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Five Free events to check out in June!

Samantha Tinsdeall
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Five Free events to check out in June!

The days are getting longer, that infamously elusive Dutch sunshine is actually starting to hang around for more than a day and the ruthless rain that often batters the Lowlands has begun to ease off. That’s right, summer is quickly approaching and it is safe once more to head out of the house without all the precautions that a Dutch Winter and a rainy Spring require! Now, we know the Netherlands hosts some pretty awesome Summer festivals, but if your bank balance isn’t looking too healthy you may be thinking that you have to stay indoors after all. But fear not! There are plenty of gezellig events that are totally (or very very nearly) FREE! So get your diaries out and take note of these fun things that are happening in June:

Festival Trek 

Utrecht (June 01-05) – Eindhoven (June 16-18) – Enschede (June 23-25)

Festival Trek has been travelling around the Netherlands since 2014 and with growing crowds each year, there really is no reason to give this culinary treat a miss! As well as a tasty line up of delectable treats, Festival Trek also showcases local theatre and music performances to ensure that everyone is feeling the gezelligheid! If you miss out on your chance to catch Festival Trek in Utrecht, you can swing by later in the month when it hits Eindhoven and Enschede as well as ’s-Hertogenbosch, Amsterdam and Den Hague in July and September.

 

European Championship Sand Sculpture Festival 2017

Amsterdam – Zandvoort aan Zee – 12 June – 30 November

Sculptors from around Europe come to Zandvoort aan Zee to create something a bit more than your average sandcastle, in order to compete for the European Championship Sand Sculptor title. The theme this year is ‘Dutch Masters’, and the sculptures shall be created and displayed until around November time. So if you fancy getting out of the city for the day, take a trip to ‘Amsterdam Beach’ to marvel at the wondrous creations and soak up some sea air.

 

Vlaggetjesdag!

Scheveningen – Den Hague – 17 June

 

2017 celebrates the 70th Vlaggetjesdag (Flag Day) in Scheveningen. This yearly festival marks the arrival of the first herring (Hollandse Nieuwe) in the seaside town and as well as an abundance of herring, the accompanying festivities attract thousands. From music performances to traditional Dutch games, the festivities ensure that the whole family has a great day out! (Even if you are not a fan of herring!

 

PARKPOP 2017

Den Hague – 25 June

Get into the festival vibe and head down to Zuiderpark in Den Hague and soak up some sun (hopefully), good music and more importantly that great festival atmosphere! PARKPOP has been making its mark on the Dutch calendar since 1981. One of the biggest free music festivals in the Netherlands, seasoned festival goers rub shoulders with newbies for a chilled out day where international artists as well as local talent showcase their skills across a number of stages. The line-up this year includes top artists Alison Moyet, Causes and Broederliefde!

 

Wadlopen Tour!

Noordpolderzijl – Groningen – 24 & 25 June

Ever fancied trekking around in a load of thick mud whilst trying to keep your precious iPhone dry from rising tides by hoisting your bag above your head for a few kilometres? Then ‘wadlopen’ is for you! Also known as ‘mud-flat walking’, the ever-popular sport of walking across the mud-flats in the Waddenzee, takes you from the mainland out to the islands scattered in the Waddenzee, whilst tides are low. This sport is not for the fainthearted and nor should it be undertaken without an experienced guide, but if you fancy something different, check out the opportunity to sign-up for a free ‘wadloop’ tour from Groningen! Roll-up your trousers and get stuck in!

These are just a few standout events across the Netherlands that won’t cost you a cent (if you don’t want them to)! If you check any of them out or know of any other cool events coming up, let us know in the comments!

So you’re getting married in Netherlands

Sarah Daggett
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So, your Dutchie proposed! And you’re getting married in the Netherlands! What can go wrong now right?

Once all the excitement of the engagement settles, you will need to plan your wedding in Netherlands. Most brides find wedding planning to be pretty stressful as it is, but add on a foreign country and you could definitely find yourself in a bit of a planning pickle. Don’t fret! Getting married in Netherlands is actually more simple than you think.

Getting married in Netherlands: Keep it small and simple

Everyone is different when it comes to how big of a wedding they would like to have. But one of the best tips I can give to save yourself from a nervous breakdown the size of a windmill is to keep the wedding simple. Do you really need to invite your best friend’s, husband’s third cousin? (Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a little on that one, but you get the point.)

Most weddings in Netherlands tend to be pretty simple affairs compared to the extravagance of other countries like the U.S., so going really crazy with ice sculptures and acrobats will probably raise some eyebrows from your Dutch guests.

Things like keeping your guest list to a minimum, appetizers and cocktails instead of a five course dinner, or doing a lot of the decorating yourself will save you stress as well as making the whole thing really personal. You can still have the wedding of your dreams without such a big financial and emotional cost.

Don’t forget those legal annoyances

In Netherlands, it’s recommended that you make an appointment with your local “gemeente” at least two weeks before the wedding, but preferably 6 weeks before. At the appointment, you will give your notice of “intention to marry,” talk to the person who will be officiating the ceremony, and let them know the location and time of the wedding. You will also need to make a separate appointment with a notary to figure out things like your pre-nup or create a will if necessary.

