line with the new regional strategy of the World Press Photo Foundation. This year’s competition was divided into six regions (Africa, Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania, Europe, North America and South America) and four new categories were established: Singles, Stories, Long-Term Projects and Open Format. The exhibition shows the work of 24 photographers from all six regions who distinguished themselves with their entries. A total of 127 photos are on display in De Nieuwe Kerk. The photos are shown in different formats and presented in various new themes, such as news, people power, portraits and the environment. The rich history of the World Press Photo Foundation has a special place in the heart of the church, where the current status of international press freedom is highlighted. Visitors can re ect here on the importance of a free press. The chapels focus on more specific topics, such as fake news and the war in Ukraine. The photographers themselves explain the images in the audio tour.

Africa Open Format Rehab Eldalil

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Lalo de Almeida for Folha de São Paulo / Panos Pictures

Tickets: www.nieuwekerk.nl More info: www.worldpressphoto.org

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Tracey Bush, The Little Cloth of Earth (detail), diorama van verpakkingen in een glazen taxidermie tafelvitrine, 46 x 30 x 20 cm. Collectie van de kunstenaar

Mondrian Moves This year it is 150 years since the birth of Piet Mondrian (1872-1944). Kunstmuseum Den Haag, whose Mondrian collection, numbering over 300 items, is the largest in the world, cannot let this pass unnoticed. To mark this year’s anniversary, director Benno Tempel and curator Caro Verbeek have created an exhibition exploring Mondrian’s inspiring relationships with friends and fellow artists of his time, and his role as a source of inspiration to many artists who came after him. Kunstmuseum Den Haag’s Mondrian collection spans his entire development as an artist, allowing us to trace in detail his path to abstraction. Mondrian often changed his style dramatically, exchanging his early dark land-

scapes for the exuberant compositions of De Stijl and the neo-plastic style he helped to develop. Victory Boogie Woogie – Mondrian’s final painting, and a highlight of his oeuvre – is presented in this exhibition as a grande finale. Over the years the museum has purchased work by a range of artists who feel some connection to Mondrian, including Bridget Riley, Fred Sandback, Bob Bonies, Isa Genzken and Remy Jungerman. The makers of this exhibition raise the question of what stewardship of such an important and inspiring collection means for a museum. Mondrian Moves will introduce visitors to this perspective, while inviting them to identify connections themselves. Music and movement The exhibition will also take a closer look at certain unique aspects of and stories about Mondrian’s art and life. He was for example outspoken in his views on music (including electronic music) and movement. Musicians Steven Brunsmann and Marco Spaventi have composed a techno piece specially for the museum, based on Mondrian’s ideas. Visitors will be able to hear it at the exhibition. The exhibition will also feature work by artists, such as Iris Kensmil and Patricia Kaersenhout, who display some artistic kinship with Mondrian, though they do not have any

till 25 sept 2022

direct connection with him. His contact with artists Jacoba van Heemskerck, Theo van Doesburg, Alexander Calder and Josephine Baker is also considered. Mondrian’s ideas were not, as we have said, limited to the visual, but also encompassed music. At the invitation of Kunstmuseum Den Haag, IFF have created something unique, appealing to another of our senses. Inspired by the rhythm and dynamic of Victory Boogie Woogie, they have produced a scent which visitors can sample in the rooms housing our permanent exhibit Mondrian & De Stijl. The exhibition will also feature the smells of Mondrian’s studios in Amsterdam, Paris and New York.

