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Contents
Where can I find the Holland Times? 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. You can find The Holland 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, language schools, social clubs, movie houses and expat-oriented stores. Would you like to receive The Holland Times in your organization or become one of our distribution points? Please contact c.spraakman@argomedia.nl
5 Groningen, healthiest city in the Netherlands ABN AMRO to slash 15 per cent of jobs 7 Pregnancy discrimination continues to be a problem
in the labour market
Temporary fireworks ban during New Year’s celebrations 9 More Dutch journalists are receiving serious threats of violence Problems in the FVD: last legs or consolidation of power? 11 COVID 19: What happens next? Face masks mandatory in public places from 1 December 13 Can a puppy end our loneliness? Buba the elephant can stay in the Netherlands 15 Columns 17 The Sultanate of Oman: foreign policy and the future vision 19 School Open Days 21 Multilingualism in schools. Yes or No? 25 Arts & Culture 29 Tips 31 2020 - The sporting year that almost wasn’t
COLOPHON The Holland Times is an independent, English language newspaper with Dutch news, published by Argo Special Media B.V. Total circulation: 80,000 copies
Distribution PostNL
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All Rights reserved by the publisher and/ or the author(s). 2003 The Amsterdam Times
Contributors Stephen Swai, Marla Thomson, Raphael Perachi Vieira, Phoebe Dodds, Bárbara Luque Alanís, Juan Alvarez, Nanda Jagusiak Monteiro, Priyanka Sharma, Maurits Seijger, John Mahnen, Anastasiia Myronenko, Beatriz Negreiros, Seringe S.T. Touray, Megan Janicke & Valentina Spyropoulou
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 Please send all advertising content to: traffic@argomedia.nl
Design & Layout Caroline Spraakman
Quality living in Amsterdam
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. 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 Cover: Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
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JANUARY 2021 | 5
NATIONAL
Groningen, healthiest city in the Netherlands
The expression stating that “there is nothing above Groningen” (er gaat niets boven Groningen) points to both its geographical location and a metaphorical one: “nothing beats the northernmost provincial capital.” Apparently, there is some truth in the saying, at least given the results of the City Health Index 2020, published by consulting firm Arcadis, in which Groningen tops as the healthiest city in the Netherlands. The study, which traced connections between health and urban living environments, ranked 20 of the largest cities in the country according to five categories. It declared Groningen, Nijmegen and Maastricht the healthiest three, while none of the biggest five Dutch cities reached the top ten. “Why are some people healthier than others? An important part of the answer to
that question can be found in where we live, work and play,” says John Boon, Arcadis head of landscape architecture. The World Health Organization defines a healthy city as one that is continually creating and improving its physical and social environments and expanding community resources which enable people to mutually support each other in performing all the functions of life and developing to their maximum potential. According to the City Health Index, Groningen is currently the Dutch city with the highest set of characteristics that make a healthy city, as “it stands for active citizenship, accessible greenery, active relaxation, healthy moving and healthy building environments”. Several factors add to the success of Groningen as a healthy city, starting with the fact that its surroundings are less
polluted than other parts of the country. Furthermore, many years of active urban planning have been directed towards creating a car-free city center where pedestrians and cyclists can have a more welcoming, more relaxing and more efficient environment. This process, that began in the 1970s with ambitious reforms, continues today. In Groningen, considered a world cycling city, 60% of journeys are made by bicycle. Its physical environment incentivizes a healthier lifestyle with cleaner infrastructure, abundant green outdoors facilities for sports and playing, and a well-balanced spatial distribution of services for its 230.000 inhabitants, 25% of which are students. The perception levels of security, leisure and relaxation environments, environmental care and community building in urban public spaces are high, and are proudly highlighted by dwellers and government officials alike. “We will do everything we can to defend this title,” said Groningen alderman Roeland van der Schaaf to AD newspaper, “because we are far from finished. The city has a lot of greenery, but not nearly enough. We have an enormous green task, also with a view to combating heat stress. Certainly in the city center and on our business parks.”
The 2020 City Health Index combined data on the 20 largest cities using sources from the RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment), GGD (Regional Municipal Health Services) and CBS (Statistics Netherlands). It is the first
time that such analysis has been made on a national scale, and the rankings were produced according to five different criteria, which aggregated to define each city’s score: 1. Mobility; comprising cycling, walking, public transport and safety; 2. Infrastructure space; meaning spaciousness, cleanliness, services and healthcare; 3. Outdoor space; meaning green space and usable green space, playgrounds and sports facilities; 4. Environment; focusing on noise levels, particulate matter concentrations, nitrogen levels and heat stress; and 5. Community space; comprising safety perception and actual safety levels, stress recovery, movement incentives and meeting places in public space. Although the data shows that these 20 Dutch cities are in general healthier than those in many other countries, the five biggest cities in the country did not make the top ten. Amongst them, the one with the highest score was Utrecht in position 12, followed by Eindhoven at number 13, Den Haag at 14, Amsterdam at 17 and Rotterdam in 19th place. Big cities tended to score higher for public transport and infrastructure, but much lower in environmental quality, security and green and community spaces, due in part to their larger areas and populations. For the time being, and until there is a new City Health Index in the future, Groningen will remain on top, above them all. Written by Juan Álvarez Umbarila
ABN AMRO to slash 15 per cent of jobs ABN Amro has announced that it will cut up to 15 per cent of all jobs, amounting to more than 2,700 jobs, in the next four years. This move is part of its strategy of reducing operating costs by €700 million by 2024 to €4.7 billion. Currently, ABN Amro employs more than 18,000 FTEs, the lion’s share in the Netherlands. By 2022, the reorganization will be complete and most of the 2,700 jobs will have disappeared. The company will also reduce the number of offices, in line with the trend of tech-savvy customers increasingly managing their finances online, rather than going into a branch. New strategy The cost-saving measures are part of the new strategy that the bank has introduced in recent months under the leadership of CEO Robert Swaak, who took office this year. This summer ABN Amro announced the drastic reorganization of the problematic business division. The bank had decided to discontinue risky activities, such as commodity trading. It also cut ties with a third of its corporate clients. The bank had posted a loss in the first half of the year after taking hits with individual corporate clients. This meant that the once ambitious bank, that wanted to conquer the world in the years before the crisis, was withdrawing its operations from outside Europe. In Northwest Europe, the bank will seek to bolster lending in the energy and digital sectors.
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The bank’s strategy for growth includes providing more mortgages in the Netherlands. It also plans to increase its market share among customers in small and medium-sized businesses. Furthermore, the bank seems to be betting on private banking for wealthy individuals, specifically the younger generation. Although the bank will continue its policy of paying out at least 50% of profit in dividends, any other shareholder remuneration above that will be paid via share buybacks rather than dividends payments, as was the case in previous years. At the moment ABN Amro has a higher financial buffer than is required by law. The company’s costs are expected to rise to €5.3 billion next year, from €5.1 billion in 2020 due to an increase in regulatory levies, anti-money laundering costs and strategic investments.
headquarters on Gustav Mahlerlaan near the financial centre of the Netherlands, Amsterdam Zuidas, will go on sale in 2025. ABN Amro is expected to realize a make profit with this sale. But for the time being, ABN Amro will still lease this space. After 2025, all of the employees not affected by the reorganization will have been relocated to a new office. As for the new home, rumours have it that the bank is planning to move back its former headquarters on Foppingadreef in Amsterdam Southeast. The building is currently being renovated into a climatefriendly space and can serve as an iconic home base for the 1000 employees who are now working in Amsterdam.
Other banks follow suit In recent months, ABN Amro’s competitors have also announced mass layoffs. For example, ING is cutting 1,000 jobs worldwide. The largest bank in the Netherlands wants to freeze salaries for several years. Rabobank will close approximately half of its 230 branches. The reasons given by these banks are more or less the same as those of ABN Amro: customers are more often arranging their finances digitally. Although ABN Amro said that it would rigorously simplify its operations, it warned that profits would not return to prepandemic levels for the foreseeable future. Written by Stephen Swai
Buffering the consequences The bank understands that its employees will be affected. “We will limit the consequences to our employees through natural attrition and retraining for roles in which we foresee shortages in the coming years,” said the CEO in the press release. The bank said that there would be a demand for new staff in the department countering money laundering and other fraudulent activities. A chunk of its employees might be retrained to take up these positions. Gustav Mahlerlaan HQ on sale As part of managing its costs, the prestigious
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10-12-20 09:31
JANUARY 2021 | 7
NATIONAL
Pregnancy discrimination continues to be a problem in the labour market By 2020, society is significantly more sensitive to questions of equality and discrimination than ever before. However, the COVID-19 crisis has affected both employers and employees equally harshly. If we look at the realities of the labour market today, there are many issues to be resolved. One of them, according to the recent research by the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights (College voor de Rechten van de Mens), is the discrimination of pregnant women in the job market. Four out ten women (43%) experience some kind of disadvantage around pregnancy or having small children. This situation is not new. Adriana van Dooijeweert, the head of the Institute, states that these numbers are actually the same as in 2012 and 2016. This year, the organization interviewed 1150 women who gave birth in the last four years. They were asked to share their experiences with discrimination while searching for a job or at work. As it turned out, one in five women were turned down for jobs, and one in ten women were told directly that the reason was their pregnancy. More than a third of all women who were supposed to get a contract renewal said that at the last moment changes were made because of their pregnancy, such as not getting a renewal or getting a temporary instead of permanent contract. Logically, the risk of losing their job was even higher for women with a temporary contract, compared to those with a permanent
new job in February 2021. However, at the end of November, she was contacted by her future employer with a request to start her contract (and her training) not until September 2021, because in March Ellens is expecting her second child. The employer did not want to hire someone who could only start working a few months after the official start of the contract. For Ellens, this brought up a difficult choice of starting a complicated juridical process for discrimination (which, according to her, she would have lost anyway) or just accepting the offer. This means working for an employer who is treating people in a way that contradicts her principles and beliefs.
one. According to the study, as many as a quarter of all women experienced difficulties with promotion, salary raise, financial bonus or training.
job interview, or even a literal statement that the candidate will not be hired or get her contract prolonged because of her pregnancy.