Make sure you save money for these things because all together an officiant, and a notary can cost you a couple thousand euros.

getting married in Netherlands

Decorations

Just like in the U.S. or most other countries, you can rent tents, tables, and even vintage decorations should you want them. (Be sure to start reserving these things as soon as possible, because if your wedding is in the summer they get booked up very quickly.)

Some decoration websites can cost quite a bit more than others (especially if they work with primarily vintage things) and if you’re in a bigger city like Amsterdam they are very expensive. Be sure to leave yourself a lot of time to do some research and send some emails so you can get the best deal possible.

Photographers

Wedding photographers can be very expensive in Netherlands as well, however some of them can be quite flexible as far as the prices go depending on the number of hours worked. Even if you find the perfect photographer but the prices on their website seem out of your budget, give them a call/email and see if you can have a meeting with them to make a deal.

Getting married in Netherlands: Venue

There are so many lovely places where you can hold your wedding ceremony, however it needs to be in the area where you have registered your intent to marry. Most gemeente websites have a list of possible locations they have approved (if you need some ideas) but in general you can hold your ceremony almost anywhere. Keep in mind though, that if you do your ceremony somewhere other than the  gemeente it will cost a lot more money.

You don’t have to hold your reception in the same place as the ceremony, and a lot of Dutch people don’t. You can have your ceremony at a hotel or other nice venue and then have your party somewhere else.

One thing a little different in Netherlands compared to the somewhere like the U.S. is the fact that if you want a religious ceremony you can absolutely have it, but you will need to do that after an official legal ceremony. This is why many Dutch weddings have multiple locations throughout the day, and many guests are invited to only certain parts.

Getting married in Netherlands: Research,Research, Research!

If you are planning on getting married in Netherlands, the things that come easier to native Dutchies could be a little more difficult for you, especially when you have to find things online, or deal with the language barrier.

Leave yourself at least a month just to research all the various things you might need to reserve or rent on your wedding day. A lot of times the people you email could be fully booked (which happens a lot) or the price isn’t right for you. If you leave the planning to the last minute you could be disappointed (you might even have a tantrum like your on Toddlers and Tiaras over the fact that nobody within a 100 km radius seems to have the wine barrels you want; true story.)

Remember why you’re getting married

It’s easy to forget in all the excitement and planning that you are also planning for a marriage. This may be one of the most important days in your life, but after this day, it will be you and your Dutchie biking around, living in a windmill, and eating poffertjes every morning.

North Sea wildlife to benefit from new Fisheries Accord

Amalie
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Overfishing has major implications all along the food chain. It depletes fish stocks and sadly wastes huge amounts of bycatch. Yet despite the problems, parties are often slow to react.

Now, after years of negotiations, the Dutch government has agreed with the fisheries sector and various nature organisations to take action for the protection of North Sea coastal wildlife.

Limits on fishing

How? Well, yesterday the various parties (such as the World Wide Fund for Nature, Natuurmonumenten, the Ministry for Economic Affairs, and the fisheries sector) signed the ‘North Sea Fisheries Accord’.

The parties are happy with the way negotiations turned out. Nature organisations are calling it “an important stepping-stone on the road to better protections for the North Sea“. The fisheries sector has called the Fisheries Accord a boost towards more sustainable fishing. They are also pleased that “the NGOs concerned worked constructively towards this end“.

Additionally, the Fisheries Accord is of great importance for natural areas in the Natura 2000, an EU-initiative and “the largest coordinated network of protected areas in the world”. Note: ports at Rotterdam and Amsterdam are excluded from the Natura 2000-area due to their economic importance.

Aims of the Fisheries Accord

The Fisheries Accord limits fishing, or makes it more sustainable, in certain areas off the Dutch coast. This North Sea ‘coastal zone’ lies in an area along the northern edge of the islands in the Wadden Sea, from Bergen in North Holland down to the German coast. Hopefully, this will be a boon for wildlife in the Netherlands.

The Accord is meant to give designated areas time to ‘heal’, by lessening pressure from over-exploitative fishing. Further, its goals have to be met by 2020. If this is not done, then more areas will be made off-limits for fishing.

In addition, shallow areas near the Belgian border and the Wadden Sea itself will be better protected. Some shallow areas will be closed off completely from fishing activities. These areas can be seen as ‘kindergartens’ for underwater life, because many little aquatic creatures spend the first year of their existence here.

Image result for baby fish
n’aaaw.

And the measures are not just meant to benefit those under the sea. Birds and seals, for example, should also reap the rewards.

Hopefully, this will ensure that natural habitats get a rest and the fauna can start repopulating. At the same time, some areas that were closed have been reopened for fishing.

Practical implications?

Fishers are already investing in so-called ‘black boxes’. These track where they have sailed and fished. Further, they are implementing material changes in terms of different types of netting. These are made of lighter materials and have bigger holes, to allow some bycatch to escape.

Such measures apply to fishing activities in water of up to 20 metres in depth. Effects will be felt mainly by those fishing for shrimp, and the fishing sector is itself responsible for meeting the requirements. The government will check to make sure that happens.

The Fisheries Accord was signed on the same day as Trump hinted, again, that he’d pull the US out of the Paris Climate Agreement (but you know…maybe he just wanted more covfefe).

Yet in some small way, maybe, these types of initiatives could help encourage other countries to keep fighting for the preservation of natural habitats – and work together against climate change as well.