Stadhouderslaan 41 , 2517 HV Den Haag Kunstmuseum.nl/tickets

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ART & CULTURE

JULY 2022 | 23

Celebration of the Africa Day 2022

On Monday 30th May a big event “Africa Day” took place in the beautiful Kasteel de Wittenburg in Wassenaar. All the African Ambassadors resided in The Hague were present and about 200 guests were all received by them at the entrance. The welcome speech was given by the Ambassador of Tanzania, H.E. Mrs. Irene F.M. Kasyanju, also the Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps. This year’s celebration was of particular importance to her as it marked the end of her duty as Ambassador of Tanzania to the Netherlands, a position she happily served for over 6 ½ years, which according to her could not have been possible without the unwavering support she received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Group of Ambassadors and the entire Diplomatic Corps fraternity. She expressed her sincere appreciation of thank you to them. She also extended her gratitude to all African Ambassadors for their commitment, guidance and material support ensuring this event to become a success. She remained hopeful that the strong gesture of true friendship and collaboration among the African States will continue to radiate in other occasions, mentioning that is the Ubuntu spirit which is always cherished in Africa. Africa Day which is celebrated each year on the 25th of May is an important date in the history of their continent as it commemorates the founding of the first nion of Africa countries A in , which was later transformed into the current African nion A in order to have a more stable and prosperous Africa, therefore they gathered to remember that day and to re ect on how they have gone, what has been achieved, and what needs to be done in the future in order to build the “The Africa We Want”.

This year’s Africa Day Theme is: “Strengthening Resilience in Nutrition and Food Security on the African Continent: Strengthening AgroFood Systems, Health and Protection Systems for the Acceleration of Human, Social and Economic Capital Development” is of paramount importance and very impertinent. The theme is not only critical to achieving the AU Agenda 2063 and transforming Africa into the global powerhouse of the future, as envisioned by their Heads of State and Government; but also offers an opportunity to boost intra-African trade through the African ontinental ree Trade Area Af TA which was operationalized in January 2021, and indeed showcase that Africa is the future the world has been waiting for. A continent in which more than half of the Earth’s arable land – roughly 600 million hectares – is located, should not suffer food insecurity or malnutrition. This year’s theme certainly offers an impetus in the pursuit of an integrated, prosperous, and peaceful Africa. Indeed, Africa is richly endowed with vast human and natural resources which, if harnessed in accordance with their vision, Agenda 2063, will improve the livelihoods of the peoples of Africa. A continent of 1.3 billion plus people, where 60% of their population is represented by their youth, below the ages of 25 and boast a combined Gross Domestic Product GDP of . trillion across the 55 Member States, if they move together in unity the ‘Africa We Want’, will not be an agenda but a reality. Cognizance of this endowment, African countries made reasonable progress to align agricultural and other policies, programs, and investments related to food security and nutrition with the Zero Hunger Vision and SDG 2 which aims to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. Africa Day is the moment to celebrate the richness of their continent in terms of culture, traditions, history, and more importantly their unity. That unity, among others, is evident in the UNESCO’s decision in November 2021 to set 7th July as the World Kiswahili language Day - the official day to celebrate the iswahili language as well as February’s 2022 African Union’s Heads of State decision to approve Kiswahili, the Pan African language, as an official working language of the bloc. They need to promote this unifying language, spoken by over 100 million people in Africa, for the wider communication and

implementation of AU Decisions. Before Ambassador Kasyanju ended her speech, she left the audience with an inspirational quote by Tanzania’s founding Father Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, the driving force behind the movement and firm believer of promoting iswahili for African unity, in his speech given in Accra, Ghana, 6 March 1997, and she quoted: “Unity will not make us rich, but it can make it difficult for Africa and the African peoples to be disregarded and humiliated . he finished her words by saying, let us celebrate together the richness of our continent in terms of culture, traditions, and history. The ambiance around here testifies to that. She wished all those present a wonderful Africa Day 2022 celebration. After her speech, the Ambassador of Egypt, H.E. Mr. Hatem Elsayed Mohamed Kamaleldin gave a speech, mentioning that Africa is open to cooperation with all international partners, in building the future of Africa within a cooperative and a sustainable partnership framework that safeguards the fair achievement of mutual interests and contributes to promote stability and prosperity of their world. Africa day where the spirit of African synergy, profound cooperation and integration are the basis of the continent and where all the peoples of Africa around the globe are bound together and progressing in line with the vision of their founding fathers. Long live Africa. Then there was a speech of the Guest of Honour, H.E. Mrs. Carola van Rijnsoever, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and concluded by a toast of the Ambassador of Algeria, H.E. Mrs. Salina Abdelhak. After the group photo of all the Ambassadors, there were two cultural group performances from Tanzania and Morocco. There was a delicious, colorful buffet of dishes of all the participating African countries which was very much appreciated by all those present. Most of the African guests wore a very beautiful colorful national dress. It was an unforgettable event and very well organized.

