The Holland Times September 2021

E!!

FRE per spa new ats and xp ic for e plomat i d y the unit m com

late summer

at the palace

until 26th of September 2021

CONTROLLED CIRCULATION | POSTBUS 2203 | 1500 GE ZAANDAM

SEPTEMBER 2021

Housing & relocation special: Home is where the heart is!

Maison Amsterdam exhibition in de Nieuwe Kerk 23

Employers grapple with postlockdown staffing shortages

Buy. Sell. Rent.

Helping you make all the right moves.

7

r 20 d in ove te Feature of your favori s episode te TV Shows ta rs Real Es House Hunte g includin nal! tio Interna

Our professional, low-pressure and personalized service features a unique combination of NATIVE English and Dutch speakers who specialize in working with Expats.

Put our knowledge and experience to work for you!

Real Estate 27 House Real Estate 27 House

Makelaars 27 Huis Makelaars 27 Huis

Check out www.27house.nl for more details and call or email us for a FREE consultation – info@27house.nl

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 1

27

House Real Estate

· Personal, enthusiastic and professional · Our network becomes your network · Native English and Dutch speakers

27

Nieuwe Leliestraat 27 HS 1015 SJ Amsterdam +31 020 428 07 21

Huis Makelaars 19-08-2021 09:50

The income tax return for EUR 390 incl VAT for regular private individuals

File online with BNC Tax Professionals

• Private tax return • Corporate tax services • M form Dutch tax return • Tax trouble shooters • 30% ruling in Dutch tax return

• Private tax return • Corporate tax services • FBAR • Foreign earned income exclusion • 30% ruling in US tax return

www.orangetax.com

www.bnctax.com

0023 Advertentie BNC - OTS.indd 1 THT7_2021 _CS.indd 2

23-12-2020 16:54 19-08-2021 10:04

SEPTEMBER 2021 | 3

Contents here can I nd the Holland imes The Holland Times is widely distributed for free, in the regions of Amsterdam, Amstelveen, Hoofddorp, Schiphol, Leiden, Delft, Den Haag, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Eindhoven, Maastricht, Wassenaar and Enschede. ou can find The 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. ould you like to receive The Holland Times in your organization or become one of our distribution points?

Please contact c.spraakman argomedia.nl

5

Flood disaster in Limburg

7

Hospitality industry has 14,000 jobs available in major shortage of staff here have all the workers gone Dutch employers grapple with post lockdown staffing shortages

9

The pros and cons of buying a house in the Netherlands with an online mortgage answers to difficult uestions about the vE

11

More companies introducing compulsory vaccination Holidays abroad dropped by half in 2020

13

ureaucratic backlash Co van der Horst opens Molteni Experience on the Zuidas

15 Columns 17 Nice spots in the Netherlands 19 Exposition Hubert Wurth and Charlotte Burgmans at Bos Fine Art 21 Interview with an expat 22 Art & Culture 29 Reviews & tips 31 The glass is two thirds full: Formula One returns to the Netherlands

COLOPHON Argo Special Media B.V. Postbus 2203 1500 GE Zaandam Contributors Marla Thomson, Raphael Perachi Vieira, Phoebe Dodds, Priyanka Sharma, John Mahnen, James Victoria Luxford, Nicole Kerr, Nanda Jagusiak, Lorre Luther, Benjamin Roberts, Stephen Swai, Chiel Versteege & Von Poll Real Estate 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

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.

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

Please contact c.spraakman@argomedia.nl Controlled circulation: international institutions, the diplomatic corps, and epicentres of the Netherlands’ international and expat community.

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

All photos: Depositphotos Left photo cover: ©Paul Huf/ Maria Austria Instituut Fashion Designer Fong Leng & Mathilde Willink, 1974

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 3

van Beethoven tot Beyoncé E RES

E RVE

SE MU

Distribution PostNL Design & Layout Caroline Spraakman

tm 9 jan 2022

R

ON

.NL Design: Jan Heijnen, Den Haag

The Holland Times is an independent, English language newspaper with Dutch news, published by Argo Special Media B.V. Total circulation: 80,000 copies

ontdek de wereld

Photo Museon©Alessandra Meniconzi

18-08-2021 21:15

Looking for help organizing your kid’s afternoons?

We would love to have your child at our after school care. From building huts outside to playing an exciting game: while you are working or having some me-time, your child is having fun with friends.

Find a Partou location near you and register your child www.partou.nl/find

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 4

18-08-2021 10:19

SEPTEMBER 2021 | 5

NATIONAL

Flood disaster in Limburg In July, after more than 25 years, Limburg once again experienced the power of the Maas River. Heavy rains in the nearby hilly parts of Germany, the Ardennes region in Belgium, and Belgian Limburg caused the Maas (Meuse) river to quickly swell, resulting in severe flooding in many parts of western Germany, the East of Belgium, and the southernmost province of the Netherlands, Limburg.

Although scores of houses were flooded, thousands of people had to be evacuated, and at least one bridge was destroyed in Valkenburg, the situation in the Netherlands is not nearly as bad as in the neighboring German states of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia and the Belgian city of Liège, where 165 people were confirmed dead and dozens went missing.

In the Netherlands, thousands of people in towns villages next to the river Maas, including Roermond, Roerdalen, and other smaller towns, had to evacuate, leaving their homes and possessions behind. Prime Minister Mark Rutte called the situation ‘extremely serious’ and the flooded areas of Limburg were declared disaster zones.

The Maas (Meuse) The Maas is one of the major European rivers at 950km long. It rises in France and then flows through Belgium and the Netherlands, emptying into the North Sea via the Dutch river delta. As a rain river, its water levels are highly dependent on the amount of rainfall. The Maas water level is high in winter, when it often rains, and much lower in summer. Most of the rain comes from the French and Belgian Ardennes, where the surface is too rocky to be able to store much water.

Mass floods over the centuries It is not the first time Limburg has been flooded due to the heavy rains. At the flooding of the Maas in 1643, the water reached the highest level recorded in centuries.

The flux of the water discharged was estimated at 3,600 cubic meters per second, 15 times more than the average discharge of the Maas, devastating property and killing hundreds.

Due to the widening and deepening of the Maas since 1840, the water now drains faster than before. The embankment ensured that water couldn’t spill and store anywhere, causing many floods in the 20th century. The flooding in January 1926 is known as one of the most catastrophic floods of the 20th century – areas in the provinces of Limburg, North Brabant, and Gelderland were flooded.

In the 90s, the province had to deal with much more quantities of water and far larger parts of the province were flooded. In December 1993, the Maas overflowed its banks again, drowning 8% of the surface of the province Limburg. The total damage amounted to 254 million guilders. A little over a year later, in January 1995, the dangerously high levels of the Maas, Rhine, Waal, and IJssel rivers led to one of the largest evacuations (250,000 people) in recent Dutch history.

Flood prevention measures To prevent future catastrophes, the Flemish and Dutch governments entered into a collaborative project. Under the Border Maas project, the river was widened to give more space to water and in turn reduce the height of the water level. It was hoped that it would also lead to the ecological recovery of the river and its floodplains.

One of the biggest flood prevention programs, ‘Room for the River’ was activated in 2006 with a budget of around 2.2 billion euros. The project was mostly set in the Netherlands, but should eventually include Germany, France, and Switzerland. The project covered flood prevention measures from the river Rhine, the Maas, the Waal, and the IJssel. Under the program, the government planned to: • Relocate the dykes farther from the river shore giving additional space to the river • Increase the depth of the flood plains by removing the sediments collected in the area due to annual flooding • Reduce the height of groynes • Construct a green channel to serve as a flood bypass • Lower the depth of the side channels to increase the

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 5

barrier between the river and the infrastructure and residents • Remove obstacles such as the hydraulic bridge at Oosterbeek.

complicated by the fact that the floods had cut power lines, disabling cellphone towers. “I mourn for those who have lost their lives in this catastrophe,” said German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Flood of July 2021 In July 2021, despite all the measures, the Maas was barely able to hold the high volumes of water discharged within a short number of days. The low-lying parts of the city of Liège, some neighbourhoods in Maastricht, Roermond, Venlo, Valkenburg and various villages along the Maas had to be evacuated at short notice.

Collection and relief campaigns After the floodwaters had receded, at Valkenburg the damage was assessed at 400 million euros. The National Disaster Fund opened the bank account number 777 for private individuals, companies, and institutions who want to contribute to the flood-affected areas of South Limburg. Within a week the funds reached to an impressive amount of 9.3 million euros.

On 16 July 2021, the Maas broke all its records since the 17th century, reaching a flux of 3168 cubic meters per second, 20 times more than the average. The water levels were at a record high at 5m above the NAP (the true Amsterdam water level used for measurement across Europe), and described as ‘just below the doom scenario’.

“What we are experiencing now has never happened before in the history of our province,” says dijkgraaf Patrick van der Broek of the Limburg water authority.

“Over the past few days, an extreme amount of rain has fallen in our area, in combination with an extreme amount of water coming our way from the Belgian Ardennes, Germany, and France.” The dijkgraaf cannot imagine what Limburg would have been like without the measures taken under the ‘Room for the River’ project.

“The situation is very unique not only because the water level and discharge have become extremely high in a short time, but also because this happened in the summer,” a Rijkswaterstaat spokesperson said in an interview with nu.nl.

Nevertheless, the flood prevention measures seemed to have some effect, as the damage was not nearly as bad as in the previous floods. There were no personal accidents in the Netherlands, even though Valkenburg was hit the hardest, with one of its bridges and the Eurlings weather station, along with weather data of the past two decades, destroyed by the floods. The army was brought in to build an emergency bridge over the River Geul after the original bridge was washed away. The Geul itself has been turned into a wild river dozens of meters wide, which has brought muddy water to low-lying parts of the town.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima flew to Valkenburg, immediately after Princess Amalia’s high school graduation ceremony. They spoke to residents, entrepreneurs and social workers, giving them strength and encouragement.

Belgium and Germany “This may be the worst flooding disaster our country has ever known,” said Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo, who declared Monday 19 July, a national day of mourning. Additional search and rescue teams have been brought in from France and Italy to help locate the missing and assist with the cleanup.

In western Germany, firefighters carried out more than 1,000 search and rescue missions, which were

The fundraising site GoFundMe also saw several campaigns initiated in a short time to help animals and humans alike in the flood affected areas. A fundraiser was started for fishing club De Springende Beektroel that suffered significant damage during the flood – an estimated 4000 kilos of fish disappeared from the pond, amounting to approximately 17,500 euros.

Is the Netherlands prepared for future catastrophes?

Douwe Meijer, a hydraulics engineer at RiQuest, a company specializing in issues related to river, along with his colleagues did an analysis of flood risk management and its development since 1995. “When I read the reports, it seems as if we had a crystal ball,” he says. “A previous report from May this year indicates that in the weakest spots, such as the Maastricht neighbourhoods of Heugem and Randwyck, the dykes were not high enough – exactly the place where it almost went wrong.”

According to Meijer, just enough has been done to avert critical situations, but much more needs to be done.

“We need to pay attention to the smaller rivers in hilly areas that can swell quickly and become huge.” Meijer has been involved with the Maas and its related projects throughout his career. “We have outperformed our neighbouring countries but there is definitely room for improvement. For example, there are places where the height of the dykes falls short of the standards, which have been tightened due to climate change.”

“If we don’t have high waters for a few years, the focus on river management quickly wanes. The local people’s opposition to any change in the landscape doesn’t help either. When there is a virus outbreak or a financial crisis, we have billons of euros available, but when it comes to climate crisis, we fall short of funds.” He believes that the government needs to stay on top of things and remain alert.

It is evident that with increasing climate change and unpredictable weather patterns, the occurrence of phenomena such as these floods will only become more frequent. If this amount of rain fell in the Randstad, neither Rotterdam nor Delft would have been able to handle it. Can we rely on the assumption that the July floods were an anomaly? Probably not. We need to be better prepared for whatever nature throws our way.

Written by Priyanka Sharma

18-08-2021 14:12

The Relocation Professionals About us?

Professional relocation company based in Haarlem, The Netherlands. The owner of the company is an expat herself and moved here 10 years ago.

THE HAGUE, HOUSES & HAPPINESS SEND ME YOUR ADDRESS. I’D LIKE TO RUSH TO YOU A SIGNED FREE COPY OF MY BOOK!

Why us?

We don’t deal in problems we deal in solutions. Moving is in the top ten list of stressful life events. We know things don’t always go smoothly, we work to solve them quickly.

How we work?

One to one communication. Fast action and feedback.

