The Holland Times July 2021

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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.

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5 Deadlock continues in the formation of the new cabinet

Shell loses landmark climate case in Dutch Court

7 Dutch municipalities to receive 1.3 billion extra for youth care

Vaccination willingness & corona passport

9 Billions for education worth little without qualified teachers Shady deals? Face mask procurement affair leads to debate 11 Despite abundant rain, the drought is not over yet Booking.com returns corona support money 13 Corona situation improves just in time for summer 15 Five questions about leasehold in Amsterdam

New home for the British School of Amsterdam

17 Columns 19 UAE - The Netherlands: 50 years Anniversary 21 Turkey, at the crossroads of continents 22 The futurist collection of the KrÖller MÜller Museum Artis: Amsterdam Royal Zoo 25 Deborah Poynton in the Drents Museum / Parade festival 27 Interview with an expat 29 Reviews & tips 31 Better late than never: Euro 2020 kicks off a year after schedule

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 Argo Special Media B.V. Postbus 2203 1500 GE Zaandam Contributors Marla Thomson, Raphael Perachi Vieira, Phoebe Dodds, Priyanka Sharma, John Mahnen, James Luxford, Nicole Kerr, Nanda Jagusiak, Lorre Luther, Juan Alvarez Umbarila, Beatriz Negreiros, Bárbara Luque Alanís, Steven van Randwijck, Von Poll Real Estate & www.delft.com 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 Distribution PostNL

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Design & Layout Caroline Spraakman

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All Rights reserved by the publisher and/ or the author(s).

2003 The Amsterdam Times 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.

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JULY 2021 | 5

NATIONAL

Deadlock continues in the formation of the new cabinet D66 and CDA could ally with to create the majority.

The VVD and CDA have both been traditionally centerright, while D66 is slightly more liberal on the political spectrum. With 74 seats between the three, most political analysts believed a coalition majority would not be difficult to achieve. So far, however, it has proven to be a very ‘complex puzzle’, as VVD leader and current Prime Minister Mark Rutte puts it. Though there are more than a dozen remaining parties, their ideologies are either too far right or too far left for all three leaders of the coalition parties to accept.

Mariëtte Hamer

The formation of the new Dutch cabinet continues to be at a stand-still with no viable solutions in immediate sight. Since the mid-March elections, the top two parties - the VVD and D66 - have been trying to put a coalition government together with enough of the other parties to create a majority in the House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer). Though not entirely onboard immediately after the elections, the CDA has since joined in with the VVD and D66, bringing the foundation of what will be the new cabinet to 74 seats in the House. With the House having 150 seats, these three parties need at least two more seats to have a coalition majority in the Tweede Kamer. Only then they will be able to form the cabinet government, consisting of the Prime Minister, the department Ministers and the Secretaries of State, chosen from the coalition parties.

If you think this is tricky to understand, it gets even tricky when considering the remaining parties which the VVD,

D66 leader Sigrid Kaag believes the Netherlands should be as progressive as possible and has been a strong advocate of one or more of the remaining left-leaning parties to join the coalition. Initially Rutte and CDA leader Wopke Hoekstra did not rule out a left-leaning coalition majority, but they have since said that the ideologies of GreenLeft (GL), the Socialist Party (SP) and the Labour Party (PvdA) are too far removed from those of the VVD and CDA to be considered viable partners. Furthermore, even if GL or PvdA were accepted into the coalition, both parties have said they will not join without the other.

This entire process has been hampered by the numerous scandals and crises the government has experienced in recent years, not the least of which is the corona crisis and the recovery plan needed to get the country back on track economically, financially and socially. However, homegrown scandals have made the process of bringing together potential coalition parties more difficult. Crisis such as the childcare allowance scandal and the ‘Peter Omtzigt’ memo scandal (where an accidental flashing of notes by minister Kajsa Ollongren showed questionable discussions of CDA MP Peter Omtzigt’s role in the new government) have damaged the trust and confidence that other parties have in Mark Rutte. Crucially, the fourth

party in the outgoing coalition, the Christion Union (CU), has stated that it does not want to work with Rutte again.

Therefore, a repetition of the current coalition, VVD, D66, CDA and CU, is no longer possible.

In the 2017 elections all eyes were on the far-right party, the Party for Freedom (PVV) and its outspoken whiteheaded leader Geert Wilders. Polls leading up to the 2017 elections showed Wilders gaining popularity with the party winning the second most votes in the election. The focus then for the VVD - which won the most votes in the 2017 elections - was to avoid a coalition majority that was too far to the political right. The same consideration is still in force, so that the PVV and other, smaller far-right parties are ruled out as acceptable coalition parties. Even back in 2017 the formation of a coalition and subsequent government proved to be very challenging and took a full six months after the election. Such a long time between election and new government is something everyone is trying to avoid this time around.

Since the election, three negotiation teams have already been tasked with meeting with all parties and negotiating terms and plans for a new government. The current person in charge of the negotiation is independent ‘informateur’ Mariëtte Hamer. However, she has not yet been able to bring enough parties together for the coalition. She has asked for more time, but it’s not clear how much time would be needed. Until there a new government and ruling coalition in the Tweede Kamer is created, the previous government will continue its job. However, the outgoing cabinet is not allowed to bring in new laws, so that important issues can only be tackled by the new government – whenever that will take office.

Written by Marla Thomson

Shell loses landmark climate case in Dutch Court: ordered to cut carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 The Hague District Court has ordered oil giant Royal Dutch Shell to cut its carbon emissions by 45% by the end of 2030, compared to 2019 levels. The landmark case was brought by environmental organization Friends of The Earth Netherlands (Milieudefensie) and over 17,000 individual plaintiffs.

The Shell Group is one of the world’s largest suppliers of fossil fuels, and has been responsible for nearly 2% of global industrial greenhouse gas emissions from 1988 to 2015, according to the Carbon Majors Report. In February, the company said it would accelerate its transition to net-zero emissions, reducing the carbon intensity of energy products by 6-8% by 2023, 20% by 2030, 45% by 2035, and 100% by 2050.

However, the lawyers for Milieudefensie and other plaintiffs argued that Shell had acted unlawfully, and the company’s current targets were not sufficient, given the dangerous consequences of CO2 emission to humans and other organisms on Earth. The Milieudefensie lawyers also alleged that the Anglo-Dutch company was breaking the Dutch civil code and the European Convention on Human Rights, by harming human life when an alternative is possible.

The verdict of this case, which was first filed in 2019, was classified by Milieudefensie director Donald Pols as ‘historic’, as it is

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the first time a court has ordered a major polluter to cut emissions. He described the decision as a ‘monumental victory’.

Michael Burger, head of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School and himself involved as a lawyer in similar cases, was quick to note that ‘this is a significant development in climate litigation, and that this episode could sway ‘courtrooms around the world’. While the Dutch verdict is only legally binding in the Netherlands, Burger believes that other judges will likely look to this case as a point of reference. There are currently close to two thousand lawsuits related to climate change being fought in courtrooms worldwide, according to the Center.

Back in The Hague, judge Larisa Alwin was firm on ruling that Shell should accelerate its reduction of CO2 output in order to effectively comply with the Paris climate agreement.

Many countries, including the Netherlands, are bound by the international treaty to reduce carbon emissions, but, thus far, companies such as Shell were not considered part of it. In court, Shell argued against the evocation of the Paris climate agreement, stating that it is meant to regulate governments alone. But the court found that, since 2012, there has been a broad consensus that states cannot tackle climate change on their own.

could ‘curb the potential growth of the Shell Group’, but ‘the interest served through the CO2 emission reduction outweighs the Group’s commercial interests’. The court has said it is up to the company to implement the ruling and live up to its individual responsibility. Energy analysts say that the biggest challenge the company will face is the regulation of carbon emissions not caused by Shell itself, but by its clients.

Shell board member Harry Brekelmans called the judge’s ruling ‘disappointing’, citing the company’s intention to tackle climate change through investing billions in renewable energy sources and biofuels, as well as its own set target to become a net-zero company by 2050. He announced the company will appeal the

judge’s decision.

For now, experts are calling the case a landmark in climate change law, and are certain we will be seeing a ripple effect in the following years. ‘I can imagine this will inspire a series of other cases against companies, especially those active in the oil extraction industries like Shell,’ says Eric De Brabandere, a professor of international dispute settlement at Leiden University. Bas Eichhout, a Green MEP and member of the European Parliament’s environment committee, echoes the sentiment, and adds: ‘This ruling is good news for climate – large polluters can no longer escape the climate crisis’.

Written by Beatriz Negreiros

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09-06-21 22:35

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08-06-21 13:24

JULY 2021 | 7

NATIONAL

Dutch municipalities to receive 1.3 billion extra for youth care Dutch municipalities will receive 1.3 billion additional euros next year to improve youth services under an agreement reached with the national government. The support will augment the 300 million euros already promised for 2022 to address budget shortfalls. As a condition of the additional funding, the municipalities agreed to decrease spending on youth services by 200 million euros in the coming year by implementing additional cost-saving measures. Still, until 2028, municipalities will continue to spend more than the 3.5 billion euros allocated to youth services by the national government. The accord resolves a longstanding disagreement between the national government and the municipalities over the reimbursement of funds spent on the provision of youth services.

A mediation committee headed by Richard van Zwol was appointed to resolve the dispute after discussions between the national government and the municipalities over the funding had reached an impasse.

The municipalities sought repayment of the extra 1.7 billion euros they had spent since 2015, when local entities took over responsibility for youth services from the national government.

Costs for youth services have been steadily rising since 2005. Expenditures increased by 250 percent between 2005 and 2015, ultimately reaching 3.75 billion euros.

Under the assumption that municipalities would be able to provide services more

cost-effectively, local authorities assumed responsibility for the delivery of youth services in 2015, and the budget was reduced by 425 million euros. However, the allocated funding quickly proved insufficient. Average spending on youth services reached 12,000 euros per child in 2019, with a great deal of variation between municipalities. Some communities spent upwards of 24,000 euros per individual, others approximately 8000 euros.

The committee found that the youth care budget should be increased by 1.9 billion euros in 2022 and 1.6 billion euros in 2023 and 2024. According to the committee’s plan, that total would be gradually reduced to 800 million by 2028. Although the municipalities will receive less than the 1.9 billion euros suggested by the committee, Jan van Zanen, head of the Vereniging van Gemeenten (VNG), thinks the agreement is faithful to the mediators’ guidance.

The survey included almost 2000 respondents and was held in the first quarter of 2021. The data shows that the older and higher educated the respondents, the higher their willingness to be vaccinated against corona, age being directly proportional with readiness to be vaccinated. Whereas 81 percent of people over 75 are willing to be vaccinated, just 64 percent of people between 16 and 30 are willing. Out of people between the ages of 30 and 45, 66 percent is willing; for people between 45 and 60, 72 percent are; and for the group aged between 60 and 75, the number is 75 percent. When the willingness to be vaccinated was filtered by education level in people under 25, 77 percent of respondents with higher education, defined as higher vocational (HBO) and academic (WO), showed intention to be vaccinated, compared with 69 percent of respondents with only high school or lower vocational (MBO) education. The report showed no significant difference between men and women with regard to intention of being vaccinated, which was 72 percent and 70 percent, respectively.

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So far, the municipalities’ plans to save money by the decentralization of 2015, which aimed to focus on prevention of mental health issues, failed spectacularly, resulting in high demand for intensive interventions and uncontrolled costs. Waiting times increased and the quality of care declined as a result of the reorganization and austerity measures implemented by municipalities.

Many children in need of urgent, specialist or intensive mental and social care faced extended waiting periods, often up to a

year, for their treatment. In addition, many patients experienced treatment disruptions due to budget issues, a high turnover of staff leading to chaotic provision, and a lack of appropriately trained caregivers. Measures designed to reduce costs effectively drove some facilities into bankruptcy, reducing the number of available treatment providers.

Both the municipalities and the cabinet agree on the importance of lowering costs and shortening waiting periods — goals that will require structural changes. A decision regarding the future funding and structure of youth services has not yet been made. “A new cabinet will have to decide about the structural finances and necessary adjustments to the youth care policy,” suggests Paul Blokhuis, outgoing Minister of Public Health, Welfare and Sport.

