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STRICTER REGULATIONS FOR GMO FOOD LABELING p5

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JULY/AUGUST 2014 | 3

EDITORIAL

Ashley Cowles, Editor-in-Chief

CONTENTS

Temperatures are in the mid-twenties, nights are growing longer, and the Dutch soccer team is doing great. What more could you wish for in a Dutch summer?

NATIONAL P4-7 Dutch to prevent US flooding p4

As one huge sports event is drawing to a close, another is already starting up. That’s right, it’s time for the Tour de France (p 23)! And if you’re not a cycling fan, why not pack up a cool drink and a good book and set forth to the nearest park? We’ve prepared an overview of the capital’s best independent bookstores offering a selection of Englishlanguage books on pages 14-15.

ECONOMICS P9 Employers not paying salaries

There are some exciting things happening in the world of science as well. Now that scientists have succeeded in teleporting a quantum bit (p 16), who knows what the future might bring. Beam me aboard, Scotty! This issue of the Holland Times also takes a look at some of the more serious issues of modern society. One of those is the Dutch deportation system, which would benefit from a serious overhaul, as both a first-hand account and a closer examination of the system point out (p 6 & 7). So whether it’s light reading or serious research you’re interested in, you’ll find it all in the next few pages! Have something to say to the editor? Email: editorial@thehollandtimes.nl

DIPLOMATIC P11-13 Colombia & Rwanda ambassadors FEATURE P14-15 Amsterdam indie bookstores TECHNOLOGY P17 TU Delft teleports quantum bit ARTS & CULTURE P19 Expat performers in NL REVIEWS P21 Food, Film, Book and Music ratings

All images: Creative Commons Licence Cover images: Franklin Heijnen Martien Uiterweerd Shine2010

SPORTS P23 Tour de France preview

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NATIONAL

4 | JULY/AUGUST 2014

LONDON | Amnesty International is

suing Shell about the company’s oil spills in 2008 and 2009. The resulting environmental damage has destroyed livelihoods and jeopardized the health of thousands of people living near Shell’s oil facilities in the Niger Delta. The trial on the merits of the case is expected to take place at the High Court in London in May 2015. The case is the first time Shell has faced formal proceedings in the UK for its role in the Niger Delta pollution. Shell claims it has done its best to clean up the area, but that there have since been other spills, caused by thieves attempting to siphon oil from the pipeline.

Netherlands to prevent US flooding

Photo: ARLIS Reference ARNHEM | A western lowland gorilla in Arnhem’s Burgers’ Zoo has managed to keep her twin babies alive for a full year, for the first time ever in a European zoo, news agency ANP said on Thursday. The only other zoo where twin gorillas have survived for this long is in Atlanta, Georgia. Just ten sets of gorilla twins have been born in captivity since 1962. N’Kato and N’Hasa are identical twins and were born on June 13, 2013. Twins are rare among gorillas, and are much less common than twins among humans. It is unknown how many of this most numerous and wide spread gorilla species exist in the wild at this point in time. TEGUCIGALPA | The Honduran Anthro-

Photo: Adam Baker pology and History Institute, or INAH, received two jade- and iron pyritecoated jaw bones of two members of the Maya elite that had been sent anonymously to the Honduran Embassy in the Netherlands. IHAH manager Euraque said that the jaws were those of two different Mayan individuals who lived centuries ago in the Copan sector of western Honduras, according to studies by Dr. Raphael Panhuysen, an archaeology professor at the Netherlands’ Leiden University. Tests determined that the individuals to whom the remains belonged were from an area of western Honduras now known as the Copan ruins, the Central American country’s most important archaeological site.

Image: EUMETSAT

Dutch technological expertise will help the US rebuild after Hurricane Sandy. JOHN DONNELLY takes a closer look at these modern-day Hansje Brinkers. Hurricane Sandy was the deadliest and most destructive hurricane of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season, causing 73 fatalities. It was also the second-costliest hurricane in United States history. Damage in the whole of the United States amounted to $65 billion. The storm was the largest Atlantic hurricane on record, its diameter measuring 1,100 miles (1,800 km) across. Its storm surge hit New York City on October 29, flooding streets, tunnels and subway lines and cutting power in and around the city. In the summer of 2013, President Obama created the ‘Rebuild by Design’ competition as part of the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force, as a way to develop ideas capable of dramatically improving the physical, ecological, and economic resilience of coastal areas. Dutchman Henk Ovink joined the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Taskforce on 1 April, 2013. He was previously Acting Director-General of Spatial Planning and Water Affairs at the Ministry of Infrastructure & the Environment in The Hague. As Senior Advisor, Mr Ovink advised the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, (HUD), Secretary Shaun Donovan. Donovan announced on 2 June 2014 that six design proposals had been selected as winners of the Rebuild by Design competition. There is $920 million available, spread over

the six winning proposals, to implement the plans to build the defences against future storms and flooding. Nine Dutch organisations are represented in four of the six the winning teams, two of which are members of two teams simultaneously. The TU (Technical University) Delft and Deltares, an independent consultancy based in Delft concerned with water, substrata and infrastructure , are members of Team Interboro, whose plan is to protect Long Island at a cost of $125 million. This plan involves the creation of swamp areas, islands, dykes and other protective structures along the coastline. Rivers will be transformed into drainage corridors, which will not only collect floodwater, but also filter it, making for good ecology. The BIG team, led by the Bjarke Ingels Group, includes Arcadis (the engineering consultancy with headquarters in Amsterdam) and One Architecture, also from Amsterdam. The team has extensive experience in designing the interrelationships between cities and their infrastructure. They also have the biggest project, with a budget of $335 million to protect Manhattan. Here, they will throw a protective cordon round the island, with dykes, sea-walls and gates which can be lowered when needed. OMA, the Office for Metropolitan Architecture headquartered in Rot-

terdam, leads a team including Royal HaskoningDHV from Nijmegen (an independent, international engineering and project management consultancy with over 130 years of experience) and Volkerinfra, who carry out multidiscipline infrastructure projects and who are part of the VolkerWessels-concern based in Amersfoort. Their expertise includes building, infrastructure, urban and rural planning, water management and water technology. This project, with a budget of $230 million, is for the protection of Hoboken and has four basic elements for managing water: resist (the inflow using protective structures), delay (the outflow by designing appropriate urban infrastructure), store (by creating environmentallyfriendly means of collecting surplus water), and discharge (by means of pumps and alternative run-offs). MIT CAU+ZUS+URBANISTEN have received $150 million for the project called The Meadowlands. ZUS, (Zones Urbaines Sensibles) is a partnership which designs and does research studies in the fields of architecture, urbanism, and landscape design; an innovative group based in Rotterdam. This team also includes Deltares and Volkerinfra, both of whom are part of other teams. This project has identified crucial flood zone landscapes whose performance and ecosystem dynam-

Sheado

ics have been lost over time due to development pressures. These landscapes are in the Meadowlands (NJ), the western edge of the Hudson River (NJ), parts of lower Manhattan (NY), and the creeks of Brooklyn and the Bronx (NY). These are non-built-up areas with open countryside. With improved water management systems, the area will become a nature reserve where excess water can be collected when necessary. When not needed as a water collection area, it will be a public park, forming a buffer between the metropolitan area and the countryside around it. Upon signing the Memorandum of Understanding, pledging more intensive collaboration between the Netherlands and the US on sustainable and integrated planning and water management infrastructure, Minister Schultz van Haegen, Dutch Minister for Infrastructure and the Environment said, “this appointment is proof that Dutch knowledge of and expertise in water affairs is held in very high regard internationally. We are happy to share this knowledge and know-how with our American colleagues who are currently working on improving their defences against water.“ from the wide-ranging expertise and applied approaches demonstrated in this competition, it is clear that the Minister’s remarks were wellfounded.

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NATIONAL

JULY/AUGUST 2014 | 5

Stricter regulations for GMO labeling

Arrests for trafficking

THE HAGUE | The Netherlands arrested some 100 people while executing extra border controls during the Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) in March of this year, the NL Times reports. State Secretary of Justice Fred Teeven informed Parliament that most of the arrests for what can be considered “immigration crimes”: human smuggling, human trafficking, and forged and fake travel documents. The border controls were carried out from March 14 to 28 by 1,250 civil servants at the border with Germany and Belgium, on the waterways and main airports. They encountered 180 foreigners traveling without the correct documents.

Photo: Connie Janssen Danst

Dance on submarine wharf ROTTERDAM | Choreographer Conny

Photo: Charles Smith

GMO technology faces increasing resistance as the world takes a stand in favor of food labeling. ASHLEY COWLES has the details. The Vermont Senate recently passed a bill that would make the state the first in the United States to enact mandatory labeling of foods made with genetically modified crops. “We are really excited that Vermont is going to be leading on this,” said Falko Schilling, a spokesman for the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, which backed the bill. The bill, approved 28-2 by the Senate, has already passed the Vermont House of Representatives, the Huffington Post reports. It now goes back to the House to see if members will approve changes made by the Senate. The language of the Vermont bill states that foods made with genetically engineered crops “potentially pose risks to health, safety, agriculture, and the environment” and should be labeled. The law is set to take effect July 1, 2016. “We are saying people have a right to know what’s in their food,” said Senate President Pro Tempore John Campbell, a Democrat. The vote was 26-2 in favor of GMO labeling. Campbell and other supporters said they believe that they have written a measure that is legally defensible, the Burlington Free Press reported. Nevertheless, the bill would create a fund

to help pay the state’s legal bills, since many lawmakers are assuming that food manufacturers will sue. Most foods, including some 85 percent of the corn crop in the United States, contain ingredients that have plants or animals that were genetically modified, usually to increase shelf life and resistance to disease. Opponents of GMO foods believe that the modification process is harmful to humans, saying they worsen food allergies and create gluten sensitivity, among other conditions. Sixty nations around the world, as well as the European Union, require the labeling of GMO foods. Senators who have been skeptical of GMO labeling have said they were eventually persuaded to back it because they believed their constituents wanted the information on their food labels. Many said they were flooded with phone calls and emails urging them to pass the bill. And Vermont isn’t the only one to stand up to the producer’s bullying tactics: Jackson County, Oregon soon followed suit, implementing a ban on the growing of all genetically engineered plants. . With 100 percent of the precincts reporting and a huge voter turnout of over 50 percent,

nearly 66% of voters elected to ban all genetically engineered crops from being grown in the county. According to Healthy Holistic Living, the vote ran 39,489 to 20,432 in favor of the ban, sending a clear signal that the people of Jackson County, Oregon — a largely agricultural area of the country — absolutely do not want genetically engineered crops to be growing anywhere near them. It’s clear that the US is waking up to the consequences of consuming GMO foods. But what about the EU? EU-wide regulations on labelling have existed since 1997, when the EU regulation on novel foods and food ingredients came into effect. In 2003, the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the governments of Member States decided on a new regulation on genetically modified food and feed. This new legislation further expanded labelling rules, replacing the novel foods regulation. Despite repeated efforts by the U.S. and Canada to export GMO crops to the EU, they have been met with strong opposition, Voice of America reports. And the issue resurfaced this summer, as the United States and the European Union started negotiations in Washington on a free trade agree-

ment and possible GMO food imports like corn, soy and sugar beets from the United States. “For the European side, this is a pretty sensitive issue because there are so many people in our countries who have an adverse opinion about genetically engineered crops and that of course is a political factor in this debate, no doubt about it,” explained Thomas Schmidt, a food and agriculture expert at the German Embassy in Washington, DC. Critics inside the European Union, including Spain where GMO crops are currently grown, say that Europe has to embrace genetically engineering or lag behind economically. They also point out that while banning GMO crops in Europe, the EU depends on imports of genetically engineered corn from the US, soybean from South America and animal feed from Argentina. The European Union is currently the largest importer of goods from the United States and a possible deal between the two on GMO food imports from the U.S. would have a significant economic impact on both sides of the Atlantic. The free trade agreement negotiations are expected to be finalized by the end of 2014.