Competitive prices - no hidden costs.

(VALUED € 32,-) You Pay Only €12,50 for Shipping & Handling Costs.

One offs or long term relocation projects our speciality.

Get in touch?

Call us to find out more on +31 (0) 23 549 2441 or; send an email to nadia@relocate-me.nl

Relocate Me BV Kruisweg 40, 2011 LD, Haarlem +31 235492441 www.relocate-me.nl

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 6

www.thehaguehousesandhappiness.com www.starkrealestate.nl

18-08-2021 14:02

SEPTEMBER 2021 | 7

NATIONAL

Hospitality industry has 14,000 jobs available in major shortage

The word is out: the catering industry in the Netherlands is crying out for staff, after a really tough year. There are many reasons behind the staff shortage, discussed also elsewhere in this Holland Times. This is not new, as the shortage of staff has been going on for quite some time. However, it has only gotten worse due to the crisis.

Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reported that the number of catering establishments and restaurants increased by 5 per cent last year, despite the corona crisis. There are now almost 14,000 open vacancies in hospitality. As a result, the catering industry is crying out for cooks, dishwashers and servers.

“I’m working seven days a week, fourteen hours a day.

That’s unsustainable,” says restaurant owner Jesse Hamming. He has now made the decision to close the restaurant in Maastricht that he runs with his parents for two days a week. This is the first time they have done this and the main reason is staff shortage. “My father and I help out in the kitchen. To be open all week, we need a full-time waiter and two chefs,” says Hamming to NOS.

Former employees find new passion due to Covid During the Covid lockdowns, many staff were forced to find new jobs and 122,000 jobs disappeared. Now, many find they do not want to return to the hospitality business.

Richard van der Splinter was a bartender for 22 years.

Due to corona, he lost his job. In order to pay the bills, he started working in an elderly care facility. He likes it so much that he doesn’t want to go back to his former career. Former catering manager Patrick Ummels experienced the same. He now works as a team leader in a vaccination center. “I wanted a job in healthcare, but without experience it turned out to be difficult to get a head start. I see this opportunity as a stepping stone.” He does not think he will ever return to his former job.

Jean Carlo Castro Escobar also has no plans to return.

Now he works as a house painter. “I was at home for almost three months and I couldn’t go to work. The restaurant was closed.” He saw no way out and is happy with the switch. “The work is fun, you have more free time, and if you work longer, you earn more.” Now, he only comes to the hospitality industry as a guest.

On the other hand, Spanish cook Juan José Rosello loves the restaurant environment. He has been working at the Van der Valk restaurant in Eindhoven for a few days now, after he lost his job in Mallorca, Spain. “People in the Netherlands would rather have an office job. In the hospitality industry you work a lot of hours, sometimes a few hours in the morning and then again in the evening.

That’s hard work, but it’s my passion. I’m so happy that I can work here,” says Rosello to NOS.

Horeca Academy To reduce the outflow of good staff, among other things, a number of Haarlem catering entrepreneurs have now set up the Haarlemsche Horeca Academy. They work together with the municipality, educational institutions and the UWV. One of the initiators is Hildo Makkes van der Deijl, owner of three catering establishments. “We want to give employees career prospects. That is why we have set up a cooperative with which we jointly hire staff.”

Sixteen entrepreneurs have joined the Academy so far.

Employees will rotate between the various affiliated companies. Beach bars, for example, need a lot of staff in the summer and little in the winter. In the quiet winter months, the beach bar employees can be deployed via the cooperative in places where it’s actually busy. The cooperative provides staff with training and courses.

“Waitering is a respected profession in France and Italy.

You are happy when you have an older, experienced waiter who can tell you everything about the menu and wines.

Unfortunately, we don’t have that here,” says Makkes van der Deijl.

It is clear that the Corona pandemic has led many people to reconsider their careers. For now, the hospitality industry has to find ways to deal with the consequences.

Written by Raphael Vieira Perachi

Where have all the workers gone? Dutch employers grapple with post-lockdown staffing shortages The corona crisis has had several effects, from the mental health impacts of social isolation to income lost in the travel and hospitality sectors. Now that the economy is partly up and running again, many employers are struggling to meet their labour needs. It is becoming almost impossible for employers in many economic sectors to fill their rosters – a stunning development given last year’s warnings about an impending mass unemployment crisis.

100,000 temporary workers looms. In July 2021, there were approximately 207,000 open positions, an increase of more than 63 per cent from the year before. Dominique Hermans, CEO of Randstad Netherlands, suggests that staffing difficulties have had negative consequences for economic growth: “Because of the persistent scarcity in certain sectors, a number of companies are struggling to meet their potential.”

During last year’s lockdowns, experts repeatedly warned of an almost unavoidable unemployment crisis destined to flow from shutting down the economy to limit the spread of the virus that causes Covid-19. Yet, now that the dust has largely settled, a very different reality has become apparent. Companies are currently struggling to find enough workers to stay afloat.

Almost no economic sector has been spared from the consequences of the worker shortage. Public transportation has been impacted: ProRail has been forced to reduce the number of in-service trains, as the company cannot find enough workers with adequate training to run a complete schedule. Alliander, an energy company servicing several communities in North Holland, has an installation backup for similar reasons. Demand for truck drivers and experts in logistics has more than doubled.

Randstad, one of the largest temporary employment agencies in the Netherlands and abroad, cannot keep up with the unmet need for temporary workers. According to the agency’s latest numbers, a shortage of close to

The worker shortage is actually causing more stress than the pandemic-related lockdown for many companies.

“I spoke to an entrepreneur with two restaurants in Utrecht. Throughout the pandemic, he’s never been more stressed than he is now. He had to close three days in one week due to a staffing shortage. We put one labour market crisis behind us and have moved on to the next,” suggested Freek Kalkhoven of the UVW, the organisation that arranges benefits for people who can’t work.

Companies have been having trouble finding workers since well before last year’s shutdown. There were already signs of a tight employment market as far back as 2019, when Statistics Netherlands (CBS) recorded the lowest unemployment numbers in 20 years. During the first part of the pandemic, a record number of workers applied for unemployment benefits, but that number has since returned to pre-pandemic levels. Approximately

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 7

3.3% of the population is currently unemployed – one of the lowest unemployment levels in Europe.

The lockdown and subsequent recovery have impacted various businesses differently. The shortages have had the greatest impact on technology, sales, logistics, IT and construction. Many sectors that were struggling to find employees before the lockdown are finding it even more difficult now that pandemic restrictions have been lifted, partly due to a mismatch of skills between available workers and the businesses that need employees the most.

“Many people have left the sectors that were affected by the lockdown. But someone from the hospitality industry cannot just go and work in IT. So in the sectors where there was already a shortage – which were not affected by the pandemic – things have remained the same. And the affected sectors that are now allowed to open again, are empty-handed, as many of their employees have moved on to new jobs,” suggests Arjan Heyma of SEO Economic Research.

The shortage appears to be related to an increase in temporary workers in pandemic-related jobs, large numbers of individuals leaving the employment market and fewer students entering the labour force. Covid-19related employment, such as testing and vaccinations, attracted thousands of new and temporary workers last year, and many workers from outside the Netherlands returned home during the lockdown. In addition, many students have chosen to remain in school rather than begin working in the uncertainty of the post-pandemic labour market. “There simply aren’t enough new graduates to meet the need in certain sectors,” according to Hermans. For the foreseeable future, the problems seem as yet unsolved.

Written by Lorre Luther

18-08-2021 11:20

Apply for a Dutch mortgage, using our English online tool secure convenient independent affordable

1

2

3

4

5

6

CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT

ENTER YOUR DETAILS

TALK TO OUR ADVISER

UPLOAD YOUR PAPERWORK

AWAIT APPROVAL

CELEBRATE

You only pay our fee when you get your dream house.

Worldwide moving services tailored to your requirements.

info@atlas-movers.com | +31 (0) 297 348 281 www.atlas-movers.com

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 8

18-08-2021 14:03

SEPTEMBER 2021 | 9

HOUSING

The pros and cons of buying a house in the Netherlands with an online mortgage Applying for a mortgage to buy a house in the Netherlands used to mean endless meetings, form filling and extended email conversations. But today you can sort out the finances entirely from the comfort of your own home.

The coronavirus pandemic and the need to move mortgage applications online led to the idea behind MyDutchMortgage. online, the Netherlands’ first fully-online mortgage broker. The result, a year in the making, is a streamlined service that covers the process from start to finish, and which can be completed by first-time buyers at a time and place convenient to them. But is it really that easy? What are the pros and cons of using an online mortgage broker to buy a house in Amsterdam, Eindhoven or The Hague?

Easy to use For a start, using an online mortgage broker like MyDutchMortgage.online is best suited to you if you are a first-time buyer in regular employment, with a permanent or at least a one-year contract.

Because you have no history on the Dutch mortgage market, your case should be straightforward and easy to deal with – making a smooth, online system the obvious way forward – as long as you are internet-savvy, of course.

If you are self-employed, work via an agency or have lots of cash money to spend, your situation is more complicated. A face to face meeting with a personal mortgage advisor will give you a better overview of your options.

Applying for a mortgage in the Netherlands online is also only open to people who are officially resident here. Again, a personal advisor can help you better if you are a ‘non-dom’ and looking to buy.

Secure Applying for a mortgage online can be cheaper than going through a regular broker. MyDutchMortgage, for example, charges less than €2,000 for the complete package – and you only pay once the deal has been signed, sealed and delivered. So you can fill in the application form and upload all your documents without paying a penny.

A regular mortgage application via a bank or traditional broker may cost around €3,000 with all extra costs are included.

Bear in mind too that a traditional mortgage advisor will offer a free intake, but after that the fees will start mounting up.

Self-service Of course, the biggest advantage of applying for a mortgage online is that you can fill in the forms at a time that suits you – without having to worry about completing them in one go, or about dealing with paperwork in a foreign language.

MyDutchMortgage.online, for example, is a completely English-language service.

Once signed up, you can go through the process in six easy steps, filling in information whenever you like – even if you have been up half the night on a conference

answers to diffic lt VvE is short for Vereniging van Eigenaren (Association of Owners) and is an umbrella body that represents the common interests of all owners in a residential building.

But what does a VvE do exactly? What is the difference between an apartment and a house? And what should you look out for when buying a home? We answer your questions in this article. Learn more about important documents relating to the VvE and the importance of a ‘sleeping’ or healthy VvE on your mortgage application.

1. What is the difference between a house and an apartment?

Did you know that 88% of all homes in Amsterdam are apartments? This means that only 12% of homes are single-family homes. When you buy a single-family home, you become the owner of the whole. In other words: from the foundation to the roof, including the contents and (possibly) the garden. Are you buying an apartment?

Then you buy a share in the building. Everything in the apartment is yours, but the outside – also called the casco or hull – belongs to the VvE. 2. What does a VvE entail?

When buy an apartment, you automatically become a member of the VvE. This association is responsible for the management and maintenance of the building and common areas, such as stairwells, elevators or communal roof terraces. It thus promotes the common interests of the owners living in the building. In addition, the VvE – its board or a committee appointed by the board – draws up internal regulations or rules of life. The board is elected from amongst the owners during a meeting of all members (AGM). Has a decision been made? Then all residents of the building must abide by this.

3. Which documents are required when buying an apartment within a VvE? Do you live in a multi-owner building? Then the building is split up and all owners are registered separately at

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 9

call with the US. And if you can’t face answering questions about the different types of mortgages on offer in the Netherlands – yes, some of the paperwork is pretty tedious but required by law – you can always move on to the next section and come back to it later.

More importantly, because all the digital paperwork is kept in one place, there is no risk of losing important documents either on your desk or in the cloud.

Convenient It goes without saying that if the thought of applying for a mortgage to buy a house in the Netherlands online seems too daunting, or if your situation is more complicated because you have property to sell, then the traditional mortgage broker remains your best option.

However, shop around to get the best price (look out for all those added extras) and make sure that your broker is truly independent, so you get the best possible deal.

Buying a home and taking out a first-time mortgage can be stressful at the best of times, so do whatever you can do to make the process as straightforward and as convenient as possible. Online or offline – there are pros and cons to each approach.