Written by Lorre Luther

Before the promise of reimbursement, many municipalities faced the specter of being forced to close other public facilities such as libraries and swimming pools, just so they could pay for youth services. The additional funding has provided a bit of breathing room. “Municipalities now have clarity for 2022. That provides relief,” says Van Zanen.

Treatment providers, however, while encouraged by the additional funds, argue the delivery of high-quality care will require a complete reorganization.

Vaccination willingness in the Netherlands is on the rise According to a report published by Statistic Netherlands (CBS) on 27 May, 70 percent of the population over the age of 16 are willing to be vaccinated against corona virus. This includes the 4 percent who were already vaccinated at the time of the survey. The report also found that around 15 percent are still in doubt about being vaccinated, and an additional 14 percent either disagree or strongly disagree with the statement “I plan to be vaccinated against the Coronavirus.”

“There is certainly a lot of money needed to keep the youth care services afloat, but most of all, it has to be different,” suggest Elnathan Prinsen and Arne Popma of the Dutch Psychiatric Association (NVvP).

They argue that urgent and specialist youth mental health services should be organized and funded regionally instead of by municipalities.

Although 30 percent of the population is not yet sure or certainly not willing to be vaccinated, 6 out of 10 respondents consider that the vaccines used against corona are safe. This is the case for 81 percent of the people who are willing to be vaccinated, 16 percent of the people who do not plan to be vaccinated, and 15 percent of the people who are in doubt. And as to the perception of the importance of vaccination to combat corona virus, about 80 percent of all respondents consider it important or very important, including 42 percent of the people who are not actually willing to be vaccinated.

It seems, however, that many people have become more enthusiastic about the corona vaccines as the results become visible.

Now that the number of cases is dropping fast and the hospitals are emptying, the willingness to take the vaccine is rising. The latest survey by the national health authority RIVM reported that about 85 percent of people is now willing to take the vaccine.

There are some differences between vaccines, however: most people would prefer the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, followed

by Janssen, with AstraZeneca trailing behind: only 53 percent of respondents would take this vaccine. Overall, it seems that vaccination willingness is high enough to reach herd immunity, meaning ‘normality’ is a step closer.

Written by Juan Alvarez

Corona passport to be implemented for summer holidays The EU Digital COVID Certificate, essentially a corona passport for travelling within the EU, became a reality on 20 May, when the European Parliament, the European Commission and Member States reached an agreement for its implementation starting on 1 July.

The document, which will be available on paper and digitally and will be free of charge for its holders, will make travelling easier between EU Member States. It consists of a QR code containing the holder’s their Covid-19 status, and will provide exemptions from travelling restrictions in three situations: when the person has been vaccinated against Covid-19, when the person has a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before travelling, and when the person has recovered from Covid infection and has antibodies. The certificate will be accepted in all EU Member States, and according to the European Commission, “will help to ensure that restrictions currently in place can be lifted in a coordinated manner.”

A centralized system has been put into place so the certificate’s information can be verified across the EU. The system will safeguard the security and privacy of the user’s data, which will not be accessed, stored or retained in another Member State, beyond the verification of the validity and

authenticity of the certificate. However, the Dutch Ministry of Health has expressed some privacy concerns about the amount of personal information in the certificate, including which Covid vaccine the person was given, Trouw newspaper reported.

As part of the agreement for its implementation, Member States will retain the right to apply additional national measures, provided they are necessary and proportionate to safeguard public health, in the event of a negative development in the epidemiological situation. It was the intention of the European Parliament to make all pre-travel testing free of charge, but some Member States, including the Netherlands, declared that this should remain a national decision.

Ultimately, a compromise was reached to make the tests affordable, through a €100 million investment to provide tests for Member States.

An early adopter of this type of “passport” certificate, the EU paves the road for other states to implement their own systems for post-pandemic global travel. As of 1 June, seven EU Member States have already put into place the certificate: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece and Poland.

Written by Juan Alvarez

10-06-21 08:50

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08-06-21 13:29

JULY 2021 | 9

NATIONAL

Billions for education worth little without qualified teachers

The Dutch cabinet is planning a onetime injection of 8.5 billion euros into the framework of the National Education Program (NPO). Out of this amount, 5.8 billion euros are reserved exclusively for primary and secondary education. Schools can choose from a “menu” of appropriate interventions, for example extra support in the classroom or online tutoring.

De Volkskrant newspaper reports the main idea is to fight the learning disadvantages caused by the corona virus. In the past months, schools and universities were closed for a long period of time due to the pandemic and could only provide online classes. In many cases, this has led to students falling behind in

their learning; the aims to eradicate the corona gap within the next 2.5 years. The available money should be distributed among all educational institutions in the Netherlands. The 6,600 primary schools in the Netherlands will receive 700 euros per student to make up for the corona backlog, or about 1.2 billion euros in total.

However, FD newspaper reports that many education specialists are critical of the project and the allocation of the extra budget. Representatives of teachers, school leaders and students say the NPO, which has been launched in a rush, is not very effective. Moreover, the intended timeframe for the NPO is far too ambitious, in their view. They propose

to spread the funds over a longer period of time, for example 4 years. This gives the educational sector the space to use the money in a more targeted way and to support students for a longer period of time. In addition, the experts criticized the lack of concrete goals. The exact nature of the corona learning gap was not mapped out nationally and no plans for the evaluation of school performance after the program has ended were planned.

This could increase the differences in performance between schools. In any case, they say, there is a need for a permanent raise in the education budget, which should be allocated to solve long-lasting problems in the industry: the shortage of qualified teachers, the high work pressure and the increased inequality of opportunities.

Recently, the group was invited to the House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer) to voice its concerns.

Also, after many years of arguments for structural investments in education to counteract the steady decline in quality, the approval of extra money came just before the March elections. In an interview with FD newspaper, Tamar van Gelder, representative of the AOb, the largest education union in the Netherlands, says the move doesn’t feel correctly planned, but rather as an election stunt.

Additional people De Volkskrant reports that, according to a survey by the General Association of School Leaders (AVS), primary schools want to use the money to put extra people in their classrooms. This includes

attracting additional assistants in order to create smaller classes and more individual supervision.

The biggest challenge is to find people to do the job, since there is a shortage of staff, confirms AVS spokesman Rob van Ooijen.

“It will be even harder if every school in the country starts recruiting.” And in any case, “if the basic needs are not in order, it’s difficult to eliminate backlogs,” say the aldermen of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht. The four major cities want more money for extra learning time for children who desperately need it, for example through pre-school education and summer schools. According to the aldermen, this should not depend on the parents’ income.

As for higher and secondary vocational education, a large part of the money goes to the students themselves. For example, next year they will only pay half of their tuition fees. They will also be allowed to use their public transport card for an additional year.

In June, the minister for Primary and Secondary Education and Media, Arie Slob, scheduled a meeting to ensure that the 8.5 billion euros are actually spent on students. According to the Court of Audit, this was a problem with previous schemes that aimed to reduce the workload in education.

Written by Raphael Vieira

Shady deals? Face mask procurement affair leads to debate The scarcity of face masks at the start of the corona crisis in 2020 led to questionable trade practices in order to supply enough masks to the Netherlands. When the whole world was on the lookout for machinery and raw materials for face masks, some traders were not averse to making some fast money in deals with the government.

Last week, scrutiny fell on Sywert van Lienden, a 31-year-old businessman, who last year used his personal contact to buy 40 million face masks from China. The Dutch government paid 100 million euros in total – not a bad deal, as € 2.50 per mask was the going price at the time. However, research journalist collective Follow The Money found out that Van Lienden had pocketed 9 million himself, and his associates another 11 million, while he had always maintained he had made no profit from the deal.

Fleur Bakker, co-owner of the Mouthmask factory in Arnhem, comments: “As social entrepreneurs of Refugee Company, a foundation that helps people with a refugee background find a job, we wanted to make a difference. No face masks were made in the Netherlands, and the government had enormous difficulty ordering them abroad.”

“We started production ourselves because we saw that there was a lot of uncertainty

THT5_2021 _CS.indd 9

and cowboy behaviour in the trade. There have been many fast guys who wanted to make some quick money: I buy a lot elsewhere, put it in a container, and sell it for three times the value here. What I now read about entrepreneur Sywert van Lienden, if it is true, is not the way to do it. We did it non-profit until the end of last year – we didn’t want to take advantage of the crisis.”

Minister for Healthcare Tamara van Ark stated that the government had fully pre-funded the €100 million transaction with Relief Goods Alliance, the company of Van Lienden and his associates. Van Lienden had previously stated that the government paid him for the risk he took as an entrepreneur. The entrepreneurs were not required to contribute equity capital; however, they did use a high profit margin.

Van Ark revealed that the LCH, the government agency responsible for buying personal protective equipment (PPE) had opposed the order for Van Lienden and his business partners. According to the minister, the main reason for the opposition was that experienced buyers believed there were already enough mouth masks available on the market.

There were also objections about the pricequality ratio. However, according to Van Ark, the fact that half of the 40 million face masks delivered were rejected by the national health authority (RIVM) due to an “intolerable health risk” was not a justification to end the contract. The presence of an Irish CE certificate approved the face masks for sale in the Netherlands.

In any case, they were never used because too many mouth masks had already been purchased.

Still, as a commercial party, Relief Goods Alliance has, according to Van Ark, ‘delivered in accordance with the agreed conditions’. There are therefore no reasons to request the money back, on which,

among others, PVV leader Geert Wilders insisted.

After the recent commotion, Van Lienden acknowledged that he had made mistakes and that he should have been clear from the start that his company was making a profit.

He is now looking for a charity – preferable a cancer research organisation – that will accept the money as a donation. So far, the biggest Dutch cancer charities have refused his donations and stated that the money should be refunded to the government.

What happens to the money remains to be seen, therefore.

Written by Nicole Kerr

09-06-21 17:51

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THT5_2021 _CS.indd 10

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08-06-21 18:28

JULY 2021 | 11

NATIONAL

Despite abundant rain, the drought is not over yet

Last month we were all wondering when the rain and low temperatures would stop and give way to the much-awaited spring.

It was a lot wetter than the May months in the last three years.

Although it may have ruined many of our outdoor plans, this weather helped bring the groundwater level back to normal. Still, experts say that these wet months were not yet enough to recover from the drought that the last years’ dryness left behind.

A win for nature Last month’s wet conditions were an opportunity to let nature recover from the last three years of extreme dryness. Too little rain, in combination with too high temperatures, led to problems in several places, from tree deaths and forest fires to houses sinking into peat soils.

Rob van Dongen, a hydrologist at the national forestry agency Staatsbosbeheer, says that in May, fens, streams and ditches went back to their normal water levels. Doreen Rugers, forest ranger at Staatsbosbeheer, agrees, saying that hundreds of orchids are already above ground level, which is a significant change compared to last year when they were much smaller and bloomed less.

And although this is good news, conservationists warn that one wet spring is far from enough to solve the problem. It will take a few years for nature to recover, and unfortunately, we can no longer repair some of the damage caused.

An uncertain future As Rugers states, current weather conditions are not enough. The coming years are crucial, and a closer look should be taken at the entire water management system. “We now have a wet month, but we don’t know what the weather will do in

the coming years. You can’t say in nature: today I see this, and that is the direct result of that.”

Structural solutions, which must include agreements between governments, water boards and other parties, are needed, and these will take time. Van Dongen says: “The only gain from the drought crisis of recent years is that we have come to realize that something needs to be done.”

Looking for solutions The lesson is the need to take “structural measures in the design and management of the water system,” says agricultural hydrologist Gé van den Eertwegh. He states that his main advice of ‘not draining water but retaining it’ still happens too little. “There has been a new awareness in the last few years. Many local measures have been taken. Dikes retain water for longer so that the soil can benefit for longer. Dozens of farmers also work with culvert valves: inflatable balls close the drainage pipes, so that rainwater can no longer run away but can be retained,” states van Dongen.

He also states that for years, policies from water boards and the national water management agency Rijkswaterstaat aimed at discharging excess water as much as possible, instead of collecting water to prepare for droughts. Dams were built in streams in various areas, which is useful according to him, “but the major challenge lies in the areas surrounding nature reserves. These are often areas with a completely different function, such as agriculture, with very different interests.