Janssen has joined forces with chamber orchestra Sinfonia Rotterdam for her latest work, Mirror Mirror. Janssen is famous for making creating her works on location, and this time she has chosen a large wharf where once entire submarines were manufactured. A unique collaboration between two household names, Mirror Mirror promises compelling dance, live music, experienced dancers and new talent and an immersive set design. Mirror Mirror will be performed on the Onderzeebootloods in Rotterdam until July 20th.

Photo: Theater Amsterdam

‘Anne’ to appeal to youths AMSTERDAM | Anne Frank’s diary has

been brought to life in a multimillion pound theatrical production. Simply titled ‘Anne’, the show transports viewers back to the Amsterdam apartment where Anne and her family hid from the Nazis during the Second World War. Set in a specially-built theatre on the outskirts of the town, viewers are able to watch the moment the Frank family are arrested and dragged away by the German security police, as well as the moments leading up to that fateful moment. It is hoped that a series of interactive sets used in the show will help bring the young diarist’s story to a new generation.

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NATIONAL

6 | JULY/AUGUST 2014

NL is competative nation

AMSTERDAM | The Netherlands is the third most competitive nation in the European Union according to the 2014 World Economic Forum’s Europe 2020 Competitiveness Report. The Netherlands has overtaken Denmark while moving up one place on the index from 4th in 2012 to 3rd in 2014. The new ranking can largely be attributed to strong performances in the areas of smart and inclusive growth fuelled by an impressive university system, high levels of social inclusion and a robust ICT sector. The Netherlands’ ranking of third overall is a telling sign that the Dutch continue to be high performers in terms of both economic growth and social progression in Europe.

Asylum seekers spend decades waiting

Photo: Dave Conner

Police uses less force

UTRECHT | According to research by NU.nl, police in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht cumulatively resorted to forceful tactics less often in 2013 than in 2012. In 2013, police used methods of force in these Randstad cities a total of 6,344 times; a 3.5 percent decrease from the 6,588 cases in 2012. With 207 total instances, the secondmost used method of force was a baton. The Hague and Utrecht witnessed the lowest amount of police firearm usage. Of the four major cities, only the police in Amsterdam do not report the difference between a warning shot and a shot fired at a definitive target.

Photo: Andreas Eldh

Tweeting good for business

AMSTERDAM | New research has shown that small businesses and entrepreneurs in the Netherlands that are very active on in social media are doing significantly better than their competitors who are not as active. A recent study by Dutch market researcher TNS Nipo found that although these entrepreneurs may not have realized that their online activities lead directly to real growth figures, in the month before the survey they had more business, higher sales and more profit than their less-active competitors. According to the study, businesses that were very active on Facebook and Twitter managed to increase their reach and improve customer loyalty, as well as successfully advertise online.

Photo: Liliane Limpens

For most asylum seekers, spending years in uncertainty is the rule rather than the exception. KAHAR ZALMAY provides a first-hand report. “Taliban were killing us by bullets; the Dutch authorities have been killing us by waiting in the camps. It’s like death in instalments.” This is what Gulnar, 23 and a mother of a three-year-old daughter named Malala told me in a refugee camp in Wageningen. At three months pregnant, she set out on her journey from Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, in the first week of August 2013. She went from Kabul to Iran, and later to Turkey, before she was taken to a forest on the Greek border in a mini-bus with 11 more people from different nationalities. They walked three nights through the forest with no food and water. “In one hand, I had my bag and in the other I was holding my daughter. We would walk for four hours and then rest for five minutes. Our legs were swollen from walking and we had no idea when we would reach the Greek border.” Food and water was limited, which led to dehydration and hunger. They were lucky and made it to Greece. They were brought to the Netherlands in a freezer truck. Her only form of identity papers was her marriage certificate. Like most of the refugees waiting for the decision, she said she developed sleep problems and other men-

tal health issues. “First, I cannot sleep and when I sleep I have nightmares. So many times I thought that it’s better to die than live in the refugee camp. Then I think about my daughter and the unborn baby who keep me going,” Gul Nar said. Gul Nar is not the only one who thought she would be given asylum in Netherlands the moment she arrived; there were dozens others in different camps from different nationalities who felt disillusioned with Netherlands’s asylum procedures. Several refugees have been waiting for decisions on their cases for the last 10 years; in some cases, even 20 years. Hashim Khan, an Afghan refugee, said that the Dutch government encourages refugees to work illegally, in a way: nobody wants and can afford to stay in the camps for that long. There are hundreds of refugees like Hashim Khan, just waiting for their decisions. Yasir Ahmed was an employee at a bank in Pakistan, and has been waiting in the refugee camp for the last nine months. “After my interview with the IND, I managed the waiting and boredom for the first month. It’s now been nine months and I believe I have lost my calmness, my peace of mind,” said Yasir Ahmed. Though the refugee camps are

relatively better than the camps in Eastern European countries, there are some camps that make life difficult for refuges because of the lack of ventilation. Boredom is another serious issue, as refugees are allowed to get Dutch language and integration lessons only when they get a positive answer--even if it takes 10 years. Upon requesting that the officials of Dutch Refugee Council look into this matter, they said they couldn’t do much about it. The Holland Times also spoke to a human rights lawyer who has been pleading cases of refugees for more than 15 years, and asked him for his perspective on the asylum procedure. “I believe that the Dutch authorities are good to refugees. However, in most cases, they make them wait for years--unnecessarily so,” he said, requesting not to be named. Though the procedure has become faster since the implementation of the Aliens Act 2000 (effective April 2001), which binds the IND to make decision within the period of six months, the IND fails to meet its own set deadline in most cases. The lawyer also agreed that delays in the asylum procedure encourage illegal work in the Netherlands. Some refugees (mostly from Iran

and Afghanistan) have converted to Christianity, as the perception is that the decision process is faster for converts and gay refugees. The Dutch government doesn’t officially encourage people to convert, but several refugees said that their lawyers encouraged them to do so. “This is somewhat true. I have observed in my long experience as human rights lawyer that refugees who got rejected initially were accepted later when they re-filed their cases, showing themselves to be Christians,” the human rights lawyer said. The official IND stance on the delays is that it has been overwhelmed by the large number of refugees from Syria and Eritrea. “The IND believes that cases of Syrians and Eritreans are their priority to accelerate the families’ reunion, because the general situation in these countries is pretty bad. Delays in cases of refugees from countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran etcetera is normal, but it does not mean they are not taken seriously. The IND works very hard to make sure the decisions are made within the given timeframe,” said a lawyer who closely works with the IND, adding that in most cases, the delays happen when the refugees challenge the IND decision in court.

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NATIONAL

JULY/AUGUST 2014 | 7

“Dutch deportation system is failing”

PVV teams up with KNP

BRUSSELS | Right-wing Polish party KNP

has agreed to link up with Geert Wilders’ PVV and France’s Front National in forming an anti-EU group within the European parliament, Trouw reports on Thursday. Wilders originally opposed working with the Kongres Nowej Prawicy because of ‘our free market ideology’, a spokesman is quoted as saying by Trouw. The KNP holds sharply differing views to Wilders in several areas. The party opposes same sex marriage and wants the use and production of all drugs to be decriminalised. In addition, party leader Janusz Korwin-Mikke reportedly opposes giving women the right to vote because they ‘are not interested in politics’.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Online dating successful

Photo: Wereld Journalisten

The Dutch deportation system is no longer effective, says the committee responsible for overseeing procedures. ALICE BURKE looks into the matter. A recent report highlights worries from an independent commission that the Dutch deportation system is failing; the number of deportees from the Netherlands is falling and the amnesty for child refugees is worsening the situation. The report was published by the Dutch deportation service known as the Commission for Comprehensive Supervision of Return or the Commissie Integraal Toezicht Terugkeer (CITT) and covers activity in 2013. The report released by the CITT was covered by De Telegraaf and was also reported widely in English media in the Netherlands. The CITT, led by former diplomat Gualthérie van Weezel, says that the deportation of illegal aliens has become an unmanageable task. “After more than six years, the commission has come to the judgment that with the current state of affairs, effectively deporting aliens – also by all the guarantees, legal regulations and legal aid – has become a virtually impossible task for all coworkers related to the deportation,” states the CITT. “After six years of this policy, it is clear that the current state of affairs is making deportation virtually impossible to achieve for all those involved in

carrying it out,” the Telegraaf quotes the report as saying. The CITT, an independent government body which reports to junior justice Minister Fred Teeven (VVD), refers, among other things, to the “large number of deportation flights that are being cancelled”, reports Dutchnews.nl. “There is also a warning that softening the rules on immigrants being held in deportation centers, which is being brought in by Teeven under pressure from his Labor party coalition partners, will have an adverse effect,” added Dutchnews.nl. The report is also critical of child amnesty, under which children who have lived in the Netherlands for more than 5 years under monitoring of the state are allowed to remain in the country. Immigrants facing deportation will have to be given 48 hours warning. However, the report says, this would give deportees enough time to disappear. The CITT says this amnesty will lead to other families who do not fall into this category refusing to be deported willingly. However, the treatment of immigrants is humane in general, the Telegraaf quotes the report as saying. Newspaper Het Parool reported on

a TV appearance by Hans Gualthérie van Weezel, chairman of the CITT, late last month on Dutch current affairs show Nieuwsuur. Mr. Van Weezel was reported in the newspaper as saying that the Netherlands must be able to control its own borders to keep out illegal immigrants, criminals, and traffickers. Mr. Van Weezel added that the Schengen Treaty was created to control external borders within the passport-free area and that mobile teams monitor the very limited borders of the Netherlands; the so-called internal borders. That concept should now be reevaluated, said Mr Van Weezel. Human rights group Amnesty International has said that in the Netherlands, “immigration detention continued to be used excessively, despite the introduction of pilot alternative schemes for particular categories of migrants and asylum-seekers.” The conditions in Dutch immigration detention centers largely mirrored those in criminal detention facilities, said the human rights group. The transparency of the Commission for Comprehensive Supervision of Return (Commissie Integraal Toezicht Terugkeer, CITT), the body overseeing forced removals and one of the national preventative mecha-

nisms under the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture, remained limited. Annual reports published by the CITT do not include specific data on the use of force in individual removal proceedings, say Amnesty International. In 2012, a refugee denied asylum and father of two teenagers killed himself rather than be deported back to Burundi from the Netherlands. The family had been staying in the Netherlands for five years and the children’s mother had died during the Burundi civil war, reported newspaper Algemeen Dagblad at the time of the incident. The man was reportedly suffering from depression because of the pending deportation, and had said his life would be ruined if he was sent back. In 2011, lawyers specializing in asylum cases set up a special interest group to draw attention to the serious mental health problems that people who fear being deported suffer from. Press reports from 2012 on the matter confirm the lawyers’ observations, stating that 40 asylum seekers had killed themselves in refugee centers since 2002, and that there are approximately another 40 suicide attempts in refugee detention centers every year.

AMSTERDAM | Over 13 percent of the couples who have moved in together over the past five years have met each other online, according to new figures on finding a partner from the national statistics office CBS. In particular older people and people who have been divorced are more likely to meet a new partner online, the CBS said. Some 37 percent of the over-55s met their new partner online, as did 22 percent of people aged 45 to 55. Around half of the internet couples met via a dating site. The others met online but not as formal dates.

Image: Hielke Oud

OV Chip Card is cash cow

UTRECHT | Forgetful travelers often fail

to check out with their OV chip cards on trains, trams and buses. So much so that companies such as the NS, Arriva, and Connexxion are making 22,9 million euro on travelers’ neglect. This was calculated by independent research bureau Panteia, the Telegraaf reports. Forgetting to check out means that travelers are paying the full price on the entire trajectory, from the station of boarding to the last stop on the route-even though they may have gotten off after three stops. Travelers association Rover and the ANWB asked for the research to be performed. The total sum of the profits was 17 million euro.

More, extended, enjoyment of better sleep comfort starts with the choice of supplier. Dreamzzz takes the time for you, uses its know-how to advise you with attention for your needs. In our branches in Rijswijk and Voorburg, you can even try out our waterbeds. In The Hague, Jensen and Tempur are among the brands we sell. All our stores supply Pullman. A more relaxed night’s sleep starts with Dreamzzz.