Written by Chiel Versteege myDutchMortgage.Online

estions a o t the

the Land Registry. Your rights and obligations as the owner of the apartment can be found in the division deed (splitsingsakte) and the division regulations. Before you buy an apartment, you can ask for these documents at the selling agent or the Land Registry. There are other important VvE documents you should check when buying an apartment, such as: - Recent annual financial reports and AGM minutes of the VvE – Long-term maintenance plan (MJOP) – Insurance policies – House rules (Huishoudelijk reglement or HHR) Please note: not all of the above documents are drawn up by every VvE. Some are mandatory, such as a deed of division and home insurance. Other documents are not, such as house rules or an MJOP. 4. What do I have to look out for regarding the VvE? There is a lot to consider when buying a new home. Take the time to read all documents carefully, in particular the VvE documents. For example, it is wise to check who manages the VvE and to go through minutes of the last meetings. It is also a good idea to check whether there are funds set aside for future maintenance and how it much.

A sizeable reserve means that you do not have to deposit extra money in the event of (unforeseen) maintenance issues. Look carefully at the ratio between reserved funds and expected costs. For example, a VvE may have € 100,000 set aside for future maintenance. That sounds like a lot of money, but when there are a hundred apartments in the building, the amount per home is relatively low.

Also take a good look at the maintenance plan and house rules. The maintenance plan states what maintenance will be carried out in the near future. The house rules provide more clarity about, for example, whether renting out the house is allowed.

5. What about the mortgage application?

Are you going to buy or sell an apartment? Then check whether the VvE is healthy and active. If that is not the case, this can create challenges when applying for your mortgage financing. Since January 2018, a VvE must have an up-to-date maintenance plan. No plan? Then the owners must save 0.5% of the rebuilding value per year.

A healthy VvE must also meet at least once very few years and keep a (financial) administration.

When selling, this is part of a good preparation: make sure that the above documents are immediately available so that a buyer can go through the financing process more easily – which will make it easier for you as a seller to conclude the sale.

In practice, it appears that not all owners are aware of the rights and obligations that a VvE entails. At Von Poll Real Estate, all brokers know the latest developments and will – of course – point these out to you when buying or selling your home.

Personal advice Are you thinking of buying or selling a house? Want to know more about matters such as the VvE? www.von-poll.nl

18-08-2021 14:10

HSV INTERNATIONAL PRIMARY SCHOOL Website: hsvid.nl

Admissions email: id-admissions@hsvdenhaag.nl; telephone: 070 318 4951

TLS/Preschool Three Little Ships - Ages 3 to 4

VHS/Van Heutszstraat - Ages 4 to 11

KSS/Koningin Sophiestraat - Ages 4 to 11

LSE/Lighthouse Special Education - Ages 3 to 13

VNS/Van Nijenrodestraat - Ages 4 to 11

NSL/Nassaulaan - Ages 4 to 11 PRESCHOOL THREE LITTLE SHIPS

LIGHTHOUSE SPECIAL EDUCATION

threelittleships.nl

lighthousese.nl

#ASHexperience

#thejourneymatters

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

Admission now open for 2021/22.

Nursery, Reception and Year 1 spaces available. britishschool.amsterdam +31 (0) 20 67 97 840

ash.nl THT7_2021 _CS.indd 10

18-08-2021 14:04

SEPTEMBER 2021 | 11

NATIONAL

More companies introducing compulsory vaccination Demand for vaccination?

Ever since corona vaccination has become available for everyone, there have been various instances in which businesses have required their employees to have compulsory vaccination in order to work, or they have asked proof of full vaccination for customers. For example, several tour companies and an Utrecht dance school, owned by Peter Vlug, refused to accept customers who were not completely vaccinated.

Alex Geert Castermans, Professor of Civil Law at Leiden University, states that if the establishment belongs to a person, then they refuse entry. Casterman adds that if someone owns a dance school, for example, they are under no obligation to enter into a contract with unvaccinated people. Contract law gives entrepreneurs a lot of latitude, as long as they don’t discriminate or break privacy laws.

Gerrard Boot, a Leiden Professor of Employment Law, states that it is not possible for an employer to demand to see a vaccination certificate, as this would undermine the privacy law (GDPR) that protects employees data. Human Rights institutes support this further as they believe employees cannot be fired for refusing to show a vaccine certificate.

Additionally, an employee cannot require an employer to vaccinate other employees,

despite the fact that an employee has the right to a safe work environment. Health Minister Hugo de Jonge stated: “We do not want a vaccination obligation, not even an indirect one. People should never feel compelled to prove they have been vaccinated.”

In the run-up to the elections, the outgoing cabinet’s liberal wing argued that those who had been vaccinated should be given additional liberties. Other political parties have spoken against vaccinations as a way to get more liberties. They spoke against direct and indirect compulsory vaccination. MP Joba van den Berg states that it “is desirable that entrepreneurs and companies do their best to offer people alternatives to a vaccination requirement.”

An I&O Research study in July 2020 revealed that 12 percent of Dutch people who do not want to be vaccinated do so mainly out of mistrust about the vaccine and its long-term consequences.

Vaccination is a choice?

To further reinforce the notion of vaccination as a choice, article eleven of the Dutch constitution states the right to inviolability of the body. Article eight of the European Convention on Human Rights states that every person has the right to determine his own physical integrity.

However, according to individuals involved

in travel companies, full vaccination is requested for employees and travellers, since it makes everyone feel safer. Camping expert ACSI, which is organizing roughly forty group trips throughout Europe for Dutch and German campers this year, is one of the companies requiring immunization. “Both tour guides and participants indicated that they think it is important that everyone is vaccinated.

Then, you have to make a choice. If we hadn’t done it, we would have had more cancellations. The choice is more or less imposed on us by our customers and staff,” says manager Pieter Melieste.

The Ministry of Health opposes businesses implementing their own corona policies.

On the other hand, “we will not judge that this is not permitted,” a spokeswoman added. It’s still uncertain whether a vaccination requirement is lawful in this country. On this, legal scholars disagree. Some professors believe that, an alternative, such as a negative test result, should always be an option. Others stress the autonomy of businesses in determining what constraints they impose on customers.

With the considerably more contagious Delta version, the proportions are unquestionably different. Experts believe that if a vaccinated person contracts this variant, they will spread it more quickly. As a result, the United States is

reconsidering making it compulsory for vaccinated people to wear a face mask.

Even vaccinated people are likely to carry a large amount of Delta virus particles for the first few days, although this amount decreases quickly compared to unvaccinated people.

“Delta has changed the rules of the game during the match,” says Martijn Luijsterburg, DNA researcher at the Leiden University Medical Centre. “The question is whether a super spreader spreads much less virus after vaccination,” says Luijsterburg. “We do not know that.

The bottom line is that vaccination does not offer a guarantee against infection.”

Written by Nicole Kerr

Holidays abroad dropped by half in 2020 In 2020, the number of holidays by Dutch people abroad fell to 11.7 million. This was 11.2 million less than in 2019.

The reason for this, of course, are the lockdown measures and border closures during the pandemic, that have severely affected the hospitality industry. This fall in the tourism figures had a serious impact on the economy, as it lowered tourism spending from 22.5 billion euros in 2019 to 10.3 billion euros in 2020.

In 2020, 1.4 billion overnight stays were spent in tourist accommodation in European countries. That was 52 per cent less than the previous year. The figures related to both business and holiday bookings and both domestic and foreign tourists More holidays in the Netherlands Unlike countries like Cyprus, Greece and Malta, that saw a decline in their tourism industry of over 70 per cent, the statistics have shown that the number of summer holidays in the Netherlands rose from 9.9 to 10.5 million, which

was an increase of 6 per cent in 2020 as compared to 2019. However, those to foreign destinations fell sharply from 13.7 to 4.4 during the same period. This was a 67 per cent decrease.

Specifically, Groningen, Drenthe and Overijssel saw an increase in the number of Dutch holidaymakers by 100,000 compared to 2019. Zeeland accounted for an increase of 185,000 while Friesland and South Limburg were both able to accommodate more than 200,000.

However, the largest decline in domestic tourism occurred in North Brabant and Flevoland. In 2020, these provinces received 160,000 and 75,000 respectively, fewer than the figures of 2019.

On the other hand, there was a fall of almost 60 per cent in the number of foreigners who came to visit the Netherlands, attributed especially to tourists from outside of Europe.

More holidays indoors than outdoors During the 2020 summer holiday, more Dutch tourists spent their time indoors. 30 per cent, or 660,000 tourists, spent their holidays in a hotel, while 11 per cent spent theirs in a holiday home.

The number of holidays in a motorhome grew to 140,000, accounting for an increase of 68 per cent over the previous year, while the number of holidays spent in mobile homes fell by 17 per cent. Camping fell by 11 per cent and the use of group accommodations fell by a whopping 70 per cent.

Increase of booking in advance In the summer of 2020, the number of Dutch holidaymakers who had booked in advance grew by 7.5 per cent, from 6.4 million in 2019. Most bookings were done close to the date of departure, with 64 per cent of the bookings done within one month before departure. This was significantly higher compared to 43 per cent of 2019.

Most likely, people waited with their bookings until they were sure there would be no corona measures hindering their trips. But with the high demand of holidays within the Netherlands, advance booking was essential.

More couples without children The number of domestic holidays where partners travelled together without children grew from 3.2 to 4.1 million, which was 30 per cent higher than the previous year.

Clearly, some people needed a break from homeschooling their children!

However, the number of Dutch tourists who went on their summer holiday alone fell from 520,000 in 2019 to 660,000 in 2020. This was a decrease of more than 20 per cent.

Written by Stephen Swai

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 11

19-08-2021 09:51

Get the royal treatment during your relocation Royal De Gruijter is one-stop shop for all your expatriation requirements.

Whatever your requirements for immigrating to the Netherlands, Royal De Gruijter offers the full spectrum of relocation-related services to private individuals, small to mid-size businesses, and large multinational organisations with employees around the globe.

Contact us for a consultation or advice: +31 (0)71 – 589 93 13 | relocations@degruijter.nl www.degruijter.nl

Furniture Rental

RELOCATING TO THE EINDHOVEN AREA? DO IT THE BIG5 WAY! think big, think Big5

Big5 Relocations is a young and dynamic independent organisation with a wide personal and professional network in the Eindhoven region. We offer a personalised approach of relocation services including home&school search, pre-assignment visit of the Eindhoven region and settling-in, through our experienced and professional relocation consultants. www.big5relo.com | servicedesk@big5relo.com | +31 (0) 40 235 15 05

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 12

› Rent from 2 weeks up to 5 years › Ready to live in! › Basic Package or Tailor-Made › Handyman & Maid Service › Nationwide deliveries

+31(0)488 452 586 | info@furniturelease.nl www.furniturelease.nl

18-08-2021 10:24

SEPTEMBER 2021 | 13

NATIONAL

Bureaucratic backlash As if authored by Kafka himself, foreigners and Dutch nationals returning to the Netherlands have landed in a bureaucratic nightmare. According to Dutch law, every new resident, whether they are a foreigner or a Dutch citizen returning to the Netherlands, is required to register at their municipality’s Basisregistratie Personen (BRP) or Personal Records Database, if they will be staying longer than four months. If they fail to register within five days of arrival, individuals risk a fine of 240 euros. For the registration, applicants are required to appear in person and the municipality office and identify themselves with official documents such as a passport. They also have to prove their residence in the municipality with either a rental agreement or ownership contract of a home.

Before the Corona pandemic, registration within five days was not a problem.

However, since the implementation of 1.5-meter-restrictions, municipalities have been restricted visits to city halls, requiring citizens to first make an appointment. That by itself created a greater workload for civil servants. But since June, after travel restrictions for Dutch citizens were lifted, the same municipal authorities have been faced with an avalanche of requests for travel documents. Many travellers found their passports had expired during lockdown and urgently needed new documents to go

on their long-awaited holidays. With the reopening of society, many local offices in major Dutch cities, especially cities with universities and international companies, are now swamped with requests for travel documents. This results in a backlog in registering new foreign students and expats, as well as Dutch nationals returning home after residing abroad.

Whereas in the past, civil servants could easily register newcomers within five days of arrival, now the delay in inperson appointments has grown in some towns to almost six weeks. Although it is understandable that municipalities are dealing with unprecedented circumstances, for the individuals required to register the delay causes farreaching problems. Without a formal BRP registration, foreigners cannot apply for health insurance, cannot get vaccinated, cannot open a bank account, cannot start a job, cannot buy a car and car insurance, and cannot register their children in school. After all, it’s only when someone registers with the BRP, they are given a Burgerservicenummer (BSN) or Social Security Number. Just as in many other countries, without a BSN, citizens stumble in a Kafkaesque labyrinth, one they cannot find their way out of.

bureaucratic backlash is causing serious trouble. The university offers more than 150 Master’s programs in English, which attract many international students. For the 2020-2021 academic year, due to the lockdown the university was forced to offer most of its courses online. However, for the 2021-2022 academic year, the University of Amsterdam eagerly welcomed students back on its website using slogans such as “come to Amsterdam” and advertising “oncampus education without restrictions”.