Yet only 11 percent of all the interviewees actually reported the problem. And, in fact, only 34% percent were able to recognize a discriminatory situation in general. The study also discovered that one out of eight women feel that their career was hampered compared to that of their male colleagues. The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights points out the most prominent examples of pregnancy discrimination, such as direct questions about planned pregnancies during the
In a reaction to the study, Wendy Ellens shared her experience with the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant. Having quit her job in the financial sector in September 2020, she decided to change careers and was planning to start a five-month training program in the IT sector. It was not an easy decision, considering her desire to be at least an equal contributor to the family budget. Luckily, she found an employer who was ready to hire her and finance her training. She was supposed to start her
The conclusion of The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights is that our society still has to work on treating pregnant women equally in the labour market. In the report, the researchers encouraged the government and employers to create non-discriminatory labour conditions for everyone, to educate women about their rights, and implement more campaigns to achieve long-lasting positive effects. Mutually clear communication between new mother and the employer, as well as knowledge of the relevant laws and regulations from both sides, are key to creating a positive and fair work environment.
Written by Anastasiia Myronenko
Temporary fireworks ban during New Year’s celebrations The year 2020 will go out without a bang in the Netherlands. The Dutch government has passed a temporary ban on the sale and use of fireworks, following a plea from the heads of the 25 security regions and emergency care providers. GroenLinks, the Party for the Animals, and other Members of Parliament also argued for the measures in connection with the coronavirus pandemic. Those in favour of the ban were concerned about the impact of fireworks-related injuries on an already overburdened healthcare system. During last New Year’s celebrations, about 1,300 people sustained fireworks injuries: nearly 400 people ended up in the emergency room and 900 saw a GP.
“Last spring we all applauded the people in the healthcare sector. We will help them and our enforcement services by not setting off any fireworks at the turn of the year,” said Secretary of State Stientje van Veldhoven. Violators face tough penalties Not only should the New Year’s celebrations take place without bangs or booms, but decorative fireworks are also prohibited. Only F-1 category fireworks, such as stars, poppy peas, pull ropes and fountains are allowed. People caught lighting banned fireworks face a minimum 100 euro fine. This means they will get a criminal record,
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which could prevent offenders from qualifying for certain jobs, work permits, visas and residence permits.
The rules will be enforced by municipal enforcement officers and the police. Enforcement officers can only fine people if they’re caught in the act of lighting fireworks. Transporting fireworks is also forbidden and police can seize objects found in cars or even from people transporting them on foot. Police can conduct a search if they suspect someone is in possession of illegal fireworks, but they cannot search a person or house preemptively to check for the presence of fireworks. People who have fireworks at home will be allowed to keep them, as long as they have no more than 25 kilos. However, they will have to wait another year to light them.
However, after the ban was announced, police in the Netherlands has received twice the number of fireworks nuisance reports compared to last year. Police suspect the increase in complaints is related to more people being home during the pandemic. “People are spending more time at home and we think this makes them more likely to experience nuisances and, therefore, report it to us more quickly if they hear fireworks in the neighborhood.”
Ban sparks controversy The fireworks industry will receive 40 million euros in compensation for the ban, but the Foundation for Dutch Consumer Fireworks Dealers says it isn’t enough and that the pandemic is being used as an excuse. About 150 business owners are going to court to argue that the ban was passed too late; moreover, the compensation is only intended for companies that store and transport fireworks, not for retailers. “Containers with fireworks were already on the way. Retailers have already paid for them. Now that they have no turnover, they are suffering losses,” said Lex de Jager, an attorney for the foundation. “Link to organized crime” Every police officer in the Netherlands has been instructed to pay more attention this year to the detection of illegal fireworks. Fireworks specialists from the police and
the Public Prosecution Service say the illegal fireworks trade is becoming more professional and often linked to other criminal activities. Investigators say they see more and more parallels with drug trafficking. “Suspects in the fireworks trade are also often involved in drug trafficking or the trade in illegal cigarettes,” says national fireworks officer Karin Broere of the Public Prosecution Service. “Networks are fluid: people often work for more than one client. Transporters for example, who transport for multiple fireworks networks. And errand boys on the street don’t know whose fireworks they are selling.” An investigative report by Het Parool newspaper found that hobbyists who used to sell illegal fireworks are getting more and more competition from criminals. They see fireworks as a lucrative trade, as the demand for them is increasing and the chance of being caught is small. The risks are high, however. Last month, police found 1000 kilos of illegal fireworks in the basement of an apartment block in Zaandam. “If that had gone off there, it would have had major consequences for the entire building,” said a spokesperson. Written by Megan Janicke
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JANUARY 2021 | 9
NATIONAL
More Dutch journalists are receiving serious threats of violence
A new statement from the Dutch National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCTV), which protects the Netherlands from threats that could disrupt society, shows that journalists increasingly are targets for serious intimidations and aggression. In 2020, Dutch police received at least 105 official threat reports by journalists.
Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg, head of the NCTV, confirms that journalists are a target. “There are serious threats and aggressive statements against journalists. You also see it internationally where journalists are on the front line.” Aalbersberg encourages professionals to report threats in order to set a standard. “A democratic society needs to trust the government, to trust politicians, but also to trust journalism. Many people think threats come with the job, but that’s not the case. Threats should not be part of a journalist’s job.” Het Parool newspaper reports information shared by the Dutch Minister for Primary and Secondary Education and Media, Arie Slob. The numbers were lower compared to 2019, but from April of 2020 a total of 52 reports were made. However, according to Slob’s ChristenUnie, the Christian conservative party in the Netherlands, it’s not possible to draw a one-to-one comparison. Some threats against journalists originated from radical farmers opposing the government’s environmental policy, and activists of Viruswaanzin (Virus madness), which resists the national corona strategy. These issues obviously did not exist last year, so it’s hard to compare over the years, as the people who make threats, and the reasons for doing so, change over time. Other threats are made by members of criminal organizations, against journalists reporting on their crimes.
Last year a special reporting center was set up to collect such data. PersVeilig is a partnership between the Dutch Association of Journalists, the Association of Editors-inChief, the police and the Public Prosecution Service to secure the position of journalists dealing with threats or aggression. As a result, awareness may have increased, resulting in more reports, said Slob. “Never accept it – report it,” the minister emphasized during an interview. He believes that more attention should be given to freelancers who don’t have an employer to support them. In 2017, a major survey among 600 Dutch journalists was conducted and the numbers were alarming: 61% said they had been intimidated at work, while 43% reported experiencing threats every year. Slob announced a new nationwide survey to gather new data.
Paul Vugts, a journalist with Het Parool, lived in a safehouse for more than six months after it become clear that criminals had issued a murder order against him. However, even when a report is made, it’s not always possible to act in the way the ministry of Justice and Security would like. Journalist Chris Klomp was told by the police that he ‘should move house’ after receiving threats.
logo is painful for all employees. “This feels like giving in to terror and violence,” says reporter Kysia Hekster. Gelauff also feels very upset about it. “We want to be visible, but that’s no longer possible from a security point of view.” Hekster hopes that the stickers can be put back on the cars one day, but fears the worst: “We’re threatened, spat on and called liars. A colleague was told by someone that they knew where his children go to school. We’ve had to be accompanied by security guards for a few years already and now the stickers of the cars are being taken off. What’s the next step? The covers of the microphones? I hope it doesn’t get that far.” Concerns have been raised in the House of Representatives about threats against journalists. However, FvD leader Thierry Baudet rejects the accusations made by Gelauff, that politicians like Baudet call for suspicion of the media. “If he suggests that there is a connection between the threats to journalists and my previous comments about mistrusting the press, I find that terrible, absurd and abject,” says Baudet. Written by Raphael Perachi Vieira
NOS logo removed from cars The logo of the NOS, the main Dutch broadcasting company, will be removed from the satellites and cars from the TV and radio organization, as reporters often receive threats from bystanders while at work. “People giving us the finger, swearing and even people hitting their brakes right in front of our cars on highways. At first, the intimidations were dismissed as incidents, but it’s now happening all the time. A limit has been reached,” explains editor-in-chief Marcel Gelauff. Removing the
Problems in the FVD: last legs or consolidation of power? movement. However, as Jansen has been frequently referred to as Baudet’s right-hand-man, Baudet’s resignation comes across as a power play. Dennis de Witte, who has been a member of the party since its foundation in 2015, told NPO radio that party leadership had failed to respond to whistleblowers reporting extremist anti-Semitism in the FvD’s youth movement. Other prominent party members such as Roos and Nanninga demanded that Baudet impose much stricter guidelines on the youth movement. However, Baudet, who has spoken out against ‘political correctness’ many times in the past, argued that he would rather step away from the party than compromise on his ideals. This steadfast, a-political attitude opposed to compromise has alienated much of the party’s leadership. Nevertheless, the party’s overt populist actions in winning over most of its supporters have placed much of its political and ideological legitimacy on Baudet’s shoulders, making him essential for the party’s survival. The last two weeks have seen a large re-calibration in the far-right party Forum voor Democratie (FvD), frequently compared to a Fascist movement. The turmoil began with leaks of anti-Semitic and homophobic messages that had been circulated in WhatsApp and Instagram messages by the youth movement of the party. Following the leaks, on Monday 23 November Thierry Baudet resigned as party leader. The resignation came as a response to accusations that Baudet not only knew about the antiSemitic, racist and homophobic sentiments endemic in the party, but actively encouraged them. Other party members, most prominently Annabel Nanninga and Rob Roos, condemned these views and expressed their desire to see Frederik Jansen removed as leader of the youth
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Therefore, an internal party referendum was organized to determine whether Baudet should be allowed to remain party leader. On 4 December the results came in, showing that 76% of the 37,000 members wanted to keep Baudet in the drivers’ seat. Now that Baudet has re-established his position within the party, many of his critics have distanced themselves from the party. Member of Parliament Theo Hiddema, for example, stepped away from politics entirely, claiming himself to be incapable of working in politics. The European Parliament group of the FvD has also declared its separation from the party, as have five members of the party in the provincial council of Zuid-Holland, and the chairman of the party’s Friesland chapter.