Image result for north sea seals
It’s a new day, we can do it! Flippers to the sky!

 

*featured image source.

We got it ‘gesaved’ – English words in the Dutch language

Abuzer van Leeuwen 🇳🇱
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We got it ‘gesaved’ – English words in the Dutch language

So apparently Dutch will survive the global proliferation of the English language. But is the English language safe from the Dutch? Let’s take look at the use of English words in the Dutch language.

Ever thought that the beautiful Dutch language might become extinct one day due to the massive use of the English language? And that DutchReview’s vile anglophile profile might just be another nail in the coffin? No worries, new research has shown that Dutch is going nowhere – despite the fact that most of the Dutch people are awesome at English.

English no threat for Dutch

The research was conducted by a collaboration between the Meertens Institute for Dutch Language and Culture, researchers at Ghent University, and the Dutch promotional body Taalunie. Surveying some 7,500 participants in both Belgium and the Netherlands, the report concluded that Dutch is under no threat from English. Both native and new Dutch speakers also tend to even consider the Dutch language to be beautiful (who knew?)

However, while Dutch was not considered under threat in the daily use of the language, English is slowly pervading into professional fields such as research and transport. More and more Dutch people are also choosing to read their news in English, with 28 percent of the surveyed population stating they read news in languages other than Dutch.

And of course, almost all universities in the Netherlands are now English-speaking, to which some Dutchies might not agree with but for most of you readers out there is probably the reason why studying in the Netherlands is actually do-able.

Ik kom niet meer bij! ??

Geplaatst door De Viraal Spiraal op Zondag 7 mei 2017

Of the English words that seep into Dutch, though, there seems to be a ‘Dutchification’ process occurring. Words like saven, appen, and streamen have been altered to adhere to Dutch grammar and speech. It shouldn’t be surprsing, we Dutch have always liked to steal words from others. Hell, if you speak German, French, and English, you pretty much speak Dutch already. Even if we already have our own words for it, who cares? We’ll take the better sounding one.

Just listen to John Fealey explain it. 4:15-4:35 if you’re curious (although it’s definitely worth a full watch.)

The innovative Dutch: English words in the Dutch language

Let’s be fair, this process of lingual assimilation is really leading to the Dutch abusing English on a regular basis. But if we’re spinning words anyway, let’s just call it being innovative. That’s another thing the Dutch are famous for, after all. With that being said, let’s take a quick look at some of the brilliant ways the Dutch have decided to ‘improve’ on English.

English words in the Dutch language: all those IT-terms

Gestreamed, gesaved, appen, printen, downloaden, etc. Can you imagine translating these properly? Neither could the Dutch – the Belgians do however, which is hilarious in some cases. The funny thing is that some of these translations are already totally available in Dutch, think about it: gestroomd, gered, gedrukt…

English words in the Dutch language: cursing

Shit and fuck – Yes, we know that true Dutch cursing is much more creative, but sometimes you want to keep it simple. ‘Shit’ is used more by the Dutchies on average than the English speakers of the world if I would guess. Damnit and that word rhyming with “monstertrucker” (let’s keep it decent) are also widely used.

Luckily the nasty c-word has never caught on in Dutch. They’ve got their own k-word:

English words in the Dutch language: expressions

This one is slightly backwards, and we know the English have their own (often equivalent) saying, but where’s the fun in that? We all know ‘make that the cat wise’ but there’s also ‘nothing on the hand’  and ‘not a shine of chance’. Also reminds me of that time my dad told everyone in his office that they were going to ‘get two flies in one hit’.

Oh, and let’s not forget the Dutch literally translating English sentences such as ‘how late is it?’ or the famous ‘I fok horses’.

Dutch Pronunciation of English:

We could spend an entire article on this one alone, but I think it would be a better idee to keep it short and let the ‘champion’ of Dutch-English pronunciation do this one:

What other English words have pushed their way into the Dutch language? Let us know in the comments below!

Rising seas? The Alternate Causes and Employing the Dutch

Kenneth Hull
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The Dutch have always been progressive when it comes to the environment. They are experts in water management and re-claiming land from the sea. Countries around the world are asking the Dutch for help when it comes to the issue of rising seas.

Many cite industrial and/or normal earth cyclic reasons for global warming. Arguments range from methane from cows (and probably fraternity houses) to water vapor as a greenhouse gas (look out, Netherlands). Arguments will go on forever. One thing is certain. The rising seas!

Here come the rising seas! Dutch are not impressed.

I will address some startling, radical and unconventional causes to global warming cleverly concealed by politicians and scientists who are too wise to bring them forth. Rest assured however these causes will keep Dutch engineers employed.

I present the following with no scientific proof whatsoever. Neither pro nor con for an argument, I am a mere observer. For whatever reasons bring the rising seas, and employ Dutch engineers to manage the shrinking shores, these “alternative” and fun-spirited causes should seem obvious to the most casual observer.

1.Women with hot flashes.