Now, the 4,500 to 5,000 students that have traveled to Amsterdam and enrolled for the 2021-2022 academic year are forced to wait almost six weeks before they can officially register with the BRP. Although the university has notified students that they will not be required to register within five days of arrival and their legal status is not affected, they are expected to make an appointment for registry as soon as possible.

For international students wishing to study at the University of Amsterdam the

Nevertheless, international students who are staying in the Netherlands for more

than four months, are still faced with the problem that they are not able to open a bank account. For some students this might not be a big issue as they can still get cash from an ATM from a bank in their home country. But if students get sick and need medical treatment in a hospital, they have a problem, as foreigners are required to have a BSN to visit a doctor or get treatment at a hospital. To ease the stress foreign students might have, the University of Amsterdam provides international students with a step-by-step guide, which anticipates anything that can go wrong and what kind of alternatives can be taken, including encouraging them to have an international insurance policy that covers their stay in the Netherlands. Hopefully, the Covid-19restrictions and the registration issues are only temporary. Bureaucracy, on the other hand, is not.

Written by Benjamin Roberts

Co van der Horst opens Molteni Experience on the Zuidas

high-end interiors with the most beautiful view in the Netherlands International, high-quality and state of the art: you’ll find it all on the Zuidas.

After the successful opening of Flexform in 2017, Co van der Horst is establishing a new flagship store in the area. Together with Molteni&C|Dada, he will open the ‘Molteni Experience’ – an international design premiere. This unique interior concept will come to life in 2022 in the iconic Valley building. That’s what rising to great heights means!

Molteni&C|Dada has flagship stores in New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Dubai, Milan and Paris. The Molteni Experience Amsterdam is designed by international top architect Vincent van Duysen.

Spectacular Owner Stephan van der Horst says: “The double floor on the highest two floors of the Valley building, including a 12-meter high atrium, lends itself perfectly to create the atmosphere of Molteni&C. With over 800 m2 on the ground floor, 26th and 27th floor – including a private elevator, a sky apartment, heritage museum and a restaurant & bar – it will be the most beautiful design experience in Europe.”

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 13

Italian allure and craftsmanship The Italian family-owned business Molteni&C|Dada has been designing and producing unique furniture for more than 80 years. The collection includes design classics, contemporary masterpieces and modular cabinet systems, but also luxury kitchens and (home) workplaces.

Molteni&C|Dada is known for its collaborations with designers such as Gio Ponti, Jean Nouvel, Rodolfo Dordoni, Patricia Urquiola and Vincent van Duysen.

a one-stop shop for kitchens, bathrooms, custom fireproofing solutions, art, parquet floors and image & sound.

Co van der Horst Binderij 2, Amstelveen www.covanderhorst.nl Flexform Flagship Store Beethovenstraat 396, Amsterdam www.flexformamsterdam.nl Molteni Experience (from 2022) Beethovenstraat 305, Amsterdam www.molteni.amsterdam

Valley is an innovative and sustainable building with mixed functions, combining homes, shops and office spaces. Co van der Horst is the interior partner of Valley and has designed three ‘Inspiration Residences’, each in a different style. In addition to personal interior advice, Co van der Horst offers extensive design services. Valley residents can choose an interior lease plan.

Family business Co van der Horst was founded in 1905 and is currently led by the fourth generation, brothers Edwin and Stephan. Co van der Horst is a household name in the design world and carries the title Purveyor to the Court. Together with its in-house partners, Co van der Horst is

18-08-2021 11:23

Relocating? Discover how your transfer can be a smooth experience…use the RAFTS® app!

RAFTS® will make your journey into a breeze…

Embassy

Docs

Office

...using the RAFTS® app, all aspects of the journey will be taken care of, so you can focus on other important things!

Moving to a new country can be a bumpy ride...!

RAFTS® is a product of the Expat Center for The Netherlands to make the transfer to The Netherlands as efficient and intelligent as humanly possible. Call Expat Center or your HR department for information and/or access.

CALL THE EXPAT CENTER ON +31(0)20 4411426

info@expatcenter.nl • www.expatcenter.nl Fred. Roeskestraat 115 • 1076 EE Amsterdam

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 14

18-08-2021 14:05

SEPTEMBER 2021 | 15

COLUMN

How to run an environmentally friendly small business This summer has brought the harsh realities of climate change to light like never before. ildfires across Greece and Turkey, flooding in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, and unprecedented temperatures across the globe. It’s easy for ‘ecoanxiety’ to take over, rendering us hopeless and fearful for the future. But while the majority of the responsibility - and potential for positive changes - lies with large corporates, there’s still a number of steps we can take as individuals to play our part.

If you run or work for a small business, here are some measures to consider.

days the project will last. The journey time is also a factor: if the client is a short drive away, it’s easier to justify than a 2 hour plane. Where possible, opt for trains over planes. Once again, the benefits aren’t just environmental: you can work thanks to free WiFi, and you can also make the most out of the time you would have spent boarding and ueuing at airports. f flying is a must due to your destination, fly direct where possible, and make use of airlines’ carbon offsetting schemes. When at your destination, use public transport instead of taxis, and look for certified green accommodation.

Reduce trips through virtual meetings The pandemic has shown us that pretty much all meetings can be conducted virtually if necessary.

It’s not as ‘gezellig’ as face-to-face, but it’s a simple way to reduce the need to travel to meetings. If you feel like you’re losing out on the personal touch, consider sending clients or colleagues a gift to their house or office, to enjoy during your virtual meeting. Chocolates and tea work well and it’s a more sustainable way to show you mean business than travelling across Europe for an hour’s meeting. Virtual meetings are also said to be more productive than their IRL counterparts, mainly because there’s less need for small talk at the beginning and end of the meeting. This way, you can fit more meetings into less time, helping with your work-life balance as well as taking the more sustainable route.

Work with sustainable clients If your business involves choosing your own clients, consider creating a pledge stating you’ll only work with sustainable clients. This obviously isn’t applicable to all businesses, but for the ones who do have the ability to choose, this simple step can make a big difference. A number of creative agencies in Amsterdam, for example, focus on sustainable clients as their unique selling point proof that taking a stand in business doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your revenue. ou might even find that this helps you land additional clients who are particularly aligned with your values.

Opt for lower carbon travel options When meeting face-to-face is a necessity, there are still a number of steps you can take to ensure your journey is as environmentally friendly as possible. First of all, ensure you’ve got a clearly defined framework for working out if a face to face meeting is really needed. Measure based on possible revenue from this client, or how many

perate a sustainable of ce Whether you work from home, from a co-working space, or have your own office, there are endless small steps that add up to a big impact. Where possible, buy products that are made of recycled or sustainable materials, or that can be recycled. f you’re furnishing your office space, consider finding a thrifted or second hand desk and chair to reduce environmental impact. Avoid printing where you can, and instead opt for digital contracts. It’s much easier for both you and your clients, and you’ll never have to worry about losing your records, because they’re safely stored across

your devices. If you’re a product-based business, consider sustainable options when it comes to packaging and delivery - most customers won’t mind if you don’t offer next-day shipping!

Continue to educate yourself As the world changes, so does advice around sustainability and running an environmentally friendly office. Stay plugged into the news, and consider ways in which you can help or contribute during natural disasters. Engage with thought leaders on this topic, and stay open to new perspectives and advice, even if you might initially consider it too complicated. On social media, follow accounts like Impact, The Zero Waste Guide, Tolmeia Gregory, and Chicks for Climate (aimed at women specifically). Don’t beat yourself up for slipping up, either - becoming a sustainable business takes time and effort, and won’t happen overnight. The most thing is to do your best to make a contribution to the cause, and inspire others around you to do the same. After all, it all adds up.

Written by Phoebe Dodds Founder of BURO155

The best time on the beach continues to push the waves up onto the shore just like it did millions of years ago, when the North American and European continents broke apart from each other. When there are very few people on the beach, it’s easy to begin to wonder how the Dutch coast with its protective dunes formed thousands of years ago.

The best time on the beach is right now – right after a storm has just passed. Sure, being on the beach during the warmer days is great – albeit a little crowded for my beach-going preference – but that’s almost a given, maybe even cliche.

But right after a storm has passed through is my favourite time to be on the beach, especially if the storm was really strong!

First, after a storm the beach has very few people on it. When the days are cooler and the tourist season is over, that’s when the beach is almost always empty. Perhaps the residents of Noordwijk are so used to going to the beach in rain, wind or shine that they can pass up a few stormier days and wait for better weather. Or maybe some of them just don’t like rainy, windy weather.

Whatever the reason, the beach is usually close to empty, which means that the beach is all yours.

It’s amazing to walk up and down the beach while the wind is still blowing hard and the waves are crashing. The roars from the waves are endless and seem to cascade over themselves. The wind

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 15

I’ve written before about the Dutch coast and the respect and reverence I had for it back then has only been magnified after two plus years of having lived here. Throw in a pandemic where I spent many days and weeks walking up and down the coast thinking and wondering – in both good and bad weather – and I’ve come to really love the beach and the sea here on the Dutch coast, to the point where I can’t see myself living away from the coast.

I love that the beach offers people much-needed time off and serves as a vacation spot, especially during the pandemic when for a long time we were permitted to travel only in our own countries.

And yes, when people visit there’s always some trash left behind, some dog poop on the seaside pedestrian walkways and other evidence of large groups of vacationers. And yes, all of this can be annoying. But these mild annoyances are not the primary reason why I like the beach when it’s less crowded.

During the off season, when the infamous Dutch weather is amplified along the coast, combined with the school year beckoning families to return back home, the beach is still there. The waves are still crashing onto the coast. The tide continues to ebb and flow. The sandbars and ripe tides

continue to shift and move in unpredictable ways. The sand dune changes formation as the winds dictate. And – especially if a storm has just passed – all of it to the orchestra of the sounds of the waves as they crest and tumble off themselves, echoing up and down the coast. It’s an amazing experience, especially if you take a long hike.

In one of the most densely populated countries on the planet, in one of most popular areas of the world to live, you are right here with nature in its rawest and purest forms. If you walk along the beach, close to the waterline, your feet sometimes sink into the sand a few millimeters.

This is when you really feel like you’re attached to nature. You are standing on the edge of nature – where the sand meets the seas meets the sky and is swirled together by the storm that just passed. If it’s not too rainy or foggy, you can see patches of rain clouds as they pass along the coast. You can sometimes see actual storm cells pass by, over and along the coast.

The coast is dozens of kilometers long, so if you’re standing on right on the water line and look up and down the coast, then up and around, you’ll realize that most of what you see is nature. And if you walk further, away from the hotels, you feel as far away from ‘it all’ as you can possibly be. It’s pretty cool. I highly recommend visiting the beach after a storm has passed! Just check live feeds from the nearest beach and check the weather radar!

Written by Marla Thomson Marla Thomson is a freelance writer

18-08-2021 21:28

16 SEPTE

E

e are very excited to confirm the Embassy Festival . Despite ovid adjustments and restrictions we have managed to create a festival that captures the spirit and atmosphere of the Embassy Festival as you know and love it. The day festival has been split into separate activities.

TO

UR

On Friday the rd of September we have our Embassy Festival TO and on Saturday the th of September the Embassy Festival E PE EN E which will consist of time slots of hours each. ore than countries are participating this year with food, drinks and dance, but we are sure to book soon, because tickets are very limited.

CE

Embassy festival con rmed in a unique and intimate style & EX PERIEN

Embassy Festival EXPERIENCE (4/9/21 - Lange Voorhout) ithout giving too much away, this year’s event will be very special. e have for you an amazing experience, with the beautiful mix of cultures, a variety of entertainment and the smell of beautiful foods that will fill the festival. The only difference this year is that you have to reserve a ticket for a seat before you can enter the festival. ou will be able to order food and drinks from the embassy’s menus using the Q code at your table. eanwhile entertainment such as singing, dancing and music will be moving in between your tables and interacting with you.

This years participating embassies for the E PE EN E are Azerbaijan, angladesh, osnia Herzegovina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, ndonesia, enya, exico, oldova, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Plurinational State Of olivia, ussia, Slovenia, Sudan, Tunisia, kraine And nited Arab Emirates.

Tickets for adults ( ) are , per person and children ( have to register but are welcome to join for free.