The discord in the party and the subsequent resignation of these party members are a high price to pay for Baudet to retain his seat, especially since the reorganization is happening so short before the elections in March. Nevertheless, the ejection of non-aligned political comrades from the party can also be seen as a consolidation of power in the hands of Baudet. Only time will tell which direction the FvD takes from here. Massive shifts in popularity have been the FvD’s bread and butter since the beginning. In 2017 it won two seats in Parliament; one has now been abandoned by Hiddema, although Baudet was joined by Wybren van Haga, a former member of Prime Minister Rutte’s VVD fraction, who had been an independent MP since 2019. In 2019 the FvD won a large percentage of the vote in the provincial council elections, but membership of the party has dropped over the last year. There is still some sway in the Senate, despite the numbers having taken a significant drop in the past year there too. In 2019, 12 out of 75 seats were in the hands of the FvD; a previous split had already led to the loss of three members, while a further five left during the current scandal, leaving only four Senators. Baudet’s actions, more so than any actual moral objections against the FvD’s views, seem to have splintered the party, demonstrating his power in steering the party. After the fragmentation of the party, the two Parliamentary seats are still held by hardcore FvD members, led by Baudet.
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10-12-20 11:46
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JANUARY 2021 | 11
NATIONAL
COVID 19: What happens next? The news that COVID-19 vaccines are finally available, with a high level of effectiveness, has sparked some optimism that life may go back to normal soon. Nevertheless, the good news needs to be taken with a grain of salt. There are immense logistical and demographic considerations to take into account when constructing a recovery timeline. Russia began vaccinating its population on 5 December with its domestically developed Spoetnik V vaccine. The UK is not far behind, planning to begin administering the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine on 8 December. These accelerated roll-out schedules, especially when compared to the Netherlands, which has pegged the earliest vaccine allocation date on 4 January, raise the question of why some governments have not yet started vaccination. Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech have asked the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for a license to bring their respective vaccines onto the market in Europe. The EMA will publicsh its verdict on the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine on 29 December. The European Commission, expecting a positive outcome for the EMA’s enquiry, has ordered 200 million doses from the manufacturer, with an option to increase this order by another 100 million. These vaccines will be distributed to all European countries, depending on their population size. The Netherlands is entitled to 3.89% of the European Commission’s vaccine
supply, or 7.78 million doses. However, the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine requires two doses to reach 95% effectiveness. This means that with the existing order the Netherlands could vaccinate 3.89 million people out of a population of 17.2. This is, however, a long-term statistic. Currently, if approval is given, the Netherlands can expect to receive 900,000 doses of the vaccine before 4 January, and 1.6 million in the first three months of 2021. Moderna will receive the EMA’s verdict on its vaccine on 12 January. Should this be positive, the Netherlands can expect delivery of 400,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine by April 2021.
people over 60 without pre-existing conditions, followed by people under 60 with pre-existing conditions. All these groups will be vaccinated by their GPs. This is not ideal, as the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine requires two doses, and needs to be stored at around -90 degrees Celsius. It may therefore be more practical for GPs to wait for the Moderna vaccine, which is easier to store. Next in line are healthcare workers, who will receive the vaccine from their company doctors. All in all, these priority groups make up about 6.5 million people. Others will have to wait until more doses
are available, which may not be until the summer of 2021. A further important question is whether enough people will take up the vaccine when it’s available, which is necessary to ensure herd immunity. Given the inviolability of the human body enshrined in Dutch law, there is no option to make it mandatory. Polls so far show that many people are still hesitant to be vaccinated, so the effect of any vaccine remains to be seen.
Written by Maurits Seijger
Regardless of the quantity of doses, the distribution network in the Netherlands is not being prepared for spikes in demand in the near future. While other European countries expecting delivery of the medicine in the coming weeks, like Germany, has been refurbishing public buildings and testing facilities to distribute the vaccine, the Netherlands is holding off until the vaccines arrive in the country. The RIVM prefers to stick to existing distribution networks and has already identified three agencies that will vaccinate those who will be given priority. The first doses of the vaccine will be given those living in care homes and those working there, and will be administered by care home doctors. Next in line are people over 60 with pre-existing conditions (starting with the oldest); next will be
Face masks mandatory in public places from 1 December The Corona virus pandemic continues to trigger a number of government-imposed restrictions in the Netherlands and the rest of the world. As a health and safety measure, the Dutch government announced that wearing a facemask is compulsory in public areas from 1 December 2020. This includes educational institutions, public transport, shops, town halls, and locations where contact-based professions are carried out, such as hair dressers and beauty salons. As of 1 December, everyone aged 13 and over should wear a mask properly to cover their nose and mouth in settings in which they are mandatory. According to the national government website www.rijksoverheid.nl, “making it mandatory to wear a face mask almost everywhere automatically makes the rules clearer and helps stop the corona virus from spreading”.
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Guidelines In light of the legal requirement to wear a facemask in public spaces, the government has put forward a series of guidelines on the proper usage of masks on its national government website. The government recommends for the general public the usage of either single-use masks which must be thrown away after one use, or home-made textile masks. It advices against the general use of medical facemasks as these are needed for healthcare workers. According to www.rijksoverheid.nl, medical facemasks can be recognized by their CE marking, or a medical claim such as “For medical use.” The public is further advised to always carry two facemasks in a sealed bag, one for the trip to any public spaces and the other for the return trip. The government urges people to store clean and used facemasks separately. You should wash your hands with
soap and water for up to 20 seconds frequently, especially prior to putting on your mask. You should only touch the elastic or string when putting on the mask, and ensure that it properly covers your nose, mouth and chin. Once your mask is removed after use, it must be disposed of in a waste bin immediately, or placed in a separate sealed bag until it can be disposed of; or, in the case of textile masks, washed properly. Fines The new law ensures that failure to wear a mask comes with consequences: a €95 fine may be imposed. Moreover, when people refuse to follow the instructions to wear a mask given by the security officers or employees of a public place, the police may be notified. Exceptions The government website lists exceptions for people unable to wear a mask because of disability or illness, whether such disability or illness is visible or not: 1. People who are physically unable to wear or put on a facemask due to disability or illness (e.g. due to a medical condition affecting their face); 2. People who suffer negative health effects from wearing a mask (e.g. due to lung disease); 3. People who would be physically or mentally disrupted from wearing a mask (due to mental illness or mental disability); 4. People who depend on non-verbal communication (such as lip reading).
If you want to make use of these exemptions, the government provides a sample form on its website stating that you are unable to wear a mask. You can print this yourself and show it to any officials or employees questioning you. Furthermore, the obligation to wear a facemask does not apply in instances where officials are required to check or verify your identity, for example when applying for a passport. You will then be required to take off your mask and put it back on after the check. While wearing a facemask is deemed an effective way to help curb the spread of the corona virus, it is not an alternative to observing other recommended health and safety measures, such as maintaining a distance of 1.5 meters from others, washing your hands and avoiding crowded places. However, where keeping your distance may prove to be a difficulty, e.g. in public transport, wearing a facemask can help limit the spread of the virus by protecting others around you, who, in turn, would be protecting you by wearing a mask themselves. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), while wearing a facemask may be uncomfortable sometimes, they are not usually detrimental to our health or harmful in any way. However, to reduce the risk of discomfort, it is best to wear a mask that fits well. Written by Seringe S.T.Touray
09-12-20 19:01
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09-12-20 17:48
JANUARY 2021 | 13
NATIONAL
Can a puppy end our loneliness?
Come to think of it, dogs being in demand doesn’t seem so unusual after all. Most of us have lived with limited to no social contact for the better part of the year. While some of us have been unfortunate enough to catch the corona virus and feel the physical effects of it, almost all of us have suffered and are still suffering the pandemic’s impact on our mental and emotional health.
We have seen people shop for some unusual things during this pandemic. Home cooking and baking became a trend, yeast became high in demand. Americans went into RV shopping frenzy, roller skates made a comeback and when people couldn’t hoard enough toilet paper, they went after non-paper tushy cleaning devices: bidets. We in the Netherlands were not untouched by this supposed side effect of the corona virus. Like many other people around the world, Dutch people as well stocked up on toilet paper and non-perishable foods, and just like others, we had our own unusual item shopping frenzy: puppies. Yes, dogs, especially puppies, have become really high in demand in the Netherlands. So much so that breeders and shelters are finding it difficult to meet the demand.
So, the fact that more and more Dutch people are looking for a companion to join them on their lonely walks or for some company while they wait the virus out doesn’t seem strange at all. After all, a dog is a man’s best friend; it doesn’t just give cuddles, but gives us a reason to get out of the house for some fresh air and exercise, instead of just sitting on the couch binging on Netflix and junk food. A survey conducted by Petplan as early as April showed that almost 50 % of people who considered bringing a dog home were influenced by the corona virus crisis. People started enquiring at dog breeders and shelters as soon as Prime Minister Rutte announced the quarantine measures mid-March. “People are sending me short business-like emails, as if they are looking for a new refrigerator: ‘What does a puppy cost? Do you have one right now? Then I’ll come and get him straight away.’ Normally I receive about 10 emails a day, now there are 40-50,” says dog breeder Monica Janneman of Zaanse Doodles. People who can’t afford to buy a dog or are morally against buying or selling animals approach animal shelters. Hans Fokkens, director of Animal Shelter Amsterdam, has noticed more and more dogs being picked up. The shelter now has less than 25 % of the normal number of dogs in their shelter.
There are also more temporary foster homes available. “Normally we can place about five to seven dogs in foster homes, but at the moment we have twenty in such homes,” Hans says. As an animal lover and dog owner myself, I am more concerned about what becomes of these dogs once we are over this hump called corona virus. Dogs are for life and not just a temporary solution. People need to keep this in mind when considering getting one. While a four-pawed furry friend can be a great source of comfort, it also restricts one’s movement in many ways. No matter if it’s sunshine or rain or you had a late night, your day starts early and always with a walk. Even a day out needs to be planned because your dog will need food, water and once again, walks. Not to mention the expenses of regular health check-ups, dog food and preventative medicines. You can’t just pack up and leave for a holiday; you need to find a dog sitter or leave your dog with someone you trust – and more importantly, someone your dog trusts. So, if you travel a lot for business or pleasure, have a hectic work schedule or have never previously owned a dog, it’s probably best for you and the animal to try the fostering route first. See if a dog (or a cat for that matter) owner lifestyle is for you. You don’t want your dog to become one of your impulse buys. We might be sitting a lot and working from home now, but sooner or later, life will return to normal. Your dog should be as integral a part of your life then as it is now. Written by Priyanka Sharma
Buba the elephant can stay in the Netherlands After a long dispute about her fate, the Cabinet has allowed Buba the circus elephant to stay with the Freiwalds, the famous German-Dutch family of circus artists. Carola Schouten, Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, announced the decision after most of the Parliament voted to support the motions of the CDA and PVV. A circus act For more than thirty years, the famous Buba, a 45-year-old female elephant from Zimbabwe, worked as the main act in the Freiwald Circus. But her performances came to an end in 2015 when the Cabinet banned the performances and traveling with circus animals. The ban led to circus animals being sold to circuses in countries where acts with wild animals are still allowed, or moved to zoos. But Buba’s case was not as easy as that.