Dreamzzz The Hague Theresiastraat 55, 2593 AA Den Haag T. +31 (0)70 335 68 30 Dreamzzz Rijswijk Hendrik Ravesteijnplein 76 2282 GX Rijswijk, +31 (0)70 390 60 60 Dreamzzz Voorburg Koningin Julianalaan 134 2274 JN Voorburg, T. +31 (0)70 300 08 03

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08-07-14 20:39

HEALTH

Bronovo Hospital bundles medical specialisms

Photo: Frank van der Burg

case of snoring and light apnoea advice on lifestyle, including losing weight, is often sufficient. In other cases we recommend treatment." Depending on the seriousness and cause of the sleep apnoea this can consist of a dental appliance the patient wears during sleep, an operation (removal of tonsils or correction of the uvula) or the use of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). During sleep the CPAP blows air through a mask into the mouth and throat, keeping the airways open and ensuring that the patient can breathe unhindered. After diagnosis the patient will initially be monitored by the Snore-OSAS clinic. Annema: "We closely monitor the patient and the effectiveness of the treatment and discuss this during multidisciplinary consultations. This is where we differ from most other hospitals."

‘Not having a good sleep has an enormous impact’

‘Got my life back’ Fatigue, burn out and erectile dysfunction may be symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) The multidisciplinary Snore-OSAS clinic at Bronovo Hospital in The Hague gives patients their lives back according to the experiences of lung specialist Dunja Annema and sleep care professional Mariska van de Velde. Many people make noises at night. "That is what we call an aesthetic problem" says Annema. "But if the breathing stops as is the case in OSAS, the problem becomes a medical one." Patients with OSAS may suffer from fatigue, morning headaches, erectile dysfunction, concentration problems, symptoms of depression and extreme sleepiness during the day. The illness is associated with obesity, diabetes and heart disease such as heart failure and high

blood pressure. Annema: "People with sleep apnoea often do not function at work and may be a danger on the road." Dentist and neurologist After the family doctor refers a patient to the Snore-OSAS clinic, he or she will first be seen by an Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) specialist and - preferably immediately after this - by a lung specialist. The patient will then be provided with sleep registration equipment to be used that same evening at home. The results will be discussed during a multidisciplinary consultation that includes not only the lung specialist and the ENT specialist, but also includes a neurologist and the dentist at Bronovo. A distinction is made between snoring, light sleep apnoea, moderate sleep apnoea and severe sleep apnoea. Annema: “In the

Impact OSAS occurs in patients of all ages, even in patients with normal weight. The condition is often overlooked. Patients themselves often do not know that they snore of their breathing stops. "We therefore recommend to involve the partner in the diagnostics", says Annema. Sleep care professional Mariska van de Velde: “We recently saw a man of 83. As soon as he started using CPAP, he felt so much better. He told us that he had had symptoms for more than twenty years. We regularly hear patients say that they have 'got their life back'. Not sleeping well has an enormous impact." Three stars The Snore-OSAS clinic has been awarded three stars by the Dutch Sleep Apnoea Association. The main consideration for this patient association in awarding stars is patient satisfaction.

BRONOVO HOSPITALITY www.bronovo.nl

Bronovo oﬀers general hospital services for the residents of The Hague and surrounding areas. Providing personal care is a priority, because at Bronovo our patients are at the heart of everything we do. The hospital has an alliance with the Leiden University Medical Centre. Our team of medical specialists oﬀer a wide range of services, covering almost every specialisation. At Bronovo, over 1,500 employees and 120 specialists work closely together in a multidisciplinary team to provide what we like to think of as health care with added hospitality.

Information for expats Information meetings for expats Do you want to know more about information meetings for expats? Contact: Nanda Jagusiak-Monteiro Bronovo Expat Coordinator E: NJagusiak@bronovo.nl

Overseas Patients Administration Do you have any questions about the Dutch health care system, Bronovo Hospital, your insurance or the handling of your invoice? Contact: Deborah Warmenhoven-Walmsley Overseas Patients Administration Assistant Patient Administration Office T: +31 (0)70 312 41 80 or (070) 312 41 80 (Monday, Wednesday & Friday) E: DWarmenhoven@bronovo.nl Accident & Emergency department Emergency services are available seven days a week and 24 hours a day at Bronovo Hospital. The Accident & Emergency department is always open for everyone. The A&E department (SEH) is available on (070) 312 44 45 or via the central Bronovo number (070) 312 41 41. Every A&E patient must produce proof of identity and a health insurance card. Contact Bronovo Hospital Bronovolaan 5 2597 AX The Hague +31 (0)70 312 41 41 or (070) 312 41 41 www.bronovo.nl

BRONOVO HOSPITAL Bronovolaan 5, 2597 AX Den Haag WASSENAAR HEALTH CENTRE Hofcampweg 65, 2241 KE Wassenaar BRONOVO SATELLITE OUTPATIENT CLINIC President Kennedylaan 15, 2517 JK Den Haag

EXPAT SERVICE DESK On workdays from 8.00 – 16.30 hours: E mail: expat@bronovo.nl Anneke van Kooten +31 (0)70 312 40 16

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economics

JULY/AUGUST 2014 | 9

Employers fail to pay salaries on time

SNS prepares to sell REAAL

THE HAGUE | This summer, SNS REAAL will set in motion the process that will lead to the sale of insurer REAAL N.V. which is currently part of the nationalized company SNS REAAL. The government has also opted to return the insurance company ASR to the market following the sale of REAAL. These plans are set out in a letter to the House of Representatives from the Minister of Finance Jeroen Dijsselbloem. In approving these plans, the cabinet is following the advice given by NL Financial Investments (NLFI), which exercises shareholder rights in companies including ASR and SNS REAAL on behalf of the State.

More online scamming

Photo: Emilian Robert Vicol

Dutch trade union FNV Bondgenoten regularly receives complaints from employees waiting for their salary. JEROEN SPANGENBERG looks at their options. In the last year, FNV Bondgenoten handled almost 2,000 legal cases where employees didn’t receive their salary on time as specified in their contract, or only received part of their salary. FNV spokesman Harrie Lindelauff estimates that thousands of additional complaints in 2013 were not brought before the court. Firstly, as an employee, you need to ask your employer why you didn’t get paid. Most of the time, the reason for a delay is that the employer lacks a big enough financial buffer to run its daily business operations smoothly, says Laura Kapper from FNV Catering Union. Small catering businesses that have a bad turnover during the month delay payment of their employees. Many employers do pay in the end, although they pay too late. Employees who receive their pay too late get angry, don’t feel appreciated, and become demotivated in the end. Sometimes, employees under a flexible contract are afraid to complain, as there is a potential of getting fired. For employees who aren’t getting paid on time, the delay can result in financial problems like an inability to afford the rent, amenities and daily needs such as groceries. In the end, the employer is making his problem

your problem as well. A second step you can take is sending your employer a letter with the help of your trade union, a collection agency or a lawyer, in order to pressure him to take action. If the employer doesn’t budge, you can file a lawsuit. The employer is liable to pay a daily 5 percent interest from day 4 until day 8 that your salary isn’t paid out. After that, a further 1 percent is added daily. As a consequence, the employer needs to pay 6 percent on day 9, and owes you 7 percent for day 10. The maximum amount the employer needs to pay as a fine is 50 percent of the salary owed, but judges often reduces this amount to 10 percent, which decreases the incentive for the employers to pay on time. According to FNV Catering Union, this ability of judges to decrease the maximum fine is negatively impacting employees, since employers thereby have less incentive to pay on time in the future as well. If the fine is increased, it also becomes more viable for employees to file a lawsuit, while at this moment the costs and efforts to file a lawsuit are too high and burdensome. If employers are unable to pay due to bankruptcy, you have the possibil-

ity to access the government relief program via the UWV. In 2013, 67,000 people received 470 million euro in total from this government agency, because their employer was unable to pay their salary. If a colleague of yours also didn’t receive salary, then it is possible to file for company bankruptcy. At this moment, you still need at least two people to do so. The FNV recommends changing the law, so that one person can also file for company bankruptcy. They believe this will lead an individual employee to have a stronger basis from which to pressure the employer to pay on time. You can also negotiate about including an additional clause in your contract, stating that the employer is bound to pay a certain daily fine if he pays late. Also, FNV recommends that a similar clause is adopted by default in the collective contracts (CAO). It would also be possible to add to your contract that legal costs will be covered by your employer if he fails to pay on time. Employers sometimes have to wait to get paid as well, which decreases their buffer and can delay payments. The Nationale Ombudsman, a Dutch organization that enables citizens to ask for help if they have a problem

with the government, conducted a study about entrepreneurs working for the government, who get paid too late. Part of the study included a complaint desk available by phone until the end of January 2014. In March of this year, a law was put into effect giving employers the right to charge collection agency fees and 8.25 percent legal interest to the government, in case payment is not received within 30 days. Nonetheless, the problem remains that companies are hesitant to do so, since this might negatively impact the business relationship. Small business owners have a higher risk of facing trouble in their daily business operations if a big contractor (such as the government or another company) fails to pay on time. As a result, small business owners are unable to pay their employees, who are then unable to pay their bills. In the end, everyone suffers from late payment. FNV and CNV both represent employees. While the FNV was able to recommend certain improvements, the CNV didn’t have any statistics or any comments concerning this topic.

ABN Amro raises management pay The bank’s management top 100 has received a 20% pay increase, in order to circumvent new plans to limit bonus payments. ASHLEY COWLES reports.

Photo: Dennis M2 Photo: Lending Memo

ABN Amro Group NV recently raised salaries for some of its senior staff by as much as 20%, the Wall Street Journal reports. They did so because their incomes are threatened by the Dutch government’s plan to impose one of the most stringent bonus rules in Europe. The state-owned bank said it increased the salaries of around 100

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employees in an attempt to compensate them for lower bonuses. Even with the pay raise included their incomes will still fall by 5% to 10% on average as a result of the bonus cap, ABN Amro said. The employees are part of ABN Amro’s management group, a management layer just below the executive board.

Chief Executive Gerrit Zalm, a former Dutch finance minister, said the pay raise was needed to keep the bank attractive for senior staff. “You need to be competitive, otherwise you will hollow out the bank,” he told Het Financieele Dagblad. The Dutch government plans to introduce legislation that will limit bonuses to 20% of annual salary, driven by the belief that bonuses led bankers to take excessive risks before the 2008 financial crisis. The proposal would be tougher than the European Union’s new bonus cap, which prevents banks from paying bonuses of more than twice an employee’s salary—and then only with shareholder approval. Dutch bankers warn that the law would hurt the competitiveness of the Dutch banking sector, even though it would only apply to bankers based in the Netherlands. They say the sector

is already grappling with a flood of new regulations, ranging from higher capital requirements to a new rule that will force all employees to swear a special ‘banker’s oath’. Dutch Banking Association, NVB, a lobby group, said last week that the bonus cap puts Dutch banks at a disadvantage in Europe. The NVB estimates that only 2% of the 90,000 bank employees in the Netherlands receive a bonus of more than 20% of their salary. ABN Amro is eager to remain attractive for its employees. The bank is currently being readied for privatization after it was nationalized at the height of the financial crisis. The government is expected to sell a minority stake in the bank in 2015, probably through a public stock offering.

AMSTERDAM | A report released by the CBS states that nearly 450.000 Dutch consumers indicated that they were victims of a scam while shopping online in 2013, an increase of 0.4 percent from 2012. While cases of internet fraud increased overall, the amount of “skimming” cases decreased by 0.3 percent in 2013. Interestingly enough, just one out of five people reporting they had been victims of a scam registered an official complaint with the police. While skimming decreased, the reported amount of phishing remained largely the same at 0.43 percent.

Photo: Intel Free Press

NL: international tax haven

THE HAGUE | The European Commission has opened an investigation to examine whether the taxes paid by Starbucks in the Netherlands comply with the EU rules on state aid. The investigation is one of three, with Apple being investigated in Ireland and Fiat in Luxembourg. This comes after revelations that the Netherlands is the biggest tax haven worldwide for US multinationals: no other country has so much money funneled through it for tax purposes by US companies as the Netherlands. The Dutch Ministry of Finance said that these companies are not here only for tax reasons, but also have their European headquarters here.