Tickets link - https://embassyfestival.com/experience/

and under)

Embassy Festival TOUR (3/9/21 - Various Locations in the Hague) This year we will have the first Embassy Festival Tour. From tours of the actual embassy building and food tasting in the gardens, to trying on national costumes and participating in the countries national activities and games. Anything is possible e have arranged an exciting route for you to visit some of the participating embassies. e recommend a bike for the tour route. Due to ovid rules and regulation we can only offer a limited number of tickets for this tour. Guests can come alone or with a group. This year the following embassies are participating in the Embassy TO Azerbaijan, Estonia, Panama, Plurinational State Of olivia And The epublic Of orea Tickets are , per person and you are re uired to bring identification ( D card or passport) to be allowed into some embassies.

Tickets link - https://embassyfestival.com/tour/ Embassy Festival RECIPE BOOKLET After a smashing success in our Embassy Festival at Home edition.

This year we are proud to introduce our nd edition of the E PE OO ET The Embassy Festival recipe booklet is put together by more than participating embassies, so that you can bring those international flavours to your home. Expect a world trip in a booklet with mouthwatering dishes from over more than countries ith the purchase of the booklet you also support the Embassy Festival.

Embassy festival recipe booklet , (discounts available for Embassy Festival Experience or Tour ticket holders) Order link - https://embassyfestival.com/product/recipe-booklet/

3

v 4 SEPTEMBER 2021

SCAN FOR MORE INFO

VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO FIND OUT MORE

EMBASSYFESTIVAL.COM

PARTICIPATING EMBASSIES EMBASSY FESTIVAL TOUR - 3 SEPTEMBER: AZERBAIJAN, ESTONIA, PANAMA, PLURINATIONAL STATE OF BOLIVIA AND SOUTH KOREA. EMBASSY FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE - 4 SEPTEMBER: AZERBAIJAN, BANGLADESH, BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA, EGYPT, ETHIOPIA, FINLAND, INDONESIA, KENYA, MEXICO, MOLDOVA, OMAN, PAKISTAN, PALESTINE, PLURINATIONAL STATE OF BOLIVIA, RUSSIA, SLOVENIA, SUDAN, TUNISIA, UKRAINE AND UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. EMBASSY RECIPE BOOKLET: ARGENTINA, AZERBAIJAN, BANGLADESH, BRAZIL, CZECH REPUBLIC, CHILE, COSTA RICA, CROATIA, CYPRUS, EGYPT, ETHIOPIA, FINLAND, GUATEMALA, HUNGARY, IRELAND, KENYA, LITHUANIA, MADAGASCAR, MALTA, NORWAY, NIGERIA, OMAN, PALESTINE, PERU, PHILIPPINES, PLURINATIONAL STATE OF BOLIVIA, POLAND, SLOVENIA, REPUBLIC OF KOREA, TUNISIA, UKRAINE, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES AND YEMEN.

PRODUCTION BY: THE LIFE I LIVE

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 16

18-08-2021 10:26

SEPTEMBER 2021 | 17

NICE SPOTS

Charming boutique hotel & spa in the centre of Texel Once in a while you meet them: friends you haven’t seen for a long time, but with whom you can pick up right where you left off. ho make you feel completely welcome from the first minute. Exactly that feeling of being at home is what Boutique Hotel Texel wants to show its guests.

“Taste the passion & feel at home” The enthusiasm with which our guests are welcomed is almost contagious. And that makes sense personal attention and care for our guests, nature and the environment are in our hearts. There are already enough hotels that are ‘as it should be’, Boutique Hotel Texel finds. Of course, uality and perfection are paramount here, but the motto that’s how we do it’ is even more important, says arianne angeveld, owner of outi ue Hotel Texel. ou notice this in the enthusiasm of the team, the personal attention for guests and products, the eco chic design and the great range of services in the hotel, with its own restaurant and spa, all completely energy neutral. uxury and Texel spirit go hand in hand here. One thing should be clear we don’t like mediocrity. Just as you don’t expect from good friends, do you ake up fully rested, with a view over the countryside, dunes and uni ue adden mudflats elax in the in house Spa oolness

or enjoy total relaxation in a superior suite with private terrace and sun shower outi ue Hotel Texel offers the best of three worlds: luxurious rooms and suites with a cosy atmosphere, fresh regional dishes from our own lands and a uni ue spa. ou find all of this in the middle of the island of Texel, a stone’s throw from nature reserves de Slufter and de uy and km from the seaside resort of De oog and the water village De ocksdorp.

Boutique Hotel Texel is not just located on Texel, it is completely intertwined with the island.

On yoru plate in our restaurant Gusta you will find beautiful dishes with the best ingredients that this adden island has to offer, fresh from our own farm or from elsewhere on the island. ased on the Dutch cuisine principle, our chef and his team cook with passion, according to the seasons. n our wellness, Spa oolness, you will enjoy innovative treatments based on island ingredients. How about a wool bath in real Texel full fat sheep’s wool or a warm full body lanolin wrap And of course the team is happy to tell you the best insider tips for a one of a kind day out on the island.

Talking about ‘friends for life’ may be going a bit far, but with Boutique Hotel Texel we come very close.

hen asked what we give our guests, our answer is: a home base to discover the island, to experience the beauty of Texel, just as we locals are in love with our little hideaway. A place to linger, relax and take care of your body and your mind. A place that doesn’t really let you go – but when you leave, you really feel like you’re returning home after a long time. A feeling you only experience when everything was really perfect. www.hoteltexel.nl

Hotel Flora Batava: history, nature and contemporary luxury in a boutique hotel on the Vecht

After a thorough renovation, Hotel Flora Batava has welcomed its first guests this spring. The boutique hotel is located on the Vijverhof estate in Nieuwersluis, on the edge of reukelen.

A romantic getaway for two, a staycation or something to celebrate with friends? The traditions of hospitality come back to life in this charming villa on the river echt. The year old national monument offers space for rooms and suites, restaurant Bloei, and two meeting rooms, and is set within a large garden with a terrace and tea house on the water.

Rooms and interior design Hotel owner Inge van de Ven had been toying with the idea for years to restore the old, dilapidated country estate and give it a hotel function. The renovation started in , with the botanical history of the estate as a starting point. This theme has been implemented throughout the villa from the menu of in house restaurant Bloei to the hotel logo and details of the interior. The stylish rooms range from intimate to luxurious. ith six room types, there

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 17

is always a stay that meets your needs: cosy, comfort, superior, junior suite, suite or junior suite split level. All rooms have large windows.

Some have original beamed ceilings or ceiling ornaments, others have patio doors to the garden or a French balcony with a unique view of the garden, patio or river. alm colours and botanically inspired art create a modern and elegant look.

Restaurant Bloei In restaurant Bloei guests can sit down for an extensive breakfast, luxurious lunch, high tea or inspiring dinner. The high ceilings and the large glass conservatory create a cosy and contemporary atmosphere in the restaurant.

Bloom’s kitchen uses carefully selected regional and seasonal ingredients. The menu has been composed by chef Otto Genz, focusing on his passion for the versatility of Dutch products.

The chef and his team aim to surprise guests with dishes characterized by stylish simplicity, elegance and pure flavours. hen the weather is nice, you can sit outside on one of the two spacious terraces, totalling m .

Botanical history From the terraces you can enjoy the flower garden, which has been restored to its former glory using a design by landscape architect Patricia Debie. The charming garden surrounding the villa has a rich botanical history.

Agnes Block, who founded the country estate in 1670, turned out to be a skilled breeder of rare and exotic plants. Through barter and trade with merchants and botanists, she collected hundreds of plant and flower species from all over the world in her gardens. This is how the name Flora atava came into being. At the country estate, Agnes was the first in Europe to grow a flowering pineapple. This is why the restaurant bears the name loei. The pineapple has also inspired the hotel logo. oincidentally, the pineapple has been a symbol of hospitality for centuries. ith personal service of paramount importance, the tradition of hospitality at Flora atava is revived.

Unforgettable experience ou can enjoy the passing boats on the echt in the tea house on the river. nwind with a cup of coffee and cake or opt for a good glass of wine with something delicious from the drinks menu. eetings or celebrations are also possible in the two specially e uipped rooms.

The quiet but central location of Flora Batava and the possibility to conclude the day with a saloon boat trip makes every meeting special.

Out and about ent a sloop at the hotel, and sail straight to the Loosdrechtse Plassen lakes via the echt river. Or hop on an (electric) bicycle to explore the area. ith its many fortresses, castles, country estates and windmills, the Vecht region resembles a large open air museum. ith its location between Amsterdam and trecht, Flora atava is the perfect base for those who want to combine city and nature. www.florabatava.com

18-08-2021 11:24

The freedom of renting Aan het IJ Properties in the new neighbourhood, Aan het IJ, in the north of Amsterdam, are available for rent.

The Line is almost completed, so you’ll have the opportunity to move in soon. The Line offers many luxuries. Renters gain access to a fully equipped apartment, which boast a decadent kitchen, toilet, and bathroom, as well as high quality PVC floor.

The Line is an elegant, slender building with high windows, a golden complexion and a distinctly light appearance.

The offering ranges from 2, 3 and 4 room apartments from approximately 60 to 129 m2 in size. The monthly rates range from € 1,250.- to € 2,195.- excluding amenities and potential extras. Parking spaces are offered with limited availability for € 150.- a month.

Interested? For more information visit the website.

aanhetij.com

Renting at the Entrepothaven The unique location at which the urban island Cruquius finds itself is approximately 10 minutes away from Amsterdam’s city center. It’s a place where the industrial harbor character comes together with modern luxury.

A place where you can feel free and enjoy the relaxation of island living, with restaurants and cafés with character, a supermarket and a gym all within walking distance. Admire the integration of water throughout your new neighbourhood.

Thinking of renting property on Cruquius island?

The offering ranges from different types of luxury apartments, from studios to 4 room apartments.

You can also share the spaces in the 2Peer building offer options for cohabitation. Shared spaces are offered starting at 995 euros a person (all-in price).

cruquius.nl

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 18

18-08-2021 10:27

SEPTEMBER 2021 | 19

ART & CULTURE

Exhibition Hubert Wurth (paintings) and Charlotte Burgmans (wall objects) at Bos Fine Art

Untitled by Hubert Wurth From Thursday 16 September until Sunday 3 October 2021 at Bos Fine Art, an exhibition will take place with paintings from Hubert Wurth and wall objects from Charlotte Burgmans.

Hubert Wurth About his work, Hubert Wurth says “My way of portraying space is through abstract painting. The surface challenges and guides me, the two dimensions enforce strictness.

Freed from the direct bondage of representation, abstraction is nevertheless a reflection of the life we have.”

Diplomat-artist or artist-diplomat?

Hubert Wurth (born in Luxembourg 1952) is self-taught.

He learned how to paint from his father, who was an artist in addition to his work as a judge. After his law studies, he has been a diplomat throughout his working life. With posts in, among others, Moscow, The Hague, Paris, London, New York and Vienna. But in addition to his work, he always continued to paint and draw and had several (inter) national expositions, among others in The Hague and in Amsterdam. Now he is back again as artist with a special exhibition at the Hofvijver at Bos Fine Arts in the Hague.

As a child, Hubert Wurth already loved to abstract with straight lines and rectangular lines. This can also be seen in his works 60 years later. Sharp, full of sharp corners and lines, sometimes as thin as the blade of a knife.

In his Moscow time as Ambassador of Luxembourg, he got to know the Russian constructivists. This greatly influenced his work. Then in the Netherlands he was inspired by the work of Jan Dibbets.

His recent paintings are made with a combination of oil on canvas and collages of newspaper and magazine photos.

Newspapers were increasingly printed in full color in the 1990s and as a diplomat he was a ‘big user’ to keep himself informed of all the news in the world. The photos are used as pigments for the works.

The paintings are always abstract. There is no relationship with reality and do not look for a message. The works have no title and titles are not suitable and not applicable in the eyes of Hubert Wurth, you cannot describe abstract art in words.

Wurth held many exhibitions, like for instance in Luxembourg, Moscow, Helsinki, The Hague, Amsterdam, New York, Paris, Vienna Bratislavia, Salzberg, etc.

Charlotte Burgmans Charlotte Burgmans (Netherlands 1964) took art classes before she could even write. Since then, art has been part of her life. Burgmans is considered a self-taught artist, although she has taken art classes in many different disciplines, such as ceramics, drawing, painting, glass blowing

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 19

Untitled by Hubert Wurth and printmaking. The move to the United States in 2003 marked a major boost to her art career.