An elephant always remembers Although Buba has been out of work, she remained on the circus grounds, accompanied by camels, bulls, ponies, geese, pigs and dogs, among others, in the Limburg village of Beringe. Today, she is the last remaining circus elephant in the Netherlands. The question that remained until some weeks ago was regarding her geographical fate: would she have to spend her final phase of life in an elephant sanctuary in France, or would she be allowed to stay with her ‘human’ family, with whom she had lived for decades? Sending her to France meant leaving her in a sanctuary for retired elephants from zoos and circuses. An elephant ‘haven’, 29 hectares in size, complete with a mud pool, barn, enough hay for a whole year, and a heated stable. But no matter how promising this option seemed, Buba’s
family disputed the decision. Buba is not used to being around other elephants and the Freiwald family feared that she would languish without her human family, and maybe even become aggressive, if she was placed with other elephants in France. Voting on Buba’s fate There was no other suitable shelter in Europe for discarded circus animals, and there was no ideal shelter for Buba. Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture had no other choice but grant an exemption for Buba until 30 June 2020. That date passed with no alternative found, with a final extension granted until January 2021. In the end, the decision was made based on what was best for the animal. The PVV submitted a motion to create an ‘enclosure worthy of Buba’ somewhere in the Netherlands. The CDA pleaded through another motion for a permanent residence status with the Freiwald family. On Tuesday 1 December, the Lower House voted on Buba’s fate, and adopted both motions. For now, therefore, she can stay with the Freiwalds. “The best news of the day,” PVV leader Geert Wilders said. Still, the Minister has to consider how the motions can be implemented to guarantee the best care for Buba. Animal rights activists were not happy with the decision. As Erwin Vermeulen of Animal Rights said: “That non-expert MPs want to condemn the African elephant Buba to an existence as a living advertising column for a practically bankrupt circus is nothing but populism.”
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The greatest good Regardless of the different views on what the best decision is, one thing remains clear: the way animals are treated has hugely changed in the last years. Circuses and zoos, once thought of as sanctuaries, nowadays are seen as perpetrators of animal abuse. So, deciding on the best solution for Buba was no easy task. The Freiwalds are not in the best economic position due to the corona crisis, so they will need financial support to take care of Buba. Animal welfare coordinator Kevin van Geet, speaking on behalf of the family, said that they had invested at least € 300,000 of their own money in the care of Buba over the past five years. Therefore the Freiwalds plan to plead for a financial compensation scheme from the government. But according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, the family should still bear the costs of caring for the elephant themselves since the motions don’t state anything about a compensation scheme. The question of where Buba will spend her last phase of life has an answer now. Hopefully, the best decision is for her to stay with her long-time circus family in the Netherlands. “It’s my life. She is like a child to me and grew up with my children,” Lutz Freiwald said in a heartfelt plea on Hart van Nederland, a Dutch daily news program. Written by Bárbara Luque Alanís
09-12-20 21:27
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JANUARY 2021 | 15
COLUMNS
5 alternatives to New Year resolutions Somehow, the new year is (luckily) just around the corner. After a completely bizarre and unexpected 2020, most of us are happy to welcome in a new beginning. And what better time to take a step back and analyse your goals for the new year? If you’re thinking of setting some New Year’s Resolutions, you might want to think again. Anecdotal evidence tells me that we break 99.9% of our resolutions, so it might be time to try something else this year. If you’re also fed up with the sleep more, read more, lose weight checklist, here are some alternatives you can try. Word of the year This option seems to become more popular each year. Rather than setting a specific goal, you choose a word to embody throughout the year. Think along the lines of ‘rest’, ‘growth’, or ‘fun’. You can use this word to help guide you through difficult times, and it can also help you frame decisions. Let’s say you’re very busy with work, and in need of a break, when someone approaches you with yet another project. Usually you’d say yes, but if your word of the year is ‘rest’, you might choose to turn down the project and focus on incorporating more walks in nature into your life instead. This option works well for people who don’t like to be tied down by rigid goals. Intentions In a similar vein, intentions are another way of guiding your year without restricting you too much. Rather than saying you want to lose a certain amount of weight, consider setting the intention to move more, or to do something daily that makes you feel good. You might even find that the outcome is the same - you end up
losing weight - but it’s not the primary motivator. This removes some of the pressure that comes with resolutions, and makes it more likely that you’ll actually stick with it past the first week of January. S.M.A.R.T. goals If you’re driven by structure, you might find that S.M.A.R.T. goals work well for you. For a goal to fit the S.M.A.R.T. criteria, it should be Specific (not just ‘get fit, but rather ‘be able to run 10km’) and Measurable (not ‘get richer’, but rather ‘earn an extra £30,000’). It should also be Attainable (so, not ‘become a billionaire in 2021’ sadly), Relevant to your life, and Timely, ie you assign deadlines to your goal. 2021 Bucket List If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that life is totally unpredictable. For that reason, you might find a bucket list pointless, but if you like to look on the optimistic side of life, go ahead. You don’t have to include outlandish tasks like climbing Mount Kilimanjaro or trekking through South America. Consider things a little closer to home, like a road trip, training to run a certain distance, or learning a new skill. We might not be able to plan perfectly, but we can make the most out of a difficult situation, no matter what happens with the pandemic. Monthly challenges If you don’t like looking ahead for a whole year, consider setting monthly challenges. These bitesized alternatives are easy to stick to, because you know you’ve only got to keep it up for 30 days. The added benefit? It takes 21 days to form
a habit, so you might just find yourself naturally sticking to your new routine once the month is over. In the past, people have tried reading for 30 minutes per day for a month, exercising 5 days per week, spending 10 minutes daily on a language learning app, or going to bed at 10pm each night. Sounds simple, but often the best habits are the ones that don’t seem like rocket science. At the end of the day, no one knows what 2021 will bring. All we can do is focus on what we want to achieve for ourselves, and what will make us happy in the upcoming 12 months. There’s no need to burden ourselves with unnecessary and unwanted pressure, either. That’s the danger of resolutions in the traditional form - we end up feeling awful for ‘failing’ so quickly. Set yourself up for success in 2021 by trying out these alternative forms of resolutions. Written by Phoebe Dodds Founder of BURO155
The slum lord of the Netherlands workers arrived towards the end of November to begin repairing the estate. The owner was upset, but - perhaps tired of fighting with city councils during the last decades - seemed to do nothing. It was a breakthrough for any business dealings with this much-disliked real estate company.
A few months ago I wrote about the notorious ‘slum lord of the Netherlands’, Ronnie van de Putte. The real estate businessman and his company, Bever Holdings, own nearly a dozen properties around the Netherlands, including several landmark parcels in Noordwijk and a once-luxurious villa in Wassenaar, Huize Ivicke. If you’ve driven between Leiden and The Hague on the N44, you have undoubtedly seen this dilapidated villa on the western side of the highway. Like the other properties held by Bever Holdings, it’s been neglected, left to the elements and occupied by squatters since it became a part of its owner’s real estate portfolio. And like the other properties, the governing municipality has urged Bever to renovate it, sell it or do something with it. Unlike most of the other properties, the municipality of Wassenaar has actually made progress against Bever Holding with regard to Huize Ivicke. Through new laws, political pressure and rezoning of the property, the city of Wassenaar ruled that, starting November 2020, a city-sponsored renovation of the property could begin. This was much to the dismay of the owner, who - for reasons unknown - did not want to have this property restored, used or even occupied. Still, the city of Wassenaar prevailed and construction
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Even in Noordwijk, there seemed to be some breakthroughs in taking over the dilapidated properties there. Bever Holdings was behind on the mortgages on most of these vacant properties and through a new law of ‘right of first purchase’, ratified specifically for these properties, the municipality was ready to purchase these locations and even started with fantastic design and development plans. After more than three decades of fruitless negotiation with Bever Holdings, it seemed that Noordwijk was finally on the way to restoring these landmark locations to their original glory and make the seaside resort a beautiful tourist destination again. But unfortunately for Noordwijk and Wassenaar, these breakthroughs have both hit road bumps, and it looks like both will have these ‘slum properties’ for much longer than hoped. For Noordwijk, it seems that in the final hour Bever Holdings arranged alternative financing for some of the abandoned properties and is now current on the mortgage payments. This has made all the work, effort and energy needed to create a new law a waste of time, since the properties are no longer in a foreclosed status and will not be auctioned off. This is not the first time this has happened: in 1996 a foreclosure sale of one of the properties was also cancelled at the last minute, while earlier this year the foreclosure auction of the shops around Noordwijk’s iconic lighthouse were also scrapped.
For Wassenaar the situation is very different. As the municipality started renovations, a report was made to the Omgevingsdienst Zuid-Holland Zuid (the environmental service of southern South Holland) that bats were presented in the rundown building. According to law, bats are protected animals and before any building works can begin, a study has to be made in order to see if bats are present; if they are, the loss of habitat should be compensated for during the works. It’s unclear whether a study was done at the villa to determine the environmental impact of the restoration, so the municipality has to wait until one is carried out. All of this seems quite coincidental … the lastminute scrapping of development plans for most of the properties; the sudden payments that brought the mortgage accounts of the Noordwijk properties current; and now the anonymous report of bats at Huize Ivicke and subsequent calls for investigation into how Wassenaar approached the restorations in the first place. The fact that this has been going on for decades leads one to believe that this is the strategic approach of Bever Holdings: buy properties, leave them to deteriorate, fall behind on mortgage payments and leave municipalities to handle the fallout. But what is the end-game for this strategy? It’s far from a money-making strategy and looks more like a strategy for chaos – and very expensive chaos at that.