More Dutch millionaires

BOSTON | The Netherlands has the 12th

highest number of millionaires in the world, with 221,000 Dutch households having assets of more than 1 million US dollars (740,000 euros) in 2013. This is 30,000 more than in 2012, according to a report by Boston Consulting Group, a rise which kept the Netherlands in the same position as last year. Globally, the totally number of (US dollar) millionaire households reached 16.3 million in 2013, up strongly from 13.7 in 2012 and accounting for 1.1 percent of all households worldwide.

Photo: TaxCredits.net

Freelancer pension plan

ROTTERDAM | From 2015 onwards, free-

lancers in the Netherlands will be able to choose to put money into a collective pension fund. With this fund, they will be able to save money tax free for their pensions just like payroll employees, De Volkskrant reports. Most of the nearly 1 million freelancers in the Netherlands today do not have a pension plan. Payroll employees build up a pension of 70 percent of their average salaries. Not even a quarter of Dutch freelancers puts money aside for this, and do not even come out at 50 percent if they do.

08-07-14 20:39

Lufthansa flights from Rotterdam to Munich

The route that was inaugurated on 1 October between Rotterdam The Hague Airport and Munich, has proved to be convenient and efficient for both business and leisure travelers.

Moreover, Munich is often used as a transit airport with vast number of exclusive Lufthansa amenities. Altogether, 4,500 square meters of luxurious lounges invite customers to work or relax.

On 1 October Lufthansa started operating double daily flights from Rotterdam The Hague Airport to the Bavarian capital Munich. The flights are being operated by a modern Bombardier Canadair Jet CRJ 900 with up to 90 seats in Business and Economy class.

The airport has been continuously awarded Best European Airport by the prestigious Skytrax Awards. The state-of-the-art Terminal 2 offers a minimum connecting time of 35 minutes. Due to harmonized flight times of the new Rotterdam The Hague services, passengers will be able to connect to over 70 daily flights to worldwide destinations or make use of a full day for business or leisure in the Munich area.

For business and leisure travelers from the Rotterdam The Hague area, Munich is a much asked for destination.

Specialised psychological and psychiatric help for international guests

Seamless flight options include destinations such as Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Mumbai in Asia as well as Jeddah, New York and Sao Paolo besides various airports in Europe like Istanbul, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tbilisi, Zurich, Vienna and Berlin. Return flights from Rotterdam to Munich can now be booked from 99 euro on www.lufthansa.com. The fare includes all taxes and fees. Information and bookings are furthermore available via Lufthansa call centre on 0900 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1234 777 (0.15 per minute), Lufthansa travel agent partners and Lufthansa sales counters at the airports.

These are just some of the many mental health challenges you can face as an expatriate living in Holland, far from home. PsyQ International Mental Health Services are here to support you. We provide state of the art and discreet solutions to your mental health challenges. Mental health care begins with people, which is why our most unique resource is our staff of caring and deeply committed individuals. We have an international, multilingual team and consider ourselves to be a truly international mental health centre. All our staff are personally familiar with the expatriate experience and are officially registered professionals.

Feeling under pressure or depressed? Suffering from anxiety? Feeling isolated and having difficulties adapting? Struggling with substance abuse or addiction? Contact +31 (0) 6 52568382 imhs@psyq.nl www.psyq.nl/expatriates/expats

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DIPLOMATIC

JULY/AUGUST 2014 | 11

Colombia: a river of opportunities ON 20 JULY, COLOMBIA WILL CELEBRATE ITS NATIONAL DAY. On this occasion, NANDA JAGUSIAK interviews the Ambassador of Colombia, H.E. Eduardo Pizarro Leongómez. in November of 2013. With regard to exports, the Netherlands is the fourth destination of Colombian exports worldwide, and their worth has grown more than tenfold since 2012. There is a remarkably large number of Dutch companies now present in Colombia. 3. For the last few years, South America has known economic growth with Brazil as high-flyer. Is Colombia also carried away in this booming trend? Colombia’s growth over the last decade has been above average: last year, it was 4.3%, while Latin America’s growth was 3.2%. With a diverse economy including strong sectors such as oil and mining, finance and banking, construction, energy, and retail, Colombia has become one of the region’s main FDI destinations for all types of industries and services. Colombia is currently Latin America’s 4th main FDI destination, 4th largest economy, and has the 3rd largest population with a GDP per capita of USD 10,800. Colombia’s growth is expected to reach 5% by 2015.

1. In 2011, you were installed as Ambassador of Colombia in The Hague. How has your experience been living in the Netherlands? On 10 December 2011, I presented my credentials to Queen Beatrix. The event mirrored the Netherlands as a country: a strict organization within a kind and warm environment. My experience has been very interesting in light of the important lessons this country offers: An embedded sense of equality and social solidarity, and an adherence to democracy understood as a result of profound multiparty, 4. Is the Netherlands an important multicultural and multi-religious con- destination for Colombians pursusensuses. ing studies abroad? There are currently over 250 stu2. How is the bilateral relationship dents pursuing Master and doctorate between the Netherlands and Co- degrees in the Netherlands as their lombia? chosen destination for advanced studIn the past few years, Colombia went ies, and we have concluded important from being a development aid recipi- agreements with universities such as ent to becoming an important trade Delft, Tilburg, Wageningen, Rotterpartner for the Netherlands. A show dam and Amsterdam. of this new mutually beneficial cli- The reason for this vigorous acmate was the opening of the Holland tivity is that the areas in which the House in Bogotá, the first of its kind, Netherlands is widely recognized as inaugurated by the King and Queen having achieved a notable technologion their official visit to Colombia cal and scientific development (water,

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fluvial navigation, port management, sustainable agriculture, biomass and biofuels, etc.) are, in turn, areas in which Colombia has great interest and needs for progress. Thus, we not only have strong economic and trade links, but also increasingly close relations in the scientific and technical fields. A recent example may suffice: following an agreement between the STC Group and the Universidad del Norte in the city of Barranquilla, on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, we will start developing a top-level Centre of Excellence on Ports, Transport and Logistics to serve all of Latin America and the Caribbean. 5. In large areas of Colombia, the 2010-2011 winter seasons caused unprecedented flooding; after the disaster the Colombian Government asked the Netherlands to assist with improvements to their water management. What can you tell me about this? Since 2010, relations between the Netherlands and Colombia have intensified, with water management becoming one of the shared priorities for both. This is reflected by agreements and actions including a memorandum of understanding, several studies and missions. Among them was the establishment of the Holland-Colombia Water Platform and Colombia’s inclusion in the Water Mondiaal programme, as recently announced during the fourth edition of the International Environmental Fair (FIMA – for its Spanish acronym– 2014) held in Bogotá between 4 and 7 June 2014 with the participation of 160 countries. Water Mondiaal is a Dutch programme that used to include only a

few African and Asian countries, but has become one of the most important programmes worldwide for dealing with climate change and water pollution. 6. How are the relations between Colombia, Aruba, Curaçao and the Dutch Caribbean? It should be noted that the Kingdom of the Netherlands not only shares borders with European nations but, through Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the Caribbean Netherlands islands, it also neighbors many Caribbean nations including Colombia. Moreover, we are not only neighbors but also increasingly essential partners, since bilateral trade between Colombia and Aruba and Curaçao is now 17 times as large as its 2010 levels, and Colombia is a primary destination for healthcare programmes involving the population on these islands. 7. Can you mention some personalities of your country who became world-famous? Doubtlessly, our Nobel laureate Gabriel García Márquez, who recently passed away, is the most widely known Colombian in the world. But other Colombians are also internationally renowned, such as the painter and sculptor Fernando Botero, musical artists such as Shakira, Juanes, and Carlos Vives, and scientists such as Rodolfo Llinás and Manuel Elkin Patarroyo.

cessful artists and music groups touring the world, but because of the sheer number of music genres, both traditional and new, originating in our country, that have influenced popular music in Latin America and the rest of the world, such as Vallenato and Cumbia. The Carnaval de Barranquilla mentioned by you is one of our music and dance expressions declared by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. 9. Which are the tourist highlights you can recommend to our readers? In addition to Colombia’s breath-taking natural landscapes, tropical and mild climates, with year-round festivals, wonderful museums and cities full of magic, tourists can find multicultural environments throughout the entire country. Experience culture and gastronomy in the capital, Bogotá; taste one of the best coffees in the world in the coffee region; experience the culture and history of Cartagena (a UNESCO World Heritage Site); the lush tropical beaches of Santa Marta, and the flavor and flair of Barranquilla, home to Colombia’s largest carnival. Colombia has something to offer to every type of traveler wishing to visit.

10. If you can tell our readers in one sentence about your country, what would you tell them? Today, the only risk in an increasingly peaceful Colombia, with an important economic growth, is that you may 8. How important are music and want to stay living there forever! dance to the people of Colombia, like the Carnaval de Barranquilla? Colombia is currently, without false modesty, a musical powerhouse. Not only because of the number of suc-

08-07-14 20:40

BUSINESS SPECIAL

12 | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Erik de Vlieger: entrepreneur and artist

The well-known Dutch entrepreneur gave a keynote speech and opened an exhibition of his works at WTC The Hague Business Center’s first Inspirational Session. ASHLEY COWLES has the details.

Photos by: Nick Jonkman/Jonkman Photo

On 3 July, WTC The Hague organized the first of a series of Inspirational Sessions in their state-of-the-art building. Hans Biesheuvel, investor and initiator of entrepreneurial organization ONL opened the events with inspiring speech about the passions of entrepreneurship. He argued for a change of perception: moving away from management and towards more creativity.

has he spoken so openly about the heights and depths of his own career, which is a subject of much speculation both in the media and society in general. It would seem the entrepreneur is not just passionate about business. Over the last several years, he has also created a series of artworks and has published poetry by his own hand. De Vlieger’s art is presented at an exhibition at WTC The Hague Business Center, which was formally Entrepreneur and artist opened after the Inspirational SesKeynote speaker at the event was sion. Erik de Vlieger, a well-known Dutch entrepreneur with business interests Moments of change in media and real estate. He talked When asked if he has any favorites about his background and early start among the many different projects he in business, touching upon the sev- has spearheaded over the years, De eral important moments of change Vlieger states: “I’m very proud of the throughout his life as an entrepre- fact that I was able to keep Shipdock, neur. As he spoke, he did not shy a large Amsterdam-based shipyard, away from controversy. Never before from going under. I managed to pre-

vent 250 employees within the Amsterdam ring road from losing their jobs, and in doing so made sure that this historical Dutch industry would not be lost. The company still exists today.” Stumbling blocks Although his successes certainly speak to the imagination, it hasn’t all been fun and games. Besides the many positive moments of change, De Vlieger has also faced several difficult situations that often required split-second decisions. “There was one particular instance where I stumbled significantly. Luckily, there were no bankruptcies involved. But I sold several companies, and managed to retain a number of others. It definitely opened my eyes, which is probably the most important lesson I took away from all that happened. As a

direct result of that, I now do more business with the government. That also includes the European Investment Bank. These moments of change taught me to collaborate more, and I don’t see revenue growth as the most important business achievement anymore.” “Art makes me happy” However much he loves both, the combination of doing business and finding time to paint remains a considerable challenge. “I currently have a real estate development portfolio in Portugal that’s worth about 200 million euro. By the end of the year, I might also have one in the Netherlands worth several times that. My company, Imca Group, is one of the few remaining solvent businesses in the industry. Most of my competitors went under after the recession hit, and that’s where we find our opportunities. As much as time has been my friend in that respect, it’s also my enemy... With business going the way it is right now, I will probably only be able to paint during the weekends for these next 6 months. However, four of my children are starting out in the business, and I hope they’ll be qualified enough to take a lot of work off my hands. It would allow me to create art again, which is what makes me happy.” Once a businessman... But even now that De Vlieger has found the creative spirit within himself, blood is thicker than water. “I am and will always remain a real businessman, like my entire family. But I do feel like less of a businessman than before. I started writing in 2005: poems, and articles for news. nl and for ‘Quote’, the largest business magazine in the Netherlands. I also took up painting, because I no longer wanted to buy works by others in order to expand my art collection. I went through several phases in my work, and they resulted in different styles of art. I saw it as a test, just to see if I wasn’t a one-trick pony. I was

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quite pleased to see that my works were popular, and soon decided to start selling them. The money I make from my artworks goes to a foundation I set up to support cultural charities. Being able to do that provides me with a great sense of satisfaction.” International ambitions Eventually, he aspires to open exhibitions abroad as well: “New York, Dubai, Lisbon and Qatar are definitely on my bucket list. I’m still growing, and my ultimate goal in this would be te receive acknowledgment by the critical arts scene. I’m slowly getting there, and this exposition at the WTC will definitely help.” Erik de Vlieger’s artworks will be exhibited at WTC The Hague until 31 August. WTC The Hague WTC The Hague Business Center is passionate about connecting and meditating entrepreneurs, and stimulating growth. The first ‘WTC The Hague Business Center Inspirational Session’ is a great way to achieve this. “Our goal is to provide entrepreneurs with a high-quality level of service. That goes beyond just supplying office space,” says Axel Lemmens, Commercial Manager for WTC The Hague Business Center. “These inspirational sessions allow us to take the next step in facilitating entrepreneurs. We will be organizing sessions several times a year, each featuring inspiring keynote speakers. This kickoff event featuring both Hans Biesheuvel and Erik de Vlieger was a wonderful way to start; it has certainly set the bar high for the upcoming editions!” WTC The Hague facilitates entrepreneurs who are looking for a flexible and highquality office space that comes fully equipped with all necessary provisions and services. For more information, visit their website at http://www.wtcthehague. com/nl/wtc-the-hague-businesscenter.