Just turn on the fan…

It is not their fault, poor things, but it is an often overlooked global warming subject. There are over 500 million postmenopausal women in the world, projected to one billion by 2025. Eighty percent of them have moderate to severe hot flashes. I am just stating a fact. I know that a hot flash supposedly lowers body temperature, but my poor wife once melted all the snow in the back yard by opening the window, so I am not convinced (yes, she claims “Hot Flash” as her Super Power name). Hot flashes may also raise the partner’s metabolism. So, 400 million hot flashes occurring at the same time could raise the earth’s temperature like a zillion, change the weather, and vaporize polar ice caps. Ever felt that warm wind suddenly blow through? Be nice to your female partner. The joules of heat produced should be directly proportional to the jewels you buy her.

2. Clothes dryers.

Hot threads!

Annually, clothes dryers use about 60 billion kilowatt hours of electricity. In the USA, 90.2 million households have a dryer. So if we triple that for the world, being conservative (with only a guess on my part), that’s 180 billion kilowatt hours of electricity. Certainly enough to melt a small glacier or all supposed ice on the planet Mars (fortunately they don’t use dryers …yet).

3. Hot air expelled by politicians.

Blah blah blah, is it hot in here?

No matter what your political party is or which way you lean, I think we all agree there is plenty of hot air rising from any capital in the world. Mouths spew hot air, tempers flair, steam comes out their ears and hot air rushes toward the ozone layer. It’s not “normal” hot air as it repels opposing hot air, and attracts like hot air. Scary fact.  If a large air mass of like air reaches either pole, the seas will rise. It’s not the politician’s fault. Ask them, it never is. Just head for high ground and hire Dutch engineers.

4. The ageing population turning up the heat.

The elderly often feel colder from thinner skin caused by aging. So, they turn up the thermostat. As a result refrigerators and furnaces work harder to overcome or raise the heat, spewing even more hot air out. It’s the natural and increasing cycle of living longer. Most of us will be there some day if the sea doesn’t swallow us up first. There was a tradition long ago where the Eskimos would send the elderly out of the igloo and onto the ice to transition to the afterlife. My guess is it’s really because they kept turning up the heat and melting the igloo.

Turn down that heat!

5. The making of ice cubes for drinks.

Relax. It’s only BTU’s

Refrigerators have a freezer used to make ice cubes. These ice cubes are used in alcoholic beverages that help people relax. Refrigerators expel heat to make the ice. Alcohol also requires heat to be distilled. This expelled heat increases global warming which makes more people tense, causing more ice and alcohol to be made. You get the picture. It is a vicious circle spiraling toward rising seas.

6. Carbonated soft drinks.

Tiny bubbles. Up, up and away!

Carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas, is released every time carbonated soda is consumed. Seems like it wouldn’t be much, but 14 billion cases of beverages, 73% carbonated, were consumed worldwide in a recent year. That’s 15 billion gallons of carbonated soda, and a lot of belching. Backed only by scientific wild-ass guesses (SWAG), estimates are that 4000 tons of CO2 in just Coca Cola Company beverages are delivered, or 1,460,000 pounds per year. Double it or so (no facts here, just SWAG) adding in other companies, that’s 2,920,000 pounds of free range CO2 per year. Granted, it’s a drop in the bucket compared to daily humanity at 70 million tons a day, but throw in all the heat from teenagers burning sugar from the sodas and you have an issue.

What can be done to slow the rising seas? There are simple solutions:

  • Use clothes lines instead of dryers.
  • Wear warmer clothes and buy grandparents coats.
  • Turn down the heat or suffer the consequences.
  • Drink alcohol with no ice or just drink red wine.
  • Don’t belch proudly after swilling down your soft drink.
  • Put politicians and scientists in the same dome with one thermostat and make them come to agreement to get out.
  • Buy your poor sweet hot flashing honey some jewels.  It won’t help the seas recede, but you will both feel better.
  • Finally, reverse all Netherlands windmills to blow out the humidity with the help of “Google wind”.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAwL0O5nXe0[/embedyt]

I don’t know whether global warming and the rising seas are caused by humanity or a natural earth cycle or both, but I do know the above causes are ignored by scientists and politicians. Perhaps they do so for good reason, but I believe it will ensure that Dutch waterway engineers will be employed for decades to come.

You’re welcome! Now go save the world.

Time for SCIENCE! Visiting NEMO Science Museum in Amsterdam

Noah Bloem
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Time for SCIENCE! Visiting NEMO Science Museum in Amsterdam

Anyone who has ever been to Amsterdam has probably seen the large, green, boat-shaped building just east of Central Station. Those familiar with it might recognize it as NEMO Science Museum. For many Dutch (former) kids, it’s a staple school field trip, and a brilliant one at that.

NEMO is known country-wide as being THE science museum to visit. The 5-story building hosts a wide variety of interactive exhibits that will entertain young and old, all while teaching valuable lessons about science, technology, and their importance in everyday life.

And also great views 🙂

 

Physics!
Perspective can be a tricky thing.

5 floors of sciencey goodness!

Each floor is constructed based on its own theme. Starting in ‘Fenomena’, which explains how science works, visitors are then guided upwards floor-by-floor all the time learning about gravity, electricity, the human body, space, and much more.

The displays vary drastically, but almost all of them are heavily interactive, so it’s a brilliant way to introduce children to science, and for the ‘grown-ups’ to just rediscover your inner child like we did when we visited. From generating electricity with kinetic energy to taking a personality quiz (apparently I’m an experience-seeker), NEMO’s exhibits are a good balance of different activities that really maintains visitors’ attentions.