Written by Nanda Jagusiak-Monteiro

Kidorama, 200 years of children’s fashion | Fashion & Lace Museum Children’s fashion is healthier than ever. More inclusive, more environmentally friendly, with an emphasis on handmade items: new labels appear each year. But dressing a child is not always easy ashion is first and foremost a social phenomenon and children also care about what they wear. Through a trajectory that is both thematic and chronological, this new exhibition casts its eye on current fashion in the light of children’s wear since 1820. By delving into its collections, recently enriched by Belgian items as well as several prestigious loans, the museum raises questions about issues such as construction of gender, the development of mixed or unisex fashion, imitation of adult fashion as well as the growing interest in the luxury industry for kids. More than just a fashion exhibition, Kidorama tells the story of the place of the child and the development of his/her personality within our society.

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An exhibition to enjoy through children’s eyes! The exhibition is of course aimed at adults but also at children, discover all the activities of the museum for this unique exhibition. Exhibition 8 July 2022 - 5 March 2023 Fashion & Lace Museum Rue de la Violette 12 1000 Brussels www.fashionandlacemuseum.brussels

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take a walk with us 50% off de with co 22 walk20

Original illustrations and unique Disney material from the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s to the present. In the nicest and only real (comic art) museum in the Netherlands.

Discover the amsterdam school and the history of social housing

JUNE 4 - OCTOBER 30, 2022

The art and architecture of the Amsterdam School are all around us. Discover the hidden gems of Amsterdam and learn all about the history of social housing and architect Michel de Klerk during our English spoken guided walking tours "Treasures of social housing" and "Michel de Klerk". Enter your discount code WALK2022 for 50% off!

www.museumofcomicart.nl StripdagenHaarlem.A5staand.indd 1

book your guided walking tour on hetschip.nl/walks 20-05-22 14:46

with chabot to van nelle

unesco world heritage

Van Nelle Factory – photo Ossip van Duivenbode

Discover the gems of Rotterdam’ Modernism In the early twentieth century Rotterdam developed into the modern city where Dutch modernist architecture, closely related to the internationally renowned Bauhaus, reigned supreme. They maintained a lively exchange of ideas on architecture, art and design, which revolved around helping to build a new world. Discover two very fine examples of Rotterdam modernist architecture in the guided tour ‘With Chabot to Van Nelle’: Chabot Museum Rotterdam and unesco world heritage Van Nelle Factory. info & tickets chabotmuseum.nl museumparkvillas.nl

saturdays and sundays

guided tour

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Chabot Museum – photo Bob Goedewaagen

Van Nelle Factory – photo Eva van der Craats

€ 19,50 | € 15 incl. entrance Chabot Museum and shuttle bus Museumpark ←→ Van Nelle Factory

07-06-2022 12:29

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ART & CULTURE

Donald Duck magazine turns 70 | Museum of Comic Art Duo exhibition with Storyworld The e hibition is organised in collaboration with toryworld in Groningen, resulting in a unique duo e hibition. The Groningen part shows how a Donald Duck story is created and how the entire maga ine comes to life. The two e hibitions reinforce each other in several ways.

This autumn, the Dutch Disney magazine Donald Duck will be 70 years old. What many do not know, is that from the first issue on ctober , the contribution of Dutch artists to Donald Duck was significant. The useum of omic Art o A in oordwijk has brought together more than originals by more than 30 artists, including many Dutch nationals, for a magnificent e hibition for the whole family. The development of the ‘Vrolijk eekblad’ merry maga ine’ is shown per decade. Special attention is paid to Carl Barks, the American ‘Duck Father’. He created all of Duckburg with all its eccentric characters such as crooge cDuck and Gladstone Gander. or the first time, originals by his hand can be admired in the Netherlands. Dutch contribution The Disney comics were initially produced in America. ver time, however, an increasing proportion of the stories was created by Dutch artists and writers. In the s it was decided to train local talent for this. Donald Duck became the largest employer for Dutch cartoonists. Nowadays, more than 2000 new pages are created every year, a large part of which is also reprinted abroad. For readers, it’s simple: Donald Duck is from America and that’s why it’s so good. Nothing could be further from the truth. Dutch cartoonists who work for Donald Duck, such as Daan ippes, au eymans and ichel adorp, are internationally renowned and their original