08-07-14 20:40

BUSINESS SPECIAL

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JULY/AUGUST 2014 | 13

08-07-14 20:40

FEATURE

14 | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Amsterdam’s independent bookstores

Photo: Mimis Chrysomallis

Although online shopping is becoming increasingly popular, brick-and-mortar bookstores are still around. MIMIS CHRYSOMALLIS explores Amsterdam-based stores with an English collection. If you are a book lover, Amsterdam is a good place to be. The city’s long history as a literary haven dates back to the 17th century and the Dutch Golden Age, when Amsterdam gained a reputation as a safe haven for the book trade. The city was home to several printers and booksellers, as well as important thinkers and philosophers whose writings had sparked considerable controversy, like René Descartes and Baruch Spinoza. More recently, works by exiled writers such as Bertolt Brecht and Joseph Roth were also published in Amsterdam following the Nazis’ rise to power in the early 1930s. Book market on Spui Today, the heart of literary Amsterdam beats at the Spui, where many booksellers from all over The Netherlands have gathered every Friday for over 20 years, to sell their collections of old and rare second-hand books. While many of the titles are in Dutch (as well as in German and French), English books can also be found here, along with reproductions of old prints, maps, and posters. The focus is mainly on art and photography books, and there are many collectible items such as outof-print and vintage editions. Above all, the book market on the Spui is an excellent meeting point for all kinds of bibliophiles, and a unique opportunity to chat with book merchants from all over the country. American Book Center On the same square, right next to the historic inner court of the Begijnhof, lies the American Book Center or ABC (Spui 12). An independent family-run business, it is one of the best places in town for those in search of English books (with a database of more than 6 million titles). Since moving to Spui in 2006, the American Book Center has been offering a wide selection from both mainstream and lesser-known publishers, while it is also possible to

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have your own “self-published” book printed by their Espresso Book Machine (the first in the Netherlands!). Do not miss out on their extensive travel guide, magazine, fantasy, and comic strip sections. Athenaeum Literally across the street from ABC is Athenaeum (Spui 14), one of Amsterdam’s largest and most prestigious independent bookstores. Founded in 1966, Athenaeum is a preferred book supplier of many Amsterdam-based cultural and academic institutions. Many literary events such as lectures and book presentations also take place here, sometimes also in English. It boasts a large stock in literature as well as various academic fields, such as (classical and modern) languages, the humanities, and the social sciences. Right next to the main store, the Athenaeum News Center is the best spot in town for a quick glance at the international press. It offers several foreign and local newspapers and magazines, plus a selection of travel guides and books on design, fashion, and lifestyle. New English Bookstore Just a short walk away from the literary-friendly square of Spui, one finds the New English Bookstore (Kalverstraat 223), situated right on the southern end of Amsterdam’s most popular and boisterous shopping street. Specialized in publisher’s overstocks (i.e. excess print runs of books, resulting from the publisher overestimating the demand for certain titles), it is a convenient place to look for cheap reads as a complement or conclusion to your shopping strolls. Although rather small and not particularly sophisticated in its layout, the New English Bookstore is certainly worth a visit if value for money is what you are after. Keep an eye out for coffee table books, art and photography albums, as well as travel guides that can come at very low prices.

Photo: Mimis Chrysomallis

08-07-14 20:41

FEATURE

JULY/AUGUST 2014 | 15

Photo: Mimis Chrysomallis

English Bookshop Nestled in the picturesque Jordaan district is the English Bookshop (Lauriergracht 71), one of Amsterdam’s most charming independent bookstores. It’s easy to feel at home in its relaxed and welcoming setting, where you can even have a seat and enjoy a coffee or tea after browsing through the carefully chosen selection of quality English literature. The service is warm and personal, and the staff will gladly provide you with tips based on your most recent reads. A regular hangout of local expats, the English Bookshop also organizes children activities and other events so as to “bring people and books together” in a personal way. Architechture & Natura Not far from the English Bookshop lies Architectura & Natura (Leliegracht 22), a specialized bookshop in the fields of architecture, natural history, landscape, and gardens. In its 75 years of existence, it has gained a considerable reputation as one of the best in its kind across Europe.

Most of the books are in English, while many titles are imported from all around the world, including publications from Japan, Spain, Germany, and Italy. Given the store’s modest size, only part of their stock is on display. However, the available selection is fascinating, and a full catalogue of their collection can also be found online. Antiquariaat Kok Just on the edge of the Red Light District, which Albert Camus famously described as the “last circle of hell” in his philosophical novel The Fall, Antiquariaat Kok (Oude Hoogstrat 14-18) is a large store with an impressive collection of second-hand books, old prints, and maps. Having acquired several libraries previously owned by individuals and scholars, the owners maintain a vast catalogue specialized, among other topics, in classical archaeology, pre19th-century art, architecture, biology, as well as topographical maps and prints. Most English titles, along with a separate section on English litera-

ture, can be found upstairs. Note that tures an interesting selection of books English books are mixed with Dutch on all kinds of cinema-related topics. ones, and categorized by subject. Fort van Sjakoo Book Exchange Completing the picture of the city’s viIf you are a fan of old paperbacks brant English book scene is Fort van and second-hand stores with an air Sjakoo (Jodenbreestraat 24), one of of times gone by, then the Book Ex- Amsterdam’s very special bookstores. change (Kloveniersburgwal 58) is def- Situated nearby Rembrandt’s House, initely the place for you. An indepen- it started in 1977 as a squatted house dent, one-man business since 1978, on the site of a planned highway the Book Exchange offers an exten- through the inner city. sive collection of used titles across a Legalized since 1988, this unique wide variety of subjects. Their collec- bookshop is now run by a collective tion ranges from psychology, politics, of volunteers, specializing in libertarand economy to gardening, ships, and ian and radical ideas and featuring cooking. Make sure you scan both the many international and hard-to-find basement and the upstairs section publications and magazines. properly, as many little gems lie well hidden in the wooden shelves of this Brick-and-mortar versus online charming bookshop. In our age of mass production and overly commercialized book market, Cine Qua Non the choice of titles for the average Film enthusiasts might also want to reader can prove to be considerably check out the nearby Cine Qua Non limiting. (Staalstraat 14), a specialized little Many of Amsterdam’s independent shop located right in the heart of the shops, with their diverse and often city. Together with an astonishing dis- hand-selected stock, are thus becomplay of vintage movie posters, it fea- ing something more than merely

meeting places for bibliophiles: they serve as a much-needed alternative to the filtered selection of available titles in the mainstream market. No matter how small or limited, these bookstores continue to hold their own, in defiance of online anonymous megastores that have been increasingly dominating the book market worldwide. It is indeed refreshing to see that such sanctuaries for the free exchange of books and ideas still survive. However, this won’t be an easy battle to fight. The uninterrupted operation and further flourishing of traditional, and often specialized, independent bookstores will certainly need all the support it can get from book lovers and free minds alike. It remains to be seen whether Amsterdam’s long-standing service and reputation as an international literary haven and a major hub for book exchange can still endure and help these stores cope with the modern challenges of the e-shopping era.

Photo: Mimis Chrysomallis

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08-07-14 20:41

16 | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Rwanda: the land of a thousand hills

DIPLOMATIC

On the occasion of the 20th Celebration of the Rwandan Liberation Day and the 52th Anniversary of the Rwandan Independence, NANDA JAGUSIAK interviews the Ambassador of Rwanda, H.E. Jean Pierre Karabaranga ity, and commit ourselves to work for a bright future for the next generation of Rwandans. We remember our past without being held by it. We are called to act for the benefit of future generations in a united and prosperous Rwanda.

1. You have been the Ambassador of Rwanda since June of 2013. What are you objectives as Ambassador? First of all, thank you for this interview. I presented my credentials letter to HM King Willem-Alexander on June 26, 2013. My objectives are to increase, improve, and engage bilateral and multilateral partners, private sector, diaspora and Friends of Rwanda (FoR) in order to create wealth, and to enhance the image of Rwanda in the Netherlands and expanded jurisdiction. 2. Kwibuka 20 marks the 20th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi on 7 April 2014. What can you tell me about this? It is an important occasion to remember the lives that were lost, to show solidarity with survivors and unite to ensure it never happens again – in Rwanda or anywhere else. It is also a chance to learn about Rwanda’s story of reconciliation and nation building. We all join together in Kwibuka as we reflect on what happened in Rwanda in 1994 with renewed clar-

ferent sectors since 1994, and they are still doing more. I don’t have enough words to express my gratitude to the Government and the people of the Netherlands. In Rwanda, we have more and more Dutch companies doing business, like Heineken, Rabobank, KLM, and Roko Construction to 3. What is understood by Vi- cite but a few, and more companies sion 2020? are looking at investing in Rwanda Under leadership of President Paul in renewable energy, irrigation, food Kagame, the Government of Rwan- processing, horticulture, etc. da (GoR) adopted Vision 2020 in 2000, with a primary objective of 6. Is Rwanda a reliable investtransforming Rwanda into a middle- ment destination? income country by the year 2020 Yes, of course. There are many reaand transforming Rwanda into a sons to invest in Rwanda. Rwanda is knowledge-based economy. The ex- an investor-friendly country: it is the pected outcome of the vision is a most competitive place to do business united Rwanda that is competitive in East Africa and number two in Afboth regionally and globally. Since rica (Global competitive index report the initiation of Vision 2020, Rwanda 2013/2014). has made much progress towards atIt is an increasingly attractive taining these objectives and even sur- destination for foreign investment; passed some of the targets. a new special zone has been developed and is operational. Rwanda has 4. Rwanda has had a high level a sustained high economic growth, of economic growth rate over an average of 8% GDP growth rate the last few years. How can you for the last 8 years, and a stable inflaexplain this? tion and exchange rate. Also, sound This is due to an excellent leadership macroeconomic management and rowith clear and realistic vision, major bust fiscal discipline. political and economic reforms, re- In Rwanda, we have a Robust Govsilience and a hard-working mindset, ernance: a clear and realistic vision and a high level of determination and set for growth through private sector discipline to succeed and transform development. There are well-functionRwanda. ing institutions, rule of law, and zero tolerance for corruption. 5. How are the bilateral relaInvesting in Rwanda gives access tions between Rwanda and the to a huge market: 11 million locals, Netherlands? Are there any rapidly growing middle class, and Dutch companies in Rwanda? 120 million with the new East AfriBilateral relations between Rwanda can market and custom union. The and the Netherlands are excellent. potential investment sectors are agThe Netherlands has been assisting riculture, energy, infrastructure, tourand supporting the reconstruction ism, ICT, mining, financial services, and the rebuilding of Rwanda in dif- real estates, and manufacturing.