That’s the problem.”

So, even though the recent years’ drought has motivated people to start thinking of

solutions and taking action, it could take a long time before we entirely tackle these problems. Van den Eertwegh estimates that the process could take “ten more years, or a whole generation”.

Little efforts come a long way In many places around the country, smallscale initiatives and local projects have been developed and successfully improved the water management situation. Outgoing Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Cora van Nieuwenhuizen recently presented a list of local projects to the House of Representatives.

For example, in Eindhoven, the Clausplein has been made greener, and a water buffer system has been set up, which reduces the nuisance caused by peak showers, drought and heat. Meanwhile, in the district of

Paddepoel in Groningen, three streets have been redeveloped, a water storage facility built, and rainwater disconnected from the sewage system. Other examples include water-absorbent bricks as an innovative technique against flooding and drought.

Van Dongen concludes that the drought has put the water storage issue on the map and has increased political attention to the problem, leading to good initiatives.

He hopes that even though the weather conditions of the coming years are not as dry as the last three have been, the attention of the public and politicians for water management will not go back to zero.

Written by Bárbara Luque Alanís

Booking.com returns corona

support money Following criticism about millions spent on bonuses for its executives, the hotel booking site Booking.com has refunded corona support.

During the first lockdown in 2020, Booking.com received wage subsidies from the Dutch government, for a total amount of 64 million euros. Still, it was unable to retain all its staff, leading to several redundancies. However, two weeks ago it was discovered that Booking Holding, the com-

pany’s American parent, had paid its three top executives a 28-million-dollar incentive. This led to widespread public outcry, as government assistance should not be spent on handouts to executives. Booking. com has now promised to return the wage support to the Dutch government’s account.

Booking.com, which began as a Dutch site for booking vacation rentals, had a difficult year, as did the whole holiday in-

dustry. The number of bookings dropped massively because of the corona crisis and travel restrictions, but the platform did not want to lose its wonderful staff in times of hardship. “We are in a situation where retaining talent and strong leadership is a key priority to continue to navigate us out of the crisis,” the company said at the time of the first lockdown. It applied for wage support (NOW) from the Dutch government and mpany received approximately 64 million euros in NOW support, intended to pay the salaries of furloughed employees. Despite this, Booking.com laid off approximately one thousand staff from its Amsterdam headquarters in the spring of 2020. Because of the criticism this caused, the company decided not to participate in the second round of wage support.

The Dutch House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer) last week criticized the fact that Booking.com, despite the NOW scheme, still laid off so many employees and even gave bonuses worth millions to several top executives. After this public unrest, Booking.com decided on Friday 4 June to refund the wage support it had

THT5_2021 _CS.indd 11

received. “We have closely followed the debate in Dutch society in recent days and we are aware of the sensitivity of this subject,” the company said in a statement. Booking. com actually wanted to return the NOW subsidy for some time, but was planning to do so “once we would be financially more stable,” it added.

Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Wouter Koolmees expressed relief at Booking’s decision. He claimed he had not directly influenced the company, but that it had called him on Friday morning to announce the refund. Booking.com’s decision, Koolmees says, is “sensible and justified.”

Booking.com is not the first company that, in hindsight, had not required government assistance during the corona crisis, but it is the first that publicly announces its decision to repay the funding. The company says it will continue to discuss with the ministry the practical implementation of the 64-million-euro reimbursement.

Written by Nicole Kerr

09-06-21 14:33

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help our students develop into valuable members of a global society. Whilst in the setting of a village school, we are located

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ash.nl THT5_2021 _CS.indd 12

08-06-21 13:32

JULY 2021 | 13

NATIONAL

Corona situation improves just in time for summer After a long, grueling 15 months, with the last 6 of them feeling the longest, life seems to be returning to normal, and not a day too soon.

On 8 December 2020, Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Health Minister Hugo de Jonge squashed all our hopes of having a normal, festive season when new, strict lockdown measures were announced, including the first curfew (from 9 pm to 4:30 am) since the Second World War. With zoos, theatres, theme parks, sports and every other entertainment facility closed, there was nowhere left for us to go. There was little surprise when people decided to show their anger and disagreement by protesting and even rioting all over the country.

But just as the days grew longer and chilly spring gave way to warm summer days, the Dutch government decided it is time to thaw the pandemic measures that seem to have been keeping us frozen at our homes.

As of 5 June, life in the Netherlands has more or less returned to its normal self, but with some small precautionary measures still in place: • Art and culture enthusiasts, rejoice!

Museums and historical monuments are open again, with a fixed number of people allowed in at any given time one visitor per 10 m2. Practicing art in groups is also possible again; you don’t even have to keep 1.5 metres distance if it’s not possible for the art form (e.g. dancing). Gatherings of more than 50 people are not allowed, nor is an audience.

Theaters and cinemas are open;

• however, prior reservation is required.

You also have to fill out a health check

before entry. Groups of no more than four people are allowed to sit together, not counting children up to the age of 12.

People from the same household can sit together. Otherwise, 1.5 metres distance must be kept between groups.

• Amusement parks, zoos and other such places are open again, including both outdoor as well as indoor attractions.

A time slot or day ticket reservation is required at these places. Again, one visitor is allowed per 10 m2 and a maximum of four people per group. You have to wear a mask at indoor attraction.

• If you have been jonesing to tango with lady luck, then you have to wait no more: casinos and gaming locations are open again.

• Good news for fitness enthusiasts:

wellness centers, gyms, indoor swimming pools and saunas are open, again with one visitor allowed per 10 m2 and a maximum of 50 people in total, who should maintain 1.5 m distance from each other. Outdoor group sports are also permitted with a maximum of 50 people; they do not have to obey the 1.5 m distance rule if it’s necessary for the sport (e.g. football or martial arts).

Children up until 17 years of age are finally allowed to play matches against kids from other clubs; adults can only play matches against people from the same club.

• Indoor restaurants and cafes can open again between 6 am and 10 pm. You can’t sit at the bar, but you can sit with a group of four at the same table. You will need prior reservations (or at least check in at the door), fill out a health check form and wear a face mask when moving around. The same rules apply to outdoor terraces.

No more making appointments to visit your favorite stores and stressing about cramming all the shopping within half an hour to an hour: shops are now open without appointment. However, only one person per 10 m2 is allowed in.

According to Hugo de Jonge, the relaxation of measures has only been possible due to a decrease in the number of infections and the rapidly rising number of vaccinated people. At the time of writing, almost 11 million vaccinations had been administered. The government is currently vaccinating 1 million people per week, aiming to increase this to 1.5 million per week.

However, it’s not yet time to abandon all measures, says Leiden professor of clinical epidemiology Frits Rosendaal.

We should not repeat the mistake of last year, when the cabinet allowed everyone

to ‘have a nice holiday’ and the virus made an even stronger comeback by August.

“With over 10 million vaccinations delivered, we are in a better position than last year, but only a vaccination rate of 75 percent will create sufficient herd immunity to keep the virus at bay. We’re not there yet. Moreover, many people have only had one shot so far and are not yet fully protected,” says Rosendaal.

Yes, it’s happy news for everybody, but it will be in our best interest to remember that the vaccine doesn’t give us a hundred percent protection from the virus, and even when vaccinated, one can contract the virus again, not to mention spread it to others. If the infection numbers rise again because of our callousness, we might find ourselves stuck at home once again.

Written by Priyanka Sharma

Fit into the summer?

Here’s how you do it

Do you think it’s too late to get fit for the summer? No worries, it’s never too late to work on your fitness. Let’s give .

Get enough exercise It sounds obvious, but we emphasize it one more time. Unfortunately, you don’t get a fit body all by itself. So make sure you get enough exercise, at least half an hour a day.

The most important thing is to play a sport that you enjoy. Find out what triggers that ‘fitness tiger’ in you.

Healthy food No matter how much you exercise, the right diet is essential. Think of your body as a car: if you put cheap fuel in your car, it won’t drive smoothly! The body works the same way. Therefore, eat enough vegetables and fruit, drink plenty of water and make sure that your body gets enough energy to do its job.

Balance is key It sounds so easy: healthy eating. But it can be tricky. How do you manage to maintain a healthy diet? The answer is: find your own balance! Say NO to dieting for life. A healthy basis (80%), but beyond that (20%) eat food that you like. The same goes for sports; you don’t have to exercise every day to get fit. Find your balance here too!

Our Health Check works as an MOT check for your body and provides insights into your current health and lifestyle. Curious?

Simply book a Health Check at www.hollandhealthclinic.com Written by Steven van Randwijck

THT5_2021 _CS.indd 13

10-06-21 08:51

EDUCATION FOR A PEACEFUL AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

UWC Maastricht is the leading international boarding school (for students 16-19 years old) in the Netherlands and is one of the eighteen United World Colleges around the world. Our graduates receive an International Baccalaureate Diploma, which is recognized and respected by the world’s leading universities.

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Starting school is a big step in your child’s life. Let’s take that step together.

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THT5_2021 _CS.indd 14

08-06-21 13:35

JULY 2021 | 15

NATIONAL

Five questions about leasehold in Amsterdam.

Complicated? Yes, but very important!

Since July 2016, the municipality of Amsterdam has issued its land in perpetual leasehold. Perpetual leasehold means that the leasehold has an indefinite term, instead of fixed-term contracts. This is a major improvement over the original continuous leasehold system, because this often meant a huge increase in price after the lapse of the contract. This uncertainty disappears with the new leasehold system.

Leaseholders get the option to switch to perpetual leasehold. Your ground rent will then only be calculated once: on the basis of the land value at that moment. You can choose to buy off the ground rent in one lump sum or to pay a fixed amount annually. That amount then only increases with inflation and is no longer tied to the value of your house, as was the case with the old system. Amsterdammers with a permanent leasehold have the option of converting this into a perpetual leasehold.

In fact, if an application was made before 8 January 2020, this was possible under very favorable conditions. Have you submitted the application, but have not yet made a decision about whether or not to buy off the lease in one lump sum? Let’s discuss the possibilities and uncertainties regarding leasehold!

1. Is switching mandatory?

No, leaseholders do not have to switch.

You can also choose not to switch now, but make this decision later. Your perpetual leasehold is determined at the moment you make the choice, based on the WOZ value and BSQ (neighborhood street

quote) that apply at this time. The price could be considerably higher than it is now, given the current favorable conditions, but this cannot be determined with certainty.

Naturally, your personal financial situation also plays a role in this decision. We can imagine that you are looking for a sparring partner for this complicated subject, as you will soon have to make a choice. Would you like to know the best option for you?

Contact Von Poll Real Estate!

2. What choices do I have?

Despite the complicated leasehold system, as a homeowner you ultimately have three options.

1. Completely pay off the leasehold in one go: You buy off the current and future lease, so that everything is sorted in perpetuity.

2. Set an amount for the future leasehold: you adhere to the current contract until it ends, and already secure the amount of lease you will pay in the future.

3. Pay off the future ground rent: you adhere to the current contract until it ends, and pay off the future ground lease forever.

3. How will this affect my mortgage?

It is still unclear how lenders will deal with the new leasehold system. Just like you, they want certainty. Is the leasehold contract of a house about to expire at the time of purchase? Then a lender can decide, given the risk of a - possibly much higher - new lease, that a (much) lower mortgage provision is necessary. With a perpetual leasehold, this uncertainty will no longer exist. However, with an annual

leasehold, the amount you pay for this will be deducted from the maximum allowable housing costs, so that your maximum mortgage will be lower.

4. How do I make a choice that suits me and my situation?

Which choice is best for you depends mainly on your financial circumstances.

Is it possible to pay off the leasehold perpetually for a relatively affordable amount of, say, €5,000? That would be an attractive option, especially with the low interest rates at the moment. But not everyone is willing or able to pay this sum in one go. Moreover, there is a good chance that many leaseholders will have to pay a much higher amount, between €10,000 and €100,000. Paying this much may not be an option for them. In addition, the new canon may not come into force soon: the contracts usually run for 50 years, so if a contract is not ending soon, you will only profit decades from now. Chances are the current leaseholder no longer lives in the house by then. Switching to perpetual leasehold in which the leasehold is fixed for the future is a good alternative. This gives future owners more security and the advantage of favorable conditions, which save them a lot of money. This may translate into a higher selling price. But: do not forget to take the notary costs for this option into account - approximately € 1,000.