Museum of Comic Art The o A is the first Dutch museum entirely devoted to the great masters of ‘The Ninth Art’. In changing e hibitions, those interested in graphic art can admire leading comics from home and abroad, always in their original form: a drawing on paper. The published version is also displayed ne t to each drawing, so that visitors can see for themselves what has been added or changed after drawing. An e tensive catalog is published with each e hibition, a real collector’s item. ‘Donald Duck: seventy years a merry magazine’: une to ctober pening hours: ednesday to unday from : to : . Harry Balm, Vincent van Dugh, 1988

drawings are sold for large sums. ther Dutch, ‘non-Disney comics’, such as Douwe Dabbert and Tom Poes, became famous by being published in Donald Duck.

o A Noordwijk aan Zee ore information: www.museumofcomicart.nl toryworld Groningen: www.storyworld.nl

Antony Gormley | Voorlinden museum In the summer of , Antony Gormley will take over the museum and estate of Voorlinden. The British artist is renowned worldwide for his sculptures, installations and public works that e plore the relationship between the human body and the space around us. The major retrospective e hibition G D, from ay to eptember , brings together work spanning Gormley’s entire career, from his early lead sculptures from the s to recent large scale installations.

have called this e hibition G D to make this open invitation of sculpture clear. Without the viewer there is no show, without the gallery there is no conte t. The joy of this kind of e hibition is to allow the richness of the conte t itself to become activated by sculpture. For me, the body of the viewer is often the activating principle in a ‘ground’ of contemplation: the works become catalysts for awareness and grounds for physical and imaginative inhabitation.’

Gormley approaches the age old subject of the human body in his own unique, yet universal and philosophical way, building on art history and conceptual sculpture of the s and s. G D will be one of the most ambitious e hibitions in the museum’s history, the first to occupy both the museum and the estate of Voorlinden. ‘As a museum, we want to do everything we can to offer Antony Gormley the stage he deserves,’ says director Suzanne Swarts. Antony Gormley: culpture is no longer a medium of memorial and idealisation but a conte t in which the human being can be e amined. Sculpture is no longer representational: it is an instrument of investigation and questioning. I

Groundbreaking works The e hibition includes Passage, a metre long steel work on display for the first time in the Netherlands. Inside the sculpture, one travels through darkness into the unknown. The e pansive work reathing oom, in which the viewer stands in a three-dimensional drawing in the space, will also be shown. tending outside, ritical ass puts sculpture in dialogue with the museum’s e tensive grounds: solid cast iron bodyforms will be placed in relation with the trees, lawns, canals and reedbeds of the park. Gormley sees these capturings’ of basic body positions as ‘industrially-made fossils dropped into oorlinden’s verdant conte t, calling on

embedded body-memory and our potential for feeling’. Director Suzanne Swarts: ‘Antony is one of those rare artists who has built up a timeless oeuvre with a universal visual language, yet very own signature. For four decades, he has been making sculptures that are dear to people from all over the world. For him, sculpture and the human body are the starting point for an endless cosmological investigation that concerns, touches and encourages us all to re ect.’ Gormley and Voorlinden Antony Gormley is well known for his works in the public realm, including the iconic Angel of the orth in Gateshead in orthern ngland and his crouching body form posure near elystad in the Netherlands. Voorlinden has a long and close relationship with Gormley, who in made a sculpture for the Clingenbosch sculpture garden. The collection now hosts twelve works by Gormley. Voorlinden museum & gardens www.voorlinden.nl

Photo left: Antony Gormley Amazonian Field, 1992 Terracotta Variable size: approx. 24,000 elements, each 4-40 cm © the artist Photo right: Antony Gormley Critical Mass II, 1995 cast iron 60 elements, dimensions variable Collection of the artist Photograph: Antoine van Kaam © Antony Gormley 2022. All rights reserved

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Playing with Mirrors Until 4 September 2022 L a n g e V o o r h o u t 74 | T h e H a g u e | w w w . e s c h e r i n t h e p a l a c e . c o m