On the ‘Technium’ floor, a new addition has been recently added: The Machine (see GIF below). Aimed at explaining the process that comes into play when you make an order, The Machine guides visitors through the chain of events that occurs when you order a product. You can operate robot arms, assemble the products, and eventually even ship it.

We spent nearly two hours at NEMO, but it felt like about half that time as we hopped on from anatomy to artificial intelligence to bridge building. It’s not the first time I’ve been to NEMO. In fact, it was my fourth visit, but I must say, I still loved it.

Let’s talk about sex 😉
Interactive labs?!
I think I have seen the light.

Perfect for children (and adults can have fun too)

Although NEMO is entertaining for all ages, the museum is mainly catered towards a younger audience, and thus the interactive (but also casual) approach they take to teaching and experiencing science works perfectly. It’s no wonder the museum still attracts school trips from all over the nation and has been doing so for years. Ask any Dutch person born in the last 25 years and chances are they know all about the brilliance that is NEMO. Not that the museum is exclusive to the young. They even have a collection of old technologies for the nostalgic.

It makes me feel quite old to know the phones I once owned are now on display…
Telly with a wooden frame? Awesome.

The NEMO building

The building itself is also quite worthy of a visit, nowadays it’s a trademark of the skyline of Amsterdam (insofar you can say that Amsterdam has a skyline) but it has only been there since 1997. It was an interesting challenge for renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano since it had to be build on top of a heavy traffic tunnel. The foundations of the tunnel are the reason that the NEMO building itself also has this particular slope.He also found that golden-age built Amsterdam lacked a ‘piazza’, or any other spectacular views for that matter. So that’s why he put in the rooftop terrace, offering you a piazza-like experience with gorgeous vistas of the Dutch capital.Anyways, enough now with this architectural sidestep – back to the experience of visiting NEMO itself – which funnily also usually ends up with:
 

Finishing on the roof terrace

Ultimately most of the trips to NEMO end with the roof terrace where you can get food and drinks, and enjoy the lovely weather. It even boasts a selection of more interactive exhibits that explain primarily different methods of power generation, from solar to wind to hydro energy.

The terrace, in and of itself, is worth a visit, especially in this lovely weather. Combine the current climate with the fact that NEMO has just completed renewed their gift shop, and it means that it’s the perfect time to give science museum a visit. The roof terrace is freely accessible for everyone, and can be reached either from the stairs at street level or by lift from the central hall in the NEMO building.

Even the roof has interactive exhibits!

Don’t forget to grab a beer if it’s warm outside! The bar and restaurant by itself are also nicely done, plenty of room and the revamped decor really stood out 🙂
Better weather and better camera do the rooftop justice 😉 (source: nemosciencemuseum.nl/)

How to get to the NEMO Science Museum?

NEMO is easily accessible by car (but parking in Amsterdam is expensive), bike and public transport. The museum’s eye-catching copper-green building is easy to spot from Amsterdam Central Station surroundings. If the weather is permitting I recommend walking to it, if you’re coming from the Central Station it is a 15-minute walk. Leave the main entrance of Central Station, turn left and follow the signs for ‘Route Oosterdok’. Cyclists should follow the same route.

Address: Oosterdok 2, 1011 VX Amsterdam

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Our review of the cool-looking NEMO Science Museum in Amsterdam

Seeing Pink: Maastrichtenaar Pride with Tom Dumoulin winning the Giro

Tiffany Leung
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So about Tom Dumoulin winning the Giro, Maastricht is going to celebrate big time

Just when I thought orange was the official color of The Netherlands — it’s not, just to be clear — I learned there’s now also another (un)official color: pink! Ever since the Giro d’Italia, ended with a Maastrichtenaar (a.k.a. native Dutchperson from the southern city of Maastricht) winning the crown, I’ve been seeing pink and the pink jersey everywhere. Twenty-six year old Tom Dumoulin just made history as the first Dutchman to win Giro d’Italia, one of the 3 Grand Tours in professional cycling — the other two are the Tour de France and Vuelta a España, in which he has also raced.

Frankly, I am no pro-cycling sport fan. In fact, I am willing to quietly confess that I never truly learned to ride a bicycle until just 3 years before I moved to The Netherlands (gasp!). Plus, the only thing I know about the sport, being American, is that Lance Armstrong once won seven Tour de France titles, only to have them revoked after investigations found he was doping for quite some time. But, like any good expat trying to learn Dutch, I followed a handful of regional news sources in the Limburg province on Facebook, and am finding my feed filling up more with Tom in the pink jersey — he’s a Zuid-Nederland celeb after all!

Tom DuMoulin winning the Giro

Vlaai & Cycling: An Odd Couple?

Interestingly enough, I learned of the now history-making Tom Dumoulin from the local baker at the world-famed de Bisschopsmolen spelt bakery in Maastricht. During a vlaai workshop on the eve of the Giro d’Italia’s final day, I learned not only about the mill’s recorded history dating back to the late 11th century (unrecorded history is likely more than four centuries earlier), but also about the bakery’s relationship to Dutch pro-cyclists. I also was marketed spelt’s health benefits, especially for professional athletes, naturally. The fresh, all-natural, easily-digestible (if you don’t have Celiac disease) and high-calorie and nutrient content of famed Maastricht vlaai is a perfect food for the pro-athlete, no?