5. Will I ever see that money back?

That is the most important question: will

homeowners get back the thousands of euros they have spent on buying off the leasehold through a higher sale price of the house? Given the greater insight into the leasehold price, the differences between switching or not switching should be reflected in the price. Given the current market, however, we do not see the difference reflected one-to-one in the selling price. People have long been happy that they can even buy a house in Amsterdam at all and are therefore less critical of the leasehold conditions.

Whether that will change in the future, we cannot say, but from experience we do know that, when a leasehold expires and a revision of the price is due, this will certainly play a role in the sale. However, we can state with certainty that the choice of switching to perpetual lease on favorable conditions, with the relatively small investment of approximately € 1,000 for notary costs, will be recouped with the sale.

Conclusion Determining whether or not you should to pay off the leasehold is not an easy choice. The matter is complicated and the decision can have different effects for each individual. And because at a certain moment you will have to make a choice – whether or not to pay it off – our experts are at your service to discuss your situation. Contact Von Poll Real Estate: we like to help you think! www.von-poll.com/nl/

The British School of Amsterdam opens new school in former monumental prison Three locations merged into one state of the art British international school for children aged 3-18 years old - the modern face of international teaching By raising the Dutch and British flags, The British School of Amsterdam officially opened the doors of their new home in Amsterdam. The School has moved all of its three separate locations to the monumental former prison in Havenstraat in Amsterdam Oud-Zuid. Here they are merged into one state of the art school that has the capacity to house over 1,000 pupils. The building has been totally re-engineered and re-designed inside and now offers all the forward looking facilities needed for the best teaching and learning experience. This includes spaces for sports, music, theatre and socialising. It maintains a small school feel by being split into age-appropriate sections: Early Years, Junior School and Senior School.

The new school is made up of the original former prison, that was built in 1891, and new structures that have been added during a large renovation that started in 2018. The goal of the school was to use as much of the old building as possible and avoid having to demolish large parts of the structure. Therefore the original cross feature of the former prison and many of the viewing perspectives are still in place. Additionally, one cell has been preserved that will serve as poignant reminders of the building’s history.

Many members of the Dutch Resistance were imprisoned in the building, including Hannie Schaft. Also known as ‘het meisje met het rode haar’.

Own theatre and sports hall The character of the original building has been maintained, while at the same time creating a world where children of all ages will feel at home. Each school section has its own wing in the cross shaped building. Here pupils and teachers can enjoy state of the art teaching - and learning facilities adapted to the ages of the children. As one would

THT5_2021 _CS.indd 15

expect from a British school, the school now has its own sports hall, catering facilities where children can enjoy a warm lunch and a theatre. The school has wide corridors and galleries, so children and staff can move easily and safely around the school. On top of that, the new building has more outdoor space than ever before. Each wing has a safe, age-appropriate play area for all their children.

From three to one location The British School of Amsterdam was founded in 1978 and through the years grew to three separate locations in Amsterdam Old South. Paul Morgan, Principal of The British School of Amsterdam says: ‘As we raise the British and Dutch flags on this wonderful old and new building, we are doing more than just celebrating an opening.

This move for us symbolises the bringing together of four well-established schools under one very impressive roof. It represents, for all ages, the linking of academic achievement and important life skills’.

trading hub. Given this background, the School is seeing a surge in numbers of applicants as Amsterdam continues to attract the business community. The British School offers the high-quality international education that is crucial to support this.

The new school building is positioned between Central Amsterdam and Amstelveen on the border of the financial district. It is in the heart of where many expat families in the metropolitan area of Amsterdam live and work. A little under 80% of the children who attend The British School are from expat families. The British School of Amsterdam currently has 900 students from 42 nationalities. Most of them are Indian (22%), followed by children from the UK (15%) and the Netherlands (12%).

Atelier PRO architekten is, together with Van Hoogevest Architecten and Buro Sant & Co, responsible for design and realisation of the building.

He continues: ‘We have always wanted to be on one site, as being in three different locations was a logistical challenge for our parents and employees.”, says Paul Morgan, Principal of The British School. “Plus, with recent growth the school was almost bursting at its seams. The new building was found after an extensive search of 10 years.

It was a challenging task and the project team looked at more than 75 locations. We are very happy with our new location. It will lose nothing of the family feel, of which we are so proud. Indeed, with all three schools together, and keeping the individual character of each school, there is even more scope for community building of all kinds.’

High-quality international education Amsterdam is becoming a key international capital city, competing with cities like London, New York and Paris.

Post-Brexit, the Dutch capital is becoming Europe’s stock

The Globe

09-06-21 22:36

Inspiring learning for a sustainable future

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THT5_2021 _CS.indd 16

09-06-21 19:55

JULY 2021 | 17

COLUMN

The rise of the self-proclaimed expert There comes a time in every business owner’s life where it’s easier to outsource certain tasks to an expert. Whether you have a full team or operate solo, there are areas within your business that don’t require enough time for an employee, but which you don’t want to - or can’t - do yourself.

Take social media, for example. If you run a small business, you need a solid marketing strategy in order to attract new customers and build up brand awareness. But you can comfortably achieve this with the help of an expert for a few hours a week. Once you’ve decided on the areas you’d like to outsource or hire an expert to look at, you’re met with a critical question: how do I know who to hire?

Everyone’s an expert The internet has revolutionised small businesses, and given entrepreneurs the ability to work from anywhere on the globe. The downside, however, is that it’s very easy to position yourself however you’d like to online, without much - if any - vetting.

What does this mean in practice? Open LinkedIn or Instagram, and you’ll be met with hundreds of profiles of ‘social media experts’ or ‘small business specialist’, without any consensus as to what constitutes an expert. According to author and researcher Malcom Gladwell, it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert in your field. This amounts to 1,250 eight hour workdays in just the topic you’re claiming to be an expert in, minus all of the time spent on other elements of your job.

Realistically, very few of us are expert by Gladwell’s definition, unless you’ve got a 20 year career behind you.

The murky world of online businesses, which has exploded due to the pandemic-fuelled rise of digitalisation, is particularly rife with ‘experts’.

Without any due diligence, online business coaches are charging upwards of €2000 per month to offer advice that will supercharge your business. The issue? The majority of these coaches aren’t accredited, haven’t received any relevant

education, and aren’t held accountable by any central body. Essentially, they’re free to convince whoever will listen that they hold the secret knowledge needed to turn you into an overnight millionaire. It’s not only the hyper vulnerable, and dare I say it naive, who fall victim to these ‘experts’.

Over the past year, hundreds of business owners - predominantly women - have been sucked into schemes by these ‘experts’, losing thousands of euros. The biggest issue of all is that when they finally realise that it was all a ruse, there’s nowhere for them to turn.

This isn’t to say that you should never hire an expert or consultant to help your business grow. On the contrary - if you feel your business has plateaued in a certain area, hiring an expert to overhaul that part of your business can be the deciding factor in your success. There are also plenty of talented, qualified consultants and coaches out there, whose reputations are being damaged by the rise of the Insta-experts. It’s in the interests of everybody to clean up the industry and help weed out the imposters.

Dos and don’ts If you’re considering hiring an expert or consultant for your business, there are plenty of ways to ensure you don’t get involved with a rotten egg.

Follow these guidelines, and you’ll find the perfect match for you and your business.

Consider their professional and educational background. A Master’s degree in marketing doesn’t guarantee your consultant will be able to help your brand go viral, but it does ensure a certain degree of understanding. Likewise, if your consultant has completed short courses and professional certifications in your field, it’s a good sign. Education isn’t everything - solid professional experience is a good substitute for a relevant degree, as long as it’s longer than a couple of years.

Next, seek out references. Testimonials on the expert’s website and social media channels are a good start, but do your due diligence too. Speak to people they’ve worked with before, and find out about their working style and why the former client approached them. Someone might be a talented consultant for one type of business, but that doesn’t mean that they’ll be able to help yours.

Don’t forget to look at numbers and concrete data.

Maybe they helped their former client increase sales by 128%, or perhaps they helped their client gain 10k followers on social media. Also consider the former client’s starting point. Did they already have a successful business? Was their audience already a certain size? If so, they might not be best placed to help someone who’s starting out.

Finally, try out their free resources to get a feel for their style. If they don’t offer eBooks or downloads on their site, consider setting up multiple calls to get to know them and figure out whether they’re the right person for the job.

Written by Phoebe Dodds Founder of BURO155

Larger cities to ban foreign real estate purchasing could actually push rental prices up. It’s true this solution does not create more housing, but it’s doubtful that rents would be pushed up, since there are mechanisms and organizations in place to keep rental prices from spiraling out of control.

It is hoped that the move will allow home buyers more options, especially in these cities.

There have been many initiatives recently to address the real estate shortage and high house prices in the Netherlands. The most recent initiative, by some of the largest cities in the country, is good news for home buyers but bad news for foreign investors: a full ban on foreign investment in the residential real estate sector.

Rotterdam, Haarlem, Eindhoven and The Hague are the first of several cities in the Netherlands aiming to ban foreign real estate investors from purchasing real estate for the purpose of renting it out. This is an attempt to curb the housing market crisis that is currently happening in the Netherlands. Municipalities hope this ban will alleviate the high housing prices and housing shortage in certain neighbourhoods. Several other major cities in the Netherlands hope to introduce a similar ban. However, the Dutch Senate (Eerste Kamer) still has to approve the initiative, which will be on the agenda later this year.

Not surprisingly, investors and lending institutions are disapproving of this move since, as they argue, this does not address the actual reasons behind the shortage of housing and

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According to the new law, each city can designate which neighbourhoods are off-limits to foreign investors for purchase-to-rent. The first cities Rotterdam, Haarlem, Eindhoven and The Hague – will have bans in place by 1 January 2022, if the law is passed by the Eerste Kamer. This is expected to happen without problems. The cities of Leeuwarden, Groningen and Zaanstad are also expected to introduce such a ban. Utrecht and Amsterdam are also interested, but it’s uncertain when they will make a move.

This new ban is another step the Netherlands is taking to curb the current housing crisis.

Many cities have already banned renting entire apartments as vacation accommodation on sites such as Airbnb.com, VRBO.com and other vacation rental websites. With the current vacation rental home ban, in cities like Amsterdam, The Hague and even in smaller municipalities like Noordwijk on the coast, owners need a special permit from the municipality to rent out their apartment to vacationers. Getting caught without this permit leads to a fine of several thousand euros.

Additionally, Rotterdam has already limited the ‘reconfiguring’ of houses and buildings for the purpose of renting out smaller units within the same building, for example to students.

It’s not certain how municipalities plan to deal with foreign investors who already own apartments, but come January 2022 new investors will be turned away. In recent years private foreign real estate investing has been on the rise, particularly in the larger cities. Foreign real estate investments accounted for 8.4% of real estate ownership in October 2020 - up from 7.6% in October of 2017, according to the national land registry, Kadaster). According to Kadaster, foreign investors bought up 40% of the available owner-occupied housing in the major cities in Randstad over the past ten years, contributing greatly to the decrease in first-time buyers in these cities.

What this ban means for foreigners living in the Netherlands is not yet clear. For example, if an American expat would like to purchase a second domicile as an investment property, will they be exempt from this new ban since they are legal residents of the Netherlands? Details like this, as well as the economic impact of turning away foreign investment, are as yet uncertain. But the uncertainties seem to outweigh the benefits the larger cities see by reining in some of what has been happening in the Dutch real estate market in recent years. And from the perspective of a ‘real estate layman’ it seems like a good move to nudge out foreign investors and make more room for local buyers and investors - especially since I hope to purchase a home in the next year or two!