7. What is meant by Rwanda’s nickname “The Land of a Thousand Hills”? Rwanda is commonly referred as “the Land of a Thousands Hills. It’s a country of thousand hills with a most beautiful scenery. There are beautiful hills everywhere (natural beauty of the landscape), including the volcanic Virunga mountain range, home to mountain gorillas. 8. Are there many tourists coming to your country? The tourism industry topped export growth in 2012, which makes it the country’s biggest foreign exchange earner and one of the top job creators. Around 1,000,000 people visited Rwanda in 2013. The statistics show that visitors of neighboring countries of DR Congo, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya accounted for 915,000 visits in 2012. However, visitors from non-neighboring states increased to 161,186 in 2012 from 159,579 in 2011. Leisure visitors accounted for 97,000 while business visitors were about 422,000. The US recorded the highest number of visitors with 24,041, followed by India (14,957), the UK (13,355), Belgium (9,192), and Germany (9,180). The sector projects to generate 317 million dollar in receipts in 2013, according to export promotion strategy. 9. Which tourist highlights would you suggest to visit in Rwanda? The things to see in Rwanda are very unique. The country is now one of the safest countries to visit in Africa. There is strict law and order, there isn’t any garbage on the streets, and

lawns are manicured to perfection. Besides visiting the world famous mountain gorillas, there are 10 things to do in Rwanda: 1) Visit Rwanda’s famous primates in Nyungwe National Park, Akagera National Park, and Volcanoes National Park including Golden Monkeys, Chimpanzees, Colobus Monkeys, and Baboons to name a few; 2) Go mountain climbing at Volcanoes National Park—don’t miss the 5th highest mountain in Africa—or mountain biking over Rwanda’s thousand hills; 3) Travel back in time at the King’s Place, Nyanza; 4) Enjoy a full traditional Rwandan experience including dancing, archery, traditional healers, food, and a taste of Rwanda’s local brew at Iby’ Iwacu Cultural Village in Musanze in Rwanda’s Northern Province; 5) Visit Rwanda’s Genocide Memorial Sites: Kigali Memorial Site; Murambi Memorial Site; Nyanza Kicukiro Memorial Site; and Ntarama Memorial Site; 6) Visit Rwanda’s largest lake, Lake Kivu and its numerous islands and beach resort towns Rubavu and Karongi; 7) Go canoeing, kayaking, and wind surfing on Lake Kivu at the edge of Rwanda’s Western Province; 8) Enjoy fish dishes and a relaxing day at Lake Muhazi around 60km from Kigali; 9) Tour Kigali on the Kigali City Tour Bus and learn all there is to know about Rwanda’s capital city; 10) Explore Nyungwe National Park’s amazing waterfalls or orchids and butterflies.

Rwanda has a government that is committed to make it easier to do business! One of the fastest reforming countries in World Bank’s Doing Business rankings. Business regulations are now easier in Rwanda than the average economy in Eastern Europe, Asia, Middle East, Latin America and Africa;

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the 2014 WB Doing Business Report ranked Rwanda as the 32nd out of 189 countries and as the 2nd easiest place to do business in Africa

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Rwanda is the most improved economy worldwide since 2005 (Worldbank Doing Business Report 2014).

Recent improvements in Rwanda’s doing business include;

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starting a business: 09th position in the world to register a business partly due to shortened required procedures and free of charge online registration

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today, registering a business/company in Rwanda takes maximum 6 working hours

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getting credit: 13th in the world after an operational private Credit Reference Bureau

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paying taxes: 22nd easiest place to pay taxes worldwide from 25th last year. E-filing and E-payment is already in place and taxpayers both small and large can use the system.

Potential opportunities for investment abound, particularly in the following sectors: infrastructure, agriculture, energy, tourism, information and communication technology, mining, financial services, mining, real estate and construction.

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Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda in The Hague:

www.netherlands.embassy.gov.rw

Rwanda Development Board:

www.rdb.rw

08-07-14 20:41

TECHNOLOGY

JULY/AUGUST 2014 | 17

Scientists at TU Delft teleport quantum bit Has reality finally caught up with the ultimate science fiction fantasy? The answer, so typical of quantum physics, is yes and no. JOHN DONNELLY explains what the buzz is all about.

Photo: Hanson Lab @ TU Delft

Teleportation, one of the central elements of the Star Trek films and television series has been achieved at the TU Delft, (Technical University). While Prof. Hanson’s team did not quite emulate Scotty by beaming Captain James T. Kirk across the room, they did create a quantum bit in another location, three metres away. Any scientist worth his salt will agree with you that this is impos-

Facebook releases Slingshot photo app

sible in classical or Euclidian space. However, in the esoteric nano-world of quantum physics, it is all too possible, as the team in Delft proved last month. Researchers at TU Delft’s Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, under the leadership of Prof. Ronald Hanson, have succeeded in deterministically transferring the information contained in a quantum bit (the quantum analogue of a classic data bit) to

a different quantum bit, without the information having travelled through the intervening space. The results were published online in Science, on Thursday 29 May. Researchers use laser light to ‘entangle’ two electrons trapped inside small synthetic diamonds. A change made to one electron will instantaneously affect the other electron, even if it is far away. They did so by pro-

ducing qubits, using electrons trapped in diamonds at extremely low temperatures. The reason they use diamonds is because the material forms ‘mini prisons’ for electrons whenever a nitrogen atom is located in the position of one of the carbon atoms. The fact that these miniature prisons can be viewed individually makes it possible to study and verify an individual electron, and even a single atomic nucleus. The spin (rotational direction) of these particles can be set in a predetermined state, which can be verified and subsequently read out. Quantum teleportation does not move atoms, but it can transfer information about the state of an atom or particle from one place to another without that information moving in between. The distance in the tests was three metres, but in theory, the particles could be on either side of the universe. Prof. Hanson’s next experiment will shortly be repeated over 1.3 kilometres across the TU Delft campus. Entanglement is arguably the most intriguing consequence of the laws of quantum mechanics. When two particles become entangled, their identities merge: their collective state is precisely determined, but the individual identity of each of the particles has disappeared. The entangled particles behave as one, even when separated by a large distance. Einstein doubted this prediction, which he called ‘spooky action at a distance’, but experiments have proven its existence. The reliability of quantum telepor-

tation has been elusive. For example, in 2009, physicists at the University of Maryland demonstrated the transfer of quantum information. .However, only one of every 100 million attempts succeeded, meaning that transferring a single bit of quantum information required roughly 10 minutes. In contrast, the scientists in Delft have achieved the ability ‘deterministically,’ meaning they can now teleport the quantum state of two entangled electrons accurately 100 percent of the time. While it will not be available in the foreseeable future, this breakthrough is extremely important for the future of computers, as it allows a huge number of calculations to be carried out simultaneously. A quantum computer with 400 basic units (‘quantum bits’) could, for example, process more bits of information simultaneously than there are atoms in the universe. In recent years, scientists have succeeded in entangling quantum bits within a single chip. Now, for the first time, this has been successfully achieved with quantum bits on different chips. Classical bits, the basic units of information in computing, can have only one of two values: either 0 or 1. However, quantum bits, or qubits, can simultaneously describe many values. The development holds out both the possibility of a new generation of faster computing systems and the ability to create completely secure communication networks.

Hacked NAS systems worth EUR 0.5 million The hacker who infiltrated Synology storage systems in February of this year was able to generate an amount of dogecoins worth nearly half a million euros. ASHLEY COWLES reports.

Image: Slingshot Facebook page

Facebook has released its own social photo-sharing app, a service called Slingshot. Although it’s very similar to existing apps like Snapchat and Taptalk, Slingshot users need to send a photo in return before being able to view received photos. This way, Facebook hopes to avoid attracting only passive users and create a more social experience. Tweakers.net reports that the app also allows users to share videos of up to 15 seconds with several contacts. The photos and videos delete themselves after a few moments – much like Snapchat, which rejected Facebook’s 3 billion USD buyout offer last November. “We’ve enjoyed using Snapchat to send each other ephemeral messages and expect there to be a variety of apps that explore this new way of sharing,” Facebook’s Slingshot team said in a recent blog post. “With Slingshot, we saw an opportunity to create something new and different: a space where you can share everyday moments with lots of people at once.” Although the service’s new Facebook page and website www.sling.me mention that Slingshot was officially launched on 18 June for iOS and Android, Facebook accidentally released it on Apple’s iTunes store a day early.

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Photo: Willliam Hook

A hacker exploited publicly known vulnerabilities to install malware on network-attached storage systems manufactured by Synology and used their computing power to generate Dogecoins, a type of cryptocurrency., PC World reports. The operation took place during the first months of the year and is likely the most profitable of its kind to date, earning the attacker over US$600,000 (EUR 458.170) according to a recent analysis by researchers from Dell SecureWorks. Using CPUs and GPUs to solve cryptographic problems as part of cryptocurrency systems is an activity referred to as mining. Those who perform it — typically using their own systems — are automatically rewarded by the system with units or subunits

of that respective currency. At the beginning of February reports started appearing online from users complaining about sluggish performance and high CPU usage on their Synology NAS systems, which have a Linux-based operating system called DiskStation Manager (DSM) developed by the Taiwan-based manufacturer. The problems were tracked to an unauthorized application running on affected systems from a directory called PWNED that turned out to be a custom version of a cryptocurrency mining program called CPUMiner specifically compiled for Synology’s DSM OS, the Dell SecureWorks researchers said recently in a blog post. An analysis of the rogue program showed that it had been configured to

mine Dogecoin, a peer-to-peer cryptocurrency similar to Bitcoin that was launched in December 2013. The Dell SecureWorks researchers identified two electronic wallet addresses associated with the rogue mining activity and determined that their owner had mined over 500 million Dogecoins, worth about $620,000, mostly during January and February. “To date, this incident is the single most profitable, illegitimate mining operation,” the researchers said. “This conclusion is based in part on prior investigations and research done by the Counter Threat Unit, as well as further searching of the Internet.” Evidence found on various websites suggests the hacker responsible for the attack uses the online alias

“Foilo,” is of German descent and has used malware and exploits before. The SecureWorks researchers believe the affected Synology NAS systems were compromised by exploiting vulnerabilities publicly disclosed in September 2013 by security researcher Andrea Fabrizi. Once aware of the situation, Synology immediately released DSM updates which seemed to have been successful in blocking the PWNED attacks, The incident is the latest on a growing list of mass attacks against embedded devices reported this year. According to security experts, attackers are shifting their focus from desktop applications to such devices because they’re plagued by basic vulnerabilities and can’t be easily secured by nontechnical users.

08-07-14 20:41

Escher in Het Paleis

Escher in Het Paleis is a permanent exhibition dedicated to the world-famous artist M.C. Escher, whose art startled millions of people all over the world. The collection is housed in the former Winter Palace of Queen Mother Emma of the Netherlands. It is the only public building in The Hague where the original royal ambience of a palace has been maintained. Highlight of the visit and crown on the exhibition is the 7 meters long Metamorphosis III. This enormous woodcut and the non-conventional way of displaying it letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the visitor actually experience Escher combining time and space as an organic unity.

Escher in Het Paleis Lange Voorhout 74 2514 EH Den Haag 070 427 7730 www.escherinhetpaleis.nl

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09-07-2014 10:44:24

ARTS & CULTURE

JULY/AUGUST 2014 | 19

Acting your way around the world Not all expats living in the Netherlands spend their time plugging away behind a desk all day. BILL STEVENSON talks to two expat performers living in the Netherlands.