Tom Dumoulin winning the Giro: Celebrate Cycling History on May 31st!

Why pink? If you’re an amateur like me, you’ll need to go to Wikipedia to find out: the winner of the Giro d’Italia wins the coveted pink cycling jersey representing race triumph. And this year, a Maastrichtenaar won it, so there is no shortage of pink around town this week! For extra fun and festivity, there’s a celebration in the Maastricht city centre on May 31st at 19:30, that looks like it could be the order of a knighting ceremony of sorts to honor Tom Dumoulin. The program is not yet known for this historic event, but check out the Facebook event or Gemeente website for event updates. Whether you’re into pro-cycling or are considering a visit to Maastricht, this might just be a special bit of history to experience. After all, if Carnival in Maastricht is any representation of this city’s festive nature, this Wednesday evening is going to be quite the (pink?) celebration!

Eurovision Aftermath – Does Europe Hate Australia?

Lachlan Campbell
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Eurovision Aftermath – Does Europe Hate Australia?

Everyone’s favourite European country, Australia, was looking every part the genuine contender at the latest Eurovision.

Our entrant Isaiah Firebrace had made it through to the Grand Final after nabbing one of the ten qualifying spots in the semi-final in Ukraine. With his power ballad ‘Don’t Come Easy’ he won over judges and fans alike despite a couple of stumbles on the high notes.

Isaiah Firebrace – Perhaps our last hope for a Eurovision win

It seems however that on this fateful day, Isaiah learnt the true meaning behind his song, which is that victory really doesn’t come easy.

Vitalii Seduik – The Mystery Mooner

Enter Vitalii Seduik – the infamous Ukranian streaker that gained notoriety for pranking celebrities such as Gigi Hadid and Kim Kardashian. It seems the next logical step up for him was, of course, going to be the Australian public.

IMPOSTER!

After clambering onto the stage during a performance by last year’s winner, Ukrainian singer Jamala (how do you spell ‘Collusion’ in Ukranian), Vitalii proceeded to add one more lewd act to his repertoire by dropping his pants and baring his arse to the world… all while being draped in the Australian flag.

What Did Australia Do To Deserve This?

I can only assume that this attention seeking behaviour stems from a deep-seated inadequacy and anxiety. I’m not one to speculate, but it’s safe to assume the regrettable post-ejaculate crust on the front of my tracksuit pants has more personality than Seduik.

The look when people hear what happened

This begs the questions, though, did we do something to offend him? Was he protesting our involvement? Or was he simply venting his jealousy over Australia becoming an EU nation before the Ukraine? Nobody but Vitalii can know for sure.

Conspiracy Or Just Bad Luck?

The worst part about it, however, is that at the time of voting, the media hadn’t released the fact that the streaker was in fact Vitalii, and not some bare-bottomed Aussie thrill-seeker.

With the UK out, maybe there is room?

This has added to speculation that his ‘prank’ may have cost Australia valuable points in this year’s Eurovision competition. In the end, we didn’t get a single 12-vote pledge from any of the participating countries, which is unusual considering Isaiah’s performance was considered a favourite throughout the competition.

The whole incident quickly descended into a scuzzy mess back on home soil, with our participation in this years Eurovision deemed an unfortunate failure.

Our new flag

Perhaps we’re on the outer with our friends north of the equator, and it’s time we scurry back south and stop trying to match it with the Eurovision heavyweights. After all, we’re only there by invitation.

Perhaps next year Europe shouldn’t expect an RSVP from Australia in the mail.

Ajax vs. Man U: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Noah Bloem
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Last night, the Europa League final ended 2-0 in favour of Manchester United. The time leading up to the match presented high stakes and even higher excitement. The stakes were high on both sides.

For Ajax, it was the last chance to grab a trophy this season and was also the first time in 22 years that the Dutch club had made it back to a European final. Not to mention they did so with one of the youngest squads ever.

They even made a lovely video to celebrate their return:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wszDsKLpM6M[/embedyt]

Manchester United, on the other hand, came into the game at the end of a lacklustre season, ending 6th in the Premier League. Despite winning the EFL Cup and Community Shield, it was the club’s last chance to grab a ticket to next year’s Champions League. Not to mention the recent tragedy in the team’s home city, meaning Manchester United had added drive to do right by their city and win.

The Match between Ajax and Manchester

The game was overshadowed by Monday’s terrorist attack in Manchester. A minute’s silence was held at the outset and players on both sides were wearing black armbands out of respect for the victims. United Manager José Mourinho said after the victory that if they could exchange the trophy for the lives lost, they would in an instant. The English team dedicated the win to the victims of the attack.

Paul Pogba, who rejoined the United team after a €110 million transfer in August last year, proved his worth as he scored the first goal for Manchester United.

It was a shot that deflected significantly off of Sanchez, leaving Onana helpless. Ajax fans hoped their side would bounce back from this (they’ve done it before). But after Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored the second goal around 47 minutes in, it became an exceptionally trying task.

The Good

Despite Ajax’s loss, the club and their supporters have much to be proud of. The young squad, while unable to overcome the star-studded Man U, showed the world they have the potential to compete with the best.