Written by Marla Thomson Marla Thomson is a freelance writer

09-06-21 18:32

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JULY 2021 | 19

FOREIGN MATTERS

UAE -The Netherlands: 50 Years Anniversary Kingdom of The Netherlands and the Abu Dhabi Youth Hub. The speakers included H.E. Omar Saif Ghobash, Assistant Minister for Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (UAE) and H.E. Ahmed Aboutaleb, Mayor of Rotterdam (NL), as well as H.E. Hissa Abdullah Alotaiba, UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom of The Netherlands and H.E. Lody Embrechts, Dutch Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. In addition, highly placed officials and experts in different fields took the word. More importantly, on each day of the programme, there was an important time slot dedicated specifically to the youth represented in Youth Talk Series, in order to give our young generation a chance to express their

ideas, needs and ambitions regarding the different topics.

It is worth noting that the feedback we received as a result of the “UAENetherlands Week” was very enthusiastic.

Different officials and the media were highly interested in the topics covered by the speakers as various interviews with H.E. Hissa Abdullah Alotaiba, UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom of The Netherlands, were conducted.

Written by H.E. Dr. Hissa Abdullah Alotaiba, Ambassador of the UAE to the Netherlands.

Former Queen Beatrix with Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, President of UAE

Introduction Long before the union of the Arab Emirates, early exploratory voyages conducted by the Dutch during the mid17th century to interior areas of the Gulf and along the Musandam peninsula contain many fascinating references to towns and ports of modern UAR and Oman. In 1644-1645, the Dutch ship Zeemeeuw (Seagull) explored the coast of the lower Gulf between Khasab and Dibba.

Captain Claes Speelman made a drawing of Dibba bay and town that represents one of the oldest illustrations of a location in what is now the UAE. On a more recent note, the well-known Dutch multinational Shell had deep roots in the UAE with a presence in Abu Dhabi since 1939 and it also began supplying fuel to Dubai in the late 1960s when it quickly recognized its potential, relocating its Middle East regional headquarters to the emirate in 1971.

Bilateral relations Bilateral relations between the United Arab Emirates and The Netherlands were established in 1972, then in July 28, 1977 the Netherlands opened its Embassy in Abu Dhabi. In 1987, the Netherlands appointed its first ambassador based in Abu Dhabi. On 17th September 2002, the UAE Embassy opened in The Hague. Since then, relations between the two countries have developed considerably as the UAE has become an important trading partner of the Netherlands in the region.

The two countries jointly follow the principle of promoting security, peace and sustainable development in various parts of the world, and this principle is a fundamental dimension in the foreign policy of both countries.

Both countries are also keen on their commitments to their neighbours and the international community to ensure stability, peace and security in the region.

In addition, the stress is on strengthening bridges of partnership and dialogue, with an emphasis on moderation, tolerance and respect for all cultures and religions maintaining an effective and balanced relationship with the international community, especially with the United Nations and its affiliated bodies.

It is important to note that the bilateral relations encompass, not only diplomatic and economic fields, but also cover the cultural ties and educational bonds.

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Common Factors Natural resources are getting scarce around the globe, the effects of climate change become more discernible and the global population is on the rise, these factors combined affect the links between the water, energy and agricultural sector.

Consequently, the Netherlands has decided to set the focus on the energy-water-food nexus. Agricultural production will have to increase considerably in order to reach the self-sufficiency levels, energy has to be more sustainable and greener and water scarcity has to be rapidly addressed. Both the UAE and the Netherlands possess considerable expertise in the field. The Netherlands succeeded in becoming selfsufficient in food production with its very early investment in technology years ago.

When it comes to water, as big parts of the Netherlands are below sea level, the Dutch have acquired a specific know-how when dealing with water issues to reach a very satisfying level of water quantity and especially quality as tap water in Holland is known to be amongst the purest in Europe.

As far as energy is concerned, the focus is currently to produce as much greener, more sustainable energy as possible in order to minimize pollution. In order to secure a more health-conscious, durable environment and to positively impact the future for its younger generations, the UAE is actively promoting sustainability and accordingly has an increasing demand for the durable solutions that the Netherlands has to offer to these three particular challenges and therefore, the cooperation between the two countries in this field is placed very highly.

King Willem Alexander with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan

World Expo Dubai - Dutch pavilion

50 Year Anniversary As a result, in 2022, The United Arab Emirates and The Netherlands will be celebrating their 50 years of established bilateral relations.

On this occasion, the Office of Public and Cultural Diplomacy at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands to the United Arab Emirates are hosting a “UAE-Netherlands Week”, from 30th May to 5th June 2021. There is a focus on different themes each day, including UAE – Netherlands 50 successful years of diplomatic relations, Food and Water security, Energy efficiency, Arts and Culture, Entrepreneurship and Innovation in science, Female Empowerment in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics educationThe ‘UAE – Netherlands Week’ is presented with the support of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates to the

H.E. Mrs. Hissa Abdullah Alotaiba

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JULY 2021 | 21

FOREIGN MATTERS

Turkey, at the crossroads of continents In this interview Nanda Jagusiak-Monteiro speaks with the Ambassador of Turkey, H.E. Mr. Saban Disli experience, mainly due to the fact that Turkish-Dutch relations are deep-rooted historically, economically and politically.

Located in different corners of Europe, our two countries are Allies. We share common values as members of the same international organizations such as the Council of Europe and the OSCE. Our countries face common challenges.

H.E. Mr. Saban Disli, Ambassador of Turkey

Former posts: 1996-2003 Director of Demir Halk Bank in the Netherlands; Member of the Turkish Parliament Relations between Turkey and the Netherlands were established in early 17th century. What would you like to share with us on the starting point of these relations?

In 1612 the first Dutch Ambassador, Cornelius Haga arrived in İstanbul and was granted the document named “Ahidname”

by Sultan Ahmet I. With this development, the Ottoman State was one of the first countries in Europe to have diplomatically recognized the Netherlands and then Dutch merchants intensified their activities within the jurisdiction of the Empire. Today the Dutch National Archives still hold this precious document which is longer than three meters.

Now I am glad to be able to confidently state that Turkey and the Netherlands have proven the strong, peaceful and friendly nature of their bilateral relations in the course of history. For example, the two countries have never been parties to the same war on the battlefield. Also, from the humanitarian perspective, the Ottomans, despite having had to allocate ample resources for the Balkan Wars and the World War I, did contribute to the Netherlands for the victims of the flood of 1916 (Zuiderzee vloed).

I should also mention that the Netherlands was one of the first countries to have signed a “Friendship Agreement” with the young Turkish Republic following her foundation in 1923.

Which observations do you have regarding the characteristics of the Turkish and Dutch people in particular and how would you describe the current state of bilateral relations?

For starters, one can easily observe the Turkish hospitality and Dutch straightforwardness. The common denominator would be the entrepreneurial spirit.

During the time I was working in the banking sector and living in the Netherlands, I had the opportunity to closely observe the impact of the financial history of the Netherlands, one of the most advanced economic and financial systems.

My current posting as the Turkish Ambassador in the Hague is yet another rich

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In the political sphere, we have a regular consultation mechanism called the “Turkish-Dutch Bilateral Conference” or the “Wittenburg Conference”. This Conference is co-chaired by the Turkish and the Dutch Foreign Ministers and in fact is named after the castle where it was organized for the first time in 2008. The said mechanism provides the opportunity to treat bilateral and global matters as well as potential cooperation areas. Due to the pandemic, its most recent meeting was held through videoconference on 27 January 2021.

There are numerous spheres of cooperation between our two countries, including counterterrorism, migration and economy.

There is always an intense traffic of consultations. Turkey’s strategic importance as a country at the crossroads of continents and civilizations is, I believe, an asset that our Dutch friends are very well aware of.

How do you evaluate the Turkish-Dutch economic relations today?

The pandemic continues to heavily affect the world. In Turkey, we keep the balance between public health and functioning of supply chains. Export and import flows are vital for our economies. Europe is the largest trade partner of Turkey, and Turkey is the EU’s 6th largest export and import partner. Turkey is also Europe’s gateway to Eastern markets.

I have to mention the keyword “cooperation” once more, this time to underline the spirit of our bilateral trade and investment relations. We gladly observe that the pandemic has only slightly affected our bilateral trade volume which was 9,6 billion Euros in 2019 and 9,5 billion Euros in 2020. The top Turkish exports to the Netherlands are textiles products and household durable goods, whereas the major Dutch exports to Turkey are composed of iron and steel-based products and pharmaceuticals.

In terms of direct investments, we are pleased to observe that both Turkish and Dutch investors keep investing in the Dutch and Turkish economies, thus reflecting their positive opinion related to the investment environment in the two countries. Influx of investments by the Netherlands-based firms in Turkey amounted to 26,6 billion USD between 2002 and March 2020, and the stock of Dutch direct investments in Turkey stood around 31,3 billion USD as of December 2019. Currently, more than 3000 Dutch companies are active in Turkey in a wide range of sectors from trade to construction etc.

The fact that our economic bilateral relations were almost unaffected by the pandemic gives us hope for the future to further boost our bilateral trade and investments.

The pandemic has had a limiting impact on the organization of events in general.

Has your Embassy been able to overcome this obstacle and organize cultural events recently?

Despite the pandemic, we have managed to organize a few cultural events. For example, in December 2020, we co-hosted a photo exhibition entitled “Unity in Diversity,” together with the embassies of other MIKTA-member countries; Mexico, Indonesia, Korea and Australia. The exhibition took place in the Yunus Emre Institute (the Turkish Cultural Center in Amsterdam) and introduced the UNESCO cultural heritages of the five countries. The main idea was to raise public awareness about the 75th anniversary of the United Nations and UNESCO. Another highlight of our recent cultural activities is the recovery of four sets of historical tiles. As a result of the fruitful cooperation with Dutch authorities, we were able to prevent the auction sale of these unique items. We are happy that these traditional Turkish “çini” tiles will soon be returning to their place of origin.

We have also recently organized a “Traditional Van Breakfast” event with the participation of prominent professionals in the tourism and culture circles in the Netherlands. As Turkey, we are now taking steps for inscription of the Van Breakfast on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage.

Reflecting the rich Turkish cuisine and bringing everyone together at the same table, breakfast is an important element of the Turkish culture. “Van Breakfast” in particular, is among our country’s finest culinary rituals. It consists of a wide variety of natural products and regional delicacies such as the famous “otlu peynir”, a slightly crumbly and strong cheese spiked with herbs, accompanied by tea brewed in a samovar, served with lavash bread and Van buns cooked in stone ovens. For the occasion, we actually shipped these products from Van. Could you tell us about the measures taken by Turkey for safe tourism?

Turkey took significant steps in successfully addressing the challenges posed by the pandemic thanks to its strong health infrastructure and timely measures. In this context, “Safe Tourism Certification” program

has been launched. Initiated to prepare the tourism sector for the “new normal” and to ensure a comfortable and safe holiday to the guests who will spend their holidays in Turkey, the program brought in a series of measures and rules for the sector.

In June 2020, we have launched a certification program with extensive criteria regarding airports, airplanes, touristic vehicles, accommodation facilities, and restaurants.

As of January 2021, all hotels with 30 rooms or more are required to be certified.

Hotels without certification are not allowed to operate. Certification process is carried out by international accreditation organizations such as TÜV SÜD, TÜV NORD, RoyalCert, Bureau Veritas Inspektorate, Llyod’s Register, TÜV Austria, TÜV Rheinland and SGS. Within the Safe Tourism Concept, a vaccination campaign was launched for tourism employees in April 2021. The campaign covers the employees of airline companies, airports, accommodation facilities, travel agencies, restaurants/cafés, tour and transfer vehicles, sea tourism facilities, theme parks, and convention and art centers as well as professional tour guides.

Thanks to those comprehensive measures, Turkey is ready to welcome her guests who would like to enjoy safely the wide-array of beauties of the country.

Which highlights of Turkey would you recommend our readers to visit?

Antalya, İstanbul and Bodrum are already well-known destinations regularly visited

by Dutch tourists. Nevertheless, there is much more to what Turkey offers as an amazing holiday experience. The fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, great ancient Roman city of Ephesus and natural wonders of Pamukkale should be in every tourist’s bucket list. If you would wish to experience a combination of a beautiful beach holiday together with historical sights, I would definitely recommend the hidden gem of Patara located between Antalya and Muğla.