In California she attended master classes in painting, graphics and ceramics and successfully participated in so-called jury shows (in California, Texas, New York, etc.).

She had her first solo exhibition in October 2004. Burgmans has spent much of her career in California, currently working from her studio in the Netherlands. Her work is collected internationally in corporate and private collections.

The art style of Charlotte Burgmans has gone through an evolution. Her work currently consists of wall reliefs and abstract paintings.

About her work Charlote says: “The Organized Chaos series is the result of my desire to create connectedness and order out of chaos.”

Burgmans has always been interested in minimalism and the zero-art movement. This certainly influenced her work. In recent years she has mainly focused on wall reliefs and abstract works, in which lines, light and shadow play an important role.

Burgmans designs a geometric pattern for her wall reliefs, which she applies to the MDF surface. She makes tiles with self-drying clay, different lengths for each design, but always 1 to 2 mm thin.

She uses self-hardening clay that dries in the air for these ‘tiles’ and the strips in her wall reliefs. It has a high concentration of cellulose fibers. The advantage of this is that it hardly shrinks, it has a fine structure and you can adjust it completely to your liking during the drying process.

Untitled by Hubert Wurth

The wafer-thin tiles are deliberately made irregular by means of ridges. Finally, the tiles are fixed one by one in the pattern. The artworks contain hundreds of tiles. Museum-quality UV plexiglass is placed over the artwork for the important finishing touch. The spaces between the tiles are of great importance to give shadow and light free play. Every moment of the day the artwork looks different.

Bos Fine Art Korte Vijverberg 2, 2513 AB The Hague Opening hours: Thursday - Sunday from 12.00 - 18.00 hours Bos Fine Art (gallery since 1988) specializes in contemporary geometric abstract art. Bos Fine Art works with more than 100 artists from all over the world. Bos Fine Art organizes sales exhibitions from its galleries in The Hague, Utrecht and New York.

Written by Nanda Jagusiak-Monteiro A Circle Of Life by C. Burgmans

18-08-2021 12:43

Living in De Ananas is living in tranquility, space and luxury.

De Ananas represents contemporary living in style on the edge of the bustling city of Leiden. Style exuded by everything, from the architecture to the luxurious finish and materials. The same luxury pervades the apartments, including our type C 3 and 4-room apartments. A bright lounge with plenty of large windows and an open kitchen, 2 luxurious bathrooms, 3 bedrooms and a generous balcony ensure you will have ample space to enjoy.

The apartments situated on the upper floors offer superb views of the city, the ‘green heart’ of the Netherlands or the coastline.

Visit our new showroom to discover the possibilities and extras of De Ananas!

EXAMPLE: TYPE C 123-128 M2 FROM €529.915,-

City view from the 15th floor

Example: Type C11 128 m2 4-room apartment

For available apartements please see our website and register online! www.wonenindeananas.nl Make an appointment to vist our showroom.

T 071 - 405 15 00

DE ANANAS UITZICHT VERDIEPING 16 - NOORD

www

REAL ESTATE EXPERTS FOR EXPATS With more than 30 years of experience and consisting of a team of dedicated professionals, De Vries Robbé Real Estate Agents specializes in rentals and sales of houses and apartments in The Hague and the surrounding areas.

Our team will welcome you in our beautiful new office at the corner of the Frederikstraat and the Javastraat.

www.teilingenresidence.nl

De Vries Robbé Makelaars | Javastraat 47 | 2585 AE Den Haag 070 - 365 88 44 | info@vriesrobbe.nl | www.vriesrobbe.nl

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 20

18-08-2021 10:31

SEPTEMBER 2021 | 21

INTERVIEW

Interview with an expat What do you like about Dutch people?

What don’t you like?

When I moved here, I noticed how my Dutch friends, family, and colleagues took really good care of themselves. If they were ill, they stayed home and rested. They did not bring their work home and took long holidays.

They took the necessary time to be stronger and healthier. I admire this wonderful worklife balance.

Name: Rippy Dusseldorp Where do you come from and where do you live in the Netherlands?

I am from Edmonton, Canada. My Dutch husband and I met in Australia where we both were living with working holiday visas.

We lived in Den Haag for two years and moved to Leiden in 2003.

What’s your job/business?

I teach literature and writing classes to children and teens. I have always loved reading, learning, writing, and helping people. My company, Tumbleweed Writers, gives me the opportunity to combine these passions. hat was your rst time in the Netherlands? y first visit was in while was backpacking through Europe. Amsterdam was the only city I visited. Most of my time was spent meandering through the old centre and visiting the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum, and Vondelpark.

What is the nicest thing about the Netherlands?

I love how the country is so small and compact. There are many wonderful cities, villages, museums, beaches, and parks that you can comfortably visit in a day. And it is easy to travel from the Netherlands to the rest of Europe and the world.

This has been a lovely place to raise children.

It feels safe. Our kids grew up cycling to the houses of their friends, roaming around the city centre, paddling in boats on the canals, and going on adventures with far more freedom than they would have had in Canada. During our visits to Edmonton, we drive everywhere. In contrast, we did not even own a car in the Netherlands when the children were young. We just used our bikes, cargo bike (bakfiets), and public transport to get around.

In Canada, there was more of a culture of working through an illness or catching up with work during your time off. Once I had a fever and all I wanted to do was sleep, but I could not find a replacement teacher for my class in Montreal. Not wanting to disappoint my college or students, I boarded a fourhour flight and taught for five days. Since last year, the world is learning that this is not a good idea. But even before Covid, living here helped me have healthier boundaries.

It took a while for me to get used to the straightforward nature of the Dutch.

However, it is something I have come to appreciate.

Do you have a favourite restaurant in your city?

I enjoy Waag. The restaurant is in the old Weighing House, a public building where goods were weighed. It was built in the 17th century and has gorgeous architecture.

Where do you prefer to relax in your city?

I like going for walks in Cronesteyn Park and the Hortus Botanicus gardens. Both places give me a sense of peace.

What’s your favourite Dutch store?

My favourite stores are bookshops. De Kler is one I visit frequently. If you have young children, Silvester is worth a visit. ayflower is Leiden’s English bookshop.

What do you like to do on the weekend?

Trips to the beach, reading, watching movies, biking, and catching up with friends.

Who is your favourite Dutch person?

My husband.

But if I had to pick a person in the public eye, I would say the historian Rutger Bregman.

I like his inquisitive and positive view of the world. His perspective on William Golding’s classic Lord of the Flies, a book about a group of British boys trying to survive on a deserted island after their plane crashes, was a heartening paradigm shift. In the story, the teens descend into selfish, cruel, and violent behaviour. When Bregman read the book as a schoolboy, he believed Golding’s dark view of human nature. But when the

historian grew older, he learned more about the author and started to change his mind.

Curious if there had ever been a real-life situation with deserted teens, Bregman unearthed an Australian article from about a group of six boys from Tonga that had been shipwrecked for fifteen months. n contrast to Golding’s fictional depiction, the true story of these stranded teens is one of cooperation, competence, and caring.

Bregman writes about this fascinating story in his book, Humankind: A Hopeful History.

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

Roam the old streets of Leiden, visit the market ( ednesdays and Saturdays), see the Burcht castle, the museums such as Naturalis, the National Museum of Antiquities RMO, Boerhaave history of science museum, and the Ethnological museum, and the Hortus Botanicus. And rent a boat to see Leiden from the canals.

What is your favourite Dutch food? And what Dutch food do you dislike? y favourite is kibbeling, fried battered fish.

I am not a fan of bitterballen.

Do you celebrate Dutch holidays? What is your favourite?

We celebrate King’s Day. The activities happen right outside our house and my kids would wake up in the wee hours of the morning to claim their selling spot.

Where do you like to go out?

These days I like big open spaces like the beach and parks.

What famous Dutch place should you really go and see?

There are so many t’s difficult to choose, but I’ll go with open air museums. The ones we visited most often were Archeon, Zuiderzeemuseum, and Openluchtmuseum.

Best-kept secret in your city? hen first moved here, did not realize the strong connection Leiden has with the American Pilgrims. Some of the Pilgrims on the ayflower originally left from eiden after having lived here for some years. There is even a theory that the idea of Thanksgiving originated in Leiden where the Pilgrims witnessed 3 Oktober, the annual Leiden festival celebrating the end of the Spanish siege in October 1574. On the fourth Thursday of November, the Pieterskerk church holds a Thanksgiving Service honouring this historical Pilgrim bond. photo Rippy by Simona Graszl Interview by Marla Thomson

What’s the worst thing about the Netherlands?

It is small and compact and this has its downsides. When I lived in Canada, it was much easier to find a spot in the wild and spend the day feeling like I was the only person in the world. I am not sure I have ever had that feeling in the Netherlands.

Do you have Dutch friends?

Yes, I am fortunate to have quite a few.

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 21

18-08-2021 11:25

Matthew Shlian, Unholy 238, 2020

CODA

t/m 09.01.2022

coda-apeldoorn.nl/paperart

DE NIEUWE KERK EN AMSTERDAM MUSEUM PRESENTEREN

MAISON AMSTERDAM DE STAD DE MODE DE VRIJHEID DE NIEUWE KERK AMSTERDAM TENTOONSTELLING in samenwerking met NAJAAR 2021 VOORJAAR 2022

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 22

Founder

Maison Amsterdam wordt mede mogelijk gemaakt door bijdragen van

Mediapartner

18-08-2021 14:06

SEPTEMBER 2021 | 23

ART & CULTURE

MAISON AMSTERDAM major fashion exhibition | De Nieuwe Kerk A collaboration with the Amsterdam Museum and a wide range of fashion designers From Saturday 18 September 2021, De Nieuwe Kerk will be the country’s largest fashion house for more than six months: MAISON AMSTERDAM. City, fashion, freedom. The exhibition presents over 150 creations, historical and contemporary, that tell stories of Amsterdam as a fashion capital with its own, entirely unique signature. MAISON AMSTERDAM seeks out what is typically ‘Amsterdam’ about the fashion of this creative city. It is the rst large-scale fashion e hibition that has the city of msterdam at its core.

Strolling through the city In the exhibition you take a stroll through the city and through periods in time. Beginning on Dam Square, where De Nieuwe Kerk is located. And onwards, past places such as the Zeedijk, the Vondelpark and the Eastern Ports, each associated with their own specific fashion themes. ou dive into the nightlife of the roaring twenties and the heyday of the famous ’80s and ‘90s nightclubs RoXY and iT. You visit historic department stores, fashion shows and festivals, such as the Hartjesdagen and Keti Koti. What effect does freedom, but also unfreedom, have on fashion?

Haute couture meets youth culture Iconic haute couture and innovative designs take their place alongside revolutionary trends such as the mini skirt and the punk jacket. These are styles that were born from youth culture, such as the hippies on Dam Square, graffiti and the punk movement that left a visible trail through the city. The emphasis is on individual garments, each telling its own story through the eyes of the designer, or the wearer. Jeans, for example, purchased at the first jeans shop on the Warmoesstraat, or the iconic Rainbow Dress.

Nederlands Fotomuseum / © Ed van der Elsken Damrak Amsterdam, 1983 Collection | Designers from then and now MAISON AMSTERDAM presents historic masterpieces from the fashion collection of collaboration partner, the Amsterdam Museum, as well as a wide variety of contemporary designs. On display are creations by famous twentieth century couturiers such as Dick Holthaus, Edgar Vos, Frank Govers, Frans Molenaar and Max Heymans, and also internationally renowned designers of today, such as Bas Kosters, Iris van Herpen, Jan Taminiau, Viktor & Rolf. The new generation if featured prominently with designers like Amber Jae Slooten, Karim Adduchi, Ninamounah, Bonne Suits, Patta and Daily Paper. Furthermore, Amsterdam is hightighted as Denim City: the hotspot of famous denim labels such as G-Star. MAISON AMSTERDAM is open from Saturday 18 September 2021 until Sunday 3 April 2022.

For more information please visit www.nieuwekerk.nl

Martin Schoeller | Fotomuseum aan het Vrijthof ‘Survivors: Faces of Life after the Holocaust” 5 September 2021 - 31 January 2022 Fotomuseum aan het Vrijthof in Maastricht presents an exhibition of German portrait photographer Martin Schoeller from 5 September 2021 until 31 January 2022. With the exhibition ‘Survivors: Faces of Life after the Holocaust’, the museum shows 75 close-up portraits of Jewish men and women.

The intense, very large-format photographs put a face to survivors of the Holocaust.