In Amsterdam, the Museumplein filled quickly with over 100,000 people viewing the UEFA match on big screens. Dutch police had to send out an alert, warning more people from travelling to the capital as the city was packed with Ajax fans and security concerns were abundant.

It must have been a deflated atmosphere when that second goal was scored against Ajax, but despite it all, the ‘Ajacieden‘ dealt with the loss well. Making it to the final was an achievement in itself for the young, promising team and it’s clear the city understood that. Although Museumplein emptied quickly after the final whistle, Amsterdam still held onto an optimistic atmosphere throughout the rest of the night.

Songs and chants echoed through the nation’s capital (and the many busy trains) and the crowds headed home peacefully, leaving little trouble in their wake. Hopefully next time, they can take home more than a runners-up medal as well.

From the side of Manchester, there seems to be hope for next season. With the legendary club claiming a spot in next year’s Champions League, it seems things are looking up for the team who have struggled so mightily these few seasons.

The Bad

While the young Ajax players have shown their potential and are mostly playing wonderful and exciting football, this also means that players are more likely to leave. Ajax has long been known as a stairway to stardom, producing legends like Cruijff, van Basten, Ibrahimovic, Suarez, Eriksen, Bergkamp, Kluivert, Sneijder, Davids, Litmanen, etc., etc., etc.

Unfortunately it seems that these young talents are leaving the team earlier and earlier, lured away by financial sums that even the nation’s biggest club can’t compete against. It’s leaving Ajax, and the Dutch position in Europe, increasingly more vulnerable and it’s hard not to start wondering about how to reduce the talent drain.

The problem isn’t limited to Ajax. The whole Dutch league has the same issues, it simply can’t afford to compete with the world’s big-leagues like those in England, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Just taking a quick look at the cost difference between Ajax and Manchester should say enough. Man U is estimated at about £628 million, while the Dutch squad is currently valued at around £39 million.

It shouldn’t be surprising. Ajax’s revenues are around £90 million per year… and then there’s the fact that Pogba cost Manchester United a whopping £89 million.

The Ugly

But let’s be honest: the issue of Dutch finances are not the most immediate problem. The biggest problem for Ajax probably lies with the cup’s winners. Even if you’re an Ajax fan (in case you didn’t notice, the authors are), you have to respect the Man United team. How couldn’t you? After all, you can’t deny their success and excellent execution of strategy.

The club has always played good football. Beautiful football. They were exciting to watch, and even if it wasn’t always necessarily attacking football, they played with a conviction and a heart that few others had. They showed confidence and strength, and have long been a club to be respected, maybe even feared.

But watching the the game yesterday, we didn’t feel that respect, and certainly not that fear. Rather, we felt disappointed. To properly explain why that is, let’s take a quick look at the stats.

 

So let’s break it down a bit. Ajax had 69% possession. That’s crazy. That’s Barcelona levels, and the reason is quite simple. It’s because Manchester executed Mourinho’s strategy perfectly. They scored a goal (as messy and chaotic as it was), and then they locked down completely, attempting little more than kicking the ball back to the middle line every time Ajax attacked.

It became even worse in the second half, but as an indication, this strategy led to a pass accuracy of just 67% in the first half for the English squad as they weren’t actually trying to build up their attack. Of course, the individual talent of Manchester shone through brightly, capitalizing on every half-chance. With just 7 shots, 4 were on target, and 2 were goals. On the other hand, Ajax had 17 shots with just 3 on target.

But truthfully, Peter Bosz said it best, “It was a boring game. There were no chances from both sides.” In case you didn’t watch the match, it’s true, there were no real chances. Despite the high number of shots, there weren’t many dangerous chances. Even the goals were scrappy, with Pogba scoring off an unfortunate deflection and Mkhitaryan netting his from a messy corner kick.

Play may have been effective, but ‘boring’ isn’t Man U. Not by a long shot. We’re not thrilled that it was at the cost of Ajax, we can acknowledge that a team of Manchester’s calibre may well deserve their spot in the Champions League.

But not by playing the way they did last night.

What happened to the exciting, fearsome, self-confident United front? The city once had a club that upheld a tradition of fine, beautiful football. Now Mourinho, hired to save the club from decline, has arguably morphed the legendary association into an fearful and boring squad. Granted, he’s won plenty of trophies, but one of us fears he’s only contributing to the downfall. Of course, other things grate about the clubs’s current manager: here’s another nice reflection of his style.

Alternatively, you could say the results speak for themselves. Man U fans still love their team, and found the game exciting to watch. A fan could say that United were focused and controlled, like troops in an army. Anyway, you can’t rush success and it takes time to win back that zest of days gone by.

In the end though, Ajax simply didn’t have their day and Manchester deserved to win. We just wish it had been with more of that MU flair.

6 Summer Festivals You Don’t Want to Miss

Noah Bloem
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The summer is fast approaching and here in the Netherlands, that means it’s summer festival season again. Dutch summers don’t last long, so it’s vital we capitalize on the short moments of blue skies. And what better way to do it than by dancing? So here are 6 lovely summer festivals to enjoy in order to make the most of the Dutch summertime.

Nomads Festival – Amsterdam

This year the Nomads Festival will be celebrating its 5th year anniversary in Amsterdam’s Riekerhaven. With “Half a decade of of love and music”, the Nomads Festival will hosting 5 different stages with artists from the U.S., U.K., and Germany flying in to perform alongside the Dutch acts.