Also, if you would like to witness the zero point of history with your own eyes, you must visit Göbeklitepe Archeological Site in Şanlıurfa, which is almost 12.000 years old - 7.000 years older than the Stonehenge and the Pyramids.

Mugla Marmaris Bencik Village

09-06-21 13:51

Giacomo Balla, Paravento, inner side, 1916-1917

Giacomo Balla, Paravento, outer, 1916-1917

THE FUTURIST COLLECTION OF THE KRÖLLER-MÜLLER MUSEUM After more than five months of closure, the KröllerMüller Museum is very happy to welcome you again.

The museum offers a lot to enjoy: from Van Gogh to Mondrian in the Van Gogh Gallery and from Rodin to Rietveld in the sculpture garden.

The last few months the museum has prepared and installed exiting new exhibitions. Some of them have been waiting for visitors since January. Holland Times highlights for this summer a very colourful and dynamic exhibition: The futurist collection, on show till 9 January 2022. The reason for composing this exhibition is the latest acquisitions of three futurist works by the Kröller-Müller Museum: a folding screen

by Giacomo Balla, a drawing by Alexander Bogomazov and a painting by Jules Schmalzigaug.

HELENE KRÖLLER-MÜLLER Futurism is not represented in the collection of the foundress of the museum, Helene Kröller-Müller.

While bringing together her extensive collection of modern art between 1907 and 1922, she overlooked futurism, which she later regretted. Her successors also recognized the importance of futurism as one of the avant-garde movements of the early 20th century.

Works by Giacomo Balla and Umberto Boccioni were acquired in the 1970s; particularly in recent years the futurist collection has expanded greatly, with works by Giacomo Balla, Gino Severini, Vilmos Huszár, Alexander Bogomazov and Jules Schmalzigaug. With almost twenty futurist works, the Kröller-Müller is proud to be the only museum in the Netherlands to show futurist works as an integral part of art history in its permanent presentation.

FUTURISM Born in 1909, futurism was originally an Italian movement that strived for a radical rejuvenation of culture. Futurism is not merely an artistic avant-garde

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movement; it is a way of life. ‘Futuristic’ is synonymous with young, modern and rebellious. Everything has to be overhauled, not just the arts, but society as a whole.

Futurism embraces the vitality of modern society. The typically futurist glorification of new technological achievements, such as cars, trains, trams and machines, is reflected in the depiction of movement, speed and even sound. The Italian futurists in the early 20th century did not limit themselves to visual art, but strived for a new, contemporary design for all aspects of life. They designed and produced a variety of functional objects, from furniture and carpets to ceramics and books, and were involved in advertising, theatre, film and architecture. Their concept of a new, all-encompassing aesthetic found its way to large parts of Europe and had a great influence on other avant-garde movements, such as De Stijl and Bauhaus.

Two manifestoes of futurist painting were published in 1910. A key concept in both manifestoes is ‘dynamic sensation’, which should be expressed in the new painting style. Although the elaboration of this concept remains vague, it is in any case clear that futurist painters must express the contemporary dynamism, the sensation of speed and constant change, which leads to the endeavour to depict a moving object at different moments in a single image.

The sound, noise and even the smell of modern life are to be given form in the lines, volumes and colours of the painting.

THREE ACQUISTIONS FOR THE FUTURIST COLLECTION The first acquisition is Paravento (1916-1917) by Giacomo Balla (Turin, 1871-Rome, 1958). It is the third work by this Italian futurist that the museum has acquired since 2013. The folding screen (‘paravento’) is one of four surviving folding screens by Balla, two of which are in the Kröller-Müller collection. Paravento con linea di velocità (1916-1917) was acquired in 2015.

Paravento is a fine example of the futurists’ pursuit

Alexander Bogomazov, Self portrait, 1916

09-06-21 13:45

of a new, contemporary design for all aspects of life.

Balla was unsurpassed in his dedication to the design of everyday life. In the many objects that he designed, central futurist concepts such as speed and sound are expressed in a wide variety of abstract and rhythmic forms and in true explosions of shapes and colour.

The applications were unlimited and not an inch was left uncovered. For Balla, this ‘decorativismo cromato astratto’ (abstract chromatic decorativism) was an expression of freedom and human creativity, which he regarded as essential for avant-garde art.

The second acquisition is Self-portrait (1916) by Alexander Bogomazov (Yampil, 1880-Kiev, 1930).

Bogomazov was part of the Russian avant-garde. He studied with Alexander Archipenko and Alexandra Exter and exhibited with Natalia Goncharova and Mikhail Larionov. Like many artists of his generation, he worked in a succession of different styles, such as symbolism, pointillism and fauvism. His work in the period between 1913 and 1915 is purely futurist and coincides with the heyday of Italian futurism, with which Bogomazov was familiar through publications.

The acquired Self-portrait is the only one that Bogomazov made during this period. In 2015 and 2016, the museum acquired six futurist drawings

by Bogomazov.

The third work is a painting by Jules Schmalzigaug (Antwerp 1882-The Hague 1917): Expression dynamique d’une motocyclette en vitesse / Dynamic expression of a fast-riding motorbike (1915). This is one of the most purely futurist paintings of Jules Schmalzigaug, who is considered the only real Belgian futurist. A high point in his early career was his participation, with six paintings, in the international group exhibition of futurism Esposizione Libera Futurista Internazionale, which took place in April-May 1914 at the Galleria Futurista in Rome. Giacomo Balla, Carlo Carrà, Gino Severini and Umbertio Boccioni also participated in this exhibition. Shortly thereafter, the outbreak of the First World War forced him to return to Antwerp and subsequently move to The Hague.

There he became acquainted with Dutch and exiled Belgian artists, such as Georges Vantongerloo and Rik Wouters. Schmalzigaug’s work fell into obscurity and was only rediscovered in the 1980s.

The three acquisitions were made possible by the participants of the BankGiro Lottery.

For the full exhibition programme, see www.krollermuller.nl

Jules Schmalzigaug, Expression dynamique d’une motocyclette en vitesse, 1915

The Kröller-Müller Museum wants to offer everyone a safe, but also pleasant and relaxed visit. Therefore, entry to the museum is only possible with a ticket reserved in advance. For current opening hours and tickets visit https:// krollermuller.nl/en/opening-hours-and-prices

Artis | Amsterdam Royal Zoo ARTIS is a national institute with a city park where people, animals, microbes, trees, plants, stars, museums, art and heritage come together.

Mission Artis inspires and encourages a broad public to deal with nature responsibly.

Vision Artis is a place that forges connections, bringing people and nature together in imaginative ways and fostering discussion about how nature is valued, understood and treated by humans.

Artis inspires and encourages a brood public to deal with nature responsibly.

In addition to 26 nationally listed buildings, Artis also has a historic city park, the award-winning museum Artis­Micropia and the Artisplein, with the adjacent Artis-Groote Museum, ARTIS-café restaurant de Plantage and the Artis-studio. Artis, founded in 1838, is both a foundation and an authorised charity with a CBF quality mark and PBO status.

At Artis, nature, culture and heritage come together. Every tree, every creature, every building, microbe, and planet has its own story. Artis has been telling these stories since 1838, and each day they are born anew. Experience it for yourself. Be amazed by the many species living side by side in the Forest House and Bird House. Discover the tiniest organisms at Micropia, the world’s only microbe museum. Take a trip through space inside the Planetarium. Watch the giraffes, zebras, ostriches and springboks intermingling on the Savannah.

Feel the fluttering of countless wings in the Butterfly Pavilion. Admire the tropical fish swimming in the vast Aquarium. Stroll through the historica! city park with its centuries-old trees and wealth of plants. Delight your taste buds at café­restaurant de Plantage. Or relax in a chair near the fountain on Artisplein. Experience nature and discover its significance for our civilisation - because a better understanding of nature fosters greater respect for all life around us. The story of ARTIS is a story about ourselves.

ARTIS-Micropia is the only museum in the world revealing the world of microscopically small life. lf you combine your visit to ARTIS with Micropia, you will not only make your day extra special but also save big on the usual admission price. Meet your microbes in Micropia, next to ARTIS. Visit Artis, in the heart of Amsterdam www.artis.nl

THT5_2021 _CS.indd 23

09-06-21 22:36

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Graphic Grandeur: Escher and his Contemporaries

Gerd Arntz, Top-end, 1968, linoleum cut, Kunstmuseum Den Haag

Julie de Graag, Dog’s Head, 1920 woodcut, Kunstmuseum Den Haag

The most famous printmaker in the Netherlands is without a doubt M.C. Escher. His graphic art depicting optical illusions has earned him a unique place in both national and international art history. But he was not the only Dutch printmaker of importance in his time. The exhibition Graphic Grandeur: Escher and his Contemporaries, on view until 5 September at Escher in The Palace, highlights the graphic art of Escher’s Dutch contemporaries.

In collaboration with Kunstmuseum Den Haag the exhibition shows the versatility of Dutch graphic art through prints made by Escher’s friends, acquaintances and mentors. Also on display are the works of other artists who lent colour to the time when Escher was developing into a major printmaker.

From landscapes to portraits and from buildings to geometric shapes, Graphic Grandeur brings together the work of 43 merciless printmakers with the work of M.C. Escher.

Prints by such artists as Piet Mondriaan, Matthijs Maris, Jan Mankes, Isaac Israëls, Jan Toorop, Jacoba van Heemskerck, H.N. Werkman and César Domela offer a cross-section of Dutch graphic art at the end of the 19th and early 20th century. The graphic art of Escher’s contemporaries features primarily the same themes as addressed by Escher, often with a surprisingly different result. Discover the versatility of graphic art this summer at Escher in The Palace.

Ex

Graphic art is a form of art that combines creativity, craftsmanship and tradition with technical challenges. At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, printmaking was very popular in the Netherlands. Graphic

art was alive and well. The works were often produced in editions, introducing the art to a broader audience. This made graphic art popular, also among artists who were best known for other art disciplines. Famous names like H.W. Mesdag and Jozef Israëls, for example, also produced lithographs and etchings alongside their paintings. M.C. Escher enjoyed the company of artists who truly embraced the discipline, such as his mentors Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita and Richard Roland Holst, as well as friends like Gerd Arntz and Paul Citroen.

5 S tend ep ed te u m n be til r

Visit Escher in The Palace this summer and explore the fascinating world of the Dutch graphic arts at the time of M.C. Escher in the exhibition Graphic Grandeur: Escher and his Contemporaries!

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JULY 2021 | 25

ART & CULTURE

Deborah Poynton in | DRENTS MUSEUM From July 11 to October 3, 2021, the monumental paintings by South African artist Deborah Poynton (Durban, 1970) will adorn the Abbey Church of the Drents Museum. The beauty of her paintings attracts the visitor and gives the viewer the feeling of entering a new world. The artworks have been painted with great attention to the smallest detail. In the exhibition Deborah Poynton - Beyond Belief, the Drents Museum presents Deborah Poynton’s most recent work (2008-2020). She made the painting Beyond Belief especially for this exhibition. The exhibition in Assen is Poynton’s first museum exhibition in Europe.

Deborah Poynton creates paintings in a realistic style, in which she combines pieces of the world she sees around her. She places figures, objects and elements from nature together so that a new reality arises. Poynton refrains from any judgment and wants to use her works to make visitors aware that everyone perceives the world in their own way and that there is no right or wrong.

Beyond Belief Poynton takes inspiration from her own, private world. She works with only a few models, who come from her personal environment, and uses objects she finds at home or during a walk. Especially for this exhibition, Poynton made the painting Beyond Belief (2019-2020), which can be seen for the first time in the presentation in Assen. Beyond Belief resembles a work of art standing in a church behind the altar. It contains many references to classical religious paintings, yet it is immediately clear that this work is not religious. The figures are painted humanly and the collection of objects appears to have been chosen at random.

Deborah Poynton Deborah Poynton was born in South Africa and spent her childhood in Great Britain, Swaziland and the United States. She studied at the Rhode Island School of Design for two years. At the age of nineteen she returned to South Africa, where she started painting full-time in Cape Town. Poynton is hardly known in the Netherlands. The Drents Museum wants to change this and shows paintings that she has made during the past ten years.