Photo: In-Casting

Often, expats coming to the Netherlands are associated with major companies, like Shell. Then there are the embassies and consulates, contributing large numbers. So how many people come to the Netherlands to act? There seem to be two, at least. Chip Bray and Lee M. Ross came from vastly different backgrounds but managed to end up in Amsterdam at roughly the same time in the 1970s. How did they get there? Ross had a more conventional introduction to performing. “I started really, really young,” he recalled. A magician at ten, he became an apprentice with a professional theater

when he was 13. He remembered, “If I messed up, I got a slap on the back of the head.” Perhaps having gotten enough slaps, he moved on to significant roles, like “Linus” in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Ross continued, “Between shows, we did nights of vaudeville on Friday and Saturday.” This gave him the opportunity to continue writing his own material with at least one of the skits reappearing later in his adult years in Europe. He was hired as a technician for the Festival of Fools in the Netherlands at age 20. There were also classes on offer and was soon told, “You shouldn’t

be taking this course. You should be teaching it!” Chip Bray ‘accidentally’ got into acting. He was more into sports in high school. Still, performing lurked under his surface. On road trips with friends across the country, they would jump up onto empty stages they came across and would perform improvisational theater. When it was time for college, he rode his modified Honda 350 from California to Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he continued the accident. He joked, “I majored in sailing and theater.” The small liberal arts college doesn’t offer a major in

Neude library cancelled

sailing, though boats are quite a featured item on the campus. It definitely resembled a resort. Bray’s sister Karen preceded him to the Netherlands, which was enjoying a massive street theater development. She called her brother and asked, “Wanna join us?” He answered, “I’ll book my ticket now!” It was not the most direct route: he sailed to the Bahamas, took a plane to Luxembourg and lastly, a train brought him to Amsterdam. Bray met Ross through the street theater scene, and the two quickly became friends. The resulting comedy troupe, ‘Pigeon Drop,’ ran from 1976 to 1989. It began roughly but was fun, though, with the pair remembering, “On 250 guilders a month, you could live, eat and play!” While on a street theater tour of France in 1979, a staff member of Wilhelmshaven, Germany’s Pumpwerk Theater liked what he saw and they got their first, big performances in his theater. This was the beginning to what they refer to as their Star Tour, crisscrossing to European cities that, if marked on a map, could resemble a star. It was lots of traveling time but lots of fun. Both described the Dutch towns and cities in the provinces, like Haarlem, as especially good. “Amsterdam audiences were spoiled. You had to win them over.” They did just that! In 1989, with the pair getting tired of a life on the road and family life beckoning, they ended on a high note, selling out a major theater, the Nieuwe de la Mar, for their entire, final run! At that time, Bray recalls, “We were world class and at the top of our game.” During the 1990s, they would often get asked by agents if they knew of non-Dutch actors for certain projects. After several years of this, they both individually had the idea of

doing this for a business. Taking the leap was a much bigger step, and neither was quite ready nor had they discussed the idea. Thankfully, Ross had been preparing himself even more for the business side of acting, taking courses and reading various books on the subject. Finally, in 2006, they came up with the idea of them forming their own casting agency that would specialize in foreign actors. “In about five minutes, we had already drawn up a business plan!” bubbled Bray. They do not always agree, but the pair does claim their unique closeness keeps their “noses pointed in the right direction.” Even though their company is fairly new, the industry has already changed in one massive respect, the internet! Within ten minutes of receiving a request for an actor, they can now match up several of their actors for a project, send photos, voice clips and video clips for a client to make a selection. “Our videos are like a first casting,” explained Bray. “It really saves everybody lots of precious time” added Ross. This internet approach has given them many advantages, keeping them cutting-edge. “This data management system keeps us robust and gives us a high level of flexibility,” explained Ross. Both still love acting and if they are right for a project, they will submit themselves to their clients along with other actors. Through their enthusiasm, one can see why they do what they do. They love it! With their recent relocation to Diemen, they quoted their company’s new motto, “Local foreign actors-we cast aliens!”

Indies off YouTube

It would seem the plans to turn Utrecht’s former post office YouTube will reportedly start blocking into a public library have been cancelled. independent artists and labels.

Photo: BIEB Utrecht op de NEUDE Facebook page

The latest edition of the Utrecht Binnenstadskrant (Inner-City Newspaper) reported recently that the city’s new public library will not be moving to the former post office on Neude after all. According to a “reliable source”, the plan would prove to be “too expensive and too ambitious”. Mattheus Bleijenburg, one of the founders of ‘BIEB Utrecht op de NEUDE’ (“Utrecht LIBRARY on NEUDE”) says that it would be “a

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real shame” should this report turn out to be correct. However, he has not yet received an official response. “All I know is that ASR, the owner of the National Monument on Neude, will present a new financial plan soon.” Bleijenburg, states that the Utrecht citizens support the plan to move the library to the former post office on Neude. “Our movement’s Facebook page has nearly 4,700 likes. That’s more than any political party

unit.” Bleijenburg is convinced that if the Utrecht public library were to be moved to the former post office, it could become a contender in the top 10 of most beautiful libraries worldwide. Bleijenburg explains why he joins the ‘BIEB Utrecht op de NEUDE’ initiative: “I just love the building. In the old days, I used to go there all the time, to send parcels. My daughter is nine years old and she goes to the library every week. She always comes home with four new books. That is very precious to me.” According to Bleijenburg, a library serves a very important function. “It’s not just about the books. A library is a meeting place, where people read, work, surf the net, and gather for cultural events. We need to cherish that. And I think the Neude post office is a great place to facilitate this.” When asked for a reaction, Student & Starter councilman Steven Menke states he is unaware of the fact that any definitive decision has been made about moving the library to Neude or not. “The counsel is meeting today, and will be discussing the library, among other subjects. If it’s financially viable, then I support moving the library to the former post office. It will be a great thing if we could put this beautiful building to good use again, after so long.”

Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Independent artists could disappear from YouTube “in a matter of days” after the Google video service confirmed it was dropping content from independent labels that have not signed up for its upcoming subscription music service. YouTube is about to begin testing the new service – which will charge people to watch and listen to music without ads, and download songs to their mobile devices – within the next few days, initially within Google. The company’s head of content and business operations, Robert Kyncl, told the Financial Times that the service – previously rumored to be called YouTube Music Pass – will launch more widely later in the year.

His confirmation that YouTube will block videos from labels that do not sign licensing deals for the new premium tier will be hugely controversial among indie labels. “While we wish that we had 100% success rate, we understand that is not likely an achievable goal and therefore it is our responsibility to our users and the industry to launch the enhanced music experience,” said Kyncl, claiming that YouTube has signed up labels representing 90% of the music industry. Independent labels are likely to disagree. Their licensing agency Merlin estimates that indies collectively account for a 32.6% market share of the recorded music industry’s sales and streams.

08-07-14 20:41

HOUSING SPECIAL

20 | JULY/AUGUST 2014

Lutz Real Estate: expert in relocation Many businesses employ staff members from all over the world, for assignments that vary in length. If you’re looking to provide homes for your international employees, look no further. Lutz Real Estate is here to help. What can Lutz Real Estate do for your business? Together with the employee in question, they can:

With many years of experience in providing relocation services, Lutz Real Estate understands the needs and wants of relocating, often at short notice. Over the past 13 years, they have helped expats relocate in an efficient, personal and complete manner, arranging a new home and ensuring a smooth settlement in the Netherlands. Their customers include several international organizations and embassies.

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Owner Daphne Lutz has 5 years of experience as Relocation and Housing Officer at Europol, the European law enforcement agency in The Hague. During that time, she acquired extensive experience in the requirements of relocation and housing for employees from abroad. Aside from the actual housing, Lutz Real Estate provides relocation advice, as well as advice for the most convenient neighborhoods (depending on the respective employee’s family situation).

Because they have worked with people from all over the European Union and beyond, Lutz Real Estate has an extensive multicultural awareness and knowledge. Lutz Real Estate specializes in the renting and letting of partly furnished and fully furnished properties in the The Hague area, as well as in Wassenaar, Voorburg, and Rijswijk. The company also offers properties for rent on their website.

• Make a selection of potentially suitable properties • Plan a route for house hunting sessions, viewings, and property assessments • Evaluate of the properties • Plan a second viewing of the selected property (if necessary) • Make a conditional offer • Negotiate on your behalf • Review/check the rental agreement • Provide a background check and guidance during the check-in appointment • Apply for gas, electricity and wa ter connections • Find internet, television and phone line providers • Complete the administration • Provide any additional adminis- trative services, such as setting up an appointment to open a bank account Contact Lutz Real Estate for more information or to plan an appointment. www.lutzrealestate.nl info@lutzrealestate.nl +31 (0)6 53 4914 53

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REVIEWS

JULY/AUGUST 2014 | 21

RESTAURANT REVIEW

Raimondi’s Villa Rozenrust, Leidschendam We arrived at this empty Italian oasis on a Tuesday evening, but were assured by the staff that we’d be looking at a full house. Indeed, within 30 minutes, Raimondi’s Villa Rozenrust was filled very close to its 80-person capacity, including one banquet of about 30 on the lovely covered terrace. Diners were met like old friends, giving the impression that return customers were the rule, not the exception. Judging by the wine and food that soon began arriving, one can easily see why. The opening wine, selected by the very knowledgeable staff, was a delightful Chardonnay from the Trentino region of Italy that complimented the appetizers very well, including the expected bruschetta. Their homebaked salt bread, once dipped into the olive oil and balsamic vinegar, was a display of clever cookery. The antipasti were absolutely delicious, especially the asparagus with provolone cheese and wrapped in bacon,

only surpassed by the “eggplant from the oven”--a sort of veggie lasagna! The garlic oil pasta was pleasingly al dente and the cannellini pasta, bathed in a silky ricotta sauce was also a hit. The main course consisted of about five choices. The ribeye was tender, yet unspectacular, and the grilled salmon proved under spiced (or at least needing the help of lemon). Both were very well prepared, but not up to the very high level of the previous dishes. The accompanying Merlot from the Dolomite region was, again, a very wise choice by the staff. Definitely worth a return visit! Reservations are an excellent idea. The free parking is exceptional. Villa Rozenrust also caters and hosts wedding receptions and banquets, and has ample meeting facilities. (BILL STEVENSON)

FOOD: BORSCHT AND THE UNIVERSE

film REVIEW

If Music Be the Food of Love

Layla Fourie

Photo: Dave Lundy

is old-fashioned rebetiko music, while those of you who are blessed to have someone at home who can cook Indonesian, I recommend Lou Harrison. For Middle Eastern, Shlomo Artzi or Oum Khartoum. But the days when Il Pacifico ruled as the unchallenged tastemaker are gone. Suddenly, the sounds of My Chemical Romance, Avenged Sevenfold, and Lamar Kendrick are crowding out the old classics. One musician everyone agrees on is the Nigerian Fela Kuti, who is the perfect soundtrack for this easy West African classic of peanut soup with chicken. Brown garlic, onion, and ginger together with small pieces of chicken--filet or on the bone--before adding about 75 grams of crushed, roasted peanuts and a diced chili pepper. When the chicken is cooked through, add 1.5 liters of chicken stock (plain water is also fine, but add some extra salt at the end) and big chunks of sweet potatoes. Cook for 30 minutes, more or less--this is, after all, African time. Add a can of diced tomatoes, about 300 grams of chopped fresh greens (collard greens are best, but spinach is also fine), and three huge spoons of chunky peanut butter. Simmer for another 10 minutes, and add salt and pepper to taste. This is apparently what Fela’s wives--he married 27 of them on the same day--used to spoil him with. Is She Good Woman listening?

Veursestraatweg 104 2265 CG Leidschendam Tel. + 31 70 220 7581 http://www.villa-rozenrust.nl Opening hours:Tue-Sun from 17:30.