Archaeological masterpiece: Nebra Sky Disc in Drents Museum One of the absolute masterpieces of European archaeology is coming to Assen this summer. From 6 August to 18 September 2022, the Drents Museum will present the first realistic representation of the night sky: the Nebra Sky Disc. This unique archaeological object dates from the Bronze Age and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2013. The disc belongs to the collection of the Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte in Halle (Germany) and is very rarely lent out. With the exhibition The Nebra Sky Disc - The Discovery of Heaven, the Drents Museum has a first in its hands. This rare object can be seen for the first time in the Netherlands. The bronze sky disc inlaid with gold was found in 1999 in Nebra in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. The disc dates from around 1750 BC and was buried in the ground as a sacrifice around 1600 BC. The Nebra Sky Disc shows the first realistic representation of the night sky. The sky is faithfully depicted with stars as shining points and not as gods or mythical animals. The disc probably served as a kind of calendar and shows that people in the Bronze Age had knowledge of the night sky. This key object allows us to see the European Bronze Age in a completely new light. Religious significance It is highly likely that the sky disc of Nebra had a religious significance as well as a practical one. This is shown by the fact that the object was buried in the ground as a sacrifice. In addition, changes were made to the disc over the years. For example, ‘horizon arcs’ were added, indicating the sunrise and sunset points of the solstices on the horizon. Later, a boat was added to the disc, as it was thought at the time that the sun and moon

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were pulled by a boat. This can also be seen in numerous rock carvings and bronze finds. Masterpiece of European archaeology The Nebra Sky Disc has been on the Unesco World Heritage List since 2013 and is one of the absolute showpieces of European archaeology. This masterpiece is part of the archaeology collection of the Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte in Halle (Germany) and is rarely lent out. It is therefore very special that this outstanding object is on display in Assen for six weeks. Until 17 July 2022, the sky disc can be seen in the exhibition The world of Stonehenge at the British Museum in London. The Nebra Sky Disc – The Discovery of Heaven In the exhibition, visitors take a journey from the Netherlands to Nebra, where the disc was found. During this trip, they are introduced to finds and customs from the Bronze Age. Together with the visitors, we look for the answer to the question why people have been interested in the starry sky for thousands of years. The Nebra Sky Disc – The Discovery of Heaven can be seen in the Abbey Church (Abdijkerk) of the Drents Museum. The exhibition The Nebra Sky Disc – The Discovery of Heaven is on display in the Drents Museum in Assen from 6 August til 18 September 2022. The exhibition is produced in collaboration with the Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte in Halle (Germany). More information and tickets: www.drentsmuseum.nl/en Nebra Sky Disc (Saxony-Anhalt), around 1600 BC, bronze and gold, copyright State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology. Photo: J. Lipták

08-06-2022 14:55

JULY 2022 | 27

NICE SPOTS

Sunday Funday at Bunk Utrecht Comfort food, fun and performances at a unique location: Bunk in the Westerkerk in Utrecht is the place to be every last Sunday of the month. From Sunday 24 April there’s a monthly Sunday Roast, so you can enjoy comfort food, family, friends, fun and performances in a unique location. The Sunday Roast is well known as a traditional British family meal on Sundays, and includes roast meats, roast potatoes and side dishes such as Yorkshire pudding, gravy and sauces such as applesauce, mint sauce and redcurrant jelly. Bunk’s Sunday Roast, serves classic dishes that take you back to the past, when you sat down at the table with your parents every evening.

with a local brewery and distillery. Outside there is a terrace on the canal, where you can enjoy a home-brewed drink in the sun while looking out at the passing boats. Catharijnekade 9 3511 RT Utrecht Sunday Roast: every last Sunday of the month www.bunkrestaurants.com

In addition to delicious food, you can also enjoy live performance: Bunk programs a unique artist for every Sunday Roast. End the week in a relaxed, cozy way by having yourself ‘roasted’ at Bunk. Sunday Roast at Bunk is all about conviviality, resting and recharging for the coming week. And what better way to do this than enjoying an old-fashioned Sunday meal with your family or friends for a day? For only € 18 per person, enjoy delicious food while enjoying great music! What kind of food goes with the Sunday Roast? Of course the classics such as roast beef with gravy, slow-cooked celeriac in espresso and butter with a pepper sauce, roasted carrots with orange and honey, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, green peas with mint and basil and roasted cauli ower with a nutty crunch. mall eaters are also welcome: children can enjoy a smaller Sunday Roast for only € 10 per meal. To top it off, the Sunday Roast is accompanied by unique performances in the Grade II listed church. Eating and drinking is extra fun and tasty when you do it together. That’s why you’ll always find new friends at unk. In the restaurant you share one of the long tables with others, whether they come from far away or from two doors away. During the week, Bunk serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, serving familiar dishes from world cuisine, with a surprising twist: a rendang sandwich or Eggs Bennie for lunch and a tajine or ramen for dinner. To quench your thirst, Bunk mainly offers local drinks and its own organic Bunk beer, vodka, gin and jenever, which is made in collaboration