Deborah Poynton, The Labours of Hercules, 2017, oil on canvas, 230 x 190 cm, © Deborah Poynton

Festival Parade In the summer of 2021, theatre festival Parade travels through the Netherlands for the 30th year. The festival kicks off in Eindhoven. From Eindhoven, the festival will continue its journey with her colorful tents, restaurants and terraces to The Hague, Utrecht and Amsterdam. The summer tour will conclude in Rotterdam.

The Parade offers something for everyone to experience. There will be over 40 different theatre, music, and dance performances for all ages. The performances that are suitable for non-Dutch-speakers are among others ISHterious by ISH Dance Collective, STUK by 155 and Lost Love Prologue by De Nachtdieren.

In Eindhoven, The Hague en Utrecht you will buy a package with 2 shows and a dinner. The organization hopes that in Amsterdam and Rotterdam everything will be back to ‘normal’. In The Hague and Utrecht are there a couple of packages which are suitable for non-dutchies: Annica Muller + De Nachtdieren | 15 – 18 july | The Hague Annica Muller + Gavin-Viano | 5 – 8 August | Utrecht ISH Dance Collective + Collectief het Paradijs | 4 – 8 August | Utrecht SeaSession met Frank en René Groothof + The Ruggeds | 23 – 25 August | Utrecht The program in Amsterdam and Rotterdam wil be announced later.

PARADE 2021: Eindhoven – 18 – 27 June The Hague – 2 – 18 July Utrecht – 23 July – 9 August Amsterdam – 13 – 29 August Rotterdam – The end of September (details will follow) www.deparade.nl

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09-06-21 16:51

IAN IANBERRY BERRY...SPLENDID SPLENDIDISOLATION ISOLATION IAN BERRY SPLENDID ISOLATION Art Artin Denim Art ininDenim Denim

Ian Berry, Paradise Lost (Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel), 2020, denim, 122 x 244 cm, collectie Yvonne Reiberg-Theden en Manuel Reiberg.

Berry, Paradise Lost (Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel), 2020, denim, x 244 collectie Yvonne Reiberg-Theden Manuel Reiberg.

IanIan Berry, Paradise Lost (Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel), 2020, denim, 122122 x 244 cm,cm, collectie Yvonne Reiberg-Theden en en Manuel Reiberg.

11december 2020 ––5–5april 2021 1december december 2020 5april april 2021 2020 2021

Tot 16 augustus 2021

Picnic lunch at Museum Singer Laren The Singer terrace might well be Laren’s finest hidden gem. A beautiful garden, a peaceful setting, speedy service, good coffee, irresistible cakes, interesting lunch dishes and delicious drinks… With plenty of sun, and shade for when it gets too warm. On Thursday 1 July, from 12.00 to 15.00, we will be offering readers of The Holland Times a special picnic lunch consisting of soup, salad, quiche, fruit salad, a glass of wine and a sumptuous chocolate dessert, all rounded off with a cup of coffee.

Price €18.50 per person, on a first come, first served basis.

To book simply reserveringenhoreca@singerlaren.nl

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09-06-21 19:59

JULY 2021 | 27

INTERVIEW

Interview with an expat my 3- and 6-year-olds. Occasionally, I’m offered the opportunity to visit somewhere new for my YouTube channel, and it’s always so cool to discover a new place and share it with my viewers.

Who is your favourite Dutch person?

Nikkie de Jager (Nikkie Tutorials). She is such an inspiration and I love her even more after meeting her at Eurovision 2020. We even made a TikTok together and it was one of the best days of my career.

What would you recommend a visitor to do and see in your city in the Netherlands?

If you have children: Kinderboekenmuseum, Pluk!, the little petting zoos all over the place, Scheveningen or Wassenaar beaches in summer.

Name: Jovie Paredes Where do you come from and where do you live in the Netherlands?

I was born in Belgrade, Serbia, but lived in Toronto, Canada for 10 years, and in Arizona, USA for 10 years. Now I live in The Hague.

What’s your job/business?

I run the YouTube channel Jovie’s Home where I make educational as well as entertaining videos about being an expat in the Netherlands. Sometimes the videos are really about explaining how something works (“Dutch Medical System” or “Giving Birth in NL”) while others are about the expat experience (“US vs Dutch Christmas”).

I started this channel after I got pregnant in the Netherlands and had to navigate the Dutch system, which I found to be very different from the US one. I felt so stupid not knowing about the midwifery system, kraamzorg, where kids get wellness checks and vaccines… I felt like an alien trying to navigate it all! For that reason, I wanted to create a YouTube channel to explain the differences between my expectations and how things *actually* work here. I’m not trying to say whether one system is better than the other, but just highlight differences and explain the reasoning behind it. Every expat has those moments of “culture shock” when they move to a different country and I think it’s very interesting to share those moments (and laugh about it).

What was your first time in the Netherlands?

I came to the Netherlands in January 2008 for a law internship at the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia. I met my now-husband during that internship and together we started a life here. He is from Spain.

normalized to enhance the work/life balance.

What’s the worst thing about the Netherlands?

I’d say that there is still quite a lot of room for improvement when it comes to customer service.

Do you have Dutch friends?

Yes, a few :) What do you like about Dutch people?

What don’t you like?

I like the straightforward, no nonsense and truthful approach. You always know where you stand with someone.

As someone who is always 15 minutes late, I don’t like how promptly on-time Dutchies tend to be (I know, I know, this is a “me” problem)!

Do you have a favourite restaurant in your city?

We love to go to Vapiano for fresh pizza and pasta as a family. On date nights, though, we really like Gauchos, BIT, Naga Thai or Maharani.

Where do you prefer to relax in your city?

We enjoy going for mini stay-cations at Hotel & Spa Savarin from time to time.

If you’re visiting without kids, I enjoy going for a walk along the Frederik Hendriklaan or getting “lost” in Den Haag city center.

What is your favourite Dutch food? And what Dutch food do you dislike?

Snert (erwtensoep), stroopwafels and Bram’s Ladage fries. I am not a fan of drop or haring.

Do you celebrate Dutch holidays? What is your favourite?

Yes, of course! We like King’s Day and Sinterklaas with the kids. But the *real party* is Carnaval in Maastricht. Leave the kids with oma and opa and go party in your most creative and elaborate costume.

Where do you like to go out?

I don’t go out that much anymore. But I really enjoy visiting a different Dutch province every month (pre-Covid and when it’s safe to do so). Taking 2-3 days and visiting a new place is so fun!

What famous Dutch place should you really go and see?

The province of Friesland! I fell in love with every little town that I visited. Groningen was also incredible. And Maastricht.

Basically, I love pretty much everything in the Netherlands ;-)

What’s your favourite Dutch store?

Hema :)

Best-kept secret in your city?

Dr. Charmaine Harris’ dental practice, One World Dental. She is an expat herself and has the most beautiful and international dental practice that is specifically catered towards expats.

What do you like to do on the weekend?

My weekends are mostly trying to entertain

Interview by Marla Thomson

We worked together in international criminal law for several years until our children were born and I wanted to start a business with more flexibility.

What is the nicest thing about the Netherlands?

I absolutely love the weather! Just kidding! :) The nicest thing about the Netherlands is how child-friendly it is. From parks and playgrounds everywhere, to interesting and interactive museums even for the littlest ones, there is always something to do with your family. Oh, and that “mamadag” and “papadag” and working part-time are

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09-06-21 19:59

Little Star Fitness

Welcome in the House of Beauty

Little Star Fitness offers seven different programs all year round for children aged 2-12 years. The sessions are great fun and absolutely enjoyed by everyone. From May to October, you will find the children in Vondelpark; during the colder months the program is delivered indoors on several locations throughout Amsterdam.

Little Star emphasizes developing gross and fine motor skills, coordination and rhythm, all while building self-confidence in a fun and non-competitive environment. Children can attend the summer camp (12 July - 13 August 2021) for the entire holiday, or they can sign up for shorter classes in the Sports Star and Dance Groover, Cheer Squad, Circus Stars and Aerial Silks. Children get to experience dance, cheerleading, various sports and new circus and aerial silks tricks, so they can discover their own talent.

Tour of Beauty Your Beauty - Our Devotion Hooistraat 7 2514 BM Den Haag T: 070-362.31.63 E: info@tourofbeauty.nl www.tourofbeauty.nl

Little Star Fitness is there to cater for all levels and experience. Head to the website to find out more, or chat to Chante for any questions you may have. www.littlestarfitness.com

STANZA BOOKSHOP

FURNITURE

ARCHITECTURE

We are an international bookshop established in The Hague offering English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese and Russian books for adults, young adults and children. Additionally, we have a selection of International Law books in English, Spanish and French.

We host literary events such as storytelling, writing & poetry workshops, and services for book launch.

Opening times Mon: closed. Tuesday-Saturday from 10.30 until 17.00.

During November and December we open twice per month on Sundays (please check the dates and opening hours through our social media) Noordeinde 98, 2514 GM, The Hague. T. 0031 (0) 702144117, www.stanzabookshop.com, Instagram: Stanza_Bookshop, Facebook/Twitter: @StanzaBookshop

DECORATION UPHOLSTERY

For all your legal issues at work and assistance with your application at the IND for residency and working permits. Van den Heuvel has worked for years for the IND and therefore has personal immigration procedure knowledge.

mas interieur the ultimate way of modern living Contact E info@vandenheuveljuristen.nl T +31 (0)70 2210 420 www.vandenheuveljuristen.nl

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visit us at:

Frederikstraat 565 2514 LR Den Haag

T 070 345 09 03 winkel@masinterieur.nl www.masinterieur.nl

accredited by the Dutch Central Interior Design Industry Association

09-06-21 17:12

JULY 2021 | 29

TIPS & REVIEW to do |

movie |

Walking routes | Delft

I Care A Lot | J Blakeson

Take a walk through Delft and it’s history.All these walking routes are for free! So put on your walking shoes and go!

Art Route Do you love both art and Delft? If so, this art route is something you must experience. Geert de Vries, who knows Delft intimately, set out this roughly 6 kilometre route through the city. You will come across all kinds of interesting pieces on the way, ranging from statues to street art, and dating from 1769 to 2020.

How: on your tablet or smartphone, surf to kunstwandelingdelft.nl and you will see the route and accompanying description.

Length: roughly 6 kilometres Ceramics route Delft and ceramics are inextricably linked. Not only does the city have a centuries-old tradition in the field of ceramics, it is also home to an extremely active and contemporary ceramics industry. Experience Delft’s ceramic highlights on our ceramics route!

How: Go to this link on your smartphone, which will show you the route and some interesting information about the different ceramic works of art that you will encounter along the way. delft.com/routes/delft-ceramics-route length: roughly 3.5 kilometres Antoni van Leeuwenhoek walk Another son of Delft, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723), discovered bacteria and sperm, among other things, and is therefore regarded as the founding father of microbiology. During this walk, you will learn everything about his fascinating life and see where he was born.

How: go to this link on your smartphone. You see the route and brief information about the different locations. delft.com/routes/follow-in-the-footsteps-of-antoni-vanleeuwenhoek length: roughly 3 kilometres TU campus Would you like to see more of Delft than just the historic city centre? If so, take a walk between the imposing buildings of the former technical college that were built between 1895 and 1945 and discover the story behind TU-wijk, the university district.

How: go to this link on your smartphone. You see the route and explanations about the different points of interest. www.delft.com/routes/tu-noord-a-neighbourhood-in-delft-with-arich-heritage-of-historical-buildings-and-green-spaces Length: roughly 1.8 kilometres

There’s nothing more satisfying than when a talented actor subverts your expectations. Rosamund Pike has played villainous roles before, but with new dark comedy I Care A Lot she takes deviousness to a new level.

The award-winning actress plays Marla Grayson, a woman who runs a business caring for elderly wards of the state as a legal guardian. The business is an elaborate con, where she convinces the courts that perfectly lucid older people cannot care for themselves, putting them into substandard care and draining their life savings. She believes she finds her big score in Jennifer Peterson (Dianne Wiest), an elderly woman with seemingly no relatives and a fortune in diamonds. It’s only when she forces Jennifer into care that she discovers she has a son, a powerful gangster named Roman (Peter Dinklage). As the stakes get higher, the pair try to outwit the system and each other.