Berthe Badehi©Martin Schoeller

Martin Schoeller is internationally known for his iconic, extreme close-up portraits of celebrities and lesser-known people. In the same style, the photographer has portrayed Holocaust survivors; frontal and hyper-realistic. The 75 unique life stories form a mosaic of personal memories and embody the most tragic events in modern human history.

At the end of World War II, survivors of the Holocaust emerged, as representatives of European Jewry, from the darkness of the ghettos, death trains, and concentration and extermination camps. The survivors found themselves in the harsh light of liberation. They had lost their loved ones and whole world and were now without family, community or home.

Yet the survivors did not sink into grief or despair.

They maintained their faith in humanity, did not seek revenge, and wanted to rebuild and rehabilitate their lives. They raised families, played an important role in the struggle for the establishment of the State of Israel and contributed to society; in Israel and the countries where they settled.

Rabbi Israël Meir Lau © Martin Schoeller

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 23

The Holocaust survivors ‘chose life’ and are a testament to the values of universal morality and a

strong belief in the human spirit. The poignant memories are seared into their bodies and souls forever, but the portraits also reveal their hopes for a better world and a new future at the same time.

Martin Schoeller (Munich, 1968) lives and works in New York and is one of the most prominent contemporary portrait photographers; with a ‘big head’ portrait technique. He studied photography at the Lette-Verein in Berlin and was an assistant to Annie Leibovitz from 1993 to 1996. His work has been widely awarded, included in leading collections and published in magazines such as Esquire, GQ, The New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone, TIME, Vanity Fair and Vogue. Schoeller was also associated with The New Yorker, after Richard Avedon. The photographer exhibits worldwide in museums and art fairs.

Fotomuseum aan het Vrijthof realizes exhibitions with social relevance. Current topics such as increasing intolerance, racism and anti-Semitism are in line with this. During the ‘Survivors’ exhibition, the photography museum is organizing an extensive framing program; developed and implemented by young people who shape their thoughts on this theme. With classical concerts, lectures, debates, guided tours, school activities and satellite exhibitions by photography students from the Netherlands and Belgium.

The photo project ‘Survivors’ is a collaboration with Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center. There is also a photo book with a foreword by Joachim Gauck, former Federal President of Germany. The monumental book is a visual reference work for future generations. www.fotomuseumaanhetvrijthof.nl

18-08-2021 16:00

Nowhere else in the world is the enjoyment of art so intense, due to the phenomenal collection and the beautiful locations in the heart of nature

1.

3.

2.

4.

6.

2.

5.

4.

7.

9.

10.

1. Marino Marini Horse and rider 1951-1955 2. Bart van der Leck The cat, 1914 3. Roni Horn Opposites of white, 2006-2007

8.

4. Vincent van Gogh Terrace of a café at night (Place du Forum), September 1888 5. Pablo Picasso Guitare, 1919 6. Jean Dubuffet Jardin D’émail, 1974

7. Piet Mondriaan Composition in colour A, 1917 8.Vincent van Gogh Portrait of Joseph Roulin, 1889 9. Kenneth Snelson Needletower (detail), 1927 10. Georges Seurrat La Chahut, 1890 11. Vincent van Gogh View of Saintes Maries de la Mer, 1888

11.

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 24

18-08-2021 10:32

THE GREEN THE GREEN ART HEART ART HEART Kröller-Müller Museum, The Netherlands

MUSEUM FOR MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART With almost 400,000 visitors a year, the Kröller-Müller Museum is one of the most popular museum in the Netherlands. The unique combination of art, nature and architecture guarantees visitors a truly unforgettable experience.

The Kröller-Müller Museum is the lifework of Helene Kröller-Müller (1869 - 1939). Between 1907 and 1922 she and her husband Anton Kröller, bought almost 11,500 works of art; one of the largest private collections of the twentieth century. In 1938 Helene opened her ‘museum house’ to the public. Under her successors, the museum was extended several times with new buildings and an expansive sculpture garden. The collection grew into one of the leading collections in the field of modern art.

SECOND-LARGEST VAN GOGH COLLECTION OF THE WORLD ‘The Kröller-Müller Museum’s Van Gogh collection rivals that of the artist’s namesake museum in Amsterdam’, Lonely Planet, 2019 Vincent van Gogh was famously under recognized during his lifetime. Helene Kröller-Müller was one of the first admirers who began tot collect Van Gogh works from galleries and art dealers in Holland, Paris and Berlijn. She undoubtedly set in motion the recognition that has transformed Van Gogh into the world-renowned artist we know today. Thanks to the Kröller-Müllers the museum is home to the second-largest collection of Van Gogh artsworks in the world: nearly 90 paintings an more than 180 drawings.

In addition, the museum boasts top works by modern masters including Claude Monet, Georges Seurat, Pablo Picasso, Paul Signac, George Breitner, Bart van der Leck and Piet Mondriaan.

New acquisitions ensure a dynamic collection that follows close on the heels of contemporary art history. The entire spectrum; from Vincent to present day.

his strong focus on sculpture. This was Hammacher’s response to the post-war trend of exhibiting sculptures outdoors and experimenting with space, nature, and the interplay of light and seasons. The sculpture garden was opened in 1961 and generated considerable international interest. Acquisitions, exhibitions and publications from many American sculptors, such as Kenneth Snelson, David Smith, Richard Serra and George Rickey, followed one after another. These artists each played a major role in the renewal of sculpture in the 1960s and 1970s. The museum enables the construction of the famous Rietveld Pavilion in 1965. And made it possible for Jean Debuffet to become the first artist to develop his idea, then little more than a model, into a 600 square metresculpture that has since become a visitor favourite: Jardin d’émail. The outdoor gallery is now one of the largest sculpture gardens in Europe, boasting more than 160 works of art.

More information, admission prices and e-tickets via krollermuller.nl KRÖLLER-MÜLLER MUSEUM, OTTERLOO

The Netherlands is one of the top 10 travel destinations worldwide.

According to Lonely Planet, the Kröller-Müller Museum and De Hoge Veluwe National Park are among the best places to visit next year.

25-HECTARE OUTDOOR GALLERY In 1948, Bram Hammacher was appointed as the museum’s new director. He added a unique dimension to the museum with

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 25

18-08-2021 21:30

TEXTILE BIENNIAL 2021 FOOD FOR THOUGHT 2 9 Au g u s t 2 02 1 - 1 6 Jan u ar y 2 022 The latest edition of the Textile Biennial is on show in Museum Rijswijk from 29 August 2021 to 16 January 2022.

The Textile Biennial has never before focused on crucial issues in society as this year. In previous editions, the emphasis was on the craftsmanship and technique that artists use to create special works of art from textiles. But we live in turbulent times and that has made the Textile Biennial decide to delve into current issues and invite the artists at the Textile Biennial to show their views on society’s most important challenges.

winner of this Audience Award will hold a solo exhibition in the museum in 2022.

The theme of the Textile Biennial is Food for Thought.

Twenty artists show their vision on food production and consumption. Many artists worldwide are working on the subject of food; from more than a hundred entries in response to the Open Call, and from the curator’s network, artists have been selected, with an emphasis on the strength of the proposal’s content and the visual quality of the work. Textiles are the lasting, binding factor in all the works on display. Some works are dead serious, others humorous. Many works show an enormous social commitment; a number of artists invites the visitor to engage with their work.

The exhibition has four sub-themes: Investigative & Activist, Identity, Abundance & Discomfort, and Consolation/Punishment/Sin/Penance.

Ten artists will create new works especially for the exhibition. Four artists also participate in participation projects. Visitors can vote for their favourite artist. The

In the glass greenhouse on the forecourt of the museum, visitors to the Biennial can embroider the inspiration they have gained in the exhibition on a tablecloth.

There is an on-going workshop for both adults and children to make jewellery using vegetables, developed

by Marije Vogelzang.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a catalogue in Dutch and English, which, in addition to an introduction, includes a piece about each artist. The catalogue will be published shortly after the exhibition opening, because it will include all works made on site. The catalogue is published by Waanders & de Kunst, Zwolle.

Museum Rijswijk, Herenstraat 67, 2282 BR Rijswijk www.museumrijswijk.nl Artwork: Heather Beardsley, Distorted Depth, 2020, cyanotype of hardened embroidery and recycled plastic on canvas, 53 x 38 cm. Collection of the artist

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS: Silvia B. (Netherlands), Maria Ikonomopoulou (Netherlands/Greece), Loes Smolders & Heather Beardsley (USA), Kate Jenkins (UK), Liesbeth Leijtens (Netherlands), Sonja Cabalt (Netherlands), Benjamin Lee (Netherlands), Pearl Bow (Netherlands), Hendrik Coetzee (South Africa), Regula Maria Müller (Netherlands/ Switzerland), Hannerie Visser (South Africa), Thomas Grünfeld (Germany), Marcel Pinas (Surinam), Marije Vogelzang (Netherlands), Arne Hendriks (Netherlands) L.A. Raeven (Netherlands), Megan Whitmarsh (USA), Peter Hellemons (Netherlands), Yinka Shonibare (UK)

ARCHITECTURE

FURNITURE

late summer

at the palace until 26th of September 2021

DECORATION UPHOLSTERY

Visit the stables, carriage houses and 17th century gardens of Paleis Het Loo

mas interieur the ultimate way of modern living visit us at:

Frederikstraat 565 2514 LR Den Haag

Paleis Het Loo - Apeldoorn, The Netherlands

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 26

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

accredited by the Dutch Central Interior Design Industry Association

www.paleishetloo.com

18-08-2021 10:38

SEPTEMBER 2021 | 27

ART & CULTURE

Paleis Het Loo | a must visit Paleis Het oo is located on the edge of Apeldoorn. Since is (former oyal) Paleis Het oo a museum. The furnished rooms and chambers show how the Oranges have lived and worked here for years. The baro ue gardens have a symmetrical design, taking the garden of the th century as an example, and are uni ue in the Netherlands. The stables and coach houses are located at the Stables S uare, which was built by order of Queen ilhelmina ( ). ore than years after opening, major maintenan ce was necessary and the palace itself is closed to visitors. ntil then, the baro ue gardens and the Stables S uare can still be visited during the ui tenGewoon Open season until September , .

The palace gardens The gardens of Paleis Het oo are reconstructed to the original th century design of ing stadtholder illiam and his wife Queen ary , the foun ders and first inhabitants of Paleis Het oo. A Dutch aro ue garden, with many symmetrical parterres, impressive fountains and historical planting as befits a baro ue garden. The gardens were intended to give prestige and status to illiam and ary and impress their guests. n the early th century, the baro ue gardens were covered with sand and – in style with the garden trends – made into a landscape park. ith winding paths, groves, shrubs and many species of trees. The contrast with the th century palace gardens couldn’t be greater. n the ’s the garden was remodelled to its original aro ue style. Historical as well as contemporary flowers bring atmosphere to the palace gardens in each season. ythology in paradise ompared to the gardens in ersailles, those at Paleis Het oo are more mo dest in scale. The fountains, however, always spout fresh water thanks to the high level of the ground water, surpass the French ones. The oningssprong ing’s eap was, with its metres, the highest spouting fountain in Europe.

The garden sculptures, gods and goddesses from Greek mythology, all re flect on the theme of growth and flowering of the gardens and emphasise the achievement of turning what was originally a dusty stretch of heathland into a magnificent garden. n the centre stands enus, the goddess of love.

The mythological statues and fountains are the elements of paradise, in reference to the gardens of th century gardens nostalgia. The planting in this last uitenGewoon Open season is a mix of authentic planting and contemporary flowers and plants.

The

uitenGewoon Open season is still in full swing until September , . After which the gates of the gardens and the Stables S uare will be closed until the next season. isitors can reserve tickets with time slots on the website of Paleis Het oo, after which everyone can stay and enjoy the whole day. www.paleishetloo.com

Reflecting Forward by Studio Irma |

Moco museum oco not only supports, but champions women in the arts. n fact, is the ear of the oman ou might be wondering who is Studio rma n short, she’s a contemporary Dutch artist, Gerrit ietveld alum, mother, part ner, friend, wonder woman, former artist in residence at oco, and now, the mastermind behind eflecting Forward. n her life and art, Studio rma ex plores how digital technologies can connect us in new ways. Examples are past works The Gatekeepers at Amsterdam ight Festival and ’m deforming at the Nieuw Dakota.