Written by Marla Thomson Marla Thomson is a freelance writer
09-12-20 18:00
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09-12-20 21:39
JANUARY 2021 | 17
FOREIGN MATTERS
The Sultanate of Oman:
foreign policy and the future vision Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi before the 75th general assembly of the United Nations. Sayyid Badr said, “His Majesty the Sultan has reaffirmed beyond any doubt that the Sultanate will continue the prudent policy set by the late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Bin Taimour, Founder of Oman’s Modern Renaissance and architect of its foreign policy and its international relations over the past 50 years.” In addition, the principles of Omani foreign policy as established in its blessed renaissance espouse dialogue as a means for solving disputes. They also support values of tolerance, justice equality and the settlement of conflicts in accordance with the UN charter and rules of the International Law. This enhanced the Sultanate’s regional and international status and made it a lighthouse of peace and security. It is worth noting that Omani foreign policy principles are derived from basics of Oman’s centuries-old civilization and original values of Omani society that indicate a sincere desire to promote humanity and moderation. As a result, the Sultanate is widely accepted as mediator in the international arena.
His Majesty Sultan Haitham
Foreign policy and the future vision As soon as he assumed power, in his first nation address, His Majesty Sultan Haitham reaffirmed the permanent stands of the Sultanate’s foreign policy, saying that the Sultanate advocates peaceful co-existence among nations, good neighborliness and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. His Majesty the Sultan also stressed that he would follow the footsteps of the late Sultan Qaboos Bin Said bin Taimour. In his speech, His Majesty the Sultan said, “We shall trace the course of the late Sultan, reaffirming the fundamentals of our country’s foreign policy based on peaceful co-existence with nations, good neighborliness, non-interference in the internal affairs of others, respect for countries’ sovereignty and international cooperation in various spheres.” This stance was reaffirmed by the Sultanate’s Government last September in a speech delivered by Foreign Minister
The Royal Opera House in Muscat
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Oman and the Netherlands The Bilateral relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of the Netherlands are witnessing a close and continuous development at all levels. This year His Majesty King Willem Alexander of the Kingdom of Netherlands paid a visit to the Sultanate and met with His Majesty Haitham bin Tarik Sultan of Oman and presented his condolences on the demise of late Sultan Qaboos bin Said. His Excellency Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood AlBusaidi, Foreign Minister of Oman, also conducted a virtual conference with His Excellency Stef Blok Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Their Excellencies the Foreign Ministers of both countries discussed most of the bilateral political and economic issues. Another virtual meeting was performed between several parties in the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of the Netherlands with the participation of Their Excellencies Ambassador Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Salim bin Hamed Al Harthi and Ambassador Laetitia van Asch, and a wide number of companies from both countries. The Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of the Netherlands will continue to strengthen their partnership and will work side to side to prosper, widen and deepen cooperation at political, economic and social levels.
Oman is distinguished by its geographical position and its easy access to its neighbours (Asia, Africa and Gulf States) which attracts Dutch Companies to invest in several sectors. Oman provides enormous opportunities and facilities to all kind of investment. The Sultanate with its unique location offers many chances to expand its economical connections beyond its borders. With that in mind, Oman bids a number of incentives encouraging foreign businesses, such as low tax, cheap energy, skilled labour and land allocation by the Government. Visit Oman The Western tourist adores exploring the Sultanate of Oman. Annually Oman attracts a large number of Dutch tourists. Oman is distinguished by its beautiful beaches, golden sands and its majestic mountains. Oman also combines originality and modernity and thanks to the Renaissance, many projects have been realized, including modern roads, high-end hospitals and elegant hotels spread across the Sultanate. Several entertainment programs are adapted and adjusted to the tourists needs and expectations as diving, mountains climbing, desert cars racing and also camel racing. It is not surprising to see four-star hotels in the middle of the desert, fascinating lovers of nature and adventure. The tourist finds everything he loves, a sea, a mountain and a desert. On top of the natural beauty we should not forget the traditional souks as in Mutrah and Nizwa with their silvery handicrafts and all kind of souvenirs which charms the visitors. Souks are filled with spices, frankincense coming out of beautiful burners. There is the taste of sugar cane, coconut and strong Arabian coffee. We are convinced that any visitor of the Sultanate longs to return back not only because of the beauty of the country and its fascinating landscapes but also because of the warmth of the reception and the openness and generosity of the Omanis. Omani hospitality begins with a friendly handshake and a nice big warm smile and knows absolutely no boundaries when it comes to winning hearts. Your trip will be truly memorable. Home to immense mountains, dramatic coasts and desert oases, tourists can experience completely diverse landscapes all in one country. Oman is unique in its greatly contrasting landscapes, we are absolutely convinced and sure that all these great opportunities to live and experiment are not to be missed and will be revived after these very difficult pandemic times. Written by Nanda Jagusiak-Monteiro
The South of Oman
09-12-20 18:05
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09-12-20 18:06
JANUARY 2021 | 19
EDUCATION
Multilingualism in schools. Yes or No? Many people believe that when you move to a different country, you should try to exclusively practice the host country’s language in order to learn that language faster. This notion has also been adopted in many schools across the world. However, is this really the best approach? A monolingual approach in schools has been vastly adopted for a long time now and, oftentimes, has resulted in many international parents and their children feeling excluded or even embarrassed to use their home languages. However, over the past years we have seen a positive shift towards including languages in schools more and there are many good reasons why. Here are some of the most important ones: Language as cultural identity Language is an inherent piece of who we are. A valuable part of our identity. The more we explore and develop our languages, the more we develop a sense of belonging and self-value and this is of crucial importance to our children’s wellbeing and success when it comes to their personal and academic development. Multilingualism and brain Extensive research on the impact of multilingualism on the brain has proven that multilingual people’s brains do function differently and in a more advantageous way compared to monolingual people in areas such as complex thinking, mental flexibility, communication and interpersonal skills, and even reduced risk of agerelated mental diminishment conditions. Home languages benefit the learning of more languages. Dr. Jim Cummins, a prominent researcher in bilingual education, has stated that developing language repertoires at the same time, actually accelerates and deepens understanding and acquisition of languages already mastered, but also of more, new ones. Ready for the global community Multilingual individuals are more prepared for the global community, as they are able to communicate with an open and flexible mind, having possibly been exposed to various cultures. Is this not a goal worth pursuing? Language skills and structures, as well as concept knowledge, many times, already exist in the children’s educational toolkit, and the only thing missing is the words in the new language to prove it. I am sure, if you are an international living outside your home country, you probably have experienced a situation in which people are talking about a certain matter that interests you and you know a lot about, but the language spoken is one you have not yet mastered. If you were given the opportunity to talk and write about it in your own language, would you feel more confident and included? Do you think you could have contributed to these conversations? Maybe if you were reading a text translated in your language with the foreign language next to it, you would be able to understand some words? Maybe sentence structures? The answer to all the above questions is yes, and this is exactly how it works for multilingual children as well.
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Language Friendly School Optimist International School, an international primary school, recently became a Language Friendly school. This means that all languages spoken by students are welcome and valued. In our classes we allow students to use the languages they feel most comfortable with in order to show their understanding and develop their skills, while we try to methodically use their languages to support the development in English, as well. For this purpose, children can read, write and do research in their own language, while teaching staff guide them to create links between their languages for deeper and effective acquisition. Moreover, we often use the childrens’ languages in various aspects of school life, such as greeting them in the morning, asking children to translate keywords in their languages for us to learn or even learning to sing ‘happy birthday’ in all the different languages we have in school. The smile, confidence, and safety that the children feel in our school by feeling included, respected, and valued is what fuels our teaching and learning. The results in children’s academic and personal development are outstanding as they can be themselves, navigate through their cultures and identities, while being respectful and tolerant of others.