Director J Blakeson makes it clear from the start that there are no easy answers in this film. The opening sequence sees Marla lie and manipulate the system to deprive a man access to his ailing mother, who then loses your sympathy by verbally assaulting Marla in the carpark. We see how quickly false concern can be twisted to hurt the most vulnerable people in society, and even as the plot begins to take unbelievable twists, there is a sense that the satire is rooted in something very real.

The film’s acid-tongued dialogue is given nuance by Pike, who delivers one of the performances of her career. Vindictive and petty, she uses a society that treats ambitious women harshly as justification for her crimes. Blakeson shows her to be correct in a way, surrounding her with characters that are just as vile, but perhaps more socially palatable. Dinklage’s gangster is slightly more humorous to watch, but seeing him deal with the machinations of human trafficking reminds you this is an equally horrible person, despite what has been done to him. No-one quite matches Pike for sharp-edged wit, but strong support from the likes of Wiest and Chris Messina (as Roman’s sleazy attorney) round out a talented cast.

I Care A Lot can be difficult to watch at times, as you become torn between which terrible person you wish to see succeed. However, it is also a sharply observed criticism of the Western care system, combined with a main performance that will stay with you for a long time.

James Luxford

Historic Delft and the Bieslandse bos Delft’s city centre is a great place for a walk. Another highly recommended walking area, the woodlands of bieslandse bos, is located just outside the city. The bieslandse bos, an area of woodland planted around 1985 for timber production, now has a recreational function. It is a patchwork of forest, swamps, wild grasslands and wooded marshes. This walk, set out by Royal Delft, ensures you enjoy the attractions of both the city and the natural environment outside it.

How: follow the route on route.nl Length: roughly 13.5 kilometres Monuments soundwalk Are you interested in the many impressive monuments in Delft? Then the audio tour of Monument Day Delft is a must. On this map you will find the route, and on the website you will find an audio tour at the relevant monument, which can be listened to from your mobile.

How: follow the map here and click on the relevant monument on this page. openmonumentendagdelft.nl/gm-files/omd2020-audiotour-2.pdf Lenght: depends on route.

Have you developed an interest in walking? The following maps can be purchased from Delft Tourist Office: the ‘ANWB wandelregiokaart Hollandse kust zuid’, a walking map of the coast of South Holland, and the ‘Sterkste Wandelkaart Hof van Holland en omstreken’, a highly detailed walking map of Hof van Holland and the surrounding area.

This article is written by www.delft.com and visit our website for more interesting information about this beautiful city!

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10-06-21 09:09

EURO 2020: Meet the teams Group A (Rome/Baku): Turkey, Italy (hosts), Wales, Switzerland Group B (Copenhagen/St Petersburg): Denmark (hosts), Finland, Belgium, Russia (hosts) Group C (Amsterdam/Bucharest): Netherlands (hosts), Ukraine, Austria, North Macedonia Group D (London/Glasgow): England (hosts), Croatia, Scotland (hosts), Czech Republic Group E (Seville/St Petersburg): Spain (hosts), Sweden, Poland, Slovakia Group F (Munich/Budapest): Hungary (hosts), Portugal (holders), France, Germany (hosts) GROUP STAGE Friday 11 June Group A: Turkey vs Italy (21:00, Rome) Saturday 12 June Group A: Wales vs Switzerland (15:00, Baku) Group B: Denmark vs Finland (18:00, Copenhagen) Group B: Belgium vs Russia (21:00, St Petersburg) Sunday 13 June Group D: England vs Croatia (15:00, London) Group C: Austria vs North Macedonia (18:00, Bucharest) Group C: Netherlands vs Ukraine (21:00, Amsterdam) Monday 14 June Group D: Scotland vs Czech Republic (15:00, Glasgow) Group E: Poland vs Slovakia (18:00, St Petersburg) Group E: Spain vs Sweden (21:00, Seville) Tuesday 15 June Group F: Hungary vs Portugal (18:00, Budapest) Group F: France vs Germany (21:00, Munich) Wednesday 16 June Group B: Finland vs Russia (15:00, St Petersburg) Group A: Turkey vs Wales (18:00, Baku) Group A: Italy vs Switzerland (21:00, Rome) Thursday 17 June Group C: Ukraine vs North Macedonia (15:00, Bucharest) Group B: Denmark vs Belgium (18:00, Copenhagen) Group C: Netherlands vs Austria (21:00, Amsterdam) Friday 18 June Group E: Sweden vs Slovakia (15:00, St Petersburg) Group D: Croatia vs Czech Republic (18:00, Glasgow) Group D: England vs Scotland (21:00, London) Saturday 19 June Every goal on Portugal’s road to EURO 2020 Group F: Hungary vs France (15:00, Budapest) Group F: Portugal vs Germany (18:00, Munich) Group E: Spain vs Poland (21:00, Seville) Sunday 20 June Group A: Italy vs Wales (18:00, Rome) Group A: Switzerland vs Turkey (18:00, Baku)

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Monday 21 June Group C: North Macedonia vs Netherlands (18:00, Amsterdam) Group C: Ukraine vs Austria (18:00, Bucharest) Group B: Russia vs Denmark (21:00, Copenhagen) Group B: Finland vs Belgium (21:00, St Petersburg) Tuesday 22 June Group D: Czech Republic vs England (21:00, London) Group D: Croatia vs Scotland (21:00, Glasgow) Wednesday 23 June Group E: Slovakia vs Spain (18:00, Seville) Group E: Sweden vs Poland (18:00, St Petersburg) Group F: Germany vs Hungary (21:00, Munich) Group F: Portugal v France (21:00, Budapest) The top two in each group plus four best third-placed teams go through.

Rest days on 24 and 25 June Knockout phase Saturday 26 June 1: 2A vs 2B (18:00, Amsterdam) 2: 1A vs 2C (21:00, London) Sunday 27 June 3: 1C vs 3D/E/F (18:00, Budapest) 4: 1B vs 3A/D/E/F (21:00, Seville) Monday 28 June 5: 2D vs 2E (18:00, Copenhagen) 6: 1F vs 3A/B/C (21:00, Bucharest) Tuesday 29 June 7: 1D vs 2F (18:00, London) 8: 1E vs 3A/B/C/D (21:00, Glasgow) Rest days on 30 June and 1 July Quarter-finals Friday 2 July QF1: Winner 6 vs Winner 5 (18:00, St Petersburg) QF2: Winner 4 vs Winner 2 (21:00, Munich) Saturday 3 July QF3: Winner 3 vs Winner 1 (18:00, Baku) QF4: Winner 8 vs Winner 7 (21:00, Rome) Rest days on 4 and 5 July Semi-finals Tuesday 6 July SF1: Winner QF2 vs Winner QF1 (21:00, London) Wednesday 7 July SF2: Winner QF4 vs Winner QF3 (21:00, London) Rest days on 8, 9, 10 July Final Sunday 11 July Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2 (21:00, London)

10-06-21 08:52

JULY 2021 | 31

SPORT

Better late than never: euro 2020 kicks off a year after schedule

The European Championship for Football or simply the Euro, looms large on the Sport Summer calendar for 2021.

Originally slated for 2020, the Euro was one of the many sport casualties of the Covid-19 pandemic. The organizing body, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), decided to keep the name “UEFA Euro 2020” presumably much to the relief of the merchandise producers.

Unlike previous versions such as the first Euro hosted by France in 1960 as well as the latest championship in 2016, this episode of European Association Football’s biggest prize will be hosted by multiple cities throughout EUFA’s member nations. The Netherlands was a noticeable omission from the 2016 Euro (as well as the 2018 World Cup) but has stormed back into the fray and Amsterdam’s Johan Cruyff ArenA will host three of the matches in the preliminary round with all three matches featuring the home Oranje side as a contestant.

While the Netherlands and most other European countries are seeing Covid cases contract and loosening their restrictions, this year’s competition will still be very much seen the ‘Corona Euro’.

Strict guidelines for teams, officials and spectators will be in place to ensure that the safety of all is maintained. The extra demands placed on the organizers will be significant, but the Euro will benefit from the large body of knowledge already gathered at previous events held over the past year.

Tickets for the fixtures to be held in

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Amsterdam will be difficult to come by and those lucky supporters will be subject to testing and rigid regulations at the venue.

Restrictions on other public gatherings such as pubs or city squares mean that most of us will have to settle for modest celebrations in our own homes with a few friends or family. That certainly does not mean that we cannot enjoy a good Euro!

The grocery stores in this country have pulled out the stops on special offers of fan apparel and game day snacks and drinks to keep us sated and hydrated. If you haven’t already acquired an air fryer, this may the best time in the brief history of this kitchen appliance to make that purchase. With the grocers staging their own pitched battle to entice customers will loss-leading beer prices, the football fan can enjoy plenty of refreshment for modest prices.

Feeding your football party was never easier with a creative array of themed snacks and meals on offer but do keep in mind our struggling restaurants and consider ordering in and helping out the beleaguered hospitality industry.

Watching the Euro will be easy and for some better than ever. The Euro is once again in the domain of the national broadcasters meaning that all matches are shown free to air. If you have a cable subscription, you will be reminded that this country is a great place to be for international sporting events with most subscribers enjoying access to at least four national broadcasters. If you are handy with a Virtual Private Network (VPN) and your computer, the coverage you’ll enjoy will be even greater. Let’s be honest, even without speaking a work of

Italian, the Tricolore simply sound better broadcast in their native language on RAI. Moreover, ff you happen to be one of the early adopters and have plunked down enough to own a 4k television, you’ll be happy to know that both KPN and Ziggo will be broadcasting in highest of high-definition formats although Ziggo will do so only to top tier customers.

Musical entertainment is also a snap if you have a music provider subsription such as Spotify. Plenty of Euro 2020 playlists have popped up so you keep the football party going before and after the match. Even classical music enthusiasts have been thought of - NPO’s Radio 4 has produced a podcast and Spotify playlist of classical music associated with the ‘Beautiful Game’.

For some, the Euro is not exiting enough without some personal participation.

Tournament pools and printable schedules are popping up like wildflowers.

Online pools give businesses with workers still not on-premise the chance to do a little bonding. Those businesses and workplaces who have good numbers of their employees back on site will doubtless be a useful gathering pace for midweek fixtures. Last but not least, personal participation to some means a flutter on the games or tournament outcome. The bookmakers are more than willing to accommodate and for those who are faithful the Dutch side, the relatively long odds of Oranje winning it all will be tempting.

World Cup holders France are the oddson favorites for most pundits. England, Belgium, Germany, Portugal, Spain and

Italy follow in order with the Netherlands tracking at 8th as the tournament entered opening week. The Dutch have a particularly good chance of emerging from their group, facing the sides of the Ukraine, Austria and North Macedonia.

From there on, it should be anybody’s guess how Frank de Boer’s men will fare given their mixed results in the matches leading up to the championship. The current Director of Football Development for FIFA, Arséne Wenger has expressed his respect for the Netherlands ahead of Euro 2020. “The Netherlands have a good young generation, and they are usually not scared to dictate the game. They want the ball. They think, “We are strong. You watch us.” They have always a great belief in their national team and the desire to play.” The former Arsenal coach added “I have huge respect for Holland because it’s a small country, but they always produce players and they will be mainly dependent on Depay. He can create, he can score, he can be good on set pieces, he can dribble, he can create a chance from nowhere.

And it will be interesting to watch because I’ve seen them beating France in a very convincing way.”

So whether you are backing the Dutch or your own country, this year’s Euro should give us the chance to put a little distance between ourselves and that awful virus that’s overshadowed us for the past year.

Get settled in, crack open your beverage of choice and enjoy the footy!

Written by John Mahnen

09-06-21 14:11

Imagine…

Living in a luxurious five-star apartment at Gelderlandplein in Amsterdam. Enjoying the outdoors on your spacious terrace with a fantastic view of the city. In addition, you have access to personal assistant services and the exclusive f itness center.

If you would like to receive further information or take a tour, you are welcome to contact:

+31 (0)88 37 47 000 info@sothebysrealty.nl

+31 (0)20 305 26 62 info@ramonmossel.nl

www.letoileamsterdam.nl

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08-06-21 12:44