Reflecting Forward This time, rma has removed all cultural filters in her solo show. At last, she creates an all accepting place and experience, where space, people, and modern technology blend in harmony. eflecting Forward includes diffe rent installation art rooms designed and created by the artist e All ive in ubbles aleidoscope Diamond atrix onnect The Dots niverse

Normally, we reflect backward in time. For this reason, Studio rma x oco useum launches a new conscious way of living – eflecting Forward. t’s a digital immersive art exhibition that shows endless connections to reveal what the future can look like. onnect and reflect toward the future onnectivism stresses that internet technologies like web browsers, search engines, and social media contribute to new ways of understanding and learning in our digital age.

Collaborate for change Studio rma x oco introduces onnectivism as a new art movement.

Through compassion and empathy, we arrive at a shared understanding. So, in our collective choice to experience this digital immersive art exhibition, we are eflecting Forward in search of onnectivism.

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 27

Studio Irma Philosophy The contemporary artist wishes to celebrate our connections. For instance, we all live in bubbles – a uni ue universe of information. Subconsciously, our bubble is formed by society, specific tastes, and shared ideas. ut inside that bubble, how do we grow hen you think of hiding, it’s time to POP – Studio rma You are Invited Finally, to summarize the essence of eflecting Forward, in the artist’s words Art is like a bonfire. t is where the storytelling begins – projections, feelings, conversations, connections. e sing together. e dance together. The bon fire is a movement and an artwork. ou are invited. – Studio rma

More information and tickets: www.mocomuseum.com/artists-studio-irma

18-08-2021 13:04

Little Star Fitness

STRENGTHEN YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM ...AND BECOME FITTER, STRONGER, SLIMMER, HAPPIER?

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.

SIGN-UP NOW AND WORK OUT FOR FREE UNTIL OCTOBER 1!

LOCK DOWN GUARANTEE:

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.

NO MONTHLY DEBIT WITH FORCED CLOSURE DUE TO COVID-19

HOFCAMPWEG 270 - 2241 KM - WASSENAAR - 070 5119645 - WWW.AEROFIT.NL

www.littlestarfitness.com

STANZA BOOKSHOP 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

The staff of the Active Club Den Haag is 100% committed to your training goal.

Together we can make you fit and healthy.

Enjoy our assistance and our facilities in the Novotel Den Haag World Forum!

We offer a free try out week.

Call us on 070-4169136, Whatsapp 0619-413692 or email info@activeclubdenhaag.nl.

Karen Gordon helps international job applicants navigate the job market in the Netherlands and provides HR and recruitment expertise.

Karen’s result-driven process includes: • Identifying where to look for your ideal job and local networks to tap into • Highlighting your experience and strengths to make your CV, cover letter and/or job application stand out from the rest • Refining your interviewing & communication skills with an experienced native English speaker to gain an edge in a very competitive market Contact karen@kgtconsulting.nl to schedule a free intake call to discuss your needs.

www.kgtconsulting.nl

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 28

18-08-2021 10:33

AUGUST 2021 | 29

TIPS & REVIEWS expo |

movie |

Allart van Everdingen |

Respect |

In 1644, twenty-three-year-old Allart van Everdingen made a trip that would change his life. The painter left his home in Alkmaar and traveled to Norway, where he encountered landscapes of breathtaking waterfalls, mountainscapes with log cabins, and infinite spruce trees, completely unlike the flat countryside surrounding Alkmaar. After he returned home, he etched many works that amazed his contemporaries with their depiction of these unfamiliar, rough landscapes. The new painting genre became popular among Dutch art buyers who sought something exotic rather than the typical manicured Dutch landscapes that other artists had produced. In hindsight, Van Everdingen was the father of the arcadian landscape genre. However, to this day, he remains relatively unknown, and mostly as the younger brother of the painter Caesar van Everdingen (1616/17-1678).

One of the great challenges for any actor is to accurately portray a popular musician. As well the obvious obstacle of musical talent, you have to make the audience believe they are watching a person they be very familiar with, drawing greater scrutiny. Actors like Joaquin Phoenix and Jamie Foxx have nailed it in the past, reaping the rewards for their effort. Others have been less successful.

With the upcoming exhibition that is likely to change. In honor of the painter’s 400th birthday, the Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar holds an overview exhibition from 18 September until 16 January 2022. The show will feature many of the artist’s works, including some on loan from the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the Alte Pinakotek (München), the Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam), the Mauritshuis (The Hague), and national and international private collections.

The Queen of Soul led a life filled with trauma and triumph, so much so that any film would have some difficultly keeping a balance. Too much trauma can overshadow the subject’s talent; too much triumph draws accusations of things being swept under the carpet. Stage director Liesl Tommy manages to keep things interesting on both levels. We see the ugliness of the abuse she suffered, the addiction that haunted her, and the men who stood in her way. The film has a lot to fit in, so while nothing is dwelled upon for too long, it isn’t ignored.

Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar

Whereas art historians believed Van Everdingen to capture landscapes like snapshot photos, the exhibition offers a great revelation. In a preliminary study for the exhibition in 2019, photographer Pascal Vossen and the curator of the exhibition, Christi Klinkert, traveled in the footsteps of Van Everdingen to Sweden and Norway. Here, they discovered the painter used his artistic freedom and embellished some of his landscape works. No doubt, the exhibition will bring the younger Van Everdingen the recognition that he is entitled to, even if it is four centuries later.

Allart van Everdingen (1621-1675): Arcadian Landscape 18 September 2021 - 16 January 2022 Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar Benjamin Roberts

resto |

Liesl Tommy

Respect, the new biopic about the life of Aretha Franklin, has the daunting task of capturing the essence of a woman who made an indelible mark on music history. Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls) plays Franklin, in a film that charts her rise from childhood choir singer to international sensation. We see the ups and downs as the performer tries to find her voice, and her position in a world that would see to suppress her light.

The almost two and a half hour running time begins to creak as the script leans on biopic tropes, but Tommy has a secret weapon in her star. Hudson was hand-picked by Franklin herself, prior to the singer’s 2018 death, and it’s clear to see why. There is something in the star that gets the character just right – the presence, the power, the defiance that made Aretha a household name. Capable of nailing it both on the stage and in the film’s heavier moments, it is a fine example of a biopic being elevated by perfect casting.

Films about artists can fall into many traps, the worst being a tribute that looks over the darker moments. Respect doesn’t dig as deep as many would like, but it is striking portrait of a woman whose influence on music is being felt to this very day. Another Oscar run seems likely for Hudson, which would be exactly the kind of respect this performance deserves.

James Victoria Luxford

Foodhall | Scheveningen Around the world in Scheveningen Sun- and beach-worshipping foodies can now indulge themselves at the Foodhall Scheveningen. On the renovated Noordboulevard you will find seventeen world cuisines under one roof. Besides well-known concepts such as De Ballenbar, Jabugo, The Sushibar, La Catrina, Churros & more, Pad Thai and Gyros Express, you will find local favourites such as Pazze e Pizze, Diego’s Burgers, Amier, W.T.F. (World Tempting Flavors) and the Resident, as well as exciting newcomers such as the Scheveningen Oyster Bar, Meat on a Stick, Saigon Streetfood, Frozen Sweets and Dim Sum at Wan Tsam. There is enough space to order a dish according to the current Covid guidelines. In addition, the ventilation system, with one hundred per cent outside air, ensures a continuous supply of fresh air. Picked something delicious? Find a spot inside or settle down on the spacious terrace and enjoy the sea view in the sun.

Foodhallenscheveningen.nl

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 29

19-08-2021 10:06

LOOKING FOR A H E A L T H Y 2 0 2 1?

Yearly - Health Checks - Hormone Checks - Nutrigen Checks -

Monthly: - Personal Health Control Programs -

Regular - Corona Checks - All Medical Lab Tests - Food Intolerance Tests - Cortisol Stress Tests -

Talk to us 020 210 1230 or Book your appointment: www.hollandhealthclinic.com

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 30

The future of preventative health care

18-08-2021 10:34

SEPTEMBER 2021 | 31

SPORT

The glass is two thirds full: Formula one returns to the Netherlands

Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix©Dutchgp.com When we previewed the Sport Summer 2021 a few months back, we did so with a fair measure of trepidation. Would all the events take place? Would there be spectators at the venues to see it? It was presumably as the Opening Ceremonies of the Tokyo Olympic Games took place that we knew for certain that the Olympiad would proceed albeit without spectators. We are now on the threshold of the last of the Sport Summer events and perhaps it will only be when the 2.4 liter, turbocharged V6 engines are revved for the first time at the CM.com Circuit Zandvoort in the weekend of 3-5 September that we will truly know the Dutch Grand Prix will take place. It was always going to be a tough slog to bring Formula One racing back to the Netherlands, but no one could have envisioned just how arduous the task has really been.

The Dutch Grand Prix was last held in 1985, won by the Austrian racing legend Niki Lauda. The racing circuit, nestled in the sand dunes of the beach resort town of Zandvoort outside Haarlem was actually sold off to recreation park developers but somehow managed to remain a functional racing track for all the years leading up to the bold endeavor to bring Formula One racing back to the Netherlands. Bolstered by the massive support for Dutch F1 driver Max Verstappen, a group based around the current track owners, including HRH Prince Bernhard of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven, began the long and difficult process of securing the rights and necessary permissions to organize a

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 31

race for motor sport’s most prestigious class. While the Dutch have always held more than a passing interest in F1 racing, that has reached a fever pitch in recent years due to the success of their native son Verstappen. Encouraged by large ‘seas’ of orange-clad fans travelling to F1 venues abroad, the drive was launched to place the Netherlands on the Formula One calendar.

While Formula One racing has a large following in this country, it also has its share of detractors.

Fossil fuelbased racing has never sat well with the environmental lobby. Similar concerns have been raised about the venue’s impact on several animal species as well as the expected output of nitrogen oxide. Until now, the courts have decided that the natterjack toad and the sand lizard can go about their reproductive ways despite the construction of numerous temporary seating structures and have sided with the race organizers. One could argue that Formula E, with its battery-powered cars would be a better fit. Dutchman Nyck de Vries locked up the 2021 Championship with his win in Berlin ahead of countryman Robin Frijns but far fewer racing fans have followed the electrified version of top-level motor sport. Eindhoven has expressed an interest in hosting an event there has been no indication forthcoming that their bid will be successful.

Yet it is MaxMania, the brand name of the fanatic support for the son of erstwhile Dutch Formula One also-ran

Jos Verstappen. Whereas father Jos never managed a finish higher than third place, son Max has already taken bronze in the F1 driver’s championship over the past two season and will look to challenge Lewis Hamilton for the ultimate prize in motor sports in this 2021 season.

The return of Formula One to North Holland was originally slated for the weekend of May in 2020. In March of that year, the race was postponed and ultimately cancelled with plans for a relaunch after the summer in 2021. Now that the date is finally upon us, concerns have been raised about organising the event in the face of renewed Covid-19 concerns.

Ultimately, the authorities decided to allow the event but in a smaller and scaled back version than the organizer had envisioned. Dutch Grand Prix had been planned and budgeted for just over 300 thousand visitors but will have to throttle that amount back to 210 thousand. Also, an extensive entertainment programme featuring a number of musical concerts had to be scrapped. Ticketholders will be informed if they will be among the chosen ‘few’ to witness a weekend of Dutch motor sport history. Those who chose standing room seats will be the first filtered out as patrons will be required to have assigned seats with social distancing integrated into the configuration. The expected financial loss will have to be made up from sources which do not include the Dutch government. Any financial assistance which could have been forthcoming was intended for events which have already

been held in the past. The organizers have indicated that they will absorbing the projected losses. With at least two more editions contracted to be held in the coming years and the intention to hold a Grand Prix for the foreseeable future, other options were few and far between.

Dutch racing legend Jan Lammers, who was hired as the public face of the Dutch Grand Prix, put his own positive spin on the developments saying that he sees the glass as two thirds full!

The glass is far emptier for Dutch broadcaster Ziggo who have lost the broadcast rights to the F1 series after this season. The Nordic Entertainment (NENT) Group outbid Ziggo and will be the rights holder in the Netherlands for the coming three years. It remains to be seen if foul-mouthed Olav Mol (he has the delightful habit of spewing English vulgarities during exciting moments of the race) will continue as the commentator for the races at their new TV home. In any case, for this edition of the Dutch Grand Prix, the race will be broadcast on the open sports channel of Ziggo and RTL (Germany) which is also available on most cable systems throughout the country.

With that, our Sport Summer will draw to a close. Happily, all events somehow were played out in one form or another and the sports fan in this country was well and truly sated!

Written by John Mahnen

19-08-2021 10:05

THT7_2021 _CS.indd 32

18-08-2021 10:35