5–12 MARCH 2021
Multilingualism is an asset and we, as a school of multilingual and intercultural educators, are committed to promoting and improving our multilingual approaches in order to support happy, respectful, inquisitive global citizens. www.optimist-international-school.nl Written by Valentina Spyropoulou
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Discover the world at Leiden University
10-12-20 09:33
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10-12-20 11:47
JANUARY 2021 | 21
EDUCATION
Open days overview Most primary and secondary schools have a rolling admissions policy for incoming freshman students. This essentially means that students are free to apply at any time during the admissions process. For this reason most of them do not organize official Open Days. Some of the primary and secondary schools offer specific moments for getting to know the school. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, many schools do not offer open days at the school this year. Many offer an online event to get to know the school, or other online ways for prospective pupils and their parents to gather information. Please check the websites of the schools you’re interested in, to see how you can get in touch and learn more about them. Alliance Française de La Haye Emmapark 6 2595 ET Den Haag T: 070 362 15 23 W: .aflahaye.nl Amity International School Amsterdamseweg 204 1182 HL Amstelveen T: 020 345 44 81 W: amityschool.nl Early Years Webinar (ages 3 – 5) Location: online (link via registration) 12 January 13.00-13.30 Informal Assessment 19 January & 20 January Location: Amity Amsterdam 09.00-11.00 (assigned time slots) Amstelland International School Asserring 93 1187 SM Amstelveen T: 020 820 90 91 W: ogamstelland.nl Amsterdam International Community School Prinses Irenestraat 59 1077 WV Amsterdam T: 020 577 12 40 Darlingstraat 2 1102 MX Amsterdam Arent Janszoon Ernststraat 130 1082 LP Amsterdam W: aics.espritscholen.nl The British School in The Netherlands Vrouw Avenweg 640 2493 WZ Den Haag T: 070 315 40 77 W: britishschool.nl European School The Hague Houtrustweg 2 2566 HA Den Haag T: 070 700 16 00 W: europeanschoolthehague.nl Information mornings Early Years and Primary School (Location Houtrustweg) Information mornings Secondary School (Location Oostduinlaan 50 2596JP, The Hague) We hold regular information mornings for the Primary School and Secondary School, come and meet us and have a look around HSV International and Dutch Primary School W: hsvid.nl NSL Location Nassaulaan 26 2514 JT The Hague T: 070 318 49 50 KSS Location Koningin Sophiestraat 24A 2595 TG The Hague T: 070 324 34 53 VHS Location Van Heutszstraat 12 2593 PJ The Hague T: 070 205 11 41
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VNS Location Van Nijenrodestraat 16 2597 RM The Hague T: 070 328 14 41 Eerde International Boarding School Kasteellaan 1 7731 PJ Ommen T: 0529 451 452 W: eerde.nl International School Delft Colijnlaan 2 2613 VZ Delft T: 015 820 0208 W: internationalschooldelft.com Open day ISD Secondary 12 February 16.00-19.00 International Secondary Dept. at Het Rijnlands Lyceum Apollolaan 1 2341 BA Oegstgeest T: 071 519 35 55 W: isrlo.nl Optimist International School Waddenweg 87 2134 XL Hoofddorp T: 023 303 59 24 W:optimist-international-school.nl Admissions watch our introduction video Open day 21 January Register now! International School Wassenaar Backershagenlaan 5 2243 AB Wassenaar W: internationalschoolwassenaar.nl T: 070 511 0400 23 January 10.00-12.00 British School of Amsterdam Anthonie van Dijckstraat 1 1077 ME Amsterdam T: 020 679 7840 W: britams.nl is moving 21 April 2021 to: Havenstraat 6 Amsterdam International School Twente Johannes ter Horststraat 30 7513 ZH Enschede T: 053 206 8035 W: istwente.org Haarlemmermeer Lyceum Baron de Coubertinlaan 2 2134 CG Hoofddorp T: 023 563 1644 W: haarlemmermeerlyceum.nl International School Amsterdam Sportlaan 45 1185 TB Amstelveen T: 020 347 1111 W: isa.nl
1181 ZM Amstelveen T: 020 647 14 57 W: platform-c.nu
American School of The Hague Rijksstraatweg 200 2241 BX Wassenaar T: 070 512 1060 W: ash.nl Nord Anglia International Rotterdam Verhulstlaan 21 3055 WJ Rotterdam T: 010 422 5351 W nordangliaeducation.com
LANGUAGE SCHOOLS School
International Waldorf School The Hague T: 070 783 0030 W: internationalwaldorfschool.nl International School Utrecht Van Bijnkershoeklaan 8 3527 XL Utrecht 030 870 0400 W: isutrecht.nl
Most language schools do not have Open Days. By a lot of them you can follow trial lessons to decide if you like to follow further lessons. British Language Training Centre Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 328 E 1012 RW Amsterdam T: 020 622 36 34 W: bltc.nl BSN Language Center Lange Houtstraat 26 2511 CW Den Haag T: 070 315 4080 W: bsnlanguagecentre.nl TaalBoost Marnixstraat 80 1015 XX Amsterdam T: 020 341 80 38 W: taalboost.nl
Lycee Francais van Gogh Scheveningseweg 237 2584 AA Den Haag T: 070 306 6920 Rustenburgerstraat 246 1073 GK Amsterdam T: 020 644 6507 W: lfvvg.com International School Haarlem Schreveliusstraat 27 2014 XP Haarlem T: 023 220 0001 W: internationalschoolhaarlem.nl
Kickstart School Koninginnegracht 62 2514 AG Den Haag T: 070 360 7860 W: kickstartschool.nl 7 January 2021 17.30-19.30 9 January 2021 12.00-15.00 We offer online and face classes in line with Corona regulations
The German International School van Bleiswijkstraat 125 2582 LB Den Haag T: 070 354 9454 W: disdh.nl
Heart of Language Nieuwe Parklaan 17 2597 LA Den Haag T: 06 4531 4750 W: heartoflanguage.nl
UNIVERSITIES
Taalthuis Lorentzplein 25 2012 HH Haarlem T: 023 305 0305 W: taalthuis.nl
Rotterdam University Science T: 010 794 4394 W: rotterdamuas.com
of
Applies
International Business School Groningen T: 050 595 23 00 W: hanze.nl University of Leiden W: universiteitleiden.nl Open days 5-12 March 2021 Nyenrode Business Universiteit Breukelen T: 0346 29 14 84 W: nyenrode.nl (all events for Bachelor of Science in Business Administration) Platform-C / VU Amstelland Culture, creativity and communication Stadsplein 99
Ute’s International Lounge T: 06 5060 1984 W: utesinternationallounge.com Language Institute Regina Coeli T: 073 684 8790 W: reginacoeli.nl Flowently T: 085 888 3012 W: flowently.com Direct Dutch Institute T: 070 365 4677 W: directdutch.com Talenmeester T: 06 1006 4361 W: talenmeester.nl
10-12-20 13:17
FREE ONLINE ART LESSON FOR KIDS 10+ Join in for some artistic fun! We have opened up our online art studio, so you can join us from the comfort of your own home. Sign up for a free online art lesson with Studio Jocelyn. We will be making a mind boggling optical illusion… Art lessons are for kids of 10 years old or older. IMPROVE YOUR ARTISTIC SKILLS We meet every week in the digital studio. You set up your art materials at your desk and follow along via ZOOM and join in the fun. Every lesson is different, we have a new project every week. For example, we will be drawing an optical illusion by Escher or we paint the sunflowers by Van Gogh. We fold incredible origami creations, paint spacy galaxies and much more. We explore different kinds of art materials such as watercolour, acrylic and oil paint, pastels, charcoal, ink and coloured pencils…. You will learn drawing and painting techniques to improve your artistic talents and develop your fine motor skills. Each lesson is supported with additional videos that you can watch after the lesson. We even give you private feedback! ‘FREE TRIAL ART LESSON ONLINE. SIGN UP AT MAIL@STUDIOJOCELYN.NL.’
CREATE A PORTFOLIO If you are considering further education in art and you need to build or expand your portfolio, we can also help you develop a well rounded body of work. Let’s make your portfolio a real eye catcher!
‘SCAN THE QR CODE TO GET A SNEAK PEEK IN TO THE STUDIO!’
CONNECT WITH ARTISTS KIDS ALL OVER THE WORLD! Our students are based all over the world. Every week we connect together and create a new piece of art together The Netherlands - United Kingdom - France - Spain Germany - Switzerland - and growing… During the art lessons we speak English and sometimes we add a little Dutch to help our students in The Netherlands.
‘My daughter beams with pride when she creates a beautiful piece of art work during her online art lessons. That makes us parents proud and happy.’ - Annabelle’s Dad Sjoerd from Switzerland.
ADVANTAGES OF ONLINE LESSONS These online lessons are very efficient. Besides the regular online art lessons you can also practice with our online art video’s exclusively for our online art students. Taking these online art lessons doesn’t necessarily mean more screen time but it does mean more offline practice time.
Sign up today for a free online art lesson by sending an e-mail to mail@studiojocelyn.nl. Limited places available.
CONNECT WITH US E-mail mail@studiojocelyn.nl Website www.studiojocelyn.nl Facebook www.facebook.com/studiojocelyn/ Instagram www.instagram.com/studiojocelyn/ Youtube Channel www.youtube.com and search for Studio Jocelyn
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10-12-20 09:29
JANUARY 2021 | 23
INTERVIEW
Interview with an expat What famous Dutch place should you really go and see? Utrecht is a great city and because Amsterdam and Rotterdam are so big, people usually overlook it. There is a lot of history here, What’s your favourite Dutch store? It’s not a store but the Hoog Catharijne mall is museums and things to do, and there are a great. It has so many shops and restaurants, lot of international restaurants too. Before the and being in the same structure as the main pandemic some friends and I took a day trip Old city Sabina Sadigly train station makes it easy to get to from to drive across the Afsluitdijk, which is Dutch engineering at its best. Maarssen. Utrecht just walking along the main canal is really nice, plus the city has a lot of park areas around other canals.
What is your name? Cole Vincent Where do you come from and where do you live in the Netherlands? I am from Arizona in the US and now I live in Maarssen, right next to Utrecht. What’s your job/business? I originally came here to go to a barbers’ academy in Utrecht, but the coronavirus put that on hold for now. For now I teach English online.
What do you like to do in the weekend? Before the pandemic I would go out with friends in Utrecht, but now I usually spend the weekends catching up on errands and teaching more, since there are more bookings then.
Best-kept secret in your city? I would say the Spoorwegmuseum. It probably gets overlooked because of other things to see in Utrecht.
Who is your favourite Dutch person? I’m a huge Game of Thrones fan, so Michiel Huisman is one of my favourite actors, so probably my favourite Dutch person. I also like Mark Rutte a lot, especially when I saw pictures of him riding his bike to work!
Interview by Marla Thomson
What would you recommend a visitor to do and see in your city in the Netherlands? For Maarssen I would recommend just walking around the town. It’s typical Dutch with canals, old architecture and an old church. Or going to Utrecht, because there is more to do and see there like the Spoorwegmuseum, which is a museum all about the rail system in the Netherlands.
What was your first time in the Netherlands? My first trip to the Netherlands in March 2018 was also my first trip to Europe. I came with a friend to Utrecht and instantly knew I wanted to live here.
What is your favourite Dutch food? And what Dutch food do you dislike? Dutch fries are great, especially the fresh-cut fries like you get from street vendors or at Meneer Smakers. But I don’t like mayonnaise on them. I also don’t like the raw herring.
What is the nicest thing about the Netherlands? The people are really nice and are very accepting on a social level. I also like how close other cities are and how easy it is to get to them with the awesome train system. But right now I’m not traveling much because of Covid.
Do you celebrate Dutch holidays? What is your favourite? I try to celebrate the Dutch holidays, but it’s hard with the pandemic and not being able to get around. I did get to celebrate Sinterklaas with friends last year, which was good since it’s at a different time than Christmas, when Americans celebrate.
What’s the worst thing about the Netherlands? The weather. Wow, there’s a lot of rain! I come from basically a desert where it’s dry and warm all the time, so the rain and cool weather is really different than what I’m used to.
Where do you like to go out? Right now just walking around the town. I used to like to go out in Utrecht, but now I don’t do that so much.