Royal Bed & Breakfast on the banks of the IJssel The historic estate Matanze is located on the banks of the IJssel river, on the edge of the Veluwe. The estate consists of a main building, coach house, tea house, monumental greenhouses and an old service house. The former staff residence of the 17th -century country estate in Terwolde was furnished in 2013 as a particularly stylish and comfortable guest house. Hidden among the greenery is an English landscape garden with various exotic tree species and a surviving monumental witch circle of lime trees. The impressive entrance to the estate gives a good first impression of what is to come: a driveway lined with oak trees leads to a world in which slowing down is easy. The Bed & Breakfast Pleasant tranquility, plenty of space and complete privacy are the key concepts of this unique Bed & Breakfast. The beautifully preserved residence is located in the middle of a beautiful, ten-hectare landscaped park, in addition to a carefully restored English landscape garden, historic greenhouses and various ponds. The former staff residence is now an attractive, white-plastered B&B with spacious, comfortable living and sleeping quarters. The sunny terrace offers a view of the deer pasture. Landgoed Matanze is located near the beautiful Hanseatic town Deventer, less than 5 minutes away by car. Cyclists can use the ferry across the IJssel. There are various walking and cycling routes to follow from the estate, along the river or in National Park Hoge Veluwe. Rental bikes are available.

– a beautiful spectacle as the animals all come running for food and fresh hay. There is a high seat in a nearby tree where you can take in the breathtaking view undisturbed. Some guests have even witnessed the birth of a deer calf, a truly unique experience. You can also take a walk outside the fences around Matanze estate to get a good view of all the animals. More stunning animals can be viewed on the banks of the IJssel river, grazing peacefully here on the grassy meadows. Deventerweg 10 7396 AX Terwolde www.matanze.nl

Wellness We really should take the time to slow down and relax completely, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, in complete privacy, to recharge our batteries and gain new energy. The jacuzzi is located outside on the estate, so you can enjoy a view over the estate and relax in the evening under a beautiful starry sky. Dine in one of the many excellent restaurants in the area. Deer pasture From your B&B you have a beautiful view of the deer meadow on the estate. Various species of deer, such as the red deer and the fallow deer, can be spotted here. In the morning they are fed by the lady of the house

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09-06-2022 10:45

FEEL THE FRESH A I R!

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Gillian Wearing, Me as Arbus, 2008, Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem

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03-06-2022 12:39

09-06-2022 10:45

JULY 2022 | 29

TIPS expo |

movie |

Rembrandt revival | Rembrandthuis

Top Gun: Maverick | Joseph Kosinski

Manet, Morisot, Whistler, Cassatt — these are only a few of the famous painters who were inspired by Rembrandt and started making etchings themselves. This sparked an international resurgence of the art of etching between 1850 and 1940: the Etching Revival. The artworks from this period are experimental and innovative, with striking compositions and surprising techniques. Rembrandt was an important source of inspiration for these artists. The Etching Revival was therefore also a Rembrandt Revival. The Rembrandt House Museum recently received a generous donation of international etchings from the collector Neeke Fraenkel-Schoorl. From 11 June, dozens of highlights from this collection will be on view in our exhibition Rembrandt Revival. In the accompanying audio tour, Neeke Fraenkel-Schoorl guides you personally along some of her favourites. In addition to the exhibition, The Rembrandt House Museum will also organize engaging and inspiring activities, including etching workshops and a RembrandtLIVE talkshow and podcast. 11 June – 30 October 2022 www.rembrandthuis.nl

When Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell and his young wingman are doing up an F-14 Tomcat, the youngster sighs that he’s not sure they can get this museum piece to work. The fighter jet is equipped with hopelessly outdated technology. It’s one of many fun nods to the original 1986 Top Gun, where the F-14 stole the show. Yet it is not the aircraft that counts, but the pilot. Thirty-six years later, creating a sequel to what can safely be called a classic is a risky undertaking. But when the new director Joseph Kosinski treats us to a tribute to the images from the eighties accompanied by the sounds of ‘Danger Zone’, it’s clear that this movie will take up a very pleasant two and a half hours. The heroism certainly shines through in this sequel, but Cruise manages to deepen his somewhat clichéd role after all this time. The fact that Maverick is no longer young is constantly being made fun, as well as the fact that he must pass his baton to a new generation. And then there’s the ominous future where jet pilots won’t be needed at all. Despite the classic status of the original Top Gun, the film by the late Tony Scott was so great because it was more than the sum of its parts. It was the combination of the spectacular images and the special setting that literally and figuratively lifted Top Gun to a higher level. It also provided iconic images. All this comes back in full glory in this sequel. What could easily have been an attempt at laziness has been turned into a pleasant tribute. There is a room for a new love interest, but the romance is not the focus of the story and, moreover, does not interrupt the spectacle and drama. The emphasis is very much on Maverick’s efforts to prepare his new pupils for their near-impossible mission and ultimately select four pilots tp carry it out.

Berthe Morisot, The Drawing lesson, 1889. Dry Needle, Museum Het Rembrandthuis, Amsterdam

resto |

Veggie from Paris | Wild & The Moon

Visually, Top Gun: Maverick is unparalleled. You feel like you’re right in the middle of the action, much more so than thirty-six years ago. It all culminates in a thrilling double finale, in which all the stops are pulled out for pure and unpretentious entertainment. It could have gone wrong in so many ways with this sequel, but a superb Cruise and a director who honours the original provide top-notch entertainment.

are not thrown away, but can be ordered as surprise boxes via an external company. In addition to the new location in the Amsterdam de Pijp, the vegan success formula will also cater from its own WildLab kitchen on the Zuidas. More locations in the Netherlands are planned. www.wildandthemoon.nl

The plant-based hit Wild & The Moon from Paris (and Dubai and Abu Dhabi) has now landed at Van Woustraat 138 in Amsterdam. In addition to being 100% plant-based, the menu is also 100% gluten free. For the recipes, founders Emma and Hervé Sawko combined food memories from their travels and dinners with friends and family with their knowledge of herbal and natural medicine. All products are homemade and made from organic, local and pure ingredients: no refined sugars, additives, chemicals or GMOs, no gluten and no milk here! Plastic packaging is also a no go. Waste is reduced as much as possible. The meals left over at the end of the day

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09-06-2022 10:45

ACHIEVE YOUR DREAM WEIGHT WITH HOLLAND HEALTH CLINIC

Did you ever lose quite a few pounds and gained it all back twice as fast? Very frustrating! Why is it so difficult to lose weight permanently and sustainably? New at Holland Health Clinic is the Dream Weight Consult! The Dream Weight Consult: • Two consultations, including various measurements (biometry and lab). • Focus on a plant-based - low fat diet. • Appetite suppressant medication (if applicable). This will give you a faster feeling of fullness after you have eaten and ensures ‘cravings’ to disappear to a large extent. • We will support you with our Weight Control Program.

ACHIEVE YOUR DREAM WEIGHT! Let us help you to start and boost your weight and lifestyle. Call us or scan the QR code to book a Dream Weight Consult and receive a Vitamin B12-check for free. Use code: DREAMWEIGHT2O22 (valid till the end of July ‘22). We are a clinic for preventative health care. With doctors who listen and understand your needs. We offer state of-the-art Health Checks & Hormone Checks, personalized health, lifestyle and medical Consults and Guidance Programs to a healthier you.