If there are two obsessions in our house, they are music and food, and they never seem to come singly. They certainly never should in the kitchen. And just as certain food combinations are magical--asparagus and eggs, chili and lime, feta and olives, apple and cinnamon, ginger and soy--some kinds of food and some kinds of music just go together naturally. When we cook Italian, the obvious choice is (the non-Italians rule: Jan Peerce, Jussi Bjorling, or Maria Callas) or Sinatra (real Italian Americans actually prefer Tony Bennett), but my personal favorites are Dominic Chianese (yes, Uncle Junior from the Sopranos) and an extraordinary CD with music from the three Italian criminal undergrounds (mafia, camorra, and ‘ndrangheta) called called Il Canto di Malavita. For Greek, the best inspiration (IL PACIFICO)

A young single mom in South Africa, Layla Fourie finally gets a steady job at an agency specializing in lie-detector tests. Her first assignment is to interview job applicants at a casino resort, several hours from her hometown Johannesburg. Her estranged ex refuses to look after her son Kane, which means she has to take him along on the assignment. On the way there, she gravely misjudges a situation involving another car and causes a deadly accident, with her son right there in the car. From that moment on, the lies start building up. Kane discovers the power of knowledge and tries to use it against her. When Pienaar, one of the job applicants at the casino resort, turns out to be the victim’s son, Layla finds herself in an even more difficult predicament. As

music

book REVIEW

‘28:13’, Kasabian

The Blazing World

Photo: Jan Stricker

there is ‘Eez-eh’. This is so far the most well-known song from the album, with the reference to our generation’s love of the Internet: ‘everyday is brutal/ now we’re being watched by Google’. Its ironic beats prove to be witty and tongue-in-cheek. Similar to Scissor Sisters way before them, you can feel that it would go down well in a glow-stick-studded rave. The album’s other musical influences range from The Rolling Stones to Linkin Park, and the several interludes tell a story of their own altogether. This album comes out at a great time, with festival season just around the corner. Its edge and grime, along with calming synthetic tones, are sure to get peoples’ heads banging. With the acoustic sounding ‘S.P.S’ (which stands for scissor, paper, stone) as a final track, the album’s exact timing of 48:13 minutes ends on a relaxed acoustic note, like winding down the curtains after a night out in a crowded club. The track forms an assured ending to a confused, yet occasionally brilliant bout of boundary-pushing. Kasabian have reached a point where the music speaks for itself. What’s more, they have proved that another album and another style can be just as successful as the last, even if it is somewhat out of their comfort zone. There is no stopping them. And when they are being watched by Google, they will see that the reviews say it like it is: a great album.

For exactly 48:13 minutes long, British rock band Kasabian confidently belt out electronic beats and rhythms. Their fifth album is full of new instrumental styles and excitement and full of potential playlist hits. The expansive contrast of chilled out and up-beat songs means it is hard not to like this album. ‘Explodes’, despite the lyrics ‘on and on it goes/ until my head explodes’, has a calming rhythmic beat and an electronic background, making it a potential party starter too. Songs such as ‘Treats’ and ‘Stevie’ are a lot faster in pace. ‘Stevie’ allows for a great driving accompaniment down country roads. It just has that kind of feel. ‘Bumblebee’ builds up to what can only be described as a psychedelic orgasm of sound and absolutely massive outro. This absolute banger was made for the fields of Glastonbury, and is definitely worthy single material. Then (HANNA FILLINGHAM)

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The Blazing World Siri Hustvedt Sceptre/Simon and Schuster

she gets to know the victim’s family better and the tension between her and Pienaar builds, her guilt slowly becomes too much to bear. Although it’s almost never made explicit, South Africa’s racial history becomes painfully clear throughout the movie. For example, Layla’s interviewer hints at the fact that people of color are usually the ones undergoing the lie detector test rather than overseeing it, and Pienaar asks Layla if he’s the only white man applying for the job as casino chauffeur. Layla diplomatically replies that the casino may have already reached its quota for Caucasians,. At the same time, positions of traditional authority are still exclusively reserved for white men. Race is also linked to money and privilege: Pienaar’s parents live in a large house with extensive security measures, while the man falsely arrested for the hit-and-run lives in the slums with his family. Rayna Campbell does a marvelous job as Layla, who never lets her guard down – even in intimate situations. Similarly, August Diehl’s broody Pienaar never shows his hand (pardon the pun). Finally, the sparse musical score and close-up camera angles create a palpable atmosphere of distrust, lies and fear that stays with you long after the credits start rolling. This movie may not be as spectacular as some of the upcoming summer blockbusters, but it’s definitely worth watching. (ASHLEY COWLES)

downtown art dealer. Her anger at the male-dominated art world for decades of supposed critical neglect is hiding a much deeper and more complicated grief. Her revenge takes the form, naturally enough, of an elaborate art world joke in which she exhibits three new rounds of work under the identities of a trio of young men, just to see what the critics will say. But this act of turnabout doubling as a meta-commentary on the gallery scene that Burden’s husband once lorded over soon soon gets very messy. The dizzying game of masks and mirrors backfires, and all of the evidence that the narrator has gathered from family, colleagues, friends, and enemies doesn’t quite bring her any closer to closure. Nor do we as readers ever quite figure things out. At first, this seems like the kind of puzzle we’ve come to expect from Auster country--a German reviewer once insisted that Auster had actually written one of Hustvedt’s novels. But if this cool, almost melancholy meditation on identity and loss sometimes carries the whiff of the New York City art world--fresh money and stale theory--Hustvedt never lets the ideas trump the emotion. Her “Look Ma, no hands” sense of design is a virtuoso performance; not the most comforting or satisfying summer read, but surely the most gently provocative.

After almost a dozen books, Siri Hustvedt is still best known as Paul Auster’s better half, and it must be daunting to be married to one of our best novelists. But anyone trading in the Brooklyn Post-Modernism that Auster invented--a dash of Borges here, a sprinkle of Cortazar there, a twist of Calvino or Lessing, all served up in the coollyironic, zero-degree tone--shouldn’t be surprised at the comparison. Hustvedt holds her own and more in her latest novel, an account of a scholar whose brief is to sort through a polyphonic dossier of documents--notebooks, interviews, newspaper clippings--relating to Available at the English Bookshop the strange career of Harriet Burden, a larger-thanlife artist who was once married to a prominent (JONATHAN GILL)

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SPORTS

JULY/AUGUST 2014 | 23

Tour de France: the Dutch perspective

Hockey in The Hague

THE HAGUE | The World Cup Hockey in The Hague was a tremendous success, with capacity crowds, two weeks of exciting hockey and a true celebration of the sport. Both the male and female Dutch teams made the finals against their counterparts from Australia, albeit with very mixed results. While the men where outclassed by the Kookaburras 6-1, the ladies took gold against the Hockeyroos one day earlier, winning the match by 2-0.

Olympic Stadium picnic

AMSTERDAM | Still haven’t paid a visit

to the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam? On the 24th of August, the stadium will once again host a picnic on the hallowed grass where Johan Cruyff once ran rampant. Picnickers will be treated to a classical music concert, which makes this event a very special day out for the entire family. Last year’s first edition of the special event, part of the Grachtenfestival, proved immensely popular.

Photo: Jeroen van Zijp

Photo: Brian Deadly

As the World Cup madness slowly ebbs away, sports fans are already gearing up for the next big event: the Tour de France. JOHN MAHNEN offers a preview. Since 2014 is an even-numbered year, we were bound to have a lot of sporting events to follow this summer. Just as the fever pitch is waning in Brazil, the world’s most venerable cycling fixture will be winding its way through the French countryside en route to the finale in Paris. The Tour de France will once again play out with its feats of physical prowess set against stunning backdrops, and a worldwide audience will follow the peloton for three weeks until they reach the Champs-Élysées. The Tour will start in Great Britain this year, the first stage on July 5th from Leeds to Harrogate followed by a run from York to Sheffield. The third and final British leg of the 2014 Tour will be between Cambridge and London on July 7th, before the riders proceed to France via Eurostar.

Photo: dancingonthepedals.net

This start in the UK is indicative of the level of interest the sport has attained there. Not only are British cyclists running up impressive lists of palmares in many different areas of competitive cycling, the roads and trails of Great Britain are being swarmed by more and more weekend warriors who have taken up the sport in recent years. Cycling is enjoying a real boom in the UK and the favorite to take the honors this year in Paris, Chris Froome, is the living embodiment of that. Froome himself is following on the heels of the previous British cycling sensation, Bradley Wiggins. Back here in the Netherlands, there is also more than a passing interest in all things cycling. Visitors speak of a ‘bike culture’, when in fact for the multitudes, cycling is simply

the most practical way to get around. But things change somewhat every year during the Tour. Cycling is by no means a minor sport in this country, but during the Tour, it moves from the back pages of the newspaper’s sport section to the front pages. During the football hiatus, the Tour is the focal point of sports media, and the Dutch are avid consumers. If you want to follow the Tour on television, you’re in luck. Depending on your cable package, you’ll have as many as three options to choose from. Both the Dutch and Belgian state broadcasters as well as Eurosport will cover the Tour live every day, and just in case you don’t know your spoke from a spaak, remember that many TVs will allow you to switch to Eurosport’s English-language commentary. However, as most of the Tour is ridden during working hours, your best bet may be use the NPO website to watch the action on your computer or tablet, albeit with the sound muted. There is also a useful smartphone app produced by the organizers which provides per-minute updates. If it’s the results you want, go where the pros go and check www.procyclingstats.com. If you’re in the car then you are also in luck. Dutch Radio 1 is transformed into ‘Radio Tour de France’ every year, and not only follows all the action up to and including the excitement of the daily finale, but also features more chansons than you might hear in the Côte d’Azur. However, if your lingua franca is still English, Radio 5 (available in most of the country on 693 AM) will be covering the event as well. Perhaps the best indication of just how must interest the Tour generates in the Low Countries are the nightly TV talk shows focusing on the Tour and everything around it. Both the NOS and commercial broadcaster

RTL have their own versions and spend several hours each evening discussing the Tour with pundits, exriders and assorted famous people with an opinion on cycling. The fact that so many people in the Netherlands follow the Ronde van Frankrijk is impressive considering the fact that no Dutchman has won the event since Joop Zoetemelk took the top step of the podium in Paris, back in 1980. Even the last Dutch stage win dates back to 2005. But even marginal success like the respectable showing of Team Belkin, led by Bauke Mollema in 2013, can manage to capture the imagination of the cycling faithful in this country. As for this year’s version, the bookmakers have identified the favorites for this year’s Tour, which include defending champion Chris Froome (Team Sky), along with Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank) and Nairo Quintana (Movistar). Two Dutch teams will ride the Tour this year: the Belkin Pro Cycling Team and Team Giant-Shimano. Yet, the Dutchman with the best form in 2014 rides for the Belgian Omega Pharma – Quick-Step formation: North Holland native Niki Terpstra. His win at the one-day classic Paris – Roubaix has already cemented his status as a local favorite, and he’ll be looking to impress again in France. He may not get a second boat ride on the canals of the capital, but his fans will flock to see him ride on the track at the Amsterdam Six-Day in October. So stock up on Rosé or Pernod and get ready for the summer’s great sporting event. Just don’t be surprised if, despite all the tumult in the Netherlands, this year’s edition turns out to be a very British affair, from the first stage to the man getting the kisses on the podium in Paris.

Rowing at A’damse Bos

AMSTERDAM | This year, the World Championships of Rowing will be held from August 24-31st at the rowing venue in the Amsterdamse Bos. The best international rowers from some 60 countries will ply the waters in search of gold. The setting makes it an ideal event for young and old alike, so pack a lunch and set off to cheer the rowers from the banks.

Cahill’s goal in LEGO

PARIS | Just when you think Tim Cahill’s

wonder-volley against the Netherlands in the World Cup match couldn’t get any better, it appears in Lego form. With his beautifully executed 1-1 goal just before halftime, the former Everton player netted an early contender for Goal of the Tournament in Australia’s 3-2 defeat to the Dutch, which saw them crash out of the World Cup. But Cahill will have a pretty nice memory to see him on his way and it’s now been recreated with Lego too, courtesy of French newspaper L’Equipe.

Robben admits diving

FORTALEZA | Arjen Robben admitted

trying to con the referee in Holland’s 2-1 victory over Mexico, while Miguel Herrera branded the forward a cheat. The Dutchman revealed that he dived in an attempt to win a penalty - but not for the decisive 93rd minute spot-kick that secured Holland’s progression to the quarter-finals. Robben had two penalty appeals turned down earlier in the match - before Huntelaar scored in injury time - and later apologized for trying to fool official Pedro Proenca.

Photo: BT Sport

honkbalweek.nl

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08-07-14 20:42

WWW.CATSHEUVELAPARTMENTS.NL

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finest shops in the city. The architectural finish is of the highest standard. Living in Cats’Heuvel means living in luxury and with service close at hand. You are welcomed into the Residence of Cats’Heuvel with the red carpet treatment, marble flooring and leaded glass windows. The Service Manager is at your disposal five days a week that gives the feeling of extra security and service when needed.

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