Spoorwegmuseum in Utrecht
Dutch fries
Do you have Dutch friends? Yes, I’ve met some friends through the local barber shop here, where I had planned to do an apprenticeship. Luckily I came here before the pandemic, when we were able to go out more. What do you like about Dutch people? What don’t you like? The people are really friendly and they are helpful, like if you need help in a store or at the bank. The Dutch people can also be direct, which can shock you at first, but now I’m used to it. Do you have a favourite restaurant in your city? Before corona I went to Meneer Smakers a lot. They make the best burgers (outside of the US of course!) with so many different varieties. Their loaded fries are really good too. Where do you prefer to relax in your city? Maarssen is really quiet to begin with, so just walking around the town is very relaxing. In
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Utrecht in the evening
09-12-20 21:41
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09-12-20 18:24
JANUARY 2021 | 25
ART & CULTURE
Realists – Masterpieces from Museum Arnhem Stedelijk Museum Breda Breda is the youngest city museum in the Netherlands and a starting point for anyone who wants to discover the art and history of Breda and the surrounding area. In addition to the permanent collection, the museum often hosts temporary exhibitions. Project room NEXT is intended for collaboration with partners from the city. The current exhibition Realists - Masterpieces from Museum Arnhem is a collaborative project with Museum Arnhem, which is closed due to renovation. The exhibition includes paintings and drawings by Ali Goubitz, Nola Hatterman, Raoul Hynckes, Dick Ket, Pyke Koch, Jan Mankes, Johan Mekkink, Toon van de Muysenberg, Herbert von Reyl, Wim Schuhmacher, Charley Toorop and Carel Willink. The 1920s and 1930s were the peak of magical realism and neo-realism in the art world of the Netherlands. This style revolves around precisely drawn or painted representations, with clear contours and an emphasis on craftsmanship. Sometimes the paintings create a magical, unreal atmosphere. After the Second World War, Museum Arnhem focused on collecting realistic art. The museum owns work by famous painters such as Dick Ket, Jan Mankes and Carel Willink, but also redirected attention to some almost-forgotten artists, including Nola Hatterman and Ali Goubitz. As a result, its collection is one of the most beautiful and greatest in the Netherlands. Because Museum Arnhem is closed for renovation and expansion until 2022, a selection of its works is presented in travelling exhibits. The exhibition in Stedelijk Museum Breda is supplemented with work from Toon van de Muysenberg’s own collection and loans of works by Carel Willink and Herbert von Reyl from private collections. stedelijkmuseumbreda.nl
Portrait of Wil Gronert by Ali Goubitz, from the Collection, Museum Arnhem, Photo by Marc Pluim
Ulay Was Here Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam The Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam is the setting for the very first exhibition of the world-renowned artist Ulay. Ulay was a pioneer in many ways; for example, he was one of the first artists to work with a Polaroid camera. Through photography combined with body art and performance, he raised issues of identity and society. This exhibition is guaranteed to leave an impression, as the name suggests: Ulay Was Here. Ulay Was Here is open from Saturday 21 November to 18 April 2021 in the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. performance 8 ‘relation in time’ Marina Abramovic & Ulay c/o Pictoright Amsterdam/Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
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www.stedelijk.nl
09-12-20 21:34
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The future of preventative health care
09-12-20 18:24
JANUARY 2021 | 27
ART & CULTURE
Paula Modersohn-Becker
A NEW IMAGE OF WOMAN Kunstmuseum Den Haag Out of the shadow falling across her face, Paula Modersohn Becker regards us with a steady gaze. She painted Self-portrait with Hat and Veil in the early years of the twentieth century, after a period of great uncertainty about what direction her life should take: a future with her husband, painter Otto Modersohn in Worpswede, Germany, striking the best possible balance between the life of an artist and motherhood; or complete devotion to art amid the excitement of Paris. She chose the former. Her depiction of motherhood and her selfportraits were groundbreaking. Kunstmuseum Den Haag has been working on the restoration of Self-portrait with Hat and Veil for some time. The highlight of the collection has been examined, cleaned and reframed. Now, in collaboration with the Rembrandt Association and the Turing Foundation, the spotlight is focusing on the artist herself. In an exhibition in the intimate Berlage Room, she will occupy the place of honour alongside fellow female artists Suze Robertson, Jacoba van Heemskerck and Käthe Kollwitz.
the museum is experimenting with storytelling and displaying the collection via online channels. Kunstmuseum Den Haag has posted a short film that gives Paula a voice of her own. In a fictional monologue written by Renée van Marissing and performed by Soumaya Ahouaoui, she expresses her doubts and describes her passions and motives. The museum is also providing some art-historical background in the form of an article in which curator Laura Stamps discusses Modersohn-Becker’s self-portraits in relation to self-portraits by contemporary female artists, like Paula Rego and Charlotte Joffa. 17 October 2020 – 31 January 2021 Kunstmuseum Den Haag, Stadhouderslaan 41, 2517 HV Den Haag, www.kunstmuseum.nl
Paula Modersohn Becker (1876-1907), Self-portrait with Hat and Veil, 1906-1907, oil on canvas, 67.5 x 57.5 cm, Kunstmuseum Den Haag.
A restless existence Paula Becker was part of the Worpswede artists’ colony from around 1897. It was there that she met painter Otto Modersohn. Inspired by their rural surroundings, Otto and many of the other artists there painted colourful landscapes. Paula also focused on the people who lived in the village. Mothers and children were her favourite subjects, portrayed either separately or together. In 1901 she married Otto, and became stepmother to his daughter Elsbeth. In Worpswede, Paula longed for Paris, where she spent several extended periods from 1900 onwards, enjoying the adventure of the big city. In Worpswede she enjoyed the peace and quiet of family life. In Self-portrait with Hat and Veil we see Modersohn-Becker in complete harmony with herself. By now, she had managed to reconcile desires that had previously seemed incompatible. In early 1906 she had left for Paris, intending to divorce her husband and devote herself entirely to art, but by the time she completed this painting she had changed her mind. She was back with Otto Modersohn and pregnant, fully convinced that she could live her life as a mother and woman as she saw fit. Their daughter Mathilde was born on 2 November 1907, but Paula’s happiness was not to last long: she died of an embolism on 20 November. Her final words were ‘What a pity’. Groundbreaking art ‘The female nude’ and ‘mother and child’ are traditional themes in art. In the early twentieth century they were depicted mainly as seen by the male gaze – sexually charged, or sweet and charming, or both. Paula Modersohn-Becker broke with this tradition, producing a host of nude self-portraits and portraits of mothers with their newborn children that evoke an entirely different sensation. Modersohn-Becker’s nude portraits are based on her own experiences and those of other women. They are at once powerful, raw and vulnerable. As such, they provided the basis for later art guided by the female experience. Paula’s voice Alongside the exhibition in the museum itself, Kunstmuseum Den Haag also has a great deal of online material on Paula Modersohn-Becker. In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, not everyone is willing or able to visit the museum, so
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09-12-20 21:34
IAN BERRY. SPLENDID ISOLATION PAINTINGS AND INSTALLATIONS MADE OF DENIM DECEMBER 1, 2020 - APRIL 5, 2021 U.K. artist Ian Berry (Huddersfield,1984) has been making virtuous figurative paintings and installations of denim for over 15 years. He uses discarded jeans, cuts them up into pieces and sorts according to hue like a painter places his color nuances to his palette. At first glance the work seems two-dimensional, but when you zoom in, you can see how different layers of denim are placed on top and over each other. The ‘paintings’ are in fact denim collages so perfectly put together. They are almost impossible to distinguish from a realistic painting. Ian Berry also makes three-dimensional denim installations like Secret Garden (2018) and Record Store (2017) which have been on display on multiple continents and at museums. They will be on display at Museum Rijswijk as well.
Ian Berry. Splendid Isolation is the first solo-exhibition of the artist in The Netherlands. There will be a generous variety of different series he made in the last 15 years on display, such as Behind Closed Doors, Hotel California and The American Jean. In addition to this, there will be multiple installations on display. Ian Berry is a socially committed artist. With his work he responds to topical developments in society. His work is made of denim not only because he likes the material, it is as well because the textile industry is one of the most polluting industries. In his work he asks attention for this. In 2019, Ian Berry was proclaimed one of the 50 most influential people in the denim industry in the world.
The Corona pandemic is an important topic in his most recent work. The project clapping is an animated denim projection of clapping hands to thank the medical sector for their effort against Covid-19. The animation was projected on buildings throughout Britain and the US. This project is also part of the show at Museum Rijswijk. In response to the lockdown in the UK, Ian Berry started the international photo project Stay Behind Closed Doors on his website. He called out to professionals and amateurs to send in a photo that depicts what the lockdown means to them personally. A selection of these photos will be exhibited at the show.
Above: Roosevelt Hotel, LA, 2020, denim, 92 x 122 cm, collection artist Left: The Game, 2013, denim, 70 x 150 cm, private collection Right: Bound by Tradition, 2014, denim, 74 x 62 cm, private collection
Need more information? Please, contact Diana Wind, curator contemporary art, dianawind@museumrijswijk.nl or +31630388366. www.museumrijswijk.nl
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09-12-20 18:30
JANUARY 2021 | 29
TIPS book |
The American Netherlander |
Greg Shapiro
book |
“Out” | Natsuo Kirino
In 1994, author Greg Shapiro came to the Netherlands. The idea was to spend a while doing comedy for a start-up theater called Boom Chicago, but he stayed for love. That was the start of a cultural adventure, with incidents and elements that anyone who spends some time in the Netherlands is bound to recognize. Covering topics that range from places he lived in – and what each of these places taught him about the Dutch – to the social issues such as Zwarte Piet, Dutch meetings, trying to make sense in Dutch, and Bike Etiquette, The American Netherlander is just too much fun to put down. Try to picture some the scenes he recreates, such as the births of his children and his introduction to the ‘mother cookie’ and ‘shame hair’, or having to answer his doctor’s questions regarding what he thinks is the matter and how to treat it. Not to mention convincing a service team – “When service and team appear in the same sentence, it usually means trouble” – to install a washing machine. Written with a wry sense of humor and an eye for detail and the ludicrous, he manages to paint a picture of a nation that is part cartoon, part realism. At each turn of the page, you find yourself both laughing about and appreciating the Dutch. And then, once you have seen the Dutch through Greg Shapiro’s eyes, you are treated to that very special aspect of deciding to live in the country; the Dutch Assimilation Test – one that the Dutch themselves score notoriously badly on. “Every question tells a story,” Shapiro explains, proceeding to explain what characteristically Dutch assumptions lie at the basis of these questions and why they want you to give a particular answer. Under the title, “The Questions That Should Be on the Actual Quiz,” readers are treated to what Shapiro feels would be a more useful and certainly entertaining way of familiarizing yourself with Dutch culture – and traveling the road towards assimilation. The American Netherlander is accompanied by entertaining cartoons by illustrator Floor de Goede and photographs by the author.
Those of our readers who enjoy seeking refuge in the English section of Dutch book stores may have been struck already by the elusive cover of this Japanese novel. First published in 1997, “Out”, written by Natsuo Kirino and translated into English by Stephen Snyder, has been recently brought back to the store bookshelves in a special edition by Penguin Vintage Classics.