Talk to us: 020 210 1230 | Minervalaan 29, 1077 NL Amsterdam | www.hollandhealthclinic.com

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02-06-2022 14:17 07-06-2022 12:24

4:17

JULY 2022 | 31

SPORT

The comeback: The 2022 sports summer in the Netherlands

Whether or not we are fully in the clear, it seems that Covid-19 is not going to be keeping us from a good sports summer. Events are playing out all over the Netherlands and that is also good news for the sports enthusiasts. Spectator and participant sports are on the rebound across the full spectrum of athletic pursuits and the coming months will see more of the same. Outside of the usual suspects such as the Libéma Open Tennis in Rosmalen and the Dutch Gran Prix in Zandvoort later this year, there are a number of lesser-know gems we thought worthy enough to be held up to the light. European Company Sports Games 22-26 June The European Company Sport Games are a European recreational sporting event in which employees compete against each other during a four day event. First held in Eindhoven under the patronage of Philips, the ECSG will be held this year in Arnhem. The event has since been organized every two years and has grown into an event with an average of 5,000 employees from more than 20 countries, 23 different sports - complete with opening and closing ceremonies. From Archery to Volleyball, most of the competition will be held on the campus of the Netherlands Sport Federation in Papendal. More information is to be found on the website: www.ecsgarnhem2022.com NK.nl 24-26 June Inspired by similar formats in Berlin and Glasgow, Rotterdam has pounced on the opportunity to host a number of Dutch national championships in the same weekend. By bundling the events together, the publicity for this multi-sport championship weekend is much greater than holding autonomous finals. Boxing, Gymnastics, Judo, Swimming and Triathlon will make up the program of the inaugural NK.nl in the harbor city. The intention is to make this concept an annual event. Tickets for the championships are available on the website. www.nk.nl Honkbalweek Haarlem 8-15 July This popular baseball tournament in Haarlem should really not be considered a hidden gem but just in case you haven’t heard of this summer ritual, generous mention is made once again here. This biennial event, held at the

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Pim Mulier stadium is equal measures of party, sports and pilgrimage. First played in 1961, this near casualty of the pandemic has survived to celebrate its 30 edition this year. Teams from Cuba, Curaçao, Italy, Japan and the United States will all descend upon Pim Mulier Stadion Center to face the hosts, “Team Kingdom of the Netherlands”. The fans who have embraced this event over the years, many using vacation time to be sure to catch as much of the action as possible, make this event a happening for the whole family. Every two years, they will pack the same cooler, don the same cap and sing the same silly songs to celebrate the sport of baseball in their own unique way. Whether you are seasoned fan or barely know your balls from strikes, take the family out and join the procession from the car park or train station to join the honkbal faithful for the holy week of Dutch summer sport. Tickets and more information are all available at www.honkbalweek.nl

the more esoteric sports competitions, The Open Frisian Sail-Hoisting Championship may be just what you are looking for! Go to www.sneekweek.nl for more information. In short, it’s time to dig out the cooler, picnic hamper, folding chairs and binoculars and get set for a summer of sporting entertainment in the Netherlands. Our two years of sports silence will yield way to the sounds of squeaking trainers, shrill whistles, airhorns and the boisterous call of “Play Ball”! Let the comeback begin.

Written by John Mahnen

World Police and Fire Games 22-31 July Rotterdam will be awash with first responders and vital security officers when almost 10,000 people who work in police, fire, customs and corrections departments from all over the world will compete in more than 60 sports. Originally slated to be held in 2021, the Covid delayed games are, in terms of participants, one of the largest in the world. The first of these biennial World Police & Fire Games were held in 1985, hosted by San Jose, California, USA, with nearly 5,000 competitors. Rotterdam will host the nineteenth version of this competition. Tickets to watch a game as a spectator will be available on the website. www.wpfgrotterdam2022.com Sneekweek 6-11 August The Sneekweek is Europe’s largest inshore sailing regatta. The Royal Yacht Club Sneek (KWS) has organized this special event since 1934. It takes place in the north of the Netherlands, in the province of Friesland. While the sailing is serious as well as diverse, with competitions for Optimist, Solo, Laser, Vaurien, Yngling, Finn, 2.4mR, J22 and Splash classes amongst others, the Sneekweek is Fiesland at its summer best with many side events, music as well as food and drink. For those of you searching out

09-06-2022 10:46

DISCOVER THE WORLD AT GELDERLANDPLEIN YOU’LL FIND FLAVOURS AND AUTHENTIC INGREDIENTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD

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03-06-2022 14:41

The Holland Times July 2022

Articles inside

JULY 2022

Column

Students fear an increase in interest rates for student loans

Nice spots

A erbaijan a country of opportunities

ooking back at the ousing ducation vent in aarlem Tips tricks for a perfect night’s sleep and better school performance