This year’s lineup includes Andrés, Ge-ology, Red Greg, and Jasper Wolff & Maarten Mittendorff. Nomad Festival aims to provide shows from every corner of electronic music, so expect everything from R&B to Funk to Techno to House. Oh, and did I mention there’s also a Nomadic market where you can discover a bunch of new creative brands? Tickets are selling fast, so if you want to go, get them quick to go to this wonderful summer festival!

 

Location: Sportpark Riekerhaven, Amsterdam
Time: June 24, from 12:00 to 23:00
Site: http://nomadsfestival.nl/
Costs: €35

Blijdorp Festival – Rotterdam

The Blijdorp Festival is back again this year with names like Scuba, Deetron, and Auntie Flo taking up the Main Stage. The Rotterdam festival, held in the park right next to the Blijdorp Zoo, is an annual staple in the city’s summer festival scene, and sure to be another big blast of musical goodness.

 

The Blijdorp Festival stands for art, culture, music and happiness, and it’s sure to hit the mark in every category, so don’t miss it!

Location: Roel Langerakpark, Rotterdam (Right next to Blijdorp Zoo)
Time: August 12, from 13:00 to 23:00
Site: http://www.blijdorpfestival.nl/
Costs: €32 (Early Bird €29)

Wicked Jazz Sounds Festival – Amsterdam

Of course Wicked Jazz Sounds Festival brings with it wicked jazz sounds, but there’s also much more. These wicked sounds will range bewtween funk, jazz, soul, afrobeat, and hiphop, and it’s sure to blow your mind. This year marks the third edition of the festival in Amsterdam and if the past two years are anything to go by, then this year is going to be absolutely brilliant.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01ce4v8yKcE&feature=youtu.be[/embedyt]
This year’s line-up is as good as ever, headlined by names like Jungle By Night, Tony Allen, and Michelle David & The Gospel Sessions. The festival will host 3 stages, where the main stage will naturally present the biggest (inter)national names. On the Wicked Jazz Stage, you can see a combination of electronic acts alongside performers from Wicked Jazz Sounds’ club nights at Sugarfactory. Last, but not least, comes the NIGHTCARE stage, where the young and adventurous talents will perform.
Other notable names include Kris Berry, Richard Spaven Trio ft Cleveland Watkiss, LeFtO, and STUFF. So if Jazz is your thing and you want to hear some lovely wicked sounds, then get your tickets quick!
Location: NDSM, Tt. Neveritaweg 61, 1033 WB Amsterdam
Time: June 24, from 12:00 to 23:00
Site: http://wickedjazzsoundsfestival.com/
Costs: €35 (Group Discount €28)

Boothstock Festival – Rotterdam

Hosted in Rotterdam’s Kralingse Bos, the Boothstock Festival has one of the nicest festival locations in the city. With a lovely lake view and a sandy beach beside the grass and trees, it’s perfect for a summer festival.
The 6-stage festival plays hosts to an incredibly diverse set of artists, all being topped off by a back-to-back set from Michel de Hey and Benny Rodrigues on the main stage. This year the festival will play host to the strongest techno line-up they’ve ever hosted with names like Slam, Stranger, Juan Sanchez, and Charles Fenckler. Other artists include Leroy Styles, Abstract, DJ Cash Money, and Gregor Salto. Make sure to check out the full line-up here.

 

The summer festival will be showing off an array of genres, from R&B to Hip Hop to House, so there’s no lack of variety. Tickets are already almost 90% sold, so make sure to get them soon if you want to attend!

Location: Kralingse Bos, Rotterdam
Time: June 10, from 13:00 to 23:00
Site: http://boothstock.nl/
Costs: €40 (Only Late Tickets still available)

Gaasper Pleasure – Amsterdam 

The Gaasper Pleasure Festival is exactly what it sounds like: a pleasure. Finding its home by Amsterdam’s Gaasperplas, the festival’s artists include the likes of Girls Love DJs, Klangkuenstler, and Marcel Fengler. Not to mention they have a brilliant names for their stages like “Hakuna Matata” and, my personal favorite, “Unicorn”.
All of the early bird tickets are sold already as well, so make sure to snag some tickets soon if this summer festival is what you want!

 

Location: Recreatiegebied Gaasperplas, Amsterdam

Time: July 29, from 13:00 to 23:00
Site: http://www.gaasperpleasure.nl/
Costs: €29,50

Puur Festival – Oegstgeest

The Puur Festival is hosted annually at the Klinkenbergenplas in Oegstgeest, not far from Leiden. So that means sand, water, grass, trees, shade and (if weather permits) even sun all in once location. What better than to pair this with wonderful music and delicious foods?
Although most of the line-up is still T.B.A., you can be sure to see names like Irwan, CHIMP, and K-Liber. Not to mention that the festival’s food line-up includes 2 Michelin stars! So with a wide array of music, lovely food, and a beautiful venue, how can you say no to Puur?
Location: Klinkenbergerplas, Oegstgeest
Time: July 29, from 12:00 to 23:00
Site: https://www.puurfestival.com/
Costs: €29,95 (Early bird €25)

Go Party!

So? What are you waiting for? Go get your tickets and go wild! It’s festival season, make the most of it!
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