Available through bookshops, www.hollandbooks.nl and Amazon
Beatriz Negreiros
The novel is included in the publisher’s “Japanese Classics” collection, released last year. It is now embellished with a brand new, gritty, mysterious cover, depicting red skies filled with flying crows, beautifully illustrated by Yuko Shimizu. But is this a case in which we should judge a book by its cover? Thankfully, yes. Those who decide to read the novel seeking the thrills this new artwork promises will not be disappointed. Kirino’s sharp commentary on the Japanese social and economic underbelly still rings as relevant nowadays as it did twenty-three years ago. “Out” is particularly concerned with exploring the pressures with which women are burdened as mothers, wives and individuals, by telling the story of a young factory worker who finally cracks and kills her cheating, gambling husband. What follows is a bleak tale which touches upon secrecy, revenge, sex and even love. But mostly, “Out” is about four women who dream of escaping the treacherous world they have found themselves in - and, as you go through its pages, you’ll find yourself turning as frightened, desperate and angry as them. It is for good reason this is Kirino’s most successful novel to date, as well as the first one of her books to appear in English. It is, simply said, unputdownable. If you manage to get your hands on this Edgar Awardnominated psychological thriller, don’t let it go.
movie |
Feels Good Man It must be hard to take a snapshot of the fast-moving world of the internet, where new trends are almost impossible to keep up with. But in his directorial debut, “Feels Good Man”, Arthur Jones delivers a fascinating portrait of online culture, which will certainly withstand the test of time. The documentary, which was recently screened at the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam, has been collecting accolades since its premiere earlier this year (perhaps, most notably, the Jury Prize in the Sundance Film Festival). In order to understand why a documentary which mostly features a cartoon frog is moving audiences and critics around the world, you should really see it youself. “Feels Good Man” tells the story of cartoonist Matt Furie. The movie shows how Furie’s life was pulled into turmoil when his most notorious creation, a happy frog named “Pepe”, became an internet symbol - a meme. At first, innocently enough, it served as a caricature of young, lonely men online. Then, in 2016, in the wake of the American presidential race, it became an emblem of a very modern breed of hate, in which racism was sold as a joke, and where Pepe was frequently the visual punchline. “Feels Good Man” follows the life of the man behind the meme, as he desperately sees his artwork slipping away from his control to represent something truly grotesque. “Feels Good Man” offers a rarely-seen, nuanced look at the current online generation, while approaching the broader subjects of copyright and artistic integrity. Is it possible for Matt Furie to ever recover Pepe the Frog? The answer lies in one of the richest documentaries of the year, available for purchase on Prime Video. Beatriz Negreiros
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10-12-20 09:20
FIT AND HEALTHY AT CAESAR FITNESS + SPA RESORT
Safe exercise and relaxation in The Hague 5000 m2 of wellness, health and fitness in the heart of the city of The Hague. At Caesar Fitness + Spa Resort you will find everything under one roof. This luxury resort is located in a beautiful building on the Mauritskade 10. Thanks to the high-tech ventilation system, you only breath in fresh and clean outdoor air which is definitely a pleasant idea, especially in these times!
FRESH, CLEAN AIR
Fitness & Sport
Body & Mind
Training Whether you are young or old, a beginner or advanced, at Caesar Fitness + Spa Resort everyone has the possibility to work on their fitness and health. So time to get in shape in this luxury environment! Get started on the Life Fitness equipment, choose to be guided by a personal trainer, or follow a challenging group lesson where the ‘fun factor’ is of paramount importance.
Beauty & Health
Spa & Wellness
you best and look inwards to find yourself. Do you not only want to look fit and healthy, but also beautifully taken care of? Then Caesar Fitness + Spa Resort is the right place as we offer different types of massages, high quality facials and other beauty treatments.
Spa & Wellness After a training, members can relax in the Spa & Wellness area. Even if you come as a day guest, you can spend a wonderful time relaxing. In addition to a fantastic swimming pool, you will find a variety of saunas, a hamam, sunbeds and a whirlpool.
Feel Good Want to feel good in your own skin? Come exercise, relax and enjoy in the centre of The Hague. Caesar Fitness + Spa Resort offers maximum comfort by combining everything under one roof. Furthermore, we are always looking for new ways to upgrade our facilities in order to serve our members even better. That is why we are now working hard on a new lunchroom and Kidsclub! Feel good by Caesar.
Beauty & Balance For an optimal balance between body and mind, visit our Body & Mind Studio. Choose a yoga class that suits
Would you like to become a member or spend a day exercising or relaxing? View the option at www.caesar-denhaag.nl
Healthy air has always been a part of the concept of Caesar Fitness + Spa Resort. The Fitness and Spa Resort is all about health, so as far as Caesar is concerned, creating a healthy environment goes without saying. This is why we opted for a ‘state of the art’ ventilation system. Fresh air is constantly brought in from the outside and filtered through high quality glass filters. In addition, present air is continuously discharged to the outside. At well over a million, this is a considerable investment, but an extremely important one. Training and relaxation has always, and will continue to be in fresh clean air. Thanks to this air treatment system, Caesar Fitness + Spa Resort guarantees that you only breathe in fresh and clean air.
MAURITSKADE 10 | DEN HAAG | T 070 820 99 10 | WWW.CAESAR-DENHAAG.NL
WORKOUT IN A SAFE AND PLEASANT INVIRONMENT AND BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM! • Monday to Friday open from 7:00 • Members from all over the world • Classes in Dutch and English
• Over 60 classes per week • Certified personal trainers • Aerofit is the place to be!
HOFCAMPWEG 270 | WASSENAAR | 070-5119645 | WWW.AEROFIT.NL THT 10 _CS.indd 30
09-12-20 18:44
JANUARY 2021 | 31
SPORT
2020 – The sporting year that almost wasn’t
Femke Heemskerk
AZ Alkmaar
Every winter around this time, we’ve made a habit of looking back on the sporting year that was. In order to cover 2020 as in previous years, we’d need to include so many explanations that the Holland Times would need to double its pages! Better to just point out a few examples and accept the fact that 2020 was different in so many ways.
bay. While the highly anticipated return of the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort was shelved, Dutchman Max Verstappen enjoyed a moderately successful season.
By now, the clichés about 2020 are widespread and welldocumented and sport has not been spared. It was a year of abbreviations, cancellations and postponements. A Champion’s League final in August and The Masters in November were par for the course. The football European Championship, the Invictus Games in the Hague, the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo and countless other major and minor events were pushed back and then rescheduled for 2021 in the hope that somehow the great mitigation would come that would allow athletes to compete and spectators to watch. It was also a year of bubbles, protocols and far fewer or no spectators. Athletes, teams and organizations scrambled to find ways to play all the while trying to balance health and safety with income and even survival. Fixtures were moved or consolidated in an effort to avoid the deadly virus. The NBA managed to finish their season with all teams converging at the Walt Disney park in Florida while Formula One drastically pared their schedule and established strict protocols to keep the Corona bug at
Football, the undisputed king of sports in the Netherland, was impacted by Covid-19 in many ways. Certainly, the most tangible was the men’s Eredivisie competition. The curtain was dropped abruptly on the 2019/20 season back in March. At the top of the ladder, Amsterdam’s Ajax and AZ Alkmaar finished on top with Ajax getting the nod from the Dutch FA, the KNVB, for the top European billing based on goal differential. This did not sit well with AZ as they had taken the chocolates twice in headto-head matches. For all the bickering, both teams now head for the winter break with Ajax out of the Champions League and AZ without their success-story trainer Arne Slot. At the bottom of the ladder, Covid-19 was ironically kind to relegation candidates ADO Den Haag and RKC Waalwijk who were both given a year’s reprieve. Of the two, RKC has made the most of their stay of execution and have managed to climb to 11th of 19 and can enjoy a Christmas break without the Ghost of Second Division lurking in the shadows. In the Hague, ADO is very much in the shoes of Ebenezer Scrooge. The Summer Olympic Games were slated to take place in Tokyo from 24 July to 9 August 2020 but the event was postponed in March 2020 as a result of the pandemic. The new dates are 23 July to 8 August 2021 and will be
an unbelievable test of all that has been learned about sports in a Covid-19 world should they go through. The developments surrounding a vaccine are probably no more closely followed than in the Japanese capital. Olympic athletes around the world were forced to not only deal with the postponement but faced with daunting challenges to train, compete and in some cases qualify or even re-qualify for the Tokyo games. Dutch swimmer Femke Heemskerk was felled by Corona without even contracting the virus herself. Needing to qualify at an early December tournament in Rotterdam, Halsema was forced to quarantine when her partner tested positive. While testing negative herself, the swimming federation’s protocol meant that her 50 meter freestyle Olympic ticket went to Valerie van Roon. Chances are the matter will end up in a courtroom. The summer offered a brief solace as restrictions on contact sports other than football were lifted. A true summer sport, the Dutch baseball league managed to squeeze in an abbreviated competition only to see it’s final tournament, the Holland Series fall victim to an increased infection rate and a suspension of the sport two games into the best of seven game series. The Amsterdam Pirates had taken the first two decisions at the expense of nemesis Neptunus Rotterdam and while not officially declared champion by the national federation, would likely feel that their title had been extended by a year. Non-football sports such as basketball, field hockey handball and korfball saw their seasons extinguished before ever really getting underway. As the sporting year 2020 winds down we can all breathe a small sigh of relief. While we lament the sport that was lost we should also be in awe of the incredible job done to pull off as much sport as possible. In the end, there were surprisingly few infections in professional sport. Valuable lessons were learned and new innovations will help us ‘build back better’. We are by no means out of woods – the promise of vaccines is only as bright as the ways and means to distribute them and then we must hope that they will be accepted. And while we will only see the real financial impact of Covid-19 next year, if 2020 taught us one important lesson it is the incredible value of sport in our society and no effort should be spared to preserve it!
Written by John Mahnen
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10-12-20 11:42
Join our Early Years Webinar (ages 3-6) & Assessment Week Start your educational journey with us!
Early Years Webinar (12 Jan 2020) Time: 1 PM - 1:30 PM Location: online (link via registration) Informal Assessments (19+20 Jan 2020) Time: 9 AM - 11 AM (assigned time slots) Location: Amity Amsterdam
Register via amityschool.nl admissions@amityamsterdam.nl +31 (0) 20 345 44 81 www.amityschool.nl Amsterdamseweg 204, 1182 HL Amstelveen THT 10 _CS.indd 32 20201120 - Holland Times Advertisement_option1.indd 1
09-12-20 18:45 23/11/2020 13:43